Sri Chinmoy in Russia

President Gorbachev's 70th birthday

Prayerfully to participate in his most Beloved President's birthday celebrations, Sri Chinmoy was in Russia 26 February to 3 March 2001

Photograph

I will be pleased to see you at my birthday celebration on March 2, 2001, 7 pm, at Grand Hotel “Marriott", Moscow, Tverskaya 26.

1.

On March 3rd, 2001, a few hours after he stepped off the plane from Moscow to New York, Sri Chinmoy related these stories about his very first visit to the former Soviet Union. Also included in this book are the transcript of Sri Chinmoy’s private and soulful meeting with President Gorbachev at the Gorbachev Foundation on March 1st, the poems and songs that Sri Chinmoy wrote during his trip and a selection from the more than 5,000 soul-birds that he was inspired to draw.

3.

Sri Chinmoy arrives for his first visit to the Gorbachev Foundation on March 1st.

Шри Чинмой впервые приехал в Горбачев-Фонд 1 марта.

Sri Chinmoy is photographed with a poster announcing the celebrations for President Gorbachev’s 70th birthday.

Шри Чинмой сфотографировался на фоне плаката, выпущенного к семидесятилетию Президента Горбачева.

4.

President Gorbachev’s daughter, Irina, most graciously welcomes Sri Chinmoy to the Gorbachev Foundation. In her office she shows Sri Chinmoy the special area where some of his gifts to the Gorbachev family are displayed. At left and below, a soulful meditation is followed by a fruitful conversation.

Дочь Президента Горбачева, Ирина, гостеприимно приветствует Шри Чинмоя в Горбачев-Фонде. В своем кабинете она показывает Шри Чинмою особое место, где выставлены некоторые его подарки семье Горбачевых. Слева и внизу: одухотворенная медитация и последующая плодотворная беседа.

5.

President Gorbachev warmly embraces Sri Chinmoy in his office at the Gorbachev Foundation, where they enjoy a heart-to-heart talk.

Президент Горбачев тепло обнимает Шри Чинмоя в своем кабинете в Горбачев-Фонде, где у них состоялась сердечная беседа.

Sri Chinmoy presents President Gorbachev with a special award entitled “President Gorbachev: The Home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World.” President Gorbachev is shown holding the glass plaque etched with a photograph of Raisa Maximovna. On the table is a companion plaque etched with President Gorbachev’s photograph.

Шри Чинмой вручает Президенту Горбачеву особую награду, которая называется “Президент Горбачев: Дом Мира Мечты-Покоя-Единства.” Президент Горбачев держит стеклянную табличку с выгравированной фотографией Раисы Максимовны. На столе стоит парная табличка с выгравированной фотографией Президента Горбачева.

The President is accompanied by his interpreter, Pavel Palazhchenko, Chief of International Relations and Media (left) and Irina Malikova of the Charity Department (right).

Президент в сопровождении своего переводчика, Павла Палажченко, руководителя пресс-службы и международных отношений (слева), и Ирины Маликовой из отдела благотворительности(справа).

6.

Precious moments as Sri Chinmoy takes his leave of President Gorbachev at the close of their private meeting.

Драгоценные мгновения, перед уходам Шри Чинмоя по окончанию неофицальной встречи с Президентом Горбачевым.

7.

On February 28th Sri Chinmoy visited the Long Home of Raisa Maximovna Gorbachev for the first time.

28 февраля Шри Чинмой впервые посетил место последнего упокоения Раисы Максимовны Горбачевой.

On the morning of March 2nd — President Gorbachev’s 70th birthday — Sri Chinmoy prayerfully offers seventy red roses at the Long Home of Raisa Maximovna.

Утром 2 марта — в день семидесятилетия Президента Горбачева — Шри Чинмой молитвенно возлагает 70 красных роз к месту последнего упокоения Раисы Максимовны.

8.

President Gorbachev and his daughter, Irina, welcome Sri Chinmoy to the President’s birthday celebration on March 2nd at the Grand Marriott Hotel.

Президент Горбачев и его дочь Ирина приветствуют Шри Чинмоя на праздновании дня рождения Президента 2 марта.

Sri Chinmoy converses with President Gorbachev’s granddaughters, Anastasia (left) and Ksenia (right). In the background is Kailash Beyer, the leader of the Sri Chinmoy Centres in Europe, who recorded Sri Chinmoy’s historic visit on video.

Шри Чинмой беседует с внучками Президента Горбачева, Анастасией (слева) и Ксенией (справа). На заднем плане — Кайлаш Бейер, лидер Центров Шри Чинмоя в Европе, который снимал на видео исторический визит Шри Чинмоя.

During the celebration, Sri Chinmoy recites some of his recent poetic tributes to President Gorbachev as the President looks on. Pavel Palazhchenko, Chief of International Relations and Media at the Foundation, translates.

Во время празднования Шри Чинмой декламирует некоторые из своих последних написанных поэтических посвящений, тогда как Президент наблюдает. Павел Палажченко, руководитель пресс-службы Фонда, переводит.

9.

Sri Chinmoy devotedly bids farewell to his beloved President Gorbachev as the President’s birthday celebration draws to a close. The following morning Sri Chinmoy departed for New York, thus ending his first visit to the former Soviet Union.

Шри Чинмой преданно прощается со своим любимым Президентом Горбачевым по окончании празднования дня рождения Президента. На следующее утро Шри Чинмой отправился в Нью-Йорк, завершив тем самым свой первый визит в бывший Советский Союз.

Once in a lifetime

Many years ago, my students advertised one of my Peace Concerts as a “once in a lifetime” experience. For me, my trip to Russia was a once in a lifetime experience!

About a month ago, I received a verbal invitation to participate in my most Beloved President Gorbachev’s 70th birthday celebration in Moscow. The following week, I received a letter from the President’s daughter Irina requesting me to come for her father’s birthday. Then, a week later, another letter of invitation arrived. This time it was from President Gorbachev himself. This kind of supremely significant event happens only once in a lifetime, so I went.

Russia is a totally different country with a different atmosphere and a different vibration. Everything is different, different, different! I shall relate a few of my experiences and impressions.

The airline food

My experiences started on the plane. For the very first time I flew on Aeroflot. Ashrita made the booking, and he asked for me to be served Asian vegetarian food. When it was time for the evening meal, they gave me rice, four round pieces of cucumber and two pieces of squash. There was one bowl full to the brim with leaves, and on top were three smaller than the smallest tomatoes. Then there was one piece of bread with a small piece of cheese that was very good. Needless to say, when I finished eating, I was still hungry!

We left New York at ten o'clock at night. About midnight they served the food. For breakfast the following morning they served me the same food, so I did not have any inspiration to eat.

But today, flying back to New York, it was diametrically the opposite. This time the food was super-excellent. Perhaps Ashrita told them not to make Asian food. There was very nice rice and two kinds of vegetables, prepared almost in the Indian way. Before that, they served a small piece of lasagna, very nice yoghurt and a box of raisins. Everything was excellent. For the second meal also they gave me the same excellent food, and I ate a little.

'Blessed' by babies

While I am on the subject of airplane experiences, it seems that I am always ‘blessed’ by little babies. On my right side there were two empty seats. Across the aisle there were three more seats. These seats were occupied by a husband and wife and their little baby. This baby was about three or four months old, and he was crying and screaming at the top of his lungs.

I prayed to God to remedy the situation.

God said, “This is how the world cries.”

I said, “This little one is not crying out of pain. We human beings cry because we are suffering. But in what way is this one suffering? Why then is he crying?”

God listened to my prayer. The mother had a little toy, and she began jingling it in front of the baby. The child was very happy, and within ten minutes he had fallen asleep. That was God’s solution to my predicament.

Waiting for the wheelchair in Moscow

When we arrived at the Moscow Airport, I was waiting in the transit area for the attendants to bring a wheelchair. Ashrita had assured me that I would have a wheelchair, but there was no wheelchair available. Finally I asked a lady guard who was standing there about the wheelchair. She said, “No speak English.”

Then I saw a very overweight man who had an Indian type of face. I approached him and asked him about the wheelchair. He said to me in English that he could not help me because he did not speak Russian. He continued looking at me curiously. I did not know what was on his mind, so I asked him, “Where do you come from?”

I thought he would say that he came from India, but instead he abruptly replied, “I cannot tell you that.” Then he walked away.

The story never ends. There were about two hundred and fifty passengers on the plane. By this time, everybody had disembarked, but I was still waiting and waiting. Towards the end, the family with the little baby who had been sitting near me passed by. The father — a tall young man — proved to be very kind. I asked him about the wheelchair, and he happened to be Russian. He went and spoke to the lady who had said, “No speak English.” In Russian she said to him, “In fifteen minutes the wheelchair will arrive.”

