Chinmayam

By David Snow, Associate Features Editor, The UCSD Guardian, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA. During Swamiji's University Tour in 1992, when he was speaking at the University of California, San Diego, he was interviewed by the university newspaper, The UCSD Guardian. The following are excerpts from his interview. David Snow: May I record this conversation? Swami Chinmayananda: I say nothing in secret. DS: Your literature says that your teachings will lead to a greater appreciation of all religions of the world. How could this be? SW: Because the difference is only in the ritual or the shape of your house of God. A temple is not like a church; a church is not like a mosque. A Mullah looks totally different from a Father, and both of them are totally different from the pundit. The rituals, the altar, these are all different. But all have an altar. And all go there to try to quiet their minds in devotion and reverence. DS: Do you think that doctrinal differences are important? ...

Success or achievement is not the final goal. It is the spirit in which you act that puts the seal of beauty upon your life. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness. Do the best and leave the rest. Efficiency is the capacity to bring proficiency into expression. Brood less, smile more and serve all. The tragedy of human history is decreasing happiness in the midst of increasing comforts. The highest form of grace is silence. The cultured give happiness wherever they go. The uncultured whenever they go. Faults become thick when love is thin. Introspect daily, detect diligently, negate ruthlessly, substitute wisely, grow steadily and be free. Every body dies, nobody dies. Comfort comes as guest, lingers to become host and stays to enslave us. Disappointment can come only to those who make appointment with the future. Temper takes you to trouble, Pride keeps you there. He who depends on chances and situations to be happy, is a  Sansari Mind alone is  maya  at play....