22nd December, 1938. (All of us assembled in the hope of hearing something from Sri Aurobindo. I was actually praying for it. But he did not seem to be in a talking mood. So we were forced to keep quiet at the same time thinking how to draw him into conversation and by what question. Suddenly we find X. beaming with a smile and looking at Sri Aurobindo. Then he takes a few more moves nearer to Sri Aurobindo and we automatically follow him, he still nears and then he bursts out with a question : "To attain right attitude what principles should we follow in our dealing and behaviour with others?" Sri Aurobindo could not quite catch the question so it was repeated.

24th January, 1939. Sri Aurobindo : turning to X :  "Any news?" Usually the news of local politics and other subjects used to come through X, Disciple : No news except that Mahatma Gandhi advises the Japanese visitor Kagawa to include Shanti Niketan and Pondicherry in his itinerary, without seeing which his visit to India would be incomplete. Sri Aurobindo : O that! I have heard about it. At this juncture the Mother came and a meditation followed, After the Mother's departure Sri Aurobindo Page – 180  resumed :  "I can give you some news today, The French Ministry seems to be going against the political party in power. It is a mystery how the m

27th June, 1940. 27th Chapter of "Life Divine". The publishers in consultation with the Professor of English changed "founded in" into "founded on". Sri Aurobindo said when I told him about the change, "I have already used that in the previous paragraph and they have suggested "on" and I have not accepted the suggestion. I have used there "in" purposely. These people think that they know English better than I do. They are habituated to use current phrases and words in their usual sense but they do not know that a good writer does not always use current phrases and words in their usual meaning. Disciple : But they do it after consulting a Professor. Sri Aurobindo : Yes

17th and 18th June, 1940. It was asked if Sri Aurobindo knows all the possibilities connected with the war. Sri Aurobindo : Yes, they are known as possibilities. We do not accept anything as absolutely certain. On the 17th (curiously enough Richard Paul’s birth day) Petain proposed an armistice and all thought that France was lost. Sri Aurobindo : All these heroes of the last war – how could they propose a truce? How can they expect anything honourable from Hitler? It would be an end of France. They have become decadent. Disciple gave the instance of the Munich crisis. Sri Aurobindo : France was condemned then, when she did not stand by her treaty

JUNE, 1940 15th June, 1940. In one sense one can say, history it repeating itself because Greco-Roman culture was destroyed by German Nordic hordes and to-day it is again the Germans who are trying to destroy the centre of European culture. The Asura working behind Hitler has been giving him very correct and remarkably accurate guidance. He knows what is possible. That is why Hitler has never been listening to reason. He only waits for the voice. Till now it has guided him correctly. One mistake, it seems, it has made it to think that when he attacked Poland he thought that England will not go to war. Otherwise he has direct guidance which Napoleon did not get. The

NOVEMBER, 1939 19th and 20th November, 1939 Disciple : Is physical relations responsible for the vitiation of pure and idealistic love? Sri Aurobindo : It is not only the physical but also the vital that is equally responsible. Desire, impulse of possession are more responsible for it than the physical relation. Disciple : There are people who believe that the physical relation is an essential part of the highest relation of love. Sri Aurobindo : Blake for instance, says that spiritual love should be sanctified by the physical act. Disciple : Selincourt criticizes Blake. Sri Aurobindo : Selincourt writing about Blake is like a s

20th January, 1939 After discussion about local affairs, Sri Aurobindo : I find X’s letter to Y is written with his usual clear vision. He advises Y to guard against mixing up his own feeling of personal wrong with the legitimate decision not to shake hands with one who has wronged the Guru. About A he says, “these people like A, when they take to yoga it is more ornamental than anything else”. It is a fine phrase “ornamental yoga”. Disciple : (giving a turn to the talk) Nothing seems to have come out of Chamberlain – Mussolini interview. Both parties say, they are satisfied with the results. Sri Aurobindo : I can’t understand England’s policy. I do not know what

16th January, 1939 There was a humourous sequel to a telegram requesting for "ashes". It was a puzzle for some time and after some effort the word ashisha", meaning "blessing" was rightly understood. Disciple : I do not understand why he is asking for "ashes". Page – 129 Sri Aurobindo : I don't understand either. When I used to smoke I could have sent at least the cigar ashes. But now I do not smoke ! Disciple : But we are burning here the mosquito-coils. The ashes of the coils can be sent. (Laughter) Disciple : But I think he is asking for Blessings – the post office in receiving the Sanskrit word Ashisha seems to have turned it into "ashes"! (Laughter)

12th January, 1939 There was a controversy about a child who was underage and had an intense aspiration to remain in the Ashram, i.e. to be under Mother's protection and guidance. But being under the guardianship of her parents the child could not carry out her inner wish. Ultimately the parents, particularly the Mother, took the child away. Some Evening-Talks refer to this incident. Sri Aurobindo : She – the child – has developed character and intelligence quite beyond her age. When she wrote to us she used to cast reflections on the world and on people that was even beyond a grown up woman. She is remarkable for her age. The Mother has found it difficult to be

29th January, 1939 Sri Aurobindo was in a communicative mood. Looking at X he said. "Have you read Hitler's interview with Col. Beck in the 'Sunday Times'? Disciple : No. What about it? Sri Aurobindo : It was shouting at each other. It is said that when Hitler begins to shout his eyes become glassy and it means disaster.  But in this interview when he began to shout and eyes turned glassy, Beck began to shout louder. Hitler was much surprised to find this unexpected return and himself toned down.  Disciple : What was the result of the interview?  Sri Aurobindo : Relations with Poland were not much improved I suppose. (The topic changed) Sri Aurobindo turned