... 1935 Is there any difference between the Mother's Presence and the Divine Consciousness? One can feel the Divine Consciousness impersonally as a new consciousness only. The Mother's Presence is something more—one feels herself there present within or above or enveloping one or all these together. 8 July 1935 The feeling of the Mother's Presence or nearness does not depend on whether you... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Feeling the Mother's Presence Live always as if you were under the very eye of the Supreme and of the Divine Mother. Do nothing, try to think and feel nothing that would be unworthy of the Divine Presence. 16 April 1930 The constant presence of the Mother comes by practice; the Divine Grace... often do not feel it, some who write seldom feel her always close. 11 June 1936 You write: "One can feel the Divine Consciousness impersonally as a new consciousness only" 1 but that the Mother's presence is something more. You also wrote in another letter that the Divine Presence in the heart is much more than the consciousness. In what way is the Presence more than the consciousness? I ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Psychic and the Mother's Presence The Mother's presence is always there; but if you decide to act on your own—your own idea, your own notion of things, your own will and demand upon things, then it is quite likely that her presence will get veiled; it is not she who withdraws from you, but... mind and vital—it does not yet control the most external parts, that is Page 186 why you do not feel it when in the Mother's physical presence. 25 December 1933 If you feel the Mother's presence for the greater part of the day, it means that it is your psychic being that is active and feels like that—for without the activity of the psychic it would not be possible. Therefore your psychic... fulfilment. I suppose the psychic being came to the front. You had the psychic condition there and that means a coming of the influence of the psychic being to the front. But why did I feel the Mother's presence in front of me and not within me? It is when there is a complete psychic opening within that there is the presence within. The Presence in front means that it was with you, but had still ...
... Opening and Presence Make yourself quiet and open—have complete confidence and you will feel the Mother's presence with you. 9 October 1933 It is by the constant remembrance that the being is prepared for the full opening. By the opening of the heart the Mother's presence begins to be felt and by the opening to her Power above the Force of the higher consciousness comes down into... her. Keep that sincere opening always and eventually a state of peace and joy and the sense of the Mother's presence will become permanent. My dear Mother, peace in my vital, peace in my heart, peace everywhere. Let the vital and the heart open always to the Mother's presence—the true source of peace. Page 168 ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Feeling the Mother's Presence and Seeing Visions Is it true that when the Presence (image) is seen in the heart all the habits and movements of the lower nature will disappear Page 182 and there will be no more disturbances from it? The image and the Presence are not the same... the sun and moon on each side of the body, and to feel the descent and the Mother's presence in, behind and above oneself, is this not an exceptional vision and experience? Can it occur without sufficient opening to the Mother? Why should it be exceptional to see the Sun and Moon on each side or to feel the Mother's presence everywhere around? There are plenty of sadhaks who have had these or equivalent... equivalent experiences. What would be exceptional is to feel the Mother's presence like that always. But occasional experiences like these many have had. 15 September 1936 ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Mother's Presence and Human Imperfection Do doubt and ego continue even after one has the realisation of the Divine Consciousness and the Mother's Presence? No doubt can remain if there is the realisation of the Divine Consciousness and the Mother's Presence. Imperfections may remain... is a feature of the ordinary action of the physical consciousness when it is active and not inert. But many of the things you now feel (of which you speak in your letters), e.g. the idea of the Mother's presence and her regard on you, the reference in what you think and do to her with the idea of her approval or disapproval, are signs that the psychic is acting in your lower vital and physical mind ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Feeling the Mother's Presence through a Photograph When I sit in meditation before the Mother's photographs or the painting of her feet, I get more Force than when I sit at a distance—on my easy chair, for example. I have noticed that this happens invariably and I suppose it is not subjective... into communion with the Mother and something of her presence and power is there. 14 July 1934 Page 183 Your experience about the photograph was a very fine and true experience. The Mother's presence can be felt through the photograph by one who regards it with devotion towards her. It was her true presence that was there, her subtle physical presence and all you felt was true. It shows ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Spiritual Possibility due to the Mother's Presence How much freedom is given to every sadhak here! But how many of us know what is meant by a Guru and how to respect him and treat him? Certainly very few seem to realise what a possibility has been given them here—all has been turned into... possibility has been given them here." What precisely do you mean by "possibility"—possibility of what? I was not speaking of any particular thing—but the whole spiritual possibility due to the Mother's presence here. Very few realise what that means and even those who have some idea of it take little advantage and allow their lower nature to block the progress. 9 March 1936 ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Feeling the Mother's Presence in Sleep Is what X writes in his poem possible? He says: "Even in sleep-depths I am wide awake To thy sweet Presence that is always there." That does happen, but usually only when the psychic is in full activity. 27 September 1934 It [ feeling the ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Feeling the Mother's Presence at Work It is for most people not easy to feel the Mother's presence with the work—they feel as if they are doing the work, the mind getting busy and not having the right passivity or quietude. ...
... longer rises to the surface. If you remain very quiet inwardly and call to the Mother, it should come back. 13 July 1933 When I awoke this morning, I found the atmosphere surcharged with the Mother's presence. The air around me, the cot on which I lay, everything was filled with her presence. A burning aspiration was in my heart. The consciousness there was aspiring intensely, flapping its wings... felt an opening in the heart, and I opened up a conversation with the Mother. I told her all my joys and sorrows and I got some consolation and strength. That is good. To be able to call the Mother's presence or force at such times is the best way to meet the difficulty. Page 311 Was all this mere imagination of the heart and mind? Was I in touch with Mother? Did she hear the language... you, it is only your inner vision and feeling that are not opened so that you cannot see or feel her. What came down to the centre of the forehead was the answer, let us say the touch of the Mother's presence,—her consciousness, her force working in you to open the centre of the inner vision. For in the centre of the forehead between the eyebrows is the centre of the inner mind, inner will, the inner ...
... sister's receptivity, it is surprising that you should accept or echo them and not react against them at once. They are here in the Ashram ( a little nearer or farther makes no difference), in the Mother's presence and atmosphere, meeting her every day at the Pranam where everyone who is open can receive as much of her touch and her help as they can hold, that is what they should feel and make the most... as it is represented to the inner symbolic visions. If it was purple red, then it was the sea of the vital consciousness and the vital life-force. Perhaps if he had not stopped his sense of the Mother's presence, it would have been better, — he should rather, if he can, take it with him into the inner planes; then he would have had no occasion to fear. In any case if he wants to go into the inner... consciousness by following out the suggestion of the Gita? But the silence or the touch of the divine consciousness can be equally, and for some more easily, got in the waking meditation through the Mother's presence and the descent from above. The inward movement, however, is probably unavoidable and he should try to understand and, not shrinking or afraid, go to it with the same confidence and faith in ...
... to feel the Mother's presence all around, is it not an Page 254 exceptional experience and vision? Why should it be exceptional to see the Sun and Moon on each side or to feel the Mother's presence everywhere around? There are plenty of sadhaks who have had these or equivalent experiences. What would be exceptional is to feel the Mother's presence like that ...
... e. I know of no particular method and these terms never occupy my mind. I am aware only - as I have been saying from a long time back- of a warmth and a glow in my heart, and the warmth is the Mother's presence and the glow is Sri Aurobindo's. 1 try to make my hie a submergence in them and an emergence from them. The submergence may be called my eternity and the emergence my time. The former gives... Particularly those who, more than the rest, used to be in physical proximity to the Mother feel most the absence of it. Take my own case. Not only was I, along with a small group, in the Mother's presence or ambience on the first floor of the main building from about 9 a.m. to nearly 12.30 p.m. Somehow it happened that I continued to be on this floor even after everybody else had left. I would ...
... Then you would find it easier to control yourself and change,—for she being there would be able to do it for you. 30 May 1934 The sadhak feels alone and suffers when he does not have the Mother's presence. Does the Mother likewise feel alone in the absence of her child? Is she more miserable than a human mother would be? If that were the case the Mother would have to be in a profound state... relation with her. Isn't the soul relation with her the only true one? What is the soul relation? How am I to recognise it? Page 453 An inner (soul) relation means that one feels the Mother's presence, is turned to her at all times, is aware of her force moving, guiding, helping, is full of love for her and always feels a great nearness whether one is physically near her or not—this relation ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Mother's Presence and the Adverse Forces X writes: "One thing I do not understand. Though I feel the Mother so near to me, these forces still dare to come and disturb me. How is this possible?" Please tell me what to reply to him. The forces can always be there so long as there is not ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother She Is Always Present Why do I sometimes feel myself far from the Mother? I want to be able to feel her constantly with me. The Mother is always there with you. You have only to throw away the forces of Ignorance to feel her with you always. 1 August 1933 You have said: "Always behave... Protect me from these vital obstructions. I wish to feel that I am lying in the Mother's lap. The Mother is always with you. The vital has its desires and therefore does not believe in the Mother's presence. You have to call down the Mother's Force into it to remove its doubts and desires. 11 November 1933 The Mother is always with you. Put your faith in her, remain quiet within and ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Union with the Mother You write যতদিন না আমার psychic being জাগে. 1 But your psychic being is already awakened, if it were not, you would not have these experiences. The inner being which you feel in union with the Mother is the psychic being. As you probably have not quite understood what... nearness, but that does not give one the same perception that the Mother has or her knowledge, purity, wideness. In what way can it be called a union? I suppose they are trying to feel the Mother's presence, so if they get some sort of feeling of nearness, they call it union. But of course that is only a step towards union. Union is much more than that. 5 March 1934 While sitting in the ...
... that inner atmosphere and entered into it. Now our task is to come more and more in contact with that reality even in our waking moments, to be conscious of that which is nothing but the Mother's Presence. Half of you, your inner life, is already there, bathing there in that Page 43 luminous happy air. Only try to be conscious of that: if you are conscious of it even a little... have this inner life; it is already there, this inner life, without much difficulty; it is already there, a collective inner life, which is so beautiful as I say, filled with the fragrance of the Mother's Presence. It is a collective life in which you all are not only brothers and sisters but one body and soul unified in the Mother's loving and living substance. That inner life you have to bring ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother Remembering the Mother and Feeling Her Presence Today I felt that the only thing important is the Divine, nothing else. I tried to keep this experience all day long, but just before I sat down to write, I felt depression and confusion coming. But still I remembered my experience. That is... if one goes through it with sincerity and steadfastness, the mentality begins little by little to change and a new consciousness opens in the sadhak which begins to be aware more and more of the Mother's presence within, of her working in the nature and in the life or of some other spiritual experience which opens the gate towards realisation. 22 February 1937 ...
... The Mother "manifesting" in you is an ambiguous expression—it is the Mother's consciousness, the higher consciousness with the light, strength that has to come down in each sadhak, with the Mother's presence always there. Along with this experience there must have been an attempt at surrender or an initial answer in the lower vital, but as a reaction the nervous disturbance came back—the old lower... or hearing. That is common enough. It does not indicate an "advanced" sadhana, whatever that phrase may mean, but only a special faculty. I have heard that there are people here who feel the Mother's presence or open directly to her inner knowledge. But this is not the same as seeing her with the physical eyes or having conversations with her. These things are extremely common among those who ...
... Psychic. What kind of feeling is it that gives a wound in the heart on hearing anything against the Mother? Psychic. Page 466 What kind of feeling is it that makes one feel the Mother's presence in the heart, even though one is physically far from her? Psychic. How shall I be able to judge that I am in the full state of psychic love? By the absence of ego, by pure devotion... the surface while within all remained quiet, conscious and devoted. 2 July 1936 When I called down the Purity from above, the whole being was filled with Peace and Purity and I felt the Mother's Presence in the heart. An intense aspiration rose from the heart, from below, in fact, from all parts of the being. The heart was filled with adoration for the Mother; there was devotion and genuine ...
... own deformation. Intensity is not a guarantee of entire truth and correctness in an experience; it is only purity of the consciousness that can give an entire truth and correctness. The Mother's presence is always there; but if you decide to act on your own—your own idea, your own notion of things, your own will and demand upon things, then it is quite likely that her presence will get veiled;... instructions and so long as you carried them out, you were progressing rapidly. Page 36 Throw all these incoherent false experiences away. Go back to the single rule I gave you. Open to the Mother's presence, influence, light, force—reject everything else. Only so will you get back clearness (instead of this confusion), peace, psychic perception and progress in the sadhana. But why be overwhelmed ...
... as it is represented to the inner symbolic vision; if it was purple red, then it was the sea of the vital consciousness and the vital life-force. Perhaps, if he had not stopped his sense of the Mother's presence, it would have been better,—he should rather, if he can, take it with him into the inner planes, then he would have had no occasion to fear. In any case, if he wants to go into the inner... consciousness by following out the suggestion of the Gita. But the silence or the touch of the divine consciousness can be equally and for some more easily got in the waking meditation through the Mother's presence and the descent from above. The inward movement, however, is probably unavoidable and he should try to understand and, not shrinking or afraid, to go to it with the same confidence and faith ...
