76 (Europe prides herself on her practical and scientific organisation and...)

76 – Europe prides herself on her practical and scientific organisation and efficiency. I am waiting till her organisation is perfect; then a child shall destroy her.¹

When these Aphorisms were published in the Bulletin you said that this one should be omitted. It is a rather mysterious Aphorism, which I would very much like to understand. But I would like to know whether now we should publish it or not?

Where did Sri Aurobindo write that?

In the Aphorisms.

Yes, but he did not write a special book; these texts were collected from here and there.

No, no, not at all. Sri Aurobindo had a special notebook in which he wrote the Aphorisms as they came. And this one was among the others.

(Silence)

“A child”… What did he put in English at the beginning?

"Prides herself."

Prides herself…

I would put it in.

But what did he mean?

I don't know.

Of course, only the power can be destroyed, because one cannot destroy the earth.

Yes, the earth cannot be destroyed, but a civilisation can be destroyed.

Yes.

He says: Europe will be destroyed.

Yes… but which child?

I have the impression that it came as something absolutely true, an absolutely true prediction – but I don't know.

You had said that it would be better to leave it out.

But now, on the contrary, I feel that it must be said.

But I do not think that the time has come yet, I mean come for the realisation; the time has come to say it, but not for the realisation.

“The child”… perhaps it is the child of the new world – with a smile, he will bring the whole thing tumbling down.

Yes, it is possible is possible.

(Silence)

There is a terrifying power in it… something tremendous. You cannot imagine the power that is in it; it is really as if the Divine himself were speaking: “I am waiting”… I am waiting…

11 December 1971

¹ The following conversation took place in December 1971, nearly ten years after the Mother's commentaries on this group of Aphorisms. _(vissza)