Pitanje: Da li možeš da nam kažeš nešto o svetu duša velikih duhovnih Učitelja?

Šri Činmoj: Svaki duhovni Učitelj ima svoj sopstveni svet ili pripada nekom određenom, posebnom svetu duša. To zavisi od kalibra duhovnog Učitelja. U unutrašnjim svetovima nisu svi iskreni Učitelji istog ranga. Tako da u zavisnosti od njihovog ranga, u zavisnosti od njihovog standarda, oni imaju svoj vlastiti izvor. Duhovni Učitelji najvišeg ranga imaju svoj sopstveni svet sa svojim učenicima, posvećenicima, sledbenicima, obožavateljima i poštovaocima. Dakle, ako je Učitelj stvarno veoma veliki, onda ima svoj sopstveni svet. Ako to nije slučaj, on pripada nekom posebnom svetu duša.

Pitanje: Kako možemo da postanemo sposobniji u ispunjavanju svojih obaveza na Zemlji?

Šri Činmoj: Da bi neko postao sposobniji u ispunjavanju svojih obaveza na Zemlji, prvo mora da izvrši svoje nebeske obaveze. Nebeske obaveze nikada neće tražiti od vas da zanemarite zemaljske obaveze. Samo morate da obavljate stvari po redu. Vaša nebeska obaveza je da ostanete u Svetlosti. Jedino ako ste preplavljeni Svetlošću, možete ući u tamu i tamo obaviti ono što je tu potrebno. Zemaljske obaveze su prepune tame. Nebeske obaveze su molitva, koncentracija, meditacija, kontemplacija. Ako prvo obavite svoje nebeske obaveze, onda ćete u krajnjem ishodu oteloviti Svetlost. Onda se sa tom Svetlošću možete upustiti u zemaljske obaveze. Znači, sve po redu. Svojim nebeskim obavezama, molitvom, meditacijom, koncentracijom, vi prizivate Svetlost i kad se napunite Svetlošću, onda učestvujete u zemaljskim obavezama. U suprotnom, nikada nećete steći dovoljno sposobnosti da izvršite svoje zemaljske obaveze.

Pitanje: Kakav je duhovni značaj fudbala?

Šri Činmoj: Sa duhovne tačke gledišta, fudbal je veoma značajan, duševan i plodan. Svaki tragalac bi trebalo da se moli Svevišnjem da od njega načini Njegovu fudbalsku loptu. Kada šutnemo fudbalsku loptu, ona nam je na potpunom raspolaganju. Lopta je instrument. Udaramo levo, desno, napred, nazad i igramo kako nam je volja. Pogledajte samo loptu! Ona je daleko bolja od nas. Fudbalska lopta se ne svađa sa nama, ne bori se protiv nas. Ponekad nas lopta, kao instrument, može razočarati; može da se izduva, može da pukne, svakakvi problemi mogu da se pojave. Ali glavna želja lopte je da zadovolji fudbalera.

Trebalo bi sebe da smatramo fudbalskom loptom Svevišnjeg. Zemaljska lopta, kožna fudbalska lopta je u obavezi da udovolji svom gospodaru. Lopta koju udaramo je pod našom kontrolom, nama na milost. Ona je postala naš instrument i zadovoljava nas, iako nas možda ne zadovoljava veselo. Ali, mi bi trebalo da budemo svesne fudbalske lopte koje uvek nastoje da udovolje Svevišnjem sa radošću, kako bi Svevišnji mogao u svakom trenutku da nas šutne, oblikuje, vaja, formira na Svoj sopstveni način. Trebalo bi da budemo božanske fudbalske lopte da bi On mogao da nas sve vreme koristi na Svoj sopstveni način, po Svojoj slatkoj Volji.

Pitanje: Kakva je razlika između Božje Samilosti i Božje Pravednosti?

Šri Činmoj: Razlika između Božje Samilosti i Božje Pravdnosti je u ovom: kad boravimo u Božjoj Svesti, mi osećamo da ne postoji nešto poput Božje Pravdnosti, sve je Samilost. Ali, kad boravimo u svojoj sopstvenoj svesti, onda osećamo da ne postoji Samilost; sve je Pravednosta. Kad živimo u ljudskoj svijesti kažemo da je Bog vrlo surov, neprijatan. Kad živimo u božanskoj Svesti, shvatamo da je on čista Samilost. Razlika je u nama. Ako živimo u sebi, Bog je sav Pravednost. Ako živimo u Bogu, onda je On čista Samilost.

Pitanje: Koje je najviše pitanje koje učenik može postaviti svom Učitelju?

Šri Činmoj: To u potpunosti zavisi od razvijenosti tragaoca. Svako će Učitelju postaviti pitanje u skladu sa svojim standardom. Početnik će pitati Učitelja: „Kako da učinim svoj um mirnim i tihim? Moj um mi smeta i sprečava me da napredujem“. To je početničko pitanje u skladu sa njegovim napretkom. I onda, kad je neko vrlo, vrlo napredan, kad je na pragu ostvarenja, tražiće od Učitelja da mu kaže kada će dobiti svoje ostvarenje. Onaj ko je na samom pragu ostvarenja je postigao tako visok nivo da moli Učitelja da mu kaže kada će ostvariti Boga. A drugi će pitati Učitelja kako da učini um smirenim i tihim. Tako da to potpuno zavisi od standarda tragaoca.

Pitanje: Da li kreativnost pomaže u pročišćavanju našeg vitalnog života tako što preusmerava energiju?

Šri Činmoj: To zavisi od toga šta stvaraš. Recimo da si umetnik i da si naslikao, recimo, patlidžan ili šargarepu ili olovku, to neće pročistiti tvoj život. Ali, ako nacrtaš moj portret, ako nacrtaš nešto što ima iza sebe ogroman duhovni značaj, to će ti sigurno pomoći. Ako nacrtaš nebo, onda će ti nebo dati osećaj prostranstva. Ako nacrtaš okean, onda će ti okean dati svest. Ako nacrtaš brod, brod će ti dati osećaj putovanja. Treba da vidiš simbol u osnovi stvari koju si nacrtao. Bez obzira koliko lepo nacrtaš šargarepu ili patlidžan ili paradajz, svest će ipak biti ograničena. Čak i ako je izuzetno lep, kuda te može odvesti paradajz? Opet, pogledaj kuda te može odvesti okean ili nebo. Tako da, treba da znati šta kreiraš. Tvorevina bi trebalo da bude prostrana, bezgranična, suptilna, tako da može da te ponese. Tek onda dobijaš prostor za pročišćenje svog života. U suprotnom, bićeš ograničen svojom vlastitom tvorevinom. Ako uđeš u okean, to te pročišćava. Ako uđeš u nebo, to te pročišćava. Ali, ako uđeš u svest šargarepe, to te neće pročistiti.

