A compilation of references to Auroville in Mother's Agenda
Auroville
THEME/S
MA XIII-24
Now that I am here like this, in seclusion, the lowest nature of everyone comes out. They do things thinking, "Oh, Mother won't know." That's how it is. So this "Mother won't know" means there's, no more restraint. I would say it's rather disgusting.
People to whom I have said, "You can't stay in the Ashram" move in anyway. And nobody stops them. Not only that, but they go to the Auroville offices and try to direct things. I tell you... it has become really, really disgusting.
Because I am here, because I don't see so clearly any more and my hearing isn't so good - so they take advantage of it.
MA XIII-41-42
[In the Mother's Agenda conversation of 12 January 1972, Mother is asking for a certain paper. She explains that in 1927 she told Sri Aurobindo the meaning of the petals in her symbol. He wrote it down but that paper could not be found later. ]
Last time I told you I was looking for the twelve attributes (Mother takes out a sheet of paper). Here they are, someone found this.
The first eight concern the attitude towards the Divine, and the last four towards humanity.
And we also found a text from Sri Aurobindo (with a colored chart of the twelve petals):
Centre and four powers, white. The twelve all different colours
Centre and four powers, white.
The twelve all different colours
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in three groups: top group red, passing to orange towards yellow; next group, yellow passing through green towards blue; and third group, blue passing through violet towards red. If white is not convenient, the centre may be gold (powder). 20 March 1934 The center is gold. But what did you need these twelve attributes for?
in three groups: top group red,
passing to orange towards yellow;
next group, yellow passing through green
towards blue; and third group, blue passing
through violet towards red.
If white is not convenient,
the centre may be gold (powder).
20 March 1934
The center is gold.
But what did you need these twelve attributes for?
They're going to build twelve rooms around the Matrimandir, at ground level, and [the architect] wanted each room to have a name: one of the twelve attributes of the Mother, and the corresponding color.*
MA XIII-80-81
[The previous night a fire had completely destroyed the Toujours Mieux workshop in Aspiration. Only the prompt and intelligent action of neighbouring villagers prevented the fire from spreading throughout Aspiration and the adjacent village of Kuilapalayam.] Ten lakhs of rupees have just burned up in Auroville. Ten lakhs.'** Yes. A workshop with machines as well as the godown [storeroom] next door which contained the stock of food. Brrff! * It may interest the reader to know that according to Sri Aurobindo, these colors generally have the following significances, though the exact meaning may vary "with the field, the combinations, the character and shades of the color, the play of forces": red = physical; orange = supramental in the physical; yellow = thinking mind; green = life; blue = higher mind; violet = divine compassion or grace; gold = divine Truth; white = the light of the Mother, or the Divine Consciousness. * About S 100, 000
[The previous night a fire had completely destroyed the Toujours Mieux workshop in Aspiration. Only the prompt and intelligent action of neighbouring villagers prevented the fire from spreading throughout Aspiration and the adjacent village of Kuilapalayam.]
Ten lakhs of rupees have just burned up in Auroville.
Ten lakhs.'**
Yes. A workshop with machines as well as the godown [storeroom] next door which contained the stock of food. Brrff!
* It may interest the reader to know that according to Sri Aurobindo, these colors generally have the following significances, though the exact meaning may vary "with the field, the combinations, the character and shades of the color, the play of forces": red = physical; orange = supramental in the physical; yellow = thinking mind; green = life; blue = higher mind; violet = divine compassion or grace; gold = divine Truth; white = the light of the Mother, or the Divine Consciousness.
* About S 100, 000
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That's how it is, like an imperative Order: Don't step out of line or else everything will go wrong.
It's become terrible. Another Auroville child died (a one and a half year old baby) because his parents didn't have the right attitude. He has just died. That's how it works. It's getting terrible. Terrible. A kind of Pressure - a frightening Pressure -which compels the necessary progress. I feel it in myself, on my body. But my body isn't afraid; it says (Mother opens her hands), "Well, if I must be finished, I'll be finished."
That's how it is at every instant: the truth... (Mother brings down her fist) or the end.
That's what seems to have descended — you remember, I said something had descended on the 21st (I wrote it somewhere), and one day we would know, we would know soon what it was. Do you remember?
Yes, it was the 21st of February.
Well, this is it. Something like: "No half measures, no compromises, no half ways, no...." None - it's like this (Mother brings down her fist).
[passage omitted]
No compromises, no half measures, no "It will come later". Just like this (Mother brings down her fist): a dreadful Will. And that's the only way for things to go fast.
(silence)
There was probably nobody over in the workshop; it wasn't open yet. But when I was told the news, I had a feeling someone had been burned inside - I didn't say anything because.... It's only a vision, of course, but....
All the machines, all the stock of food, everything was burned to cinders.
Due to a wrong attitude over there?
Yes. Oh, they're all quarreling among themselves! And some even disobey deliberately, they refuse to recognize any
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authority. (long silence)
authority.
(long silence)
MA XIII-83-89
(A conversation with Auroville's architect, who, after the recent "accident", asks for money for "fire protection".)
Well, there isn't enough money here, and there's even less there.... Because in people's minds, it's all the same thing [the Ashram and Auroville], and so they don't know where to give any more.
There's so much money wasted in the world — some people don't even know what to do with it!
What would be needed for Auroville's protection, how much?
[The architect:] We have to make a study, Mother. I think perhaps one or two lakes for all of Auroville (for wells and fire hoses). That's for the time being, but there's also the future: how are we going to develop Auroville, now that it's started? At this point the main question is to know whether we shouldn't try to raise money, to ask people in the world for personal contributions in rupees, francs or dollars, so that Auroville can be built by individual people. Perhaps some action along those lines could be undertaken in various countries as well as in India? Because Auroville's financial situation is getting worse. It's worse than it was six months ago, and the needs are increasing, so... I don't know, waiting may be a solution, but you should know the exact situation. (after a long silence) What can we do? Do you have a suggestion? Some time back, [the Ashrarnite given charge of the industrial zone] came up with an idea which I would like to discuss further with him. The idea was to interest individuals, give them a sort of participation in Auroville. I don't exactly know what India's financial situation is, but....
[The architect:] We have to make a study, Mother. I think perhaps one or two lakes for all of Auroville (for wells and fire hoses). That's for the time being, but there's also the future: how are we going to develop Auroville, now that it's started? At this point the main question is to know whether we shouldn't try to raise money, to ask people in the world for personal contributions in rupees, francs or dollars, so that Auroville can be built by individual people. Perhaps some action along those lines could be undertaken in various countries as well as in India? Because Auroville's financial situation is getting worse. It's worse than it was six months ago, and the needs are increasing, so... I don't know, waiting may be a solution, but you should know the exact situation.
(after a long silence)
What can we do? Do you have a suggestion?
Some time back, [the Ashrarnite given charge of the industrial zone] came up with an idea which I would like to discuss further with him. The idea was to interest individuals, give them a sort of participation in Auroville. I don't exactly know what India's financial situation is, but....
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India's financial situation is VERY bad. Because they used to receive a lot of money from America, but that has practically stopped. It's very bad - India has become poor, that's the trouble. Otherwise we could ask, but they are really in trouble.
Perhaps some other countries are ready to help. Yes, certainly! Germany can help, maybe the United States. But the thing is, Mother, all this should be done as a coherent policy, no longer in a haphazard way. Yes, yes! We should try.
Perhaps some other countries are ready to help.
Yes, certainly!
Germany can help, maybe the United States. But the thing is, Mother, all this should be done as a coherent policy, no longer in a haphazard way.
Yes, yes!
We should try.
If only I were given a plan. I haven't seen to these things so far, but if there were an acceptable plan, I could work on it. Right now I don't know what to do.
I'll speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] right away, Mother, and see what he thinks. Perhaps today we can bring you a proposal and make some decisions — leaving things as they are may be possible but dangerous. Dangerous. I think something should be done. But I can't say what because I don't know - I don't know what can be done practically. For many, many years, I had merely to exert a little pressure to get money - and I got it. But that was for the Ashram. Now the Ashram doesn't have enough, and nothing comes no matter how much pressure I exert — people no longer know where to give: there's this thing and that thing, and this and that... they are confused! Give me a plan and I'll work on it. There's too much dispersion, Mother. Yes, yes!
I'll speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] right away, Mother, and see what he thinks. Perhaps today we can bring you a proposal and make some decisions — leaving things as they are may be possible but dangerous.
Dangerous.
I think something should be done. But I can't say what because I don't know - I don't know what can be done practically.
For many, many years, I had merely to exert a little pressure to get money - and I got it. But that was for the Ashram. Now the Ashram doesn't have enough, and nothing comes no matter how much pressure I exert — people no longer know where to give: there's this thing and that thing, and this and that... they are confused!
Give me a plan and I'll work on it.
There's too much dispersion, Mother.
