Columbia University; New York, New York, USA

St. Paul’s Chapel
28 March 1973

Why do we concentrate? We concentrate because we want to reach the Goal. Why
do we meditate? We meditate because we want to live in the heart of the Goal.
Why do we contemplate? We contemplate because we want to become the Goal.
How do we concentrate? We concentrate with the mind’s illumining onepointedness.
How do we meditate? We meditate with the heart’s expanding
vastness. How do we contemplate? We contemplate with the soul’s fulfilling
oneness.
Where do we concentrate, meditate and contemplate? We concentrate,
meditate and contemplate in the heart. When we concentrate in the heart, God the
Divine Warrior energises us. When we meditate in the heart, God the Divine
Knower enlightens us. When we contemplate in the heart, God the Divine Lover
immortalises us. The Warrior energises us with His secret Power. The Knower
enlightens us with His sacred Light. The Lover immortalises us with His supernal
Delight. The Warrior’s Power is our ceaseless capacity. The Knower’s Light is our
endless divinity. The Lover’s Delight is our birthless and deathless reality.
When a beginner meditates, it is nothing but struggle. When an advanced
seeker meditates, it is smooth sailing.
When an advanced seeker contemplates, he becomes a portion of the Universal
Consciousness. When a Yogi contemplates, he becomes the Universal
Consciousness.
An occultist’s intimate friend is concentration. A Yogi’s intimate friends are
meditation and contemplation. An occultist cares very little for meditation and
contemplation. A Yogi cares very little for concentration.
When an occultist concentrates, it is terribly frightening. When a Yogi
meditates and contemplates, it is unimaginably charming.
Concentration, meditation and contemplation: in form they are three but in
spirit they are one. Concentration exterminates threatening obstructions. Meditation
expedites our teeming possibilities. Contemplation places us on the throne
of Divinity’s Reality and Reality’s Immortality. Concentration demands from us
sincerity. Meditation demands from us purity. Contemplation demands from us
integrity.
Yesterday concentration, meditation and contemplation were seething
amazements to us. Today they are unusual surprises to us. Tomorrow they will
be normal experiences to us.
Concentration is God’s Protection in man. Meditation is God’s Height in man.
Contemplation is God’s Victory in man. Human doubt surrenders to concentration.
Human fear surrenders to meditation. Human ignorance surrenders to
contemplation.
Concentration is the last word on speed. Meditation is the last word on
progress. Contemplation is the last word on success. Love of God is humanity’s
fastest speed. Devotion to God is humanity’s greatest progress. Surrender to God
is humanity’s mightiest success.
When a seeker concentrates on God, God blesses the seeker’s devoted head.
When he meditates on God, God blesses his loving heart. When he contemplates
on God, God blesses his surrendered entire being. When God concentrates on a
seeker, the seeker starts his journey towards the Goal unknowable. When God
meditates on a seeker, the seeker is in the midst of his journey towards the Goal
unknown. When God contemplates on a seeker, the seeker completes his journey
and reaches the Goal: Infinity’s Smile, Eternity’s Embrace, Immortality’s Pride.
(Sri Chinmoy was invited to give a series of six spiritual talks in the spring of 1973
by Columbia University’s Centre for Religious Activities, Earl Hall. The lectures were
held in St. Paul’s Chapel on the University campus.)