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On 10 August 1977 Sri Chinmoy was invited to an informal gathering at the Wainwright House in Rye, New York, to honour Weyman C. Huckabee, the Laymen's Movement's former Executive Director, for his work in helping to create the UN Meditation Room.

The informal function began with a silent meditation led by Sri Chinmoy, followed by him playing the esraj.

Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld was enthusiastic about the creation of a meditation room at the United Nations. When it opened in 1957, he wrote:

We all have within us a center of stillness surrounded by silence.
This house, dedicated to work and debate in the service of peace, should have one room dedicated to silence in the outward sense and stillness in the inner sense...
Dag Hammarskjöld   UN.org

On 17 September 1976, [see note below] the members of "Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations" gathered for a few minutes of silence in the Meditation Room of the United Nations. Afterwards Sri Chinmoy spoke about the experience.

This is the first time that all the members of the Meditation Group have gone to the Meditation Room and meditated together. This is a significant occasion for us. But something infinitely more important, this is our soulful tribute to the immortal memory of the UN Pilot, Dag Hammarskjöld. We went to the Meditation Room to observe the anniversary of his death. According to human wisdom, death is a halt, where all movements cease for good. But according to divine wisdom, death is a step we take while walking along Eternity's road.

Continue reading: Sri Chinmoy, The Seeker's Mind, Agni Press, New York, 1978

At midnight on August 27th, 1978, the first Sri Chinmoy 47 mile race was held to honour Sri Chinmoy's 47th birthday. 

Sri Chinmoy made the announcement for the race with little forewarning, which was characteristic of his spontaneous approach to new races and new challenges. The late 1970s was still very much pioneering days for the notion of running ultramarathons. As reported in the running press:

He (ed. Sri Chinmoy) had just presided over eight hours of qualifying trials for his meditation community's upcoming annual international sports day in New York City. As the tired meditators were finishing a well-deserved picnic lunch, the muscular Guru wondered aloud, 'So, who is going to run 47 miles for my birthday?...'

 Kamen, Jeff. "The Guru's Ultra." Marathoner/Winter 1979. (47 Mile Race at Sri Chinmoy Races)

Despite the late notice, many students of Sri Chinmoy put their names forward. Only a handful of the participants had run even 26 mile marathons before. As a result, Sri Chinmoy asked his good friend and ultra pioneer, Ted Corbitt to give advice to those taking a step into the unknown. Ted Corbitt's advice and the spiritual atmosphere of the race, helped 57 out of the 58 starters to finish the distance, a remarkable completion rate. The Runner's Gazette also commented on the international flavour of the event.

Oddly enough, the 58 devotees in the run represented nine different countries, so the field in this otherwise obscure event was actually the most international in scope of any U.S. ultramarathon...Garima Hoffman (led) the women in 8:00:44.

Anahata Nada reported 47 men and 11 women raced around a 1 1/4 mile loop circling Jamaica High School in Queens.  

On the morning of August 27th, as several runners were still completing the distance, local Queens Councilman Morton Povman came to the track at Jamaica High School to read the proclamation of Sri Chinmoy Day in Queens. 

To encourage the runners, Sri Chinmoy himself ran most of the night until an injury disabled him.

1979 - 47 Mile Race

By the 1979 edition, the numbers participating had risen to 85 men and 37 women.

 In 1979 Sri Chinmoy himself completed the 47 mile race in a time of 12:41:48. 

1980 - 47 Mile Race

This was the second time Sri Chinmoy completed the 47 mile race, improving on his previous time by over an hour. He finished in a time of 11:27:24. 

It would be Sri Chinmoy's final race at the distance.

The Race continues

In 1981, the race was temporarily increased to 50 miles, in honour of Sri Chinmoy's 50th birthday. But apart from that year, the race has been held at 47 miles annually ever since and is an important aspect of Sri Chinmoy's Birthday Celebrations.

