Meditation - A Life-Changing Experience

Running in the 24 hour race...

I am a member of the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre and I have had so many beautiful life changing experiences resulting from my meditation practice.

I love to run and I think while running I have had some of my favourite meditative moments. To breathe in the freshness of the nature around me and feel my oneness with mother earth is very inspiring. It is a time for me to clear away my thoughts, worries, fears and allow my spiritual heart to come to the fore. My hopes and dreams and aspiration's and love of the moment fill my still mind and my smile becomes wider and wider. This focus on the heart, and with a clear mind, is meditation!

In October of 2006, I took part in the Annual Self-Transcendence 24 hour race where you run as much as you can around a track for 24 hours. It was an awesome experience and I found myself surrounded by many other inspiring people.

My post-race smile...

While running in this event I had many wonderful meditative experiences, and I had to use my meditation skills also to help me get through this physical and mental battle!! I think it was at about 4am when things were dark, lots of people had stopped, helpers were asleep, things were pretty quiet. Feet were sore, eyelids droopy, inspiration waning but I had to keep going! I really felt as though I had dug deep, calling upon the strength of my heart and soul to come and help me - my inner divine power. Looking to the heavens and focusing very powerfully on my heart centre, I just smiled as best I could and kept going one step at a time.

Not long after, I felt as though I was so light; filled with light, my heart warm and strong. I felt as though I wasn't doing anything myself, I was being carried along, flying along, and my legs weren't so sore anymore! It was amazing! My smile got bigger and bigger and I felt so much joy filling my whole being! With such a clear mind I felt I had had a glimse of the power and beauty of my soul, and divine light carrying me along.

I feel so privileged to have had these experiences and know that I could never have had them without the help and inspiration of my meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy. He always encourages his students to try to go beyond their limitations, and through meditation it is possible and very fulfilling!

• Sophie Anderson is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand.