Sri Aurobindo : conversations
Talks with Sri Aurobindo is a thousand-page record of Sri Aurobindo's conversations with the disciples who attended to him during the last twelve years of his life. The talks are informal and open-ended, for the attendants were free to ask whatever questions came to mind. Sri Aurobindo speaks of his own life and work, of the Mother and the Ashram, of his path of Yoga and other paths, of India's social, cultural and spiritual life, of the country's struggle for political independence, of Hitler and the Second World War, of modern science, art and poetry, and of many other things that arose in the course of conversation. Serious discussion is balanced with light-hearted banter and humour. By recording these human touches, Nirodbaran has brought out the warm and intimate atmosphere of the talks.
THEME/S
DR. MANILAL: By the rejection of lower impulses, Sir, is it not the rejection of immoral impulses that is in view?
SRI AUROBINDO: What is meant by immoral? What society does not like? Isn't that so?
DR. MANILAL: Yes, Sir.
SRI AUROBINDO: We have nothing to do with society. Otherwise we can't do Yoga.
NIRODBARAN: We couldn't leave our family and parents! It would be immoral. Of course in Dr. Manilal's case that problem doesn't arise. (Laughter)
DR. MANILAL(massaging Sri Aurobindo's patella):It has become more flexible, Sir.
NIRODBARAN: Not much; far less than expected. We expected a miracle from you.
DR. MANILAL: Me?
SRI AUROBINDO: Kaivalyajnana.7 (Laughter)
News has been obtained that Shastri is somewhere in the town. The owner of the house in which he is lodged is in contact with the Ashram. He proposed to Shastri that he would bring him to the Ashram if he wished. Shastri replied that the Mother would send a car for him!
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, and the next day he will ask for an elephant. (Laughter)
PURANI: The best thing for such people is to send them home. Then they become all right.
In January 1941 Nirodbaran stopped recording the talks on a regular basis. What follows are seven talks and a letter from the period 1941-48. All but one deal with a devotee from Calcutta.
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