Departure Day

There was a hand printed sign, posted in a window on Parsons Blvd, today. It was a simple reminder to the visitors, who had come to New York, for April celebrations, from all over the world, that the great yearly event had finally come to an end. Hundreds had come for the 10 days of festivities. Some came a bit early, and some a bit late, but all were here for the most important day of all, April 13. This being the day that Sri Chinmoy had come to America from India in 1964.
Whether you were a new student, or whether you had been coming to New York for many years, it was the first time for all of us not to have Sri Chinmoy here amongst us.
Not to see his smile. Not to see him, ignoring the infernal pain that nagged his every step as he strode across his beloved tennis court. And not to see him radiating with supernal light and love, at every moment. We who basked in this glow and learned from his many books, and rejoiced at his paintings and poems, and music. And saw him lift ever increasing mountains of steel now had to understand, what this new world without him physically present, meant for us. How to cope with a chair now empty and yet still feel our hearts so richly full nonetheless.
Blazej is going back to Brno in the Czech Republic today. He was one of the fortunate visitors who had been able to visit NY in October when Sri Chinmoy passed. He said that visit, "was a connecting link, it was incredible coming." He felt that coming here then was a haven for him.
This April visit, is now the next step. He feels it was a chance to reconnect with Sri Chinmoy. Seeing his fellow students and spending time with old friends is inspiring, and bringing forward his good qualities. He says that from this visit he relates to seeing, "Sri Chinmoy in other students and the other students helping me see Sri Chinmoy in myself."

Tusheet has come here from Heidelberg Germany. He tells me how he entered the 12 hour walk and he was very pleased to be able to complete 47 miles in that time. I ask him what about the walk was special. He said, "Sri Chinmoy was doing it in and through me. I was just watching my body go on and on. So much joy."

Grahak Cunningham just may be the first and last friendly face visitors to April Celebrations see here in New York city. He spends much of today picking up people who come to the block and need to make it out to the airport. By this time in the afternoon he has already made 7 or 8 trips to the Jamaica air train station. He also has picked up many of these same people who arrived here a little over a week ago.




The Magee brothers, Colm and Shane are flying back to Ireland. They are exuberant and full of energy. Younger brother Colm describes his visit as, "inwardly, go, go, go and outwardly, go, go, go." He says there was always something to do.
Shane isn't sure how many times he has come to New York. He thinks it is 7 or 8 visits, but doesn't know for sure. He tells me, "When I see the blue shops on Parsons, I know I have arrived." He too was able to come in October. What he liked about this trip was being able to feel Sri Chinmoy's presence. For him, "he is more tangible than ever, I feel the inner relationship." He says that despite that Sri Chinmoy no longer being able to direct things, "Everybody knows what to do."
He says that by most conventions, western people are slow to move forward or make any progress at all. There is hesitation in practically everything, because of insecurity and fear. He says, Sri Chinmoy taught us, "to have no fear, and just do things." He describes how we so often limit ourselves by saying we can't do things. Sri Chinmoy was always about self transcendence and never giving up.
He describes life in the group while Sri Chinmoy was physically present as, "we were so busy just trying to keep up with him." He says now he has discovered that what he and his fellow students need to do now, "is unpack the huge manifestation box that he left." From this we need to continue to inspire the world, because his inner presence is still very much here. "We have all been trained, now we have to do the job."



Snatak and Ganagane are going back to Reykjavik. Snatak says that he honestly did not know what to expect on this visit. He says that he was pleased to experience Sri Chinmoy very powerfully. He echoes a sentiment that I have heard a lot in the past few weeks, "There is so much to do."

Ganagane told me, "I feel like I am taking part in something spectacular. I am beginning to realize what all this is," making a sweeping gesture with his hands to indicate the world around us. He feels that those who had and still have a chance to learn from Sri Chinmoy are in part responsible for the transformation of the world. To help create and instill oneness. "There is much left to be done."

I do not give up,
I never give up,
For there is nothing
In this entire world
That is irrevocably unchangeable.

