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Masters Games on today

by Henry Dyer

THE National Stadium tracks will come alive when the Sri Chinmoy Games — a track meet for men and women over 50 years will be held for the first time.

And the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run — the world’s longest running relay will be going through the country after 80 countries.

It will be the last leg of the relay which has involved over 500,000 people from around the world.

The Peace Run was devised by Sri Chinmoy, 62, who is here in the country on a Peace Tour in the South Pacific.

The current Peace Run began in Australia in March last year with Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne being dedicated to world peace.

Runners from the tour group will start off at Sukuna Park carrying a flaming torch of Peace to Ratu Nausori Park where the National Sevens will be held before returning to the National Stadium for the beginning of the Sri Chinmoy Master’s Games.

The “Ambassador of Peace” as he is renowned for is 62 years old and he was a [running] student of former world sprint champion Carl Lewis, who was also a student of the Peace man in meditation classes.

The group was in Apia, Western Samoa, where the Samoan Sports Minister won the celebrity 100m race-walk.

Sri Chinmoy considers sports at any age an important factor for the development of inner peace, for spiritual growth and a positive balanced lifestyle.

The winner of any athletic event to him is not the only one who stands first, but also the person who goes beyond his or her previous achievement or just gives his best.

Two of his students Carl Lewis and Muhammad Ali are just examples of his teaching and many others.

Interested athletes are to be at the Stadium before the Masters Games begin at 5 pm.

Published in THE FIJI TIMES — SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1994

An article about Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Concert appears in the Guang Ming Daily newspaper, a Chinese-language newspaper published in Malaysia.

Translation:

Guang Ming Daily
January 8, 1999 (Friday) 

November 21st, Wuyin Year of the Lunar Calendar

Penang/D11 (Penang 7th) 

SRI CHINMOY, who is known as the messenger of peace, will hold a peace music concert at the Penang Chinese Assembly Hall at 8:00 pm on the 9th of this month (Saturday).

The music concert is free and open to people from all walks of life to listen to this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Dr. Nayak Polissar, the head of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, said so at a press conference held in Huatang today.

Those present also included Huatang Acting Chairman Wang Jilong, General Affairs Deng Guobin, Chen Sencai, Ke Jinshu and Zhang Jinxiang, etc.

He said that the music concert will be hosted by the Penang Chinese Assembly Hall and presented by the Sri Chinmoy Centre.

The multi-talented Messenger of Peace Sri Chinmoy will be presenting music at the aforementioned concert to celebrate the spirit of goodwill in Malaysia.

He went on to say that the 67-year-old Sri Chinmoy had composed thousands of songs in the past, expressing his inner feelings for peace.

At the concert on the 9th of this month, he will use at least 10 different instruments to perform his selected works.

The instruments used include those from India, Japan and Europe and various musical instruments and flutes from other countries. 

Among the songs performed will also be his ode to Malaysia and its historical heroes, which will be sung by the International Sri Chinmoy Peace Choir.

Sri Chinmoy has held no less than 550 peace music concerts in many countries around the world. In several places such as Tokyo and Washington, the number of audiences attending the concerts exceeded 10,000.

In addition, he said, the Sri Chinmoy Centre is also holding a ‘Peace Run’ on Sunday (Monday) and will run to Penang Island, making goodwill and peace visits at 10 to 15 schools.

He pointed out that the ‘Peace Run’ will start on the morning of the 11th of this month at 7:30 from Batu Ferringhi Sands Hotel, and visiti Peiping and along the way Choi School, Tanchen Bungah National School, Special Education Primary and Secondary School, Tanjung Sitiya National High School, Penang Girls High School, Pulau Pool Skating, Abbey Secondary School, Allan Girls Primary School, and Wright Street Abbey Primary and Secondary School are scheduled to disperse at 1:30 pm.

The Sri Chinmoy Centre is a United Nations cultural and educational institution, NGO, based in New York.

Captions:

Left photo: Messenger of Peace Sri Chinmoy is playing a difficult musical instrument.

Right photo: Dr. Nayak Polissar, Director of Sri Chinmoy Centre (2nd from right) at the press conference, Zhang Jinxiang and Ke Jin from left, Acting Chairman Wang Jilong, and Bosandini on the right.
 

“A true man of peace”

His Highness, Malietoa Tanumafili II, has been described by the visiting International Ambassador for Peace, Sri Chinmoy, as “simple, kind-hearted and a true man of peace”.