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You no longer know where you stand: there's "Sri Aurobindo Society, " "Sri Aurobindo's Action, " "Sri Aurobindo this and that.... " The result is dispersion. Yes, but when you tell them that - especially if you put it that way to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], he'll say, "All right, Sri Aurobindo's Action has got to go." Each one says, "I am the one who should stay!"... That's no solution. The solution is that people should become one, Mother: unity. Yes, yes, yes - yes, exactly. Exactly! Instead of a combination where each one has his place within a harmonious unity, instead of that, everyone pulls in his own direction. The real progress to be made is a moral one. You have hit the point: lack of unity is the cause of all the difficulties. Even the Ashram has been contaminated by the disease: each department considers itself a separate entity. And since there's no more cohesion, nothing works! That's the situation. And I can no longer go from one place to another and bring a vigorous action. I can't any more, I am held here. That's it, you've put your finger on it. If you could propose a specific plan of action, we could see. That's what is needed: to coordinate the efforts and create a unity with the parts. From the beginning there has been this lack of unity, and also because of the action I no longer perform. No matter how much I tell them, "You are not here to represent your own interests. You are all one and the same" - they just don't understand! So the result is (laughing): [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] is sick and [the head of Sri Aurobindo's Action] doesn't feel well - there you are. In the end it always boils down to the same thing: a SUBSTANTIAL individual progress is required - a serious and sincere progress - then everything works perfectly The atmosphere is dislocated; it has lost the cohesive power it had. But if you want to collaborate, it would be wonderful, you know! I need someone, you see, someone who could get around, talk to people, see, take notes: re-establish unity on a higher level.
You no longer know where you stand: there's "Sri Aurobindo Society, " "Sri Aurobindo's Action, " "Sri Aurobindo this and that.... " The result is dispersion.
Yes, but when you tell them that - especially if you put it that way to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], he'll say, "All right, Sri Aurobindo's Action has got to go." Each one says, "I am the one who should stay!"... That's no solution.
The solution is that people should become one, Mother: unity.
Yes, yes, yes - yes, exactly. Exactly!
Instead of a combination where each one has his place within a harmonious unity, instead of that, everyone pulls in his own direction. The real progress to be made is a moral one.
You have hit the point: lack of unity is the cause of all the difficulties.
Even the Ashram has been contaminated by the disease: each department considers itself a separate entity. And since there's no more cohesion, nothing works! That's the situation.
And I can no longer go from one place to another and bring a vigorous action. I can't any more, I am held here.
That's it, you've put your finger on it. If you could propose a specific plan of action, we could see. That's what is needed: to coordinate the efforts and create a unity with the parts.
From the beginning there has been this lack of unity, and also because of the action I no longer perform. No matter how much I tell them, "You are not here to represent your own interests. You are all one and the same" - they just don't understand! So the result is (laughing): [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] is sick and [the head of Sri Aurobindo's Action] doesn't feel well - there you are.
In the end it always boils down to the same thing: a SUBSTANTIAL individual progress is required - a serious and sincere progress - then everything works perfectly
The atmosphere is dislocated; it has lost the cohesive power it had.
But if you want to collaborate, it would be wonderful, you know! I need someone, you see, someone who could get around, talk to people, see, take notes: re-establish unity on a higher level.
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Oh, that would be a wonderful work! Wonderful. Once that is done, things would ease up. It's not that money is lacking, it's just being wasted, scattered. You see, [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] keeps wanting to expand and expand the Sri Aurobindo Society, he buys plots of land worth lakhs of rupees, and instead of the money being used for the general work, it is frittered away.... I told him, but he didn't understand. And today, the result is that he is sick. That's the situation. Success is certain, but on one condition — ONE condition -that we become united. Supposedly, we are preaching unity to the world - it would be only decent to do it ourselves! Instead, we are the example of exactly the opposite. To visitors we say, "Here we seek human unity." But WE constantly quarrel among ourselves, and we preach human unity! That's absurd. Totally absurd! We can't even be ONE in our own work. I keep telling them, but they don't understand. Do you want to help me? Yes, Mother. Good. Would you like us to work together? Yes, Mother. Good. I'm ready to speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], Mother, if you permit me. Yes, speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], it will do him some good. I'll speak very fraternally, Mother, very sincerely, for I have a lot of things to say. Good, good. If he gets annoyed, tell him, "Then go talk to Mother." And....
Oh, that would be a wonderful work! Wonderful.
