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The conscious expression of the Spirit.

I bow to you in deep reverence.

Bhagavan Sri Chinmoy:

Seer-athlete; poet; artist; musician; weightlifter supreme!

Writer of over 1500 books!

Composer of innumerable devotional songs!

Painter of over 150,000 paintings!

Lifter of over 7000lbs with either hand!

Creator of Soul-birds, Peace-Blossoms, Oneness-Home

Peace Runs, World harmony Runs and Eternal flames,

I bow to You in deep reverence.

Bhagavan Sri Chinmoy:

You taught the ideal of Self-transcendence…….

Going beyond, beyond, into the ever-transcending beyond……

Love, Devotion and Surrender incarnate.

Who placed everything,

At the feet of Your beloved Lord Supreme, saying:-

“In My case, everything is 100% God’s Grace and

God’s compassion”.

I bow to You in Deep reverence.

Oh Mother India, land of Himalayan Souls.

Birthplace of Yoga Maya and Shashi Kumar Ghose,

Parents of ‘Madal’, Chinmoy Kumar Ghose,

Seventh and final son, born August 27th 1931;

Attained Mahasamadhi October 11th, 2007,

I bow to you in deep reverence.

1992. Revised Oct 25, 2007—-Manatita—-

These recollections appeared on the Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Group, where students of Sri Chinmoy have recently penned many beautiful memories of their teacher and of the week-long vigil following his passing.

Sri Chinmoy Obituary at Independent

• A Collection of Memorial Articles
• World Leaders mourn Sri Chinmoy's death at Hindustan Times
• Aspects of an Eternal Journey - Photographic tribute at Sri Chinmoy TV

Photo of Sri Chinmoy, by Kedar, training with 50lb dumbell.

Most beloved emanation of Infinite Love,

Thank you for bestowing humanity with 76 years of God’s unique flavor that is you. This world is far richer, and My own embodiment ever sweeter, to have been kissed by the nectar of your eternal love.

The music of your immortal soul shall resound in My heart–and in all hearts–now and forevermore…

With My love and eternal blessing,

Bhagavan Sri Pranananda

(Louix Dor Dempriey)

Sri Chinmoy was an inspiration for me throughout my running career, as he helped advance the sport of “ultrarunning”. He will be missed, but his legacy of several gifts - including music, poetry, weightlifting and advocating physical activity will live on. But most of all, his love and message of peace superceded all his other endeavors.

Al “Ultra” Prawda

~

I sent this letter to the New York Times : The liberal Israeli novelist Amos Oz once wrote that, at the end of the 20th century, we had all expected to enter the 21st century, and what a surprise that instead we would head into the 9th, of religious war and extremism. And so it was a bittersweet pleasure to read in the Times its extensive generous coverage of the death of Sri Chinmoy, who recognized the
inherently peaceful nature of all the world’s religions.
For many decades, and even more urgently now in Oz’s strife-torn “9th century,” Chinmoy has been one of the world’s most exuberant and appealing voices, including through music and painting and poetry, for moderation and healing and reconciliation. He will be missed, and yet his universal message will be carried forward, both by his community and by all peoples of similar views — whether or not they have even heard of him — of all the world’s faiths and outlooks.

James Adler

~

I’ve no word to express my sorrow over demise of Sri Chinmoy, Dada Chinmoy Kumar Ghosh.
As his immediate neighbor for over three years in Briarwood-Jamaica, New York, I’ve experienced firsthand the charisma of Sri Chinmoy, through his peace-promoting activities and his impact on community. No doubt he was a remarkable human being with full of love and passion for peace around the world.
While interviewing him in 2001 at his sports facility in Jamaica, I asked him about his mission, the humble human from Chittagong (currently in Bangladeh), said: “To spread love and peace around the world.” And this is what exactly he was doing.
I would sorely miss Chinmoy da’s presence.

Ravi Adhikari

~

My condolences to Sri Chinmoy’s disciples. I first met him through several of you at the UN in NY and attended a number of his peace meditations in the 1980s there. I was fortunate to have several powerful spiritual insights and experiences when meditating with Guru. Though physically gone, his power-radiant-soul- light will continue to inspire many of us to act more lovingly and be closer to God. Peace to all of you and peace amongst us all.