... stairs in a queue and receive blessings from the Mother, who stands almost at the head of the staircase. Page 83 The day passed happily after this—aspiration and peace, and the Mother's presence pervaded the hours. The same evening I caught the Mother on the Playground at seven, and said to her: "May I ask one question? Could I come and sit in your 'Prayers'-class?" She answered:... birds—at about 11. Only one chap was there, Pranab's brother. The Mother brought a sweet from her room and gave it to me with a rose. I knelt down as usual and got up with an easy familiarity with the Mother's presence. She was in a blue dress. I spoke to her about Sehra's mamma who, according to Sehra's letter, was still suffering from non-stop asthma. The Mother gave a packet of blessing-petals for her, ...
... contact with that inner atmosphere and enter into it. Now our task is to come more and more in contact with that reality even in our waking moments, to be conscious of that which is nothing but the Mother's Presence. Half of you, your inner life is already there, bathing there in that luminous happy air. Only try to be conscious of that: if you are conscious of it even a little you will feel immensely happy... inner life, that is already there, this inner life not with much difficulty, for it is already there, a collective inner life, which is so beautiful as I say, filled with the fragrance of the Mother's Presence. It is a collective life in which you all are not only brothers and sisters but one body and soul unified in the Mother's loving and living substance. Page 107 ...
... clean garden in the open courtyard, every room had simple but decent furniture - a mat, a chair and a small table. There was an air of neatness and order. This was, no doubt, the effect of the Mother's presence. After a stay of eleven days, Purani went away, and then returned early in 1923 to stay with Sri Aurobindo permanently. Sri Aurobindo's younger brother, Barindra, who had... on a night of terrible storm and rain (24 November). On his second visit, Purani found that Sri Aurobindo's house had undergone a visible change for the better and attributed it rightly to the Mother's presence. There developed also an atmosphere of tension for more than one reason. In the first place, during the winter of 1921, a dismissed cook by name Vattal sought the help of a magician-fakir who ...
... poem, the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general description of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence constantly linked to both her heart and hand producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure - my study-sessions with the young artist who proved to be a most ...
... which was at the back of the landing. As she disappeared there, I saw that her clothes were a pale shiny orange. When I woke up from the dream my mind was filled with a vivid memory of the Mother's presence as she had come down that small staircase. Rather the frontal part of my mind was full of it, while at the back of it I found the image of a familiar face from my waking life. I pulled my ...
... 1979-07-05 New-born babies indicate the opening of the psychic in various individuals. The place is charged with spiritual consciousness (blue light) and the light of Truth (golden light). Even the Mother's presence is seen, giving blessings to all. In this vision, the importance of calm, steady aspiration is emphasized—aspiration not only in the surface existence but in every part of the being (as ...
... through experiences in his daily life. Let us take an extract from his correspondence of 25 May 1935. He wrote, "Where am I going, what am I doing?" Sri Aurobindo replied, "...Where you are? In the Mother's presence here and close to me. Where you are going? Towards union with the Divine through dedication and service. What you are doing here? Service and self-giving to the Divine." For twelve years ...
... conclusion with the manifestation of the Divine Mother. How shall he make use of the Presence now? In the original epic we find Aswapati asking for a boon of children to perpetuate his race. But the Mother's presence changes the equations. It has always been so. We know of Swami Vivekananda as the youngster Naren being advised by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to go and pray to Mother Kali for alleviating his ...
... influenced by a vague and confused atmosphere of discouragement and barren questioning which has caught many in the Ashram. Otherwise there is no ground for any such feelings. Where you are? In the Mother's presence here and close to me. Where you are going? Towards union with the Divine through dedication and service. What you are doing here? Service and self-giving to the Divine. The rest depends, as ...
... make time. As for your sadhana—remember that an inner quietude, caused by the purification of the restless mind and vital, is the first condition of a secure sadhana. Next, that to feel the Mother's presence while in external action is already a great step and one that cannot be attained without a considerable inner progress. Probably, what you feel that you need is a Page 42 constant ...
... After she had responded thus to the Mother's light and love I took her to an institute of nuns in Pondicherry where some embroidered materials she had wanted were on sale. Its contrast with the Mother's presence and with the Ashram's atmosphere was tremendous. Once and for all the vacillation vanished. Like Sehra, like me, she went through the new-birth that creates Page 102 ...
... She told the Mother in her broken way that she could not say words with ease and frequency except "Mother" and "Sri Aurobindo". Hearing this, Champaklal who was somewhere near rushed into the Mother's presence and exclaimed: "Ideal condition. Mother, ideal condition! I also want to say nothing except these names." The Mother stared in a bit of amazement. So did all of us who were present. What ...
... It is most interesting that in my letter of the 4th I referred to the need for you to be in harmonious relationship with all around you, whether at the hospital or at home, besides feeling the Mother's presence all the time within you. A radiation of that presence towards whoever you work with, whoever you live with is very necessary for one who aspires to be the Mother's true child. Your letter of ...
... force external to you and instead of fighting with it head-on, turn away and distract or divert your mind to reading or talking or going out for a stroll, and at the same time calmly live in the Mother's presence and invoke its grace. (7.7.1992) About the readings made by the Shuka Nadi Foundation of Bangalore, my information is that the so-called "Bhrigu Leaves" are not always right ...
... sanctuary, Her inward help unbarred a gate in heaven; Love in her was wider than the universe. The whole world could take refuge in her single heart. If you can conjure up the Mother's presence before you in bodily shape and let the inmost being in you put into her hands all your difficulties gathered together as if in a heap, the poignancy of your problems will disappear and the way ...
... poem, the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general disposition of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence Page 185 constantly linked to both her heart and hand and producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure — my study-sessions with the young ...
... the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general description of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence constantly linked to both her heart and hand producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure - my study-sessions with the young artist who proved to be a ...
... concrete mixer. I too put one. This was the commencement of the next stage of the building of the Matrimandir: the construction of the four pillars. The atmosphere was full of Peace and the Mother's Presence. There was display of the model of the Matrimandir and its gardens under the Banyan Tree. These verses of Savitri flashed into my mind: The voice that chants to the creator Fire, ...
... established in the sleep itself which will do what is necessary. You need not meditate at once [ after waking in the morning ]—but for a few minutes take a concentrated attitude calling the Mother's presence for the day. Page 451 Hearing Music after Waking The expression [ of sweet melodious music ] was of the psychic plane—and the music was of that domain. Very often coming out of ...
... the Body No need to despise the physical being—it is part of the intended manifestation. The body is meant to be an instrument of the Divine and a means of sadhana and a temple for the Mother's presence. It has to be purified, no despised and cast away—without it there can be no manifestation here. To care too much for the body is bad in sadhana, but to neglect it or overstrain it is ...
... opening of the psychic being, concentration on the Mother and self-offering to her are the direct way. The growth of Bhakti which you feel is the first sign of the psychic development. A sense of the Mother's presence or force or the remembrance of her supporting and strengthening you is the next sign. Eventually, the soul within begins to be active in aspiration and psychic perception guiding the mind to ...
... is the only part that cannot be touched by the hostile forces and their suggestions. Everything is dangerous in the sadhana or can be, except the psychic change. That [ feeling the Mother's Presence, Love, Joy, Beauty ] is one part of the psychic experience—the other is a complete self-giving, absence of demand, a prominence of the psychic being by which all that is false, wrong, egoistic ...
... idea, image or name of the Divine Mother, whichever comes easiest to you. (2) A gradual and progressive quieting of the mind by this concentration in the heart. (3) An aspiration for the Mother's presence in the heart and the control by her of mind, life and action. Page 225 But to quiet the mind and get the spiritual experience it is necessary first to purify and prepare the nature ...
... condition. Remember first that an inner quietude, caused by the purification of the restless mind and vital, is the first condition of a secure sadhana. Remember, next, that to feel the Mother's presence while in external action is already a great step and one that cannot be attained without a considerable inner progress. Probably, what you feel you need so much but cannot define is a constant ...
... The mind and body are at peace, but there is still difficulty in the vital and below. Take this difficulty away from me. If the mind and the heart have a settled devotion and are full of the Mother's presence or in constant contact with her Light and Force, then the difficulties of the vital and physical consciousness in you can be met and conquered. It is that you must get first. To try to deal ...
... and work much profited those who have tried it; in many cases it has been harmful. A certain amount of concentration, an inner aspiration in the heart and an opening of the consciousness to the Mother's presence there and to the descent from above are needed. But without action, without work the nature does not really change; it is there and by contact with men that there is the test of the change in ...
... full rest and not wear herself out etc.—how is it now she weeps because the Mother does not write? Her former attitude was the true one—she was in the psychic consciousness and always with the Mother's presence close to her. In meditation you must call on the Mother and concentrate on Page 158 the call in your heart till you feel an opening to her or some inner contact with her. ...
... was a help to be given to you so that you might not be carried away by the attacks from which you suffered and might have time and support till you could reach a point at which you could seek the Mother's presence within you and with you. That you can do now and there is no reason why anyone should be asked to intervene in any way—our work is directly in you and upon you and not through anyone. 22 ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Mother's Emanations I saw the Mother in an experience. Is it an emanation of hers that I saw or is it her whole body and whole consciousness? An emanation. How can her physical body be seen in a dream experience? 7 July 1933 The Mother when she works in the supra-physical levels ...
... thinking of her and calling her often. Then seeing will be more easy. 8 May 1935 Do not mind about the time that it will take—one can't fix the time of these things beforehand. When you feel the Mother's presence more and more, when you begin to see her with the inner sight, then it can come. It is better not to speak of the Mother to your friends—they do not know her, therefore they can take no interest ...
... sisters' receptivity; it is surprising that you should accept or echo them and not react against them at once. They are here in the Asram (a little nearer or farther makes no difference), in the Mother's presence and atmosphere, meeting her every day at the Pranam where everyone who is open can receive as much of her touch and her help as they can hold,—that is what they should feel and make the most ...
... the union. With love and blessings. 30 December 1964 X is a poor man who comes here practically every week, meditates near the Samadhi and offers money very regularly. He feels the Mother's Presence and guidance. But every time he gets a good spiritual experience, something bad happens in the domestic or professional sphere. Yesterday, for instance, he came across a quotation saying that ...
... true servant , but I want you also to become a true child , so that you may have the full joy of it. With my love and blessings. 27 January 1957 ( The disciple wrote that he felt the Mother's Presence only while working, and therefore work was his only sadhana. The Mother replied: ) In the integral Yoga there is no distinction between the sadhana and the outward life; it is in each and ...
... good, at least for me. Well, well—all in due time— mille félicités as well as félicitations . A funny thing happened last night. It began this way: since 6.30 p.m. I had been feeling the Mother's Presence, and more vividly yours, until I went to bed. In the evening when I went to the pier, for a while your entire face appeared vividly before my eyes. I was so happy that I forgot the moon ...
... and force which uses the outer instruments - the outer energy being quiescent or else a part only of the inner - while this inner consciousness knows that the force is the Mother's or feels the Mother's presence in it: there are different experiences in this respect. The third is when all is the Mother's Force working. Page 147 Working Consciousness Sometimes ...
... and safeguarding India's interests. In the early period, the conversations took place in the evenings. Some five or six of us used to sit by Sri Aurobindo's bed and wait for his signal. The Mother's presence was an occasional feature that added a lively interest to our talks. Later, however, her work kept her away. Those who took part in the talks were the regular attendants, Purani, Satyendra, ...
... poem, the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general disposition of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence constantly linked to both her heart and hand and producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure—my study-sessions with the young artist who proved to be a most eager ...
... receptivity? or opening? No faith in the Emanation or in its existence? What? Nobody has to do it. People do it because they are ignorant and unconscious. If anyone is conscious of the Mother's presence, he does not make a big case of his troubles. Even if one is not yet conscious, still those who have faith or are not touched by your Man of Sorrows are not making the row you speak of. ...
... Aurobindo and the Mother, but I am sincere in my Yoga." That means he was seeking after something not connected with us. Yet he wrote that when the Force came down which was at will, he felt the Mother's presence in him and was happy. All that is what the Mother speaks of as hypocrisy. Then when the Force threatened to come in earnest, this part of him got terrified and shaken—for it had rejected the ...
... so spiritually healthy, I call out for the Mother and she responds at the level of my head (self) or heart (soul). Good. But what is this calling business? The Mother's presence must be established in me in such a way that calling would not be necessary. This is probably what she is trying to bring about. Yes. So long as that is not done, one calls. ...
... cardiac centre down to the navel. It rises and descends increasingly. It means a strong working to connect the psychic and vital together. Can one be wide-awake to the Mother's presence in sleep even? That does happen, but usually only when the psychic is in full activity. I dreamt of three aeroplanes rising from a steamer. What does it indicate ...
... about an hour after I rise. Is this not rather late for "getting back the thread of the progress"? You neen not meditate at once—but for a few minutes take a concentrated attitude calling the Mother's presence for the day. April 15, 1933 Last night I was trying to concentrate in bed, with the eyes closed. I suddenly woke up and the first thought was that I had been able to concentrate ...
... centre, the mantra which Sri Aurobindo gives about the constant and living presence of the Mother. The very core of a centre is this Presence. A centre grows and can grow perfectly only around the Mother's Presence and Consciousness. As the ideal for the individual is to be conscious of its central inner being and relate all its parts and all its movements to that, central reality, organise itself in perfect ...
