Interviewer: Recently, I've been watching the video that you have made on the meeting of Guru and President Mikhail Gorbachev, which took place in 1997. There was another part of this video after the meeting when Guru was gathering with the disciples and discussing this meeting. Guru seems to be so excited about that meeting, because it seems like Guru was really setting Gorbachev apart from all other politicians and prominent people that he communicated with in his lifetime. Could you please comment on this relationship of Guru with Gorbachev?

Mridanga: Well, I would have to agree. I've never seen Guru so happy than when talking about President Gorbachev. I mean, to me, I never see Gorbachev as a politician. Of course, he is. But Guru held him as someone much, much, much higher.

Guru said that he had a connection with President Gorbachev previously and that Gorbachev was a very, very special soul brought down for a special reason.

Even if you look historically just at what Gorbachev did, okay, we all know that. But I don't think I've ever met a politician that's been as receptive to Guru. I mean, it's almost like Gorbachev recognized Guru, his height somewhat, and Gorbachev just happened to be a politician.

But regarding that meeting, you're quite right. Beforehand, Guru was so intense, excited. Guru was pacing up and down, checking that everything was correct in the room. Guru was so excited to see them.

For that particular meeting, the disciples had been in most of the night setting up the room. Guru wanted to show Gorbachev several videos. I was at Guru's house till about 2:00 in the morning, with Guru telling me what to put in these videos.

I came in to the meeting room at about five in the morning with all the cameras and set them up. Of course, it was a problem making sure that there would be enough tape to cover the whole meeting. There were also various other technical problems, so I was very nervous making sure that everything was working. I was in the room until about 15 minutes before the meeting was meant to take place. I was supposed to start the cameras and then leave.

It's always very worrying when you are not there, when the cameras are rolling, because anything can go wrong. But I was also lucky because Sagar was there, and Sagar is very technical. So, I had quite a lot of confidence in him. I remember waiting in the hotel lobby for a long time. I was so nervous. Has it happened, has it worked out? Then I got the telephone call, “Come up, you know, it went well.” And I was, like, yes!

I came in and Guru was so happy and excited. Guru was talking so fast and so loud about different parts of the meeting and one of the first things Guru said to me, of course, is, “Did the cameras work?” So, I quickly went and checked, and thank God, they all worked. It was such relief for me.

Then Guru had me wire the camera to one of the hotel televisions so we could play it back and show the disciples some of the meeting. That was such a happy time because Guru was so happy. I mean, it was rare to see Guru that happy and excited except when Gorbachev was involved. After the meeting, after it had gone well, Guru talked and talked and talked and talked! Of course, we watched some of the video, and we laughed. Gorbachev came and looked at the artwork or the flowers, and it was just so cute. We really re-lived it. But at the same time, Guru would be talking, talking: “This is what happened… He was so happy about this….”

So, we had the video and we had Guru’s narration at the same time.

President Gorbachev:
A man in a million,
A heart in a billion
And A soul in a trillion.

Sri Chinmoy 1

• 1. President Gorbachev: the home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World, Agni Press, 2001

I can tell you the outer circumstances about how I came to the path. At the time, I was studying music, studying grand piano. I just got the feeling that I should learn to meditate because that would help me with my piano performance. This was in 1982. It was my final year of music study. I got the feeling that I should find somewhere to learn to meditate, I should look in the newspaper and that there would be an advertisement for meditation classes.

So, I looked in the paper and there were two advertisements for meditation groups. One of the groups was much closer to my house and it was called the Sri Chinmoy Centre, which I had never heard of. But because it was close to me, that's the one I went to. The disciples later told me that they only ever placed one advertisement in the newspaper. That was the only time they ever put an advertisement in the newspaper. That was the day I got the idea that I must look in the newspaper to find an advertisement.

So, I was coming to meditation classes for nearly six months. I was not looking for a Guru or a spiritual master or a spiritual path. It never occurred to me that these things were important. But I was enjoying coming to the Centre and I was enjoying reading Guru's writings and listening to Guru’s music. More and more, this was becoming a very important part of my life.

The disciples even said to me, “Oh, you should send your photograph to Guru and apply to become a disciple.” But I said, “No, I don't need that. That's not important.” That just shows you how stupid and how ignorant I actually was!

One day, Guru was going to phone the Centre. All the disciples from around Australia came to Canberra for this phone call, which was only for disciples. But the Centre leader at that time got inspired to invite me to come to the telephone call. He asked, “Would you like to come and hear Sri Chinmoy speak on the phone?” I said, “Yes, of course.”

When Guru phoned, he spoke to every disciple individually. And to each disciple, he gave a special message and his blessings. Everything was on the loudspeaker telephone so you could hear everything Guru was saying to each person.

When Guru had spoken to every disciple, then Guru said, “Is anybody else there?” There should not have been anyone else there because it should only have been disciples. So, I came to the phone and introduced myself. I said my name and that I had been coming to meditation classes. Then I waited for Guru to say something, because for every disciple, Guru gave a message, he spoke something personal. But in my case, absolute silence. Guru did not say a word.

There was this long silence, and I became a little uncomfortable. I did not know what I was supposed to do. I felt I had to break this silence. I had to say something. But what do you say to a spiritual master? So, I said the only thing that came into my head. I said to Guru, “I want to become your disciple,” because that was the only thing that I thought you should say to a spiritual master. Then Guru ended his silence. He chanted a very long “Aum” and said, “I accept you as a true disciple of mine.”

My mind was immediately confused. I said, “Where on earth did that question come from? I never, never wanted this. I've been tricked!” But at the same time, I was extremely happy, more that I had ever felt in my life. It was as though the weight of my whole life was taken from my shoulders and I felt like I could sing and dance for pure joy.

O Yogi of the highest magnitude, initiate me.
Today offer me Your initiation.
Today I shall learn the immortal message of transformation from You.
I shall not wander any more in the farthest corners of the world.
I shall only dance in the city of the heart.
Inside the city of my heart
I shall sing songs of Love Divine
And I shall see myself in the mirror of my sanctified heart.
Today I beg of You to offer me only one thing: silence, silence.
O Yogi of the highest magnitude, initiate me today.
(Translation of song “He Jogiraj dikkha amai”)

Sri Chinmoy 1

• 1. Garden of love-light, part 2, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1975