Eileen Kane

~

I was blessed to meet Sri Chinmoy in New York for the Closing Ceremonies of one of the International Peace Runs. Also, I was with him in Hawaii for a concert that he was performing in which he played about 50 instruments during the evening.

He was such a inspiration of one deeply connected to Divine creativity. I have always been grateful for his gifts of pointing me to the transcendent while being immersed in creativity and using this creative connection to serve the heart of humanity. He dedicated his life to anchoring in more radiant levels of human expression.

I honor and thank him for his love and service.

Oman Ken

• Selected Tributes II
• Selected Tributes I
• Tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org

(1) There is one factual inaccuracy in the Independent article. Sri Chinmoy never swam the English Channel. (in fact he was never particularly keen on swimming). However, many of his students have swum the English channel, and Sri Chinmoy would encourage people to try this great challenge of self transcendence. Karteek Clarke of Edinburgh, Sri Chinmoy Centre has recently completed 7 successful crossings.

• Channel Swimming at Sri Chinmoy Races

It would be a mistake to describe this as a period of mourning. There is, of course, the very human grief of losing a loved person. But, at the same time, there is an awareness of the continued spirit, which Sri Chinmoy wished to offer. Amidst the feelings of human loss, there is also an increasing sense of real joy and happiness. I often recall the words of Sarada Devi, (consort of Sri Ramakrishna)

“The difference between a spiritual man and an ordinary man is very simple. Easily you can know the difference between the two. An ordinary man cries and sheds bitter tears when death approaches him; whereas a spiritual man, if he is really spiritual, he will laugh and laugh when death approaches him, for to him death is fun, nothing else”.

• Farewell Sri Chinmoy by Sumangali Morhall
• Final poem - prayer of Sri Chinmoy
• Tributes from Sri Chinmoy Centre

~

When we remember our beloved Guru, the sweetest person who ever lived, the universe itself is not big enough to hold our tears. But now we have to go deep within and try to realise Sri Chinmoy the Divine. He is here. He is inside every heart, inside our life-breath, whispering, “Go on!” We must not fail him.

Dr. Vidagdha Bennett

~

I have never been able to truly comprehend all that I know was done for me through Sri Chinmoy, but the one true thing I knew was that there was a miracle action moving through me from the first day that I met him. And because of his earthly presence my life was changed for eternity- to see clearly my soul’s mission, to know that there can be only one outcome in life; to one day know God as Sri Chinmoy has known God.

Anukampa Lisa Walden

~

During my last fews years of living near Guru’s center in Jamaica, I have known him from close proximity. He lifted me and my mother. When he used to see me on the street or shops, he used to talk to me, in bengali. We used to talk breifly and say hello to each other. What a wonderful man !! I feel proud to be from Chittagong, where guru was born. Guru - Thank you so much for giving me a chance to know you, to talk you. Bless me from heaven. You will be missed, but not forgoten.

Shikrithy

~

Dearest Guru,

At the Khumba Mela of 1977 in Prayag (Allahabad) India, I gave a copy of your beautiful Jharna Kala rose to Ma Anandamoyee. She looked at it for a very,very long time while saying atcha, atcha,atcha which means wonderful,wonderful,wonderful.

Ram.

Sri Chinmoy was an amazing person. I am so glad that he was a part of my life. Watching all those years of his “Lifting up the World” campaign, brought thousands of people together. Meeting his supporters and their true love for his teachings.

The world has lost a true peace-making person, he should have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He traveled around the world bringing leaders to his side and each walked away with something more. If you had that opportunity to meet and be with Guru, you know what I mean.

Karen Clark

~

As a close friend of our family we call him chinmoyda, when ever he visited his spiritual home town of pondicherry i never missed to meet him in my in-laws house. i was gifted everytime to take him round in my car. Today i am honoured to live in his house and our whole family is grieved on his demise.
we pray to the Divine mother for his soul to rest in peace.

gunasekaran

~

Sri Chinmoy will be sadly missed by his disciples and anyone whose heart he has touched. Through his spiritual teachings, he has made us aware of our Supreme, our God and our inner pilot who are one and the same.

He ranks among the greatest spiritual teachers that have ever graced this earth.

