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On 30 July 1988, Sri Chinmoy held a special "Lifting Up The World With a Oneness-Heart" programme to honour boxers and boxing officials at Aspiration-Ground in Queens, New York. 

The participants included over a dozen boxing guests including Danny Lalonde the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship from 1987 to 1988. It was one of the first Lifting Up The World events, having started just a few weeks earlier on 26th June.

Sri Chinmoy began the programme with a short silent meditation then read out a talk he had written on boxing.

Boxing From The Spiritual Point of View

A Talk by Sri Chinmoy 

Sri Chinmoy prefaced his talk by stating: “I wish to dedicate today's programme to Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, the immortal Joe Louis.” The great heavyweight champion, Joe Louis, was the first major boxer about whom Sri Chinmoy heard while he was a youth in India.

My Dear Boxer-Brothers,

When I address you as boxers, I feel that my death is imminent. When I address you as brothers, oneness-brothers, I feel that my immortality is within easy reach. When I think of you as giant boxers, I immediately think that your names are synonymous with your thunder-punches. When I think of you as my oneness-brothers, I hear a most soulful, most illumining and most fulfilling song in my life's affection-garden.

My dear and divine brothers, you fight and fight — fight against your rivals. Again, you love and love. Whom do you love? You love your dear brothers; you love your oneness-home-family members. As boxers, you are indomitable and invincible. In the same way, I wish you as brothers to be unsurpassable.

Fight we must; but let us illumine our mind first, and see against whom or what we are supposed to fight: against a human being or against his teeming imperfections? Each human being is essentially divine, but alas, the ignorance-night of the world still lords it over us. We see an ocean of imperfections in the form of doubt, weakness, insecurity, jealousy, pride and many other undivine qualities both within us and around us. Before these ignorance-tigers devour our very existence, we must instead challenge and destroy the very breath of imperfection. It is our bounden duty to transcend limitations, not only in ourselves but also in the world at large.

So, when we fight against someone, if we can feel we are fighting against his ignorance, and not against his physical strength, then we will get boundless joy from our victory, and also we will immensely please our Heavenly Father, God the Creator. We can feel that by battling against someone's ignorance and imperfections we are helping that person to become perfect. I fight against your ignorance, and while doing so I am illumining you. And you are fighting against my ignorance in return, to help me reach the highest. While we are perfecting our mutual ignorance-imperfections, this is not and cannot be a destruction-fight, but a most powerful satisfaction-delight. This divine approach to boxing will undoubtedly be an unprecedented and ever-lasting boon to humanity.

We all want happiness. Happiness I can get not by destroying someone but by destroying the negative forces that are inside him — the weaknesses and limitations that cause unhappiness in him and unhappiness in ourselves as well. Happiness abides only in helping others to perfect their lives. Therefore, while boxing, if a boxer sees teeming ignorance-night inside his opponent and feels that he is trying to destroy those undivine qualities so that his opponent can become a better instrument of truth, light and bliss, then this approach to boxing will bring about a new creation of light and delight. With our indomitable strength we create perfection in others, and they do the same for us. If this is the goal we set and keep in mind while boxing, then this can be a helpful way to bring about a peaceful and fruitful world.

I become an instrument of God, truth and light by challenging your undivine qualities. Likewise, you become an instrument of God by challenging my imperfections and transforming them into perfections. I shall help you to become a perfect citizen of the world, and you will do the same thing to make me a perfect instrument of God. May your thunder-blows send a shudder, not to the human mind or human body, but to the undivine human ignorance-life.

Life and sports are one and cannot be separated in the cosmic play of life. Those who are runners, for example, must feel that in our eternal journey, we are trying to go forward as fast as possible, beyond everything that is limiting us and standing against us. If we can be true runners, inwardly and outwardly, then ignorance and imperfections will fall far, far behind us in the life-race. Similarly, if we use our dynamic fighting spirit all the time in the battlefield of life, then world-ignorance will no longer be able to threaten us. If we develop the capacity to use the divine energy in all aspects of life, then we can become excellent players in the life-game. Fortunate you are, for you have cultivated this dynamic spirit that can inspire others to challenge ignorance. You are telling the world:

Action! Action!
I must act in the body,
With the body.
Why?
Because I need
Body-transformation
And life-perfection.

