It gives me great pleasure to invite you to speak at Florida International University in the Wertheim Performing Arts Center, on May 26, 1998 as a visiting philosopher.
I have had the privilege of meeting you before, and I am sure your audience at FIU will be delighted to hear your words, your music, and your presence. The Department of Religious Studies is working with the local Sri Chinmoy Centre on all arrangements, and we look forward to seeing you in Miami next month, and to presenting you with a plaque honoring you as "India's Peace-Service-Tree" to mark this auspicious occasion.
Yours sincerely,
Nathan Katz
Professor and Chair
Department of Religious Studies
Florida International University, Miami
Sri Chinmoy presents the U Thant Peace Award to former United Nations Secretary-General Dr. Pérez de Cuéllar in Paris, France. Sri Chinmoy also offers the ‘Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart’ Award to the Secretary-General and his wife, Mme. Marcela Pérez de Cuéllar.
“I am receiving the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy, who is actually, I would say, the heart of the United Nations.” — Javier Peréz de Cuéllar
Sri Chinmoy and the 215-member-strong Sri Chinmoy Centre Cycling Team line up at the start of the 24-hour Pepsi-Cola Bicycle Marathon in Central Park, New York, NY, USA.
Photo by Dhanu Alaimo
Sri Chinmoy, books in hand, exits Barnes and Noble in New York.
by Sri Chinmoy
while in residence at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India
26 May
Nolini-da was giving an interview to Ajit Bose in the front room while I was working in his bedroom. Suddenly he called me. He said to Ajit Bose: “Do you know Chinmoy? He translates my Bengali writings into English and they appear in the Mother India.”
Then he said to me: “Chinmoy, Ajit wants to type an article of his. Can you give him your typewriter, since mine is not working too well? Your typewriter is also very old. You need a better machine. Let me see what I can do for you.”
by Sri Chinmoy
while in residence at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India
26 May
Early in the morning I submitted my essay on Nolini-da’s athletics. A few hours later he said to me: “Chinmoy, it is extremely good. Since you have extolled me to the skies, I shall not be able to read it out at my place. So I shall ask you to read it out tomorrow.”
A talk by Sri Chinmoy
at the Peace Room, United Nations Church Centre
The inner way is the manifestation of the inner creation. The inner creation is the revelation of the inner realisation. The inner realisation is the dynamic expression of the inner will.
Will is power. Realisation is peace. Creation is bliss. Will tells me what I can divinely do for God and humanity. Realisation tells me what God unconditionally does for me and humanity. Creation tells me what humanity and I can devotedly do for God.
The inner way is the origin of the divine intuition. Intuition carries us to revelation. Revelation shows us the real in the ideal, and the ideal in the real. Intuition is the certainty of Divinity. Divinity is the certainty of Immortality. Immortality is the certainty of Reality.
Divinity's child is man. Immortality's child is the soul. Reality's child is Light.
There are two ways: the inner and the outer. To discover the outer way we need outer power, the power of the physical, vital and mental. To discover the inner way we need inner power, the power of the soul.
The outer way always has limited vision. The inner way has the everlasting and ever-transcending Vision. The vision of the outer way culminates in the fast-approaching tomorrow. The vision of the inner way, which marches along the road of Infinity, Eternity and Immortality, has no journey's end. Constantly, spontaneously and soulfully it is marching toward the ever-transcending and ever-fulfilling Beyond.
A lecture by Sri Chinmoy, 11 a.m.
at the Smolny College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Dear brothers and sisters, I bow and bow and bow to the soul and the heart of this great University. I wish to offer you my heart’s soulful gratitude for giving me this signal opportunity to be of service to your august University.
With your kind permission I wish to say a few words on science from the spiritual point of view. I am a man of prayers. From deep within, the messages that I have received from my prayers with regard to science I would like to share with you.
Science is
The indomitable power
Of the mind.
Science is
The invincible light
Of the mind.
Science is
The division-capacity.
Science is
The union-quality.
Science is
The distance-conqueror.
Science is
The world-success-noise.
Science is
The world-progress-voice.
Science is
Victory’s rapture-dance.
Science was
Yesterday’s dream-boat.
Science is
Today’s reality-shore.
Science has given humankind
Countless treasure-gifts
And will continue to do so
In the ever-approaching future.
Science is the breathtaking vision
Of the Unknown
For humanity.
Science is the greatest builder
Of the unparalleled
Opportunity-fulfilment-roads.
Science is the bravest server
Of all God the creation-servers.
Each scientific research
Is at once
An earthly duty
And
A Heavenly reward.
Science is the finisher of the old
And the welcomer of the new,
In the same breath.
