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
NIRODBARAN: In an old essay in a now defunct periodical named Orient Amal wrote that because you were embittered and disillusioned you gave up poetry and politics.
SRI AUROBINDO: Nonsense. I gave it up and took to the spiritual life because I wanted force for my action. People make the mistake of thinking that whatever a poet writes must be from his personal experience. I can also write of universal experience. I can feel the experience in me and write about it.
NIRODBARAN: Gandhi will now have to consider the door closed, after Hoare's speech.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, not only closed but jammed and he must be prepared to expect the worst.
NIRODBARAN: When Hoare was made the Government speaker, it was—
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, it was a foregone conclusion.
NIRODBARAN: He has also indicated the line the Government should pursue, saying "with strength and justice".
SRI AUROBINDO: That is the Hitlerian euphemism for repression, almost the same tone as of Ribbentrop. The undersecretary, O'Neil, tried to cool it down but with no effect.
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