3401. If I can love myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can love myself
Spontaneously.

3402. If I can treat myself carefully

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can treat myself
Carefully.

3403. If I can examine myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can examine myself
Constantly.

3404. If I can give myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can give myself
Unconditionally.

3405. If I can think of myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can think of myself
Soulfully.

3406. If I can see myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can see myself
Impartially.

3407. If I can purify myself

Secrecy’s sacred door
Is now wide open:
Ecstasy’s satisfaction-core
Will be all mine
If I can purify myself
Sleeplessly.

3408. O locked door of my mind

O locked door of my doubting mind,
This time to unlock you
I shall try my heart’s love-key
And immediately succeed.

3409. I keep my eyes open

I keep my ears shut
So that I can escape
The wild gossip of the world.

I keep my eyes open
So that I can feast
On nature’s perennial beauty.

3410. My Lord comes to me

In the morning
My Lord comes to me
With His Eye’s silver Sound.

In the evening
My Lord comes to me
With His Heart’s golden Silence.

3411. Wisdom-light

Wisdom-light is a peerless treasure.
You can have it,
You can claim it now
To cure your amazingly blinded
Himalayan pride.

3412. Perfect my imperfections

Perfect my imperfections,
O my Lord Supreme.
I long to be able to please You
In the service of humanity.

3413. The thought-world

Yesterday
I was sick of my idle thoughts.
Today
I am sick of my human thoughts.
Tomorrow
I shall free myself entirely
From the thought-world.

3414. O my indecisive mind

O my indecisive mind,
My dislike of you
Goes far beyond your imagination,
For neither do you want to fly
Nor do you want to try.

3415. His heart was his foe

His heart was his sole foe.
It stood against him
When he wanted to disown
His doubting mind
And
His strangling vital.

3416. Infinity's Light radiates

My aspiration-heart and my dedication-life
Know that Infinity’s Light radiates
On each and every mile
Of Eternity’s Road.

3417. Nothing is more beautiful

Nothing is more beautiful
Than purity.
Nothing is more painful
Than doubt.
Nothing is more fruitful
Than gratitude.

3418. Oneness fulfils

Hatred deceives the hater.
Love illumines the lover.
Oneness fulfils the God-seeker.

3419. Because of his self-doubt

Because of his self-doubt
He could not see the Face of God.
Because of his false confidence
He could not sit at the Feet of God.

3420. You hide because you are afraid

You hide just because you are afraid.
You divide just because you are insecure.
You are insufficient just because
You want supremacy.

3421. The beauty of the morning

The beauty of the morning
Inspires me to pray to God
To grant me purity.

The radiance of the noon
Inspires me to pray to God
To grant me power.

The peace of the evening
Inspires me to pray to God
To grant me a gratitude-heart.

3422. I am very happy

I am very happy
Because I have conquered myself
And not the world.

I am very happy
Because I have loved the world
And not myself.

I am very happy
Because I have not surrendered
Either to the world or to myself.

3423. If you see your mistakes

If you see your mistakes,
Then there is every hope
That someday you will stop making mistakes.
If you don’t see your mistakes,
Then you will be compelled to eat
Eternity’s failure-food.

3424. Become a perfect man

Become a perfect man.
God will treasure you.
Become another God.
Man will claim you.

3425. A Spiritual Master is strict

A spiritual Master is strict
With his spiritual children,
Not because he wants them
To be always afraid of him.
No, no, no!
He is strict with them
Because he wants them to conquer
Once and for all
Their inner fear.
This inner fear is the beginning
Of their spiritual death.

3426. O my broken heart

O my broken heart,
I tell you something in supreme secrecy:
You are only one side of the reality-coin.
Look on the other side
At what is shining bright.
It is the Golden Shore, the Golden Shore —
Look!
Today your name is disappointment.
Tomorrow your name will be
God’s Satisfaction supreme.

3427. Do not pretend!

Do not pretend!
Pretence is a false performance.
It cannot illumine anyone.
It cannot transform anyone.
It cannot protect anyone.
In your case that “anyone”
Is none other than your own self.
Pretence is self-destruction
On all reality-planes.

3428. You just have to tolerate yourself

You do not have to
Describe yourself.
You do not have to
Broadcast yourself.
You just have to
Tolerate yourself
And then illumine yourself.

3429. Sincerity purifies our eyes

Sincerity purifies our eyes.
Purity illumines our hearts.
Oneness immortalises our lives.

3430. A simple heart has the beauty

As certain as the dawn,
A simple heart has the beauty
That far outshines the glory
Of an intellectual giant
Or a philosopher-sovereign.

