A practical problem, not a yogic one! Its about Italy, N. and the publication of the book on Sri Aurobindo [The Adventure of Consciousness]. N. translated it and gave it to his friend S. to look after the publication in Italy. S. saw a publisher, who asked to read the book in French and found it interesting. And then, I dont know whether on the publishers suggestion or S.s, they are asking if it wouldnt be better to publish first a book by Sri Aurobindo like, for instance, The Guide to Yoga.
That doesnt exist!
Yes, you know, fragments of letters were used to make The Bases of Yoga and so on, and they gathered it all under the title The Guide to Yoga.
Its a compilation made by M. for beginners.
Thats right.
Its not too good.
No.
Its not too good. (Laughing) Its like English without tears!
I find it rather limited.
That little book is all the way down (gesture at ground level).
Its difficult to make a book that gives an idea of Sri Aurobindo.
Because its always one minor aspect that will be chosen.
And above all the selection will be done with the idea of being easy to understand. I had an example yesterday when I spoke to a Dutch woman: I explained to her the difference between the old spirituality that denied Matter and tried to escape from it completely, and the new spirituality, tomorrows spirituality, which accepts Matter, dominates it and transforms it. For me, its simple, of courseshe didnt understand a thing!
So if one adopts the frame of mind of saying to people things they can understand, one distorts everything.
For Italy, its a sort of tactical question. As nothing by Sri Aurobindo has been published yet, is it better from a tactical standpoint to start by publishing a work by Sri Aurobindo, some small work, and then this book?
But thats not a work! This Guide to Yoga is not a work! Sri Aurobindo never says things like that. Thats exactly why doing so distorts him immediately.
One good thing would be to have a book by him ready, because people will ask to read Sri Aurobindo after they read your book that, yes, I agree, we should have something ready, but this Guide
But their idea is to publish something before the publication of my book.
No, its the other way around! Its the other way around! I dont know, but thats putting the cart before the horse. Unless the Italians walk on their hands! Thats possible.
No, if we wanted to show something to the public before the publication of your book, it would have to be a sort of biographical and bibliographical note: Sri Aurobindo was born at such and such a place, and so forth, and the list of his works, the totality of the written volumes. That, yes, it would be a good introduction. A bibliographical notenot a small book that distorts everything. A rather complete bibliographical note, something massive! (Mother laughs)
So you can tell N. on my behalf that this is how I see the thing: a quite complete biographical and bibliographical note should be prepared to tell them, Here is the gentleman Satprem is writing about. It could be published along with the book, or published in newspapers to announce the book (thats a practical question, it depends on what suits their taste better). It can be published in some newspapers or reviews or magazines before the release of the book, to announce it.
Of the book which book?
Your book, as an introduction to your book. And afterwardsafter they have read the bookif people ask, Ah, we would very much like to read what Sri Aurobindo wrote, then well have to start translating.
But I think N. is translating The Synthesis?
He told me he had asked you.
But thats agreed. I thought he had already started work.
For serious people, its The Synthesis and The Life Divine that should be chosen.
So tell him this: a biographical and bibliographical note in dictionary style that bludgeons you on the head thats the best thing (!)
Announcing my book.
Announcing your book. Yes, as an introduction to the book.
And afterwards, translations.
Afterwards, we should see according to the spirit of peoples inquiries. He can start The Synthesis right awayThe Synthesis and The Life Divine are the two most important things.
Yes, not the small distorting books.
Oh, no! Quotations distort.
When we wanted a small book, we used to translated The Mother, but that touches mostly India, because they worship the Mother; but elsewhere, it doesnt have the same importance. Although a man like T., it was The Mother that touched him the mostan American, fully American. He said the book gave him the revelation, that there were all kinds of things he didnt understand and that with the book, he understood.
Now, the Italians worship the Virgin a lot, its a lot in their makeup, and through that they would understand (those who are intelligent and see the symbol behind the story). There was a Pope (not the present one or the previous one, but the one before1) who did remarkable things because he was in touch with the Virgin; he was a worshipper of the Virgin and that really put him on the right path. So I think that if they want a small book (it is a small book, you can even put it in your pocketpeople are afraid of big books, they dont have time), there are lots of things in that small book, The Mother, lots of things. But the part on the four aspects of the Mother can really be felt only by Indians; those who have a Christian education (laughing) must find it very frightening (!) But we could omit that chapter. You see, the book was made from letters, so each piece is a whole; it wasnt at all composed as one piece: we arranged it as it is following the instructions Sri Aurobindo gave. But that last chapter (the biggest, besides) is mostly for India. It can be omitted.
So you can say this to N.: a biographical note in dictionary style to announce the publication of your book.
Pius XII.
***
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