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The boys from Kathmandu enjoying the sun

At the Joy-Day there were also four disciples from Bangladesh, which is Sri Chinmoy's land of birth. One of these students is doing her PhD thesis on Sri Chinmoy's poetry.

Sri Chinmoy's statue at Nagarkot

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Ananda's group members are male students of Sri Chinmoy living in the UK and Ireland. The group creates haunting and soul-stirring arrangements of Sri Chinmoy's soulful and meditative songs and just released their fourth album.

Apart from their concerts, they also gave a series of lectures on meditation and spirituality in five of the cities they visited.

The group members

According to Jayasalini the 6 Day Race is an opportunity to develop faith, willpower and the necessity of competing only with oneself.

Our philosophy Is progress. In our self-transcendence Is our tremendous joy.

- Sri Chinmoy [1]

Jayaslini lectured in Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. About 100 spiritual seekers attended her classes.

Jayasalini poses with members from the Sri Chinmoy Centres in Brazil

[1] Sri Chinmoy, Excerpt from Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 13

In Groningen, The Netherlands (right) 140 school children released balloons with wishes for peace attached to them.

God's Forgiveness finds me No matter where I am. God's Compassion takes me Where I ought to go.

- Sri Chinmoy

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On a recent visit to Myanmar, a Buddhist country, they offered songs composed by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to the Lord Buddha.

On a previous tour in Iceland, they includes songs about the Saviour Christ. This group sings the songs of Sri Chinmoy without harmony or accompaniment – but just concentrating on the purity, beauty, simplicity, and immediacy of word and melody.

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[1. Sri Chinmoy Answers Part 27]

"...I began writing down a few memories several years ago, and after Sri Chinmoy's passing in 2007, wondered about joining them together in a book. This was partly in the hope of telling the story to others who may find it interesting or inspiring, and partly for my own sake so I

did not forget my experiences.

It has taken three years to write in earnest and to find a publisher, so today is the culmination of a long but rewarding journey. This has been a significant part of my own sadhana during this time: a spiritual discipline, and a creative outlet. Overall it has been a way to offer my gratitude to Sri Chinmoy for the countless ways he has led me to a happier and more conscious life..."

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• History of Event
• Photos by Prabhakar

As well as information and techniques on meditation, the evening also featured soulful musical performances which brought the listener directly into the vastness and peace of meditation. Many of the musicians had arrived from all corners of the world to attend the anniversary celebration's of Sri Chinmoy's arrival in the west on April 13, 1964.

Also performing were Paree's International Group, which have been singing Sri Chinmoy's songs acappella for over 20 years.

The concert concluded with a powerful and soulful performance by British group Ananda, with the help of international guests including Premik Russell Tubbs on flute and Adesh Widmer on sitar.

The event was attended by many dignitaries and ambassadors from around the world. It also offered an opportunity for the Run to honour individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly for peace in their own way. For example, the World Harmony Run Torch Bearer award was given to the people of Japan for thir stoicism, courage, cheerfulness in coping with the ordeal of the earthquake and tsunami last year.

The runners will now embark on a journey across all 48 continental states (with local events in Alaska and Hawaii) which will end in August.

For the full event report, visit the World Harmony Run site...

(Left) Hemabha from Korea celebrates her birthday. (Right) some of the afternoon games.

There are now plans for the first Asian Joy Day later on this year.

Among the events was a tree planting ceremony attended by officials from the nearby Parks Department, accompanied by a plaque with quotes from Sri Chinmoy and the United Nations Declaration.

Later on, members and friends of the Sri Chinmoy Centre met together for an evening of japa (meditative chanting).

After 20 years in business, the Edinburgh store has just moved to a new City Centre location in Queensferry Street. This follows on from a major renovation of the London store 18 months ago.

To mark the opening, there was a small ceremony attended by many Scottish athletics luminaries.

More information: Run and Become blog

The run was also greeted by the Mayor of Cambridge who supported the Run's hope to promote peace and harmony.

In Oxford, the run visited two schools and also found time to visit Mark Williams and his team of researchers at Warneford hospital. Mark Williams heads a 'mindfulness clinic' which has researched the benefits of meditation in helping to cure persistent depression. The successful research has led to mindfulness being prescribed as a treatment on the National Health Service.

Mike Williams was awarded a 'Harmony Torch bearer award' for his contribution in empowering people to overcome depression.

In Oxford, there was also a visit to Harcourt Arboretum, where a Peace Tree was planted to leave a lasting legacy for peace.

"The flower of the life-tree is wisdom. The fruit of the life-tree is peace."

- Sri Chinmoy

Planting an English Oak, dedicated to peace.

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The run then continued on to Scotland and the UK where they have been running through some beautiful scenery on their way to London

The Asia-Pacific run began on March 5 with an opening ceremony in Auckland's central square

On March 19, the runners crossed from New Zealand to Australia, with a welcoming ceremony for the runners in Adelaide which included representatives from 25 countries releasing 25 doves to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Harmony Run

The evening program included: a cappella women’s choir - Paree’s International Group, and meditative singing and mantras performed by Vedic Fire. Other groups performing in the concert included: Srivantu, Sri Chinmoy Centre Choir, Enthusiasm-Awakeners, Heart-Dawn, Earth-Bondage-Liberation-Dream. There was also a few short films with the music of Spiritual Master, Sri Chinmoy.

One of the music groups.

Introducing the performers.

Other events in the festival of meditation and spirituality included two videos on the theme of 'The Power Within'.

• Spirit of the Runner: a remarkable film story of Suprabha Beckjord, the only women ever to complete the world’s longest certified road race – the Self-Transcendence 3,100-mile foot race.
• Challenging Impossibility: a film about how Spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy captured the world’s imagination by demonstrating th the power of meditation through weightlifting.

For more information about meditation and workshops in New York, see: NYC Meditation.org

Credit: Ashish Zubaty and Photos Bhashwar.

"Peace is not merely the absence of war. Peace is the dynamic and energetic presence of love, harmony and oneness in the world family"

Salil Wilson, and Mayor of Cardiff and his wife making wish for peace by statue.

The maker of the statue - Kaivalya

The World Harmony Run team by statue. They had recently arrived from France and are now running towards Ireland as part of the European World Harmony Run, which started in Portugal recently.

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Sri Chinmoy aptly called these events a 'Joy-Day'. This Joy-Day took place in Weinheim, near Heidelberg. Most people arrived late Saturday afternoon; after an opening meditation and dinner there was a versatile spiritual evening program with music, meditation, video's, slideshows, a play and news about all the activities of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in various parts of the world, such as the recent concerts of the Gandharva Loka Orchestra in Bangladesh.

Sunday morning started with an early 6 a.m. meditation followed by a 2-mile running race. After a late morning program with more music, singing and video's the Joy-Day ended with a final silent meditation.

[1] Sri Chinmoy, The Wings of Joy

World-renowned marathon legend Tegla Loroupe was part of the international running team in Figueira da Foz. Over 900 local school children joined her in the opening run through the city. The mayor warmly welcomed the runners and wished them a good journey ahead.

Follow latest at World Harmony Run.org