March 3, 1971
(After having approved the layout of the jacket for
”Supermanhood” designed by Sujata.)
You have nothing to ask?
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I have the feeling your look has changed a lot….
(Mother nods)
For about a year now, and increasingly so, it has resembled Sri
Aurobindo’s look.
Well … (smiling) it’s possible!
Before, your look was a "diamond look," a look … it was you,
it was powerfully you. Now, it’s … it’s becoming like infinity.
Oh, but my way of seeing isn’t the same.
Yes, as a matter of fact, Sujata wanted to ask you: when you
look at people that way, what do you see?
I think I see … the most exact thing to say is their condition, the state they’re in. And then, of course, there are those who are closed, so to say, who, for me, don’t see, who are totally in the outer consciousness; and there are those who are open — there are some … certain children are remarkable, it’s as if they were wide open (gesture like a flower to the sun) and ready to absorb. It’s especially people’s receptivity that I see, the condition they’re in: those who come with aspiration, those who come with curiosity, those who come out of … a kind of obligation, and then those who are thirsty for light — there aren’t too many, but there are several children. Today I saw one, he was so sweet!… His father lives at the lake, he bought some property at the lake; he lives there with his wife and children, and it was the birthday of one of the children — oh! (Mother opens her eyes wide) wonderful!
And I see only that. Not what they think or say (all that seems superficial and uninteresting): only the state of receptivity they are in. That’s what I see above all.
(silence)
I really think that those who can begin the new race are among children. Men are … crusted over.
You know, I am forever struggling with people who’ve come here to be comfortable and “free to do what they like,” so … I tell them, “The world is big, you can go.” No soul, no aspiration, nothing…. I am counting on your book very much.
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Has T. [the English translator] finished her translation?
Not yet, but it’s progressing.
What does she say? Is she responding?
Well … I don’t know.
(Mother nods her head)
In places.
You know my impression? They’re all old and I am the only one who is young! [[Let us recall the Tantrasara: “Although thou art the primordial cause of the worlds, yet thou art forever young.” ]] That’s it, you know, that flame, that will … what is called push — they are satisfied with stupid little personal satisfactions … which lead nowhere, preoccupied with what they’re going to eat and … oh!
I have the impression that there is a sort of display now, a display of everything that should not be.
Yes.
But the flame, the flame of aspiration (Mother shakes her head), not many bring it to me.
Provided they are what they call “comfortable,” that’s all they want — and free to do some nonsense they wouldn’t do in the world! While you feel you could hasten the coming — you COULD hasten it if you were … if you were a conqueror!
Yes.
Anyway….
(silence)
Basically … basically they just don’t care.
Not all of them.
No, but those who are different are very few in number — at least among those I see, I don’t know. Naturally there are those who are close — those who are close, who live only for that; of
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course, I am not speaking of them. They’re all right, I think…. From time to time I receive a real call for help, really an aspiration — that, yes, when that’s there, it’s very good, it’s of very good quality. Otherwise….
I could scold myself, because I set a bad example: I shouldn’t have such a worn-out body, but it’s as if…. At night, for instance, I don’t sleep, but I go into a very deep repose; and then everything that isn’t well (Mother touches her swollen cheek) worsens. It’s only when I concentrate here that it starts to get better; when I leave the body to its own peace … it still isn’t on the right side — it shouldn’t be like that. I know that the greatest difficulty for people is my age — they all think: “Oh, she’s old, she’s old, she’s old….” And so I…. As a fact I am younger than they! (laughter)
Yes.
(silence)
But the difficulty comes from the fact that many do not
understand the simplicity of the thing.
Yes.
Many of them are still seeking experiences up above, and
visions, and mental silence, and all that, while that’s not it at
all.
No, that’s not it.
I see lots of people and I’m forced to…. I always come back to
the simple thing, which is the NEED.
But I am counting on your book to shake all that up — it’s very well explained there, very well.
I remember the first time Pavitra read something of yours [[The Adventure of Consciousness. ]] (it was a long time ago, several years), he told me, “Oh, it’s a revelation for me!” How many years had he been here!…[[Thirty-nine years. ]] He said, “Oh, at last I’ve understood that it’s in simplicity….”
It was a revelation for him…. I am really counting a lot on your book.
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Whenever I try to explain it to them, they’re always surprised
at the simplicity of the thing.
Yes, yes!
It surprises them as if….
It’s not complicated enough.
(silence)
Did S. find someone for the Russian translation?
She made an overture, but nothing came of it; she’s made a
second one, and now she’s waiting.
I feel that it is the book that will give a new orientation there. That’s why I am insisting. And Russia…. Russia, changed to the right side, it would be wonderful!… I don’t know why…. Naturally I was Russian in a recent incarnation, when I was…. Is it Catherine?
Catherine, yes.
And that’s very much alive in me.
My impression is that if the whole Russian bloc were to turn to the right side, it would be a tremendous support…. And they are not satisfied; you know, they’re in the state in which you’re capable of doing something because you’re not satisfied — they are NOT satisfied. Their experience … basically they don’t want to admit it, but their experience has failed.
(silence)
All this, everything that concerns politics and countries cannot be published. It’s to be kept. Because officially I don’t do politics.
Yes, of course, Mother.
When is the next time?
Saturday, Mother.
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Will the book be out then?
I don’t think so. Next week, I think.
We’ll fill it with force.
(Mother takes Satprem’s hands. Then Sujata approaches. Let
us note that Sujata had suggested to one of the attendants who
prepares Mother’s food to prepare some coconut water for her.
The suggestions was reported to Mother. Behind Mother’s reply
we can glimpse a whole world of things.)
It is rather the WAY of preparing things than new things.
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