Chapter 6December 24, 1966

You see clearly.

Yes, but I feel almost everything should be cut out. It’s a whole way of saying things...

Ah, it’s especially a way – a way of feeling, a way of thinking.

But from the standpoint of external form, the question remains of which method is easier: using the already written text, or writing everything anew. Writing everything anew... You understand, unless you are the master of your activity...

Yes, I am going to fall back into the same conflict.

It’s no use.

Well, I’m going to correct it.

Yes, I think it’s better to correct it. It may not be very enjoyable, but from the point of view of mental discipline it’s very useful.

I really feel your letter as a grace, because as for me I’d toss everything out.

No!

You’ve made me see how false it was.

What’s necessary isn’t to destroy, it’s to become the master of the expression of your inspiration. You must be the master, that is to say, you mustn’t receive the thing "as it comes" and write it "as it comes." You must receive the inspiration and be conscious of the phenomenon of expression. Then it will be perfect.

I was in the habit of being motionless and letting things flow down.

Yes, but your mind is active – the mind is active. You see, Sri Aurobindo could do it because his mind no longer existed; it was perfectly, perfectly still and inspiration went through it as through pure air. But your mind... In fact, that’s the discipline you have to do, because your mind is in the habit of becoming active again. It’s good if what comes from above goes through like that, but on condition that the mind be perfectly still. If you like, to put things differently, it’s to learn to keep your mind still, while writing at the same time.