As a psychiatrist, you certainly possess profound insight into psychology. There is a strong reason for saying this: the essays you have written on the Bhagavad Gita transcend the mere label of “spirituality.” Although psychology and the Bhagavad Gita may seem to deal with contrasting subjects, my understanding is that the Gita serves as a treatise on duty—delivered by Sri Krishna to dispel Arjuna’s mental frailty. I would be grateful if you could kindly answer the following question.

I have heard that “Mother’s” energy is currently active on Earth. Does this energy begin to work at a cellular level only for those residing in the ashram? Or is that sacred energy available to anyone in the outside world who is worthy and aligned with the universal good? I sincerely hope you will kindly answer this naive question of mine.

Thank you for your kind words. The Gita is a most wonderful gospel of works ever written. But the idea of works, as far as the Gita is concerned goes beyond the conception of duty. Duty is primarily a Western concept which, put in the language of Indian spiritual thought would mean, doing whatever work falls to our lot with a Sattwic approach. The work itself is decided by someone else or something outside us, call it destiny or circumstance, while we have to accept and execute it in the spirit of yoga as propounded by the Gita. 

Sri Krishna however speaks of the karma itself as given by the Divine Himself, either directly, if one has reached that stage or else determined by our intrinsic true nature, swabhava niyata karma. It even goes on to say, swadharmo nidhanam sreya, paradharmo bhayavaha, meaning thereby that it is better to die following the lead of one’s true calling while following an alien note prompting us to act as frightening. The script of God is within us. We have to discover it. The Gita gives us the path of this discovery and the way to fulfil the Divine Intention, or God’s Will in us. 

The Divine Mother is everywhere and Her Divine Shakti has been working in creation since Time immemorial. However thus far it has been working from behind through the mental, vital and physical nature. Now, with the supramental manifestation, there has begun the possibility of its direct action in those who are ready and being prepared through the supramental yoga. 

Yes, the sadhana can be done anywhere and everywhere if one fulfils the necessary inner conditions. However for most persons, a visit to the Ashram from time to time, is helpful to receive a more direct touch, the decisive Influence due to the concrete physical presence of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in the very atmosphere of the Ashram especially around the Samadhi. 

Affectionately,

Alok Da