Page 6 - All India Magazine Dec-2024

Oppositions — A Stimulus to Progress

Thoughts and Aphorisms: Sri Aurobindo

88 – This world was built by Death that he might live. Wilt thou
abolish death? Then life too will perish. Thou canst not abolish
death, but thou mayst transform it into a greater living.

89 – This world was built by Cruelty that she might love. Wilt thou
abolish cruelty? Then love too will perish. Thou canst not abol-
ish cruelty, but thou mayst transfigure it into its opposite, into a
fierce Love and Delightfulness.

90 – This world was built by Ignorance and Error that they might
know. Wilt thou abolish ignorance and error? Then knowledge too
will perish. Thou canst not abolish ignorance and error, but thou
mayst transmute them into the utter and effulgent exceeding of
reason.

91 – If Life alone were and not death, there could be no immortal-
ity; if love were alone and not cruelty, joy would be only a tepid
and ephemeral rapture; if reason were alone and not ignorance,
our highest attainment would not exceed a limited rationality and
worldly wisdom.

92 – Death transformed becomes Life that is Immortality; Cruelty
transfigured becomes Love that is intolerable ecstasy; Ignorance
transmuted becomes Light that leaps beyond wisdom and knowl-
edge.

The Mother’s Comments:

It is the same idea, that is, opposition and contraries are a stimu-
lus to progress. Because to say that without cruelty Love would

6 All India Magazine, December 2024