Anahata Nada, Vol. 1, No. 2 – January 27, 1974

 

Puerto Rican politics opened its heart to Indian spirituality a few weeks ago when the island’s two largest cities honoured Sri Chinmoy in special mayoral ceremonies.

San Juan Mayor Carlos Romero presented Sri Chinmoy with the key to the city on Dec. 28, and five days later Ponce Mayor Luis Antonio Morales read out a resolution making Sri Chinmoy an official guest of honour.
 

Key to the City of San Juan

“Each time you come here, please inspire us as you have been inspiring all of humanity,” Mayor Romero said, as he handed Sri Chinmoy the brass key to the city. With these words, the city of San Juan – home of the first Sri Chinmoy Centre – officially acknowledged the Indian Master whose spiritual presence over the course of the years has spread around the world.

“Seven years ago,” Sri Chinmoy said, “I started sailing my dream-boat across the Caribbean. Today, my dream-boat touches the Reality-shore in you, the beloved pilot of San Juan.”

 

Salute from Ponce

In Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second-largest city, Mayor Morales told Sri Chinmoy, “I would like to present you with this resolution with all my hope that we Ponceons will receive your message; not only receive it and hear it, but practise it.”

The Master replied, “I shall most soulfully love the heart of Ponce and most devotedly serve the soul of Ponce until I breathe my last. I shall become inseparably one with the aspiration-hunger of Ponce and her realisation-feast.”

After thanking the mayor, Sri Chinmoy held a short silent meditation, which left the Ponce leader deeply moved.

“I felt. That is the only thing that I can say,” the mayor said. “It is not too often that we can get some peace like this. What I have to do is hold it in my heart.”

In both San Juan and Ponce, several of Sri Chinmoy’s disciples accompanied their Master to the mayor’s chambers. The women, dressed in brightly coloured saris, and the men, wearing white shirts and trousers, sang spiritual songs before and after the ceremony.

All in all, it was the kind of official event not often seen in the San Juan and Ponce city halls.

Note: Anahata Nada was the longest-running newsletter of the Sri Chinmoy Centre. It was first published on January 1, 1974, and chronicled Sri Chinmoy’s life and activities for over three decades until 2007.