A new book offers 222 different meditation techniques from Sri Chinmoy’s writings on how to meditate.
The diverse range of meditation techniques are useful for both beginners and more experienced meditators. The meditation techniques include visualisations, concentration, breathing exercises and even meditations whilst running.
The exercises can be a good way for people to give a new focus to their own meditation. Continue reading “Meditation techniques”
At Sri Chinmoy Library, we have published some of the early volumes of AUM magazine. The first edition of AUM was published on 27th August 1965 – just over a year after Sri Chinmoy arrived in New York, US. The AUM magazines contain a treasure of early talks, question and answers, poetry and discourses by Sri Chinmoy. The AUM magazines provided material for many of the first books published by Sri Chinmoy.
Over the next few months more editions of AUM magazine will be added to Sri Chinmoy Library.
The first talk in the AUM vol 1. No. 1. is on the subject of 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.”
Manatita Hutchinson, a student of Sri Chinmoy for over 30 years, has recently written a book about Sri Chinmoy and being on Sri Chinmoy’s path. Continue reading “My Guru, Sri Chinmoy – book by Manatita”
Dr Pradhan Balter has published a new book title ‘A Twenty-First Century Seeker’ – maintaining spiritual principles in a very hectic world. It aims to provide a simple and effective guide for seekers who wish to develop their meditation and follow a spiritual life.
Pradhan has been giving meditation classes for over 40 years. This book seeks to convey the most important principles and useful tips that he has learned from being a student of Sri Chinmoy and reflects his own experience of giving classes. The book stands as a practical manual and reference point for those seeking to discovery more about their inner self. The book, divided into different chapters, contains advice, exercises, and quotes from spiritual Teachers. Pradhan also suggests that seekers create an “inner mission statement†and commit to lifestyle that allows the seeker to fulfill that mission.
I recently spoke to Pradhan about how he came to write the book. He says about 17 years ago, someone who was very inspired by his classes transcribed word-for-word 4 days of classes. She then handed the transcription over to Pradhan saying, “Here! You have to write a book.†Moved by the dedication it required to do the transcription, Pradhan asked his spiritual Teacher if it was a good idea. Sri Chinmoy responded with an enthusiastic “Do it! Do it!†Upon reviewing the transcription, Pradhan noted that the spoken word doesn’t always transcribe so well. He explained, “In a class, I could change the meaning of what I was saying with a gesture or change in intonation. You don’t have that luxury with the written word. You have to be much more precise.†So Pradhan spent 17 years refining and adding to the book. The following are extracts from an interview with Pradhan.
An audio book containing selected writings by Sri Chinmoy read out by 17 diplomatic, musical and athletic luminaries – including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 9-time Olympian Carl Lewis – was launched at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The launch took place on the eve of the first UN International Day of Happiness, to celebrate that landmark event. The chapters of the celebrity audio book contains inspiring passages and poems deal that are divided into themes such as patience, gratitude and enthusiasm – qualities that can be cultivated to gain lasting happiness.
Over 500 United Nations ambassadors, delegates, staff and members of NGOs were present at the launch. “These sweet gems of wisdom by my dear friend Sri Chinmoy are timeless truths full of encouragement, love and goodness,†Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said in a video message. “Sri Chinmoy was a pioneer in forging a grand alliance of hearts and minds for the culture of peace,“ said Anwarul Chowdhury, Special Advisor and former Under-Secretry-General to the United Nations, in his introduction.
Renowned composer Philip Glass performed on the piano while Cathy Oerter, co-founder of Art of the Olympians and wife of legendary Olympian Al Oerter, and Ashrita Furman, holder of the most Guinness World Records, read from the book live.
A special message from peace activist Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and former Member of Parliament in South Africa, was also read out.
Among the 17 outstanding individuals who read a chapter of the new audio book:
The Jewels of Happiness presents selected writings of Indian born Sri Chinmoy, who offered twice-weekly peace meditations for delegates and staff at the United Nations for 37 years. He also initiated global programmes to foster peace and happiness including the world’s largest relay run for international friendship and peace.
The audio book is available on itunes and audible.com and its proceeds will go to charities for children worldwide: Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund, Philani Nutrition and Development Project in South Africa and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
A new compilation of Sri Chinmoy’s stories have been published in the Czech Republic. Entitled ‘The Golden Swan’, it is a collection of stories, beautifully illustrated by Hungarian caricaturist Ludmilla Máthé.
These stories of goodness, love and forgiveness by Sri Chinmoy are written from the heart and for the heart; they will be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. Many of these stories tell about a rich variety of characters who lived in ancient India; stories which have been told and retold from time immemorial. Others are placed in the present time or a timeless world. Whatever the time period, they provide an entertaining and enlightening perspective on life.
Recently, a new book was published entitled – Sport and Meditation – the inner dimension of sport by Sri Chinmoy.
Sri Chinmoy taught that sport and meditation can easily complement each other. For example, Sri Chinmoy wrote that the poise we gain from meditation can increase our outer strength.