In Apia on 21 December Malietoa Tanumafili II, Head of State of Western Samoa, offered his warm welcome to Samoa to International Ambassador of Peace Sri Chinmoy during a private interview at his official residence.

The spiritual leader, who is visiting Samoa from 20 December to 29 December, with more than 150 students from 25 nations, praised the Head of State, stating, “I have met with many leaders from many countries, but none as simple, as kind-hearted, as pure or as self giving as you. You are a true man of peace.”

To Sri Chinmoy, Malietoa responded: “I believe that you, Sri Chinmoy, are the one who is bringing peace to earth.” Sri Chinmoy is a leading proponent of global peace by fostering peace within individuals of all nationalities and faiths, and by initiating a wide variety of ongoing grassroots activities.

During their meeting, Sri Chinmoy presented the Head of State with the “Lighting [Lifting] Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” Award for the Samoan leader’s dedicated service to his people and to the world at large. This award has been presented to heads of state, Nobel laureates and other eminent world servers for their unique contributions to humanity.

After receiving the medallion, the Head of State lovingly placed it upon his head, as he described to Sri Chinmoy the Samoan Custom “when one receives very sacred gifts.”

During their meeting the two men held aloft the Peace Torch of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a relay run for global harmony and peace which spans more than 80 nations and involves millions of citizens and world leaders every two years.

During his stay in Samoa, Sri Chinmoy will offer two Peace Concerts for the public on December 22 and 28 at 8.00pm at the John Williams Building free of charge.

During the programmes he will perform his own peace filled compositions on 15-20 instruments from around the world.

Students of Sri Chinmoy offered free classes on meditation for people of all faiths and walks of life on 23 December at 7.30pm at St. Mary’s Primary School Savalalo and on 27 December at 7.30pm at the Marist School at Mulivai.

“When we meditate,” explained Sri Chinmoy, “we make the mind calm, tranquil and full of peace.” He added, “Let us first have individual peace. From individual peace we will have collective peace.”

Caption:

Mr Sri Chinmoy and Malietoa Tanumafili II

Published on pages 1 & 2, in the Samoa Observer, Friday, 24 December 1993

Interview in Yogyakarta

Sri Chinmoy answers questions posed by a reporter in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Question: I would like to ask what the basis of your meditation is.

Sri Chinmoy: It is very simple. We all know what prayer is. With folded hands, we pray to God, whom you call Allah. At that time, we ask God to take us to the highest Height and to give us joy, peace, love and light so that we can become good citizens of the world.

When we pray, it is like climbing a tree. We feel that God is at the top of the tree and we are begging Him to come down and give us His inner Treasures. Again, we are climbing up the tree and going high, higher, highest.

When we meditate, it is like climbing down the tree. We have received many delicious fruits, and now we are bringing them down and we shall offer them to our dear ones and to humanity at large. With meditation we come down and share our fruits — that is, our joy — with others.

Question: Is your meditation like a religion?

Sri Chinmoy: No, there is no religion involved. I was born a Hindu and perhaps you were born a Muslim. If we remain all the time in our respective religions, I may say that my Hinduism is the best and you may say that your Islam is the best. Then a third person will come to contradict us both and say, “No, Christianity is the best.” Like this, the religions may at times compete.

But ours is a way of life. We want to become good citizens of the world, and for this we have to love the Divine in humanity. There is not a single religion that does not love God. When we only care about loving God and we do not worry about whose religion is the best, then there is no problem. Our love of God becomes a way of life. But if we remain in the competition-world, we will claim that our own religion is the best.

I always say that our path is not a religion, but a way of life, based on love of God. So there is no problem.

Question: So you can say you are still a Hindu?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, I am a Hindu. I was born in the Ghose family. My surname is Ghose, which is a Hindu name. How can I deny it? I was born into a Hindu family, so I am a Hindu. But when I mix with my friends, I only use the name Chinmoy. My friends know me as Chinmoy. They do not have to use my surname. Similarly, if I can establish my oneness with the rest of the world and see others as my friends, or as my brothers and sisters, I do not need to think of religion at that time. We have to establish our love and oneness with others, although we all have different religions. Real religion is love of God.

If I truly love God, then I have to go beyond the boundaries of religion and feel my oneness with all of God’s children. But if somebody asks me what religion I was born into, immediately I will have to say that I was born into the Hindu religion.

