Spiritual bouquets to a friend

The Mother

The Mother was born in a wealthy family in Paris as Mira Alfasa on 21 February, 1878. Introspective by nature, she was in many ways an extraordinary child. She used to feel the descent of a great brilliant light while sitting silently in a chair at the age of four. At about the age of twelve, she became conscious of a great mission she had come to fulfil upon earth. "Between eleven and thirteen", she says, "a series of psychic and spiritual experiences revealed to me, not only the existence of God, but man's possibility of meeting with Him or revealing Him integrally in consciousness and action, of manifesting Him upon earth in a life divine. This along with a practical discipline for its fulfilment was given to me, during my body's sleep, by several teachers some of whom I met afterwards on the physical plane. Later on....the spiritual and psychic relation with one of these beings became more and more clear and pregnant...." The Mother called Him Krishna and made even a sketch of Him.

In 1914, her spiritual quest brought her to Pondicherry where she met Sri Aurobindo. She at once recognised him as the Krishna of her vision and felt that it was with him she was destined to live and work out her life's mission. Before this, she had already advanced far on the path of Yoga and realised the Divine at the age of twenty two. She had also practised the Gita's Karmayoga.

She came to India for good in 1920 and began to collaborate with Sri Aurobindo in his integral Yoga. When he went into seclusion after his great Siddhi in 1926, he gave the charge of the inmates in the Mother's hands. Thus the Ashram was founded and the Mother was accepted as the Divine Mother.

Since then, the Ashram began to expand rapidly and by 1950, it had become a large spiritual institution giving

Page 13

shelter to men and women and children of all ages and having its various establishments where to mould them into a new spiritual consciousness according to Sri Aurobindo's vision. When, after bringing down the Supramental Consciousness, he left his body in 1950, the Mother "continued to live in order to do his work which is : By serving Truth and enlightening mankind to hasten the rule of Divine's Love upon the earth."

She declared, "There is a Supreme Divine Consciousness. We want to manifest this Consciousness in the physical life."

In furtherance of the realisation of Sri Aurobindo's ideal of human unity, the Mother inaugurated 'Auroville' on 28 February, 1968, "which is meant to be an International City, a living embodiment of that unity built upon the Divine Consciousness. It will be the effective way of preventing World War."

In 1973 she left her body, after she had built up slowly, step by step, but firmly, the Ashram, her grand creation. She had said that even if she was not there, "these children of mine will be there to carry out my work."

Her work is going under her guiding Hand, for she is indeed present.

Page 14

Extracts from the Mother's Message

A smile acts upon difficulties as the sun upon the clouds—it disperses them.

** *

To smile at an enemy is to disarm him.

** *

The whole of our life should be a prayer offered to the Divine.

** *

All sincere prayers are granted, every call is answered.

** *

To work for the Divine is to pray with the body.

** *

But do not forget that on the quality of your aim will depend the quality of your life.

** *

You have no right to judge a man unless you are capable of doing what he does better than himself.

** *

You are richer with the wealth you give than with the wealth you keep in your possession.

** *

The greater the difficulties, the greater also our possibilities.

** *

To know how to wait is to Time on your side.

** *

To conquer a desire brings more joy than to satisfy it.

Page 15

A mantra of Sri Aurobindo translated by the Mother into English.

Page 16