March 17
Weightlifting prayer
– Sri Chinmoy |
Sri Chinmoy offers this prayer at 5:45 a.m. before lifting 160 lbs. with both arms simultaneously for the second time. (Total: 320 lbs.).
Published in My Morning Soul-Body Prayers, part 3
March 16
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL NAMED PEACE SHRINE
CANBERRA, Australia — The continent of Australia has declared its capital a Sri Chinmoy Peace Capital.
Canberra is the second national capital to be dedicated to the cause of peace in Sri Chinmoy’s name. Ottawa was named a peace capital last year.
At the Canberra dedication March 16, Ros Kelly, Federal Minister of Arts, Sport and Environment, read out the official proclamation hailing Sri Chinmoy as “an international Ambassador of Peace” ... (whose) “life and deeds have inspired millions with a commitment to inner growth as the foundation for global change.”
Canberra started as a dream of visionaries, she continued, and peace also started as a dream. “As the vision of Canberra has become reality, so too humanity’s long-cherished dream of world peace will gloriously blossom.”
The Canberra dedication coincided with the arrival in that city of runners from the 1993 Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run. The Australian portion of that relay run, covering 2,000 miles, goes from Melbourne to Brisbane.
Two other major Australian cities — Sydney and Melbourne — were also declared Sri Chinmoy peace cities on March 21. In the U.S., Philadelphia and Charlottesville, Virginia, were recently dedicated to peace in Sri Chinmoy’s name.
Published in Anahata Nada, VOLUME 22, DECEMBER 1992 – MARCH 1993
March 16
Annam Brahma
Lyrics:
Annam Brahma, Annam Brahma!
Food is God. Food is God.
Food is God’s Compassion-Height,
Food is man’s energy-flight.
Annam Brahma, Annam Brahma!
You long to please everyone;
One day your victory shall be won!
Published in Divine Enterprise Songbook, Part 1
Sri Chinmoy plays the esraj for Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the United Nations Millennium Hotel in New York.
March 16
Sri Chinmoy and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share a humorous moment after the ‘Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart’ tribute for the South African Nobel Peace Laureate, held at the United Nations Millennium Hotel in New York.
March 16
Sri Chinmoy meets with Prime Minister of Iceland Thorsteinn Pálsson at Government House in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Sri Chinmoy meets with President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir at Government House in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Meetings in Iceland
Sri Chinmoy meets with Prime Minister Thorsheim Palsson and President Vigdis Finnbogadottir of Iceland at Government House in Reykjavik, Iceland. Later in the afternoon, Sri Chinmoy meets with the Bishop of Iceland, Pétur Sigurgeirsson.
On 19 March 1988, Sri Chinmoy makes the following remarks:
Three important meetings
For the first time, I met with the President and Prime Minister of a country and the head of their spiritual community, all in a matter of two hours. This happened in Iceland.
First I met with the Prime Minister for about ten minutes or so. He had agreed to meet with me because some Members of Parliament had requested it. But he did not know anything about me. He asked so many questions!
The room where we met was simplicity incarnate. Even the mayors’ offices that I have been to are all decorated very gorgeously. But this room was simpler than the simplest.
Heart-to-heart talk
Next I met with the President of Iceland. Her office was just next to the Prime Minister’s. In the beginning she allowed the newspaper photographers and television people to take pictures, but then she asked everyone to leave. She knew all about me, and she wanted to have a very private talk, with no tape recorders or photographers. So we had a very soulful heart-to-heart talk for about half an hour.
We spoke about peace, and both of us understood one another. Towards the end she was telling me that she wants to lead a spiritual life like us, but right now it is simply impossible for her.
She is very simple, very kind-hearted, very intelligent and quite dynamic. She is also mature, tolerant and self-giving. I was extremely pleased with the interview.
Published in The World-Experience-Tree-Cimber, part 6
Tea and coffee from the Bishop
During my recent visit to Iceland, I met with the Bishop of the Lutheran Church. His name is Bishop Pétur Sigurgeirsson. This Bishop was so nice. From the beginning to the end, he showed me such affection. Our interview lasted for over an hour.
At first he said he wanted a private interview and nobody could accompany me. But then he changed his mind and invited all the disciples to come in.
He was begging everyone to drink tea or coffee and to eat the bread and cheese that he had provided. It was like a family gathering.
He could not understand why I do not drink tea or coffee, so I had to give a long explanation. Then, when he heard that I am a vegetarian, he had a volley of questions.
