January 1

The Largest Dumbbell on Earth

by Sri Chinmoy
in  Chile

 

When I was talking on the phone with Mahasamrat, he said one very important thing. He said that it is not just that I have lifted 2,000 pounds with one arm, but I have lifted the largest and heaviest dumbbell that has ever been made on earth.

Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 3

 

Weightlifting Prayer

 

My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!
My cheerful surrender-life
Has a free access
To God’s Heart-Kingdom.
My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!

 

Sri Chinmoy offers this prayer at 8:45 a.m. in Curitiba, Brazil. before using bench press machine up to 100 lbs. with each arm simultaneously. The prayer was later published in My Morning Soul-Body Prayers, part 12.

 

January 1

 

Sri Chinmoy meets with Cardinal Jaime L. Sin at Manila’s EDSA Shrine in the Philippines.

January 1

Photo by Pulak Viscardi

 

Sri Chinmoy in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

January 1

Ashram Diary Entry

from Sri Chinmoy’s notes
at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherery, India
New Year’s Day

 

Sumantra's mother came with Munnu's little sister and said: " Bonne année" to Nolini-da. Nolini-da was extremely pleased with the child's French pronunciation. Himangshu Niyogi touched Nolini-da's feet and made his most respectful pranam. The poet Sundaram came with a Gujarati lady and offered something to Nolini-da. Dinesh came and made his pranam to Nolini-da. Rajen-da came with some beautiful flowers, which Nolini-da asked me to take upstairs.

Udar came with Lilu and gave twenty-five copies of the new diary to Amrita-da. Amrita-da said: "Udar, please don't cover Lilu. I want to appreciate her sari. She looks so beautiful today."

Udar moved aside saying: "Look, Amrita-da, look and appreciate Lilu's beauty."

In the afternoon Sisir-da came and said: "Nolini-da, please give me ten New Year's calendars."

Nolini-da said: "Ten! Sisir, I can't give you ten."

"But I need them."

"Then tell me the names of the people you need them for."

Sisir-da started giving the names. When he mentioned Sisir Ghose of Shantiniketan I said: "He is in Missouri in America."

Sisir-da said: "That I know. He will be back in March. On his return he will definitely expect one from me." He then mentioned a few more names.

Nolini-da said: "Enough enough, and handed ten calendars to Sisir-da with a smile.

Then Sisir-da said: "Please give me ten copies of the New Year's message which you have translated into Bengali. I wish to send them to some of my acquaintances in Calcutta."

"What will they do with that?"

"Why? I am sure they will appreciate God's Hour."

Nolini-da said: "Do you think that outsiders believe in what we say and do here? Sometimes it seems to me they don't believe in our spiritual activities at all."

Published in A Service-Flame and a Service-Sun

 

Ten Prayer-Poems

by Sri Chinmoy
in Curitiba, Brazil

71.

My Lord Supreme,
Here and now
Do give me the capacity
To love You and need You only.

72.

I am so ashamed of my mind.
It specialises in doubting
My Lord Beloved Supreme.

73.

My Lord Beloved Supreme,
Long before I prayerfully
And soulfully
Touched the dust of Your Feet,
You had firmly caught my heart.

74.

My Lord,
With Your Love
I become a fulness-heart.
Without Your Love
I become Eternity's nothingness itself.

75.

My aspiring heart
Accepts everything divine
Infinitely faster than
My unaspiring mind can reject.

76.

At long last
I have come to learn
That my loneliness-life
Is, indeed,
My heart-destruction-blow.

77.

My Lord tells me that
My heart's soulful smile
Is my love divine in action.

78.

We must never allow
Our God-manifestation-dreams
To gather dust.

79.

Every day God wants
My God-searching mind
And my God-crying heart
To communicate.

80.

My happiness-heart paves
The clearest and brightest road
To my God-Destination.

Published in My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, part 2

 

New Year’s Day Meditation

with Sri Chinmoy
in Christchurch, New Zealand

 

Video by kedarvideo

 

Sri Chinmoy meditates on New Year’s Day in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

Thrteen Prayer-Poems

by Sri Chinmoy
in Christchurch, New Zealand

48

I must admit,
In all sincerity,
That God has smiled at me
Infinitely more times
Than I have cried for Him.

49

Every day
My soul’s fragrance-delight
Is intensifying
My heart’s aspiration-cry.

50

My desire-life,
It is getting late!
Go to sleep, go to sleep!

51

My aspiration-heart,
It is getting late!
Wake up, wake up!

52

The hesitation-mind
And the insecurity-life
Love to live together.

