Question: Now when people come to classes, they want peace, they might even want God, but they don’t seem to want a new life. They seem satisfied with their life and don’t want to try something new.

Sri Chinmoy: These people are not satisfied. They are only increasing the number of their desires. When they hear you give talks, they feel that they may have to curb their desires. It is not that they are fully satisfied with their life. As soon as some of them hear our rules and regulations, then they feel, “Oh, that is not meant for us.” They do not want to have, as you say, anything new. They have everything, but they continue increasing their desires.

Some people work very hard, every second. Their desire for money is infinitely stronger than our desire for God. Their God is money. So they want to reach their God as soon as possible. Our God is somewhere in the blue skies, so we do not have that intensity. They have such intensity that they become so rich in such a short span, and still they are increasing their desires. And the other thing is so true. People do not want newness in life, newness in life.

But again, who knows? Nothing remains unfulfilled. Now you are working very, very hard to spread my light. When you sow the seed, it takes time to germinate, so we shall have to be very patient. But the farmer does the same thing, he sows the seed and waters every day. If he wants to get the result after one month, he will find nothing there. In exactly the same way all those who are giving talks must be patient.

Philadelphia still is my dearest, sweetest, fondest place in the entire America, so I want those who are giving classes there to continue, continue, continue. At what point Philadelphia will ring her bell we do not know. Now we say the bell is broken. Even if it is broken, one day you will see Philadelphia will wake up, wake up.

Some people can go there and enjoy a picnic. We have to approach them not only from the spiritual point of view, but also the social point of view. Socially you have to engage them. Ask them how many children they have, what kind of hobbies they like. New York disciples should go there for Joy Days. If you have Joy Days a few times, then they will feel oneness.

When you give talks, whatever you say is so new to them. They see that there is a yawning gulf between the teacher and the student. But the teacher should bring her colleagues and make the students feel that there is no big gap between the teacher and the student. The teacher and others should come for Joy Days to mix with the seekers.

I do sincerely feel, I am most convinced that Philadelphia will one day bloom and blossom. When? At God’s Hour. But His Hour is His posses-sion. How can I steal His possession? Only I know that Philadelphia will not fail me. Because of my love, because of my fondness for Philadelphia, it will one day bear most delicious fruit. Only the hour we do not know, God’s Hour. But the prophecy that I made and I am still making will definitely come true. And if 10, 20 or 30 disciples go there at least twice a month or even once a month, the fate of Philadelphia is bound to change.

Then some people have miracle powers. One disciple from New Zealand went to the Los Angeles Centre, which was not bearing any fruit for years and years. He went and gave talks, and he got six or seven disciples. Can you imagine? Others had tried so hard. Then from New Zealand somebody came and gave a talk and found seekers. In the New York area, I hear that someone from India and someone from Scotland are joining Americans in giving successful talks. I do not know how these miracles can take place. Out of hundreds of local disciples, there should be several groups to give talks and mix with people. It is the bounden duty of all those who live in New York to work hard, very hard.

2 July 2005 Guatemala City, Guatemala