Sri Chinmoy

Because You Play on the Flute I Become Your Flute

He was told right from the start, if you buy a penny whistle, it will, "always lead to harder drugs." Shardul laughs as he tells me this. It is a joke of course but in many ways, playing the flute for the last 8 years, has become a major focus in Shardul Dillicar's life.

He feels that playing Sri Chinmoy's music, "takes you straight away into your heart." When I ask him why this is important, he replies, "It is important to be in your heart to experience your spirituality."

He tells me that he came to his present path of spirituality by originally following a path of suffering. He feels that all of humanity will eventually find inner peace,when they can eventually dedicate themselves fully to a spiritual life. He thinks that some of us get there on a easier route, while others somehow have to struggle, to get there, on a more difficult road.

He recounts for me, some of his earlier life, and as I listen, I can't help but agree, that compared to most folks, he has had to deal with some bigger ordeals than most of us will ever have to face. He had been living the life of a cowboy in Australia in the late 70's and early 80's. He told me that according to most definitions it was a life of freedom, with no restrictions. This freedom however did not offer any true satisfaction or joy. He says he was, "not happy being free."

Eventually a dramatic event happened in 82 that changed his life. As the result of a catastrophic motorcycle accident he was forced to spend an entire year in the hospital. After finally getting out, he was physically and mentally run down. He realized that his previous lifestyle did not give him true freedom at all. Without joy in his life, he felt he would never be fulfilled.
He remembered an old tv series called Kung Fu. The character, played by David Carradine, was one he could identify with. The monk practiced Tai Chi and coincidentally played a flute. As part of his rehab, he decided to take a course in Tai Chi. The instructor who taught him the moves, was also personally studying Transcendental Meditation. Oddly, he suggested to Shardul that he go to a completely different group in Adelaide. Shardul thought the man said "three chimneys," when in actuality he was saying, Sri Chinmoy










When he walked into his first meeting and saw a picture of Sri Chinmoy he knew right away that this was his true teacher, and that this was the path for him. He tells me that he was so taken by Sri Chinmoy, that he felt he was larger than life, in every way.

Therefore, it came as a real surprise when he saw him for the first time, in the spring time of 1985. He was warming up on a track before running a race and he saw Sri Chinmoy running down the track towards him. He stepped back to give him a clear track and was surprised at his diminutive stature. He was just 5 foot 8 inches tall. He tells me that at first he was surprised at this. He says he thought Sri Chinmoy must be 6 foot 6 inches. Then he says, that as he passed by he became aware of his inner immensity. He recognized that he was a, "potent energy, of love, concentration, and compassion."










His love for the flute is an odd, and yet not surprising twist in his life's journey. He had been in Ireland in 2000 and wanted to find a nice flute, to give to Sri Chinmoy. He searched for the best he could find, which led him to Martin Doyle. Instantly he says they became friends and he selected an instrument for Shardul to take to New York.

http://www.martindoyleflutes.com/

Martin, in a gift of generosity, also gave him his first flute, one made of beautiful maple wood. Eventually he says, "I started playing like crazy."

And then came some of the challenging health issues that changed his life. Between 2002-2005 he was in the hospital for 2 heart operations, culminating with the implant of a pacemaker. The flute became an intimate and integral part of his therapy. Originally he would play in the stairwells and other places he felt that he would not be noticed or that he would annoy people. But patients and staffed did notice and encouraged him to play.

When he was well enough to leave he was inspired and encouraged to come back and play at the hospital. Even now, almost 3 years later, he tells me he tries and visit the hospital and play the flute there for patients and staff, every day.

He tells me as well, that Sri Chinmoy often asked him, if he was still playing in the hospital. He told him, "this music alleviates suffering." Shardul tells me about Sri Chinmoy this, "He taught us how to live, now we have to do it. People have to live their spiritual lives, whoever they are, and whatever path they are on. Live life to the fullest. Make your dreams come true."

http://shardul.co.nz/soul-flute-smiles/




"Every day there is only
One thing to learn:
How to be honestly happy."
– Sri Chinmoy.

