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.
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandGetting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoWhere the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandReflections on meditation
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United KingdomHow I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech RepublicExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMy 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSeeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, CanadaA Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSpirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
My life with Sri Chinmoy
Namrata Moses New York, United StatesThe day my Guru accepted me as his disciple
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico'Everyone is feeling nothing but love'
Suren Leosson Reykjavik, IcelandMy first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, SwitzerlandMy evolving relationship with my spiritual Teacher
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, NetherlandsHaving a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandIt does not matter which spoon you use
Brahmacharini Rebidoux St. John's, CanadaHumorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMeditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomA 40-Year Blessing
Sarama Minoli New York, United StatesStarting a spiritual café
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy meets an old friend
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesGrowing up on Sri Chinmoy's path
Aruna Pohland Augsburg, GermanyBooks 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
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 »
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 »
Toshala Elliott
A singer and accomplished piano accordionist, Toshala is also a member of the international women's group Shindhu.
- Stories »
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
Failures are the pillars of success
Anugata Bach New York, United StatesAll I needed was the Supreme, and I would always win
Pragati Pascale New York, United StatesBelieve, take a step and proceed: a 6-day race experience
Susan Marshall ,Running the world's longest race
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, RussiaHow sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoWhy we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandA few of our athletic members
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.
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 »
Vajra Henderson
Vajra has been a student of Sri Chinmoy for over 50 years; his medical and massage experience is invaluable in the many ultra-distance races that we organise.
- Stories »
- Video »
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
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 »
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 »
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 »
Peace-runners
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 »
Laufey Haraldsdottir
A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Bayarkhuu Batbayar
Bayarkhuu has travelled the world as part of the international Peace Run team, taking part in runs in Scandinavia, Australia, Japan and Korea
- 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...
A Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesThe Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMy love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomBhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, IrelandThe Random Dog
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 »