Interviews — 24 September 1997

Sri Chinmoy was interviewed separately by: ABC News, New York WIBC, Indianapolis (Live)\\ WJR, Detroit (Live)\\ WLW, Cincinnati (Live)\\ WGY, Albany (Aired September 25th)\\ MT 90e1. In the Studio of Satellite Channel: SEDAT 00 New York

Interview — ABC News, New York

Interviewer: Our next guest is a prolific author, a poet, an artist, a musician, an athlete, a spiritual guide. He has spent time with world leaders such as Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mother Teresa, just before she passed on. Sri Chinmoy is with us this morning.

Sir, how were you able to obtain access to world leaders like the ones I just mentioned, and of course Mother Teresa, too?

Sri Chinmoy: I am a student of peace, and I wanted to meet with them. They were extremely kind to me and they complied with my request. Afterwards, I became very close friends with some of them.

Interviewer: I know you had been acquainted with Mother Teresa for quite a bit. What struck you about Mother Teresa the first time you ever met her?

Sri Chinmoy: When I met with her for the first time, I prayerfully offered her a rose, and she blessingfully accepted the rose from me. I saw in her humility, simplicity, affection and compassion in boundless measure. This meeting took place on 24 October 1975, at the United Nations.

Interviewer: Why did you write a book about her?

Sri Chinmoy: I wrote a book entitled: Mother Teresa: Humanity’s Flower-Heart, Divinity’s Fragrance-Soul. I had met with her four times, each time for 45 minutes or an hour or so. I was also blessed with quite a few letters from her, and I had the greatest opportunity to speak with her on the telephone a number of times. All these I wanted to be recorded. Mother Teresa: Humanity’s Flower-Heart, Divinity’s Fragrance-Soul contains all these things.

Interviewer: Sri Chinmoy, a very interesting book on Mother Teresa. Nice having you on the programme this morning, and good luck to you!