Chapter 113308–310

309 – Distrust the man who has never failed and suffered; follow not his fortunes, fight not under his banner.

310 – There are two who are unfit for greatness and freedom, the man who has never been a slave to another and the nation that has never been under the yoke of foreigners.

Certain essential qualities can only develop through suffering and difficulties. Men run away from them in their ignorance, but the Supreme Lord imposes them on those He has chosen to represent Him on earth in order to hasten their development — for he is the Supreme Wisdom.

28 January 1970 311 – Fix not the time and the way in which the ideal shall be fulfilled. Work and leave time and way to God all-knowing.

312 – Work as if the ideal had to be fulfilled swiftly and in thy lifetime; persevere as if thou knewest it not to be unless purchased by a thousand years yet of labour. That which thou darest not expect till the fifth millennium, may bloom out with tomorrow’s dawning and that which thou hopest and lustest after now, may have been fixed for thee in thy hundredth advent.

This is exactly the attitude we should all have towards transformation: as much energy and ardour as if we were certain of achieving it in our present life, as much patience and endurance as if we needed centuries to realise it.

29 January 1970 313 – Each man of us has a million lives yet to fulfil upon earth. Why then this haste and clamour and impatience?