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Meet the Inspiration-Letters contributors...

Mahiruha Klein (Editor) Philadelphia, USA Arizona Strings Philadelphia Marathon World Harmony Run: Reflections On Water Memories Of Collecting Milk And Cookies Why Do I Meditate? Ben Jonson On Grief And Faith An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni A Miracle Story Told In Music Spaces And Learning Sri Chinmoy, Bach & Beethoven	I write mostly because I would like, in some small way, to emulate those great writers that I so admire. I particularly admire Herman Melville and Somerset Maugham among novelists. My favorite poets include Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich and the ancient authors of the Iliad and the Mahabharata. I was born in New Jersey, which is fitting because it is a transitional place. You pass through New Jersey to get to where you want to go. But if you stop on any one of the hundreds of miles of highways which criss-cross the state, you will see that it is filled with green parks and rivers, summer opera festivals and a college on every corner. It’s a state that is always struggling to define it’s own identity. I can identify with that! Writing is an act of self-discovery. For me, writing has always had very important therapeutic uses. By setting my feelings down on paper, they no longer overwhelm me. I can make sense of them and put them in their proper context. Writing is also useful to me to make sense of who I am and what I’m supposed to do with my life. It’s a way for me to understand myself better and I am fortunate if my journey of self-discovery through writing can inspire others at all.
Sumangali Morhall (Webmaster) York, England The Sound of Truth God in a Nutshell A Car Wreck Remembered The Musical Key The Spirituality of Emily Dickinson Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa Plumbing The Deep A Beginning, An End & An Eternity Buffalo	Sri Chinmoy expresses the essence of meditation and spirituality through his art and writing, which is a constant source of inspiration to me in the Sri Chinmoy Centre. 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. 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. I am very glad to be able to share these writings through Inspiration-Letters.
Abhinabha Tangerman The Hague, The Netherlands Go Kids! Written To A Muse A Cosmic Sense Of Humour A Short-Lived Adventure Sri Aurobindo's Poetry Miracle Unravelled Sacred Run Queens Revisited	I became a student of Sri Chinmoy in 1998. Being a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre has enriched my life in many ways, offering me the opportunity to discover, unfold and develop qualities and capacities I never knew I had and giving me a sense of spiritual well-being and fulfilment. I like the idea expressed by Sri Chinmoy of combining an inner, spiritual life with a dynamic and versatile outer life. As an art-lover I enjoy writing prose and poetry - both on this forum and on the Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Group - and also like playing music, singing and acting, but my main passion in life is running, I am a marathon runner with a P.B. of 2:43 - which I hope to break very soon - and I run road races in The Netherlands ranging from 5K to the marathon. I work in a health food store in The Hague.
Alf Zollo Canberra, Australia The Winter Of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck	Introduction Coming Soon
Arpan DeAngelo New York, USA Extreme Running: The 3100-Mile Race	I started writing many years ago just as a way to express what was happening in my life from time to time. I usually just write whatever happens to come into my mind, hopefully from my heart. Although I do not consider myself as a serious or adept writer, I try to offer something meaningful, or at least of some inspirational value, through writing in my own simple way. Because I have been quite serious about running, meditation and spirituality for most of my life, that is what I usually am inspired express through words. I do hope that my words do not get in the way of truly expressing the depth and meaning of the experiences that I attempt to write about.
Ashrita Furman New York, USA An Adventure At The Beardsley Zoo	Ashrita is the holder of the most Guinness World records. Find out more at Ashrita.com
Barney McBryde Auckland, New Zealand Of Saints And Rabbits The Universal Language Loitering With Intent The Extremes Of Sport My Friend Nick The Year of the Horse by Sam Mahon Cuauhtlatoatzin: The Miracle Of The Humble Sacred Space Memoirs Journey To A Lamb’s Heart	When the great Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand in 1986, he pointed out that the Otago/Southland diocese in New Zealand was the region of the Catholic Church furthest from Rome. It is also true that the mosque in Christchurch is the mosque furthest from Mecca. New Zealanders like to think that living as far from the centre of things as it is possible to do, gives them a perfect perspective on things. From their little slice of clear-skied, green, nuclear-free, South Pacific paradise they can cast a clear and unjaundiced eye over the world. Barney McBryde was born in Invercargill, the southernmost city in New Zealand . . . the southernmost city in the world. This, he claims, is the only credential he needs to write about . . . anything.
