Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Kamala’s Correspondence with
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother

Fragment ID: 15770

(this fragment is largest or earliest found passage)

Sri Aurobindo — Kamala Amin

October 2, 1932

Mother,

What is the meaning of the lotus in the water and the swan near the lotus?

The lotus is the offering of the consciousness, the swan is the soul.

Mother,

Last night I saw a dream. Mother put a big packet of saffron (kumkum) in my hand.

What is the symbolic meaning of saffron (kumkum)?

Yes. It means purification – so if it has any significance, it can only mean that the Mother gave you a power of purification to use.

Mother,

Last night I saw a dream. There was a big city near a seashore, but it was on a great height above sea level and in this city there were many bungalows. The bungalows were far apart and the population scanty (in proportion to the bungalows or land). But there was no light in the city. It was dark everywhere. In this city, I had to go from one bungalow to another. One bungalow was very far, I was ready to go but I had much luggage with me. So 1 was confused about what to do with the luggage. At last, a cart driver came near me and said, “Ben, I shall take you wherever you want to go, but what will you pay me?” I agreed to pay him eight annas. An ox was joined to the cart and a small boy started to drive it. The cart was as small as the boy. The reins of the ox were in his hands, but he was carelessly driving and allowed the cart to go anywhere. I felt as if he would throw me in the sea. As the careless driving happened repeatedly, I took the reins in my hand and bringing the cart on to the road I gave the reins to the boy. I had to do this very often. After this, I woke up from my sleep.

Mother, what is the meaning of going from one bungalow to another? And why was there darkness in the city? What is the meaning of the cart and why did the little boy drive so carelessly? I humbly pray at your lotus feet to let me know the significance.

The town represents the physical consciousness in which there is no light. The boy represents a force or a person who wants to take you away from your safe place high above the sea level. Everything about him is small and inefficient – he does not know how to drive and would throw you into a great calamity (falling into the pits) – it is not something that will happen, but something that would or might happen, if you allowed yourself to make the change. It is a repetition in other forms of the meaning of your dreams about the woman in the Meditation House.

Sri Aurobindo