Pitanje: Kako to, Guru, da nam tvoje pesme donose tako čudesne rezultate?

Šri Činmoj: Moje pesme donose čudesne rezultate zato što su moje pesme moja unutrašnja iskustva. Većinu iskustava dobijam od vas, tako da su one vaša stvarna iskustva. Ja svoja unutrašnja iskustva dobijam od vas, iz vaših visina, vaših patnji i iz vaše radosti. Vaša vlastita iskustva ja iznesem na površinu i iskoristim za celo čovečanstvo. Ona su nešto vaše što sam tajno ukrao. Vi ne znate kako da ih izrazite na sopstveni način, ali ja znam kako da ih izrazim. I tako, kad primite ili čujete moje pesme, vaša unutrašnja bića vas navedu da osetite da je to nešto što vam pripada, iako vaše spoljašnje biće nije toga svesno. Kad vam neko pokaže ili kaže o nečemu što je vaše, to vas neizmerno raduje. Vaš spoljašnji um nije toga svestan, ali vaša unutrašnja bića su toga potpuno svesna.

Pitanje: Šta stvara osećaj nemira u svačijem životu?

Šri Činmoj: Šta stvara nemir? Nemir ukazuje na nezadovoljstvo onim što vidite i onim što imate i onim što jeste. A ako imamo duševni mir, šta god da imamo, šta god da jesmo, u šta god da izrastamo, to nam je dovoljno za danas. A sutra će nam Bog dati novu težnju, tako da možemo ići još više. Gde ima mira, tu zadovoljstvo neprestano raste i unutrašnja glad takođe raste. Ali, kad je prisutan nemir, osećaćemo da tu nema zadovoljstva. Zato to izgleda kao kad pomahnitali slon ide s jedne na drugu stranu.

Kako stičemo duševni mir? Duševni mir stičemo samo kad osećamo da postoji neki viši Autoritet koji misli na nas, koji nam pruža Svoju Ljubav, Svoju Brižnost. Ako osećamo da postoji neko ko je daleko iznad nas i ko misli na nas i pokazuje nam Brižnost, Samilost, Ljubav, Blagoslove, tek onda nemir nestaje.

Pitanje: Kako možemo da održimo svoju snagu da redovno meditiramo?

Šri Činmoj: Samo misli na svoju hranu. Ti redovno hraniš svoje fizičko telo. Pošto ti je drago tvoje fizičko telo, jedeš svakog dana da bi živeo na Zemlji. Možeš voleti i svoju dušu. Ako voliš svoju dušu onda ćeš, naravno, hraniti svoju dušu molitvom i meditacijom. Ti želiš da ostaneš na fizičkom nivou; prema tome redovno jedeš. Ako želiš takođe da boraviš na unutrašnjem, suptilnom nivou, stvarnom Božjem nivou, onda je normalno da ćeš se moliti i meditirati. Ti zadovoljavaš svoje fizičko telo, pa moraš da zadovoljiš i dušu.

Pitanje: Šta dolazi pre, jasnoća uma ili čistota srca?

Šri Činmoj: Ponekad one mogu da dođu zajedno. Um napravi deset koraka i srce napravi deset koraka i stignu zajedno. Ili se može dogoditi da srce napravi devet koraka, a um jedan korak. Um je voljan da bude jedno sa srcem. Ali ponekad srce stoji tačno pred umom, ali um se skriva. Tada ne mogu ići zajedno.

Vrlo često samo čistota srca može umu dati jasnoću, jer čistota srca ima u sebi mnogo više snage. To je kao sa majkom i detetom. Dete možda samo puzi, može da načini samo jedan korak. Ali majka može da načini devet koraka da se sastane sa detetom. Srce je u unutrašnjem svetu mnogo duhovnije i moćnije na svaki način. U spoljašnjem svetu je, međutim, um moćniji. On pobeđuje srce. Zemaljski um, ograničeni um, sumnjičavi um, komplikovani um, intelektualni um – oni prave probleme. Ali, u unutrašnjem svijetu je srce mnogo moćnije. Zato srce mora da se prbliži umu. Ili oboje moraju prići jedno drugom, ili jedno mora da priđe da spase ono drugo. Ovde srce dolazi da spase um. U većini slučajeva najpre mora da se pojavi čistota srca da bi donela jasnoću umu.

Pitanje: Kako da povećam svoju sposobnost da prihvatim ljubav?

Šri Činmoj: Možeš povećati svoju sposobnost da prihvataš ljubav tako što ćeš davati ljubav drugima. Što više daješ, to više primaš. Pa ako si sposoban da daješ ljubav čovečanstvu, onda ćeš biti sposoban da primaš od čovečanstva. Proširiti sebe znači proširiti Boga. Ti širiš svoju vlastitu stvarnost unutar Božje Univerzalne Stvarnosti. Pa što više ljubavi daješ, to više dobijaš od čovečanstva a takođe i od Boga.

Prema tome, kada ti je nedostaje Bog, to je dobar znak, izuzetno dobar znak. Prvi korak je da ti On nedostaje. Ali, onda moraš da odeš jedan korak dalje i da se zapitaš da li je ta osoba koja ti nedostaje univerzalna. Ako osećaš da je On univerzalan, onda znaš da mora biti i ovde gde si ti. Zato ne plačeš za Njim. Nastojiš da Ga vidiš svuda oko sebe, pošto je On univerzalan. A ako hoćeš da Ga vidiš oko sebe, tvoja težnja mora da bude najsažnija.

Naš napredak potpuno zavisi od naše iskrenosti. Ja kod kuće provodim sate i sate u fotelji. Moja fotelja, međuim, nipošto neće ostvariti Boga pre tebe. Nemoguće! Možda odem u kuću nekog učenika jednom godišnje, možda mu nikad i ne dođem. Ali taj učenik će ostvariti Boga mnogo pre moje fotelje i drugih stvari koje ja koristim i koje imam oko sebe. Napredak u potpunosti zavisi od onoga što svesno želiš i od koga to tražiš. Moja fotelja ne želi svesno od mene Bogoostvarenje. Opet, i ti možeš da živiš hiljadama milja daleko od moje kuće, ali ako svesno kucaš na vrata moga srca, naravno da će tvoj napredak biti beskrajno brži od napretka nekog pojedinca koji stoji preda mnom i razgovara sa mnom, ali nema nikakvu težnju. Prema tome, napredak u potpunosti zavisi od unutrašnje neophodnosti, unutrašnjeg vapaja i od toga koliko snažno ti je ptreban duhovni Učitelj.

Pitanje: Da li je Božanska Majka udata za Boga?

