November 1971

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10. November 1971 – Turning against the Divine

There’s something interesting, I don’t know if you know this. The government of Orissa before was completely for Sri Aurobindo, and they were very faithful. Then there was a terrible cyclone that came straight at them, but it was deflected, went to Bengal [East-Pakistan] instead and killed an enormous number of people (that was last year, I think). Then, the government of Orissa changed. They’ve become aggressive, dark, just the opposite. They’ve turned against Sri Aurobindo. And this time, a few days ago, the cyclone struck and did terrible damage…

Some have understood.

On the other hand, naturally, some say, “How come? Last time you protected us and this time…” — they don’t understand. But those who understand have very clearly seen the difference.

There are interesting things. But you have the feeling of being, you know (gesture of instability), on the edge of a cliff — you mustn’t make a single false step.

As if the Consciousness were putting pressure on circumstances so they become more definite and clear. Only, then, it’s the end of peace and tranquility.

But also, under that pressure, the consciousness [Mother’s physical consciousness] is becoming clearer and clearer, and realizes how much work we have to do for everything in the being to be in tune with the Divine alone, oh!… One sees — sometimes I spend almost the whole night seeing all the things that have to change their attitude, things you thought were fine, which you didn’t worry about. Now you can see. Compared with what should be, there remains so much to be done…

13. November 1971 – Let the Power flow

It’s really interesting, it’s as if my body were a battlefield between what obstinately wants to stay and what wants to take its place. There are such marvelous moments — glorious moments — and then, a second later, a minute later, such a violent attack! It’s like that. And my body is… For food, for instance, there are times when I eat without even noticing I am eating, except that everything tastes delicious; and then a second later, I can’t swallow a thing! It’s like this (gesture of tugging from one side or the other). So the only solution I have is to be as QUIET as possible. As soon as I am quiet, it feels better. It’s as if… All of a sudden you have the impression that you are about to die, and a minute later, it’s… it’s eternity. Really an extraordinary experience. Extraordinary. Sometimes everything, everything seems so foggy, dark — there’s no hope, no possibility of seeing clearly — and a minute later, everything becomes clear.

And at the moment, it’s like this (swinging gesture). It’s only because my body has faith that — that it can go on.

It’s quite interesting.

When you let the Power flow through without diminishing or distorting it or… it’s unbelievable! Unbelievably powerful. And a minute later, you feel that the world is so dark and distorted that it’s hopeless. Although perhaps there’s — perhaps — a small beginning of improvement in the proportion.

17. November 1971 – Human versus New Consciousness

I don’t know how to explain it… The ordinary human consciousness, even in people who are broad-minded and all that, is always at the center, and things are like this (gesture converging from all sides toward a center), you understand. Things exist (words reduce everything), things exist in relation to a center. While here… (Mother drops a multitude of points throughout space).

Yes, that’s what expresses it the best, I think: in the ordinary human consciousness, you’re at one point and everything exists in its relation to that point of consciousness (same star-shaped gesture). While now, the point no longer exists, so things are self-existent. The point is no longer the source. That’s the closest (that’s not it, but…). You see, my consciousness is IN things — it isn’t “something that receives” (it’s much better than that, but I don’t know how to put it into words).

It’s better than that because it isn’t just “in things”: it’s in “something” which is in things and which… moves them.

I could be flowery; I could say (but that’s not it): it’s no longer one being among other beings, it’s… it’s the Divine in everything. But that’s not the way I feel it. It’s what moves things or what is conscious in things. “What is conscious”… It isn’t exactly “governs” because the word “govern” doesn’t convey the right sense — “animates” (not that either, all those words reduce and materialize the experience).

Evidently, it’s a matter of consciousness, but not consciousness as human beings ordinarily have: it’s the QUALITY of the consciousness that has changed.

There’s a phenomenon, for example (among many others), a curious phenomenon: when I am like that, the consciousness in things, in movements, in life, and I eat lunch, the food is… there’s no effort… (Mother remains silent). It’s too difficult to say… I don’t feel “I” am eating, you see, so I am not aware of putting things in my mouth and having to swallow them and…

I can’t say, but the fact is like this: in the new consciousness, I eat very easily, without noticing it, and everything goes very well; as soon as I become conscious in the old consciousness, which means eating, tasting the food, putting it in my mouth — it’s difficult! I have all the trouble in the world not to swallow wrong.

It’s really something new because I don’t know how to describe it.

But then it’s extremely concrete: when I am in that consciousness, my whole lunch is taken effortlessly, without any difficulty; I am given food, I swallow and I don’t notice… not that I don’t notice it (I have taste, I have everything), but the position is different.

