Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, better known as Sri Chinmoy[1] (27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007), was an Indian spiritual leader who taught meditation in the West after moving to New York City in 1964.[2] Chinmoy established his first meditation center in Queens, New York, and eventually had 7,000 students in 60 countries.[3][4] A prolific author, artist, poet, and musician, he also held public events such as concerts and meditations on the theme of inner peace.[4][5] Chinmoy advocated a spiritual path to God through prayer and meditation. He advocated athleticism including distance running, swimming, and weightlifting. He organized marathons and other races, and was an active runner and, following a knee injury, weightlifter.[4][5]
Sri Chinmoy | |
---|---|
Born | Chinmoy Kumar Ghose 27 August 1931 |
Died | 11 October 2007 76) | (aged
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Spiritual teacher |
Biography
Early years in India
Chinmoy was the youngest of seven children, born in Shakpura, Boalkhali Upazila, in the Chittagong District of East Bengal, British India (now Bangladesh). He lost his father to illness in 1943, and his mother a few months later. Chinmoy began his serious practice of meditation at the age of 11.[6] In 1944, the 12-year-old Chinmoy joined his brothers and sisters at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, where elder brothers Hriday and Chitta had already established a presence.[7][8] It was Chitta that gave Chinmoy his name which means 'full of divine consciousness'.[9]
In the ashram he spent the next 20 years in spiritual practice, including meditation, study in Bengali and English literature,[10] athletics,[2] and work in the ashram's cottage industries.[11] Chinmoy claimed that for about eight years, he was the personal secretary to the General Secretary of the ashram, Nolini Kanta Gupta. Chinmoy translated his writings from Bengali into English.[12]
Move to the United States
According to Chinmoy, in 1964 he was prompted to move to the United States in response to a "message from within" to be of service to people in the West searching for spiritual fulfillment.[13] With the help of Sam Spanier and Eric Hughes, American sponsors connected with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, he emigrated to New York City.[14]
He successfully applied for a job as junior clerk at the Indian consulate, despite his lack of formal education. He received support and encouragement from his colleagues and bosses and was invited to give talks on Hinduism. He started to give talks at universities and later, at the United Nations.[15]
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Chinmoy continued giving lectures and talks at universities around the U.S. on spiritual topics. In 1974 he gave lectures in 50 states at 50 universities, and these lectures were published as a six-part book series entitled 50 Freedom-Boats to One Golden Shore (1974). In the 1970s and 1980s he traveled around Europe, Asia, and Australia lecturing at universities, resulting in the publication of The Oneness of the Eastern Heart and the Western Mind.[16][17] Chinmoy has also published books, essays, spiritual poetry, plays, and commentaries on the Vedas.[18]
In 1966 Chinmoy opened a Sri Chinmoy Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[19] Up until the late 1970s the main Chinmoy study centers were in New York, Florida and the West Indies.[20] Over the next few decades Sri Chinmoy Centers were opened and established in multiple cities in the US, Europe, Australasia, South Africa and South America eventually totaling 350 centers worldwide.[21][22] In 1973, the New York Times wrote that Chinmoy was "revered in India as one of the few holy men to have reached Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the absolute highest level of consciousness".[23]
During the 1970s Chinmoy began playing and composing on the flute and esraj.[22] In 1984 he started giving free 'Peace Concerts' around the world.[24] The largest ever concert was in Montreal, for 19,000 people.[25]
While in America in the 1970s, Chinmoy attracted followers such as musicians Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Narada Michael Walden, Roberta Flack, Clarence Clemons, and Boris Grebenshchikov.[26][27] Chinmoy offered the musicians a disciplined spiritual path that forbade the use of drugs and alcohol and encouraged music and poetry as expressions of thankfulness to the Divine.[28]
Santana and McLaughlin stayed with Chinmoy for a number of years before leaving. In 1973 they released an album based on Chinmoy's teachings, titled Love Devotion Surrender. McLaughlin was a Chinmoy follower from 1970 to 1975.[29] In 1971 he formed the Mahavishnu Orchestra, named for the spiritual name Chinmoy had given him. McLaughlin introduced Santana to the guru,[30][31] and Santana and his wife Deborah were subsequently Chinmoy followers from 1972 to 1981. Santana said, "Without a guru I serve only my own vanity, but with him I can be of service to you and everybody. I am the strings, but he is the musician. Guru has graduated from the Harvards of consciousness and sits at the feet of God."[32] Santana released three albums under the spiritual name Devadip – meaning "Lamp of God", "Eye of God", and "Light of God"[33] – that Chinmoy gave him: Illuminations (1974), Oneness (1979), and The Swing of Delight (1980). In 2000, he told Rolling Stone that things soured between him and Chinmoy in the 1980s. Santana emphasized that he took much that was good from his years with the guru, even though when he left, Chinmoy "was pretty vindictive for a while. He told all my friends not to call me ever again, because I was to drown in the dark sea of ignorance for leaving him."[32] In 2017 Santana told Rolling Stone, "I'm really grateful for those 10 years I spent with that spiritual master."[34]
