“In your inner life
Never
Be sparing in crying.
“In your outer life
Never
Be sparing in smiling.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Crying and smiling are generally considered to be opposites, and mutually exclusive – we cry when we are sad; we smile when we are happy. And some might consider that an emphasis on the inner cry in our spiritual life, might be reflected in a seriousness or sternness, if not sadness, in our outer expression. Yet in this poem, Sri Chinmoy is advocating at once, an unstinting inner cry alongside an unstinting outer smile.
Crying and smiling are only opposites in our superficial emotions. In the spiritual realm they are twins, intimately connected. In another poem, Sri Chinmoy states succinctly:
“The inner cries
Activate
The outer smiles.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Fleeting pleasure may evoke an outer smile, but this smile will not last. Only true happiness can produce a genuine, lasting smile, and true happiness can only be found within. It has to be searched and cried for. A genuine outer smile thus flows from, indeed cannot exist without a sincere inner cry.
“An inner cry
Is a brighter smile.”
– Sri Chinmoy
The inner cry and outer smile and not merely related, they are the two faces of one coin, inseparable:
“Each inner cry
Is indeed
A hope-strengthening
God-Smile.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Our inner cry and outer smile are God’s representatives within us, and our direct connection with God.
“When my inner cry is pure
God’s outer Smile is sure.
My ascending cry
And
God’s descending Smile
Inseparable
Ever shall remain.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Finally, Sri Chinmoy reveals the secret roles of the outer smile and inner cry:
“With our outer smile we touch the Feet of God.
With our inner cry we become the Crown of God.”
– Sri Chinmoy