To
Punamchand M. Shah [4]1Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Letters
Fragment ID: 6507
(this fragment is largest or earliest found passage)
Sri Aurobindo — Shah, Punamchand Mohanlal
January 1, 1928
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To
Punamchand M. Shah [4]1
Pondicherry
1st January 1928
To
Punamchand. M. Shah.
I have received your letter and am sending this answer
with Haribhai. I do not consider it necessary or advisable to make a public
appeal for the sum of money I have asked you to raise for me in Gujerat. If a
public appeal is to be made, it can only be when the time comes for my work to
be laid on larger foundations and I can create the model form or outward
material organisation of the new life which will be multiplied throughout India
and, with India as a spiritual nucleus and centre, in other countries. Then
large
sums of money will be indispensable and a public appeal may become
advisable.
At present I am making a smaller preliminary
foundation, a spiritual training-ground and the first form of a community of
spiritual workers. Here they will practise and grow in the
Yoga and learn to act
from the true consciousness and with the true knowledge and power. Here too some
first work will be undertaken and institutions founded on a small scale which
will prepare for the larger and more definite work of the future. I need money
to buy land and houses, to get equipment for these first institutions and to
accommodate and maintain an increasing number of sadhakas and workers. A public
appeal is not necessary to raise the sums that are at present indispensable. I
prefer to make it only when I have already created a sufficient external form
that all can see. It will be easy for you to raise privately the money I now
want if you are inspired to get into touch with the right and chosen people.
As you can judge, even this preliminary work will be a
matter not of one but several lakhs, but I have named one lakh as the minimum
immediately needed in order that we may start solidly and go on without being
hampered at each step for want of funds. If you can raise more than the initial
minimum, so much the better. The work will proceed more easily and quickly and
with a surer immediate prospect. Preserve the right 
consciousness and attitude, keep yourself open to the Divine Shakti and let her
will be done through you.
1 Punamchand Mohanlal Shah (born 1898), of Patan, Gujarat, met Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry in 1919. Four years later he became a member of his household. Between 1927 and 1931, he spent much of his time in Gujarat trying to collect money for the newly founded Ashram. In August 1927 Sri Aurobindo wrote three letters to Punamchand on fearlessness, work and money, which were published in 1928 as chapters 3, 4 and 5 of The Mother. Here thirteen other letters to Punamchand on fund-raising and other subjects are reproduced.
2 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: larger
3 Champaklal’s Treasures, 2008 ed.: this