Sri Aurobindo
The Mother

to Prithwi Singh

Correspondence (1933-1967)

1 March 1937

Prithwi Singh — Sri Aurobindo

Mother,

... About Tagore's exasperation, I think it is due to his perception that his ideal is crumbling; otherwise what does it matter to him that he would say, Prithwisingh is entrapped there, Dilip is not allowed [to come out] or rather kept imprisoned at Pondicherry, and things like that? It simply appears to me amusing and shows what poverty of intellect is there in cultured people like them. They would praise Buddha who was guilty of deserting his wife just when a child was born to her, but would call humble folks fools who follow under much favourable circumstances the example of a great teacher. It simply shows the inevitable necessity of Yoga for a man who really wants to change, for mere idealising leaves one where he was except for a few moments of a grand elevating passion.

With deep devotion

Prithwisingh

That is true. Idealising is a pastime of the mind — except for the few who are passionately determined to make the ideal real. Buddha is in Nirvana and his wife and child are there too perhaps, so it is easy to praise his spiritual greatness and courage — but for living people with living relatives a similar action is monstrous. They ought to be satisfied with praising Buddha and take care not to follow his example.

Sri Aurobindo
1 March 1937