As a boxer, you are great, greater and greatest. We all know Muhammad Ali's birthless and deathless message to mankind: “I am the greatest!” Let each individual offer the same message, “I am the greatest,” not by destroying others but by loving others more, infinitely more. My divine boxer-brothers, you are not life-destroyers, but life-transformers with the help of God's universal Oneness-Light.

Again, my boxer-brothers, you are not only great but you are also good. You embody this truth:

Physical strength I need,
Vital energy I need,
Mental poise I need,
Psychic choice I need
In my Godward thought and deed.

The determination, dedication and inner and outer strength that you have brought to the fore inspire many others to do the same. Your very presence reminds us that each human being must be a divine warrior, ready to fight against ignorance and imperfections, not only in himself but in the world at large. Your volcano-blows tell the world that humanity can and must challenge ignorance-life.

My dear boxer-brothers, you are among the athletic elite of America — a country herself elite among nations. The dynamic spirit that inspired America to fight for the unparalleled treasure of freedom for the New World is still alive in you. While singing 'America the Beautiful', what do we actually sing? We sing our own unparalleled inner beauty. Similarly, if we can see our own beauty inside our opponents while fighting, then the dream that we cherish of showing our supremacy to the world can be transformed into the reality of permanent perfection-joy here on earth.

Yours in the Compassion-flooded Heart of the Absolute Boxer Supreme,

Sri Chinmoy

Lifts

Lifts during the function included:

1. One-Arm Lift (left) - Ms. Rose Trentman Total weight lifted: 128 pounds.

2. One-Arm Lift (right) - Mr. Anthony Perez - Total weight lifted: 132 pounds

3. One-Arm Lift (left) Mr. Freddie Liberatore Total weight lifted: 139 pounds.

4. One-Arm Lift (right) Mr. Michael Weinman Total weight lifted: 157 pounds Right arm lift

5. One-Arm Lift (left) Mr. David Lawrence. Total weight lifted: 161 pounds

6. One-Arm Lift (right) Mr. Billy Graham. Total weight lifted: 180 pounds 

8. One-Arm Lift (right) Mr. Scoop Gallello. Total weight lifted: 203 pounds

7. One-Arm Lift (left) Mr.Donny Lalonde. Total weight lifted: 194 pounds

9. One-Arm Lift (left) Mr. Vinnie Shomo. Total weight lifted: 220 pounds

10. One-Arm Lift (right) Mr. Bruce Silverglade Total weight lifted: 225 pounds Right arm lift

11. One-Arm Lift (left) Mr. Marty Gallagher. Total weight lifted: 219 pounds

12. One-Arm Lift (right) Ms. Karen DeMilia. Total weight lifted: 167 pounds

Total weight lifted in one-arm lifts: 2,125 pounds

Sri Chinmoy Boxing Hall of Fame

Muhammad Ali - 3-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion (1964, 1974, 1978) 1960 Olympic Gold Medallist (USA)

• Meetings: 25 January 1976, 29 September 1977 
• Lift: 12 June 2003 (6,000th lift)

Sugar Ray Leonard - 1976 Olympic Gold Medallist (USA), world champion at five weights 

• Lift: 9 September 1990

Jose Torres - World Light Heavyweight Champion, 1956 Olympic silver medallist (USA)

• Lift: 18 September 1988
• 13 November 2004 (shoulder shrug) p. 35 our book

Donny Lalonde - WBC Light-Heavyweight Champion (1987)

• Lift: 30 July 1988
• 17 November 1999 (knee lift) 

Saoul Mamby - World Welterweight Champion (1980-82) 

• Lift: 1 September 1988
   

On July 28th 1974, Sri Chinmoy prepared a 40 question test for his students. Approximately 50 New York area disciples sat for this 3-hour examination on Sri Chinmoy's poetry. Sri Chinmoy had announced the test five days earlier, the morning after his return from Europe, saying that it would be inspiring and very helpful for his mission if the disciples read and studied his writings.

