Practical Affairs   

GENERAL 

      Under no pretext should the cycles be left outside in the sun.

27 February 1933

      Do not worry about the French; you will learn it little by little.

Hydrogen Peroxide is costly. I should like to know if I can prescribe it.

You might prescribe for the moment and later, when X is better, replace the Peroxide by Potassium Chlorate.

31 March 1935

      The trees planted in the Subbu house do not belong to us but to the house owner and they cannot be cut without the house owner’s permission.

      Any other action than the above one could lead us to great trouble.

1937

      As you are ordering the tweezers, it might be better to order at the same time the few things you require. The need for them can come suddenly and then there is no time to order.

Page - 281

 By  buying like that little by little, we will one day be properly equipped.

      Blessings.

6 July 1938

      I do not see much necessity of your learning sitar − but if it amuses you, you can continue.

      With my blessings.

28 March 1940  

Mother,

      The house I have taken for my people belonged to a patient with tuberculosis. I came to know this only after I had already paid for the house. But then we got the whole house washed and burnt sulphur in some rooms. The thought that a T.B. patient lived here did not trouble me because he had gone away nearly six months back.

      However, a suggestion about the danger of infection has been thrown into the atmosphere, so I pray to you for the protection of those who will stay there.

As the house has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, there is no danger at all. People need not fear.

      My blessings.

19 February 1940 

      If the pains do not disappear tonight, it would be better to take rest tomorrow.

      My love and blessings.

27 July 1939 

Page - 282

Who are the angels? What is their function in the cosmos? How can one come in contact with them? Are there books which can give a starting-point? Please tell me something about these things.

Your questions are impossible to answer in brief.

      I know no books that say anything of value on the subject.

      My love and blessings.

2 June 1940

(About the legend of the Dalai Lama’s rebirth and discovery)

At one time I knew their legend, but now I have forgotten it, so I can say nothing about it, except this general statement − that man can imagine nothing that has not happened at least once; so there is always a truth behind the statement. The mistake is to generalise and make a rule of it.

Mother,

My parents very often ask me to keep a few rupees for pocket money, but I have been refusing it because I did not want them to feel that I suffer here for want of anything. Do you think it desirable for me to keep a few rupees for small expenses?

You can keep a few rupees as pocket money.

      My love and blessings.

25 September 1940

      When you say “Bonjour” to someone, you are wishing him a good day.  

Page - 283

If you do it consciously, thinking about what you are saying, the word “Bonjour” takes on a great force and helps to make the day a good one.

7 October 1951  

(Someone wrote to the Mother about an acquaintance. The letter ended:)

      On my arrival in India in 1957, I dreamed vividly that this man would give me $50,000 − the price of X House (as I now know). Do you see anything interesting here? I have tried to present a clear mental picture for you to contact.

You can always write to him about this − and wait with a quiet faith for the result which is − “bien entendu”¹. − in the hands of the Lord.

       love and blessings.

14 April 1963 

Mother,

      I am informed that on the north and south walls of the studio only plain glass will be used. It will be a pity if this is done. These two sides are completely covered with glass and as the sun goes to the north we get a strong light coming in from the north-east. The same thing happens when the sun moves south. The glasses are so high that even curtains cannot be used at that height.

      It is not a big problem to convert the plain glass into ground glass. It is only a question of one or two months more. It has taken eighteen months to secure the glass, two months more should not  matter. 

¹Of course 

Page - 284

I am quite sure that if you have frosted glasses everywhere, the room will be so dark that it will be impossible to work in it.

      That is why I did not answer to X on the subject.

      But now I must tell you frankly what I see. In any case, it might be wiser to have the glasses sprayed lightly, so that if it is found too dark, the spray can be removed.

      Blessings.

7 August 1963  

Beloved Mother:

The new tenants in X House have locked all the downstairs doors so that I am now unable to use the toilet facilities. Since there are none for my room, what shall I do?

From the beginning I had said to put a commode and a zinc tub in your second room for your personal use, so that you could be quite independent of everybody. I know that the water arrangement is made. How is it that the commode and the tub are not there?

      The downstairs arrangement belongs to the downstairs accomodation, and it is the full right of the people living there to keep it locked.

      Blessings.

23 August 1963 

      I ask you to move at once, but for a short time only, to one of the places put at your disposal.

      Your refusal would put me in an awkward position as I have given my word.

      Blessings.  

Page - 285

Here are some of the printer’s proofs received from Calcutta. They are not all very good. I am asking for some corrections to be made.

These proofs are not good. Why do you want them to do some more? They are simply spoiling the work and it is a big loss of time and money. Almost all of these pictures are unusable as they are and have to be remade.

      I cannot agree to your giving them any more work to do.

      Blessings.

12 January 1966 

Mother,

Should we rebuild our agricultural project at Rassendren Gardens, or instead move our project to Ehny House, or thirdly attempt to do both?

If you have the capacity to do both well, do both. If one alone suffices to take your energies, concentrate on Ehny House.

      Blessings.

4 May 1966  

Sweet Mother,

We would like to have − as the expression of what You want − a message from You about the new life for Sanskrit, of which You gave us a glimpse in Your talk of 11 November 1967. We would like to translate this message and publish it in the Ashram journals, for some disciples would like to know what You have said about this matter.

I see no need for any message. Messages only convince those who are already convinced.  

Page - 286

      It would be better to learn Sanskrit and try to make it a truly living language.

      Blessings.

16 August 1969  

Mother, I want to experiment with gunpowder rockets, but X told me to ask You before doing anything with these explosive and dangerous devices. Will You allow it?

It is primitive and undeveloped natures that like noise. As for explosives, they are always dangerous; all this cannot be an object of curiosity.

2 September 1971  

      You should not use paper and envelopes with a printed letterhead to write to me − it is a waste.

      Inform the school.

There are a lot of ants in the walls of the bakery. They come onto the table and get into the baking tins.

You must find out where they are coming from, which hole they are coming out of, and put a little pile of sugar near the hole. They will keep themselves busy carrying it away and will not bother you any more.

Mother, today I found a honey-comb on the Patience tree. We work in the shade of this tree. The honey- 

Page - 287

comb will get bigger and the tree is not very high. What could be done?

I don’t think that the bees will sting you if you do not disturb them. But if you are afraid…  

Page - 288