Part I -- Pope Paul VI: Soulful reflections

1

Holy Father, I bow to the Supreme Father Absolute in you. I bow, I bow, I bow; I devotedly bow, I unconditionally bow.

2

O Compassion-Father, O Champion-Brother, O Perfection-Friend, your mind is divinely great; your heart is supremely good. Your greatness-mind is illumining humanity’s hope. Your goodness-heart is fulfilling humanity’s promise. Humanity’s hope is to see satisfaction in each human being. Humanity’s promise is to reveal the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. Because you love untiringly, O Holy Father, humanity’s hope, I feel that before long humanity’s hope will succeed and proceed. Because you bless unreservedly, O Holy Father, humanity’s promise, I feel that before long humanity’s promise will proceed and succeed.

3

Young Battista said, “I shall become.” God smilingly said, “Son, My Beauty’s son, certainly you shall.” Pope Paul says, “I am.” God proudly says, “Son, My Duty’s son, certainly you are.” God further says, “Son, in you I saw My Transcendental Vision-Smile. Son, in you I now see My Universal Reality-Cry.”

4

Pope Paul at once blesses two lions: humanity’s confidence-lion and humanity’s assurance-lion. To the confidence-lion he says, “Start. I shall be with you at your journey’s start.” To the assurance-lion he says, “Run soulfully. I shall be at your journey’s close to receive you and garland you.”

5

In Montini, God was His Ascendance-Vision. In Pope Paul, God is His Manifestation-Reality.

6

The world of the mind said, “Montini was an unprecedented genius.” The world of the heart says, “Pope Paul is pious beyond measure. Pope Paul is gracious beyond measure. Pope Paul is precious beyond measure.”

7

On 29 May, 1920 Battista was ordained a priest. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Earth and Heaven enjoyed a most glorious feast given by his Heavenly Father. At the end of the feast, Earth presented Heaven with Earth’s supreme possession: a soulful cry; and Heaven presented Earth with Heaven’s supreme possession: a fruitful smile.

8

Holy Father, on 23 June, 1973 your Compassion-Light blessed the modern earth by unveiling a collection of contemporary paintings and sculpture. The minds, not to speak of the hands of modern artists may not know what you have done for them and for the entire world, but their souls know what you have done. You have unified in a unique manner spirituality’s Illumination-Power and art’s Receptivity-Power. Your illumining utterances about modern art reveal a world of delight not only to artists but also to lovers of art. Here you point out the artist’s search for outer truth and his discovery of inner truth. “It [Modern art] obliges us to get to know it…to read within [it] the soul of the artist or, rather, the contemporary soul, whose interpreter and sensitive mirror the artist becomes whether he realizes it or not.”

9

You enjoy classical music; therefore the musical world places its soulful heart at your feet. You enjoy soulful music because God Himself is the Supreme Musician, because God Himself is the Supreme Music. As the Supreme Musician, He is Eternity’s Duty. As the Supreme Music, He is Infinity’s Beauty.

10

The positive world receives illumination-light from your beauty’s eyes. The progressive world receives fulfilling delight from your purity’s heart.

11

The positive world receives illumination-light from your beauty’s eyes. The progressive world receives fulfilling delight from your purity’s heart.

12

There was a time when you were humanity’s most brilliant student; now you are Divinity’s most brilliant teacher.

13

There was a time when a few sweet children helped you gain self-confidence; now you help countless human beings acquire self-confidence. What you have received from the world is next to nothing, but in return you are giving to the world everything that you have and everything that you are. What you have is love. What you are is sacrifice.

14

While you were studying in high school, to our extreme sorrow, illness assailed you. In spite of that, you always sailed in the boat of measureless success and stupendous glory. What did it prove? It proved that the ailments of the body could not prevent your soul’s adamantine will from manifesting its supernal light in and through you. Your divine manifestation is the ultimate victory of the soul.

