Chapter 84218–221

222 – The saint and the angel are not the only divinities;

admire also the Titan and the Giant.

223 – The old writings call the Titans the elder gods. So they

still are; nor is any god entirely divine unless there is hidden in him also a Titan.

224 – If I cannot be Rama, then I would be Ravana; for he is

the dark side of Vishnu.3 This means that sweetness without strength and goodness without power are incomplete and cannot totally express the Divine.

I could say in keeping with the kind of image used by Sri Aurobindo, that the charity and generosity of a converted Asura are infinitely more effective than those of an innocent angel.

11 December 1969 225 – Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice always, but for the sake of

God and humanity, not for the sake of sacrifice.

226 – Selfishness kills the soul; destroy it. But take care that

your altruism does not kill the souls of others.

227 – Very usually, altruism is only the sublimest form of

selfishness.

How can altruism kill the soul of others?

By helping others materially (altruism), if at the same time you want to impose your own viewpoint on them, you will kill their 3 Rama was an avatar or incarnation of Vishnu; Ravana was a Titan (Asura), mortal enemy of Rama.