Jogyata Dallas of Auckland, New Zealand has written an entertaining and insightful look at meditation, in a recent set of articles entitled – Seven Secrets of Meditation he explains some of the essential aspects of a successful meditation practice. These include sincerity, aspiration and the spiritual heart.
“Meditation is man’s thirst for the Infinite Real, Eternal Real and Absolute Real. The secret of meditation is to achieve conscious and constant oneness with God.”
– Sri Chinmoy
On October 10th 2009, a Two Mile Race was held in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York to celebrate the anniversary of the Sri Chinmoy Heart Garden.
Participants were joined by several Olympians, including track and field legend Carl Lewis, Russian runner Olesya Zykina and New York Athletic Club founder Bill Lumpp. Local Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) was also present saying of the event:
“This race and this day are yet another example of the boundless inspiration that Sri Chinmoy has always provided to those who are young at heart,â€
Start of the Race
“…If we identify ourselves with something divine, eternal and immortal, then naturally the hidden essence and quality of that particular thing will enter into us. By worrying all the time or by thinking undivine thoughts, we will never move towards our goal. We will enter into divinity only by having positive thoughts: “I am of God. I am for God.” If we think this, then there can be no worry, no anxiety…”
– Sri Chinmoy
From: Yoga of Sri Chinmoy – Worries and Anxieties
The latest edition of Meditation Silence is titled ‘Moving from Worry to Confidence‘. Sri Chinmoy speaks how a life of meditation can help overcome worries and anxiety.
Related
Article 8 Ways to deal with worries by Abhinabha Tangerman
On the weekend of September 26-27, the Marseille Sri Chinmoy Centre hosted a British-French Joy Day Weekend. Members of the British, French, Irish, and Italian Sri Chinmoy Centres gathered in Villeneuve-Loubet on the south coast of France for a weekend of meditation, fun and music.
The beautiful venue for the British-French Joy Day on the Cote D’Azur drew additional visitors from varied countries – Singapore, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Iceland and Switzerland to name a few. All functions, meals and meditations were held outside in a vacation apartment residence with a view of the Mediterranean from the apartment balconies. The beach and sea – walking distance from the apartments – served as a delightful venue for games and swimming.
Performances included three magic acts – Robert from Prague, Czech Republic, Tulasi from Wien, Austria and Oindrajalik from Marseille, France.
Musicians from France, the UK and Italy performed and a humorous play with Sahadeva, Devashishu and Suswara helped put the joy in “Joy Day”. An early morning race in a local nature park rounded out the Joy Day festivities.
Over the past few months, the Sydney Sri Chinmoy Centre have been offering a series of meditation courses in different parts of Sydney. These free meditation classes offer an introduction to the basic techniques of meditation and also how meditation can be incorporated into our daily life.
Jogyata Dallas giving a meditation class
Jogyata, from Auckland, New Zealand, recently came over to give a series of lectures and classes in Sydney. The courses have been well attended with many local Sydney residents gaining an insight into meditation.
Sri Chinmoy’s path emphasises the role of meditating on the spiritual heart. Sri Chinmoy feels that this approach is the simplest and most effective way for a seeker to contact his own soul and experience the peace and joy of inner silence.
“When we go deep within, into the deepest recesses of our hearts, we commune with God through meditation. It is through meditation that we can know that God is both with form and without form, with attributes and without attributes.”
– Sri Chinmoy
To find out more about Sri Chinmoy’s path of meditation and meditation classes in Sydney, visit Sydney Meditation
Some of the Benefits of Meditation
In locations as far apart as Bali and New York City, Sri Chinmoy’s students observed the 2009 anniversary of his August 27th birthday through prayer, meditation, singing and athletics.
The Bali Sri Chinmoy Centre and ARMA staff observed Sri Chinmoy’s birth anniversary on the afternoon of August 27th in Ubud on the island of Bali. They gathered for meditation at the foot of a statue of Sri Chinmoy first dedicated there in February 2009. The life-size bronze sculpture of the late spiritual leader was sculpted by British artist Kaivalya Torpy.
The statue was adorned with a flower garland and orchids for the ceremony. Each person also prayerfully placed a flower in front of the statue.
Participants meditated and sang some English songs composed by Sri Chinmoy. The words to one of the songs:
“Affection, Love, Sweetness, Fondness, God has for me. Every day I live and grow under His protection tree.”
-Sri Chinmoy
Afterwards, the Tumpeng was cut (traditional Indonesian yellow rice shaped in a cone)Â and traditional Balinese cakes were also offered as prasad.
In Jamaica Queens, New York, Sri Chinmoy Centre members from over 50 countries gathered to observe the August 27th birthday of Sri Chinmoy. This year more than 1,500 visitors from countries across the globe shared meditation, musical performances, plays, and athletic activities over a two-week period.
For the first time during August Celebrations, a poetry festival was held paying tribute to the tremendous legacy of devotional poetry written by Sri Chinmoy. Professors lectured on his literary contributions and his work was recited in both English and Bengali, his native tongue.
Other activities traditionally shared during August Celebrations in New York included a public marathon hosted by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in Rockland State Park, New York; a public Songs of the Soul Concert at the New York University Skirball Center in Greenwich Village and the setting of a Guinness World Record on August 27th, Sri Chinmoy’s birthday, by Ashrita Furman and an international team of helpers. This year’s record was the creation of the world’s largest lollipop.
The Sri Chinmoy Centre galleries have many interesting sections. These are a few selected photos from Sharani who is a frequent visitor to New York from Rhode Island.
Beautiful Roses in New York.
A visit to local cafe – Panorama owned by Ketan Goldman.
Visit Sharani’s complete gallery albums.
In these recent editions of Life Voices, members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre talk about some of the activities and ideas that inspire them.
Life Voices is produced by Kedar Misani from Zurich Switzerland. A new episode is published on the 13th of every month. Life Voices at Sri Chinmoy TV
Today, September 21st is World Gratitude Day
“…Gratitude in the inner world is nothing but self-expansion. It is through self-expansion that we become aware of our true reality, which is Infinity itself. Your contribution to the world at large, to the inner world especially, is momentous. As a seeker, I know that there is nothing on earth as valuable and significant as gratitude. In God’s Eye there is nothing more meaningful and precious than man’s gratitude. Therefore, to you, to the illumining soul in you, I wish to offer my boundless and ever-growing gratitude…”
– Sri Chinmoy speaking on gratitude from A Seekers Mind
Poems on Gratitude at Sri Chinmoy Poetry
In August, students of Sri Chinmoy meet in New York for the birthday celebrations of Sri Chinmoy. At these gatherings groups of students perform spiritual music composed by Sri Chinmoy.
This is a selection of music from these gatherings.
Music From August Celebrations Part 2
Music From August Celebrations Part 1
August 27, 2009. On the occasion of Sri Chinmoy’s birth anniversary, New Yorker Ashrita Furman unveiled the world’s largest lollipop with a weight of 6,706 pounds (3041 kg). It surpasses the previous Guinness World Record for a giant lollipop by almost 2,000 pounds (907 kg). Ashrita Furman, holder of the most Guinness records, was the architect behind the feat accompanied by an international team of over 25 assistants.
The 6,706 pound (3041 kg) lollipop is 10 feet (3 m) in diameter and 10 inches (25 cm) thick. The huge red candy is made of sugar and corn syrup, which was melted in hundred 100-gallon (380 litre) pots. Including the stick it has the height of 25 feet (7.50 m). This size ensures Ashrita Furman a new entry into the Guinness Book, because the previous largest lollipop was 4,759 pounds (2158 kg).