Sri Chinmoy's reflections²

Gandhi knew nothing about music, but when he spoke about music, everybody listened. Tagore knew nothing about some subjects, but people listened to him whenever he spoke. Once people become famous, they create a sensation. Then everybody tries to hear what they have to say.

In books of quotations, big shots comment on so many subjects. Are they supreme authorities? Not at all! A gardener or a teacher of botany knows so much about flowers, but nobody will care for the gardener’s comment on flowers. But if a big shot says something about flowers, everybody will listen. This is life!

This definitely applies to Sudhahota, except that in his case, he does have a real talent for acting and singing. But jealous musicians and jealous actors will say, “Oh, he is an athlete. What does he know about singing?” They may not want to encourage him because he is already established as a superlative athlete. But the world will not follow that philosophy. The world will just run to see him. The way Sudhahota’s name has spread all over the world, other champions will not get the same glory. Jesse Owens created the same effect. If Jesse Owens stood in one corner, everybody would go to see Jesse Owens. Similarly, if Muhammad Ali is available somewhere, people will run to Ali. The whole world will flock to Ali. Who will go to other boxers like that? In the same way, Sudhahota’s name is so well established. This is always an advantage. The public is eager to see and hear him. The public is so proud of him and fond of him.

Out of sheer affection, Narada was concerned that people would say, “Carl Lewis is an athlete. What does he know about singing?” But I do not believe that will prove to be a problem. I know from my own experience that someone can pass from one field to another. In terms of music theory, what do I know? But just because I am a spiritual man, people value me as a musician. There are many people who will accept my opinion if I say something about music, whereas they may not care for the opinions of some professional musicians. The world will value my opinion because of my spiritual standard, although in their line the professional musicians are the experts.

Who can be a better example than the Pope? If the Pope says something on any subject, people listen. He does not have to study physics or science. If the Pope says something about the atom bomb, people will quote him again and again. If the Pope speaks on any subject, whether it is politics or peace, I tell you, the Pope’s words will receive the utmost attention.

How many subjects did Mother Teresa know in detail? But with her infinite sympathy and concern, she was not afraid to broach any subject. It was because her spiritual and moral standard was so high that everyone listened.

If you are great in one field, really great, then you can bravely speak. You can enter into another field, and out of sheer curiosity or respect, people will come to see you and listen to you. John McEnroe is a great tennis player, but if people hear that McEnroe is going to play basketball, out of sheer curiosity they will go to watch him. If McEnroe says he is giving a concert on the guitar, even if a super-excellent musician says he is a very bad player, I tell you, thousands will go to hear him, just because of his name. Does he need musical skill? His name itself is music!

When I give Peace Concerts, my musical performance as such may be third class. Why do thousands of people come to hear me? They do not come to see a musician; they come to see a man of peace. They do not come with a critical mind. They feel a spiritual vibration in the concert hall. When I sing, people are satisfied because they are coming for peace. As soon as I am on the stage, my presence puts them in another world. They do not mind if I make mistakes when I play; they are in trance. Perhaps I put them to sleep! When other musicians play their thunderous music, people in the audience say, “He has made a mistake here, he has made a mistake there.” If somebody is only a musician, then people will go only to hear his music and to criticise him or adore him for that. In my case, the audience is transported to another world. That world saves me from criticism.

Thousands of people go to see President Gorbachev. He gives talks on politics, but the audience members are not politicians. It is only the name “Gorbachev” that draws them. There are many in the audience who are doctors, scientists or philosophers. They do not care for politics at all. But they care for the man; that is why they go. They want to hear the same message again and again, because they like the man. They do not expect consolation or illumination from him as a politician. It is his name that has attracted their attention and created a sensation in their heart. Every day newspapers around the world quote him. When President Gorbachev speaks on any subject, it will come out in the newspaper just because Gorbachev is Gorbachev.

Look at Leonardo da Vinci. He mastered eight or nine subjects. In which field was he best? He was an artist, a philosopher, a sculptor, an architect, an engineer and so on. Da Vinci the man had so many diverse interests. Which one surpassed the rest? He was brilliant in each field. He even envisioned the aeroplane! Who will dare to say that da Vinci was useless because he was interested in a multitude of subjects?

The name of the person carries everything. Even now, if people say the name “John Kennedy,” they have such a good feeling for him. The name “Kennedy” immediately creates a good feeling, a compassionate feeling, an affectionate feeling. People do not think of the details of his life. When they think of President Kennedy, the first thing that comes to their mind is compassion and then affection. Other Presidents may have been very wise or very shrewd, but people do not care for them in the same way. Kennedy’s name has created something unique in American history.

These ideas I want Sudhahota to hear. He must not think that just because he is famous in one field, people will not take him seriously in another field. He definitely has the capacity to become great in more than one field. His athletic achievements will be an asset in his acting and singing.

Narada said something very nice. He said that Sudhahota can become an Ambassador of Goodwill. Sudhahota can mix with children so nicely. He has the good quality of being able to mix with children. Many great people cannot mix with anybody. But Sudhahota can mix very well with children, so it would be ideal if he could become an Ambassador of Goodwill for the United Nations or the United States.

I have such admiration and adoration for my dearest Sudhahota.