Page 26 - All India Magazine Nov-2024

cious thing in the world. It was fixed to his chain. When he landed
at one of these ports — at Pondicherry or perhaps elsewhere in
India or at Colombo, I believe it was at Colombo — they used to
get into small boats and the boats took you ashore. And so this
gentleman had to jump from the gangway of the ship into the
boat. He missed his step, somehow got back his balance, but he
made a sudden movement and the little gold pencil dropped into
the sea and went straight down into the depths. He was at first
very much aggrieved, but he told himself: “Why, that is the effect
of India: I am freed from my attachments….” It is for very sincere
people that the thing takes such a form. Fundamentally, the ava-
lanche of troubles is always for sincere people. Those who are not
sincere receive things with the most beautiful bright colours just
to deceive them, and then in the end to enable them to find out
that they are mistaken! But when someone has big troubles, it
proves that he has reached a certain degree of sincerity.
CWM 5: 155-158

After all, it is quite possible — I am joking a little — it is quite pos-
sible that if they have even the least bit of sincerity — not too
much, for that is tiring! just a little sincerity — that will give them a
few good knocks to make them go faster. This is possible. In fact,
I think, this is what will happen.
But indeed, this attitude... this attitude, which is a little too
mercenary, is not usually very profitable. If one aspires sincerely
and if one has difficulties, perhaps these difficulties will diminish.
Let us hope so.
(Turning to the disciple) So this is what you can tell them: be
sincere and you will be helped.
CWM 8: 132–133 The Mother

26 All India Magazine, November 2024