{"id":4301,"date":"2013-07-13T01:55:01","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4301"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:55:01","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:55:01","slug":"22-karma-69-70-289-vol-10-on-thoughts-and-aphorisms-volume-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/10-on-thoughts-and-aphorisms-volume-10\/22-karma-69-70-289-vol-10-on-thoughts-and-aphorisms-volume-10","title":{"rendered":"-22_karma-69-70_289.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n

289 \u2013 Mankind have wearied of strength and joy and called sorrow and
\nweakness virtue, wearied of knowledge and called ignorance holiness, wearied of
\nlove and called heartlessness enlightenment and wisdom. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

290 \u2013 There are many kinds of forbearance. I saw a coward hold out his
\ncheek to the smiter<\/span>; I saw a physical weakling struck
\nby a strong and self-approving bully look quietly and intently at the
\naggressor; I saw God incarnate smile lovingly on those who stoned him. The
\nfirst was ridiculous, the second terrible, the third divine and holy. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Sri Aurobindo<\/span>
\ntells us that to radiate love in all circumstances is a sign of the Divine who
\nhas equal love for the one who strikes him and the one who worships him \u2013 what
\na lesson for humanity ! <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n17 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

291<\/a> \u2013 It is noble to pardon thine<\/span> own
\ninjurers, but not so noble to pardon wrongs done to others. Nevertheless pardon
\nthese too, but when needful, calmly avenge<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

292 \u2013 When Asiatics<\/span> massacre, it is an
\natrocity; when Europeans, it is a military exigency. Appreciate the distinction
\nand ponder over this world’s virtues. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

All this makes us feel very deeply the
\nfoolishness of human judgments based on self-interest and the reactions of the
\nego. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

So long as men remain in their present
\nstate of ignorance, their judgments and opinions are worthless in the face of
\nTruth and should be considered as such. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n20 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

293<\/a> \u2013 Watch the too indignantly righteous. Before long you will find
\nthem committing or condoning the very offence which they have so fiercely
\ncensured.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 298<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

294 \u2013 \u201cThere is very little real hypocrisy among men.\u201d True, but there
\nis a great deal of diplomacy and still more of self-deceit. The last is of
\nthree varieties, conscious, subconscious and half-conscious; but the third is
\nthe most dangerous. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It seems to me that conscious self-deceit is the worst, isn’t it? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Conscious self-deceit is rare because it
\nimplies a great development of consciousness together with a perverted will to
\ndeceive, which leads to the most dangerous kind of falsehood; but it is perhaps
\nalso the easiest to cure, for the consciousness is already awakened and it only
\nhas to be made aware of its mistake and to take the decision to correct it in
\norder to have the power to do so. <\/span><\/p>\n

Others must first become conscious of what
\nthey are doing and this usually takes a long time. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n21 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

295<\/a> \u2013 Be not deceived by men’s shows of virtue, neither disgusted by
\ntheir open or secret vices. These things are the necessary shufflings<\/span>
\nin a long transition-period of humanity. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

296 \u2013 Be not repelled by the world’s crookednesses<\/span>;
\nthe world is a wounded and venomous snake wriggling towards a destined
\noff-sloughing and perfection. Wait, for it is a divine wager; and out of this
\nbaseness, God will emerge brilliant and triumphant. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Sri Aurobindo<\/span>
\ntells us that man is a transitional being and that from all the sufferings of
\nthe world will emerge a being of light capable of manifesting the Divine. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nPage – 299<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

<\/i><\/p>\n

Thus, all those who are not satisfied with
\nthe world as it is, know that their aspiration does not rise in vain and that
\nthe world is changing. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

If consecration and effort are associated
\nwith the aspiration, things will move faster. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n22 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

297<\/a> \u2013 Why dost thou recoil from a mask? Behind its odious, grotesque or
\nterrible seemings<\/span> Krishna laughs at thy foolish
\nanger, thy more foolish scorn or loathing and thy most foolish terror. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

298 \u2013 When thou findest<\/span> thyself scorning
\nanother, look then at thy own heart and laugh at thy folly<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Is it only our mental conception that sees grotesque and odious things,
\nor are they really as we see them? And the same applies to beauty, doesn’t it? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

It is certain that in the present state of
\nthe physical world, appearances are still very deceptive; physical beauty is
\nnot always the sign of a beautiful soul, and an ugly or grotesque body may conceal
\na genius or a resplendent soul. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But for one who has more inner
\nsensitivity, appearances are no longer deceptive and he can perceive the
\nugliness hidden beneath a pretty face and the beauty concealed beneath a mask
\nof ugliness. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also cases, and these are
\nbecoming more and more numerous, where the appearance reveals the inner reality
\nwhich then becomes discernible to all. <\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n23 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 300<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