I waited for another fifteen minutes. Then I saw this particular guard standing at a distance, about forty metres away. I started to walk towards her to speak with her. She motioned for me not to go near her. How merciless she was! I started to go back to my seat. Only twenty metres away from the transit area, whom did I see? The overweight Indian was standing with his mother, and they were talking in Bengali. I simply smiled at them. I did not have the heart to tell him that I was also a Bengali.

Eventually I went to the woman in charge. I said, “I have been waiting here for forty-five minutes for a wheelchair to arrive.”

She said, “Wait.” She made a telephone call and, after another fifteen minutes, the wheelchair came. One whole hour I had waited. The young man who brought the wheelchair said to me, “You have problems, you have problems.”

Then he asked, “Where is your big suitcase?”

I said, “I do not have one. I have only this small bag.”

There was no passenger elevator or escalator in the terminal. We came to a staircase with about thirty steps. The young man said, “You walk down the stairs. I will carry your bag.”

I had been travelling for eight and a half hours, and my legs were hurting so much. With great difficulty I went down the stairs. He could not or would not bring down the wheelchair. I went through immigration and customs. The young man carried my bag quite far, but he did not bring the wheelchair.

When I finally came out into the reception area, Kailash was waiting for me. This was how my airplane experience ended.

Sightseeing in Moscow

I arrived in Moscow in the late afternoon, so I did not go out of my hotel until the following morning. My hotel room was excellent. Everything was ultra-modern.

First of all, I wish to say that the streets of the centre of Moscow are like Fifth Avenue or Madison Avenue in New York. There are five lanes going one way, and there are enormous mansions on either side. These mansions are very majestic. I wanted to go sightseeing, so we drove to various places. The Kremlin is three times as large as the United States Congress and Senate, if not larger, and Red Square is really something worth seeing. We also paid a visit to St. Basil's Cathedral, which overlooks Red Square, and to the place where people were guillotined in former times.

We tried to operate the video camera. Mridanga had packed my very best video camera. Alas, the battery did not function properly. It worked for two or three seconds; then it ran out. Mridanga had also packed an extra battery, but Kailash did not know how to use it. Fortunately, we took many still pictures.

Coming back to the car from Red Square, we met with snow that was two feet deep. The snow banks were so high! My heart of boundless love and gratitude I am offering to Lotika. At one point, she was trying to help me, but she sank into the snow. Then Kailash helped me to the car. Afterwards we went to buy a new battery for the video camera.

My tearful offering at Raisa Maximovna's Long Home

Next we went to the cemetery to pay our soulful homage at the Long Home of my dearest sister, Raisa Maximovna. The Kremlin was only a quarter of a mile from the Grand Marriott Hotel, where I was staying. It was a very short distance. But it took us forty minutes to drive to the cemetery. I had so many flowers in my room, and I wanted to take some of them with me, but Lotika said, “No, no, it is not necessary. There is a flower shop near the cemetery.”

When we reached the cemetery, we entered the flower shop. They had very few fresh flowers. Most of them were artificial. I said, “I must offer fresh flowers.” They had only ordinary, simple flowers. I have never seen such small roses. I bought seven smaller than the smallest rosebuds. The flowers here in New York are twenty times larger than the ones that I gave.

It was a three hundred-metre walk to Raisa Maximovna’s Long Home. It was marked by a statue of a tall, thin young girl. Perhaps the President wanted a statue of Raisa Maximovna when she was young. Two large Russian ladies were sweeping the place. We wanted to take pictures, but they would not pause even for a moment. They had to show off that they were sweeping. We waited until they finally finished. Then I placed the flowers there with my heart’s soulful tears.

Visiting the Gorbachev Foundation

My private meeting with President Gorbachev was to be on Thursday, the 1st of March, at 2:30 in the afternoon. I arrived at the Gorbachev Foundation at 2:25. President Gorbachev’s assistant, Irina Malikova, my very dear and kind friend, was waiting for me at the gate, and together we went upstairs. Shortly afterwards, the message came that the President was at the television station and he would be half an hour late for our appointment. In the meantime, I was so happy to be able to give the Foundation workers whom I know well, including some secretaries, copies of the book on President Gorbachev which I had written for his birthday, entitled President Gorbachev: The Home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World. They were very, very pleased. On the cover of the book is a picture of President Gorbachev encircled by seventy tiny pictures of Raisa Maximovna. When I gave one lady the book, she challenged me. She said that there were only sixty-nine, not seventy, little pictures of Raisa Maximovna surrounding the President’s picture. Later I counted the pictures myself and found that there were indeed seventy.

My dearly cherished and my unforgettable moments with the Vice-President Irina, the beloved daughter of President Gorbachev

Then the President’s beloved daughter, Irina, came and greeted me. Immediately she started calling me Guru. She was so soulful. Almost with tears in her eyes, she showed me into her office. Her office room is bright, charming, dignified and artistic in every way. Next to her father, at this young age, being the Vice-President of the Foundation, Irina is shouldering, most diligently and most adequately, all the responsibilities of the Foundation. She was so happy to welcome me to the Foundation. She kept using the English word “dream, dream, dream.”

Last year I had sent Irina a most beautiful statue of an angel blowing a trumpet. Over the angel’s heart I had put her mother’s picture. Irina took me to one corner of her office and showed me the angel, which was kept in this special corner. I said, “This is the one I gave you!”

Irina said, “Yes!” Then she showed me five more things that I had given the Gorbachev family over the years. She was telling me, “You gave this glass piece a few years ago. You gave all this.” She said that she keeps those things in her main office permanently.

Then we sat down. Irina was at her desk, and I sat in front of her desk, facing her. I saw on her desk the vase that I gave her last year. On one side of the vase is a photograph of Raisa Maximovna, and on the other side is a photograph of President Gorbachev. It looks so beautiful. She said, “I keep it here, right in front of me. Your gifts are always here. And there are a few personal things from you that we keep at home.”

We meditated a little in silence, and Irina was looking at me intently. Afterwards we had a long talk, and I highly appreciated and admired her work.

At 3:00 there was supposed to be a conference. The subject matter was, “Perestroika: is it of the future or of the past?” Just before it was supposed to start, a message came to Irina from the President: “I will be late. You open the conference. Please take Sri Chinmoy with you.”

President Gorbachev's daughter read the message out to me, and together we went to the meeting.

The conference on Perestroika

We went to the meeting place, which was on another floor of the Gorbachev Foundation. About one hundred and fifty guests were assembled in the auditorium. Irina Malikova and I sat in the front row. President Gorbachev’s daughter most eloquently opened the conference and profusely apologised for her father’s unavoidable absence. She explained that he was running late at the television station. Irina Malikova was translating everything for me.

To begin the meeting, they showed a documentary. Towards the end of the documentary, President Gorbachev was interviewed. He said, “I do not have any power any more.” When I watched it, I felt very sad. I asked myself, “What is he saying?”

There were about twelve speakers. Each one spoke for fifteen or twenty minutes. The Master of Ceremonies went to them and pleaded, “Please shorten your talk,” but they did not listen.

An hour went by, then an hour and a half, then two hours. The speakers were talking so fast, and Irina Malikova was giving me an excellent translation.

Finally the President arrived. Five cameramen with huge video cameras came and stood in front of me, totally blocking my view of President Gorbachev. Luckily, after fifteen minutes, the cameramen sat down. As soon as the President saw me, he smiled at me and greeted me twice.

I was at the conference from 2:45 until 5:30.

Waiting outside the President's office

At 5:45 President Gorbachev’s daughter requested me to go and wait outside her father’s office until he came. I went there and I was sitting in the area where his two secretaries were working. They were so kind to me. His secretary, Natasha, said, “I have something of yours.”

She had visited our recent Jharna-Kala art exhibit, and there she had been given one of my small bird drawings. She said, “I keep it at my desk.” We talked and talked. She asked me so many questions.

Next to the secretaries were three or four bodyguards. They would not enter into conversation, but they knew who I was. They looked so powerful and fearsome. They did not need guns!

In addition to these staff members, there were seven people with video cameras waiting for President Gorbachev. They were from two different television stations. If he had to give an interview to these people before me, I knew that I would have to wait a long time. Then President Gorbachev’s daughter saved me. She wanted me to have my interview before them. I am so grateful to her. She was unimaginably kind and affectionate to me.

My private meeting with President Gorbachev

My private interview with President Gorbachev had been scheduled for 2:30, but it could not take place until 6:30. I know how busy my Beloved President is! Hundreds of people are dying to be near him and bask in the rays of his mountain-summit-wisdom-light.

