Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1. 1934

Letter ID: 1231

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

December 25, 1934

Here am I, with all my doubts and questionings about work vanished, an absolute slave of Thine, for whatever work you choose to throw me in: from the cleaning of the sewage to anything honourable and respectable...

But please tell me, is it because of the lack of right attitude that I haven’t yet had any experience at work?

Yes.

I read somewhere that only when one has developed a strong hatred towards lower troubles one can conquer them.

That is not true. Indifference is sufficient.

Do you think learning sitar will be useful for me?

I don’t see much use in sitarring – but if you do!

Your German has become Greek to me, Sir! It is illegible. Dilip wants to know if one is “Teufel” meaning “fiend”.

[The words in italics are mine. Sri Aurobindo filled in the gaps.]

These are swearings in German. Donner wetter (thundering weather!)

Tausend Teufel! (thousand devils = French “Mille diables!”)