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.

More stories

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 »What 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 »My 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 »The 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 »We 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 »Not 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 »I 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 »I 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 »Sri 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 »In 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 »One 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

2. What keeps us busy (besides meditation):
Music   •   Athletics   •  Divine Enterprises   •  Running for peace

3. Writing and poetry by Sri Chinmoy's students
 

 
Video

Experiences with Sri Chinmoy

A childhood meeting with Sri Chinmoy by Devashishu Torpy.

More videos and articles

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:

Agnikana's Group Czech Republic
more »

Blue Flower: Balkan countries 
more »

Ananda: UK & Ireland
more »

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.

Sadanand Magee

Dublin, Ireland

Sadanand plays all kinds of percussion instruments, especially the Indian tablas. He travels to more than 15 countries a year to play meditative music, mainly as part of the Songs of the Soul concert series.

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 by Samalya:
No prior experience needed
Visit Samalya's homepage »

The spiritual power of sport

Sri Chinmoy encouraged his students to keep fit and participate in sports as part of their spiritual life. Here, Vasudha from San Diego eloquently describes what running means to her.

Video

Boijayanti Gomez-Badillo

New York, United States

Boijayanti is a joint race director of a number of races organised by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in the New York area, including the Self-Transcendece Swim-Run and the Flushing Meadows 5k race.

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 by Vajra:
Meditation saves a prison inmate's life
'If I find a Master, he would have to tell me that all men are brothers.'

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.

Video

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 by Smarana:
Why run 3100 miles?
The Acceptance Of Life
Visit Smarana's homepage »

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 by Aruna:
Growing up on Sri Chinmoy's path

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.

Running for Peace

The Sri Chinmoy Peace Run is the world's largest torch relay. Many of Sri Chinmoy's students have travelled the world as part of the international team of runners.

Video

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

Laufey Haraldsdottir

Reykjavik, Iceland

A talented musician, Laufey has organised Peace Runs in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Sarankhuu Jargal

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

As well as helping to organise the Mongolian Peace Run, Sarankhuu always brings joy and enthusiasm to our international Peace Run team, participating in runs in the USA and Australia.

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.

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.

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.