15

Pope John smiled without; Pope Paul smiles within. Pope John’s smile ran like a deer: forward. Pope Paul’s smile flies like a bird: upward. Pope John’s smile was contagious. Pope Paul’s smile is precious. Pope John said the heart is beautiful. Pope Paul says the mind is beautiful, too. Pope John said, “Expand yourself. You will automatically realise the Truth.” Pope Paul says, “Realise the Truth first; expansion will automatically follow your realisation.” Pope John cried more for the material poverty of the poor. Pope Paul cries equally for the material poverty of the poor and the spiritual poverty of the rich. He gives equal importance to the poor man’s material poverty and the rich man’s spiritual poverty. He feels that both diseases are equally fatal and they must be cured sooner than at once.

16

On 4 December, 1964 the Holy Father went to India for a three-day visit. India’s outer poverty compelled him to shed tears of suffering. India’s inner purity compelled him to shed tears of joy. Not only India’s Christians but also followers of different faiths basked in the sunshine of the Catholic Emperor’s divine glory.

17

India’s motto: “Truth alone triumphs – Satyameva jayate,” gave him boundless joy, for this is what his own life divinely teaches and supremely expresses. In him the heights of theory and the depths of practice have become inseparably one.

18

Pope Paul tells us, “We must overcome that temptation, which is so strong nowadays, of thinking that it is impossible to acquire a knowledge of God adequate for our cultural maturity and in keeping with our existential needs and spiritual duties. To think this would be sloth, cowardice, blindness. Instead we must seek. We must seek in the book of creation; seek in the study of God’s word; seek in the school of the Church, Mother and Teacher; seek in the depths of our own conscience. We must seek God, seek Him always. And we must know that He is always near.”

Out of the fulness of our heart, and with tears flooding our eyes, we must pray to God. Let us pitch our aim as high as God-realisation, for that is the only goal of our earthly life. Sri Ramakrishna says: “He is born to no purpose who, having the rare privilege of being born a man, is unable to realise God in this life.”

19

On 4 October, 1965 the Holy Father delivered an immortal speech at the United Nations which was nothing short of his own life-giving Wisdom-Light. He offered papal support unreservedly to the United Nations’ cause and told the United Nations that disarmament and cooperation are of paramount importance in extinguishing the poverty-flames and misery-flames of the world. The relationship between the Church and the United Nations he elucidates in a simple and powerful manner: “The Church considers the United Nations to be the fruit of a civilisation to which the Catholic religion…gave the vital principles. It considers it an instrument of brotherhood between nations which the Holy See has always desired and promoted…The convergence of so many peoples, of so many races, so many States in a single organisation intended to avert the evils of war and to favour the good things of peace is a fact which the Holy See considers as corresponding to its concept of humanity and included within the area of its spiritual mission to the world.”

20

Holy Father, the conservatives think that you are for the radicals and the radicals think that you are for the conservatives. Sad misunderstanding is the order of the day. Yet neither the conservatives nor the radicals will ever hesitate to acknowledge your heart of compassion, your mind of illumination, your life of sacrifice and your vision of humanity’s inseparable oneness.

21

Pope Paul is adamantly opposed to birth control. What does his philosophy mean? It means that one must value the dignity of responsibility. If one starts walking along a road, one must complete his journey and reach the destination. Otherwise, it would be far better for him not to start walking at all. As you sow, so you reap. Be prepared to face the world. Do not run away from the reaction-result-world. The world is for the brave and the brave ultimately deserve the fair.

22

Two great leaders: the head of the Catholic world and the head of the United Nations. The divine guest has luminosity’s flood, the divine host has humanity’s flood.

23

Love illumines, service fulfils. Success is a one-day show. Progress is an everlasting reality. Progress is founded not on revolution-bullets, but on evolution-cry-seed and transformation-smile-fruit. The Holy See says, “She [the Church] aims to persuade with her immeasurable store of hope,…knowing that the law of true progress is not revolution but evolution and transformation. This presupposes a change from within, one whose fruits are lasting, for they spring from inner freedom; from the renewed vigour of resolutions that take their origin in ‘a love that transcends man’ and therefore from a ‘genuine readiness to serve’.”