Šri Činmoj: Svi oni koji su prihvatili duhovni život su u braku sa Bogom. Nisu samo žene, kao što je Sveta Tereza, udate za Boga. Svi, svi, svi oni koji su prihvatili Boga za svog Učitelja, svi oni koji se mole Bogu, su u braku s Bogom. Ovde brak znači jedinstvo. Brak nije samo jedinstvo između dva ljudska bića, između muškarca i žene, to je jedinstvo između Boga i čoveka, jedinstvo između Tvorca i tvorevine. Mi smo svi Božije tvorevine. Tvorevine i Tvorac postaju jedno snagom ljubavi.

Pitanje: Šta misliš pod tim kad kažeš Univerzalna Stvarnost?

Šri Činmoj: Univerzalna Stvarnost je stvarnost koja ne može da se vidi ili oseti u beskonačno maloj meri. Ne možeš uzeti deo Univerzalne Stvarnosti, to nije nešto što se može razlomiti na više delova. Ne može se od Postojanja odvojiti neki deo. Univerzalna Stvarnost znači Stvarnost od koje se ništa ne može izuzeti. Ona je cela, kompletna, neograničena. Univerzalna Stvarnost označava Stvarnost koja je došla iz Transcendentalne Vizije Svevišnjeg.Transcendentalna Vizija i Univerzalna Stvarnost su jedno. Ne mogu se razdvojiti. Transcendentalna Vizija Svevišnjeg je univerzalna. Tvorac je odozgo sišao dole i onda je On postao univerzum.

Pitanje: Šta govore pesme ptica?

Šri Činmoj: Pesme ptica nam govore da nema smrti. Ptice lete nebom. Nebo označava Beskonačnost. Ako neko boravi u Beskonačnosti, kako onda može biti bilo kakve smrti? Tako da pesme ptica uvek objavljuju Besmrtnost duše.

Pitanje: Šta je vrtoglavica, osećaj da mi se vrti koji se ponekad pojavi u meditaciji?

Šri Činmoj: To je tvoja fizička slabost. Moraš da piješ više sokova, više mleka, nisi fizički snažan. Ako kuća nije u dobrom stanju, stanari ne mogu da ostanu u njoj. Ovde je stanar duša. Tvoja duša se moli u tebi. Ako tvoje telo nije snažno, kako ćeš onda dobro meditirati? Ako kuća nije u dobrom stanju, stanar se neće osećati dobro u toj kući. Stanar će se uvek osećati nelagodno, uznemireno, bolesno. I zato te ovde, u tvom slučaju, molim da ojačaš svoje telo.

Pitanje: Zašto ponekad osećam da je veoma teško živeti u srcu?

Šri Činmoj: Ti živiš u srcu. Ali, svima koji teže je ponekad teško da sve vreme borave u srcu. Da su svi stalno u srcu, onda bi sve postalo savršeno. Sad je pitanje zašto ne živiš stalno u srcu? Ponekad se družiš sa ljudima koji su mentalnog tipa. Kad se baviš mušterijama, kolegama, rođacima, oni možda uopšte nisu duhovni. I tada te zarobe njihove misli, njihove ideje. Oni žive na mentalnom nivou, pa je normalno da te oni napadaju na mentalnom nivou i ti se tu zaglaviš. Nisi u stanju da ostaneš u svom srcu. U stvari, ti ostaneš u srcu, ali nisi svestan svog prisustva u srcu. Tako da što budeš svesniji svog prisustva u srcu, što budeš svesniji svoje svesti-srca, tim pre će se tvoj um predati tvom srcu. Ako si svestan svoje svesti koja se nalazi u srcu, onda će tvoj um morati da se preda srcu.

Pitanje: Da li stvarno žanjemo ono što smo posejali, iz svake misli, svakog postupka?

Šri Činmoj: Šta posejemo, to ćemo i požnjeti. To je istina. Ali u isto vreme, ako se moliš Bogu, ako meditiraš na Boga, onda Božija Samilost može poništiti tvoje greške. Kad se moliš i meditiraš, moć tvoje molitve i moć tvoje meditacije mogu poništiti loše sile koje dolaze iz tvojih loših misli. Znači, istina je: ako uradiš nešto loše, ako dodirneš vatru, naravno da ćeš opeći prste. Ali u isto vreme, postojaće neka zaštitnička sila koja će te sprečiti da dodirneš vatru.

Ako neko dete ode i udari drugo dete, ono zna da će to dete doći i uzvratiti mu udarac. I šta će uraditi? Odmah će otići kod svog oca. Otac je jači i zaštitiće dete. U ovom slučaju, Otac je Svevišnji. Ako se družiš sa neznanjem i ako neznanje poželi da te uništi, pa ako onda otrčiš Ocu pre nego što te neznanje uništi, Otac će ti ukazati Svoju najvišu Samilost i spašće te od neznanja. Sve zavisi od toga koliko Samilosti možeš da primiš od Svevišnjeg.

Pitanje: Kako možemo da vidimo da li dovoljno napredujemo?

Šri Činmoj: Kad dovoljno napredujete, bićete u stanju da to znate jednostavno iz činjenice da stalno imate unutrašnju radost. Takođe, nećete biti uznemireni rezultatima svojih dela. Pretpostavimo da se uključite u određeni projekat, neku akciju i poželite da vamona donese zadovoljavajući rezultat. Ako niste dovoljno napredovali, onda ćete se osećati jadno ako rezultat bude neuspeh. Ali, ako rezultat bude neuspeh a vi ipak zadržite vedrinu, znaćete da ste napredovali. Pridavali ste najveću pažnju toj akciji, uradili ste je na božanski način, ali nema dobrih rezultata. Ako vam rezultat stvara probleme, ako vas neuspeh uznemirava, onda niste napredovali. Ali ako ste stvarno napredovali, istinski napredovali, onda vas rezultati nikada neće uznemiriti. Ako je sve dobro, ako je uspešno, onda je sve u redu. Ako je. neuspešno, to vas to uopšte ne uznemirava; uvek će postojati slatki, slatki osećaj zadovoljstva unutar vašeg srca.

Pitanje: Da li je naš napredak sporiji ako nam nedostaješ kad negde odeš?

Šri Činmoj: Ovom pitanju se može pristupiti na različite načine. Ako ti neko nedostaje, naravno da ćeš pokušati da dovedeš tu osobu u svoju svest. Ja ti nedostajem, tako da nastojiš da prizoveš moje prisustvo. Nedostaje ti Svevišnji, pa prizivaš Prisustvo Svevišnjeg. Ti si iskren tragalac, tako da ti sigurno Svevišnji nedostaje. Postao si iskren tragalac upravo zbog toga što ti nedostaje Svevišnji.