When President Gorbachev came, he told me to go ahead of him. I did not know which door led to his office. I was walking, and he was following me. Luckily I made the right choice. When he first saw me, he did not shake hands with me or embrace me in his usual way, but as soon as I passed through the door into his room, he came and embraced me very warmly. A still picture was taken of that precious moment.

The President’s office was all simplicity. There was no carpet. The desk and chairs were all extremely simple. The President highly values simplicity, which is a divinely rare quality in the world. His simplicity-life is, indeed, a perfect manifestation of his world-illumining inner beauty.

When we sat down, he apologised for having been detained, and then we started our heart-to-heart conversation.

After some time, I was inspired to sing the song that I had written for his birthday. I gave him the text in English and in Russian. Then I stood up and sang without any accompaniment. When President Gorbachev heard the song, he was so moved. He was looking at me with such a penetrating gaze. Afterwards he said, “You keep on amazing me.” He seemed to be totally astounded.

I had brought with me from New York a special award for the President. It was called “President Gorbachev: The Home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World.” The award was two round sparkling clear glass plaques, twelve inches across, each on its own glass base etched with the title of the award. On one was etched a large picture of President Gorbachev in the centre, with seventy small pictures of Raisa Maximovna silk-screened in red all around it. On the other was etched Raisa Maximovna’s picture with seventy small pictures of President Gorbachev in blue around it in the same way. The award was in its own specially made white wooden box with brass fittings.

When it was time to present the President with the award, the box was so difficult to open. On one side, President Gorbachev’s translator, Pavel Palazhchenko, was struggling to open it, and on the other side President Gorbachev and I were trying to open it. I said that it was too much for me and gave up. Finally the President and Pavel succeeded in opening the box and I was able to take out the award. When the President saw the two beautiful plaques of etched sparkling glass with his photograph and his wife’s photograph, he was moved beyond words.

On the top of the box, I had drawn five birds. When the President saw them, he asked me how many birds I have drawn. He likes my drawings very much. I have drawn eleven and a half million, but I was under the impression that I had drawn twelve million, so I told him twelve million. Since returning home, I have discovered that I have done only eleven and a half, so I will finish twelve million very shortly.

The money that I lovingly collected from my disciples from all over the world we offered as our humble birthday gift for President Gorbachev's 70th birthday. My Russian students do not have much money-power, but they have abundant heart-power. With their heart-power they gave $5,000. When I offered the President the cheque, I told him that $5,000 was from my Russian students. He was extremely moved and grateful.

At the end of the meeting, the President invited me to a party that was mainly for those who were not invited to his birthday dinner the following evening. I went downstairs with the President’s daughter, but the President was delayed in his office for another hour. He felt sorry that it was taking so much time for him to come, so he sent a message saying that I could go and he would see me the next day. In the meantime, I was so happy to see his museum and library. My tour of the Gorbachev Foundation was complete.

I never imagined that I would be able to spend so many hours at the Gorbachev Foundation with the President, his daughter and his colleagues. This unforgettable experience, and specially my private meeting with President Gorbachev, gave me indescribable joy.

Seventy flowers at Raisa Maximovna's Long Home on the President's Birthday

On March 2nd, I went back to the cemetery. It was the morning of President Gorbachev's 70th birthday. This time I brought with me a huge arrangement of seventy flowers. Very carefully I placed the arrangement at the foot of Raisa Maximovna's Long Home. On the card that was attached to the arrangement, I had written, “To the Queen Heart of the world from Sri Chinmoy's heart and the hearts of his disciples." I wrote this message in my own handwriting, and there was also a translation in Russian. Ten minutes later, when we were leaving the cemetery, we saw a number of security guards arriving because President Gorbachev was coming. We were about twenty cars behind the President's car. He stayed for ten minutes or so.

The missing invitation card

The President’s birthday party was supposed to start at seven o’clock at the Grand Marriott Hotel. In the morning I thought of checking to make sure that I had my invitation card. Alas, some hostile forces attacked. I could not find my invitation! I knew where I had placed it, but I could not find it on the table. I searched for it everywhere, but all in vain. I was afraid that I would not be allowed to go to the dinner.

Interview after interview

During the day, and in the evening before the party, I had interview after interview. First the famous cosmonaut, Gennadiy Strekalov, came to see me at the hotel. He has been in space five times and he is a great Russian hero. Very happily and proudly he offered me “The Heart of Russia Award.” In New York many years ago we played tennis together, so he challenged me to another match. I said, “I surrender, surrender, surrender!”

I also met the cosmonaut's wife, Lidia, for the first time. When she saw me, her heart melted immediately. She was full of joy, full of concern, full of kindness.

Then I spoke to Valentina, the wife of my dearest brother Alexandr Razvin, who passed away some time ago. She was talking to me with such affection, such affection! I told her that I could not find my invitation card. She said, “You will find it when you return from the party.” Her prophecy was right.

"Feel our hearts"

When I arrived at the entrance to the banquet hall, I saw one of the Foundation workers there. His name is Vladimir Polyakov. He knows me very well. I said to him, “I cannot find my invitation card.” He placed his hand over his heart and said, “Sri Chinmoy, feel my heart, feel our hearts. I cannot express in words what is in our hearts, how much you mean to us.” Then he smiled and took me into the room.

Speaking to the President at the party

As soon as I entered the room, President Gorbachev came and greeted me. He said, “Please do not mind. Tonight there will be a party atmosphere.” This is a translation, of course.

I laughed and said, “We have all come here to enjoy ourselves on your birthday. Your joy is our joy.”

The President was laughing. Then I asked him, “Did you see the flowers?”

The President said, “As soon as I saw the flowers, I knew that they were from you. Nobody else would bring such beautiful flowers. I knew it was all your doing even before I saw your handwriting.”

Then we talked a little. The President was very, very, very kind. At one point he confided in me, “I have worked today for six hours nonstop.”

I said to him, “Only six hours? You can easily work non-stop for twenty hours out of twenty-four hours!” He was surprised and happy to hear that.

Then I asked the President, “May I speak for a few minutes during the course of the evening?”

President Gorbachev said, “Definitely you will speak as long as you want to. Pavel Palazhchenko will tell you when.”

The President's granddaughters

The President's daughter came and joined us, and his two granddaughters also came.

Before I went to Russia, I spoke to the older granddaughter, Ksenia, on the telephone. Irina’s secretary had given me the private number of their house because she knew how eagerly they were expecting me. The secretary said, “If anything happens because you are calling their house, you just say that I gave you the phone number.”

Ksenia answered and I spoke to her. When I told her that I was coming, she was very happy.

At the party, the granddaughters were very gorgeously dressed. I asked Ksenia where she had learned such good English. She said, “At the university.”

The younger granddaughter, Anastasia, felt very shy or timid. She said hello to me and then the two sisters went to greet some other guests.

Becoming a member of a society

Before the dinner started, Irina Malikova introduced me to a gentleman from Holland, who is the President of the Gorbachev Foundation in the Netherlands. His name is Fred Matser. He and his wife are very dear to President Gorbachev. He started talking to me at great length.

At one point, he said that he wanted to make me a member of his society. He explained that President Gorbachev is also a member of this society. He took a ballpoint pen and on my thumb he drew a semi-circle and added two dots. Then he pressed my finger and said, “You have now become a member of my society. I did this for Gorbachev also.”

I said to him, “I have been to Holland. I will never forget your tulips! I went to a place where there were millions of tulips. I also liked your Dutch porcelain.”

He said, “Do you really like tulips?”

I said, “Yes.”

He asked, “Do you have a garden?”

I said, “Yes.”

“All right,” he said. “In September I will send you a very large quantity of tulips.”

I thanked him for his most generous offer. He gave me his card and said that he wanted to be in touch with me.

Then I went to my table. My seat was at table number three. This table was right in front of the stage where people were going to perform. To our left was table number one with President Gorbachev, his daughter, Germany’s former Foreign Minister, family members and a few important dignitaries. Sitting at my table were Irina Malikova, two Japanese ladies and two Russian gentlemen.

Meeting Raisa Maximovna's sister

Raisa Maximovna’s younger sister, Ludmila Titarenko, was near me, and Irina Malikova introduced me to her. She is extremely shy. She looks one hundred percent like Raisa Maximovna. She is very short and thin. She so kindly came to meet me with utmost timidity and a photograph was taken. I smiled at her and she smiled at me. Then it was over. She is a woman of very few words.

Meeting President Gorbachev's brother

President Gorbachev's brother, Alexandr Sergeyevich, was sitting next to Raisa Maximovna's sister. At one point I told Irina Malikova that I wished to have a picture taken with him. When Irina expressed my desire to go there and have a picture taken with him, the brother said that I did not have to go to him. He immediately came to where I was sitting, and we had a picture taken. Alexandr Sergeyevich was very happy.