Spiritual teacher Frederick Lenz became a follower around 1972, but in 1981 he broke with Chinmoy and became a guru on his own.[35] Spiritual author Lex Hixon was a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in the 1970s.[36]
Chinmoy advocated "self-transcendence" by expanding one's consciousness to conquer the mind's perceived limitations,[37] and this was often applied to athletics. Olympic gold-medalist runner Carl Lewis was advised by Chinmoy.[38][39] He learned to meditate from Chinmoy, and practices the techniques regularly. A devoted Christian, Lewis stated that his involvement with Chinmoy was a step forward to spiritual fulfillment which strengthened his Christian beliefs.[40] In 2011 Lewis appeared in the short documentary Challenging Impossibility, which features the feats of strength demonstrated by Chinmoy.[41]
According to the team's website, members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team have swum the English Channel over 40 times.[42] Other Chinmoy-sponsored athletic events include ultra-distance running, including the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race; mountain climbing; and long-distance cycling. In 2010 Ashrita Furman, who holds over 150 Guinness World Records, stated that "the meditation he learned from Sri Chinmoy helps him to perform beyond his expectations."[43]
In 1987 Sri Chinmoy inaugurated the Sri Chinmoy Oneness Home Peace Run, a symbolic relay style run for peace through many countries of the world where runners carry a flaming torch representing harmony. Sri Chinmoy described his concept as a "grassroots effort for peace". The 'Oneness Home' theme of the Peace Run, is that people are all peace-longing citizens on one single planet.[27][44]
In 1991 Chinmoy initiated the 'Oneness Heart Tears and Smiles' humanitarian service which sends food and medicine to those in need. The organisation, which as of 2007 served 136 countries, began with members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre distributing humanitarian aid to needy children and adults worldwide.[45][46] It works with NGOs or governments, and provides health, medical, and educational supplies to recipient nations. It is served by health professionals and private volunteers on five continents, in programs which provide disaster relief, regional development, and health and medical supplies.[47][48] The 'Kids to kids' program sponsored by the Oneness Heart Tears and Smiles encourages school children to prepare packs of school supplies and toys for disadvantaged children in other communities.[49]
Chinmoy travelled widely, and dedicated his many activities and the events he founded to peace. He met with world figures, and was often described as an ambassador of peace. Chinmoy met Mother Teresa on five separate occasions. On their second meeting in Rome, Italy during October 1994, Chinmoy presented her with an award. During the ceremony Mother Teresa said to Sri Chinmoy: "I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries. May we continue to work together and to share together all for the glory of God and for the good of man."[3][50][51] Chinmoy met with Diana, Princess of Wales, at Kensington Palace on May 21, 1997.[52]
He did not charge fees for his spiritual guidance or music performances. He was respectful towards all religions and religious figures of the world.[53] He attracted an estimated 7,000 students in his lifetime.[54] His path was a contemporary spiritual system of yoga, practised under the guidance of a guru, or spiritual teacher.[55][56] Chinmoy advocated brahmacharya – celibacy – for both married and unmarried devotees, and focusing on experiencing inner spiritual joy rather than pleasure.[57] According to a 1987 article in Hinduism Today, Chinmoy as a yoga spiritual master was an unmarried celibate.[58] Unlike in some other older traditions, Chinmoy taught that a complete withdrawal from the world was not necessary for spiritual progress, but rather "a gradual and total Illumination of life".[59][60]
Until his death in late 2007, Chinmoy was the spiritual leader to thousands of devoted followers worldwide.[61] From the mid-1960s he lived in his world headquarters in Queens, New York City, surrounded by hundreds of his followers who moved to the area.[4][62] The Chinmoy group was considered to be a cult by some.[3][63] The 1994 book The Joy of Sects stated that "some of his followers left, however, amid accusations that Chinmoy was making sexual advances towards the wives of his disciples",[64] and in 2005 and 2014 San Diego CityBeat and Salon.com each posted a profile of a different female former disciple who alleged inappropriate sexual conduct.[63][65] In February 2016 PIX 11 News in New York did two segments on Chinmoy, in which one former follower alleged sexual impropriety, while others praised Chinmoy and the Sri Chinmoy Centre's spokesperson stated in a written response that "Our founder and teacher, Sri Chinmoy, led a life of the utmost purity and integrity".[66][67] Chinmoy was never sued or charged with any crime, and his lawyer denied the 2004 allegations at the time.[63] Some journalists and former followers have criticized what they view as Chinmoy's obsessive or aggressive self-promotion.[68][69][67] In 2009, Jayanti Tamm published an account of life as a Chinmoy disciple, Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult.[70] Tamm, who was born into Chinmoy's organisation, claimed that Chinmoy predicted she would become his perfect disciple. She was banished from the group when she was 25. The book describes her life in the guru's inner circle and her efforts to break free from his influence.[71][72] According to the book, Chinmoy banned sex, and most disciples were directed to remain single. The book also states that the guru disparaged secular education, and his prohibitions included the consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and meat; dancing; dating; socializing with outsiders; and owning pets, although he kept a collection of exotic pets in his Queens basement. Tamm notes however that the 7,000 other followers around the world, and others who encountered Chinmoy, are likely to have had different experiences and perceptions.[73]
