Read Champaklal's correspondence with The Mother - from the period spanning 1930 to 1973
The Mother : correspondence
THEME/S
Born on 2 February 1902, the Gujarati disciple Champaklal Purani first met Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on 1 April 1921, when he was nineteen. Two years later he settled permanently with them in Pondicherry. From the beginning Champaklal worked closely with the Mother and assisted her for the next fifty years. He also served Sri Aurobindo as a personal attendant for about twenty-five years. During the last two decades of his life, he travelled extensively in India and abroad. He passed away on 9 May 1992 at the age of ninety.
Champaklal's correspondence with the Mother covers the period from 1930 to 1973.
Mother, I am really attached to my family a lot and especially to my father. Would you please write down for me whatever you said this morning because it has helped me a lot? Though I am not fit to be your child, by Thy Grace all is possible. Thy Grace is my Mantra. I want to be your faithful child and nothing else. May all the parts of my being be yours.
Take advantage of the circumstances to get rid of all attachment to the members of your family.
You must learn that you have no more brothers, sister, father, mother, except Sri Aurobindo and myself, and you must feel free and unconcerned whatever happens to them. We are your whole family, your protection, your all in all.
I am waiting for the day when I will say very proudly that I am your faithful child and I want nothing but you; all the parts of the being will ask only for you; nothing will remain mine; everything will become yours.
Yes, this will be one day.
c. 1930
Champaklal,
The offering of your physical being will perfect your skill in works.
Your skill in works will make perfect your physical offering.
2 July 1931
1) Be always faithful to the Divine in your heart.
2) Let nothing interfere with the absoluteness of your consecration or stop your progress which has been up to now quite satisfactory.
3) Take the present circumstances and the coming back of X as a test and face it victoriously.
4) Be vigilant.
12 February 1932
For 1932
To Champaklal
Peaceful confidence in the mind, cheerful devotion in the heart, firm resolution in the vital, quiet energy in the body.
13 February 1932
G does not come for pranam in the morning. Is this a higher state in his sadhana? If he does not go out of his house one can understand, but I see him going about with others as usual.
How can to abstain from Pranam be the sign of a "higher state of sadhana"?
It is simply a fancy of his mental and vital pride.
20 September 1932
I have done this picture without anybody's help. How is it? Will I be able to learn?
To learn means months and months of study before any picture can be done; studies from nature, drawing first for a long time, painting only after.
If you are ready to study hard and regularly, then you can begin, otherwise it is better not to try.
6 January 1933
Mother,
Tea was given to N on 24 February. This morning he came at 9.10 and asked for more tea. He wants it before noon. He said to me that he has taken permission from Mother. Shall I give it to him or not?
He asked for the tea but I did not send my sanction. I had told him to write a letter to Sri Aurobindo and he has not yet done it. As soon as he sends his letter, he will get his tea.
16 March 1933
My child, your work is what it has always been, worthy of the trust we have put in you and you need not worry at all about that. But be very careful to let no influence diminish your confidence in me and allow nothing or nobody to separate you from me.
9 March 1934
When I came up at 8.30 p.m., S was sitting on the stairs facing the door which opens inside. He asked me whose footsteps were being heard? Who was walking inside? I said to him that I did not know. Mother I would like to know whether my answer was all right.
Yes, certainly, they have no right to ask.
15 March 1934
The chit for an orange for Seetha, which Mother left for me on the 23rd, was wrongly read by me. I read Sudhir in place of Seetha. As I happened to meet the Doctor I showed him the chit and asked him to read it. He read it and went on insisting and at last convinced me that it was Sudhir and not Seetha. I trusted him thinking that he knew better English and was used to reading Mother's handwriting in his notebook which he sends to her, giving information about sick people. But when I received another chit enquiring about the orange for Seetha I learnt my mistake.
That is how people (the doctor in this instance) make mistakes by having preconceived ideas in the mind. He jumped at once at the idea of Sudhir having an orange—so he saw all the reasons possible for reading Sudhir—and also all the impossible reasons.
