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 airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSpirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilSeeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, CanadaWhere the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSelf-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, SwitzerlandMy 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 ZealandGetting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
The day my Guru accepted me as his disciple
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoA demonstration of the Master’s occult powers
Arpan De Angelo New York, United StatesHaving a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy meets an old friend
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesSri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, CanadaGrowing up on Sri Chinmoy's path
Aruna Pohland Augsburg, GermanyThe relationship between Guru and disciple
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, BulgariaI know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United StatesHow Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, AustraliaMeditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomThe Impact of a Yogi on My Life
Agni Casanova San Juan, Puerto Rico'Everyone is feeling nothing but love'
Suren Leosson Reykjavik, IcelandYour life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesMusic
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 »
Toshala Elliott
A singer and accomplished piano accordionist, Toshala is also a member of the international women's group Shindhu.
- Stories »
- Audio »
Eshana Gadjanski
Eshana is an accomplished pianist. She is the leader of the female music group Blue Flower, whose members come from the former Yugoslavian republics, and which offer concerts of Sri Chinmoy's music all over Europe.
- Stories »
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
All I needed was the Supreme, and I would always win
Pragati Pascale New York, United StatesListen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, CanadaBreaking Guinness records
Ashrita Furman New York, United StatesWinning the Swiss Alpine Marathon
Vajin Armstrong Auckland, New ZealandThe Ever-Transcending Goal
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandProgress-Pilgrimage: A 1200km run from Vienna to Paris
Shamita Achenbach-König Vienna, AustriaA 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
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 »
Samunnati Lehonkova
Our best female marathon runner with a PB of 2:28, Samunnati competed in the 2016 Olympics for her native Ukraine
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 »
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
Nikolaus Drekonja
Nikolaus spends his time between the United States and Austria, where he has family in both countries. He loves to travel with our international Peace Run team as they visit schools and communities around the world.
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 »
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...
My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomThe Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandThe Swimming Relay
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, IrelandArt and Photography
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.
- Gallery »
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 »