The birthday programme

When the programme started, a little boy of about ten years played the trombone. Then everybody clapped. After his performance, one or two speakers addressed the guests.

Then came a theatre group wearing masks. They performed for an hour. After the theatre group, other groups came to sing songs and perform various acts. The participants would point at President Gorbachev and then sing their songs. When the songs were over, about ten or twelve people spoke, including a man who was a general in Afghanistan when President Gorbachev was in office. His name is Ruslan Aushev. He is now President of Ingushetia, one of the republics of the Russian Federation.

One man went to the stage and said, “I wish to sing a song dedicated to Raisa Maximovna.” At that time, President Gorbachev came and stood beside him. How soulfully the man sang! He took us all to Heaven.

One lady who came up was dressed exactly like the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her hair and everything about her appearance was perfect. Everybody was joking that Margaret Thatcher had come to President Gorbachev’s birthday celebration. She spoke with a British accent. People were so charmed to see “Margaret Thatcher”!

Then one man came up and started imitating President Gorbachev and Yeltsin alternately. He would speak like President Gorbachev, and then reply like Yeltsin. He was exactly imitating both their voices.

Like this, the performances continued throughout the evening.

Serious speeches and heartfelt tributes

The man who was the President of Poland when President Gorbachev liberated Poland is now seventy-nine years old. His name is Wojciech Jaruzelski. He gave a very moving speech. He said, “People do not know what Gorbachev has done for the world. Only after two hundred years perhaps they will realise what he has done for this world. Today Poland exists because of one individual: Gorbachev.” I was so deeply moved by his words. Then the former German Foreign Minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, said that when President Gorbachev turns eighty years old, he will come again to Moscow for President Gorbachev's birthday party. Everybody heartily laughed.

Speaking at the programme

President Gorbachev had assured me that Pavel Palazhchenko would inform me when it was my turn to speak. I saw that Pavel was going this side and that side. Finally Irina Malikova caught his attention.

Pavel made an announcement that there was a very unusual person who would speak. Pavel said a few nice things about me by way of introduction, and I went to the stage. Then the President left his seat and came to the stage to join me. The President stood on the stage only for four or five individuals during the course of the evening. I was very fortunate to be one of those.

From my book about the President, I had learned by heart twelve very significant poems. For each poem, I held the microphone and recited the lines in English. Then Pavel took the microphone from me and translated them into Russian. This was how we shared one microphone.

When my speech was over, President Gorbachev bowed to me three times, and I bowed to him five times. Then he so affectionately accompanied me back to my chair. I was number fifteen on the programme, and after me there were many, many more. I believe there were about forty items altogether.

My special dessert

The banquet was served, but there was very little available for a vegetarian. I was eating next to nothing. Then the funniest thing happened. The waiter who was serving gave a kind of cake to everybody. When he passed by my chair, he said, “I am bringing a very special dessert for you.”

I said to myself, “Let us see what it is.”

I thought that perhaps there was alcohol inside the cake. Otherwise he would have brought some for me. He knew that I did not drink alcohol or eat meat and fish. He was a very kind young man. A few moments later, he reappeared with a plate for me. He said, “Here is rice and dal.” It was real Indian food! I was so happy, and he was very happy that I enjoyed it. It was the very last thing that was served. Alas, he did not know that it was the main course of an Indian meal and not dessert!

"We must maintain our friendship forever"

At 6:30 I entered the banquet room, and at 11:30 I left. President Gorbachev came at 6:15 and left around 12:30.

When I saw that the number of guests was dwindling, I approached the President. He immediately grabbed my hand. I said, “I have come to take leave of you and to ask for your blessings.” President Gorbachev said, “We must maintain this friendship forever, and I mean it. You know what is inside my heart. We must maintain our friendship forever.”

He was looking at me so soulfully, powerfully, intently and affectionately as he said these words.

This was the nineteenth time I had met with my most Beloved President Gorbachev since our first meeting in 1990. Our private meeting the day before at his Foundation was the eighteenth time.

President Putin's offer

I was told that four days before, President Putin invited President Gorbachev to be his foreign policy adviser. Putin said he would give President Gorbachev fifty workers to work under him. Putin made the request of him, but President Gorbachev did not accept the invitation. I am so happy, because President Gorbachev would have lost his universal freedom.

Moscow prices

Now let me relate some of my impressions of Moscow. Everything was extremely expensive — four times as much as in America. If you order some orange juice, a little soup and a small cake, it comes to fifty-two American dollars. That is the truth! For pizza, a little orange juice and something else, we paid twenty dollars. For one small samosa, we paid five dollars. Everything, including garments, was unbelievably expensive.

The Moscow police

Kailash came from Switzerland to drive me. His love and sacrifice are unimaginable!

Seven or eight times in the span of four and a half days we were stopped by the police. Once only Kailash made a wrong turn. At other times, they stopped him on some imaginary pretext. If he drove cautiously, they thought that he was drunk and that was why he was going slowly. If he parked the car where everybody else was parking, they would come and harass him. They would take away his passport and papers — all to get a little bribe. He had rented an Italian car for me because he does not like Russian cars, and that made him a target for the police.

How many times we were stopped for fifteen or twenty minutes, and once even for an hour! One night, when we were coming back to the hotel, the policeman thought that we had been drinking vodka. An officer came and was waving his rifle at us, saying, “Out, out!” I remained seated in the car, but Kailash had to get out and answer their questions. How they tortured us! Another time we parked in front of a pizza store. Everybody was parking there, but the police harassed Kailash because they said he had parked illegally. They were very, very rude to him. It was all because he had an Italian car.

The return ticket

I was supposed to come back on March 4th, but in the morning I said, “Everything is over. Why stay one day more?” It was very, very cold in Moscow — minus 16 or 18 degrees — and at times it was snowing heavily. In addition, we were having such problems with the policemen.

When I went to the airport, the Aeroflot official looked at my ticket and said, “It is for tomorrow.”

I said, “No, it has been changed. I made a reservation for today.” Then he said, “No, no. You cannot travel today.”

I said, “It is a business class ticket. One can change the date.”

He said, “No, the rule has been changed. You cannot change the date of travel.”

I asked, “How can the rule suddenly change?”

Then this official said that my ticket was for a cheaper flight, so he could not allow me to change the date. This was utterly false. Then he informed me that I had to buy a completely new ticket. When I heard this, I was planning to go back to the hotel and wait until tomorrow. Why buy a new ticket? But my Kailash’s heart is as large as the Pacific Ocean. He just grabbed my ticket and took it away. The place to purchase a new ticket was not nearby. It was somewhere else. Kailash went to buy a new ticket, and it took him fifteen or twenty minutes.

I have to say that Sandesh and Duranta worked very, very hard. Sandesh also had a problem with the airline officials. He bought a ticket to return to New York on my flight, but they did not make the reservation. The flight was fully booked, so he was not allowed to board the plane. Finally, one of the supervisors allowed him, and both of us entered into the plane with no difficulty.

The smoking section

I travelled back to New York from Moscow in business class. It was divided into two sections: smoking and non-smoking. Who could have known in advance? Alas, my seat happened to be in the smoking section. Next to me was a free seat, and in the seat adjacent to the free seat a gentleman was smoking. The smoke was affecting me so much! I have such bad luck with regard to smokers. When I am near them, they face me so that all the smoke goes inside me. If only they would look the other way!

There was a very, very fat man sitting behind me. We liked each other from the beginning. We were conversing, and he was telling me about the weather in Moscow. He was also suffering from the smoke. Two or three times I heard him say the word ‘hell’. I knew that it applied to our smoker-companion.

Then the situation went from bad to worse. Two very stout men came and stood in the aisle right beside me. They lit their cigarettes, and also they were drinking alcohol. They were not even one foot away from me. It was too much! I was really getting pain in my chest. I did not know what to do.

While they were standing there, I spoke to the stewardess. I begged her, “Please, can you help me? These men are smoking."

The stewardess said, “What can I do? You are sitting in the smoking section."

They had come from the business class section behind me. They came all the way to my row to smoke because their section was non-smoking and mine was smoking. For two and a half hours the passenger near me and these two men in the aisle smoked without interruption. How painful it was! I felt as if I were the one smoking! It was such a terrible experience.

Waiting for the wheelchair in New York

It seems there is a special punishment for requesting a wheelchair. You have to wait on the plane. Everybody else exits first. At JFK Airport, over three hundred passengers had to disembark. The stewardess said to me, “You must wait until the end. Your wheelchair has not come.”

Sandesh and I were waiting and waiting. Everybody passed by. Finally a large lady from Guyana came with the wheelchair. According to her, I was already so heavy, so she did not allow me to put my little suitcase on the wheelchair. I also had one small carry-on bag. Sandesh asked if he could replace her, but she would not permit Sandesh to push the wheelchair because she had to do her job.