He has recently been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, which in our opinion, he has earned many times over for his good works toward achieving lasting peace in the world.

He will live for ever in the hearts of his disciples and will continue to be concerned about our spiritual well
being as he has promised.

John N Dion

~

I’ve never met Sri Chinmoy, but I feel as if I know
him personally. I’ve been eating at his follower’s
restaurants in Evanston, Il, San Francisco, CA &
Melbourne, Australia since my college days (30 plus years) and a true sense of peace and serenity always
washes over me when I enter one of them -what
a respite from the madness of the “outside” world!
I’ve enjoyed reading Sri Chinmoy’s tribute to his friends Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, fellow peace-makers. I’m sure they are all together now in
a better place.
Peace and Blessings upon you, Sri Chinmoy and my
sympathy goes out to your family and followers.

George in San Francisco

~

I am still deeply contemplating how a great spiritual Master like him affected me as a young person during my years of tutorship with him in the early eighties. It provided me with invaluable “contrast’ about otherwise ‘no questions asked’ worldly choices we are presented with in Western life.
He was an incredible and great enigma and certainly no hypocrite. I still remember the gentleman , at the time in his late fifties , running marathons. He had extraordinary commitment, concentration and determination to see an idea through.Many monks are quite sedentary and sit long hours . Not this Master - he could and did both (meditation and vigourous athletics).
He never chose the easy way out for himself.
To try and inaugurate a monastic-like meditation centre in New York City of all places or near the downtown areas of other great cities was a challenge which he relished. He constantly sought ways to transcend himself and encouraged others to do the same. A powerful inner life and a dynamic involvement in the outer world were like 2 wings on a bird in his philosophy.

(excerpt)

....

Raoul Bedi

Vancouver, BC

CANADA

See: Selected Comments Part I

• Post Your own Tribute

On Wednesday 3 October, Sri Chinmoy held a meditation function for his students at which many of the musical groups which usually play on Wednesdays performed. This was his first meditation function with his New York students since he returned from playing musical concerts in St. Petersburg, although he had been having walking meditations where students would arrive at his house and walk past in a loop whilst he meditated on them. During the function, Sri Chinmoy related many amusing incidents from his Russian trip.

On Friday, a meditation function was held where members of the general public were also invited to come along. Students that had been on Sri Chinmoy's path for over 30 years were invited to come up and recite a short prayer or poem.

Another walking meditation took place on Saturday afternoon, and then a meditation function on Saturday night. Most of the Saturday night meditation function was taken up by improvised pieces of spiritual theatre. A heart-warmingly funny play was performed by the theatre troupe led by Databir Watters and Abakash Konopiaty - consisting of incidents in the life of Databir! Databir is well known in the centre for being dynamism, enthusiasm and sweetness incarnate - he is in his sixties now, but is still the driving force behind the daily games of frisbee that a group of New York students have every day after their morning meditation. (Read Ashrita Furman's blog to find out what happened when someone tried to steal his wallet during a visit to Russia three years ago) Sri Chinmoy thought that this play was marvelous. Also that night, there was a play based on a story from the Mahabharata by Udar Robinson's group - a year earlier, Sri Chinmoy had given them the name "Udar: the Unbounded Troupe".

On Sunday, there was another walking meditation, and Sri Chinmoy also spoke at length on the importance of valuing the outer guidance of a meditation teacher.

On Tuesday 9 October, Sri Chinmoy hosted his last distinguished guest - Alan Nazareth, a retired Indian ambassador who had served his country in many different locations around the world, including the United States. Upon his arrival in the West in 1964, Sri Chinmoy worked in the Indian Consulate in New York for three years, before embarking full-time upon his life's service to humanity. The Ambassador was Sri Chinmoy's boss for a very short time in 1967 before he left, and in the ensuing years he came to quite a few of Sri Chinmoy's concerts and other activities. Alan Nazareth is currently managing trustee of the Sarvodaya International Trust which works to uphold and spread the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, and he writes and lectures extensively on applying Gandhian ideals to the modern world. During his visit, he and Sri Chinmoy discussed the life's work of Mahatma Gandhi, and Sri Chinmoy then presented his guest with an award honouring his years of service for his native country and for the world.

