And only I am keeping the Mother’s photo(New Year calendar photo) in my room; then anyone coming to my room, they asks whose photo is this?? Again, I read Savitri daily in front of the Mother, where there is a puja slab along with other Hindu gods & goddesses, as my roommates are also worshipping there.
Then, after my bath, I read only one page of Savitri daily in a moderate or slightly slow voice. Then one day, one of my senior roommates listened & asked me, ‘You are reading an English book; does your Lord understand it?’ (In a comedic way). But I felt bad(unease) little; then I remembered Mother within me: How can I reply to these questions, Maa? Then I just replied to him: Prabhu Sri Aurobindo himself wrote it. And I am not supposed to explain them, as it would become an unnecessary argument.
These types of questions I am facing now. & Some other small small events are also. Like now Shravan month is on going & only one roommate is doing this Shravan month & has left non-veg food. Then this question also arose: ‘In your Mother God, are there no rules or regulations like Shravan month, leaving non-veg? As she is a foreign lady, that’s why, perhaps…’ – this type of concept they have.
I noticed they are doing Shravan mahina, Gurubar, Sombar veg food by force. May you give me some suggestions on how to face these situations? During these situations, I just become quiet… As I know, if I explain to them what Sattvik food is, what Tamasik food is & how any food we eat can convert it as prasad, then they would say You are always in a dream world… Be practical, Jipi. They are also unknown to the some terminology of Mother Sri Aurobindo. Then it is quite difficult to explain to them. The main thing is that no one is ready to listen to these.
It is best not to engage in discussions with those who merely have an idle curiosity. You can simply direct them to read Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as well as to Auromaa, where they can see the talks and to askalokda, where they can ask the question if truly interested. You can advise them to visit Pondicherry if they seek more. If they ask for a book, you can give them the small booklet titled ‘The Mother’ and ‘The Yoga and its objects.’
There is nothing to feel uncomfortable about their questions. We are not here to convert anyone. Each person is in a different stage of evolution and a premature exposure to a higher teaching may do more harm than good.
As to Sravan and non-veg, etc you can draw their attention to several sects in Sanatana Dharma that do not follow these things. Sanatana Dharma is not a standard format and each one is free to follow the deity of their choice and the goal.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