Then we had another problem: she was so slow! I felt miserable for her. She was a very nice lady, but she was not suited for that job. I asked her, “Why are there no men here?”

She said, “Why do you need them?”

My Russian inspiration

During my trip, I composed fifty songs, drew over five thousand soul-birds and wrote one hundred and sixty-seven poems. I wrote sixty-seven poems by hand and dictated one hundred over the phone to Agraha in Seattle. My Russian students were super-excellent. President Gorbachev's friends and co-workers were also super-excellent. They were so kind to me and had so much love and appreciation for me. My friends and students were unimaginably good.

Our seventieth birthdays

President Gorbachev’s 70th birthday and my 70th birthday both fall this year. For some secret and sacred reason, we both took birth in 1931. Inwardly and outwardly, we were, we are and we shall always remain extremely close. President Gorbachev’s immortal words echo and re-echo in the very depths of my heart: “We must maintain our friendship forever.”

Gorbachev Foundation, Moscow

Meeting with President Mikhail Gorbachev in the President's Office

March 1st, 2001

[President Gorbachev greeted Sri Chinmoy near his office at the Foundation, requesting Sri Chinmoy to go ahead of him as they proceeded down the hallway. As soon as they entered his office, the President gave Sri Chinmoy a warm embrace and invited him to sit down.]

President Gorbachev: Sit down, please!

The President requested Sri Chinmoy to sit facing him. Mrs. Irina Malikova sat on Sri Chinmoy’s left side and Mr. Pavel Palazhchenko sat on his right side. Mr. Palazhchenko asked the guards to bring one extra chair for Ms. Lotika Kosaya.

President Gorbachev (apologising for being late): I apologise...

Sri Chinmoy: No, you do not have to apologise! Whenever you come is the right time. I see you with my own eyes, and I feel you with my own heart. For me, this is not the office of a president. This is the heart-home of the whole world.

I watched the documentary where you spoke about power. You said that you do not have power. But I wish to say that the power you have is love, and love is the strongest power. Power that strikes cannot succeed, but the power of love, which is omnipotent, you have, and you have been using this power unreservedly since you left office. With your heart’s infinite love-power, you are illumining the four corners of the globe.

President Gorbachev: Thank you! I am very glad to see you. You have not visited us here before. This is the first time.

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, this is my first time, and I have come because I do not want to miss this opportunity of a lifetime to be in your blessingful presence on this most auspicious occasion.

President Gorbachev: I am very happy and very moved by your visit. I really thank you very much. You and I share a great deal. We are living in a difficult time. We are facing various challenges. And it is so important to feel that somewhere there is a friend, Gorbachev's dear friend, Sri Chinmoy. This is very important. I am thankful to you for everything, for your valuable support and understanding — I emphasise the great understanding.

I feel that you are tired and jet-lagged. The night and day — everything changes so quickly.

Sri Chinmoy: I am not tired. My love for you, my admiration for you, my gratitude to you: these are my prayerful capacities. I wish to tell you that we are always at your service. Wherever you go, my students are there to be of service to you. They are always at your service. You are always in our morning prayers, in our mid-day prayers and in our evening prayers. We pray for you because you are illumining the whole world.

President Gorbachev: And I would like to congratulate you because you hold so many activities dedicated to peace in different places. Both Pavel and Irina are now telling me about your trips, about your meetings.

Sri Chinmoy: I have done nothing in comparison to your work and your achievements! You are an ocean; I am just a drop. The drop would love to be always inside the ocean.

[Sri Chinmoy presented to the President a copy of a new song that he had written in the President's honour, and Mr. Palazhchenko read out the translation.]

Sri Chinmoy: Now I would like to sing this song. May I sing? It will just take a few minutes.

President Gorbachev: Of course!

[Sri Chinmoy stood up and sang the song dedicated to President Gorbachev. The President listened attentively, deeply moved by Sri Chinmoy’s offering. He was watching Sri Chinmoy intently and from time to time looking at the translation.]

President Gorbachev (shaking his head, astounded): Yes! You keep on amazing me!

Sri Chinmoy: Now I wish to offer you a special award. This is the award that I would like to offer.

Sri Chinmoy presented the award, entitled “President Gorbachev: The Home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World.” On top of the box containing the award were some of Sri Chinmoy’s peace-birds.

President Gorbachev: Such birds! Everywhere birds! How many birds have you drawn?

Sri Chinmoy: Twelve million birds and 200,000 paintings.

President Gorbachev: Really!

[Sri Chinmoy, the President and Mr. Palazhchenko all tried to open the box. The President and Mr. Palazhchenko finally succeeded in opening it and unwrapped the award. The President was deeply moved by the award, which consisted of one round sparkling glass plaque etched with his picture surrounded by seventy small pictures of Raisa Maximovna and another glass plaque etched with Raisa Maximovna’s picture surrounded by seventy small pictures of the President. The President was very, very thrilled, admiring the glass plaques as he set them on their stands.]

Mrs. Malikova: One hundred and twenty-five countries have become Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossoms-Nations.

Mr. Palazhchenko (referring to the design that was on the award and also on the cover of the latest book that Sri Chinmoy had written about the President): Here he has your portrait with Raisa Maximovna’s portraits around it, and on the back is Raisa Maximovna’s portrait framed with 70 of your portraits.

Sri Chinmoy (showing the President the glass pieces): Here are 70 portraits. It is written here, “President Gorbachev: The Home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World.” So, this is the award I wish to offer to you for your 70th birthday.

President Gorbachev: I am very grateful.

Sri Chinmoy: This award I shall not give to anyone else.

President Gorbachev: I am simply very, very moved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sri Chinmoy (holding up a copy of his latest book about the President, which the President had received two days earlier): I also have a copy of the book.

[Mr. Palazhchenko commented that the Russian translation appeared in the book, and the President started reading through it.]

Mr. Palazhchenko: Mikhail Sergeyevich, this is simply wonderful!

Mrs. Malikova: Sri Chinmoy has already given the book to all the Foundation workers.

[Mr. Palazhchenko looked through the book and showed the President his favourite passage.]

President Gorbachev: I would just like to say that I really like the book very, very much. A thousand thanks, a million thanks, a trillion thanks! (Referring to the award) And this portrait is dearer to me than the others I have. (To Mr. Palazhchenko) Look, how wonderfully done!

Sri Chinmoy (showing the President an album with photographs of his visit to Raisa Maximovna’s Long Home): Just yesterday I went there.

President Gorbachev (very moved as he looked through the album): Oh, here are some pictures!

Mrs. Malikova: These are from the cemetery.

Mr. Palazhchenko: Yesterday Sri Chinmoy was at the cemetery.

Sri Chinmoy: Raisa Maximovna is always in my prayers.

President Gorbachev: There is so much snow!

Mr. Palazhchenko (to the President): Snow, red flowers and the man from India or America, from somewhere far, with an incredible soul.

President Gorbachev: Tomorrow morning my daughter, my granddaughters and my whole family will go to the cemetery. This is how my birthday celebration shall start.

Sri Chinmoy: Tomorrow morning I will be bringing seventy roses.

Mrs. Malikova: To the cemetery?

Sri Chinmoy: It will be in honour of your birthday.

President Gorbachev: How do you like Russia? (Again turning to the album) Have you made it for yourself or for us?

Sri Chinmoy (offering the album to the President): It is for you, my Beloved President!

Sri Chinmoy (presenting a cheque to the President): This humble offering is from my students all around the world in honour of your birthday. Disciples from the former Soviet Union have given $5,000. This gift is from the heart of all my students.

President Gorbachev: You have done so much for me. You have given me so many honours. You must know that what has happened between you and me shall last forever. I am very grateful, but unfortunately my time is stressed right now. I have been thinking that perhaps there are not many active years left for me.

Sri Chinmoy: I do not want to hear that! According to our Indian system, one has to live for a hundred years.

President Gorbachev (smiling): But I do not practise meditation!

Sri Chinmoy: I shall meditate for you! I shall pray for you. You do your world-transformation-work, and I shall be praying and meditating for you while you are transforming the world. You do your job, and I will do my job. Every day, early in the morning, I get news about you. This moment you are in Italy; the next moment you are in Germany. Now you will be coming to Atlanta.

[President Gorbachev was deeply moved to hear that Sri Chinmoy had been following his activities.]

[The President then took the award into his private room, adjacent to his main office, and asked Mr. Palazhchenko to put the box under his desk.]

[Mr. Palazhchenko offered to take photographs of everyone together, and Mr. Kailash Beyer and Ms. Lotika Kosaya joined the President, Sri Chinmoy and Mrs. Malikova for group photographs.]