Question: What can you say about world peace?

Sri Chinmoy: This world has everything save and except peace. Powerful countries say they want peace. Everybody talks about peace. But when we talk about peace, many times we are only juggling with the word ‘peace’. We know the word ‘peace’ so well, but we are only throwing balls into the air.

The problem is that everybody wants peace in a very peculiar way. I may say that as long as I am your lord and you are my servant, we can have peace. I want peace provided I am allowed to stand in front of you. It is not enough for me to stand alongside you. No, I have to be one step ahead of you and you have to remain behind me; then only there will be peace. This is what the world thinks and feels.

But we can never get peace by lording it over others. It is only when everybody is on the same footing that there will be peace. Real peace lies in inseparable oneness. If you are here, I am also here. If you are there, I am also there. This is peace.

Question: Your meditation group wants world peace, but I do not think it is a big enough group to make an impact on world leaders.

Sri Chinmoy: Our meditation group prays and meditates. We feel that if the world is going to change, it will have to change in the heart first. Prayer and meditation come from the heart, not from the mind. The mind is not going to give us peace. It has to get peace from somewhere else, and that place is the heart.

The soul has infinite peace. The heart has peace to a certain extent because it is receiving peace from the soul. But if we can regularly pray and meditate, then our heart will be in tune with God all the time and it will definitely get peace in abundant measure.

The heart is ready and eager to give peace to the mind, but right now the mind is not receiving what the heart has to offer. People who are in the mind are only using the word ‘peace’. They do not feel the necessity of peace, whereas those who live in the heart because of their prayer and meditation do feel the necessity of peace. It is through prayer and meditation that we can intensify and expand this feeling in our heart and eventually bring the message of peace to the mind. I believe that all those who pray and meditate are helping people who sincerely want peace in the world.

Question: Do you believe that world peace will be a reality?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes, I do believe it, only I cannot say that tomorrow the whole world will be inundated with peace.

It is like sowing a seed. Today you have put a seed into the ground, but you cannot expect a tree to grow overnight. First it has to become a tiny plant and a sapling, and only after that will it grow into a giant banyan tree. Right now our prayers and meditations are like seeds. It will take time for them to germinate; but it is only a matter of time.

Question: I was invited to your musical performance, but I see that you do not play music by composers like Mozart or Beethoven. You play in a different way.

Sri Chinmoy: I do not dare to compare myself with the great, immortal composers. I am only playing the music that I have composed from my soulful heart. I am a man of prayer. From my prayer-life and my meditation-life I have received inspiration, and this spiritual inspiration I try to convey to the world at large through my music.

Mine is soulful music. It has peace in it. In every way I am trying to offer peace, through my music as well as through my prayer and meditation. Music is part and parcel of my spiritual life.

Question: Is it all right if people call you a prophet?

Sri Chinmoy: No, no, no! I am not a prophet and I do not claim to be a prophet. I am a God-lover. I love God and I pray to God. What I claim to be, every person can also claim to be. I say that I am a God-lover and you can also say the same thing. We are all in the same boat.

Published in You Belong to God

Suva is a peace city — mayor

SUVA'S Lord Mayor, Councillor Manoa Dobui, declared the capital city a Sri Chinmoy Peace Capital on Saturday in honour of a visiting peace ambassador who ended his tour of Fiji yesterday.

Sri Chinmoy and 200 students sponsored a peace run over the weekend that looped from Suva to Nausori, and a track meet at the National Stadium.

Suva becomes the sixth Sri Chinmoy Peace Capital, joining the capital cities of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Iceland and Scotland.

At Saturday’s dedication ceremony, presided over by the Deputy Lord Mayor David Blake.lock, Sri Chinmoy said: “Suva is known as the city of surprises.'”

Noting that a few centuries ago Fiji was a warlike nation, he went on: “Now, here on the soil of Suva and in the heart of Fiji, the dance of peace and universal oneness is reigning supreme.”

Sri Chinmoy arrived in Fiji on December 30 after a stop-over in Samoa.

His visit to Fiji also included a public concert last Wednesday at the Suva Civic Center.

He flew out of Fiji yesterday for the Cook Islands and Tahiti.

He then returns home to New York later this month.

Published in THE FIJI TIMES — MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1994, page 5

Oldies bring out best

ATHLETICS is not only about winning and beating others — it is about competing and inspiring other athletes to bring out the best qualities in each other.

