{"id":4287,"date":"2013-07-13T01:54:53","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4287"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:54:53","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:54:53","slug":"08-series-four-vol-16-some-answers-from-the-mother-volume-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/16-some-answers-from-the-mother-volume-16\/08-series-four-vol-16-some-answers-from-the-mother-volume-16","title":{"rendered":"-08_Series Four.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

 SERIES
\nFOUR<\/font><\/span><\/b>  <\/p>\n


\n
\n Series Four <\/font> <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nLetters to a
\nSadhak <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\nTo the sadhak in
\ncharge of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram’s cows, bullocks and carts during the 1930s.<\/span>\u00b9<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\nSpecial new ropes
\nfor the bullocks have been prepared by the milkman. When the bullocks are
\nworking, it may be safer to use those ropes. As soon as the work is over, the
\nropes will be removed. Those ropes are not tight; they are loose, so it is no
\nhardship to the bullocks. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\nPray sanction
\nthem. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI thought they
\nhave strongly refused to have the ropes put upon them. The ropes may not be
\ntight, but most probably they will spoil the nose of the bullocks. There again
\nit seems to me that it is a matter of training. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n8 May 1932<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

I beg to
\nsubmit some facts for your gracious consideration. The weakest and smallest of
\nthe bullocks used by X’s cart-men are carrying more than 600 Dem of sand. <\/span>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow can you speak
\nof that! Do you know how the cart-men here kill their bullocks in a few months
\nor in even less time? <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n11 May 1932<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nTomorrow is a
\nholiday. The day after, these repairs can be made to the cart. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs there will be a
\nbig crowd tomorrow in town, you will have  <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font><\/span>This
\ncorrespondence was written entirely in English. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 105<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\nto be very careful
\nwhen taking to and bringing back the bullocks from the Agricultural Garden.
\n<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n13 July 1932<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\ncoolie did not come last night. He simply put the feeding tubs before the
\nbullocks and went away. He is not working satisfactorily. He does not keep
\nthings clean. As there is no better man I am trying to get on with him.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe bullocks seem
\nto like this man and this is the most important point. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor cleanliness it
\nis a matter of supervision. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n15 July 1932<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo wonder that
\nOjas<\/span>\u00b9<\/span>
\ngave some trouble. These bullocks are quite intelligent enough to feel the
\nchange of people. This new man is not an expert and moreover he has something of
\na brute around him. You will have to look carefully after him, for I do not like
\nhis way of dealing with the bullocks. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI object strongly
\nto his way of twisting the tails of the beasts. If somebody twisted one of his
\nlimbs like that, what would he say? And I am pretty sure that our bullocks are
\nmore sensitive than he is. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n3 September 1932<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI have watched the
\nthing from the roof, and saw with the inner sight also. There is absolutely no
\ndoubt about what is happening and once more I shall try to make you understand
\nit. <\/span><\/p>\n


\nThe bullocks are
\nnot mischievous.<\/span><\/i>
\nOn the contrary, they are very good and peaceful creatures, but very sensitive \u2013
\nunusually  <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font><\/span> A bullock.<\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 106<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\nsensitive
\nperhaps(of this I am not sure as I have not followed other bullocks so closely).
\nThe truth is that they dislike and distrust the present driver, and not
\nwithout reason<\/i>. When they were working under the previous one they were
\nhappy and cheerful and worked well. Since this one is driving them they are sad
\nand dejected and work reluctantly. I see no solution but to change the man and
\nto find a better one. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe proposal to
\nfrighten them in order to master them is unacceptable. Some kind of submission
\ncan thus be obtained perhaps, but of the worst kind. The beasts lose more and
\nmore confidence and joy and peace and finally their strength and even their
\nhealth goes. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat is the use of
\nbeing a sadhak if, as soon as we act, we act like the ignorant ordinary man?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n I can tell you
\nthis to finish with the subject, that from the roof I concentrated the power on
\nthe bullocks ordering them to yield and obey and I found them quite
\nreceptive. <\/i>To use a quiet, steady, unwavering conscious wil<\/i>l, that is
\nthe way, the only true way really effective<\/i> and worthy of an aspirant for
\nDivine Life. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI hope that this
\ntime I have made myself clear. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n14 September 1932<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nIt seems to me
\nthat, at least for a time, it would be better not to try to turn out much work
\nevery day, as Ojas may truly need rest. I do not find the new man better than
\nthe previous one. He is far too nervous and restless. If he could be a little
\nmore quiet and peaceful in dealing with the bullocks they would surely work much
\nmore willingly. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n22 September 1932<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI think that
\nChakki work [Milling work.] is very disgusting for the bullocks; it brings down
\ntheir vitality because of that, and makes them <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font><\/span>
\nA bullock. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 107<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\nbecome old very
\nsoon. That is why I do not wish them to be given that work. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n11 January 1933<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\nSaturday the 14th
\nis cattle festival day. Generally in all the places, many things are observed on
\nthat day. Horns are painted in red and blue colour, no work is given and so on.
\nI am not submitting all this to have permission to do like that for our cattle.
\nBut I am tempted to beg you for your kind gracious permission to use this kind
\nof necklace which I am enclosing herewith for our darling Ra <\/span>
\n\u00b9<\/span> 
\non that day. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nYes, the necklace
\nis nice, you can put it on; but no painting of the horns; it is so ugly! And I
\nthink you must be careful not to take out Ra in the street that day as usually
\nchildren run after the calves and frighten them very much; they even hurt them
\nsometimes. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n12 January 1933<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs not 19 trips
\ntoo much for the bullocks? It seems to me that they are not getting much rest.
\n<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n8 June 1933<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat is this? If
\nthe cart-man made a mistake or misbehaved with the bullocks, I must know <\/i>
\nand will tolerate none of these mysteries. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n7 August 1933<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n


