Great god-realized gurus usually possess a terrific sense of humor. This was true not only of Swami Vivekananda and Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, but also of Sri Aurobindo. The following amusing incidents highlighting the light-hearted humor of Sri Aurobindo have been excerpted from two sources: 1) The first is a collection of engaging talks given by his direct disciple Amal Kiran, which are published in the book: Light & Laughter: Some Talks at Pondicherry; and 2) the second is Sri Aurobindo’s book Letters on Himself and the Ashram.
– Sri Aurobindo
You Have a Good Face!
Amal Kiran: Now in Pondicherry my first Darshan Day was approaching – it was the 21st of February, the Mother’s birthday.
People were not very encouraging at that time, they left me in doubt whether I would be able to attend the Darshan or not. Up to almost the last minute I didn’t know my fate. I had to go and scrutinize the list of names put up. At last I found my name. “Good!” I said, “I am lucky to be allowed.”
Later I took my place in the queue. Of course in those days the queue was a small one: I think there were only 40 people staying in the Ashram and perhaps as many visitors. The Darshan used to be in the long front room upstairs.
I went in my turn – first, of course, to the Mother because Sri Aurobindo I didn’t know, while the Mother I had seen again and again. I knelt down at her feet, she blessed me; then I went to Sri Aurobindo’s feet and looked at him.
My physical mind came right to the front: “What sort of a person is Sri Aurobindo? How does he look?” I saw him sitting very grandly, with an aquiline nose, smallish eyes, fine mustaches and a thin beard …. I was examining him thoroughly. At length I made my pranam. He put both his hands on my head – that was his way – a most delightful way with his very soft palms. I took my leave, looking at him again.
I observed to myself: “Quite an impressive Guru: (laughter) he is very fine in appearance, very grand – I think I can accept him!” (laughter) The next day I met the Mother and asked her: “Mother, did Sri Aurobindo say anything about me?” (laughter) She answered: “Well, he just said that you had a good face.” (laughter)
Here was a piquant situation. When I was examining him, he was examining me – on the same level, it seems. (laughter) He had come down, as it were, to meet my physical mind. I didn’t think the compliment he had paid me was very satisfying or quite sufficient. Only a good face? Then I asked myself: “What did you require of Sri Aurobindo? That he should have a good face for you to accept him. Why shouldn’t he accept you for your good face if that’s the sole qualification you have got?” (laughter)
Source: Light & Laughter: Some Talks at Pondicherry
Snoring Concert
Amal Kiran: To go back to the old days when I was young: there was at that time not only, a meditation in the early morning at 7.30 but also a night meditation to which I was not admitted because I was a mere novice and the Mother must have thought I would fall asleep. Even now she thinks that people on the whole can really meditate only for three minutes: afterwards there are diverse states of sleep. (laughter)
When somebody asked her how long a man could sit in Sri Aurobindo’s room for meditation, she said: “It can’t be for more than three minutes, for soon after that he will fall asleep.” And actually even the older sadhaks seemed to be falling asleep, for Sri Aurobindo shortly after I came to Pondicherry put a dead stop to the night meditation, saying: “I don’t care for a snoring concert.” (laughter)
Source: Light & Laughter: Some Talks at Pondicherry
Grow Back Your Beard!
Amal Kiran: Now I would like to come to more serious topics: phases and phenomena of the Ashram which were contemporaneous with the career of my beard. By the way, my beard did not last all my life, as you can see for yourselves. Actually the first shaving of it marked the first spiritual fall I had, because after a year and a half my people from Bombay came on a visit and they brought the Bombay atmosphere.
Although I agreed to see them only twice a week, I was yet afraid I might lose or spoil my Yogic halo. And those few meetings made me open myself to the Bombay atmosphere and I said: “Why should I not shave off my beard? I’ll be better-looking without it!”
My brother had no beard, the friend accompanying my family had none, either. So one morning I just cleared mine away. But when I looked in the mirror it seemed as if half my face had been cut off! (laughter) So much removed from under the chin so suddenly made the face look horribly small.
And it was with this face that I went to the Darshan of Sri Aurobindo. He was a little puzzled: “Who is this funny-looking fellow with a face familiar but inexplicably halved?” (laughter) Then he concentrated a little and recognized that here was Amal Kiran.
Seeing his expression, I on my return home wrote at once to him: “How did you find me?” He replied: “Grow back your beard as fast as you can!” (laughter) And I started re-growing it by whatever means I could – even watering my face at times in my desperation. (laughter) In a fortnight there was some result to show of all my pains and prayers.
Source: Light & Laughter: Some Talks at Pondicherry
Speculations about Past Lives a Perilous Game
Disciple: It is reported that you were Kalidasa and Shakespeare (in your past lives). I suppose it is true, at least regarding Kalidasa—isn’t it?
Sri Aurobindo: As to the report, who is the reporter? and in what “Reincarnation Review” have these items been reported?
Disciple: We have various guesses about your previous lives…Among your other and non-poetic incarnations, some surmise Alexander and Julius Caesar.
Sri Aurobindo: Good Heavens! You have forgotten that Mrs. Besant claims Julius Caesar. I don’t want to be prosecuted by her for misappropriation of personality…Seriously, these historical identifications are a perilous game and open a hundred doors to the play of imagination.