A Personal Best

Sri Chinmoy loved sports, whether they were on a playing field, the tennis court, the gym, or the track. Late in his life he would continue to challenge himself by setting personal records lifting heavy weights.

Most would agree however, that it was running, that gave him his greatest athletic joy. It is a unique sport in that your only real challenge comes from setting personal goals and then, attempting to transcend them.

He particularly loved the sprints, but there was a long period in his life, when he pursued with a passion, distance running. He ran 22 marathons and in March of 1979, at the age of 47, he ran a personal best of 3:55:07.

Recently a small marathon was held in New York, for those of his students who had beaten his personal best of 3:55:07, and wanted to see if they could break their own best times.
It is a cool morning in April and there is a small group of just over 50 men and women in Flushing Meadow Park getting ready to run 26.2 miles.
Every one has his or her little personal rituals to prepare. But here you will not find a lot of raucous bantering, that is present at most such distance events.
It is not that there is no joy present. Rather,these athletes are
gathering their inner strength as
well as readying their bodies for a very long tough distance.
All of course have run this far before. For some it will be one of many marathons. American runner Arpan DeAngelo has himself run well over 100.


For all these runners there is an inner experience, that they would
like to achieve. They all would
like to have the experience, that comes when they surrender their running within themselves. That they are not the doer. That it is their own hearts that are acting in and through them. It is a state of grace that comes at special moments during the race, and maybe if they are fortunate, from start to finish.

Many are also helping to put this race on today.
Providing assistance in every way. Providing water and snacks. Manning medical tables. Counting laps. Riding bicycles to keep the runners on the right course, that weaves in and around some of the many paths of Flushing Meadow park.


And then it comes, the call to the starting line. Warm clothes come off. The challenge that you have been dreading or longing for is now right in front of you.

There is a moment of silence before they start. One last chance to feel the silence that is within. To gather strength and offer up what will take many hours to complete. Maybe, even a personal best. Maybe a chance to transcend some other personal challenge on life's road.





































On this day I will see only very little. Just a part of the first lap. I have to leave quickly and get to work. Soon I am busy working at the Smile of the Beyond, and can scarce imagine the joys and pains they are all going through. But there will be times when I will look up at the clock and realize that some lucky one is crossing the line.

And there was a special moment when I paused, in what I was doing, and looked up to see the clock was showing, that just under 4 hours had gone by. I pictured a runner just breaking Sri Chinmoy's personal best time of 3:55:07 and knew how happy he would have been for that runner.
And then I realize that I was not correct, that he would have been proud and happy for all who came and ran in his honor. To all who gave the best of themselves, whether they broke personal records or not.

"There are countless people on earth who do not believe in the inner strength or inner life. They feel that the outer life is everything. I do not agree with them," he said. "There is an inner life; there is spirit, and my ability to lift heavy weights proves that it can work in matter as well. I am doing these lifts with the physical body, but the power is coming from an inner source, from my prayer and meditation."

Jazz Girls

There is something, absolutely captivating about watching and listening to these 10 young women perform. From the very first strum of Bartika's electric guitar, or a call out of "1,2,3,4," by drummer Paree, the audience knows that they are in for a much different kind of musical performance. One, that is less about technical precision or virtuosity, and more about finding absolute joy and freedom, in creating music with a group of very close friends.

They call themselves the Jazz Girls, but to the people who crammed into the bracing aroma of the organically caffeinated, Panorama cafe last Saturday night, the group was more commonly referred to as, Bartika's Jazz group. She has been the leader of this diverse group of musicians that come from something like 5 different countries and 3 continents, since April of 2003. It was then, that the girls spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, suggested to Bartika that she start a Jazz group.
Before joining Sri Chinmoy's meditation group in 2000, she had led her own band in Germany. The boys she played with were her best friends and they enjoyed creating original music and touring around. As she admits, she was, "really attached," to the music and the life that went with it.
She admits though, that despite the fun and excitement of performing music, something inside her wanted deeper more meaningful inner experiences, and that was, she realized, the call of the spiritual life. What also became clear to her was the need to have a teacher who could guide her along the way.