At Dhruva and Nayana's house, each disciple received a copy of the examination from Sri Chinmoy, who had written his name and the disciple's name at the top. Many had studied far into the night for several days; some Divine Enterprises on Parsons Boulevard closed on Saturday as last-minute inspiration drew storekeepers to their book-strewn homes.

Many worked for the full three hours, pondering over the following questions.

Sri Chinmoy Poetry Test

1.    Is Sri Chinmoy a philosopher-poet or a seer-poet? Justify your statement. If you feel that he is both, then justify. (7%)

2.    Use your intuition and write down the titles of the first four poems written in English by Sri Chinmoy. Give the first lines of the four poems. (3%)

3.    How many poems did Sri Chinmoy write in the span of one day to offer his greatest achievements to the Mother Earth? Give the day, month and year. (2%)

4.    From your memory, write down the first poem and the last poem from The Goal Is Won. (4%)

5.    Name the four sisters that Sri Chinmoy mentions in his poem "Four Sisters" which appears in 365 Father's Day Prayers. (2%)

6.    Fill in the blanks:
"What do I need from God ……….."
"What do I need from earth ……….."
"What do I need from heaven ……….." (3%)

7.    Explain the terms:
"Beginningless beginning"
and
"Transcending ending" (2%)

8.    Elaborate the experience:
"I barter nothing with time and deeds;
My cosmic play is done." (2%)

9.    
"Never to meet again.
Chinmoy the failure,
Ignorance pure.
Never to meet again."

Is this the declaration of the dynamic vital poet in Sri Chinmoy or the revelation of the liberated seer-poet in Sri Chinmoy? Justify your statement. (1%)

10.    
"Never the same again.
Lost joy regained.
Never the same again."
Explain and elaborate this view. (1%) 

11.    In the poem "Death, Tell Me Something, Please," Death tells the poet why it loves God and man. Give the reasons. (1%)

12.    In the poem "Death, Tell Me Why," Death gives the reasons why some people love death and some hate death. Which are the reasons? (1%)

13.    Write down any poem from memory that has sixteen lines or more than sixteen lines. (4%) 

14.    "My eternal days are found in speeding time." Explain and elaborate this experience. (2%) 

15.    In The Dance of Life, there is a poem under the title of "She". It begins: "To think of her" — complete the poem. (4%) 

16.    Complete:

"God saw in me a poet, therefore ……………"
"God sees in me a real man, therefore ……………"
"God shall see in me a divine lover, therefore …………" (3%) 

17. 
"With doubt my mind began,
With fear my heart began,
With clay my life began,
All in this shortest span."

How can I liberate my mind from doubt? How can I free my heart from fear? How can I transform my life of clay? (1%) 

18.    Fill in:

"An ant like me …………………clay."
"A beggar like me …………………Play." (1%) 

19.    In the poem "I Paid Three Visits to God," how did he visit God the first time, the second time and the third time? (2%) 

20.    What are the basic differences you notice in Sri Chinmoy's earlier poems and his recent poems, that is to say the Indian poet in him and the American poet in him? (4%) 

21.    In The Wings of Light, in the poem "They Do Not Want Me," why do Bliss, Peace and Light not want me? Give the reasons that are mentioned in the poem. (3%) 

22.    When and where was the first part of The Golden Boat published? (Give the exact date.) (1%) 

23.    In The Garden of Love-Light, there is a song that begins: "How many songs have I sung?" Complete the song. (2%) 

24.    How many poems has Sri Chinmoy written (published and unpublished) in the year 1974? Use your intuition. (2%) 

25.    From The Discoverers of Light choose any four lines from any poem mentioned and write. (2%) 

26.    In the book My Salutations to Japan, what does he write about the body of Japan and the soul of Japan? (2%)

27.    What did the poet do when he heard a Japanese song; and what did he do when he saw a Japanese dance? (2%) 

28.    From God Then and God Now: "Oh, love me more and love me long." Complete the poem. (3%) 

29.    Are Sri Chinmoy's poems an obstacle to his God-Manifestation or a great help to his God-Manifestation? If they are an obstacle, why? If they are a help, how? (5%) 

