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Difficulties in Work
This morning I felt tired after five minutes' work. It was only polishing furniture!
All manual work is tiring the first few times one does it. But gradually the body gets used to it and becomes strong. However, when you feel really tired, you must stop and rest. 11 February 1933 With consecration the work can be done much more easily and happily. But nobody must be asked a greater effort than what he can do. 27 February 1935 The best way to work without getting tired is to offer the work you do (whatever work it is) to the Divine and to find in the Divine the support you need − for the Divine's Force is inexhaustible and He answers always to whatever offer is made to Him sincerely. Then, when you will feel that it is the Divine's Force that has done the work in you and through you, in your sincerity you will know that the merit is His and not yours − so there is no more reason to be proud. Blessings.
Do not worry about the work; the more you will do it quietly and calmly, the more it will become effective. 29 July 1935 Page − 337 Sometimes I fear that the rigidity of my nature does not allow you to act properly in me.
But through work the nature becomes less rigid, more plastic and supple.
I trust you fully and know you are capable of fulfilling quite well your responsibilities. As for the difficulties and deficiencies, everybody has some and one is here to overcome them. This is the meaning of the sadhana of works. Go on courageously with your duties, keeping all faith in the Divine and relying only on the Divine's help and grace. 6 January 1942 I do not see why you should feel oppressed. It is not an easy job to run an establishment like X Garden and many bitter experiences may be necessary before you learn the job. I only ask that you should keep a good will to learn and to improve your capacities. For the rest, that is to say the results, we must be patient. With my love and blessings. 1 May 1944 Here, for each work given, the full strength and Grace are always given at the same time to do the work as it has to be done. If you do not feel the strength and the Grace, it proves that there is some mistake in your attitude. The faith is lacking or you have fallen back on old tracks and old creeds and thus you lose all receptivity. 1 October 1952 Page − 338 The resistance with which we meet in the accomplishment of our work is proportionate to its importance. 10 October 1954 For work the present is the most important thing: the past must not come in the way and the future must not pull you away. 21 December 1954 Your work can never be good if you go on thinking of the next thing. For work, it is the present that is most important. The past should not drag you behind, the future should not pull you forward. You must be fully concentrated on the present, on what you are doing. You must be so concentrated on what you are doing that it is as if the salvation of the whole world depended only upon your work.
Unless you work hard you do not get energy, because in that case you do not need it and do not deserve it. You get energy only when you make use of it. 13 August 1955 Be sincere in the work you have undertaken and the Grace will always be there to help you. 14 April 1959 Concentrate on your work − it is that that gives you strength. Blessings. 10 September 1961 Page − 339 Continue doing your work with a simple and peaceful heart and a quiet mind. The aspiration will come gradually according to the need. 21 April 1965 I have been feeling for quite some time that I should limit my outward activity and confine myself to quiet work where I have not to do much running about. I am facing some kind of inner crisis. My life is becoming aimless. A persistent dream warns me of my inner instability. It is my urgent necessity that I should achieve inner poise and stability. The obscurity and heavy inertia must diminish. If the Mother would permit me I would like to be free from my department work. However I shall do as the Mother directs me. Kindly guide me.
If you leave the department, the work will be ruined! As soon as I have a moment free I shall call you in the morning and we shall talk it over. The more I grow, the more I know that it is in work that Sri Aurobindo's integral yoga is best done. Love and blessings. 9 October 1966 Mother, My mind is greatly perplexed. I do not know where I stand. The work we have taken up is huge. The commitments are many. What I have to do is not clear from outside or from within. Every day the decisions are altered, new questions posed, the ego confronted with unacceptable situations. I pray to the Mother that I be released from the department work Page − 340 till such time as I have some clear guidance or the Mother's definite directions as to the work I have to do. This is a personal crisis. I have no quarrels or complaints about people. I wish to keep my mouth closed and wait and learn to read the message of light that should appear before me. I pray for the Mother's light.
It would be so good if you were not affected and continued the work just now that there is so much to do and the help of all is so badly needed. If you want to see me, I shall be glad to see you, but you know that I am never alone and it is difficult to speak. In any case, be sure that my love and blessings are with you always. 7 August 1969 Mother, I am facing a personal problem and I pray for the Mother's guidance. As yet I do not have any sense of inner guidance. My days are not well spent. I am sticking on with the department work although I often feel I am not wanted or trusted. But I do not wish to be guided by any ordinary thought or feeling. I crave for isolation at times. I pray that I may have a surer feeling that I am doing what my Master wishes of me. Let my personal likes, dislikes and egoism not tarnish the purity of action or word. “Mother” has been my mantra and I take refuge in Her.
You are not only wanted but indispensable for the work which Page −341 would not be done properly without you. So I ask you to be patient and not to attach importance to the difficulties on the way. Love and blessings. 3 May 1970 Take up the work and have faith, the force will come in proportion to the need; and your receptivity depends on your faith and confidence. Love and blessings. 24 December 1971 Page − 342 |