281. Festhalle, Frankfurt

Photo
ckg
Venue
FESTHALLE
Location
Frankfurt, Germany
Date
Notes
  • Audience of 8,000
  • Series: "Oneness-Happiness-Song"
Body
concert
Photo: Dhanu

 

ckg
Photo: Diksha

 

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A rare photo of Sri Chinmoy playing the saxophone

ckg-piano
Photo: Diksha

 

Full Concert Video

Kedar Video

Concert significance

The Berlin Wall had fallen on 9 November 1989, leading to German reunification on 3 October 1990. This concert also marked an important opportunity for new Eastern European and Russian disciples to see their Master for the first time.

Instruments played in the concert included

Singing, Esraj, Bamboo flute, Gong, Clarinet, Yamaha, Aalto saxophone, Viola, Synthesiser, Psaltry, Chimes, Cello, Harmonium, paino and gongs

Sri Chinmoy NYC Marathon 1981

Submitted by super_admin on
sri-chinmoy
Photo: Bhashwar Hart

 

 

Sri Chinmoy at the New York City Marathon, 25 October 1981

 

Sri Chinmoy crossing the finish line in a time of 4:36:20

Time: 4:36:20
Pace: 10:32
New York City Marathon
New York, NY
Marathon #12

Sri Chinmoy’s bodyweight was 146½ lbs.

See: full list of Marathons


 

Meeting Allison Roe

sri-chinmoy-allison-roe

The day after the marathon 26 October, Sri Chinmoy met with Allison Roe - the winner of the women's marathon. Allison from Auckland, New Zealand placed first in a time of 2:25:29. This was a women's world best time, (though the record was not officially ratified when the course was found to be 150m short.)

sri-chinmoy

 

Presenting an award to Allison Roe

sri-chinmoy-allison-roe
Photos: Shraddha Howard

 

Sri Chinmoy composed a song in honour of Allison Roe

song

Allison Roe, Allison!
O lightning wonder-speed,
O soaring energy-light!
You are your dauntless soul.
In you, a fount of delight.
New York sings Auckland’s Victory-Song.
O champion of champions,
New Zealand’s thunder-gong!

 

One is the Human Spirit

Submitted by super_admin on

On 24 October 1975, to mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations, Sri Chinmoy led religious leaders from various faiths in an opening meditation at the Spiritual Summit Conference, at the United Nations. In attendance was Kurt Waldheim, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and representatives of the major religions, including Mother Teresa.

sri-chinmoy-leads-meditation
Sri Chinmoy leads the meditation, on his left Kurt Waldheim, Mother Teresa.

 

Anahata Nada reported that the theme of the spiritual summit was "One is the Human Spirit." This is very much in keeping with Sri Chinmoy's own service to the United Nations.

Sri Chinmoy: Each nation has to feel that there is only one world-nation and one world-family. It has to feel that we are not only of the One but also for the One. Since the Source is one, that means that the end is also one. When we say that we are of the One but for the many, we immediately create problems for ourselves. As soon as we say ‘many’, we feel that there are many different minds, many different approaches and many different realities; we may lose the feeling of oneness. But if we say that we are of the One and also for the One, then there is no problem.

— Sri Chinmoy, My Meditation-Service at The United Nations for Twenty-Five Years, Agni Press, New York, 1995

Footnote:

At a later date, Sri Chinmoy and Mother Teresa would become close friends. Their second meeting was 1 October 1994 at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity House, adjoining the Church of San Gregorio in Rome, Italy.

Related


News coverage

Religious Figures Meet at U.N.

Reprinted from the Journal Inquirer, Vernon, Conn., Oct. 18, 1975.

By GEORGE W. CORNELL
AP Religion Writer

articleNEW YORK (AP) — Amid the world’s rough political weather, noted religious figures are converging here from around the globe to try to inject some unifying spiritual vision into international affairs.

The United Nations, strained by various conflicts and pressures, is welcoming the added input.

“Political leaders feel a kind of bankruptcy and despair and have become aware of the need for spiritual unity,” says Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, head of the Sufi order in the Western world. “That’s why they’re opening their doors to us.”

Scholars and specialists of the major world faiths, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism, are taking part in the affair Oct. 19-24, with U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim and diplomats joining in portions of it.

It is described as the first international religious meeting at the U.N. in its 30-year history, although Pope Paul VI addressed the U.N. in 1965.

“There is increasing recognition in secular and political life that we’re floundering and drying up, that it’s not sufficient to be grounded in merely humanistic documents,” says Dr. Jean Houston, conference chairman.

Dr. Houston, president of the Foundation for Mind Research, Pomona, N.Y., adds, “We’ve gotten lost in ideologies, in particular groups and nationalisms, and now, in the crises of world affairs, there’s a new realization that we’re not going to solve problems from the outside.

“We need to renew our rootage in the deeper spiritual realities, in the image of oneness of humanity, and do it from within. We need to draw on the fundamental resources of the human race, on the taproots of existence.”

The gathering, called “Summit V,” the fifth inter-religious meetings sponsored in various parts of the world by the Temple of Understanding, an interfaith educational foundation, has the theme “One in the Human Spirit.”

Waldheim and various religious notables are among scheduled speakers, including Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic founder of the Missionaries of Charity in India; Lord Abbott Kosho Ohtani of Japan, a leading Buddhist scholar; Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Iran, a prominent Islamic scholar; Srimata Gayatri Devi of Bombay, India, internationally known Hindu philosopher; Rabbi Dr. Robert Gordis of New York, a top Jewish philosopher; and anthropologist Margaret Mead, an influential Episcopalian.

