The Mother's brief written statements on various aspects of spiritual life including some spoken comments.
This volume consists primarily of brief written statements by the Mother on various aspects of spiritual life. Written between the late 1920s and the early 1970s, the statements have been compiled from her public messages, private notes, and correspondence with disciples. About two-thirds of them were written in English; the rest were written in French and appear here in English translation. The volume also contains a small number of spoken comments, most of them in English. Some are tape-recorded messages; others are reports by disciples that were later approved by the Mother for publication.
Control over what one says is more important than complete silence. The best is to learn to say what is useful in the most exact and true way possible.
5 March 1933
Page 202
It is the control over oneself that is the first thing needed, and especially the control over one's tongue! If people could learn to keep silent how many troubles would be avoided!
Be quiet and gather strength and force not only to do work but also, chiefly, to achieve the Transformation.
3 March 1934
If only people did remain a little quiet before speaking, acting or writing, much trouble could be avoided. So many things are said uselessly, they bring misunderstandings and bad feelings which could have been saved with silence.
If were spoken only the words that needed to be spoken, the world would be a very silent place.
29 December 1934
The world is deafened with useless words.
Mother, we were late with our drying work because they were behind with the washing. However, I am happy to say that I was not carried away by the violent discussions of my co-workers. With difficulty, I could do it. From now on I shall try to take this attitude. Give me the strength of Your Silence.
Yes, it is very good to know how to remain silent and not take part in discussions that are always useless and unwholesome.
There is a great strength in the power to keep silent.
Page 203
It is always better not to listen to talks especially on so-called spiritual matters. Each one must follow his own way and the others have nothing to do with it.
9 January 1938
An atmosphere of spirituality sometimes helps much more than an exchange of words.
22 November 1951
You must always do what you say, but it is not always wise to speak about everything you do.
When you speak, you must always speak the truth; but sometimes it is better not to speak.
18 December 1951
When speaking of physical things one should have a lively, pleasant, witty style.
When speaking of vital things the style should be eloquent.
When speaking of mental things the style should be clear, precise, exact.
When speaking of psychic things one must be inspired.
23 January 1953
Spiritual speech: all-powerful in its simplicity.
Frankness says candidly what it has to say without caring for the result.
Page 204
It is always a sign of strength to be able to say things gently and it is always weakness that bursts out into unpleasantnesses.
18 April 1956
Anger has never made anyone say anything but stupidities.
Never boast. By boasting you dissipate your capacity for realisation.
Boasting, boasting―one of the greatest obstacles to progress. It is a foolishness one must carefully avoid if one aspires to a true progress.
The criticising habit is more destructive than many bad habits.
Médire est une chose très vile. I don't know how to translate médire into English. It is not exactly "speaking ill". Crooked mind, crooked tongue, crooked heart: this comes out in speech that looks like honey but tastes like poison.
Every word spoken uselessly is a dangerous gossiping.
Every malicious word, every slander is a degradation of the consciousness.
And when this slander is expressed in a vulgar language and gross terms, then that is equivalent to a suicide―the suicide of one's soul.
9 August 1957
When, in ignorance, one speaks ill of others, he debases his consciousness and degrades his soul.
Page 205
A respectful and modest silence is the only attitude befitting a disciple.
To cure a critical sense that manifests by incontinence of speech:
1) When you are in this state, absolutely refuse to speak―if need be, make it physically impossible for yourself to speak.
2) Study yourself without pity and realise that you carry in yourself precisely all the things that you find so ridiculous in others.
3) Discover in your nature the opposite way of being (benevolence, humility, goodwill) and insist that it develop to the detriment of the contrary element.
11 October 1958
True strength and protection come from the Divine Presence in the heart.
If you want to keep this Presence constantly in you, avoid carefully all vulgarity in speech, behaviour and acts. Do not mistake liberty for licence and freedom for bad manners. The thoughts must be pure and the aspiration ardent.
26 February 1965
Be careful always to keep the living Presence and Protection around you when you speak to people and speak as little as possible.
You are right in keeping quiet in front of those who do not understand, because the Divine is with you, and that is the only thing that matters.
With love and blessings.
3 November 1965
Page 206
You need not go to apologize. But as your words were misunderstood you do right to resolve to be more careful about what you say.
It is certainly very bad to speak about the faults of others; everyone has his defects and to keep on thinking of them surely does not help to cure them.
June 1966
For writing, even more than for speaking, if you aspire to remain in the best attitude for advancing swiftly towards the Divine, you should make it a strict rule to speak (and even more to write) only what is absolutely indispensable. It is a marvellous discipline if you follow it sincerely.
27 July 1966
Neither too many nor too few words―just what is needed.
I think the tendency to gather information is not bad?
It is bad and harmful and lowers not only the consciousness of those who gossip, but also the general atmosphere of the place.
29 July 1967
To gossip about what somebody is doing or not doing is wrong.
To listen to such gossip is wrong.
To verify if such gossip is true is wrong.
To retaliate in words against a false gossip is wrong.
The whole affair is a very bad way of wasting one's time and lowering one's consciousness.
Page 207
Unless this very nasty habit is eradicated from the atmosphere, never will the Ashram reach its goal of Divine Life.
I wish all would repent like you and take the resolution of stopping this unhealthy activity.
12 October 1967
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