Chapter 23Safety and Protection

So long as you are capable of giving somebody a beating, you open the door to the possibility of being given a beating yourself.

* Popular outbursts: the monstrous cruelty of the mud that hates and despises the light.

* There is a difference between violence and cruelty. In a violent mood one can do a very dreadful act, but afterwards one feels very sorry for it. Whereas a cruel person does the thing in a cold-blooded way — everything is prearranged and is done for its own sake.§

* During the bombardments, to those who fear for their skins and flee:

Why should you be in safety when the whole world is in danger? What is your special virtue, your special merit for which you should be so specially protected?

In the Divine alone is there safety. Take refuge in Him and cast away all fear.

26 May 1942

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(About persons who asked permission to come to Pondicherry during India’s conflict with Pakistan in September 1965)

They can come to Pondicherry, but those who are afraid are afraid everywhere and one who has faith is in safety everywhere.

9 September 1965

* The best protection is an unshakable faith in the Divine Grace.

* Protection is active and can be effective only with faith on your side, absolute and constant.

* Let us give ourselves entirely and sincerely to the Divine and we shall enjoy His protection.

* Integral protection: that which can be given only by the Divine.

* Psychic protection: the protection resulting from surrender to the Divine.

* Physical protection is possible only with a total surrender to the Divine and the absence of all desires.

* Concentrate more constantly on the Divine Presence and the protection will be more spontaneous.

* Exclusive turning of all movements towards the Divine: the sure means of having security.

* Nothing is in safety except what is given to the Divine.