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Sri Chinmoy, [1. Sri Chinmoy, Gorbachev: The Master-Key Of The Universal Heart, Agni Press, 1990.]

The flute was one Sri Chinmoy's favourite instruments. He started playing the Indian flute in 1974, and he first played the Western flute in a public concert in Melbourne 10th March 1976. (landmarks since 1974 at Sri Chinmoy.org)

Many have found Sri Chinmoy's peaceful and ethereal flute music to be a great aid to meditation.

Sri Chinmoy's first recorded flute performances can be heard at Radio Sri Chinmoy - early Flute Recordings

Sri Chinmoy enjoyed experimenting with new and different types of flute. To celebrate his 74th birthday, he played 74 different flutes from around the world. See: 74 Flutes at Sri Chinmoy Centre

Photo top. Unmesh, Sri Chinmoy Galleries

• Video of Sri Chinmoy playing Flute in Thailand

Sri Chinmoy playing the Esraj. Photo by Pavitrata.

Photo Top: Sharani

Running through the streets of Kathmandu with motorcycle escort.

More photos at: Nepal 17th January at World Harmony Run

In 1997, Body, Mind and Spirit magazine requested Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the World Harmony Run, to offer a short message about world peace for publication in a special issue.

World peace can blossom throughout the length and breadth of the world only when the world-peace-dreamers, world-peace-lovers and world-peace-servers desperately, sleeplessly and breathlessly long for the full manifestation of peace here on earth.

- Sri Chinmoy [1. Sri Chinmoy, A Peace-Collecting Pilgrim-Soul, New York: Agni Press, 1980 ]

• Music from the Himalayas
• Sri Chinmoy Statue in Nepal
• World Harmony Run posts

After I told the story, which was well received by the disciples, Guru very kindly invited me to his feet and quietly told me, “You can’t imagine how many people you helped by telling this story.” Thus began both my careers as a writer and public story-teller.

Pradhan Balter

I would regularly submit stories to Guru, and he would equally regularly follow-suit with a “Pradhan, tell that story.” After three stories or so, he very nicely told me that I don’t have to submit the stories to him (for pre-approval). He did not have to read them. And on a regular basis, on my birthday and on Christmas trips, Guru would have me tell a story.

For my 31st disciple anniversary, on a Christmas trip, I told Guru I wanted to write a book of 31 stories. Guru enthusiastically encouraged me…really! Sometimes, I would be sitting with Guru and he would call for someone else to sit with him and then tell me, “Go and write,” which I did.

The following April, I submitted the manuscript to Guru with a cover. The original cover was, At the Feet of the Master, subtitled 'One insignificant disciple’s stories, experiences, recollections and lessons with his Supremely significant Master'. Guru returned the book with a corrected cover, crossing out “the” and replacing it with “my” and then replacing the subtitle with his own written one, “The oneness of an ascending heart-cry and a descending Soul-Smile”. I couldn’t believe it! Then Guru added two birds, and picked out a picture of him and me to use on the back. I felt so blessed and honored.

When it came time to offer it to the disciples, Guru set the price and gave it a (still unbelievable to me) endorsement, “Every disciple should read this, and then read it again!”

Now back to your question. I did not write it with an intention. But in hindsight now, I feel the reason I was given the role of working on Guru was because I was gifted with the necessary skills to share the experience with others. So writing the book was simply the culmination of that responsibility.

How did you find the experience of writing about the ups and downs of your own spiritual life? Was there anything you found particularly difficult to write about?

I’ve been told by others that they would find it difficult writing about their own ups and downs…exposing themselves, as it were. But for me, honestly, that’s not a problem.  My most joy-filled and pain-filled moments were always a result of my own actions. Who doesn’t go through these things, so where is the cause for embarrassment? (I honor others feelings about it…we all have our own things to deal with.) But in fact, the multitude of weaknesses that I carry have made it so completely obvious that the only reason I survived some 40 years was by Guru’s Grace~Patience~Forgiveness~Love for me.