That was the message at the Sri Chinmoy Masters Games at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The Games was inspired by peace ambassador Sri Chinmoy who was in the country on a peace tour of the South Pacific.

Sri Chinnmoy took part in the 100 metres event.

Among those who turned up to witness the event was Parliamentarian Vincent Lobendahn who participated in the celebrity walk.

The Games also marked the end of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run the world’s longest running relay that went through 80 countries.

On Saturday runners from the Chinmoy group carried a torch to the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori where they handed it to the town mayor Pita Mawi.

From there the group proceeded to the National Stadium.

Sri Chinmoy spokesperson Vasanti said the purpose of the run was to promote peace through sports. “For older athletes it is not so important to win but to complete the race,” Vasanti said.

The oldest athletes were Daniel Tui Cakau and Sarama Minoli both 67. Local fun run veteran Joeli Bera 57 also participated.

Athletes took part in the one mile, 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres and 800 metres in six age categories. 

Published in THE FIJI TIMES — MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1994, page 28

Questions and Answers on the Soul

These questions were presented in writing to Sri Chinmoy by Mrs. Barbara Callen of New York City. A few days later, on 4 January 1967, Sri Chinmoy answered them orally during an interview with her. Mrs. Callen records his exact words, taking everything down in shorthand.

Question: Is the soul always with the person during his lifetime, or can it leave him temporarily, even making its home elsewhere?

Sri Chinmoy: As a rule, the soul always remains with the person during his lifetime, but it can leave the body for a few minutes, or a few hours at most, while the person is asleep. It can also leave the body for a short period while the aspirant is in a deep state of meditation. Then one can see one's own body. One may see it as a dead body or a dynamic body or as a shaft of light facing one's soul, or in many other ways. Of course, at that time, one sees the body with the eye of one's own soul. To come back to the question, the soul must remain with the person during his lifetime.

Question: During sleep, does the person's soul make journeys?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. The soul makes journeys to different levels of consciousness. There are seven higher worlds and seven lower worlds. Generally the soul travels in these worlds during sleep. Almost everyone's soul is fortunate enough to have access to some of these worlds, but very few are conscious of these experiences while they are happening, or remember them after they awake.

Question: Can a person's body and consciousness so change during his lifetime that he becomes fit for a finer soul to enter him?

Sri Chinmoy: A finer soul does not enter him. But if the person's body and consciousness are transformed totally, then the soul that he already possesses will be in a position to fulfil its Divine Mission here on earth most effectively, in all its supernal, detailed perfection.

Question: Does a change, such as purification, during the lifetime, change the soul?

Sri Chinmoy: It is the same soul which accepted ignorance and now, throwing away the veil of ignorance, comes closer to its own Divine plenitude and Divine Manifestation.

Question: When we think another's thoughts, we let ourselves 'tune-in' to his 'psychic' agitations. However, if we 'tune-in' to one whom we believe to be grounded in the source of his being, his soul, would this be a valid practice, at least until one's own spiritual unfolding developed?

Sri Chinmoy: First of all, let us be clear about the use of the word 'psychic'. As I use it, 'psychic' is not a synonym for 'occult', but pertains to the psychic being. There is no agitation in the psychic being, which is a divine spark, to say the least. We usually let ourselves 'tune-in' to others' vital or mental agitations. Certainly it is a valid practice to 'tune-in' to an enlightened soul. That is what one should do in the beginning or until one has the capacity to unfold oneself spiritually. That is why we say that if you remain calm and quiet and allow the Divine thoughts of your spiritual Guide to enter into you, you will become flooded with Peace. This kind of 'tuning-in' is not only a valid and correct practice, but is essential for one who has placed himself under a spiritual Master.

Question: How does one know if his soul is happy?

Sri Chinmoy: First of all, one has to believe that one has a soul. One has to know and feel where the soul abides, that is its location in the body. In order to know and feel the soul, one has to aspire. During his ardent aspiration, his spiritual journey, he can actually discover whether the soul is happy or not. He will feel that his soul is happy only when he sees and feels joy within and without, and also when he does not find fault with God’s creation and God’s Divine Dispensation.

Question: Are there two sets of instructions within the person, one from his deepest nature which includes and unfolds all in goodness and compassion — and the other, which is clever about 'me' and 'mine'?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. There are two sets of instructions within the person. Goodness and compassion come from the very depth of one's being, whereas, me and mine come from the surface. Me and mine cannot come from the very depths.