Over the years Chinmoy had ongoing friendships with Mikhail Gorbachev,[74] Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, and Desmond Tutu.[75]
Chinmoy died from a heart attack while at his home in Jamaica, Queens, New York on 11 October 2007. Mikhail Gorbachev wrote that his death was "a loss for the whole world" and that "in our hearts, he will forever remain a man who dedicated his whole life to peace."[4]
Teachings
Chinmoy taught that rapid spiritual progress could be made by following a path of love, devotion, and surrender.[23][76][77][78][79] He described divine love as self-offering and self-expansion.[77][80] This practice of love and devotion to God is known as Bhakti Yoga.[18] His path was not one of earthly renunciation or asceticism, but a middle path where the seeker has the opportunity to renounce, or transform, the negative qualities which stand in the way of union with the Divine. Chinmoy taught that meditation on the heart brings the light of the soul forward to reach the highest reality as soon as possible.[81] Chinmoy stated: "We are all seekers, and our goal is the same: to achieve inner peace, light and joy, to become inseparably one with our Source, and to lead lives full of true satisfaction."[82] An integral element of Chinmoy's teachings is the understanding of 'self-transcendence'. Self-transcendence is the practice of having a new goal and going beyond our previous capacities and limits which inevitably gives us joy. Self-transcendence is the goal of making progress in life by becoming a better human being rather than competing with the rest of the world. Chinmoy believed that we are all truly unlimited in spirit.[83]
Chinmoy's philosophy he explains is the acceptance of life. By sharing goodwill and inspiration to others and serving mankind the world can be transformed and peace can be achieved.[84]
He asked his disciples to adopt a vegetarian diet, abstain from recreational drugs including alcohol,[85] and lead a pure and celibate lifestyle.[2][57] Although influenced by Hinduism, his path catered to an international community of seekers from diverse backgrounds.[86]
Meditation
Chinmoy taught a range of techniques for meditation, especially those for calming and bringing silence to the mind, purifying the thoughts of the mind and meditating on the spiritual heart. Chinmoy explains that by keeping your mind calm and quiet for ten or fifteen minutes, a new experience can begin to dawn within you and this practise of stilling the mind is the root of all spiritual progress.[87]
Chinmoy recommended meditation during the quiet atmosphere of the early morning, before starting daily activities. As the traditional Hour of God, between three and four a.m., known as the Brahma Muhurta, may not suit the western lifestyle of keeping late hours, Chinmoy recommended for those newer to meditation to ideally meditate before seven a.m. Chinmoy taught that both prayer and meditation are important, but there is a difference in the result. Prayer is a process of rising up to God and speaking to Him, and meditation is a practice of stilling the mind so that the God-presence can envelop us and commune with us.[88] He also taught that reading spiritual writings or singing soulful songs was useful to prepare for meditation or to remain in a meditative mood after practising meditation.[89] Chinmoy believed that running and physical fitness were a help to the inner spiritual life as well as to the outer life of activity, and encouraged his followers to run daily.[90] Chinmoy regarded the benefits of running as keeping the body fit and clearing the mind; he felt it can also be a form of external meditation.[91]
United Nations
In 1970, Chinmoy began giving twice-weekly non-denominational peace meditations at the United Nations for UN delegates, staff, and NGO representatives.[92] In 1976 he stated, "The ideas of the United Nations are universal peace and universal brotherhood, and the ideals of the United Nations are a oneness-world-family and a oneness-heart."[93]
After directing the peace meditations, which had been attended by many UN employees and diplomats, for 37 years, more than 700 UN officials, ambassadors, members of the U.S. Congress, and representatives of various religions, paid tributes to Chinmoy following his death during a posthumous celebration at the UN headquarters in New York.[94] During the ceremony at the UN, Daw Aye Aye Thant, the daughter of former UN Secretary-General U Thant, said in her speech:
In a letter to Sri Chinmoy in April 1972, my father wrote, 'You have indeed instilled in the minds of hundreds of people here the moral and spiritual values which both of us cherish very dearly. I shall always cherish the memorable occasion of our meetings at the United Nations." ... I feel fortunate to have known Sri Chinmoy and to have been in his presence many times, and to have known many members of the Group.[95]
Interfaith
An integral part of Chinmoy's teaching is the respect for other paths and religions. Chinmoy wrote:
True religion has a universal quality. It does not find fault with other religions. ... Forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, brotherhood and the feeling of oneness are the signs of a true religion.[96]
