The Life Divine reveals the general fundamental principles of the Yoga. But in actual practice there is a great deal of plasticity. The Guide himself may remain unseen for a long time pushing us from behind. Or he may come to us in the garb of a human being whose words and presence help us. Or He may lead us through the teachings and a book that awakens us to the inner contact without any outer medium. Everything is possible.
But more practically, two things one can remember. One is what The Mother wrote regarding the guidance in one of Her writings ‘I am with you.’
‘What is meant exactly by, ‘I am with you.’ Are we really always heard when we pray or struggle with an inner problem—in spite of our blunders and imperfections, even in spite of our ill will and mistakes? And who hears? You who are with us?
Is it you in your supreme consciousness, an impersonal divine force, the force of the yoga, or you, the embodied Mother with your physical consciousness—a personal presence really intimate to our every thought and act, and not some anonymous force? Can you tell us how and in what way you are present with us?
It is said that Sri Aurobindo and you are one and the same consciousness, but are the personal presence of Sri Aurobindo and your own personal presence two distinct things, each playing a particular role?
I am with you because I AM you or you are me.
‘I am with you’ means a world of things, for I am with you at every level, on every plane, from the supreme consciousness to my most physical consciousness. Here, in Pondicherry, you cannot breathe without breathing my consciousness. It permeates the atmosphere in the subtle physical almost materially and extends right to the lake, seven miles away from here. Beyond, my consciousness can be felt in the material vital, and then on the mental and the other higher planes everywhere. When I came here for the first time, I felt Sri Aurobindo’s atmosphere, felt it materially, ten miles from the shore—ten nautical miles, not kilometers! It was very sudden, very concrete, a pure and luminous atmosphere, light, so light that it lifts you up.
A long time ago, Sri Aurobindo had this reminder, with which you are all quite familiar, put up everywhere in the Ashram: ‘Always behave as if the Mother was looking at you; because she is, indeed, always present.’
This is not some mere sentence, these are not just words, it is a fact. I am very concretely with you, and those with a subtle vision can see me.
Generally speaking, my Force is constantly here at work, constantly changing the psychological elements of your being to put them into new relationships and to make clear to you the diverse facets of your nature so that you may see what must be changed, developed or eliminated.
But besides all this, there is a special personal bond of affection between you and me, between all who have turned towards Sri Aurobindo’s teaching and me—and of course, distance does not count; you may be in France, at the other end of the world, or in Pondicherry, but this bond remains just as real and as living. Each time there is a call, each time I need to know something to send out a force, an inspiration, a protection or whatever else, a sort of message suddenly comes to me, and I do what is needed.’
Secondly The Mother spoke of Savitri, Sri Aurobindo’s ultimate work, itself as a living Guide. She said that Savitri alone can take us to the highest realisations, the transformation, without the need of a Guru.
Most importantly, I would say, the fact that you have come in contact with The Life Divine and are seeking for a Guide, means that the Guide has already sought you and is guiding you even though unknown to the outer consciousness. Sri Aurobindo and The Mother remind us again and again that the Guide is primarily within. To put it bit paradoxically, you may not know and see the Guide but the Divine has seen you and found you. Have faith and He will do everything for you.
‘Never forget that you are not alone. The Divine is with you helping and guiding you. He is the companion who never fails, the friend whose love comforts and strengthens. More you feel lonely more you are ready to perceive His luminous Presence. Have faith and He will do everything for you.’
27 September 1951
Affectionately,
Alok Da
