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Guru Marks 3rd Year AT United Nations

By DAVID BURKE

NEW YORK (AP) — An unusual blending of Indian mysticism and the often agitated world of United Nations politics marks its third anniversary Friday.

For the past three years the Indian spiritual master, Sri Chinmoy, has been conducting weekly interdenominational meditations for U.N. delegates and staff. at the U.N. Church Center here.

The lunch hour sessions strike a note of incongruity amid the heated debates and political manoeuvring that characterize life at the Secretariat building across the street.

“The U.N. members are trying to bring about peace through political means, which is absolutely right according to their understanding and enlightenment. I feel, according to my own realization, that the way I am bringing down peace will be effective,” said Sri Chinmoy after a recent session. “Each of us knows how he can be of service to mankind.”

Elizabeth Addison, a U.N. staff member from South Africa who is secretary of the U.N. meditation group, describes the meditations as “a sea of serenity in the middle of our daily activities.”

Sri Chinmoy came to the United States from his native Bengal, India, in 1964 after spending 20 years in an ashram, or religious community, practicing meditation and spiritual disciplines. Besides holding meditations for U.N. personnel, the 42-year-old yogi is spiritual head of some 40 meditation centers throughout the United States,  Canada, Europe and Australia. He has written more than 20 books on yoga and Eastern mysticism and been invited to lecture at many of the world’s major universities.

Sri Chinmoy teaches a mystical approach to God which emphasizes love, devotion and surrender to the divine will. His philosophy, currently being taught in a course at the University of Connecticut, sees surrender to God not as a submission but as an unfolding.

“It is the unfoldment of our body, mind and heart into the sun of our soul living in us. To surrender to this inner Sun is the greatest triumph in life. The hound of failure can not reach us while we are in that Sun. The Prince of Evil fails to touch us,” he said.

His approach to spirituality, which he has discussed in private meetings with Pope Paul and former U.N. Secretary-General U Thant, is compatible with all religions, he said. The different religions are like petals of the same flower, he continues. “Let us make a garland of these divine flowers and offer them at the feet of God.”

Published in THE SAN JUAN STAR — Saturday, April 14, 1973

LETTERS POUR IN CONGRATULATING GURU ON 15 YEARS IN AMERICA

The 15th anniversary of Sri Chinmoy’s arrival in the West this April 13 triggered a stream of congratulatory letters. 

Excerpts from a few of these letters follow:

“As United States Ambassador to your native India, as Ambassador to the United Nations — where you have served so selflessly and so well — and now, as United States Senator from New York, I have followed your important work in America with growing admiration ... You have brought joy and spiritual enlightenment to countless Americans, and indeed, to the people of many nations, and for this, we are all very much in your debt.”
— Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan

“On the occasion of your 15th year of spiritual leadership in the United States, I am pleased to extend my congratulations to you.”
— New York Governor Hugh L. Carey 

“Poet, writer, artist, musician and, most importantly, spiritual force for the fulfilment of goodness in mankind, you have made many contributions to New York City.”
— New York Mayor Edward I. Koch

“Your roles as teacher, writer, poet, artist, musician and spiritual leader lead me to believe you are in the fullest sense the ‘Renaissance Man’ of our times.”
— New York State Senator Hugh T. Farley

“As a spiritual leader, teacher, writer, artist and musician, you have enriched the lives of many people in Queens, our City, at the United Nations headquarters and across our nation.
— Queens Borough President Donald R. Manes

“The many lives you have touched, with your prayers, words, songs, art and deeds, proves that you are a messenger, a catalytic atom of that Great Power that guides us all through this beautiful experience ... life. Your fifteen years here in the West ... only proves that you were chosen by Him, because His divine love always, has met and always will meet every human need and the world is indeed grateful.”
— Roy Allen, Producer/Director of “The Way to Go,” WCBS-TV

“Having long earned my living with words — as a teacher and a broadcaster — I know of the power words have. They can be used as friends or as weapons. Your words have touched me deeply. For, your words do not claim to be wiser or better. Your presence, your accomplishments, the love of those devoted to you in your gentleness and strength speak louder and more meaningfully than any mere words in voice or print can!"
— Joel Martin, Host, “Long Island Spectrum,” WBAB Radio

Published in Anahata Nada, Volume 5, Number 4, April 1979