Kada ti nedostaje Bog, ti osećaš da je On vrlo daleko, na Nebu. Pošto Ga ne vidiš, osećaš da je On tamo negde, na nekom drugom mestu, negde drugde. I naravno da ti nedostaje. Ali, tvoja molitva i tvoja meditacija će ti jednog dana reći da je On svuda, svuda. Onda ćeš reći: „Ako je On svuda, zašto Ga ne vidim? To znači da moja molitva mora biti snažnija. Moja molitva, moja meditacija je iskrena, ali može biti snažnija. Sad je snažna, sutra će biti snažnija, prekosutra će biti najsnažnija. Pa kada moja molitva i meditacija postanu snažne, snažnije, najsnažnije, tada ću moći da vidim Boga“. To je kao kod tvoje djece. Ona sad uče i ide im dobro. Ali, čak i ako se jako potrude, neće moći da završe fakultet za još dvadeset pet godina. I ovde, isto tako, moraš da se krajnje duševno moliš i meditiraš mnogo godina da bi video Boga.

Pitanje: Zašto sam tužna kad vidim nešto lepo?

Šri Činmoj: Postoje dva razloga. Jedan razlog je što vital istupi i postane ljubomoran. Pošto ti nisi lepa kao ona druga osoba ili neka stvar, naravno da postaneš ljubomorna i ta ljubomora se izražava kao tuga. Postoji i drugi razlog, duhovni razlog, zašto postaješ tužna kad vidiš nešto stvarno lepo. To je tvoj vlastiti unutrašnji vapaj, vapaj tvog srca da postaneš stvarno lepa, da postaneš jedno sa lepotom te određene stvari. I tada tuga koju osećaš nije prava tuga, to nije vitalna tuga. To je psihička tuga koja je najčistije jedinstvo. Psihička tuga za Bogom, za Istinom, za Svetlošću, izuzetno je dobra. Pa ako si u duhovnoj svesti i ako se osećaš tugu, to znači da tvoj unutrašnji vapaj želi da uspostavi jedinstvo sa lepotom koju posmatraš. Ali ako si u nižoj svesti, vitalnoj svesti, onda je ljubomora ta koja se u tebi izražava kao tuga.

Pitanje: Kako da umirim svoj nemirni um u toku meditacije?

Šri Činmoj: U toku meditacije, molim te oseti da nisi telo, ni um, već da si duša. Neprestano misleći na um, samo stvaraš probleme. Um te ne sluša. Ako neprestano misliš na um, onda ga se nikad nećeš rešiti, nikad te neće napustiti. Ali, ako misliš na nešto što nije um, na nešto što ne zahteva um i što, u isto vreme, ima beskonačno veću sposobnost prosvetljenja od uma, moći ćeš da se izdigneš iznad uma. A šta je to što je beskonačno uzvišenije i moćnije od uma? To je duša. Dakle, dok se budeš molio i meditirao, molim te da osetiš da nisi telo, već da si duša, koja otelovljuje bezgraničnu svetlost. Molim te da tokom meditacije svesno prizoveš dušu ili da osetiš da postaješ duša. Ne obraćaj pažnju na um, već obrati svu pažnju na dušu, a to je on što ti večno jesi.

Pitanje: Zbog čega drhtim kad pišem priče o tebi?

Šri Činmoj: Kad pišeš priče, tvoj fizički um oseća strahopoštovanje. Ti osećaš: „Guru je tako izuzetan, tako sveobuhvatan, kako da pišem o njemu? Bez obzira šta napišem, neće biti adekvatno“. Ali, to je sve u fizičkom umu. Kad postaneš jedno sa mnom pomoću svoje težnje i ljubavi srca, pomoću svoje posvećenosti i predanosti, tada osećaš neko unutrašnje ushićenje, unutrašnju radost, unutrašnju ekstazu dok pišeš o meni. Zato, ako ponudiš ljubav, posvećenost i predanost kad počneš da pišeš, ti uživaš u unutrašnjoj ekstazi. Ali, kad unutrašnja ekstaza preplavi celo tvoje biće, to ponekad prevazilazi kapacitet fizičkog okvira da sve to apsorbuje. Ne možeš sve to da uskladištiš; zato se treseš u ovoj unutrašnjoj ekstazi. To je vrlo dobro iskustvo.

Kad nisi u visokoj svesti dok pišeš, tvoj um zna moju visinu i moju dubinu; pa se pojavi neka vrsta strahopoštovanja. Ali, ono što ti doživljavaš kad si u duševnoj svesti je božanska ekstaza, ona se izražava u fizičkom biću i učini da celo telo drhti.

Pitanje: Šta izaziva čudan osećaj u srcu koji se javlja u toku meditacije?

Šri Činmoj: Taj čudan osećaj nije ništa drugo već otvaranje srčanog centra. Srcu može biti potrebno nekoliko meseci ili nekoliko godina ili mnogo, mnogo godina da se otvori, ali kad kad imaš taj čudni osećaj štrecanja, to označava unutrašnje otvaranje centra u srcu. Šta dovodi do tog osećaja? Tvoja unutrašnja težnja. Kad imaš intenzivnu težnju, imaćeš takav osećaj u srcu. To je vrlo dobro. Međutim, taj osećaj koji imaš nije u fizičkom srcu, on je unutar duhovnog srca. Pa kad imaš taj čudan osećaj, to je znak ogromnog napretka.

Pitanje: Možeš li nam kažeš nešto o prvoj životinji koja se razvila u ljudsko biće?

Šri Činmoj: Po našoj tradicionalnoj indijskoj mitologiji, postojalo je deset manifestacija, ispoljavanja Višnua. U životinjskom svetu jedna od manifestacija je bio bik. Bik je bio životinja u kojoj je Gospod Višnu izrazio svoje Božansku prirodu. Ali, to je po tradiciji. Iz mog unutrašnjeg iskustva, želim da kažem da je lav bio prvi koji je ušao u ljudsko područje. Lav predstavlja božansku Pobedu; božanska sila je ta koja je delovala u lavu i kroz njega da bi dovela životinjsku svest u ljudsku svest. To je bila velika pobeda za životinjsko carstvo da stupi u ljudsko carstvo; i to je bila velika pobeda za ljudsko carstvo da dobije stvorenje iz životinjskog carstva koje će doći i pridružiti se ljudskom životu.

Božanska sila koja se otelotvorila na dinamičan i najmoćniji način može se videti u lavu. Čak i sada, kad lav zariče, on izražava božansko, moć i dinamizam da pobedi neznanje. Kako se može pobediti neznanje? Neznanje se može pobediti samo tako što ćemo se izdići iznad neznanja, iznad granica u kojima se trenutno nalazimo. Lav je morao da prevaziđe ograničenja životinjske svesti uz pomoć neke više sile i ta sila je bila božanska Milost. Božanska Milost je ušla u lava i dovela ga u ljudsko carstvo.

Prema tome, iz mog sopstvenog duhovnog iskustva, želim da kažem da je lav bio prva životinja koja je ušla u ljudsko carstvo. Ali po indijskoj mitologiji, to je bio bik, kroz Gospoda Višnua.

