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.
An intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandWhere the finite connects to the Infinite
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 ZealandSpirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilThe most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandGetting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoMy 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSelf-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, SwitzerlandMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
The relationship between Guru and disciple
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, BulgariaThe day I made a useless and ridiculous weightlifting machine for Guru
Devashishu Torpy London, United KingdomIt does not matter which spoon you use
Brahmacharini Rebidoux St. John's, Canada“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandA 40-Year Blessing
Sarama Minoli New York, United StatesThe day I saw my Guru's Third Eye
Vidura Groulx Montreal, CanadaI just knew from the moment I saw him
Ashrita Furman New York, United StatesSiblings on a spiritual path
Pranlobha Kalagian Seattle, United StatesAn airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMeditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomAkuti: a pioneer-jewel in our Centre
Akuti Eisamann Connecticut, United StatesI know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States'It was like I was seeing who Guru really was: this extraordinary, beautiful being inside a physical body'
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandBooks 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
Hridananda Andres Ramon
Originally from Colombia, Hridananda came to Iceland to study and now calls it home. A versatile musician and composer, he assists with arranging Sri Chinmoy's melodies to be performed by the 75-member Gandharva Loka Orchestra at concerts around the world.
- Stories »
- Audio »
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 »
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 a Six-Day Race
Ratuja Zub Minsk, BelarusHow sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoBreaking the world record for the longest game of hopscotch
Pipasa Glass & Jamini Young Seattle, United StatesHow meditation helped me swim the English Channel
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech Republic10-Day Race: Staring into the Infinite
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilA few of our athletic members
Jayasalini Abramovskikh
An accomplished ultra-marathon runner, triathlete and book author, Jayasalini has completed the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day race, the 3100 Mile Race, and an ironman triathlon. She now gives meditation classes in former Soviet Union.
- Stories »
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 »
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
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 »
Padmasini Guillet
Padmasini lives in the south of France, where she runs a delightful cafe called Tripti Kulai. She is also the official translator of Sri Chinmoy's writings and travels all over the world to give talks on meditation.
- Gallery »
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 »
Peace-runners
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 »
Laufey Haraldsdottir
A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
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...
My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesBhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, IrelandThe Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandArt and Photography
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 »
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 »
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 »