... your body. The body, your body, is also bound to the Mother, to her Presence and Influence. Body means not only the material body, but the physical body, the inner body. Now, the imprint of the Mother's Presence, you carry that in this physical body. You may not be always aware of that, but this makes no difference, nothing at all. Here I may refer to something pertinent…One day someone went to see ...
... centre, the mantra which Sri Aurobindo gives about the constant and living presence of the Mother. The very core of a centre is this Presence. A centre grows and can grow perfectly only around the Mother's Presence and Consciousness. As the ideal for the individual is to be conscious of its central inner being and relate all its parts and all its movements to that central reality, organise itself in perfect ...
... Whenever, as I said, you feel discouraged, – naturally when you look at the world and its happenings, you feel very much distressed, disgusted, z –but there is another reality behind, it is the Mother's Presence that redeems all that. In any mood of depression, dejection, difficulty, always know that it is there in you to support you, to bring you peace and strength, and it is never failing. So many ...
... to do is to pour into it the golden liquid, molten gold that will wash away all that impurity and filth, clean the vessel and fill it with its own radiant substance, the molten gold which is the Mother's presence. This process has been beautifully described by Sri Aurobindo in one of his poems. I conclude by reading out those magnificent lines: THE GOLDEN LIGHT ¹ Thy golden ...
... comes not unoften as a massive inundation, a glacial sweep and automatically overwhelms you, drowning and filling you from top to toe. There is also another way: to contact, to enter into the Mother's presence. Mother's Presence means all the realisations to which we aspire concretised, brought down, near to us, within our human reach. We have not to travel far and wide, mount to inaccessible ...
... and it will be from base to apex entirely composed of the Mother's peace and quiet. You can do it yourself, the capacity has been given to you— for the capacity is nothing else but the Mother's Presence. Published November 1976 Page 55 ...
... s in which they live. All the problems they confront come from this state, from the atmosphere inside. So the solution is always within, never outside. There is the soul, the psychic, the Mother's Presence deep within everyone. One should create a habit of going inside and keep in contact with the Presence, then nothing will go wrong. This must be a regular habit. All the organizational activities ...
... the Mother replied, 'Yes, I too shall be there.' " My eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. I told Nolini-da, "Nolini-da, many people told me yesterday that they had actually felt the Mother's presence during the programme." "Evidently, for the Mother was indeed there!" Nolini-da said in reply. I could not hold myself back any longer. I ran to Nolini-da and placed my head on his lap like a ...
... the stage. The atmosphere in the Ashram in those times was totally different. Those who came here, whether ordinary visitors or artists, came to a Yogashram. They came for Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's Presence. While Sri Aurobindo was still in His body, Ustad Allaudin Khan had come for Sri Aurobindo's darshan. When Omkarnath Thakur came, he sang 'Bande Mataram' to Sri Aurobindo in the Meditation hall ...
... unfortunate incident. 27 Evidently the cure is not complete, for Vasudha writes a few days later to Sri Aurobindo complaining of unease and restlessness, and of an inability to retain the Mother's presence all the time. In his reply Sri Aurobindo tells her that the disturbing fancies and forces are not really the emanations of her own mind but merely "foreign matter thrown on it from outside" ...
... open courtyard, every room had simple and decent furniture, - a mat, a chair and a small table. There was an air of tidiness and order. This was, no Page 211 doubt, the effect of the Mother's presence. 28 And Purani found an astonishing change in Sri Aurobindo's body: During the interval of two years his body had undergone a transformation which could only be described as miraculous ...
... and all work was done "with an evident pleasure and not as a necessary duty"; and such harmony in the right functioning and perfect dovetailing of the details would be impossible "without the Mother's presence in all of them". André had Darshan of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on 24 November, and he felt that no words could describe "the overwhelming impression of benevolence, knowledge and strength" ...
... meeting place for Mother, children, sadhaks, disciples and visitors, and she distributed on some days baked groundnuts and on other days Ashram-made toffees. And the talks, and the ambience of the Mother's presence! They were the daily feasts of her divine sensibility and the flow of the perennial Ganga of her spirituality. Page 569 Naturally enough, the old doubt and uncertainty had been ...
... cup of joy, ... 11 IV More and more sadhaks joined the sports activities, partly because it helped them to keep fit, but also because it meant basking in the golden sunshine of the Mother's presence. One thing led to another, and the Mother began playing table-tennis, finding it a light exercise as well as a means of contact with the children. Why not tennis, then? After discussing the ...
... several gates of different hues opening as he traversed the inner territories of his mind and soul. During the next few days he was taken round the Ashram, and he grew increasingly conscious of the Mother's presence and power everywhere, and found therein the real reason for the phenomenal success of the Ashram. Steeped in the Vedas, he had dreamt of those old-world ideas of wholeness and fullness and sex ...
... fifteen minutes meditation with the Mother seated on the stage, and a large projection of Sri Aurobindo's portrait dominating the background. The atmosphere of the place, the dance-recitals, the Mother's presence and benedictions, the collective meditation, all added up to an elevating and rewarding experience. 1 In commemoration of the Mother's 80th birthday, the Calcutta Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir ...
... record available about how the Mother lived and worked and moved about in the good old days and what the inmates of Sri Aurobindo's house and others who were connected with them learnt from the Mother's presence and example - a pen-picture with delicate touches, revealing the Mother's greatness in her little acts and movements. Page 391 "The first time I heard about the Mother was ...
... January 1934 Could a vision of the Mother or seeing her in dream or in waking be called a realisation? That would be an experience rather than a realisation. A realisation would be of the Mother's presence within, her force doing the work—or of the Peace or Silence everywhere, of universal Love, universal Beauty or Ananda etc. etc. Visions come under the head of experiences, unless they fix themselves ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Mother's Awareness of Thoughts and Actions The Mother can know our thoughts, but can she also know the exact words in the thoughts? If the mind of the person is very clear, yes: otherwise it may be only the substance that comes or a part of the thought or some general idea. 19 May ...
... likes she keeps near her, those she likes less she keeps less near, those she dislikes or does not care for she keeps at a distance", that is their childish reasoning. Many of those who feel the Mother's presence and love always with them hardly see her except once in six months or once in a year—apart from the Pranam and meditation. On the other hand one near her physically or seeing her often may not ...
... felt anywhere in the Asram, though perhaps more strongly in the nearer houses on an occasion like the evening meditation. 7 November 1934 Page 528 When I try to meditate in the Mother's presence, my concentration breaks. There is a rush of thoughts, such as "what is the Mother bringing down?" and "what is the Mother's will?" Why does this happen? It is simply a bad habit of the ...
... sisters' receptivity; it is surprising that you should accept or echo them and not react against them at once. They are here in the Asram (a little nearer or farther makes no difference), in the Mother's presence and atmosphere; meeting her every day at the Pranam where everyone who is open can receive as much of her touch and her help as they can hold,—that is what they should feel and make the most ...
... uses the outer instruments—the outer energy Page 245 being quiescent or else a part only of the inner—while this inner consciousness knows that the force is the Mother's or feels the Mother's presence in it: there are different experiences in this respect. The third is when all is the Mother's Force working. 10 April 1937 There are two ways of making an offering to the Mother: one ...
... weakness with the touch of her affectionate hand. In every way she stands behind us secretly." This thing was like a feeling and a vision, almost like a realisation. Was it the psychic feeling of the Mother's presence in us? It is a realisation attended with vision and feeling. It is the psychic and the mental together that produced it. 9 June 1933 The one thing that is most needed for this sadhana ...
... is a constant inner peace and quiet and no excitement, no clamour of desires which he cannot control. You must arrive at that first. Moreover as I have told you, it is the inner reality of the Mother's presence and not only of her presence but of her control that must be now the aim of the sadhana. Any insistence on the outer thing is a departure from the true line and can only lead astray. In all ...
... depends on the inner attitude. What is important is the spirit of offering put into the work. If one can in addition remember the Mother in the work or through a certain concentration feel the Mother's presence or force sustaining or doing the work, that carries the spiritual effectivity still farther. But even if one cannot in moments of clouding, depression or struggle do these things, yet there ...
... still remains, but if you become full of force, light, Ananda, knowledge etc. you can't call yourself blank any longer. Every kind of realisation—infinite self, cosmic consciousness, the Mother's Presence, Light, Force, Ananda, Knowledge, Sachchidananda realisation, the different layers of consciousness up to the Supermind—all these can come in the silence which remains but ceases to be blank ...
... etc. you felt are also often felt at that time. The first result was the detachment from personal connections, the freedom, lightness, openness of heart, fearlessness, and also the sense of the Mother's presence. These things are signs of the true consciousness and part of the spiritual nature. They come first as experiences, afterwards they become more frequent, endure longer, settle into the nature ...
... oneself, as a creation of ignorant Nature from which one has separated oneself and which has to disappear and, secondly, when by opening oneself constantly to the Divine Light and Force and the Mother's presence a dynamic action of sadhana is constantly maintained which steadily pushes out the movements of the ignorance and substitutes even in the lower vital and physical being the movements of the ...
... and an aspiration for it. For getting rid of their human weaknesses—such as lust, greed, vanity, pride, falsehood—they must become conscious of them, must always reject them, must call in the Mother's presence, the divine Consciousness, the divine Force to help them in rejecting their defects and to transform them. If they do that, then all that is necessary for the change will be done. When ...
... was a formation of the light of Mother's consciousness there,—for the Mother's light is of a white and at its most intense of a diamond radiance. The light Page 183 is a sign of the Mother's presence in your heart and that is what you saw once and felt for a moment. Pearl It [ a pearl ] may be a representation of the "bindu", which is a symbol of the infinite in the exceedingly small ...
... influenced by a vague and confused atmosphere of discouragement and barren questioning which has caught many in the Asram. Otherwise there is no ground for any such feelings. Where you are? In the Mother's presence here and close to me. Where you are going? Towards union with the Divine through dedication and service. What Page 182 you are doing here? Service and self-giving to the Divine. ...
... It is not enough to transform the whole nature. Otherwise there would be no need of the embodiment. It could be done by simply thinking of oneself as the Brahman. There would be no need of the Mother's presence or the Mother's force. 27 December 1935 ...
... all beings—free from passion and disturbance in an eternal peace. But it can be felt through the heart also—then the heart too feels itself wide as the world, pure and blissful, filled with the Mother's presence. There is also the Mother's personal and individual presence in the heart which brings immediately love and bhakti and the sense of a close intimacy and personal oneness. 9 June 1935 ...
... you so as to make you fit—reject desire, restlessness, disturbances of the mind and vital. Dhyana means to make the mind and vital quiet and concentrate in aspiration for the Mother's Peace, the Mother's Presence, her Light, Force and Ananda. 10 October 1933 ...
... The Mother's Presence The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Mother's Knowledge and Her Emanations In the case of X, I was under the impression that Mother could at once know of such things. Some even say that she knows everything—all that is material or spiritual. Good Lord! you don't expect her mind to be a factual encyclopaedia of all that is ...
... Sincerity and the Mother's Grace The Mother with Letters on the Mother The Meaning of Opening What is real opening? It is the receptivity to the Mother's presence and her forces. What is the right and perfect rule of opening? Aspiration, quietude, widening of oneself to receive, rejection of all that tries to shut you to the Divine. How shall ...
... wrote to him), he says something like, 'Yes, there is a very sorry situation in the Ashram and people's jealousy and envy are increasing more and more.' Yet nevertheless he feels so drawn by 'the Mother's' presence that he will come. I admit I didn't like this letter. But I don't hold him responsible because.... When people tell him things, he believes them. God knows what story M. told him! ( ...
... indispensable. Could a vision of the Mother or seeing her in dream or in waking be called a realisation? That would be an experience rather than a realisation. A realisation would be of the Mother's presence within, her force doing the work—or of the Peace or Silence everywhere, of universal Love, universal Beauty or Ananda etc. etc. Visions come under the head of experiences, unless they fix themselves ...
... down again in a corner of the verandah, perfectly calm and happy.” I find it very interesting because what I had felt during the day-time was felt by the dog in the evening. The dog felt the Mother's presence. First she got frightened and remained very far from the Mother's photograph, she began to bark. Then slowly she went a little nearer, stopped and began to bark once more. Again she came back ...
... complete. All this is done by the Mother's instructions and only under Her guidance.” It dawned on me that cooking in the future would be done by solar energy. He then asked me whether I felt the Mother's presence in the Prasad Bhavan. I replied, “Yes, that is why I was often looking back. I did not see the Mother but felt as if she was coming behind us.” The boy remarked, “I did not say anything beforehand ...
... work with sincerity and devotion as the Mother's own work... my soul or psychic being opened after five years of Ashram-life. Since then, the psychic has been my guide and I feel always the Mother's Presence in my heart." Gangadhar in Mother India Mar 1977:176 11. In 1928-33 Gangadhar rushed repeatedly to the Ganga of Gangas "so much thirst... burning house wants rain, that kind of thirst" ...