Sri Chinmoy never asked her to give up her old life. At some point it became clear to her though, that her professional musical life, and her new life as a student of meditation, could not coexist together. Within 3 months, she sold her guitars and cd's, and to the best of her ability tried to live, what she thought was the spiritual life.

But still, there were these nagging doubts, and she would say to herself, "what's so wrong with electric music."
The music however, she quickly found herself involved with, after joining Sri Chinmoy's path, was singing his Bengali songs, along with a group of other talented young girl singers from all over the world. She had a good voice and a lot of musical experience so it was a good fit. The girls practiced a lot whenever they got together, which was several times a year, and also regularly performed.
Then, almost out of the blue, 5 years ago, Sri Chinmoy made a request to Bartika, that she
form a jazz band. He told her, "take me seriously, you used to be a vagabond." In fact, what she was requested to do, was find other like minded vagabonds in this young girls group and some how create a musical group out of girls with little or no instrumental experience. And there was something else, it was clear that the girls should not hold anything back when they performed for him.


Paree is the drummer for this outfit. She frankly admits that when it comes to playing a drum kit, she is, "developing her skill from zero." I asked her if she ever, while playing this sometimes raucous music ever have a spiritual experience. She pondered this question only very briefly, "No, but I have had a lot of joy,"she says, smiling broadly.
Of course the experience of being on Sri Chinmoy's path has always been about self transcendence. Paree says, " I try to make progress in every field," and then with real emphasis she says, "and actually be a drummer."

Sudhira is the piano player for the group. At this performance she is buried at the back of the group because of the narrow performing area, and is a little hard to pick out, because the piano is against the back wall. She has her back to the audience and as well is cut off from view, by several other musicians.
After the show I asked her about the experience of playing with the band. Unlike some of the others, she grew up playing piano, but was never much comfortable about performing in public. She says with this group however for the first time she is comfortable about playing. She says, "it is so free. You can just let go of your self consciousness." She finds the atmosphere so liberating, that she finds herself, "transcending my playing."
Sahana, the sax player, also had some musical background playing woodwind instruments. She also is clear that, "We haven't been trained as jazz musicians." Of the experience though she is adamant, "Its fantastic, Sri Chinmoy set it up. It's his creation, and he made us fearless."

She describes the oneness that the girls share. That they are more than comfortable with their musical limitations and because of this, the audience is more than willingly to accept and embrace this openness and honesty. In so doing they are able to, not only come up with something musically unique and fresh, but at the same time, the girls find a freedom to conquer together, their insecurities and fears at the same time.


Bartika will tell me that Sri Chinmoy put few if any restrictions on the band. For the most part they perform mostly his music, though at this evening's show, they did an animated version of the classic American tune, New York New York. The lead singer for this song, an English girl named Dipika, did not seem bothered at all that she had to read the lyrics from a small piece of paper. Oddly this somehow gave a breath of fresh air to a song performed a little too seriously and a little stale by most who take it on.

Bartika will tell me how free and emphatic Sri Chinmoy was when it came to her using his songs . He told her, "use my music as your own." To her this was an amazing and generous opportunity. She tells me with such delight how his music is "universal." She also felt that this gift of his music was not just for her, but for anyone who was inspired to share it with the world.

I then ask her what Sri Chinmoy had ever said about their performances, which occurred regularly about twice a year. She tells me that he said to the group, "Unbelievable, I really enjoyed your music, it gave me such joy."

English translation of Bengali Lyrics

Slowly very slowly in my mind jungle
The forgiveness eye of the World Lord is Smiling

Pravin's Rhythmns

New York city school teacher, Pravin Mimms, has a lot of loves in his life. Growing up in the Bronx, he took a keen interest in all manner of sports, from track and field to Basketball. Of course sport wasn't everything.
He doesn't recall, how the idea first came to him. To put together, and perform, with his informal drum group. He believes that the first performance went on, more than 20 years ago. The exact date has been lost in the mists of time. Back then, he just wanted to contribute something unique to a small amateur circus put on by his meditation group, the Sri Chinmoy Center.
When asked when he himself first started playing drums, he recalls that it was some time back in the 60's, when he was attending college. Some young African dancers needed some accompaniment.
When he first got the idea to put on a drum act, he simply showed up the day of the Circus, with a big bunch of authentic African drums. Whoever was interested, had some sense of rhythm, could just pick up one of his instruments and play with him. Of course there would be some rehearsal and a rough program would be sketched out, but in the end it was spontaneous, joyful, and fun for listeners as well as players.

