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): |
|
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, CanadaMeditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandA Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMy wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandWhere the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandGetting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoAn airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSpirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, BrazilSeeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, CanadaThe first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandAn intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandThe most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
Meeting Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United KingdomA spiritual name is the name of our soul, and what we can become
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United StatesNo prior experience needed
Samalya Schafer Berlin, Germany“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandSri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, CanadaCelebrating birthdays at Guru's house
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom'Everyone is feeling nothing but love'
Suren Leosson Reykjavik, IcelandSiblings on a spiritual path
Pranlobha Kalagian Seattle, United StatesWhat drew me to Sri Chinmoy's path
Nikolaus Drekonja San Diego, United StatesHow I learned from Sri Chinmoy
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesMy life with Sri Chinmoy
Namrata Moses New York, United StatesHaving a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandHow Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, AustraliaBooks by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre
222 Meditation Techniques
by Sri ChinmoySport and Meditation
by Sri ChinmoyA Twenty-First Century seeker
by Pradhan BalterOn Sri Chinmoy’s Sunlit Path
Stories by 98 disciples of Sri ChinmoyMiracle-Suns from the Heart
True stories from a spiritual Master, his students and dear friendsThe Wings of Joy
by Sri ChinmoyMusic
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 »
Hridananda Andres Ramon
Originally from Colombia, Hridananda came to Iceland to study and now calls it home. A versatile musician and composer, he assists with arranging Sri Chinmoy's melodies to be performed by the 75-member Gandharva Loka Orchestra at concerts around the world.
- Stories »
- 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.
Breaking Guinness records
Ashrita Furman New York, United StatesMuhammad Ali: I was expecting a monster, but I found a lamb
Sevananda Padilla San Juan, Puerto RicoRunning and Me
Garga Chamberlain Bristol, United KingdomWhy we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandIs it unspiritual to care about winning?
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United KingdomHow sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoA 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 »
Jayasalini Abramovskikh
An accomplished ultra-marathon runner, triathlete and book author, Jayasalini has completed the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day race, the 3100 Mile Race, and an ironman triathlon. She now gives meditation classes in former Soviet Union.
- Stories »
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
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
Laufey Haraldsdottir
A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
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 »
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...
The Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandThe Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandMy love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United KingdomA Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas 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
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 »
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 »