The Journey There
To my surprise and delight,
Sri Chinmoy was to make the trip with us by bus from New York to Buffalo. I had steeled myself
for a wretchedly protracted trek, but the reality was more like some
elysian family outing.
We all fitted into two buses, so there must have been around a hundred
people. We made many short stops along the way, and one longer one
where Sri Chinmoy offered a bountiful prasad (blessed food) -
meditating at the front of the bus while we filed past outside.
The sun was also blessing us profusely. America shone in her summer
finery along the way, exhibiting the lavish beauty with which she is
so amply endowed. The time just ebbed away as it does in relaxed and
happy company.
Sri Chinmoy composed more than forty aphorisms. He read each one to us
once, and we repeated it out loud twice. There is something so
magical about this process. The freshness of the new creations and the
depth of their meanings, accompanied by the concentration of hearing
and correctly repeating the words, certainly leads to a very
clarifying source of inspiration.
He then decided to sing a few of his well-known songs from a list that
he had with him, and invited us to sing with him. He ended up singing
all of the songs on the whole list, which I think was a hundred. He
didn’t use a microphone at this point and I was sitting quite far
back, so I didn’t catch them all, but enjoyed the game of straining to
hear and recognise the song, and joining in from the soonest point
that I could, even if it was only the last three words or so.
The Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
The theatre is in its 80th year. It’s been preserved with so much
care, entering it is really like stepping into a piece of loving
living history. From the illuminated list of events above the
entrance, to the ornate wooden and glass swing doors, to the
overpowering smell of popcorn, and the smiling volunteers selling cups
of tea in polystyrene cups at the back, it’s an all-encompassing
entrance experience. Inside, the red velvet seats, sweeping balcony,
and intricately painted ceiling, embrace a modest stage watched over
by a splendidly space-age neon-lit chandelier, and featuring the
"Mighty Wurlitzer" organ nestled in the orchestra pit.
One can easily see the devotion and
dedication the local people have for their theatre, and the care that
went into bringing the Mighty Wurlitzer into existence, let alone
its preservation.
The Maestro Performs
Sri Chinmoy performed on so many instruments I cannot even remember
now what they all were or how they featured. I recall a very sweet and
joyful atmosphere pervading the whole concert though. You can listen
to the synthesiser performance on Radio Sri Chinmoy - from that I think you will be able to hear what I mean.
The finale was the Mighty Wurlitzer, and I don’t think I’ll forget
that performance as long as I live. I really hope a video comes out
soon so everyone can enjoy the experience. I felt only the joy of a
child as I watched and listened. Whenever Sri Chinmoy performs on any
instrument it is a sublime and meditative experience, but it never
ceases to amaze me how he can express through his spontaneous
performances on different instruments, and at different times, the
many facets of spirituality. It seemed the whole audience was
enraptured by this unreserved joyously child-like expression.
It was a little awkward for Sri Chinmoy to get to the organ in the
first place as it sits on a small platform that raises up out of the
ground, and has a fixed bench on front of it. He also had to stretch a
little to reach some of the pedals furthest away. I for one was so
grateful for all of these efforts, as the performance was so
utterly unique.
The Mighty Wurlitzer
The Wurlitzer organ was created in the days of silent movies. The
controlling organ itself is tiny, but commands, by means of keyboards
and pedals, a fleet of instruments spanning the whole pit. A piano, a
vibraphone, drums, and a siren are among the players in this
remote-controlled orchestra, but they create more than just an
experience of sound. Little light bulbs, the size of golf balls, in
all different colours, are attached to almost every component of the
instruments. When the top level keys are played on the controlling
organ, a high pitched twinkling sound is made, like glass bells, and
the lights dance around throughout the pit. It was all as if from
another world - like a strange and delightful dream, yet more strange
and more delightful.
The Journey Back
It all went very quiet on the bus as we boarded about midnight or so.
One would expect that everyone, perhaps even including Sri Chinmoy,
would be a little sleepy after such an eventful day. He did not take a
moment’s rest though, even after his extensive performance. He
immediately got out a book of funny quotes and started reading them
out over the microphone. I remember chuckling inside but not having
the energy by then to manifest it as proper laughter. I think everyone
else felt the same, but he was undeterred. Then finally he asked if
anyone was awake. I laughed properly then – fondly, at his
inexhaustible energy and joy. Much later in the journey he composed
many songs, mostly in Bengali, which we sang together.
The morning dawned blue and misty and it seemed to me that I had
awoken from a child’s dream. All that’s left is to say I’m very
grateful to have been there, and to be able to tell you about it all.
Sumangali Morhall
June 2005
Buffalo concert
Kedar