Indra Sen's correspondence with the Mother deals mainly with the running of the Ashram Press during the period 1945 to 1947 and letters on education in 1965.
The Mother : correspondence
THEME/S
Born on 13 May 1903 in the Jhelum District of Punjab, now in Pakistan, Indra Sen joined the Ashram in 1945 at the age of forty-two. For many years he was a university professor in New Delhi. As his first work, the Mother asked him to water flower-pots in the Ashram courtyard. Then she placed him in the newly-formed Ashram Press, where he worked for ten years. Later she arranged for him to teach a course in Integral Psychology in the Ashram school. He also established an Ashram centre in North India and helped to set up two Ashram orchards there. His final years were spent in the Ashram. He passed away on 16 March 1994 at the age of ninety.
Indra Sen's correspondence with the Mother deals mainly with the running of the Ashram Press during the years from 1945 to 1947. At the end are several questions about education raised by him in 1965.
The composing section has a lot of work. Feeling the need of regulating the work of the new sadhaks who are learning, I told them that we shall take proofs only at the end of the day, between 4.30 and 5.30. Do you approve of it, Mother?
Is it not possible to teach them some teamwork? That is to say, can they not take up one thing to be printed—like the [New Year] prayers from 1933 to now, and each one will contribute to the general work so that the result will be a whole holding together? It is indispensable to teach them from the beginning to do a collective work in which each one plays his part; otherwise the whole thing will remain only as an interesting play for a few children.
13 September 1945
I assigned one or two of the New Year prayers to each learner and they have finished the job. The proofs are enclosed. There is a proposal to bring out the prayers in an 8-page booklet entitled "New Year Prayers (1933-1945)". The model of the proposal is enclosed.
These prayers are a kind of historical recording of the psychological development of the world's events for the last twelve years or so; they must be read in chronological order.
15 September 1945
[At the end of his report, the sadhak wrote:] Excuse me, Mother, I have dictated this report to V. since I am rather tired and my eyes are strained.
I do not want you to get tired—do not take too much work upon yourself and do not forget to take rest whenever you feel the need of it. It is indispensable that you should not strain yourself.
2 October 1945
We are planning to search the workmen as they leave the Press premises. I have the impression that you consider this desirable.
I quite agree to the necessity of this measure. But two points need to be settled:
1) I would rather if the measure is general and not only for those earning below Rs. 30 a month. A general measure is less offensive for everybody and the only secure one, for obvious reasons.
2) Who will do the work of searching? The present gatekeepers are too busy taking materials, etc. to attend to that.
You might speak to C about this. I have explained to him in detail what I mean.
10 October 1945
The employees of the Press had an interesting celebration at 4.00 o'clock. They worshipped your photo and Sri Aurobindo's, offering flowers, fruits and some other eatables. It was all done in a dignified manner. I was surprised. But what moved them to do this? To please us?
The feelings of these people are always mixed because their consciousness is not very clear. In the present instance there is surely much superstition and calculation but also some genuine goodwill.
15 October 1945
I have written to P that you have permitted him and his wife to come here as sadhaks permanently and that you expect of them to be prepared for hard work.
It might have been better to let them know with some details what is expected from them before telling them that they are accepted—generally it is after a few months of trial that sadhaks are accepted as permanent.
18 October 1945
Confusions belong to our life, but I was not prepared for the one with D. The day before yesterday he showed me his request to Sri Aurobindo regarding the publication of the Hindi translation of your New Year prayers. I told him that he should have mentioned that the translation was not yet ready.
Yes, it would have been better to do so.
It appears he minded my saying so. Perhaps I said it too strongly. In any case I am very sorry for the confusion and hope it will be cleared up before long.
He said nothing to me about it. Surely the confusion is bound to disappear as you are both men of goodwill and cannot keep a grudge against one another. In any case my love, blessings and understanding are with both of you for restoring the best of relations.
27 October 1945
There is something else that makes me sad. Mr. P expects everything to go first class automatically, but under the circumstances it is not possible. I also am unhappy that Mr. P is abusing and pressuring the compositors. It creates a very tense atmosphere. I am sorry to have to write this, but I felt it necessary to state it to you while the thing is in its infancy and can easily be set right.
