Our members
We come from all backgrounds and walks of life, brought together by our shared love of meditation, spirituality and world-service.
How we started
Sri Chinmoy's students describe the journey of self-discovery that led them to the Sri Chinmoy Centre.
Abhinabha Tangerman - Amsterdam, HollandWhat really appealed to me was the combination of a profound and soulful inner life with a dynamic and versatile outer life. More »
Adesh Widmer - Zurich, SwitzerlandMy inner urge for a higher life had once again been awakened, and I felt that 'the real thing' was still missing from my life. More »
Apaga Renner - Graz, AustriaThe initial curiosity gave way to calm certainty and the joy of silence, a silence in which I can now dive every day. More »
Upasevanam and Mahanidhi - Milan, ItalyWe wanted a real Master, a living top-class Master. I used to cry every day because I was not born in the era of the Buddha, a real Master. More »
Pradeep Hoogakker - Den Haag, HollandNot only did the meditation techniques of Sri Chinmoy provide a definite sense of happiness, but my life had finally found its meaning in the pursuit of enlightenment or God-realisation, as Sri Chinmoy calls it. More »
Sarita Earp - Halifax, CanadaI had finally found what I had been searching for all those years. And 34 years later, I still say the same thing. More »
Shashanka Karlen - Geneva, SwitzerlandI slowly realised for myself that there were two things I needed in life to become really happy: meditation and a spiritual Master. More »
Tejvan Pettinger - Oxford, UKSri Chinmoy believes sport can play a significant role in an integral spiritual life. When I was 26, I started to enter some cycling races and found I did quite well. More »
Tirtha Voelckner - Munich, GermanyIn my almost 30 years as a disciple I have had so many inner and outer, challenging and happy experiences. My life is rich, inwardly rich. More »
Yasovati Steirer - Graz, AustriaOne day I saw a poster about a meditation workshop given by a disciple of Sri Chinmoy. At the workshop I felt something completely new: bubbling joy that only kept growing. More »
| 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 |
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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
Spirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
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
Getting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
An intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Self-transcendence in meditation
Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland
The first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Where the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Seeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, CanadaMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
Humorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Growing up on Sri Chinmoy's path
Aruna Pohland Augsburg, Germany
Having a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
Siblings on a spiritual path
Pranlobha Kalagian Seattle, United States
What drew me to Sri Chinmoy's path
Nikolaus Drekonja San Diego, United States
Our Guru becomes the perfect disciple
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
Your life's responsibilities compel you to develop inner strength
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United States
'I could find out myself, but it was so much easier asking your soul'
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United Kingdom
The day my Guru accepted me as his disciple
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
My evolving relationship with my spiritual Teacher
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, Netherlands
The Impact of a Yogi on My Life
Agni Casanova San Juan, Puerto RicoBooks by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Music
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
Eshana Gadjanski
Novi Sad, Serbia
Eshana is an accomplished pianist. She is the leader of the female music group Blue Flower, whose members come from the former Yugoslavian republics, and which offer concerts of Sri Chinmoy's music all over Europe.
- Stories »
- Audio »
Sadanand Magee
Dublin, Ireland
Sadanand plays all kinds of percussion instruments, especially the Indian tablas. He travels to more than 15 countries a year to play meditative music, mainly as part of the Songs of the Soul concert series.
- Audio »
Samalya Schafer
Berlin, Germany
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 »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
Running the world's longest race
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, Russia
Progress-Pilgrimage: A 1200km run from Vienna to Paris
Shamita Achenbach-König Vienna, Austria
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, Switzerland
Why run 3100 miles?
Smarana Puntigam Vienna, Austria
How sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto RicoA few of our athletic members
Boijayanti Gomez-Badillo
New York, United States
Boijayanti is a joint race director of a number of races organised by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in the New York area, including the Self-Transcendece Swim-Run and the Flushing Meadows 5k race.
Ashrita Furman
New York, United States
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 »
Vasanti Niemz
Heidelberg, Germany
Vasanti was the first of Sri Chinmoy's students to swim the English Channel in 1985, a feat she repeated 25 years later in 2012 as part of a triathlon - swimming, biking and running all the way to Aachen, Germany.
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
London, United Kingdom
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 »
Smarana Puntigam
Vienna, Austria
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 »
Aruna Pohland
Augsburg, Germany
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 »
Peace-runners
Nikolaus Drekonja
San Diego, United States
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.
Apaguha Vesely
Prague, Czech Republic
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 »
Bayarkhuu Batbayar
Ulan Bataar, Mongolia
Bayarkhuu has travelled the world as part of the international Peace Run team, taking part in runs in Scandinavia, Australia, Japan and Korea
- Gallery »
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...
A Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas 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 States
My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United Kingdom
Bhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, Ireland
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandArt and Photography
Papaha Gosline
San Diego, United States
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 »
Ashish Zubaty
Zlin, Czech Republic
Ashish's specialities are cooking and photography. He also is an enthusiastic participant in the World Harmony Run, having joined the international team on runs through Australia, the USA and Ireland.
- Gallery »
Pranlobha Kalagian
Seattle, United States
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 »
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