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.
Spirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, Canada
Meditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
A Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
An intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
How I became interested in meditation
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech Republic
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
Where the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Experiences of meditation
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
My first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, Switzerland
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
If a wish comes from the soul, it will be granted
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
A demonstration of the Master’s occult powers
Arpan De Angelo New York, United States
Sri Chinmoy's inner guidance
Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland
A spiritual name is the name of our soul, and what we can become
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United States
The day I made a useless and ridiculous weightlifting machine for Guru
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
I know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
A barrage of Candy Bullets
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, Canada
The day I recieved my spiritual name
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
President Gorbachev: a special soul brought down for a special reason
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United KingdomBooks 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
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 »
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 »
Agnikana Senkyrova
Zlín, Czech Republic
Agnikana has been surrounded by music since her childhood and leads a group that plays spiritual music in concerts all over Europe. She is also a fast runner over short and long distances.
- Audio »
More stories
Experiences of sport and self-transcendence.
Progress-Pilgrimage: A 1200km run from Vienna to Paris
Shamita Achenbach-König Vienna, Austria
Winning the Swiss Alpine Marathon
Vajin Armstrong Auckland, New Zealand
How Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, Australia
All I needed was the Supreme, and I would always win
Pragati Pascale New York, United States
10-Day Race: Staring into the Infinite
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
Running a Six-Day Race
Ratuja Zub Minsk, BelarusA few of our athletic members
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 »
Samunnati Lehonkova
Ternopil, Ukraine
Our best female marathon runner with a PB of 2:28, Samunnati competed in the 2016 Olympics for her native Ukraine
Abhejali Bernardova
Zlín, Czech Republic
Abhejali is a talented athlete! She first swum the English Channel in 2011 and completed the 'Oceans Seven' of famous open water swims in 2019. She most recently completed a 'Channel Triathlon' - swimming, biking and running all the way from Dover to Prague.
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
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 »
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 »
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
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 »
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 »
Laufey Haraldsdottir
Reykjavik, Iceland
A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
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...
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
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Bhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, Ireland
Sri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesArt and Photography
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 »
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 »
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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