Table of Contents
Part I
- Question: In general what is the order of importance, urgency or priority today of the following problems of mankind: economic, social, political, religious? Why?
- Question: In particular, which is more important: the relations East-West — political — or North-South — economic?
- Question: What should be the attitude of a world-disciple in relation to dictatorships, imposed will and restriction of individual rights and liberties? To refuse any contact or compromise in the hope of their evolution?
- Question: Do you think it is possible to change the United Nations organisation without changing the Member States? If so, of what use would be the existence of such a closed circuit?
- Question: Do you agree that the main task of the world-disciple today is to help bring the nations' souls to the fore?
- Question: Goodwill is love in action and a first step to true spiritual love. Should it not be the main quality to be fostered and pointed out to mankind?
- Question: Do you see any role for the United Nations organisation in the enlightenment of mankind? If so, will music be one of the components of such a role?
- Question: Do you think that the system of "one country-one vote" is democratic? If not, do you see alternatives before the accumulated wisdom of the nation's souls becomes the yardstick in the voting system?
- Question: If the United Nations Development Programme is the "heart centre" of the United Nations, which of the following — the Secretary-General, the Security Council or Economic and Social Council — is or should be the mind? Are there any other correspondences or analogies between organs and centres?
- Question: Do you envisage the creation of a second chamber at the United Nations? If so, should it be composed of some NGOs or of the wise men of nations? Should the General Assembly, as is, represent the will of the nations and that second chamber the love of peoples?
- Question: Do you foresee the possibility of a fully committed spiritual person becoming Secretary-General in this century?
- Question: The Preamble of UNESCO's constitution states that wars begin in the minds of men and it is there that they will have to be eradicated first. Mankind's minds are changing; yet a general war is still a possibility. Would you comment?
- Question: Nuclear arms and nuclear energy are very dangerous tools. What is your attitude towards both?
Part II
- Question: Bhaktivedanta referred to the United Nations as a "society for united animals" where people are not interested in religious things. Could you please comment on this?
- Question: Is the fundamental goal that the United Nations can aspire for no more than that of the member states which compose it?
- Question: Can we hope that individual delegations of member states will work towards higher goals than their home governments would normally support?
- Question: When a member state assumes an "anti-United Nations attitude", the cause would probably be frustration or fear that the U.N. has taken or may take some action against it. Does such an attitude weaken the U.N. system?
- Question: Secretaries-General have conceived their office in various ways. Is there a preferred definition of the institution of the Secretary-General?
- Question: The style and personality of the Secretary-General influences numerous individuals and national governments and to a degree determines the performance of the entire U.N. Don't you think, then, it is essential to select a Secretary-General who will not allow possible wrong influences or powers to guide his actions?
- Question: Is there a special need to promote co-operation between the newer and often poorer countries in the General Assembly and the older and, in most cases, more established, wealthier countries? Should the latter not take the lead in fostering good relations?
- Question: Co-operation of all nations is an ancient dream. Assuming we are building on the past, how can we assess the outlook now?
Part III
- Question: You said once that honesty and frankness are the birthright of the West, humility and devotion are the birthright of the East, and the combination of these four powers should be the ideal of a human being. What do you mean by this?
- Question: These are the kinds of thoughts that you bring to the meditation sessions at the United Nations. Do you feel that you are accomplishing something at these sessions with United Nations people?
- Question: What is it that you do at these sessions that brings favourable responses from these people? Is it just meditation and prayer, or is there something more?
- Question: So you don't sit down and talk about the boundaries in the Middle East; you talk about other things?
- Question: The inner road — is that an evaluation of yourself, or an evaluation of other people, or an evaluation of the spiritual world? What is the inner road?
- Question: Are the people who come to these sessions people who really need to be there, people whose attitudes need to change and will change, or are they people who would normally came because they are good people and have been seeking the inner road already?
- Question: Do you have any contact with these people beyond your meditation sessions? Do you talk with them privately? Do you ever see them socially?