April 1934
P was telling me that if Mother's portrait of me is left as it is, it may fade away and that it would be better to have it fixed with fixing solution. I like to know from Mother what she would like me to do.
No, it will not fade; it is pencil, not charcoal and there is no need of fixing it.
4 February 1935
Ma chère Mère,
What did you see in me this morning? After Pranam, when I looked at you, you did not smile at all. Why?
Mon cher enfant,
What I saw in you was as usual very good and it seems to me that I smiled as usual also—at least that was my intention. But if I was not smiling, it must be that I was still deep inside as during meditation. With my blessings
14 February 1935
Les cartes sont très jolies. [The cards are very pretty.]
I am sending one back. I would like you to draw a rose in the corner.
With love and blessings always
18 February 1935
To Champaklal with our blessings.
Your flowers are very pretty. Surely I hope you will do some more.
25 April 1935
I am very much astonished by your questions. Are you not here to serve the Divine and are you not actually doing it? It is when you are doing it in all simplicity and full-heartedly that you are nearer to the goal.
Beware of hostile suggestions or dangerous talks which make your mind restless and blind your consciousness.
Our love is always with you.
26 May 1935
Mother, this picture I have done without any help.
It is a good attempt (the sky is rather heavy).
Love and blessings to my dear child
8 October 1935
Mother, I tried to draw [the flower] "Light without obscurity", but could not succeed; the flower is spoiled.
It is not so bad. If you give a little shade of crimson lake it will be quite all right.
1935
X wants to learn music. Can she learn from a violinist from the town?
Surely not violin; the way in which violin is played here is simply offensive. And to learn true violin, one must begin to learn when 8 years old. But if she finds somebody to teach her the Veena it is all right.
29 August 1936
Nowadays I am always late and in a hurry and I am not giving you time as I used to. That is why I want to see you for a few minutes tomorrow. But instead of seeing you at 1.30 as N said, I will call you in when I have finished with A at about 2.15.
It is just to increase your receptivity that I want to see you all alone and quietly.
With love and blessings
4 February 1938
For the past few months I get the idea of going from here. Is it from you? If it is Mother's wish I can go.
Your ignorant child, Champak, with Pranam
No, it is a hostile suggestion trying to send you away because your presence is most helpful and necessary.
I hope you will dismiss this wrong suggestion altogether and think no more of it. Your place is near us and you must stay here.
With our love and blessings
19 April 1940
The generosity of your absolute self-giving will bring to you the revelation of the generosity of the Divine's Love.
30 March 1948
BIRTHDAY MESSAGES
Red lotus—Symbol of the manifestation of the Supreme upon earth.
White lotus—Symbol of the Divine Consciousness.
2 February 1930
To Champaklal,
Let this year be a year of progress and transformation—one more step on the way leading to the Divine Realisation.
*
To Champaklal for his birthday.
The things which seem most difficult, most improbable, and perhaps even most impossible, become wholly realisable because Thy Presence is our assurance that the material world itself is prepared to manifest the new form of Thy Will and Thy Law.
With my blessings
2 February 1933
This year make an effort to achieve equanimity.
2 February 1940
This year you must wholly overcome and throw out the hostile suggestion that has been harassing you, rejecting it in such a way that it will never come back again. Your home, your place and your fulfilment are here.
2 February 1941
In front of the repeated attacks from the enemy you must keep your faith intact and endure till the Victory is won.
2 February 1942
Let this year be for you the year of a complete opening and of the breaking of all limitations.
2 February 1943
Let this year bring to you the true faith—a faith that no darkness can obscure.
2 February 1944
I am glad to he able to say that your openness and your receptivity have increased during last year. Do not stop now and let them become perfect in the year to come.
With my love and blessings
2 February 1945
My dear child, now I can call you in truth my dear child as I feel you quite close to me having taken shelter in my arms for good—and you are welcome there with all my love.
2 February 1946
My dear child, that which I had foreseen last year has proved to be quite true and this relation of the Mother and the child has much grown in reality, intensity and deepness.
2 February 1947
My dear child,
Let your receptivity increase this year, to the extent of giving you the power to fully utilise the force that is at work for restoring perfect good health in you.