53

I must shun two things —
Self-doubt and world-indifference —
To make the fastest progress
In my spiritual life.

54

Since we human beings have created
The darkest night of the world,
It is our bounden duty to illumine
The darkest night of the world.

55

God’s Mind-Philosophy
Is Forgiveness.
God’s Heart-Song
Is Forgiveness.
God’s Life-Story
Is Forgiveness.

56

Only my heart-microscope
Can measure the distance
Between my life-tears
And my death-smiles.

57

Each day
Is a Power-Sun-
Revelation-Manifestation
Of God.
Each night
Is a Compassion-Moon-
Revelation-Manifestation
Of God.

58

Compassion
Is the success-secret
Of the higher world.

59

Love
Is the success-secret
Of the inner world.

60

Smile
Is the success-secret
Of the outer world.

Published in My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, part 18

 

The Door Between the Two Worlds

by Sri Chinmoy
in Kuantan, Malaysia

 

The other day, so many times one of the disciples came to visit from the other world. She asked for a boon, and I sanctioned the boon.

The door between the two worlds is closed. We do not know what is going on that side, and they do not know what is happening here. Once we open the door, we can see those souls and they can see us.

These are two worlds. There is just a door or a curtain between them. We find it difficult to see the other world because our mind is roaming here. Our heart is identifying with the other world, but identification is not enough. We have to go there and see what those souls are doing.

Published in Not Every Day, But Every Moment

 

As Soon as You Give Up This Body

by Sri Chinmoy
in Kuantan, Malaysia

At the end of your life’s journey, as soon as you give up this body, then you will know who I am.

Published in Not Every Day, But Every Moment

 

January 1

 

An article about Sri Chinmoy appears in Akhbar Harian Tamil Nesan newspaper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Puerto Rico Honours Sri Chinmoy

Anahata Nada, Vol. 1, No. 2 – January 27, 1974

 

Puerto Rican politics opened its heart to Indian spirituality a few weeks ago when the island’s two largest cities honoured Sri Chinmoy in special mayoral ceremonies.

San Juan Mayor Carlos Romero presented Sri Chinmoy with the key to the city on Dec. 28, and five days later Ponce Mayor Luis Antonio Morales read out a resolution making Sri Chinmoy an official guest of honour.
 

Key to the City of San Juan

“Each time you come here, please inspire us as you have been inspiring all of humanity,” Mayor Romero said, as he handed Sri Chinmoy the brass key to the city. With these words, the city of San Juan – home of the first Sri Chinmoy Centre – officially acknowledged the Indian Master whose spiritual presence over the course of the years has spread around the world.

“Seven years ago,” Sri Chinmoy said, “I started sailing my dream-boat across the Caribbean. Today, my dream-boat touches the Reality-shore in you, the beloved pilot of San Juan.”

 

Salute from Ponce

In Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second-largest city, Mayor Morales told Sri Chinmoy, “I would like to present you with this resolution with all my hope that we Ponceons will receive your message; not only receive it and hear it, but practise it.”

The Master replied, “I shall most soulfully love the heart of Ponce and most devotedly serve the soul of Ponce until I breathe my last. I shall become inseparably one with the aspiration-hunger of Ponce and her realisation-feast.”

After thanking the mayor, Sri Chinmoy held a short silent meditation, which left the Ponce leader deeply moved.

“I felt. That is the only thing that I can say,” the mayor said. “It is not too often that we can get some peace like this. What I have to do is hold it in my heart.”

In both San Juan and Ponce, several of Sri Chinmoy’s disciples accompanied their Master to the mayor’s chambers. The women, dressed in brightly coloured saris, and the men, wearing white shirts and trousers, sang spiritual songs before and after the ceremony.

All in all, it was the kind of official event not often seen in the San Juan and Ponce city halls.

Note: Anahata Nada was the longest-running newsletter of the Sri Chinmoy Centre. It was first published on January 1, 1974, and chronicled Sri Chinmoy’s life and activities for over three decades until 2007.

January 4

Sri Chinmoy gives an early interview to Mrs. Barbara Callen of New York City, NY, USA, answering questions about ‘the soul’. Mrs. Callen records his exact words, taking everything down in shorthand.

Sri Chinmoy delivers a talk, entitled ‘The Court of Divine Justice’, in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium at the United Nations in New York.

Sri Chinmoy delivers a talk, entitled ‘The Inner Message of the United Nations’, at the United Nations in New York.

Sri Chinmoy offers a concert in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy meets with Ahmed Motii, Governor of Agadir, Morocco.