You did well to inform me about it, and I hope you will always tell me when something goes wrong.
5 November 1945
It took us about half a day to achieve a working arrangement in our new rooms. From tomorrow, I hope we will be able to energetically pursue the various jobs to be finished by Darshan. It appears we need to work on Sunday. Would you permit it?
If all the things you wanted to do for "Darshan" cannot be ready, it is better to do them slowly and carefully and have them ready later on. I think everybody needs a rest on Sunday.
16 November 1945
Two senior workers have asked for permission to attend the Darshan of the 24th. What reply shall I give them?
The workmen, servants and local people are admitted for "Darshan" on the 15th of August usually.
22 November 1945
Regarding the Darshan tips we will give to the workmen, I had a talk with Mr. P. He agreed to the proposal of giving 16 annas (one rupee) to those earning Rs. 30 or above per month, 8 annas to those getting between Rs. 10 and 30, and 6 annas to those getting less than Rs. 10.
I have always been for a uniform tip given to all.
27 November 1945
As a Darshan tip, shall we give a uniform 8 annas per person or 10 or 12? If we give 12 annas per head, we will spend about Rs. 25.
You can give them 12 annas each.
28 November 1945
I read X's letter to you, which you sent to me. I must say that I felt sorry about the predominant tone of the letter.
Yes, I noticed it and because of it I hesitated to give you the letter to read, but I knew you would not mind it. Each one has his difficulties and shortcomings. We must be tolerant of the mistakes of others, as we expect them to be tolerant and understanding of our own mistakes.
4 December 1945
I wish to get a word of yours as a motto to be put up on the wall in the rooms of the Press. Will you give us a line of prayer and aspiration which will constantly remind us of the right attitude in work?
Let us work as we pray, for indeed work is the body's best prayer to the Divine.
11 December 1945
I am not much given to sadness, Mother, but since yesterday I feel heavy at heart. I am pretty conscious of it, but am surprised it is persisting. I submit it to you to be cleared up in my mind.
A sadness of this kind comes always from a resistance somewhere in the being to the transforming force. With a more complete receptivity towards the divine Consciousness, all sadness disappears, to leave in its place a feeling of joy, trust and strength.
15 December 1945
In my inner reactions I have observed a tendency to expose a fault of nature to you, even with emphasis, because that is the only way of getting rid of it. I would not hide a thing from you, because you know better!
I am very glad of this, as it is indeed an indispensable condition for the working of the consciousness to be effective.
17 December 1945
There is a laxity of procedure in the Press work. It is sad to see that half-formed good habits among the workers are now being ignored and neglected. During Mr. P's absence, I was anxious not to do anything that he would regard as contrary to his wishes. Now that he has returned, it seems that he and L would like to handle the whole Press by themselves. I feel superfluous and do not know what to do.
My dear child,
I am sorry but not astonished by what you have written. Much could be said on the subject, [but I do] not feel it would be […..] to do so.18 However in a [general way,] although confidentially, I [would say] that when you were organising [things] in the Press, in spite of all the [...] shortcomings and uncertainty [owing] to the lack of experience, on the whole there was the clear feeling of an effort to realise more and more my will and wish. Now this feeling is gone and replaced by the not less clear perception of somebody else's will trying to impose itself. In such circumstances, my position is that of a witness watching and waiting for further developments and the proper time to act.
I wish you could take a similar attitude. Your presence on the spot will be of great help for information.
24 January 1946
Mr. P has talked to me a number of times about your decision to first take up the printing of C's book and said that in your opinion it did not matter if the publication of the periodical Aditi was delayed. I must say I failed to see any sincerity in his argument. I know about his anti-Aditi attitude and his pro-C inclination. I felt definitely irritated listening to him. I aspire for the guidance of the Witness status.
The witness has only one thing to tell you in connection with this affair: "Look carefully, very carefully and honestly, inside yourself and you are bound to find a strongly pro--Aditi [view] and, as a consequence of the present circumstances, an anti-C attitude." [It is only] when we are spontaneously [free from] preferences that we can see fully the truth of things and of events.
