Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1937
Did your remark “people withdraw into themselves” carry a suggestion that “personal touch” is not necessary or essential?...
It is not essential – the inner touch is the essential thing. But it can be of immense help if properly received. For certain things it is essential but these certain things nobody yet is ready for.
Some people believe that whatever is necessary can be had through meditation or otherwise.
Whatever is necessary for the inner being, yes.
As a matter of fact, plenty of people are glad as they can now do whatever they please.
But there was never any necessity for such people coming to the Pranam! It is not obligatory.
I know from my own experience that we have abused the Pranam... Even then I believe very strongly that there is something very great in the physical touch of the Mother, and one can’t afford to lose it under any circumstance; of course one must have the right attitude.
That is it. The Pranam (like the soup in the evening before) has been very badly misused. What is the Pranam for? That people 
might receive in the most direct and integral way – a way that includes the physical consciousness and makes it a channel – what the Mother could give them and they were ready for. Instead people sit as if at a court reception noting what the Mother does (and generally misobserving), making inferences, gossiping afterwards as to her attitude to this or that person, who is the more favoured, who is less favoured – as if the Mother were doling out her favour or disfavour or appreciations or disapprovals there, just as courtiers in a court might do. What an utterly unspiritual attitude. How can the Mother’s work be truly done in such an atmosphere? How can there be the right reception? Naturally it reacts on the sadhak, creates any amount of misconception, wrong feelings etc. – creates an open door for the suggestions of the Adversary who delights in falsehood and administers plenty of it to the minds of the sadhaks. This apart from the fact that many throw all sorts of undesirable things on the Mother through the Pranam. The whole thing tends to become a routine, even where there are not these reactions. Some of course profit, those who can keep something of the right attitude. If there were the right attitude in all, well by this time things would have gone very far towards the spiritual goal.
Some people, especially ladies, missed the Mother when she withdrew from the Pranam. I didn’t miss her much, why? Is it because my psychic is not very awake?
Or perhaps because the physical consciousness is obscure and the psychic not prominent enough.
There are others quite sincere who like the meditation instead of the Pranam.
Yes, there are some who say they profit much by it.
Are they withdrawing into themselves and getting the Mother there?
They are getting something at any rate.
What’s the right attitude? To be psychically depressed, because Mother is not coming or to try to get her within?
Psychic depression (a queer phrase – you mean vital, I suppose) can help no one. To try to receive within is always the true thing, whether through meditation or pranam.
Can one pray for the Divine? Praying for the Divine to the Divine, not a contradiction?
The Divine Himself can pray to the Divine. There is no contradiction.
I am surprised to hear that even “prognostications” are very harmful. I thought these beliefs were just superstitions.
Prognostications of that kind should not be lightly thought or spoken – especially in the case of the Mother – in other cases, even if there is a possibility or probability, they should be kept confidential from the person affected, unless it is necessary to inform. This is because of the large part played by state of consciousness and suggestion in illness. I shall I suppose one day send you the Presse Médicale with my note (the journal is with me and I shall send it to you, it is no longer with Pavitra) and that will perhaps show the basis.
Ptosis means drooping of the upper eyelid by a paralysis temporary or otherwise.
But, confound it, there is nothing of the kind. The drooping of the eyelid was quite voluntary.
[In J’s poem:] What is the blue bird? Aspiration for the Divine?
The Blue Bird is always a symbol of aspiration towards something Beyond.