
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.


Meditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Meditation Nights at the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
Getting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
The first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Experiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
How I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech Republic
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Where the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, Canada
Reflections on meditation
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Spirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.

Sri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, Canada
My first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, Switzerland
Sri Chinmoy meets an old friend
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United States
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
Humorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Having a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
If a wish comes from the soul, it will be granted
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
Meeting Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Your life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United States
Running for Peace
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Meditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United Kingdom
When I met Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, BulgariaMusic
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

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 »

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 »

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 »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.

Believe, take a step and proceed: a 6-day race experience
Susan Marshall ,
Running a Six-Day Race
Ratuja Zub Minsk, Belarus
How sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
How Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, Australia
Muhammad Ali: I was expecting a monster, but I found a lamb
Sevananda Padilla San Juan, Puerto Rico
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, SwitzerlandA few of our athletic members

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 »

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.

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 »
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

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 »

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 »

Smarana Puntigam
As well as managing a gift store on Vienna's busiest street, Smarana has also completed ultrarunning's toughest challenge - the 3100 Mile Race - seven times.
- Stories »
Peace-runners

Nikolaus Drekonja
Nikolaus spends his time between the United States and Austria, where he has family in both countries. He loves to travel with our international Peace Run team as they visit schools and communities around the world.

Sarankhuu Jargal
As well as helping to organise the Mongolian Peace Run, Sarankhuu always brings joy and enthusiasm to our international Peace Run team, participating in runs in the USA and Australia.
- Gallery »

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...

My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United Kingdom
Bhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, Ireland
A Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
The Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesArt and Photography

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 »

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 »