LATIN SLANT
Ex-Gov. H. Colon of P.R. Enjoys Respite at Master Chinmoy’s N.Y. Art Gallery
Former Puerto Rican Gov. Hernandez Colon enjoyed a welcome respite from his diplomatic battles Tuesday night when he attended a reception in his honor at the New York art gallery of Indian spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy.
“You don’t know how much gladness is in my heart to be here with you,” Colon told the Guru. “Or perhaps you do, because you are able to read our hearts.”
Sri Chinmoy, whom Colon had proclaimed an “honorary resident of Puerto Rico” during his governorship, replied: “Every day you are in my prayer. Every day you are in my consciousness. Every day you are in my soulful meditation.”
As 200 of the Guru’s followers applauded, Sri Chinmoy presented Colon with a cake and personally escorted him around the gallery in New York’s Grand Central Station, where several hundred of his paintings are on display.
Colon told the assemblage: “I feel united with all of you and with Guru in our aspiration. I feel oneness in our souls. I feel that your hearts touch mine and that we are all together travelling on the same path.”
To the Guru, whose first spiritual Centre in the Western world was established in San Juan 12 years ago, Colon said: “This opportunity to see you comes at a time when I am very much in need of help because I am engaged in a very serious matter for Puerto Rico.” He is in the city on a diplomatic mission to the United Nations concerning Puerto Rico’s relationship with the U.S.
While he was governor, Colon invited Sri Chinmoy to his home on several occasions in Puerto Rico, but hasn’t seen him since 1976. “I have thought about you very much during the past two years... always with the deepest respect, admiration and love,” Colon said. “I had a great desire to see you and this desire has been fulfilled tonight.”
Sri Chinmoy told the former governor: “We are one. We are sailing in the same boat, and together we shall fight against ignorance. Ours is the ultimate victory.”
Sri Chinmoy is head of a worldwide spiritual organization headquartered in New York. He is also author of 350 spiritual books, a prolific artist and composer of some 3,000 devotional songs.
Some of his 130,000 paintings had previously been exhibited at the Museo de Arte in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Sri Chinmoy has also been conducting twice-weekly meditations for delegates and staff at the United Nations since 1970.
Captions:
Left: Warm Greetings are exchanged by Ex-Governor of Puerto Rico Hernandez Colon, and Sri Chinmoy, when they met in N.Y. for a moment of respite and conversation. Hernandez Colon in the City for diplomatic mission on Puerto Rico’s status, hadn’t seen the religious Master since 1976 in Puerto Rico.
Right: Former Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon of Puerto Rico is escorted by Master Sri Chinmoy to the private meditation room at the N.Y. Art Gallery.
Published in EL DIARIO-LA PRENSA, Viernes, 8 de Septiembre de 1978