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<p class="paracenter">The Iron Chain
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How many of you have been here since the beginning, I mean from the kindergarten classes—any? One, two, three, four— oh, a good many! Very creditable, very creditable indeed, that so many have continued so long and passed through. This is really something creditable.
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I will tell you a story in this connection. A young man who was an aspirant, a seeker of spiritual or religious life, once upon a time went to Gandhiji. He wanted to remain there. He said, &quot;I am a seeker of spiritual life. 
I want to remain with you.&quot; Gandhiji saw the person and accepted him. &quot;It is all right, you may try,&quot; he said. The young man remained there some time, a pretty long time, perhaps even a year. But at the end of the year he approached Gandhiji and said, &quot;Please permit to go away from here. Somehow 
I feel I cannot remain any longer.&quot; Then he went away and came here to the Ashram. The Ashram he liked very much and remained here. After some years Gandhiji thought of the young man. &quot;Where is he? He was a nice man. Where has he gone?&quot; Then he learned that the young man was here in Sri Aurobindo Ashram. How many years? &quot;Seven years!&quot; Gandhiji was astounded. &quot;How is it? I know the young man. I know he was a restless person, so uncertain about himself, about his movements—he could not stick to one place or one occupation for long. And he has been in Sri Aurobindo Ashram for seven years! It is a great credit to Sri Aurobindo Ashram for being able to keep him so long!&quot; And I may add: he is still here! So 
I may say that those of you who have continued to remain here may claim some credit for your performance, or does the credit go to the Ashram?
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<br><p class="pageno">Page-84</p>
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I have an idea. You have heard very much of the golden chain that the Mother puts on whoever comes near her and touches her—an unbreakable eternal chain we all have known and experienced, the golden chain with which she ties everyone who comes in her embrace. Now I feel she has another chain also in her wallet—a chain with handcuffs and fetters —with which she binds some people physically to her, to her material presence. She also takes up the physical destiny of the person. The golden chain belongs of course to the soul, which is eternal, beautiful and glorious; this is another matter. Bur even the very body, this material carcass, can belong equally to the Mother. With the golden chain you are the beloved of the Mother, or her lover, but with the iron chain you become her physical slave.
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Yes, I am trying to hint that those who have been here for long, many from their infancy, have earned a particular merit: from the spiritual point of view this continuance, this continuity, is itself something significant; it is an achievement. Even if you do not pass any examination—that is, move up, promoted from class to class after a hard test—even if you simply glide through, pass along ambling and at ease, that is sufficient. There is something that remains; something very valuable sticks to the consciousness. You may not be aware of it now, but one day you are sure to know and recognise it. So I congratulate you all for your happy achievement which is indeed the sign of her signal Grace.
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<i>29 October 1977</i>
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<br><p class="pageno">Page-85</p>
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