He knew all about prayer but he had no idea what meditation is. He could not imagine how anybody could meditate without thought. So we had a long discussion about prayer and meditation.
I told him that when I was in India, I used to meditate for six or seven hours at a time. He believed what I told him, but he said that it was impossible for him to keep his own mind quiet for more than a few minutes.
At the end, we meditated for a minute or two and prayed with our heads down. Then he stood up and said, “You know, I am eighty-six years old!” Then he placed his hands on my shoulders and pressed down on them with utmost affection. He was so sweet, so kind and so full of affection, love and wisdom.
Published in My Book of Tea and Coffee Experiences
A Letter to Pope John Paul II
by Sri Chinmoy
Your Holiness:
With such joy I am writing to offer you my heart’s boundless love and my life’s sleepless gratitude on the occasion of your upcoming Birthday.
You are the absolutely divinely chosen instrument of our all-loving Father to guide humanity in His Light. Christians and non-Christians alike love you, adore you and revere you. Your Birthday is a cause for celebration for the entire aspiring world.
Published in Pope John Paul II: God’s Heart-Prize Winner
Sri Chinmoy lifts Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the United Nations Millennium Hotel in New York.
“You are part of the spiritual force of love that emanates from God and which will transform the evil of this world into its counterpart. Thank you for persisting and going on, going on. Perhaps the world continues in existence only because of people like yourselves who help to hold it in being.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
March 16
Swedish tennis star Mats Wilander, 1988 world’s number-one player, and his wife pose with Sri Chinmoy after being lifted and playing a set of tennis with him at Aspiration-Ground in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Sri Chinmoy achieves a standing two-arm lift of 320 lbs. (160 lbs with each arm) in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Weightlifting Prayer
by Sri Chinmoy
at 6:19 a.m. before lifting 160 lbs. with both arms simultaneously, a total of 320 lbs. — a new record — at his home in New York
My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!
My Lord’s Newness-Dream
Is my life’s progress-reality.
My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!
Published in My Morning Soul-Body Prayers, part 3
A New Double-Arm Record
by Sri Chinmoy
Today I lifted 160 pounds with both arms simultaneously on my very first attempt. The very thought of 160 pounds on each arm really frightens me. For a week I shall do 160 and then I shall try 165.
It is very difficult when the hands are separate to keep the balance. If there is only one bar you get help. This way, with two separate dumbbells, it is so difficult to concentrate. Each arm demands special attention. You have to pay equal attention to both arms. Otherwise, once one arm goes up, it is very difficult to bring the other one high.
Published in A Mystic Journey in the Weightlifting World, part 2
Importance of Physical Fitness
Read out by Sri Chinmoy
several times, after reading out excerpts from his book Run and Become, Become and Run, part 21
""My request to all my spiritual children is to give importance to physical fitness. Otherwise, your body will become your worst enemy. The one that is supposed to be your best friend, your physical body, will become your worst enemy. Then you will have to live with your worst enemy.""
This should be my mantra, your mantra: "The one that is supposed to be your best friend, your physical body, will become your worst enemy. Then you will have to live with your worst enemy." Remember, you will have to live with your worst enemy. Who wants to live with your worst enemy?
Physical fitness is of paramount importance. Do whatever exercise you want to, as long as you do something. I take daily at least two hours' exercise, sometimes two and a half, sometimes three. Usually, I do it at three different times during the day. Even at night, before I go to bed, I have some special exercises that I take.
Only my two poor knees are not my friends. Otherwise, the rest of my body is my very good friend.
Published in The Inner Meaning of Sport
March 16
Flowers for Sri Chinmoy with a Soul-Bird gift card, at his home in New York.
March 16
Diary Entry
by Sri Chinmoy
while in residence at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India
16 March
Before he read out one of his articles in his room, Nolini-da said: "Bonne fête à Tapati, bonne fête à Madhuri. Today I shall read out something of mine and something of Amrita's. Mine is not serious but Amrita's is."
The audience burst into laughter because it was always just the opposite.
After reading out his article, Nolini-da said: "We love our country dearly and our country has also loved us dearly and it always will. India's independence is nothing short of our soul's triumphant smile."
After he had read out Amrita-da's writing, he said: "Like last time, this time also Amrita's ending is abrupt. Amrita's writing is excellent but his conclusions are abrupt. It seems to me that this is Amrita's special speciality."
Amrita-da said: "Who else can or will bless me with a special speciality if not you, Nolini?"
