Aspiration – Delight – This wonderful recording from 1978 captures an early esraj recording of Sri Chinmoy. The esraj has a soft haunting quality that creates a very meditative atmosphere.

April Celebrations Part 1 – Featuring live recordings from groups such as Ananda, Agnikana’s group, Heart-Dawn and Mountain-Silence

Excerpts from the Jewels of Happiness audiobook. 17 luminaries from around the world read extracts from Sri Chinmoy’s book – The Jewels of Happiness.

The smile of your infinity’s dawn – Anahata. A dynamic arrangement of Sri Chinmoy’s music

It is the latest in a string of marathon victories, having won in Edinburgh and Toulouse within the past year. Over 17,000 people took part in the Belfast marathon this year.

Samunnati is a frequent participant in the World Harmony Run, a torch relay event that travels the globe carrying a message of international friendship and understanding. She has been part of the international team for many European runs and in 2008 she joined the team in Australia as it circumnavigated the entire continent. The below photograph shows her carrying the Torch during a 2012 run in the Czech Republic.

More news on Belfast marathon:

• BBC News report
• Belfast Telegraph

The Peace Run was founded by Sri Chinmoy in 1987, with the aim of providing a dynamic way to spread the ideals of peace, harmony and goodwill around the world. In recent years, it has been called the World Harmony Run, but in 2013, the Australian Peace Run returns to its original name.

The members of the peace run team included volunteers from around the world. During the day, the team members take turns to run with the torch. The runners also take the opportunity to meet with local dignitaries, local schools and local members of the community.

The Peace Run team visiting a local school.

“Peace is something that we become. Once we become peace, then only can we give peace to the world and receive peace from the world.”

- Sri Chinmoy [1]

The Peace Run van helping to carry equipment and provisions for the runners.

Related

• Follow the latest news from the Peace Run in Australia.

Notes

[1] Sri Chinmoy,  Talk on Peace, Ohio, February 12th, 1974

Results and links at US Sri Chinmoy Races

The start of the 10 day race

Photos by Prabhakar,

Videos from 6-10 day race

Day 2 of the Six Day Race

More 6-10 day race videos

In addition to the many runners, there is a whole team of helpers, counters, cooks, medical staff and volunteers who help to manage the running of the race. The race is documented by photographers, writers and videographers, including:

Perfection Journey – Utpal’s blog

It is Monday afternoon and the one mile loop of the Self Transcendence races is alive with movement. Some like Alex Swenson are running with such strength and poise that I have to remind myself that he has been here now for more than 24 hours and has already completed 116 miles in that time. Continue reading.

6 and 10 day race at Perfection Journey

Arpan’s Race blogs

On Tuesday night, around midnight, the Ten Day runners have completed six and a half days. So they are over halfway done with only three and a half days to go to the finish line. The Six Day runners have completed two and a half days and are closing in on their halfway point in 12 hours. They also only have three and a half days as runners of both races have the same finishing time, Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 Noon.

Now that all of the runners have experienced the ‘thrill’ of staying on their feet and moving forward at various speeds most of the day and night, day after day and night after night, they all have their own interpretations of what this unusual experience is like to them.

I am particularly interested in the experiences expressed by the first-timers who have never had this kind of experience before. Nirbhasa Magee, a computer programmer from Dublin, Ireland, has run marathons for many years and even completed a 24-Hour race recently. But this is his first time at a multiday race. He is running the Ten Day race and had completed five and a half days already when I asked him what the high points and low points of the race was to him so far. He had completed 295 miles by the halfway point, which was noon on Monday. This is an average of almost 60 miles per day so far which is quite good for a first time multiday runner..