“In sports we need energy, strength and dynamism. When we meditate, we make our mind calm and quiet. If inside us there is peace, then we will derive tremendous strength from our inner life. That is to say, if I have a peaceful moment, even for one second, that peace will come to me as solid strength in my sports, whether I am running or jumping or throwing. That strength is almost indomitable strength, whereas if we are restless, we do not have strength like that.” [1]
Sri Chinmoy himself was an active sportsman. In his early life, he was the decathlon champion of the ashram where he grew up. Later in life, he took up weightlifting – demonstrating that the power of meditation can help us to transcend our capacities.
The new compilation of writings by Sri Chinmoy includes a foreward by 3-time duathlon World Champion, Olivier Bernhard. He begins
“For me, sport is meditation. Athletes in many sports speak about experiencing a state of energy flow when being in perfect balance with their mind and body. It is a state where pain and fatigue do not exist.”
The book is published by Goldenshore.de. It contains inspiring anecdotes with great athletes such as Carl Lewis (a long time friend of Sri Chinmoy) It also includes practical tips how you can improve your own sporting practise through incorporating techniques of concentration and meditation. There is also a section on self-transcendence for older people. With his weightlifting, Sri Chinmoy wished to show that age need not be a barrier.
“There is no age limit. When we pray and meditate, we go far beyond the domain of the mind, the physical mind that doubts our capacities.” (p.174, Sport and Meditation)
Footnotes
[1] Sri Chinmoy, Run And Smile, Smile And Run, Agni Press, 2000.
‘Auspicious Good Fortune’ is a new book by Sumangali Morhall, which tells of her journey from disillusionment to interest in meditation and becoming a student of Sri Chinmoy.
Published by Mantra Books, it is available at Amazon and selected independent book stores. The book gives a first hand account of life as a student of Sri Chinmoy.
Sumangali writes on the experience of writing the book:
“…I began writing down a few memories several years ago, and after Sri Chinmoy’s passing in 2007, wondered about joining them together in a book. This was partly in the hope of telling the story to others who may find it interesting or inspiring, and partly for my own sake so I
did not forget my experiences.
It has taken three years to write in earnest and to find a publisher, so today is the culmination of a long but rewarding journey. This has been a significant part of my own sadhana during this time: a spiritual discipline, and a creative outlet. Overall it has been a way to offer my gratitude to Sri Chinmoy for the countless ways he has led me to a happier and more conscious life…”
Other books written by disciples of Sri Chinmoy
A new collection of Sri Chinmoy’s writings called The Jewels of Happiness is to be published – the book touches on themes such as inspired living, inner peace and creating inner joy.
The Jewels of Happiness is published by Watkins and includes a collection of poems, aphorisms and writings with wisdom for living a more peaceful and joyful life.
“Try not to change the world. You will fail. Try to love the world. Lo, the world is changed. Changed forever.”
– Sri Chinmoy (1)
“Joy, spontaneity and self-giving always go together. If one has a joyful heart, that means that one possesses spontaneity or a spontaneous heart and also that one is self-giving. Or we can say that self-giving is the hyphen, the connecting link, between joy and spontaneity.”
– Sri Chinmoy, The Jewels of Happiness
The Jewels of Happiness will be on sale from September 7th. In the forward to the book, Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes:
“These sweet gems of wisdom by my dear friend Sri Chinmoy are timeless truths full of encouragement, love and goodness.â€
Everest Aspiration is a collection of talks given by Sri Chinmoy on the Spiritual life.
“Smile, my friends, my soulful friends, smile. Let us smile. True, this world of ours is full of suffering and excruciating pangs, but that is no reason why we should not smile. We must smile in order to unburden the world’s suffering-burden. We must smile in order to diminish its untold pangs.”
– Sri Chinmoy, Extract from Smile, Love And Claim – Everest Aspiration Part 1
You can also hear Sri Chinmoy read extracts from his book at Radio Sri Chinmoy – Everest Aspiration
Photo by Pranlobha, Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries.
A photo capturing a meeting between Sri Chinmoy and the great Olympian Emil Zatopek
Emil Zatopek was a great runner who achieved the unique feat of winning three gold medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics (5Km, 10Km and marathon). He had great determination and moral character. Sri Chinmoy admired the feats of Emil Zatopek and wrote a book in his honour.
Emil Zatopek: Earth’s Tearing Cry And Heaven’s Beaming Smile
“In the case of Zatopek, higher reality and higher divinity descended on him precisely because he had confidence in his own capacities and also an implicit faith in the vision and satisfaction of the higher worlds. On the strength of his unparalleled confidence in himself and confidence in God, he not only conquered the runners’ world but also illumined the consciousness of the runners’ world.”
– Sri Chinmoy
Excerpt from: Confidence is Good – Emil Zatopek: Earth’s Tearing Cry And Heaven’s Beaming Smile by Sri Chinmoy.
Photo by Kedar Misani Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries
