Champaklal's Treasures - Edition-II

Rules and Regulations of the Ashram

After a careful study of the Ashram, nothing short of spiritual intensity is needed for the conquest over the greed for food. 27 November 1929

Sri Aurobindo

1) Always behave as if the Mother was looking at you; because she is indeed, always present.

2) All new-comers and persons connected with them are hereby informed that every new arrival to the Ashram is to be reported to Purani on the same day in order to furnish information for the Police.

3) There have been several instances recently in which members of the Ashram have been rude and over-bearing in their behaviour to the

French Police when they come to the Ashram in connection with the registration of new arrivals. There can be no possible excuse for this kind c conduct, especially as the police authorities have agreed to our own proposals in the matter and we have undertaken to help them with all necessary information's. Sri Aurobindo has already given a warning again; making trouble for the Ashram with the authorities; it ought not to h necessary to repeat it.

Especial care must be-taken during these days when many are arriving from outside. If the police come for information, they must not be sent rudely away; they should be asked to wait and information be given to Purani who will deal with the matter.

4) Food and other requirements are given in the Ashram to those who have made a complete surrender of their means to the Mother and receive only what she gives them. If anyone receives money from outside and keeps it, it will be understood that he wishes to live on his own independent means and does not need anything from the Ashram and arrangements will be made accordingly.

5) Furniture purchased by a temporary inmate for personal use remains a property of the Ashram when he leaves the place. He cannot take it with him nor claim it back when he comes again.

6) Nothing should be sent out for publication (contributions i newspapers and Magazines or books) without having been first submitted to Sri Aurobindo for approval.

7) Sri Aurobindo's work is purely spiritual. Anyone entering the Ashram as a member must abstain from political connections or activities

8) The moment one enters the life of the Ashram and takes up the Yoga he ceases to belong to any creed or caste or race; he is one of S Aurobindo's disciples and nothing else. Race prejudices, caste feeling pride of sect or contempt of other religions have no place here. Eve sadhak should remember this in his thought and speech and dealings with the others.

9) Visitors from outside should not be received in the Ashram by the sadhaks except under special circumstances and by permission Infringement of this rule may have very inconvenient consequences f the work.

10) Nothing should be spoken to outsiders as to what passes in the Ashram without special permission from the Mother.

11) Outsiders should not be allowed within the precincts of any of the houses of the Ashram. If anyone wishes to see the Ashram, it can be do only after special permission from the Mother.

12) Rule No. 4 applies only to permanent members of the Ashram. Those who stay only for a time must contribute to the expenses a monthly sum to be fixed by the Mother.

13) Permanent members of the Ashram are expected to undertake some part of the work necessary for its organisation and maintenance. The nature of the work to be given to them will be decided by the Mother. Those who reside temporarily may also assist while they are here.

14) This Ashram, maintaining almost a hundred people, has to be run at a heavy expense; it is therefore the understanding that while those who have nothing (the majority) are admitted free and nothing is asked from them, the few who have something are expected to give what they have. If they wish to have the charge of their whole spiritual and material future taken over by us, it is at least fair that they should make the offering of all their possessions.

Early 1930s

It has been found necessary to change some of the forms and methods hitherto used to help by external means, the individual and collective sadhana. This has to be done especially in regard to the consecration of food, the collective meditation and the individual contact of the sadhak with the Mother. The existing forms were originally arranged in order to make possible a spiritual and psychic communion on the most physical and external planes, by which there would be an interchange of forces, a continuous increase of the higher consciousness on the physical plane, a more and more rapid change of the external nature of the sadhaks and afterwards an increasing descent of the supramental light and power into Matter.

Meditation at 7 a.m. on all days of the week except Wednesday and Friday. Flower offering on Tuesday and Thursday, none on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

All fixed or daily times for sadhaks seeing the Mother are cancelled.

Every day the Mother will call those whom she wants to see. Any others who need to see her, will inform Nolini early in the morning or the night before, and write the reason for their request which will be acceded to or otherwise dealt with, according to circumstances and possibilities.

The soup will be distributed in the evening in the downstairs verandah of Sri Aurobindo house. All who taste it must be present at 8.30 and remain seated in silence till the Mother comes. Before the distribution there will be few minutes' concentration all together.

The night meditations are cancelled for a time.

On the first of each month, the distribution from the stores will bi made in the store room, in the presence of the Mother, at 8 p.m.

Early 1930s

The Ashram is meant for Yoga, not for musical entertainments, or other social activities.

Those that live in the Ashram are requested to live quietly an noiselessly, and if they are not capable themselves of meditation, the must at least leave the others to meditate.

The Mother