Science is not only a dream-boat,
But also a dream-fulfilled boatman
Of humanity’s life-river.
No sooner said than done:
What science precisely is.
Science journeys
From newness to fulness
And from fulness to self-transcendence.
To me,
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
Is at once
Multiplicity’s roar
And
Unity’s shore.
Science and the modern life: they are interdependent. Science is the doer. The modern life is the action. Science is. The modern life has. Science is creativity. The modern life has receptivity.
Science has two specific roles: creation-birth and destruction-death. Alas, at times it happens that the greater the scientific progress, the stronger our despair and fear. The science that can surcharge us with power can also make us utterly hopeless and helpless. Science is our invaluable friend and unthinkable enemy alike.
Science is the mind-glory. If it listens to the heart-story, science will be only for good deeds and for the betterment of the world. Science can easily awaken us from sleep-indulgence-life. It can show us and give us a happiness-heart and a fulness-life.
Matter and spirit are two eternal players. Together they play, together they fulfil each other. Matter takes help from spirit for its complete transformation. Spirit takes help from matter for its dream-manifestation upon earth, here and now. Science takes help from matter and spirit both, to perform its stupendous task.
Perfection will dawn here on earth only when the man of prayer and the man of science can establish a genuine friendship and walk side by side towards the self-same goal: humanity’s happiness, humanity’s satisfaction and humanity’s fulfilment both in the inner world and in the outer world. If both the worlds are not happy at the same time, there will always be a tug-of-war between the world within and the world without.
Self-giving: the inner world’s sacred joy. Self-advancing: the outer world’s powerful joy. If they go together, they will give birth to Infinity’s Peace and Bliss in humanity’s heart, mind and life.
Science and religion must go together. Religion brings down the message-light from Above, and science spreads this light throughout the length and breadth of the world. Science and religion are interdependent. What the great scientist Einstein proclaims about science and religion is absolutely true: “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.”
India’s great philosopher S. Radhakrishnan speaks extremely highly of science, comparing it with the wisdom of the sages who voice forth about God and the inner life: “Science has achieved more for the emancipation of masses than the wisdom of sages.”
The great thinker Bertrand Russell makes a most significant distinction between science and philosophy: “Science is what you know; philosophy is what you do not know.”
The students of science-mind-school and the students of prayer-heart-school must develop reciprocal appreciation and admiration. O students, first become a oneness-fulness-song. Then God the Creator and God the creation will proclaim His absolute Vision-Fulfilment-Victory here on earth.
[Sri Chinmoy invited the audience to join him as he sang one of his own compositions:]
I find, I find, I find, I find
Science is the power-tower of the mind.
I know, I know, I know, I know
Science is the cosmic energy-flow.
[Sri Chinmoy then performed on the sitar before offering his final words.]
My dear brothers and sisters, my friends who are connected with this University, and those who have made it possible for me to be here today, please accept gratitude from the very depths of my heart for having given me the golden opportunity to be of service to your august University.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Sri Chinmoy offered a series of lectures and short musical performances at many of St. Petersburg’s major universities and medical centers during his three-day visit this spring. It coincided with a Humanitarian Action program the Sri Chinmoy Centre was sponsoring here and in Moscow called “Healthy Children — Healthy World.”
Sri Chinmoy gave talks arid musical performances at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia and St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University on May 25, at the Smolny Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences in St. Petersburg State University on May 26 and at the National Institute of Health on May 27.
He also offered evening concerts on May 25 and, after a lifting program, on May 26 in St. Petersburg.
Caption:
Meditating at St. Petersburg concert
Published in Anahata Nada, Volume 35 April-July 2004
Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at Liederhalle Mozart-Saal in Stuttgart, Germany.
Song for Sugar Ray Leonard
Lightning-Thunder: Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray!
Boxing world’s lightning-thunder-play.
Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray!
Every fight, your victory’s day.
Two volcano-eyes, one monarch-blow,
The world clasps your fire-power-glow.
Sri Chinmoy meets with U Thant, the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, when he was the guest of honour at an evening performance of Sri Chinmoy’s play, Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha, held on an outdoor stage at Old Mill Farm in Harrison, NY. Before the play, Sri Chinmoy gives a welcome speech and garlands U Thant. U Thant is accompanied by his daughter, son-in-law and young grandson.
[Sri Chinmoy then gives a speech of welcome and garlands U Thant. Sri Chinmoy’s remarks follow.]
When I go to the Buddha for refuge, He blesses me.
When I go to the Inner Law for refuge, He illumines me.
When I go to the Order for refuge, He utilises me.
