The Mother on Auroville

Money

The conflict about money is what might be called a "conflict of ownership", but the truth is that money belongs to no one. This idea of possessing money has warped everything. Money should not be a "possession": like power it is a means of action which is given to you, but you must use it according to... what we can call the "will of the Giver", that is, in an impersonal and enlightened way. If you are a good instrument for diffusing and utilising money, then it comes to you, and it comes to you in proportion to your capacity to use it as it is meant to be used. That is the true mechanism.

The true attitude is this: money is a force intended for the work on earth, the work required to prepare the earth to receive and manifest the divine forces, and it—that is, the power of utilising it,—must come into the hands of those who have the clearest, most comprehensive and truest vision.

To start with, the first thing (but this is elementary) is not to have the sense of possession—what does it mean, "it is mine"?... Now, I don't quite understand. Why do people want it to belong to them?— so that they can use it as they like and do what they want with it and handle it according to their own conceptions? That's how it is. On the other hand, yes, there are people who like to store it up somewhere... But that is a disease. To be sure of always having some, they hoard it.

But if people understood that one should be like a receiving and transmitting station and that the wider the range (just the opposite of personal), the more impersonal, comprehensive and wide it is, the more force it can hold ("force" that is translated materially: notes and coins). This power to hold is proportional to the capacity to use the money in the best way—"best" in terms of the general progress: the widest vision, the greatest understanding and the most of the ego but according to the general need of the earth for its

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evolution and development. That is to say, the widest vision will have the largest capacity.

Behind all wrong movements, there is a true movement; there is a joy in being able to direct, utilise, organise in such a way that there is a minimum of waste and the maximum of result. It is a very interesting vision to have. And this must be the true side in people who want to accumulate money: it is the capacity to use it on a very large scale. Then, there are those who very much like to have it and spend it; that is something else—they are generous natures, neither regulated nor organised. But the joy of being able to satisfy all true needs, all necessities, is good. It is like the joy of changing a sickness into health, a falsehood into truth, a suffering into joy; it is the same thing: to change an artificial and foolish need—which does not correspond to anything natural—into a possibility which becomes something quite natural—so much money is needed to do this or that or the other, so much is needed to arrange this, to repair that, to build this, to organise that—that is good. And I understand that people like to be the channels through which the money goes exactly where it is needed. That must be the true movement in people who like to..., translated into foolish egoism, who need to appropriate.

When the need to accumulate and the need to spend (which are both blind and ignorant) are combined, they can lead to a clear vision and a most efficient utilisation. That is good.

Then there comes, slowly and slowly, the possibility of putting it into practice.

But, naturally, the need is for very clear heads and for intermediaries of high integrity (!) to be able to be everywhere at the same time and do all at the same time. Then this famous question of money would be solved.

Money does not belong to anybody. Money is a collective possession which should be used only by those who have an integral,

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comprehensive and universal vision. I would add something to that: not only integral and comprehensive, but essentially true as well; a vision which can tell the difference between a use which is in accord with the universal progress, and a use which could be termed fanciful. But these are details, for even the mistakes, even, from a certain standpoint, the waste, help the general progress: these are lessons learned the hard way.

(silence)

I always remember what X used to say (X was completely opposed to philanthropy); he used to say: Philanthropy perpetuates human misery, because without human misery philanthropy would have no more reason to exist!... And you know the great philanthropist, what was his name?—during Mazarin's time; he founded the "Little Sisters of Charity"...

Vincent de Paul?

That's it. Mazarin once told him: There have never been so many poor people as since you started taking care of them! (Mother laughs).

10.4.1968

*

(A donor to Auroville wrote, "I want my money to he used exclusively for conquering the causes of our sufferings and miseries." The Mother replied:)

It is for this that we all work here, but not in the artificial way of philanthropists who work on the exterior effects only.

We want to eliminate for good the cause of suffering by divinising matter through the integral transformation.

28.12.1967

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Firstly, is there something specific being done which is impeding the flow of money to Auroville?

It is the lack of push towards the future that impedes the flow of money.

Secondly, is there something specific which should be done to increase the flow of money to Auroville?

A confident certitude in the inevitable future can break this resistance.

17.5.1968*

*

What is the role of the United States with regard to the building of the new world?

The work of the U.S.A. is to provide the financial help needed to prepare the earth for the new creation.

What must the people of the United States do in order to begin to be able to fulfil this role?

Become aware of those, individuals or organisations, capable of bringing about this transformation and give them the necessary money.

9.6.1968*

*

It is only when people feel that it is their good fortune to help Auroville grow that the funds will come abundantly.

December. 1969*

*

Give your money to the Divine work and you will be richer than you would be by keeping it.

1971

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Cleanliness

To take pleasure in dirt and disorder is a sure sign of a nature which rejects its psychic being and wants nothing to do with it.

21.10.1972

*

Cleanliness is the first indispensable step towards the supramental manifestation.

21.1.1973*

*

An absolute cleanliness is indispensable in this country and climate to avoid illness. Great precautions must be taken.

1971*

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Drugs

Drugs are prohibited in Auroville. If there are any who take them, they do it deceitfully. The ideal Aurovilian, eager to become conscious of the Divine Consciousness, takes neither tobacco, nor alcohol, nor drugs.

1971

*

Is it true, Mother, that though you do not want drugs to be taken at Aspiration, you tolerate them on the other hand at the Centre or in other parts of Auroville?

This is a lie.

I have said, no drugs in Auroville, and I do not go back on my word.

Is it true that essentially you are not against the experience? This so-called experience warps the development and damages the consciousness; on the pathway to the Divine it is a fall into the rut.

This is clear, I think.

15.4.1971

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