No, it’s something which is at once in me and IN THE FOOD, which tastes and takes, but is no longer… it’s no longer the way it was before, that’s all I can say.

It’s really new.

And it’s particularly noticeable for food, because when I am in that consciousness — which comes as soon as I don’t do anything, as soon as I sit quietly — it isn’t like something that “comes in” (gesture toward a center), it’s like something (expanding gesture)… which develops, which is free to develop. Well then — then it’s very good. But if I am in the ordinary consciousness and I eat (it’s “time” for a meal), oh, it’s so difficult that I feel it’s going to be impossible to eat anything! And in the other case, it goes down without my even noticing it. And yet I am conscious of what I am eating.

But what I am saying now isn’t it. It’s something else… You see, the consciousness is still like this (gesture of oscillating from one side to the other). Both are there. So… But then I can’t find a way to make myself understood, because new words would have to be invented.

That’s increasing from day to day.

It’s like at night: I don’t sleep and I am not awake; I go into a state in which I don’t sleep at all — yet I am not awake. And I don’t know how to describe what it is. And when it’s normal, it could… it can last indefinitely, there’s no sense of time or fatigue or duration. When the old consciousness comes back, there’s almost unbearable suffering: I am suffocating or I can’t breathe, or it’s a consciousness which shouldn’t be there anymore. So quite naturally and effortlessly, I am in the new state, but if I am drawn into the old consciousness by circumstances, it becomes almost unbearable. You see. And it results in pains in the body or… a body malfunction. But when I enter the new consciousness, everything takes place quite… without my even noticing it and without any effort.

That’s all I can say for the moment.

You see, my body is full of pains and malfunctions, but as soon as I go into that state (vast, peaceful gesture) everything is done — time doesn’t exist anymore. Time is endless in the old consciousness, while it doesn’t exist in this one. I don’t know how to describe it.

Being flowery, I would say: the old consciousness is like… it’s death, it’s as if you were going to die any minute: you suffer, you… it’s the consciousness that leads to death. And the other one (vast, immutable, smiling gesture) is life… peaceful life, eternal life. Yes, that’s it.

But it’s not that, you follow, these are just words.

20. November 1971 – MESSAGES

“We are at a moment of transition in the history of the earth. It is a moment only in terms of the eternity of time. But compared to human life this moment is long. Matter is in the process of changing to prepare for a new manifestation; but the human body is not sufficiently plastic and offers resistance. This is why the number of incomprehensible disorders and diseases is increasing and becoming a problem for medical science.”

“The remedy lies in union with the divine forces which are at work and in a confident and quiet receptivity that facilitates the process.” (November 18, 1971)

“Those who want to progress have an exceptional chance; because the transformation begins by opening the consciousness to the working of the new forces; and thus individuals have a unique and marvelous opportunity to open to the divine influence.” (November 20, 1971)

27. November 1971 – As the Divine sees the World

And then this (Mother hands another paper). This is an experience I had yesterday… (Mother smiles with her eyes closed). All of a sudden I saw — I saw the world in another way. For a moment, all of a sudden I saw as… as the Divine sees the world, you understand? There was no longer the human vision. And I saw something so marvelous… It was so marvelous I can’t describe it. Then slowly the human consciousness came back and… oh! (Mother takes her forehead in her hands)

For a few moments I saw the world as the Divine sees it. It’s… There are no words, it’s inexpressible. Then I understood. Everything became clear, clear, clear…

You remember, I had told you that the Divine wanted the individual consciousness to have the experience of the Divine; well that was it. That was it, it was the individual consciousness (since I became conscious of it) seeing the world… All of a sudden the world became what it is for the Divine… It is indescribable.

Obviously it has to begin with the consciousness, and afterwards, little by little, things will become such, meaning, become aware of themselves such as the Divine is aware of them.

27. November 1971 – Sri Aurobindo‘s Message

Basically what would be good is to say, “Sri Aurobindo came to tell the world the beauty of the future to come.” And then, explain it.

“He came to give — not a hope: a certitude of the splendor towards which the world is moving…” That’s exactly all the experiences I’ve had recently. And I see Sri Aurobindo’s letters, that’s what he says. “The world is not an unhappy accident, it is a marvel moving towards its expression.”

And then give all the quotations from Sri Aurobindo on the subject.

I think that’s what the world most needs now, a word that gives the sense of what is to be realized — of what will be realized. And then, to awaken in each one the desire to collaborate.

To understand oneself and transmit it to others.

The world needs an assurance of beauty — of the future beauty. And Sri Aurobindo gave the assurance.