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aspiration for perfection. Union with the Divine manifesting in a progressive
Human Unity’
, She said.
3-
You should know that for all the people of India, the word ‘mandir’ holds a
very deep significance. In their hearts the ‘bhava’ of ‘Bhakti’ is always
present. From the poorest to the most well-to-do, depending upon their
‘Shakti’, which may range from one rupee to thousands, all are offered
(‘arpan’) to Matrimandir. And do you even know what ‘bhava’ is present in
their hearts? ‘Mà, it is at Your sacred feet that I offer not whole flowers, but
mere petals of my offering, for You in Your Grace to accept’. This is their
prayer.
4-
Matrimandir is indeed a totally ‘nirala’ (interesting, different, unique) Mandir.
It is wholly different to what is commonly understood from age-old times. As
people come, they read and study and attempt to comprehend what Mother
wants behind the creation of this shrine. And then slowly they start to
understand and to experience what She has created in this Shrine. Slowly,
as they understand what all this means, they begin to give bit by bit to it,
always with great joy and great ‘shraddha’ and ‘bhakti’. All this does not
happen in a day. Gradually, in each heart is erected the edifice of ‘bhava’
and ‘bhakti’. And people continue to surrender their wealth as a symbolic
contribution of themselves. And as they offer it at Mother’s feet, this offering
creates a wondrous ‘adhbhut’ (bond) with Matrimandir. Their offering, of all
they can give with all their heart, is always surrendered directly at Mother’s
feet.
5-
They do not need go-betweens or brokers in this sacred relationship. For
indeed, this brokering could cause or result in a great slight, even insult to
their feelings and their ‘bhavana’. Therefore such a thing SHOULD NOT BE
ATTEMPTED. There hardly could be a greater fault or mistake committed
than such a thing.
Therefore I say, do not for the sake of self-interest, play such a game with the
‘Atman’ of Auroville, and with the sacred ‘bhavana’ of donors who are devotees only
of Mother and through Her of Her Shrine, Matrimandir – not necessarily of Auroville.
Indeed, I cannot comprehend why people are so obsessed to control the donations
given to Matrimandir. For there is indeed no comparable system in Auroville that
may match on an equal basis the transparency of the Matrimandir financial system.
Leave then these trivial and trivialising games. Let us leave all these at the feet of
Mother.
Let us rather pray together: ‘Thy Will be done’.
Kusum”
Note: We did not claim to be perfect, or superior; in fact, we were most acutely
aware of our own failings and, even though we were often seen as being arrogant,
we shared among us such a very strong sense of ethics that we would not even
consider the majority of responses that seemed to be offered to us. We kept
making our stand on matters that to us were essential while refusing to even
counter even the most ludicrous allegations. In that way, probably, it became
easier to dismiss us…
In the same month of October, Deepti too published two papers.
They are reproduced here, as they may well remain relevant for some time…