{"id":4539,"date":"2013-07-13T01:56:42","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4539"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:56:42","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:56:42","slug":"40-26-september-1956-vol-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/08-questions-and-answers-volume-08\/40-26-september-1956-vol-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","title":{"rendered":"-40_26 September 1956.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\n26 September 1956<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/font><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll or most of the works of life are at present or seem to be
\nactuated or vitiated by the soul of desire; even those that are ethical or
\nreligious, even those that wear the guise of altruism, philanthropy, self-sacrifice,
\nself-denial are shot through and through with the threads of its making. This
\nsoul of desire is a separative soul of ego and all its instincts are for a
\nseparative self-affirmation; it pushes always, openly or under more or less
\nshining masks, for its own growth, for possession, for enjoyment, for conquest
\nand empire.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThe
\nSynthesis of Yoga, A. 164<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Sweet Mother what is the \u201csoul of desire\u201d? <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

It is what
\nmakes you live, act, move. <\/span><\/p>\n

Soul, the word for soul in French, \u201c\u00e2me\u201d comes from a word which
\nmeans \u201cto animate\u201d. It is what gives life to the body. If you didn’t have it
\nyou would be inert matter, something like stones or plants, not altogether
\ninert, but vegetative. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some people say that without desires, that is, without this soul
\nof desire, there would never have been any progress. In ordinary life it is
\nsomething very useful but when one decides to do yoga, to find the Divine, it
\nbecomes a little cumbersome. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Is that all? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When we come to you for the distribution,\u00b9 at times<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b9Until 1958 Mother used to distribute
\ngroundnuts and sweets every evening at the Playground (except on class days),
\nmaking it possible for all disciples to go to her one by one in order to
\nreceive her spiritual help directly.<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 304<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

we feel free and joyful, but at times we feel nothing, we are
\nempty. What does this indicate? <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

When one is
\njoyful, it means that one is open and receives the Force; when one feels
\nnothing, it means that one is shut up. <\/span><\/p>\n

But what makes you open or shuts you up? For each one it is
\ndifferent. It depends on a number of things. Haven’t you noticed the difference
\nin yourself, whether it depends on outside circumstances or on something within
\nyou? No? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Yes. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Yes. Ah,
\ngood! <\/span><\/p>\n

There are many different reasons which make one feel at times more
\nalive, more full of force and joy\u2026Usually, in ordinary life, there are people
\nwho, due to their very constitution, the way they are made, are in a certain
\nharmony with Nature, as though they breathed with the same rhythm, and these
\npeople are usually always joyful, happy; they succeed in all they do, they
\navoid many troubles and catastrophes, indeed they are in harmony with the
\nrhythm of life and Nature. And, moreover, there are days when one is in contact
\nwith the divine Consciousness which is at work, with the Grace, and then
\neverything is tinged, coloured with this Presence, and things which usually
\nseem to you dull and uninteresting become charming, pleasant, attractive,
\ninstructive<\/span>
\n\u2014 <\/span>everything lives and vibrates, and is full
\nof promise and force. So, when one opens to that, one feels stronger, freer,
\nhappier, full of energy, and everything<\/i><\/b> has a meaning. One
\nunderstands why things are as they are and one participates in the general
\nmovement.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are other times when, for some reason or other, one is
\nclouded or closed or down in a hole, and so one no longer feels anything and
\nall things lose their taste, their interest, their value; one goes about like a
\nwalking block of wood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, if one is able to consciously unite with one’s psychic <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 305<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\u00a0<\/span>being, one can
\nalways<\/i><\/span> be in this state
\nof receptivity, inner joy, energy, progress, <\/span>com<\/span>munion
\nwith the divine Presence. And when one is in <\/span>com<\/span>munion
\nwith That, one sees it everywhere, in everything, and all things take on their
\ntrue meaning. <\/span><\/p>\n

On what does that depend?…On an inner rhythm. Perhaps a grace.
\nIn any case on a receptivity to something that is beyond you. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Mother a well-developed soul, when it incarnates, does it have
\nless difficulty in transforming this soul of desire? <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

That means?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The great masters have less difficulties? <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

One can’t
\nsay. <\/span><\/p>\n

In principle it is like that, but in fact, the more the
\nindividuality is formed, the stronger is this false soul of desire. Those who
\nhave a well-formed, well-coordinated individuality, which has an existence of
\nits own, with a minimum of dependence on the environment, have much more
\ndifficulty in <\/span>com<\/span>ing into contact with the divine Presence
\nthan others, because they have a very coordinated, very organised separate
\nexistence, which is usually self-sufficient. One always finds it much more
\ndifficult to convert, we might say, a very living, fully<\/span>
\nrealised personality than someone, for instance, who is full of goodwill but
\nstill open to all sorts of influences. When an individual is very strongly made
\nand has the sense of his own personality, his own existence, it is much more
\ndifficult for him to think that he is nothing but an instrument of the divine
\nForce, than for somebody who feels a little nebulous, like this (gesture) not
\nvery precise, who has no exact limits, no well-built individuality; he
\nunderstands more easily that in himself he is nothing and that it is a force
\nother than his own which makes him act. So you cannot<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 306<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\u00a0<\/span>say that a well-developed soul has less
\ndifficulties. It depends on the case. <\/span><\/p>\n