26 January 1946
Our sadhak-workers talk too much while working and at times forget to return the manuscript sheets. I have deliberately allowed a wide margin of freedom to them so that they might act out of their own sense of responsibility; but I am slowly realising that it is necessary to arrange things with mutual understanding and then firmly carry them out. I present this feeling to you for guidance.
Of course without discipline no good work can be done, and silence is a very good condition for work.
11 February 1946
V came to the Press and spent his whole day attempting to get the workmen to take up his work. His engaging us in talk was itself a loss of work. I could not help telling him that I did not feel happy about his demands for preferential treatment. In the same way, I told S on the first day he came that he needed your permission to come and on the third or fourth day I said to him very clearly that it was a harmful practice for people to come to the Press, walk about and cause distraction.
Quite good and you did quite well in letting them know that their behaviour is incorrect and unacceptable. Could we not put a notice at the Press which would once and for all discourage such visits?
4 March 1946
We haven't yet made proper arrangements for sanitation and cleanliness. For example, the workmen go and smoke in the latrines.
It is very dangerous to smoke in the Imprimerie [Press]. Some "No Smoking" notices must be put at all places where they smoke or might smoke.
13 March 1946
Today Mr. P told me to organise the type stacks. This means keeping all types carefully, maintaining proper records, and so on. It is a very laborious task, leaving almost no time for anything else. He also told me not to take up any specific duty, but generally to act as his deputy. Nothing was decided, but I felt I had been tossed from pillar to post. I don't understand, Mother, why Mr. P does not take back his former responsibility and let me go back to mine.
My dear child, do not do things which you do not feel like doing. I shall try to arrange things.
27 March 1946
I really have no special preference for work in any section of the Press. I find pleasure in going from section to section and learning the different aspects of the work. My thoughts contemplate the Press as a whole. If a more or less final arrangement is being attempted, here are a few relevant facts: [five points are listed].
Nothing as yet is decided; the situation seems to me rather confused and before I can see clearly my way in the organisation I will take no final decision. The consciousness is at work to bring out the Truth in the situation and it is bound to succeed one day.
31 March 1946
I am sorry to report something that the gatekeeper told me. M left the Press yesterday after 9.00 p.m. and he left the gate open, even after the gatekeeper insisted that he lock it; later he said that it was very dark, so he was unable to lock it. Thus the door remained open for 45 minutes till he came back. J said that this has happened twice before. I feel that in future M should not be given the key.
I thought it was understood that never the Press must be left unguarded; always one at least of those who live there must be there. If it is like that, the occasion of giving a key to M does not arise.
April 1946
A worker who was absent two days ago told me frankly that he had gone to attend the labour union conference. I asked him what had happened there and I showed sympathy for the workers' aspirations. Then other workers collected around me and we had a good talk for about fifteen minutes. I explained to them the fundamental offers in your recent "Declaration".19 I was surprised that they had not comprehended it very well. In the end one of them asked how they could form a separate union of their own and where they could hold their meetings. I said that you might allow them to meet in the Press itself.
They have already formed a union of their own—they have elected a President and are holding meetings at a place lent to them by me for that purpose.
I felt quite happy to have had that contact with them. But it appeared that they needed a little guidance so that they may not get mixed up with the outside agitators and may realise the benefits of their contact with you.
Yes, it is good to speak to them from time to time.
9 April 1946
I am sorry to say that electric current was used last evening between 5.00 and 7.00. B told me that probably some printing was done after 5.00. Mr. P has been complaining about the electricity restriction during the last few days, but none of us thought he would actually infringe the rule and the effort to save electricity.
I am very sorry for this, not so much for the fact although it is bad enough, but for the spirit which is disastrous.
When Mr. P complained about something in the Advent that was printed in his absence, I told him that I had done the best I could and had sincerely tried to adhere to the style of the previous issue. I do not know whether you approve of my telling him firmly what I thought of the matter.
I fully approve of your answer.
When I spoke to him in this way he became apologetic. But I wish to be able to speak about such things with equality and without disturbance.