Once that is done, things would ease up. It's not that money is lacking, it's just being wasted, scattered.
You see, [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] keeps wanting to expand and expand the Sri Aurobindo Society, he buys plots of land worth lakhs of rupees, and instead of the money being used for the general work, it is frittered away.... I told him, but he didn't understand. And today, the result is that he is sick.
That's the situation.
Success is certain, but on one condition — ONE condition -that we become united. Supposedly, we are preaching unity to the world - it would be only decent to do it ourselves!
Instead, we are the example of exactly the opposite.
To visitors we say, "Here we seek human unity." But WE constantly quarrel among ourselves, and we preach human unity!
That's absurd. Totally absurd! We can't even be ONE in our own work.
I keep telling them, but they don't understand.
Do you want to help me?
Yes, Mother.
Good. Would you like us to work together?
Good.
I'm ready to speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], Mother, if you permit me.
Yes, speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society], it will do him some good.
I'll speak very fraternally, Mother, very sincerely, for I have a lot of things to say.
Good, good.
If he gets annoyed, tell him, "Then go talk to Mother." And....
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I'll try to speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo Society] first, he's the hardest. I'll speak to [the head of Sri Aurobindo's Action] after.
[The head of Sri Aurobindo's Action] is very bright, he'll have very good answers to offer you! (Mother laughs)
I've already spoken to [the head of Sri Aurobindo's Action], Mother, I already know his answers.
But [the head of Sri Aurobindo's Action] is beginning to change, because he is an extremely bright man, so he understood he had to change.
I am with you. ([The architect] leaves. [Name], an American disciple enters. )
I am with you.
([The architect] leaves. [Name], an American disciple enters. )
I could put it this way: it's either progress, or death. Each and everyone must, must absolutely progress, make the required progress, or else... (gesture of dissolution).
That fire was symbolic - I suppose you know about it: there's been a terrible fire.
Yes, yes. And I wanted to know what is the symbolic significance.
You see, we preach Unity, we say that humanity must be one, that all efforts must join together for the general progress, for the advent of the Supramental... but everyone pulls as hard as he can in his own direction. That's the situation.
So I wanted to tell all of you, "Practice what you say, or you will cease to exist."
One has no right to preach unity to the world when one gives such an example of utter division.... That's all. It's quite simple, so simple that a child could understand - but THEY don't understand.
As for me, the power of consciousness goes on increasing; for the time being -1 repeat, for the time being - the physical power is reduced to almost nought. I am forced to stay here, minding nothing, and makeshift with seeing people. So I need some
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people to do the practical work I used to do before and can no longer do... (Mother is short of breath). I can't speak with the same strength as before — the physical is undergoing a transformation, you know. Sri Aurobindo himself had said - and rightly so — he said (because one of us had to go, and I offered to go), "No, your body is capable of enduring it, it HAS THE STRENGTH to undergo transformation." It's not easy. I can assure you, it's not easy. Yet my body is good willed, it is really good willed. But for the moment it is in the process of... well, it is no longer quite on this side but not yet on the other. The transition isn't easy. So I am stuck here, like an old woman, incapable of doing any work.
If I can hold on — if only I can hold on - at one hundred things will be better. That I know. I am absolutely convinced there will be a renewal of energy. But I have to hold on.... That's all.
So for the moment, we lack money. We lack money because money is being scattered. People no longer know where to give, so they stop giving: "Should I give here, should I give there, should I...?" They don't give anything any more.
I can see, I have truly the occasion to see that if I left, I have nobody here, it would be our destruction.
Oh, complete collapse - nothing!
Then if the work must be done, if Auroville must be built, not only do I have to remain in my body but the body must become strong.
I know. I know that. All depends on what the Divine Will is -He doesn't tell me! When I ask Him, I have the impression... (once or twice, in moments of difficulty, I have put the question regarding this body), and then (laughing) I seem to see a smile, you know, a smile as big as the world, but no answer.
I can still see that smile: "Don't try to know, it is not yet time."
(the clock strikes)
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If we knew how to remain always in the true consciousness, there would be... a smile. But we have a tendency to become tragic. It's our weakness.
It is our limitations that make a drama. We are too small — too small and too short-sighted. But... the Consciousness knows — it knows.
MA XIII-117-119
[A conversation with an American disciple and an Ashramite. The two passages in brackets have been added from the document posted at that time.]
Since we have set aside all conventions, immediately everybody thinks, "Ah, nice place to fulfil our desires!" And they almost all come with that intention.