Chinmoy's efforts to promote inter-faith harmony resulted in him being invited to open the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago (1993)[97] and Barcelona (2004)[98] with a silent meditation. During the 2004 Opening Meditation, he said: "During my opening meditation I am praying for the oneness of all religions."[99]
Chinmoy said that although he was brought up in the Hindu tradition, he felt that his only religion was the "Love of God".[92]
The arts
Artwork
Chinmoy began painting in 1974 during a visit to Ottawa, Canada. He called his artwork "Jharna Kala", which in Bengali means "Fountain Art". Chinmoy's artwork is inspired by the themes of universal oneness and universal peace.[21][100]
His abstract paintings are a mixture of acrylics and pen drawings. Chinmoy used a wide variety of sponges, brushes and colours to paint in a unique spontaneous mystical style with a lot of vigour, strong movement and rhythm. Chinmoy has said that when he paints he finds a spontaneous flow of creativity from the stillness of his meditation that allows him to follow an inner inspiration or 'streak of light' to follow. In December 1991 Chinmoy started a new series of art-work entitled "Dream-Freedom-Peace-Birds" or 'Soul Birds'. The bird drawings are often simple zen like sketches that have either one bird or in some paintings hundreds of birds in one large drawing. The soul bird drawings, Chinmoy stated, symbolize humanity's heart cry for freedom.[101][102][103]
His art has been displayed in the UNESCO offices in Paris, London's Victoria and Albert Museum, the Mall Gallery in London, the Museum of Modern Art in St. Petersburg, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and the United Nations Headquarters.[104][105][106][107]
Music
According to his followers, Chinmoy composed thousands of short musical compositions, written with lyrics primarily in Bengali and English.[4] Many of these have been published online under a Creative Commons license at Sri Chinmoy Songs (lyrics and sheet music)[108] and Radio Sri Chinmoy (audio).[109] He released two albums in Jamaica on the Studio One subsidiary label Port-O-Jam.[110][111] In 1976, Chinmoy released a meditative album on Folkways Records entitled Music for Meditation.[112]
Chinmoy also gave hundreds of free peace concerts in notable venues around the world, including London's Royal Albert Hall, New York's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Tokyo's Nippon Budokan, the Louvre in Paris, and the Sydney Opera House[4]
Chinmoy played a number of different instruments at his concerts including the flute, esraj, piano, cello and other Eastern and Western instruments.[113]
Poetry
According to the Sri Chinmoy Centre, Chinmoy published over 1,300 books including 120,000 poems.[53][114] Many of these poems are aphorisms – a short but complete spiritual poem or verse, such as "We are all truly unlimited, if we only dare to try and have faith."[115] Chinmoy also published some volumes of longer more classical style poetry.[116][117] In 2001, Chinmoy recited his poetry at the United Nations, as part of a UN sponsored event of promoting "Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry".[118][119]
Chinmoy's inspirational writing has been praised by many, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who wrote: "These sweet gems of wisdom written by my dear friend Sri Chinmoy are timeless truths full of encouragement, love and goodness. ... These chapters fill us with indomitable hope and enthusiasm for life."[120]
Athleticism
Running
In 1977 the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team was founded; it holds running, swimming, and cycling events worldwide, from fun runs to ultramarathons.[121][122][123][124][125] Its precursor was the 1976 Liberty Torch Run, a relay in which 33 runners marked America's bicentennial by covering 8,800 miles in 7 weeks through 50 states.[126] This concept was expanded in 1987 to become the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.[127] The Peace Run is generally held every two years, and the first was launched in April 1987 at the World Trade Center in New York City.[27]
In 1985 Chinmoy, with the then Mayor of Oxford, inaugurated the first "Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile", which is a measured mile in Cutteslowe Park, Oxford giving joggers something against which to measure their progress.[128] There are now numerous "Peace Miles" around the world.[129]
Many of Chinmoy's followers run daily for health and physical fitness. Chinmoy himself continued to enter races until his 60s when a knee injury hampered his ability to run; afterwards he turned his attention to tennis and weightlifting.[130]
Chinmoy also founded the Self-Transcendence 6- & 10-day Races, which run concurrently in Queens each April, and the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, described by The New York Times as the "Mount Everest of ultramarathons".[131]
Weightlifting
Chinmoy began weightlifting in 1985, at the age of 54. His weightlifting included a creative array of objects and machinery designed to challenge his strength and ability. His message to the public in his weightlifting endeavours was that anything is possible if one is able to put aside the limitations of the mind.[2][132] Bill Pearl, former Mr. Universe, acted as Master of Ceremonies at many of Chinmoy's strength exhibitions. Introducing one of Chinmoy's weightlifting exhibitions in 1999, Bill Pearl wrote: "Today you are going to see some amazing feats of strength that I myself – and I have been in the industry for fifty-five years – would not even attempt to perform."[133] Chinmoy said his motivation for lifting was to inspire others, especially those of an older generation. In 2006 he stated, "If I can inspire anybody in this world, then I feel that my life is meaningful. With my weightlifting, I am offering my physical strength to inspire people."[134]
