Champaklal Speaks

Hostile Force in nearby Persons

At one time X was very close to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. And as happened in the case of many who come too close to them, she lost her head. She became hostile.

The speech of such persons is very sweet. Mother warned me several times against it: “Champaklal, take care, it is slow poison.”

X used to speak nonsense and we could not bear it. So once I told Mother while Dyuman was present: “What a dilemma we are placed in! We cannot bear what she speaks. Your ways are different; but we are afraid that if we react in our normal way, your work will only increase! In this situation how are we to behave towards her?”

Looking at me tenderly and lovingly. Mother explained: “You see, we are fighting this for forty-one years. I have spoken to Sri Aurobindo also about this and he said to me, 'You know well it is not a question of this person or that person. Sending away one person won't help us in any way. We are fighting with the hostile force—not with the person. If you send away one person, it will catch hold of another.' Now do you understand, Champaklal?”

Then she looked at both of us with great tenderness.