It refers to a story when steel plates replaced the porclein dishes in the Ashram dining room. The disciples were happy with the change. But the Mother remarked that She would want Her children to have food in gold plates.
She says that the Divine does not test anyone nor does He wants to be a spoilsport or suffer. He wants us to be happy and walk on the path to Him with a glad heart. The Gita says very much the same.
Of course suffering comes in the course of life and one has to face and conquer it. But one should not ask for it nor does the Divine want us to suffer on the path. They called it the sunlit path.
How can we create spiritual atmosphere persistently? Outer most of the time depends on other things. Inner atmosphere we want to connect in every breath but sometimes we get entangled in outer conditions.
It is definitely not an easy task to create an atmosphere of spirituality when one is living with people as in a family for instance, unless the other members are aligned to the same spiritual goal. That is why it is best to keep one’s private place even if it be a small room where a concentration of spiritual forces can be created.
Most important of course is the intensity and sincerity of one’s inner aspiration. However there are several external ways such as The Mother and Sri Aurobindo’s photographs, reading their books, listening to The Mother’s music, especially Savitri.
As to entanglement one has to practice inner detachment by learning to step back and see the relativity and the transient nature of everything except the Divine. One has to remind oneself repeatedly why one is here and how life is drifting in meaningless activities that add nothing to our true seeking. Avoid too much interaction and discussions and try to cultivate inner quietude and Peace.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