3431. Prayerfully cry every day

Life is but a sinking ship.
If you want to save your ship,
Then prayerfully cry every day,
Soulfully smile every day,
Selflessly give to the Supreme
In His entire creation
Every day.

3432. No longer a counterfeit

Do not be afraid
Of your new life.
Your new life
Is reality itself,
And no longer a counterfeit.

3433. Keep determination

Keep determination
Inside your constant flame
Of aspiration.
If you can do that,
Then you will not sink
Into your life’s abysmal chasm.

3434. Enthusiasm and imperfection

Vigorous enthusiasm
On the self-transcendence-journey
And insistent imperfection
Can never be neighbours.

3435. Nothing can be lost for good

Nothing can be lost for good.
No, not even your gratitude-heart.
Just try to bring it back
And you will be able to regain it
Without fail,
Not only sooner than you expect,
But also sooner than you can imagine.

3436. Love yourself more

If you want to understand yourself,
Then do not examine yourself.
Just love yourself more sincerely,
More soulfully
And more self-givingly.

3437. If I unreservedly devote myself

Will I not immediately be placed
Inside the Compassion-Eye
And Forgiveness-Heart
Of the Supreme
If I unreservedly devote myself to them?

3438. Love yourself more every day

If you want to guide your own life,
Then never hate yourself.
Love yourself more every day
In spite of heavy pressures
And powerful frustrations.

3439. Self-doubt disappears

Self-doubt disappears
The moment I realise
That my faith in God
Makes me not only
A lover of God
But also
A server of God.

3440. One day we will all become perfect

The human in me
Desires to appear perfect.
The divine in me
Aspires to be perfect.
The Supreme in me
Knows that, like God,
One day we will all become perfect.

3441. God can teach you

God can teach you
How to love yourself
Soulfully and perfectly
Only when you feel and know
That you have completely exhausted
The cunning art of self-deception.

3442. The self-giving heart

The doubting mind
May see God’s Face
But will not feel God’s Heart.

The self-giving heart
Will become the Breath of God
Even without seeing the Body of God.

3443. The Supreme in us loves

The animal in us
Loves destruction.
The human in us
Loves separation.
The divine in us
Loves co-operation.
The Supreme in us
Loves satisfaction in perfection.

3444. How can I forgive myself?

How can I forgive myself?
While praying to God
I turn myself into
A bitter complacency factory.

How can I forgive myself?
While meditating on God
I turn myself into
An illusion-delusion-mystification factory.

3445. All are fascinated

My body is fascinated
By the velocity of my vital.
My vital is fascinated
By the clarity of my mind.
My mind is fascinated
By the purity of my heart.
My heart is fascinated
By the divinity of my soul.

3446. A direct connection

Your smiles can fool my eyes.
Your tears can fool my eyes.
But neither your smiles nor your tears
Can ever fool my heart,
For my heart has a direct connection
With the breath of the reality-world.

3447. Glowing remedies

When I live
In the desire-bound world,
I see teeming maladies
With no remedies.

When I live
In the aspiration-bound world,
I see glowing remedies
With no maladies.

3448. I am eager to learn

I am eager to learn about life
From the loser,
But I shall never, never learn
Anything about life
From a self-styled and self-professed winner.

3449. In God's Care

Yesterday I placed my impurity-kingdom
In God’s Forgiveness-Care.
Today I am placing my doubt-palace
In God’s Compassion-Care.
Tomorrow I shall place my gratitude-room
In God’s Satisfaction-Care.

3450. Quality-suggestions

Quantity-advice I get
From my self-doubting mind.
Quality-suggestions I get
From my self-giving heart.

3451. My teachers

My outer schoolteacher
Carefully tells me
What I can eventually achieve.

My inner schoolteacher
Compassionately tells me
What I can ultimately become.

My Beloved Supreme
Smilingly tells me
What I eternally am.

3452. Proud statements

As I tell my mind
How great it is
And as I tell my heart
How pure it is,
Even so, my life shows me
How utterly false
Proud statements, nay,
Even strong convictions, are.

3453. Cheerfulness-treasure

Nothing can equal cheerfulness-treasure.
This treasure is infinitely greater
Than an emperor’s wealth.
Therefore, establish, increase
And continually multiply
Your cheerfulness-treasure.

3454. Malady and remedy

Desire is the malady.
Aspiration is the remedy.
Assurance is the doctor.
God’s Satisfaction-Delight
Is the cure.

3455. Remembrance of God's Name

Remembrance of God’s Name
Is perfection-sky.
Repetition of God’s Name
Is satisfaction-sun.