30.    Has Sri Chinmoy to write more poems in order to be accepted as a good poet, or has he already written enough to be considered a good poet? (2%) 

31.    Sri Chinmoy's philosophy is the philosophy of love, devotion and surrender. Select any poem of his that deals with love, devotion and surrender and write down the complete poem. (2%) 

32.    Write down any poem written by Sri Chinmoy that deals with body, vital, mind and heart. (2%) 

33.    Give the main reason why Sri Chinmoy has written thousands of poems. (2%) 

34.    As you know, Sri Chinmoy often gives talks at universities; he also writes poems quite often. When does he get more joy, when writing poems, or when delivering speeches? Why? (3%) 

35.    In Europe, Sri Chinmoy's favorite poets are Keats and Shelley. In America, his favorite poets are Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. Quote a few lines from works by one of his favorite poets, and show some similarities to Sri Chinmoy's writing, or show some contrast. (2%) 

36.    In her most illumining introduction to Sri Chinmoy's My Flute, Beverley Seigerman said, "What is most significant is that …………… beyond the human." (Fill in.) (3%) 

37.    In The Dance of Life, there is a poem entitled "She Was the Supreme Authority." The first line is: "She was a woman of exquisite beauty." Complete the poem. (3%) 

38.    In the near or distant future, will Sri Chinmoy be known as a poet of a new dawn or a Spiritual Master of a new era, or both, or none? Elaborate the answer. (5%) 

39.    In the book My Flute, there is a line that runs: "At every pause my life I contradict." Give the preceding four lines. (2%) 

40.    Write a poem of four lines on any subject and dedicate it to the poet in Sri Chinmoy. (2%)

Originally published "Chinmoy Family" May-June/July 1974, Vol. IV, No. 8

Anahata Nada report on this event

NEW YORK — (Rijuta) Carol Tooker is a 36-year-old schoolteacher. (Mukuli) Margaret Crager is a 15-year-old who could easily pass for one of her students. But on July 28th they were both students, taking an exam on their spiritual Master's poetry.

It was an unusual affair, to say the least. Sri Chinmoy took on the role of professor, preparing a 40-question test, part short answer, part essay. And his disciples — lawyers, businessmen, journalists, housewives — became schoolchildren once again.

Sri Chinmoy told his disciples that it would be of great help and inspiration to him on the inner plane if his spiritual children did well and showed that they really cared for his writings.

And the disciples spent many hours studying the Master's approximately four thousand poems, some even closing down their businesses the day before the exam in order to do some last-minute cramming.

"Studying Sri Chinmoy's writings help us in our spiritual discipline," Rijuta said. "His poems contain his aspiration, his inspiration, his realization, which will become our aspiration and our inspiration and our realization. By holding this exam, Sri Chinmoy is giving us an opportunity to progress in our inner life."

"But underlying this serious mood," said (Ashrita) Keith Furman, "was a feeling of real childlike delight that conveyed, more than anything else, a sense of what it is like to be a disciple of a spiritual Master, the joy that comes in joining him in the various facets of his Cosmic Game."

"There was a real sweetness there," he continued. "That Sunday is a day I'll always cherish in my memory."

After the three-hour exam, Sri Chinmoy invited all the participants to his home for a sumptuous feast. But while the disciples sat around eating and joking, Sri Chinmoy remained wrapped in concentration, grading the exam papers. He worked through the night, personally reading and marking each of the approximately 50 tests.

The highest scorer in Sri Chinmoy's poetry exam was (Nemi) Vivian Fredner, with an 80 and 1/2.

The following evening, he awarded prizes to those who received the ten highest marks.

A similar exam, this one focusing on the Master's short stories, will be held during Sri Chinmoy's birthday week later this month. Several hundred disciples from a number of countries are expected to participate.

Further reading

• Sri Chinmoy Literature

By: Vidagdha Bennett

On August 4th, an act occurred whose very essence seemed to nullify the most basic laws of physics and science. Standing alone and unaided, Sri Chinmoy lifted a dumbbell weighing 7,040 pounds clear of the power rack on which it rested and then supported it with his left arm.

