Question: In my next incarnation how can I know that I was Ashrita?

Sri Chinmoy: Why do you think of your next incarnation? Why do you have to think of the future? It depends on your present connection. It is our present that gives us our future, as our past has brought our present. You may say that some of you did not have a spiritual past. But if compassion-rain descended so that your unspiritual past was properly washed away, then you can be sure that before your unspiritual past you did have a spiritual past. And now you have got a spiritual present. As you sow, so you reap. Since your present has become spiritual, that means that spirituality was also in your background. Once you have a spiritual foundation, you can have a spiritual edifice also. The past is now dust. The Grace of the Supreme has descended unconditionally, and it has given you spirituality. Once again you are the possessor of spirituality. Spirituality is inside you. He has sown the seed of spirituality. Now you grow the crop.

The closer you come to the Supreme, the more you will be aware of your oneness with Him. But never think of your next incarnation. It is useless. Think that there is no such thing as tomorrow; only today. Today you have to do everything, which means only one thing: to achieve conscious, constant, unreserved and unconditional oneness with the Supreme. Do not think of the future — either the immediate future or the remote future. Think of today and the immediacy of today. Now, at this moment, inside this moment, try to see the entire universe only expanding — expanding in height, expanding in length. Don’t think of tomorrow as something that will come and stand in front of you and delete all your unhealthy past and unhealthy present. Only today, today you have to do everything. At each moment today will be the fulfiller of your aspiration-desire-choice.

I play the role of the messenger, and I tell the Boss, “Since these people are very sincere, if they are a little bit weak, please give them another chance. I see clearly that they are really trying to establish their oneness with You. I have come to them with Your Blessing, with Your Light, with Your Peace and Bliss, and I see that they have very sincere hearts, and they really want to please You, although they are weak.” Then the Supreme gives you another chance, another chance time and again to make a fresh attempt, and quite often you do succeed. The Supreme listens to my request and He grants you people another chance. But when the Master is not involved, then this chance is not given. Then if you make constant mistakes, you have to wait indefinitely for your next opportunity. And God knows how many centuries it will take before the Grace will again descend into your life. When spiritual progress takes its normal course, it deals with Eternity. When there is a spiritual Master in the picture the process is not abnormal, but the process is special, the process is unusual. So when you have a Master, you should feel that you are most fortunate. Your present, past and future are mere words. You as an individual do not need the past, present or future. You do not need anything but the constant renewal of your oneness with your Beloved Supreme. Then the past, present and future have no value in your life. Spiritually they have all become one, inseparable, the eternal Now.