Although Sri Chinmoy no longer ran, he would always visit the race and often walk meditatively around the course. Sri Chinmoy really valued the benefits of running, especially when combined with a spiritual attitude of self-transcending - competing with ourselves.

He once said that the best birthday present his disciples could give him was to run the 47 mile race.

Sri Chinmoy encouraged the organisers to decorate the race with inspiring aphorisms and photos to help create a spiritual vibration. Many who run or help with the race comment on the spiritual atmosphere which is created by the overnight race.

The race continues

Further reading

• Sri Chinmoy - ultradistance running at Sri Chinmoy Reflections
• The 2025 Sri Chinmoy 47 Mile Race - reported by Utpal (Perfection Journey)
• 47 Mile Race - Karteek Clarke

On August 9th 1984, Sri Chinmoy offered a Peace Concert at Santa Ana Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, USA. 

The concert was part of the series "Peace: God's Beauty in his Oneness-Home"

Video of Concert

Footage filmed by Niriha Data

It was the 11th Peace Concert in a series which began in Cologne, earlier in the year. 

There were 4,000 people in attendance.

Carl Lewis Special Guest

Olympic gold medallist Sudhahota Carl Lewis was invited to the concert as a special guest. When Carl Lewis attended the concert, on August 9th, he had already won 3 Olympic gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics, having won gold in the 100m, 200m and Long jump. But the Olympics was not over, and two days after the concert on August 11th, Carl Lewis went on to win a 4th Gold Medal in the 4x100m relay.

On the 9th August 1984, on the day of the concert, Sri Chinmoy was interviewed on cable television where he was asked about Carl Lewis

Interviewer: So you are a friend of Carl Lewis and admire his quest?

Sri Chinmoy: We are very, very good friends. He is not only super-excellent in his outer speed but also in his inner speed, which is inspiration and aspiration. His inner speed and his outer speed are both most extraordinary. Inner speed is inner hunger for God's Love and God's Compassion. Some people have outer speed and are wanting in inner speed. In his case, he has both outer speed and inner speed in unprecedented measure.

Sri Chinmoy, The Inner Meaning of Sport, Agni Press, New York, 2007. 

Sri Chinmoy carries the Peace Torch on the final leg of its global odyssey. 

(Also pictured are Mokshagun Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band (left, clapping), Executive Director of the Peace Run Shambhu Neil Vineberg, (left, behind Sri Chinmoy) and Grammy-award-winning music producer Narada Michael Walden (right).

TV Clip from 1987

 "Peace in the world-oneness-home is the supreme fulfilment of humanity's birthless and deathless promise to God." - Sri Chinmoy

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run was founded by Sri Chinmoy early in 1987 to foster peace between people of all nations. Sri Chinmoy would later comment, the Peace Run was an unprecedented achievement and manifestation.

 A prayerful moment.

Sri Chinmoy: This Peace Run is something that I shall cherish until I breathe my last, and my Beloved Supreme within me will forever, forever and forever cherish this Peace Run. Individually and collectively, I am telling you, you deserve at every moment my very, very special gratitude.

Audio Message - 8th August 1987

Later that day, Sri Chinmoy repeated his message on peace, during a telephone call to his Australian disciples

From time immemorial, humanity's crying heart has been dreaming of peace. And now that peace is blossoming into reality. A new creation begins in the oneness-heart-home of man's ancient promise to God. 

AUM magazine was first published August 27th, 1965 in Brooklyn, NY. Sub-titled "A monthly journal of spiritual philosophy and Yoga" The editor's preface mentioned:

"AUM is a monthly journal devoted exclusively to the spiritual writings of Chinmoy Kumar Ghose. It will deal with the spiritual life and its problems from the point of view of Indian philosophy and yoga.

