Yogi Sri Chinmoy, in Ottawa during a cross-Canada lecture tour, says today’s hippies are “disappointing”
“You cannot give peace by shouting and slogans. You cannot help society by leaving society.”
The guru, lapsing into periods of meditation during an interview, said thousands of people had come to him seeking spiritual fulfilment through Yoga. Young people who had experimented with drugs have come to him and told him of their “marvellous experiences” with drugs. Sri Chinmoy’s way is through meditation, not drugs.
He cited two types of life, one of desire and the other of aspiration. Aspiration is an inner cry, he said, and is the type of life that fulfils.
“The ordinary person cries for name, fame, material wealth.”
This is the life of desire the Yogi says is a part of the problem with the contemporary.
Through meditation, he said, people can learn to control their desires for material things and transcend the barriers of prejudice.
Divine fulfilment is the goal in Yoga practice, reached by a union of the soul with God. It is not a replacement for religion.
“Yoga” he emphasised. “is only one path.”
“Everyone has the right to realize God in his own way. Yoga will never interfere. Yoga transcends the barriers of all religions.
No superior religion He said each religion criticizes the others, but he sees the different religions as paths to fulfilment. One is not superior to another, but each fulfil the needs of various people, he said.
Sri Chinmoy does not follow any one specific religion. “I have a path of my own — of love, devotion and surrender.” “I feel God is dearest to me not because He is omnipotent, omnipresent ... but I am attracted to His love aspect.”
He said he had achieved peace of mind by offering himself to God through meditation.
Like drop of water
He compared his surrender to God to a drop of water being assimilated by the ocean. As the drop of water loses its individuality, so the finite becomes infinite.
“Man cannot remain imperfect forever. When man listens to God his imperfections turn to perfections,” he said.
Sri Chinmoy said the only way to reach fulfilment is to meditate.
When he began following Yoga at the age of 12 in India, he meditated eight to 10 hours a day. Now, he said, his meditation is constant and spontaneous. “In order to realize God, man has to meditate. Meditation is the divine language. When I speak to God, I don’t use English — I use the common language of meditation.”
Daily meditation
He asks that his disciples meditate at least every morning and every night.
Centres for Spiritual philosophy and meditation have been established in several cities in North America. The first Canadian Centre was established in Ottawa, at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Lok.
Mrs. Lok, has been given the Indian name of Mukti, meaning liberation.
He said he feels each of his disciples should have an Indian name to express the way their souls can realize truth.
Sri Chinmoy’s centres are opened by people whom he believes are sincere in their quest for the ultimate in Yoga philosophy.
When he is convinced a person is a “sincere seeker”, he will grant him an interview after the aspirant has spent four months meditating at one of the Centres. He asks that his disciples be vegetarians. This helps keep the body and mind pure he said.
“When you eat meat, the animal consciousness enters into your body. Animals are restless,” he said. “You can’t meditate when destructive qualities such as doubt, fear, and anxiety are within the body.”
Being a vegetarian speeds up the progression towards the ultimate realization of God, he said.
Sessions at UN
Sri Chinmoy, who leads meditations in the Peace Room of the United Nations every Tuesday, said U Thant is doing a remarkable job. He expressed fear of what might happen after U Thant is gone. “All governments are talking peace, but look at the outer thing — all wars. There is a difference between what we speak and what we do. Truth and peace have to be felt first from within. Then we can offer it without.”
