Discipline In Work In the most physical things you have to fix a programme in order to deal with them, otherwise all becomes a sea of confusion and haphazard. Fixed rules have also to be made for the management for material things so long as people are not sufficiently developed to deal with them in the right way without rules. -Sri Aurobindo (SABCL 23:715) * I do not agree myself with him in the idea that there is perfect discipline in the Ashram; on the contrary, there is a great lack of it, much indiscipline, quarrelling and self-assertion. What there is is organisation and order which the Mother has been ab

COMFORT AND HAPPINESS The reason for people to come and settle here is surely not to find comfort and luxury - this can be found anywhere if one is lucky enough. But what one can get here, that is not got in any other place: it is the Divine Love, Grace and Care. It is when this is forgotten or disregarded that people begin to feel miserable here. Indeed whenever somebody feels unhappy and discontented, it can be taken as a sure sign that he is turning his back on what the Divine is always giving and that he has gone astray in pursuit of worldly satisfaction. 13 January 1947. -The Mother (CWM 13:132)  * If you want to be happy here, you must come wit

Harmony With Others   I would suggest that in your relations with others, — which seem always to have been full of disharmony, — when incidents occur, it would be much better for you not to take the standpoint that you are all in the right and they are all in the wrong. It would be wiser to be fair and just in reflection, seeing where you have gone astray, and even laying stress on your own fault and not on theirs. This would probably lead to more harmony in your relations with others; at any rate, it would be more conducive to your inner progress, which is more important than to be the top-dog in a quarrel. Neither is it well

QUALITIES INDISPENSABLE FOR PROGRESS What should the Ashramites, if they truly wish to transform themselves, for others and for the Mother as well? By definition, the Ashramite has resolve to dedicate his life to the Divine Realisation. But to be true to his resolution he must be sincere, faithful, modest and grateful in his consecration, because these qualities are indispensable for all progress, and progress, a steady and rapid progress, is indispensable to follow the pace of Nature's evolutionary advance. Without these qualities, one may have sometimes the appearance of progress but it is only an appearance, a pretence, and at the first occasion it cru

LIVING IN THE ASHRAM AND OUTSIDE By coming to the Ashram difficulties do not cease- they have to be faced and overcome wherever you are. For certain natures residence in the Ashram from the beginning is helpful- others have to prepare themselves outside. (8 June 1937) - Sri Aurobindo (SABCL  23:848) * Do not judge on appearances and do not listen to what people say, because these two things are misleading. But if you find it necessary to go, of course you can go and from and external point of view it may be indeed wiser. Moreover it is not easy to remain here. There is in the Ashram no exterior discipline and not visible test. Bu

Sexual Relations   Conditions to Live in the Ashram and to Become a Disciple   The whole principle of this yoga is to give oneself entire; to the Divine alone and to nobody and nothing else, and to bring down into ourselves by union with the Divine Mother- Power all the transcendent light, force, wideness, peace, purity, truth-consciousness and Ananda of the supramental Divine. In this yoga, therefore, there can be no place for vital relations or interchanges with others; any such relation or interchange immediately ties down the soul to the lower consciousness and its lower nature, prevents the true and full union with the Divine and hamp

A Rule For Behaviour   Always behave as if the Mother was looking at you; because she is, indeed, always present. 28 March 1928 - Sri Aurobindo (SABCL 25:105)   One rule for you I can lay down, “Do not do, say ‘ think anything which you would want to conceal from the Mother." 18 May 1932 - Sri Aurobindo (SABCL 25:351) * Live always as if you were under the very eye of the Supreme and of the Divine Mother. Do nothing, try to think and feel nothing that would be unworthy of the Divine Presence.16 April 1936 - Sri Aurobindo (SABCL 25:105) * Here, you know, you have another way, quite simple. I d

Attachment To family And Friends   What you write about the family ties is perfectly correct; creates an unnecessary interchange and comes in the way of a complete turning to the Divine. Relations after taking up yoga should be less based on a physical origin or the habits of the physical consciousness and more and more  the basis of sadhana—of sadhak with sadhaks, of the as souls travelling the same path or children of the Mother than in the ordinary way or with the old viewpoint. - Sri Aurobindo ((SABCL 23:812)   When one enters the spiritual life, the family ties which belong to the ordinary nature fall away — one becomes

THE FIRST CONDITION OF ADMISSION It is not from disgust for life and people that one must come to yoga. It is not to run away from difficulties that one must come here. It is not even to find the sweetness to love and protection, for the Divine's love and protection can be enjoyed everywhere if one takes the right attitude. When one wants to give oneself totally in service to the Divine, to consecrate oneself totally to the Divine's work, simply for the joy of giving oneself and of serving, without asking for anything in exchange, except the possibility of consecration and service, then one is ready to come her and will find the doors wide open. I give y

THE NECESSITIES OF A SADHAK The necesities of a sadhak should be as few as possible; for there are only a very few things that are real necessities in life. The rest are either utilities or things decorative to life or luxuries. These a yogin has a right to possess or enjoy only on one of two conditions- (1) If he uses them during his sadhana solely to train himself in possessing things without attachment or desire and learn to use them rightly, in harmony with the Divine Will, with a proper handling, a just organisation, arrangement and measure - or, (2) if he has already attained a true freedom from desire and attachment and is not in the least moved or affe