Sri Aurobindo Center of Los Angeles
Monthly Magazine
Theme : Gratitude
  November 2018 Issue - X
There is nothing mind can do that cannot be better done in the mind’s immobility and thought-free stillness.

-Sri Aurobindo
Dedicated to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo who gave their lives to changing the earth-nature and earth-conditions so that the earth becomes a tenement of a Divine Life, and brought down the force of a supreme consciousness ushering a new age of Truth, Harmony, Peace and Love progressively.  The path to the Divine need not be anymore a "walk on the edge of a razor".
 
Center  Activities:

The notable event in month of November was the solemn observance of Mother's Mahasamadhi on the 17th. Devotees from near and far joined in the intense remembrance of the Mother with chants, readings and reminiscences. Devotional songs invoked Her presence, guidance and protection. One was immediately reminded of what She once stated to a disciple:   "It may take fifty years, it may take a hundred years, and you may doubt about my being there; I may be there or not, but these children of mine will be there to carry out my work". 
This month's theme is Gratitude. A virtue that is seldom talked about or written is yet - to quote Her  - the surest way to the Divine.
We close with Her call to Her children;

Hand over your problems to the Divine and He will pull you out of all difficulties.

Happy reading!

For your heart to remain happy keep it always filled with gratefulness.
Gratefulness is the surest way to the Divine. .

 

- The Mother.

As to gratitude, it is a psychic feeling and all that is psychic helps the soul to flower.

- Sri Aurobindo. 

     
                                       This month's theme:
                                                 Gratitude


What is Gratitude                                                                   - The Mother

Gratitude appears when psychic manifests                     - Sri Aurobindo

Gratitude  a small story                                                       - The Mother

Mother's beautiful gesture of gratitude                           - A Disciple

Gratitude opens the door to Grace                                 - The Mother

 

What is Gratitude                                                    - The Mother        Home


There is nothing that gives you a joy equal to that of gratitude. You hear a bird sing, you see a lovely flower, you look at a little child, observe an act of generosity, read a beautiful sentence, look at the setting sun, anything whatever: suddenly this comes upon you, this kind of emotion, so deep, so intense, that the world manifests the Divine that there is something behind the world which is the Divine.
And yet, of all movements, the one that perhaps gives the most joy—an unalloyed joy, untainted by egoism - is spontaneous gratitude. It is something very special. It isn't love, it isn't self-giving. It is a very full joy. Very full. It is a very special vibration unlike anything other than itself. It is something that widens you, that fills you, that is so fervent! Of all the movements within the reach of human consciousness, it is certainly the one that draws you most out of your ego. . . .When you can enter this vibration in its purity, you realise immediately that it has the same quality as the vibration of Love: it is directionless. .. . Ultimately, gratitude is only a very slightly coloured shade of the essential vibration of Love.

Gratitude appears when psychic manifests            - Sri Aurobindo        Home


Compassion and gratitude are essentially psychic virtues. They appear in the consciousness only when the psychic being takes part in active life. The vital and the physical experience them as weaknesses, for they curb the free expression of their impulses, which are based on the power of strength. As always, the mind, when insufficiently educated, is the accomplice of the vital being and the slave of the physical nature, whose laws, so overpowering in their half-conscious mechanism, it does not fully understand. When the mind awakens to the awareness of the first psychic movements, it distorts them in its ignorance and changes compassion into pity or at best into charity, and gratitude into the wish to repay, followed, little by little, by the capacity to recognise and admire. It is only when the psychic consciousness is all-powerful in the being that compassion for all that needs help, in whatever domain, and gratitude for all that manifests the divine presence and grace, in whatever form, are expressed in all their original and luminous purity, without mixing compassion with any trace of condescension or gratitude with any sense of inferiority.