... the Mother's own work, I began to get experiences. By Her Grace my soul or psychic being opened after five years of Ashram-life. Since then, the psychic has been my guide and I feel always the Mother's Presence in my heart. From time to time various kinds of spiritual experiences have come, one after another. In my 63rd year, I had a flood of spiritual experiences and visions soon after I had sat ...
... The most important thing I observed and felt from the occult and spiritual point of view was the soothing and refined vibrations emanating from her and creating an unusual aura around her. The Mother's Presence was constantly there with an overwhelming peace. I said: "The Mother has given a lot of treasures—her precious documents which need to be well preserved. For, they belong to the whole world ...
... things are made wonderful by her intuition of unity and the breath of her spirit . Sri Aurobindo, The Mother with Letters on The Mother: The Mother - VI The atmosphere was packed with the Mother's Presence, Force and Peace. I shall never forget the day, and the kindness and collaboration of the people at Auroville. It was really a unique experience for me. All was the Mother's Grace. When I ...
... perception. It is a sort of variation on the life-theme couched in that song of Tagore's and at greater application in my own poem "Triumph is All". Of late I have been feeling as if the Mother's presence were not only above me and in front of me and within me but also behind me enfolding my body and carrying me onward according to her will. Of course now and again my own impulses and ideas seem ...
... your healing activity until the orientation of which I am speaking takes place. You must develop a protective zone around you. Sri Aurobindo once wrote to me about such a development. Call the Mother's presence, try to be in tune with her Will in whatever you do: then a zone of light and peace will form. Nothing will be able to penetrate your atmosphere and only what you wish to give out of your depths ...
... and an absolute source of fulfilling the long labour of the earth's ages. (31.1.1986) What has happened is opening up yourself to your own depths and, as a result, revealing the Mother's presence within you more and more. The assurance that has come to you from her has now an intenser tone which is bound to leave a lasting reverberation not only in your mind and heart but also in what ...
... increasingly. It only means that She stands behind everything and sometimes makes use of abnormal circumstances to find short-cuts to us. Last night, during my sleep, I was for hours in the Mother's presence and the atmosphere of Her beauty and serenity and infinite graciousness is all around me still. So your letter reached me at a time when, if ever I can be Her instrument, I Don't let yourself ...
... unrealised dimensions of the Divine. My aim through day after day has been for years a quiet joy emanating from the heart because of a constant contact Page 22 with the Mother's presence within - a contact which brings about a radiant sense of her presence all around. A glory and a greatness and a grace wake in the inmost to meet the light, the power, the love that are, as the ...
... doing what I do? My method is very natural and simple. Whatever is to be put before the Mother I just carry as if in a void crystal to a great Void beyond my head and there I am lost with it in the Mother's presence for a few minutes. I feel an intense reaching out to her benevolent hands and nothing exists for me then except those hands, all-receiving, all-granting. I do not imagine any answer but wait ...
... a long time he didn't know what had happened and felt a kindling and unkindling of the heart's love for the Divine — and was all agog to stop the latter and keep always the flame he knew in the Mother's presence. Poor chap, he is still trying to tend the sacred fire. We'll wish him a steady progress and as few stumbles as possible. (laughter) Page 95 ...
... on February 21. A general account would be: "It was all joy." But it was not just a state of being deeply happy during those thirty minutes. It was a happiness shot through and through with the Mother's Presence. Rather, it was her Presence that made up the happiness. And that is why the happiness was so special. For, her Presence was at once most intimately near and most alluringly far. It seemed to ...
... poem, the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general disposition of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence constantly linked to both her heart and hand and producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure - my study-sessions with the young artist who proved to be a most ...
... and mind that Savitri may be more than a superb communication to us: it should be a miraculous communion in which we shall feel as though we were its co-creators with Sri Aurobindo. The Mother's presence is extremely intense today - as it should be to all who have pledged their future to her and to whom 21 February, along with 15 August, is the greatest occasion in history because something ...
... around her."¹ "The white light is her own characteristic power, that of the Divine Consciousness in its essence."² Not only is a fusion of Sri Krishna and Sri Aurobindo indicated but also the Mother's presence is shown to be in it. Elsewhere Sri Aurobindo, speaking of the various modes of Krishna's being, first mentions the many-sided supreme reality that is Krishna of the Gita and then ...
... poem, the Mother making outline sketches or suggesting the general disposition of the required picture and Huta following her instructions, invoking Sri Aurobindo's spiritual help, keeping the Mother's presence constantly linked to both her heart and hand and producing the final finished painting. It was a long-drawn-out pleasure—my study-sessions with the young artist who proved to be a most ...
... without being swayed by the words of others. He may not be very communicative about the contents of the "magic cupboard", but he did not intend to keep you in ignorance. Once he showed you in the Mother's presence the things that came from Europe and he must have thought that you knew already what was there. He says that he never intended to order you about, and I am sure he I thinks what he says ...
... Part IV – Correspondence Champaklal Speaks 29 June 1935 An inner (soul) relation means that one feels the Mother's presence, is turned to her at all times, is aware of her force moving, guiding, helping, is full of love for her and always feels a great nearness whether one is physically near her or not—this relation takes up the mind, vital and inner physical ...
... being swayed by the words of others. He may not be very communicative about the contents of the “magic cupboard”, but he did not intend to keep you in ignorance. Once he showed you in the Mother's presence the things that came from Europe and he must have thought that you knew already what was there. He says that he never intended to order you about, and I am sure he thinks what he says. If ...
... visible fracture of the skull, but there is bleeding from the left ear which is a sign of a fracture of the base of the skull. There are no signs of cerebral mischief as yet. Mulshankar invokes the Mother's presence and help. The ward in which he is, is rather noisy; he hadn't a wink of sleep. He should be removed to one of the paid rooms as soon as the Surgeon finds it can be safely done. It would ...
... "realisation" did you mean when you wrote, "Blankness is only a condition in which the realisation has to come"? Every kind of realisation - infinite self, cosmic consciousness, the Mother's Presence, Light, Force, Ananda, Knowledge, Sachchidananda realisation, the different layers of consciousness up to the Supermind. All these can come in the silence which remains but ceases to be blank ...
... look of the house was changed. In those days, Pondicherry used to have regularly every year, in October or November, cyclones of a rather severe type. We do not get anything like them now. The Mother's presence seems to have pacified the wild forces of Nature to a great extent. In those days it would not do to bar our doors and windows with ordinary bolts and latches, they needed to be held securely ...
... look of the house was changed. In those days, Pondicherry used to have regularly every year, in October or November, cyclones of a rather severe type. We do not get anything like them now. The Mother's presence seems to have pacified a great deal the wild forces of Nature. In those days it would not do to bar our doors and windows with ordinary bolts and latches, they needed to be held by regular ...
... look of the house was changed. In those days, Pondicherry used to have regularly every year, in October or November, cyclones of a rather severe type. We do not get anything like them now. The Mother's presence seems to have pacified a great deal the wild forces of Nature. Page 66 In those days it would not do to bar our doors and windows with ordinary bolts and latches, they needed ...
... the body resume its glow, you are not always able to do it with your own will and effort because you do not know how to do it, but only try not to repeat the error and take your shelter in the Mother's presence, in her arms. The stain disfigures your inner beauty, you have to pray and appeal to her: with her healing touch she will remove all stain and disfiguring mark. It is an experience that some ...
... to do is to pour into it the golden liquid, molten gold that will wash away all that impurity and filth, clean the vessel and fill it with its own radiant substance, the molten gold which is the Mother's presence. This process has been beautifully described by Sri Aurobindo in one of his poems. I conclude by reading out those magnificent lines: THE GOLDEN LIGHT Thy golden ...
... consciousness, and will be from base to apex entirely composed of the Mother's peace and quiet. You can do it yourself, the capacity has been given to you – for the capacity is nothing else but the Mother's Presence. Page 25 ...
... clothing enveloping your body. It is that being which is your true being of whom I was telling you so long, the intimate brother and friend of yours, indeed your own true self, incarnating the Mother's presence and the Mother's love. It is only a matter of opening out your coat or coating! Page 31 ...
... fruition. Whenever you feel discouraged—-naturally when you look at the world and its happenings, you feel very much distressed, disgusted—remember that there is another reality behind: it is the Mother's Presence that redeems all that. In any mood of depression, dejection, difficulty, always know that it is there in you to support you, to bring you peace and strength, and it is never failing. So many ...
... The body, your body, is also bound to the Mother, to her Presence and Influence. "Body" means not only the material body, but the subtle physical body, the inner body. Now, the imprint of the Mother's Presence you carry in this subtle physical body. You may not always be aware of it, but this makes no difference, none at all. Page 86 Here I may refer to something pertinent. One day ...
... it comes not unoften as a massive inundation, a glacial sweep and automatically overwhelms you, drowning and filling you from top to toe. There is also another way: to contact, to enter into the Mother's Presence. Mother's Presence means all the realisations to which we aspire concretised, brought down, near to us, within our human reach. We have not to travel far and wide, mount to inaccessible heights ...
... I'm sorry I used the expression 'poor soul'. Please don't report it to the Mother, She does not like this expression, 'poor soul'. I understand that somebody once inadvertently said, in the Mother's presence, "My poor soul." "What!" She thundered. "Poor soul? The soul is never poor! Never use that expression." This is typical of the Mother. If I say 'poor soul' to Sri Aurobindo, He would probably ...
... MANILAL: There is Manilal and there is Becharlal, Sir. SRI AUROBINDO: Ask Becharlal. Which do you find better? DR. BECHARLAL: Remaining in the Mother's consciousness—that is, feeling the Mother's presence and influence, feeling her action in oneself. SRI AUROBINDO: That, of course. DR. MANILAL: What is meant by the Mother's consciousness? SRI AUROBINDO: As he said, feeling the presence ...
... for about half an hour. One may be tempted to ask, "Why should he walk in her presence?" It was certainly not for any physical reason. As Sri Aurobindo's walking had not yet become steady, the Mother's presence was necessary to protect him from any harm that could be caused by occult forces — that is how I understand it. Just as Sri Aurobindo used to protect the Mother, she protected him, when needed: ...
... ess and laid herself at the feet of Sri Aurobindo like a new-born babe, innocent of the past. Let us also in the same way face the day with our baby-soul in front, for that little being is the Mother's Presence in us, still aglow with her consciousness. Page 93 (3) "You know, I was very hesitant to read this to you. In one way it is all right ...
... meditation". In the third place, there were questions of a practical nature, and if she found them promising, she tried to answer them in their wider perspectives. But of course it was the Mother's presence that was the heart and soul of the Wednesday evening sessions, and her silences - like the silences in the Upanishads - were, in the particular contexts, as eloquent and significant as the spoken ...
... always be with you. 11 The Mother's message on the forty-first anniversary of her final coming was in the words of Sri Aurobindo himself: An inner (soul) relation means that one feels the Mother's presence, is turned to her at all times, is aware of her force moving, guiding, helping, is full of love for her and always feels a great nearness whether one is physically near her or not. This relation ...
... 25 Then Nolini, followed by the others in the room, offered pranam to the Mother, signifying their complete surrender to her, since she and Sri Aurobindo had a single divine consciousness, the Mother's presence really included all of Sri Aurobindo's as well. Several among the close attendants broke down and the Mother had to admonish and console them as only the Divine could. At 5 p.m., the Mother ...
... mysterious hint, a bare but very significant suggestion, of a certain truth which will be apparent to us as we proceed in our consideration of the objectification and individualisation of the Mother's Presence for a radical transformation of our active nature. The Mother, whom Sri Râmakrishna adored and called Kâli, is the supreme Shakti, at once transcendent and universal, who, as the Consc ...
... Sri Balananda Giri and Swami Mohanananda were both beings of a certain spiritual accomplishment. On the strength of their spiritual vision, they had certainly seen Sri Aurobindo's and the Mother's Presence around us. And for this reason he had bowed down to this Presence within us. Needless to say that this experience opened for both Ma and me another door within. Page 22 ...
... human being, I seemed to be wandering in some other world. The Playground itself turned into an extraterrestrial world! I do not know if I am able to convey my experience. Just a few moments in the Mother's Presence and everything changed. I became another person. Page 47 ...
... The dream left an extremely vivid and concrete impression. HUTA A COMMENT BY NOLINI It is a true and very beautiful experience. Naturally, it is Mother's Presence and the living action of Her Force. *Mother India, September 1974. Page 181 ... The Mother - Past-Present-Future Into the Depths* A REVELATION Early in the morning of the 12th May 1974 I had a very powerful dream. I saw a column of white light descending from above. The white light was fringed on both sides by a line of golden light. The column went down into a pit which had a round opening. The white light gave the impression ...
... we who forget them. Similarly, when Mother was receiving people in the Music room, some visitors used to pray to the Mother not to forget them. Mother would normally not reply; she would only smile or gesture. Some would not understand and go back dissatisfied. On occasions, I myself used to speak to them in Mother's presence and explain things to them. Mother would approve and say: “Quite so.” ...
... which was very beautiful. The dream-vision was very vivid and concrete. I informed Nolini-da about it. He answered: Huta, It is a true and very beautiful experience. Naturally it is Mother's Presence and the living Action of Her Grace. ... The Spirit of Auroville After the Mother left her body, she gave me numerous experiences both outwardly and inwardly. I saw quite a number of visions. She also indicated many things in my dreams which came true. Each incident was based on occult and spiritual truth. One of the visions was this: On 12.5.74, early in the morning I had a very powerful dream-vision ...
