Living in The Presence

Sri Aurobindo's Centenary

Page 199

    The following day, Navajata-ji arrived accompanied by a gentleman in Red House. Navajata-ji introduced him to me as Mr Angadi who was from Karnataka but based in London. He was the editor of a journal called Asian Music. Handing me a copy of this journal, they sat down. I flipped through the journal and noticed that there were photos of very reputed musicians. Mr Angadi said, "Miss Shobha, I have come to you with a proposal. My work is to bring celebrated musicians from the West to India and organise their concerts in the metros here and take good musicians from India and organise their concerts in Europe, America, Japan, China, etc. After seeing your programme last night, I was greatly impressed. I have listened to the best of musicians from both the East and the West but I had never felt before the kind of spiritual atmosphere your programme created last night. It was absolutely unique. That's why I would like to show to the world the kind of work that is being carried out in the Ashram. I would like to spread the Vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother throughout the world, which you did so beautifully in your programme. I would like to take you and your twelve participants on a world tour. We shall begin with the metros in India, then go to Europe, America, Japan, China, etc. It will be a 26-day tour after which you will all be brought back to the Ashram. The financial responsibility for this tour will be entirely mine. Your work will be simply to present Towards the Future wherever we go. That is my humble request to you." After listening to the gentleman, I requested him to write about his project to the Mother in detail. We would do whatever the Mother decided. Navajata-

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    After they left Red House I became somewhat nervous. My mind was burdened with all sorts of thoughts and ideas. What would happen if the Mother did agree to his proposal? It is so difficult to imagine staying out of the Ashram for a single day, how would I stay out for 26? Moreover, I had never been on a plane either! How would I take flights between all these countries? I was wracked by such unsettling thoughts. Until the Mother replied, my mind was all restless and jittery, and a real battle was going on inside. Besides, the entire group of participants had turned up at Red House on hearing this news. Everyone was so excited! When they cam  to know that the decision would be entirely left to the Mother, some of them were slightly crestfallen. One of my students blurted out, "Why did you have to inform the Mother, Shobha-di? We could have simply gone. Now if the Mother says 'no', it's all over!" Everyone burst out laughing listening to her childish reaction. However, we spent a lovely evening that day all together.

    I do not want my boys and girls to go out to do programmes.

    Naturally Mr Angadi was disheartened but he accepted the Mother's decision silently. Nolini-da sent for me the next morning. Hardly had I entered his room that he exclaimed, "Come, come Shobha. The Mother has asked me to tell you that people will know your worth only here. She doesn't want you to go out to do programmes." After hearing this, I told Nolini-da that if the Mother asks me not to go around the world because She considers me Her child, then that is my greatest reward. That is my supreme wealth. What can be greater than that? Nolini-da offered me some flowers and

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    After this incident, quite a few other requests have come to me to go out to do programmes but I have always declined the gracious offers without the slightest hesitation.

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