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.
A Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Meditation: Touching The Infinite
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, Canada
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, Canada
An intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Meditation Nights at the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
Reflections on meditation
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United Kingdom
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Getting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
My wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
How I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech RepublicMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
A demonstration of the Master’s occult powers
Arpan De Angelo New York, United States
Time seemed to freeze
Brahmata Michael Ottawa, Canada
The day I made a useless and ridiculous weightlifting machine for Guru
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom
Celebrating birthdays at Guru's house
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Chinmoy meets an old friend
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United States
My life with Sri Chinmoy
Namrata Moses New York, United States
How Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, Australia
My first experience with Sri Chinmoy
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United States
Akuti: a pioneer-jewel in our Centre
Akuti Eisamann Connecticut, United States
'It was like I was seeing who Guru really was: this extraordinary, beautiful being inside a physical body'
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
I know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
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
Adarsha Kelly
Glasgow, United Kingdom
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 »
Toshala Elliott
Auckland, New Zealand
A singer and accomplished piano accordionist, Toshala is also a member of the international women's group Shindhu.
- Stories »
- Audio »
Ghantika Hammerl
Salzburg, Austria
Ghantika and her whole family became students of Sri Chinmoy. Ghantika plays the saxophone in Bartika's Jazz Group, an all-female group that performs Sri Chinmoy‘s melodies in a combination of jazz, rock and pop styles.
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, Switzerland
Running the world's longest race
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, Russia
How sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
Why run 3100 miles?
Smarana Puntigam Vienna, Austria
Running a Six-Day Race
Ratuja Zub Minsk, Belarus
The Ever-Transcending Goal
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New ZealandA few of our athletic members
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 »
Vajra Henderson
New York, United States
Vajra has been a student of Sri Chinmoy for over 50 years; his medical and massage experience is invaluable in the many ultra-distance races that we organise.
- Stories »
- Video »
Vajin Armstrong
Auckland, New Zealand
Vajin is one of New Zealand's top distance runners, winning the prestigious Kepler Challenge in 2011 and the Swiss Alpine Marathon in 2016
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
Padmasini Guillet
Montpellier, France
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 »
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 »
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 »
Peace-runners
Laufey Haraldsdottir
Reykjavik, Iceland
A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
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 »
Suhasini Septiarini
Ubud, Indonesia
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...
Sri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United States
The Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United Kingdom
A Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
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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