Page 49 - NAMAH-Jan-2017

Namah Shifting to the Dispensary

No man ever is the right one for them — for a long time, but just the time of digesting the payas.

I feel a little “maaya”a 2 for that room where I stayed, with plenty of air and light.

That was the reason for our hesitation to change you. But there is no go. The man in the right
place must be in the place.

I thought, however I am the neighbour of the Divine, under his breath, 3 almost. So I am at least free from
any number of hostile forces.

Provided you allow the breath to come into you and don’t blow it away.

Is it necessary to keep the Dispensary open for longer hours than at present?

There are two different things — (1) sadhaks who can be confined to limited hours and (2)
workmen and servants who cannot, for the workmen may have accidents and that must be seen
to immediately. So you must be available, especially at the times when the work closes. No. (2)
is the main thing, for it throws a considerable responsibility upon us.

The Dispensary table is covered with paper and looks rather untidy. An oilcloth would be better.

Mother had given a fine coloured hospital cloth, very big (the size of the table) and much better
than any oilcloth. Ask what has become of it.

There is no table for my personal use, and for your big photo what would you suggest, a small cane table
or nails on the wall?

No nails on the wall — absolutely forbidden. Ask for a small table from Amrita.

By the way, I find that I am extremely hilarious and happy, though I am doing very little sadhana. One
cause, I find, is the daily contact with you. But is hilarity permissible in the court of the Divine and can
it go hand in hand with progress?

Cheerfulness is the salt of sadhana.

— Sri Aurobindo and Dr. Nirodbaran

1 A sweet dish prepared from milk and rice.
2 Written in Bengali. The sense of the word here is regret and affection.
3 The Dispensary is situated across the street from Sri Aurobindo’s window.

Nirodbaran’s Correspondence with Sri Aurobindo, Volume 1. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Trust; 1983, pp. 108-10.

49