{"id":3846,"date":"2013-07-13T01:51:41","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3846"},"modified":"2014-01-14T11:35:46","modified_gmt":"2014-01-14T19:35:46","slug":"23-leaving-the-ashram-vol-13-words-of-the-mother-volume-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/13-words-of-the-mother-volume-13\/23-leaving-the-ashram-vol-13-words-of-the-mother-volume-13","title":{"rendered":"-23_Leaving the Ashram.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\nLeaving
\nthe Ashram <\/span><\/font> <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I do not advise you to go. As for X, under
\nthe circumstances you describe, it might be better for her, instead of her
\ngoing, that someone comes here to help her. Can you arrange for that? <\/span><\/p>\n

Blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

25 February 1939<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I did not approve much of X’s departure,
\nbut as for yours I disapprove of it completely, and cannot understand why you
\nshould abandon your work and interrupt and imperil your sadhana because she
\nchooses to go back to her village. <\/span><\/p>\n

I do not find this decision either good or
\nfair to yourself and your spiritual aspiration, so I hope you will look at it
\nin this light and reconsider your decision. <\/span><\/p>\n

3 May 1939 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Certainly I do not want to make you
\nmiserable and if the pull of your conscience is too strong for you to bear I
\ncannot prevent you from going. <\/span><\/p>\n

4 May 1939 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are convinced that a stay in your
\nnative place will bring relief to your body I cannot refuse my sanction. You
\ncan start on the 1st of June as you propose. <\/span><\/p>\n

30 May 1939 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

X’s reasons for going are not very strong.
\nBut if the wish to go is so persistent she can go <\/span>―<\/span> you are quite right in feeling that you
\nshould not go. <\/span><\/p>\n

My blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

5 May 1941 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 141<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

Mother, <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It seems Dr. X has expressed his desire to take the
\npainters of the Ashram to Gingee<\/span> Fort. For myself, I
\nwish to let you know that I am not anxious to go. I would only care to go if
\nyou think it proper for me to go and wish me to go. It is not with me a desire.
\nI always wish to do what pleases you and so I seek your advice and wish you
\nwould kindly express your opinion without reserve and hesitation. It is with me
\na greater pleasure to fulfil your wish and follow your words than satisfy a
\ndesire.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

With Pranam<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It is better not to go; this kind of trip
\nis not very wholesome for spiritual life. <\/span><\/p>\n

With my love and blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

24 December 1940 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

You can go see your father <\/span>―<\/span> but I would like you to go only when the
\nschool closes, that is to say after the second of December, and come back
\nbefore the first of January when the school reopens <\/span>―
\n<\/span>as the lessons
\nmust not be neglected. <\/span><\/p>\n

With my love and blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It is hard for me to understand how X who had been so absorbed in Yoga
\nfor years, who had been considered by you to have the nature of the Saints,
\ncould drift away from you and have a fall from the Yogic life.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The mistake in your psychology is its
\nexcessive simplification. You look at one side and with exaggerated emphasis
\nand ignore the rest. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 142<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

A person may have certain qualities
\nbut not to perfection, and there is in the subconscient<\/span>
\nthe very contradiction of these qualities. If one does not take care to
\neliminate this contradiction, then at any moment under the pressure of
\ncircumstances what is in the subconscient<\/span> may rise up
\nwith force and bring about a collapse, what is called a fall from the Yoga.<\/span><\/p>\n

30 November 1943 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

If a person who was declared by you to be \u201csaintly\u201d in nature could come
\naway from a yogic life of many years, I can’t help feeling quite sad and discouraged.
\n<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I may point out to you that nothing
\nirreparable has happened. Of course the further one wanders away from the path,
\nthe more radical will be the conversion needed to return to it; but the return
\nis always possible. <\/span><\/p>\n

22 December 1943 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Surely the Mother knows that a certain person is of a type that would
\nrebel or vegetate and, in either case, go away from the Ashram. Knowing this,
\nwhy does she allow such a person to stay in the Ashram for several years? Why
\ndoes she not tell him that his stay would be useless or that he can leave at
\nany time he pleases? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Because, to each one is given his full
\nchance, and there can always be an unexpected opening and a conversion.<\/span><\/p>\n

24 June 1958<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

I have received and read your letter. <\/span><\/p>\n

It might be better to clear up a few
\npoints. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 143<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

First, it is always unwise to expect
\ngratitude from people, especially from servants. <\/span><\/p>\n

Second, when it is only the one who jokes
\nthat takes pleasure in the joke, it is called a bad joke. <\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, it is not necessary to attach any
\nimportance to the opinions of people because they are only the passing results
\nof passing impressions; other circumstances and new impressions will easily
\nchange them. <\/span><\/p>\n

But to smooth the situation I find it
\nwiser to change your quarters and let time ease the tension. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, I must add that if you feel
\nunhappy here and the atmosphere is difficult to bear, I can in no way ask you
\nto stay in spite of the ordeal. <\/span><\/p>\n

7 October 1959 <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

I see no point in your going to Tiruvannamalai<\/span> unless you like tourism. <\/span><\/p>\n

5 September 1964 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Divine Mother, <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Should I return to America and organise the raising of
\nmoney and spreading the Yoga for you and Sri Aurobindo? Or is this just my
\nactive vital talking? I don’t wish to back out of the fight here, if that is
\nwhat my role is. But I’ve been getting the feeling lately that it might be in
\nAmerica. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

So what I’m really asking is – what is my role, and
\nwhere is it to be played? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It would be far better for the work and
\nfor yourself if you remain here. <\/span><\/p>\n

