Back to Contents
			IDEAL CHILD
			===========

WHAT A CHILD SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER
-----------------------------------

The necessity of an absolute sincerity.

The certitude of Truth's final victory.

The possibility of constant progress with the
will to acheive.

The Mother
                       =x=

AN IDEAL CHILD
==============

    IS GOOD-TEMPERED
    ----------------
He does not become angry when things seem to
go against him or decisions are not in his
favour.

    IS GAME
    -------
Whatever he does he does it to the best of
his capacity and keeps on doing in the face
of almost certain failure. He always thinks
straight and acts straight.

    IS TRUTHFUL
    -----------
He never fears to say the truth whatever
may be the consequences.

    IS PATIENT
    ----------
He does not get disheartened if he has to
wait a a long time to see the result of his
efforts.

    IS ENDURING
    -----------
He faces the inevitable difficulties and
sufferings without grumbling.

    IS PERSEVERING
    --------------
He never slackens his effort however long
it has to last.

    IS POISED
    ---------
He keeps equanimity in success as well as
in failure.

    IS COURAGEOUS
    -------------
He always goes on fighting for the final victory
though he may meet with many defeats.

    IS CHEERFUL
    -----------
He knows how to smile and keep a happy
heart in all circumstances.

    IS MODEST
    ---------
He does not become conceited over his
success, neither does he feel himself
superior to his comrades.

    IS GENEROUS
    -----------
He appreciates the merits of others and is
always ready to help another to succeed.

    IS FAIR AND OBEDIENT
    --------------------
He observes the discipline and is always
honest.

The Mother
                       =x=

CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP
---------------------
Keep the rules.
Keep faith with your comrade.
Keep your temper.
Keep yourself fit.
Keep a stout heart in defeat.
Keep your pride under in victory.
Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a
healthy body.
Play the game.

The Mother(***)

(***)
"Code of sportsmanship" is reproduced from "Introduction
to Physical education by Jackson R.Sharman "A Good Sportsman"
was adapted by the MOther from the same book.
                       =x=
A GOOD SPORTSMAN
----------------

    IS COURTEOUS
    ============
    >>On the field<< he does not jeer at errors; he
does not cheer at the opponent's defeat; he treats
them as guests, not enemies.
    >>In school<< he is considerate to the authorities,
the fellow students, and the teachers.
    >>In life<< he is respectful to others; he treats
them as he would be treated.

    IS MODEST
    =========
    >>On the field<< he works for the good of the
team rather than for individual honour; he
will even sacrifice his own prestige for his
team; he is a gracious winner.
    >>In school<< he does not become conceited
over his success, neither does he feel himself
superior to his class-mates.
    >>In life<< he does not "blow" about what he is
going to do; he does not boast about what he
has done.

    IS GENEROUS
    ===========
    >>On the field<< he applauds a good play of his
opponents.
    >>In school<< he appreciates another's merit.
    >>In life<< he does not ridicule the man who is
"down" but encourages him. He is not afraid
to voice his opinions straightforwardly and
clearly.

    IS GAME
    =======
    >>On the field<< he plays hard; he fights though
he may be already defeated; he accepts
adverse decisions; he is a good loser.
    >>In school<< he does his work, he keeps on
working in the face of almost certain failure.
He has the vim to think straight, the pluck to
act straight.
    >>In life<< he does his part however hard
it may be ; he accepts reverses with a smile and
tries again.

    IS OBEDIENT
    ===========
    >>On the field<< he observes the rule of the
games.
    >>In school<< he observes all the regulations.
    >>In life<< he respects the rules which help to
promote harmony.

    IS FAIR
    =======
    >>On the field<< he completes in a clean, hard
fought but friendly way; he helps an injured
opponent.
    >>In school<< he does not waste his time nor
that of the teachers. He is always honest.
    >>In life<< he sees impartially both sides of
a question.

The Mother
                       =x=

TO THE CHILDREN OF THE ASHRAM
-----------------------------
There is an ascending evolution in nature which goes from
the stone to the plant, from the plant to the animal, from
the animal to man. Because man is, for the moment, the last
rung at the summit of the ascending evolution, he considers
himself as the final stage in this ascension and believes
there can be nothing on earth superior to him. In that he
is mistaken. In his physical nature he is yet almost wholly
an animal, a thinking and speaking animal, but still an
animal in his material habits and instincts. Undoubtedly,
nature cannot be satisfied with such an imperfect result;
she endeavours to bring out a being who will be to man what
man is to the animal, a being who will remain a man in its
external form, and yet whose consciousness will rise far
above the mental and its slavery to ignorance.

Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to teach this truth to men.
He told them that man is only a transitional being living
in a mental consciousness, but with the possibility of
acquiring a new consciousness, the Truth-consciousness, and
capable of living a life perfectly harmonious, good and
beautiful, happy and fully conscious. During the whole of
his life upon earth, Sri Aurobindo gave all his time to
establish in himself this consciousness he called
supramental, and to help those gathered around him to
realise it.

You have the immense privilege of having come quite young
to the Ashram, that is to say, still plastic and capable of
being moulded according to this new ideal and thus become
the representatives of the new race. Here, in the Ashram,
you are in the most favourable conditions with regard to
the environment, the influence, the teaching and the
example, to awaken in you this supramental consciousness
and to grow according to its law.

Now, all depends on your will and your sincerity. If you
have the will no more to belong to ordinary humanity, no
more to be merely evolved animals; if your will is to
become men of the new race realising Sri Aurobindo's
supramental ideal, living a new and higher life upon a new
earth, you will find here all the necessary help to achieve
your purpose; you will profit fully by your stay in the
Ashram and eventually become living examples for the world.

The Mother, 24 July 1951
                       =x=

PRAYER OF THE STUDENTS
----------------------
  Make of us the hero warriors we aspire to
become. May we fight successfully the great
battle of the future that is to be born against
the past that seeks to endure; so that the
new things may manifest and we be ready to
receive them.

The Mother, 6 January 1952
                       =x=

SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF EDUCATION
------------------------------------------------
  Sri Aurobindo is present in our midst, and
with all the power of his creative genius he
presides over the formation of the university
centre which for years he considered as one
of the best means of preparing the future
humanity to receive the supramental light
that will transform the elite of today into
a new race manifesting upon the earth the new
light and force and life.
  In his name I open today this convention
meeting here with the purpose of realising
one of his most cherished ideals.

The Mother, 24 April 1951
                       =x=


---------------------------------------------------------------
                  Let this book reach every child
---------------------------------------------------------------


THE IDEAL CHILD
---------------
...likes to study when he is in school.
...likes to play when he is in the playground.
...he likes to eat at meal-time.
...he likes to sleep at bed-time.
...and always he is full of love for all those around him.
...full of confidence in the divine Grace, full of deep
respect for the Divine.

The Mother
                       =x=

    ---------------
    CALL TO VICTORY
    ---------------
    I salute you, my brave little soldiers, I
    give you my call to the rendezvous with
    Victory.
        -The Mother
                       =x=
Back to Contents