Posted January 13th, 2005 by kamalakanta47(#10202)
Dear Assistant Moderator
Happy New Year to you and all who post or read here. I just came
back from a lovely Christmas Trip with Sri Chinmoy. Your posting
attracted my attention.
Regarding your "not-terribly-profound" aphorism, I beg to differ; I
feel it is terribly profound. As a matter of fact, sometimes I
summarize what I have learned from Sri Chinmoy in two things- he has
taught me how to smile and how to cry.
I cry because I need from God certain things, but most of all,
hopefully I will one day cry only for Him. I cry because I am a
helpless child. This cry, when I am able to do it, brings God to me;
He comes to my rescue.
I smile becuase it makes everything better immediately. It cures my
inner headache. I offer God my outer smile, to let Him know that His
Love is enough, His Compassion is enough, His Forgiveness is enough.
God needs our smile.
I have a lot in common with you, judging by your posting. I am also
lonely by nature, not much of a winter person, and not terribly fit
for the spiritual life. You will find that many of Sri Chinmoy's
students feel, and not wrongly, that they are on a spiritual path
because of the Master's unconditional love, forgiveness and
compassion.
I remember clearly how I felt spiritually before I met Sri Chinmoy.
Wanting the Truth, but not knowing what it was, where it was, or
where to find it. Feeling shackled, and not knowing how to achieve
freedom.
Sri Chinmoy, in silent meditation, without speaking a word, awoke
the fire of aspiration in me, gave me the experience of feeling
inner light; helped me feel pure and free, without saying one word.
He did all this before I even thought of doing anything for him. If
this is not unconditional love, what is?
Anyhow, I oftentimes feel that I don't get it. I feel that I do not
know how to fully appreciate what I have, the beautiful Teacher I
have. I feel blind, deaf and dumb.
But he shows me divine love, and that is the difference in my life.
His love nurtures me, gives me faith in myself. What can I say? My
Master's love has been the only constant in my spiritual life; my
own consciousness is way too variable.
My point is that if I were to judge if I am fit for the spiritual
life, my mind would give me a resounding "NO!" But my heart feels
differently. It wants to show devotion; it wants to be grateful; it
wants to serve humanity.
I do think ALL of us who write about surrender have not reached the
surrender stage. This is a very, very high state. The way that Sri
Chinmoy writes about it, it seems to occur just before you realise
God. We are dreaming with things like this. But again, you must
dream about something before you achieve it! All great journeys and
achievements start with a dream. Dream is the start of our journey.
I dream of the day that I will be all gratitude, love, devotion and
surrender to the Supreme. Let this dream stay alive in me till I
breathe my last.
Hopefully all these great spiritual qualities like love, devotion,
surrender, gratitude, etc. can and do grow slowly in us. Today we
have a little, and tomorrow a little more. We exercise the inner
muscle, and it becomes stronger, ever so slowly.
This reminds me of a prayer by Sri Chinmoy:
"Let us not take a break, let us not.
Let us continue
With our poor aspiration
And with our feeble dedication.
Let us not take a break, let us not.
For God-realisation is still a far cry,
God manifestation is almost an impossible task
And God-satisfaction is far, far, far
Beyond our imagination.
Let us not take a break, let us not.
For there may come a time
When our Beloved Lord Supreme,
Out of his unconditional Compassion,
Will infinitely increase
The purity of our aspiration
And infinitely increase
The beauty of our dedication
To realise Him,
To manifest Him
And to satisfy Him
In His own Way."
Thanks, Assistant Moderator! I do hope to meet you some day, maybe
chat over a cup of coffee...
Kamalakanta
[Thanks, Kamalakanta. Happy New Year! -Assistant Moderator]
Dear Assistant Moderator
Happy New Year to you and all who post or read here. I just came
back from a lovely Christmas Trip with Sri Chinmoy. Your posting
attracted my attention.
Regarding your "not-terribly-profound" aphorism, I beg to differ; I
feel it is terribly profound. As a matter of fact, sometimes I
summarize what I have learned from Sri Chinmoy in two things- he has
taught me how to smile and how to cry.
I cry because I need from God certain things, but most of all,
hopefully I will one day cry only for Him. I cry because I am a
helpless child. This cry, when I am able to do it, brings God to me;
He comes to my rescue.
I smile becuase it makes everything better immediately. It cures my
inner headache. I offer God my outer smile, to let Him know that His
Love is enough, His Compassion is enough, His Forgiveness is enough.
God needs our smile.
I have a lot in common with you, judging by your posting. I am also
lonely by nature, not much of a winter person, and not terribly fit
for the spiritual life. You will find that many of Sri Chinmoy's
students feel, and not wrongly, that they are on a spiritual path
because of the Master's unconditional love, forgiveness and
compassion.
I remember clearly how I felt spiritually before I met Sri Chinmoy.
Wanting the Truth, but not knowing what it was, where it was, or
where to find it. Feeling shackled, and not knowing how to achieve
freedom.
Sri Chinmoy, in silent meditation, without speaking a word, awoke
the fire of aspiration in me, gave me the experience of feeling
inner light; helped me feel pure and free, without saying one word.
He did all this before I even thought of doing anything for him. If
this is not unconditional love, what is?
Anyhow, I oftentimes feel that I don't get it. I feel that I do not
know how to fully appreciate what I have, the beautiful Teacher I
have. I feel blind, deaf and dumb.
But he shows me divine love, and that is the difference in my life.
His love nurtures me, gives me faith in myself. What can I say? My
Master's love has been the only constant in my spiritual life; my
own consciousness is way too variable.
My point is that if I were to judge if I am fit for the spiritual
life, my mind would give me a resounding "NO!" But my heart feels
differently. It wants to show devotion; it wants to be grateful; it
wants to serve humanity.
I do think ALL of us who write about surrender have not reached the
surrender stage. This is a very, very high state. The way that Sri
Chinmoy writes about it, it seems to occur just before you realise
God. We are dreaming with things like this. But again, you must
dream about something before you achieve it! All great journeys and
achievements start with a dream. Dream is the start of our journey.
I dream of the day that I will be all gratitude, love, devotion and
surrender to the Supreme. Let this dream stay alive in me till I
breathe my last.
Hopefully all these great spiritual qualities like love, devotion,
surrender, gratitude, etc. can and do grow slowly in us. Today we
have a little, and tomorrow a little more. We exercise the inner
muscle, and it becomes stronger, ever so slowly.
This reminds me of a prayer by Sri Chinmoy:
"Let us not take a break, let us not.
Let us continue
With our poor aspiration
And with our feeble dedication.
Let us not take a break, let us not.
For God-realisation is still a far cry,
God manifestation is almost an impossible task
And God-satisfaction is far, far, far
Beyond our imagination.
Let us not take a break, let us not.
For there may come a time
When our Beloved Lord Supreme,
Out of his unconditional Compassion,
Will infinitely increase
The purity of our aspiration
And infinitely increase
The beauty of our dedication
To realise Him,
To manifest Him
And to satisfy Him
In His own Way."
Thanks, Assistant Moderator! I do hope to meet you some day, maybe
chat over a cup of coffee...
Kamalakanta
[Thanks, Kamalakanta. Happy New Year! -Assistant Moderator]