Yes, to keep quiet and be understanding is the most important thing.
10 April 1946
A little heat was generated in the Press today. L got upset over something Mr. P told him and he repeated over and over that he will not work here. Over any little difference, our first reaction seems to be to want to give up work. I feel that whatever our difference with anybody, big or small, we should not really think of giving up work. Is it correct, Mother?
Yes—it is this movement in the nature that runs away from a difficulty rather than facing it and conquering it.
17 April 1946
R has been complaining that people do not devote enough time to the Bengali section and therefore the works in hand are not making much progress. This morning Mr. P and I tried to find out from the sadhak-workers their reasons for not attending to the Bengali work adequately. Their reasons amounted to saying that they preferred to do French work and printing in the machine room. But D said that they feel dissatisfied with R's treatment of them.
They all protested to me and do not want to leave the work they are doing and which they like, to go to the Bengali section. I will certainly not compel them to do a work they do not like to do. Moreover I cannot approve of decisions taken without consulting me.
R and his son are in the Bengali section already. The Governor's speech in a Bengali translation must be printed soon. The Bengali section needs reinforcement. We seek your guidance and help.
Instead of bothering those who do not wish to change their work, he could take in the Bengali section S who is working now in the English section and will be more qualified in the Bengali section.
25 April 1946
Today D attempted to do a bit of editing of a manuscript. When the thing came to me, I did not know what the author had written and what D had added in between; but later D cleared up my doubts. I am sure a few days' experience will tell him that he is attempting too much. I wish to know the best thing to do under the circumstances.
Continue as you do, it is all right. Each case needs a special solution.
30 April 1946
Yesterday D and I agreed that the work dockets prepared by him would come to me along with the manuscripts and I would give them to the compositors. Today he asked for a docket which was with me, saying that it was urgent and he himself would give it to the composing section. That appeared preposterous to me. I said that all he had to do was to make a note on the docket, "Wanted by such-and-such a date" and I would do the rest. He did not agree and said that in the future, as a rule, he will issue the dockets and manuscripts directly to the composing section. Kindly clarify who is to do that work.
It is almost impossible for me to answer your question, because these small administrative arrangements escape from my consciousness unless I am doing the work or part of it myself and in this case the things get no more arranged according to principles or fixed rules, but at each moment the necessity of the circumstance is seen in its truth and the decision taken accordingly.
1 May 1946
I feel very sorry that I took the work-docket incident so seriously and that you had to hear so many representations of it. This morning I was happy to read your note to me. I told Mr. P and D that Mother seems to suggest that D may be given the work he wants.
I must confess that I do feel a little confused and worried because just when we were settling down to our duties and responsibilities, some fresh sensational changes are being attempted. But I have become used to disorderliness and am prepared for all sorts of things.
You must have misunderstood me because I never intended that D (or anybody else) should have things his own way. I am not either against organisation and order. But as yet I have not been told in a clear and exact way the attribution of each one—or rather the reports do not tally—and meanwhile I am objecting to the mental movement that cuts things like with a sharp knife and says this is mine, that is yours.
2 May 1946
Many of our sadhak-workers do not come on time at 7.30 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. Naturally the work gets held up or suffers. I have proposed that we keep a register in which each one fills in the time and signs when he comes and goes. It could be presented to you each week. There was general agreement to the proposal, but it has not yet come into effect.
Yes, this can be usefully done.
8 May 1946
On a number of occasions I have found myself stuck up when D's help is needed. I don't know what to do under these circumstances.
Let him have his own ways... with a smile.
14 May 1946
(Regarding the Cabinet Mission Plan of the British Government to grant independence to India)
After listening to today's broadcast, I was filled with gratitude towards the English people and then I thought of you and Sri Aurobindo, who have long worked for India's freedom as a condition necessary for the spiritual regeneration of mankind.
It is not as much as we wanted but it is a starting point from which everything can come.
16 May 1946
M brought an order from Mr. P saying that all manuscripts must be carefully stored and he insisted that I countersign it. Later D came to me with that order and asked me about my signing it. When I explained why I signed, he flew into a rage and tore it up.
