
Tributes pour in for President Mikhail Gorbachev
On 30 August 2022, President Mikhail Gorbachev, (1990 Nobel Peace Laureate) passed away leading to an outpouring of tributes and gratitude for his life, work and common humanity. Members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre have begun holding special meditations and events to mark this most special personality and his towering contributions to the world. (photos to come)
Throughout his life, Sri Chinmoy frequently expressed his admiration and love for President Gorbachev saying.
"Among the world figures of our time, there are many whom I admire, but first and foremost is President Gorbachev……. He was the main instrument to liberate Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and so many other countries in the Eastern Bloc."
President Gorbachev and Sri Chinmoy, who were both born in 1931, first met on 29 May 1990, in Ottawa, Canada. Sri Chinmoy sincerely remarked about President Gorbachev.
"You are the master-key of the global heart. You have liberated the world from bondage-night, and you have brought to the fore the inner freedom which we need so desperately. Before, people were in darkness, and now you have brought light to them."
At this first meeting, President Gorbachev remarked to Sri Chinmoy. "I have heard so much about you and your work. We must work together for world peace." This auspicious first meeting led to several others over the next two decades as the two become good friends and kindred spirits working in their own way towards a more peaceful world. In 1990, at a time, when the President was beset by challenges, Sri Chinmoy published a book of tributes in his honour “Gorbachev: the Master-Key of the Universal Heart”, Agni Press, New York, which began with the tribute.
You are the most beloved
Of the chosen few
To be garlanded
By Father-God in Heaven
And Mother-God on earth
For your supremely unparalleled contributions
Towards changing the face and fate
Of the suffering world-community.
In October 2006, President Gorbachev met with Sri Chinmoy at Aspiration-Ground, New York.
Sri Chinmoy also published a second book of tributes, President Gorbachev: the home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World including:
To me, not because of his
Himalayan greatness
But because of his Olympian goodness,
He has become the world cynosure.
No man of integrity
Will dare to devalue him —
His world-improvement-contributions.
The test of this earth-planet
Is to realise
Who truly President Gorbachev is.

Not one but many
Most significant lessons
All human beings
Are learning from you.
To name only a few:
Never too late
To do the right thing;
Never too late
To be the right person;
Never too late
For the transformation of the mind,
For the satisfaction of the heart
And for the perfection of human life.
Further reading
- Meetings with President Gorbachev at Sri Chinmoy.org
- Kind words at Sri Chinmoy.org
References
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Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy answers, part 11, Agni Press in 1999↩
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Sri Chinmoy, Gorbachev: the Master-Key of the Universal Heart, Agni Press, 1990
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Sri Chinmoy, Gorbachev: the Master-Key of the Universal Heart, Agni Press, 1990
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Sri Chinmoy, President Gorbachev: the home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World, Agni Press, 2001
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Sri Chinmoy, President Gorbachev: the home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World, Agni Press, 2001
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Sri Chinmoy, President Gorbachev: the home of Oneness-Peace-Dream-World, Agni Press, 2001
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Sri Chinmoy, Gorbachev: the Master-Key of the Universal Heart, Agni Press, 1990
Spirituality in Action
More stories from Sri Chinmoy's students.

The spiritual life is normal to me
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'Christ has stolen her heart and brought it now to me'
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My Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
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It does not matter which spoon you use
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The first time we met our Guru
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Learning to follow my intuition
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A love that was thick like butter
Mahatapa Palit New York, United States
Seeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, Canada
If I could remember this in my daily life now, I'd be a very high soul
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My love of spiritual poetry
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No Fear, Only the Heart’s Concern
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Soul-Birds take flight
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The Ever-Transcending Goal
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interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students

Breaking Guinness records
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An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Winning the Swiss Alpine Marathon
Vajin Armstrong Auckland, New Zealand
Humorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
What meditation gave me that I was missing
Purnahuti Wagner Guatemala City, Guatemala
Running the world's longest race
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, Russia