6 and 10 day blogs by Arpan

Related

• Results

Sahadeva’s ensemble

The Songs of the Soul concert, featuring arrangements of Sri Chinmoy’s music, was held on the 15th April at a packed venue in Manhattan. The concert featured performances from a variety of musicians and groups, such as Alap Jetzer, the Sri Chinmoy Bhajan singers, Pavaka and friends, the Sahadeva Orchestra and an ensemble of local New York musicians. There was also recitations of Sri Chinmoy’s poetry and videos from Sri Chinmoy’s peace concerts.

NY performers ensemble led by Paree Atkins

The finale to the concert featured a moving and energising arrangement of Sri Chinmoy’s song Twenty First Century.

TWENTY-FIRST Century, the New Millennium! No more the old sorrows and joys-compendium. God’s Heart, God’s Eye, a new hope and a new promise! O run and dive and fly-Bliss, Infinity’s Bliss! The world shall cheer the road with a God-surrender-song. Creator’s Silence-Hearts, creation’s sound-lives throng.

- Sri Chinmoy, The New Millenium

The song Twenty-First century is also featured in the songbook, The New Millenium

Related

• Songs of the Soul concert April 2013

In March 2013, the owners of the family-operated business David, Pat, David (Jr) and Debbie, generously hosted a ceremony for the dedication of Caversham wildlife park as Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom Wildlife park.

The ceremony featured students from Ellen Stirling Primary and the Riverlands Montessori school, who both sang at the event. The former performing a rendition of Sri Chinmoy’s song “O Make My Mind Tranquil and Calm”. Cr Patty Williams from the local council, City of Swan, gave a moving speech about the ideals of promoting peace in the local community.

The plaque includes an inscription

CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK
is proudly declared a
Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom Wildlife Park
Dedicated March 2013

May the beauty of the fauna and flora of Caversham Wildlife Park remind all who visit to reflect on peace in the world, and in themselves, for the benefit of humanity, and all creatures great and small.

“Peace means a flood of love in the world family.”

- Sri Chinmoy

Since 1986, many significant landmarks around the world have been dedicated to peace in this programme initiated by Sri Chinmoy. The Peace-Blossom program offers communities and individuals who hope for a more peaceful world a tangible opportunity to participate in this noble cause.

Related

• Peace-Blossoms at Student of Peace
• A visit to Caversham Wildlife park by the World Harmony Run
• Caversham wildlife park

The launch took place on the eve of the first UN International Day of Happiness, to celebrate that landmark event. The chapters of the celebrity audio book contains inspiring passages and poems deal that are divided into themes such as patience, gratitude and enthusiasm – qualities that can be cultivated to gain lasting happiness.

Over 500 United Nations ambassadors, delegates, staff and members of NGOs were present at the launch. “These sweet gems of wisdom by my dear friend Sri Chinmoy are timeless truths full of encouragement, love and goodness,” Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said in a video message. “Sri Chinmoy was a pioneer in forging a grand alliance of hearts and minds for the culture of peace,“ said Anwarul Chowdhury, Special Advisor and former Under-Secretry-General to the United Nations, in his introduction.

Ambassador Chowdhury makes the opening remarks.

Renowned composer Philip Glass performed on the piano while Cathy Oerter, co-founder of Art of the Olympians and wife of legendary Olympian Al Oerter, and Ashrita Furman, holder of the most Guinness World Records, read from the book live.

Guinness record breaker Ashrita Furman reads from the chapter on ‘Enthusiasm’

Cathy Oerter reads from the chapter on ‘Patience’

A special message from peace activist Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and former Member of Parliament in South Africa, was also read out.

Among the 17 outstanding individuals who read a chapter of the new audio book:

• Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu
• 5-time Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Roberta Flack
• Olympic legend Carl Lewis
• Emmy and Tony award winning actress Judith Light
• legendary Russian singer Boris Grebenshikov.

The Jewels of Happiness presents selected writings of Indian born Sri Chinmoy, who offered twice-weekly peace meditations for delegates and staff at the United Nations for 37 years. He also initiated global programmes to foster peace and happiness including the world’s largest relay run for international friendship and peace.