Published in A Service-Flame and a Service-Sun
Where is God?
A talk by Sri Chinmoy
in Conference Room 8, at the United Nations, New York
“Where is God?”
“There is no God.”
If one says that there is no God, that means he is asserting his conception of God in a negative way. A real seeker takes the view of an atheist as sincerely and seriously as he does his own positive conception of God. A real seeker knows and feels that an atheist’s conception of nothingness and the non-existence of God contains the seeker’s own conception of God.
“Where is God?”
“No God. Even if God exists, who needs Him? Who wants Him? One can get along without God. One can remain satisfied with what he has.”
When one is satisfied with what little he has, that means that God the Happiness in him is making him satisfied, even with his little achievement. One can never be happy if one does not consciously or unconsciously meet with God the Happiness in each thing he sees, does and grows into.
“Where is God?”
“I am not even sure that He exists.”
If one says that he is doubtful about God’s existence, that means he has at least fifty per cent faith in God’s existence. Each human being has a friend and an enemy. His enemy, doubt, negates the living inner truth in him. His friend, faith, feeds and strengthens his inner conception of truth. Finally, it immortalises the truth in his heart, mind, vital and body.
“Where is God?”
“I do not know where God is, but I would like to know.”
If someone is just curious to know about God, but has no real need for God, from the strict spiritual point of view he is not a seeker. But if one enlarges his spiritual heart, then he embraces even that curious person and includes him in his spiritual life. He feels that today’s man of curiosity can become tomorrow’s man of genuine spirituality, provided he is given sincere concern, compassion, encouragement and love.
“Where is God?”
“God is all around me. Now I must learn how to see Him.”
If the seeker has genuine aspiration and not mere curiosity, he is undoubtedly on the correct path, for this is the only way to reach God. This seeker is like a child who feels his father’s presence everywhere. As a human child feels his father’s presence when he is in the living room and his father is in some other room, so also a spiritual child feels that no matter where he is, his Father is there somewhere in the same universal house.
At the end of knowing and feeling, we come to seeing and becoming. The spiritual child knows what God is and feels what God is. Then he goes deep within and sees God face-to-face and eventually becomes God Himself. At this point he answers the question, “Where is God?” with the question, “Where is He not?” He also answers another question, “Who is God?” with the question, “Who is not God?”
Published in The Tears of Nation-Hearts
Realisation
A lecture by Sri Chinmoy
at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
My dear Canadian brothers and sisters, I am your Indian brother. I have come to Canada several times before, but this time I have come with a special task: to be of devoted service to the soul of Canada. I shall be offering about sixteen talks; that is to say, I shall share with my Canadian brothers and sisters my inner experiences. Today marks the beginning of our journey.
I see here quite a few sincere seekers. With your good wishes, your hearts' love and your souls' blessings, I launch into this divine task. But before I begin my talk, I wish to offer my blessingful gratitude to my Canadian disciples who have made this divine journey in every way divine.
Since we are all seekers here, our ultimate Goal is God-realisation. As ordinary human beings we have realised one thing: ignorance. But when we aspire, we realise that there is one person who embodies Infinity, Eternity and Immortality, and that person is God. He is at once personal and impersonal. We can see Him face to face right in front of our nose as a most illumined being, infinitely more illumined than the most beautiful child on earth. Again, we can see God as an infinite expanse of Energy, Light and Bliss. We see ourselves as ignorance-sea, but God sees us as another God. This is the difference between our realisation of our earthly existence and God's realisation of our divine potentiality.
Realisation has its stages; it is always in the process of evolution. Realisation is self-awakening, realisation is life-revelation, realisation is love-manifestation and realisation is God-becoming. Self-awakening, life-revelation, love-manifestation and God-becoming: these are four principal stages in the evolving process of eternal time.
Human realisation is the fulfilment of our teeming desires; divine realisation is our perfection, our perfection within and without. Human realisation is constant success; divine realisation is soulful progress. Success moves from a greater bondage to a lesser bondage; whereas progress moves from one peak to another — from a high peak, to a higher peak, to the highest peak. Limited fulfilment we notice in the world of desire. Once a desire is fulfilled, another desire dawns, and then we try to fulfil that particular desire. There is no end to our desires and, at the same time, there is no end to our earthbound satisfaction. When we stay in the desire-world, we come to realise that we are living in a prison-house. But when we live in the aspiration-world, we discover that we are flying in the firmament of the freedom-sky.
