To
V. Chandrasekharam [1]1Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part Two. Letters of Historical Interest
2.Early Letters on Yoga and the Spiritual Life 1911–1928
To People in India, 1914–1926
To
V. Chandrasekharam [1]1
Pondicherry
13th July 1920
Dear Chandrashekhar,
I have not been able to write to you before for want of time – a thing of which I have always a very short supply nowadays. I hope that your illness has “improved” – in the right way – by this time; if not, please write and keep us informed of your state of health. Above all, do not harbour that idea of an unfit body – all suggestions of that kind are a subtle attack on the will to siddhi and especially dangerous in physical matters. It has been cropping up in several people who are doing the Yoga and the first business is to expel it bag and baggage. Appearances and facts may be all in its favour, but the first condition of success for the Yogin and indeed for anybody who wants to do anything great or unusual is to be superior to facts and disbelieve in appearances. Will to be free from disease, however formidable, many-faced or constant its attacks, and repel all contrary suggestions.
It is now precisely in this physical field that I am getting most obstruction nowadays. I have myself been sporting a choice kind of cough for the last month or so which took up its lodgings in my throat and cheerfully promised to be my companion for the longest possible period it could manage of my physical existence; and though ill received and constantly discouraged, it is still hanging about the premises. In other matters I progress with and in spite of the customary obstructions, much faster than at any previous period of my Yoga. Nothing absolutely new – I am simply going on developing to a higher degree the vijnana and turning other things into something of its substance.
It is bad that you do not find things favourable for
your own Yoga. In case you find it too difficult there, why not try another
period here? This time there would be no inconveniences. Our friends the R-s had intended to ask you to stay with them; they were
only waiting to get things into order and were sorry you went away suddenly
before they could put it to you. Another time the arrangement could be made, and
I think there would be no objection on your side. I think you said something to
someone about being here for the 15th
August. Was that only an idea, an intention or a resolution?
Please write sometimes about your health and your Yoga.
Yours
Aurobindo Ghose
1 Veluri Chandrasekharam (1896–1964) took his B.A. from Madras University, standing first in his class in philosophy. He often visited Pondicherry during the early 1920s, reading the Veda and practising yoga under Sri Aurobindo’s guidance. In 1928 he returned to his village in Andhra Pradesh, where he passed the remainder of his life.