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
Purani brought a letter from one Padmakanti whose income tax had been assessed wrongly and who had appealed against the Government. The case was on the next day.
SRI AUROBINDO: He ought to have written earlier. Not much time to save him. Where is the appeal?
PURANI: In the revenue court, perhaps.
SRI AUROBINDO: Are the officers just?
PURANI: At present yes, because of the Congress Ministry.
SRI AUROBINDO: There is no more Congress Ministry. The mind of a revenue collector is not an easy job to work on. A judge's, mind is different.
NIRODBARAN(after Sri Aurobindo's walk): Did you say Theatre Road was your village?
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, I was born there in the house of the lawyer Manmohan Ghose. It was No. 4, I think.
NIRODBARAN: Dilip says that that brought about his contact with you. (Laughter)
PURANI: Have you read that criticism by Joad of Gerald Heard?
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. Joad doesn't seem to be much of a thinker. He says that he had the same ideas as the author but he changed them because of' the objections of philosophical critics. If he changes his ideas because of that, his ideas are not worth much. The first business of a philosopher is to anticipate the objections and then meet them.
PURANI: He has written some good treatises on Plato and others.
SRI AUROBINDO: That means he is a good teacher, not original thinker.
PURANI: He has reviewed a book on Indian philosophy.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, I have seen the review. He says he can't believe in Chakras because he has no experience of them! If one doesn't believe things one has no experience of, there will be few beliefs. Indian mystics have always said that only by Yoga can you have experiences, otherwise you have to take such matters on belief.
Home
Disciples
Nirodbaran
Books
Share your feedback. Help us improve. Or ask a question.