President Gorbachev (referring to a party specially for those who would not be invited to the President's birthday dinner): Did Irina tell you that now we are going to have a party downstairs? Would you like to join us?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, I am at your service.

President Gorbachev: Then I will see you downstairs.

Sri Chinmoy: I would be grateful if Irina would be able to come and see the award.

President Gorbachev: She is downstairs with the guests. But you will see her there and we shall be in a picture all together.

[The President then said good-bye to Sri Chinmoy.]

Poems

Sri Chinmoy was inspired to write the following 167 poems on the way to Moscow and during his stay.

1.

```

My Lord will tell me

When to reap

My heart's aspiration-harvest.

```

2.

```

We all must

Fly in the face of

All self-doubts.

```

3.

```

Mine is not a life of

Page after page

Of empty promises.

```

4.

```

A negativity-mind

Suffers from

Untold miseries.

```

5.

```

My heart-tears

Are for

God-fulfilment.

```

6.

```

I want in my life

Only a hard-won God-Victory. ```

7.

```

My progress-life

Depends solely on

God's unconditional

Concern for me. ```

8.

```

Each day

The river of my life

Brings me new gifts.

```

9.

```

Every morning

I long for a new rainbow

In my heart-sky.

```

10.

```

My heart is my mind’s

Constant peace-supplier.

```

11.

```

The desire-mind considers

The aspiration-heart-joy

An enemy battalion.

```

12.

```

The human mind faces

An unknown future. ```

13.

```

When we surrender

To God’s Will,

An illumining Light

Begins to shape us. ```

14.

```

No more ignorance-night

Can shake or break

My aspiration-life.

```

15.

```

Each individual

Is, indeed,

The quintessence of God.

```

16.

```

Self-doubt

Is worse than useless. ```

17.

```

I shall not allow my mind

To bring back

All my bitter and useless memories.

```

18.

```

I must bring

My aspiration-fire

Back into my life.

```

19.

```

Silence-tears

Are the source of

Dynamic action-smiles.

```

20.

```

I simply adore

My God-realisation-hunger. ```

21.

```

At last

I have started expanding

My tiny life

Towards Infinity. ```

22.

```

My unwillingness

Rightly deserves

Its prison sentence.

```

23.

```

Like the sun,

I shall rise

And serve the world

With no expectation. ```

24.

```

To please God,

I must do everything

Unseen and unappreciated

By the world. ```

25.

```

My Lord,

May I be granted

The smallest space

In Your Infinity. ```

26.

```

While ascending

Or descending,

I cling to my Lord’s Feet.

```

27.

```

No aspiration,

No dedication-life. ```

28.

```

May my heart become

A God-service-temple. ```

29.

```

A divine thought

Is a new awakening. ```

30.

```

Every day

I visit a simplicity-purity-village

In my inner life.

```

31.

```

All my heart-songs

Are made of

God’s Compassion-Notes.

```

32.

```

I deeply admire

Even the belated awakening

Of the mind.

```

33.

```

To my greatest joy,

My mind now knows

How to discard

Disturbing thoughts. ```

34.

```

I long for

A lotus-blossomed

Oneness-heart.

```

35.

```

The disobedience of the mind

Ruthlessly tortures

The God-aspiring heart.

```

36.

```

The world

Has to be inundated

With selfless deeds.

```

37.

```

Resentment is

An instant heart-joy-killer. ```

38.

```

At the end of the road,

Doubt meets with frustration. ```

39.

```

At the end of the road,

Aspiration becomes realisation. ```

40.

```

My own mind

Is my most dangerous,

Fault-finding enemy.

```

41.

```

Each life

Is an unconditional gift

From Above.

```

42.

```

My outer communication with God

Is beautiful.

My inner communion with God

Is fruitful. ```

43.

```

Compromise

Is a very poor solution. ```

44.

```

My today's possession

Becomes

My tomorrow's life-lord.

```

45.

```

The doubting mind

Eventually becomes

The sufferer unparalleled.

```

46.

```

I must unchain myself

From ignorance-bondage-torture. ```

47.

```

Doubt lives

In the darkest mind-cave. ```

48.

```

The mind is

A world-contradiction-monarch. ```

49.

```

My imagination lives

Either in the beauty of my heart

Or in the fragrance of my soul.

```

50.

```

Temptation comes to us

In millions of disguises. ```

51.

```

The aspiration of my heart

Must never fluctuate. ```

52.

```

My God-adoration-heart

Is extremely close to

God's Compassion-Protection-Heart.

```

53.

```

The silence of the heart

Is an antidote to

The disturbance of the mind.

```

54.

```

O God-seeker,

Pleasure-life is forbidden. ```

55.

```

Even the divine love

Finds it extremely difficult

To melt the doubting mind.

```

56.

```

Compassion-Light fades,

Frustration-night begins. ```

57.

```

My soul-vision

Can never be marred. ```

58.

```

I aspire to be

Not only correct

But absolutely perfect.

```

59.

```

Each thought of God

Is a self-transcendence-life. ```

60.

```

God’s Blessing

I accept

No matter which way

It comes to me. ```

61.

```

I must burn

The sad experiences

Of the past.

```

62.

```

No ego

Can ever be harmless —

Impossible!

```

63.

```

A good thought is

An opportunity-dawn. ```

64.

```

Each day

My soul is helping my heart

To move towards a new horizon.

```

65.

```

How I wish I could be

A God-peace-messenger

In the very near future.

```

66.

```

Much have I learnt

From my heart-school.

Much more

Have I yet to learn. ```

67.

```

Each soul has a free access

To God-consultation. ```

68.

```

My heart

Constantly claims

God-intimacy.

```

69.

```

The mind’s

Worry-clouds cling

To mountain-high problems.

```

70.

```

Nobody

Can spiritually bind

The soul-bird.

```

71.

```

A seeker of truth

Is, indeed,

An unparalleled God-instrument.

```

72.

```

When I pray and meditate,

I clearly feel

My Lord’s footprints

Upon my heart. ```

73.

```

I want my entire life

To be under

The sole domination

Of my soul. ```

74.

```

The human life

Is, indeed,

A reconciliation to its fate.

```

75.

```

I am extremely disappointed

In my world-complaining mind. ```

76.

```

My heart needs

Only one thing:

Meditation-nectar.

```

77.

```

My heart

Self-givingly embraces

My Lord’s Victory-Crown.

```

78.

```

If there is no tranquillity

In the mind,

We cannot make the fastest progress

In our spirituality. ```

79.

```

Alas,

My heart is filled

With God-disappointment-tears.

```

80.

```

My soul wants me

To lead a caravan

Of self-giving deeds on earth.

```

81.

```

A hero supreme

Is he who crosses

The tumultuous ignorance-sea.

```

82.

```

A hero supreme

Is he who braves and crosses

Raging ignorance-tides.

```

83.

```

My Lord Supreme

Regularly expects from me

My progress-life-reports.

```

84.

```

God-reliance

Is my only occupation. ```

85.

```

No mind-fantasy

Can forever last

Without collapsing.

```

86.

```

The self-doubt-spear

Has the capacity to destroy

Our life’s progress-deer.

```

87.

```

My heart

Is my Lord’s

Joy-giving doll.

```

88.

```

To be a cynic

Is to enjoy

A dangerous profession.

```

89.

```

One has to be a God-lover first

Before becoming

A peacemaker.

```

90.

```

May my heart

Brim with

Ceaseless tears.

```

91.

```

To enjoy ignorance-sleep

Is to stake

One’s God-satisfaction-life.

```

92.

```

O my heart,

Never be haunted by the fear

Of God-fulfilment-failure.

```

93.

```

Every day

God and my soul

Enjoy an animated conversation.

```

94.

```

A genuine seeker

Has to surmount

His mind’s ego-mountain.

```

95.

```

A God-surrendered seeker

Is, indeed, an indisputable hero

In the spiritual life.

```

96.

```

If I truly love God,

Then my usefulness

Will never be exhausted.

```

97.

```

My soul lovingly

Teaches my heart

How to fly

God’s Victory-Banner. ```

98.

```

A self-giver is destined

To march towards

His inevitable God-Victory-crown.

```

99.

```

When I offer my all

To my Lord Supreme,

He blessingfully offers me

His Rainbow-Beauty’s Smile. ```

100.

```

Every morning

My aspiration-heart

Longs to be a passenger

Of God’s Heaven-bound Train. ```

101.

```

An adamantine will-power

Is needed

To live a worry-free life.

```

102.

```

The promises of the mind

Are highly unreliable. ```

103.

```

My Lord’s Closeness

And His Sweetness-Fragrance

My meditation enjoys.

```

104.

```

May my heart’s

Happiness-God-satisfaction-flowers

Blossom one by one.

```

105.