Question: Can the soul be equally represented in dreams either by an old woman, wrinkled and wise, as well as by a young baby babbling a new language?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. The soul can be represented in dreams by an old woman or by a young baby. In order to give a particular experience to the outer being, the soul can assume any form in dreams. One's own soul can be compared to the gradual growth of a seed into a tree. This is what we call the evolution of the soul.

Question: Is the soul both male and female?

Sri Chinmoy: The soul itself is neither male nor female. But when the soul starts its journey and takes a female body — then in all its incarnations it will take a female body. If it once takes a male body, then in all its incarnations it will take a male body. It is impossible to change the sex. In the whole history of mankind, there has been an exception here and there… but very rarely.

Question: Does the soul get new instruction in its development, or does it merely uncover what it has always known?

Sri Chinmoy: If you say 'experience' rather than 'instruction' the question would be more accurate. Only God, or the Cosmic Self, can instruct the soul.

The soul is uncovering what it has always known, but while it is uncovering, it is growing and enriching itself by taking into itself the divine essence of its earthly experiences. Meanwhile, the physical consciousness is becoming more and more conscious of the soul's unlimited Divine capacity. In essence, the soul, being one with God, is uncovering what it has always known. But in the process of evolution, its "becoming" and "knowing", "knowing" and "becoming" move together and are complementary processes in the lap of the Supreme Truth.

Question: Is it the soul that must surrender to the Cosmic Self?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. The soul has to surrender to the Self — the Self which, in Indian terms, is called Param Atman, which is unmanifest. This Self does not take human incarnation, nor enter into creation; whereas the soul accepts a human body and accepts limitation, imperfection and ignorance. Each human being has an individual soul. This individual soul, which takes a human body, is not all-pervading, omniscient or omnipotent. The Self is. The soul, in its upward evolution, can some day merge into the Self and become as powerful as the Self.

Question: The individual soul limits itself in time and space by taking on a body — but the Self (Param Atman) is outside of time and space; one who has the vision of the Self sees totally the creation and the Beyond. Is this correct?

Sri Chinmoy: This is absolutely correct.

Question: Is it the soul that makes the decision in selecting a new body in each incarnation?

Sri Chinmoy: Yes. It is the soul that makes the decision in selecting a body, but with the direct approval of the Supreme or the Self. The choice is made to give the soul the opportunity to manifest more and more of its inner Divinity in each incarnation and to fulfil the Will of the Divine here on earth.

Question: Does the soul experience loneliness? If so, how does this differ from the superficial need to have the company of others, whether we like them or not, but simply because we want someone to talk to?

Sri Chinmoy: The soul experiences loneliness only when the body, vital, mind and heart, which are supposed to cooperate with the soul in fulfilling the Divine Mission on earth, do not cooperate. At that time it experiences loneliness. But it does not act like a human being. It does not waste its time, as would a human being, who feels that just by talking to others the sense of loneliness will disappear. The soul, in its loneliness, aspires most intensely to bring down Peace, Light and Power from above into the physical, the vital, the mental, so that the total being can cooperate with the soul to fulfil the Divine. When Peace, Light and Power descend into the physical, vital and mental, the person becomes conscious of his inner life and true happiness. With Peace, Light and Power, a higher consciousness descends. With this higher consciousness, the person will naturally respond to the soul's need.

Question: Does the soul make demands on a person so that he has to change his ways?

Sri Chinmoy: The soul does not make demands as such. It is not like a mother making demands of her child at every moment, saying, "I am telling you such and such for your own good." What the soul does is to send a kind of Divine Inspiration. This inspiration can, at times, be so vivid and spontaneous that the person may feel it to be a kind of inner imposition made by his inner self on his outer personality. The soul does not demand. On the contrary, it sympathises with human failings and imperfections and tries to identify itself with these failings, and then, with its inner light, it tries to help the person to change his ways.

Question: How different is this from the demands the ego makes?

Sri Chinmoy: We now know that the soul does not make any demands. When the ego makes a demand, it is all self-centered — 'I', 'me' and 'mine'. The ego wants to possess and be possessed. When the soul wants to have something, it is not for its own personal benefit, but is for the fulfilment of the Divine. The ego, by feeding the outer personality, wants to fulfil itself, and this is simply impossible, as there is no end to its cravings. The ego eventually meets with frustration; whereas the soul, by fulfilling the Divine Will, realises its own absolute fulfilment.

