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.
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaAn intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMeditation Nights at the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandA Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandAn airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandHow I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech RepublicWhere the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSelf-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, SwitzerlandExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandThe first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
A demonstration of the Master’s occult powers
Arpan De Angelo New York, United StatesMy evolving relationship with my spiritual Teacher
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, NetherlandsA barrage of Candy Bullets
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, CanadaMy first experience with Sri Chinmoy
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United StatesIf a wish comes from the soul, it will be granted
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United StatesMy first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, SwitzerlandIt does not matter which spoon you use
Brahmacharini Rebidoux St. John's, CanadaNo prior experience needed
Samalya Schafer Berlin, GermanyHow Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, AustraliaRunning for Peace
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandOur Guru becomes the perfect disciple
Devashishu Torpy London, United KingdomMeeting Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United KingdomBooks 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
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 »
Apaga Renner
Apaga and her husband Dipavajan manage the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Graz. Apaga regularly offers meditation classes in her home town, and sings with Paree's International Group in concerts all over the world.
- Stories »
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
10-Day Race: Staring into the Infinite
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilMuhammad Ali: I was expecting a monster, but I found a lamb
Sevananda Padilla San Juan, Puerto RicoAll I needed was the Supreme, and I would always win
Pragati Pascale New York, United StatesListen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, CanadaWhy we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandRunning and Me
Garga Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomA few of our athletic members
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.
Samalya Schafer
Samalya became a student of Sri Chinmoy when he was 19. A talented athlete, he holds a current Marathon PB of 2.28h
- Stories »
- Audio »
- Gallery »
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
Suhasini Septiarini
Suhasini has helped to organise many memorable Peace Run ceremonies in Bali, as well as travelling to many countries with the international team.
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 »
Harita Davies
Harita is the US co-ordinator for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run. She is also a formidable runner, having run the world's longest race - the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile race - three times.
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...
Sri 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, IrelandMy love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandThe 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 »
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.
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