Adriano’s account of swimming the English Channel

In a recent book, Adriano Passini from Brazil explains the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of successfully swimming the English Channel at his first attempt.

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For Adriano Passini the English Channel was a life-long dream, though one that seemed out of reach. After studying meditation with Sri Chinmoy, he gained a new belief and confidence that it would be possible.

In this book, he shares the joys and hardships of his two-year-journey of preparation and finally completion.

Short extracts from book

adriano-english-channel-760“I feel that one of the greatest challenges for a person is to control their own mind. One main aspect of the spiritual life is to bring the mind and the senses under control in order to reach the ultimate goal: complete oneness with our “Inner Pilot,” the soul or God. This is not something that we will be able to achieve within a few weeks, months or years. It may take many incarnations of spiritual discipline to achieve this goal.” Continue reading “Adriano’s account of swimming the English Channel”

Peace Runs across the world

Recently, the US section of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run finished in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza just outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. But, whilst the US section has finished for this year, other Peace Runs continue – in Australasia, Europe, and other locations around the world.

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Runners from across the world, join in the final leg of the run through New York. Continue reading “Peace Runs across the world”

Mother Teresa – a Mother of Compassion and Sister of Affection

The occasion of Mother Teresa’s canonisation brought to mind many memories of the kindness and affection that she showed Sri Chinmoy and his students over the years.
Sri Chinmoy and Mother Teresa had a very significant friendship; Sri Chinmoy often described her as his mother of Compassion, and at the same time his Sister of Affection. Over the years, they met quite a few times, and exchanged many letters and phone conversations. Sri Chinmoy and his students worked with Mother Teresa on a number of medical projects that were dear to her heart and she fully supported his peace-oriented activities.

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Sri Chinmoy often recalled Mother Teresa’s qualities of affection and compassion; for example, during their meeting in 1994 when he presented her with the prestigious U Thant Peace Award on behalf of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations.

“We were sitting at a very small table. My hands were folded over my heart,” recounts Sri Chinmoy. “After a few seconds, Mother reached out and pulled my left hand towards her. Then she started pressing my fingers, one by one, from the tip of the finger to the wrist. When she finished with my left hand, she took my right hand from my heart and did the same thing. One moment Mother was acting like a mother, the next moment like an elder sister and the third like a younger sister. It was like a brother and sister having a family gathering. No other world figure has shown me this kind of affection!”

Continue reading “Mother Teresa – a Mother of Compassion and Sister of Affection”

Close finish in Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Yuri Trostenyuk, a student of Sri Chinmoy from the Ukraine, won the 2016 edition of the 3100 Mile Race – with current record holder Asprihanal Aalto (Finland) finishing shortly after.

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Yuri crosses the finish line after an epic journey of 46+ days

2016 was the 20th annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race and it provided the closest finish, with a late surge by Asprihanal making it a narrow margin of victory for Yuri, who also completed his fourth edition of the race. Continue reading “Close finish in Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race”

Blue Flower – Music group

Blue Flower is a music group, dedicated to the music of Sri Chinmoy, which was formed in Novi Sad, Serbia in 1998. Recently, they have released a new album “In Ecstasy-Sea” which includes many soulful and haunting interpretations of Sri Chinmoy’s compositions.
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Like many music groups of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, Blue Flower combine both Eastern and Western instruments with vocals, to create a unique sound, which has been appreciated by music lovers across Europe and the US. Continue reading “Blue Flower – Music group”

40 Peace Talks

In Australia, students of Sri Chinmoy are presenting 40 Peace talks around the country to commemorate Sri Chinmoy’s first visit in 1976. The talks offer an opportunity to learn about Sri Chinmoy’s approach to peace and how this can be made a practical reality in the lives of individuals.

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Picture of Sri Chinmoy, with talk introduced by Animesh Harrington
Continue reading “40 Peace Talks”

The inspiration to organise a triathlon

Recently, the UK Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organised the fourth Sri Chinmoy ‘Tri a Triathlon‘. It is billed as ‘the perfect beginner’s triathlon’ and is very popular with people, wishing to give the triathlon a go – often for the first time.

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The multi-disciplined event requires a team of over 40 volunteers, responsible for helping to marshal and time the swim, cycle and run sections. The main organisers are Garga and Kokila Chamberlain, who became inspired to organise a triathlon from a brief comment, Sri Chinmoy made several years ago.

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Organisers, Kokila and Garga giving a pre-swim briefing.

Continue reading “The inspiration to organise a triathlon”

Muhammad Ali

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away recently; Ali was an Olympic and multiple World Champion, who also transcended sport with his deep convictions and unique personality.

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Sri Chinmoy and Muhammad Ali meditate together Sept 1977.

Sri Chinmoy was a great admirer of Muhammad Ali. In his meetings, he made a few comments about Muhammad Ali.

“You are changing the face and fate of mankind. Your very name encourages and inspires. As soon as people hear ‘Muhammad Ali,’ they are inspired. They get tremendous joy. They get such dynamism to be brave and face ignorance. Your very name does that. That’s why I am so grateful to you, so proud of you.”

– Sri Chinmoy, The seeker’s mind
Continue reading “Muhammad Ali”

Aphorism cards and incense

In Australia, an enterprise ‘Incense of the World’ has combined its business of incense with handing out aphorism cards by Sri Chinmoy.

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Incense is in the Air

by Grahak Cunningham

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Pushpendra

It is not often you meet travelling salesman who sell goods that help make the world a better place but Victorian Pushpendra Uppal has a selection of goods he has peddled for nearly 20 years that help do just that- well they help the world smell better anyway – incense. The company he helped develop with owner Guni Warmington in Melbourne, Incense of the World has been spreading its fragrant wings since 1998 with clients in every state and a distribution network of high end incense from manufacturers throughout Bali, Nepal, India and Japan. Continue reading “Aphorism cards and incense”

Monk Party

Monk Party is a New Zealand based musical group made up of a father and son duo Pragunya and Nelson Myers-Daley. Recently, they have recently been offering a series of concerts in Australia and New Zealand.

Monk Party’s influences include the kirtan devotional music scene, ancient Indian mantras, plus a wide range of world and spiritual music. Last August they played in front of a capacity crowd with Krishna Das which Nelson rates as one of his career highlights “It was fantastic,” he said “and a real honour”.

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Continue reading “Monk Party”