(Mother listens to Satprem read some passages from his new book on Sri Aurobindo. The first book, Sri Aurobindo and the Transformation of the World, was judged "abstract and nebulous" by the Paris publisher. Mother comments:)
They probably wont understand anything.
For me, the other book was more self-evident.
Yes, for me too. Writing it was more intense; I have no sense of inspiration with this one.
My idea was to stick to the bare facts, to tell stories from Sri Aurobindos life, the Ashram, things like that.
This is still (gesture above the head). Its geared to intelligent people interested in things of the spirit.
I dont see how these things could be skipped.
In any event, its all rightits fine, I dont mean to criticize; I find it very good but still a little too lofty.
Oh, listen.
All right, its all right (Mother laughs). A bit too high for them.
But this chapter ends here, doesnt it?
Its simply to give some background. Still, I cant avoid saying whats new in what Sri Aurobindo brings, precisely because it has nothing to do with spiritual India. We cant avoid telling them this one way or another, can we?
Yes, youre telling them very intelligently.
Its put simply.
Yes well, it could be put much more simply! But it doesnt matter. You neednt think its no goodits very good.
Oh, you know, I dont think much of the inspirations Im getting! I mean, I know it could just as well be something elseits not the inevitable.
Thats no problem the public isnt touched by inspiration. But what you write here is for intelligent people with inquiring minds, interested in ideasis there such a public?
But after this prologue, I intend to tackle the problem practically, to speak of the moment when people reach the limits of the mind, when they start going round in circles and find nothing; then I will tell them of zones beyond the mind, and of what can be discovered when one goes within: mental silence. Ill talk about a practical discipline. That was my idea. My idea isnt to give an abstract explanation but to take up yoga from a practical angle: try to do this, and heres what you may expectmental transformation, change in the vital, dreams, etc. All practical things. Id like to explore the psychological aspect.
Thats good. From the standpoint of the Work, of what you create, of course its very good, very interesting; it needs to be said, it MUST be said. But is the gentleman who wrote you that letter capable of understanding anything of it? Thats where I put a question mark.
Well see.
If he doesnt understand, it means he wont understand no matter what.
And what if you tell them we do gymnastics and have a swimming pool!
I will.
This is something theyll understand that were not a bunch of defrocked monks meditating in a circle, but that all lifes activities are accepted and everyone keeps busy: the writer writes, the painter paints, the children do gymnastics; that, they will understand.
Ill say it, but later on, towards the end. After exploring these changes of consciousness, which after all are the very basis of the work, Ill show how they translate practically. But if i start with this right away, without explaining why its like that.
Oh, that wont trouble them!
Thats the part I saw. Just toss it to them, I thought, and that will be that!
But we still have to try to make them understand why its like that!
No, thats where you have to give in. You have to put all this trying to make them understand out of the picture. If you want to include those things for your personal satisfaction, because it makes the thing more real, more living, I agree; but get rid of this trying to make them understand, its impossible. I tell you, as soon as you go beyond the matter-of-fact (Mother sticks her hand right under her nose), theyre lost. But tell them what they can see when they get off the train: All these houses, thats the Ashram; here is the library, those are the tennis courts, theres the sports ground, thats. Ah! They understand.
Its going well; it will be a very good book. But probably only a small portion of it will make them say, Ah, finally! Something practical!
The Ashram began with two houses and so many peoplein America thats all they ever wanted to know from me. When I asked for money from America, thats what they asked about, and thats what I had to send them: on such and such a date we started off with two houses and then little by little, like this and like that, it became what it is today. And now we have so many houses (Mother laughs), there are so many people, so many visitors per year, and the Samadhi has become a place of pilgrimage, and. In short, newspaper stories thats what I wrote to America! I put together papers, documents, statistics they were quite satisfied. If I had told them even a quarter of what you say, they would have replied, Oh, for heavens sake, be practical!
Being practical means understanding no more than they do.
Thats the thing: to be practical is to understand no more than they do!
After all, it doesnt matter.
???
What youve written is for an enlightened public fond of ideasexcellent. But its not a book you buy for a couple of dollars and read on the train between stations; no, the reader must sit quietly and think about what hes reading. Theres not one in a million like that! They put it in their pocket, you see, and on the subwaymaybe not the subway, theres no time!but while theyre on the train, they pull it out of their pocket and.
(Satprem makes a discouraged gesture)
No, no, dont stop, go on, finish it. But they may ask you to cut it (Mother laughs)some passages will drag! Why do you dwell so much on ideas? Thats secondary!
I understand. But I dont see that I can.
No, write your book as you see it.
I see a psychological book. I mean, someone doing research on himself, seeking to understand. Not a philosophical but a psychological booksomeone whos experimenting on himself.
What!
One in a million! You wont have any readers!
No, no, people want to while away the time, they want to be diverted and forget their worries, their family cares, their businesses for half an hour.
I am not being critical, its just a prediction!
No, go ahead. Theyre simply going to tell you, Your book is very nice, but it drags in places. If youll let us cut them out (Mother laughs). Thats it. And whatever is truly psychological, well, theyll take big scissors and (Mother laughs).
But all that can be published separately.
Keep on. Certain sections can be made into magazine articles for serious readers, the few who like to think.
Just send it to your publisher, youll see. Well cut if they ask us to, and send what we cut to a magazine. Then theyll have their nice little storybook!1
***
(A little later, the subject of the increasing scarcity of the tapes Satprem uses to record these conversations comes up. It should be mentioned that Mother has never wanted to use the Ashrams tapes.)
And then after all, if its lost, its lost! It will have been the Lords decision, so it doesnt matter.
The Lord we must help Him out a little!
He doesnt know the job! (Mother laughs)
This is a common feeling: in the end, maybe He DOESNT really know the things of this world as well as we do! (Mother laughs and laughs) Its very funny.
***
(Just before leaving, Mother makes the following remark on the Paris publishers resistance:)
This is what I am doing (gesture of applying pressure with the thumb). Who knows, anything can happen! Some rather interesting things are happening in the world, showing me that after all, there is a response there is a little response. I do this (same gesture with the thumb), and the effort isnt completely wasted. The events in Algeria2 and certain things in America too. Theres a response. And then (I think Ive told you this), some people are suddenly having experiences out of all proportion to their inner state, as though theyd been projected into a curve absorbing several lifetimes. This seems to be whats happening individually. People with the least bit of trust are gaining lifetimes perhaps many lifetimesand the world as well.
The work is getting done in double timeeven a lot more than double.
But its good, this book of yours.
As I always say, Be at least two generations ahead. And this book is a generation ahead of them.
Mother was right (in part!). Satprem's second book was refused by this same publisher, then accepted by another.
Algeria's Independence has just been announced.
***
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