24

Is God necessary? The Pope answers, “We…not only do not accept the opinion or even the hypothesis of the uselessness of God’s name in the context of human life; rather we affirm the contrary. God is necessary! He is the necessary Being, the only one necessary in Himself, and necessary for us. We must be convinced of this fundamental principle. It is this most real, this most blessed name of God which has the greatest value and the most importance for us.”

God is not only a necessity, but the necessity. How and why is this so? We know that everything has failed us or will fail us in one way or another. But God has never failed and will never fail the sincere seekers of the infinite Truth, the infinite Truth, God will not fail us.

25

Pope Paul boldly declares, “Faith is not alienation, it is not a cheap sham, nor is it passe, a sterile system of ideas which is only a burden upon man’s capacity for knowledge, but on the contrary, it is light, it is fullness, it is life. The more a man’s knowledge is evolved, his sensibilities cultivated, the more mature, adult and eager for certitude he is, the greater will be his need for faith and his joy in experiencing its liberating and redeeming power.”

God is Infinite; again, God is Omnipresent. To a genuine aspirant, this is not a mere belief. It is the Reality unparalleled. It is a serious mistake on our part to think that the spiritual life is a life of austerity, a bed of thorns. No, never! We came from the Blissful. To the Blissful we shall unerringly return with the spontaneous joy of life.

26

Pope Paul states, “We can recognise that God exists, and we can see what attributes belong to His sovereign existence; yet we cannot adequately know anything of Him. Thus it happens that our search never comes to rest; it is a course which never ends during this life.”

Aspiration is our mounting cry to transcend the knowledge of God that we have already achieved. This is absolutely essential because God the Infinite constantly transcends His own Infinity, God the Eternal constantly transcends His own Eternity and God the Immortal constantly transcends His own Immortality.

27

21 October, 1972

Dear Sri Chinmoy,

The Holy Father has received the message which you and the United Nations Meditation Group so thoughtfully sent to him for his birthday. He wishes you to be assured of his grateful appreciation for your kindness and for the devotion which you have shown by marking the occasion with a special observance.

His Holiness reciprocates your prayerful greetings and assures you that he will pray for you and for all associated with you in this kind gesture.

With good wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

– J Benelli

Part II -- The Holy Father and the United Nations

Photo

28. The Holy Father and the United Nations

The Holy Father’s blessingful appreciation of the United Nations may be imprinted in gold letters on the tablet of the United Nations’ heart: “Thanks to you, glory to you, who for twenty years have laboured for peace and have even given illustrious victims to this holy cause. Thanks to you and glory to you for the conflicts you have prevented and for those you have settled. The results of your efforts for peace, up to these last days, even if not yet decisive, deserve that we venture to interpret the feelings of the whole world and in its name express to you both congratulations and gratitude.”

With regard to man’s duty, his dignity and his religious freedom, the Holy Father observed at the United Nations: “We feel that you [the United Nations staff] are the interpreters of what is highest in human wisdom.”

The Pope calls the United Nations a school that teaches man peace. According to him, each individual here is at once a pupil and a teacher in the art of building peace. Him to quote, “…the world looks to you as to the architects, the builders of peace.”

Hope is today’s crying reality and tomorrow’s fulfilling reality. Matchless is the hope that the United Nations embodies for the world-family. Here each one is of all and each one is for all. “Here a system of solidarity is being set up, so that the high aims of civilized order may win the unanimous and ordered support of the whole family of peoples, to the good of all and everyone. This is what is most beautiful in the United Nations; this is its most truly human face; this is the ideal which mankind dreams of on its pilgrimage through time; this is the world’s greatest hope.”

Secretary-General U Thant, in his inimitable humility, voiced forth, “I acknowledge in humility and with gratitude Your Holiness’ gracious message. It was a unique privilege to have Your Holiness with us for one afternoon and to welcome you as a universally-esteemed leader in the pursuit of peace. Several delegates who addressed the Assembly today have paid tribute to the profound import of the inspiring message of peace which Your Holiness gave us yesterday. We shall always cherish and remember Your Holiness’ gracious presence in our midst.”