Yes, these incidents are truly very childish and there is only one thing to do—it is to laugh about them.
22 May 1946
Today Mr. P gave me Sri Aurobindo's letter of the 13th. I find that it contains the following instructions for the future guidance of the Press:
1). There should be "no writing in the Advent or other of our journals embodying political, social or economical controversy".
2) In a discussion or controversy, even on subjects like philosophy and art, "there need be no acrimonious debate".
3) "Current Indian politics have to be avoided in our publications."
Do you wish me to bear in mind these instructions when I look through the manuscripts and bring to your notice anything that appears to contradict them?
Yes, it is exactly that that is needed.
19 June 1946
Washing our hands is a problem since the washing solution does not clean them properly. The hands of those in the composing section get very black and dirty. Perhaps we can try the Ashram soap; even chips would do.
I do not think the Ashram soap is just the right thing for that but you can try. I only wonder if they will be able to spare so much as they are using the chips for the laundry.
They used to have in Prosperity a soap which would have served the purpose. It is called in French "Savon noir" and is made of potash instead of soda. You might ask from H if he still has some.
24 June 1946
Today I checked six forms and found that our sense of quality is increasing. In two forms of La Synthèse des Yogas, I found that the proportion between the inner and outer margins is not right. Before trimming, the margins are 5 and 7 ems; after trimming they would practically be equal. In fact, after trimming the outer margin should be about 2 ems larger than the inner one.
I hope this is only a beginning and our care for perfection will go on increasing until the standard of our production reaches a point worthy of Sri Aurobindo's work.
5 July 1946
In regard to the separation of types, I felt that M had made only a partial representation of the matter to you. In my note to Mr. P, I aimed at supplying him with fresh data so that he might present it to you. But, Mother, in a situation like this, should one present fuller data in order to seek a fresh decision from you?
It is always right to throw more light on a problem provided it is done in a quite objective manner with a scientific attitude and not as a personal reaction for the sake of discussion or contradiction.
15 July 1946
We will have a combined meeting of the French and English sections tomorrow at 3 p.m. Here are some papers for your perusal.
These rules for breaking up words at the end of lines apply only to English. In French the rules are almost opposite. In French the words must be cut in syllables regardless of meaning.
17 July 1946
In making suggestions to you about the Press, I sometimes feel that my mind has been moving in an unfortunate manner which would not have your approval. I seek directions from you that would help me to identify the mistake in my working and put myself in right relation with you.
So far as I see, there is nothing that can call for my disapproval. Your feeling must originate in a rather tense and confused atmosphere still prevailing in the Press. Misunderstandings and quarrels are always unfortunate as they prevent the Grace and the Force from working freely, thus creating a feeling of frustration and uneasiness. Mutual understanding, tolerance and goodwill would help much to remove the resistance to the spiritual action.
20 July 1946
During the last few months I have had alternating periods of faith, surrender and aspiration and periods when these qualities were put to a test. During the test I have not come off as well as I would like. When I have felt you severe and harsh, I have not entirely succeeded in retaining the perception of your goodwill and love. I believe that when you are severe and harsh, your goodwill and love must be more intense. I earnestly pray that my perception of it may become an abiding experience.
I am somewhat astonished to hear that you have felt me sometimes "severe and harsh" because I am not aware of having shown towards you any severity or harshness. I may have in certain circumstances to act with force and decision in order to counteract wrong influences but that in no way alters my love and compassion.
26 July 1946
The proprietor of the Sandhanam Press came here yesterday with a proposal to form a press owners' union or association. Are you in favour of such an association and of our joining it?
As a measure of defence towards the workmen it can be useful. But it was very clearly stated that we must keep entire freedom regarding the inner functioning of the Press. I must be free to make any change in the organisation if I find it necessary without having to refer to a committee or an association.
9 August 1946
Unfortunately there was an incident of theft today. A compositor was found at the gate at 11.30 a.m. carrying two pictures of Sri Aurobindo and yourself concealed beneath his clothes. The President of their union and other compositors were witness to it. The accused is under suspension from tomorrow. Meanwhile I await your orders. Should he not be dismissed?
