The Mother with Letters on the Mother  

 

Contents

 

Pre-Content

 

 

PART ONE

THE MOTHER

 

PART TWO

LETTERS ON THE MOTHER

 

Section One

The Mother: Individual, Universal, Transcendent

 

The Mother and the Purpose of Her Embodiment

Who Is the Mother?

The Mother and the Supramental Descent

Sri Aurobindo's Recognition of the Mother

 

The Mother: Some Events in Her Life

The Mother's Year of Birth

Early Visions and Experiences

Studying Occultism with Max Théon

Early Occult Experiences

Meeting Jnan Chakrabarti

Arrival in Pondicherry

Some Occult and Spiritual Experiences

The Mother's Illness in 1931 and Her Temporary Retirement

 

Three Aspects of the Mother

Individual, Universal, Transcendent

The Universal Mother and the Individual Mother

The Mother's Universal Action and Her Embodied Physical Action

Concentration on the Embodied Mother

The Transcendental Mother and the Embodied Mother

The Transcendent Mother and the Higher Hemisphere

The Eternal Mother

 

The Mother, the Divine and the Lower Nature

The Consciousness and Force of the Divine

The Mother in the Tantra

The Mother in the Gita

The One and the Supreme Mother

The Cosmic Divine and the Mother

The Self, the Divine and the Mother

The Mother and Self —Realisation

The Mother, the Jivatman and the Soul

The Mother's Interest in the World

The Mother and the Lower Prakriti

 

Forms, Powers, Personalities and Appearances of the Mother

Nirguna and Saguna (Formless and with Form)

Many Powers and Forms

Adyashakti

Maheshwari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati

Maheshwari

Mahakali

Krishna —Mahakali

Mahakali and Kali

Kali

Durga

Mahalakshmi

Mahasaraswati

The Radha —Power

The Mother's Vibhutis

Different Appearances of the Mother

False Appearances of the Mother

 

Section Two

The Mother, Sri Aurobindo and the Integral Yoga

 

Two in One

One Consciousness

One Force

One Path

No Less nor Greater

One in Two Bodies

Appendix: Two Texts

 

Incarnation and Evolution The Mystery of Incarnation

The Reason for Their Embodiment

Connections in Past Lives

Carrying on the Evolution

The Guru, the Divine and the Truth

The Mother, Sri Aurobindo and the Overmind

The Mother, Sri Aurobindo and the Supramental Descent

The Triple Transformation and Control over Death

 

Difficulties of the Pathfinders

The Burden of Humanity

Difficulties and the Sunlit Path

Vital Sensitiveness

Self —imposed Bareness

Joyous Sacrifice

No Grand Trunk Road

 

Helpers on the Way

Sadhana through the Mother and Sri Aurobindo

The Only Way to Advance

Taking Refuge in Their Protection

Their Attitude towards the Sadhaks

Faithfulness to the Light and the Call

Openness to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo

Their Presence

Calling the Mother and Sri Aurobindo

Receiving Their Influence

Following a Hostile Influence

Misinterpreting Their Words

Criticisms, Humility and Faith

Taking on the Sadhaks' Difficulties

Dealing with the Sadhaks

Awareness of the Sadhaks' Movements

Their Knowledge of Human Nature

Their Patience

Their Help

Speaking One's Thoughts Freely

Sri Aurobindo's Coming out of Retirement

 

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo in Dreams, Visions and Experiences

Visions, Dreams and Experiences of Their Unity

Other Dreams and Experiences

 

Section Three

The Mother and the Practice of the Integral Yoga

 

Yoga Aspiration and Surrender to the Mother

Yoga, Sadhana, Dhyana

Aspiration

Aspiration and the Psychic

The Psychic Fire and Offering

Aspiration, Rejection, Surrender

Surrender to the Mother

 

Opening, Sincerity and the Mother's Grace

The Meaning of Opening

Opening to the Mother and the Integral Yoga

Loyalty and Fidelity

The Psychic and Opening

Sincerity

The Mother's Grace

Opening and Presence

 