Realisation is the self-unfoldment of the Eternal and the Infinite within us. The Eternal beckons us to reach the highest peak of consciousness; the Infinite constantly reminds us of our Source. The Eternal is the silence of our God-Light; the Infinite is the reality of our God-sufficiency.
Infinity is our source. The Upanishadic seers have given us a most soulful and meaningful mantra. Purnam adah purnam idam. . . — "Infinity is that. Infinity is this. From Infinity, Infinity has come into existence. From Infinity, when Infinity is taken away, Infinity remains."
No human being can remain unrealised. Today we are consciously aspiring, and tomorrow others will aspire. For on the strength of His cosmic Vision, God has made it a supreme law that no human being on earth will forever remain unrealised. Divinity has descended into the heart of humanity, and it will in time regain its normal consciousness. It will reach its Transcendental Height after it has established Immortality here in the aspiring heart of Mother Earth. Realisation is the expansion of our consciousness. The individual becomes the universal. The one becomes the many, and the many become the Whole, the Absolute. The cry of the finite will grow into the smile of the Infinite. This is what realisation is. We can realise the Highest Truth in the light of the soul, in the love of the heart, in the silence of the mind, in the dynamic energy of the vital, in the dedicated service of the body.
The light of the soul whispers in the ear of the sleeping world, /Uttisthata jagrata,/ "Arise, awake, run towards the Goal. The road is arduous and as sharp as the edge of a razor, but you have to travel it. Stop not until you have attained your highest Goal."
The love of the heart tells the binding world, "If you want to bind, you will be bound. To your wide surprise, the world will bind you long before you have bound the world. So do not bind."
The silence of the mind tells the doubting world, "Do not doubt. Doubt is detrimental to your inner health, your inner life. Doubt is poison. If you want to run fast, faster, fastest toward your Goal, then do not doubt."
The dynamic energy of the vital tells the weak, impotent world, "Dive deep within. Your inner being is surcharged with an indomitable will. Bring to the fore your adamantine will!"
The dedicated service of the body tells the idle, lethargic world, Charai veti — "Move on!"
Here we are all seekers, we are all students of the inner life. We study the inner books of faith, love, devotion and surrender. When we are assiduous in our outer studies, we acquire world-knowledge and world-wisdom. Similarly, when we soulfully and devotedly study our inner lessons, we get abundant Peace, Light and Bliss. It we are sincere, nothing can deter us from diving deep within and discovering our inner wealth.
Realisation is self-discovery, and self-discovery and God-discovery are one and the same. Realisation is self-mastery and self-transcendence: our mastery over the lower nature of the lower world, and our transcendence to the higher nature of the higher world. The lower world embodies two bosom friends: darkness and ignorance. The higher world embodies two intimate friends: Light and Delight. Ignorance devours our outer existence, and darkness envelops our outer existence. Light illumines our existence here on earth, and Delight immortalises our existence within and without. Delight is our permanent Source.
Anandadd hy eva khalv imani bhutani jayante...
"From Delight we came into existence.
In Delight we grow.
At the end of our journey's close, into
Delight we retire."
Published in My Maple Tree
Peace Concert Poems
Recited by Sri Chinmoy
during the Peace Concert at Cornell University Ithaca, New York
Only a heart of gratitude
And
A life of surrender
Can offer the seeker
Peace, abundant peace.
Peace I feel
In the depths of my heart
The moment my dedication-life
Rings the oneness-bell.
No resentment within,
No resentment without
If I want peace.
Enlightenment
In my heart of aspiration
And
In my life of dedication
Is what I eternally need.
I can have abundant peace
Only when my heart,
My mind, my vital
And my body
Are loving, faithful
And self-giving
To one another.
Published in A Heart of Oneness-Peace
March 15
A MEAL THAT TRAVELLED ROUND THE WORLD
JAMAICA, N.Y. — Sri Chinmoy cooked a 22-course meal March 15 to honour the third anniversary of Annam Brahma restaurant.He began cooking at one o'clock in the morning and finished nearly 14 hours later.
Dinners were sent air express to disciples around the world, who ordered them from as far away as Europe and Australia. Some 265 meals were sent to distant Centres, and about 200 were consumed that day in the restaurant.
Sri Chinmoy embarked on the project as a fund-raising effort for the restaurant, which Nishtha took over three years ago.
Caption:
Cooking a 22-course meal.
Published in Anahata Nada, April 1, 1977 Vol. 4, No. 3