Conversation — part VI
Muhammad Ali: Well, I’ve got a poem I want you to hear. It’s entitled “Truth.”TRUTH:
The Face of Truth is open,
The Eyes of Truth are bright,
The Lips of Truth are ever closed,
The Head of Truth is upright.
The Breast of Truth stands forward,
The Gaze of Truth is straight,
Truth hath neither fear nor doubt,
Truth hath patience to wait.
The Words of Truth are touching,
The Voice of Truth is deep,
The Law of Truth is simple,
All that you sow you reap.
The Soul of Truth is flaming,
The Heart of Truth is warm,
The Mind of Truth is clear,
And firm through rain or storm.
Facts are but its shadows,
Truth stands above all sin;
Great be the battle in life,
Truth in the end shall win.
The Image of Truth is Christ,
Wisdom’s message its rod;
Sign of Truth is the Cross,
Soul of Truth is God.
Life of Truth is eternal,
Immortal is its Past,
Power of Truth will endure,
Truth shall hold to the last.
Sri Chinmoy: Most soulful, most significant. You have a most remarkable memory.
Muhammad Ali: I got that from Hazrat. I won’t take credit for that. I got it from his book.
Sri Chinmoy: Your memory is most remarkable.
Herbert Muhammad: I want to get a book from Hazrat’s son. Has Hazrat’s son written any books yet?
Sri Chinmoy: Yes, Pir Vilayat Khan. I have two or three books of his. He is a good friend of mine.
Herbert Muhammad: Is there any way I can get them? Is he in Paris? Where is he staying now?
Sri Chinmoy: Last Spring he was in New York, at Woodstock. He invited me to hold meditation with his disciples, so I went to visit him and I held meditation at his place. And he has been to the United Nations two or three times to attend my meditation meetings. He has come to my house, also, to pray with me.
Muhammad Ali: Is he anything like his father?
Herbert Muhammad: I don’t know, but I talked to him twice on the telephone. I bought some of his books from a certain occult bookstore and then this bookstore put him in touch with me. But both times I was thinking I couldn’t go and meet him. But I would love to meet him some day.
Sri Chinmoy: He is a most sincere spiritual teacher. I can say this without the least possible hesitation.
Herbert Muhammad: Whenever he is back in the States some time I would like to find some means to meet him and listen to some of his lectures.
Sri Chinmoy: Yes, he also holds meditations. I will present his books to you. I would like to present them to you.
Herbert Muhammad: Oh yes, in New York.
Sri Chinmoy: I will send them to you here.
Herbert Muhammad: I want to give you my card. Do you have a card, sir? Please write your number on it.
Sri Chinmoy: This is the office number. They will be able to tell you where I am. [To Kanti] You don’t keep my United Nations card for me? Forgive me, I don’t carry any card. [Sri Chinmoy presented Muhammad Ali with a copy of My Flute.] This is my first book. I have written over 250 books.
Muhammad Ali: Oh boy!
Sri Chinmoy: Many, many poems I have written by God’s Grace — thousands of poems. Last year, in twenty-four hours, I wrote 843 poems. Forgive me, I am bragging.