3456. Give up everything else

Give up everything else
If you want to.
Only do not give up
Determination-light.

Please everyone else
If you want to,
Only after you have pleased God
Sleeplessly and unconditionally
In His own Way.

3457. Your heart is all you need

You do not need a cave
To pray to God.
You do not need a forest
To meditate on God.
What you need, you already have
In abundant quality and quantity.
Your loving, self-giving heart
Is all you need,
And you will always have it.

3458. A beacon-light

What is sleepless faith?
It is a beacon-light for those
Who are sailing in the Golden Boat
Towards the Golden Shore.

3459. Surrender is a clarion call

Surrender is a clarion call
For those who want to make
The fastest progress
In the world of self-giving
And in the world of God-becoming.

3460. If you have a thought

If you have a thought,
Then channel it
Into kindness-perfection.

If you have an idea,
Then channel it
Into oneness-satisfaction.

3461. Only one thing beautiful

O seekers from all walks of life,
O seekers from all corners of the globe,
I am sure you know that
There is only one thing
Really beautiful and fruitful,
And that is your own self-giving.

3462. My Beloved Supreme is searching

My Beloved Supreme is searching
For my willingness
And not for my capacity.

My Beloved Supreme is searching
For my readiness
And not for my perfection.

3463. Who says you are cruel?

Who says you are cruel?
You do not enjoy watching
A sinking man.
Who says you are stupid?
You do not enjoy mixing with
An unaspiring man.

3464. If you listen to your vital

If you listen to your restless vital,
Then slavery-humiliation
Will be all yours.

If you follow the senseless whims of your mind,
Then bondage-pangs
Will be all yours.

3465. Your heart can protect

As your eyelids easily and effortlessly
Protect your eyes,
Even so, your heart can easily
And effortlessly protect
Your vital from destruction,
Your mind from confusion,
Your body from hesitation.

3466. Another name

To me,
Patience is another name
For strength,
Strength is another name
For perfection,
Perfection is another name
For oneness
And oneness is fulfilled satisfaction.

3467. Your cheerful heart

Do not ignore your cheerful heart.
Every day it is soulfully and selflessly
Carrying you nearer
To the destined goal,
And never, never farther away.

3468. My perfect desire

When I pray to God
For my realisation,
It is my pure desire.

When I pray to God
For His Satisfaction,
It is my perfect desire.

3469. The vastness-beauty of the sky

My mind admires
The vastness-beauty of the sky.
My heart adores
The oneness-universality of the sun.

3470. Keep crying

Keep crying,
The world will love you evermore.
Keep smiling,
The world will need you evermore.

3471. Wisdom is power

Wisdom is power.
Love is a superior power.
Satisfaction is the supreme power
That can never be challenged
But can easily be acquired.

3472. Beyond the reach

If you are beyond the reach
Of praise and blame,
Then rest assured
You are also far beyond the reach
Of temptation-snare.

3473. Purity, purity, purity!

Purity, purity, purity!
True, without being pure
You can meditate.
But you cannot achieve
Abiding happiness
Without being sufficiently pure.

3474. Like being reborn

When you realise
That doubt is poison
And that fear is death,
It is like being reborn
To enjoy the beauty
Of creation
And taste the fulness
Of satisfaction.

3475. As the clouds cannot hide

As the teeming clouds cannot hide
The luminosity of the sun
Permanently,
Even so, the stark impurity of the mind
Cannot hide the divinity of the soul
Permanently.

3476. A man of failure

A man of failure does not and cannot
Discourage me in my spiritual journey.
On the contrary,
He strengthens my legs
And he lengthens my strides.

3477. Without the beauty of surrender

Without the beauty of surrender
One cannot see the Feet
Of the Absolute Supreme.

Without the purity of gratitude
One cannot feel the Heart
Of the Absolute Supreme.

3478. A useful seeker

A useless seeker insists
That he is always needed.
A useful seeker sees, feels, knows
And therefore insists
That he is exploiting
The generous world.

3479. Impossible for a liberated man

Difficult for a defeated man
To be gracious!
Impossible for a liberated man
To be ungracious!

3480. I think of you, my Lord

I think of You, my Lord,
Because You are exceptionally great.
I pray to You, my Lord,
Because You are surprisingly good.
I meditate on You, my Lord,
Because You are amazingly perfect.

3481. When you live in yourself

When you live in yourself,
You are wise.

When you live with yourself,
You are brave.

When you live for yourself,
You are incorrigible.

3482. Go beyond your mind

Go beyond your mind
If you want to see
The oneness-tree.

Go beyond your entire body-consciousness
If you want to eat
The satisfaction-fruit.

