classes ::: Agenda Vol 03, The Mother, Satprem, Integral Yoga, chapter,
children :::
branches :::
see also :::

bookmarks: Instances - Definitions - Quotes - Chapters - Wordnet - Webgen


object:1962-07-31
book class:Agenda Vol 03
author class:The Mother
author class:Satprem
subject class:Integral Yoga
class:chapter


1962 Tue 31 July
July 31, 1962

(At the start of this conversation, Mother listens to Satprem read an unpleasant letter he has just received from P.A.L., his Paris publisher:)

Heres what he says: I read with great interest the Introduction to your new book on Shri Aurobindo. I must confess that if I have been late in replying it is because I am still very hesitant. The text reads well, but it leaves doubts as to how well the book that follows will conform to the norms of our Spiritual Masters series. I greatly fear that we will both end up disappointed again. The book you want to write is, I feel, very personal, whereas this series must consist of books which are essentially expositions, introductions, tools of information: etc.

(After a silence) I am getting a sort of indication: when I turn the beacon to this side, the resistance suddenly seems to give waythere must be a means of making it give way.

Dont reply, keep quiet. Write your book and we will see.

I have the feeling that, consciously or unconsciously (I dont know which), this gentleman has become a tool of Catholic resistance. It is very strong in the Old World and in America as well, although there its more Christian than specifically Catholic. But its terribly strong in France: it tries to take advantage of every opening and to block whatever might take a new turn.

It will give way.

But the things I am seeing arent at all personal like this letter, you know, they are not small details, they are overall actions. There seems to be something unyielding, like this (gesture), and then it suddenly collapses and theres a free flow.

I cant say this gentleman knows it (he probably doesntwhat goes on in the human brain is very incoherent). But in any case, something in him is wary: Whats to tell me this book wont lead me just where I dont want to go?

Their main complaint was, You are abstract. So if we want to be concrete, we have to speak of experiences.

No, to them concrete means telling what Sri Aurobindo did physically. Thats what they call concrete. Psychology is something abstract for them.

Oh, I dont know what to do!

Here, Ill give you an example: A. wrote to tell me, If you know how to get in touch with Agni,1 let me know, because I need him! I gave the natural reply, that whats needed is aspiration for progress, a will for perfection, and that you kindle the fire by burning your desires. I told him this in a way I call very concrete. Well, he answered (laughing), Ohhh! Youre living in abstractions. Thats not what I want, I want a living goda personality, you see!

Thats how people are.

Psychology: thats abstract. What they want is: on such and such a date he went to this place, saw these people and did thisall the most external and banal sorts of things. Even yoga boils down to: he sat down and stayed there for so many hours, he had this vision, he tried out that method, he did asanas and breathing exercises. That, for them, is concrete. That and that alone. Psychology is thoroughly abstractthoroughly. Its unreal to them.

But Ive tried to be as concrete as possible! Like cutting up a rat on a dissecting table to see whats inside it.

They would already have to be well advanced.

Listen, dont think about it, dont pay it any attentionfinish the book.

Im not really satisfied.

That isnt necessary.

Is it necessary to be satisfied? (Mother laughs.)

I have noticed that the very thing you feel youve done most poorly is usually the most useful. It has always been like that for me. I remember doing a lot of thingsa bit of painting, a bit of music, a bit of writing (very little)and it was just when I used to think, Oh, la-la! What a fiasco!, that people were the most touched and pleased.

You mustnt be concerned with it, its totally irrelevant.

I think its quite dangerous to be satisfied, because then the very best part of the being goes to sleep.

Whether were satisfied or not is altogether unimportant.

And then, it may well be that one day someone will put the pressure on this gentleman, and he will say, Ahh! Well, all rightlets try.

Keep on.

Agni: the fire of inner aspiration. In the Vedas it is represented by a particular god.

***


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