Works of Sri Aurobindo

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Peace and Silence 

CALM

 

Be very careful to remain always calm and peaceful and let an integral equanimity establish itself more and more completely in your being. Do not allow your mind to be too active and to live in a turmoil, do not jump to conclusions from a superficial view of things; always take your time, concentrate and decide only in quietness.

 

Mother, for several days I have been suffering a lot. It is the inner being that suffers and always wants to unite with the divine consciousness but cannot because of the outer consciousness. Mother, really I am suffering.

 

You know that it is indispensable to be calm; you must try hard to become calm. Then in the calm, pray to Sri Aurobindo to give you the right consciousness; pray in all sincerity, with faith and trust. Your prayer will surely be granted one day.

 

Sometimes I become absolutely quiet, I speak to no one, but just remain within myself, only thinking of the Divine. Is it good to keep this state constantly?

 

It is an excellent state which one can keep quite easily, but it must be sincere; I mean, it should be not a mere appearance of calm but a real and deep calm which spontaneously keeps you silent.

 9 March 1933  

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The first step is perfect calm and equanimity.

 28 September 1937

You must learn to be calm and quiet even in the midst of difficulties. This is the way to overcome all obstacles.

 

Can “calm” give a solution to all problems?

 

Yes, but for this the calm must be perfect, in all the parts of the being, so that the power may express itself through it.

 1960

            So that the experience does not become dangerously distorted and painful, you must keep an absolute calm.

            It is only in peace and calm that the Divine Force expresses itself and acts.

 26 June 1967

            It is very good to have recovered the calm.

            It is in the calm that the body can increase its receptivity and gain the power to contain.

 

Do not confuse calm with inertia. Calm is self-possessed strength, quiet and conscious energy, mastery of the impulses, control over the unconscious reflexes. In work calm is the source of efficiency and an indispensable condition for perfection.  

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Increase the inner rest, it must become a rest always present even in the midst of the greatest activity and so steady that nothing has the power to shake it and then you will become a perfect instrument for the Manifestation.

 

QUIET

 

Surely to be quiet is not tamas. In fact it is only in quietness that the proper thing can be done. What I call quietness is to do work without being disturbed by anything and to observe everything without being disturbed by anything.

 

Be quiet. We have only to work patiently without being disturbed by anything and keep unshaken the faith in the inevitable Victory.

 

Quietness, quietness, a calm and concentrated strength, so quiet that nothing can shake it this is the indispensable basis for the integral realisation.

 

The more a person is quiet in front of all occurrences, equal in all circumstances, and keeps a perfect mastery of himself and remains peaceful in the presence of whatever happens, the more he has progressed towards the goal.

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In quietness you will feel that the divine force, help and protection are always with you.

 

At the hour of danger a perfect quietness is required.

 

When one remains perfectly quiet and without fear, nothing serious can happen.

 

The only thing you have to do is to remain quiet, undisturbed, solely turned towards the Divine; the rest is in His hands.

 17 July 1935

That is always the best thing to do. To keep quiet, open and call or wait for the descent.

 

Be quiet always, calm, peaceful, and let the Force work in your consciousness through the transparency of a perfect sincerity.

 6 June 1937

It is only in quietness and peace that one can know what is the best thing to do.

 3 November 1937

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The storm is only at the surface of the sea; in the depths all is quiet.

 28 May 1954

Mother,

I have come to a point when I do not seem to understand anything. I do not lack ideas or understanding in terms of words. What I lack is a sense of Reality, a force of Being and direction. It is not at all a happy state of affairs.

 

You told me all that last night between 10 and 11, and as you were somewhat restless, I told you, “First of all you must be quiet” The whole thing was very vivid and I appreciate the power of your thought but I insist on the necessity of being calm and quiet. It is indispensable.

With love and blessings.

 21 June 1962

Do not get agitated.

Keep quiet and everything will be all right.

Love and blessings.

 14 May 1967

It is in quietness, peace and silence that the spiritual forces act.

All agitation and excitement come from an adverse influence.

 February 1971

The true Power is always quiet. Restlessness, agitation, impatience are the sure signs of weakness and imperfection.

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Keep quiet, try to detach yourself and observe as a witness, to prevent all possibility of acting on impulse.

 

It is not in the outward circumstances that you must look for quietness, it is from inside yourself. Deep inside the being there is a peace that brings quietness in the whole being down to the body, if we allow it to do so.

            It is that peace you must seek and then you will get the quietness you wish for.

 

Quietness is always good and even indispensable for a true and lasting progress.

Blessings.

 21 October 1972

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