```

Delight made in Heaven

Is my heart’s only choice. ```

106.

```

When we live to please God only

In His own Way,

God blesses us

With a host of opportunities

To fulfil our longings.

```

107.

```

A self-giving life

Enjoys a panoramic view

Of God-Beauty.

```

108.

```

May my life become

A non-stop effort

For God-manifestation on earth.

```

109.

```

May my God-dedication-life

Be flooded with

Inexhaustible God-love.

```

110.

```

Each time I increase

My faith in God,

I am blessed with

An ever-increasing God-Smile. ```

111.

```

Let me put all my good, divine thoughts

Into practice

As soon as possible.

```

112.

```

A doubting mind

Has to be either illumined

Or abandoned

On the doorstep

Of ignorance-night.

```

113.

```

If one can look insecurity

Straight in the eye,

One makes the fastest inner progress.

```

114.

```

To be dynamic

Is to brave

All the negativities

Of the mind. ```

115.

```

A smiling God

Is the greatest reward

That my aspiration-heart expects.

```

116.

```

Alas, the life-breath

Of gratitude

Is very short on earth.

```

117.

```

Impossibility

Can never be ingrained

In any human life.

```

118.

```

Each man

Is his overdue self-offering

To God.

```

119.

```

We all live

In an overpopulated

Ingratitude-mind-town.

```

120.

```

If I do not have faith in God,

How can God have

His Manifestation-Hope

In and through my life? ```

121.

```

I want to sail

My aspiration-heart-boat.

Therefore I must capsize

My mind’s exorbitant ambition-boat. ```

122.

```

Self-satisfaction

Can live nowhere near

Life's perfection.

```

123.

```

My aspiration-heart blossomed

The day I made

An unconditional God-surrender

As my only choice. ```

124.

```

Each seeker has to study

The divinity-subject

In the heart of humanity.

```

125.

```

The inner battles

Are meant to be won

And not surrendered.

```

126.

```

In the spiritual life,

A restless vital

Is a cruel torture.

```

127.

```

Never give up!

Your ultimate goal

Is just around the corner. ```

128.

```

My surrender-heart

God keeps

In His Satisfaction-Embrace.

```

129.

```

О my mind,

How do you dare to ignore

My Lord’s Sadness-Tears?

```

130.

```

To long for desire-fulfilment

Is to remain endlessly away

From light-enlightenment.

```

131.

```

My Lord,

I place my capacities

And incapacities

Together at Your Nectar-Feet. ```

132.

```

No aspiration-heart-tears

Can ever be useless. ```

133.

```

A God-oneness-heart

Is a God-fulfilment-smile. ```

134.

```

My heart,

Keep fighting.

You will definitely be victorious.

```

135.

```

My heart-tears

Carry my Lord’s Feet

Wherever they go.

```

136.

```

How can I ever be fulfilled

Without fulfilling

My complete God-manifestation-promise?

```

137.

```

There is only one rule

In a God-lover’s life:

Love and love and love God

More, ever more. ```

138.

```

My Lord,

I long only for one thing:

Your Compassion-Eye.

```

139.

```

My soul says to my heart:

“Get ready!

God is coming to visit

Your aspiration-temple.” ```

140.

```

My Lord,

Do come and play

With my heart-breath

At least for a few seconds every day. ```

141.

```

Surrender is the fastest way

To arrive

At God’s Satisfaction-Heart-Kingdom.

```

142.

```

Like my soul,

I, too, would like to sit

Under my Lord’s

Satisfaction-Fruit-Tree. ```

143.

```

I must imprison

My mind’s uncomely thoughts

Immediately and permanently.

```

144.

```

I must climb the ladder

Of my God-manifestation-promise. ```

145.

```

A true seeker finds that

A second away from God

Is an Eternity.

```

146.

```

My aspiration

Is a one-way street

To my God-satisfaction.

```

147.

```

Mine is a prayer

Of God-acceptance

And nothing else.

```

148.

```

An unaspiring mind

Is nothing short of

A monkey-restlessness-agitation.

```

149.

```

Obey your Master

If you expect

Fast, faster, fastest

Self-improvement. ```

150.

```

A purity-heart knows

What ignorance-intolerance is. ```

151.

```

When my meditation

Is deep,

I enjoy silence-ecstasy.

```

152.

```

We all must take shelter

Under the God-Patience-Tree. ```

153.

```

No more shall I allow myself

To be blinded

By God-dissatisfaction-jealousy-fog.

```

154.

```

Every day my Lord

Allows me to bathe

In His Forgiveness-Heart-Sea.

```

155.

```

May each tear

Of my heart

Be a God-gratitude-tear.

```

156.

```

My Lord’s Love-Heart

Is absolutely unlimited —

So feels my aspiration-heart.

```

157.

```

Each soul carries

A totally new

God-manifestation-plant

Here on earth. ```

158.

```

The mind's ignorance-shackles

Have to be shattered without fail,

Before we invite God to enter

Into our heart-temple. ```

159.

```

To be in the company

Of an unaspiring mind

Is a shocking experience.

```

160.

```

My soul

Is an ever-blossoming flower

In my Lord’s Heart-Garden.

```

161.

```

No problem

Can remain unsolved

In our heart-land.

```

162.

```

Self-transcendence means

The God-satisfaction-delight-experience. ```

163.

```

May my sincerity-heart

Be the author

Of my God-fulfilment-promise

On earth. ```

164.

```

Before we enter into the world

Of God's infinite Light and Delight,

We all must wrestle

With the powers of darkness. ```

165.

```

Is there any mind

That never protests

But accepts

God's Justice-Light

Constantly and happily?

```

166.

```

No sincere heart-cry

Can be under the thumb

Of temptation.