Only the last of six days of seminars, panel discussions, lecture sessions and ritual demonstrations will be at the U.N. Other features, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, include two celebrations of a “cosmic mass,” expressing in story, dance and music the kinship of human faiths.

“What we try to do is to bring out the beauty, the validity and basic unity of all historic religions and the potentiality for doing good,” says Saphira Barbara Lindin of Boston, director of the unusual mass.

Marathons

Sri Chinmoy ran 22 marathons between 3 March 1979 and 20 February 1983. His best time was 3:55:07 in his second marathon – the Heart-Watchers Marathon, Toledo, Ohio.

Marathon is
An unimaginable joy-experience
Of the heart.
Marathon is
An unbearable suffering-experience
Of the body, the vital and the mind.

– Sri Chinmoy, My Race-Prayers, part 3. (Sri Chinmoy was speaking at the start line of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon at Rockland Lake State Park, New York on 14 August 2007.)

Sri Chinmoy’s Marathon Results

 

Time

Pace

Date

Race

Location

1

4:31:34

10:21

3 Mar 1979

Bidwell Classic

Chico, CA

2

3:55:07

8:58

25 Mar 1979

Heart-Watchers Marathon

Toledo, Ohio

3

4:16:23

9:47

6 May 1979

Newsday Long Island Marathon

Long Island, NY

4

4:41:16

10:44

12 May 1979

Champlain Valley Marathon

Plattsburgh, NY

5

5:39:41

12:57

6 Oct 1979

Pheidippides Marathon

Athens, Greece

6

4:48:54

11:01

21 Oct 1979

New York City Marathon

New York, NY

7

4:33:55

10:27

2 Dec 1979

Jersey Shore Marathon

Asbury Park, NJ

*

6:01:27

13:47

1 Feb 1980

Solo walking marathon
(not counted among official times)

Briarwood/Jamaica, NY

8

4:30:00

10:18

24 May 1980

Solo run

Munich, Germany

9

5:18:31

12:09

1 June 1980

Sri Chinmoy Marathon

San Mateo, CA

10

5:22:11

12:17

1 Feb 1981

Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon

Hampton, NH

11

4:30:21

10:19

7 Mar 1981

Bidwell Classic

Chico, CA

12

4:36:20

10:32

25 Oct 1981

New York City Marathon

New York, NY

13

4:26:56

10:11

2 May 1982

Newsday Long Island Marathon

Long Island, NY

14

4:44:41

10:51

24 Oct 1982

New York City Marathon

New York, NY

15

4:36:00

10:32

7 Nov 1982

Sri Chinmoy Marathon

Zurich, Switzerland

16

4:22:57

10:02

14 Nov 1982

Jersey Shore Marathon course

Asbury Park, NJ

17

5:12:00

11:54

5 Dec 1982

Sri Chinmoy Marathon

San Juan, Puerto Rico

18

4:33:43

10:26

31 Dec 1982

Sri Chinmoy Marathon

Okinawa, Japan

19

5:33:33

12:43

22 Jan 1983

Orange Bowl Marathon

Miami, Florida

20

5:20:03

12:12

30 Jan 1983

Solo run

Flushing Meadow Park, NY

21

5:56:59

13:37

6 Feb 1983

Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon

Hampton, NH

22

5:25:20

12:25

20 Feb 1983

Solo run

Hempstead Turnpike, Long Island, NY


1. 3 March 1979

Sri Chinmoy running the Bidwell Classic, 3 March 1979

Time: 4:31:34
Pace: 10:21
Bidwell Classic
Chico, California
Race no. 200


2. 25 March 1979

Sri Chinmoy running the Heart-Watchers Marathon, Toledo, Ohio
Marathon 25 March 1979. Photo: Bhashwar

Time: 3:55:07
Pace: 8:58
Heart-Watchers Marathon
Toledo, Ohio

This remained Sri Chinmoy’s personal best time for the marathon.

The Toledo Marathon in 1979 was my best marathon. I did it in 3:55. It was so cold that day! Sometimes I was running on the left side so I could pass people, but sometimes I ran in between people to keep warm. In the beginning, before the sun came out, it was twenty-four degrees, so I was running in between people. Even so, at one point my back was freezing.

– Sri Chinmoy’s account of the race, in Run and Become, part 7.


3. 6 May 1979

Sri Chinmoy at the Newsday Long Island Marathon, 6 May 1979

Time: 4:16:23
Pace: 9:47
Newsday Long Island Marathon
Long Island, NY
Race no. 2622


4. 12 May 1979

Sri Chinmoy in the Plattsburgh Marathon
Sri Chinmoy in the Plattsburgh Marathon, 12 May 1979. Photo: Bipin

Time: 4:41:16
Pace: 10:44
Champlain Valley Marathon
Plattsburgh, New York


5. 6 October 1979

Sri Chinmoy at the Athens Marathon
Athens Marathon 6 October 1979. Photo: Sarama

Time: 5:39:41
Pace: 12:57
Pheidippides Marathon
Athens, Greece

Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of the race and the next 15 anecdotes.


