105. Sri Chinmoy's Interview with Mongolian National Broadcaster -- Mnb, 17 May 2007

Interviewer: Dear Sri Chinmoy, we would like to greet you.

Today in our studio we present Sri Chinmoy, the leader of Sri Chinmoy The Peace Meditation at the United Nations. Can you tell our viewers what is the purpose of your visit to Mongolia and elaborate on this?

Sri Chinmoy: This is my first visit to Mongolia. I have always had the deepest love, respect and admiration for Mongolia. The very name 'Mongolia' gives my heart enormous joy. There is something unique in the name itself. I have come here to be of service to all the Mongolians, to love and serve the soul of Mongolia. Yesterday I was able to be in the blessingful presence of President Enkhbayar, and he was extremely kind and compassionate to me. For that I shall remain eternally grateful to him. I am also happy to tell you that from my father's side, my great-ancestors came to India from Mongolia. I was born in India, but my great-ancestors were from Mongolia.

Interviewer: We believe that Mongolians will enthusiastically embrace your activities. What activities are you planning to have in Mongolia, and what will you start with?

Sri Chinmoy: In half an hour or so, we shall have the opening of an exhibit of my paintings. This is something quite significant for me. And I shall be offering a Peace Concert in a few days to inspire the people of Mongolia. I shall also be giving a talk on art and a talk on poetry.

Then, I have a hobby of lifting animals to offer my love to the animal kingdom! According to me, they are our younger brothers and sisters. I love not only the human kingdom, but I love the animal kingdom as well. I love them, I adore them and I try to give them joy by lifting them. And they also give me utmost joy. Here in Mongolia I shall be lifting horses.

And, in a few days' time, it is my hope that I shall be able to offer a very, very special award to the President. It is a Peace Award.

I understand that my students will be singing "Good Morning, Mongolia!" which is a song that I have dedicated to the soul and heart of Mongolia. It expresses my own feeling, my deep feeling, for Mongolia. I have also composed a song on Mongolia. If time permits, my students can sing that song for you as well.

Interviewer: You mentioned that you are serving the soul and heart of Mongolia and you have composed a song about Mongolia. What were your impressions and your knowledge about Mongolia before you came here?

Sri Chinmoy: I have a heart. I pray and meditate. If you pray and meditate, you enter into the inner world. If you can enter into the inner world, then you can see and feel the heart and soul of any country. I live in New York, in America, but when I pray and meditate, I have a free access to enter into the heart and soul of any country. At that time, there is no geography, there is no distance between New York and Mongolia. It can take between fourteen and seventeen hours to fly from New York to Mongolia, but when we pray and meditate, God, out of His infinite Bounty, gives us the capacity to fly infinitely faster to any country. So based on my inner feelings, the inner feelings that I get from my prayer and meditation, I composed this song.

Interviewer: Would you kindly let us hear your song that you dedicated to Mongolia, plus your song "Good Morning, Mongolia!"

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, my students will now sing.

[The singers performed Sri Chinmoy's Bengali song for Mongolia and the following song:]

"Good morning, Mongolia, good morning!
You are God's sweetness-child-heart throbbing.
Good morning, Mongolia, good morning!
Sleepless, God's Victory your soul is singing."

Interviewer: Listening to these songs about Mongolia reminds me of the Mongolian national songs, their tune and their rhythm. Have you ever listened to Mongolian music before?

Sri Chinmoy: No, I have never heard any Mongolian music. Outwardly I have not heard it, but inwardly I do feel it. When you pray and meditate, you can hear the music, the songs, of any country; but outwardly I did not have the occasion or the opportunity to hear Mongolian music in New York.

Interviewer: I can see that you have come with so many of your followers. How many followers have come with you, and how many more followers do you have?

Sri Chinmoy: I have a little over seven thousand students all over the world. Here in Mongolia I have about one hundred students. And from the former Soviet Union about one hundred students have come here, but I have taught thousands and thousands of students in the former Soviet Union. For my visit to Mongolia some have come from America, England, France and Germany, and even from Australia – all together four hundred students. They are able to meet with me here, and I have come to see them and to be of service to the soul, heart and life of Mongolia.

Interviewer: Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to give us this interview, and we wish you the best of success in all your activities for human development.

Sri Chinmoy: I wish to thank you from the very, very depths of my heart. You are so kind to me. You have given me ample opportunity to be of service to Mongolia, and for that I am extremely, extremely grateful to you.

Interviewer: And also thank you to your followers for offering us such a beautiful performance. Thank you for everything, and we apologise if we took up your time.

Sri Chinmoy: Thank you and thank you.

Second interviewer: We have heard that you have many professions. You are a poet, a musician, a composer, an athlete….

Sri Chinmoy: I am a "jack of all trades, master of none!" But I am so fortunate that whatever I do, I get tremendous appreciation from musicians, singers, artists and others. When I paint something, there will be some extraordinary artists who inspire me by encouraging me. And when I am lifting something heavy, again there will be world-renowned weightlifters and bodybuilders who encourage me. I have composed thousands of songs in my mother tongue, Bengali, as well as in English. Again, some world-famous musicians and singers appreciate my songs. They encourage me and, with their encouragement, I continue.

I do many things. My life-tree has quite a few branches: art, music and so on. Something most important is our torch relay run for peace. We call it the World Harmony Run. This Harmony Run has covered more than one hundred countries. We need peace badly. This world of ours has everything save and except peace. Peace is of paramount importance. My students go from one country to another spreading the message and light of peace. We try to carry the message of peace and bring forward the good qualities of human beings. This is something most important in my life.

I am a musician, singer, writer and many other things, but the most important thing in my life is to spread the message of peace. And my students are helping me in every possible way.

Interviewer: I would like to thank you, and I have one special request. We understand that your group is not a religious group. Your purpose is to establish world peace. This is very encouraging for us, the TV crew, so in this regard we have a special request for you to consider us as your followers and please keep us in your heart.

Sri Chinmoy: Thank you, thank you.