{"id":4289,"date":"2013-07-13T01:54:54","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4289"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:54:54","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:54:54","slug":"28-series-twelve-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\/28-series-twelve-vol-16-some-answers-from-the-mother-volume-16","title":{"rendered":"-28_Series Twelve.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\n
\nSERIES
\nTWELVE<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n


\nSeries Twelve<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

To a student
\nin the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education who began writing to the
\nMother at the age of sixteen. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

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

I used to
\nhave the habit of reading Savitri or one of Your books before going to bed at
\nnight. But now I have lost the habit and I do not even go to the Samadhi very
\nregularly. I do not understand the true value of these things. Should one do
\nthem regularly or only when one feels like doing them? Why should one do these
\nthings and how should one do them? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

One reads
\nSavitri to develop one’s intelligence and to understand deeper things. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nOne concentrates at the Samadhi to grow in devotion and to put
\noneself in contact with Sri Aurobindo in order to receive his help. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIf these things have any value for you, you must do them
\nregularly, because it is the laziness of unconsciousness that keeps you from
\ndoing them. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nYou are born for a spiritual and conscious life <\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/i> but perhaps you are still too young to have the will to realise
\nit. <\/span><\/p>\n


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

23 July 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Each time I
\ndecide to work well, I see that my effort does not last more than two days.
\nWhat do You think I should do so that I do well what I have decided to do? I
\nthink there is something in me that refuses to obey me.  <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 395<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

It is the
\nsame for everybody as long as one has not consciously unified the whole of
\none’s being around the psychic centre. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nThis unification is indispensable if one wants to be the master of
\none’s being and of all its actions. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIt is a long and meticulous work that requires much perseverance,
\nbut the result is worth the trouble, for it brings not only mastery but also
\nthe possibility of the transformation and illumination of the consciousness. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nDo you want to do it? <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIf so, I will help you. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

28 August 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nHow can one
\nremember at every moment that whatever one does is for You? Particularly when
\none wants to make a complete offering, how should one proceed, never forgetting
\nthat it is for the Divine? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

To achieve
\nthat, one must have an obstinate will and a great patience. But once one has
\ntaken the resolution to do it, the divine help will be there to support and to
\nhelp. This help is felt inwardly in the heart. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\n\u00a0<\/span><\/i>9 September 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nI would like
\nto know the true meaning of birthdays, for it is an important day here. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

From the
\nviewpoint of the inner nature, the individual is more receptive on his birthday
\nfrom year to year, and thus it is an  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 396<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

opportune
\nmoment to help him to make some new progress each year. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

25 September 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nYou wrote to
\nme that it is not easy to come in contact with the psychic being. Why do You
\nconsider it difficult? How should I begin? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I said \u201cnot
\neasy\u201d because the contact is not spontaneous is voluntary. The psychic being
\nalways has an influence on the thoughts and actions, but one is rarely
\nconscious of it. To become conscious of the psychic being, one must want to do
\nso, make one’s mind as silent as possible, and enter deep into the heart of
\none’s being, beyond sensations and thoughts. One must form the habit of silent
\nconcentration and descent into the depths of one’s being. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nThe discovery of the psychic being is a definite and very concrete
\nfact, as all who have had the experience know. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

6 October 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nI have seen
\nthat I am not able to force my physical body to do a little better than my
\nactual capacity. I would like to know how I can force it. But, Sweet Mother, is
\nit good to force one’s body? <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

No. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nThe body is capable of progressing and it can gradually learn to
\ndo what it could not do before. But its capacity for progress is much slower
\nthan the vital desire for progress and the mental will <\/span>for progress.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 397<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\n    And if the vital and the mind are left in charge of action, they
\nsimply harass the body, destroy its balance and upset its health. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nTherefore, one must be patient and follow the rhythm of one’s
\nbody, which is more reasonable and knows what it can and cannot do. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nNaturally, some bodies are tamasic and need a little encouragement
\nin order to progress. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBut in all things and in all cases, one has to keep a balance. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

13 October 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhy do we
\nbelieve in rebirth? What were we before our present state? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Those who
\nhave had the memory of past lives have declared the reality of rebirth. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nThere have been \u2013 and there still are beings whose inner
\nconsciousness is sufficiently developed for them to know for certain that this
\nconsciousness has manifested in bodies other than their present one and that it
\nwill survive the disappearance of this body. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIt is not a theory to be discussed <\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/i> is an indisputable experience for one who has had it. <\/span><\/p>\n


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

5 November 1969<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhen we are
\nin the midst of Nature, what should we think about? Does being in contact with
\nNature help us in any way? <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 398<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

It is not by
\nthinking that one can be in contact with Nature, for Nature does not think. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBut if one deeply feels the beauty of Nature and communes with
\nher, that can help in widening the consciousness. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

9 November 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Love of Nature is usually the sign of a
\npure and healthy being uncorrupted by modern civilisation.\u00a0 <\/span>It is in the\u00a0
\n<\/span>silence of a peaceful mind that one can best commune with Nature<\/span><\/p>\n

   
\n<\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/i><\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

