Sri Chinmoy's Tennis

Sri Chinmoy began playing tennis on 13 June 1977, at the age of 45. Despite a late start, he displayed a great eagerness to develop and improve, often playing a variety of opponents for many hours. 

The spiritual message of tennis

The spiritual message of tennis: 
Love, serve 
And finally surrender 
To the Supreme in the winner. 
The loser who cheerfully surrenders 
To the Supreme in the winner 
Becomes himself a real winner 
In the inner world.

- Sri Chinmoy, (FF-8902)

Tennis Stars

Over the years Sri Chinmoy invited many top tennis players, such as Billie Jean King, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Mats Wilander, Ilie Năstase, Martina Navratilova and Ramesh Krishnan to his own tennis court at Aspiration-Ground, New York. 

As well as playing the top stars, Sri Chinmoy would often lift them as part of Lifting Up the World with a Oneness Heart.

Sri Chinmoy Tennis Classics

Sri Chinmoy and his students also organised tennis competitions, known as Sri Chinmoy Tennis Classics. This included a tennis competition for the UN, and in the above example, interfaith tennis classic.

Question: Guru, when we put on Sri Chinmoy Tennis Classics in our cities, how can we make it an experience that will be beneficial to the inner life and not just another tennis tournament?

Sri Chinmoy: First of all, we should not give the players prize money. Then, whoever is the organiser could give a five-minute talk. He could say that in order to do anything successfully in life, you always need friends. It is like a tug-of-war: if you have more people on your side, then you are bound to win. It is the same in tennis. You already have talent as a friend. You also have parents, dear ones and so on. One more friend that you can have is a good thought. A good thought can be your best friend. If you have good thoughts and good will towards your opponent, then these realities will enter into him and you will also receive good thoughts and good will from him. (Continue reading at Sri Chinmoy Library)

Watching Sri Chinmoy play tennis

From 1978 to the early 2000s, Sri Chinmoy spent many hours playing tennis at Aspiration-Ground. Sri Chinmoy said, it could be an excellent opportunity for his students to be in a meditative consciousness whilst playing

You can learn so much from tennis. Whenever I play, please watch very soulfully.

When I strike the ball, see how the ball surrenders and goes wherever I want it to. Each time I strike the ball, please identify yourself with the ball, and feel that you are surrendering to the will of the Supreme in me. Inwardly you can say the word “surrender”. And no matter in which direction I hit the ball, unconditionally it goes there. So feel that you are making your surrender unconditional.

Then when I am serving, please feel that you are serving the Supreme in your Guru. Whenever I serve, please feel that you are serving the Supreme in me with utmost love and devotion.

If you can do these two things, you will get tremendous joy and make tremendous progress when you are watching me play tennis. (I Play Tennis Every Day, Sri Chinmoy Library)

Databir, Bipin and Rupantar talk about playing tennis with Guru.

I Play Tennis Everyday

I Play Tennis Every Day - Sri Chinmoy Library

Articles on Sri Chinmoy's tennis by Vidagdha Bennett

Sri Chinmoy’s Peerless Tennis Achievement

by Vidagdha Bennett

Watching Sri Chinmoy play tennis on a summer’s morning in New York, it is hard to believe that a little over four years ago the game was unfamiliar to him. Today, approaching fifty years of age, he moves about the court with the natural ease of one who has attained a sure and certain mastery of what must be one of the most demanding and skilled of sports. Sri Chinmoy’s strokes are smooth, even and powerful; his timing excellent; his rhythm relaxed. It is at once clear that a lifetime of dedication to sport lies behind the beauty and grace of his style. Read more...