6. 21 October 1979

Sri Chinmoy at the New York City Marathon, 1979
New York City Marathon, 1979. Photo: Bhashwar

Time: 4:48:54
Pace: 11:01
New York City Marathon
New York, NY
Race no. 6464

Prior to the race start, Sri Chinmoy met with Olympic triple gold medallist Emil Zatopek and ultramarathon champion Don Ritchie. An account of the race was reported in Anahata Nada, 1979.


7. 2 December 1979

sri-chinmoy
Photo: Bhashwar

Time: 4:33:55
Pace: 10:27
Jersey Shore Marathon
Asbury Park, New Jersey

This race is Sri Chinmoy’s 7th marathon completed in the first nine months of taking up the sport.


*. 1 February 1980

Time: 6:01:27
Pace: 13:47
Solo walking marathon
Streets of Briarwood and Jamaica

Sri Chinmoy commenced walking at 1:30 a.m. His 3-mile route went along the Grand Central Service Road and continued on neighbourhood streets. He did not want this marathon to be counted among his official times.


8. 24 May 1980

Time: 4:30:00
Pace: 10:18
Solo run
Munich, Germany


9. 1 June 1980

sri-chinmoy

Time: 5:18:31
Pace: 12:09
Sri Chinmoy Marathon
San Mateo, California

Sri Chinmoy began his long-distance running career in San Francisco, California, on 1 June 1978. This race was held in honour of the second anniversary of this most significant date.


10. 1 February 1981

hampton-new-hampshire
Photo: Bhashwar Hart

Time: 5:22:11
Pace: 12:17
Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon
Hampton, New Hampshire


11. 7 March 1981

sri-chinmoy

Time: 4:30:21
Pace: 10:19
Bidwell Classic
Chico, California

Sri Chinmoy returned to the race where he had recorded his personal best time two years previously with the hope that he would run another fast time, but he suffered greatly from cramps from mile seventeen onwards. Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of the race.


12. 25 October 1981

Sri Chinmoy at the New York City Marathon, 25 October 1981

Time: 4:36:20
Pace: 10:32
New York City Marathon
New York, NY
More details on 1981 NYC Marathon

Sri Chinmoy’s bodyweight was 146½ lbs.


13. 2 May 1982

sri-chinmoy
Photo: Bhashwar

Time: 4:26:56
Pace: 10:11
Newsday Long Island Marathon
Long Island, NY

Sri Chinmoy recorded personal best split times for: 25 km, 2:20:30; half-marathon, 1:54:30; and 13 miles, 1:54:04.


14. 24 October 1982

sri-chinmoy

Time: 4:44:41
Pace: 10:51
New York City Marathon
New York, NY

Sri Chinmoy’s bodyweight was 137 lbs. Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of the race and following stories.


15. 7 November 1982

Time: 4:36:00
Pace: 10:32
Sri Chinmoy Marathon
Zurich, Switzerland

Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of this race.


16. 14 November 1982

Time: 4:22:57
Pace: 10:02
Jersey Shore Marathon course
Asbury Park, NJ

Sri Chinmoy ran the course 2½ hours before the official race. His bodyweight was 136 lbs. The temperature was 50°F with a wind of 10 mph.


17. 5 December 1982

Time: 5:12:00
Pace: 11:54
Sri Chinmoy Marathon
San Juan, Puerto Rico

The temperature was 90°F.


18. 31 December 1982

Time: 4:33:43
Pace: 10:26
Sri Chinmoy Marathon
Okinawa, Japan


19. 22 January 1983

Time: 5:33:33
Pace: 12:43
Orange Bowl Marathon
Miami, Florida

Conditions for this race were extremely high humidity and heavy rain. Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of this race and following stories.


20. 30 January 1983

Time: 5:20:03
Pace: 12:12
Solo run
Flushing Meadow Park, NY


21. 6 February 1983

Time: 5:56:59
Pace: 13:37
Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon
Hampton, NH

Omitting rest stops, Sri Chinmoy’s time was 5:29:59.


22. 20 February 1983

Time: 5:25:20
Pace: 12:25
Solo run
Hempstead Turnpike, Long Island, NY

Omitting a rest stop after 15 miles, Sri Chinmoy’s time was 5:10:33.


Note about these statistics

These statistics and notes were maintained by Savita. In the heyday of Sri Chinmoy’s distance running, there was a long chart taped to a wall on his front porch and Savita would enter all his race results on it so that he could see at a glance his progress.

Races: • 100 Metres • Track Races • 2 Miles • Middle distance • Long distance • Marathons • Ultramarathons • Field Events
Sports Photos: • Distance Running • Sprinting • Field Sports

397. Riverside Church, New York

Photo
ckg-riverside
Venue
RIVERSIDE CHURCH
Location
New York, NY, USA
Date
Notes

Concert dedicated to Martin Luther King.

Body

Sri Chinmoy gave a special concert at the Riverside Church in New York. A concert he dedicated to the Martin Luther King.

A media report from New York Amsterdam News reported on the event.


Sri Chinmoy Dedicates Concert to Martin Luther King

Hundreds of New Yorkers jammed the South Hall of The Riverside Church recently for a special peace concert dedicated to Martin Luther King.

ckg-harmonium
Photos: Pulak Viscardi

The concert of music and meditation, offered for the African-American community free of charge by spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, drew a standing-room-only crowd.

Sri Chinmoy’s combination of haunting spiritual music, punctuated by periods of silent meditation and deep communion with God, was received in reverential and pin-drop silence.

