Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1937

Letter ID: 1837

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

January 29, 1937

I knew that it meant something, but not palpably enough to let you in. It was palpable to Nolini who said moreover that it reminded him of Baudelaire.

A very big compliment, but I don’t know that the parallel can be enforced very far.

I have always said that feeling is not enough, but every time you stopped me, saying that mystic poems have to be felt, lived etc., and not understood. Well?

As I say, feeling or living is quite enough, if there is something to feel or live. But in surrealism the thing to be felt is itself deliberately incoherent.

You have said that your province doesn’t go so far. How then does the surrealist intervene between your Force and my transcription unless you want him to do so?

The Surrealist can intervene anywhere, provided the logical mind consents to be a little drowsy.

This sort of thing has opened suddenly in me, as you know. I think after your surrealistic poem you have passed it on to me.

It may be, but my surrealistic poem was clarity itself compared with this technique.

You must be having additional work now. So shall we stop sending poems?

Well, I don’t know. If they are not too many conundrums –

When there is an operation in the hospital, my services are required and it goes on sometimes till 11 a.m. In that case I may miss meditation. What should I do?

I suppose it happens only once in a way? or is it frequent or the rule?

I hear Mother’s ailment is “red eye”. It may be then conjunctivitis or even iritis.

It is neither.

Medical help no good for the Divine?

Medicines no use for this even if Mother would take them – only rest as complete as possible, especially from reading and writing or any strain of the eye.