To
Barindra Kumar Ghose [12]1Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Letters
Fragment ID: 6460
(this fragment is largest or earliest found passage)
Sri Aurobindo — Ghose, Barindra Kumar
May 30, 1923
□ Hide link-numbers of differed places
To
Barindra Kumar Ghose [12]1
30th May
1923.
‘Arya Office’
Pondicherry.
My dear Barin,
I have been obliged for some time, partly owing to the
many-sided storm of which you speak, to concentrate on other things and perhaps
that is one reason why this stream of money collection has run dry. I shall see
whether we can set it flowing again. I do not ask you to come
back as yet
because it is much better if possible to get this thing finished in such a way
that you may not have to go running back after a time to complete it. The
arrangements
I thought of with regard to the debts have not taken shape or
rather have postponed themselves to an indefinite future. If I remember right
what you have immediately to pay is some 250
more to Kamala Palit and 600 to
Arun. Besides this and the other 2000 to Arun, which if necessary can wait,
there are the sums due, 1500 altogether, to the Kaviraj and Pulin Mitter. I
believe there is nothing else. Can the last two wait and if so, how long? What
is still necessary is to raise 1500 more for next year’s expenses here. Next, to
pay off the more pressing debts and if there is any large opening all the debts.
I would have no objection to your applying any
money you raise
from the
Marwaries to the latter purpose. If Basanta Lal Murarka can really
raise 5000
from them, the problem will be solved. I shall then be able to keep Das’ money
separate and if he also keeps his promise that with some help from elsewhere
will prevent all necessity of thinking of these things for another two years.
As regards Kanai the experiences of which he is afraid
do not seem to me dangerous in themselves. They are such as come to all people
whose Yoga runs strongly on psychic
lines and those you mention and similar ones
of still stronger character have been experienced by Mirra at least a thousand
times during her Sadhana. The only danger, apart from any hostile interference,
comes from the disturbances
of the physical mind and the fear and apprehensions
of the nervous and physical being.
I have already written once before that fearlessness
is the first necessary
condition for going through this Yoga. These fears and apprehensions and the
sense of weakness and insecurity come from the attachment of the physical and
nervous being to its ordinary basis of consciousness and usual habits of living
and its alarm at anything abnormal which forces it out of its own grooves. As
for the need of immediate protection, that is only when the vital being goes out
of the body. The psychic being can go out without any danger if the physical
consciousness does not disturb and itself create the danger. But unfortunately
Kanai’s physical and nervous being seems to be weak and not on a level with the
powers of his mind and psychic nature. It may be better for him to concentrate
first on the preparation of his physical consciousness. I have already said that
what he must do is to bring down the basis of calm, light and strength into the
physical mind, nerves and body. Once this is thoroughly done all attacks can be
met. There will be no disturbing vibrations and all kinds of psychic and vital
experiences such as those now pressing upon [him] will be welcomed as an
expansion and fulfilment of the integral nature and a cause not of apprehension
but of knowledge and Ananda. As to his coming here, I was not calling him
because just now I am still in the concentration on the complete mastery of the
physical and that prevents me from putting myself out very much at present. I
could not give him the constant attention which will be needed according to your
suggestion and besides, as his physical being is the weakest part of him, it
might not be altogether advisable for him to be here until I have established a
sufficient general security against any attack which might touch on that plane.
Still I shall see whether I can call him after a little time.
I have no objection to Rajani’s proposal of a visit
here in case of his confirmation. It might be helpful to him in the present
stage of his sadhana.
I had forgotten that Peary Mohan Das and the Chittagong
aspirant were one and the same person. You will have to take together what was
said about each in Nalini’s letter. The chaotic nature of his experiences about
which I spoke are probably due 
to some kind of difficulty or exaggeration in his vital being. It is best for
him to start with getting a sure foundation of calm and a quiet opening up on
all the planes of his consciousness, especially the emotional and the vital, so
that a sound and orderly development of the Yoga may be possible.
Aurobindo.
P.S. If Kanai really gets anything of the nature of psychic trance the one thing he will have to be careful about is to meditate under such conditions that it will not be roughly broken from outside.
A.G.
1 This letter is preserved only in the form of handwritten, typed or printed copies. Whenever possible, the editors have collated several copies of each letter in order to produce an accurate text. – Ed.
2 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: you come
3 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: arrangement
4 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: 251
5 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: the
6 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: you can raise
7 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: readily
8 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: physic
9 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: disturbance
10 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: that the fearlessness
11 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: is first
12 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: vital goes
13 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: physical
14 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: of visit
15 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: and Chittagong
16 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: and quiet
17 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: and vital