Volume V, Issue 4
Author: Mona Sarkar
Editor’s Note: We feature a most delightful conversation from the book ‘Sweet Mother: Luminous Notes’ – Conversations with the Mother as recollected by the author. The excerpts are taken from 2009 edition published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram, pp. 123-124. Mona Sarkar’s comments are in italics.
What is God after all? An eternal child playing an eternal game in an eternal garden.
~ Sri Aurobindo, CWSA, Vol. 13, p. 202
Bonjour!
Bonjour, Sweet Mother.
Take this. (Mother gives me a flower) Do you know what it is?
Yes, Mother: ‘Aesthetic Beauty’. [Ipomoea, Morning Glory]
How tender and fresh it is…
Mother, are You giving it to me so that I may cultivate aesthetic beauty, or is it because it corresponds to a part of my being?
It is in answer to the aspiration from the very depths of your being that I give the flowers. It is a need or an aspiration, it depends on the individual. It may fill a void or else give an impetus for progress, or find the inner harmony in order to establish peace. Do you understand?
Be like a flower.
One must try to become like a flower — open, frank, equal, generous and gentle. Do you know what it means?
Not exactly, Mother.
The flower is open to all that is around it — Nature, light, the rays of the sun, the wind, etcetera. It exerts a spontaneous influence on all that is around it. It radiates a joy and a beauty.
Frank: It hides nothing of its beauty. It lets it emerge freely, openly, frankly. What is within, what is in its depths, it brings out so that all can see it.
Equal: It has no preference. Everyone can enjoy its beauty and its perfume without rivalry. It is equal and the same for everybody. There is no difference, or anything whatsoever.
Then, Generous: How it gives without reserve and without restriction, the mysterious beauty and the characteristic perfume of Nature. It sacrifices itself entirely, even its life — to express this beauty and the secret of the things that it contains.
And then, Gentle: It is so tender, sweet, also close and affectionate towards us. Its company makes us so happy. It is always cheerful and happy.
Happy is he who can exchange his qualities with the profound qualities of the flowers. Try to cultivate in yourself these refined qualities.
I give you flowers so that you may develop the divine qualities they symbolise. And they can directly transmit to the psychic all that they contain, without admixture. They possess a power and a very subtle and deep influence. Do you understand?
(In a teasing tone) Now, it seems to me that you wish to become like a flower or else cultivate these qualities.
And, you know, each flower symbolises an aspect, an emanation, an aspiration and a progress in the terrestrial evolution.
The book can be purchased from SABDA.
