WRITINGS BY THE MOTHER
© Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust

Mother,

While You were playing the organ, I had the feeling that the others were listening to the Mother playing the organ for me, and it made me feel proud. I understood, even at that moment, that it was a wrong feeling and I [old p. 64]didn't want it; but I don't know how to get rid of it.

Mother, I believe that if I stay all by myself, apart from everyone else, I will be very happy. I am very bad; I don't know when all these bad things will leave me.

Take pity on me.

You must not exaggerate. Certainly there are movements of vanity--rather childish besides--but they are not the only ones. I am quite sure that while you were listening to the music, you could also feel the pure and simple joy of the music for its own sake, and that when you are near me, you also feel the simple and sincere joy of a child near to its mother.

The nature is complex, and always the true and the false, the good and the bad are mixed together. It is very useful to see one's faults and weaknesses clearly, but one should not see only them, for that too would be one-sided. One should also be aware of what is good and true in the nature and give it all one's attention, so that this good and true side can grow and ultimately absorb the rest and transform the nature.

5 December 1932

Collected Works of The Mother, First Edition, Volume 16, pp. 63-64