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Friendships with notable world figures

I meet with world luminaries. They are known as great politicians, supreme politicians. I am not a politician. Politics is not my forte. I go to them as a student of peace, and I feel that, deep within, they are also longing for world peace. I go as a student of peace, and they are so kind to receive me as a student of peace. We are aiming at peace. They have a genuine hunger for world peace, as I have, so we talk about world peace. There is no world politics involved. 1

I have met with many, many world figures. Although some of them are well known in the world of politics — such as President Gorbachev, President Mandela and a few other politicians of the highest rank — they are so kind to me. They never discuss politics with me. We only talk about world peace from the depths of our heart and not from our mind. 2

Sri Chinmoy

Notable friendships

President Gorbachev

"Among the world figures of our time, there are many whom I admire, but first and foremost is President Gorbachev…"

– Sri Chinmoy 3

President Nelson Mandela

“This encourages me in the difficult work that we are doing. You have given me a real shot in the arm! I cannot express in words my joy!”

– Nelson Mandela

Mother Teresa

"I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries."

– Mother Teresa

Pope Paul VI

"Each time I met with him, I had significant inner experiences. When I looked at his eyes, I saw an illumination-sky, and when I entered into his heart, I felt a compassion-ocean."

– Sri Chinmoy

Pope John Paul II

"Holy Father, we are offering our hearts' prayerful gratitude to you for so compassionately blessing this Peace Torch, which will be carried in seventy countries."

– Sri Chinmoy

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"On behalf of all of us, we are enormously grateful that you have taken the time to come here to spread this message of love and harmony and peace."

– Desmond Tutu

Muhammad Ali

"Sri Chinmoy is a very spiritual man. I feel the reason Sri Chinmoy lifted this weight is because of his love of God and belief that through God all things are possible."

– Muhammad Ali


  1. Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy answers, part 22, Agni Press, 2000↩︎

  2. Sri Chinmoy, The temple and the shrine, Agni Press, 2013↩︎

  3. Sri Chinmoy Sri Chinmoy answers, part 11, Agni Press in 1999↩︎