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<h2 align="right" style="text-align:center;line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
<span
lang=EN-GB><font size="4">Soul's Freedom</font></span></b></h2>
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<p class=MsoNormal style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><span lang=EN-GB><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>THE pressure
from above has been withdrawn and normalcy restored to the earth-consciousness.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:13.5pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>Pressure meant a separation:
something foreign acting from elsewhere, <span class=GramE>an interference</span>.
As a process, a passage needed for a time, for a special purpose and under
special circumstances, it was necessary and welcome. But circumstances have
changed.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:13.5pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>The higher consciousness is not to remain always high but become
level with the normal. Either the higher must come down and mingle totally with
the lower or the lower has to rise and merge altogether into the higher, or
both meet and unite midway somewhere. </span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:13.5pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>Earth or material nature does not easily tolerate any thing unknown
and foreign to it. Even if it is for its own well-being, a foreign touch makes
it shrink and turn on itself. It is even painful for it to bear. In the end the
earth is not to be goaded on or driven along: it has to go on its own. It must
depend entirely on itself, bring out what it carries within itself or has
acquired or stored. It has to outgrow its childhood or apprenticeship, the
period when an intelligent amount of pressure or even coercion might be needed
or inevitable. But that stage passed, the higher realisation is to be the
natural expression of ordinary earth-life: its normal state is to be the state
of the higher consciousness, its life naturally moved by its self-nature
expressing its own truth.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:13.5pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>If there is to be a Divine
destiny for earth, it must be because of its free choice. There must be no
pressure or even solicitude from any agent outside itself to compel it or force
it that way. It must be a glad and spontaneous impulse from within to follow
the line of destiny it has itself chosen.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:13.5pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>As the original
birth of Ignorance was a free choice of<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;'>Page – 101<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-line-height-alt:11.75pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>Ignorance, even so the return of Ignorance to consciousness is to be
a matter of spontaneous self-seeking. It may be true or it is true in a deeper
way that a mortal is chosen whom the Divine has already chosen, but that is
another matter. Here upon earth we, mortal souls, are free agents, we choose or
we do not choose.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.5pt;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>In any case if one is to possess truly something one must acquire it
by one's exertion and in one's complete liberty. A free gift or an imposition
even of a precious object is always something foreign and unnatural to it. One
must learn to love a thing in order to have it wholly for oneself, it must be
made part and parcel of one's being. And true love can exist only in free
choice.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:13.4pt;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>Latterly the Mother was saying whenever the question of the descent
of supermind was raised that there was no descent any longer: for, the thing
has descended and it is here, it is no more a question of descent, that is to
say, something arriving from elsewhere that was not here before. At present it
is simply the question of manifestation of the thing that is with us and among
us.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.7pt;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:190.55pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>At one time Mother was asking for, even
pleading for collaboration from the material nature. It was accorded in
principle but in act it was found wanting. Now the tables are turned. The earth-consciousness
has now to ask for, pray for collaboration from the Divine. The material
consciousness has to come forward and take the lead and play the frontal role
in the working out of the evolution. The collaboration of her physical body has
been withdrawn, in order to leave us free in our physical movements so that we
may learn to labour and labour in full freedom for the service expected of us.
We say she has withdrawn herself, that is to say, in her physical body, but she
is still there, and her being there, her very existence is force, a helping
force and that is collaboration enough and is always at our disposal.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.5pt;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>Now at present it all depends how much the earth consciousness has
received, imbibed or assimilated of the Divine Presence. That will be the
measure of the fulfilment human being can achieve. As much as we
earth-creatures feel and express of the higher reality, that much we shall. <span
class=GramE>become</span> truly and divinely. If we continue to be the old
stock with no or<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page –
102</span><span lang=EN-GB style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE><span
lang=EN-GB>little change, well, we shall have to
wait perhaps for another million years.</span></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.75pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>It would mean for us naturally a change of dress for good many a
time perhaps. There seems to be no other way. But a change of dress is
inevitable and should be welcome, for kept on too long it would stink. A dip in
the Vaitarni or Acheron (if we happen to be in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB>Greece</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span lang=EN-GB>)
would be wholesome. There is however always the possibility of a miracle
happening: to this Mother was referring very often. In that case you might
learn to change, to renew yourselves in the inner way, even like the Vedic
cows: as the Rishi <i>says – Paliknirid yuvatayo bhavanti – </i>even those of <span
class=GramE>them</span> who were grey with age, became young again.¹</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>Naturally it does not matter at all to the Divine, the supreme
consciousness – the whole eternity is his play-field, a million years this side
or that <span class=GramE>do</span> not count for Him anything.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>And yet, we are human beings and we can have other vistas equally
divine. </span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>The Mother became a human being like us as totally as possible for
that purpose, to shorten the million years.</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0;text-align:justify;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:71.75pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-bottom:0'>
<span style='mso-tab-count:1' lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:
11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>The Mother continues to do what is necessary under the circumstances
and perhaps more, she has not stopped her work. But the most crucial thing and
the most critical – turning the corner – has been done. Sri Aurobindo has
spoken of it in memorable words-we know the passage in <i>The Mother – I </i>quote
the lines and conclude:</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:0;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
lang=EN-GB>The Mother not only governs all from above but she descends into
this lesser triple universe. Impersonally, all things here, even the movements
of the Ignorance, are herself in veiled power and her creations in diminished
substance, her Nature-body and Nature-force, and they exist because, moved by
the mysterious fiat of the Supreme to work out something that was there in the
possibilities of the Infinite, she has consented to the great sacrifice and.
has put on like a mask the soul and forms of the Ignorance. But personally too
she has stooped to descend here into the Darkness that she may lead it to the
Light, into the</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:0;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;mso-line-height-alt:11.75pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB>¹ </span><i><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Rigveda, </span></i><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>V, 2.4.<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

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mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;'>Page – 103<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>Falsehood
and error that she may convert it to the Truth, into this Death that she may
turn it to godlike Life, into this world-pain and its obstinate sorrow and
suffering that she may end it in the transforming ecstasy of he sublime Ananda.
In her deep and great love for her children she has consented to put on herself
the cloak of this obscurity, condescended to bear the attacks and torturing
influences of the powers of the Darkness and the Falsehood, borne to pass
through the portals of the birth that is a death, taken upon herself the pangs
and sorrows and sufferings of the creation, since it seemed that thus alone
could it be lifted to the Light and Joy and Truth and eternal Life. This is the
great sacrifice called sometimes the sacrifice of the Purusha, but much more
deeply the holocaust of</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>Prakriti, the
sacrifice of the Divine Mother.¹</span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:11.75pt;mso-pagination:none;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB>¹ </span><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Sri Aurobindo
Birth Centenary Library, Vol. 25, p. 24-25</span><span lang=EN-GB><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

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mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page –
104<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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