3100 mile self-transcendence race – 2013

On the 16th June 2013, 12 runners began the 16th edition of the 3,100 mile self-transcendence race in New York. Founded by Sri Chinmoy in 1997, the race has been run continuously since 1997; the course record was set by Madhupran W. Schwerk in 2006 – with a time of 41 days – averaging nearly 75 miles a day. Over the next 6 weeks, the runners will seek to overcome all physical and mental hurdles to complete this epic feat of endurance.

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The 12 starters includes 3 female athletes, and 3 runners making their first attempt. The most experienced runner on the start line is Ashprihanal Aalto from Finland, who has already completed 11 races so far, and holds the second best finishing time.

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Songs of the Soul – Italy

Recently members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre performed five concerts at four different locations in Italy – Firenze, Milan, Rome and Padova. The concerts were part of a ‘Songs of the Soul’ concert tour which is inspired by the musical legacy of Sri Chinmoy. During the concerts, different music groups offered their own interpretations and arrangements of Sri Chinmoy’s compositions.

performers

The concerts were well received by an appreciative Italian public. The concert halls were close to being packed out at all venues.

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Agnikana’s group, based mainly in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Central Europe.

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Performers at the end of the concert. sahadeva-orchestraSahadeva’s orchestra. They peformed the two English songs.

‘Perfect happiness is enthusiasm minus expectation’ (link)
‘Brave were the days’

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A Twenty-First Century Seeker

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-twenty-first-centuryPradhan 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.

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New trail records set

Two Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team members are currently high up on the honors board for Auckland’s iconic Hillary Trail’s fastest completion times. The Hillary Trail is  normally a self-guided four day tramp through 77km of native forest and along the wild coast of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. It connects various park tracks and basic backcountry campgrounds. The trail captures Sir Edmund Hillary’s sense of adventure and introduces the hardy to the joys of overnight camping and remote trails.

VajinIn recent years the trail has become a popular one-day challenge, with trail runners competing for fastest times. In April, 2013 Vajin Armstrong completed the fastest ever unsupported solo run in 8 hrs 47 minutes. Fellow SCMT runner Nelson Myers-Daly, a 20 year old Aucklander, set the third fastest time just weeks ago with a great time of 9 hours, 33 minutes.

The Hillary Trail website notes: “The Trail epitomises the sense of adventure and personal achievement that Ed Hillary himself championed and was renowned for. It is not a walk in the park – but a chance for well-prepared trampers to experience the diverse, and often challenging west coast. The ARC hopes that creating an opportunity like this, in close proximity to urban Auckland, will inspire Aucklanders to get outdoors and experience the wilderness that exists on their own doorstep.”

 Challenge
All your insurmountable obstacles.
You are bound to succeed.

– Sri Chinmoy [1]

Vajin has won the famed Kepler Challenge race in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park three consecutive times as well as many international trail races. An inspiring video of his races can be seen at: You tube

For further information on the Hillary Trail visit:

 

 

 

[1] Sri Chinmoy, Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, Part 259, Agni Press, 1998

Happiness project – Auckland

Members of the Auckland Sri Chinmoy Centre have embraced a global initiative to promote happiness through offering books, posters and meditation workshops on the theme of happiness.

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With the topic of happiness much in the news – and increasingly relevant in a world where, by 2020, depression is being identified as the probable second leading cause of disability worldwide – it is reassuring to see a number of global efforts to address this issue.

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Sri Chinmoy Statue in Prague

This statue of Sri Chinmoy is located on the banks of the river Vltava in Prague; in recent days, it has featured in many newspapers as images show the devastating flood waters, rising to partially submerge the statue.

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Photo: Apaguha Vesely

Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) dedicated his life to the promotion of peace. He founded the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run and offered over 700 Peace Concerts around the world.

The beautiful statue was created by British sculptor, Kaivalya Torpy and was dedicated in a ceremony during October 2009. At the opening ceremony, Kaivalya Torpy  said he hoped that the statue of Sri Chinmoy would stand as a symbol of peace and hope, and inspire the next generation of peace lovers.

statue

Sri Chinmoy wrote many short poems on the theme of peace and hope.

World-peace
Can be achieved
When the power of love
Replaces
The love of power.

– Sri Chinmoy [1]

No matter what happens,
Do not lose hope,
For once hope is gone,
Everything is gone.

– Sri Chinmoy [2]

 

Sculptor Kaivalya Torpy with statue in 2009.

 

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Photo: Apaguha Vesely

Footnotes

[1] Sri Chinmoy, 1997, Peace-Lovers, AUM publications.

[2] Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 13, Agni Press, 1999.

Photos: Czech Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries / Apaguha Vesely

Inspiration-Letters: Past lives edition

This months edition of Inspiration Letters is focused on the theme of ‘past lives’; a diverse collection of writers offer several different interpretations of what this topic means to them.

