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Pradhan Balter talks about the real significance of love, devotion and surrender and what they mean to him as a spiritual seeker. Pradhan has followed the spiritual path of Sri Chinmoy for over 50 years and offers his thoughts from years of practical experience.
Siblings on a spiritual path
Pranlobha Kalagian
Pranlobha and Antara-Prabhat, a sister and brother from Seattle, describe how they became Sri Chinmoy’s students at a very young age, and how they grew up on a spiritual path.
The Impact of a Yogi on My Life
Agni (José Luis Casanova) was an early disciple of Sri Chinmoy from Puerto Rico. Sri Chinmoy first visited Puerto Rico in 1966 and it was the first place where he established a spiritual centre.
Agni was a founding member of the Puerto Rico centre and arranged Sri Chinmoy's early meetings, interviews and activities in Puerto Rico. In those early days, Agni served as photographer, translator and transcriber for his Master Sri Chinmoy. The following article was written by Agni on 4 September 1968.
Sri Chinmoy and Agni
When I met Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, I was vanquished, defeated, done for, dead, or so I thought. For the ordinary common occupations of human life I was pretty much alive and kicking. I had congenial work; perfect health – the Supreme had seen fit to endow me with a strong body that seems to resist all disease or discomfort, for which I thank Him – family and friends are very comforting. But I never intended to live a humdrum ordinary human life, I had aimed at the Transcendental Knowledge, I had wanted to possess the Absolute Truth.
In my way to the top of this seemingly inaccessible peak I had been cut and bruised and with mind and heart scarred from the multiple falls through abysmal precipices I had been forced to quit the race, not with cowardice in my heart but with a realistic feeling that I by myself without somebody else’s help was actually unable to reach the Goal. In this dark night of the human soul was I, sometimes wondering if it were not best to dissolve into nothingness, to cease to be a conscious being, to fuse forever in the shadows of not being, when I met Sri Chinmoy.
What he saw in my ragged and bloody sinews he has never told me, but instantly he started to work in me. With his Infinite Compassion he projected from himself into my being a green ray of new life. This new life took root in me. Mind and body were revitalised, hope reborn. Talents long forgotten that lay rusty in the recesses of my consciousness came again to life as if by a magic touch.
"You have got a Guru, Agni, so your problem is over and your aspiration is most intense. I say it with the very depth of my heart that this Guru of yours will never fail you. You will always be in the inmost recesses of his heart. He will carry you, carry you to the Golden Shore of the Beyond."
Sri Chinmoy A conversation with Agni, 15 January 1968
All doubts and negative feelings that had for so long cluttered my mind and heart started to melt away like snow at the caress of the summer sun. My problems and difficulties, the long-standing obstacles that had so long remained totally blocking my advance were dissolved in the light of his Wisdom Divine. And more important than everything, I am becoming more and more open to his all-pervading Purity. To be sure, I have not reached my Goal yet but it makes all the difference in the world when you are travelling with the help of an experienced and all-powerful guide who has been there and who can carry you by the safest and least precipitous way.
Agni and Sri Chinmoy during TV interview
Ordinarily we approach God-Knowledge or Truth transcendental as we would approach any other subject or mundane science. We know there is a mountain and we want to climb it in our own way and by our own forces. Soon Sri Chinmoy pointed to us the fallacy of this approach. It is God’s Grace that can bring us to a happy rendezvous with our Goal. We have to surrender ourselves, all that we are and have at the Feet of the Supreme; devotedly, lovingly we need to make use of the wings of the soul that heeds always the homecoming call of the Father. It is no abstract task for the mind to perform with a mathematical formula, it is more a task for the heart, for our whole being.
To travel with Sri Chinmoy is like travelling in a modern jet plane. The ease of the take-off, the immense power of the engines, the loving care and attention, the smooth powerful climb, all is there. The certainty of exact flying instruments and a wise and knowing captain are there also. Some persons approaching him for the first time are totally deceived by his humble demeanour, his kind, affectionate talk and his simple dress devoid of all ostentation. If they do not possess a real inner call they most probably will pass him by without recognising for one second his real grandeur. Others, unable to accept the fact that it is only by surrendering ourselves to God that we can reach Him, drop away on the wayside. Little do they realise that in their hope of possessing the material pleasures and objects they are surrendering themselves daily to be enslaved by the same things they want to possess. But Sri Chinmoy promptly demonstrates to his faithful disciples that by surrendering to God we lose nothing at all and on the other hand we gain infinite freedom. What do we surrender after all? The fears, limitations, worries, egotism, desires and frustrations. What do we gain? Bliss, Peace, Infinite Joy, real joy of living, enduring joy.
There are others who think in a limited capacity. They think of themselves as buckets, they bring to the Master their personal doubts and problems and when those are solved, they think that their buckets are now full and that they have no need for the fountain. Little do they realise that Truth, infinite Truth is always recreating Itself. You can no more live today on yesterday’s thoughts than you can live and function in the physical body upon what you ate yesterday. Those lucky ones who remain with the Master come to realise that we are not buckets but channels, that Truth has to flow in us and through us in an ever new form, every second, every day. If we are contented with solving our problems of today, new and gloomier ones will haunt us tomorrow; but if we become a true living channel for the Divine Wisdom, the Light flowing in us and through us will dispel all ignorance and darkness, the father and mother of all our problems. Then a day will come when, enamoured with that Light that permeates our beings, we become a part of the Light itself.
