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 intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMeditation Nights at the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandSpirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilThe most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandHow I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech RepublicSelf-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, SwitzerlandMy 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaAn airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandExperiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandGetting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
I know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United StatesRunning for Peace
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandPresident Gorbachev: a special soul brought down for a special reason
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United KingdomHumorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandA spiritual name is the name of our soul, and what we can become
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United StatesCelebrating birthdays at Guru's house
Devashishu Torpy London, United KingdomHow Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, AustraliaWhen I met Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, BulgariaMeditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomYour life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesMy Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United KingdomIf I could remember this in my daily life now, I'd be a very high soul
Charana Evans Cardiff, WalesOur Guru becomes the perfect disciple
Devashishu Torpy London, United KingdomMusic
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
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 »
Agnikana Senkyrova
Agnikana has been surrounded by music since her childhood and leads a group that plays spiritual music in concerts all over Europe. She is also a fast runner over short and long distances.
- 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.
How sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoIs it unspiritual to care about winning?
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United KingdomProgress-Pilgrimage: A 1200km run from Vienna to Paris
Shamita Achenbach-König Vienna, AustriaListen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, CanadaThe Ever-Transcending Goal
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandWhy we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandA few of our athletic members
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 »
Abhejali Bernardova
Abhejali is a talented athlete! She first swum the English Channel in 2011 and completed the 'Oceans Seven' of famous open water swims in 2019. She most recently completed a 'Channel Triathlon' - swimming, biking and running all the way from Dover to Prague.
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
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 »
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 »
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
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 »
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.
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.
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...
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandBhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, IrelandThe Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesMy love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandArt and Photography
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 »
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 »
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 »