There is a new website with daily posts presenting artworks by Sri Chinmoy for your inspiration. Enjoy! Here is the address: http://daily.srichinmoyart.com/

Many of us remember the cold January New York evening, the structure was complete and Sri Chinmoy would not only have to raise the sixty-eight solid 100-pound plate weights, but also the supporting truss and bar, which themselves weighed an additional two hundred pounds. At 1.25 a.m., January 30, 1987, on his 3rd attempt, Sri Chinmoy lifted 7,063¾ pounds. Of the five attempts (1.03 a.m., 1.13 a.m., 1.25 a.m., 1.37 a.m. and 1.50 a.m.) three were completely successful – a combined weight of over 10 tons, held aloft by one human arm and an unfathomable will. Jim Smith, from the British Amateur Weightlifters Association, who had been following Sri Chinmoy’s progress since he began, put it simply: “Sri Chinmoy is causing us to throw all our current beliefs in physics out the window. Sri Chinmoy is wrecking what we’ve always regarded as normal laws. Sri Chinmoy is rewriting the physiology books all over again!” (This and many more infos on Sri Chinmoy’s life you can read on the new website Sri Chinmoy Reflections)

Spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) talks about God’s plans for His creation in the future. Filmed by Mridanga Spencer in the summer of 2007 in Queens, New York, two months before Sri Chinmoy’s passing on October 11, 2007.

I have been remembering some of the things that Sri Chinmoy said following the tsunamis of recent years and the tragedies in Indonesia and Asia, how these had brought humanity together in a most remarkable way, our self-interests and tribal cultures swept aside in a spontaneous outpouring of empathy and oneness. We have seen this so much in recent days, volunteers pouring in to New Zealand from all over the world, search and rescue teams from Australia, the US, Britain and Europe, medical personnel, volunteers risking their lives climbing over the rubble in search of survivors, people opening up their homes all over the country to accommodate homeless strangers, blood donors, locals taking care of homeless animals, donations of food and money. And downstairs in the coffee shop this morning, people far away from the tragedy reading the morning papers and wiping away their tears.

And we are grateful, as our Guru Sri Chinmoy urged us to be, that not a single disciple was hurt in a city where 250 are missing, presumed lost under the mountains of debris, 105 others confirmed dead, many hundreds injured, a city – once the most beautiful jewel of our country – in ruins. How deeply moving and encouraging to see the beautiful human soul flying above the rubble, the goodness of the human heart – irrepressible and triumphant – bringing its consoling light and its unquenchable hope into every part of the tragedy. Seeing our human family once again living in the heart the way God wants us to always be. Remembering too that our path is not our enterprises, our meditation centres and assets – these are only some of the fruits of our labour – but our discipleship, our God quest, the inner bond with our teacher which sanctifies our life and raises it up, ennobles it; and our cardinal duty to nourish our soul, the remembering of our oneness with God. Our path is our devotion and our aspiration. Disasters with their awful compendium of sorrows and shattered lives remind us of the great existential truths, the impermanence of all worldly things, the frailty of material happiness, and expedite the inner awakening to finally bring the consolation of sanctuary in God.

Christchurch will bind us closer, our human family, offer us glimpses, amidst the rubble of a fallen city of the oneness-world that Guru always urged us to  help establish. It will teach us compassion, deepen and widen our hearts, inspire self-offering and remind us of what is really important in our lives.  Above the dust and chaos, the despair and grief of a stricken city, the fostering love and brilliance of the heart shines like an heraldic beacon, the Phoenix already arising as it always has from the ashes.

- Jogyata

PHOTOS BY KEDAR MISANI

A life-sized bronze statue of World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) depicted holding a World Harmony Run torch was inaugurated in a colourful ceremony on the evening of November 26, 2009 in Mazatlan, Mexico. The statue is on the edge of the Pacific Ocean ringed by palm trees located adjacent to a busy coastal plaza featuring other statues and lookouts over the ocean. Eventually its environs will be further landscaped with benches and additional information about the late spiritual leader’s contributions in various fields. Other statues by the same sculptor, British artist Kaivalya Torpy, are located in Norway, Bali and the Czech Republic. The statue unveiled in Mazatlan is the first in the Americas and the first ever of the spiritual leader holding a torch.

