The Mother's brief statements on various aspects of spiritual life including some conversations.
Part One consists primarily of brief written statements by the Mother on various aspects of spiritual life. Written between the early 1930s 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. There are also 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. These reports are identified by the symbol § placed at the end. Part Two consists of thirty-two conversations not included elsewhere in the Collected Works. The first six conversations are the earliest recorded conversations of the 1950s' period. About three-fourths of these conversations were spoken in French and appear here in English translation.
My mind is so entirely clouded by doubts and other lower influences that I feel if my body passed away just now, it would be so much for the better! In spite of all that, as a Purusha I am indifferent to any such absurd movements.
Yes, they are absurd—shake it off.
With my blessings.
1933
I don't know why for some time I have not been feeling well. My mind is troubled, my vital is sad and my body is sick.
Do not worry, remain quiet, keep your faith intact. It will pass.
1 February 1933
I don't know how thoughts that are harmful to my consecration slip into my mind and upset me. I try my best to drive them away and to remain absorbed in contemplation of You, but very often they return. Why are they repeated, and where do they come from? Do they belong to the universal nature which is not yet purified, and will they keep on returning until my entire human nature is transformed?
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Yes, they belong to the unregenerate universal Nature. But to the extent that we ourselves are transformed, we can keep them at a distance and they no longer trouble us.
Always to prefer what belongs to others is a vital movement. Do not pay any attention to it.
2 June 1934
Do you mean that only your mind is open to my action? That would not be correct, because I act on you through the heart much more than through the mind.
4 June 1934
We are always unconscious of the real inner cause of our actions and movements.
Yes, the movements of the being are always very complex.
5 June 1934
My physical being thirsts for Your love; do not delay, Mother. You know that the child will not listen to reason, he only wants to remain on his Mother's breast.
You know very well that I am always with you and in you, in the physical consciousness as in the others.
10 July 1934
Yes, the outer nature must become calm and quiet and turn towards the Divine.
21 December 1936
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We are at least mentally convinced about our misunderstanding and error and we are determined to give a vital push for their rectification and we believe by Your Gracious Power it will be materialised rapidly. Of course, it may not be within a very short time, but surely it will come.
Why should it not be at once? With good will and faith nothing is impossible.
6 July 1939
Mother, when someone asks me what I have done during all the years I have been here, I say that I have served with devotion, and that is my sadhana. I do not understand anything else. It is true that it has taken me a long time to understand this, and that I have sometimes been anxious. By Mother's Grace I understand a little about Her service, and in it I feel Her Force and Her Love, and I find that it is quite sufficient for me. Isn't it so, Mother?
Certainly you understand and you act better and better, with a consciousness that is progressing towards a total light.
It is rather difficult to refuse when anyone asks me for something. I think it is a failing in my nature. Isn't it so, Mother?
It all depends on how you look at it and the spirit in which it is done.
Mother, today I made a fan out of these shavings. I offer it at Your feet, but I don't know if You will accept it for
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its artistic merits, because it does not have any—I must admit it in all sincerity. Mother, I believe You will accept it as a symbol of my physical offering. For my part, I consider that more important than the other qualities of any work we do. Of course, I do not mean that artistic beauty should be neglected. Mother, am I right?
Yes, you are right, and besides the fan is not unattractive, it has a charm of its own.
I feel very sorry that I have created an impression that I am pulling at money and diverting it from where it should go—to the Mother. My endeavour is that all wealth belongs to the Mother and we must use it as directed by Her. Wherever I have a say I do this, and feel sorry that I have created an opposite impression. I write this to take a certain burden off my mind.
I do not know who has spread this rumour, but I can assure you that I know it is not true. So, do not worry and let peace settle in your heart with my blessings.
What you seek is always there ready for you. Let the psychic turn grow complete and it will of itself bring you to that for which you aspire.
My love and blessings.
15 February 1939
At times I seriously think about but do not understand what my being wants. How is it that I do not feel a sense of a real being which is and which has the delight of being and becoming? Why do I not feel any real interest
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in any creative activity? My mind is active, it wants to understand and become luminous and see and know the truth of things, and I feel my mind is growing in this direction. At times I feel an urge of the heart to seize something which can really satisfy my self, but the urge does not last long. It disappears into some flat state of existence. What do you think my real being wants?