The Mother's Presence

She Is Always Present

Feeling the Mother's Presence

Spiritual Possibility due to the Mother's Presence

The Mother's Presence and the Adverse Forces

The Mother's Presence and Human Imperfection

The Mother's Emanations

The Mother's Knowledge and Her Emanations

The Mother's Awareness of Thoughts and Actions

Feeling the Mother's Presence and Seeing Visions

Feeling the Mother's Presence through a Photograph

Remembering the Mother and Feeling Her Presence

The Psychic and the Mother's Presence

Feeling the Mother's Presence in Sleep

Feeling the Mother's Presence at Work

Union with the Mother

 

The Mother's Force

What Is the Mother's Force?

Progress in Sadhana and the Mother's Force

Reliance on the Mother's Force

Becoming Conscious of the Mother's Force

Descent of the Mother's Force

Pressure of the Descending Force

Faith and the Working of the Mother's Force

Surrender to the Mother and the Working of Her Force

Assimilation of the Mother's Force

Calling the Mother's Force

Receptivity and Openness to the Mother's Force

Pulling the Mother's Force

The Mother's Force and the Forces of the Lower Nature

The Mother's Force and the Three Gunas

Conditions for the Working of the Mother's Force

Discrimination and the Working of the Mother's Force

Mental Knowledge and the Working of the Mother's Force

The Mother's Force and the Body

The Mother's Therapeutic Force

Receiving the Mother's Force at a Distance

 

Sadhana through Work for the Mother

Finding the Mother's Force in Work and Action

Work for the Mother in the Integral Yoga

Work for the Mother as Karmayoga

Following the Mother's Will

The Mother's Consciousness and the Divine Law

Opening to the Mother in Work

Remembering the Mother in Work

Offering Actions to the Mother

Work for the Mother and the Worker's Ego

 

The Mother's Lights

Lights and the Mother

The Mother's White Light

The Mother's Diamond Light

The Golden Light of Mahakali

Seeing Light around the Mother

 

The Mother in Visions, Dreams and Experiences

Seeing the Mother in Visions and Dreams

Developing the Ability to See the Mother

Experiences of the Mother and Her Powers

Hearing the Mother's Voice

Visions, Voices and Progress in Sadhana

 

The Mother's Help in Difficulties

Difficulties and the Mother's Help

Difficulties and the Mother's Force

Difficulties and the Mother's Grace

Turning to the Mother for Help

Personal Effort and the Mother's Help

Opening to the Mother in Difficulty

The Mother's Protection

Calling the Mother in Difficulty

Praying to the Mother

The Mother's Help and the Hostile Forces

Natural Disasters, Adverse Forces and the Mother's Help

Helping Others and the Mother's Help

The Mother's Help in Worldly Matters

 

Section Four

The Mother in the Life of the Ashram

 

The Mother and the Sadhana in the Ashram

The Mother Does the Sadhana

The Mother's Victory

Being Taken Up by the Mother

Broad Lines of the Sadhana

The Mother and Other Paths of Yoga

Turning Entirely to the Mother

Acceptance of the Mother

Confidence in the Mother

Recognising the Mother's Divinity

Discontent with the Mother

 

The Mother as Guru and Guide

The Mother's Way of Dealing with Sadhaks

The Mahakali Method

Understanding the Mother's Actions

Misunderstanding the Mother's Words

Asking Questions to the Mother

Writing to the Mother

Leaving the Mother and the Ashram

 

The Mother and the Discipline in the Ashram

The Mother in Sole Charge of the Ashram

Demands on the Mother's Time

The Mother and Material Things

The Mother and the Vital Difficulties of the Sadhaks

The Mother's Attitude towards Quarrels between the Sadhaks

The Mother and the Satisfaction of Desires

The Mother and the Control of Sexual Desire

Uneasiness in Mixing with Others

The Mother's Advice on Some Practical Matters

Imitation of "Great Sadhaks"