... card in Mother's hand and Mother would write on the card in the presence of the child so that the child would remain for more time in Mother's presence, would bf happy to see her write and also, if the child were wise, would lean many things from that experience. But this was possible only because in those days there were very few children. Some children used to put both their hands on Mother's feet and... when I did not give a card, Mother asked: “Champaklal, you have nothing for this child?” That made me feel bad, and so I started making cards for all the children Mother was very happy about it. Soon I also started making card; for adults. But I was not painting for everybody: pictures of Mother and Sri Aurobindo were pasted instead. When people learnt that the Mother was using folders for this... Birthday Cards I do not remember when the Mother started giving birthday cards. Children used to receive flowers from her when they came to her. They would be given extra flowers on their birthdays. On those days she also started giving roses. I always had a liking for children who were open to Mother, whether I knew them personally or not. I wanted to give something on ...
... shock through the Playground but because of the Mother’s Presence it could not disturb the routine activities. She went on with her work as usual as if nothing had happened. Some of us were moved to tears by her divine magnanimity and her words echoed and re-echoed in my heart, "He has taken refuge in me!" Now I shall relate the story of how the Mother too once appeared to have been "duped" - at least... one day to the Mother and doing pranam to her with great devotion. He knelt down, clasped her around her knees and looked up at her like a child in utter self-abandonment. The Mother too looked at him with a smile full of love and compassion. The scene reminded me of some Renaissance painting of the Madonna and the child. We wondered who this lucky fellow was, how he came to the Mother. The Pranam- scene... Memorable Contacts with The Mother X: THE MOTHER’S MAGNANIMITY A young man came to me with a letter of introduction from a friend in Calcutta. Our friendship went back to Scotland days but we had hardly met since our arrival in India. This man had gathered all particulars about me from that friend, and, adding that he too was a doctor, said he would like ...
... Part I — Recollections and Diary Notes Champaklal Speaks How to Feel the Presence 1951-06-22 Mother: “My presence is always there. Only you do not see it. If you want to see it you should say: “'Grant that we may be conscious of your Presence always, at all times.' That is the only way of asking. The other way is incorrect and also impertinent.” ...
... not if it was only as a Vibhuti. So, in answer to the question, "Presence where and in whom?" I would say, "Presence in this world and in Thyself and the Mother." "Presence in Thyself" means nothing. It is "presence" in or behind some body and behind some outer personality. Also "presence" in what part of the world? If Mother were in Rome at the time of Buddha, how could Buddha know as he did... ordinary people in the past may not have recognised your presence, especially when you lived outwardly like human beings. But how is it that even Sri Krishna, Buddha or Christ could not recognise your presence in this world? Presence where and in whom? If they did not meet, they would not recognise, and even if they met there is no reason why the Mother and I should cast off the veil which hung over these... 27 September 1935 If you and the Mother were on earth all the time, it would mean that you were here when those great beings descended. Then whatever your external cloak, how could you hide your inner self—the true divinity—from them? But why cannot the inner self be hidden from all in such lives? Your reasoning would only have some force if the presence on earth then were as the Avatar, but ...
... more so when in worship, and it was said that it happened when Hanuman came into him. The problem was that they wanted to meditate in the Meditation Hall in Mother's presence and it could not be pleasant to see this man jumping around. Mother was informed of it when the request for permission was placed before her, but she allowed all to come. His jumping ceased from then. Page 7 ... liberty to improve it. Once I had changed the title of his article "The place of the Mother in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga" into Page 5 "Sri Aurobindo's Yoga and the Mother", as I had the feeling that to speak of the "place of the Mother" in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga was not so correct for Mother was the Divine Mother of the Yoga of Sri Aurobindo. Rishabhchand was annoyed and frank about it. I was advised... spoke of an intelligent visitor who, after three days of stay at the Ashram, said to Mother, "When I look at you, I do not want to leave; when I look at the people here, I do not want to stay". An Ashramite felt unhappy when he was not given by Mother the book The Mother' whereas a friend of his received it. Mother first said, "This book is for sadhakas", and then added with a smile, "You are my ...
... This was accepted and all throughout I felt Mother’s Presence and Help and even saw her face before me. The Mother had told me before I left India, “You have only to call me and I will be with you at once, at every moment I will be with you.” Can you share some of the advice that the Mother gave to you for your personal sadhana? One day I asked Mother, “I have been doing the yoga for many years... be complete and whole but I make the effort to remain fully conscious of the Mother’s Presence in all my actions and activities. How is the sadhana different for you at this stage in your life; what new forms, if any, has it taken? At this stage of my life I just want to be always conscious of the Mother’s Presence in me. I am always calling her and she never refuses to come. If I ask her for... Ashram since the Mother’s passing have not always been as good as they could be. Many people have not worked closely with the Mother nor even seen her physically. So, in many cases, there is very little knowledge of the Mother’s way. Many people try to do things in their own way, to do what they think best and not always necessarily in keeping with what would have been the Mother’s way. I always speak ...
... worthy of HER. These feelings in my soul are very different from all my previous religious experiences.... ( Mother nods her head in approval ) "...I feel all luminous, the Divine Grace is so powerful that at times I think my body is incapable of holding it; Mother's Presence is so real; the bliss is so serene, so tranquil.... The little ADVENTURE begun at the Samadhi becomes so worthy of... the child running to his mother: my telegram asking for Mother's protection. On Sunday the 7th, I had a dream: Mother came into a sort of huge warehouse, where I was lying on the ground, and told me, 'Quick, get away and leave me your place.' I flew away (without my body, which was still on the ground): it was my soul that went away, and, from on high, very high up, I saw Mother taking possession of my... gave my dear P.L. Page 200 He has come back transformed, purified, illuminated. Lastly, may I ask you to hand over to Mother the enclosed letter...." What does he say? "Mother, it is without the least reservation that I give you this name of Mother, to you who have given life back to my favorite son.... His stay at the Ashram has marked an essential stage. There has been in his ...
... only. In this struggle I also have the experience of my real 'I' in the heart of the Mother with infinite strength. I found Mother's Presence—no, Mother Herself—hours and hours with me (behind or front). Also I saw Mother in Her quite young body, so much different that for a moment I could not recognize Mother but Mother took me in Her Lap with immense Love..." ( after a long silence ) This woman... Grace. He told me, "I've had wonderful experiences in which I called Mother, Mother came, and in a moment the danger was repulsed." (That recurred several times.) He told me, for instance, that he read the February Bulletin a hundred times over and found in it an immense help, precisely where you speak of the descending Presence that makes everything disappear as if it were unreal. But anyway, he has... know how it happened that I got up and sat in my bed, challenging her with the Call of Mother and Her Grace. On this, the woman laughed making her face at me and to my surprise I heard her laugh with my physical ears and saw her with my physical eyes. But Mother, she disappeared in no time as soon as Grace's presence was there and I found myself again in full strength, surrounded with Grace and Grace ...
... very well. And I knew that that boy hadn't called: he didn't feel it could help him. It's not even a mental question: one should FEEL here ( gesture to the heart ), be convinced that "it" [Mother's presence] is really active, that it's something real, that it really does protect. Not a thought "just like that," a metaphysical thought: a feeling. He didn't have that. If he had remained in the group... puts questions to Mother in his "notebook." × The disciple's question was formulated thus: "When I heard in Gingy that B. had drowned in a pond, I was incapable of believing or being shocked by the news. The only question I asked in myself was, 'How could this have happened! Mother knew we were in Gingy... December December Mother’s Agenda 1966 December 17, 1966 A child from the School asked me, "How can mathematics, history or sciences help me to find you?" I found that quite amusing! Page 296 I answered: "They can help in several ways: (1) To be able to receive and bear the light of Truth, the mind must be strengthened, broadened and ...
... my interest in Kamala, and secondly, recollecting incidents of Mother's grace to her is at the same rime a worship of the Mother. In the beginning Kamala did not speak when she was in Mother's presence. Then when she asked Mother for some work she was given the work of sweeping my room. Thereafter Mother kept giving her one work after another. Offering fruits . In those days, Kashibhai had asked... “Mother’s Grace on Kamala” The Mother has showered her grace on her children in such a way that every child can say, “This is a special grace of the Mother for me alone. For none else she has done this.” Kamala is indeed one of those children. Kamala does not write about herself, but I am interested in writing about her for two reasons. Firstly, it was the Mother who sustained my... saying, “I do not believe it.” Stitching Mother's cloth : This is the most memorable among the constant acts of Mother's grace to Kamala. Sometimes, after Mother would go into her bathroom and shut the door, she would suddenly come out with a small piece of cloth and tell Kamala: “Kamala, stitch this immediately; I need it just now.” I used to wonder: Mother has so many handkerchiefs and clothes, so ...
... felt the Mother's constant Force and Presence. For I was completely blank and with-drawn. It was a unique experience for me. All was Her Grace and I am eternally grateful to the Mother. Shyamsunder and other people showed me around, since I was going there after two years. I noticed certain things which were contrary to the Mother's vision. I would not dare to say anything if the Mother had not... Now I am happy..." We both felt very strongly the Mother's concrete Presence throughout our conversation. Now we must all try our best to carry out her Will with perfect sincerity and faithfulness. Now we must not waste time—every moment is precious. I hope everyone will understand the meaning of her Supreme Vision and respect the Mother's wish, and Will to execute the mission given to everyone... the 4th of this month and we had a heart-to-heart talk regarding the Mother's wishes about the Matrimandir. Pourna revealed to me many things, all that the Mother told her. I was amazed to learn from her that the Mother told her about the flame, which is exactly what the Mother told me repeatedly. Pourna also said that the Mother wanted flowers, trees, etc. around the Matrimandir, also that the Matrimandir ...
... in the world, in each atom. And once I am informed, I am present there consciously. So it means that I am there, 'doubly present', you understand? Yes, Mother. A Presence which is everywhere and another conscious Presence when I am informed. I am always there to watch you, and I can hear your voice very clearly when you are giving the orders. Now, tell me, at what time did you say... things to be done, decisions to be taken. And now it is completely different, for I am there every day for the March Past, and never do I miss it. Once I have been told the time and that my presence is essential, every day I arrange things in such a way that a part of my consciousness which has been informed awakes and automatically detaches itself from me and is present in the Playground to... Sweet Mother The March Past-'I am There Doubly Present' "I AM THERE DOUBLY PRESENT" Mother, now that You are not coming to the Playground for the March Past, what should be our attitude? The same as if I were present there. In fact, I am present there more than I would be if I were there physically. For even being there physically, I might still ...
... 2002 Jhumur and Millie-di at Art House, 2001 What was life like in the Ashram in those early days? Well, in those days children under age four were not allowed to be in the presence of Mother and Sri Aurobindo and had to stand back two blocks away near the French Institute. The pressure was too strong for small children. Slowly and gradually children were allowed to come closer. As... and its habits, customs, were not available to them then. Today’s teens have access to outside influences. When I was young fifty years ago we were in a cocoon — more innocent. However, with Mother’s presence there was a deeper development. The values of today’s children are colored by what they see, read, feel. There is so much exposure to outside media and then they go home to Bombay and elsewhere... what we had studied, about any poems we had learned. I had learned a poem about a tiger which I recited to Mother. Mother helped me with the poem. The Mother became “excited” and told me, “You must feel the power of the tiger.” When I grew older I was allowed to visit Mother every day. The Mother was very busy overseeing every department of the Ashram. Some of us (Tara Jauhar. Gauri Pinto and others) ...
... "I can finally write to you with the calm and tenderness that spring from my soul, which is truly reaching out towards Sweet Mother and tuned to her. She gave me a spiritual joy that has not left me since I have known her. "These last few days, Mother's presence has revealed itself in my being and activities, stronger and more VISIBLE. In the polls commission, of which you know I am a member... March March Mother’s Agenda 1969 March 26, 1969 ( Regarding the French translation of two letters of Sri Aurobindo about the Ashram, which Mother wants to publish in the next Bulletin. ) "If anybody in the Ashram tries to establish a supremacy or dominating influence over others, he is in the wrong. For it is bound to be a wrong vital influence and... and come in the way of the Mother's work. "All the work should be done under the Mother's sole authority. All must be arranged according to her free decision. She must be free to use the capacities of each separately or together according to what is best for the work and best for the worker. "None should regard or treat another member of the Ashram as his subordinate. If he is in charge, he should ...
... I had laboured under the superstition that the Mother’s presence during my play worked adversely on me. Let me give another flagrant instance, leaving the truth of my supposition to the readers to judge. It was a singles knock-out tennis tournament. My opponent was a youngster. I was on the point of beating him hollow. At that very moment, the Mother entered the court for her game of tennis. She... Memorable Contacts with The Mother VIII: LIGHT INTERLUDE After all these serious talks, let us see the Mother in her lighter moods, just for a change, but no chronological order is intended in the narration of the various incidents. I had now the chance of seeing the Mother along with the others every morning. It was the time of the morning Pranam.... Group teams. The captain had put my name without my knowledge. As the Mother was going through the list, she struck off one or two names before she came to mine. "Nirod!" she exclaimed in surprise. "Is he here?" she asked. "Yes, Mother," I replied. "I find your name in the cricket team. I am striking it off," she added. "All right, Mother," I agreed without question. I had noticed that she had always tried ...
