The story behind the photo, 30 years later

I took this photo on Sri Chinmoy’s birthday, in August 1991 at Aspiration-Ground, the outdoor meditation garden where he would gather with his students. He is holding Carl Lewis's  sprinting shoes, that he used in the World Championship in Tokyo of the same year, where he regained the title of the world’s fastest human as he broke the 100-meters world record.

Carl gave Sri Chinmoy the shoes as a present, and wrote “Dearest Guru, much love, Sudhahota 9.86”

Sudhahota is a spiritual name that Sri Chinmoy gave Carl, which means “Unparalleled sacrificer of Immortality’s Nectar-Delight. Sri Chinmoy first met Carl Lewis on 11 November 1983 in Queens New York, and since then they established a deep affection and admiration as friends, master and student. Sri Chinmoy said that Sudhahota was his outer coach in running and he was Sudhahota's inner coach in meditation.

The day after they first met, Sri Chinmoy gave Sudhahota his spiritual name. I was so lucky to be there and witness this event, especially since it happened on my birthday! A few years later I got another special blessing, when Guru was invited to Sudhahota’s house in Huston, Texas, again on my birthday. I was very honoured to give prasad to all present and celebrated my own birthday with Guru in Sudhahota’s house.