299<\/a> \u2013 Avoid vain disputing; but exchange views freely. If dispute thou
\nmust, learn from thy adversary; for even from a fool, if thou listen not with
\nthe ear and the reasoning mind but the soul’s light, thou canst gather much
\nwisdom. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

300 \u2013 Turn all things to honey; this is the law of divine living. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

301 \u2013 Private dispute should always be avoided; but shrink not from the
\npublic battle; yet even there appropriate\u00b9 the strength of thy adversary. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

302 \u2013 When thou hearest an opinion that displeases thee, study and find
\nout the truth in it. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

If you sincerely want to live according to
\nthe Truth, you must know that you can learn from everything and that you have
\nthe possibility of making progress at every moment. A great stupidity can often
\nreveal a great light to you, if you know how to see it.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n24 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

303<\/a> \u2013 The mediaeval ascetics hated women and thought they were created
\nby God for the temptation of monks. One may be allowed to think more nobly both
\nof God and of woman. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

304 \u2013 If a woman has tempted thee, is it her fault or thine? Be not a
\nfool and a self-deceiver. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

305 There are two ways of avoiding the snare of woman; one is to shun
\nall women and the other to love all beings. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00b9 Possible alternative reading: appreciate.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nPage – 301<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

What should be the ideal of a modern woman in ordinary life? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

In ordinary life, women can have all the
\nideas they like, it is not very important<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

From the spiritual point of view, men and
\nwomen are equal in their capacity to realise<\/span> the
\nDivine. Each one must do so in his (or her) own way and according to his (or
\nher) own possibilities.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n25 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

306<\/a> \u2013 Asceticism is no doubt very healing, a cave very peaceful and the
\nhill-tops wonderfully pleasant; nevertheless do thou act in the world as God
\nintended thee. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Sri Aurobindo shows us that one can be an
\nascetic by preference and not out of abnegation; and so he makes us understand
\nthat to be a servant of the Lord and to act only according to His will is a far
\nhigher state than any personal choice, no matter how saintly it may seem.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n26 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/font> <\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

307<\/a> \u2013 Three times God laughed at Shankara, first, when he returned to
\nburn the corpse of his mother, again, when he commented on the Isha Upanishad
\nand the third time when he stormed about <\/span><\/b>
\nIndia<\/span> preaching
\ninaction<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

The Lord laughed when this man, who
\nthought himself so wise, complied with conventions, wrote useless words and
\ngave an example of overactivity<\/span>
\nin order to preach inaction.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\n27 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00b9.Later, Mother added, \u201cFor women, in ordinary life,
\nthe ideal is good health and harmony.\u201d<\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 302<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

308<\/a> \u2013 Men labour<\/span> only after success and if
\nthey are fortunate enough to fail, it is because the wisdom and force of Nature
\noverbear their intellectual cleverness. God alone knows when and how to blunder
\nwisely and fail effectively.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

309 \u2013 Distrust the man who has never failed and suffered; follow not his
\nfortunes, fight not under his banner. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

310 \u2013 There are two who are unfit for greatness and freedom, the man who
\nhas never been a slave to another and the nation that has never been under the
\nyoke of foreigners. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

Certain essential qualities can only
\ndevelop through suffering and difficulties. Men run away from them in their
\nignorance, but the Supreme Lord imposes them on those He has chosen to
\nrepresent Him on earth in order to hasten their development for he is the
\nSupreme Wisdom.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n28 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

311<\/a> \u2013 Fix not the time and the way in which the ideal shall be
\nfulfilled. Work and leave time and way to God all-knowing<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

312 \u2013 Work as if the ideal had to be fulfilled swiftly and in thy
\nlifetime; persevere as if thou knewest it not to be unless purchased by a
\nthousand years yet of labour. That which thou darest not expect till the fifth<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage –
\n303<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

millennium, may bloom out with tomorrow’s dawning and that which thou
\nhopest and lustest after now, may have been fixed for thee in thy hundredth
\nadvent. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

This is exactly the attitude we should all
\nhave towards transformation: as much energy and ardour<\/span>
\nas if we were certain of achieving it in our present life, as much patience and
\nendurance as if we needed centuries to realise<\/span> it. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n29 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

313<\/a> \u2013 Each man of us has a million lives yet to fulfil upon earth. Why
\nthen this haste and clamour<\/span> and impatience? <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

314 \u2013 Stride swiftly, for the goal is far; rest not unduly, for thy
\nMaster is waiting for thee at the end of thy journey. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

Here again, as always, Sri Aurobindo sees
\nevery aspect of the question and while preaching calm and patience to the
\nrestless, he rouses and preaches energy to the indolent. In the union of
\nopposites lies true wisdom and total effectiveness. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n30 January 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

315<\/a> \u2013 I am weary of the childish impatience which cries and blasphemes
\nand denies the ideal because the Golden Mountains cannot be reached in our
\nlittle day or in a few momentary centuries<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\n316 \u2013 Fix thy soul without desire
\nupon the end and insist on it by the divine force within thee; then shall the
\nend itself create its means, nay, it shall become its own means. For the end is
\nBrahman and already accomplished; <\/span><\/b>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 304<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