The 63-year-old New York-based spiritual teacher told the audience that he was “lovingly, devotedly and gratefully dedicating” his concert to Martin Luther King, whom he called “the immortal of immortals.”

Martin Luther King, Sri Chinmoy said, 

“was at once the bravest child of Divinity and the dearest brother of humanity. He was at once the embodiment and revelation of a dream that sleeplessly and breathlessly cried for the manifestation of a oneness heart here in America. He was indeed a hero-supreme of this earth planet.”

At the end of the concert, Sri Chinmoy invited his African-American students to join him on the stage for a few moments of silent meditation and self-offering.

ckg

“We’re following up this concert with a series of meditation workshops aimed at providing a positive and dynamic way of approaching our own strengths and challenges as African-Americans,” said Bhashwar Hart, one of the concert organizers.

attendence: approx 550.

news

Sri Chinmoy Meets with Mrs Lillian Carter

Submitted by tejvan on
sri-chinmoy-lillian-carter

On 6 October 1977, Mrs Lillian Carter met with Sri Chinmoy and the members of the Meditation Group in Americus, Georgia. Mrs Carter charmed the visitors them with tales of her experiences in India and vignettes about what it is like to be the President’s mother. The group, in turn, meditated with Mrs Lillian and sang a song composed by Sri Chinmoy in her honour, which brought tears to her eyes. This is a brief part of their conversation. Here Mrs Lillian was talking about the U.N. Meditation Group’s public concert that evening.

Mrs Lillian: Well, this is going to be a lovely night. I hope you have a crowd. People don’t understand this. I don’t know whether many people will be here or not. Have you heard?

Mr Steven Hein: We really don’t know if a lot of people will come or not. There was a little article in the newspaper.

Mrs Lillian: Yes, and weren’t you in Plains this afternoon?

Mr Steven Hein: Yes. There are a few posters up there.

Mrs Lillian: But here they don’t understand I am the only one who does, and I wouldn’t miss it but I hope you are going to have a nice crowd.

Sri Chinmoy: With your kind permission, may I meditate for a minute?

Mrs Lillian: Oh yes. [To the group] He wants me to be quiet!

Sri Chinmoy: Not in the least! Far from it. Please forgive me. My students had informed me that you would like me to meditate for a minute that’s why.

Mrs Lillian: Y’all better be quiet now, we’re going to meditate. [Silent meditation for four or five minutes.]

Sri Chinmoy: Thank you.

Mrs Lillian: Thank you. Very nice.

Sri Chinmoy: Now I wish to offer a soulful song to you, which I composed yesterday. It is about you. First I would like to sing it and then my students will sing it for you. Could my students come in now, please?

[They open the door and additional members of the United Nations Meditation Group come in.]

sri-chinmoy-lillian-carter

Sri Chinmoy: Just yesterday I composed it in honour of you.

Mrs Lillian: Wonderful! Y’all come in! [Turning to the Secret Service agent accompanying her] Ray, you should see the little piano, little organ, or what-do-you-call-it! [To the members of the Meditation Group] Good afternoon.

Sri Chinmoy: These are the members of the United Nations Meditation Group.

Mrs Lillian: Beautiful, beautiful. The saris are gorgeous. I never could wear one because I couldn’t put it on. Hello! Hello! How many are there?

Sri Chinmoy: Here there are about forty.

Mrs Lillian: Wonderful.

sri-chinmoy-lillian-carter

[Sri Chinmoy sings the song Compassion-Ocean, Mother Lillian, accompanying himself on the tote-a-tune.]

Mrs Lillian: That’s beautiful.

Sri Chinmoy: Now they will sing.

[The members of the United Nations Meditation Group sing Compassion-Ocean, Mother Lillian.]

Mrs Lillian: You just don’t know me. I’m not that good! Oh boy, this is wonderful! But I just really don’t deserve all this.

Sri Chinmoy: You deserve all this and much, much more.

Mrs Lillian: Oh, no, no, no, I don’t. This is just beautiful.

Sri Chinmoy: And we mean it. What we have sung, we literally mean it.

Mrs Lillian: Thank you, thank you, Sir.

Sri Chinmoy: It is all of our hearts’ feelings.

Mrs Lillian: Thank you very much. It is a great honour that you are doing this for me. But you don’t know me. Ray knows me, though. He knows that I’m not that good. Don’t you, Ray? It’s beautiful. Let me ask you something. Do you go everywhere with…I call him Mr Chinmoy… all together all the time?

UN Meditation Group member: As often as we can.

Sri Chinmoy: We have many more students. We have about eight hundred or so.

Mrs Lillian: I envy you your calmness. It took my best to sit still, much less meditate. I’m not much of a meditator. I did go to the meeting every Thursday night and I did meditate with them.

Sri Chinmoy: But you have meditated with me extremely well.

Mrs Lillian: Do you want me to tell you the truth? I don’t know what I was thinking about, but I had a thousand thoughts. I can’t get everything out of my head like you can. When you meditate, you completely bare your mind, don’t you?

Sri Chinmoy: At that time, we do not have a mind at all. When we meditate, we only live in the heart and we become the heart itself.

Mrs Lillian: I have heard that and I think it is beautiful. But the only way I can meditate is to go somewhere by myself. I go to what I call my Pond House, I can go out and sit and look out over the pond, and then I can meditate.

Sri Chinmoy: We belong to the United Nations Meditation Group. This is for you, Mother, this is our offering. [Sri Chinmoy presents Mrs Lillian with the United Nations Meditation Group banner.]