In a program created in 1998 known as 'Lifting up the world with a Oneness Heart', Chinmoy lifted people of inspiration while they stood on a platform overhead. Chinmoy described his motivation: 'I lift them up to show my appreciation for their achievements,'[135] Among some of the 7000 people he lifted include: Nelson Mandela,[136] Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali, Sting, Eddie Murphy, Susan Sarandon, Roberta Flack, Yoko Ono, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Gere[26] Helen Hunt.[137] Twenty Nobel laureates and a team of sumo wrestlers were also lifted.[4]
In April 2011, a documentary film about Chinmoy's weightlifting titled Challenging Impossibility was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival.[138]
Terry Todd, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas, concluded that Chinmoy misrepresented the type and weight of some of the lifts he claimed to have completed.[58][139][140][141]
Awards
A summary of award highlights includes:
- Visva Sama Duta, meaning "Ambassador of Universal Peace", title conferred by the Asgiriya Order of Buddhist Monks in 1990. The first non-Buddhist in Sri Lankan history to receive such an honorary degree.[142]
- Mahatma Gandhi Universal Harmony Award received jointly with Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., from the American branch of the Indian cultural institute Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1994.[143]
- Fred Lebow Award, in the name of the founder of the New York City Marathon, presented by NYC Marathon Director Allan Steinfeld and Umberto Silvestri, President of the Rome Marathon in 1996.[144]
- Hindu of the Year (1997) and Hindu Renaissance Award presented by the international magazine Hinduism Today in 1997, honouring him for teaching a yoga which combines aspects of ancient Hinduism in a modern setting.[2]
- Pilgrim of Peace prize from the 'International Center of Assisi for Peace among Peoples' in 1998.[145]
- Mother Teresa Award presented by President of the Republic of Macedonia Boris Trajkovski in 2001.[146][147]
- Medal of Honor For the Cause of Peace and Friendship Among Nations presented by Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Le Luong Minh in 2004.[148][149]
- Honorary Doctorate of Humanities in Peace Studies presented by the Science Council committee of Cambodia's International University in a unanimous decision in 2005.[150]
- 2012 Class of Honorees, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, including honouring the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team with swimming the English Channel 38 times.[151]
Bibliography
- (1974) Yoga and the Spiritual Life – Aum Publications
- (1974) The Inner Promise: Paths to Self Perfection – Wildwood House
- (1974) Samadhi and Siddhi - The Summits of God Life - Aum Publications
- (1974) The Dance of Life - Volume 1 -20 - Agni Press
- (1975) Astrology, the Supernatural and the Beyond – Aum Publications
- (1977) Everest Aspiration – Aum Publications
- (1977) The Soul's Evolution - Agni Press (ISBN 0-88497-396-4)
- (1984) Inner and Outer Peace - Peace Publishing (ISBN 0-88497-769-2)
- (1985) The Master and the Disciple - Insights into the Guru-Disciple Relationship - Agni Press (ISBN 978-0884978848)
- (1986) A Child's Heart and a Child's Dreams – Aum Publications
- (1988) Beyond Within - Agni Press
- (1989) Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction – Aum Publications
- (1990) On Wings of Silver Dreams – Aum Publications
- (1992) Kundalini: The Mother-Power – Aum Publications
- (1994) Garden of the Soul – Health Communications Inc.
- (1994) My Life's Soul-Journey – Aum Publications
- (1997) God Is... – Aum Publications
- (1997) The Wings of Joy: Finding Your Path to Inner Peace – Simon and Schuster
- (1998) Blessingful invitations from the university-world - Agni Press
- (2000) Wisdom of Sri Chinmoy[152] – Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
- (2007) Power Within: Secrets of Spirituality and Ocultism – Guru Noka Publications
- (2007) Heart-Garden – New Holland Publishing
- (2009) A Selection of Songs composed by Sri Chinmoy, Vol. 1 - Sri Chinmoy Center
- (2010) The Jewels of Happiness - Watkins Publishing
- (2013) Sport and Meditation - The Golden Shore (ISBN 978-3-89532-213-6)
Poetry
- (1979–1983) Ten Thousand Flower-Flames – Agni Press (100 volumes)
- (1983–1998) Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants – Agni Press (270 volumes)
- (1998–2007) Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees – Agni Press (50 volumes... unfinished)
- (1973) The Dance of Life
- (1974) The Wings of Light
- (2000–2007) My Christmas-New Year-Vacation-Aspiration-Prayers (51 volumes)
Plays
- (1973) Sri Ramachandra – My Rama is My All – A play on the life of Sri Ramachandra
- (1973) The Singer of the Eternal Beyond – A play on the life of Sri Krishna
- (1973) Siddhartha Becomes The Buddha – A Play on the life of Lord Buddha
- (1973) The Son – A play on the life of Jesus Christ
- (1973) Lord Gauranga: Love Incarnate – A Play on the life of Sri Chaitanya
- (1973) Drink, Drink, My Mother's Nectar – A play on the life of Sri Ramakrishna
- (1973) The Heart of a Holy Man – various plays on spiritual figures
- (1973) Supreme Sacrifice – a book of spiritual plays
- (1974) The Descent of the Blue – A play about the life of Sri Aurobindo
Notes
- Sands 2001, According to legal papers signed in November 2006, his name is Chinmoy Kumar Ghose aka Sri Chinmoy. Sri Chinmoy is the name under which the guru has taught, published, composed and performed since approximately 1972. (See front and back matter of referenced works.) He was previously known as Chinmoy Kumar Ghose (e.g. "Many at U.N." New York Times 8 November 1971: 42). He signed most of his paintings and drawings C.K.G. ("C.K.G." Jharna-Kala Magazine 1.1 (April –June 1977): 1).