Pitanje: Kako mogu da proširim svoju ljubav na čovečanstvo?

Šri Činmoj: Možeš da proširiš ljubav na ljude pod uslovom da si u stanju da stalno u njima vidiš svog Voljenog. Tvoj Voljeni je Svevišnji. Ako vidiš Svevišnjeg u njima, onda ćeš sve učiniti za njih. Ako u nečemu vidiš lepotu, onda ćeš to i dotaći. Ako ne vidiš lepotu, ako vidiš tamu i ružnoću, nećeš to doticati. Dakle, samo ako vidiš Božije Prisustvo u čovečanstvu, volećeš čovečanstvo. Treba da vidiš nešto božansko, jedino ćeš ga tako voleti. Ako si u stanju da vidiš Voljenog Svevišnjeg u svakom ljudskom biću, onda ćeš automatski gajiti ljubav i poštovanje prema čovečanstvu.

To je kao sa cvetom. Stalo ti je do cveta zato što cvet ima miris i lepotu. A da u njemu nema lepote, da nema mirisa, onda ti se cvet ne bi ni dopadao. Bog je miris i lepota. Pa ako voliš miris i lepotu, naravno da će ti se sviđati cvet, čovečanstvo.

Bog Ljubav je u svemu što vidimo. Ako volimo Boga, a mi Ga volimo zato što je On sav Ljubav, onda ćemo takođe voleti sve što je On stvorio. On je nesmnjivo unatar Svoje tvorevine baš zato što je svuda, što je sveprisutan. Prema tome, ako možeš da voliš Boga - Ljubav, onda ćeš automatski uvećati svoju ljubav prema svemu. Bog Ljubav grli sve i On je u svemu. Pa ako ti je stalo do Izvora, do Tvorca, onda ti je automatski stalo i do tvorevine.

Pitanje: Kako da savladamo svoju ravnodušnost prema nedostatku težnje?

Šri Činmoj: Ravnodušnost nije ispravna stvar. Ne bi trebalo da budemo ravnodušni ni prema čemu. Trebalo bi da na ispravan način uvažimo sve i svakoga u skladu sa Božijom unutrašnjom Voljom u nama. Pravi problem nije ravnodušnost, već nedostatak težnje. Kako da više cenite težnju? Možete je više ceniti samo ako znate šta težnja može da vam pruži. Uvek nastojte da vidite cilj u sebi. Vi ugledate neku voćku. Znate da ćete biti srećni samo ako pojedete tu voćku. Probajte, dakle, da osetite da je težnja ta voćka, ali ona će vam pružiti radost samo ako je pojedete. Treba da težite svakog dana, svakog dana. I onda će rezultat koji ćete postići biti ostvarenje.

Znači, moći ćete da cenite težnju u potpunosti ukoliko ste svesni da vam težnja daje ostvarenje, da vam težnja daje vrhunsko zadovoljstvo. Ako znate šta je krajnji rezultat toga što radite, neće vam nedostajati težnja. Vi gubite težnju zato ne pamtite stalno šta težnja može da uradi za vas. Ljudi se mole dva dana, dva meseca, dve godine i onda potpuno zaborave na cilj. Ali, to nije dovoljno. Treba da se molite dvadeset godina. Kad koristite plinski šporet, morate da okrenete regulator do određene tačke da bi se plamen upalio. Ukoliko regulator okrenete samo malo i ne nastavite dalje, plamen se uopšte neće pojaviti. I ovde je isto tako: vaša težnja mora doći do određene tačke, jedino tako će vam dati ostvarenje.

Težnja postane monotona nakon nekoliko godina. Umesto da se penju na drvo, ljudi počnu da silaze. Dakle, ono što morate da uradite je da osetite šta će vam težnja doneti. Ako pogledate šta je to što dolazi nakon težnje, a to je ostvarenje, onda je prirodno da ćete poželeti da se potpuno pripremite, napunite energijom, preplavite sebe težnjom. Zato uvek gledajte korak naped, gledajte jedan korak dalje, na ostvarenje. Onda vam neće nedostajati težnja. Bićete preplavljeni težnjom.

Pitanje: Kako da uvek vidim svog Učitelja kao dijamant mog srca?

Šri Činmoj: Možeš uvek da vidiš svog Učitelja kao dijamant svog srca ukoliko uvek budeš stremila neprestanoj, svesnoj, bezuslovnoj predanosti njegovoj volji. Ne bi trebalo da postoji tvoja individualna volja, nikakava tvoja lična volja. Da njemu udovoljiš na njegov način, u svakom trenutku, trebalo bi da bude tvoj cilj. Kad sve radiš bezuslovno, na njegov način, neprestano, bezrezervno, radosno, uvek možeš postići da Učitelj bude dijamant u tvom srcu. Snagom svoje neprestane predanosti i stalne voljnosti da udovoljiš Učitelju na njegov način, Učitelj će biti dijamant tvog srca.

Question: Can godparents enhance the spirituality of their godchildren by prayer and meditation?

Sri Chinmoy: Certainly, not only godparents, but anybody can enhance the spirituality of somebody else by prayer and meditation. And if they are godparents, it means they have already taken some responsibility for their godchildren. So naturally their prayer is bound to be fulfilled, provided they are sincere in their prayer. When somebody is already connected to someone, and he is anxious to be of service to that other person, naturally the connection will enhance his ability to serve. You will always try to give more light to the persons you love. Since godparents definitely love their godchildren, their own spiritual practice, without fail, will enhance the spirituality of their godchildren. It is not only possible, but inevitable.

Question: While travelling, I cannot meditate regularly. How important is that for me?

Sri Chinmoy: While travelling, you can meditate regularly if you want to. Spirituality, meditation, is as important as your life-breath. You know that if you do not breathe in, you will die. Similarly, in the spiritual world, in the soul’s world, if you don’t meditate, then you become a dead soul.

You can’t live on earth with yesterday’s food. Just because you ate yesterday, you can’t say that you won’t need to eat today. No. Yesterday you ate, so you are nourished; and today you have to eat again. Regularity is of paramount importance. If you are regular in everything, if you consciously meditate every day, then you will be able to make fast progress. But if there is no conscious effort, then you cannot make fast progress. So, while you are travelling, you have to make it a point to meditate regularly. Without regularity, you cannot achieve anything abiding. Before you enter into the plane, easily you can meditate for five minutes. If you have to go to the airport at a particular time, then before you leave, meditate at home for half an hour. Or if you go to the airport earlier, meditate there. Or when you enter the plane, before the other passengers come you can meditate. Where there is a will, there is a way. This is absolutely true. So please do it.

Question: How can the need for affection and admiration be overcome?