Mrs Lillian: Oh, this is beautiful. Thank you. Oh it is beautiful.

At the concert that the UN Meditation Group presented later that evening, Sri Chinmoy played the Indian esraj and members of the Group sang several Bengali and American songs, including India’s National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.”

During the concert Sri Chinmoy commented:

Sri Chinmoy: I am a seeker. I have been here for six or seven hours. On the strength of my aspiration, I wish to say what I feel about Plains. Simplicity, sincerity, spontaneity, humility and self-giving are the birthright of this town. This is what my inner aspiration tells me and I wish to offer my soulful gratitude to the soul of this town where our dear President was born.

Originally published in Sri Chinmoy, The Seeker’s Mind, Agni Press, New York, 1978

Compassion-Ocean Mother Lillian at Sri Chinmoy Songs

Date

Sri Chinmoy's Mahasamadhi

Submitted by tejvan on

Sri Chinmoy entered Mahasamadhi - the mystic process through which spiritual Masters leave the body - on the morning of 11 October 2007. 

sri-chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy, 10 October 2007. Photo: Adarini Inkei

The day before Sri Chinmoy’s mahasamadhi on 10 October, he held a weekly meditation, where he sold a book of prayers My Christmas-New Year-Vacation-Aspiration-Prayers, (written during his stay in Langkawi, Malaysia in early 2006.) The last prayer in the book was:

“My physical death
Is not the end of my life –
I am an eternal journey.”

My Christmas-New Year-Vacation-Aspiration-Prayers, Part 52

In a nutshell, this encapsulates Sri Chinmoy's philosophy on death and reincarnation. Also of note is this passage from Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha. In this particular scene the Buddha is on the verge of passing beyond his mortal coil and his dearest disciple Ananda is crying. The Buddha speaks:

"Ananda, do not cry for me. I tell all of you not to cry for me. Ananda, I have told you repeatedly that everything is transient on earth. There is nothing everlasting here. Anything that comes into life will have to give up life. ... My spiritual journey began with renunciation and compassion, and today, at the end of my journey's close, I offer to the world the same message: renunciation and compassion. O Ananda, do not grieve."

Sri Chinmoy, Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha


Tributes to Sri Chinmoy

After Sri Chinmoy's passing many renowned world figures offered their kind tributes.

“With deep regret I have learned that my long-term close friend, the friend of my family and of our Foundation, Sri Chinmoy, passed away yesterday…This is a loss for the whole world. Through many years of his selfless work for the sake of peace, Sri Chinmoy has gained recognition and love in the farthest corners of our planet…In our hearts he will forever remain a man who dedicated his whole life to peace… We shall remember Sri Chinmoy forever!”

— President Mikhail Gorbachev

More tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org

sri-chinmoy
Photo: Piyasi Morris

After Sri Chinmoy's passing, many came to Aspiration-Ground, New York to pray and meditate. The silence alternating with soulful performances by his disciples.

Performances from 2007 at Radio Sri Chinmoy

In 1974, Sri Chinmoy composed the song "When I am gone away, remember me" but asked that it would not be sung until his physical passing.

When I am gone away, remember me,
O children sweet.
No, not because I failed.
No, not because I cried.
No, not because I tried.
No, not because I saw my Lord in you.
No, not because I served my Lord in you.
No, not because I fulfilled my Lord in you.
No, not because I was your Pilot true.
No, not because I was your ‘Infinite’ blue.
O, but because my life was all gratitude, gratitude, gratitude
To you, to you, my children sweet, to you.
When I am gone away, remember me.


The Great Comet of 2007

Question: What is the significance of a comet?

Sri Chinmoy: When something most precious leaves the earth-consciousness, then a comet will be visible. From the spiritual point of view, when you see a comet, something very significant has taken place on earth. When Sri Ramana Maharshi passed on, everybody saw a comet in the South Indian sky.

Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 9, Agni Press, New York, 1999

Comet Holmes was discovered in 1892 by Edwin Holmes, normally, it is a very faint object but on 23-24 October (13 days after Sri Chinmoy's mahasamadhi) it unexpectedly brightened by a factor of one million times making it clearly visible to the naked eye. It was reported in a scientific publication as the largest known outburst by a comet thus far.

comet-holmes
Comet Holmes. Gil-Estel - CC BY 2.5

"The massive outburst of the comet 17P/Holmes in 2007 October is the largest known outburst by a comet thus far." Royal Astronomical Society

Interestingly 2007 was notable for a very rare astronomical double feature. Comet McNaught, first discovered in August 2006, passed exceptionally close to the sun in January 2007.

The number 13 has always been very significant in Sri Chinmoy's life, such as his arrival in New York on 13 April 1964.

Related

Dulal

Submitted by tejvan on

dulalDulal (Sol Montlack) was one of the earliest disciples of Sri Chinmoy, accepted by the Master on 20 August 1966. In 1967, he helped to officially incorporate AUM Centre Inc (later renamed Sri Chinmoy Centre), in New York City, as mentioned in AUM magazine:

“To our Dulal (Mr. Sol Montlack) who made many patient trips to the Supreme Court, untangled countless difficulties, and saw through the Incorporation to its conclusion, we offer our deep and grateful love.”