13 November 1969<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Sweet Mother, <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nHow
\ncan one get rid of, or rather correct, jealousy and laziness? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It is
\nselfishness that makes one jealous; it is weakness that makes one lazy. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIn either case the only truly effective remedy is conscious union
\nwith the Divine. Indeed, as soon as one becomes conscious of the Divine and is
\nunited with Him, one learns to love with the true love: the love that loves for
\nthe joy of loving and has no need to be loved in return; one also learns to
\ndraw Force from the inexhaustible source and one knows by experience that by
\nusing this Force in the service of the Divine one receives from Him all that
\none has spent and much more. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nAll the remedies suggested by the mind, even the most enlightened
\nmind, are only palliatives and not a true cure. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

16 November 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 399<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nAt times I
\ntalk in my sleep. It is a sign that the mind lacks control, isn’t it? So what
\nshould I do to keep it quiet at night? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Generally
\nwhen the body is asleep at night, the mind goes out because it is difficult for
\nit to remain quiet for a long time; and that is why most people do not talk. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBut your mind seems to remain in your body, so you must ask it to
\nremain perfectly quiet and silent so that your body can rest properly. A little
\nconcentration for that, before going to sleep, will surely be effective. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

29 November 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhen the
\nbody is asleep, is it better for the mind to go out of the body? Where does the
\nmind go? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The
\npossibilities are different for each person: there are as many cases as there
\nare persons. But each one can learn which conditions are best for his rest. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nYou can become conscious of your nights and your sleep just as you
\nare conscious of your days. It is a matter of inner development and discipline
\nof the consciousness. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

1 December 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhat do You
\nmean by \u201cbecoming conscious\u201d? Is becoming conscious of the Divine Presence in
\noneself the only thing or does becoming conscious of one’s movements, of one’s
\nspeech, etc. also count? <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 400<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

You may be
\nsure that becoming conscious of the Divine Presence in oneself considerably
\nchanges one’s whole way of being and gives an exceptional control over all
\nactivities, mental, vital and physical. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nAnd this control is infinitely more powerful and luminous than
\nanything one can obtain through external means. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

9 December 1969<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nIs our vital
\nformed solely of desires, selfish feelings, etc., or is there something good in
\nit too? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Energy,
\nstrength, enthusiasm, artistic taste, boldness, forcefulness are there too, if
\nwe know how to use them in the true way. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nA vital converted and consecrated to the Divine Will becomes a bold
\nand forceful instrument that can overcome all obstacles. But it first has to be
\ndisciplined, and this it consents to only when the Divine is its master. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

11 December 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhat does
\nSri Aurobindo mean when he speaks of change of consciousness? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Passing from
\nthe general ignorant human consciousness to the yogic consciousness founded on
\nthe knowledge of the Divine Presence. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

13 December 1969<\/span><\/i>  <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 401<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhy is it
\nbetter to go to bed early and to get up early? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

When the sun
\nsets, a kind of peace descends on earth and this peace is helpful for sleep. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nWhen the sun rises, a vigorous energy descends on earth and this
\nenergy is helpful for work. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nWhen you go to bed late and get up late, you contradict the forces
\nof Nature, and that is not very wise. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

21 December 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nDo astrology
\nand other studies always predict things correctly, or are men still unable to
\ndo that? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Human
\nincapacity is necessarily behind all that men do. Only he who has become
\nconscious of the Divine and become His faithful instrument can avoid error, if
\nhe is careful to act only at the divine command and to add nothing personal to
\nit. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nIt must be said that this is not easy. Only he who no longer has
\nany ego can do it correctly. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings.  <\/span><\/p>\n

25 December 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhat are
\nknowledge and intelligence? Do they play important roles in our life? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Knowledge
\nand intelligence are precisely the higher mental qualities in man, those that
\ndifferentiate him from the animal. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nWithout knowledge and intelligence, one is not a man <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 402<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

but an
\nanimal in human form. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

30 December 1969<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nIn the new
\nrace, will our body change form? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Between the
\nbody of the supramental being and the body of man, there will surely be a
\ndifference comparable to that which exists between man and the most advanced
\nape; but what this difference will be we can hardly know until the new species
\nappears on earth. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

13 January 1970<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhat is the
\ndifference between sports and physical education? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Sports are<\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nPhysical education means principally all the various exercises for
\nthe development and maintenance of the body. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nNaturally, here we have combined the two. But this is mainly
\nbecause human beings, especially in their childhood, still need a certain
\n<\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

14 January 1970<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n   
\n<\/span><\/i><\/font>
\nWhat should
\nour attitude be towards the captains and teachers here? <\/span><\/i>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 403<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

An obedient,
\nwilling and affectionate attitude. They are your elder brothers and sisters who
\ntake a lot of trouble to help you. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font>
\nBlessings. <\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

1 February 1970<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n               
\nSweet
\nMother, <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n    <\/span><\/font><\/i>
\n                Why has the Creator made this world and human beings? Does He
\nexpect something of us? <\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

This world is
\nHimself. He wants everything <\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/i>
\nourselves and the world and the whole universe <\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/i> to become conscious once more of being Him. <\/span><\/p>\n

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

5 February 1970<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 404<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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