Sri Chinmoy: The need for affection is not bad, but the need for admiration creates problems. We all need affection from God, affection from our dear ones. It is the mutual giving of affection that keeps us alive. Without the mother’s affection, it is impossible for us to live. But without admiration, easily we can live. The absence of affection from our dear ones is simply death. But if somebody does not admire us, no harm. Affection is in the same category as love. But admiration is totally different. When we are admired, the ego can come to the fore and destroy us. But when we are shown affection and loved, at that time our divine qualities increase. So when you get affection and love, you don’t have to worry. But when you get admiration, you have to be careful.

If you want to conquer your need for admiration, you have to feel that admiration is short-lived. Also you have to know that the people who are admiring you today may not be sincerely admiring you. For their own motives they are admiring you. Or you have to feel that this admiration is not leading you to anything; only it is increasing your ego. But if you get sincere love, sincere affection from someone, then your heart is expanding, your joy is increasing. So you don’t have to try to overcome it.

Question: Is the path to God-realisation through Duality or Non-Duality?

Sri Chinmoy: There are two ways. The Creator started with one: God the Silence, Brahman. Then, from Silence it came to Sound. In Silence is our realisation. When we realise God, it is God the Silence that we realise. Then again, God the Sound we can also realise. When we realise God as Silence, at that time it is Non-Duality. But when we realise God as Sound, at that time it is Duality. God in his highest Height, God unrevealed is one. But when the One wants to reveal itself, this does not mean that it has come down, no. It can reveal itself on the same plane. God can remain at the top of the tree and then we will climb up to Him to get the fruits. Again, if He wants, God can climb down the tree and enter into the world of multiplicity. When He remains at the top of the tree, we call it Non-Duality. When He comes down to distribute the fruits, we call it Duality.

Silence and Sound go together. If we realise the Silence-aspect, then we see reality as Non-Duality. But if we realise the Sound-aspect, then there is Duality, because manifestation is multiplicity. As soon as the tree has one branch, it becomes dual. Then, when it gets many branches and leaves, it enters into multiplicity. The Self, before it is revealed, is expressed as Silence, as Non-Duality. But when it becomes visible to us, its reality as Silence does not go away. It is only to our vision that it is duality or multiplicity. But its inner Reality as Silence it maintains.

So when you want to realise God as Silence, He is at that time Non-Duality. But when you want to realise God as Sound, then He is Duality. In the field of creativity, in the field of manifestation, God is many. But in the field of realisation, He is One. In the Universal Consciousness, God is many. In the Transcendental Consciousness, God is One. If you want to realise Him as One, then He is ready. At that time you will see Him as one Height. If you see Him spreading His Arms, at that time He is becoming many. But He is the same God.

Question: How can I know God's Will in my daily life?

Sri Chinmoy: You can know God’s Will in your daily life if early in the morning you offer your utmost gratitude to God for what He has already done for you. When you offer your gratitude-heart, then it expands; and when it expands it becomes one with God’s Universal Reality. Gratitude-heart blossoms like a flower. When the flower is fully blossomed, then you appreciate and admire it. In your case also, when your heart of gratitude blossoms, immediately God is pleased. So if you offer gratitude to God for what He has already done for you, then naturally God’s sweet Will will operate in and through you. Early in the morning, before you meditate or do anything, offer as much gratitude as possible; offer your soulful tears just because you have become what you are now. If you do this, eventually you will become infinitely more than what you are now. So gratitude will be able to make you feel what God’s Will is. God’s Will will act in and through you and God will do everything in and through you, and for you, if you offer gratitude.

Question: How can one best overcome negative forces?

Sri Chinmoy: One can best overcome negative forces just by becoming more aware of positive forces. If you want to conquer darkness, use your light-force. There are two rooms. One room is full of light and the other room is full of darkness. If you want to overcome anything that is negative or destructive, then you don’t go to that room. You go to the one that has the positive aspects of life, that has Light, Peace and Bliss. You go to the room that has the positive qualities. Then all these positive qualities you try to assimilate. Once you are inundated with the positive qualities, then you can enter into the room with the negative forces.

So pay no attention to the negative forces. Pay attention only to the positive forces, positive forces, positive forces. Let the positive forces become extremely powerful in your life; then you will be able to overcome the negative forces. But if in the beginning you start to pay attention to the negative forces, then you will be destroyed.

Question: What is our relationship to the plant kingdom in our aspiration-life?

Sri Chinmoy: Our relationship to the plant kingdom should be extremely sweet. The plant kingdom has real aspiration. We don’t see the seed; it is under the ground. But when we see the plant, we see how it aspires to become a tree and then how it aspires to have flowers. The Indian scientist JC Bose discovered how plants quarrel and fight for their own existence. But here we are dealing with their aspiration.

The relationship between the plant kingdom and your own existence is extremely important, extremely deep, extremely intimate. First you are a child. Because you are a child, you aspire to become physically strong, tall. You are a seed that germinates into a plant. Then you become an adolescent, and all the time you are dreaming of becoming a tree, a spiritual tree. So there is a child in you, a soul, that aspires to become a spiritual banyan tree. Plant life and human life are like two brothers. One human brother and one plant brother are here together. Your plant brother is reminding you of your aspiration. The plant brother is going upward to reach the sky and this helps to increase your own aspiration. It makes you feel that you also have to grow into your divinity to reach the highest.

Question: If someone has brain damage or senility, can he make spiritual progress?

Sri Chinmoy: Spiritual progress does not depend on our physical ability or inability. One can make progress even when one is dying. It is his hour, his life is ending, but still he has inner aspiration, there is an inner cry. So this inner cry can give him progress. Again, spiritual progress one can make even after one has just left the body, provided one has maintained a connection with Mother Earth.

One thing is called conscious progress and another thing is called unconscious progress. If the brain is damaged, our physical mind will not be able to know if we are making progress. When the brain is damaged, we cannot make conscious progress; but unconscious progress is there because the inner heart does not depend on the brain. Only the physical mind will not be able to know how much progress the inner heart has made in and through the physical body. Progress is always noticeable with our inner eye. With our human eye we don’t see the progress, even if there is nothing wrong with our brain. But our inner eye constantly shows us the progress that we have made in each incarnation, no matter how much the physical is suffering.

So if there is inner cry, then there is bound to be some progress. Brain damage or senility cannot stand in the way of our inner progress. Outer progress may be limited with brain damage; how can you expect any progress in the outer life? But in the inner life, as long as one remains on earth, he can make progress if there is an intense inner cry, which does not depend on the brain at all.

Question: Why is it that sometimes I can't see you clearly inwardly when I meditate on you?

Sri Chinmoy: You cannot see me clearly sometimes because your meditation is not high. It is like cooking something. If someone is an ordinary cook, then one day he cooks well and the next day he cannot cook well because he is not an expert. But when this same person becomes an expert, he cooks extremely well every day. In the beginning, one cannot dance well; his steps all go wrong. Then a few months later, sometimes he dances perfectly, sometimes he does not dance well. But there comes a time when he becomes a great dancer and he always dances well. So here also, when you continuously pray and meditate, you become an expert. Then you are bound to see me clearly all the time.

