Entries from April 2007 ↓

Quite a few students of Sri Chinmoy have set up their own spaces on the Internet where they can share inspiration, give an insight into the joys and challenges of the spiritual life, and share some of the experiences they have had with their teacher.

Ashrita.com: Ashrita has been meditating with Sri Chinmoy for over 35 years. In 1978 he felt an inner calling to transcend his capacities by breaking Guinness World Records - and thats what he’s been doing for the past 29 years! He now holds over 60 records, by far the most records held by one person. His recent blog has accounts of record breaking attempts, travel stories, and humorous asides on life in general.

Jogyata Dallas’s site at Sri Chinmoy Centre: Jogyata hails from Auckland, New Zealand and has been a student of Sri Chinmoy’s for 25 years. Jogyata’s writing has great depth and feeling and captures a real sense of the adventure that is the spiritual life, as he shares the ups and downs of his own journey and relates lots of nice experiences he has had over the years with Sri Chinmoy and with other students.

Sumangali.org: Sumangali Morhall has a tremendous talent for prose and poetry, much of which can be viewed on her personal section of the Sri Chinmoy Centre site. She has only just started sumangali.org in the last couple of months, but we definitely look forward to some writing gems from her new site.

RichardPettinger.com: Richard is webmaster of poetseers.org, the most comprehensive collection of spiritual poetry on the Internet. In addition, he is quite a good amateur cyclist, finishing 4th in the National Championships in 2005. His personal site and blog contains a potpourri of articles about meditation, spirituality, cycling, economics (his day job) and a lot of humour!

Every April and August, Sri Chinmoy invites his students from all over the world to visit him in New York. During that time he generally meets with his students twice a day. During these meditation functions Sri Chinmoy meditates with his students, but there are also singing and instrumental performances, soulful poetry and prayer recitals, inspiring stories, illumining theatre productions and more. Here are just a few of the things that happened this time around:

• Sri Chinmoy had three significant weightlifting sessions as part of his initiative to inspire his fellow world-citizens to realise their own true potential. In addition to the lifts of hot air balloons and rose fountain described in a previous blog entry, he also lifted overhead some special guests as part of the ‘Lifting up the World with a Oneness-Heart’ program, which honours men and women of inspiration by lifting them up in both body and spirit.
• Sri Chinmoy also frequently performed on a beautiful new synthesizer, which was crafted for him by his Swiss student Panchajanya Burri. Sri Chinmoy composed a song about Panchajanya in appreciation of all his hard work.
• The focal point of these celebrations was April 13th, which marked the 43rd aniversary of his arrival in the West. Sri Chinmoy expressed his gratitude to the soul of the United States of America for being his host for 43 years. The day consisted on many performances by Sri Chinmoy’s favourite singers and musical groups, inspiring speeches by famous friends and well-wishers who had come to congratulate him, and some fond memories and reminisces by Sri Chinmoy himself.
• There were some truly remarkable play performances in the duration of the two weeks. The first remarkable play was about Thomas Jefferson, and his struggle on behalf of freedom of religious conscience. The play describes Jefferson’s authorship of the Statute of Religious Freedom for the state of Virginia, and its eventual passing into law some years later when Jefferson had moved on to become US ambassador to France. This law was to become the inspiration for the First Amendment in to the Unites States Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion for all. Another extremely accomplished play, directed by Natabara Rollinson, was the second in a three-part series depicting the childhood of Lord Krishna, the great Indian spiritual figure. The first part was performed in Bulgaria for Sri Chinmoy and his visiting students in January this year, and the third part will be performed in August. This chapter detailed Krishna’s gradual transformation from a playful young cowherd into a young prince who realises he must defeat his wicked uncle Kamsa to ease the suffering of his people. These plays are of a remarkably professional standard considering the limited amount of time the international crew have for rehearsal and stage construction.
• This April saw the inauguaration of a new athletics event, the Self-Transcendence Invitational Marathon. Unfortunately the marathon took place at the tail end of some of the worst April weather on record, but many of Sri Chinmoy’s students produced very inspiring performances to break their personal best times.

Sri Chinmoy arrived in New York on April 13th 1964. For the past 43 years he has sought to offer the ancient teachings of yoga, in the dynamic and modern West. This April, with his students from around the world, Sri Chinmoy celebrated his 43rd anniversary of arriving in the West. Amongst other activities, he participated in some unusual weightlifting events. On one occasion he lifted two hot air balloons weighing between 369lbs and 397lbs.

Sri Chinmoy Lifting

In the space of three days last week, Sri Chinmoy accomplished two remarkable lifts as part of his effort to inspire others through lifting heavy weights. Through his lifting achievements, he hopes to encourage the world around him to try and transcend their own capacities. “If we remain in a childlike heart, then age can never be a barrier and there is no end to our progress”, he said when asked about his lifting.

Always on the look out for new objects to lift, his first lifting session saw him on a cold morning in New Jersey, where he lifted two hot air balloons. The first balloon - resembling a pink rabbit - was expertly guided into place onto the lifting platform by its pilot, Tom Robins, and some of the gas was then released so the balloon exerted a weight on the platform. Sri Chinmoy performed a succession of lifts with the balloon as the gas was gradually released, with the highest weight lifted being 369 pounds.

Then a second balloon was expertly steered into place - a gaily coloured balloon making its maiden flight that very morning. Again Sri Chinmoy performed a succession of lifts, the highest this time weighing in at397 pounds.

Mr Robins, who was in the balloons when they were being lifted, later remarked: In over two decades of flying balloons, this is the most wonderful and uplifting experience I have ever had. I do not know where Sri Chinmoy’s power comes from, but I have felt it today and it is spectacular!”

Two days later, Sri Chinmoy was in New York City, on the 43rd anniversary of his arrival in the west. This time, out of appreciation for the United States of America, which has been his home since 1964, he lifted overhead a huge stone fountain containing 50 roses, one for each state. The total lift, including apparatus, amounted to 312lb.

Just before the lift, Sri Chinmoy offered the following expression of gratitude to the soul of America:“America the Beautiful, you have showered your choicest blessings, concern and encouragement upon my God-aspiring heart and man-dedicated service for long 43 years. I am offering 50 roses from my heart-garden lovingly, devotedly and self-givingly to the beauty, prosperity and divinity of each state.”

Sri Chinmoy has written countless short poems which express in small portion part of his spiritual philosophy. Sri Chinmoy has never written a complete overview of his philosophical viewpoint. In some ways his prolific output of prose and poetry give a glimpse into the potential limitless expression of spirituality. Each poem and aphorism adds to the depth of spiritual philosophy. At the same time the poems are purposefully short and concise helping the reader to meditate on the message of the poems.

Some selections from Seventy - Seven Thousand Service Trees volume 39

The Divine Love
Does not speak -
It only acts.

38,029

The inner hunger
Is much more intense
Than the outer hunger

38,007

More short poems of Sri Chinmoy http://www.shortpoems.org/srichinmoy/index.html

I always try to speak
With my heart
When I speak to God

38,264

Everyone, without exception
Has to sit
For the God-realisation-examination
Either in the near future
Or in the distant future

39,251

The mind path
Is, indeed,
A constant obstacle course.

39,244

No more shall I be interested
In my mind-jungle.
From now on , I shall stay always
Inside my heart-garden.

39,238

Poems by Sri Chinmoy.

From Seventy Seven Thousand Service Trees vol. 40