The Mother : Contact
THEME/S
It was on one such occasion. The Mother's interviews had just ended. I hurried to the door and asked Her if I could come inside. The Mother nodded. I requested her, handing her Sri Aurobindo's poem Ascent, if She would kindly read out the portions I was supposed to recite. I was supposed to read out quite a few lines from the opening. There was just one reason
Page 81
There used to be a table next to the Mother's chair, on which stood a table-lamp and some flowers on a tray. She took the paper from my hand, and looked at it in silence. Then, She turned Her gaze on me and began reading:
Page 82
Quietly, I went in to sit at Her feet. The Mother looked at me for a while then asked, "Have you practised? Then start." I began my recitation. I kept making mistakes, as I hesitated again and again. The memory of Prithwisingh's scolding kept intruding. I had never made so many mistakes while reciting! The Mother kept listening to me, seated in Her chair, without saying a word, without reprimanding me. In the end, I just broke down into tears. My sobbing was uncontrollable. The Mother straightened up in Her chair and said, "Come, let's recite 'Om' together. I will start and you follow." Thus, the Mother started chanting 'Om'. With the Mother's divine force, all my gloom was simply obliterated! I felt such a peace! The whole room, my entire being was full of this peace! The Mother's eyes were fixed on me. After some time, She spoke again, "When you feel unwell, or when some unpleasant, ugly force or thought tries to attack you, and you want to stay away from it, then keep chanting 'Om'. You will see how those hostile forces disappear. You will feel a tremendous peace within you." Then the Mother fixed me with Her eyes again. "When something disturbing happens to you," She resumed, "something that makes you restless, agitated, keep repeating this mantra over and over again, Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!" It was unbelievable how my mood changed! Now, I took up the recitation of Sri Aurobindo's poem again, and returned home carrying a priceless jewel in the depth of my heart. What a Grace I had received from the Mother! A few days later, when I returned to the Mother to practise my recitation of the poem for the 1st December programme, I got into the interview-room, placed both my hands on Her feet and prayed, "Sweet Mother, teach me to chant 'Om'." The Mother did not respond. She sat up straight in Her chair, while I sat below at Her feet. Then, She began chanting Om. I simply listened to Her this time, hypnotized, staring at Her chanting with Her eyes closed. She chanted Om only a few times, for a very short while. The table-lamp was aglow beside
Page 83
On another day, I went up to see the Mother. A question arose in my mind. I asked Her, "How can one go deep within oneself?" "Haven't I explained this so many times?" came Her reply. She remained in a meditative state for a long time, as if She had gone into a deep trance. Then, on coming out of it, She said, "Keep your body in a comfortable position and then start chanting Om. Go on with this chanting of Om. You will notice that you are standing at the mouth of a dark tunnel, a long, narrow tunnel. Do not stop chanting Om, continue doing so seriously and with single-mindedness. You will observe that the dark tunnel is becoming brighter. Keep doing this practice. Keep chanting Om. Do this as many times
Page 84
as possible. One day, you will see you have reached the end of this tunnel - in the deepest part of your inner being - there the Lord resides, your inner deity dwells there. This practice is very hard and demands a lot of sadhana. But if you practise it regularly, then one day you are bound to succeed." After saying this, the Mother looked at me for a while very intently, then said, "Aurevoir, my dear child!" "Aurevoir, Douce Mère," I replied, as I bowed down and came out of the room.
Page 85
Home
Disciples
Shobha Mitra
Books
Share your feedback. Help us improve. Or ask a question.