For the theft, I advise you to call with some solemnity the President of their association and speak to him telling him, "This is a disgrace for your association; all those who belong to the labourers' associations and syndicates must give the example of excellent work and perfect honesty, etc. etc. which is a fact among the communists" and after that you can ask him what he thinks the man deserves as punishment. For me, I advise a good warning, make him pay the price of the photographs he has taken and will keep, and tell him that next time he is caught stealing something he will be dismissed.
12 August 1946
Here is the application of the compositor to rejoin the Press. May he be allowed to join the Press upon payment of one rupee for the pictures he took? May he be paid 50% of his wages for the days he was suspended; this would be a concession to him more or less?
I had said immediately that he had to be taken back into service, asking him only to pay the price of the stolen pictures. As for his pay we may have to pay all if we claim the one rupee or else to give him 50% of his wages and not to claim the one rupee. Both things (one rupee plus 50% deduction) seems to me rather too much.
17 August 1946
My health depresses me at times. Periodically there are breakdowns when I feel too weak for movement and action. Would it be of any use trying some medicine? So far I have not tried any treatment, except lithine, Brahmi (an Ayurvedic herb) and lemon juice. I had hoped that the trouble would go away by the working of the higher force and my prayers to you. Is there anything that you consider necessary?
Surely the action of the force is far more effective than any medicine. But sometimes in the physical consciousness, or rather the body consciousness, the faith is not sufficient to secure a sufficient receptivity and in that case, to help this receptivity, some treatment or some medicine may be required.
13 September 1946
I returned from you in the morning with the feeling that I was still considered guilty of changing the page headings of Savitri. The fact is, I have no authority over anybody; I can plead with a colleague, but I dare not get even a glaring mistake corrected by myself. Even to get that inner title page composed, I virtually had to obtain D's consent to it. Divine Mother, I cannot tell you how unenviable I find my position in the Press.
Well, this is unexpected! ...
This morning when you came I showed you that I had chosen for the inner page the one you had arranged because I found it good and what was rejected and corrected was the correction M confessed he had done and I could not agree to because it was bad. I sincerely thought you would be pleased to see that your choice had been approved and maintained. I am truly astonished that you did not notice this fact and you left me with the feeling that I was still "considering you guilty". This is a perception I never have; in fact I never look at the work in that way and the notion of guilt enters seldom in my consciousness. For me the work, the thing done, stands in itself by itself, very independent from persons. I judge the work in itself for itself quite independently from the person who has produced it and for the sake of whom I can never change my perception of the value of the result obtained. I fear I have not been able to make myself clear but I hope that little by little I can make myself understood.
I am sorry all these events have unduly translated themselves in your consciousness by sorrow. I say unduly because you ought never to doubt my love and solicitude for you and my blessings.
16 September 1946
I heartily recognise that the one right attitude towards you is one of absolute surrender and submission. It follows that when I do not understand things, I should silence the questionings of my mind rather than indulge them. My strongest inclination now is to dismiss my questions outright and submit them all to the sovereign remedy of absolute surrender. Is it the right approach, Mother?
My dear child, the best and truer attitude is much more a conscious, willing, loving collaboration with the Divine rather than a dumb and blind submission. It is even this fact that is at the origin of the liberty to wander away from the path with, as its consequence, the condition of the world as it is. It is freely that the divided consciousness must choose to turn to the Divine and to follow His law.
17 September 1946
I am glad that R himself will dispose of the leave applications of his workers. I wish that others too would deal with their section workers like this. Reactions sometimes arise in the section heads when I send round some general information, but previously, when I did not do it, many of them missed being informed of things in a regular way! At the moment I feel the need of withdrawing, attending to my work in the type stores and being relieved of general responsibilities, which are irksome to others. I hope you approved of my dropping the designation "Deputy Director" in signing the report yesterday.
Titles in my view are of quite a minor importance. More of a play than of anything serious and most often it has very little connection with the true position that each one occupies in a work.
