Thomas Carlyle
A talk by Sri Chinmoy
in Room 550, United Nation Building, New York
Last time I mentioned the importance of the great figures who have illumined our world. Today I shall speak about Carlyle.
Carlyle. The colossal pride of his country he was. A thinker he was. A philosopher he was. A historian he was. Most of his life-experiences were founded upon his inner awakening and inner illumination. He stirred quite powerfully and significantly not only the Scottish consciousness and the British consciousness, but also the entire European consciousness.
According to his philosophy, materialism and the machine-world cannot and will not illumine and fulfil mankind. It is the message of the spirit that can and will transform the face of mankind. In unmistakable terms he declared that only the life-disciplined and ideal heroes can steer humanity's boat to the shores of satisfaction-fulfilment.
Something more: in Carlyle's philosophy, all human beings are in essence one, because they are of the same Source. But if one individual is more awakened and more illumined than the others, naturally he has to lead and guide the rest. Carlyle maintained that this individual has to play the role of a pioneer precisely because he himself was one of the pioneer world-thinkers and world-transformers. Dauntless he was. Nothing could cow him. He hoisted high his lofty banner of life-awakening and life-illumining reality.
He spoke in clear and emphatic terms with regard to the inner resource, and it was here that he was badly misunderstood. His critics saw in him an unbearable autocrat and not an apostle of a new dawn. To his admirers' sorrow, impatience and irritation plagued his mind. Nevertheless, he made his mighty contribution to the world's life-code. Especially his work for the world of German literature and for the French revolution made him a most significant member of the human family. His enthusiasm for German life in his early years added considerably to the German contribution to the world community. And his book on the French revolution is an immortal book. There he offers a most significant idea: an inner guidance, an unseen hand guides and shapes the destiny of mankind. In all human actions, in all activities, in all worldly, earthly affairs there is a spirit that moves, guides and shapes the world-destiny; there is an inner purpose for outer action.
His father wanted him to be a priest. But he became something else: a world teacher. In fact, his father's desire was fulfilled in an infinitely wider and more profound way. Had he become a priest, perhaps only a few Scottish religion-lovers and truth-seekers would have received his light. But by becoming an illumining thinker and writer, a historian and finally a philosopher-saint in the purest sense of the term, he offered to this world of ours his world of light, abundant light. Thus, he has become the property of the world and he belongs to the world-treasure.
Yesterday was Carlyle's birthday. For a second let us offer to his soul our gratitude-heart for what he has done to create a better world, a better mankind.
Published in Reality-Dream
Sri Chinmoy meets with Piero Vinci, Italy’s Ambassador to the United Nations, at a special function held at the UN commemorating the 23rd anniversary of Italy’s joining the United Nations.
Piero Vinci remarks:
“I am very happy to be here with the Meditation Group, which, under the outstanding leadership of Sri Chinmoy, is working to support the spiritual values of the United Nations.”
Published in the forward to Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 36
Excerpt from a letter from Mr. Robert Muller, Chancellor of the University for Peace and former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General:
I know Sri Chinmoy is a great prophet of the United Nations. The entire world should he extremely grateful to Sri Chinmoy, head of the Meditation Group at the United Nations, for his untiring efforts to bring the United Nations closer to the heart of the people. This he has done most devotedly and extensively this year in honour of the United Nations fiftieth anniversary.
Excerpt from a letter from Mr. C. Subrainaniam, President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan:
Today we need the blessings of holy men to preserve peace in the world. Sri Chinmoy is contributing a great deal to establish peace on earth and to promote harmony in human society.
Sri Chinmoy lifts Professor Dr. Haryono Suyono, Chairman of the Indonesian Self-Reliance Community Foundation at the Lor In Hotel in Solo, Java, Indonesia.