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Wunder Bewusstseinswandel

Eine meiner erschreckendsten Lebenserfahrungen bestand darin, eine Augenoperation wegen einer Netzhautablösung machen zu lassen. Gewöhnlich bin ich eine sachliche Person und mache mir nicht so oft Sorgen. Aber irgendetwas an meinem Kopf repariert zu bekommen, erschreckte mich und vielleicht an einem Auge blind aufzuwachen, war auch nicht gerade tröstlich. Als ich nach der Operation im Erholungsraum lag, rief Sri Chinmoy an. Ich kam gerade wieder zu Bewusstsein, immer noch mit derselben Angst in mir. Ich fühlte mich, als ob ich unterginge und grub wie wild meinen Weg zur Oberfläche eines großen schwarzen Loches. Ich erinnere mich nur, Sri Chinmoy sagen zu hören: "Denke nur an Frieden. Denke nur an Frieden." Sofort, ich meine in weniger als einer Sekunde, ersetzte ein Gefühl von vollständigem Wohlsein die Furcht und die Besorgnis in mir. Ich war ein Kind in den Armen seines tief geliebten Vaters mit der inneren Versicherung, dass alles perfekt und in Ordnung war.
Sri Chinmoy sagt, dass der Bewusstseinswandel das wirkliche Wunder ist, und für mich fällt dieses Erlebnis definitiv in diese Kategorie.

Nandita Polissar (Seattle, USA)

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

Exhibition of Sri Chinmoy's Weightlifting

In Prague, Czech Republic there is a public exhibition of some of Sri Chinmoy's weightlifting equipment.

Sri Chinmoy began weightlifting in the mid 1980s when he was already in his 50s. Sri Chinmoy said that weightlifting was an opportunity to show how the power of meditation could enable people to transcend their own limitations. In particular, he wished to inspire people in a positive way.

“If I can inspire anybody in this world, then I feel that my life is meaningful. With my weightlifting, I am offering my physical strength to inspire people.” [1]

Sri Chinmoy's weightlifting apparatus, included many unorthodox lifts. He wished to change the boundaries of weightlifting and introduce new challenges.

From the very beginning of my weightlifting career, I have tried to do new things. Why should I go on always with the old system as if that is the only way? I feel that people who come to break the traditional barriers are the ones who are the real heroes.” - Sri Chinmoy [2]

The exhibition includes two free screenings of the film - Challenging Impossibility.

Related

[1] New Zealand Fitness, Feb/March 2006 issue (No.77). Full article reprinted here:

[2] A Mystic Journey in the Weightlifting World

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

500 Attend Joy-Day in Austria

Last weekend 500 of Sri Chinmoy's students from all over Europe attended a 'Joy-Day' in the small town of Mondsee in Austria. Surrounded by the breathtaking mountainous scenery they shared three days of joyful and spiritual activities.

Mondsee, Austria

The Joy-Days were created by Sri Chinmoy's as a means to share the joys of the spiritual life and to be able to experience the power of group meditation.

Aside from the regular meditations there were many recreational activities, such as waterskiing, golfing, horseback riding and archery. The evenings were reserved for enlightening and entertaining program items, like music, theatre and inspirational video's. In the morning a 5K race was organized around Lake Mondsee.

A professional magician's act

Humourous skits

Running together is always a joy!

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

Samunnati wins the Edinburgh marathon

Samunnati Nataliya Lehonkova from the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Ternopilska, Ukraine, has won the Edinburgh marathon last Sunday May 27th. Under warm conditions and on a hilly marathon course Samunnati completed the race in 2:39:46. It was her second marathon win in her running career, after a win in Poland in 2010. Also it was her second marathon in 6 weeks, after she had placed second in the marathon of Utrecht (The Netherlands) last April in a personal best of 2:39:20. She commented that now she will take some well-deserved rest.

Samunnati breaks the tape in the Edinburgh marathon

Samunnati says that Sri Chinmoy inspires her in her running career. His philosophy of self-transcendence and going beyond one's own preconceived limitations is a source of constant satisfaction to her. Sri Chinmoy encouraged his students to stay physically fit by running. Samunnati feels that the spiritual energy she receives from her daily meditation helps her in her running life. As Sri Chinmoy writes, "Through prayer and meditation we can develop intense will-power, and this will-power can help us do extremely well in our outer running."

During the race members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Edinburg cheered her on. In the evening they celebrated her victory at their Sunday night meditation.

Samunnati (centre) with the trophy and the runners-up

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

The spiritual reasons for being vegetarian

I became a vegetarian when I joined the Sri Chinmoy Centre. Sri Chinmoy asks his students to be vegetarian for their spiritual development:

If a seeker does not stop eating meat, generally he does not get subtle experiences, subtle visions or subtle realisations… the mild qualities of fruits and vegetables help us to establish, in our inner life as well as in our outer life, the qualities of sweetness, softness, simplicity and purity.”

Sri Chinmoy 1

So there you have it. I became a vegetarian in 1991, cold turkey, just like that. And to my surprise I never looked back! I gave it a go to see how long I would last before cravings for meat overtook me – arising from some mad dietary imbalance – however none have yet, and it has been more than 20 years since I started.

One of the most common questions that I get quizzed about by people who are not vegetarian is: “Where do you get your protein from?” Of course the answer is that I get it from my food. The 20 or so amino acids that make up a full complement of proteins are everywhere – my favourite response to that question comes from Sherry Brescia, who states: “Have you ever seen a protein-deficient cow? I haven’t – and all they eat is grass!”

*Blue Cheese and Caramelised Onion Galettes in a Hazelnut Pastry Case*

What’s more, in vegetarian food the amino acids are far more available and in a readily digestible state than in animal flesh – whatever you eat you have to break down, no matter what form it is in, and the process of breaking down animal tissues causes the body far more harm than the process of breaking down plant tissues.

But each to their own.

*Toshala giving a Becoming Vegetarian workshop upstairs at The Blue Bird*

I owned The Blue Bird vegetarian cafe for many years, and I would offer general introductory workshops in vegetarianism to those who are either interested in becoming vegetarian (for whatever reasons – be it for better health or global awareness or humanitarian reasons or spiritual or because the food is tasty, or anything), or who are just interested in what we eat and would like to try some. People came away from the workshop unanimously liking the samples of vegetarian food offered during it. Which is very satisfying.

1. Excerpts from Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

Meditation classes in Korea

Every Sunday morning the Sri Chinmoy Centre of Seoul in South-Korea offers free meditation classes for the public. The classes are given in a yoga studio and are attended by about 40 people.

Sunday morning meditation class in Seoul

The classes are given by Hemabha, who also initiated the Seoul Sri Chinmoy Centre. Hemabha was born in Korea, but then moved to London where she became a student of Sri Chinmoy. She recently moved back to her home country.

Hemabha also organizes the Korean leg of the World Harmony Run.

Hemabha presents the Peace Torch to a school director in Korea

Related

Sri Chinmoy Centre of Seoul

Cross-posted from de.srichinmoycentre.org

Joy-Day in Nepal

To celebrate Sri Chinmoy's arrival in the West in April 1964 the Nepalese Sri Chinmoy Centre in Kathmandu organized a day of special celebrations. This 'Joy-Day' consisted of joyful and spiritual activities, such as meditation, singing, a spiritual play and a visit to Sri Chinmoy's statue in Nagarkot, at the foot of the Himalaya's.

The boys from Kathmandu enjoying the sun

At the Joy-Day there were also four disciples from Bangladesh, which is Sri Chinmoy's land of birth. One of these students is doing her PhD thesis on Sri Chinmoy's poetry.