October 1946
The descriptive note appended to Words of the Mother needs a change. The sentence "The book has been happily made available .. ." could have been used when the first edition was published, but it cannot apply to the third edition. I have rewritten the whole note and present it to you. It is rather long, but the last paragraph can be easily dropped.
I am not very fond of descriptive notes, but if it is considered indispensable, I have nothing to say.
7 October 1946
At midday I have been resting at the Press in a room that is rather stuffy and smelly. For the last two days I have gone back home for food and rest. I may have to do this regularly until a more suitable place is found.
I heard that the room that has been built purposely for you is ready now for occupation. Why do you not put your things there and use it for rest? It is for that very purpose that it has been built.
23 October 1946
On this Kali Puja day when you appear to us as Mahakali, my heart surges up with one prayer: May I realise that Mahakali's "blows beat what is rebellious in [our] material into strength and perfect truth, hammer straight what is wry and perverse and expel what is impure or defective".
Tonight I gave petals of the Divine's love because no love is greater than that of Mahakali for her children.
24 October 1946
Since the composing work has been taken up by R, I have much free time and I request you to give me some other work.
I do not want to give you too much work and overburden you as at once your health suffers. But in case of emergency I will not forget your proposal.
7 November 1946
Through each crisis in the last few months, I felt sustained and carried forward. I passed through some hard experiences with a fair amount of joy. But now I seem to break down a little too easily. I approach you as a disciple for protection, compassion and help. Gracious Mother, I wish that R would no longer test me. I do not think it is right for me to deal directly with him; I find my body and mind breaking down.
It is long since I warned you not to deal directly with him.
I cannot request you to make the sadhana com fort-able, but I badly stand in need of help, a gracious help which will enable me to go through the fires which beset my path.
The help and protection are always there, but much depends on the receptivity.
15 January 1947
I would like to know whether the psychic being is not absolutely a witness like the Purusha of the Sankhya system. It is relatively inactive when it is not developed, isn't it? All this is not very clear to me.
It is not at all a question of theory, and the traditional notions of philosophy do not apply to something as true and living as the psychic being. Just as two physical existences do not resemble each other, two psychic existences do not resemble each other either—there are as many different psychic lives as there are beings. But in most human beings who are not conscious of their psychic being and whose actions are not guided by it, the psychic presence is like that of a witness, more or less conscious, more or less awake, which does not intervene in the course of outer events.
7 March 1947
The President of the Workers Union was found smoking in the latrines. He says he cannot work without smoking. What should we do?
I told you at the beginning that it was better to let them go out on the street to smoke.
Let me repeat, in order to be clearer, that it is better to give the workers one or two five-minute breaks (all together and at a fixed time) to smoke on the street. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon.
11 June 1947
At times I feel like bathing in the sea. I would like to have your clear indications on this.
This sea is not safe; there are water-pockets that are very dangerous and several people have drowned. Moreover, there are a lot of jellyfish whose sting is bad and even snakes that are poisonous. That is why I want to build at the Parc à Charbon a sea-water swimming-pool where one could bathe without danger. If people simply want to take a dip without leaving the shore, there is a very beautiful beach off the Parc à Charbon which can be used for that.
13 June 1947
I thought that the danger with the workers had passed, but after listening to everything you said, it is obvious that the situation is very serious and that each of us must be absolutely sincere and faithful to the Divine Will, yours and Sri Aurobindo's. Mother, I want to be a true soldier of the Divine and I humbly ask for your clear direction in order to overcome the difficulties that are present in my nature. Free me from my hesitation and reserve.
Keep your sincerity alive in yourself, and from day to day, whenever it is necessary, you will receive the indication you need to guide you on the path.
12 September 1947
I would like to understand the nature of a child. The day before yesterday you said that right from the age of three, more or less, a child's psychic being is "in front", but as a result of intellectual education it is pushed behind by mental formations. Is it possible to educate a child by keeping the psychic being always in front?
Yes, it is possible, provided the educator himself remains always in the psychic consciousness.
Isn't a child mainly a vital being?
He is vital in the sense that the mind is not sufficiently developed to govern—it is the vital that has the upper hand.
19 September 1947
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