Ed Silverton Bristol - England Reflections on Picasso and Masaccio	I am a ceramic artist and part-time visiting instructor and research assistant in enamel at the University of the West of England. My work is based upon and flows from my inner life of prayer, meditation and service, during which I focus on the spiritual heart. This is for me the source of joy, love and oneness. These qualities I hope to offer to people who see the work. Focusing on the spiritual heart also encourages a childlike simplicity which I feel shaping my life and work. This may also explain my preference for bright colours, simple shapes and cheerful, beautiful things. As a medium, I am particularly drawn to clay because of the infinite ways it can be shaped, treated and used. Its scope and potential are a continual inspiration to me. Ultimately, I like to make pieces that make people smile. In this way I hope the world to be a happier place. You are most welcome to visit my website
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand A Spiritual Memoir At The Beach Myth And Moment Stories From The Path Fast Track To God Living On The Edge Tears For Dead Children: An Incident From Malaysia Grace by Sri Chinmoy Four Mini-Miracles Sketches From A Traveller’s Journal A Few Reflections Inner And Outer Journeys	They say that putting pen to paper’s turning blood to ink and others scrutinize your thoughts—you really need to think! With paints you’re fine, a six year old can obfuscate, conceal, while others think their dabblings do a genius reveal. Take poetry too, e’en though you fail to scale Elysian heights the mysteries of your quirky style will always bring delights. But prose! Your very souls’s laid bare, the critics draw their knives, they carp and quibble, nitpick, send us fleeing for our lives. So gentle reader, overlook my literary transgressions and if my thoughts show symptoms of a cranial regression encourage me to paint or sing, choose anything at random, I’m really not much good at prose, quod erat demonstrandum. (Yikes!)
John-Paul Gillespie Auckland, New Zealand Adventure Within Walt Whitman's Elegy To A President Slain The Tale of Genji: The World's First Novel The Reluctant Classtaker Sri Chinmoy Will Shine Forever Still My Japanese Brother	Writing is something I never considered myself to be particularly good at, but practising meditation as a student of Sri Chinmoy has changed my conception of self, writing included. Meditation teaches us to put aside attitudes and ways of thinking that limit our potential; it opens to those who seek it a whole new world of imagination and creativity. So it has in my life: graphic design, web-development, video-editing and writing are just some of the creative activities I pursue—even make a living from—and all have emerged from my daily practise of stilling mind and opening heart. Writing for me is all parts inspiration and self-discovery. It is inspiring to do, inspiring for others to read—hopefully—and by approaching it as another form of meditation, it helps me to uncover a wiser, deeper, more illumining part of myself—an inner voice of inspiration.
Kamalika Györgyjakab Luxembourg Climbing a Mountain (part 1) Climbing a Mountain (part 2) Be In Bremen Tomorrow At 3pm My Grandfather’s Mysterious Visitors Why Did The French Lose? The Longer Answer Whether It Is Worth It Or Not The Eighth Day	What I can say now about myself is that I feel more than honoured to be here in this prestigious company. I always longed for such an entourage! Otherwise, I am a nature-loving woman of a not necessarily lovely nature. There are two types of situations I find worth living for. One of these is to be in the physical presence of real God-realised souls. That’s why I feel so privileged to have a Guru of this kind, Sri Chinmoy. When one spends time with people who have realised God, one can witness something that no ordinary humans are endowed with: the capacity of unconditional acceptance. A love without IFs and BUTs... A radiation of inner poise in hopeful concern... The other situation type is being somewhere high up on some mountain ridge or glacier slope “in action”. Here, once you launched yourself or your partner, once you are clipped to the rope (or worst comes to worst, you are NOT) you don’t have an error margin. There is no forgiveness for your mistakes. These two situations are each other’s contrary, yet they have one thing in common: you are bound to concentrate, you have to aspire to perfection and have to leave your fears, limits and limitations behind. “And all the rest is literature” (Verlaine). Well, that’s why I found myself exactly here, in this forum. Please feel free to visit my photo albums.
Noivedya Juddery Canberra, Australia Happy Birthday To Someone How To Be Shakespeare The Best Food In Town Swimming Against The World Lyrics and Music The Funniest Book Ever Written What You Don't Know Can Enchant You Places To Worship	I’m a student of Sri Chinmoy, based in Canberra, Australia. I also happen to be a freelance writer, and some of my work can be found on my website, which was recently updated for the first time since about 1964. Also, I write regular articles about Sri Chinmoy Centre activities.
