The Mayor of Caguas, William Miranda Marin, received the World Harmony Run Torch and was presented with the Torchbearer Award by Run organizers. During the ceremony, Mayor Marin stated, “Sri Chinmoy will live for eternity…It is a privilege for us to have this beautiful statue of Sri Chinmoy in these gardens. We are subscribers to the same philosophy that Sri Chinmoy promoted during more than 40 years of his service to humanity.”

An international choir performed songs composed by Sri Chinmoy in honour of Puerto Rico and a procession of representatives displayed the many nations represented within the group of Sri Chinmoy’s students in attendance.

Those present from the Sri Chinmoy Centres International found it significant and appropriate that a statue be dedicated in the place where his worldwide mission began. Sri Chinmoy founded his first centre for meditation in Puerto Rico in 1966 – they now cover the globe.

The statue is located in a corner of the botanical garden ringed with trees and near a small brook.  It will serve as a grove for reflection and cultural activities for the garden’s many visitors.

Photo By: Ranjit Swanson,
Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries

What a sad thing to happen to such a great man. I hope one day he will be awarded the Nobel Price. I believe that the best way to remember him is to maintain the Harmony Torch Run all over the world.

Frank Macha, Sports Development Officer
Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports, Tanzania

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I am very sorry to know of the passing on of Sri Chinmoy. He has done so much to awaken mankind to the higher paths of life that can bring harmony and peace. You are all dedicated to the cause which has to continue for the good of mankind.

Swami Nirliptanda
Bharat Sevashram Sangha, London, UK.

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Hari Om!
The good old Yoga Masters are dead and gone today.
Beloved Sri Chinmoy was one of the last of the old Rishis from India. Old Narayananandaji (1902-1988) from The RamaKrishna mission, and Chinmoy (1931-2007), were the 2 best yoga teachers I have ever met personally. Chinmoy was a great musician too. We saw him in Oslo Norway two times.
God bless you people out there!
Long live the memory of Sri Chinmoy.
A very peaceful man with a good condition…
Om Tat Sat…

Shiva Nataraja brahmachari

~

He was a gentle man with enormous strength. I had the wonderful opportunity to hear his poetry and see his drawings. His spirit will live on in all of us.

Ram Devineni

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Dearest Revered Guruji,
When you lifted me up on Nov ‘03 in Singapore,
I was inspired to perform in Raga Revathi a piece titled, “Manida Janmam”. After performing it on my Bansuri (flute) and having realised that the melody came not just through my fingers but from my heart instead. it was a radical change showered from YOU, the divine grace. You then lifted both my late mother (my source of inspiration in my musical journey) and myself again. How fortunate indeed I am to get this rarest opportunity by YOU who gave me an ‘ode to joy’ to perform every time now from my heart. You not only being a great Guru, but all the human being in the highest sense of the term, much above and much nobler and who is the symbol of the glory of human life ~ Dearest Guruji, I’ve realised the devotion and dedication to music even more absolute self-surrender as my music is Thine.
Revered Guruji, as you attain Maha Samadhi, I shall venture further my musical journey with Thy Guidance and continue my humanitarian service to mankind that am always eagerly aspire to do so. That same Revathy piece which I performed in front of you was dedicated to you along with my senior students during the 9-day Dassera Festival in various temples here as my tribute to YOU.

GHANAVENOTHAN RETNAM

Hi! Although I only meditated with Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970’s for a short time he left me with a strong impression of his Samadhi states. Now he is blended into the World Soul and returned to the Source of All. Ashk (Spiritual Love) to All.

Sheikh Majid Buell al Mevlevi ar Rifai.

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I was very surprised to hear of Guru Sri Chinmoy’s Mahasamadhi.I personally met him on 14th sept 2007 at New York.He told me “Everyone’s contribution makes the world more beautiful”. I believe his presence everywhere.

Adrish brahmadatta

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I have dipped into Sri Chinmoy’s daily readings for years now – the quality and subtlety of his mind never ceases to amaze me. His life was an inspiration to so many. A great soul has passed.

Sandra Kyle

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My brother and I live in Cyprus and are not disciples of Sri Chinmoy. In 1981 we attended a group meditation in Queens New York. The Guru had just come back from his Christmas holidays. During the meditation he gave us the MOST important experience of our lives. A wave of light from his third eye filled the room, entered our bodies, our minds, our souls. It cleansed us and filled us with so much love. We felt like balloons filled with love. We think he gave us a glimpse of enlightenment. We loved everybody and everything. We felt so much full of wisdom. We even knew what infinity is. Our lives have never been the same since then. We still have his photos in our house and often pray to him. My father who is sick in hospital also has his photo by his bed. We never saw Sri Chinmoy since then but we both agree he was the most important person we ever happened to meet. Sri Chinmoy, even though we were not your disciples we love you and we want to thank you for everything. George and Petros, Cyprus

George & Petros Petropoulos

~

I received Initiation from Guru back in the early 1970’s!
Even though I did not remain at the Center, Guru’s influence has been the bed-rock of my spiritual existence.
I recognized him immediately when First I saw him.
We never understand what we have until it is no longer available.
Sri Chinmoy’s Spirit must indeed, be eternal!

