Comments on: Medicine Slow Working

By: Jaitra Gillespie

Jaitra Gillespie — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:24:21 +0000

My goodness—thanks Shardul. I may have to put this on the frontpage and call you a guest blogger!

By: Shardul

Shardul — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:20:02 +0000

Hi John – I too am very fond of listening to Sri Chinmoy’s music while working and actually don’t go too far without my iPod when I leave the house either. I am particularly fond of Sri Chinmoy’s flute music. It is so soothing and a great help when I need a little mental clarity – which is nearly always. There was once a radio programme called ‘Desert Island Discs’ or something of that nature. Basically, famous New Zealand folk would go on National Radio and play the songs that they would choose to have with them if marooned on a desert island (without electricity – hmmm…). Well, I’m not famous at all, (although I may be after this comment ), but my Desert Island Disc would be Sri Chinmoy’s Flute Music for Meditation. It was the first meditation music that I had ever heard when I was learning to meditate in 1984 and to this day, it is still my favourite. The great thing about Sri Chinmoy’s music is that it is saturated with the feeling of meditation. Stillness, poise, tranquility and pure, rejuvenating energy – it’s all there. Personally I find these qualities also exist in Sri Chinmoy’s more dynamic musical modes like his extemporaneous grand piano and pipe organ performances, but the flute remains my absolute favourite. And in keeping with the flute theme, this is a poem Sri Chinmoy wrote many years ago:

The Golden Flute

A sea of Peace and Joy and Light
Beyond my reach I know.
In me the storm-tossed weeping night
Finds room to rage and flow.
I cry aloud, but all in vain;
I helpless, the earth unkind
What soul of might can share my pain?
Death-dart alone I find.
A raft am I on the sea of Time,
My oars are washed away.
How can I hope to reach the clime
Of God’s eternal Day?
But hark! I hear Thy golden Flute,
Its notes bring the Summit down.
Now safe am I, O Absolute!
Gone death, gone night’s stark frown!

– Sri Chinmoy.

Regards from a fluter – Shardul.

By: Jaitra Gillespie

Jaitra Gillespie — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:32:21 +0000

Gosh—I should really delete the last two comments and maintain the illusion that I still have half a brain…

By: alf

alf — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:22:42 +0000

…I am crying ditto to a statement by Anthony Hope Hawkins: ‘I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation.’ ”

—Excerpt from a talk entitled Poet and Poetry at Sri Chinmoy Library.

By: Jaitra Gillespie

Jaitra Gillespie — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:09:08 +0000

Hope Hawkins? Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins? Honestly I have no idea!

By: alf

alf — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:28:26 +0000

That is such a great line from Hope Hawkins, but not one I need ever use on you!

I can’t always meditate, but I can always listen to spiritual music so it works for me.