- "Hindu of the Year: Sri Chinmoy clinches 1997 'Hindu Renaissance Award'". Hinduism Today. December 1997. pp.34–35. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- McShane, Larry. "Charismatic guru Sri Chinmoy dies in NYC". USA Today. 12 October 2007.
- Kilgannon, Corey (13 October 2007). "Sri Chinmoy, Athletic Spiritual Leader, Dies at 76". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- Dua, Shyam (ed). The Luminous Life of Sri Chinmoy: An Authorised Biography. Tiny Tot Publications, 2005. p. 66.
- Chinmoy, Sri (1975). Flame-Waves. New York: Agni Press. pp. part 1.
- Dua, Shyam (ed). The Luminous Life of Sri Chinmoy: An Authorised Biography. Tiny Tot Publications, 2005. pp. 18, 22.
- Chinmoy, My Brother Chitta 1998, p. 58.
- Chinmoy, Sri (1994). World-destruction: never, impossible!. Agni Press. pp. Part 2.
- Chinmoy, My Brother 1998, pp. 60, 65.
- Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23 2000, p. 28 and Chinmoy, How Nolini-da 2004, pp. 6–7.
- Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23, Agni, New York, 2000, p. 28
- Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23, Agni, New York, 2000, p. 48
- Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23 2000, p. 28.
- Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 23 2000, pp. 40–50
- "Sri Chinmoy biography". www.srichinmoybio.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- Sri Chinmoy, 50 Freedom Boats to One Golden Shore, 1974, Agni Press, Parts 1-6.
- "Sri Chinmoy disciples schedule lectures here". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. 14 March 1973.
- Sri Chinmoy, 'Sri Chinmoy Answers, Part 3 Agni Press, 1995, p6
- Sri Chinmoy, Earth's cry meets heaven's smile, part 3, Agni Press, 1978.
- "Biography Sri Chinmoy". BiographyOnline.net. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- "Landmarks since 1964 - Sri Chinmoy". www.srichinmoy.org. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- "Guru's Disciples Active in Business". nytimes.com. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- "Sri Chinmoy Concerts | Sri Chinmoy Centre". www.srichinmoycentre.org. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- Sri Chinmoy in Concert. US.SriChinmoyCentre.org. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- Kilgannon, Corey (1 July 2004). "They're Not Heavy; They're His People; 72-Year-Old Sri Chinmoy Offers An Uplift Beyond the Spiritual". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- Robert McG. Thomas Jr. and Samuel Abt (22 April 1987). "SCOUTING; One More Time: A Torch Relay". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- Weinstein, Norman. Carlos Santana: A Biography. ABC-CLIO, 2009. p. 50.
- Stump, Paul. Go Ahead John: The Music of John McLaughlin. SAF Publishing, 2000. p. 92. ISBN 0-946719-24-1, ISBN 978-0-946719-24-2
- Nigro, Nicholas. The Spirituality of Carlos Santana. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2014. GoogleBooks pt. 8.
- Slavicek, Louise Chipley. Carlos Santana. Infobase Publishing, 2006. p. 80.
- Heath, Chris. "The Epic Life of Carlos Santana". Rolling Stone. 16 March 2000. Retrieved on 10 August 2008.
- Santana, Deborah. Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart. Random House, 2009. p. 241.
- Browne, David. "The Last Word: Carlos Santana on Turning 70, Trump's 'Darkness'". Rolling Stone. July 13, 2017.
- "Chronology/Biography, Frederick Lenz". Ex-cult.org. 9 February 1950. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- Greenfield, Robert. Spiritual Supermarket: An Account of Gurus Gone Public in America. Saturday Review Press, 1975. p. 203.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Limitation", university lecture in: The Oneness of the Eastern Heart and the Western Mind, Part 1. Agni Press, 2003.
- "Carl Lewis Receives U Thant Peace Award". The New York Beacon. 11 June 1997.
- Callahan, Tom (30 July 1984). "Olympics: No Limit to What He Can Do". Time.
- Lewis, Carl with Marx, Jeffrey. Inside Track: My Professional Life in Amateur Track and Field. Simon and Schuster, 1990. pp.56–61.
- Kilgannon, Corey (25 April 2011). "A Monument to Strength as a Path to Enlightenment". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- "Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Channel Swim List". Channel.srichinmoyraces.org. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- Mincer, Jilian (18 November 2010). "The Ultimate Guinness Record Is the Record for Records". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- "Worldwide torch relay reaches Cornwall". BBC News. 11 June 2011.
- Rouen, Ethan. "Sri Chinmoy, Spiritual Leader, dies in Queens". New York Daily News. 12 October 2007.
- The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles – About Sri Chinmoy. OnenessHeart.org. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- Oneness - Heart, Tears and Smiles. Crossroads Global Hand. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- Welcome to The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles International. OnenessHeart.org. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- Poirier, Tracy. "'Kids To Kids' program embraced at east end school". Orléans Star. 10 May 2007.
