Question: Would you comment on the point made in the Bible that if you don't pray to Jesus Christ, you will be damned, and only through Christ can you get salvation?

Sri Chinmoy: My simple answer to this question is that it is up to you what to believe or not believe. If you believe what the Bible says and you don’t prepare yourself, then you will go to hell. If you don’t believe it, then you are not obliged to do what the book says.

There have been many spiritual Masters of the highest order on earth. The Christ was not the only one. Before him was the Buddha, and four thousand years before was Sri Krishna. Spiritual Masters of the very highest order have walked on earth. Recently there were Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Aurobindo. But if you believe that particular teaching of the Bible, it is up to you. If you believe it, prepare yourself divinely so that you can immediately go to Heaven, or prepare yourself to take your punishment.

Heaven and hell are largely in our mind. If you treasure a good thought, then you are creating Heaven. If you treasure a negative thought, then you are creating hell. Heaven and hell can be experienced every day. If you cry to God for light, you get a good experience. You get a painful experience from a bad thought. An illumining experience from a good thought is Heaven. Heaven is inner joy.

From:Sri Chinmoy,AUM — Vol.II-3, No. 5, 27 May 1976, Vishma Press, 1976
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