themselves victims on the sacred altar of Science, so that Valle can say with self-satisfaction “Ah ha! the Asram has been vaccinated.”Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1937
Letter ID: 1905
Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar
April 9, 1937
“Creating language from the sleep of God”, how can one do that?
From where else are you going to do it? The Word comes out of the Silence. I have myself written about Inspiration bringing “thoughts Hewn from the silence of the Ineffable.”1 If anybody can’t understand, tant pis pour lui2.
I have fallen into the old pit of lack of enthusiasm. Source exhausted, it appears!
Source of enthusiasm? The source of poetry seems to be there, all right.
The vaccination business has been now fixed. If we do only . 4 persons, it will take too long. (Can’t be finished before Gaffiero goes in May.) Suppose, after seeing the reaction, if any, of the fellows done, we increase the number to 10 – half from B.S. and half domestic, or half domestic and half sadhaks?
Workmen not to be touched till the roof is finished – on Tuesday. Then you can have 4 + 4 servants and workmen, + 2 sadhaks. But get a list of sadhaks done (in consultation with Amrita) and we will mark off those who must not be poisoned. For the rest you will have to do those whom you can induce to make themselves victims on the sacred altar of Science, so that Valle can say with self-satisfaction “Ah ha! the Asram has been vaccinated.”
How funny that Valle acceded to Pavitra and was an adamantine rock to me!
Valle said it was only out of compassion for you because you said you knew nothing about it and were so much at sea! He did not put it in that figurative language but it was the purport of his plea.
I am afraid D [a child] has obstinate constipation. I am damned, for, except enema, castor-oil is the drug for children in our “Science”.
All “science” does not recommend castor-oil for children – I think it is a nineteenth century fad which has prolonged itself. The Mother’s “children’s doctor” told her it should not be done – also in her own case when a child the doctors peremptorily stopped it on the ground that it spoiled the stomach and liver. I suppose you will say doctors disagree? They do! When K’s child reached Madras, the first doctor said “Stop mother’s milk for three days”, the second said “Mother’s milk to be taken at once, at once!” So, sir. Anyhow for D Mother proposes diet first – small bananas Pavitra will give, very good for constipation – papaiya if available in the garden. Also as he is pimply, cocoanut water on an empty stomach. Afterwards we can see if medicine is necessary.
1 SABCL, vol. 28, Savitri, Book I, Canto 3, p. 41.
2 So much the worse for him.