 

Work for the Mother in the Ashram

All Ashram Work Is the Mother's Work

Doing Work for the Mother

Work for the Mother and Kartavyam Karma

Work, Sadhana and the Mother

Vital Energy and the Mother's Work

The Mother and the Organisation of Work

The Mother's Use of Department Heads

The Mother and Clashes between Workers

The Mother and Mistakes in Work

 

Relation between the Mother and Her Children

True Relation with the Mother

Inner Contact with the Mother

The Right Way of Loving the Mother

Receiving What the Mother Gives

Telling the Whole Truth

Psychic Relation with the Mother

The Vital Element of Love

Devotion or Bhakti for the Mother

Consecration to the Mother

The Mother's Love

Inner Union and Outer Relation with the Mother

Relation with the Mother and with Others

False Suggestions of the Mother's Displeasure

Nearness to the Mother and Progress in Sadhana

Closeness to the Mother and Speaking French

Special Relation with the Mother

 

Meeting the Mother

Right Attitude during Interviews with the Mother

Impossibility of Giving Interviews to Everyone

Interviews with Outsiders

Significance of Birthday Interviews

Right Use of Birthday Interviews

Group Meditation with the Mother

The Morning Pranam

Experiences during Pranam

Right Way to Make Pranam

The Mother's Expression at Pranam

The Mother's Smile at Pranam

Smiles and Seriousness

Wrong Ideas about the Mother's Showing Displeasure

Wrong Ideas about the Mother's Smile and Touch

The Mother's Hand at Pranam

Feeling the Mother's Touch at Pranam

Flowers at Pranam

Avoiding Pranam

Pranam and Non —Pranam Days

Fixed Places at Pranam

The Change from Pranam to Meditation

Outsiders at Pranam

Making Pranam at a Distance

Making Pranam to Others

Pranam in the Reception Hall

The Soup Ceremony

The Value of Darshan

Public Darshan Days

The First Blessing

 

Aspects of the Mother's Life in the Ashram

The Mother's Music

The Mother's Attitude towards Music and Other Arts

Golconde

The French Book L'Ether Vivant

Meeting the Dead

Speaking to People about Past Lives

Sending Ethereal Beings to the Sadhaks

An Occult or Yogic Faculty

The Mother Takes upon Herself Difficulties and Illnesses

The Mother and Medicines

The Mother and Eye Treatment

Giving Money to the Mother

The Mother's Accounts

The Mother's Attire

The Mother's Photograph

The Mother's Naming of Cats

The Mother's Symbol

The Mother's Flag

 

Section Five

On Three Works of the Mother

 

On Prières et Méditations de la Mère

General Comments on the Mother's Prières

Comments on Specific Prières

Hearing the Mother Read Her Prières

Reading the Mother's Prières

 

On Conversations with the Mother

Comments Mother's Conversations and Prières

 

On Entretiens avec la Mère

Comments on Specific Entretiens

 

PART THREE

TRANSLATIONS OF PRAYERS OF THE MOTHER

 

Prayers and Meditations

November 28, 1913

February 15, 1914

August 27, 1914

August 31, 1914

September 1, 1914

September 25, 1914

September 28, 1914

September 30, 1914

October 5, 1914

October 7, 1914

October 14, 1914

October 25, 1914

November 8, 1914

February 15, 1915

March 3, 1915

March 7, 1915

March 8, 1915

December 26, 1916

December 27, 1916

December 29, 1916

March 31, 1917

April 28, 1917

July 12, 1918

December 28, 1928

 

Radha's Prayer

Radha's Prayer

 

NOTE ON THE TEXTS

Section One

 

The Mother:

Individual, Universal, Transcendent

 


The Mother and the Purpose

of Her Embodiment

 

Who Is the Mother?

 

Do you not refer to the Mother (our Mother) in your book ?

Yes.

