July 22, 1972
I have some things for you.
(Mother gropes for something
on the table beside her and
hands Satprem a note in English)
Man is the creation of yesterday.
Sri Aurobindo has come to
announce the creation of tomorrow.
Is that all?
I wrote it in French and I put, "The creation of tomorrow, the advent of the supramental being." Because they are likely to call it "superman" if I don’t put "supramental being." The advent of the supramental being.
We are just in between. No longer this, not yet that – the time that’s the most….
(brief silence)
***
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(Thus, I sent to SABDA and All India Press the note signed by
Mother. As was to be expected, the reaction was swift: I was
accused of being "after money." Mother well knew the
hornet’s nest I was about to stir up, and the day before she had
written me a letter – which I did not understand – to try and
tell me to move to a higher plateau, to another consciousness,
instead of struggling against crooks. The following conversa
tion is the saddest memory of my seventeen years of meetings
with Mother. It was so painful to see her weariness yet have to
fight to unmask that falsehood – as if she didn’t know it! But
we are writing History here and we are trying to give as factual
an account as possible and to describe the characters just as they were.)
What did I write you?
You wrote unjustified things.
Unjustified.
Yes.
That would surprise me…. It wasn’t I who wrote. So that would surprise me. What were those unjustified things?
You said my action was distorted.
No – I certainly didn’t say that.
Well, that’s what I understood…. Later you wrote me [in a
second letter], that you trusted me….
Yes, of course!
Well, if you trust me, you must defend me and help me.
Defend you?
And help me.
Defend you against whom?
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As a matter of fact, I didn’t want to come and see you this
morning. I came because Sujata persuaded me to come. She
said that if I leave, the worst elements will remain and they …
they won’t help you. I came here out of a sense of duty.
Are you that angry?
Yes, Mother. I came here this morning out of a sense of duty,
because I think that….
Don’t you love me at all?
But, Mother, that’s not the point. The point is a practical one.
Practical ?
Yes.
Practical questions are in a total confusion.
Well, that’s just the point, Mother. If you trust certain people,
you must believe their word and not yield or listen to people
who deceive you.
But I don’t know what you mean, because … (Mother holds her head in her hands). I don’t understand anymore.
Yes, Mother, I do know you no longer understand these
material questions. Several times I have explained the situation
to you. I told you that I asked SABDA for some information….
But didn’t they give it to you?
Of course not.
But I told them, I wrote them they absolutely must give it to you.
Yes; whereupon M. [the director of All India Press] writes you
a letter and you reply, "I am very satisfied with your work."
Result: he says to himself, "Fine, Ill just continue as before.
No, I told him he must … didn’t Andre tell you?
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But that’s precisely what Andre told me! Andre said, "Mother
told M.: I am satisfied with your work." So everything is for
the best!
But this breaks all bounds!
Indeed, Mother!… In the essential truth, I am with you
forever, as you know, there is no doubt about it. So far so good
But when I deal with Matter, I have to fight using Matter’s
laws along with whatever truth I may have. As far as Matter is
concerned, I saw there was falsehood; I’m fighting against that
falsehood, and I’m asking your help to fight it…. Or else one
simply withdraws from all action altogether.
But I know that falsehood! I told MA And that’s what baffles me, there’s something I don’t understand. Because not only did I tell M. that his doings were not proper, but I also told him what he had to do. So I am completely baffled…. Who has … ? There’s something fishy somewhere.
Exactly, Mother, these people are very skilled at confusing
everything. That’s their main power: they confuse the issue.
But I don’t believe M. in the least! I don’t believe a word he says to me! I told him…. So they distort what I say? … No, I am really baffled. Not only did I send word to M. but also to … what’s his name?
B. [Sabda]
Yes, B. And B. said I was quite right. So where is the confusion? [[Most probably, Mother's messenger, Andre was afraid of saying things straight out. ]]
Yes ?
(silence)
What I wrote you is….
