Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1936

Letter ID: 1653

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

June 19, 1936

My friend J’s letter – he hears your voice, feels your Power acting, his mind and vital free from sex. Is it possible that one hasn’t to struggle much for purification? Force does everything?

It is quite possible if the psychic being takes the lead or is active – not so easy otherwise.

How was this conquest done so easily considering that he is a married man, having a wife not very spiritually inclined?

That is not the only “married man” instance.

While we who are here, in this atmosphere, find it so very difficult, though completely debarred from sex-life.

In his case, as it seems from what he writes, the mind decisively freed itself first. The difficulty with most is that the mind in parts lends itself to the vital under one colour or another.

He actually says that a personal effort is only a small or ineffective help!

Of course – personal effort without the supporting Force can do only a little, slowly, with much labour.

When I suffer, I don’t see any Force coming and fighting my battle. I am paralysed for a time with pain etc., then the suffering disappears. I believe your Force works it out, but I want to feel, know and see.

That is the difficulty. A full faith however can command the effects of the Force even without being conscious of the action of the Force.

Lastly, he has raised some points which invite your answers, if not tonight, some night.

I don’t know when, for his questions and subjects are of great amplitude.

P has two boils on a buttock which are stationary. She is constipated and feverish. I asked her to take enema or medicine, she will wait for permission, she says.

Mother has not only given permission but order – but she is not going to latrine, not taking enema, because she fears the pain caused by the boil in evacuation!

R wants Amal, Ambu, Romen – all three his patients – to be weighed from time to time. Will you take Ambu to the hospital tomorrow and arrange to have it done and also arrange for general permission so that whenever three or any of them go for the purpose, they may be allowed?