I was not unique in receiving this. When I would sit with Guru, I would witness this same Love~concern directed to all of his disciple-children. Not only would I witness it first hand and up close in how he spoke with others directly, but sometimes I could not help but overhear a phone call, or sometimes, Guru might even mention or discuss things with me. That was always a little funny--discussing a problem that another disciple had, that I also had…and Guru knew it! I think it was another way Guru used to convince me that I could transcend my own difficulties.

The process of writing down one’s experiences is really important. Guru encouraged it. There is something about the process of writing that forces one to be more precise about the recollection than simply talking about it. So, I would encourage all of the disciples to do it, both for posterity’s sake and for their own inspiration’s sake!

Video of Pradhan

After the mahasamadhi of Sri Chinmoy, how do find the Master-disciple relationship?

This is a little question with a big answer. In human terms, Guru’s departure from the earth plane was immense for me and a pivotal experience in my spiritual life. I am sure it was that for everyone but let me explain how it played out in my own life.

Sri Chinmoy October, 2007 photo by Projjwal

Guru allowed me to be outwardly close to him. I believe we all get precisely what is required for own spiritual development. I wrote about this in one of my stories. For whatever reason, Guru saw fit to share his outer life with me in a most sacred way.

More than a year before Guru’s leaving, I was sitting with Guru alone. He was in his reclining chair, and I was sitting at Guru’s feet facing him directly. Guru fell asleep, and I remember putting my head down, closing my own eyes, while I simply massaged Guru’s feet, gently, so as not to disturb him. At a certain moment, I looked up at Guru and he was just rousing, but for a brief moment his inner consciousness had not yet fully permeated his body, and I was shocked to see what I interpreted to be his physical by itself without his wakeful consciousness operating. Guru looked over 100 years old! Shocked, and may I admit, dismayed is the right description. Then as Guru more fully awoke, the youthfulness of his ever-present divinity brought life to his physical.

I went home and shared this experience with only one person and told this person that I would be spending every moment I could with Guru because I could see Guru aging. So, in the last year of Guru’s life, I found myself in New York almost 2 weeks a month. I went on every trip so as to be of service should Guru want. (I missed one trip-an overnighter to New Orleans, and received a phone call the next day “Where are you? Why are you not here?!”)

For me, the time I spent with Guru that last year was more intimate, more special. I would typically go to New York and spend 5 hours a day with Guru…2-3 hours in the afternoon, sometimes alone…2-3 hours in the evening. I didn’t receive any “special” or “ruthless” scoldings that year, perhaps an occasional gentle reprimand. And it seemed to me that Guru was pulling everyone in, inviting people in to be closer to him that year…some people whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, friends of the Centre…were all invited to come closer. For every second of Guru’s life, he fought on behalf of his disciples, to the very end. Believe me, if I sensed Guru’s time was coming, he certainly knew.

So, Guru’s departing was shocking to me, as I am sure it was to all of us. And now everything moved inward. Massaging Guru was like being force-fed. It was like taking a bone-dry sponge and putting it in a pan of water: the sponge expands as it absorbs the water. That’s what it was like massaging Guru. I could feel his spiritual force enter into me, and my consciousness could not help but expand. And that is now gone. I can only imagine what those who spent every moment of their day around Guru must have gone through.

Yes, everything moved inner. It had to. There was no choice. And along the way, I had to re-affirm all my faith. It is now 3 years and I feel that perhaps I am coming to grips with it. At the end of this past year, I felt like I was hanging by a thread, but the Christmas trip allowed me to re-consecrate myself again…to deepen my meditation, to run, to read, to do the things that Guru always encouraged us to do. And, I am grateful to say, I feel Guru’s presence very, very strongly and solidly, perhaps the most since that fateful day in October, 2007.