Keith

Other Selected Comments:

• Selected Comments I
• Selected Comments II
• Selected Comments III
• Selected Comments IV

• Leave your own Tribute to Sri Chinmoy
  

Other Tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org

• Tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org

Photo By: Ranjit Swanson, Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries

(The following tribute comes from Ted Corbitt, who is known as the ‘father of modern ultrarunning’ having raced in and helped organise races for almost 50 years. He is still active at the age of 87, competing in a 24-hour race as recently as 2003)

Sri Chinmoy: Salutations and goodbye, for now.

Sri Chinmoy was a unique character who chose paths that had upbeat effects around the entire world.

Sri Chinmoy was productive in the expression of his talents. No one matched his artistic and physical output. Sri Chinmoy and his helpers did a unique service in the conduction of many long distance runs allowing many runners around the world to express themselves running. They have shown the world how it is done. They are unmatched.

Sri Chinmoy exploited the hours given to him. His time on earth is unforgettable among those who knew him.

We can remember and appreciate that Sri Chinmoy worked his many talents around the world, to be shared by many groups of people on the globe….

Ted Corbitt
New York Pioneer Club
10/13/07

(From one who appreciated the upgrade in peoples lives provided by Sri Chinmoy’s efforts.)

In August of 1996, (in time for his 65th birthday) I had the honor of being invited to interview Sri Chinmoy at his center in NY and enjoy the lovingly prepared food at his restaurant called Annam Brahma. He was gracious and welcoming, with a delightful sense of humor, as a friend and I had driven 3 hours from our home in Bucks County, PA.

Some excerpts from the interview that still tickle me:

When he entered the room, I recall a feeling of surprise; my impression of him was not what I expected. There was a sense of serenity that emanated from him, yet an air of grounded-ness as well. Not merely concerned with cosmic matters, he had his mind on the practical. After he took my hands and bowed slightly, he asked if we had eaten since our arrival. I told him that I was anxious to conduct the interview. He nodded in agreement, but responded “Then you eat.” His physical body was not what I had anticipated. He was not muscle-bound, as I would have envisioned a weightlifter’s physique to be. Decked out in a pale blue workout suit, he cut a rather compact figure. While we spoke, he sat across the table, lightly squeezing a grip strengthener., alternating hand to hand. His eyes were closed a good bit of the time, but on occasion, they would widen in surprise or delight.

Some memorable quotes: “Inside my body is a soul, inside my body is God. So, I have to feed the living presence of God, the Divine in me, my Inner Pilot. That is the highest attitude. I am all gratitude to my creator.”

“Peace is something I get not by possessing, but by sharing. If I have an iota of peace that I share with you, then I will be happy. By loving the world the way mother loves a child…I love a flower, I feel that the flower is also loving me. Why do I get joy? I am getting something from the flower and giving something to it.”

He then honored me with this statement:” I am glad to be given the opportunity to be of service to you, to your Inner Pilot, which is my God as well. God brought you here as an instrument of His. Two days ago, I met Mother Teresa. In this moment, she grabs my head like this (He makes a motion, placing one hand along either side of his head, as if to bring it down for a kiss on the top, as a mother would do for her child). The next moment, she is playing the role of a sister. The next moment she goes like this. (He folds his hands in front of his chest in prayer posture and bows his head) She knows we are on the same boat, the boat of peace on the river of peace.”

A few days ago, a friend was in my office, and I was showing her a poster that hangs on the wall from a concert he gave in Philadelphia that Fall. He is gazing upward, serenely, as if listening to a call that he alone can hear. I honor this man of peace and compassion with a huge heart that inspires me and helps me recognize that when tapped into that Source. At the time, I had not known that Sri Chinmoy had passed. He obviously is still speaking.

Namaste

Edi

In 1964 June walking across the reception area of the Indian Consulate in New York during a conversation I asked my shy quiet compatriot.’what exactly is God”? He answered “Isn’t it consciousness”? I stepped back and looked at him holding by breath. Many years later when I read another great saint’s life this answer shone with the clarity and stamp of truth-certainty of one only with direct experience of pure Consciousness could have given.
What all happened between 1964 and October 11, 2007 will fill many pages. On October 12 standing in front of Guru in Yoganidra, my heavy heart was comforted by those two eyes which gently opened a little several times as if to recognize the friend who asked that question more than 43 years earlier.