... would play with the Mother’s feet, measuring them with our hands or tracing their contour on the ground. She knew all this, but continued Her explanations for the benefit of the ladies. This lasted only for three or four days because by then I was able to do the twenty-five push-ups. Pranab made me do them in the Mother’s presence. When I completed the dips successfully, the Mother took my hands in Hers... in the Ashram for a year or two. While the Mother watched Dada’s exercises, this lady sat near the Mother’s feet, just to Her right. When the Mother asked her to make place for me, she became very annoyed and walked straight out of the Playground in a huff. The Mother took no notice; rather She asked me to come and sit near Her every day. It took the Mother some time to pacify this lady and it was only... Sadhana and Life Growing up with the Mother Introduction This section contains the Mother’s replies to my questions on spiritual life and other related topics. In introducing this text, I would like to explain how this correspondence came about and share with the reader a few reminiscences which show how much interest the Mother took in us during the early years ...
... that you experience always in the self above). We believe that the Mother is doing the sadhana in all of us, particularly through the heart; but how is it we scarcely feel this? There must be some veil in us. It is a veil which disappears when the Mother's working as well as her presence is consciously felt at all times. I experience a strong movement... Prakriti (Nature)? It is not the lower Prakriti in the usual sense. It is the inmost being supporting the lower Prakriti and urging it towards the Higher. I feel Mothers presence on the head and in the heart simultaneously. At times the consciousness on the head or in the heart descends or ascends into the other and then spreads all over the being. It is... rejected? Moreover if the love comes forward in full what is to prevent the selfish vital taking hold of it and making demand on demand on the Mother which she will certainly refuse to satisfy — as so many have done and afterwards revolted because "the Mother does not love them", otherwise she would do whatever they want? I promise you that henceforth no part of my nature will be ...
... by Sri Aurobindo. ² The Life Divine, Vol. II, Chap. XXVI. ³ Prayers and Meditations of the Mother. Page 367 Presence, ”¹ and calls this conquest "the work to be accomplished, the mission to be fulfilled upon the earth. ” Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are both agreed that so long as we live under the dismal sway of the Subconscient and the Inconscient, we are... In the Mother's Light CONQUEST OF THE SUBCONSCIENT AND THE INCONSCIENT NOWHERE is the identity between the Mother's views (as held by her before her meeting with Sri Aurobindo) and those of Sri Aurobindo so strikingly significant as on the subject of the Subconscient and the Inconscient. Even if all other subjects were passed over, this alone... in the subconscient, but wrapped up in the tegument or veil of the lower Maya. ”¹ Voicing the same truth, the Mother says, "...from many points of view our subconscient has greater knowledge than our habitual consciousness. ”² Locating and describing the subconscient, the Mother says in her Prayer of March 13, 1914, just a fortnight before her fateful meeting with Sri Aurobindo : "The ...
... the physical presence of Sri Aurobindo—the gracious Master to whom he had turned for literary as well as spiritual progress and who had commented on almost everything written by his pupil. The Mother, pressing the pupil's hand, said: "Nothing has changed. Ask for help as you have always done and it will always be there. Nothing has changed." Who knows if the Mother's physical presence itself will... The Mother - Past-Present-Future The Passing of the Mother* The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram left her body on November 17 at 7.25 p.m. Clinically, her departure has been attributed to heart-failure. Spiritually, we may assert that there could never be a failure of the Mother's heart in the sense either of ceasing to work or of falling short of its goal... mystery of his passing?" The Mother replied: "It is all quite clear to me. But I am not going to tell you anything. You must find out the truth yourself." "Mother, give me then the power to find it out." At this, she blessed her disciple. Appealing to the Master for inspiration, the disciple spent nearly a fortnight preparing himself for his editorial in Mother India. The light dawned at ...
... about his coming. As a rule the only mantra used in this sadhana is that of the Mother or of my name and the Mother. The concentration in the heart and the concentration in the head can both be used—each has its own result. The first opens up the psychic being and brings bhakti, love and union with the Mother, her presence within the heart and the action of her Force in the nature. The other opens the... consciousness—for that is what the japa is intended to do. It first changes the vibrations of the consciousness, brings into it the right state and the right responses and then brings in the power or the presence of the Deity. Several times before you wrote to me that by doing japa you got rid of the old impulse and recovered calm and the right turn of the consciousness and now it has helped you to get rid... meditation and concentration and as nāma-smaraṇa. Coming from the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, it will have a potency to lead me quickly on the path. We do not usually give any mantra. Those who repeat something in meditation call on the Mother. 27 June 1936 Is there any difference between the Force that helps when I call the Mother in sleep and the Force that comes when I repeat "Sri Aurobindo-Mira" ...
... it takes time. You must grow first more and more able to feel the Mother near you; that you can do by thinking of her and calling her often. Then seeing will be more easy. SRI AUROBINDO 9.5.1935 Do not mind about the time that it will take - one can’t fix the time of these things beforehand. When you feel the Mother’s presence more and more, when you begin to see her with the inner sight, then... that one should leave home in order to call the Mother. One can do it remaining at home. Besides, the Mother doesn’t like what you want to do in this connection. Because you are very young, you’ll not be able to do it but you’ll only suffer. And the Mother doesn’t want that you should suffer in any way. No, it’s much better that you remember the Mother within you, call her, in all circumstances, whether... within this short time. Don’t be sorry, remain calm and remember the Mother, gather faith and strength within. You are a child of the Divine Mother, be tranquil, calm and full of force. There is no special procedure. To take the name of the Mother, to remember her within, to pray to her, all this may be described as calling the Mother. As it comes from within you, you have to call her accordingly. You ...
... must have looked while waiting for the pranam. He also said that he tried to call Mother's Presence before coming here but couldn't succeed her compassionate look. EVENING CHAMPAKLAL: Today I told Anilbaran about those stories of Dutt and what you had said about them. SRI AUROBINDO: I may not remember everything about the card incident and in one game I may have been able to tell the others' hands... up so early. DR. MANILAL: The Mother or you don't hear the calls of people? NIRODBARAN: Sri Aurobindo says that the Mother hears prayers from different parts of the world. CHAMPAKLAL: The Mother narrated in the Store Room how she heard the call of people from Gujarat during a certain ceremony. SRI AUROBINDO: The Mother hears. I may or may not. The Mother has developed this power from her... Without prayer she would not have been saved. NIRODBARAN: Charu Dutt says that the Mother's face is not one of a human being but of a goddess though he couldn't look at it at pranam; but when he bowed down, he caressed her feet for some time; he was feeling so happy. SRI AUROBINDO: If he couldn't look at Mother's face how could he say it was not the face of a human being? NIRODBARAN: He must ...
... young disciple by means of a long intimate meditation his own abiding sense and thrill of the divine World-Mother's presence within and without. The subsequent march of the homeless sannyasi, possessed of the Mother, is part of Indian history. Throughout his life, Vivekananda worshipped the Mother as only a few souls have done; still, his final philosophical word is against the worship of a personal divinity... common-sense of Ramanuja's contention that so long as the soul is aware of Nature and its own individuality it needs must believe in a Lord and Originator of them both. But he unmistakably said that the presence of Nature and the individuality of the soul were a bar to the highest realisation since the One alone truly existed and could not suffer any multiplicity in Its all-consuming Ananda. Confronted with... devotee of Ramakrishna as an Incarnation - that is to say, of a real manifestation of the Supreme Essence without that Essence's ceasing to be supreme for a moment. For him to look upon the Divine Mother and upon Ramakrishna as illusions to be renounced would have been to make a mockery of his own holiest feelings. And the fact stands that he did not deem them illusions: his every thought was an act ...
... Sri Aurobindo, not allowed itself to be entirely caressed by the Divine Mother. When I look at the life within me and at the life without, I am struck by so much that has lingered from my pre-Yogic past in the midst of the thinking and feeling and willing and doing that have known the alchemic touch of the two radiant Presences who have pulled us near them from many a distant darkness. Now there ... which the soul lifts itself up into the wide disclosure of the sky through my window. First there is a pale shine, next a faint pink gleam which lays a carpet, as it were, over which a World-Mother's presence sweeps royally towards me to raise me into my highest possibility of inner and outer godhead. My visionary up-soar feels harmonious with what Coleridge in a familiar strain calls the birds' "sweet... glory-burst before a final fading away I am apt to experience a vivid summons from the Supreme to feel intensely His presence and then pursue it gradually into a recess of the inmost self while still carrying in my eyes a clinging worship of Sri Aurobindo's resplendence and the Divine Mother's radiance. Please excuse this prolonged discourse on my own mysticism in relation to the passage of the hours ...
... conscious universality living deep within that world-existence itself. So the Pondicherry sea is our Mother's Cosmic Presence as an earth-transformative love and force, with the centre of her all-circling light in a little town on the eastern coast of South India. Your mind and heart have floated to this Presence and wait with the others who are on the rocks lapped by the sea — rocks that are emblems of a... Goddess-presence from the sea, as if in answer to the reflection of the descending divinity in the vast waters. And what, from the viewpoint of India's spiritual visionary tradition, could be more apt? Does not this tradition speak always of Saraswati rising on a lotus-throne, with her various instruments of inspired concord, from the depths of the ocean? You write: "I...am told that the Mother is... Universal Consciousness of the Mother is already there in the Bliss-sea, what are all of you waiting for? Your dream is definitely charged with an expectancy. The Mother has still to appear. I believe the waiting is for the personal, the individual aspect of her. And perhaps it will Page 41 be poetically in tune with the vibration of the dream to say: "The Mother-Power of harmony and order ...
... brilliant little diamond spark, which was enough to attract Mother’s presence—for beings move in accordance with other laws than it appears, and while we act on the outside like puppets, other eyes see from behind and move with assurance, as a firefly drawn by its similar light. But Mathilde had nothing to do with a firefly, nor did Mother. To begin with, Mathilde had found the pomp of the Egyptian... Mother or The Divine Materialism - I 1: Roots This great virgin forest of Mother took root very early. It is full of unexpected turnings and cascades and deep thickets. One does not quite know whether to go right or left, and one maybe has to go everywhere, in all directions—perhaps there is no path in Mother's great forest, or everything is the path... not yet called "Mother." She is simply called Mirra (with two r's) and is surrounded by a strange and cosmopolitan tribe. We might as well start with the grandmother, for there is something sparkling there, very impish, and indeed reminiscent of a certain aspect of Mother. She was called Mira (with one r) Ismalun and was born in Cairo in 1830. It may not be mere chance that Mother had her roots in ...
... feeling the Mother’s presence within. I told him that after my near death experience from an automobile accident in 1962, that the Mother had come to me miraculously bringing me back from the portals of death. At that time she entered my consciousness, opened my psychic being, and since that time has remained permanently in my heart center. I stated that I felt Sri Aurobindo as a vast Presence looking... have with them? The first darshan with the Mother I had the impression of a radiance all around her. When I first saw Sri Aurobindo I had the sense of something leonine, as well as a mountainous calm. He leaned forward and blessed me with both hands about my head. The Mother kept smiling all the time as if to set me at ease in the presence of Sri Aurobindo. My turn to go to them was to follow an American... never heard him speak. Can you describe the atmosphere of the Ashram when Mother and Sri Aurobindo were in their physical bodies and the difference since that time? The general atmosphere of the Ashram did not change radically. When both Sri Aurobindo and the Mother had left their bodies, I could still feel their presence. Perhaps because their subtle physical was said to have extended a number ...
... Let us see then. Ask me a question from any page. Let’s see if I can answer or not.” What could the Mother say to this? She kept quiet. The Mother started coming to the Playground from Because of the Mother’s presence all the groups were spontaneously organised. In the beginning our physical education activities were limited to the Playground and included volleyball and a few other games... before it actually came out! Many years later the Mother remarked in a displeased way that none of us in the Ashram ever read the Bulletin . “Whereas my children who live outside read it with so much eagerness. They wait in eager expectancy and are impatient to receive the next issue.” I at once questioned the Mother: “Who has told you, Mother, that the Ashramites don’t read the Bulletin ?... International University Centre . While the Mother was cutting the ribbon on the southern gate Counouma stood beside Her. Everyone has surely seen this photograph. That ribbon and pair of scissors have been carefully preserved in a glass case. The Mother’s touch is still on them. You can see them if you go to the school. I remember 1950. That year the Mother announced that a prize called Prix d’Honneur ...