- Question: Have you ever been able to see a specific change in a person — in their attitudes or in the way they behave?
- Question: You talked about your sessions containing both prayer and meditation, so that means there is a difference between prayer and meditation. What is the difference or differences?
- Question: So we have one-way communication with prayer, and two-way communication with meditation?
- Question: Guru, what is special about your teachings, or what does your philosophy contain that is special and that man can benefit from?
- Question: The meditation that you have for people who take part in your sessions, is it Yoga, or are we talking about something different?
- Question: Are you part of a particular organised religious body or a sect or cult, or are you just who you are?
- Question: Therefore you do accept people with different religious backgrounds into your group?
- Question: And they are not required to drop their religion?
- Question: In the past ten or fifteen years we have seen many Gurus come to the West. Are all Gurus good?
- Question: Guru why did you come to the United States?
- Question: Some of the Gurus who have come to the West have got bad press, and they have been accused of things that you wouldn't associate with a sincere God-server. They have got hundreds of thousands of disciples and vast amounts of wealth. I gather from what I have read about you, that you are not interested in amassing any wealth in the United States, or in getting a great number of followers. Is that true?
- Question: When you first arrived in the United States 13 years ago, in 1964, did you see a greater need then than you do now for your teachings? I guess I am trying to say have you seen some changes in the way we Westerners are thinking?
- Question: So what you are saying is that maybe some of the qualities that were missing in the West are starting to take hold. Is there a need for a spiritual leader to leave the West and go to the East to teach frankness and honesty to the East?
- Question: Would you accept that role?
- Question: What do you require of your disciples?
- Question: It is not your intention to have everyone become your disciple?
- Question: Do you envision the day when your goals will be achieved?
- Question: But you don't ever see the day when your work will be done, do you?
- Question: Where are you now? Have you dropped the seed? Do we have a seedling?
Part IV
- Question: In what way does the United Nations please you?
- Question: How can the individual seeker offer his aspiration to the world community?
- Question: What is the best aspect of the Supreme to concentrate on for transformation?
- Question: Which is the best way for a nation to contribute to the world at large?
- Question: Is it a good idea to have other meditation groups affiliated with this one?
- Question: Is the Supreme pleased with the world progress?
Part V
- Question: When did the Supreme create the United Nations?
- Question: When I meditate on my own, I take it as my own personal meditation. But I was wondering whether I should come here with the idea to meditate on the United Nations for the United Nations?
- Question: What role will the United Nations ultimately play in the spiritual transformation of humanity?
Part VI
- Question: What does our singing do in terms of our meditation and our offering to the U.N. soul?
- Question: How can we avoid tension when doing a project under pressure?
- Question: Here at the United Nations many decision-makers take positions on controversial issues. What is the most effective way to make sure the position they take is the correct one?
Part VII
- Question: You are always talking about serving God in others. How can I develop more of the feeling of being with God when I am with people?
- Question: What is the significance of the enormous amount of talent someone might have in sports, music or art? Is it necessarily a gift of Grace from the Supreme?
- Question: Why are people afraid of spirituality?
- Question: What is the spiritual purpose of Yoga?
- Question: I pray and meditate, I feel a flood of love and joy. But then I find that all the suffering of the world seems to well up inside me and I feel guilty for feeling joyful when so many other people are so unhappy.
- Question: Can we give it to others by writing about it, and does it help them?
- Question: When we receive joy from the soul, how can we keep it to the fore?
- Question: How can we acquire practicality in a divine sense?
- Question: Can I reach the Truth with my intellect?
- Question: What is most important in keeping the inner cry?
- Question: How can I have more will-power and clarity?
- Question: How can I get satisfaction right this moment?
- Question: Why does God love Peace the most among all His children?
- Question: Are love and awareness the same thing?
- Question: How do I go deep within?
- Question: Is there any difference between delight and bliss?
- Question: Should we try to justify our spiritual practices to others?
- Question: Does each person have a different way of meditating?
- Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations
- Editor's preface to the first edition