Photo

29

27 January 1972

Dear Sir,

On reception of your letter I made the necessary formalities for the Papal Audience and received today a favourable answer.

The day for the audiences being the Wednesday of every week, it is necessary that the Venerable Sri could be still in Rome between 11 and 13 hour on 22 March.

I would need to know the place where the Sri would stay so as to give the other precise informations.

I have the pleasure to add that I was requested to accompany the Venerable Sri Chinmoy at the audience.

Yours sincerely,

– P Humbert-Claude

Part III -- Memoirs of Sri Chinmoy’s meetings with Pope Paul VI

30

This memoir of Sri Chinmoy’s meeting with Pope Paul VI on 22 March 1972 was written by Sri Chinmoy’s most special assistant, who was present at the meeting.

As we stood in line directly in front of the throne of Pope Paul VI, he beckoned us to come to him. His arms were wide open and his blue eyes were shining with welcoming love.

We approached. Sri Chinmoy folded his hands and bowed, while I knelt at his feet.

The Pope said, “I am very, very happy to receive you.” He repeated this two or three times. “How happy I was to hear about you and how happy I am now to see you and your…” He looked at me and I said, “His secretary.” Monsignor Humbert-Claude said, “His secretary.”

Sri Chinmoy presented the Pope with three books he had written: Songs of the Soul, My Lord’s Secrets revealed and My Rose Petals. The Pope accepted them with great joy and said very sincerely, “I shall read these books.” Then he added, “I shall certainly read each one.”

Then Sri Chinmoy went very close to him with folded hands and said, “I am most grateful to you for granting me the opportunity to be in your presence.”

The Pope replied, “I am so happy to welcome you.” Then he said in Italian, “I cannot express what I am feeling now.” This was translated by an American bishop standing near the Pope.

Sri Chinmoy then continued, “Your Holiness, right now I see in you the most benevolent Father of the Catholic world, the Master-Leader of the Christian world and the Champion-Lover of humanity.”

The Pope was deeply moved and he pressed Sri Chinmoy’s hands into his own folded hands. He said, “I have understood what you have said, but I cannot reply in English.”

Then he began to speak in Italian to another interpreter who said in English, “I am extremely moved with your words. This meeting of ours has been most essential.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he added in English.

Then Sri Chinmoy said, “I am deeply impressed with your philosophy. You say that materialism and spirituality must go side by side. My humble philosophy also says the same. The inner life of aspiration and the outer life of manifestation must go together, one fulfilling the other in a divine way.”

At this point the Pope said in English, “I admire your philosophy.”

Then he said in Italian, and another interpreter translated it into English, “The Hindu life and the Christian life shall go together. Your message and my message are the same.”

Then he continued in English, “Where do you live and what do you do?”

Sri Chinmoy said, “I live in New York and hold meditations in our Centres, and once a week I hold a meditation at the United Nations.”

Monsignor Humbert-Claude translated this into Italian. At that point, taking this opportunity, I said quietly to the American translator, “He is the only spiritual Master who has been granted this privilege,” feeling that the Pope would be interested to know this. However, Monsignor Humbert-Claude had finished his translation and the Pope had begun to speak, so the American bishop said to me, “The Pope is speaking.” The Pope could not hear what I was saying.

At this very moment, the Pope said to Sri Chinmoy with glowing joy and very sincere affection, “When we both leave this world, you and I, we will meet together.”

I was very moved by this. Then the Pope said, “I have something to give you.” He took out a large medal with his own profile embossed on it and presented it to Sri Chinmoy. He gave me a smaller one.

He said, “You have my blessings.” First he spread his arms out in the Catholic manner of benediction. Then he clasped Sri Chinmoy’s shoulders and pressed them very firmly.

We bowed with folded hands and departed.

