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.
Meditation Nights at the Sri Chinmoy Centre
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
A Divine Phone Call
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Seeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, Canada
Getting through difficult times in your meditation
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
An intense, concentrated Fire
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
An airport meditation experience
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Reflections on meditation
Janaka Spence Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Where the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
The first time that I really understood that I had a soul
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, CanadaMore stories
Sri Chinmoy's students recall some of their treasured memories.
Time seemed to freeze
Brahmata Michael Ottawa, Canada
If I could remember this in my daily life now, I'd be a very high soul
Charana Evans Cardiff, Wales
The day I recieved my spiritual name
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sri Chinmoy's inner guidance
Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland
My evolving relationship with my spiritual Teacher
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, Netherlands
A spiritual name is the name of our soul, and what we can become
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United States
Having a Spiritual Teacher
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
My first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, Switzerland
Siblings on a spiritual path
Pranlobha Kalagian Seattle, United States
Sri Chinmoy meets St. Peter
Paramita Jarvis Kingston, Canada
'I could find out myself, but it was so much easier asking your soul'
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United Kingdom
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
A barrage of Candy Bullets
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandBooks by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre
A Twenty-First Century seeker
by Pradhan Balter
Sport and Meditation
by Sri Chinmoy
222 Meditation Techniques
by Sri Chinmoy
Miracle-Suns from the Heart
True stories from a spiritual Master, his students and dear friends
Auspicious Good Fortune
by Sumangali Morhall
The complete works of Sri Chinmoy
by Sri ChinmoyMusic
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 »
Apaga Renner
Graz, Austria
Apaga and her husband Dipavajan manage the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Graz. Apaga regularly offers meditation classes in her home town, and sings with Paree's International Group in concerts all over the world.
- 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.
Running a Six-Day Race
Ratuja Zub Minsk, Belarus
Winning the Swiss Alpine Marathon
Vajin Armstrong Auckland, New Zealand
The Ever-Transcending Goal
Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand
How Sri Chinmoy appreciated enthusiasm
Prachar Stegemann Canberra, Australia
Breaking Guinness records
Ashrita Furman New York, United States
Running the world's longest race
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, RussiaA 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 »
Samalya Schafer
Berlin, Germany
Samalya became a student of Sri Chinmoy when he was 19. A talented athlete, he holds a current Marathon PB of 2.28h
- Stories »
- Audio »
- Gallery »
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
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 »
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
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.
Harita Davies
New York, United States
Harita is the US co-ordinator for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run. She is also a formidable runner, having run the world's longest race - the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile race - three times.
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 Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
The Random Dog
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Bhutan, A Country Less Travelled...
Ambarish Keenan Dublin, Ireland
A Mountain Meditation
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My love of spiritual poetry
Manatita Hutchinson London, United Kingdom
Meditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New ZealandArt 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 »
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 »
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 »
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