Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part Two. Letters of Historical Interest
3. Other Letters on Yoga and
Practical Life 1921–1938
On Yoga and Fund-raising for the Ashram, 1921–1938
To Durgadas Shett [17]1
Durgadas
I received your letter from Dehradun later than the day
you had fixed for your departure, so I had to wire to ascertain if by any chance
you were still there. Your frequent changes of address have stood in the way of
any correspondence from here. It is impossible for me to write promptly and by
the time I have written, you have generally moved away with no precise
indication of the new address. I had sent you a money order for Rs 100 and a
letter to Benares, but they were crossed by your letter announcing your
departure and came back to me.
I had always wished to send you money for your
expenses, but I did not know what you needed and it is difficult for me to fix
anything,– that was why I had asked you. I have sent Rs 100. I do not know if Rs
50 a month would be sufficient; if it is not, you must not hesitate to tell me.
You can also let me know the amount you owe to your friends so that I may remit
the sum to you. All that is simply a matter of clear understanding and
arrangement.
I am less clear as to the place where you should stay.
If the atmosphere of the Asram were less troubled and there was less illness and
attacks of turbulent forces, I would ask you to 
come and stay here. But considering your bad health and the sensitiveness and
delicacy of your vital nature, I hesitate to do so, because I do not know
whether you would be able vitally and physically to be at ease amidst this
fierce struggle of forces on the physical and lower vital plane. On the other
hand I am not fixed as to what climate or surroundings would suit you elsewhere
or of any place where you could have what is necessary for me. If you could let
me have some information as to possible places and their circumstances, it would
be easier for me to decide.
You need not think that I am likely to abandon you or
withdraw my spiritual and practical support for any reason or that I find any
fault with you. You may be sure of my help and blessings always. In the inner
being you know that I am with you, in the outer life I hope that developments
will soon take place which will make it possible for the nearness to be
externally realisable.
Sri Aurobindo