Mountaineering and Climbing

Peruvian Mountains

Climbing is not a sport that everyone in the world takes up - but for the few that do, the rewards are rich.

Climbers will often speak of the confidence and determination gained from their efforts, the thrill of making a summit, the camaraderie born of team effort and shared experience amongst those who accept the challenge. Climbers often talk of the exhilaration that comes as a result of the mountain environment - a spiritual experience that can often only be felt and rarely adequately described.

Among the members of the global Sri Chinmoy Centre, there are some hardy souls that love to climb - an activity that their spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy, encourages them to pursue. The qualities that one needs for climbing - such as fitness, concentration, determination, awareness and wisdom - are very much on a parallel with qualities needed for progress to be made in the spiritual life. In the following pages, Sri Chinmoy's climber-students offer us a glimpse of the realms that they visit and experience during their climbing adventures. We hope you enjoy their view...

"There are no limits to our capacities because we have the Infinite Divine within us." - Sri Chinmoy.

Mountaineering and Climbing Links

• Sri Chinmoy Climbing - A branch of the international Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, the members of Sri Chinmoy Climbing have participated in many climbs in different parts of the world - including North and South America, the Himalayas, the Swiss Alps and other places. Gathered on this site is general climbing information, reports, an extensive Photo Gallery and video footage.

Individual Members:

View from the Dolomites

• Yuri Koshelenko is from Rostov-on-Don in Russia and is a world-class mountain climber who first began his climbing career in 1983. On November 2, 2003, Yuri and Valeri Babanov of St.Petersburg successfully ascended the East Summit of Nuptse, one of the highest mountains in the Himalayas at 7804 metres. To top off the personal satisfaction of that achievement, Yuri won the prestigious Golden Ice-Axe climbing award for his efforts.
• Kamalika Gyorgyjakab is a climber from Budapest in Hungary. She has written a wonderful article in two parts about her climbing adventures. Please visit: Why does she take the risk? Kamalika also has a Photo Gallery which houses many lovely images taken during her forays into the realms of rock, snow and ice.
• Dare To Take One Step - a story about Ursi's trials, tribulations and transcenence during the annual Alpine Marathon in Switzerland.
• Jwalanta Voelckner is a guy who loves the mountains, the snow, skiing and open spaces. He does not have much to say at this stage, but what he does say is both in English and Deutsch. Anyway, we are sure that you will enjoy his little video clip!
• How to Climb Everest - the Spiritual Way - Australian journalist Mark Juddery interviews Anugata Bach - one of the Sri Chinmoy Climbing Teams most experienced climbers. An avid tennis player and veteran athlete who has swum the English Channel, completed several ultramarathon races and run across the Sahara Desert, Anugata reveals how spiritual disciplines such as regular meditation keep him inspired and looking toward a shot at the big one - Mount Everest.
• Some of the team hail from Macedonia. They also have put together a nice photo Gallery with images from some local rock climbing and also from a trip to the Mountains of Peru.
• Profound Protection - how grace thwarted the results of one mountaineers bad decision.
• The Climb - a climbing poem from Golapendu Ng.

Spirituality is
Constant
Inner mountain-climbing.
- Sri Chinmoy.

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