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Thoughts and memories of past lives – introduction by Mahiruha

 “… My Past Life” could also refer to the life I lived before I encountered Sri Chinmoy, before I started practicing spirituality. I had so many problems!  But, after ten years meditating with Guru, he gave me the name “Mahiruha”. The basic meaning of this name is two-fold: “speed” and “aspiration”. In other words, if I identify myself with my soul’s quality of aspiring speed or fast aspiration, then I don’t have to worry or obsess over my difficulties. By
aspiring sincerely and self-givingly, the problems that once loomed so large in my life will not be able to forever intimidate me….”

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New music at Radio Sri Chinmoy

At Radio Sri Chinmoy, we have published several new recordings, including esraj music by Sri Chinmoy and arrangements offered at a recent April celebrations.

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Aspiration – Delight – This wonderful recording from 1978 captures an early esraj recording of Sri Chinmoy. The esraj has a soft haunting quality that creates a very meditative atmosphere.

April Celebrations Part 1 – Featuring live recordings from groups such as Ananda, Agnikana’s group, Heart-Dawn and Mountain-Silence

Excerpts from the Jewels of Happiness audiobook. 17 luminaries from around the world read extracts from Sri Chinmoy’s book – The Jewels of Happiness.

The smile of your infinity’s dawn – Anahata. A dynamic arrangement of Sri Chinmoy’s music

Samunnati wins Belfast Marathon with new course record

Samunnati Natalia Lehonkova, a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Ukraine, won the Belfast Marathon in a time of 2:36:50, a personal best and a new course record.

samunnati

It is the latest in a string of marathon victories, having won in Edinburgh and Toulouse within the past year. Over 17,000 people took part in the Belfast marathon this year.

Samunnati is a frequent participant in the World Harmony Run, a torch relay event that travels the globe carrying a message of international friendship and understanding. She has been part of the international team for many European runs and in 2008 she joined the team in Australia as it circumnavigated the entire continent. The below photograph shows her carrying the Torch during a 2012 run in the Czech Republic.

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More news on Belfast marathon:

Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Australia

In Australia, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home peace run recently began its epic 112 day circumnavigation around the continent of Australia.

The Peace Run was founded by Sri Chinmoy in 1987, with the aim of providing a dynamic way to spread the ideals of peace, harmony and goodwill around the world. In recent years, it has been called the World Harmony Run, but in 2013, the Australian Peace Run returns to its original name.

peace-run-start

The members of the peace run team included volunteers from around the world. During the day, the team members take turns to run with the torch. The runners also take the opportunity to meet with local dignitaries, local schools and local members of the community.

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The Peace Run team visiting a local school.

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6 and 10 day race 2013

Every year the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team promote the Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day road race in Flushing Meadows, New York. The race was founded by Sri Chinmoy, a keen advocate of long-distance running. This epic race gives runners and helpers a chance for self-transcendence and attain new heights of physical, mental and spiritual endurance.

Results and links at US Sri Chinmoy Races

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The start of the 10 day race

Photos by Prabhakar,
race2

Videos from 6-10 day race

Day 2 of the Six Day Race

More 6-10 day race videos

In addition to the many runners, there is a whole team of helpers, counters, cooks, medical staff and volunteers who help to manage the running of the race. The race is documented by photographers, writers and videographers, including:

Perfection Journey – Utpal’s blog

It is Monday afternoon and the one mile loop of the Self Transcendence races is alive with movement. Some like Alex Swenson are running with such strength and poise that I have to remind myself that he has been here now for more than 24 hours and has already completed 116 miles in that time. Continue reading.

6 and 10 day race at Perfection Journey

Arpan’s Race blogs

On Tuesday night, around midnight, the Ten Day runners have completed six and a half days. So they are over halfway done with only three and a half days to go to the finish line. The Six Day runners have completed two and a half days and are closing in on their halfway point in 12 hours. They also only have three and a half days as runners of both races have the same finishing time, Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 Noon.

Now that all of the runners have experienced the ‘thrill’ of staying on their feet and moving forward at various speeds most of the day and night, day after day and night after night, they all have their own interpretations of what this unusual experience is like to them.

I am particularly interested in the experiences expressed by the first-timers who have never had this kind of experience before. Nirbhasa Magee, a computer programmer from Dublin, Ireland, has run marathons for many years and even completed a 24-Hour race recently. But this is his first time at a multiday race. He is running the Ten Day race and had completed five and a half days already when I asked him what the high points and low points of the race was to him so far. He had completed 295 miles by the halfway point, which was noon on Monday. This is an average of almost 60 miles per day so far which is quite good for a first time multiday runner..

6 and 10 day blogs by Arpan

 

 

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