Published in AUM – Vol. 2, No. 6, 27 January 1967

Peace envoy here with students

AMERICAN philosopher Sri Chinmoy is in Fiji with about 210 students and followers as part of a goodwill tour of the Pacific.

Sri Chinmoy, 62, is a poet, philosopher, artist, composer and peace ambassador from New York.

After spending three days in Nadi, Sri Chinmoy travelled to Suva yesterday.

He will hold a free peace concert tomorrow at the Suva Civic Centre.

During the concert, Sri Chinmoy will perform his own compositions on a variety of instruments.

Members of Sri Chinmoy Centres International have flown in from America, Canada, Britain, France, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Russia for the Pacific tour.

Sri Chinmoy International’s public relations officer, Nishtha Baum, described the movement as a non-denominational group with members from different walks of life.

Ms Baum said that in this way, Sri Chinmoy would evoke a peaceful atmosphere to create a lasting sense of inner peace.

“A master of meditation, Sri Chinmoy, infuses his music with a spiritual quality that touches people’s hearts in a most unusual way.”

According to Sri Chinmoy, this experience of inner peace is the cornerstone for world peace.

“Many who have witnessed his deep trance-like meditations and haunting music have described it as a transforming experience,” said Ms Baum.

Sri Chinmoy has staged hundreds of such peace concerts around the world and written books explaining his philosophy of peace.

Sri Chinmoy and his accompanying students will also sponsor a Masters track meet for men and women over 50 at the National Stadium next Wednesday afternoon.

The track meet is part of his programme of promoting the cause of peace through sports.

The organisation sponsors sporting events like a peace run and a round-the-world relay.

Ms Baum said that Sri Chinmoy, a champion sprinter in his youth, sometimes participates in track meets.

Sri Chinmoy comes to Fiji after a nine-day visit to Western Samoa where he staged two peace concerts and paid a courtesy call on the head of state, Malietoa Tanumafili II.

His current tour also includes stops in the Cook Islands and Tahiti.

Caption:

SRI Chinmoy ... on tour in the Pacific with a 210-strong group. 

Published on page 14 of THE FIJI TIMES, Tuesday, January 4, 1994

Translation:

The Peace Run Came to My Country Last Week

Chen Xiaobing reports

Do you know what is the longest and largest peace run in history?

It is the Peace Run started by Sri Chinmoy in 1987. On the sixth day of autumn, after ten years, the Peace Run once again arrived in Singapore!

Founded by Sri Chinmoy, the Sri Chinmoy International Marathon Team travels to various countries every year to promote peace with the Peace Run, to date reaching more than 10,000 people on 7 continents around the world. 

At least 400,000 kilometres have been run for peace.

In our country, the public reaction is also warmer than in past years. Last Saturday the weather was not beautiful, and as the ‘Peace Run’ was about to begin, it rained heavily. Cold water suddenly poured from the sky, before the more than 300 members of the public and organisers could reach the ceremony. Without waiting for the rain to stop, old and young alike ran the final metres.

This is the Peace Run’s second time in our country, this time logging a distance of about 11 kilometres. From the East Coast water park everyone ran back together, but the heavy rain covered them for 7 kilometres.

The people present that day did not know each other, but this is a non-competitive relay run. I saw everyone passing the Peace Torch one by one, while running and talking, making the cold morning overflow with warmth and friendship.

67 Years Old, Endless Power

Can a 67-year-old lift an elephant and an airplane?

This extraordinary man, self-taught from the heart, is not only a writer, a painter and a musician, but also an athlete — and especially, a messenger of peace.

Originally from India, Sri Chinmoy has a body weight of 143 pounds, yet in one evening he performed 33 lifts weighing a total of 92,000 pounds.

Last month he also showed his skills in New York, lifting a 31,000-pound airplane and three elephants with weights of over 5,000, 7,000 and 8,000 pounds.

This evening he is giving a Peace Concert at Orchard Parade Hotel in Singapore. For more information the telephone number is 7789768.

Captions:

He lifted an airplane of about 30,000 pounds at an airport in New York.

Sri Chinmoy (bottom right), 67, used a platform to lift an elephant of 8,000 pounds, 20 times his own body weight.

Published in Shin Min Daily News. Tuesday 12.22.1998

Shin Min Daily News is a Chinese-language afternoon newspaper based in Singapore.