Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1937
Letter ID: 1907
Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar
April 11, 1937
You may read, if you like, my letter of 2.4.37. The first part of the letter hardly requires the answer you gave, as fortunately I have got back the condition. But I would like to know if telling of experiences may have a bad effect.
It may.
The difficulty of your Yoga, even in the first stage, seems to me to be greater compared with the other yogas.
The difficulty is a myth. The difficulty is in the change of Nature or transformation which comes afterwards. Otherwise the difficulty in the beginning is the same for this or any other Yoga. Some go fast, some go slow here, also elsewhere.
Sir, here is the enlightenment on C’s letter [7.4.37]: “I 
have heard from Benoy that Sri Aurobindo is now concentrating on outside sadhaks. A day may come when his work may be done even by those staying outside. Benoy has heard it from Bishwanath who has been told by the Mother, that is why D and a few others have been allowed to come out. Any truth in it?”
No truth whatever! Mother said nothing to Radhakanta1. It is probably one of Benoy’s romances or it may have been built on some casual remark of R – which was immediately turned into “Mother’s saying” with additional superstructures.
This sort of notion is unfortunately current even in the Asram.
There are hundreds of false notions current in the Asram.
The other day K was saying that you have written to him that, even living outside, sadhana can be done, for it is done by the psychic which can receive from anywhere.
Of course it can – there are plenty of people doing it outside in Rangpur, Chittagong, Gujerat and elsewhere. How far they will get is another matter.
So staying here is not absolutely necessary; and simple staying won’t give anything either.
[Sri Aurobindo underlined “simple”.]
Of course not. If simple staying did it, the servants and workmen would be yogis by this time.
... I told him that there is surely a difference between doing sadhana here and doing it outside. There is a great thing in the Mother’s touch etc... He said all that is ভাঁওতা2!
? Don’t know the word.
Is it only for physical transformation that staying here is necessary? Otherwise sincere sadhana can be done elsewhere as well as here.
I don’t suppose the later stages of the transformation including the physical would be possible elsewhere. In fact in those outside none of the three transformations seems to have begun. They are all preparing. Here there are at least a few who have started one or two of them. Only that does not show outside. The physical or external alone shows outside.
About the vaccination, Chandulal says some carpenters and painters will not be working on the roof building. So shall I start with them?
That is all right.
Then, as to the sadhaks, if you don’t give a notice, I am afraid everyone will refuse or individually approach you for permission to be left out.
A notice would have to be given, of course. I am marking on the list with a red dot those whom we positively want omitted (but it does not mean all else have to be vaccinated) and with a blue dot those who ought to vaccinate without doubt because they go out and mix with town people or mix with them in some other way. A red line means visitors or short time residents who need not be bothered. Over the rest I am still cogitating.
Can your letter on Force be read out to a limited few?
Yes, but only a few. No copies.
1 Manager of Arya Publishing House, Calcutta.
2 bhāṁotā: bluff.