Will you read me what I told you? … To tell the truth (I don’t like to say this), but to tell the truth, it was Sri Aurobindo who
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came and told me to write this to you. There must have been some reason, mon petit.
Yes. Here’s what you say:
"An individual being, whatever his merit, is but a
point in the universe….
That’s certain!
Yes, that was the point. Next ?
"… He really begins to exist only when his con
sciousness becomes universal through union with
the Divine….
That’s perfectly exact.
"Truly we begin to exist only when we let the
Divine act through us …
That’s entirely true.
"… without any ignorance distorting His Action."
Yes, it’s quite correct.
Yes. So when you sent me that, I understood that I distorted
His Action.
No, mon petit!
Then what does it mean, Mother?
That’s not what it means. It means…. Oh, it was so clear when he told me! … The question was by no means that of an individual: it was a question of the whole, a vision of the whole – that things aren’t as they seem to be, behind there’s … (Mother holds her head in her hands). I don’t know anymore, mon petit.
I know that when it came, it was meant on the contrary to tell
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you not to pay attention to people’s mistakes because … things had to be seen from the standpoint of the whole, within the Whole. That was it. I felt this was the last stage, which would propel you into the Vision, the vision of the whole I mentioned. When I wrote that, I felt you were ready to have that vision of the whole and had to be told just so that you would give your external consent to it. When I was told you were unhappy [with my letter], I was puzzled - I didn’t understand. How come? … On the contrary the feeling was that the time had come for you to rise above all human conceptions and to look at the creation and all circumstances – ALL circumstances – within the Great View, the all- encompassing divine view. Such was my impression.
Yes. But what is to be done, then? Should one withdraw in
that Consciousness, seek to attain it and, well, just let the
material world unfold as it can with the fakers and liars, or
else….
That’s what I am myself brought to do now.
But is it what I should do, too? Does it mean I should simply
cede the ground to that falsehood?
What falsehood? I know what I said to M. and to B.: I told them (and especially M.) that this was no way to behave, that they should not behave that way. That’s what I told him. I told him that nothing concerning your books should be decided without consulting you first…. So I don’t understand at all.
Yes.
There’s something I don’t grasp in all this. I told him quite plainly. What did Andre tell you? Didn’t he tell you that?
No, Mother. But Andre is straight, Andre tells the truth. Andre
isn’t with those crooks, naturally! Neither Andre nor I are
people who tell lies.
He may not have understood, then. Do you want to call Andre and we see it together?
Calling Andre is all right, Mother, but that remains in the
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realm of words. These people have been told on your behalf
- Andre told them on your behalf – that they had to give certain
statements, but they don’t do a thing! They don’t lift a finger.
They don’t obey your orders.
They didn’t send you anything today?
No, nothing. And also for Sri Aurobindo’s books – that’s where
they’re directly deceiving you. They don’t lift a finger, they
simply do nothing. They won’t give the least information about
what they’re doing – what are they HIDING, these people, Id
like to know? … As long as they’re told words, it’s completely
ineffective. I wonder what action will make them move? …
(silence)
I know in any case that the letter I wrote you was really Sri Aurobindo insisting on the need to attain that Consciousness, and he told me you were ready for it. He told me that.
Then should I withdraw from action, Mother?
What do you mean by "withdraw from action"?
Well, let things follow their own course. Stop doing anything.
Really stop doing anything until the consciousness reaches
that state.
No….
Just closet myself, go to the Himalayas and stay put.
"Doing" … there are many planes of" doing."
Maybe if … (Mother props her head in her hands).
I am tiring you, Mother, I’m really sorry.
You see, one "does" in higher regions. Sri Aurobindo insisted, he said you were ready to get the superman’s consciousness – not "superman": supramental, the supramental consciousness. And that’s what he wanted to give you. He wanted … he insisted that you should be preoccupied with THAT, concentrated on that,
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because you have the capacity. In this domain the numbers are VERY small, so it’s important that all those who can do it do it. That’s how I saw things.
I understand.
… And how I understood them and wrote them to you….