\nI will explain
\nwhat happened. X was with the cart, but as he himself says, <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font><\/span>A
\nbullock calf.<\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 108<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n


\nhe was fully merged in solving a problem of chess play. So till the cart was
\nturned over and touched the ground, he did not know. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI do not see what
\na chess problem has to do either with work or with sadhana. Is X here to solve
\nchess problems? He could do it just as well elsewhere. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n26 August 1933<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

I am
\nsorry to submit to Thee the following about X. For no reason he has beaten Ra
\nwith the back of his sandal in her shed at 5.10 p.m. I saw it from Ba’s shed. He
\nremoved one sandal from his foot, took it into his hand, turned it over and beat
\non Ra’s mouth and face. He had put two baskets, one of plantain peels and
\nanother of vegetable cuttings, beside the feeding tub. Ra did not take the feed
\nas he wanted her to. This was her mistake. When I ran and questioned him he did
\nnot care to answer. Servants tell me that he has beaten Ra like that with a
\nsandal before too and it seems he wants to control her like that. <\/span><\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nIf truly he does
\nit, it is brutal and stupid; apart from spoiling her head, which is bad enough,
\nhe will make her vindictive and violent which is worse. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n18 November 1933<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nI find Tej <\/span>
\n\u00b9<\/span>
\nvery much reduced<\/i>. He is certainly ill and needs some close attention. I
\nwould like to know from the doctor if it would not be good for Tej to let him
\nmove freely in a pasture for some time, so that he may have air, sun and
\nmovement without doing work. This question must be put clearly to the doctor
\nasking for  <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00b9<\/font><\/span>A
\nbullock.<\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 109<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\na precise answer.
\nIt is well known now, that there is no better cure for illnesses, whatever they
\nare, than air and sun. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n1 February 1934<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

I
\nthought there would be no objection from the Municipality or others to fixing
\nrings on foot-path walls to tie the cows. I wanted to have one ring fixed.
\n<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll this is
\nabsolutely forbidden by the Municipal rules, and if any of these things were
\ndone by us it was a great mistake and I intend that it should never be renewed.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n10 March 1934<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

The boy
\nX who was working in the Building Department was dismissed some two days back,
\nnot for the crime of theft but for some rash dragging of a cart and thus causing
\nsome slight hurt to a dog. So may I keep him as a substitute for his  brother?
\n<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nCertainly not.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

If you
\nare pleased to permit, as it is only for a day, I have no objection. He works
\nvery satisfactorily. Awaiting orders. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo, he is very
\nrude and a boy who can almost willingly hurt a dog is likely to do the same with
\nthe cow and calf. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis boy has been
\ndismissed by my orders and will not be given work in the Ashram. <\/span><\/p>\n


\nA man who is cruel
\nwith beasts is worse than a beast. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n2 April 1934<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/span>Page
\n\u2013 110<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 SERIES FOUR   Series Four   Letters to a Sadhak   To the sadhak in charge of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram’s cows, bullocks and carts during…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-16-some-answers-from-the-mother-volume-16","wpcat-121-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4287","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=4287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4287\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}