Gratitude, a small story                                                  - The Mother     Home

Once upon a time there was a splendid palace, in the heart of which lay a secret sanctuary, whose threshold no being had ever crossed. Furthermore, even its outermost galleries were almost inaccessible to mortals, for the palace stood on a very high cloud, and very few, in any age, could find the way to it. It was the palace of Truth. One day a festival was held there, not for men but for very different beings, gods and goddesses great and small, who on earth are honoured by the name of Virtues. The vestibule of the palace was a great hall, where the walls, the floor, the ceiling, luminous in themselves, were resplendent with a myriad glittering fires. It was the Hall of Intelligence. Near to the ground, the light was very soft and had a beautiful deep sapphire hue, but it became gradually clearer towards the ceiling, from which girandoles of diamonds hung like chandeliers, their myriad facets shooting dazzling rays. The Virtues came separately, but soon formed congenial groups, full of joy to find themselves for once at least together, for they are usually so widely scattered throughout the world and the worlds, so isolated amid so many alien beings.

Sincerity reigned over the festival. She was dressed in a transparent robe, like clear water, and held in her hand a cube of purest crystal, through which things can be seen as they really are, far different from what they usually seem, for there their image is reflected without distortion. Near to her, like two faithful guardians, stood Humility, respectful and proud, and Courage, lofty-browed, clear-eyed, his lips firm and smiling, with a calm and resolute air. Close beside Courage, her hand in his, stood a woman, completely veiled, of whom nothing could be seen but her searching eyes shining through her veils. It was Prudence. Among them all, coming and going from one to another and yet seeming always to remain near to each one, Charity, at once vigilant and calm, active and yet discrete, left behind her as she passed through the groups a trail of soft white light. The light that she spreads and softens comes to her, through a radiance so subtle that it is invisible to most eyes, from her closest friend, her inseparable companion, her twin sister, Justice. And around Charity thronged a shining escort, Kindness, Patience, Gentleness, Solicitude, and many others.

All of them are there, or so at least they think. But then suddenly, at the golden threshold, a newcomer appears. With great reluctance the guards, set to watch the gates, have agreed to admit her. Never before had they seen her, and there was nothing in her appearance to impress them. She was indeed very young and slight, and the white dress which she wore was very simple, almost poor. She takes a few steps forward with a shy, embarrassed air. Then, apparently ill at ease to find herself in such a large and brilliant company, she pauses, not knowing towards whom she should go. After a brief exchange with her companions, Prudence steps forward at their request and goes towards the stranger. Then, after clearing her throat, as people do when they are embarrassed, to give herself a moment to reflect, she turns to her and says: “We who are gathered here and who all know each other by our names and our merits are surprised at your coming, for you appear to be a stranger to us, or at least we do not seem to have ever seen you before. Would you be so kind as to tell us who you are?” Then the newcomer replied with a sigh: “Alas! I am not surprised that I appear to be a stranger in this palace, for I am so rarely invited anywhere. “My name is Gratitude.”

Mother's beautiful gesture of Gratitude                        - A Disciple       Home

The Mother met Sri Aurobindo for the first time on March 29, 1914. Following instructions given to her, she approached the house where Sri Aurobindo was living at 3.30 p.m. She asked a man in the street, “Where does Aurobindo Ghose live?” The man silently pointed to the door of the ‘Guest House’. The Mother ascertained this man’s name and address. Thereafter, every month for the rest of his life, she sent him a fixed amount of money through Kameshwar. Later he was also permitted to see them on Darshan days. She said that she took care of him out of gratitude because he had pointed out to her the residence of the Lord...

Gratitude opens the door to Grace                          - The Mother       Home

There is no better cure for egoism than a happy gratefulness. Always joyfully accept what is given you by the Divine. A self-willed man cannot be grateful ― because when he gets what he wants he gives all the credit for it to his own will, and when he gets what he does not want he resents it badly and throws all the blame on whomever he considers responsible, God, man or Nature. It is very difficult to keep up your gratitude; for a time it comes very strongly and again it goes back. The Divine can go on tolerating everything in spite of your ingratitude because He knows fully the how and why and wherefore of everything. He knows why you are doing a certain thing. He knows the full working and that is why He can tolerate it.
The nobility of a being is measured by its capacity of gratitude.
Gratitude: it is you who open all the closed doors and let the Grace which saves penetrate deeply.

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