July 6, 1968
(Mother is unwell. Still, she has recorded her "Message
on India’s Unity" for All India Radio.)
What do you have to say?
You’re tired.
No, oh … it’s a long affair.
The last time you came, I had a cold; it didn’t even last for a day: the following night, it was over. But it has hastened the movement of transformation, so it’s become difficult.
This whole area, here and here (Mother points to her throat, chest, etc.) was caught…. Generally it takes several days.
And this morning, I don’t know – I think I know why: it’s because the body itself is closely connected to all those who call with a lot of force, and ignorant as it is, it suffers the consequences. These last few days, there have been three or four cases, and I saw in the body a kind of imitation…. It hasn’t yet learned to instantly transform the vibration.
So there have been two or three cases (two cases were very clear), and this morning, this stupid body of mine started running out of breath: "Too, too fast, too fast…." So it had to be kept still (it started running a temperature) and stop eating. But I had told it (I saw it came because of someone who’s very ill; a combination of all kinds of things at the same time), during the night I had said to it that there was this work to be done [the radio
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recording], and so there was no question of flinching. So then, to be able to do it, it did away with all the rest – it didn’t arrange flowers, didn’t take its breakfast and so on.
The cold, too, came from someone (I have no opportunity to catch cold), it was from someone. I know who it is, but …
This is how it is: either change or dissolve.
It would be only too pleased, of course, it’s not refusing, it’s willing, eagerly willing, but at times things go very fast and it’s difficult.
(long silence)
Did you have something to say?
I have news of P.L.
Ah!
It’s a whole series of things. First there’s a note from J. who’s
received a letter from P.L.; she writes this to me: “P.L. is fine.
Msgr. R. told him he had ‘discovered another world through
your book….’[[Sri Aurobindo or the Adventure of Consciousness. ]] He
has come into contact with Mother. He made P.L. see the importance of staying in this milieu for some
more time if they want to transform it….
(Mother opens her eyes wide) Oh! …
“… P.L. feels totally guided by Mother; as soon as his work is
over, he isolates himself to study and meditate on The Life
Divine….” Another thing: P.L. has sent the letter Msgr. R. had
left for his arrival at Rome; in that letter, among other things,
the Monsignor wrote P.L.: "I also want to inform you that
I revealed to his Eminence [the cardinal of France], under
the seal of secrecy, that you were in an Ashram in India. His
reaction was excellent and he entirely approves of you."
Bah!
Finally, a letter from P.L. telling the story: “I somewhat
restrained myself from writing to you and telling you about
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my new situation, which might have been precipitated at any
moment. On my return, the Vatican adopted a dual policy:
threats on one hand, and on the other, promotions and offers of
fine situations. I had been absent from Rome since December 9:
what strange illness could last such a long time? There was
talk of subjecting me to a medical examination by three phys
icians, demanding the names of the clinics [[P.L. had pleaded some "psychological" illness. ]] visited, and so forth.
I consulted His Eminence and Msgr. R. Being expelled by the
application of the rule suited no one neither my family, nor the
Cardinal himself. So the solution was to take up my new post,
assuring them that I had fully recovered: thus the investiga
tions stopped; I was no longer prosecuted, my case was shelved.
No doubt, curiosity and suspicion haven’t been allayed, but my
life has gone back to routine, and after some time everyone will
forget. I will see the Pope next month, and I may accompany
him in his journey to Colombia at the end of August – I will
keep you informed. There is still the difficulty of his health
which may prevent the journey…. All that I have just told
you is quite ‘external’ to myself and I hardly participate in it;
I’d rather write about my consciousness: it hasn’t changed – it
has remained fastened to Mother’s influence. I feel her protec
tion; everything is easy, for she is with me; she gives me the
suitable answer. Like a mantra, I repeat, “Oh, Mother, with
your help is anything impossible?” More than that, the joy she
has put in my heart remains unshakable. My thought flies away
towards her, full of gratitude. Msgr. R. told His Eminence I had
been at the Ashram: the Cardinal is delighted. R. has finished
reading your book: in his mass he has preached Aurobindo’s
ideas. He told me he has come into contact with Mother: he is
going to write to her, and later will go and see her. He has
accepted Aurobindo’s message as a solution for the world. I
must still tell you the joy the telegram gave me: to Mother all
my gratitude."
(Mother goes into
a long contemplation)
It’s good…. It’s good.
It’s absolutely true that I am with him. Absolutely true. And you remember, I told you that experience, that very strong thing I had
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felt: like a great thing beginning, a Beginning….[[A page in the history of the world has been turned, the conversion of all of Christendom to the new Truth (Agenda of April 3, 1968). ]] It seems to be true.
It’s going to be a big step for the world – for the entire world.
Excellent.
I seem to feel he’d like a confirmation from you that he should
stay there for the work.
Oh, yes! It’s good that way, he must stay and do his work. He must stay. And when I say, “It’s very good,” it means EVERYTHING is very good. He is quite equal to the situation. It’s very good.
It’s the little personality abdicating its own well-being for the general work, and that’s very good, it makes you move forward very fast.
It’s very good. At all events, it’s very good.
His response is far superior to what I expected.
I have a strong feeling of those marvelous moments of the divine Grace…. All one wants is to keep quiet and worship, that’s all. [[A few days later, P.L. sent Mother a telegram asking for her protection, as he had received an "order from above" to undergo a Collegiate medical examination presided over by the Pope's physician. Thus the situation seemed to have been reversed. Mother's answer was: "The best protection is an unshakable faith in the divine Grace." ]]
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