And because I made a maternity clinic for the children of those people that I was obliged to send away from the Ashram, so that they could have a place to have their child, people think that the maternity clinic is established for all children born in an illegal way!
I don't care for legality, I don't care for law, I don't care for convention. But what I want is a more divine life, not an animal life.
And they use the liberty for license, for the satisfaction of desires, and all these things that we truly have worked all our life to master, they indulge in - dissipation. I am absolutely disgusted.
We are here to give up all desires and to turn towards the Divine and to become conscious of the Divine.* To realize and manifest the Divine in our life is the way, not to become animals, living like cats and dogs.
[Exactly the opposite; the majority of the population at Auroville is an infra-humanity and not a supra humanity. So it is high
* Later, Mother added the following: "The Divine we .seek is not far away and beyond reach: He lies at the very core of His creation and what He expects from us is to find Him and, through personal transformation, become capable of knowing Him, uniting with Him, and Finally manifesting Him consciously. To this we must dedicate ourselves, it is our true raison d'etre. And our first step towards this sublime realization is the manifestation of the supramental consciousness."
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time that all that must end. There are people who have just dropped in here and now when I tell them, "All that won't do at all," they answer, "We didn't come here for this." That is how it stands.]
[An Ashramite] enters.
How I would like to be able to go and tell all of them, right to their faces, that they are wrong, that this is not the way. But I think it's time to put it in writing.
[How pretty it is, a very pretty humanity.] Because I say I am against the old conventions, it means we can live like animals. But, Mother, your force is extremely active right now, you know.
[How pretty it is, a very pretty humanity.]
Because I say I am against the old conventions, it means we can live like animals.
But, Mother, your force is extremely active right now, you know.
Yes, I know. I know: when I am like now, I always see the Force — it isn't "my" force, it is the Divine Force. I try — I only try to be like this (gesture like a channel). This body tries to be simply... simply a transmitter, as transparent as possible, as impersonal as possible. So the Divine can do whatever He wants.
It has become very transparent. For as soon as something is put before you, the action is done immediately.
Yesterday, it was fifty-eight years since I came here for the first time. For fifty-eight years I have been working FOR THAT, for the body to be as transparent and immaterial as possible, so that it doesn't obstruct the descending Force.
Now - now it's the body itself, the body wants this with all its cells. That is its only purpose in life.
To try, to try to create on earth one completely transparent, translucent element that would let the force pass through without any distortion.
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MA XIII-124-127
[As a follow-up to the conversation of 10 March with the architect of Auroville, Mother received him, together with the heads of Sri Aurobindo Society and Sri Aurobindo's Action.]
I will tell you that we are preaching unity - unity of humanity - and we are all quarreling - horrible quarrels, resentments and all sorts of urgings that we condemn in the others. We are giving a nice example, and people laugh! Voilà.
It has come to me from many quarters.
Begin with yourself, they say, and they are right.
Each one, all of you have good reasons, everybody seems to lie. Everybody has "good reasons". You know, the ego is the most clever rogue I have ever met. He takes such nice, nice appearances, and each one says: "I would, but I can't." Voila. And I tell you, from some places far away and from near, from far and from near, from India and from other countries: Begin with yourself. That is, we are ridiculous - ridiculous. And such good reasons we have! — all the people have good reasons. It is above reason, it has nothing to do with reason, nothing to do with that, we want... a new creation.
If the Divine had only for one hour the same feelings as men have, there would be no more world. That I can tell you. I have seen clearly - you believe me if you want - I have seen the world with the eye of the Divine. It is something so terrible, you know, so contrary to what it must be, that if the Divine said "only He," brrt! everything would go, there would be no world, there would be no men, there would be only That. Des egos pulvérisés [smashed egos].
It is difficult, it is the most difficult thing - we are here to do difficult things. We are in the period of transition. I can't tell you: be like this or be like that, because there is no example as yet. It is being done, and we are just at the time of the transition. It is very, very difficult - but. very interesting.
For centuries and centuries, humanity has waited for this time. It has come. But it is difficult.
I don't simply tell you we are here upon earth to rest and enjoy ourselves, now it is not the time for that. We are here...
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to prepare the way for the new creation.
The body has some difficulty, so I can't be active, alas. It is not because I am old - I am not old. I am not old, I am younger than most of you. If I am here inactive, it is because the body has given itself definitely to prepare the transformation. But the consciousness is clear and we are here to work - rest and enjoyment will come afterwards. Let us do our work here.
