The Goal for Which All Men Should Seek

In the summer of 1970, Sri Chinmoy was interviewed by Iona College Radio in New Rochelle, New York, by George O'Brien, co-ordinator of Iona College Radio Activities. No additional information is available at present regarding the precise date of the interview. It is, however, a remarkable interview, especially for a Catholic institution, and the theme and tone of Mr. O'Brien's questions are, perhaps, typical of the '70s era, where the spiritual quest was uppermost in the minds of many people. It is helpful, too, to remember that this interview preceded Sri Chinmoy's tennis, distance running and weightlifting. In the arts, he had not yet embarked on his painting and drawing; he had not discovered the esraj or the Western flute and he had no thought of offering concerts. His musical compositions at this stage were also very few in number. Only a handful of meditation Centres had been established in his name. Sri Chinmoy's primary activities in these early years were his university lectures, his recently inaugurated meditations at the United Nations, and the more private effort involved in nurturing his disciples and in writing his early books. In effect, his life's work lay ahead of him.

Mr. O'Brien: This conversation is at Iona College in New Rochelle and with me is Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, who is a spiritual Master from India. Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose has lectured in many parts of the world, in colleges and universities around America, and presently is holding monthly lectures at the United Nations. Now, Sri Chinmoy, we are going to talk about spirituality, which is the goal for which all men should seek, strive. I hope we try to reach it but, in your concept of spirituality, how do we attain this goal, Sri Chinmoy?