Interview — New Jersey Talking⁷

Interviewer: Tonight on our show we’ll meet one of Mother Teresa’s friends. He’ll talk to us about her life, her memory and his mission for peace.

Our guest is Sri Chinmoy. He was a friend of Mother Teresa’s for over 20 years, and he spoke with her just nine days before her death. He’s also the author of a book about the late nun, and he’s here now to share his memories of her with us. Welcome!

This was such a tremendous loss to the world. Were you surprised by her death?

Sri Chinmoy: I was shocked beyond my imagination. When I asked her about her health only nine days before her final departure, she said to me, “Sri Chinmoy, I am much better, much better. Pray for me as I pray for you every day.”

I met with her five times. The first time was in 1975 at the United Nations during an interfaith programme sponsored by the Temple of Understanding. They wanted me to offer a meditation at the beginning of the programme and then offer roses to all the religious leaders.

Interviewer: What was your impression when you met her? Did she just radiate?

Sri Chinmoy: Simplicity, purity, humility: these three virtues are of paramount importance, and these are what I noticed and felt the moment I prayerfully stood in front of her with my rose.

Interviewer: There’s been such a rush in the last week to canonise her, and there’s been a lot of talk of the Vatican waiving the preliminary five years. Do you think that was so important to her?

Sri Chinmoy: Nothing is important to her, but it is important for humanity. Sometimes it happens that when we honour someone, the person who is being honoured does not need it or care for it. But while we are honouring that person we increase our own inspiration and aspiration to become better citizens of the world. While appreciating, admiring and adoring the other person, we increase our own capacities and bring to the fore our own divine potential.

Interviewer: The timing of her death is also interesting — coming in the wake of the very public death of Princess Diana, which the world really has been so obsessed with. In terms of media coverage, maybe Mother Teresa’s death would have even been a bigger deal had it not been eclipsed by Princess Diana’s. Do you think that’s the way she would have wanted it?

Sri Chinmoy: Princess Diana at times wanted media and at times she did not. When she was doing something for the betterment of the world, when she was doing charity work and meeting with the sick and poor, she wanted media attention in order to uplift the consciousness of the world. But sometimes the media exposed her frailties and weaknesses, which we all have, and at that time she did not welcome the media attention. She said that this kind of thing does not help humanity in any way. She wanted only to inspire the rest of the world, but unfortunately the media always tries to find the negative side of things. That is a very painful experience. Everything has its darker side and its brighter side. But if you weigh the pros and cons of her life, her good qualities and virtues will far surpass her so-called human weaknesses.

Interviewer: Unfortunately, the media tend to accentuate the more frivolous aspects of her life. What was your impression of Princess Diana as a person when you met her?

Sri Chinmoy: Very kind, very compassionate and, at the same time, very self-giving! I was the instrument in helping Princess Diana to meet with Mother Teresa in June this year in New York. I told her how she could be in touch with Mother Teresa. I am so happy and grateful that I was able to serve both luminaries at the same time.

Interviewer: Did these two women, as the press has said, have a lot in common?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes! When I told Princess Diana that she and Mother Teresa were sailing in the same boat, she immediately said, “I am a very, very small Mother Teresa.” That was Princess Diana’s immediate remark.

Interviewer: Very generous! Mother Teresa has left an amazing legacy with the Missionaries of Charity throughout the world. Do you think that without her at the helm they will continue to thrive and be as strong as they have been?

Sri Chinmoy: I strongly feel so, because from Heaven Mother Teresa will shower her choicest blessings upon her followers. I met Sister Nirmala, who is now the Superior General, when I visited Mother Teresa two months ago in the Bronx.

Interviewer: I don’t know if people at home can see this, but there is a photograph of Sister Nirmala watching while Sri Chinmoy is being blessed by Mother Teresa.

Sri Chinmoy: She came and introduced herself to me. With your kind permission I would like to read out this message today. It is my eulogy for Mother Teresa. All over India it will be read out:

Mother Teresa:
Calcutta’s Soaring Bird
India’s Sailing Moon
The World’s Weeping Sky
Earth’s Tearing Loss
Heaven’s Dancing Gain
The Christ’s Blossoming Promise
The Mother Mary’s Harvesting Pride.

Interviewer: Those were the powerful and beautiful words of Sri Chinmoy in a tribute to Mother Teresa.

It is almost impossible to articulate Mother Teresa’s affect on the world.

Sri Chinmoy: It is unfathomable.

Interviewer: It really is. You were talking a little bit before about Sister Nirmala, who is her successor. You have confidence that she will be able to continue on?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, because Mother Teresa will shower her choicest blessings upon her most devoted student-follower, Sister Nirmala. Sister Nirmala has implicit faith in Mother Teresa, and Mother will inundate Sister Nirmala with inspiration, aspiration and dedication.

Interviewer: You have dedicated your life to peace. You have really made that your mission. When were you inspired, or were you even as a child filled with this quest?

Sri Chinmoy: It was right from my childhood. At the age of four I started praying, and when I was seven years old I started praying and meditating consciously and seriously. At the age of 32 I was invited by some American seekers to come to the West and be of service to America. Since then, I have been offering prayers and meditations at the United Nations and I have offered over 500 prayerful Peace Concerts in various countries. I have also written many, many books.

I feel that world peace can come into being on the strength of our prayer and meditation. This is my way. Many roads lead to Rome, but I prefer this particular road. It is my personal opinion and inmost conviction that it is through prayer and meditation that we shall be able to bring about world peace.

Interviewer: Do you believe the world is becoming a more peaceful place?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, I feel so. There was a time when people did not believe in a peaceful existence. There was the First World War and the Second World War. A Third World War was threatening, but fortunately it did not take place. Then the politicians started talking about peace. For most of this century it was not so widely practised. Now talking has surrendered to acting. I feel that there are quite a few politicians in the world today who believe in peace, and who most sincerely try to bring about world peace. Peace is no longer just a dictionary word; it is becoming a living reality. It may take time, but we are walking along the right road.

Interviewer: Many people working in news feel powerless when they read stories about religious wars in Bosnia or Ireland. And peace is virtually hanging in the balance in the Middle East. It makes you wonder what you can possibly do to make a difference.

Sri Chinmoy: Pray! There is no other way. We cannot change the minds of others by exercising our mental power or military power or any other kind of power. We can only change their minds through prayer. The greatest, most effective prayer is: “Let Thy Will be done.” This prayer we have received from the Saviour Christ. If we can consciously identify ourself with the Will of God, then there is bound to come a time when this world of ours will be inundated with peace. We have tried and will continue to try many other processes, but I feel it is by virtue of prayer that one day our world will have true, genuine peace.

Interviewer: And Thy Will be done — invoking God’s Will. Well, this has been very inspirational. Thank you so much for coming by and sharing your memories of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana with us — two women who really touched this world in a way that will reverberate for many centuries to come.

Sri Chinmoy: Definitely!