object:1961_01_18
book class:On Thoughts And Aphorisms
author class:The Mother
subject class:Integral Yoga
class:chapter
1961 Wed 18 January
Aphorism - 52
52This is a miracle that men can love God, yet fail to love humanity. With whom are they in love then?
Is it possible to reach the Divine through philanthropy?1
It depends on what you mean by philanthropy. Normally, we call philanthropists those who do charitable works.
Here Sri Aurobindo does not use the word philanthropy, for, as it is usually understood, philanthropy is a social and conventional attitude, a kind of magnified egoism which is not love but a condescending pity which assumes a patronising air.
In this Aphorism Sri Aurobindo refers to those who follow the ascetic path in solitary search of a solitary God, by trying to cut themselves off completely from the world and men.
But for Sri Aurobindo men form part of the Divine; and if you truly love the Divine, how can you not love men, since they are an aspect of Himself?
18 January 1961
Written question and answer.
***
Aphorism - 51
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