The Growth of a Flame

Guidance in Daily Activities

These are a few selected questions and answers for guidance in daily activities from 1931 to 1939.

Dear Father,

I am awaiting a reply from you. Please give me an answer.

There is no use in going to Gujarat for learning English. You can learn it here, if you want, much better than you could at any school.

My dear Mother,

I want to make a sari. In the sari I want to make the flower of Obedience. Please, choose the colour, shades and design and give me a sample which I can send to Bombay. Jagadish will send the silk threads. I have got fifteen rupees which Jagadish has sent (with food expense) for buying silk threads for the sari.

Mother will see the samples of colour and send them to you - she will ask Amal for the design.

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Mother,

Silk threads been received today from Bombay: Please, send a message for me whenever you find time. It is my humble request that the Mother show me how to use four kinds of colours.

Yes, Mother will call you as soon as she is able.

Mother,

Sometimes I like to ride the bicycle. May I go for cycling at 7 p.m. when there is moonlight?

It is not possible for women of the Ashram to go out on a cycle like that.

Mother,

I am very fond of learning music. When I went to Gujarat, it was one of the reasons for going.

I went to Gujarat disobeying you. Before I left, I was not well and on reaching there my health became even worse. But as soon as I reached Pondicherry, there was a remarkable change in my physical, mental and spiritual health due to your complete Grace.

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Mother arranged for my learning English and also gave me a chance to learn music with Sahana. She repeatedly told me: "If you want to learn music, you must have a harmonium to practise at home." Mahesh brought a harmonium from Gujarat. I sent this harmonium to be shown to you through Nolini. But I did not receive any answer. I had told Sahana that I did not like this harmonium because it did not have a pleasing tone, still I started practising for half an hour — 9.30 to 10.00 a.m.

Afterwards Champaklal started coming to learn music at my place. He informed me of your opinion about the harmonium. I never played it in the evening. Mahesh used to play it for sometime and Champaklal played between 7 to 7.30 p.m. Now my music practice has stopped.

What shall I do to learn music? Shall I ask for a new harmonium?

The Mother was not against your learning music, but if you practise with this bad harmonium, you will spoil your voice for ever.

Perhaps Dilip will now be able to lend you from time to time his small harmonium, as there is now a big one for Nandini and Lalita.

Mother did not mind your playing between 9 and 10 in the morning.

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Mother,

In the crown may I put silver thread or not?

Where to put it?

Yes. In the centre of the flowers and around the leaves if there are leaves.

Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

Often I get stomachache. Why do I feel these things?

Are you careful about what you eat? Do you take food other than the Ashram food?

Mother,

There is something like a small boil in the corner of my left eye. What shall I do?

Show to Becharlal.

Mother,

I want to swim in the sea. If Mother permits, I may go.

With whom do you think of going and how would you dress?

Sri Aurobindo

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Mother,

By your Grace, I was saved two or three times from falling. I had a fall once only and today hot milk fell on my hand while boiling it. I received little burns only and no boils as I immediately applied the ointment Pomedkadam.

What is the reason for these repeated accidents though I am saved by your grace?

It is like that sometimes with everybody without any special cause.

Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

Anu asked me if I wanted to go for swimming. I said, "I shall ask the Mother. If she says yes, I shall come." Ambubhai is going to take Anu for a swim to a place where nobody goes. If the Mother permits me, I shall go too.

Mother takes no responsibility and gives no approval. If you are anxious to do it, you may do so, but by your own choice.

Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

What am I to understand? For preparing my Father's dhoti?

I will go for washing this afternoon.

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There is a dhoti already folded so it is not necessary unless Motiben remains ill for several days.

Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

I have learnt these patterns from Vasudha. Please, select one to be drawn on my respected Father's dhoti.

Mother has marked with a cross the patterns chosen.

Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

Blood oozes out from my throat when I sleep in the afternoon.

You must not sleep soon after meals - wait for half an hour or more.

Mother,

This dhoti border I myself have done. This is the first time I have done work with gold-thread. I did not learn from anybody. I have tried myself, therefore I have done a simple border. I could not do it well.

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I pray to Mother if she wishes to give it to my Father on the twenty-first of February. The dhoti also is folded by me.

The dhoti is very good. Sri Aurobindo will wear it on the 21st.

With love and blessings.

THE MOTHER

Mother,

I cannot get a piece of cloth of proper length for my respected Father's dhoti. How many yards of cloth should I buy for dhoti and chaddar for him?

Chaddar 3½ yards. For the dhoti ask Nolini.

I am sending the tea account of this month.

Very good.

With my blessings.

Gracious Mother,

If you like these calendars you can keep them. I shall be glad. Pranam at the lotus feet of the Mother.

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Yes, I like them and shall keep them.

Blessings.

Mother,

With your permission, Amrita took my embroidery frame for someone. I now want a frame, any will do.

You can ask Amrita whether he can get back the frame.

Mother,

Last time my father Kashibhai came he asked me if I wanted an electric table fan. Shall I ask for it? I feel very hot in my room.

The difficulty is that if the Mother allows one to bring a fan, she will have to allow all who ask.

Mother,

A few days back, Anu asked me whether I would come to learn 'Lathi', I said yes if Mother gives permission and Ambubhai takes the

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responsibility of teaching me. There is plenty of room in Shanta's house for teaching Lathi. If you give the permission, he will teach me.

No. Lathi play for girls has not the approval of the Mother.

Gracious Mother,

Shall I bring my vina tomorrow? Although I do not know much, I can practise sa re ga ma.

You can bring your vina if you like.

Love and blessings to my dear child.

Earlier you used to give me your precious blessings on a piece of paper which I sent to you with the orange notebook every day. I would like to get it bound. I pray for your kind permission.

Yes - my love and blessings.

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