AUM is intended to help aspirants of the West in their search for a true inner life by acquainting them with the realisations of a seeker of the Supreme." (AUM Dec 1965)

AUM magazine was published, just 16 months after Sri Chinmoy arrived in the West (April 13th 1964), whilst Sri Chinmoy still worked at the Indian Consulate. The publication of AUM magazine was a significant moment in Sri Chinmoy's manifestation in the West. 

Over the next 16 years, there would be 149 editions of the magazine, finishing in February 1981. AUM magazine would often be the first place Sri Chinmoy's talks, question and answers, stories and poems were published. Later books often used AUM magazines as a source of material.

On November 10th 1965, the President of India, Dr. Radhakrishnan, sent a letter praising the first issue of AUM Magazine. Sri Chinmoy remembers this as a very significant moment, writing many years later in "My Consulate Years" he wrote

"Nowadays we talk about manifestation at every second, but my dearest friend Mr. Ramamoorthy started it in September 1965. He sent a copy of the first AUM Magazine to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the President of India, and he received a very nice reply from Dr. Radhakrishnan praising the magazine." (My Consulate Years)

The first article, in the first edition was entitled "AUM"

AUM is the soundless sound. It is the vibration of the Supreme. When one hears the soundless sound within, when one identifies oneself with it, when one lives within it, one can be freed from the fetters of ignorance and realise the Supreme within and without. (continue reading)

During interview in Puerto Rico

[On that table is a display of the magazine that Sri Chinmoy is publishing. It is his way of spreading the Truth. When we finish here, you have the opportunity of looking at it and deciding if you are interested.]

What is the name of your magazine?

Sri Chinmoy: The name is AUM. You know A represents Brahma, the Creator, U represents Vishnu, the Preserver, M represent Lord Siva, the Destroyer. So what happens is that when we say AUM, we are invoking the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. I beg to be excused, but in my philosophy, I feel that there is no destruction. It is all transformation. As a matter of fact, we can’t destroy anything. First we create something, then we preserve it. Then what do we do? Transform the thing. So: Creation, Preservation and Transformation. Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver and Shiva is the Transformer. If it is destruction, who is destroying whom? God only transforms us. In our creation, we enter into ignorance and we do many things wrong. For that He has to transform us and again take us back into His bosom of infinite Light.

Sri Chinmoy, Earth’s Cry Meets Heaven’s Smile, part 3, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1978

In August 1979, students of Sri Chinmoy participated in a 700-mile non-stop relay walk through New York State entitled Aspiration-Plants and Gratitude-Leaves of New York. 

The inspiration for the idea was for those participating to offer their gratitude to New York State, where Sri Chinmoy, a prolific author, composer and artist and internationally recognised spiritual leader, made his home since 1964.

The 700-mile walk included many people who took it in turns to walk across the state. At various points, the participants met local dignitaries and mayors.

Anahata Nada gives this account

Students of Sri Chinmoy embarked Aug. 3 on a 700-mile nonstop relay walk through scenic and historic sites in New York as an expression of gratitude to the state which has been their spiritual teacher's home since 1964.

A series of three-member teams walked day and night along a course that meandered through the Hudson Valley up to Lake George and Ticonderoga, and then back down through the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. The route began and ended at the Sri Chinmoy Church in Bayside, Queens.

Local officials came out to greet walkers at more than 40 towns and historic sites, and several offered official letters of appreciation.

In connection with the walk, Sri Chinmoy wrote eight spiritual walking songs, which were sung at various locations, and gave a concert Aug. 5 in Albany.

Throughout the walk, which Sri Chinmoy named "Aspiration-Plants and Gratitude-Leaves of New York," the participants attempted to maintain a meditative consciousness, and at each mile marker they paused to meditate and leave a flower of gratitude. By the time the walkers returned home 10 days later, a "necklace" of gratitude-light had been traced around the Empire State.

Sri Chinmoy also offered a concert of music for meditation in Palace Theater in Albany, NY, USA.

Song - I Am Walking

I am walking, I am walking, I am walking
Seven hundred miles,
Loving, serving.
Sri Chinmoy, I love your
Silence-blossoming soul.
New York, I love your
Sound-offering goal.