 <\/span><\/b>see it always as Brahman, see it always in thy soul as already
\naccomplished. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

Certainly, we all carry in our souls the
\ndivine end of the eternal journey, and our personal incapacity is the only
\nthing that prevents us from being immediately aware of it. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Total and unconditional surrender to the
\nSupreme Lord (Brahman) is the sole and wonderful way to cure this incapacity. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n1 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

317<\/a> \u2013 Plan not with the intellect, but let thy divine sight arrange thy
\nplans for thee. When a means comes to thee as the thing to be done, make that
\nthy aim; as for the end, it is, in the world, accomplishing itself and, in thy
\nsoul, already accomplished<\/span><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

318 \u2013 Men see events as unaccomplished, to be striven for and effected.
\nThis is false seeing; events are not effected, they develop. The event is
\nBrahman, already accomplished from of old, it is now manifesting.<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

One could say it in this way: everything exists
\nfrom all eternity, and we become conscious of it progressively in what we call
\nthe material world. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

This way of seeing and speaking is a
\ncomplete reversal of the ordinary human consciousness. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n2 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

319<\/a> \u2013 As the light of a star reaches the earth hundreds of years after
\nthe star has ceased to exist, so the event already accomplished in Brahman at
\nthe beginning manifests itself now in our material experience. <\/span><\/b>
\n
\n <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nPage – 305<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

Yes, but the will of Brahman that we
\nshould take part in this event dates back to the same moment and their relation
\nremains the same. So the only thing that matters is not to act on personal
\nimpulse, but on the order received from Brahman.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n4 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

320<\/a> \u2013 Governments, societies, kings, police, judges, institutions,
\nchurches, laws, customs, armies are temporary necessities imposed on us for a
\nfew groups of centuries because God has concealed His face from us. When it
\nappears to us again in its truth and beauty, then in that light they will
\nvanish. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

321 \u2013 The anarchic is the true divine state of man in the end as in the
\nbeginning; but in between it would lead us straight to the devil and his
\nkingdom. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

The Anarchic state is the self-government of
\neach individual. And it will be the perfect government only when each one
\nbecomes conscious of the inner Divine and obeys Him and Him alone. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n5 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

322<\/a> \u2013 The communistic principle of society is intrinsically as superior
\nto the individualistic as is brotherhood to jealousy and mutual slaughter; but
\nall the practical schemes of Socialism invented in Europe are a yoke, a tyranny
\nand a prison. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

323 \u2013 If communism ever re-establishes itself successfully upon earth,
\nit must be on a foundation of soul’s brotherhood and the death of egoism. A
\nforced association and a mechanical comradeship would end in a world-wide
\nfiasco. <\/span><\/b>
\n
\n <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nPage – 306<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

324 \u2013 Vedanta realised<\/span> is the only practicable
\nbasis for a communistic society. It is the kingdom of the saints dreamed of by
\nChristianity, Islam and Puranic Hinduism. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

As Sri Aurobindo<\/span>
\ntells us so well, individualism is a kind of self-justified jealousy, the reign
\nof each one for himself. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But the only true remedy is the exclusive
\nand universal reign of the Supreme Lord, present and conscious in all beings,
\nwith a transitional government by those who are truly conscious of Him and
\nentirely surrendered to His will. <\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n7 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

325<\/a> \u2013 \u201cFreedom, equality, brotherhood,\u201d cried the French revolutionists,
\nbut in truth freedom only has been practised with a dose of equality; as for
\nbrotherhood, only a brotherhood of Cain was founded \u2013 and of Barabbas<\/span>. Sometimes it calls itself a Trust or Combine and
\nsometimes the Concert of Europe. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

326 \u2013 \u201cSince liberty has failed,\u201d cries the advanced thought of Europe,
\n\u201clet us try liberty cum<\/i> equality or,
\nsince the two are a little hard to pair, equality instead of liberty. For
\nbrotherhood, it is impossible; therefore we will replace it by industrial
\nassociation.\u201d But this time also, I think, God will not be deceived. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n

As yet liberty, equality, fraternity are
\nonly words loudly proclaimed but never yet put into practice, and they cannot
\nbe put into practice so long as men remain what they are, ruled by their ego
\nand all its desires instead of being ruled only by the One Supreme and
\nsupremely Divine.  <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


\n8 February 1970<\/font><\/span><\/i> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 307<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\t\t<\/i><\/p>\n


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

289 \u2013 Mankind have wearied of strength and joy and called sorrow and weakness virtue, wearied of knowledge and called ignorance holiness, wearied of love…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[122],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-10-on-thoughts-and-aphorisms-volume-10","wpcat-122-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4301","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=4301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4301\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}