Dulal wrote an introduction to My Yogi-Friends, My Avatar-Friends, Agni Press, New York, 1971:

“Sri Chinmoy’s path is the path of unconditional love, devotion and surrender. It is the path of purity, sincerity and gratitude. It is the path of the heart. It is the path of service that demands transformation and offers God-realisation.

This path is not an escape from reality; on the contrary, it is Reality itself. It is for the strong as well as for the pure in heart.”

— Continue reading Dulal's introduction to My Yogi-Friends, My Avatar-Friends 

Role in Welcoming Seekers

narada-dulal
Narada (left) with Dulal and Sri Chinmoy (right)

Dulal served as an early president of the Sri Chinmoy Centre and played a role in helping new seekers integrate into the centre. For example, Sarama recounts how Dulal introduced her to Sri Chinmoy.

Ashrita recalls ringing Dulal when he was first interested in meditating with Sri Chinmoy.

Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha

u-thant-old-mill-farm

On the evening of 25 May 1973, the former United Nations Secretary-General U Thant attended the first performance of the play, Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha, at Old Mill Farm in Harrison, New York. Dulal is second from left.

Performing with the Master

Dulal was a professional violinist, playing as a viola player in the Little Orchestra Society of New York. In The Life of Sri Chinmoy, Madhuri Sands quotes Dulal sharing an experience of his Master playing through him.

“There was a concert I was nervous about. I had some solos to play in the orchestra and I asked Guru to put a force on me. The force was so strong I found I was playing so relaxed and easily that I realised that if I didn't concentrate I wouldn't know where I was. Afterwards, Guru told me that he was playing. He was playing, and he never took a lesson in his life!”

— Madhuri Sands, Life of Sri Chinmoy, Part 2, Sri Chinmoy Lighthouse, 1972.

dulal-sri-chinmoy
1972

In public concerts, Sri Chinmoy would on occasion perform with Dulal.

dulal-sri-chinmoy
1976

 

Ten Divine Secrets

On 6 May 1976, during a celebration of Dulal’s birthday, Dulal asked Sri Chinmoy to reveal some of his inner secrets for the benefit of the disciples. This led to the publication of the book Ten Divine Secrets.


Tribute to Dulal

On 2 October 1993, Sri Chinmoy offered the following tribute to Dulal, one of his pioneer disciples in the West, at a special observance for Dulal held at Aspiration-Ground after Dulal’s earth-departure:

dulal-tribute

Dulal, the human in me will eternally remain grateful to you. The divine in me will eternally cherish you. Two thousand five hundred years ago, you had a most significant incarnation. You became Lord Buddha’s dearest and closest disciple. In this incarnation you came to another spiritual Master. Your soul knows, your heart knows, your life knows where you are and where you will eternally be: inside my heart and inside Alo’s heart.

The most sincere and most cheerful surrender of the American mind to an Indian heart you were. I have created many, many things in many fields. Your soul’s inner depth felt and realised the beauty, the divinity and the immortality of my creativities in various fields. Your soul’s nobility will remain unparalleled. Your heart’s capacity to assimilate the shortcomings, weaknesses, expectations and demands from many, many, many people who have known you over the years will remain unparalleled. Your smile is made of divine oneness plus divine kindness.

Quite a few times you came to me with problems and problems, countless problems of the disciples, and I asked you for your suggestions to solve the problems. You gave me the suggestions. I looked at you with my heart of compassion and I said, “I shall deal with these problems in totally different ways.” You looked at me and I told you how to deal with the problem. Immediately is the right word, unreservedly is the right word, cheerfully is the right word, unconditionally is the right word: these words can be applied only to your life. You accepted my advice, offering the messages to the disciples in question.

In so many ways, I cannot count, you have served the Supreme in me. Since you left the body yesterday in the afternoon you have come to me so many times, so many. Long, longer, longest conversation we have had, and this special meditation that we held today is also at your express wish. You wanted to have it here at Aspiration-Ground and not anywhere else.

You were not only physically tall, but spiritually also you were tall, extremely, extremely, extremely tall. I have written many, many books. If ever I write a book about you, it will indeed be a very thick volume, with many, many significant incidents and experiences that took place in our mission. With you we started our mission. To you we gave the name Dulal. Dulal means darling. Your soul and your heart are undoubtedly worthy of this name.

Today we had most significant, most significant meditation to love your life, to offer my gratitude to your heart and to be inseparably one with your soul’s vision-light. Now I wish to share something with all the disciples, your brothers and sisters who are still here in the land of the living. When the hour strikes, we shall also join you. You can see us; you will be able to see us infinitely easier than we do. Here I am identifying myself with the disciples.

Now to come back to the significant part. I see so vividly, so vividly, with my third eye that you were inundated with a blue light, a blue aura. There are many auras, but blue is my most significant and most favourite in my life-story. This moment I saw you flying in the blue sky. The sky was flooded with blue light, and you were flying with unimaginable ecstasy. Next moment I saw you swimming, swimming, swimming in the sea of blue light. Flying and swimming, swimming, swimming.

You said, “My Gurudev, I bow to your infinite blessings. I bow to your eternal compassion. I bow to your immortal love. Alo, my Mother, my Mother Divine, my own Mother of Eternity, I shall always love you, I shall always give you my soul’s love and gratitude, love and gratitude. My brothers and sisters, I have only one piece of advice to you all: obey, obey, obey our Gurudev. Do not disobey him. Do not disobey him. Do not disobey him.”