Sri Chinmoy is interviewed by Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK-TV), the Japanese National Broadcasting Association in Fukuyama, near Hiroshima, Japan. The interview is later aired on national television.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Message of Peace, in Hiroshima, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy receives a letter from President Premadasa welcoming him to Sri Lanka.

sri-chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy is received by President Premadasa and tours the Museum at Sucharita Hall, the President’s residence, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Chinmoy then offers a Peace Concert for the President and numerous ministers and invited guests; moving outdoors, Sri Chinmoy lifts the President overhead with one arm using before national media, and offers the President the Lifting up the World With a Oneness-Heart medallion; then, finally, Sri Chinmoy and the President meet privately.

Sri Chinmoy meets with President Fidel Valdez Ramos of the Philippines at Malacañang Palace in San Miguel, Manila, the Philippines.

Sri Chinmoy and his students travel from Manila to Cebu City, Cebu, in the Philippines, staying at the Midtown Hotel until 11 January.

The Fiji Times reports on the arrival of Sri Chinmoy and about 210 students in Fiji.

Sri Chinmoy draws 15,691 Soul-Birds, bringing his grand total to 894,007. His goal of 1,000,000 is just days away.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert in Takamatsu, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy offers the U Thant Peace Award to Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, in the Prime Minister’s office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the ceremony, the Prime Minister and Sri Chinmoy hold the Peace Torch together.

 

January 3

Sri Chinmoy meets with Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Inter-Agency Affairs and Co-ordination, at a meeting of the Meditation Group at the United Nations, in New York.

Sri Chinmoy offers a concert at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert in Miroku no Sato, Fukuyama, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy lifts 27 orphaned child performers and their manager from the Oriental Circus, at the Bali Garden Beach Resort in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia.

Leonardo da Vinci Institute is inaugurated as the world’s first Sri Chinmoy Peace Institute, in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

The Ferrovia Cicumetnea, the train that circles Mt. Etna, is inaugurated as a Sri Chinmoy Peace Train (Treno Della Pace Sri Chinmoy) in Sicily, Italy. At the ceremony, Sri Chinmoy meets with the Archbishop of Catania Luigi Bommarito.

Sri Chinmoy offers the U Thant Peace Award to Dr. Ananda Guruge, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, USA and UNESCO, at the Okura Hotel in Takamatsu, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the Canal de Musica in Curitiba, Brazil. After the concert he is interviewed about his reasons for visiting Brazil and the importance of peace in the New Millennium.

Sri Chinmoy composes his 17,000th song in Christchurch, New Zealand, just before departing for Australia.

 

January 2

Sri Chinmoy is presented with the Key to the City of Ponce, Puerto Rico, by Mayor Luis Antonio Morales.

Sri Chinmoy meets with Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, Premier of Antigua, in St. John’s, Antigua.

Sri Chinmoy offers a concert in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Scarborough, Tobago. There, he also gives a short talk entitled, ‘A Higher and Better Life’.

Sri Chinmoy meets with Jaime Lusinchi, President-elect of Venezuela, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Sri Chinmoy is invited by the President of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa, to share the podium with him and to offer a prayer during his nationally televised speech at the Festival of Lights in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Sri Chinmoy dedicates theParco Zoo di Sicilia as the World’s first Sri Chinmoy Peace Zoo, in Sicily, Italy.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the Sheraton Hotel in Catania, Sicily, dedicated to Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, attended by 600 people.

The Philippine Star daily newspaper hails Sri Chinmoy as a “peace crusader”, in its Saturday edition, published in Manila, the Philippines.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert and organ recital in Manila Cathedral in the Philippines. The same day, he composes a song, entitled, ‘I Am a True Filipino’.

Sri Chinmoy sketches Soul-Bird drawings, with a total for the day of 5,592, bringing his all-tine total to 861,906.

Sri Chinmoy takes a boat ride with his students on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls is dedicated as a Sri Chinmoy Peace Falls in Zimbabwe. Later the same day, Harare International Airport is proclaimed a Sri Chinmoy Peace Airport.

An exhibition of Sri Chinmoy’s Soul-Bird drawings opens at the Okura Hotel in Takamatsu, Japan.

Sri Chinmoy offers the first of 48 Peace Concerts dedicated to the New Millennium, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church — Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Sri Chinmoy composes 9 prayer-poems in Curitiba, Brazil; later published in My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, Part 2.

Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at Canal de Musica in Curitiba, Brazil.

Sri Chinmoy is invited by Myanmar’s Secretary-1 to pray and meditate at the 37-foot-high Buddha statue on Min Dhamma Hill in Yangon, Myanmar.