A little child can crawl, but his aim is to stand up and walk. Right now he can stand up for one fleeting second and then he falls down. But he knows that his aim is to stand up and walk. Your aim is to see me clearly all the time; that is your goal. Like the child who wants to stand up and walk, if the goal is clear, then you are bound to reach that goal.

Question: What qualities can we gain from the plant kingdom?

Sri Chinmoy: We can gain aspiration to grow high, higher, highest to reach the sky, and also we can gain patience. The plant wants to grow into a tree, but it cannot grow into a tree overnight. It needs patience. Our aim is to reach the highest goal. This aim for the highest we can learn from the plant kingdom. And, at the same time, what we need is patience. That also we can learn from the plant kingdom. So these two supreme qualities — aspiration to reach the highest and patience to wait for God’s Hour — we will learn from the plant kingdom.

Question: If the soul evolves from the rock consciousness, are there dead rocks?

Sri Chinmoy: Everything has a soul. If the time has come for the soul to evolve, then it will be replaced. Nothing remains without a soul. The soul is like the inhabitant of a house. Let us say this is your house. But you are outgrowing this place, or you have become very rich, so you want to live in a better house. You go to another house. Now, poor me, I need to have a house suitable for my own financial background. So I come here, because I cannot afford to go to a better place. Money here is like aspiration. If one soul is aspiring much more powerfully than another soul, then it will go higher. Then another soul, an absolutely raw, beginning soul, is coming to take its place. So all the houses have to be occupied by souls. Nothing remains unoccupied by a soul. When one soul progresses from the rock world, then that rock will not remain dead. Another soul will enter the rock. God every second is constantly creating millions of souls. So that particular rock will be inhabited by another soul.

Question: How can I best feel that I am an instrument of the Supreme?

Sri Chinmoy: You can best feel that you are an instrument of the Supreme if you can feel that there is no other reality but the Supreme. This is the first step. Then you have to feel that you can live without God, you can live without yourself, but God cannot live without you. A child hides. He is pretending that he can live without the mother but while pretending, he looks around to see if the mother is coming to find him. On the one hand, he pretends that he does not need the mother; that is why he hides. On the other hand, he waits and looks to see if the mother is actually coming to get him. This same child, when he grows into an adolescent, makes the mother feel and makes himself feel that he actually does not need his mother. He can live all by himself. He goes to some school and he does not keep in touch with his mother. But the mother’s heart is always for the son. The son feels that the mother needs him whether or not he needs her.

So if you can make yourself feel that you are needed by God, whether you need God or not, then your problem is solved. It is not your human ego that is saying, “I am very great. I do not need God, but God needs me.” No. Just because God has so much more knowledge and wisdom, He needs you. Just because He is the Creator, He is conscious of His creation. I am not the Creator; therefore, I can forget. The inferior sometimes finds it demeaning to go to the superior because he feels he will lose his individuality. Sometimes the inferior will feel that if he remains aloof, then he will maintain his sense of individuality. But the superior knows that the inferior is not a different reality.

A tiny drop may feel that it will have nothing to do with the ocean. If it mixes with the ocean, it feels the ocean will devour it. Then it won’t exist any more. But the ocean knows that it consists of all the countless drops; therefore, how can the ocean exclude the tiny drop? Only by virtue of the countless drops has it become the ocean. But the tiny drop wants to maintain its own individuality by staying separate. “If I mix with the ocean, then I will be totally lost. The best thing is to remain aloof.” But if you are sincere, you will feel that you are of God and also that He needs you more, because He is aware of how your existence is part of His, whether or not you are aware of it.

Question: What will happen to you when you leave the body?

Sri Chinmoy: When I leave the body, I will go to the soul’s world and enjoy a rest. And from there also, as from here, I will not allow sincere disciples to make friends with ignorance, to mix with ignorance. Here, at the foot of the tree, I am begging you not to mix with ignorance. There I will sit on the topmost branch of the tree of Eternal Life and shout down. As I bark at you from the foot of the tree so that you will not do the wrong thing, from there I will do the same; only the place will be different.

Question: How can we discover and develop our divine qualities?

Sri Chinmoy: You can discover your divine qualities by digging deep within. As a miner digs and gets something, you also can dig. Digging here means your inner cry. When you cry, you dive deep within. And you can develop your divine qualities by constantly crying. In order to discover your divine qualities, you have to cry constantly. And then, when you have a constant inner cry, automatically you will develop all your divine inner qualities. Each time you cry you dig deep within; and when you dig deep within you develop your qualities. So, at every moment, please think of the instrument that digs inside you. It is your aspiration. Just as a miner uses an implement to dig in the ground, you also need a constant inner cry to dig in your heart.

Question: How can I have heartfelt love for all humanity?

Sri Chinmoy: You can have heartfelt love for all humanity only when you love the Source. God created us. We did not create God. So in order to love all humanity, you have to go to humanity’s Source, God. If you love the root, then only can you love the tree. The root here is God. If you are conscious of the Source and the qualities the Source has, then only can you really love mankind. You cannot love any human being unless and until you love God. If you can make yourself feel that you love God and God alone, and nobody else, then you love everyone, for God is Someone who is inside everyone. If you say you love him or you love her, from that individual love you cannot go to love of God. But from love of God you can go to love of humanity. If you can please and love the Highest, God, then automatically you will be pleasing and loving humanity as well.

Question: What is real selfless service?

Sri Chinmoy: Real selfless service is that which does not expect a favourable result. Selfless service is only for the sake of self-giving; the result will come naturally. If there is an action, there will be a reaction. But the action will be performed not to please ourselves in our own way, but to please God in His own Way. We shall act when we are inspired from within. We shall work soulfully and consciously. For seven hours, eight hours, ten hours we shall be inspired from within. If we work without inspiration, then we are working mechanically, like workers in a factory who do not want to be there. We have become another machine. Selfless service is not like that. It is cheerful, soulful, conscious and constant. First it is soulful service; then it is selfless; and finally, when it becomes unconditional and uncaring for the result, then it becomes perfect selfless service. So make it, please, unconditional.

Question: Is it certain that every human will be realised and earth will be illumined?

Sri Chinmoy: It is absolutely certain that everybody will be realised. Not only will every human being be realised, but also all those in the animal kingdom will eventually come into the human kingdom and then they too will be realised. No creation of God will remain unrealised and unillumined. Earth will definitely be illumined; only it is a matter of time. God’s entire creation has to realise God. This is God’s decree. Otherwise, God’s Game will not be complete.

Question: Do we take most of our incarnations in one country? And does each country have a different type of soul?