As I look at the world, I realize that, really, Guru’s light such a wonderful solution for a hurting world population. And, as his disciple, it is incumbent upon me to be a vehicle to spread that light. I have to honor Guru’s investment in me. I use the term “investment” here, but it was really his sacrifice.

In this regard, I think spiritual family is so important. Ask anyone else how they view you, and they will always you something which is higher, better, more inspiring than how you see yourself! So, I’ve been keen on living up to others expectations of me. Guru had a higher expectation yet, so this helps!

Guru always said we should claim him, his light. As a disciple, this is our responsibility, and then we should spread it, lovingly, compassionately, as he did with us.

Any plans for a second book?

More than plans…it’s just about done. It’s a book based on the classes I’ve given over the years. It can serve as a guide for anyone teaching a class, or it can actually serve as a seeker guide book. It is now in the final stages of editing and being checked that Guru’s writings are being accurately referenced. I am hoping it will be done and available by the end of February. It’s called A 21st Century Seeker.

Related

• At the Feet of My Master.com
• At the Feet of My Master at Amazon.com
• Interview with Pradhan at Sri Chinmoy TV

Sitars, guitar and tabla. Coverage at the Himalayan Times

Sri Chinmoy visited Nepal on two occasions in the 1990s. After a visit to Nepal, Sri Chinmoy wrote:

"The moment I use the word 'Nepal', inside my heart something so deep and haunting I feel, like a most melodious tune. Such a sweeter than the sweetest melody I hear when I use the word 'Nepal'. I am very happy to be of service to Nepal, to all the Nepalese hearts, Nepalese souls and Nepalese lives."

- Sri Chinmoy [1. Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 22, New York: Agni Press, 2000. ]

Nepalese performers.

• More photos from Kathmandu concert at Songs of the Soul

Photos top two by Jowan

The recording features performances on the Esraj, Indian and Western Flute and other instruments. This concert was one of the last before Sri Chinmoy's mahasamadhi in October 2007. Throughout his life, Sri Chinmoy sought to be a student of peace.

"Peace. Peace is love unmistakably realised. Peace is joy unreservedly shared. Peace is oneness soulfully expanded. Peace is fulness permanently founded."

- Sri Chinmoy [1. Sri Chinmoy, Inner Peace And World Peace: Agni Press, 1992.]

The ceremony was attended by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre from over 50 different countries and also local dignitaries from Nepal including, Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala and former prime ministers Kirtinidhi Bista and Lokendra Bahadur Chand.

Photos by Prabhakar  and Jowan

• Statue of Sri Chinmoy Vassa

• Adhiratha - actively seeking in New York

Adhiratha also shares some of his experiences as a student of Sri Chinmoy, including participating in the World Harmony Run and being involved in other initiatives for peace.

• Adhiratha Home page

On Radio Sri Chinmoy, we have published interviews with three members of this unique group.

• Interview with Kailash part 1
• Interview with Adarsha Kelly Part 2
• Interview with Prachar Stegemann Part 3

Photo Top: Mount Kailash - by, Ondřej Žváček, GNU license.

Little by little,
My soul’s light
Is coming to the fore.

- Sri Chinmoy [2. Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, # 49023 Part 50]

God is every day looking
For more and more
Self-giving seekers.

- Sri Chinmoy [3.

Sri Chinmoy, # 49043, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 50 ]

Photo, Tejvan, Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries.

The World Harmony Run, was founded by Sri Chinmoy, as an initiative to encourage world peace and friendship amongst the different peoples of the world.

The initiative has been supported by African leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Nelson Mandela and Garcia Mandela with Sri Chinmoy, 1998

"My Brother in peace, we acknowledge the tremendous contribution which you and your peace movement are making to promote global peace."

- Nelson Mandela [1. World Harmony Run - Torch Relay for Peace and Harmony p.118. New York: Agni Press, 2010]

“I am happy to support your Peace Run for justice, peace and reconciliation. The world must know that God wants us to live amicably as brothers and sisters, members of one family, the human family, God’s family.”