Yes, I understand what you mean.
… That all the preoccupations stemming from the other consciousness, the old human consciousness, however enlightened it is, are to be left aside for the moment to allow the full emergence into that Consciousness. That’s all. That’s all I said.
Yes, that I understand.
I told those people what I knew, I told them that they were wrong and had to change their ways. What else could I do?
Yes.
(silence)
What did you ask them?
Listen, Mother, if I should stop involving myself in these ques
tions (which greatly disturb me), do you want Sujata to follow
them and be present tomorrow when M. comes to see you?
Sujata will be present and you can give your instructions to M.
in front of her, and she will do the follow-up. And I won’t be
troubled anymore.
You see, the trouble is, I don’t give [M.] my instructions in person, I give them through Andre. Perhaps he didn’t understand?
But if M. comes before you tomorrow, and Sujata is here, and
you give him your instructions, Sujata will follow up. Unless
you prefer all three to come, Andre, Sujata and M.? …
(Mother puts her head in her hands)
I’m sorry, Mother, I am forced to do a dirty job. But it must
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be settled once and for all – and not only for me, but for Sri
Aurobindo’s works as well…. Because Andre doesn’t say
anything, but he’s like me, he’s upset. He is upset with this
situation. For he sees these people deceiving and distorting
with impunity
So Andre didn’t say anything?
But, Mother, "saying" isn’t enough! If they come before
you – Andre, M. and, say, Sujata, all three – and you spell out
your instructions, then he will be forced to do as you say. And
it will be all over. [[What an illusion! ]]
But what instructions, regarding what?
Regarding the accounts they should give you about what
they’re doing with Sri Aurobindo’s books and Satprem’s books.
They’re not giving any accounts?
But I am not talking of financial accounts! I mean what
they’re DOING, how many copies they sell….
Ohhh!
I am not at all asking about money but how many copies they
sell in India and abroad. Nothing else.
Ohh!
I am not asking for money, [[So much so that the Ashram is still today pocketing my royalties from India and a few other countries - not without having first expelled me from the Ashram, of course! ]] but for the means of knowing
exactly, of controlling what they’re doing. In other words, they
should tell you: we have sold so many copies of Sri Aurobindo
in Switzerland, so many in Germany.
That, I know, they haven’t done.
So!… But that’s just the way of controlling what they’re doing.
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Ahh!
And that’s what I want for my books – not money!
Oh, then there’s a confusion, because from what Andre told me, I understood it was money.
But who cares about money, Mother! Nobody cares about that – except them.
Ohh! … Then Andre himself didn’t understand. Or I didn’t understand what he said.
(at this point, the attendant
comes out of the bathroom to defend M.,
saying that he gives all his money to Mother;
the Mafia extended to every floor)
This is not at all a question of money, not at all – as if Andre or
I were interested in money! We don’t care a jackstraw. But
what we do care about is to know what they’re DOING.
But of course! At least to me, they should give an accurate report.
Exactly! But they’d rather be caught dead than do that.
I can see that – ahh, I understand! Now I get it.
And that’s why they reacted so violently against me when I
asked for the information, because they felt somebody was
beginning to uncover their scheme.
Ohh! … But, you know, I have such difficulty speaking….
Yes, Mother, I know, and I hate to draw you into this.
… Because if I can’t speak when M. is here, it will look stupid.
(silence)
Listen, will you do me a favor?
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Certainly, Mother, I only want Truth to triumph!
Go find Andre and bring him here.
(Satprem goes out to fetch Andre. They return together.)
Ah! (to Andre:) What will you say now? … I don’t understand anything anymore! (Andre laughs)
(Andre:) Well, Satprem would like to know what’s happening
with his books….
Yes, and he’s right.
Yes. And by the same token, it would be good if we could
know – if someone in the Ashram could know – what exactly
M. is doing with Sri Aurobindo’s books.
Yes, quite.