Sri Chinmoy's creative output continued right up until the day before his passing - he composed several new songs on Wednesday.

Wednesday night was the last meditation function that Sri Chinmoy held with his students. He spoke quite a lot during the function, wondering aloud about the outcome of the Nobel Prize that was to be announced in a couple of days and casting some humorous observations on the relationship between the two words 'peace' and 'harmony'. At that function, the poetry book My Christmas-New Year-Vacation-Aspiration-Prayers, part 52 was made available for sale, consisting of 91 prayer-poems Sri Chinmoy wrote during his stay in Langkawi, Malaysia in early 2006. The ninety-first poem in this book, and the last poem published during Sri Chinmoy's lifetime, has now attained an immortal status:

“My physical death

Is not the end of my life -

I am an eternal journey.”

One person who was present at the meditation function recalls Sri Chinmoy holding this book of poetry and wondering aloud "Will it ever end?". We know know that was indeed a rhetorical question, for with Sri Chinmoy's passing from this earthly plane, something has been set in motion which will propagate onwards into Eternity.

Then Shivaram Trichur, a student of Sri Chinmoy's since the very earliest days of his coming to America, read out some ancient Indian slokas, or scriptural verses, concerning the immortality of the soul. Among them was this one, invoking the eternal relationship between a meditation teacher and his student:

Saha nav avatu,
Saha nav bhuknatu,
Saha nav viryam haravavahai.

(May he protect us both.

May he nourish us both.

May we both work together with energy, indomitable and endless.)

- from Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa Upanishad, translation by Sri Chinmoy.

There were also performances by a group led by Satyajit Saha; this group performed arangements of Sri Chinmoy's music and writings every week at Sri Chinmoy's meditation functions. This was followed by another group which performed an arrangement of Smile, My Soul, Smile, also written by Sri Chinmoy.

Then luminaries from all around the world came up to pay their respects; many who could not attend sent heartfelt messages of appreciation and condolence which were read out. You can read many of those tributes on SriChinmoy.org.

Then a choir of Sri Chinmoy's students sang the song 'When I am Gone Away', that Sri Chinmoy asked be performed only upon his Mahasamadhi - the name given to the process by which spiritual Masters leave the body and enter into the soul's world:

When I am gone away,
Remember me, O children sweet,

No, not because I failed,
No, not because I cried,
No, not because I tried,

No, not because I saw my Lord in you,
No, not because I served my Lord in you,
No, not because I fulfilled my Lord in you,

No, not because I was your Pilot true,
No, not because I was your 'Infinite' blue,

O but because my life was all gratitude, gratitude, gratitude
To you, to you, my children sweet, to you.

Then one by one, all those present, students and visitors alike, filed up to the casket where Sri Chinmoy's body lies, and placed a beautiful rose at the foot of the casket in appreciation of Sri Chinmoy's life work. In the background, a recording was played of Sri Chinmoy singing the mantra 'Gratitude' over and over again, spontaneously composing the music as he sang.

Today (October 15th), people are still arriving to pay their respects to the earthly body Sri Chinmoy has left behind. Many musical groups that used to play soulful music at Sri Chinmoy's meditation functions are now performing in the background for the visitors, creating an unearthly spiritual atmosphere in this beautiful warm and sunny day.

No, not because I saw my Lord in you,
No, not because I served my Lord in you,
No, not because I fulfilled my Lord in you,

No, not because I was your Pilot true,
No, not because I was your 'Infinite' blue,

O but because my life was all gratitude, gratitude, gratitude
To you, to you, my children sweet, to you.

Thank you to Michael for inspiring this post; you can read more about this song on his comment on our tribute form, and also read an indescribably beautiful essay he wrote in tribute of Sri Chinmoy on the Sri Chinmoy Centre site.

I’m sending my love to Sri Chinmoy and to all his
disciples from Sedona, Arizona. I was playing harp
today at an opening Peace Ceremony & thinking of
Sri Chinmoy and how his heart is so full of Love and Light that he was promoted for all of his Great Work
and Love he always Shares with One and All in so many beautiful ways.
I feel that Sri Chinmoy is now on his Cosmic Vacation
I’m very sure he is very happy and wants us all to be happy too.
He is still with us only on another vibration. We are so very blessed to have all his beautiful blessings.
I am so happy to have met him and have been so graced and inspired by him in so many ways.