So I have called you to tell you that. Take what you can, do what you can, my help will be with you. All sincere efforts will be helped to the maximum.
Now is the time to be heroic.
Heroism is not what people say, it is to be completely united - and the divine help will always be with those who have, in all sincerity, resolved to be heroic. Voilà.
You are here now, I mean on earth, because you once chose to be - you don't remember it, but I know; that's why you are here. Well, you must stand up to the task. You must make an effort, you must conquer pettiness and limitations, and above all tell the ego: your time is over. We want a race without ego, with the divine consciousness in place of the ego. That's what we want: the divine consciousness, which will enable the race to develop and the superman to be born.
If you think I am here because I am bound, you are wrong. I am not bound. I am here because my body has given itself for the first attempt at transformation. Sri Aurobindo told me so, he told me, "I know of no one who can do it, except you." I said, "All right, I will do it." It's not... I don't wish anyone to do it in my place, because... because it's not very pleasant, but I am doing it gladly, because everybody will benefit from the results. I ask only one thing: don't listen to the ego. That's all. The time of the ego is over. We want to go beyond humanity and its ego, to leave it behind, we want a race without ego, with a divine consciousness in place of the ego. There, that's all.
Anything to say? (silence)
Anything to say?
If there is a sincere "yes" in your hearts, you will have satisfied me fully. I don't need words: I need your hearts' sincere adherence. That's all.
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(To the architect:) Did you follow?
Are you in agreement?
Fully in agreement.
(the other two are silent Mother turns to them and speaks in English)
[Directly to the heads of the Sri Aurobindo Society and Sri Aurobindo's Action:] You and you, you must agree. You are here for that. You have come to this place at this time for that. We must give to the world the example of what must be, not petty egoistic movements, but an aspiration towards the manifestation of Truth. Voila.
I can assure you that all sincere effort will be PLEINEMENT, fully helped by the Divine. Of that I am sure. And I can assure you of that.
(silence) That is all I had to say.
That is all I had to say.
MA XIII-129-136
[Mother received the Liaison, to discuss the day-to-day running of Auroville. On this occasion he reported to her that some people living in Auroville were rumoured to be "American spies". This conversation is in English.]
Some people say that they are spies and are kept by the American Government, some others (some Americans) tell me that the Americans would never take such incapable spies! So myself I don't see the.... To tell the truth, I don't appreciate them
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very much, but I have nothing very positive against them. That's all. It's all like that.
I tried my best to push them out, that is to say, that they would WANT to go. But they... it didn't happen, they really willed to remain. If we could have evident proof that they are spies, then it would be very easy. I would tell them to go. But for so many years they have been here. It must be proved, it can't be a feeling or an idea or something like. that, there must be a concrete proof. Voila.
I would like that the Divine's will should manifest very clearly, in a very positive way. Because human appreciation is worth nothing. He alone knows the Truth, and it is He who has to decide. Like that. I don't know if you understand and follow; what I say may not be clear. But I - you see, to tell the truth, I have no respect for human appreciation and outlook, and I am absolutely convinced that only the Divine can see the truth. What I do is to tell, to show clearly His way so that we will do only what He says, what He sees. We are not capable of seeing. We will go by the Divine.
(silence )
Que Ta volonté soit faite [let Your will be done] - WHATEVER it is. Voila. That's my position.
(The architect enters)
(The architect:) There has been a chain of events which makes it necessary for me to ask you a question. I have read this question to [the Liaison], because we have spoken together at length, insofar as we feel that certain decisions must be made to try and improve the situation in Auroville. But we keep running up against the same problem, which I have summarized in this letter:
'Auroville is burdened by a small group of people who are contaminating its life and spirit and jeopardizing its progress. They thwart any effort to implement safety and hygiene measures, working decisions, and they behave in contradiction to Auroville's ideal. One solution would be to send some of these people back home and, for a certain period, to limit newcomers to those elements directly
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useful to the building of Auroville. "We see that, in practice, this possibility has not been endorsed by you. Is the presence of these elements — which according to us are undesirable — necessary to Auroville for reasons known to the Divine Consciousness? Are we supposed to build Auroville amidst the difficulties they represent? And are they useful to Auroville 's development?"
useful to the building of Auroville.
"We see that, in practice, this possibility has not been endorsed by you. Is the presence of these elements — which according to us are undesirable — necessary to Auroville for reasons known to the Divine Consciousness? Are we supposed to build Auroville amidst the difficulties they represent? And are they useful to Auroville 's development?"