2 February 1948
Sri Aurobindo's love and blessings on the occasion of your birthday
2 February 1949
My dear child, now it is time for the faith to become truly active and to stand unshaken against all contradictions. Have the faith, the true faith, that you are cured and the cure is bound to come.
My love and blessings
To my most faithful child, the keeper of the true remembrance, I give today the assurance of my full confidence. I did not write in this book in 1950 because it was to be the most important year of your life, the year that has put a seal to what you were and opened in front of you the door leading to what you will be: a true and complete child of our Lord whose presence here is more total than it has ever been.
2 February 1950 and 1951
Patience
Perseverance
Endurance
Faith and an
Unshakable courage ...
...We are approaching the goal.
2 February 1952
A steady progress and a clear understanding of what you must be. These are the gains of the finished year.
Now there is only to continue.
2 February 1953
In 1940 Sri Aurobindo wrote to you: "Tranquillise and widen your consciousness" and I insisted on achieving equanimity. Many things have happened since then, much progress has been done and yet these things remain still to be fully realised. Let these be accomplished during this year that begins for you. A silent equanimity both inside and outside will be a great achievement for you.
2 February 1954
This time it is a year of true progress which has brought you nearer to the goal and much closer to me.
2 February 1955
I can repeat what I said last year—but this time the progress is much bigger and the closeness to me much more true and intimate. You have advanced on the path at a great speed—and I can only tell you, continue.
2 February 1956
Bonne Fête!
To my dear child.
You have continued, and this time the progress is much more concrete and complete. I have the strong feeling that I can rely upon you and this is very comfortable.
Let this progress spread to the body now and give you good health steadily.
2 February 1957
To my dear child—
One more year;
one more step towards perfect service in a total surrender. With my love and blessings
2 February 1958
This year, the Grace has arranged circumstances in such a way that you are closer to me than you have ever been—and all through you have proved most reliable and effective, always ready, always there when you are needed, always doing what needs to be done. I am happy to tell you that on your birthday.
2 February 1959
Champaklal, my dear child,
I am glad to be able to say that you are progressing steadily. As you yourself remarked, your consciousness is growing and with one more effort you will soon emerge in the light and become wise.
This one more effort is the control of speech ... let it be the boon from the Grace for this year!
2 February 1960
Few words are needed.
All is going on well.
Steadily we are advancing towards the goal, and you are keeping pace with me.
2 February 1961
All is well. You are progressing rapidly—there is only to continue steadily and the way will open before you more and more clear.
2 February 1962
Champaklal, my dear child
The way is wide open and it is an artistic one, a fine way of expressing your soul, which will become more and more clear and powerful with the inner growth and flowering of your heart as a sincere expression of your eternal Soul.
2 February 1963
A big step has been taken, a great change has taken place, the presence of your Soul is clearly felt not only in what you do—which is steadily progressing—but in what you are.
This is a decisive year for you, heralding the realisation. With my love and blessings
2 February 1964
Champaklal
This year, I feel clearly that you have become a part of myself.
For ever love
2 February 1965
Let this year see the advent of the true joy of working in the Divine's Consciousness.
With love
2 February 1966
The illness has come like a test and gone like a purification carrying away all that was standing in the way of the joy of an integral consecration.
2 February 1967
I am happy to say that you are my true child and becoming more and more so.
2 February 1968
Let the full Light be with you in a silent adoration.
2 February 1969
To Champaklal the faithful
With love and blessings for a happy, healthy and useful year in light, joy and love.
Bonne Fête à Champaklal!
From Mother to Champaklal
Love
Peace
Strength
Silence
Consciousness
2 February 1970
1st Prize of Faithfulness
With my full love
Bonne Fête
Blessings
2 February 1971
To Sri Aurobindo's and Mother's Champak
One of the hundred2
With my love, appreciation, trust and blessings for ever. En route vers la Realisation
2 February 1972
With all my love and confidence and my blessings to reach the goal.
Let us all be eternally grateful to Him who has shown us and shows us constantly the way.
2 February 1973
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