Mother's Chronicles - Book Four

4

Her Diamond Eyes

Mother, in her communion with her Lord, did not note down the exact physical events on board the ship. But sometimes, in the course of conversations, she would recall one incident or another, for her ironical look never missed any incongruity.

"The first time I came to India," recounted Mother decades later, "I came on a Japanese ship. And on this Japanese ship there were two clergymen, that is, Protestant priests, of different sects. I don't remember what sects exactly, but they were both English; I think one was an Anglican and the other a Presbyterian.

"Now, came Sunday." It was Sunday the 15^th of March, 1914. "There had to be a religious ceremony on the ship, else they would have looked like pagans, just like the Japanese! There had to be a ceremony, but who should perform it? Should it be the Anglican or should it be the Presbyterian? They all but quarelled. In the end, one of them withdrew with dignity. I don't remember now which one, I think it was the Anglican; and the Presbyterian performed his ceremony.

"That took place in the saloon of the ship. We had to

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go down a few steps to this saloon. And that day, all the men had put on their suits —it was hot, I think we were in the Red Sea — they had put on their waistcoats, collars, leather shoes, well-set neckties and hats, and down they went, a book under their arm, almost in a procession from the deck to the saloon. The ladies had their hats on, some even carried a parasol, and they too had their book under the arm, a prayer book." Mother kept a straight face while saying all this, but her tone of voice and the look in her eyes were like paint-brushes painting the picture.

"And so, they all crowded down into the saloon, where the Presbyterian gave a sermon, that is to say, preached, and everybody listened very religiously. Then, when it was over, they all came up with the satisfied air of someone who has done his duty. But naturally, five minutes later they were at the bar drinking and playing cards, their religious ceremony forgotten. They had done their duty, it was over, there was nothing more to be said about it." How Mother scorned insincerity!

"Then the clergyman came to ask me, more or less politely, why I hadn't attended. I told him, 'Sir, I am sorry, but I don't believe in religion.'

'"Oho, you are a materialist!'

'"No, not at all.'

'"Ah! Then why?'

'"Oh, if I were to tell you, you would be quite displeased, it is probably better not to say anything!'

"But he insisted so much that I said at last, 'Just this. I don't feel you are sincere, neither you nor your flock. You all went there to fulfil a duty and a social custom, not at all

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because you really wanted to enter into communion with God.'

'"Enter into communion with God !But we can't do that! All we can do is to say some good words, but we have no ability to enter into communion with God.'

'"Then I said, 'But that's just why I didn't go, for it doesn't interest me.'

"After that he asked me many questions and confided to me that he was going to China to convert the 'pagans.' At that I became serious and told him, 'Listen, even before your religion was born —it is not yet two thousand years old —the Chinese had a very high philosophy and knew a path leading them to the Divine. And when they think of Westerners, they think of them as barbarians. And you are going there to convert those who know more than you? What are you going to teach them ? To be insincere ? To perform hollow ceremonies instead of following a profound philosophy and a detachment from life which lead them to a more spiritual consciousness? I don't think you are going to do a very good thing.'

"Then he was so flabbergasted, the poor man, that he said to me, 'Eh, I am afraid I can't be convinced by your words!'

"'Oh!' I said, 'I am not trying to convince you. I only described the situation to you. Besides, I don't quite see why barbarians should wish to go and teach civilized people what they have known long before you. That's all.'

"And that was the end of it!"

About the Christian missionaries Vivekananda could not have agreed more. "You train and educate and pay men to do what?" he asked his American audience. "To come over to my

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country to curse and abuse all my forefathers, my religion and everything. . . . And then you who train men to abuse and criticise, if I touch you with the least bit of criticism, with the kindest of purpose, you shrink and cry, 'Don't touch us, we are Americans. We criticise all the people in the world, curse them and abuse them, say anything; but do not touch us; we are sensitive plants.'"¹

His was the view of a true Yogi attentive to Truth.

Mirra too was a true Yogi. Truth-perception was her birthright.

Nothing was hidden from her burning heart. She measured the worlds with her diamond eyes.

*

* *

Mirra was going to India. And what were "the things I expect from my voyage to India" ? Her prayer was: "Grant that I may accomplish my mission, that I may help in Thy integral manifestation."

She did not know to what extent her prayer was going to be fulfilled.

For Mirra's destination was Sri Aurobindo.

And who was Sri Aurobindo?

Let the Kaga Maru take Mirra steadily nearer and nearer to him.

Let us begin at the beginning.

1. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda,

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