THE DIVINE.
I also felt that you were not quite satisfied with me.
Nothing of the kind. Each one has his difficulties and I am here to help him out of them.
25 February 1942
A thought came to me that even when I do not get any direct suggestion or direction from you, I should, in the interest of your work, do whatever I myself can, to serve you in my own way1 and to the best of my ability. Graciously enlighten me and correct me if I am wrong.
This is always dangerous. One must learn to serve the Divine not in one's own way but in the Divine's way.
Blessings.
10 April 1947
For taking decisions I have found a trick. I postpone the matter and put it to you inwardly. Automatically a solution comes.
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This is indeed the true way and ought to be used in all cases.
Let me be able to do what you want me to do, knowingly or unknowingly.
This is the right thing and the very best.
My dear child, you have indeed passed from one life to another; but it is in your body that this new birth took place, and now the road is wide open before you for a new progress.
With my love and blessings.
19 April 1960
"I know the path, but what can I do if the robbers rob me on the way?"—Maulana Azad.
Call the Lord to Catch the robbers.
26 October 1963
I seek the Mother's light on the following question. The world being what it is, we have to work under the existing conditions. Why not use the available conditions, gather strength and then endeavour to manifest the Divine Will in its purity?
But the very fact of living upon earth means that we are "using the available conditions", otherwise it would be impossible to live.
18 March 1965
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Divine Mother,
If I should have an attack of any kind in the future, could I send you a note immediately, instead of people just taking me off to the hospital?
Surely, let me know at once, so that I can help.
Love.
30 September 1966
I am having some difficulty in my vital. Would you please help me.
If you were to do some work?...
25 May 1967
What I want is to move all of my being into the future. Will you help me with those parts that need a push?
This is quite a good resolution. The push is and will be given.
Now, do not resist.
Love and blessings.
20 May 1968
I am ready.
Start.
1 July 1969
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Since yesterday's darshan I feel something revolting in me against a spiritual life. I am afraid of this revolt. What shall I do?
What revolted in you when you were in front of me is exactly what prevents you from leading a spiritual life. Now that you are conscious of the enemy you can throw him out of you if so you decide.
21 November 1969
I had collected some money for books. One day I passed it on to you. Immediately afterwards somebody presented me with all those books that I wanted and more!
This kind of thing has happened hundreds of times and is happening more and more—but to me it seems quite "natural", although I am unwilling to explain.
X is very pleased to have the photographs of You and Sri Aurobindo. He told me that he felt a distinct change in the atmosphere of his room after he had opened them. Mother, when I kept in my room that photograph of Sri Aurobindo, which I received from Your hands, I too felt that it was vibrating with life. Isn't this because of Your touch?
Sri Aurobindo and I always put a force into the photographs we sign. In the present case Sri Aurobindo had also looked at the frame and admired it.
(About difficulty in writing)
Be receptive and it will be all right.
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Go on writing. How do you know if the inspiration is not ready, waiting to come to you?
Inspiration brings its manifold gifts to the one who knows how to receive them.
Sweet Mother,
A young man who has finished the Higher Course came to see me a few days ago and said he wanted to study The Life Divine with me. As I have not read the book except in bits and pieces, I told him that I could not help him. But he was very insistent and I had eventually to agree to his request.
He asks me questions, some of them quite difficult, from the book. And though I do not know the answers, I give them as they come to me. Both of us have found out the answers are correct, and quite often the language of my answers is very nearly the same as Sri Aurobindo's own in the book.
I wish to know: (1) Is this intuition? (2) Is there a plane where all knowledge exists, and if one can open to that plane, he can get whatever knowledge he needs? (3) If teaching is my vocation, what should I do to develop the receptivity?
You are in conscious connection with Sri Aurobindo's teaching, which is universal and immortal, in the higher mental world.
The more you are silently attentive, the more clearly you will receive it.
13 June 1968
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(The Sri Aurobindo Research Academy was established on 24 April 1970 to provide guidance to research scholars intending to study the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother at an advanced level. When the Academy was first proposed, Mother wrote to its founder:)
Anything that is done can contribute to the progress of humanity, but all depends on the way of doing it.
My blessings are with you and your project.
March 1970
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