THE OLD AGE BONDAGE LIMITATIONS, RETURN TO CHILDHOOD FREEDOM DREAM
Early in the morning on Thursday, International peace leader Sri Chinmoy brought the power of his intense determination and childlike enthusiasm to excel in a new and surprising field of endeavor — the vertical jump.
Just 53 days after starting his new venture, Sri Chinmoy’s latest jump places him beyond the realm of “world class athletes” for young American men between the ages of 20 and 25 years old. According to the recently published research in Athletic Science Bulletin, a vertical leap of 26'' is predictive of world class athletes for men 1/3 of Sri Chinmoy’s age and much taller in height. Jumps of 24'' are predictive of “excellent athletes” for American boys 1/4 of his age. The video taped jump by the 5’7'' Indian born athlete was seen by hundreds of people from many countries at a special program in New York. Why does a renowned spiritual leader such as Sri Chinmoy devote himself to such leaping pursuits?
“Age is in the mind; age is no barrier,” says Chinmoy. “When the inflexibility of the mind surrenders to the enthusiasm of the heart, then we can accomplish many, many, unimaginable things. I wish to encourage old people not to surrender to old age,” says Chinmoy, “but to grow into the heart of a 7 year old child. Then there will be no end to our progress.”
On April 13th, there will be an international celebration to honor Sri Chinmoy’s 32nd anniversary of his arrival in America from India.
Published in Asia Online, No. 118, Volume II, Apr 15 – Apr 21, 1996