Chapter 2April 5, 1969
Book 4. April
Ah, yes (Mother seems to remember), your mother was cured.
I receive unexpected letters from people with whom I haven’t been in correspondence, and they give news of cures. But I was referring to the very small circle here.... For Pavitra, it was a miracle even according to a doctor, though he’s not a believer;34 it was a miracle, but... it’s not total, that is to say, it’s still there with the possibility of resuming. And yet Pavitra has taken the best attitude.
It’s like that, you see, it’s almost wonderful, and then... That’s probably so we don’t swell with pride and satisfaction, so we know how much change still remains to take place. Of course, when it comes to the physical (Mother looks at her hands), there’s no need for any demonstration, it’s obvious! But it’s been said and repeated a hundred times: that’s what will come last. So...
But the inner change is considerable – considerable. It’s considerable: from the point of view of consciousness, it has been the greatest change in my whole existence; I’ve had many of them, I’ve worked a lot, but... nothing in comparison with what has taken place since the 1st of January. To such a point that the body feels like a different person.... But it’s not enough.
We’ll see. But I want you to be strong and solid.... Act the great sage, it’ll be fun! (Mother laughs)
Now, what’s the news of P.L.?
He writes this:
Rome, March 29, 1969 “When I canceled my ticket for Pondicherry, I felt a spell of giddiness as when one receives a sharp blow to the head and one’s balance seems lost.... I was summoned to the Vatican and told to remain at the entire disposal of the Holy Father, who entrusts me with a grave and difficult question concerning the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference: I am asked to solve that problem. The Pope is counting on my skill, and so on. I was questioned about the reasons for my remarks of February 24 (on March 24, I did not open my mouth), for there had just been a bombshell: two young Latin American bishops (from Peru and Chile) had left the Church-the first such cases in history, of course after the well-known and unique case of Talleyrand (for other reasons). They were my fellow students at the Rome University. They are leaving the Church because of a religious crisis.... Yet they had everything the Church could give: honors, money; one was made a bishop at the age of thirty-three, the other two years “I do not feel inclined to go on giving you the detailed chronology of these facts....
But it’s interesting, VERY interesting!
“...I wanted to leave. But I concentrated very strongly on Mother, and I felt her voice telling me, ‘Stay on...’
Yes.
“...‘You will come later. Continue to be my WORD where you are...’
(Mother nods approvingly)
“...‘I am with you.’ So I canceled my ticket.”
It’s good.
Oh, you know, I concentrated a lot, but a lot, and I found the Pope extraordinarily receptive – only, imprisoned. That’s it, you understand, a rather remarkable receptivity, but... (gesture under a bell-jar) imprisoned in his action. But where he can probably act, he has placed his confidence in P.L. Which means they want to use what he knows rather than try to stifle him. It’s adroit. And it can be useful.
Have you written to him already?
No, I was waiting to read you his letter.
You can tell him that it’s true I am with him, but very strongly and very consciously.
But that it should have had that effect [the “blow to the head”] is troublesome.
He seems to have pulled himself together afterwards, since he understood you were telling him to stay on.
Oh, was it they who asked him not to go?
They told him to remain at the Pope’s entire disposal.
Yes.
Those two bishop’s running away really came at the right moment!
It came as evident proof.
* * * The
master
of
existence
lurks
in
us And plays
at
hide
and
seek
with
his
own
Force; In Nature’s
instrument
loiters
secret
God. The immanent
lives
in
man
as
in
his
house; He has
made
the
universe
his
pastime’s
field, A vast
gymnasium
of
his
works
of
might.... He
is
the
explorer
and
the
mariner Of a
secret
inner
ocean
without
bourne: He
is
the
adventurer
and
cosmologist Of
a
magic
earth’s
obscure
geography... Or passing
through
a
gate
of
pillar-rocks... He leaves
the
last
lands,
crosses
the
ultimate
seas, He turns
to
eternal
things
his
symbol
quest; Life changes
for
him
its
time-constructed
scenes, Its images veiling infinity.
(I.IV.66-70)
Isn’t it clear?
A car was just passing by.
I’ll have to do it again....
Won’t it tire your eye?
What’s wrong?
You have a small red patch in the eye.
Red? Inside?
It’s new.
Odd... Was it there when you came?
I hadn’t noticed, I’ve seen it just now.
I didn’t strain myself....
Strange, I didn’t strain myself.
(long silence)
It’s strange....