     Sri Chinmoy performed this phenomenal feat after just five and a half months of lifting with his weaker left arm. He had begun on February 21st, by lifting a dumbbell weighing 170 pounds. Progressing rapidly through to 400 pounds on July 25th and 700 pounds on July 29th, he seemed determined to match each and every mark that he had set two years previously with his right arm – and to condense the timeframe for these lifts of exceptional weight into a matter of days instead of months.
     On August 1st, Sri Chinmoy lifted a 1,007-pound weight; on August 3rd, a dumbbell weighing 3,070 pounds and, finally, on August 4th, the massive 7,040-pound dumbbell. This was to be the pinnacle of his powerlifting and the perfect complement to the lift he had performed on January 30th, 1987, when he lifted a dumbbell weighing 7,063 pounds with his right arm.
     In both cases, a single dumbbell was mounted with 68 one hundred pound iron plates and suspended from a power rack. The rigid structure of the dumbbell was maintained by means of a steel truss, which was bolted to the bar and whose weight was added to the weight of the plates to give the final total. Again, each of the iron plates had been weighed separately before being mounted on the bar to account for any slight variations either under or over the standard 100 pounds. Both in 1987 and again in 1988, these giant dumbbells were constructed by Australian metalworker, Unmilan Howard, who had designed many of Sri Chinmoy’s innovative pieces of equipment.
     What is a miracle, if not an act born out of time, an opening through which the Infinite can penetrate our finite world? It is, by its very nature, beyond our limited comprehension. But how difficult it is, in this scientific age, to dare to admit that there can be truth in anything that is not logically plausible. We steadfastly refuse to accept what we cannot explain and we are blind to what we do not wish to see. 
     Sri Chinmoy is, by his own testimony, not a weightlifter and his achievements are clearly not consonant with his age or background. His only aspiration is to be an instrument of God, seeking to restore mankind’s faith in the spiritual life after generations of growing disillusion. On August 3rd, the day prior to his momentous lift, Sri Chinmoy had said:

Whatever I have done in this lifetime, whatever I am doing, whatever I shall be doing in the near or distant future, as long as I am on earth, I am only an act, an expression, of my Lord Supreme’s unconditional Compassion.

By: Vidagdha Bennett

Related

• 7,040¼ lb Dumbbell lift

In the summer of 1981, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organised a series of 31 consecutive daily races to honour Sri Chinmoy's 50th birthday. Beginning on 27 July 1981, the Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix included races from 100m to 5 mile events. The 31 events' total mileage added up to 50 miles.

Points were given in a descending sequence to the first seven winners in each individual race, with participants picking up points for each placing in a race. First place man was local runner Fernando Castelli and in the women, Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team's Nilima Silver.

Races were held at Jamaica High School Track and Flushing Meadows.

Sri Chinmoy's Participation

Sri Chinmoy took part in several of the races and recorded some of his fastest times in the West.

He also took part in timing the race.

During the Grand Prix Series, Sri Chinmoy set some of his fastest times in the West, such as running:

• 2:47 in the 800 metres on 29 July.
• 6:23 for one mile on 2 August 1981.

See: Sri Chinmoy - middle distance times

On 27 August, the annual 47-mile race was changed to a one-off distance of 50 miles, though this was not part of the Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix series.

Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix Series at Sri Chinmoy Races

Related pages

• Sri Chinmoy's personal race results
• Sri Chinmoy running

Photos by Bhashwar Hart

The first Sri Chinmoy Masters Games was held in Greenwich, CT, USA. July 27th 1985.

Sri Chinmoy's opening address to the 1985 games:

"Sri Chinmoy Masters Games is the smile of a oneness-family in a oneness-home. Masters-Games is at once the aspiration and dedication of the body, and the vision and illumination of the soul. Here each participant is competing against his or her own present capacities. The goal of these games is self-transcendence. Humanity's self-transcendence gift is the only perfection-beauty that God the Absolute Athlete Supreme truly and fondly treasures.