... atmosphere of the Ashram when Mother was still in her physical body and the difference since that time? I feel the main differences are 1) daily life from the balcony darshan onwards focussed on and around Mother’s physical presence. We also had to ask permission for everything i.e. to go to Madras, etc. Everything for our sadhana and work was decided by the Mother. 2) Now the Ashram is larger,... help Auroville become more grounded in the Presence of Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Occultism has not been a part of Ashram life. Mother felt it would be misused. One must have little or no ego to practice occultism. Ancient occultism has become dark. Occultism for the New Age needs new light, force and a higher vibration. Has your guidance from Mother and Sri Aurobindo revealed anything to you... breathing to become slower and deeper. 2) Imagine, discover and realize the presence of the Mother in the heart center. When one can surrender to her in the heart, she takes up the Yoga of Transformation from that level in the way she knows to be the best. 3) Try to surrender one’s past — all of it, as the Mother surrendered to Sri Aurobindo. This also helps in purifying the subconscious. ...
... concentration in the heart is to open the centre there (heart-lotus), to feel the presence of the Divine Mother in the heart and to become aware of one's soul or psychic being which is a portion of the Divine. The object of the concentration in the head is to rise to the Divine Consciousness and bring down the Light of the Mother or her Force or Ananda into all the centres. This movement of ascent and descent... and union with the Mother, her presence within the heart and the action of her Force in the nature. The other opens the mind to self-realisation, to the consciousness of what is above mind, to the ascent of the consciousness out of the body and the descent of the higher consciousness into the body. There is not necessarily any difference of Force. 1 Usually the Mother's name has the full power... of the consciousness to the Mother from within that is the true initiation and that can only come by aspiration and rejection of restlessness in the mind and vital. We do not usually give any mantra. Those who repeat something in meditation call on the Mother. As a rule the only mantra used in this sadhana is that of the Mother or of my name and the Mother. The concentration in the heart ...
... earth. Also, to the deep-seeing soul, on every darśan day after the great withdrawal the Mother has never sat alone: Sri Aurobindo, conscious and alive though not in the corporeal sheath, has been there, unmistakably felt in the double intensity of spiritual light that the Mother's bodily presence has manifested in Sri Aurobindo's physical absence. It is as if the wonderful work that was... concentrated Yogic work towards the creation of a new humanity. In the forefront he put, as guru and guide to his disciples, one whom he regarded as the spiritual Mother of the greater world that was to be. On this day, when the Mother's genius of spiritual organisation took up the group of souls dedicated to the Aurobindonian ideal, the Ashram was conceived and set growing to be the nucleus-light... intended to be reborn. In the years that followed, this day was one of those few on which Sri Aurobindo, seated side by side with the Mother, used to give darśan to the hundreds who gathered in Pondicherry to pay them homage. But since 1950 the Mother alone has been visible on this day as on others like it. For, Sri Aurobindo who had retired for twenty-four years from common outer contact ...
... we are helped by four powerful aids: the Supramental Force, active since 1956; the Consciousness of the Overman, active since 1 January 1969 27 ; Sri Aurobindo’s presence; and the Mother’s presence. For Sri Aurobindo’s and the Mother’s Work of building the New World cannot have been limited to their years of incarnation in a physical body. Helpers of the progress of the Earth and humanity during the... December the Mother helped Sri Aurobindo take a drink. At midnight she came again into his room. This time he opened his eyes and the two looked at each other in a steady gaze. “We were the silent spectators of that crucial scene,” writes Nirodbaran. At 1 a.m. on the 5th of December the Mother came again. Her face was calm, there was no trace of emotion. Sri Aurobindo was indrawn. The Mother asked Dr... strange to our human mind that the Mother could leave Sri Aurobindo at this critical moment.” Yet, the Mother’s clarification is quite different: “As long as I was in the room he could not leave his body. I used all my power to prevent him from departing. So there was a terrible tension in him: the inner will to leave and then this kind of thing [ i.e. the Mother] that was holding him there, like that ...
... very badly at this place. The Mother exclaimed: “Amrita!” Pat came the answer from his mischief-filled eyes: “Mother, just trying to be conscious!” And everyone present there burst out laughing. The Mother Herself could not control Her laughter. This was our Amrita-da. And so naturally his presence made the French class most interesting and amusing. The Mother would Herself read out each... place of sadness, peace would come into our mind and body. In the Mother’s presence everything was transformed into peace and we would slip into meditation. I felt as if I did not exist! Or that I had become just a point! What an astonishing experience that was! When I opened my eyes I saw thick darkness flooding all around the Mother. All of a sudden I felt: “Who are we sitting with?” The one described... surrounded the Mother and was bowing down to Her. We waited quietly. Bathed in that cascading light the beauty of the Mother’s pure white body was incomparable. All of us, young, old and adults, sat mesmerised by the Mother’s face. The Mother turned the pages of the book. Just the sound of shuffling paper. That is all. The creatures of the world were impatient to hear the Mother’s voice, so soft ...
... Baba would say: “Look, whatever you are whispering in my ears the Mother is listening too! She is standing behind you, so beware!” Again Baba would tell us: “Never retreat! never be small! never show weakness! That demeans the Mother! It is a sure way to remove the Mother’s presence from you. You must become a true worker of the Mother. Be cheerful, banish all levity from your nature, all meanness.... at the feet of the Mother?” And speak of his courage — he had tons of it! When he spoke in an impassioned mood, he could instil that fearless courage into us and make us as ardent and fiery as he. I remember how in his company I would feel myself charged with courage and enthusiasm. I think that even timid persons would have dared to accomplish dangerous tasks in the presence of such a man. He seemed... had with the Mother. One morning Sudhir-da was standing in the Meditation Hall. Nolini-da came out of the Mother’s room, saw him there and said, “Sudhir, the Mother has called you.” He replied in a jocular vein, “How long shall I see the old Lady?” Nolini-da chided him, “The Mother has called you, go to Her.” Sudhir-da always obeyed Nolini-da. He went upstairs and entered the Mother’s room. What did ...
... however often it may rise. It is the price of the transformation of the earth-consciousness. What is exactly meant by negation here? Negation of deeper peace, Mother's presence, self etc. Page 8 as opposed to a positive attack of lust, ego, vital turmoil etc. The same negative state prolongs. I was sure to overcome it. But suddenly... of difficulties are good. But I feel they are hardly enough. Something more seems to be needed; the Mother knows what it is and how to do it. You are always expecting the Mother to do it — and here again the laziness and tamas come in — it is the spirit of tamasic surrender. If the Mother puts you back into a good condition, your vital pulls you down again. How is that to stop so long as... of the inertia that the tamas rose so strongly in order to assert its right to obstruct the progress. 1 Mother India, July 1952, pp. 2-3. Page 5 There is an attempt in my being to support and help the working of the Mothers Force. If it succeeds sufficiently the tamas would hardly be able to delay the journey; it would be transformed into peace. ...
... faculties under the pressure of atmosphere, which was specially created by a tremendous force of Mother's Presence and guidance, and activities so organised as to promote the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, courage and heroism, mutuality and harmony, and skills of creativity and productivity. Mother had also declared that there had to be no compulsion in the process of children's development; children... and the Mother have called psychic and spiritual education. These two domains bring into the picture all that is central to value-oriented education, and to higher and profounder elements of human psychology. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother have advocated new methods that are free from those of dogma, rituals, ceremonies, prescribed acts. Spirituality, according to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, is a... specially came to Pondicherry to preside over the inaugural function, where the Mother inaugurated it and declared that that Centre was conceived as one of the best means of preparing humanity for future that would be marked by the manifestation of a new light and power, — the supramental light and power.::" And the Mother gave a prayer for the students of this Centre, which breathes with ever-fresh ...
... ss about others and about this collectivity of us and them, which we term the Ashram? No doubt, physical transformation, in the way Sri Aurobindo and the Mother conceived it, is impossible without the Mother's physical presence. Hence the acute need of her return. All this talk, - fashionable with some deserters of the Ashram - of reprogramming the cells and bringing about their divinisation... has come "on a number of occasions" and leaves you "surprised" marks in my view the supreme seal on your Page 312 sadhana. The true, the quintessential "You" has not only made his presence felt but also recognised himself for ever as linked in deepest love to Sri Aurobindo the Source of your soul, the Lord of your life. You have unmistakably found your destiny and the discovery has... centre of concentration. Of course, ambition to be a divine instrument must be completely avoided: we are not meant to be Guruhngs under our Gurus, What is to be developed in us centrally is that Presence which, while being given whole-heartedly to the Divine, is a portion of the Divine come down as part of the evolving cosmos, as the head and front of the cosmic evolutionary process. The adverb I ...
... greatness of the Mother. I joined a group but was not yet in school. Every day I would go to the library which was in the main Ashram compound then. Vasanti-di was working there at that time. She would see me every day reading poetry and books. Then in the afternoons I would go wherever I could see or be near the Mother. Could you describe what it was like to be in the Mother’s presence in those days... to date, articles used by the Mother, i.e. combs, hair-pieces and European perfume bottles. The third cabinet holds postage stamps of Mother and Sri Aurobindo issued by the Indian Government. The fourth cabinet includes saris and shawls used by the Mother when she was writing Prayers and Meditations in the Ashram; Mother’s gold watch and Huta’s painting of Mother at the organ. In the fifth... and gold. The Mother has all the subtle pastel colors. Can you share the story of your meeting with, marriage to and work with Balkrishna Poddar? I was around twenty and teaching English in the Ashram school in the mornings. I asked the Mother for some additional work for the afternoons after school. Simultaneously, Balkrishna had asked the Mother for a helper at SABDA. The Mother gave this work ...
... clean garden in the open courtyard, every room had simple and decent furniture — a mat, a chair, and a small table. There was an air of tidiness and order. This was, no doubt, the effect of the Mother’s presence.’ 8 Not only did the housekeeping become a lot less problematical, but by her own attitude towards Sri Aurobindo she showed his young companions who he actually was. She must have done this... Avatar is a direct embodiment of the Godhead. ‘An Avatar, roughly speaking, is one who is conscious of the presence and the power of the Divine born in him or descended into him and governing from within his will and life and action; he feels identified inwardly with the divine power and presence.’ 14 (Sri Aurobindo) Being the Son of Man he is also literally the Son of God. To human comprehension... then still very young disciple Nagin Doshi asked him straight out: ‘Do you not refer to the Mother (our Mother) in your book “The Mother”?’ Sri Aurobindo answered laconically: ‘Yes.’ The difficulty of accepting the Mother on a par with the masculine Avatar had several reasons. One of these was, as already mentioned, that the divine incarnations in all traditions have always been men; moreover those ...
... the Mother was leading you when she took you by the hand. This often happens in meditation or trance when one has once gone upward into the spiritual infinity. The reason why you did not see the Mother's form was not that the Mother hid herself, or anything in you came between, but that you were both moving in the formless Infinite as spiritual beings and so it was easier to feel the presence than... the head and body, but a Page 276 wide consciousness with the body only as something comparatively small inside it. The vision was a figure of this wider consciousness with the Mother's inner presence always there. Yes, what you see is right. 1 It is why the former Yogins preferred to remain in the wide consciousness aloof from the play of the energies—they regarded the latter... become different, with a changed outlook, seeing the world no more as before but as if made of another substance with another significance. It is when you feel the universal or divine beauty or presence in things that the senses are open to the Divine. Page 280 × The correspondent said that when he lived ...
... air of tidiness and order. This was no doubt the effect of Mother's presence.' The real change, however, was not so much in the outward mode of living but, as Nolini Kanta has recounted in his reminiscences, 'Our life itself took on a different turn with the arrival of the Mother. How and in what direction? It was like this. The Mother came and installed Sri Aurobindo on his high pedestal as Master... Sri Aurobindo with his young men called on the Richards every Sunday evening and dined with them. When she came to the Guest House, the Mother generally kept herself in the background and it was only gradually that the inmates of the house began to feel her presence. The significance of the day of her arrival, April 24, and its importance in the Yoga of Sri Aurobindo came to be increasingly recognised... inherent incapacity of the human intellect and its secondary place in the search for the ultimate Reality.' During the first years of her stay in the Library House the Mother continued to keep herself in the background. However, her presence and influence were increasingly felt by the disciples not only in their community life but in matters of sadhana also. The disciples could see for themselves how frequently ...
... picture of Sri Aurobindo or the Mother the presence of them has been instilled, this presence responds and superimposes its gesture on your sight or, rather, on the consciousness behind your seeing, through the features in the representation. I too have had a response from the photo of Sri Aurobindo or the Mother. Just a few days back the big picture of the Mother which hangs on the wall just... general experience?" The Mother answered: "Both the ways are right. It all depends on one's own turn of feeling. But perhaps what you feel corresponds more to the spiritual reality and relationship." Sri Aurobindo's "Be like me" puts me in mind of two points from the past. A vivid suggestion of how the inner greatness of Sri Aurobindo got expressed in his physical presence went home to me when... drunk the milk of paradise. Perhaps the discrepancy between the lower body and the rest of me is the result of a defect in my sadhana. While I have opened more and more to the presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother within and around and above, I Page 27 have not been able to experience it below. For bodily transformation it is the Divine crypted in Matter who is to be realised ...
