Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
5. On Three Works of the Mother
In Conversations the Mother says about the nervous envelope: “Depression and discouragement have a very adverse effect; they cut out holes in it, as it were, in its very stuff, render it weak and unresisting and open to hostile attacks an easy passage” [p. 89]. In one sense this means that a man with goodwill should not discourage anyone from his wrong ideas, impulses or movements. There is also the way of keeping silent when dealing with such a person – but even that sometimes hurts him more than a point-blank discouragement.
The knowledge about the bad effect of depression is meant for the sadhak to learn to avoid these things. He cannot expect people to flatter his failures or mistakes or indulge his foibles merely because he has the silly habit of indulging in depression and hurting his nervous envelope if that is done. To keep himself free from depression is his business, not that of others. For instance some people have the habit of getting into depression if the Mother does not comply with their desires – it does not follow that the Mother must comply with their desires in order to keep them jolly – they must learn to get rid of this habit of mind. So with people’s want of encouragement or praise for all they do. One can be silent or non-intervening, but if even that depresses them, it is their own fault and nobody else’s.
Would the bad effects of depression and discouragement indicated by the Mother happen in ordinary life also?
Of course, it is the same in ordinary life – depression is always hurtful. But in sadhana it is more serious because it becomes a strong obstacle to the smooth and rapid progress towards the goal.
18 July 1936