Palyati Fouse Alaska, USA Zen and the Art of Race Car Driving Poetry Of Hafiz Miracles And Me To My Beloved Guru Sri Chinmoy	I live physically, mentally and emotionally on the edge of nowhere, yet, spiritually close to the Unknowable thanks to Sri Chinmoy, my saving grace. In 1975 one of hundreds of lifetime upheavals catapulted me north to Alaska from upstate New York. Trouble follows me. Oops, oops, oops, in all their full blown glory, “experiences” follow me. Apparently I need more “experiences” than others to progress. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to share in some of them here. I write because I like to.
Pavitrata Taylor London, England The Mc Guffin The 'Way' Of Photography	You are most welcome to visit my photography gallery
Sahayak Plowman Brisbane - Australia The Sacred Mountains of Western China	To be a student of a genuine spiritual teacher is so natural to me now, I have to pinch myself to realise just how much my life has so overwhelmingly changed during this, the most significant period of my life. As a seeker happily sharing the experiences of his spiritual journey I hope to inspire others to look beyond their immediate understanding and to realise that seeking and living a spiritual life with all of its benefits, is now more widely sought, practiced and embraced by the west.
Shane Magee Dublin, Ireland Research And Revelation A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu	I'm Shane, and I've been in the Dublin Sri Chinmoy Centre for a little over two years now. I probably wouldn't be here if I hadn't come across inspiring accounts by people from all shades of the spectrum describing their spiritual journey, so this is my attempt to pay a little fraction of that debt back by offering some accounts of my own...
Sharani Robins Rhode Island, USA Rainbow Visions Finding the Right Portrait Artistry In The Sand Paris, Je t'aime! Say No To Woe Meditation Is A Wisdom Messenger Change Ringing RX: Write a Poem, Read a Poem, Find Vision’s Shore The Divine Hero by Sri Chinmoy Miracle In Jamaica, New York Nothing To Declare? The Tallest Tree The Perfect Day	As a librarian and bibliophile, I especially resonate with the written word. I began studying meditation as Sri Chinmoy's student in 1985 and my spiritual strivings and creative expression are primarily a spirit of delight in the supernal beauty of God. I often find an act of centering prayer in artistic expression, especially when harmonising with Nature. I am happiest when the writing of prose and poetry or the taking of photographs leads me to a hushed place of kneeling in awe of a universe of oneness much vaster than myself. I live and work in adjoining New England states, both located near the Atlantic Ocean's coast. As a transplanted New Englander, I find that living near the sea nourishes me deeply and sparks creativity on many levels.
Shardul Dillicar Auckland, New Zealand An Open Letter	Personally, I find it hard to sum up my life and modus operandi in some clever or essential way that makes sense and is satisfying. Swami Vivekananda - the renowned disciple of the spiritual Master Sri Ramakrishna - once said that anything bad in his life was of his own creation, and that anything good was the result of Sri Ramakrishna's grace. I feel that this is true in my own case - not that I wish to compare myself to the great Swami Vivekananda - but I do, of course, wish to credit the 'anything good' aspect of my life to my own guiding light, Sri Chinmoy. In terms of summing up who I am, I would like to let Sri Chinmoy do that as well - after all, it is he who gave me the name Shardul. A spiritual Master can clearly see the essential and unique 'inner' qualities of one's soul - as easily as we can see the sun shining in the sky. Each soul is endowed with a special mission - something to accomplish for the Creator and the creation while on the earth-stage. In this way, each soul is evolving toward a greater light. My soul's qualities are clearly defined in the meaning Sri Chinmoy kindly offered with my name: "The God-lover who with confidence-heart most powerfully attempts to and succeeds in manifesting the Lord Beloved Supreme in His own Way." - So there you have it - the essential elements of my life in one clear sentence. I do hope that you find something that inspires you toward your own special soul's purpose within the pages of this website.
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, England Cycling Time Trials Economics - 'The Dismal Science' The Ecstatic Poetry Of The Sufis Unlikely Sacred Spaces	I studied PPE at Oxford University and in my last year I joined the Sri Chinmoy Centre. I now work as an economics teacher in Oxford and have written an Economics Revision Guide and many economics essays. I edit a poetry site called Poetseers.org and sometimes write about Poets and other spiritual people. I also compete in cycling races around the UK, riding for Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team.
Terri Carr Tampa, USA Nature: Sacred Space	Introduction Coming Soon