- "Meetings with Mother Teresa". srichinmoy.org.
- "Mother Teresa meets Sri Chinmoy". UPI Photo. 2 October 1994.
- "Princess Diana". www.srichinmoy.org. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- Harley, Gail M., Hindu and Sikh Faiths in America. Infobase Publishing, 2009. p. 90.
- Greenberg, Keith, "Sri You Later," The Village Voice, 6 November 2007, accessed 28 May 2011
- Melton, J. Gordon and Martin Baumann (eds). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. ABC, 2002. p. 1216.
- Chinmoy, Sri. The Wisdom of Sri Chinmoy. Motilal Banarsidass Pub., 2003. pp. 74–75.
- Anonymous (2 February 1994). "Peace Institute Honors Chinmoy". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- Anonymous (2 December 1987). "A Spiritual Powerhouse Powerlifts 7,063 Pounds". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "The Quintessence of Mysticism". SriChinmoy.org.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Spirituality and satisfaction". In: My Maple Tree. Agni Press, 1974.
- Olmsted, Larry. Getting into Guinness: One Man's Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside the World's Most Famous Record Book. HarperCollins, 2008. pp. 6–8.
- Goldin, Davidson (23 July 1995). "Neighborhood Report: Briarwood; How a City Block Became a Spiritual Path". New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Gottlieb, Jed (10 August 2005). "The Amazing World of Sri Chinmoy and his devoted disciples". San Diego CityBeat. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Occhiogrosso, Peter. The Joy of Sects. Doubleday, 1994. p. 67.
- "The media's love affair with alleged sex criminal Sri Chinmoy". Salon.com. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- Murphy, Mary (24 February 2016). "Former 'Disciples' of Sri Chinmoy draw ire, by continuing stories about abuse". PIX 11.
- Murphy, Mary (25 February 2016). "Followers of late Guru defend his name". PIX 11.
- Howard, Brian. "Chinmoy Annoys". Philadelphia City Paper (September 26–October 3, 1996). Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Kannapell, Andrea (7 September 1996). "New Plaque Affixed to Statue of Liberty". New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Brendan Brosh (24 April 2009). "Child of Chinmoy ministry blasts 'cult' in new book". New York Daily News.
- Sussman, Mick (16 July 2009). "Sunday Book Review: Nonfiction Chronicle". The New York Times.
- "Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult". Redroom.com. 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012.
- Krystle M. Davis (14 April 2009). "Under The Thumb Of Cult Leader Sri Chinmoy". Forbes.
- Ellis, David (29 July 1991). "Spiritual Aid Is Easier to Obtain". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- Kononenko, Igor & Irena Roglic. Teachers of Wisdom. RoseDog Books, 2010. p. 358.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Devotion". In: Eternity's Breath. Agni Press, 1972.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Love, devotion and surrender". In: My rose petals, part 1. Agni Press, 1971.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Love Divine". SriChinmoy.org.
- Chinmoy, Sri. "Question: Do you have a particular meditation technique?". In: Canada Aspires, Canada Receives, Canada Achieves Part 2. Agni Press, 1974.
- Bennett, Vidagdha Meredith. Simplicity and Power: The Poetry of Sri Chinmoy, 1971-1981. Aum Publications, 1991. p. 96.
- Chinmoy, Sri. The Divine Hero: Winning in the Battlefield of Life. Watkins, 2002. pp. 6–7, 34-35.
- Chinmoy, Sri. The Wings of Joy: Finding Your Path to Inner Peace. Simon and Schuster, 1997. p. 13.
- Sri Chinmoy (2013). Sport and Meditation. The Golden Shore. pp. 16–18. ISBN 978-3-89532-213-6.
- "Interviewer: So you feel that peace is going to come about by offering goodwill to each and every human being? | Sri Chinmoy Library". www.srichinmoylibrary.com. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- Kubacki, Maria. "An 868-kilometre 'Spiritual Journey'" Ottawa Citizen. 23 May 2006.
- Hinnells, John R. Who's Who of World Religions. Springer, 1991. p. 80.
- Chinmoy, Sri. Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction. Aum Publications, 1978 (1989 reprint). pp. 3–5.
- Chinmoy, Sri. The Wings of Joy: Finding Your Path to Inner Peace. Simon and Schuster, 1997. p. 29.
- Chinmoy, Sri. Meditation: Man-Perfection in God-Satisfaction. Aum Publications, 1978 (1989 reprint). pp. 140, 158.
- Chinmoy, Sri. The Outer Running and the Inner Running. Agni Press, 1974 (reprinted online). Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Welch, Julie (28 October 2000). "Foot soldiers of the soul". The Independent. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- Rebidoux, Michelle. "Cultivating the Life of Divinity: The Consecrated Lifestyle of the Sri Chinmoy Centres of Canada". In: Understanding the Consecrated Life in Canada: Critical Essays on Contemporary Trends, Jason Zuidema, editor. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 2015. GoogleBooks pt. 407.
- Chinmoy, Sri. My Meditation-Service at the United Nations For 25 Years. Agni Press, 1995. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Press Trust of India. "UN pays tribute to spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy". Rediff. 1 November 2007.
