Question: We celebrate the spirit of 1776. What exactly was that spirit, and also what is the spirit of the United States today?

Sri Chinmoy: Previously a soulful promise reigned supreme; now a fruitful hope reigns supreme. The spirit at that time was promise; now it has become hope. The spirit of the past was the discovery of inner adamantine will to fight against bondage. The present spirit is the aspiration for God-manifestation plus the aspiration to become humanity’s brother, humanity’s selfless lover and divinity’s constant server.

From:Sri Chinmoy,The Bicentennial Flames at the United Nations, Agni Press, 1976
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/bf