Gratitude is the word I have learnt to spell and the meaning of which I am learning a little deeper everyday, from Guru
Eternal gratitude from one who was called friend, brother, son and disciple

- Shivaram Trichur

Other Selected Comments:

• Selected Comments I
• Selected Comments II
• Selected Comments III

Leave your own Tribute

Other Tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org

• Tributes from Spiritual Figures
• Tributes from Humanitarian and Cultural figures
• Tributes from Musicians
• Tributes from Sportsmen and Sportswomen

Photo of Sri Chinmoy from his ashram days.

We are most grateful for the heart-felt comments and tributes left by such a wide variety of people. (see full list of tributes…)

This is just a small sample from the first 140 comments. Many thanks again to all who have left comments.

See also: Selected Tributes II

See also: tributes from world leaders and dignitaries at Sri Chinmoy.org

Selected Tributes on Sri Chinmoy

The entire Integral Yoga organization and all the students of Sri Swami Satchidananda join in loving and respectful remembrance of Sri Chinmoy. Sri Chinmoy continues to be a great inspiration to so many and his message of peace and unity will always be in our hearts.
We extend all our love and prayers to the sangha of Sri Chinmoy. May all continue to feel his blessings, guidance and spiritual presence always. OM Shanthi.

Rev. Prem Anjali
Yoga and Peace.org

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Our heartfelt prayers and condolences are extended to all the students of Sri Sri Chinmoy at this time of his passing. His was a truly divine life dedicated to humanity. Tonight ¨Yoga in Daily Life¨ members dedicated one minute´s silent prayer in his memory.

His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda
Yoga in Daily Life

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We have lost a great spiritual leader

The world is a poorer place without Sri Chinmoy

I am grateful he has left such a legacy of work and teachings with us and I am sure his spirit will continue to work through many of us

Alison Streeter
‘Queen of the Channel’
Holder of the record for swimming across the English channel, with 43 crossings.

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WHAT A SAD LOSS FOR ULTRA-RUNNING AND ULTRA-RACING !!!!!!!!!!

My BIG BIG condolences to all in the Sri Chinmoy community !!!

Was fortunate to meet disciples and Sri Chinmoy during different occations at world run 1. Allways made a deep impression to carry your warmth with me forward on the endless roads – I’ll carry it with me however long I may last on world run 2 !

With best wishes of enjoyable running to all, where ever You are

Jesper Olsen
Became the first man to achieve a fully documented run around the world in 2005; Jesper is due to start a north-south ‘lap’ of the globe in 2008
www.worldrun.org

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My personal condolences to my friends in the Sri Chinmoy Marathon team. You have always had a smile on your face. Please keep it.

Phil Essam
Australian ultrarunning legend
Planet Ultramarathon

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I am very sad at this moment to hear of the passing of the Great Sri Chinmoy.
He has influeneced my life greatly.
I use his books to inspire myself and others.
Just yesterday I quoted Sri Chinmoy “We are the body of our Beliefs”
My hope is that his followers will be able to carry on his mission of Peace.

Vic Lindal
Former National Volleyball Coach Canada.
TV broadcaster

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Sri Chinmoy’s life has been dedicated to spread peace and harmony around the world. With his generosity and positive energy he has touched the hearts of millions. Like his soul his message will live forever.

Francois Gay
President, Swiss Natural Body Building and Fitness Federation.
Natural Mr. Universe, 1992

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I’m sending my love to Sri Chinmoy and to all his
disciples from Sedona, Arizona. I was playing harp
today at an opening Peace Ceremony & thinking of
Sri Chinmoy and how his heart is so full of Love and Light that he was promoted for all of his Great Work
and Love he always Shares with One and All in so many beautiful ways.
I feel that Sri Chinmoy is now on his Cosmic Vacation
I’m very sure he is very happy and wants us all to be happy too.
He is still with us only on another vibration. We are so very blessed to have all his beautiful blessings.
I am so happy to have met him and have been so graced and inspired by him in so many ways.

Mia Margaret “Angelica”

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This is a great loss for those who have been working for the world peace. We have known him for the last 20 years and shared his views all along and will do so for ever. Let us hope we keep drawing inspiration from his life. Guru! please bestow your blessings on us for ever.

Rathin & Suparna Chowdhury

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I remember knowing Guru from the time I was a child — I lived directly up the street from him on 85th drive. I remember mostly, his warm and engaging smile when he would be on his walking regimes and wave to me. He was always very kind to the neighborhood children!

I now live out of state, and just received the sad word of his passing. He is in my thoughts and prayers, as is the entire community of Sri Chinmoy’s followers.