The fact is, nobody knows anything. They’re printing books,
SABDA tries to sell them here and there – they have excellent
promotional methods, but we have no idea what they are
specifically. We don’t know what’s going on. It even goes …
I’ll go further, Mother: for the last two years, I haven’t been
able to put my hand on the corrections made to the film
negatives, I mean the offset reproduction of the Centenary
edition [of Sri Aurobindo's works].
There were corrections made?
Yes, there were. I know there were because M. told me so. I
asked him for a list….
What corrections? Who made corrections?
There’s a boy working with him who makes the corrections.
But, look here, this is incredible! On the pretext that I can’t see to this myself, they don’t even show me!! They make corrections without telling me!
I don’t know how serious these are, I have no idea.
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Oh, but "serious" or not, they CANNOT make corrections without asking me!
True, Mother.
Good heavens! … So what can we do now?
(Satprem:) Yes, Mother, you absolutely must have some sort of
control over these people. I think the best way would be to call
B. [Sabda], M. and Andre together, and have Andre spell out all
the points in black and white.
Oh, but Andre isn’t combative.
(Andre:) Yes, I am Mother! [laughter] I am convinced, but….
No! I didn’t say "convinced," I said "combative."
Combative? Oh, I am not at all combative, Mother!
I know. That’s just what I said.
I am not at all combative, because … I try to see through their
eyes, and then I don’t know who’s right anymore!
Yes! (laughter) That’s exactly the point.
(Satprem:) But the two basic things to ask them are their
production and their distribution. That’s all.
(Andre:) Yes, right.
Oh, yes! I ask them, you know. But they say I can’t see anymore…. True, I can’t see – I see, but … it’s a mixed vision. It’s interesting (I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, because the people who would see with it … ). I see what is true in things from the supramental point of view. And it’s extremely interesting. I hear sounds that people don’t usually hear, because these sounds have a supramental reality. I can see…. When people talk to me, I see at the same time not only what they think (that’s old hat), but what’s true from the supramental point of view. All the time it is like that. Both together. Because my body has no longer the same
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… (what’s the word?) … I am strong, but the old type of energy is gone; and the one that replaces it is far more powerful – but I don’t like to talk about it. When I do, I appear to be boasting. So I don’t say anything. I tell you now so you’ll understand.
I am no longer on this side but not yet on the other; I am in between – it’s difficult. But I am still capable of controlling what these people are doing…. At any rate, they have no right to do whatever they want with Sri Aurobindo’s books. And as for Satprem’s books, I had said that he gave them to me personally…
(Satprem:) Yes. [[In a letter to Mother dated June 13, a month earlier, I wrote, "My royalties from all the countries of the world have always been given to you to the last cent, but I would like to make sure that my royalties from India are also given to you directly and personally, and not lost in corporate accounts..." ]]
… and that they were under my personal control; but "under my control" doesn’t mean they have a free hand!
(Andre:) Yes, Mother, that’s right…. I’ll tell you frankly what
bothers me. What bothers me is that I know from experience
that you’re always right because you always see things from a
higher plane than we. Also I know from experience that even if
at the time I feel you say something that….
(Mother laughs)
… that doesn’t match my own thinking, well, you’re still right.
And that’s why I have a lot of trouble being "combative.
But don’t you know! I don’t "think," mon petit!
Well, yes, Mother, that’s the point!
Exactly.
(Satprem to Mother:) Yes, but you do need human instruments
to do things, don’t you? …
Yes, yes.
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And there are instruments like Andre who are trustworthy and
can do certain things for you.
But, you see, he himself says he isn’t combative!
(Satprem:) Yes, that’s right! [general laughter]
There you are.
(Andre:) For instance, you see, when M. (and I believe he’s being
very honest in that case), when M. tells You how miserable he
is, how everybody is after him, how everybody gives him a bad
time….
Oh, M. is in a state…. He’s like this (gesture like a wet towel).
Yes, precisely! So you really hesitate being combative with him.
But that’s no reason why he should…. It would be much better to be frank with him, tell him exactly what we expect from him.
