Page 23 - All India Magazine Jun-2025

What does "opening" mean? Is it "not to keep anything se-
cret from the Mother"?

That is the first step towards opening.

How does one "open"?

By faith and surrender in a quiet mind.

To be turned towards the Mother
To be open is simply to be so turned to the Mother that her
Force can work in you without anything refusing or obstructing
her action. If the mind is shut up in its own ideas and refuses to
allow her to bring in the Light and the Truth, if the vital clings
to its desires and does not admit the true initiative and impul-
sions that the Mother's power brings, if the physical is shut up
in its desire, habits and inertia and does not allow the Light and
Force to enter in it and work, then one is not open. It is not pos-
sible to be entirely open all at once in all the movements, but
there must be a central opening in each part and a dominant
aspiration or will in each part (not in the mind alone) to admit
only the Mother's workings, the rest will then be progressively
done.
*
To remain open to the Mother is to remain always quiet and
happy and confident, not restless, not grieving or desponding,
to let her force work in you, guide you, give you knowledge,
give you peace and Ananda. If you cannot keep yourself open,
then aspire constantly but quietly that you may be open.

CWSA 32: 150-51 Sri Aurobindo

All India Magazine, June 2025 23