- Sri Chinmoy Songs

(more information to come)

August 10th 1975, Sri Chinmoy gives his first public violin recital, during which he plays his most sacred song, ‘The Invocation to the Supreme’, in Jamaica, NY, USA.

Recordings of Sri Chinmoy playing the violin are fairly limited. He also rarely played the violin during peace concerts. However, Sri Chinmoy often played the violin when practising songs are part of his daily routines. 

For example, in My Soul-Morning Body-Prayers there are many notes such as:

5 February 2006 - 3:43 a.m. - Penang, Malaysia

• Non-lifting day
• Sri Chinmoy the Eternal Beginner (Blue violin):
• Songs 1. Proem 2. Hasite hasite duhate amare
• (Sri Chinmoy played and then sang this song.)  

 Recordings of Sri Chinmoy playing the viola 

Double Trouble - Sri Chinmoy plays the viola at Radio Sri Chinmoy

Violin in Sri Chinmoy's Poetry

A phrase that often appears in Sri Chinmoy's writings is the concept of the heart-violin.

Finally I have silenced
My mind-drums,
And I have started playing
My heart-violin.

Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 46, Agni Press, New York, 2006

Sri Chinmoy, Two God-Amusement-Rivals: My Heart-Song-Beauty and My Life-Dance-Fragrance, Part 10, Agni Press, New York, 1996

Sri Chinmoy, My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, part 54, Agni Press, New York, 2007

At 8.30 a.m., on August 4th 1988, Sri Chinmoy lifted a 7,040¼ lb dumbbell using only his left arm, in Jamaica, New York. He attempted the lift four times, of which three were successful.

On August 3rd, the day prior to his momentous lift, Sri Chinmoy had said:

Whatever I have done in this lifetime, whatever I am doing, whatever I shall be doing in the near or distant future, as long as I am on earth, I am only an act, an expression, of my Lord Supreme’s unconditional Compassion.

After the lift, Sri Chinmoy allowed disciples to prayerfully walk through the room where the dumbbells were kept to see the immensity of the achievement.

Celebration of the Lift

In the evening of August 4th, a celebration was held at Aspiration Ground. Unmilan and his helpers had carried the 100 lb metal plates over so people could again see the dumbbell. Not only was the 7,040¼ lb left arm dumbbell at the court, but the 7,063¾ lb dumbbell which Sri Chinmoy had lifted in January 1987 was also taken over. Unmilan Howard who was instrumental in helping to build the lifting rack and move the weights with Bipin, Rupantar and others, remarked in his diary that many were surprised to see two 7,000 lb dumbbells. But, Sri Chinmoy said they were sacred which is why there were two.

The two sets of dumbbells were placed within a sea of 7,000 candles, creating a magical setting. Sri Chinmoy said of the scene:

"These are our aspiration-flames. If you can feel 7,000 aspiration flames in the twinkling of an eye, then is there anything on earth or in Heaven that we cannot accomplish for our dear, sweet Lord Beloved Supreme? If our aspiration-flames are countless, birthless and deathless, then we shall try to please our Lord Supreme at every moment. Let us all try and we are bound to succeed. Nothing can be more valuable than our aspiration-flames. Each mounting aspiration-flame makes us feel and realise how close, how intimate we are to our Lord Supreme. We call it aspiration-flame and God calls it His complete Satisfaction on earth."

Related

• Sri Chinmoy's Miracle Lift - On January 30, 1987, Sri Chinmoy lifted a weight of 7,063¾ pounds using only his right arm.

• Unmilan Howard's account of building the 7,063¾ lb dumbbell lifted on January 30, 1987

• Article on 7,040¼ Left-Arm Lift by Dr. Vidagdha Bennett.

Photo Credit

The photos of the 7,040¼ lb dumbbell lift were captured by Ranjana Ghose.