What I Have Learnt From The Mother

Some Observations and Conclusions

(1)

The Solution

Man's aim is to move towards an integral perfection. Life is the field of action given to us for developing that integral perfection. And the path is the total surrender of our life and action.

Sri Aurobindo's sadhana does not exclude the world. It is the integral transformation of the world by bringing down from the heights the Divine Consciousness.

This is not possible solely by human endeavour. The human aspiration from below and the response from above: it is only in the union of these two that this work can be done.

Man with his mind can determine his conduct in the practical, material life but then the very imperfection of man's earthly life can completely unsettle everything. No political ideology, no religious discipline, no philosophical system, no intellectual understanding, no ethical solution or scientific discovery can bring about that perfection until man transforms his own nature. And once man's nature is transformed then every activity can be utilised for the work of integral perfection.

But then the question arises: Should man just twiddle his thumbs until the transformation of his nature takes place? Not at all. He has first to be convinced of this truth in his mind and life. And then keeping this truth in full view he should develop himself in all the parts of his being, keep the flame of aspiration constantly burning within him and rely entirely on the Divine Grace.

Man should determine his work according to his nature, capacity and inclination since it is work that helps us in manifesting our inner truth outside. Then it is important to try and turn oneself through one's work and one's work through oneself into something as beautiful as possible.

There is no high and low in work. It is not work that makes man great or small. It is man who makes his work great or small. One can advance towards perfection through any work as long as that work is done with inner sincerity.

Page 18

At the very outset there is not much that needs to be changed in life from the outside. First one has to change one's attitude in life and then that takes care of the rest.

One has to discover one's inner Truth and then allow it as fully as possible to direct one's whole life.

It is not an easy path. At every step there is risk and danger. At every step one's inner sincerity is put to test. But there is no other way.

My personal experience in my own life through all these years has shown me that an invisible Power has guided me all along this path. And it is my innermost conviction that it is this same invisible Power that will continue to guide me till the very end of my life.

(2)

The Chakras

The ancient Rishis and sages have spoken to us about the six chakras: muladhara, Swadhishthana, manipura, anahata, visudhha, ajna and above these the sahasrara chakra.

Muladhara is right at the base of the spine, coiled like a serpent, what Sri Aurobindo has called "Coiled Energy" or the kundalini power.

Swadhishthana is below the abdomen, the chakra of the lower vital.

Manipura is at the navel-centre where the lower vital ends.

Anahata is our heart-centre which is the seat of the psychic and the higher vital.

Vishuddha is at the throat-centre, the centre of speech.

Ajna chakra is located between the eyebrows. This is the seat of the will-power, the seat of the will and psychic vision.-

Sahasrara is at the crown of the head, the centre of the Over mind.

Besides these chakras the Mother and Sri Aurobindo have spoken of two other chakras, one at the knee and the other at the soles. The knee-chakra is the seat of the sub consciousness. There is a visible connection with the subconscious here.

And the sole of the foot is the seat of the Inconscient.

Those who call this body the seat or the altar of Sadhana do it because truly with the body we can interact with the whole world and the Infinite Consciousness. With the help of each chakra we come into contact with a different plane.

Page 19

It is like the doors and windows in a house. By opening a door or a window you get in touch with a particular part of the outer world. These chakras too are all subtle centers of being, the centroids of consciousness as it were.

Sri Aurobindo's Yoga is the sadhana of Integral Transformation whereby this body will become the Divine Body and the Divine or Supramental Consciousness will illuminate and take root in this very practical consciousness.

The mind of man acts today only within the confines of the unconscious, ignorant world. But as this mind becomes increasingly purified, illuminated and wide so will the cosmic and Infinite Consciousness infuse his being. The flame of a lamp diffuses its light all around. The flame and the circle of light it diffuses is what we can call the whole lamp. This body too is then a centre of all-pervasive, infinite Force of Consciousness. This mind will be a fort of Light, dense with knowledge, what Sri Aurobindo has called the "Mind of Light".

I have felt that this Mind of Light must certainly also have a corresponding point or chakra in this body.

And so I checked all the chakras that are there in the different parts of our body. These are all the centroids of consciousness under whose pressure the various glands in the human body function. It is under the signals of the consciousness that they obey and create the different kinds of hormones. These are called chemical messengers and it is they who carry the information from the consciousness throughout the body. And thus arise in the body all kinds of feelings and sensations, and actions and reactions are regulated.

I feel that there is a new centre or chakra behind the head, just on top of the spinal column where the pituitary gland is located. The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus and the pineal gland. The hypothalamus controls and regulates the hormones of the pituitary gland. And so if we can control the chakra that surrounds the pituitary gland and make it work in a disciplined manner then our body will be able to develop a certain equanimity and balance. The different voluntary and involuntary muscles will be able to work in greater harmony. If someone can exert perfect control over this chakra, perfect control over the proper functioning of the glands in accordance with the body's needs, then he can gain total mastery over the body. Because all the movements of physical energy expressed in different actions and moods are controlled by its band-master and his signals. That is why if we can exert control

Page 20

over this then we will have conquered the decay of the body. We could stop the onset of this decay. If we can bring this chakra under our total control then we could attain even physical immortality.

What Sri Aurobindo has called the "Mind of Light" will be able to work out with intervention of this chakra the conjunction of the Supramental and the physical being.

This chakra that surrounds the pituitary gland is the centroids of the "Mind of Light" in our body, the point where the mind and the body meet and become one.

A Note

It seems there is a new centre at the base of the hind brain. The pituitary gland is also situated here. As its proper functioning brings harmony and balance in the physical being and gives perfect coordination of the different muscles of the body (both voluntary and involuntary ) so if one has brought perfect control over this centre and can make the work according to the physical need at each moment, then one will have perfect control over one's body. It will then function properly, the decay will stop, and the movements that bring the decay can be prevented. Thus perfect control and mastery over this centre may bring physical immortality.

Sri Aurobindo has spoken of "Mind of Light" that will serve as the liaison between the supermind and the physical being. Perhaps this centre is the seat of the "Mind of Light" in the body.

17.1.1955

(3)

A Remark

Question : Today, as I was coming to you, someone told me "Why do you people disturb Dada so much by continually visiting him ? It puts. Dada under great strain . He has to listen to all your problems and difficulties which damages his physical health. It should suffice us that he is there. His presence itself is a blessings for us." Tell me, Dada, the fact that we come to see you like this, tell you all about our joys and sorrows, our problems and difficulties, does this truly harm you in any way ?

Dada : Not at all. If I do not listen to what you have to say, if I do not think about you but just stand silently like a tree, that is being like

Page 21

vegetation and not worth anything. I will try and work for you as long as I can with this body. Of what use is the body, then ?"

Question : Now all these problems and difficulties of ours we bring to you, doesn't all this disturb you ?

Dada :I have just told you. I am absolutely not disturbed. It has no effect on me at all. And besides, where there is life there are bound to be problems. The very purpose of life is to overcome problems. However, most of our life's problems are of our own making. We invite problems. Very often the consequences of an action take time to work themselves out. Sometimes the fruit of a past action may come after ten, fifteen years. At that time we forget that the seed of this difficulty was sown by us. We forget this and blame the Divine for it. Why did the Divine do this to my life ?

Question : But, Dada, I have heard that by listening to our various difficulties and problems , The Mother would fall ill.

Dada : The Mother did not fall ill by listening to our problems. She fell ill because of our pettiness, our littleness, our insincerity and hatred and small nesses.

Question : Dada, you see, you hear all this too. Does not your body fall ill ?

Dada : No, that has not happened yet. Not yet.

Page 22