What you mean, I think, is that if you are in contact with your
\nsoul<\/span>
\n\u2014 <\/span>the true one<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>it is
\nrelatively easy to get rid of the soul of desire. But that is a different
\nsituation. You must first have found your psychic being and identified yourself
\nwith it; and then, later, you may turn to the soul of desire and convince it of
\nits stupidity. <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

(Long silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

(To a child)<\/span><\/i><\/b> Do you have
\nanything to ask? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Not I, Mother. Somebody has asked a question: \u201cIn the present
\nstate of the sadhana, what is the utility of a personal contact with you? To
\nwhat extent does a personal contact with you help us?\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

What is
\nmeant by a personal contact? To see me, speak to me, what? Individually, collectively,
\nhow? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Individually. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Oh! (Laughing)<\/i><\/b>
\nto have interviews? <\/span><\/p>\n

You may answer that it depends on the use one makes of them. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is very difficult to answer, for it is a purely personal
\nquestion. It depends on the moment, depends on the state one is in, and above
\nall, as I say, it depends on whether one knows how to use this contact
\nproperly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t you see, if one is inwardly open, if one is receptive, one
\nreceives right down into the subtle physical all that is necessary for one’s
\nintegral progress. And in the order of things, the outer contact should come
\nonly as a crowning and an aid so that the body<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>the
\nmaterial physical consciousness and the <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 307<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

body<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>may be able to follow the movement of the inner being.<\/span><\/p>\n

But if you believe that this contact is going to replace the inner
\nreceptivity, you are mistaken, it is not much use. For example, people who are
\nquite closed up, who receive nothing within, who have no opening to the forces
\nand who imagine that because they are going to spend half an hour or an hour
\nsitting in front of me and chatting, this is going to help them to transform
\nthemselves, they make a gross mistake. But if they are inwardly open, if they
\nare in contact with the Force and make an effort to transform themselves, then,
\nat a particular moment, perhaps a conversation or a material contact, a
\npresence, may help them to make a more integral progress. <\/span><\/p>\n

One may very easily live in close proximity, in one’s daily life
\nbe apparently very near, and get nothing at all out of it, at least in the
\nactive consciousness. Perhaps there is a very slow and deep action which goes
\non<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>but it seems to me that it would go on in any case. And if, while
\nby my side for some reason or other the thought is elsewhere, the desires
\nelsewhere, the preoccupations elsewhere, it is absolutely useless, it leads to
\nnothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The important point is to establish the inner contact; this is
\nreally the important point. Then in certain cases<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>perhaps
\nnot very often, it depends on each one<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>but in certain
\ncases, the presence adds something, gives a more concrete, more precise
\nrealisation. But if there is nothing within, it is altogether useless. So one
\ncannot make a general rule, it depends on each one, on the state he is in. <\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

You see, the general mistake is to believe that one must begin
\nfrom outside and reach within. It is not like that. One must begin within and
\nreach outside afterwards, when one is ready within. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Mother, when we come to you, we try to be at our<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\nPage – 308<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\u00a0<\/span>best possible, that is, to
\nhave very good thoughts; but often, on the contrary, all the bad impulses, bad
\nthoughts we had during the day come forward. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

That is
\nperhaps so that you can get rid of them. <\/span><\/p>\n

If they come, one can offer them and ask to be rid of them. <\/span><\/p>\n

That perhaps is the reason, it is because the Consciousness acts
\nfor purification. It is no use at all hiding things and pushing them behind,
\nlike this, and imagining they are not there because one has put a veil in
\nfront. It is much better to see oneself as one is \u2014 provided one is ready to
\ngive up this way of being. If you come allowing all the bad movements to rise
\nto the surface, to show themselves; if you offer them, if you say, \u201cWell, this
\nis how I am\u201d, and if at the same time you have the aspiration to be different,
\nthen this second of presence is extremely useful; you can, yes, in a few
\nseconds receive the help you need to get rid of them; while if you come like a
\nlittle saint and go away content, without having received anything, it is not
\nvery useful. <\/span><\/p>\n

Automatically the Consciousness acts like that, it is like the ray
\nthat brings light where there wasn’t any. Only, what is needed is to be in a
\nstate where one wants} to give up the thing, to get rid of it \u2014 not to cling to
\nit and keep it. If one sincerely wants to pull it out of oneself, make it
\ndisappear, then it is very useful. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, I could ask a question myself: Why \u2014 I don’t know if it is
\ncommon, but still \u2014 why, when you come to me, do you want to have good thoughts
\nand be at your best? For what reason? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

To have bad movements before you is very ugly!\u00a0 <\/span>(Laughter)<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\nPage – 309<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

If you want
\nto keep them, yes, it is very ugly, but if you want to get rid of them!…It is
\nperhaps a chance to get rid of them. It is surely even an opportunity to get rid
\nof them, because before me they appear exactly as they are; while far from me
\nthey are coloured with all sorts of brilliant and false lights, so that you
\ntake them for what they are not. If the movement is nasty and you see it in my
\natmosphere, it appears\u00a0 <\/span>exactly as it is.
\nThen that is the time to get rid of it. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

To give the best one has is very fine and is much appreciated; but
\nto give the worst one has is much more useful; and perhaps this offering is
\neven more appreciated<\/span> \u2014 <\/span>on condition that it is given in order to
\nget rid of it, not to take it back afterwards!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 310<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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

26 September 1956   \u201cAll or most of the works of life are at present or seem to be actuated or vitiated by the soul…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","wpcat-127-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4539","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=4539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4539\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}