Natabara has been joining in for a few years now. He said, "some of the guys are really good. You join in at the level of your own capacity."




Khipra also has been playing for a long time. He feels that he can identify with the African consciousness that comes out when the drums are played. Most of the drums were in fact crafted in Africa. He says,"Its a fun way for a non musician to be connected to something musical." Sri Chinmoy enjoyed drumming he says and encouraged them to do it.
In fact as a child, Sri Chinmoy was so enchanted by drums that he had the nickname of Madal, which is Bengali for drum. The circus, which continues to take place, is called Madal circus.



click on the button to hear Pravin's drum performance

Fast Feet and a Flute

There is something very humbling about the experience of running a 2 mile race.
When it starts there is no place to hide. You will instantly know, whether or not you trained enough or whether you should have gone out on those cold and nasty winter mornings and cheerfully mocked the elements.
At this short a distance you will of course cross the finish line. The experience you will have though, depends entirely on what you are willing to give, and on what you would like to receive.

It can be about precious seconds, that show that, you are still making progress, or proudly holding on to what you worked so hard to have achieved in training. It can also be about the woeful state of your conditioning, and the mystery of why your time is increasing, along with your age and weight.

The most important thing of course, is that there is no competition on the course but with yourself. No opponent, but your own unwillingness to transcend, a mind that constantly says give up, and a body that will always find reason to endlessly complain.

The only voice worth listening to, is the soulful song of your own heart. Its melody is always certain, go on, go on, and never give up.


There are many things along the way to encourage you to do your very best. Another runner at your side, who perhaps you would like to beat but instead you are the one who finishes a step behind.

Still you can be thankful for this experience, which because of, you reached deep within yourself, and gave a precious effort, that you did not think was there to give.

Click on button to play flute video
And if there is a reward at the end of your race, it will probably not be a trophy or a prize, that you can put upon a shelf. It may not be a personal record for speed. It may just be, that on this day, you plumbed the depths of your body's capacity. And in so doing, you found yourself greeted by your own heart. It will be in this, that you found a real triumph. Discovering the true treasure within, that does not require the strength of your legs or swiftness of your feet.

Lunch and Laughter

The Smile of the Beyond has been a very busy vegetarian restaurant recently, and when you are on the other side of the counter (foodwar), sometimes there is just not too much to......"smile" about.
In the late afternoons, quite often, like a small unexpected blessing, there can be a momentary lull, when the hordes have receded back, from the infinite and insatiable world of hunger from whence they came.

Premamrita, is in my opinion not exactly your typical human being. I believe him to be, in actuality, an other worldly pixie, that has somehow found himself shifted into the body of a ginger haired man from Sheffield England.
Make no mistake, he has all the usual habits and needs, of the rest of ravenous humanity. He likes blt's and of course a cup of tea. Maybe even many cups of tea, particularly in April when it is cool and damp.
He has been known to even bring to the US, his own special blend of tea, which he will leave behind the counter and then ask for it whenever he comes in, which could be multiple times in the course of a day.



What separates him from much of humanity, and why I believe him to be from some other realm, is his exquisite sense of humor.
I love to laugh, but find most often, between hungry hordes, and mountains of food being relentlessly and swiftly dispatched from my salad bar, not a whole lot to laugh at.
People who claim to be funny, or are acclaimed by others to be so, will often in vain, try out their latest joke for me. I will try my darndest to be amused. More often than not, there is little likelihood, of the hilarious consequences of these efforts finding fertile ground in my expression. Not a smirk nor smile and nary even a sparkle beneath my nose and above my jaw line.
However, this man can really tell a joke




Click on the button to hear the joke