Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1937

Letter ID: 1957

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

June 1, 1937

“Sitting alone under the shade of the tree

Wrapt in a hushed profundity of night...”

A tree gives shade in the day – here it is night when all is shade! Please change.

I was struck by R’s sonnet! By Jove, looks like a sheer genii – I mean genius, what?

Perhaps both – genii producing genius.

[The following question was put by J:]

What is the best way to get to the source of epic poetry and have it securely established?

One has to grow into it – there is no other way. Once the epic inspiration has opened, this growth is possible and, if the inspiration is sustained, fairly certain.

Arjava has fever again. He thinks it is due to indigestion. I hear that he takes some syrup cocoa sanctioned and sent by Mother. When I asked him about his diet, he didn’t mention it. Too much sugar won’t do, I think, as already he can’t even digest D.R. vegetables.

There is no sugar put in – the sweetness is that of concentrated cocoa. Mother told him he could take it thrice a day; but it is possible he takes too much of the syrup at a time. The usual rule is to take a little syrup with much water. He is exhausting a bottle in 4 days which is immensely rapid. Certainly too much sweet syrup may not be good for the damaged liver.