May God bless you all at this time of loss. Be at peace; he will continue to guide and inspire you!

Many blessings, Donna

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Although He was not my Guru I admire and respect Him as one of the greatest spiritual leaders and geniuses of our times. I cannot feel anything else but an immense gratitude for everything He has done for every and each of us.

Tamara

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A good example never dies, and I wish more people (particularly Christians and alleged Christians) would follow his. Religion shouldn’t divide us… if it does, it’s bad religion, pure and simple.
Namaste

Rev. Worthington Enslow

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Let us not be sadden by the passing of a great spritual leader, but rather rejoice in his life and the message he leaves us. His body may no longer be in this realm but his spirit lives on in all who he touched. His unconditional love of the Supreme and humanity transcends death and so does our love for him. May we all each in our own way, carry forth his message of peace, love and harmony to all we come in contact with and work together to create a better world. Gurudev, may the influence of your great heart, speak to us from beyond the veil of eternity.
Peace be upon you.

Ria

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Since 1986 I have had a picture of this inspiring and inspired man, this Avatar of Peace, in my home; and privileged too on a number of occasions to have met and experienced his unique presence.
It was life changing.
Sri Chinmoy’s abiding love, compassion and humility is indelibly etched on my life experience and, like so many others, I owe a debt of gratitude for his life.
In particular for imparting his eternal values of oneness, for his teachings and for his total understanding of the human condition.
My hope for us all is that the Smile of the Beyond which is now his will soon be enjoyed by all humanity.

Daniel Rounding, Ipswich, UK

~

Dear Teacher,

Although I did not know you, your radiance reverberates forever in the hearts of my friends who did. I cannot wait to meet all the others, for I feel a part of your tribe of love and light and peace. Truly your legacy is immortally enshrined in the now and future human spirit.

Brooks Cole

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Sad news I received yesterday from a friend who informed me of the Sri Chinmoy’s passing. I shall keep a found souvenir of my various ultra races in New York, including the 1 000 miler world championship in 1988, when Guru’s presence and support were key to my personal success. Sri Chinmoy certainly deserves respect and admiration for the good he has done and for the inspiration he provided to other individuals in the achievement of their own personal goals. He knew how to motivate people.

Michel Careau

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Although Sri Chinmoy was not my spiritual leader, I have witnessed over the past 20 years, his profound gracious, loving and peac3ful effect he has on his followers. My only wish is that Sri Chinmoy be an exception, and be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, that he is a front runner for, posthumously. My sincere condolences to all his disciples worldwide, with extra heartfelt sympathies for his disciples in San Francisco.

Chrissy Brady Light,

~

Diving from Sri Chinmoy’s Platform

Timid toes touch shallow shoals of bliss.
In the vast, bottomless river of the Divine,
Mother and Sri Aurobindo coax us
From somnambulist shores.
Teaching us to swim,
They carry us floating through floods,
Drowning only our fears.

Surfing on his flute,
Sri Chinmoy says the water is warm.
I dive in—
Breathing the ambrosian waters.

Bill Leon

~

I was not a follower of Sri Chinmoy, but years ago, when I lived in Boston, he came to play at a local cathedral and I went and heard. In that part of the world, to hear and see anyone with a scrap of celeb status costs an arm and a leg, but Sri Chinmoy played for free. He spoke before playing, saying that his purpose there was not to amaze us with musicianship, but to facilitate our meditation, so meditate I did while he played. I could say that I enjoyed the experience, but I understand that enjoyment was not his purpose.

I am saddened by his passing. He was one decent chap.

jeffreydj on 10.12.07 at 5:56 pm

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Sri Chinmoy and all his followers have been a great inspiration and support to all of us in multiday running. May his example of peacefulness and determination live long in the future.

Dave Luljak

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I grew up in Jamaica Hills – down the street from Sri Chinmoy. I was fortunate to have met him as a child when he performed several concerts at night in my elementary school (one with Carlos Santana). It was a very moving experience. My whole family was saddened to learn of his passing because of the years we spent living in the same neighborhood as he and his followers, who we always found to be peaceful and kind people. May he be forever at peace.

Ann on 10.12.07 at 10:07 pm

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What you have given my brother whilst he has been your disciple, I see a model for what you have given to humanity. Your message and gifts have done much to bring the earth closer to a sense of oneness. I hope those you have touched in your time here are inspired to open their hearts even more and sing your message even louder with your passing from the physical world.

Eternal gratitude for the inspiration, peace and love you have given the world and me.

Ian Cunningham on 10.13.07 at 5:17 pm

See also:

Selected Tributes II

Selected Tributes III

Post Your Own Tribute: click here

Photo by Unmesh Swanson