Question: Did you ever think of getting married and having children?

Sri Chinmoy: No, I have enough responsibility. Seven hundred children God has given me. India’s most famous scientist, P.C. Ray, was brought up in Scotland and he got his degree there. He was the father of Indian science. Once one of his students, who knew perfectly well that he was a bachelor, asked, “How many children do you have?” Immediately he said, “Wait a moment,” and he took out of his pocket a list of his favourite students. It was a big list. He said, “Here I have got seventy-three children,” and he read out their names. “These children are infinitely more important in my life than my own children could ever be.” Spiritual children are the real children, because they follow in the footsteps of the Master. They always try to follow him. The children of our first avatar, Sri Ramachandra, could have become more spiritual than they were. Our second avatar, Lord Krishna, had many physical children, but not even one accepted the spiritual life. His disciples, like Arjuna and others, were far dearer to him than his physical children. In the case of other Masters, not only their children but also their brothers and sisters were not spiritual. Undoubtedly Sri Ramakrishna had relatives, but Vivekananda, who was no relation of his, became his dearest spiritual son. I am lucky. My brothers and sisters all accepted spiritual life. Being the youngest, I followed them. My parents also were spiritual. All my brothers and sisters went to an ashram after our parents died.

Whoever adopts or follows my principles, my way of life, is my true child. He is not my blood relation, but he is my soul’s relation. If we can establish a spiritual relationship with someone, then he becomes a true member of our family. True, he is not a physical relative, but it is the soul’s relationship that will remain eternally.