Mia Margaret "Angelica"

~

This is a great loss for those who have been working for the world peace. We have known him for the last 20 years and shared his views all along and will do so for ever. Let us hope we keep drawing inspiration from his life. Guru! please bestow your blessings on us for ever.

Rathin & Suparna Chowdhury

~

I remember knowing Guru from the time I was a child — I lived directly up the street from him on 85th drive. I remember mostly, his warm and engaging smile when he would be on his walking regimes and wave to me. He was always very kind to the neighborhood children!

I now live out of state, and just received the sad word of his passing. He is in my thoughts and prayers, as is the entire community of Sri Chinmoy’s followers.

May God bless you all at this time of loss. Be at peace; he will continue to guide and inspire you!

Many blessings, Donna

~

Although He was not my Guru I admire and respect Him as one of the greatest spiritual leaders and geniuses of our times. I cannot feel anything else but an immense gratitude for everything He has done for every and each of us.

Tamara

~

A good example never dies, and I wish more people (particularly Christians and alleged Christians) would follow his. Religion shouldn’t divide us… if it does, it’s bad religion, pure and simple.
Namaste

Rev. Worthington Enslow

~

Let us not be sadden by the passing of a great spritual leader, but rather rejoice in his life and the message he leaves us. His body may no longer be in this realm but his spirit lives on in all who he touched. His unconditional love of the Supreme and humanity transcends death and so does our love for him. May we all each in our own way, carry forth his message of peace, love and harmony to all we come in contact with and work together to create a better world. Gurudev, may the influence of your great heart, speak to us from beyond the veil of eternity.
Peace be upon you.

Ria

~

Since 1986 I have had a picture of this inspiring and inspired man, this Avatar of Peace, in my home; and privileged too on a number of occasions to have met and experienced his unique presence.
It was life changing.
Sri Chinmoy’s abiding love, compassion and humility is indelibly etched on my life experience and, like so many others, I owe a debt of gratitude for his life.
In particular for imparting his eternal values of oneness, for his teachings and for his total understanding of the human condition.
My hope for us all is that the Smile of the Beyond which is now his will soon be enjoyed by all humanity.

Daniel Rounding, Ipswich, UK

~

Dear Teacher,

Although I did not know you, your radiance reverberates forever in the hearts of my friends who did. I cannot wait to meet all the others, for I feel a part of your tribe of love and light and peace. Truly your legacy is immortally enshrined in the now and future human spirit.

~

Sad news I received yesterday from a friend who informed me of the Sri Chinmoy’s passing. I shall keep a found souvenir of my various ultra races in New York, including the 1 000 miler world championship in 1988, when Guru’s presence and support were key to my personal success. Sri Chinmoy certainly deserves respect and admiration for the good he has done and for the inspiration he provided to other individuals in the achievement of their own personal goals. He knew how to motivate people.

Michel Careau

~

Although Sri Chinmoy was not my spiritual leader, I have witnessed over the past 20 years, his profound gracious, loving and peac3ful effect he has on his followers. My only wish is that Sri Chinmoy be an exception, and be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, that he is a front runner for, posthumously. My sincere condolences to all his disciples worldwide, with extra heartfelt sympathies for his disciples in San Francisco.

Chrissy Brady Light,

~

Diving from Sri Chinmoy’s Platform

Timid toes touch shallow shoals of bliss.
In the vast, bottomless river of the Divine,
Mother and Sri Aurobindo coax us
From somnambulist shores.
Teaching us to swim,
They carry us floating through floods,
Drowning only our fears.

Surfing on his flute,
Sri Chinmoy says the water is warm.
I dive in—
Breathing the ambrosian waters.

Bill Leon

~

I was not a follower of Sri Chinmoy, but years ago, when I lived in Boston, he came to play at a local cathedral and I went and heard. In that part of the world, to hear and see anyone with a scrap of celeb status costs an arm and a leg, but Sri Chinmoy played for free. He spoke before playing, saying that his purpose there was not to amaze us with musicianship, but to facilitate our meditation, so meditate I did while he played. I could say that I enjoyed the experience, but I understand that enjoyment was not his purpose.

