Love and devotion

AUM 487-499. These questions were asked by Lavanya (Mrs. Wendy Brown) of the New York Centre.

Question: How can we teach ourselves to love humanity, not just as a collective whole, but also specifically, when a person's defects and bad qualities are so obvious?

Sri Chinmoy: When you see that a person’s defects and bad qualities are so obvious, try to feel immediately that his defects and bad qualities do not represent him totally. His real self is infinitely better than what you see now. On the other hand, if you really want to love humanity, then you have to love humanity as it stands now and not expect it to come to a specific standard. If humanity has to become perfect before it can be accepted by you, then it would not need your love, affection and concern. Right now, in its imperfect state of consciousness, humanity needs your help. Give humanity unreservedly even the most insignificant and limited help that you have at your disposal. This is the golden opportunity. Once you miss this opportunity, your future suffering will be beyond your endurance. Because a day will come when you will realise that humanity’s imperfection is your own imperfection. You are God’s creation, so is humanity. Humanity is only an expression of your universal heart. You can and must love humanity, not just as a whole, but also specifically if you realise the fact that until humanity has realised its supreme Goal, your own divine perfection will not be complete.