And now, for tremendous outer success and momentous inner progress, may each participant receive the highest benediction from Heaven and the strongest aspiration from earth. Sri Chinmoy Masters Games begins to proceed on, forever on!" 

The Games began with a walk past once around the track to the accompaniment of a band. Singers of Sri Chinmoy Centre sang some of Sri Chinmoy's songs, appropriate for the occasion, such as: "Running Makes the Body Young"

Original Brochure from the first Sri Chinmoy Masters Games

• SCMT article at Sri Chinmoy Races

Before the start of the games, Sri Chinmoy released seven doves, a universal symbol of peace.

In 1990, Sri Chinmoy composed a specific song for the event

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games!
     Age-challenging,
Life-transforming.
Aspiration-flower-beauty,
Dedication-tower-duty.
 No failures, all victors,   
Defeat-cure, great doctors.
Oneness-perfection-flames.

(Sri Chinmoy songs)

The Sri Chinmoy Masters Games were perhaps inspired by Sri Chinmoy's involvement in the World Masters Games. In 1983, he was invited to offer the opening meditation. During an interview, Sri Chinmoy remarked:

"These Masters Games offer us a special message. They make us feel that even though we may be forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty or even ninety years old, we are still God's children. When someone is fifty years old, it is very difficult for him to think of himself as a child. For us to think of ourselves as children is very difficult because we have developed the mind. But the Masters Games help us feel that we are truly children, for it is only children who like to play. People who are advanced in years will stay home and watch television or read newspapers, but children have boundless energy. They have hope, they have ambition, they have determination. They want to become good, better, best.

Most of the time, elderly people feel that they are finished products, that their life is over. So they don't have any hope or promise. But the Masters Games show us that elderly people can have hope and promise. It shows that elderly people can become inseparably one with children, with the new generation."

- Sri Chinmoy, The Outer Running and The Inner Running, Agni Press, New York, 1984

Photos from the event

The Sri Chinmoy Masters Games were held annually for several years in different locations.

Sri Chinmoy at the start of a 100m race Rarotonga, Cook Islands. January 12th 1994.

Sri Chinmoy sprinting during the Sri Chinmoy Masters Games, Victory Field, New York 23 July 1988.

The great Olympic discus champion Al Oerter came to participate in the 1988 Sri Chinmoy Masters Games in Victory Field, New York. He was 53 years old at the time.

Related

• Sri Chinmoy World Masters Games at Sri Chinmoy Races
• Comments about World Masters Games at Sri Chinmoy Library

Sri Chinmoy made the following comment after successfully jumping up onto a 30-inch platform from a standing position.

The inflexibility of the mind surrenders to the heart of a child. Only a seven-year-old child constantly jumps and jumps, upward and forward. Our childhood memories always give us joy. If we can consciously bring back our childhood memories, then we will be flooded with newness and hope. This is my philosophy: to remain always in the heart. Age is in the mind. With determination we can conquer the age barrier and go back to our childlike heart where hope is blossoming at every moment. So, remain in the heart. If you can remain in the heart, then you can act like a child and there will be no end to your progress. The old age bondage-limitations will return to the childhood freedom-dreams.
 

Sri Chinmoy, "The Canvas of Time", Madal Bal, Czech Republic, 2019.

Animesh: Does each seeker have a special role to play, for example in the kind of vocation they choose, or is it sufficient just to work, no matter what kind of job it is?

Sri Chinmoy: No. It is a complicated question. In some cases, you know, if a seeker has specific qualities, specialised in something, then he has to or it is advisable for him to manifest, if he is a seeker, the Supreme by following, by carrying, that particular career in life. You understand? If somebody has studied electricity for a long time and he has become an electrician – now, if he has become a good electrician and if he becomes a seeker, then it is easier for him to manifest the Supreme through his capacity, which he has acquired over the years.

Now, again, if somebody is not specialised in anything but is a good soul, then in his case it is not necessary to learn something after becoming a good seeker, to learn anything specific so that he can manifest the Supreme in a more special way, no. For him, whatever the Supreme wants, you understand? He does not have to become a doctor or lawyer or electrician — no, no, no — only whatever. He is in no way inferior to the one who is specialised in something.