In a general and absolute way, difficulties are ALWAYS graces. And due to.. . (how can I put it?) human weakness they fail to be helpful. Difficulties are ALWAYS graces. I have been on earth for quite a while this time and always - always, always, always, without a single exception - I have seen in the end that difficulties are nothing but graces. I can ' n e it h e r feel nor see things otherwise because it has been my experience all my life. I might be upset at first and say, "How come, Lam full of goodwill, yet difficulties keep piling up.... " But afterwards, I could have simply given myself a slap: " Silly you! It's just to bring more perfection to your character and the work!" There.
Some persons have been driven out of the Ashram into Auroville. Those, I admit, are difficult elements who make things difficult. I wish they would be naturally driven out of Auroville to... somewhere else. This wouldn't be very nice for the rest of the world — but never mind! Although in a free environment, they may be tolerable. Practically, one would have to speak to each one individually.
Now go on, tell me what you wanted to say. (The architect:) Well, Mother, I simply wanted to know if we are supposed .to accept the presence of these seemingly undesirable people as a necessity for Auroville's growth, and if so, we'll just have to act accordingly and face the difficulties they represent; or should we take definite measures to solve the problems of safety, the problems of hygiene.... What problems of hygiene? What problems of safety?
Now go on, tell me what you wanted to say.
(The architect:) Well, Mother, I simply wanted to know if we are supposed .to accept the presence of these seemingly undesirable people as a necessity for Auroville's growth, and if so, we'll just have to act accordingly and face the difficulties they represent; or should we take definite measures to solve the problems of safety, the problems of hygiene....
What problems of hygiene? What problems of safety?
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For example, Mother, it's absolutely useless to give them fire extinguishers, hoses and water if they don't make any effort to learn how to use the fire extinguisher and keep the water hose in proper condition. Yes, that's plain. The same for hygiene.
For example, Mother, it's absolutely useless to give them fire extinguishers, hoses and water if they don't make any effort to learn how to use the fire extinguisher and keep the water hose in proper condition.
Yes, that's plain.
The same for hygiene.
Is there no one who could be given the responsibility for those things?
Yes, Mother, we'll have to manage with what we have.
Yes. Something could be organized with the people we can trust, and if the others are dissatisfied, they can leave. Do you understand what I mean? Instead of taking an active position of "Go away" (which for many reasons is very difficult), if we put them under an authority they don't accept, they will be forced to leave. They will protest at first, but we must remain firm: "This is how it is."
We must find the people capable of doing this, with the required strength of character, and once we find them, they can be given the authority, and if the others don't like it, they'll have to leave! And that's that. But we can't dismiss people who are already there as long as we don't have the person or persons capable of actively assuming that position.
Yes, Mother, it's clear. But there's also the problem of admissions to Auroville. Oh - well? For instance, certain elements seem absolutely undesirable to us from the start. And yet these people are sometimes accepted. Is there a reason for this? On trial. Only on a trial basis, never otherwise. But, Mother, once they're here on trial, nobody can ever send them away!
Yes, Mother, it's clear. But there's also the problem of admissions to Auroville.
Oh - well?
For instance, certain elements seem absolutely undesirable to us from the start. And yet these people are sometimes accepted. Is there a reason for this?
On trial. Only on a trial basis, never otherwise.
But, Mother, once they're here on trial, nobody can ever send them away!
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Ah, no! If they are not satisfactory, they can be sent away. I was only speaking of those (this is in fact what I was saying to [the Liaison]), whom I was forced to remove from the Ashram because they were totally undesirable in the Ashram, and they went to Auroville; these people should either go, or else feel... as I said, feel that they have no place here. But the newcomers, those who are accepted on a trial basis and who turn out to be undesirable, can be sent away. I meant the old-timers, those who have been here for years and years. But the newcomers, all those who have been taken on trial and are not satisfactory, they can leave - they MUST leave. I give you full authority to send them away.
You see, some people come to me - I don't know their names, I don't know what they do, I know nothing about them; the new requests for admission should come to me through one of you two (because you know the practical situation and the people). Unfortunately, many people write to me, and I don't know, you see, I never remember names; I only remember when I know who they are, what they do and so on. But if you know these people's worth and can tell me, "This one is like this or that," I trust what you say; and if you tell me, "That person is undesirable," well, he must go. But I have to be informed beforehand, because people usually go through one person, then another to get their request to me, and I don't keep track, I don't know. Do you see the picture? I give a general answer, and they take it as... because I think it's somebody else. I don't remember, I forget names — the next minute I have forgotten. My head is full of... something far vaster than all that, you know. There should be one person — one or two (two is very good) -to present the admissions to me, the new admissions to Auroville, and I fully agree to send back those you find undesirable.