Agni and Sri Chinmoy
We in contemporary America live in an age of miracles. Powerful planes let us fly through the air like the magicians of the sunk Atlantis as related by Plato. Incredible rockets roar toward the moon and planets leaving trails of flame and smoke behind, the atom has been harnessed, in a positive aspect to provide energy for our necessities and activities and in a negative aspect to serve as Damocles’ sword hanging over the head of proud homo sapiens, menacing his very existence here on earth. But there are other miracles of a more quiet nature that totally escape the headlines. The alleviation of suffering and healing of disease at the touch of the hand. Infusing new energy, new life and new courage into a broken-down individual; giving us something to look for, a hope and faith in these troubled modern times. All these are miracles of more lasting if not resounding effects. This are the kinds of miracles that the disciples of Sri Chinmoy see happening around him every day. His childlike innocence, his simple personality devoid of fanfare or self-aggrandisement contributes to having these miracles pass utmost unobserved but miracles they are indeed and of the first order.
What can you expect if you become a disciple of Sri Chinmoy? If you have burning aspiration to realise God, to attain to Truth and Divine Wisdom, he can fan your aspiration into a radiant flame that will carry you way up to the Highest. If you come to sail with him in his boat, he will carry you to the Golden Shore of the Beyond. There is no problem that he cannot solve and no doubt that he cannot clear as he himself is a perfect channel for the Divine Light and Wisdom to flow toward us. What do you have to bring? Sincerity, aspiration and a willingness to place yourself consciously and soulfully at the Feet of the Supreme.
Editorial note
Agni was a spiritual name given by Sri Chinmoy. It refers to the fire-god and god of aspiration. Agni passed away on 14 March 1974. Sri Chinmoy later named his own publishing house as "Agni Press" in memory of Agni.
This article was published in "A Caravan of Dreams" (2020), compiled by Vidagdha Bennett
The spirit of the Peace Run continues
During 2020, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run was scheduled to run across the European continent starting in Portugal and finishing in Prague, the Czech Republic in October, but recent events have made this not possible. However, whilst staying in their respective towns and countries, members of the Peace Run have been eager to keep alive the spirit of the Peace Run, by continuing to run on their own, and dedicate these runs to the same cause of peace and upliftment of the human spirit.
Lone runnerMap of 'virtual' run
In this spirit, the Peace Run has welcomed runners to commit to a daily mileage so that each week, the 'virtual' team can target a particular mileage of between 60-160km a day. The idea is that, although physically we may be separated, we can still seek to maintain an inner connection and keep alive the universal dream of bringing together humanity in a spirit of friendship and peace.
“Peace does not mean the absence of war, peace means the presence of harmony, love, satisfaction and oneness. Peace means a flood of love in the world family.”
– Sri Chinmoy
The Sri Chinmoy Peace Run - photo from 2018.
This 'virtual' Peace Run is open to anyone who would like to join in the simple aim of dedicating some of their weekly running to the spirit of peace. Before beginning their run, participants from the virtual peace run have briefly meditated on the concept and feeling of peace as a way to make their individual runs meaningful to this wider goal.
“Our soul lives in Peace and lives for Peace. If we live a life of peace, we are ever enriched and never impoverished. Unhorizoned is our inner peace; like the boundless sky, it encompasses all.”
- Sri Chinmoy
Amur
In the first week of the Peace Run, the team have completed a total of 511 km, which is equivalent of running from Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina - to Struga on the border of Albania and North Macedonia. The local organiser for Bosnia, Amur gave this enthusiastic report.
"It is like dream come true even if it is Virtual Peace Run. We had two groups of local runners in Sarajevo and Banjaluka united with the same idea to run for peace. Cities were closed during some periods of the day but we found the way by sharing the distance among us and running whenever possible. We could not run in groups because of social distancing regulations but it did not change our feeling that we did something together for the cause of Peace".
Tirtha
The Run team is usually a global, international team of runners, so for the 'virtual' Balkan leg, runners from afar afield as Australia, Britain and Germany have participated - offering their individual runs to the total km. Tirtha from Germany felt that dedicating the run to peace was a significant way to feel the inner presence of peace.
"As we don’t have a torch here, I took a tulip, symbolic of a torch, to meditate on Peace on the anniversary on April 27th. Especially on that first day, I really felt a little glowing light inside my heart while I ran. I even thought, that people, whom I met on the way, must have seen it, too. It gave me so much joy".
Stacey
Stacey from New Zealand has been running through an early Australian winter, but despite the cold, she felt the powerful memories from her previous Peace Runs inspired her individual runs.