Dulal. Dulal. Dulal. Dulal. Dulal. Dulal. Dulal.

dulal
Sri Chinmoy offering tribute to Dulal, 1993

 

Photos: Sarama (1972, 1974), Bhashwar (1976), Pulak (1993).

Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour Race 1981

On 26-27 September 1981, the second Sri Chinmoy 24-hour track championship was held at Greenwich, Connecticut. It proved to be a record-breaking event, with 40 runners taking to the start line, up from just 6 runners at the 1st event in 1980.

The race began with a short meditation by Sri Chinmoy.

Sri Chinmoy at the second 24-hour race, 27 September 1981
Sri Chinmoy at the second 24 hour race 27 September 1981. Photo: Bhashwar Hart.
Sri Chinmoy running with the runners on 26 September 1981
Sri Chinmoy ran with the runners on the 26th September.

Sahishnu Sczesiul, a SCMT race director wrote:

“The 24-hour event was catching on, not only around the US but worldwide, as athletes chose to test themselves at various distances and in set-time events, like the one-day and even 48-hour affairs. On the extreme end of the sport existed the revival of the six-day races from the late 19th century, as well as point-to-point races from cities, or across states, or even across countries, as history would later reveal. Our humble 24-hour races began serving the running community by offering inspiration to the athletes, as well as building standards for race administration and implementation, especially in the care of the athletes during the races.

Members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team counting runners
Members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team counting runners. A large number of counters for 40 runners.

Sri Chinmoy begged us to treat the athletes with the utmost respect and with a sincere concern for their endeavors. To this day, the ounce of care has been essential in the formation of good feelings among athletes in sport.” - Continue reading at www.srichinmoyraces.org

Cahit Yeter winning the 24-hour race
Sri Chinmoy with Cahit Yeter. Photo: Shraddha

Cahit Yeter won the race with 155 miles. This set a new North American 24-hour record, national record, course and event record, and moved him into sixth place of all time in the world for 24 hours.

Sue Medaglia laid claim to a new women’s world track record with 126 miles 763 yards. She eclipsed the mark set by Sue Ellen Trapp of 123 miles 593 yards. Sue also became the first woman in history to pass the 200 km barrier, reaching the mark in 23:41:08.

In 5th place was Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team’s own Steve (Arpan) Deangelo, with 125 miles.

The race became a real collection of ultra-distance running legends. The awards ceremony was graced by ultrarunning legend Ted Corbitt.

Sri Chinmoy with Ted Corbitt at the awards ceremony
Sri Chinmoy with ‘the father of long-distance running’ Ted Corbitt at the awards ceremony. Photo by Shraddha Howard.

Also the great Australian runner Robert de Castella, who went on to win Gold in the men’s Commonwealth Games marathon in 1982, had just won the BMW 15K, and came to speak with Sri Chinmoy at the awards.

Robert de Castella and Gayelene Clews at the awards ceremony

Overall, there was a great feeling of enthusiasm and excitement about the growth of the 24-hour races in the US.

Bob Marshall, one of the runners who finished 14th with 106 miles, wrote an article in Ultrarunning magazine in November 1981. This is a quote from his article:

“There is always something special about Sri Chinmoy and his group. Through ultra-marathoning I have found what I consider to be an unparalleled inner contentment, yet I can only wonder in awe at the peace and love radiating from each of the Sri Chinmoy followers. At the far corner of the track two young women sang beautiful lyric songs about running and living. On nearly every lap I was greeted and cheered by name. When it was dark, the track was lighted with dozens of candles in white bags, which cast a mystical glow around the far turns.”

“The combination of the 24-hour event and Sri’s race support group produced an unforgettable event, and fitting surroundings for the world-class performances which resulted.”

Sri Chinmoy presenting the award to Sue Medaglia
Sri Chinmoy presenting award to 1st Woman Sue Medaglia.

“At the award ceremony I felt as if we were all winners; it was tremendous! We sat in a circle and shared the moment—perhaps the first time that 24 runners bested 100 miles in a 24-hour race. World and national records were set by masters and junior performers. Sri Chinmoy composed a song that the group sang to us. Van Deusen and Yeter shook hands; Cahit had broken Bob’s American record for 200 km, as well as his national 24-hour record. Sri Chinmoy presented the awards. I had my brief moment, barely able to stand and accept Sri’s hand. Suddenly it was over—the greatest 24-hour race ever held on American soil. I’ll be back.”

1981 24-hour race results

Related

The History of Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Concerts

Submitted by animesh on
 he earliest known photograph of Sri Chinmoy in concert, playing his first harmonium — the one he bought from Sher Singh. The picture (top) was taken at Sri Chinmoy's second recital for the Asia Society, held at the Indian Cultural Centre in New York on March 20, 1966.

The genesis of Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Concerts can be traced back to one auspicious day in June 1965, when he was asked by the Indian Consulate, at the behest of the Asia Society, to set tune to three ancient Bengali poems and sing them at a recital to be held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

With barely a week’s notice, the young Chinmoy was desperate to find a harmonium. As it happened, Sher Singh, the security guard at India House, was more than happy to sell him one. In true Indian manner, Chinmoy bargained with the seller, eventually procuring it for just $6. The kind heart of Sher Singh won out. Chinmoy’s first offer of $25 was refused and when they both agreed upon $7, Mr. Singh returned $1 to Chinmoy’s hand.

“That week I practised those three songs on Sher Singh’s harmonium at least forty times. Before the actual performance, during my lunch hour, I had to go to the Asia Society and sing before the Society’s leaders. They were very satisfied.”1

His career as a concert musician had begun.

