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
Mussolini, on his fifty-seventh birthday, has given an interview to press reporters. He bared his upper body and said, "Am I sick? Am I old?" and then galloped around on a horse.
NIRODBARAN: Mussolini has been dramatic.
SRI AUROBINDO(laughing): Yes.
PURANI: But what about his fleet? It doesn't seem to vend out.
SRI AUROBINDO: No, for fear of becoming sick. (Laughter) According to a press report the size of the British Army in Africa is not sufficient. If true, it should be reinforced; otherwise if the Germans take Alexandria and the rest of Egypt, it will be bad for England. Alexandria is like Gibraltar. I suppose England has concentrated all her forces in England itself.
PURANI: Yes, the French collapse may have changed this plan.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes.
Have you read about America's army strength in New Statesman and Nation? It is lamentable.
SATYENDRA: Yes, what has she been doing all these years?
SRI AUROBINDO: No wonder she is against sending any expeditionary force to Europe.
SATYENDRA: Now Japan is also threatening her.
SRI AUROBINDO: America has her navy to deal with Japan. Hitler had a navy, then after defeating England he would have gone straight for America. The present state of America's army would have been a great opportunity for him.
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