Musical Programme with Ambassador Davidson Hepburn

Sri Chinmoy (after sharing stories about visiting The Bahamas): Now I would like the Singers to come and sing the Bengali song Nrityer Tale Tale, about how God comes to us in different ways of dancing.

The Singers perform Nrityer Tale Tale, first the women’s group and then the men’s group. Sri Chinmoy’s translation follows:

O my Beloved Supreme,
You come to me in dance-cadence.
You smile at me in liberation-cadence.
You strike me in power-cadence.
You give to me in Compassion-cadence.⁷

Sri Chinmoy: Ambassador, please bless us now with your wisdom.

Ambassador Hepburn: I am not a person known to be speechless, but I am certainly speechless today. Sri Chinmoy, there’s an expression adapted from Shakespeare that says, “You have out Sri Chinmoyed Sri Chinmoy.” (Laughter.) I am deeply honoured and pleased to be here. I never knew that I would come into such a situation that would make me feel so humble, and yet at the same time so proud. On July 10th it is the anniversary, the 34th birthday of The Bahamas, so that song was just very appropriate for The Bahamas.

I have so many fond memories of you, Sri Chinmoy, from the days of, I call it the dark ages, the ‘70s, when I first met you and attended the Meditation Group and I enjoyed very much sharing your wisdom and knowledge, that developed some kind of calmness in my own soul. So I’m very happy.

I don’t know how you feel sitting up there, but it’s very difficult for me to sit here and listen to all of the accolades that have been placed upon me and my country. I’m very grateful. The singers are fantastic. In a matter of seconds they learn how to follow your lead, and they have been able to do it with the same kind of feeling that you had incorporated into the music. So today is a very, very special day for me, and I’m very happy to be here.

I wasn’t going to sing, but everybody kept saying that I must sing something. (Applause.) I don’t know exactly what I should sing, because so many different songs are going through my head. As you know, I love music. Music is my life. I think again, to adapt a quote by Shakespeare, “If music be the food of God, play on.” And so this was a treat for me to come and just listen to these beautiful voices. I was wondering, however, when I would hear some men singing, and when they finally came on, the contrast was excellent, and I thought it really heightened the kind of programme that you are doing here.

I thought of one song that I could sing. I don’t know anything in any foreign language, but I can sing English, and it’s called “I Believe,” and some of you may have heard it. And if you haven’t, you will hear it now, if I’m able to remember the words. I have senior moments, so if I forget some words, don’t hold it against me.

Sings “I Believe.” (Applause.)

Sri Chinmoy: You have such a beautiful, haunting, plus I call it sonorous voice.

Ambassador Hepburn: Thank you. Thinking about what I’ve learned from you and the Meditation Group, you have taught me so much. I learned this song a long time ago, at the United Nations in the middle ‘70s. It’s called “This Little Light of Mine,” and that’s what I want to do wherever I go, to make sure that I let my light shine so that others may see God in me – not me, but Him in me. (Sings “This Little Light of Mine” followed by applause.) Thank you, thank you very much.