```

167.

```

To lose faith

In one’s spiritual life

Is to have a life-boat that is

Dangerously and shockingly rocking. ```

Songs

SCR 201-250. Sri Chinmoy wrote the words to the following 50 songs during his trip to Moscow and set them to music after his return to New York.

1. Dharar Kole Benche Achhi

/Dharar kole benche achhi tomar kripar bale/ /Taito nitui rakhi amai tomar charan tale/

2. Keman Kare Karbo Puran

/Keman kare karbo puran anta bihin khudha/

/Bishwa prabhu kothai pabo amaratar sudha/

3. Rush Desher Aj Jatri Ami

/Rush desher aj jatri ami rush desher aj jatri/

/Bhengechhi aj maner bhitir maner prachir ratri/

4. Mukti Ami Nahi Chahi

/Mukti ami nahi chahi mukti nahi chahi/

/Bhakti giti gahi jeno bhakti giti gahi/

5. Palake Palake Pujite Tomar

/Palake palake pujite tomar charan kamal/

/Dao go amare bishwa janani hriday dhabal/

6. Hethai Hothai Britha Kari

/Hethai hothai britha kari parjyatan/

/Shanti kothai bhranti kebal pran man/

7. Bhitare Bahire Badhar Pahar

/Bhitare bahire badhar pahar/

/Hate habe more ati durbar/

8. Keno Karo Palayan

/Keno karo palayan ogo mor prana man/

/Hate habe mahavir prabhu pade rekhe shir/

9. Maner Prachir Bhangte Habe

/Maner prachir bhangte habe maner prachir/

/Dekhte habe jyotir dhara hiyar rabir/

10. Tomar Kripa Pete Ami

/Tomar kripa pete ami hayechhi aj unmad/

/Param pita laho laho amar sakal aparadh/

11. Bhalo Nahi Lage Kabhu

/Bhalo nahi lage kabhu sor-gol/

/Bhalo lage nirabata hillol/

12. Hate Chahi Mayer Payer

/Hate chahi mayer payer puta kubaloy/

/Mayer kripa rashi rashi amar parichoy/

13. Pranam Laho Pranami Laho

/Pranam laho pranami laho laho amai laho/

/Ami tomar kripabindu kaho amai kaho/

14. Bhitare Bahire Paramad Jani

/Bhitare bahire paramad jani nahi kari bhoy nahi kari bhoy/

/Ami je prabhur alor tanoy chira madhumoy chira chinmoy/

15. Hiyar Bagane Hate Habe Puta Phul

/Hiyar bagane hate habe puta phul/

/Nijere karite premamoy manjul/

16. Hriday Gabhire Khaniker Tare

/Hriday gabhire khaniker tare rahe jadi mor pipasa/

/He param prabhu e jibane kabhu hanibena jani hatasha/

17. Dibase Nishite Kheli Ami

/Dibase nishite kheli ami shudhu dan pratidan khela/

/Nahi pai kabhu triptir dekha britha chale jai bela/

18. Bahire Bhitare Charidhare

/Bahire bhitare charidhare shudhu maya moha jai/

/Shanti kothai tripti kothai manda kapal/

19. Jog Sadhana Karte Chahi

/Jog sadhana karte chahi ami dibarati/

/Ami hate chahi tomar kripar ankhi sathi/

20. Dharare Karite Joy

/Dharare karite joy hiya bal prayojan/

/Nahe kabhu bahubal hiya amulya ratan/

21. Keman Kare Pashan Hriday

/Keman kare pashan hriday haye gelam janina/

/Keno je hai param prabhur madhur bachan manina/

22. Samoy Hale Prabhu Amai

/Samoy hale prabhu amai dibe jani dekha/

/Pirapiri rakhi dure prabhur charan rekha/

23. Nitya Ami Hate Chahi

/Nitya ami hate chahi prabhur kripai pushta/

/Ta na hale kabhu ami habona je tushta/

24. Jiban Amar Tomar Sneher

/Jiban amar tomar sneher tomar kripar pujari/

/Tumi tomar khamar pathar ei jibaner dishari/

25. Mane Prane Dehe Hate Habe Nirdosh

/Mane prane dehe hate habe nirdosh/

/Chaho jadi pete paramer paritosh/

26. Dhara Maru Bhume

/Dhara maru bhume kari pai chari/

/Kripa karo more e bangshidhari/

27. Janite Chahina Dharanir Manobhab

/Janite chahina dharanir manobhab/

/Diye jabo shudhu chahibona kono labh/

28. Manjul Habe Bhitar Jiban

/Manjul habe bhitar jiban bahir jiban bhor/

/Ati sajatane dharare bandhibo diye madhu prema dor/

29. Vasudev Jachi Ami Taba Barabhoy

/Vasudev jachi ami taba barabhoy/

/Tamasabrita manere karite joy/

30. Meghla Dine Jiban Halo

/Meghla dine jiban halo meghla/

/Dipti bihin shanti bihin ekla/

31. Ar Katokal Sahite Habe

/Ar katokal sahite habe maner praner jwalatan/

/Hate habe jiban amar mitthya jayi hutashan/

32. Bhalo Lage Mor Akuti

/Bhalo lage mor akuti jibane nirala/

/Jani ami jani pantha karibe ala/

33. Mane Prane Dehe Prati Pale Pale

/Mane prane dehe prati рalе pale shunibo tomar bani/

/Danibe amai paramananda tomar charan khani/

34. Mane Prane Dehe Gahite

/Mane prane dehe gahite tomar bijayer giti/

/Dao more tumi ogo kripamoy asim shakati/

35. Shudhu Ei Asha

/Shudhu ei asha tomar ketan karibo bahan/

/Shudhu ei asha rakhibo dhariya tomar charan/

36. Jani Ami Jani Dharanir Bhar

/Jani ami jani dharanir bhar karite haibe bahan/

/Jani ami jani bhangite haibe dharar sakal bandhan/

37. Birajo Kothai He Mata Parvati

/Birajo kothai he mata parvati/

/Aharaha jena tomai janai nati/

38. Chahina Puraskar

/Chahina puraskar chahina puraskar/

/Nikhut hate ami chahi je tiraskar/

39. Shesh Chaowati Purna Halo

/Shesh chaowati purna halo shesh chaowati mor/

/Amar prane jegechhe aj asimatar bhor/

40. Asim Bedana Peyechhi

/Asim bedana peyechhi asim jatana sahechhi/

/Tabu tumi Mago asona more tumi bhalobasona/

41. Kakhano Balona Jabena

/Kakhano balona jabena kakhano balona pabena/

/Kakhano balona dibena kakhano balona nibena/

42. Jog Sadhana Nahi Jara Kare

/Jog sadhana nahi jara kare/

/Agyanata tader rakhe dhare/

43. Dibas Rati Muchki Hasir

/Dibas rati muchki hasir phanke phanke/

/Amar mata bishwa mata amai dake/

44. Bedan Bina Chetan Khulena

/Bedan bina chetan khulena/

/Ei kathati keha bhulena/

45. Chaowa Paowar Shesh Habe Aj

/Chaowa paowar shesh habe aj shesh habe/

/Amaratar phutbe alo mor bhabe/

46. Bijayer Mala Chahina Janani

/Bijayer mala chahina janani chahi shudhu ami akuti bhakati/

/Chahi shudhu ami tomare janate amar hiyar khudhita pranati/

47. Din Rajani Gahe Jara

/Din rajani gahe jara tomar bijoy giti/

/Tader sathe ghure berai diye hiyar priti/

48. Asimatar Jatri Ami Karechhi Aj Suru

/Asimatar jatri ami karechhi aj suru/

/Sathi amar kripar pathar param pitar guru/

49. Charidike Mog Biraje Tomar

/Charidike mor biraje tomar madhur karuna ankhi/

/Amar sakil bedana jatana tomar charane rakhi/

Mother Earth's proudest achievement —

```

President Gorbachev, President!

You are Mother Earth’s proudest achievement.

A man in a million, a heart in a billion,

A soul in a trillion.

Heaven’s splendour-enlightenment.

```

Президент Горбачев, Президент.

Ты-Достижение, которым Мать-Земля гордится больше всего.

Человек — один на миллион,

Сердце — одно на миллиард,

Душа — одна на триллион.

Просветление-Величие Небес.

Soul-Birds

During his stay in Moscow, Sri Chinmoy drew 5,738 soul-birds at the Grand Marriott Hotel. A selection of these birds is reproduced on the following pages.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Photograph section

Photograph

1 Departing for Moscow from New York’s JFK International Airport, February 26th, 2001.

Photograph

2 Standing before the Kremlin in Red Square, February 28th, 2001.

Photograph

3 In front of the Spasskaya Tower, Red Square.

Photographs

4 With bared head, Sri Chinmoy places flowers on Raisa Maximovna’s Long Home, February 28th.

5-6 Offering soulful prayers.

Photographs

7 Before a banner announcing President Gorbachev’s birthday celebration.

8 In Moscow's Tandoor Restaurant. The lamps above Sri Chinmoy's head were like those of his childhood.

Photographs

1 At the Jharna-Kala exhibition in Moscow with Manjaree, the exhibit organiser.

2 Signing the Jharna-Kala guestbook.

3-4 Sri Chinmoy’s students welcome guests to the exhibit.

A gift for Irina Malikova’s son Dmitriy at the Grand Mariott Hotel, February 28th.

Irina Malikova’s mother, Valentina, and her daughter and grandson warmly receive Sri Chinmoy at their home.

Blessingful affection for Valentina Malikova.

Ending a soulful meeting.

Photographs

Anatoliy Chernyaev, long-time advisor to President Gorbachev.

Karen Karageziyan of the Gorbachev Foundation International Relations and Media Department.

Ekaterina Zavarzina, assistant to President Gorbachev.

Irina Vagina, President Gorbachev’s stenographer.

With Professor Valentin Tolstykh, coordinator of President Gorbachev’s 70th Birthday book.

Pavel Palazhchenko, Chief of the Gorbachev Foundation International Relations and Media Department.

Vladimir Polyakov of the Gorbachev Foundation International Relations and Media Department.

Larisa Titova, secretary of the Gorbachev Foundation International Relations and Media Department.

Natalia Shevchenko, secretary to President Gorbachev.

Elena Martynova, secretary to President Gorbachev’s daughter Irina.

Irina Malikova (center), Chief of the Gorbachev Foundation International Charity Department, and her assistant Oxana Zagladina.

Photographs

[Sri Chinmoy was personally invited by President Gorbachev to attend the conference “Perestroika: our past or future?” at the Foundation on March 1st, 2001.]

Sri Chinmoy at the Conference. Irina Malikova interprets for him.

Irina Virganskaya. Vice-President of the Gorbachev Foundation, opens the Conference.

President Gorbachev after his arrival at the Conference.

President Gorbachev affectionately places his hand on the shoulder of Lotika Kosaya, one of the leaders of the Moscow Sri Chinmoy Centre, as group photos are taken.

Sri Chinmoy visits the Gorbachev Foundation Library.

Photographs

1 Sri Chinmoy meets with 500 of his students from the former Soviet Union.

2 St. Petersburg students with Sri Chinmoy.

3 Karpani Tsybenko reads Sri Chinmoy’s tribute to President Gorbachev published by the Gorbachev Foundation.

4 Cosmonaut Gennadiy Strekalov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, and his wife Lidia.

5 The cosmonaut presents Sri Chinmoy with “The Heart of Russia” recognition.

6 Sri Chinmoy offers the book he wrote for President Gorbachev’s 70th Birthday.

Photograph

The 70 roses offered by Sri Chinmoy at Raisa Maximovna’s Long Home, the morning of the President’s 70th birthday. The message reads, “To the Queen Heart of the world Raisa Maximovna from Sri Chinmoy’s heart and the hearts of his students. March 2, 2001.”