3483. Perfect your earthbound mind

Once you can perfect
Your earthbound mind,
The rest of your being
Will automatically become perfect
And you will become
A choice instrument
Of the Cosmic Player.

3484. Study the art of humility

Study the art of humility.
You will be highly admired
By the entire world.

Study the art of purity.
You will be spontaneously loved
By the entire world.

3485. A fool

You are a fool;
Therefore,
You want to learn from me.

I am not a fool;
Therefore,
I want to learn from God Himself.

3486. What compels me to leave?

What compels me to leave
My Lord’s Presence?
Needless to say,
My ignorance-tiger,
And not my vision-swan.

3487. Fountain-hearts of aspiration

One day our hearts will be
Fountain-hearts of aspiration.
We are eagerly waiting for that day.

3488. He who consoles your heart

He who consoles your heart
Is great.
He who illumines your mind
Is good.
He who shows you the road
Leading to liberation
Is perfect.

3489. What do you want from God?

What do you actually want from God?
Perhaps not His Power,
Perhaps not His Peace,
Perhaps not His Bliss,
Perhaps only His
Inseparable Oneness-Assurance.

3490. I shall no more desire

I shall no more desire God the Power.
Therefore, how can my mind confuse me?

I shall no more desire God the Power.
Therefore, how can my heart caution me?

I shall no more desire God the Power.
Therefore, how can my life fail me?

3491. The ultimate Truth

If you want to know the ultimate Truth,
Then go beyond the human mind.
If you want to live in the ultimate Truth,
Then embody permanently
A soulful consciousness.
If you want to become the ultimate Truth,
Then increase your love for your soul,
Increase your faith in your soul
And
Increase your oneness with your soul.

3492. Infinitely more difficult

It is infinitely more difficult
For a sincere Truth-seeker
And a true God-lover
To remain asleep
Than to wake up early in the morning
At God’s choice Hour
To meditate.

3493. You need both

My Lord Supreme, which do I need,
Perfection or satisfaction,
Or do I need both?
“My child, you need both.
You need constantly a perfection-mind.
You need constantly a satisfaction-heart.
You need both, My child.”

3494. Your bounden duty

It is not your responsibility
To tell others that they are not right.
It is not your responsibility
To tell others that you are right.
But it is your bounden duty
To make the world see and feel
That God is always right —
For you, for others,
For His entire creation.

3495. My mental world

My mental world has given me
Its most precious possession:
Frustration-night.
I am giving my mental world
My most precious possession:
Acceptance-light.

3496. An absurd expectation

Realisation you want,
But aspiration you do not have.
Indeed, this is an absurd expectation.

Oneness you want,
But love you do not have.
Indeed, this is an absurd expectation.

Satisfaction you want,
But perfection you do not have.
Indeed, this is an absurd expectation.

3497. A right ideal-palace

Each time I come out
Of a wrong idea-cave,
I see the presiding deity
Of a right ideal-palace
Welcoming me and garlanding me.

3498. You want to manifest God

You want to manifest God
And in this way satisfy God,
Not because He demands it,
Not because He loves you,
But because you love Him.
Unconsciously you always love Him,
But if you consciously love Him,
Then you will expedite your Godward journey,
Manifest Him,
And thus satisfy Him
Far beyond your imagination.

3499. When I see my Lord's Omnipotence

When I see my Lord’s Omnipotence
Inside my heart,
I clearly see the complete absence
Of my Himalayan ego-defence.

3500. O Truth-seeker, O God-lover

O Truth-seeker, O God-lover,
I admire you,
Not because you have a beautiful mind,
Not because you have a soulful heart,
But because you have turned
Your entire life
Into a useful instrument
Of my Beloved Supreme.

Editor's introduction to the first edition

This is the thirty-fifth volume in a series of ten thousand “flaming flower-poems” which Sri Chinmoy is placing devotedly, unreservedly and unconditionally at the Compassion-Feet of God, our Beloved Supreme. They stand as a supreme offering from the unfolding beauty of his flower-heart and the flaming heights of his realisation-sun. Indeed, a treasure-tower which will at once be claimed by humanity’s self-ascending cry and Divinity’s God-descending Smile.

Editor's note to cover photo

India’s Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Sri Chinmoy greet one another during a meeting on 12 June 1978 in New York. The two Indian leaders discussed various spiritual matters as well as Sri Chinmoy’s work at the United Nations. Sri Chinmoy told the Prime Minister, “With you India is great and good. In you India is safe and happy.” In the Prime Minister’s honour, members of the Meditation Group at the United Nations sang a song which Sri Chinmoy had composed about him.