Review: The Mother

The Mother: A Short Biography

by Wilfried Huchzermeyer

Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry, India, 1986. 104 pp.

At the turn of the last century, the concept of the so-called occult was a somewhat regular part of our culture. What it means, together with its credibility, is still open for debate today. Imagine two beings said to be realized, said to be avatars, maintaining an ashram in India and, in addition to the requirements involved in such an endeavor, putting intense effort into what could be interpreted as psychic work.

As a pre-teen girl, the Mother had spiritual and psychic experiences confirming God’s existence and the potential for our union with Him. She was shown that the body and mind could become divine, thereby manifesting God on earth, and was taught practical disciplines to build this destiny. Her life’s work had been revealed. Upon meeting Sri Aurobindo as an adult, she felt that she had found the proof that this would truly happen and knew that she had met her mentor/spiritual partner.

They collaborated in training and supporting others, using their advanced realization to strive to bring down the “Supramental Manifestation.” They fought the darkness at work in the world wars through their inner meditative practices and wills. They did their inner spiritual work in spite of illness, and at times illness manifested as part of their spiritual work. When Sri Aurobindo chose to leave his body to continue his work from “the other side,” the Mother took the full load of earthly responsibility.

In reading this book with some clarity of interpretation, one must remember the timeline and the language and culture issues involved: the book, in English, is written by a German translator of Indian literature, about a French female guru (Mirra Alfassa - the Mother) of Turkish and Egyptian descent and her guru/collaborator, an Indian male (Sri Aurobindo). Understanding this, one can enter into the timeless, cultureless teachings and look for the Truth.

-- reviewed by Dawn Kurzka

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