Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Fragment ID: 15677

(this fragment is largest or earliest found passage)

Sri Aurobindo — Sahana Devi

August 22, 1937

Mother thinks that it is better to drop the cooking so long as you have no money for carrying it on. She will pay the dues for August, but for the future it will not be possible for her to give anything. If in future you can arrange for money, then you can go on but you shall do it only when you have money in hand, it is better not to take things in anticipation of money to come, for people can always change their mind about giving any farther.

If you wish to be free from people’s expectations and the sense of obligation, it is indeed best not to take from anybody; for the sense of claim will otherwise be there. Not that it will be entirely absent even if you take nothing, but you will not be bound any longer.

What you write about the singing is perfectly correct. You sing your best only when you forget yourself and let it come out from within without thinking of the need of excellence or the impression it may make. The should indeed disappear into the past,– it is only so that the inner singer can take her place.