Diary Entry

by Sri Chinmoy
while in residence at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India

9 April

 

For some special reason Nirmala-di wanted to be photographed with Nolini-da. So she asked me to bring my photographer-friend Gopal. Gopal came about three-thirty in the afternoon to take pictures. Robi-da was taking his usual refreshment in Nolini-da's room. Nolini-da asked me to call Robi-da to be in the picture. Robi-da was exceedingly delighted that he was able to be in the photograph with his father. Gopal took two pictures of Nolini-da, Nirmala-di, Robi-da and me together. Afterwards, Nolini-da said to Nirmala-di: "So, Nirmala, I have-fulfilled your demands, as I always do."

Published in A Service-Flame and a Service-Sun

 

The Soul’s Special Promise

Sri Chinmoy answers questions during a bus trip 

 

Question: Do you have a favourite birthplace from your previous incarnations?

Sri Chinmoy: India and America.

Question: You once said that every human soul taking birth in India has something special.

Sri Chinmoy: God alone knows what I said then and in what context. Perhaps I meant in general. To me, the Indian soul responds quite easily and quickly to the call of the Universal Spirit.

Question: What actually do you mean by “the birth of a new creation”?

Sri Chinmoy: With the birth of a new creation, Heaven sends a new hope to humanity and humanity offers a new promise to Heaven.

Question: Do witches go through normal birth?

Sri Chinmoy: Each and every creation of God, good or bad, goes through birth, which we can call either normal or abnormal.

Question: Does the soul choose an astrological sign that helps work out its karma?

Sri Chinmoy: The soul does not choose any astrological sign. It is astrology that tries to trace the footsteps or the journey of the soul.

Question: Does karma affect the date and conditions of birth?

Sri Chinmoy: In some cases it does, but not always. If the divine Grace descends on a special soul in a special way, then the karma of that individual does not affect any date or any conditions.

Question: Does each soul eventually have to take incarnation in each zodiacal sign?

Sri Chinmoy: No. It is not at all necessary.

Question: Is there a reason why the soul chooses a specific day for birth?

Sri Chinmoy: The soul just obeys God’s divine Plan.

Question: Why does God pick a certain date for someone to be born?

Sri Chinmoy: God chooses a special date because He feels that that is the date most suited for the particular soul.

Question: Are there lucky dates to be born?

Sri Chinmoy: If you are a conscious and unconditional God-lover, then any date is good for you.

Question: Do likes and dislikes carry over from one birth to another?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, they do. But once one becomes spiritually mature, one has no personal likes and dislikes.

Question: Before dying, can one influence the following birth condition?

Sri Chinmoy: Only spiritual figures of the highest order can do that.

Question: Do you remember, Guru, the day you were born?

Sri Chinmoy: Only the soul in me remembers.

Question: Does Krishna have more than one birthday, and how is this possible?

Sri Chinmoy: Krishna has only one birthday but, in India, we observe the birthday according to the position of the moon. Therefore, various calendars may differ from one year to another.

Question: Do we get some connection with an Avatar if we celebrate his birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: If you celebrate an Avatar’s birthday most soulfully and devotedly, then you can have some connection with him.

Question: What is the best present I can give God for my birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: A heart of boundless gratitude and a life of unconditional surrender.

Question: How do people who are aspiring in India celebrate their birthdays?

Sri Chinmoy: Each aspirant, not only in India but everywhere, celebrates his or her birthday according to the awakening and development of his or her spiritual life.

Question: Do the souls who are descending to take birth pass by the souls who are ascending after death?

Sri Chinmoy: No. There are two roads. They do not cross. Descent has one road; ascent has another road. They are not like a two-lane highway. If, while descending, the soul is stationary at one particular place, then it can happen, but usually it does not. While there is movement — one soul is descending, another soul is ascending — it does not happen.

Question: What should a mother do when her baby is born retarded?

Sri Chinmoy: The mother should pray for the fulfilment of God’s Will inside the retarded child. If the mother grumbles or complains, her negative qualities will enter into the retarded child and make him worse. If he becomes worse, the mother’s life will be infinitely more miserable.

Question: Why are babies born prematurely?

Sri Chinmoy: God wants to give a certain experience to the parents as well as to the soul of the individual.

Question: Does it make any difference if we are born at home or in a hospital?

Sri Chinmoy: It seems to me it does. On the one hand, if the child is born in a hospital, there is better medical care. On the other hand, there are many, many, many wrong forces in a hospital, while at home the atmosphere is peaceful and affectionate.

Question: My sister expects a child on my birthday. Will we have a connection?

Sri Chinmoy: Not necessarily.

Question: Should one think of the family he was born into on his birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: It is up to the individual. The most important thing is that one should think of one’s own soul and pray to the Inner Pilot for Light, more Light, abundant Light and infinite Light.

Question: If there is a problem at birth, should the mother or the child be saved?

Sri Chinmoy: I feel that the mother should be saved. Before the child enters into ignorance, the child should go back to the soul’s world. Before it enters into the ignorance-world to fight for and establish God’s Victory, the child should go back and come here at another time. The mother has already started her journey in the battlefield of life, so she should be saved.

Question: Is the day you die connected to the day you were born?

Sri Chinmoy: Not necessarily.

Question: Is your birthday the most important day for your disciples?

Sri Chinmoy: For the first-class disciples, definitely it is, and for others, their own birthday should be the most important.

Question: Which is more important: the disciple's acceptance day or his birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: According to me, the day the seeker accepted the spiritual life is the most important day because that is the day he consciously made his soulful promise to God to please God in His own Way. The spiritual birthday is infinitely more important than the physical birthday if he is a genuine seeker.

Question: Does a soul sometimes take the same birthday in different incarnations?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, sometimes it does.

Question: How can we best cheer up people who are always sad on their birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: Just by telling them, “God loves you and God needs you, even if you are not aware of it. His Love for you is really unconditional and His Need for you is absolutely true.”

Question: Three members of my family were born in the same month. Is there any significance to that?

Sri Chinmoy: I do not think in this case there is any special significance. They can be born on the same day in different years. Even then, there need not be any special significance.

Question: Is there a reason why I was born on my great-grandmother's birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: Who knows, perhaps your great-grandmother’s soul and your soul have a special connection.

Question: Do we have a special connection with other disciples who were born on our birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: I have disciples who were born on the same date who have no particular affection for each other. There may not be any special connection.

Question: On our birthday, are there any special qualities we should meditate on?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. We should meditate on gratitude to God, our surrender to God’s Will and our wholehearted acceptance of our inner life.

Question: On your birthday, what does your heart feel and what does your soul feel?

Sri Chinmoy: On my birthday, my soul is blissful and my heart is soulful.

Question: What are the best songs to sing to help us on our birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: The best song is our Invocation: “Supreme, I bow to Thee.”

Question: Should we plan to use our birthday for a special manifestation project?

Sri Chinmoy: Do not delay. Just start from today on!

Question: How can a seeker bring an unaspiring person's soul forward on his birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: A seeker must not waste his time in trying to bring forward the soul of an unaspiring person. A seeker has much more important things to do.

Question: Is it significant or coincidental when we receive our spiritual name close to or on our birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: It is just coincidental. There is no great significance.

Question: Does the soul look different on a seeker's birthday?

Sri Chinmoy: Certainly not. On your birthday, the soul looks the way it always looks.

Published in The Soul’s Special Promise, part 2