... ) Yesterday evening I read something in the book 9 .... Sri Aurobindo is writing to someone who said, "How lucky people are who live near the Mother." "You don't know what you're talking about! " he replies. "To live in the Mother's physical presence is one of the most difficult things." Do you remember this passage? I didn't know he had written that. "Well, well..." I thought. He writes, "It is... certain amount of patience is probably required—let the body catch its breath, otherwise something gives way. It gets much less winded, of course, when you have the inner equality of the divine Presence. So much fatigue is due to excess tension produced by desire or effort or struggle, by the constant battle against all opposing forces. All that can go. We tire ourselves out quite needlessly.... January January Mother’s Agenda 1962 January 9, 1962 ( Mother has been unwell the past few days and is receiving almost no one. ) Are you better? I think so! ( Mother laughs ) I don't know. It's strange, these attacks... bizarre; they seem to have nothing to do with my state of health. It's a sort of... d ...
... g and all- constituting Force as the universal Mother, surrender himself to Her, so that undeflected by the fickle desires and unhampered by the preferences and hesitancies of his ego, his being may blossom, with the same spontaneity as the flower blossoms, under the fostering love and care of Her all-pervading Presence. His surrender to the Mother would then be as natural a movement as the surrender... appear natural and in- evitable to his liberated consciousness. To know that his atomic being is generated, sustained and led to its evolutionary perfection by the omnipresent plenum of the Mother's living Presence, and to surrender all himself with an unstinted joy and generosity to Her Force, which is at once Light and Love, is man's deliverance, and his first decisive step towards knowledge. Page... held up for the Mother's Light to fill it. It is an extremely difficult work for the modern intellectual man to do: to cast away his cherished thoughts and ideas, his views and convictions, his predilections ¹ The Mother by Sri Aurobindo. Page 109 and prepossessions, his mental principles and rules, and become, as Sri Ramakrishna became, a simple child of the Mother, open only to ...
... of the Mother's face, I think you will have to go to a greater poet than the specimen before you. You will find descriptions very accurate and very penetrating when Sri Page 34 Aurobindo delineates the heroine of his epic that is a legend and a symbol. Read what he writes in Savitri about Savitri and you will have an idea of the Mother's bodily presence, the Mother's facial... I have to say to my own blessed name given by Sri Aurobindo: "Amal Kiran", which means "A Clear Ray"? I will now, like a clear ray, shoot towards its parent Sun — the presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother — and give you a few recollections of my contact with them. I shall begin with what happened when I first came here and stayed in what I have called Vasudha's House... in dealing with heights or depths we have made our utmost effort to be clear. And even about this mystery I may utter a clarifying word. All true mystery is ultimately the Divine Presence. Now, to the Divine His own Presence is self-luminous: it is not a mystery in the ordinary sense at all. It is a mystery only to the mind of man. It is a supreme, a colossal clarity to the Divine Himself. So I should ...
... burning fever. This happened in the night of 24-25 July 1959 5 with a surprising consequence: suddenly the Mother found herself in the presence of Sri Aurobindo, in his ‘dwelling’ in the supramental world. This does not mean that the Mother had not met Sri Aurobindo before. In fact, his presence by her side had been constant, as his action in the world had equally been continuous and had resulted,... know if sugar cane grows here or not.’ The Mother’s answer: ‘Have faith in the Divine and everything will be all right. Don’t worry about it. This will be my Yoga in the material world and I want you to do it.’ The Mother herself had the new company registered and named it ‘New Horizon Sugar Mills.’ An office was opened on 14 May 1958 in the Mother’s presence. Just then the Government introduced heavy... wanted in all of the manifestation. The Mother would later report that together with Sri Aurobindo in his supramental dwelling there were other people close to him. She named Purani, and Amrita, and the amazing Mridu. The explanation of their presence there is not difficult. We remember that, after her experience of the ship of the New World, the Mother had said that some people on Earth were su ...
... the effect of the Mother’s presence. But yet the atmosphere was tense because Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were engaged in fighting with forces of the vital plane.’ ‘I was living in the inner rooms and seeing no one. He [Sri Aurobindo] was going out onto the veranda, seeing everyone, receiving people, speaking, discussing. I saw him only when he came back inside.’ The Mother said this about the... Subconscient and the Inconscient – the absolute Darkness, the Nihil that is the contrary of the absolute Light and All. ‘It was only when I descended into the Inconscient,’ said the Mother, ‘that I found the divine Presence – there, in the midst of Darkness. It wasn’t the first time. When I was working with Théon at Tlemcen (the second time I was there), I descended into the total, unindividualized –... significance. Besides, the presence of Madame Richard at Sri Aurobindo’s side was not accepted as a matter of course. For she and Miss Hodgson were now living in the same house as Sri Aurobindo and his companions at 41 Rue Francois Martin. As Nolini writes in his Reminiscences: ‘There came a heavy storm and rain one day [24 November 1920]. The house [where the Mother was staying earlier] was old ...
... example of the Mother’s attitude towards her experiences, they also announce the totally novel and extremely important presence of a Consciousness, now active on Earth, which not a single commentator on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother’s Work has taken into account. Every consciousness is in the very real sense a being (the Mother here says a ‘personality’). The Entretien the Mother refers to dates... month. 91 The Mother also asked me to warn the expectant mothers who called down such a child that the child born would not be like other children and would not behave in the way other children behave, and so they may have trouble with them. They would have to be patient, understand that the child has a great soul, and give it every opportunity to develop.’ 18 The Presence and Role of the... psychic being, although having an identity, has no ego, for it is wholly divine. And the Mother’s psychic being was that of the Great Mother, ‘like a Sun.’ This, and her increasing supramentalization, made it necessary that she cover her true Self with ‘a veil, and another veil, and another veil,’ otherwise her presence would have been ‘unbearable’ for humans. On 1 July 1970, the same Rijuta, who acted ...
... desires and does not admit the true initiative and impulsions that the Mother's. power brings, if the physical is shut up in its desire, habits and inertia and does not allow the Light and Force to enter in it and work, then one is not open."¹ Opening can be most easily done by a constant, loving remembrance of" the Mother. Her Presence is always there with its infinite Power within us, around us and above... confident call that are needed to make that Presence dynamically felt and effective. But mere opening without surrender cannot avail much.- The Mother's Force may come, but, finding our nature too rigid or recalcitrant, and reluctant to accept its influence and impulsion, can only withdraw, leaving us to stumble ¹ Letters of Sri Aurobindo on the Mother Page 139 and suffer... instrument of divine self-expression, through long and chequered stages of slow and gradual progress. In the stone and the mineral, it is hidden in distant depths, and throws out no hints of its occult presence, save in certain automatic reactions to external stimuli. In the plant, it has been able to release just enough of its consciousness to react by sensation to the impacts of the outside world ...
... every room had simple and decent furniture, – a mat, a chair and a small table. There was an air of tidiness and order. This was, no doubt, the effect of Mother's presence. But yet the atmosphere was tense because Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were engaged in fighting with forces of the vital plane. Only a few days before my arrival a dismissed cook had managed to get stones hurled into ... mind ? Sri Aurobindo : Pure mind simply judges or watches, arranges and accepts the Truth, while vital or dynamic mind acts. Pure mind does not act in that way. Disciple : Why is the presence of the higher Power not felt in the vital being ? Sri Aurobindo : Because the physico-vital is not yet completely taken possession of by the higher Power. The physico-vital is a very thick... afternoon and also the evening sittings. This time I saw the Mother for the first time. She was standing near the staircase when Sri Aurobindo was going upstairs after lunch. Such unearthly beauty I had never seen – she appeared to be about 20 whereas she was more than 37 years old. I found the atmosphere of the Ashram tense. The Mother and Datta, i . e. Miss Hodgson, had come to stay in No. ...
... occupying the outer circumference, the Mother is at once teacher, comrade, mother, Guru, God. She talks without apparent effort, and oftentimes the talks go on till nine o'clock or after, occasionally till ten. The children are at home, the sadhaks (whether or not they follow the Mother's speech rhythms in French) are attentive and drinking her divine presence. She is the best of companions and the... consecration continued right through the pranam and persisted when I went up the staircase and met Mother again. She appeared to recognise the change and stood gazing into my eyes. The change accompanied me to Sri Aurobindo's room... the heart and the mind kept open and lived in the Mother's marvellous presence and Sri Aurobindo's exalted aura. The harbour seemed within sight of this wave-tossed wind-vexed... the other hand, to slake their spiritual thirst, not in the brackish pools of dogma, but in the living waters of the Mother's round-the-clock sacerdocy and her evening discourses in the playground. Sri Aurobindo too was for many a living Presence and a guiding power. The Mother herself wrote to a sadhak on 5 May: ...Sri Aurobindo whom I know and with whom I lived physically for thirty years ...
... aspire to feel my Presence concretely. Your aspiration must be so intense that the thing you aspire for — the Presence — should vibrate in front of you. When you close your eyes ( Mother closes her eyes ) and you call ‘Ma’, I must be physically in front of you. You must vibrate and radiate with my Presence. You will be able to feel my Presence, like this: the nose, the face. ( Mother touches different... things, the Mother continues ) … The most important thing is to prepare yourself inwardly, to feel my Presence everywhere. It should be like something that surrounds you constantly, which makes you conscious of a Presence, and you should not do anything outside this Presence. At each minute you ought to be enveloped by this atmosphere; do not do anything without feeling the Presence that guides you... deprived of this marvellous blessings? That… I cannot, my child. I cannot. ( I kneel before the Mother, She holds my face in both Her hands, looks into my eyes and concentrates ….) March 21, 1959 THE MOTHER’S PRESENCE Bonjour! Bonjour, Douce Mère. Is everything all right? Yes, Mother. But how do You find me? What I see, I know very well. I know what is happening within ...
... was telling the secret. And that's why I came back, to see what that "secret in the body" was. Mother's Exploration: The Descent into the body, the Other Side of the Fishbowl Towarnicki: You now find yourself in Mother's presence. In Mother's presence? Towarnicki: Or whatever you like to call it. What is beginning to dawn on you through what she says. But, as she... Satprem. I was there, you see, because she felt that my presence didn't interfere. But it was mainly an exchange between Mother and Satprem. He followed what she said. Sometimes I understood, sometimes I didn't, but I never suspected that the people of the ashram weren't like us, loving Mother. With their mouth, they said that they loved Mother, that they were her disciples... (Laughing) I don't... stood there, looking at her. After some time, Mother says, "My, you don't Page 161 flinch. Aren't you afraid?" And I replied, "Little Mother, you're my mother! So you can be anything, take on any appearance, I am your child! You're my mother!" (Laughing) Mother herself was astounded by my answer. Indeed, for me she was always a mother. Towarnicki: How old were you then? ...
... every room had simple and decent furniture, – a mat, a chair and a small table. There was an air of tidiness and order. This was, no doubt, the effect of Mother's presence. But yet the atmosphere was tense because Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were engaged in fighting with forces of the vital plane. Only a few days before my arrival a dismissed cook had managed to get stones hurled into Sri... author. So her husband had fallen desperately sick. Sri Aurobindo in his generosity forgave the fellow and said in Amrita's presence: "For this he need not die." The black magician recovered after that.) "So you see," he said, at the end of his narration, "the Mother who had studied occultism in North Africa could understand it all because of her deep occult knowledge." "And you?" ... wrote back in a letter dated 24th March 1949: "As to her experience, certainly her call for help did reach Mother even though all the details she relates in her letter might not have been present to the Mother's physical mind. Always calls of this kind are coming to the Mother, sometimes a hundred close upon each other and always the answer is given. The occasions are of all kinds, but whatever ...
... was no doubt in earnest about sadhana, but only in the sense of wanting to succeed and being prepared to make some sacrifices for that—but on a basis of ego. Yet he wrote that he was feeling Mother's presence in him whenever he was having his experiences— a thing she did not find very credible. How could it be if there was "no love lost" etc. ? The disturbance that came was not illness, Nirod could... nothing in the experience itself that was inconsistent with the experience being in true descent of Force, nothing that others have not had and had with joy and spiritual profit. But if he felt Mother's presence so much, why this fear ? It was the fear of this insincere part of him, partly in terror lest it might really be seized by the Divine Force and made to change, partly lest its insincerity and... beautiful dream this afternoon in my midday siesta. I sang Nishikanta's song on Mother this morning (with other songs too) with joy and after meals lay down in shabasan to do japa of Mother's name making my room dark. I fell into sleep and dreamed I lay as a child with Mother who was caressing me as a human mother does her child and I lay at her feet and in her lap in great love and devotion ...
... necessary for Auroville too. It is best that everyone finds his direct contact with Mother, without any intermediary. Intermediaries are the old plague of religions. Sri Aurobindo and Mother came precisely to bring the Divine directly into Matter, or rather to wear away the hard layer that veiled this immediate Presence from our eyes. Now we must open our eyes (and ears). Everyone must strive to listen... him: "You see, it is Auroville that gives this for Mother's Work." You did this with your hearts, but you don't well assess the importance of the gesture that you have made. It is very important. It is as important as the laying of the first stone of the Matrimandir. It means that your material being has understood a little what Mother's presence on earth means. It is like a direct bridge that... trust All my tenderness Satprem May 24, 1978 (Letter to N., in Auroville) It was very good to feel your love and joy. The living presence of Auroville is shining in the surrounding night. It is very moving to feel that. Mother is pleased. We must really understand that we are in the hour of the great Possible: not to build a small world or even a better world, but another ...
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