The Mayor was in attendance to unveil the statue and he was presented with the Harmony Run Torch Bearer Award during the ceremony. Students of Sri Chinmoy representing various countries attended the event. The Mazatlan Fire Department band and gymnastics team performed a stirring drum and trumpet performance and ascended heavenward with gravity defying human pyramid formations. The World Harmony Run torch was held aloft from atop one such human pyramids. Related activities continued the following day with visits by the World Harmony Run to three elementary schools culminating in the school children running the torch to the foot of the statue where they were greeted by the Secretary of the Mayor. A World Harmony Run ceremony including school children also visited a large Mazatlan shopping mall where Sri Chinmoy’s Jharna-Kala artwork was on exhibit inside the mall.  The local daily newspaper Noroeste featured an article about the statue dedication on November 28th and a second article about the World Harmony Run festivities on the sports page in the same day’s paper. - Text and Photos by Sharani Robins

Studying acting didn’t really make things much easier. The theatre is a world that also plays with consciousness, but it’s not necessarily the same game I was learning at the time. In a miniature version of that Zen koan I also had to realize that the world I lived in, in the end, was still my world. But there was definitely a period when my inner and outer lives clashed and I was caught in the midst of the collision. That lasted perhaps a few months. Then the two pictures overlapped again as I finally got things sorted out within.

Social acceptance has never really been a problem. Like  Tejvan from England I have mainly experienced sincere interest and respect. I did go through the short, frantic phase where you wonder why everyone else cannot see that beautiful light even when you’re repeatedly telling them about it, but fortunately I quickly mended my ways and learned to be quiet when I had to. Still people came with questions, but by then I had learned to differentiate between mere curiosity or politeness and sincere interest. When the latter was in play, speaking about my inner life became a revelation, a blessing and a joy. In the acting school some of my classmates were quite interested and we had a few spiritual conversations that I still remember with fondness. To the others I was perhaps a bit different, and there were times when the opposites were sharply emphasized, but underneath I always felt loved for who I was. Mountains became mountains again.

It’s fun being a little different sometimes. Not in a vainglorious way, but because it can create valuable moments. This past weekend I went on a training weekend with people from my running club and we spent two days together in a hotel. In between training, eating and sleeping (and for me, meditating) there was ample time to talk and play games. Although I still go by my old name there, they also know that I have a spiritual name. While playing a board game in the evening some athletes asked me about the name, what it meant and why I have it. I said the name represents my soul’s quality. As soon as I mentioned the word ‘soul’ a person sitting across the table from me grew wide-eyed and said ‘Oh, I feel a lot of questions coming. Can I ask you some other time?’ And I felt that little ant Nayak spoke about in his post, the stirrings of the soul. The moment passed again and although it was short it was somehow very precious. A little awakening occurred. I love these little miracles. They make all the temporary challenges worth facing. -Abhinabha

Sri Chinmoy often encouraged us to write – write about the spiritual life, write about our experiences with Guru. On one occasion Guru said to us: “Can disciples not write for one hour every day?” Later Guru, modified this to: “Can disciples not write for half an hour every day?” Perhaps Guru said this in the hope we might write for perhaps half an hour every week or even half an hour every month….

When I think about what brought me to the spiritual life, a large part was reading accounts by disciples of great Masters – disciples of Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna and Yogananda. They all inspired me to practice meditation and the spiritual life. Now, I am also fortunate to read so many accounts by disciples of our own Guru. – Like Gunagriha’s book, the many miracle stories, Arpan’s function reports and even just short reminiscences from Joy weekends.

There can be something intimidating about writing that first sentence; the mind is adept at finding a 100 excuses / reasons / justifications to delay. But, once we clear some space and devote it to writing, we can often be surprised at how beneficial writing is. I feel it is somewhat like talking to new disciples. As Guru says, when we talk to new seekers, it brings to the fore our good qualities, and reminds our forgetful mind of all the many good experiences we have had in the spiritual life. It is the same with writing, it helps to relive profound experiences and strengthen our aspiration.

