Chapter 8June 26, 1965

(Sujata shows Mother a sort of cyst that has developed in her neck. This banal incident is the starting

point for a capital discovery: the "cellular spinning.")

It's a tumor. Probably a hair that coiled up and the body covered it in a layer of skin, and then, out of habit, went on building skin around it: one layer, then another layer, then... It's an idiotic goodwill. And that's how it is for almost all illnesses.

* * * Soon afterwards:

I have a little problem I'd like to put to you. I would like you to give me an indication or ask Sri Aurobindo for an indication. It's about the translation into German of certain words: the word "mind" and the word "spirit."

So?

All the German translators are quarreling with each other, not one agrees with the other.

Yes, I know!

For a long time I have been in touch with C.S. about the German translation of the book [The Adventure of Consciousness]. He has thought about it a lot (so have I), and finally P. has made a suggestion. The word for "spirit" in German, "Geist," is used indifferently, and of course especially to denote the mind – as in French "esprit" is used very vaguely. So P. suggested we keep the word "Geist" for the mind and qualify it: thinking mind, illuminated mind, etc. But the word "spirit" would still have to be translated, and there is no word for it in German. There exist a few adjectives that derive from the Latin word "spiritus," but nothing for "spirit." P. suggested we use "der Spirit," derived from Latin. C.S. hesitates. So I wanted to ask you if you had some impression or other. Can we introduce "der Spirit" in German? That's the sort of thing that brings all the German translators into conflict.

But there's no guarantee of their accepting a suggestion.

What's the Sanskrit for "spirit"?

It's Purusha, in opposition to Prakriti, Nature.

But you say that C.S. doesn't want this "Spirit"?

He's reluctant. He objects that its a Latin word and not a German one.

What is the word they use? The same as for "mind"?

Yes: "Geist."

That won't do. "Geist" won't do at all. For the mind, it's all right.

Yes, that's what I felt, and also it would be very good to say "Übergeist" for the supermind.

(Mother nods her head) What language will future people speak!... All this is very poor. All these languages are poor. In India alone, from one region to another they don't understand each other – without English they wouldn't understand each other at all.

Is there nothing better than this "Spirit"?... Purusha won't do at all, it's too long, three syllables.... Let's just say that to C.S. But if he doesn't like it, it's going to give him a lot of trouble.

It's a stopgap. But in French, too, everything we say is an approximation! Which means that if you adopt your own language, it's quite all right, but you are the only one to understand it truly.

If we take a new word, it should be a word with force, that's the important point.

Words like Tat, Sat, Chit are strong, but Purusha... Let's just propose "Spirit."

* * *

(Mother asks Satprem to read her a letter that has just come from the United States. The letter announces that someone who had been dying has miraculously regained the use of reason and

speech:)

Now that's very interesting, my children! Because when I got the telegram announcing that he was dying...

First I should say that when he had his cancer, E. asked me to intervene; I answered her, "I accept, but what will happen to him will be the best from the SPIRITUAL standpoint – not at all according to human conception." He refused the doctors' treatments, he went from bad to worse; then that telegram, which I still had here till the day before yesterday. And when I received that telegram announcing it was the end, all of a sudden I said, "Very well, he is going to start being cured." And I didn't say anything to anyone. Afterwards, E. sent me a letter asking me what she should do with all the things