The audio book is available on itunes and audible.com and its proceeds will go to charities for children worldwide: Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund, Philani Nutrition and Development Project in South Africa and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

Sushumna was widely admired and loved for her kindness, concern, cheerfulness, and her devotion to her Spiritual Master, Sri Chinmoy.

For many years, Sushumna worked for the BBC in children’s broadcasting – she also later opened a tea shop.

Sushumna became a student of Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s, shortly after her daughter Swarnodaya met Sri Chinmoy in New York. As a new disciple, Sushumna guided the London Sri Chinmoy Centre through its formative years and was always very welcoming and encouraging to new members. She was in many ways a quintessential English lady, noted for her fine manners and kind disposition.

In the 1970s, Sushumna helped to organise some of Sri Chinmoy’s early visits to England and his university lectures, including Oxford and Cambridge university. Sushumna also accompanied Sri Chinmoy on some of this travels around England and later recounted many fascinating stories of travelling with Sri Chinmoy, in these early days.

Sushumna wrote a couple of short books about her experiences with Sri Chinmoy. They were written with her characteristic modesty and simplicity, but also contained interesting anecdotes and illumining experiences of the spiritual life.

This is a short extract from her book: Things My Guru Taught Me by Sushumna Mary Plumbly

It was on a sunny summer day at the little Sri Chinmoy Centre in Brighton that I received my spiritual name. The Master placed his hands on my head and spelled it out: S-U-S-H-U-M-N-A. Sushumna. I felt again that spiritual joy that I had experienced the first time I saw Sri Chinmoy. A little voice from deep inside said, “Yes, that’s right, that’s me.” Another, more worldly voice said, “Oh heavens! I’ll never remember it.” I spent the rest of the day in a rosy glow, and on going to bed that night attempted to repeat it one hundred times, as advised. I think I fell asleep after ten! (p23-24)

In her book, Sushumna also writes about the meaning of her name. -  ‘Sushumna is the channel through which the kundalini-power travels to reach the thousand petalled lotus in the crown‘.  She also writes about the spiritual meaning of her name, as given by Sri Chinmoy, saying ‘Sushumna relates to the longing to bring Heaven’s Light and Love to earth.’

Related

• More extracts from Sushumna’s book at Sri Chinmoy Centre

The Divine Enterprise was inaugurated in January 2013, in the centre  of Zurich. The name of the enterprise is  “The Sacred and Secret Way of Amazing Strength” which had  been given by Sri Chinmoy himself some 12 years ago. Abarita Dänzer,  owner of the “Secrets of Perfection-Flames” (Tofu Factory) took over a  former vegan bakery and take-away, and transformed it into a Vegelateria. A unique new ice-cream parlour,  where you can get more than 20 different ice creams, all vegan and  without conventional sugar. The local newspapers as well as the vegan  community are happy about the new place which for the moment holds only  10 seats in additional to the Take-Away. From Monday through Saturday  Pradatta Schrottenholzer and his helpers also offer hot meals, a daily  soup, salads and drinks. Abaraita plans to enlarge to 25 and later to 75  seats as soon as the needed requirements from the Health Authorities  are fulfilled. Also planned are regular monthly exhibitions and events  covering subjects such as health, nutrition, meditation, consciousness  and awareness.

- Kedar Misani

The channel, World Harmony Mix, features a large array of musical performances from music groups such as Temple-Song-Hearts, Ananda, Mountain Silence Ghandarva Loka, and Shindhu.

The channel offers a very relaxing and energising musical accompaniment.

“Music is the mother tongue of humanity. God is the Supreme Musician. It is through music that we can enter into the universal harmony. It is through music that God’s Beauty is being manifested in His all loving Creation.”

- Sri Chinmoy [1]

Listen Now

• Live Streaming channel at Radio Sri Chinmoy

Notes

[1] Sri Chinmoy, The Vedas: Immortality’s First Call, Agni Press, 1972.