I am saddened by his passing. He was one decent chap.

jeffreydj on 10.12.07 at 5:56 pm

~

Sri Chinmoy and all his followers have been a great inspiration and support to all of us in multiday running. May his example of peacefulness and determination live long in the future.

Dave Luljak

~

I grew up in Jamaica Hills - down the street from Sri Chinmoy. I was fortunate to have met him as a child when he performed several concerts at night in my elementary school (one with Carlos Santana). It was a very moving experience. My whole family was saddened to learn of his passing because of the years we spent living in the same neighborhood as he and his followers, who we always found to be peaceful and kind people. May he be forever at peace.

Ann on 10.12.07 at 10:07 pm

~

What you have given my brother whilst he has been your disciple, I see a model for what you have given to humanity. Your message and gifts have done much to bring the earth closer to a sense of oneness. I hope those you have touched in your time here are inspired to open their hearts even more and sing your message even louder with your passing from the physical world.

Eternal gratitude for the inspiration, peace and love you have given the world and me.

Ian Cunningham on 10.13.07 at 5:17 pm

See also:

Photo by Unmesh Swanson

In addition, Gary Ackerman, the Congressman for the district in which Sri Chinmoy lived, arrived today to pay his respects to his dear friend of many years, and spontaneously gave an incredibly moving speech:

There is also a very nice article on Sri Chinmoy's passing in the New York Times...

• Obituary at Sri Chinmoy.org

• Tributes to Sri Chinmoy by visitors to Sri Chinmoy News
• Selected Comments from visitors to Sri Chinmoy News

• Sri Chinmoy, athletic and spiritual teacher dies aged 76 at NY Times
• Sri Chinmoy Dies at NY Daily News
• Sri Chinmoy death at Reuters
• Press Release at AP

• Updated Tributes - recent tributes

• Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team - Tribute at Sri Chinmoy MT
• Tribute to Poetic spirit of Sri Chinmoy
• S. Neil Vineberg talks about the impact his relationship with Sri Chinmoy has had on him
• Sri Chinmoy Tribute at Respectance.com
• Tribute by Sumangali Morhall
• Sri Chinmoy passes away at 76 - Writespirit.net
• Sri Chinmoy - A lifetime of service at shanemagee.com; Shane Magee has also written a blog post at zaadz...
• Sri Chinmoy - the man who painted eternity at Sri Chinmoy Art
• Gratitude to Sri Chinmoy by Noivedya Juddery
• Sri Chinmoy's death at Tejvan's Blog
• Sri Chinmoy's passing at Multidays
• Sri Chinmoy - Spiritual teacher - chanakhya jakovic
• The Journey Eternal - Alf at Thousand Eye

If you have written a tribute to Sri Chinmoy, please leave a comment so we can link to it.

Extract from Play about the Lord Buddha by Sri Chinmoy. Available at Sri Chinmoy Library . Also published this morning at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Group.

Quote on Death

“What is death? Death is the immortal pilgrim’s short rest along the road of Eternity. Death is a necessary experience for human beings at the present state of their evolving consciousness.”

- Sri Chinmoy

See also:

• Sri Chinmoy's final prayer - poem
• Should we be afraid of death?
• Quotes on Death at Poetseers

• View tributes to Sri Chinmoy....

There is a tremendous sense of peace and stillness emanating from the place where the casket is currently lying, with incense wafting through the air and recordings of Sri Chinmoy's soul-stirring singing being played in the background. Despite their sadness at his passing, Sri Chinmoy's students have not forgotten that his main mission was to train them to be of service to humanity, and many of his New-York based students have gone to great lengths to make sure all the visiting students are looked after at very short notice.

In these difficult times, the large international family that is Sri Chinmoy's students have been a great source of mutual support and strength to each other. In mourning the passing of Sri Chinmoy's mortal body, we will never forget that the love, inspiration and inner peace he showed to all is a gift that will last for eternity.

Respected and loved worldwide, Sri Chinmoy's philosophy for world peace was manifested through a wide array of activities, ranging from literature to art to sports to music. The universal nature of his philosophy embraced and encouraged people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities to work together for peace.

