Our members
We come from all backgrounds and walks of life, brought together by our shared love of meditation, spirituality and world-service.
Contents of this page: | 1. Our inner life:
How we joined the Sri Chinmoy Centre • Our experiences of meditation and spirituality • Stories with our teacher, Sri Chinmoy |
2. What keeps us busy (besides meditation): |
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3. Writing and poetry by Sri Chinmoy's students |
More stories
Meditation experiences by Sri Chinmoy's students.
Meditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandSeeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, CanadaSelf-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, SwitzerlandMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandA Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandReflections on meditation
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United KingdomHow I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech RepublicMy 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaAn intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
People see something in Guru and want to be part of it
Saraswati Martín San Juan, Puerto RicoTime seemed to freeze
Brahmata Michael Ottawa, Canada'Everyone is feeling nothing but love'
Suren Leosson Reykjavik, IcelandHow Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, AustraliaIf I could remember this in my daily life now, I'd be a very high soul
Charana Evans Cardiff, WalesStarting a spiritual café
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandA 40-Year Blessing
Sarama Minoli New York, United StatesMy evolving relationship with my spiritual Teacher
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, NetherlandsGrowing up on Sri Chinmoy's path
Aruna Pohland Augsburg, GermanyNow you are in the boat
Kaushalya Casey Toronto, CanadaYour life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesThe Impact of a Yogi on My Life
Agni Casanova San Juan, Puerto RicoThe day I saw my Guru's Third Eye
Vidura Groulx Montreal, CanadaBooks by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Music
At Sri Chinmoy's request and encouragement, there are many musicians within the Centre who make arrangements of his meditative songs and perform them free of charge to the public. Here is a small selection of groups:
Some of our musical members
Adarsha Kelly
Adarsha is a very powerful and soulful singer - Sri Chinmoy greatly admired his singing and would sometimes invite him to sing during his own concerts. He sings in many concerts each year, including the world wide 'Songs of the Soul' concert series honouring Sri Chinmoy's musical legacy.
- Audio »
Ghantika Hammerl
Ghantika and her whole family became students of Sri Chinmoy. Ghantika plays the saxophone in Bartika's Jazz Group, an all-female group that performs Sri Chinmoy‘s melodies in a combination of jazz, rock and pop styles.
- Audio »
Sadanand Magee
Sadanand plays all kinds of percussion instruments, especially the Indian tablas. He travels to more than 15 countries a year to play meditative music, mainly as part of the Songs of the Soul concert series.
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
Is it unspiritual to care about winning?
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United KingdomRunning and Me
Garga Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomWhy we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandHow sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoMuhammad Ali: I was expecting a monster, but I found a lamb
Sevananda Padilla San Juan, Puerto RicoFailures are the pillars of success
Anugata Bach New York, United StatesA few of our athletic members
Ashrita Furman
Ashrita became a student of Sri Chinmoy in 1970. Using the practise of meditation, he embarked on a 40-year journey of setting Guinness world records, and now holds more world records than any other person.
- Stories »
- Video »
Vajin Armstrong
Vajin is one of New Zealand's top distance runners, winning the prestigious Kepler Challenge in 2011 and the Swiss Alpine Marathon in 2016
Boijayanti Gomez-Badillo
Boijayanti is a joint race director of a number of races organised by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in the New York area, including the Self-Transcendece Swim-Run and the Flushing Meadows 5k race.
Working in a spiritual enterprise
Many of Sri Chinmoy's students work in restaurants and stores dedicated to offering Sri Chinmoy's meditative consciousness to the public. Pranlobha Kalajian who works in the Silence-Heart-Nest restaurant in Seattle, describes what her working day is like.
Members who work in enterprises
Smarana Puntigam
As well as managing a gift store on Vienna's busiest street, Smarana has also completed ultrarunning's toughest challenge - the 3100 Mile Race - seven times.
- Stories »
Shankara Smith
Shankara, along with her sister Dipika, manages the Run and Become athletic stores in the UK, which were founded by her father Ongkar with Sri Chinmoy's inspiration. She also leads the international women's music group Temple-Song-Hearts, which performs concerts of Sri Chinmoy's music all over the world.
- Stories »
- Audio »
- Gallery »
Aruna Pohland
Aruna is the proprietor of the Cosmos-Heart, a charming little café in the centre of Augsburg which serves coffee and cakes in a peaceful setting.
- Stories »
- Gallery »
Peace-runners
Apaguha Vesely
Apaguha travels all over the world as part of the Peace Run international team. An immensely talented photographer, he likes to offer public slideshows from his travels, combining stories with pictures of nature and people.
- Gallery »
Sweta Pradhan
An enthusiastic runner, Sweta helps to organise the Sri Chinmoy Oneness Home Peace Run in her native Nepal, and has been part of the international team for the North American leg on three occasions.
- Stories »
- Video »
- Gallery »
Sarankhuu Jargal
As well as helping to organise the Mongolian Peace Run, Sarankhuu always brings joy and enthusiasm to our international Peace Run team, participating in runs in the USA and Australia.
- Gallery »
Creativity
Sri Chinmoy encouraged us to use meditation to enhance our capacities in many fields - including writing, poetry, art and photography. Here is a selection of musings from our members...
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandBhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, IrelandMy love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomThe Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesArt and Photography
Ashish Zubaty
Ashish's specialities are cooking and photography. He also is an enthusiastic participant in the World Harmony Run, having joined the international team on runs through Australia, the USA and Ireland.
- Gallery »
Papaha Gosline
Papaha owns a gallery and art studio that focuses on showing spiritual contemporary art and producing commercial design. Inspired by the Sri Chinmoy's example, he lives a very athletic lifestyle teaching tennis part time, along with enjoying many other sports activities in sunny San Diego.
- Gallery »
Pranlobha Kalagian
Pranlobha is a very keen photographer, and has used that talent to great effect on her travels throughout the world with the Peace Run.
- Stories »
- Gallery »