(Satprem:) Yes, that’s right.
And put it in writing. And I’ll tell him that I WANT to know.
(Satprem:) Yes, we have to put it down in a few lines on paper.
(Andre to Satprem:) Yes, what you did for your books was very
good.
And if he doesn’t comply, he’ll be putting himself in the wrong – but I think he will. (To Andre:) You don’t understand?
(Andre, reluctantly:) All right, I’ll draft a note and discuss it with you.
(Satprem:) Ask the same for Sri Aurobindo’s books: what are
their production and their distribution? And they must keep
you informed of reprints, etc.
Yes. That’s right.
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(Andre:) And inform you in writing, otherwise….
Yes, not verbally.
(Andre:) They must supply a written statement, because he
always does everything verbally.
Yes, I demand a written statement. I want a detailed and accurate report from him. A complete and genuine statement of what they do.
(Satprem:) M. and SABDA, both of them, isn’t it.
Yes.
(Andre:) Actually SABDA is the most….
Yes, SABDA is….
(Satprem:) That’s where the falsehood lies.
SABDA is far more difficult.
(Satprem:) Yes, exactly.
He’s become…. B.’s mind is … (twisted gesture).
(Andre:) Yes, THERE is the knot, because … (how to put this?) that’s where they conceal the most.
Both of you must put this very clearly in writing, and I’ll sign it. I’ll have to write something myself, so that it doesn’t look like a mere signature.
(Satprem:) It can all be said in a few lines.
Yes, it need not be long. I want Satprem to be present when I sign it.
(Satprem) Oh, that isn’t necessary at all, Mother!
I prefer it that way.
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(Satprem:) All right! As you like [laughter].
So settle it among yourselves, prepare a text and come to have me sign it when it’s ready.
(Satprem:) This very evening.
Tomorrow is what day?
(Satprem:) This evening itself, Mother, it’s only a few lines.
Today is Andre’s day, so you will come too.
(Satprem:) Yes, well come together.
(To Andre:) Do you say yes?
(Andre, resignedly:) I say yes! [laughter]
(Satprem:) It will be settled once and for all.
But you shouldn’t at all think that…. (Turning towards Andre) You’re doing your best – you said you were afraid of going against my thinking….
(Andre:) Yes.
But, mon petit, you’ve got to understand!!
(silence)
I can’t explain it in words, you wouldn’t understand. I don’t even know how to express it…. I just know that even mistakes (what we call "mistakes") and difficulties are the result of the manifestation of the divine Consciousness helping us to progress towards the future perfection through … (what’s the word?) through continuous molding. That’s what I see. And that’s why….
(Satprem, aside to Andre:) … We mustn’t be afraid of making
mistakes.
(Andre:) Yes, we mustn’t be afraid of mistakes.
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Each one has a role and plays his part.
(Satprem, aside to Andre:) We mustn’t be afraid of our own
truth, Andre.
The only important thing is to mix as little personal ego as possible with the divine vision. That’s all.
(Andre:) Yes, right.
(silence)
It’s difficult, I can’t speak. But it’s so wonderful when you see it! But I can’t speak.
When I can say exactly how it is, then I’ll say it…. Not quite yet.
You see, the sensation of my body is … as if I were as big as the world and holding everything in my arms, truly the way a Mother holds her children – except it’s a hundred times better than that! But that’s it, that’s how I live.
I can’t explain…. Later.
Later.
All right, so prepare that text. I’ll see you both this evening.
(To Andre:) Mon petit, I KNOW the truth of things, but I am powerless to express it. I can’t say it just because I don’t have the power of expression. But do as I said.
(Satprem:) Yes, Mother, certainly!
(Andre goes out)
Mon petit… [[As was to expected, all this conversation and the instructions signed by Mother came to naught: the businessmen went on with their business as before. The only result was to spark angry reactions, which fell on Mother, and on Satprem ... in time. ]]
(Mother gives Satprem
a kiss on the forehead)
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