Hailed as a modern day renaissance man, Sri Chinmoy wrote over 1600 books of prose and poetry, composed over 20,000 pieces of music, played over 800 Peace Concerts in venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and was an avid runner, tennis player and champion weightlifter.

President Mikhail Gorbachev wrote,

"Your enormous and significant activities are helping people to live better lives in peace, friendship and love. Whatever you dedicate yourself to - art, poetry, drawing - all this is connected with peace, peace amongst people and peace amongst nations."

Sri Chinmoy was born on August 27, 1931 in a small village in east India. Orphaned at the age of 11, Sri Chinmoy traveled with his six brothers and sisters to a spiritual community in south India, where he spent the next 20 years in intense prayer and meditation. Heeding an inner call, he traveled to the United States in 1964 and made New York City his home.

In the 43 years since his arrival in the West, Sri Chinmoy became a model of the potential of humankind. Opening centers throughout the world for peace and harmony he tirelessly traveled the globe to share his inspiration and goodwill.

Of his contributions to peace, President Nelson Mandela wrote,

"It is a very rare gift indeed for humankind to be blessed with such a selfless individual who has dedicated his entire life to the service of world peace. Your work has inspired spiritual growth, resilience and well-being, especially in view of the present and unprecedented onslaughts against humankind. Yours is a voice of reason we all must heed."

A champion of interfaith harmony, Sri Chinmoy was beloved by religious leaders of all denominations. From Mother Teresa to Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to the Dalai Lama, Sri Chinmoy was celebrated as a true servant of God.

"I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries," wrote Mother Teresa. "May we continue to work together and share together, all for the glory of God and for the good of man."

Sri Chinmoy was an ardent supporter of the United Nations. Since 1970 he had served as the leader of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations, an association of delegates and staff he founded under the aegis of the third UN Secretary-General U Thant.

"The outer message of the United Nations is peace. The inner message of the United Nations is love. The inmost message of the United Nations is oneness," said Sri Chinmoy.

Javier Perez de Cuellar, the fifth UN Secretary-General said,

"Sri Chinmoy, you are the heart of the United Nations. In all the years I was Secretary-General and even before, you were always with us. Your message was always with us, and we were being inspired by you."

Sri Chinmoy's love of sports spanned a lifetime and resulted in a number of landmark programs for peace and self-transcendence. In 1987, Sri Chinmoy founded the World Harmony Run, the world's largest relay for peace involving tens of thousands of participants in over 70 nations.

Sri Chinmoy also founded the Sri Chinmoy Marathon team which is a leading promoter of ultra distance races, sponsoring events ranging from marathons to the world's longest footrace, a 3100 mile run.

"The physical and the spiritual must go together," taught Sri Chinmoy. "They cannot be separated."

In this light, Sri Chinmoy astounded sports heroes and luminaries through a weightlifting career which he began in 1986, at the age of 55. Weight being anything but insurmountable, Sri Chinmoy credited his inner peace for the ability to lift thousands, sometimes even tens of thousands of pounds. From cars to animals to small planes, Sri Chinmoy lifted almost every object imaginable in various styles of strongman lifts.

"I have learned from Sri Chinmoy that the size of the arm does not make the man; the size of the heart makes the man," said five-time Mr. Universe and Best Built Man of the 20th Century, Bill Pearl. "Nobody on earth has done what Sri Chinmoy has done."

A musician since his youth, Sri Chinmoy made dozens of recordings, composed over 20,000 songs, and offered more than 800 Peace Concerts - all free of charge.

"Sri Chinmoy has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge!" exclaimed Indian maestro Ravi Shankar.

A humanitarian, Sri Chinmoy's service organization, the Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles collected and distributed millions of dollars of medical supplies throughout Asia and Africa. Dedicated to easing pain and alleviating suffering, Sri Chinmoy once wrote, "My Lord, do give me the capacity to wipe every tear from every heart."

Sri Chinmoy practised a life of spiritual discipline and never married. Over 7,000 people continue to follow his philosophy through the over 100 Sri Chinmoy Centres worldwide.

• Sri Chinmoy.org
• Extended Biography of Sri Chinmoy
• Kind Words on Sri Chinmoy
• Passing of Sri Chinmoy at by S. Neil Vineberg
• Sri Chinmoy dies in New York - at New York Daily News

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