Smile, smile, smile at your mind as often as possible. Your

Hear the words of Sri Chinmoy, the sage of peace, who spoke not of armies nor thrones, but of the quiet battlefield within: “Smile, smile, smile at your mind as often as possible. Your smiling will considerably reduce your mind’s tearing tension.” At first glance, these words may seem simple, almost childlike. Yet within them lies a profound teaching: that the greatest wars are not fought between nations, but within the restless chambers of our own minds, and that the most powerful weapon in that war is the humble smile.

For what is the mind? It is a wondrous servant but a cruel master. It can conjure beauty, invention, and wisdom, but it also breeds worry, fear, and unending tension. Left unchecked, the mind tears itself apart, chasing shadows of the past and specters of the future. Sri Chinmoy teaches us that to bring peace to the mind, we must treat it not as a tyrant, but as a restless child. To smile at the mind is to disarm it, to calm it, to remind it gently of stillness and simplicity.

The ancients understood this truth in their own tongue. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught that “Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views they take of them.” Likewise, the Buddha spoke of the monkey mind, leaping endlessly from branch to branch. Yet both traditions offer the same remedy: cultivate serenity within, and the chaos without will lose its grip. Sri Chinmoy’s counsel echoes these ancient voices: that a smile, directed even toward our own unruly thoughts, can soften their power and bring harmony to the inner world.

Consider the life of Viktor Frankl, survivor of the Nazi death camps. Surrounded by horror and deprivation, he discovered that while the world could strip him of everything—possessions, freedom, even health—it could not strip him of the attitude he chose toward his suffering. In the face of despair, he chose hope, even moments of smiling. This did not erase the terror, but it reduced the crushing tension of the mind, allowing him to endure and to find meaning where others could not. His story is proof that even in the darkest night, the inner light of joy can preserve the soul.

What does it mean, then, to “smile at your mind”? It means to cease fighting against it with bitterness, and instead to meet its storms with compassion. When the mind rages with fear, smile as though to a frightened child. When it frets with worry, smile as though to an old friend caught in error. The smile is not denial—it is mastery. It is the gentle hand that steadies the wild horse, the soft word that quiets the trembling heart.

The lesson here is not only for monks or sages, but for all. Every worker, every parent, every seeker of peace is called to this practice. When anger rises, breathe and smile. When stress gnaws, breathe and smile. When thoughts threaten to tear you apart, do not curse them; instead, meet them with kindness. The act of smiling, even inwardly, reshapes the storm into a breeze, reminding you that you are greater than your restless thoughts.

Therefore, O listener, carry this into your days: practice the triple smile—to your mind, to your heart, and to the world. Each time you smile at your own inner turmoil, you reduce its power and increase your freedom. Each time you smile at the small trials of life, you plant seeds of peace. And each time you smile at another, you multiply joy, breaking the chains of fear that bind humanity together.

Thus, the teaching of Sri Chinmoy stands eternal: peace begins not with treaties, nor armies, but with the smile that calms the mind. Learn to smile at your own thoughts, and you will master yourself. Master yourself, and you will help bring peace to the world. For a heart at peace is the first step toward a world at peace.