One has got some capacity in a particular field. God says, "Then, all right, then do it. Take it as a means for your further development."

One does not have any specific capacity, but God says, "All right, then I am giving you something else to do. Something — do it."

Most important thing is how devotedly you do your job as a doctor or lawyer or electrician or as a simple worker. Devoted service is of paramount importance. If somebody is holding the lowest rank in a big office and doing his duty soulfully, in God's Eye he is infinitely superior to the one who is holding the highest position.

So, now, there is another point. If the Will of the Supreme is to give additional confidence to the seeker by making him in the outer world, say, a celebrity, or by making him into a man of high, noble position so that he will have his confidence more in life, Supreme does it. He is not making progress through conscious surrender. Then Supreme says, "Then be something first. From the desire-world, living in the desire-world, become something and then enter into the aspiration-world."

Vivekananda used to say, "Go and play football. You will understand the Bhagavad Gita better if you play football." And he used to say "Go and tell lies" to someone because he won't budge an inch. He said, "I will be responsible. You are such a lazy person. For you, it will be better to go and tell lies and the world will kick you and you will get up from your sleep."

So, then again, people in the name of peace or poise — which is all false — will not move, they have no life-energy. So, Vivekananda used to say, "Go and play football. If you play football, you will have some life-energy. Then you will be able to understand the message of the Gita."

So, there are some seekers — unfortunately, I have — I tell them, "Do something, become something, make yourself think that you are a human being. You are not just a grain of sand or a speck of dust, no. You *are* something. First, prove to yourself on the human level that you are something. Then transcend the human level, go to the divine level. If in the human level, staying in the human level, you feel that you have nothing to accomplish, nothing to long for, and what you have or what you are is more than enough for you, then you are totally mistaken."

Many fool themselves by saying that they don't need anything. No, they do have intense eagerness, in a sense greed, to become famous like somebody else, but they do not have the eagerness or willingness to work for it. At that time, if they have the eagerness, then Supreme says, "Then follow. Then offer yourself. Do something, become something."

But if they feel that "No, we do not have the eagerness to do something or to become something, right from the beginning, only make of us what You want us to be," then they do not go through the desire-life. They start right away from the aspiration-life. So, it depends on the individual.

Now, to come to you personally. In your case, you do not have to be specialised in anything. Any job that satisfies you. You do not have to become something great in terms of work, let us say office work or anything. Anything that can defray your earthly expenses is what the Supreme in you needs from you. Just it is only to live on earth, you need money-power. That money-power is only to keep you one with the spiritual power so that you can come here, you can run your Centre. But not by becoming some big shot in the outer life that you will please the Supreme. Only do something that will support you in your outer life. That is what the Supreme wants. And then, with your intense aspiration you have started. This intense aspiration you continue, continue, to realise the Supreme, to manifest the Supreme through your dedication. All by yourself, you are working so hard.

You are in Brisbane? You did not try in Canberra? All right, Brisbane. Very good. So, you don't have to worry about it. Only do something just to support yourself. That is what the Supreme wants. Do well; you are doing well. Very pleased with you, very proud of you. So, sincerity keep, simplicity keep, humility maintain. Your name is 'Animesh' — sleepless. Your aim is sleeplessly to aspire and to devote yourself. That is the sole meaning of your life. So, sleeplessly dedicate yourself to the Supreme and, in order to keep the body and the soul together, to support yourself, you will work — work, work here, work there, just for the sake of your earthly existence. Main goal is to become a supremely chosen instrument of the Supreme, for the Supreme.

Sri Chinmoy, "The Canvas of Time", Madal Bal, Czech Republic, 2019.

Editor's Note. This question was asked by Animesh at an evening function, held at PS 86 in Jamaica, Queens, on 27 January 1978. Animesh had recently returned to live in Australia after many years living in London and he sought Sri Chinmoy’s guidance on what line of work he should enter into.

Editor's Note 2. Animesh was the founder of this site - Sri Chinmoy Reflections