It is true that some people are talented and others are not. There are boys who strive very hard year after year to reach the first rank in vain. Sometimes they come close to their goal and miss it. Occasionally when they are declared first, it is reversed a little later, for one reason or another, valid or invalid. It is at such times they declare, "I am star crossed,"  "It is not for me", "The very gods are against me". All these experiences are true in life. Theoretically they are not true. Spiritual theory, if I may say so, declares this is not true.

Mathematics is abstract; life is materially concrete. To capture the concrete in terms of the abstract is to be spiritually creative. It is done by intuition. Einstein discovered the formula of Energy that is Matter. For long it was intelligible only to himself. Sri Aurobindo says that He stumbled on the Formula of creation. Creative principle goes into a formula of Mathematics. He said, like Einstein, that it was intelligible only to Him.

Of the eight attributes of Lakshmi, courage stands out. Indian mythological stories are SUBTLE in their instruction. They reveal the TRUTH by hiding it. This subtle knowledge is spiritual. It is there in all walks of life as the Power resides in what is left unsaid. We see now teachers encouraging students, parents patronising children. The earlier tradition was NOT to encourage or even recognise. Their experience was the boy would stop progressing if the teacher or parent encouraged him.

Many people have successfully invoked the Spirit and have seen it in action. The government is too formidable for an ordinary citizen to face, as an opposite party in the court. When the government chooses to acquire the only property on which a humble man pins his hope, it is exercising its right. There is no law that the government is contravening. Nor is the party permitted to plead for mercy since many can plead so. The Spirit intervenes by a telegram from the higher-ups of the government and restores the humble man his only hope.

"I wish to become the number one cardiac surgeon in India. Is it a permissible idealism?" is a question in the mind of a precocious young aspirant. It looks like a great aim. At the same time, in a society when ambition is frowned upon, it appears unpardonable. For one in that field there can be no greater accomplishment if he achieves it. It is doubly so when it is achieved without ambition. Ambition and greed are vices; aspiration, progress and endeavour are admirable. Certainly discrimination is valuable.

D.F. Karaka wrote a book called Out of Dust long ago. He was an ICS officer who came under the spell of the Mahatma. The theme of the book was the Mahatma made us into men picking us up from out of the dust. That is what Mahatmas do. Only that Mahatma Gandhiji did it in the lives of thousands of men of character who gave up their homes, education, profession, and wealth to serve the nation. The book was written during the lifetime of Gandhiji. The Spirit has the capacity of that alchemy. 

Prayers and Meditations is a book in which Mother's prayers -- mostly written when She was in Japan -- are published. A devotee once said that of all the hundreds of publications of the Ashram, two books stood out. They are The Mother written by Sri Aurobindo and Prayers and Meditations written by The Mother. The Prayers were all written in French. Sri Aurobindo, who loved French as much as English, selected several of these Prayers and translated them into English. Thus these translated portions are twice blessed. Mother was an adept in occultism.

The above caption is a quotation from the book I referred to two days ago, The Great Indian Dream. It is there as a chapter heading. The efficacy of planning is emphasised in this fashion. Prof. Arindam has published a book with this title which became a national best seller. Our activities can be considered under two different headings. One is the work we are used to - weddings, house building, exams, tours, office inspection, factory production, etc. The other is a work we are not used to.

In a respectable family sometimes children take to the ways of loafers. Parents are sad. They are sad that the children are unable to appreciate the status, reputation, culture, and value of the family. It all can be lost by one act of indiscretion, one single attitude of mercenary motive. What is lost is lost and can never be restored, at least never be restored in its original magnificence. Sri Aurobindo came to the world to usher human life into the Marvel of Supramental Splendour. He saw He was not understood.

Mr. Arindam Chaudhuri and Mr. Malay Chaudhuri have published a book entitled The Great Indian Dream. In it they voice their inspired vision of India in the near future. These are patriotic young men passionately voicing their vision of future India. Their studies are well documented. Not only do they demand progress, but they outline a plan of their own. It is worth full consideration. In their publication I see the tip of the emerging Spirit of India.