(Sujata shows Mother a sort of cyst that has developed in her neck. This banal incident is the starting point for a capital discovery: the "cellular spinning.")
Its a tumor. Probably a hair that coiled up and the body covered it in a layer of skin, and then, out of habit, went on building skin around it: one layer, then another layer, then Its an idiotic goodwill. And thats how it is for almost all illnesses.
***
Soon afterwards:
I have a little problem Id like to put to you. I would like you to give me an indication or ask Sri Aurobindo for an indication. Its about the translation into German of certain words: the word mind and the word spirit.
So?
All the German translators are quarreling with each other, not one agrees with the other.
Yes, I know!
For a long time I have been in touch with C.S. about the German translation of the book [The Adventure of Consciousness]. He has thought about it a lot (so have I), and finally P. has made a suggestion. The word for spirit in German, Geist, is used indifferently, and of course especially to denote the mindas in French esprit is used very vaguely. So P. suggested we keep the word Geist for the mind and qualify it: thinking mind, illuminated mind, etc. But the word spirit would still have to be translated, and there is no word for it in German. There exist a few adjectives that derive from the Latin word spiritus, but nothing for spirit. P. suggested we use der Spirit, derived from Latin. C.S. hesitates. So I wanted to ask you if you had some impression or other. Can we introduce der Spirit in German? Thats the sort of thing that brings all the German translators into conflict.
But theres no guarantee of their accepting a suggestion.
If the word goes into the translation of this book as a first step and the book is read widely enough, it will provide a basis for them to accept it. I dont know.
Whats the Sanskrit for spirit?
Its Purusha, in opposition to Prakriti, Nature.
But you say that C.S. doesnt want this Spirit?
Hes reluctant. He objects that its a Latin word and not a German one.
What is the word they use? The same as for mind?
Yes: Geist.
That wont do. Geist wont do at all. For the mind, its all right.
Yes, thats what I felt, and also it would be very good to say bergeist for the supermind.
(Mother nods her head) What language will future people speak! All this is very poor. All these languages are poor. In India alone, from one region to another they dont understand each otherwithout English they wouldnt understand each other at all.
Is there nothing better than this Spirit? Purusha wont do at all, its too long, three syllables. Lets just say that to C.S. But if he doesnt like it, its going to give him a lot of trouble.
Its a stopgap.
But in French, too, everything we say is an approximation! Which means that if you adopt your own language, its quite all right, but you are the only one to understand it truly.
If we take a new word, it should be a word with force, thats the important point.
Words like Tat, Sat, Chit are strong, but Purusha
Lets just propose Spirit.
***
(Mother asks Satprem to read her a letter that has just come from the United States. The letter announces that someone who had been dying has miraculously regained the use of reason and speech:)
Now thats very interesting, my children! Because when I got the telegram announcing that he was dying
First I should say that when he had his cancer, E. asked me to intervene; I answered her, I accept, but what will happen to him will be the best from the SPIRITUAL standpointnot at all according to human conception. He refused the doctors treatments, he went from bad to worse; then that telegram, which I still had here till the day before yesterday. And when I received that telegram announcing it was the end, all of a sudden I said, Very well, he is going to start being cured. And I didnt say anything to anyone. Afterwards, E. sent me a letter asking me what she should do with all the things that would pass to her by right. But persistently there was, Now its going to get better and better, and everyone was expecting the telegram announcing the end. And now this!
Its interesting.
It was a cancer OF THE BRAIN.
(silence)
He has started speaking, thinking again. Its really interesting.
But the idea (not the ideaoh, you see, its impossible to speak, mon petit) what was seen was this: this man has never believed in a divine force or a reality higher than what is manifested in man or anything, and the idea was that he should feel an intervention (which he would call by any name he liked) higher than anything known on earth.
Did he recognize it? What does she say?
No, no! Does this patient give to You any credit for his marked and miraculous improvement? I have put the question to him specificallyNo, I do not, such is the reply. Nor does the doe, nor does anyone observing the case. So be it.
So what do they think it is?
Thats strange.
(silence)
Its the precision with which I knew [he would improve] thats remarkable. Only, I didnt say anything I never say anything, of course. I dont say anything for an occult reason: talking, uttering things disrupts the action a lot.
It was based on an action OF NATUREof Nature answering a pressure from above. And it was visible, you know: it wasnt something thought outit was visible.
Life is funny, you have no idea how funny! I find that interesting.
It was clearly a higher Command to the material Nature, and it has obeyed.
I dont know if he will be cured thats not certain. But the important thing was that he should regain understanding and speech.
***
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last updated: 2022-02-04 23:46:10
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