31

20 July, 1973

From the Vatican

Dear Shri Chinmoy,

The Holy Father has asked me to acknowledge in his name the publications which you kindly presented to him at your recent meeting with him.

His Holiness is appreciative both of your gift and of the sentiments of friendship which prompted it. He cordially invokes upon you every divine blessing.

With personal good wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

32

11 May, 1974

Dear Mr Spence,

Thank you very much for your letter of 29 April, received only yesterday.

With regard to the Audience with the Holy Father for Sri Chinmoy, which was foreseen for next July, I am very sorry to inform you that, due to His Holiness’ health, all private Audiences are suspended. Only General Audience on Wednesdays is still regularly held. In this case, only this kind of Audience, that is, General Audience is possible for the moment. I am deeply sorry about this inconvenience, but it is not possible to do otherwise.

Once again wishing to assure you of my sincere best wishes and regards, I remain,

Yours sincerely,

– Mgr Pietro Rossano

– Secretary

33

Sri Chinmoy’s reminiscences of his interview with Pope Paul VI, the Vatican, 27 June 1973.

Four men carried the Pope into the auditorium on an ornate red velvet-covered chair. Then he sat on his throne and gave a talk, flanked by several cardinals. There were over 8,000 people in the hall. Instructions were read out to the crowd by the Cardinals in English, French, German and Spanish.

Then, before the Pope was put back into the chair, he came over to about sixty persons to whom he gave personal attention, the time he spent with each ranging from one second to about three minutes. I believe I am one of the few (two or three) who got three minutes.

It seems to me that he is sick. However, he made every effort to appear animated and responded to the crowds with great enthusiasm, offering his blessings and frequently waving his hand.

Many large delegations had come from all over the United States and from countries of Europe other than Italy. (Italians were not allowed in this particular audience). As each group was announced, they applauded the Pontiff very enthusiastically. He in turn greeted them with a smile.

There were about fifty rows on each side and I was fortunate enough to be in the first seat in the front row.

The Pope kindly came near me with a broad smile. He recognised me immediately, even though the American Cardinal introduced me, saying to the Pope, “Sri Chinmoy of the United Nations.”

I said to the Pope, “I am most grateful to you for granting me the opportunity to be in your holy presence for the second time. Like last year, this year also I have come for your blessing.” The Holy Father gave me a blessingful smile.

I presented him with some of my books. He said to me, “Last year I promised you that I would read your books. I read them. I deeply enjoyed them. I want to tell you that I am truly proud of your service to the United Nations. You are an Indian. I am also proud of your country.”

Then he stretched out his hands. One of his attendants gave him a medallion. The Pope presented me with the medallion and said, “I give you this as a token of my love for you.” During the conversation we faced each other with folded hands. I saw in him a soul’s smile which was at once psychic, pensive and tinged with a subtle sadness.

34

25 February, 1974

Dear Sri Chinmoy,

I am directed by the Holy Father to acknowledge your letter of 18 January, 1974 with which you kindly sent him a copy of your book entitled The Son.

His Holiness appreciates the sentiments of devoted respect which prompted this gesture on your part and wishes me to convey to you the expression of his gratitude.

With every good wish, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Part IV -- Compassion-Height

Father, we love your eyes of glowing Light.
Father, we love your heart of Compassion-Height.
Your soul champions the cry
For peace on earth.
You bless our weakling hearts
With confidence-birth.
In you is quenched the breathless thirst of world-hours.
In you the UN’s height Perfection-Tree flowers.

Photo

36. Editor’s information

During his third meeting with the Pope on 9 June 1976, Sri Chinmoy presented the Pontiff with his newly published book about the Holy Father, which included four-colour paintings by the author.

The Pope was very happy and pleased with the book. He liked the paintings very much. When he looked through the book, he saw the picture of U Thant and myself. He asked me if I bring down new inspiration and aspiration from above when I conduct meditations at the United Nations. He wanted to have pictures taken, but unfortunately the photographer was not available. The Pontiff then raised his arms to express his soulful benediction.