Do you understand? Yes, Mother. But at present all the requests are presented by [the Liaison]. No one else presents requests from newcomers. So things should be simple? Are you sure about that? For instance, the other day (I use this example, Mother, because for me it was a real problem), there was a girl who
Do you understand?
Yes, Mother. But at present all the requests are presented by [the Liaison]. No one else presents requests from newcomers. So things should be simple?
Are you sure about that?
For instance, the other day (I use this example, Mother, because for me it was a real problem), there was a girl who
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was on drugs and who had been expelled from Auroville; she asked [the Liaison] to be allowed to come back. And we... A girl? Yes, Mother. [The Liaison] and I were against it, but you said, "She must be given one more chance. " Yes - yes, for one month? [The Liaison:] They have been there for a week now, on trial.
was on drugs and who had been expelled from Auroville; she asked [the Liaison] to be allowed to come back. And we...
A girl?
Yes, Mother. [The Liaison] and I were against it, but you said, "She must be given one more chance. "
Yes - yes, for one month?
[The Liaison:] They have been there for a week now, on trial.
You must give them at least one month. At least one month. But if they show the slightest insincerity, you understand, if they say, "I don't do this, I do that, I won't do this, etc.", just tell them, "You can leave." You don't even need to ask me, you can just send them away. Simply inform me: such and such person has been found unsatisfactory. I give you the authority to do it. I won't protest. But I must be informed because plenty of people come to me and... they're very cunning, you see: they find another person to channel their request.
[The architect:] The question in our minds, Mother, was to know whether you saw these people as being useful in providing Auroville with a certain type of difficulty.
No! Certainly not! No, no, I don't favor deliberately adding difficulties! I know they come for.... But they shouldn't be invited — on the contrary. They shouldn't. Things should be made as easy as possible. Only, we shouldn't be ruffled by difficulty, that's the point. I am not at all saying that difficulties should be accepted - don't invite them at all, at all, at all; life is difficult enough as it is! But when a difficulty comes, you must take heart and face it courageously.
We must strive for Order, Harmony, Beauty and... collective aspiration - all the things which for the moment are not there. We must... you see, being the organizers, our task is to set the example of what we want others to do. We must rise above personal reactions, be exclusively attuned to the divine Will and be the docile instruments of the divine Will - we must be impersonal, without any personal reaction.
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We must "be" in all sincerity. What the Divine wants — let it be. That's all. If we can be that, then we are as we ought to be, and THAT is what we must become. For the rest... for all the rest, we do the best we can.
I know it's not easy, but we are not here to do easy things; the whole world is there for those who like an easy life. I would like people to feel that coming to Auroville does not mean coming to an easy life - it means coming to a gigantic effort for progress. And those who don't want to keep up with it should leave. That's how things stand. I wish It were so strong — the need for progress, for the divinization of the being, so intense - that those who are unable (unable or unwilling) to adjust to it would leave by themselves: "Oh, this is not what I expected." As it is now, all those who want an easy life and to do what they please as they please, say, "Let's go to Auroville!" It should be just the opposite. People should know that coming to Auroville means an almost superhuman effort for progress.
It is the sincerity of our attitude and effort which makes a difference. People should feel that insincerity and falsehood have no place here — they just don't work, you can't fool people who have devoted their entire life to go beyond humanity.
There is only one way to be convincing - it is to BE that.
Then we'll stand strong, we'll have all the divine force on our side.
We are here to prepare a super humanity, not to fall back into desires and easy life - no.
People must feel it; it should be so strong that the sheer force of our sincerity would drive them out - that's what they have to feel. At that point, we will be what we should be. The power of the realization - of the sincerity of the realization - is such that it's UNBEARABLE to "t ho se who are insincere.
(silence) That's all. Yes, Mother. (silence)
That's all.
If in all sincerity we are on the side of the Divine, we ARE all we should be.
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That's what Sri Aurobindo always said. If men only knew this: if in all sincerity — in all sincerity — they give themselves to the Divine and side with the Divine, they become all they should be.
It may take time, there may be turmoil and difficulty - you must be... inflexible: "I am for the Divine and the divine manifestation, in spite of everything and anything." Voila. Then it is omnipotence - EVEN OVER DEATH.
I am not saying tomorrow, I am not saying immediately, but... it's a certainty.
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