At his lectures in the late ’60s and early ’70s, Sri Chinmoy would often play the harmonium and sing a few traditional spiritual songs, as well as some of his own original compositions from an ever-increasing repertoire.

In the summer of 1975, Sri Chinmoy began practising a variety of Eastern and Western instruments, culminating in a twenty-seven instrument concert on his birthday, August 27.

Although the variety of instruments Sri Chinmoy has played since then can be numbered in the hundreds, there are two instruments that have become synonymous with Sri Chinmoy’s musical performances over the years – the Indian esraj and the Western flute.

Photo by Sarama Minoli

He first began playing the esraj in New York on February 17, 1976. And in early March that same year, during a lecture tour of Australia, Sri Chinmoy learnt to play the Western flute.

During his lifetime, Sri Chinmoy gained worldwide recognition as a prolific composer and a consummate musician. In 1984, he offered the first of what he called ‘Peace Concerts’ to an audience of 8,500 people in Cologne, Germany. For the next twenty or more years, he travelled the globe sharing the message of peace through his music. His largest concert was held in the year 2000, when 19,000 people gathered to hear him at the Molson Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Sri Chinmoy meditates on stage with 19,000 people – his largest-ever audience – before his Peace Concert (595) at the Molson Centre in Montreal, Canada. The concert is dedicated to Raisa Maximovna Gorbachev.

 

When asked how his concerts bring peace to the world, he answered with characteristic humility: “In my case, I feel that when I play soulful music and when I sing my spiritual songs, I can offer whatever peace I have to humanity. So this is my way of offering.”2

In total, Sri Chinmoy offered almost 800 Peace Concerts, performing in capacity-filled venues, sharing inspiration with audiences around the world. Speaking on the inspiration behind the concerts, Sri Chinmoy remarked

“When I offer peace concerts,” he said, “thousands of people pray with me and meditate with me. I play different musical instruments and sing for about two hours. The peace-lovers who come to listen inspire me, and I inspire them. Everything is based on inspiration.”3

– Animesh Harrington

Concert Series

Within the Peace Concert umbrella, Sri Chinmoy also did particular series of concerts, dedicated to a particular theme. Of particular note are:

  • 1984 — 'Peace: God's Beauty in His Oneness-Home'
  • 1985 — 'Peace: Humanity's Perfection-Dance in God's Heart-Garden'
  • 1986 — 'Peace: God's Dream-Reality's Oneness-Boat Fulness-Shore'
  • 1987 — 'Peace: Man's Life-Tree Progress-Crown on God's Breath-Seed Success-Throne'
  • 1989 — Silver Jubilee, Sri Chinmoy's 25 years in the West
  • 1990 — 'Oneness-Happiness-Song' (concerts outside the local New York area)
  • 1990 — 'Peace-Meditation-Blossoms' (series for New York local-area concerts)
  • 1992 — 'Peace: Divinity's Dream on Earth' (series for the east coast of America)
  • 1993 — 39 Concerts in honour of Swami Vivekananda
  • 1995 — 50 Concerts for the UN 50th Anniversary
  • 1996–97 — 50 Concerts for India's 50th Anniversary
  • 1998–2000 — New Millennium Concert Series
  • 2002–04 — Prayerful Music by Maestro Sri Chinmoy
  • 2004–2007 — Harmony Concert Series

This page is a list of Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Concerts, you can search by country and year.4 

Peace Concerts by Country

USA = 437
Germany = 43
Japan = 34
Canada = 20
France = 18
England = 16
Indonesia = 16
Australia = 11
China = 10
Switzerland = 8
Austria = 8
New Zealand = 8
Italy = 7
Norway = 7
Thailand = 7
Myanmar = 6
South Africa = 6
Malaysia = 6
Brazil = 6
Spain = 5
The Philippines = 5
Russia = 5
Sweden = 4
Hungary = 4
Slovakia = 4
Guatemala = 4
Puerto Rico = 3
Scotland = 3
Finland = 3
Chile = 3
Singapore = 3
Iceland = 3
Sri Lanka = 3
Malta = 3
Poland = 3
Viet Nam = 3
Nepal = 3
Czech Republic = 3
Mexico = 3
Turkey = 3
Greece = 2
Egypt = 2
Western Samoa = 2
Zimbabwe = 2
Bulgaria = 2
Cambodia = 2
Morocco = 1
Argentina = 1
Peru = 1
Belgium = 1
The Netherlands = 1
Denmark = 1
Czechoslovakia = 1
Fiji = 1
Rarotonga, Cook Islands = 1
Tahiti = 1
Wales = 1
Bahamas = 1
Vatican City = 1
Paraguay = 1
Romania = 1
Macedonia = 1
Timor-Leste = 1
Slovenia = 1
Mongolia = 1

Video of Peace Concerts

 
Video of Sri Chinmoy Peace Concerts. Photo by Dhanu from Montreal Concert, Canada, 1991.

 

Endnotes:

1 Sri Chinmoy, My Consulate Years, Agni Press, Jamaica, NY, 1996, p. 35.
2 Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 30, Agni Press, Jamaica, NY, 2001.
3 Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23, Agni Press, Jamaica, NY, 2000.
4 Originally published in 500 Compassion-Blessing-Blossoms with new additional information and amendments supplied by concert organisers.

– Animesh Harrington