I was born in England at the
beginning of the 1970s to a loving family of mechanical engineers.
After traditional education in the UK and the USA, a Diploma from Art
School and a Degree from Business School, I meandered through myriad
occupations. It seemed I had not inherited the engineering genes, so I
went from lead singer in a fairly unsuccessful band, to teacher of
English for a Japanese motorcycle company in Thailand, to computer
programmer for a phone company, and many other diverse roles in a
catalogue of locations. All this probably taught me more about who I am
not, than who I am. Wherever I went, I always felt there was something
missing, and I was constantly looking for it outside of myself.
I was introduced to meditation at age sixteen, and if I am honest I
always somehow knew it would bring me the answers I was seeking.
However, I never made anything straightforward in those days. I
continued for ten years, practising irregularly on the whole, and with
not much sincerity. Without the support and encouragement of a
spiritual teacher or spiritually inclined peers, my journey certainly
lacked momentum. I used to think that the spiritual life is only for
those who are ready to live in isolation from the world. I therefore
never considered it a route open to someone who loves the world and
loves to be in it.
After I seemed to have exhausted my outer search, I finally realised
it was time to look within! I was sure meditation would help me
discover some truth at last, and that’s when I found a meditation
course offered by the Sri Chinmoy Centre.
Here were people who seemed ready to accept themselves and the world in
a light, unencumbered way. Not stopping there, but trying to transcend
their own limitations, while searching for a higher and deeper truth. I
immediately felt an affinity with Sri Chinmoy’s teachings
on spirituality, and this affinity grows constantly the more I learn.
To me it seems I always knew these universal truths somewhere inside
myself, but I just didn’t know how to access them. I can at least now
start to see them being revealed through my meditation and through Sri Chinmoy’s inspirational guidance.
Practising meditation every day brings benefits I would never have
imagined. It provides a wealth of inner strength, which can be drawn on
in any situation. This kind of inner safe harbour is something I can
carry with me regardless of where I am or what I am doing. It has been
a great comfort to me in difficult times, as well as being a source of
joy, creativity, energy and confidence.
For the past few years I have been working in a specialist running shop called “Run and Become, Become and Run.”
Working with others who are leading a spiritual life makes for a
harmonious workplace on the whole. Though things are not always
perfect, we know each of us is doing our best to work from the heart,
and to live up to the same spiritual ideals. Running offers the
opportunities of physical health and mental strength through
challenging one’s limitations, so to spend my working life serving
runners brings its own inspiration. I myself am not a great runner, but
I still gain a lot from trying!
Music was key in kindling my initial interest in this spiritual path. I had always been a great lover of music, but Sri Chinmoy’s music,
composed and performed directly through meditation, was beyond anything
I had ever experienced. Though I always knew meditation was simple, I
had never found it easy. This meditative music opened a new door for me
and showed me a route, free from obstructions, to a higher realm of
consciousness. Whether alone at home, or performing for others with a
group, singing plays a significant role in my own daily practice.
Sri Chinmoy expresses the essence of meditation and spirituality through his art and writing,
which is a constant source of inspiration to me. I
am always finding a variety of outlets for my own creativity in
the Centre. Drawing to illustrate a book or making costumes for a
play are just some examples. There is always a lot of scope for
channelling creativity here, and always a chance to enjoy the
creativity of others. My favourite form of creativity is writing, so I
have included a few essays and poems here. I
write about whatever inspires me. It seems the longer I try to lead a
spiritual life, the more I observe the beauty and happiness in the
simple things around me. I write about nature, about people, and about
ordinary things that happen in my life, from which I derive
extraordinary value. (For more articles and
discussions by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, you can also visit Sri Chinmoy Inspiration.)
My name, Sumangali, is a spiritual name given to me by Sri Chinmoy
after I had been his student for a few years. A spiritual name is like
a mantra, reflecting the essence and purpose of its bearer at a very
deep level. The root of my name, "mangal," means
"auspicious." To me this is an answer to my initial question, as
well as the beginning of a new question: how to find that quality in
myself, and put it into practice? The end of one journey is the
beginning of a new one in this great adventure!
I hope you enjoy my essays and poems,
and that they bring some inspiration. I offer them here with gratitude
to Sri Chinmoy for the constant joy and inspiration he brings to my
life.
Sumangali Morhall