"The weather was all over the place this week, wet, windy, sunny and always cold! The sound of rain on the roof and heavy winds, or the feel of your cold nose and hands as you prepare to leave the house makes it not so enticing to step out the door. But it was the memories of all of the Peace Run's over the last few years, the warm hearted people we met, the hope and promise you feel for this world of ours as you carry the Peace Torch, that helped me to take the first step each and every day."
Although our current situation is very challenging, it also brings a renewed focus on what is important to value and cherish. The virtual Peace Run is a reminder that - wherever we are and in whatever situation we find ourself, we can still make a very meaningful contribution to creating a better world, where we value peace, friendship and offering goodwill to others.
Offering good will on the road (photo from 2019)Runners in SarajevoPicture from 2018
Our newest divine enterprises open (with not-great timing)
Sri Chinmoy would sometimes encourage students of his to open divine enterprises, if he saw they had the capability to do so. These enterprises are often restaurants or coffee shops, and allows Sri Chinmoy's students to put their spirituality into action, by seeing the Divine inside each customer.
Two new divine enterprises opened recently in Europe - the timing has not been great to say the least, but the owners are taking it as a spiritual experience that they can learn valuable life-lessons from.
Finding joy in life at home
Many of us around the world are finding ourselves in the unusual situation of being confined to our homes. When we are confined to our place of residence, it can remind us how much we miss meeting friends, enjoying the freedom of nature - we can even start to miss our work environment and the chance to speak to colleagues. However, whilst we live through this challenging situation, there are a few things we can consider to make the most of the situation.
Routine. If we are not used to being fixed in one place, it can be daunting to have 16 hours to fill. The best way around this is to create a routine, with hour slots for things like exercise, work, study, reading, entertainment, meals. Having a fixed routine helps to avoid falling into a trap of passively looking at screens to pass the time. It can also give a sense of accomplishment if we do our work for a few hours in the morning, we can feel like we deserve some relaxation. Another part of a good routine is to do something different at the weekend - have a day of doing something very different.
Exercise routine. An essential part of any daily routine is having exercise. This can be anything you are able to do. If you are allowed out for one piece of exercise, you will appreciate even more the opportunity to run. Sri Chinmoy encouraged running as an excellent complement to meditation and the inner life. Running helps to clear the mind and cultivate a sense of dynamism.
“In the morning if we can energise ourselves with physical activities, then we can accomplish so many things during the rest of the day. That is why I say sports and physical fitness are of supreme importance. If we neglect the physical and let the body become weak, then the mind also becomes weak.” – Sri Chinmoy
If we are regular, we will feel better for giving the body much-needed exercise. If running is not possible, we can definitely be inventive with home exercise routines, even in the smallest of spaces. There are 650 muscles in the body, try to give them all a workout!
Meditation. If you have never tried meditation before, now is a great opportunity, in that it will be much easier to find time. The best is to choose a fixed time - a time when it will be quieter in the house like early morning is excellent. Generally, it is best to learn to meditate from meeting like-minded people who can offer guidance and meditate in a group. But, since that is not possible at the moment, you can still do your best to learn on your own. Don't worry about how good you are at keeping the mind still. The most important thing is to cultivate the inner hunger and feel meditation can really change your life for the better. We have a home meditation course here.
Singing. It is always good to try something new. Singing can be an excellent way to lift our spirits. Here there are some simple meditation mantras. If you can get into the flow of the mantras you will find you can gain the benefits of meditation without having to worry about quietening the mind so much.
Dealing with stress. This can be a stressful time. We may worry about the health of our friends and relatives, and we may have worries about our own financial situation. For many of us, life has been turned upon its head. Rather than filling our minds with worry and concern, it is better to spend that time offering our goodwill and prayers to our friends and family. When we worry, we only offer a negative energy. Instead of worrying, we can use the same time and energy to offer our concern and best wishes to those around us. This will give a sense of doing something in a positive spirit.
Do you want to be always happy?
Then give up fighting
For negativity
And learn the beautiful art
Of self-encouragement.
Learn to switch off In these times, we do need to keep up with what is happening in our society, but we don't need to become news addicts, checking our phone several times through the day. Once or twice is best. Avoid scrolling through news feeds and social media - especially first thing in the morning and late at night. If we are filled with anxiety, watching the news or spending too much time reading things online can exacerbate these worries.
Read something new. Many of us are now working online. We work on a computer and we then relax by watching a screen. By the end of our day our eyes can get tired and our head a little fuzzy. Reading a good book is an excellent way to enter another world and escape the world of computers and phones.
Speak to friends. We are social beings, if we are isolated, it is even more important to keep in contact with friends. Sri Chinmoy was a great advocate of speaking on the phone and not relying on impersonal electronic communication. He observed that when we send texts and emails, it only touches the mind of the other person. But, if we speak to a person, we can bring our and their hearts to the fore. It is a good discipline to get in the habit of ringing one friend per day, and seeing how they are getting on. It will give more inspiration than just sending a text.
Related
From the Front lines at Scottish Poetry Library - Janaka Alan Spence a member of the Edinburgh Sri Chinmoy Centre gives his thoughts on living in lockdown and how he makes use of more time for meditation and singing.