A child of Bihar, a son of India, a citizen of the world, a denizen of the higher spheres: Siddhartha, the Buddha.
In the outer world He is known as the Light of Asia. In the inner world He is, indeed, an ever-illumining Light of the universe.
To the world-sorrows He offered His heart of infinite Compassion. To the world-aspiration He offered His soul of transcendental Illumination.
The Omnipotent did two things. Through Siddhartha Gautama, He revealed the ideal of Perfection in a human being. Through the Buddha, He revealed His Enlightenment and Compassion in a Divine Being.
With His Heart, the Unfathomable came to the Buddha.
With His Mind, the Unknowable came to the Buddha.
With His Bliss, the Transcendental came to the Buddha.
This evening we are deeply honoured and blessed by the gracious presence of our most esteemed Brother, U Thant. Two thousand five hundred years ago the World-Father, the Buddha, came with the Message of universal Peace. Now, two thousand five hundred years later, He has sent His chosen son, U Thant, to offer the same Message of Peace.
Dear Brother, for ten long years you have served the world-consciousness most devotedly and most significantly through the world body of the United Nations. Mother Earth and Father Heaven have bestowed their choicest blessings on your devoted head, aspiring heart and illumining soul. The outer political world has lost you, but the inner spiritual world has gained you and claims you as its very own. Your silent life of aspiration, dedication and illumination is guiding the outer world and leading it to its destined Goal.
With deepest joy and gratitude I am dedicating this play, Siddhartha becomes the Buddha, as a humble token of my treasured feeling towards you. In you I feel the pioneer-pilot of world-peace. In you I see a beacon-light of world-redemption. And in you I discover true love of human life and an utmost reverence for Truth, both in the inner world and in the outer world.
The Absolute Supreme claims you as His very own. The Lord Buddha claims you as His very own. We, your brothers and sisters of this world, claim you as our very own.
Revered and highly esteemed Sri Chinmoy and brothers and sisters, it is a great privilege to be able to participate in this spiritually rewarding experience. And for this I am most grateful to our esteemed teacher, Sri Chinmoy, for this innovative undertaking. I also feel particularly moved and touched by his very gracious blessing bestowed on me.
Sri Chinmoy very kindly sent me a copy of the play, Siddhartha becomes the Buddha. I have read it with great interest and with great admiration and profit. Of course, it is extremely difficult to depict the important episodes of the life of the Buddha in the course of a few minutes or an hour or so. But I found that Sri Chinmoy has done a most remarkable job in presenting the play in simple language understandable even to the uninitiated. His stress on the basic characteristics of Buddhism — on compassion, love, renunciation, peace — should stimulate the thoughts of leaders of men and leaders of thought everywhere. As you all are aware, I was brought up as a Buddhist by tradition, by faith and by practice. And I find myself in complete agreement with Sri Chinmoy in his enunciation of the ethical and moral aspects of Buddhism which in my view should be the basis for each of us in our search for inner light, in our search for truth.
Sri Chinmoy in his play also has drawn a very vivid picture of the identity between God and Truth, soul and inner Light, which I very much hope will create an abiding interest in these two great religions — Hinduism and Buddhism — which in many ways constitute the key to all great religions. I feel very strongly, as some of my friends know, that only by the practical application of the teachings of great religious leaders, particularly the development of the moral and spiritual aspects of life as Sri Chinmoy has stressed in the play — love, compassion, tolerance, the philosophy of live-and-let-live, modesty and even humility — that only with this approach, only with this method, will we all be able to fashion the kind of society we want, a truly moral society, a decent society, a livable society, which is the goal of all great religions.
I want to thank particularly those friends who are participating in this play. I wish all of you peace of mind and eternal joy, and particularly the inner joy. Thank you very much, Sri Chinmoy, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I am most grateful for your kindness in inviting me to attend a stage performance Siddhartha becomes the Buddha on Friday, 25 May in White Plains. I wish I could immediately accept your kind invitation, but as of this moment I have a plan to be in Chicago during the last week of May. If I can get out of this commitment, I shall be delighted to be present on that occasion. Let me write to you as soon as my schedule is firm.
I am also most appreciative of your thoughtfulness in sending me a copy of the play, as well as other copies of your collected spiritual statements.
Thank you very much indeed for your second letter of 21 April.
My schedule for the month of May is now firm, and I am very happy to be able to tell you that I will be present at the performance of Siddhartha becomes the Buddha on the evening of Friday, 25 May in White Plains.
I was deeply touched by your kind letter of 6 June 1973, which I received along with a beautiful album of photographs taken on that memorable occasion on the evening of 25 May 1973.
I shall always cherish the happy memories of that delightful occasion.
