At the feet of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo

18 June 1933

MYSELF: Mother dear, this seems to be a vital movement in me, for to feel like singing all the time as a result of some pressure of ananda, as if I were under some intoxication, can’t be a sign of the psychic. Besides, I myself understand clearly that it is a vital movement, because there is no control. The psychic is accompanied by a sense of quiet and collectedness whereas the vital is under excitement and restlessness. Am I not right, Mother? I should have restrained myself, I feel. That I became too impatient is a clear sign of the vital movement. It was a mistake to yield to it, isn’t it so?

SRI AUROBINDO: Obviously, when there is that inability to control and overeagerness, it must be the movement of a vital nature. The vital can take part in a movement but it must not be in control — it must be subordinated to the psychic.

(18.6.33)