Is she not the "Individual" Divine Mother who has embodied "the power of these two vaster ways of her existence"1  —Transcendent and Universal?

Yes.

Has she not descended here (amongst us) into the Darkness and Falsehood and Error and Death in her deep and great love for us?

Yes.

There are many who hold the view that she was human but now embodies the Divine Mother and her Prayers, they say, explain this view. But to my mental conception, to my psychic feeling, she is the Divine Mother who has consented to put on herself the cloak of obscurity and suffering and ignorance so that she can effectively lead us  —human beings  —to Knowledge and Bliss and Ananda and to Him.

The Divine puts on an appearance of humanity, assumes the outward human nature in order to tread the path and show it to human beings, but does not cease to be the Divine. It is a manifestation that takes place, a manifestation of a growing divine

 

1 Sri Aurobindo, The Mother, p. 14. Other letters on the book The Mother are pub — lished in Letters on Himself and on the Ashram, volume 35 of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, pp. 102 ­ 17.  —Ed.

 

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consciousness, not human turning into divine. The Mother was inwardly above the human even in childhood, so the view held by "many" is erroneous.

I also conceive that the Mother's Prayers are meant to show us  —the aspiring psychic  —how to pray to the Divine.

Yes.

17 August 1938

The Mother and the Supramental Descent

 

Am I right in thinking that the Mother as an individual embodies all the Divine Powers and brings down the Grace more and more to the physical plane . . .

Yes.

and that her embodiment is a chance for the entire physical to change and be transformed?

It is a chance for the earth —consciousness to receive the supramental into it and to undergo first the transformation necessary for that to be possible. Afterwards there will be a farther transformation by the supramental, but the whole earth consciousness will not be supramentalised  —there will be first a new race representing the supermind, as man represents the mind.

The more we open individually to the Mother's Light and Force, the more her power is established in the universal  —is it not so?

It is the transforming power that is established  —the universal Power is always there.

13 August 1933

 

*

 

 

The Mother has come down to work on the earth, not in another world. The thousand petalled lotus and the plane or world that corresponds to it is only a means of communication between the   The Mother and the Purpose of Her Embodiment

 

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Truth and the earth —existence. But it is true that the consciousness of each has to rise to that level if the work on earth is to be successfully done.

1 October 1933

 

*

 

 

I know that all here is unreal. The Mother alone is real.

It is the higher reality that the Mother brings into the world  —without it all else is ignorant and false.

3 August 1934

 

*

 

 

The Mother does not work on the sadhak directly from her own plane above, though she can do so if she wants to  —she can even supramentalise the world in a day; but in that case the supramental Nature created here would be the same as it is above, and not the earth in Ignorance evolving into the supramental earth, which will not be quite the same in appearance as what the Supermind is. That is a very important truth.

17 June 1935

 

*

 

 

Some people seem to be quite misled in understanding the Mother's status with regard to the higher planes. When they are in these planes or receive something from them, they begin to think that they have reached a great height, and that the higher planes have nothing to do with the Mother. They value them more than they value the Mother! Especially about the Supermind they have such queer notions  —that it is something greater than the Mother.

If they have a greater experience or consciousness than the Mother, they should not stay here but go and save the world with it.

18 September 1935

 

*

 

 

Is there any difference between the Mother's manifestation and the descent of the supramental?

 

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The Mother comes in order to bring down the supramental and it is the descent which makes her full manifestation here possible.

23 September 1935

 

*

 

 

Is the attitude that I am the Brahman not necessary in the Integral Yoga?

It is not enough to transform the whole nature. Otherwise there would be no need of the embodiment. It could be done by simply thinking of oneself as the Brahman. There would be no need of the Mother's presence or the Mother's force.

27 December 1935

Sri Aurobindo's Recognition of the Mother

 

I believe that on the 24th November 1926 Sri Aurobindo realised that the Mother is the Divine Consciousness and Force.

No. I knew that long before.

2 November 1935 

 

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