Question: Guru, when you hear the divine music of the Beyond, when you want to express this music, do you feel that the instruments that you play — such as esraj and flute — convey properly what you want to convey?

Sri Chinmoy: Oh, no, they do not convey. Sometimes when I am playing my old songs, the tune is extremely soulful, but inside the soulful songs there is another melody which I am hearing. Inside the old tunes there is an inner melody which is infinitely sweeter, clearer and more beautiful, but I am unable to bring it out on the esraj. Sometimes I am playing so well, and people are thinking that today Guru is playing really well. But inside the tune that I am playing, sometimes I hear the same tune in an infinitely sweeter and infinitely more delicate form, but I am unable to play it.

But why should I blame the instrument? Some times my voice also does not convey what I want to convey. I can easily open the chakras at my sweet will — especially the throat centre, from where the good singing voice comes. But even then my voice may not express what I hear within. This is because the body is limited. No matter how much spiritual power you have, or what kind of genius you are, the body is all limitation, limitation. Sometimes I sing so soulfully; my body, vital and mind are all pleased. And the people who are listening are feeling that it is extremely soulful. But I feel miserable that I am unable to offer the music that I am hearing from within. It doesn't come absolutely correctly.