- Desmond Tutu [2. World Harmony Run - Torch Relay for Peace and Harmony p.118. New York: Agni Press, 2010 and World Harmony Run, S.A.]

Children hold the Torch on a recent visit of Run, through South Africa.

"The absence of war is not and cannot be the real peace. Real peace is the unmistakable establishment of celestial harmony and universal love."

- Sri Chinmoy (Founder of World Harmony Run) [3. Sri Chinmoy. Perez de Cuellar: Immortality's Rainbow-Peace, New York, Agni Press, 1989]

• World Harmony Run Australasia
• World Harmony Run

Explaining the meaning of this aphorism, Sri Chinmoy writes

"Question: I have read your aphorism that says. “When the power of love replaces the love of power, man will have a new name: God.” Could you please elaborate on this?

Sri Chinmoy: The love of vital power is destroying the entire world, but the divine love, which is power itself, can only transform us—transform the human in us into the divine. The love of power is the love of supremacy. If I can have a little more power than you, then I will try to lord it over you. An individual or a nation feels that by exercising power it is possible to conquer the heart of humanity. But this is impossible! We are crying to see the Face of God, not because He is all Power, but because He is all Love. It is only the power of love that can really conquer the heart and change the face of humanity.

This is not only my discovery; it is the discovery of all sincere seekers. If we feel that the world is full of hate, we will constantly have a bitter feeling toward life. Then immediately we will try to conquer the world with our vital power, the power that wants to dominate. But when we pray and meditate early in the morning, if we cherish good thoughts, divine thoughts, loving thoughts that come from the depths of our heart, immediately we feel that the world is our friend. We feel that there is no enemy for us or that there are very few enemies. At that time we are experiencing the positive power, the power of oneness, which comes from love...."

Continue Reading at Sri Chinmoy Library

The world's heaviest shoes and Campo at Run and Become, London.

Ocean Monk chronicles the lives of a group of students of spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy in their search for inner peace amongst the surf and urban environment of New York. The film explores the relationship between surfing, meditation and the quest for self-enlightenment amidst this unlikely setting.

In the short preview period, the film generated a substantial number of views and comments, striking a chord with those seeking to discover a deeper meaning to life.

Now in its 19th year, the Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival(SLIFF) is one of the largest international film festivals in the United States. SLIFF showcases the best in cutting-edge features and shorts from around the globe. The majority of the more than 300 films screened – many of them critically lauded award-winners – will receive their only St. Louis exposure at the festival. More than 70 filmmaking guests will accompany screenings, and SLIFF will present major awards to Stacy Keach, Harry Shearer, Rob Nilsson, Stanley Nelson, and Jenna Fischer.

• Ocean Monk
• St Louis International Film Festival

[1] Excerpt from Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, Part 98 by Sri CHinmoy

Groups who performed included  Ghandarva Loka, Temple-Song-Hearts, Paree's International group, Arthada and friends and an international ensemble arranged by Sahadeva.

The tour has played to packed-out venues in Amsterdam, Paris, Oxford and Bristol. At the weekend the tour moves onto Dublin and then finishing in London on November 11th.

Many members of the public have offered comments for how much they enjoyed the concert.

"Thank you so much for this concert. It was very beautiful, exquisite!"

"Hello I have just returned home after a joyous evening at St Georges (Bristol), listening to the heavenly sounds of the singers and musicians performing some of Sri Chinmoy's beautiful songs. It was a remarkable and uplifting evening; so wonderful to see the sparkle of joy on the smiling faces and shining eyes of all the performers...."

Read more and more photos at Songs of the Soul

• Aspiration Cry CD 1-3
• Aspiration Cry CD 4-6

• Aspiration-Cry CD 7-9

Some selected Recordings

• Tote-A-Tune and Vocal
• Western Flute
• Bamboo Flute
• Double Bass