world has till lately been reduced to a
minimum. Now that I am looking outward again, I find that circumstances lead me
to write first to you, I say circumstances, because it is a need that makes me
take up the pen after so long a disuse.Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Letters
Fragment ID: 6414
(this fragment is largest or earliest found passage)
Sri Aurobindo — Das, Chittaranjan
November 18, 1922
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To Chittaranjan Das1
“Arya” Office
Pondicherry
the 18th November, 1922
Dear Chitta,
It is a long time, almost two years I think, since I
have written a letter to anyone. I have been so much retired and absorbed in my
Sadhana that contact with the outside world has till lately been reduced to a
minimum. Now that I am looking outward again, I find that circumstances lead me
to write first to you, I say circumstances, because it is a need that makes me
take up the pen after so long a disuse.
The need is in connection with the first outward work
that I am undertaking after this long inner retirement. Barin has gone to Bengal
and will see you in connection with it, but a word from me is perhaps necessary
and therefore I send you through Barin this letter
. I am giving him also a
letter of authority from which you will understand the immediate nature of the
need for which I have sent him to raise funds. But I may add something to make
it more definite.
I think you know my present idea and the attitude
towards life and work to which it has brought me. I have become confirmed in a
perception which I had always, less clearly and dynamically then, but which has now become
more and more evident to me, that the true basis of work and life
is
the spiritual, that is to say, a new consciousness to be developed only by Yoga.
I see more and more manifestly that man can never get out of the futile circle
the race is always treading until he has raised himself on to
the new
foundation. I believe also that it is the mission of 
India to make this great victory for the world. But what precisely was the
nature of the dynamic power of this greater consciousness? What was the
condition of its effective truth? How could it be brought down, mobilised,
organised, turned upon life? How could our present instruments, intellect, mind,
life, body be made true and perfect channels for this great transformation? This
was the problem I have been trying to work out in my own experience and I have
now a sure basis, a wide knowledge and some mastery of the secret. Not yet its
fulness and complete imperative presence – therefore I have still to remain in
retirement. For I am determined not to work in the external field till I have
the sure and complete possession of this new power of action,– not to build
except on a perfect foundation.
But still I have gone far enough to be able to
undertake one work on a larger scale than before – the training of others to
receive this
Sadhana and prepare themselves as I have done, for without that my
future work cannot even be begun. There are many who desire to come here and
whom I can admit for the purpose, there are a greater number who can be trained
at a distance; but I am unable to carry on unless I have sufficient funds to be
able to maintain a centre here and one or two at least outside. I need therefore
much larger resources than I at present command. I have thought that by your
recommendation and influence you may help Barin to gather them for me. May I
hope that you will do this for me?
One word to avoid a possible misunderstanding. Long ago I gave to Motilal Roy of Chandernagore the ideas and some principles and lines of a new social and economical organisation and education and this with my spiritual force behind him he has been trying to work out in his own way in his Sangha. This is quite a separate thing from what I am now writing about,– my own work which I must do myself and no one can do for me.
I have been following with interest your political
activities specially your present attempt to give a more flexible and
practically effective turn to the non-cooperation
movement. I doubt whether you
will succeed against such contrary forces, but I wish you success in your
endeavour. I am most interested however in
your indications about Swaraj; for I have been developing my own ideas about the
organisation of a true Indian Swaraj and I shall look forward to see how far
yours will fall in with mine.
Yours
Aurobindo.
1 18 November 1922. A barrister of Calcutta who became famous for successfully defending Sri Aurobindo in the Alipore Bomb Case (1908–9), Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925) later entered politics and became the leader of the Swarajya Party, which advocated entering the government’s legislative assemblies in order to “wreck them from within”. Sri Aurobindo wrote this letter to Das on the same day that he wrote another to his brother Barin (see the first letter under “To Barindra Kumar Ghose and Others” in Section Two).
2 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: with outside
3 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: necessary perhaps
4 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: this letter through Barin
5 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: has become
6 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: life and work
7 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: himself to
8 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: the
9 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: to non-cooperation