30 May 1966<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 144<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

My dear child,<\/span><\/p>\n

You are my son and I am your mother for
\neternity. <\/span><\/p>\n

Do not worry, I take the entire
\nresponsibility of your spiritual growth and you can live in the Ashram so long as
\nyou feel it your home and you sincerely consecrate yourself to the Divine’s
\nWork. <\/span><\/p>\n

With love and blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

13 December 1966 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The path is not an easy one.<\/span><\/p>\n

To remain here is possible only for those
\nwho feel deep in themselves that here is the only place in the world <\/span><\/p>\n

where they must live. <\/span><\/p>\n

This may <\/span>―<\/span> (must) <\/span>―<\/span> come to you <\/span>―<\/span> but meanwhile it is better to go back to
\nthe world and see what it has to give you. <\/span><\/p>\n

I will be with you always in your
\naspiration towards a more true future. <\/span><\/p>\n

Blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

3 July 1968 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Here there is the greatest possible field
\nof experience, since it extends from the most material activities to the most
\nspiritual regions while covering all the intermediary planes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore if you feel the need to go away
\nfrom here to have your \u201cexperience of man\u201d, as you say, it is because you want
\nto have the freedom to do all the foolish things you feel like doing, without
\nbeing under the direct control of a truth-consciousness which would show you
\nthat they are stupidities. <\/span><\/p>\n

The true experiences that are needed for
\nindividual progress do not depend on circumstances or on the environment in
\nwhich one lives, but on the inner attitude and the will for progress.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 145<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

If you want to find your soul, to know it
\nand obey it, remain here at any cost. <\/span><\/p>\n

If this is not the aim of your life and
\nyou are ready to live the life of the immense majority of men, you may
\ncertainly go back to your family. <\/span><\/p>\n

X wants to know whether she can take up
\nthis life or has to go for the ordinary life. <\/span><\/p>\n

The fact of her being here proves that
\nthere is an aspiration somewhere in her being and with help the aspiration can
\nspread in the whole being. <\/span><\/p>\n

As for your question, \u201cWhere do you fit?\u201d,
\nthe world is full of people like you, so you would fit quite well with the
\nworld, if <\/span>―<\/span> for there is an if <\/span>―<\/span> if you were not divided inside yourself.
\nThe cause of all your trouble is that you do not fit with yourself, or rather
\nthat your exterior being and its actions do not fit at all with your soul, and
\nas your soul is sufficiently awake, it is this clash in you that puts you in
\ndifficulties. <\/span><\/p>\n

Once one has an awakened soul it is not
\neasy to get rid of it. So it is better to obey its orders. <\/span><\/p>\n

This advice is the best help I can give
\nyou.  <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Could it be that you are a little
\nimpatient about what you consider as a slow advance? <\/span><\/p>\n

Is it that you are restless and eager to
\ntaste soon the fruit of your efforts? <\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover I cannot see how to be plunged
\nagain, even for a <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 146<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

few weeks only, in the very atmosphere
\nwhich is responsible for the thickness of the surface-crust through which your
\nsoul has to pierce to make itself felt exteriorly, can in the least help you to
\nget rid of the \u201cclinging impediments\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

You are quite conscious of the aspiration
\nand the aim of your soul; you are quite conscious of what your soul wants you
\nand expects you to become. It is only some consequences of this present
\nphysical formation that stand in the way, and now, it is only a steady and
\npatient working out of these impediments that can solve the difficulty. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, from the yoga point of view, any
\n\u201ctaking leave\u201d would be a kind of \u201cgiving way\u201d to the obstinacy of the
\nresistance. This, for me, is quite clear. <\/span><\/p>\n

But are you quite sure that there is not
\nthe remembrance of an attachment lurking in some corner of the mind which makes
\nyou answer unknowingly to the insistence of a pressure coming from outside? In
\nthat case the problem would have to be considered from another angle. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It is obvious that your inner being is not
\nvery strong and does not have the power to counteract the pernicious influence
\nof an environment full of sterile doubts, defeatist pessimism, egoism and
\nunfaithfulness. <\/span><\/p>\n

Our path is not easy, it demands great
\ncourage and untiring endurance. One must work hard and make a great effort with
\nquiet stability to obtain results which at times are scarcely perceptible
\noutwardly. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are many human beings who need to
\nroll in the mire in order to feel the necessity to cleanse themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n

If the desire is too persistent for you to
\nhave the strength to overcome it, ask the people you know to find you a post
\n(this is usually not too difficult for the young people going out from the
\nAshram) and go and face the ordinary life until you learn  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 147<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

the true value of the life you would have
\nleft.<\/span><\/p>\n

One must have heroism to be a precursor;
\nfor, generally, men have faith only in what is already accomplished, evident,
\nvisible, and recognised even by the most sceptical. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I shall be sorry to see you go and hoped
\nit would not be necessary. But if you are feeling so miserable and so little
\nsure of yourself, it might be better to go for awhile and recover your poise. I
\nwill leave the door open for you and as soon as you become strong enough, you
\nwill come back. <\/span><\/p>\n

My blessings are and will always be with
\nyou. <\/span><\/p>\n

And if next time you can come for the yoga
\nand to lead the divine life, then everything will become easy.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I am happy if your stay here has widened
\nyour vision and understanding and deepened your consciousness.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 148<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leaving the Ashram   I do not advise you to go. As for X, under the circumstances you describe, it might be better for her,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-13-words-of-the-mother-volume-13","wpcat-111-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3846"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10118,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846\/revisions\/10118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}