Perfection and Speed

Both perfection and speed are aspects of Sri Chinmoy’s path. Guru, of course embodied both; with tremendous dynamism he could also work with great perfection. However, if we start with an idealised model of perfection, our

clever mind may just use this as an excuse never to start. “I’m not a writer, other people can do it better e.t.c.” But, we need to start where we are. It’s best just to write and allow the words to flow; it can always be improved later. (and thanks to all those who send me corrections for my second grade grammar standards… )

I remember one experience as a new disciple. It was my first family Christmas after becoming a disciple. I found the party atmosphere difficult; I just couldn’t enjoy the same things I used to before being a disciple. I remember becoming somewhat wistful and unhappy, but, then I just started writing on a spiritual topic. I don’t think the article was any good, but, it did my consciousness alot of good! The mild unhappiness left and, for the first time, I realised the power of writing as an aspect of spiritual sadhana.

-Tejvan

Source: www.srichinmoyinspiration.com

Let me quote 2 of the poems:

HE IS PLEASED WITH EVERYTHING

He was pleased with nothing;
Therefore God was not pleased with him

He is now pleased with everything;
Therefore God has given him two things:
Satisfaction-throne,
Perfection-crown.

I LIVE IN THE HOPE

I live in the hope of meeting Him.
I live in the hope of loving Him.
I live in the hope of pleasing Him.
I live in the hope of fulfilling and manifesting Him.
I live, I live.

- SRI CHINMOY

To celebrate my 60th birthday I would like to offer 60 personal gratitude-prayers:

1. Gratitude for being on this lovely Earth
2. Gratitude for having the opportunity to realize God
3. Gratitude for 60 years of life in this incarnation
4. Gratitude for meeting my master 30 years ago
5. Gratitude for getting a second life after my accident in Sabah
6. Gratitude to have a healthy body
7. Gratitude for living in beautiful Switzerland
8. Gratitude for all the beautiful nature on this planet
9. Gratitude for having a lovely and soulful wife
10. Gratitude for having all I need for my living
11. Gratitude for working in a divine enterprise
12. Gratitude for having a meditation Centre in our town
13. Gratitude for our powerful sun that gives us energy every day
14. Gratitude for having produced 105 DVD’s on the live of my master
15. Gratitude for my daily meditations
16. Gratitude for the fruits of our garden
17. Gratitude for the air we can breath every day
18. Gratitude for having met my master numerous times personally
19. Gratitude for all that I can manifest daily
20. Gratitude for all the countries I could travel
21. Gratitude for our nice apartment
22. Gratitude for not having material problems
23. Gratitude for having met so many beautiful people
24. Gratitude for Mother Earth
25. Gratitude for Father Heaven
26. Gratitude for God who is guiding us all
27. Gratitude for all the colors that surround us
28. Gratitude for peace
29. Gratitude for being happy
30. Gratitude for our universe in which we live

31. Gratitude for all the flowers we can see daily
32. Gratitude for the beauty of all the trees
33. Gratitude for all the kind animals
34. Gratitude for all the masters that descended on Earth
35. Gratitude for getting a new life every day
36. Gratitude for the joy I can experience
37. Gratitude for all the people I could interview
38. Gratitude for the nature that I could film and photograph
39. Gratitude for the mineral kingdom
40. Gratitude for the plants that I have in my home
41. Gratitude for my spiritual life
42. Gratitude for my mother and father
43. Gratitude for the many books my master wrote
44. Gratitude for all the songs my master composed
45. Gratitude for all artworks that my master created
46. Gratitude for all creativity I experience daily
47. Gratitude for the fragrances of this world
48. Gratitude for the spiritual songs I learned by heart
49. Gratitude for the technique that allows me to preserve my creations
50. Gratitude for all moments I could capture in my life
51. Gratitude for the new energies that will be revealed soon
52. Gratitude for the mountains and their beauty
53. Gratitude for the springs that offer us fresh water
54. Gratitude for the birds that are singing
55. Gratitude for the vastness of the sea
56. Gratitude for all experiences I had in my life
57. Gratitude of experiencing the new age of Aquarius
58. Gratitude for the aspiration I have
59. Gratitude for learning more every day
60. Gratitude for the awareness of being one with God

“My own Gratitude-Heart is all that matters” – Sri Chinmoy
PHOTO BY MANDU