June 11, 1969

(Following a telegram from PL. announcing that he has been

"excluded from the retinue" accompanying the Pope to

the Geneva assembly.)

It seems to me to be a conflict between the Pope and the cardinals .... Have you got his letter?

Not yet. He simply says he has been 'excluded.

(After a silence) A. has told me that the two preceding popes had made considerable changes. I know that one of the changes was to recognize that life on earth was "purgatory" .... And apparently that was so much ground down and twisted that it all disappeared! Nothing remained.

***

(Later, regarding a letter from the Raymonds, friends of Pavitra's

 and the architects who built "Golconde," the Ashram's

 guest house.)

Have you seen the Raymonds' letter? ... They've written a very sweet letter. In their letter, they write something I didn't know, which Pavitra had never told me; they say that when Pavitra put them in contact with here, it completely changed their lives, the aim of their lives and everything.

Raymond is a great architect. When they came here [[In 1937-38. ]] and built "Golconde," I asked Raymond to prepare the plan for the first Auroville I had conceived (that was when Sri Aurobindo was still alive), and it was magnificent! He didn't leave it here.

But it was an Auroville with, at the center, Sri Aurobindo's house (gesture on a hilltop). Sri Aurobindo was alive, so we had put him at the center.

(silence)

Pavitra has remained wholly conscious, independent. For instance, when I was read this very letter of the Raymonds, it was Pavitra

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 who listened!

And who had all the reactions .... It's very interesting. It's something quite unexpected .... There are times when I feel a slight inner duality, that is, for example, two reactions to one thing! It's quite funny.

He had an extraordinary goodwill! I realize he really had goodwill, and a sort of modest endurance - never a sense of wanting to pull things to himself ....

(Laughing) I know him better now!

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