The Mother symbol
The Mother
Compilations
Guidance on Education 255 pages 2012 Edition
English

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Guidance on Education Compilations 255 pages 2012 Edition
English
 On Education
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Guidance on Education

Advice to Students and Teachers

  On Education

The Mother symbol
The Mother

Compilations from books by Sri Aurobindo & The Mother Guidance on Education 255 pages 2012 Edition
English
 On Education
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THE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO AND THE MOTHER


Sweet Mother,

Yesterday in our Synthesis of Yoga class, You said that it is useless and even stupid to comment on Sri Aurobindo's writings. Sweet Mother, I have been committing this stupidity in my classes for years. May I beg you to allow me to stop giving them?


Many lazy-minded people are very happy to be given explanations about Sri Aurobindo's books, because they have the feeling that they understand better. That is why I have not interfered. Indeed, it is better for people to hear readings and take interest in them than to have no contact at all with Sri Aurobindo's writings.

So you should continue with the class; but in making

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comments, you must understand that they cannot but be inadequate, and that the original text far surpasses anything you can say about it.

With my blessings.

11 November 1947

*

Sweet Mother,

How should we read your books and the books of Sri Aurobindo so that they may enter into our consciousness instead of being understood only by the mind?

To read my books is not difficult because they are written in the simplest language, almost the spoken language. To get help from them, it is enough to read with attention and concentration and an attitude of inner good-will, with a desire to receive and live What is taught.

To read what Sri Aurobindo writes is more difficult because the expression is highly intellectual and the language far more literary and philosophic. The brain needs a preparation to really be able to understand and generally this preparation takes time, unless one is specially gifted with an innate intuitive faculty.

In any case, I always advise reading a little at a time, keeping the mind as quiet as one can, without making an effort to understand, but keeping the head as silent as possible and letting the force contained in What one reads enter deep inside. This force, received in calm and silence, will do its work of illumining and Will create in the brain, if necessary, the cells required for understanding. Thus, when one re-reads the same


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thing some months later, one finds that the thought expressed has become much clearer and closer and even at times quite familiar.

It is preferable to read regularly, a little every day and at a fixed hour if possible; this facilitates the brain's receptivity.

2 November 1959

*

Sweet Mother,

With what attitude should I read Sri Aurobindo's boo/es when they are difficult and when I don't understand? Savitri, The Life Divine, for example.

Read a little at a time, read again and again until you have understood.
23 May 1960

*

If you want to know what Sri Aurobindo has said on a given subject, you must at least read all he has written on that subject. You will then see that he seems to have said the most contradictory things. But when one has read everything and understood a little, one sees that all the contradictions complement one another and are organised and unified in an integral synthesis.

16 December 1964

*

What is the true method for studying Sri Aurobindo's works?

The true method is to read a little at a time, with concentration,


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keeping the mind as silent as possible, without actively trying to understand, but turned upwards, in silence, and aspiring for the light. Understanding will come little by little.

And later, in one or two years, you will read the same thing again and then you will know that the first contact had been vague and incomplete, and that true understanding comes later, after having tried to put it into practice.

14 October 1967

*

To be able to offer my mind to Sri Aurobindo in all sincerity, is it not very necessary to develop a great power of concentration? Will you tell me by what method I could cultivate this precious faculty?

Fix a time when you can be quiet every day.

Take one of Sri Aurobindo's books. Read a sentence or two. Then remain silent and concentrated to understand the deeper meaning. Try to concentrate deeply enough to obtain mental silence and begin again daily until you obtain a result.

 Naturally you should not fall asleep.

3 February 1972

*

If one reads Sri Aurobindo carefully one finds the answers to all that one wants to know.

 25 October 1972

By studying carefully what Sri Aurobindo has said on all subjects one can easily reach a complete knowledge

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of the things of this world.

*

You may profitably teach biology. And at the same time continue your study of Sri Aurobindo.

It is better to do what you do thoroughly and most seriously, than to multiply your occupations.

To be a good teacher is not easy; but it is very interesting and a good opportunity to develop oneself.

As for reading the works of Sri Aurobindo, it opens the door of the future to us.

16 November 1972

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