Sri Chinmoy: It depends on the soul. One soul may take only one incarnation in a particular country, and one soul may take four or five incarnations in the same country. There is no hard and fast rule. It entirely depends on the Supreme’s Will.

The soul of each country has some inherent wish or urge to reveal and manifest God in a particular way. If it is an Indian soul, it may be through peace; an American soul, through power; an English soul, through nobility. So the soul of each country is different.

Question: How do you combat illness when trying to meditate?

Sri Chinmoy: The best thing is to cure the illness before you meditate. But if it is impossible, then while you are meditating, please totally forget about the illness. For a few minutes while you are meditating, just consciously forget; keep the negative force away from your mind. At that time, the meditative power, the power of your meditation, will enter into the illness and it will be overcome. When the positive force comes from your meditation, then illness, or the negative force, can be conquered.

Question: Are one's visions of God as Form influenced by one's cultural upbringing?

Sri Chinmoy: Sometimes it is true that one can have a vision of God that is influenced by one’s tradition or culture. But again, it may not be so. When, on the strength of our own aspiration, we realise God, at that time it is up to God how He will appear before us. In some countries they have very fixed ideas, fixed notions that God will be like this or like that. The Indian gods and goddesses have all kinds of forms. Again, there are many Westerners who have not read Indian books at all, but they get the experiences of the Indian cosmic gods and goddesses. And at the same time, there are many Indians who have not studied your Bible and Scriptures, but they do see angels and all kinds of things. So if religious tradition has formed some mental concept of God, the seekers may see God in this way when they are realising the Truth. And in some cases, what they see may be entirely determined by God’s own Will operating in and through them. There is no hard and fast rule. It entirely depends on God’s Will.

Question: What is the difference between self-confidence and ego?

Sri Chinmoy: Ego wants to increase its power and lord it over others. Ego becomes powerful, more powerful, most powerful in order to dominate others. In ego there is no sense of oneness. But self-confidence is a different matter. It says, “I am God; therefore, I must be for God.” Self-confidence comes from an inner source, a higher source. We get confidence from there, from our inner existence, from our own inner reality. There is a divine root there. But ego does not have any root. Ego’s root is only ignorance. When we have the confidence to become good, we remember who we are: “I am God’s son. I came here to do work for God. I am not an unaspiring person. I am meant for spiritual life. I have to realise God, because that is what God wants.” But ego does not care for God-realisation. Ego only cares for separation. I, you, he, she — this is ego. Ego will give us the message of separativity; whereas self-confidence will say, “I am all-pervading. If I am all-pervading, if I and my Father are One, then it is beneath my dignity to mix with anything that separates me from another creation of God, another human being.” So self-confidence wants to become universal, whereas ego wants only to dominate others. Ego separates in order to show its existence; self-confidence shows its existence by becoming omnipresent, by becoming one with God.

Question: Guru, how can we learn the language of your inner silence?

Sri Chinmoy: You can learn the language of my inner silence by doing two things: by becoming more sincere in what you are doing and by becoming more dynamically peaceful in what you are doing. Peacefulness can be lethargic and it can be dynamic. If you become dynamic in your peaceful life, then you will know my inner consciousness, my inner silence. Peaceful life is inner silence. So increase your sincerity and increase your dynamic qualities inside your peaceful life. Then you are bound to learn, bound to know the language of my inner silence.

Question: Would you please tell us something about the transitional stages of concentration, meditation and contemplation?

Sri Chinmoy: Concentration is the focus of our attention on something very minute, finite, subtle, small. When we concentrate, we have to focus our attention on the tiniest thing possible. When we meditate, we have to meditate on the largest thing possible. From the tiniest, we develop the capacity to meditate on the largest. Martin, when you were a child, at that time, with greatest difficulty, you learned the letter ‘m,’ then ‘a,’ then ‘r,’ then ‘t,’ then ‘i’ and then ‘n.’ With each letter you had to struggle. Then there came a time when you could read ‘Martin.’ It takes all a child’s attention to learn the alphabet. But that same child eventually gets a Master’s degree and reads millions of books. So in the beginning, when you concentrate, you will learn the smallest thing and you will learn it perfectly. And then, when you meditate, at that time you will learn the largest thing, the vast ocean, the vast sky.

Then comes contemplation. Contemplation is a combination of concentration and meditation. You have the love for both the vast infinite and also for the tiniest. God has created the tiny ant and also He has created the elephant. If you really love God, then you have to love God’s ant-creation and also God’s elephant-creation. When you contemplate, at that time you love both the ant who is God and also the elephant who is God. Contemplation gives us the greatest joy because it makes us one. When you play the game of contemplation, this moment God says, “My child, now I am playing the role of the ant, so you take the role of the elephant.” The next moment God says, “Let us change our roles.” Then He becomes the elephant and you become the ant. Here, the Lover and the Beloved are constantly exchanging roles. At this moment, when the Lover is the ant, the Beloved becomes the elephant. Then it is reversed. But it is on the strength of love that this one becomes the divine Lover and that one becomes the Supreme Beloved. So, concentration is the little one, meditation is the big one, and then contemplation comes and unites the two together. Concentration and meditation must be unified in order to get the proper result of contemplation.

Question: Please explain how individuals become collective souls.

Sri Chinmoy: When a group of individuals pray and meditate together, they don’t become individual souls of separativity; but they become a collective soul, a oneness-soul. When ten persons have the same prayer, they grow into one reality. Suppose somebody is sick and ten persons are praying for his recovery. These ten human beings have the same goal: they become one soul. Ten souls become one not in the sense of ego, but in the sense of oneness. Collective soul here means oneness-soul, not the soul that enjoys separativity. It is through joint effort, conscious and constant effort, that the collective soul becomes oneness-soul.

Now, how does an individual soul emerge from a collective soul? It is like ten persons who are working in order to support one family. They all lack good education, so they don’t have very good jobs. Each one is getting a very small salary; but when they combine the money, then they have enough to support the family. But then, out of ten persons, one person has some intellectual light. He gets a chance to go to school. Then he leaves the family. He goes out and becomes a man of knowledge and amasses material wealth. Then he tries to bring out another member of the family. Many of the Indian restaurant owners here are from a small town near Chittagong. They are poor people, very poor people, so they stay together in one family. Then one, with greatest difficulty, comes to London. Here he makes some money and then he brings somebody else here. In this way they keep their common goal to bring all to the highest standard. If you see this with your human eyes, you will say collectivity has gone away, because some members have come out of the family. But with the inner eye you will see that they still share the same goals. One has gained more light since he came to the West, so he wants to bring the others here so that they will also gain light.

Editor's preface to the first edition

On Father’s Day, June 20, 1976, Sri Chinmoy invited questions from the seekers and disciples at the Friend’s Meeting House, London, which he was visiting while on his 1976 European lecture tour. This book consists of these questions and the Master’s answers.