July 27, 1968
(Mother seems unwell.)
No voice….
It’s not getting any better?
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The cold came down, and the day before yesterday I did something foolish: I took a medicine. It gave me a dreadful night and … now it’s difficult. It cut the consciousness off. So now it’s difficult. The consciousness has come back, but … And you, any news?
If you could send a little force on my publisher over there: the
manuscript of the "Human Cycle" is stranded there.
Where?
With my publisher, in Paris.
[[For six years until 1973, Satprem had to fight before he could obtain the first publication of French translations of Sri Aurobindo's works. And when those publications were finally obtained, the Ashram's new authorities accused him of having "sold Sri Aurobindo." ]]
(Mother concentrates,
then goes into a long contemplation)
When you have enough of staying quiet, tell me! As for me, I could remain like that the whole day long….
The Press is asking for a few texts to fill blanks in the forth
coming Bulletin.
Take from Sri Aurobindo, not from me! Everything from Sri Aurobindo.
(Satprem proposes the following text:)
“Overmind is obliged to respect the freedom of the individual ….
Oh, that’s a revelation! I didn’t know that.
“… including his freedom to be perverse, stupid, recalcitrant and slow.
Supermind is not merely a step higher than Overmind – it is beyond the line, that is a different consciousness and power beyond the mental limit.”
(then a question:)
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“Do you imply that the Supermind will not be obliged
to respect the freedom of the individual?"
(Sri Aurobindo replies:)
” Of course I do! It will respect only the Truth of the Divine and the truth of things.”
(September 18 & 19, 1935)
Oh, that’s very interesting. It’s wonderful, put it!
Then there’s another text, but I am not sure …:
“The scientific, rationalistic, industrial, pseudo-
democratic civilisation of the West is now in process
of dissolution and it would be a lunatic absurdity
for us at this moment to build blindly on that sink
ing foundation. When the most advanced minds
of the occident are beginning to turn in this red
evening of the West for the hope of a new and more
spiritual civilisation to the genius of Asia, it would
be strange if we could think of nothing better than
to cast away our own self and potentialities and
put our trust in the dissolving and moribund past
of Europe."[[Centenary edition, Vol. 17, p. 196. ]]
I didn’t know he had said that….
I don’t know if it’s very wise to say it…. But it’s very true.
We should send it to the government of India.
N.S. [a minister in the Central government] is coming, I’ll give it to her.
But not in the Bulletin.
And Indira Gandhi, wouldn’t you send it to her?
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……