- "Celebration of the Life of Sri Chinmoy". 30 October 2007, United Nations, New York. SriChinmoyBio.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- Chinmoy, Sri. World-Destruction: Never, Impossible! Part 1. Agni Press, 1994 (excerpted online). Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- "Interfaith Reborn: Sri Chinmoy's Opening Meditation of the 1993 Parliament". Parliament of the World's Religions. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014.
- "Sri Chinmoy Opens the Parliament of World's Religions". YOGA Chicago. September–October 2004.
- Chinmoy, Sri. I Bow to the Soul of the Parliament of Religions – Barcelona Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Agni Press, 2005. p. 5 (excerpted online). Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Nurhayati, Desy (7 February 2011). "Painting exhibition showcases the art of a spiritual luminary". The Jakarta Post.
- "Art of Sri Chinmoy". SriChinmoyBio.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "ART". SriChinmoyCentre.org. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Sri Chinmoy's Art". SriChinmoy.tv. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Barker, Kate (29 August 2008). "United Nations Displays Sri Chinmoy's Paintings". Newsweek. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- Shaw, Alexandra. "70,000 Soul-Bird-Flights by Sri Chinmoy". Manhattan Arts International. September–October 1993. p.25.
- "Sri Chinmoy's First One Million Soul-Birds: December 29th, 1991 – January 5th, 1994". SriChinmoy-Reflections.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Goldman, Ari L. (9 April 1994). "RELIGION NOTES – Messengers of Peace". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- "Sri Chinmoy Songs". SriChinmoySongs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Radio Sri Chinmoy: Meditative and Spiritual Music". RadioSriChinmoy.org. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "MY PILOT SUPREME – Sri Chinmoy". Downbeat-Special.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "MOTHER, I BOW TO THEE – Sri Chinmoy". Downbeat-Special.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Music for Meditation – Sri Chinmoy". Folkways.SI.edu. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Miejan, Tim (1 October 2000). "The Joy of Inner Peace". Edge Magazine.
- "Literary output". US.SriChinmoyCentre.org. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- Chinmoy, Sri. Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart. Agni Press, 1988 (reprinted online). poem no: 98. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Writings". SriChinmoy.org. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Sri Chinmoy's Writings on Poetry". SriChinmoyLibrary.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Rattapallax Press organized Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry in 2001". Rattapallax.com. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry. United Nations. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- Tutu, Archbishop Desmond. "Foreword" Archived 13 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. In: Chinmoy, Sri. The Jewels of Happiness: Inspiration and Wisdom to Guide Your Life-Journey. Watkins Publishing, 2010. ISBN 1906787972
- Puntillo, Kimi. Great Races, Incredible Places: 100+ Fantastic Runs Around the World. Random House, 2009. p. 140.
- Bennett. Ultrarunning. April 1987. pp. 23–25.
- Pearlman, Jeff. "Endurance Special". Runner's World. February 2007. p. 71.
- Cushman, Anne and Lizette Montgomery. "Ultra Runners". Yoga Journal. April 1995. pp. 44–45.
- History of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Biography of Sri Chinmoy – Part 3". Aspiringindia.org. 4 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 June 2006.
- "Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run". PeaceRun.org. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- "Oxford Peace Mile". StudentOfPeace.org. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Morano, Mercedes. "Making the world fit for peace". Democrat and Chronicle. 3 July 1991. p. 46.
- Hamilton, Fiona (14 October 2007). "Sri Chinmoy". The Times. London. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
- Weir, Richard (12 July 1998). "Neighborhood Report: Jamaica: Running on Inner Strength". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- "Sri Chinmoy's Weightlifting". Inspiration-Lifts.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Pearl, Bill Beyond The Universe: The Bill Pearl Story 2003, p192
- New Zealand Fitness, February/March 2006 issue (No.77)
- Lifting up the World at Sri Chinmoy.org
- "Video of Mandela and Chinmoy". Youtube.com. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- "Who needs doctors when you can conceive courtesy Indian guru, Helen Hunt finds out". The Financial Express. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- Kilgannon, Corey (25 April 2011). "A Monument to Strength as a Path to Enlightenment". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- Galloway, Paul (20 September 1991). "Gonzo Guru". Chicago Tribune.
- https://www.outsideonline.com/1840086/bless-you-sir-may-i-jog-another
- https://www.outsideonline.com/1840156/be-sri
- Daily News, Sri Lanka. 10 January 1990.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer. 31 October 1994.
- Northwest Runner. December 1996
- "Peace Pilgrim Award". Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- Nova Makedonija. 9 July 2001.
- Macedonia Denes. 10 July 2001.
- Voice of Vietnam News. 16 November 2004.
- Vietnam News Agency. 15 November 2004.
- "Sri Chinmoy Honored" News Release. International University [Cambodia] 7 September 2005.
- "Class of 2012 Announced". December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- Chinmoy, Sri (March 2003). Wisdom of Sri Chinmoy - Sri Chinmoy - Google Boeken. ISBN 9788120819436. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Sri Chinmoy |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sri Chinmoy. |