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" This mind is the doubting mind, and in the doubting mind we can never feel the presence of peace. We can feel the presence of peace only in the loving heart. The doubting mind leads us to total frustration. The loving heart leads us to complete satisfaction."

- Sri Chinmoy

Mexican Dancers who greeted the run

Jumped, thrown and run successfully in Zurich, Switzerland and Munich, Germany since the 1980s, the Impossibility-Challenger festival of record smashing is being staged in New Zealand for the first time, and Director Budhsamudra Knox is confident that success will not be impossible—“We think Kiwis have what it takes to step up to the mark.”

Attempting to cross that mark, and in world record time, is an international field of participants including Alistair Galpin, the New Zealander with the most World Records, Albert Walter of Switzerland, a bench press champion who tears phone books better than anybody else, and a team of mechanics who will attempt the 4-man car wheel change world record.

The impossibility challenging event also encompasses the Self-Transcendence Games, where hundreds of school children will compete together with celebrities in just for fun events like hula-hoop racing and catching an egg thrown the greatest distance.

The Impossibility-Challenger games were founded in 1982 by the late peace visionary Sri Chinmoy, upon the premise that challenging limitations and the seemingly impossible not only brings the individual joy, but inspires others to transcend that which is challenging in their lives as well.

The event is organised by the Sri Chinmoy Centre, a prolific non-profit organisation also responsible for the world’s largest participant torch relay, the World Harmony Run, and The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles humanitarian aid programme.

Related

• Impossibility-Challenger video at Sri Chinmoy.tv

"Those who have seen Borobudur have really seen something. It is so beautiful and it has such spiritual grandeur! I also like Kamakura.

Borobudur is the Buddha in the process of blossoming. Kamakura is the Buddha who has already blossomed. Borobudur has simplicity in purity and purity in simplicity. Kamakura has silence in power and power in silence. Both are totally different."

- Sri Chinmoy

• Bali Gallery by Kedar Misani

• Borobudur Concert at Radio Sri Chinmoy

• Read review of concert (in Czech, Google translation here...)
• See pictures from concert...

The Songs of the Soul concert series began in 2008 as a way of bringing the depth and beauty of Sri Chinmoy's music to audiences worldwide in a variety of styles. Since then the concerts have taken place all around the world, in places ranging from Bali to St Petersburg.

Sunday was the beginning of a 9-day tour. On Monday, they played in Bratislava and tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow they will play in the Hungarian cities of Budapest and Gyor. Also scheduled are concerts in the Austrian cities of Vienna, Salzburg and Graz, and in the Slovenian cities of Ljubljana and Maribor.

See songsofthesoul.com for more details...

• Basic Steps for Learning Meditation

Photo by Tejvan

Photo by Sharani

It is one of the many vegetarian restaurants run by students of Sri Chinmoy in different parts of the world. The owner Tilvila Hurwi knew little about restaurants when she first entered the business in 1999. But, she said she wanted it to be "I wanted it to be a place for peace and inspiration," Hurwit said. "I also wanted it to have really good food."

• More US restaurants, cafes and other enterprises.
• Divine Enterprises in other parts of the world

The aim of a 24 Hour Race is to run as far as possible, round a 400 metre track. Each time a runner passes by the lap is noted by his counter. Each 24 hour race requires a dedicated team of helpers - cooks, counters, support e.t.c.

[caption id="attachment_500" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Joy of Counting"]

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Why Run 24 Hour Races?

A 24 hour race provides the runner with a great opportunity to transcend and compete with themselves running further before. It is not just a physical challenge but also a great inner challenge.

Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, was a great believer in the benefits of long distance running.

There is also a great atmosphere at 24 hour races, with a feeling of cooperation and challenge.

• 24 Hour Race Report at Sri Chinmoy Races by Abichal Watkins
• The Counting Shed - an experience of a counter at a 24 Hour Race, by Sumangali Morhall

"Meditation is man's thirst for the Infinite Real, Eternal Real and Absolute Real. The secret of meditation is to achieve conscious and constant oneness with God."

- Sri Chinmoy

Before the Start

Sri Chinmoy Street

Photos by Jowan

The latest edition of Meditation Silence is titled 'Moving from Worry to Confidence'. Sri Chinmoy speaks how a life of meditation can help overcome worries and anxiety.

Article 8 Ways to deal with worries by Abhinabha Tangerman

The beautiful venue for the British-French Joy Day on the Cote D'Azur drew additional visitors from varied countries - Singapore, the U.S., Canada, Australia, Iceland and Switzerland to name a few. All functions, meals and meditations were held outside in a vacation apartment residence with a view of the Mediterranean from the apartment balconies. The beach and sea - walking distance from the apartments - served as a delightful venue for games and swimming.

Games on the Beach on the Coast of France

Performances included three magic acts - Robert from Prague, Czech Republic, Tulasi from Wien, Austria and Oindrajalik from Marseille, France.

Three Magicians Perform at French Joy Day

Musicians from France, the UK and Italy performed and a humorous play with  Sahadeva, Devashishu and Suswara helped put the joy in "Joy Day". An early morning race in a local nature park rounded out the Joy Day festivities.

Jogyata, from Auckland, New Zealand, recently came over to give a series of lectures and classes in Sydney. The courses have been well attended with many local Sydney residents  gaining an insight into meditation.

Sri Chinmoy's path emphasises the role of meditating on the spiritual heart. Sri Chinmoy feels that this approach is the simplest and most effective way for a seeker to contact his own soul and experience the peace and joy of inner silence.

"When we go deep within, into the deepest recesses of our hearts, we commune with God through meditation. It is through meditation that we can know that God is both with form and without form, with attributes and without attributes."

- Sri Chinmoy

To find out more about Sri Chinmoy's path of meditation and meditation classes in Sydney, visit Sydney Meditation

Some of the Benefits of Meditation

Ceremony at Sri Chinmoy statue in Bali

The statue was adorned with a flower garland and orchids for the ceremony. Each person also prayerfully placed a flower in front of the statue.

Participants meditated and sang some English songs composed by Sri Chinmoy. The words to one of the songs:

"Affection, Love, Sweetness, Fondness, God has for me. Every day I live and grow under His protection tree."
-Sri Chinmoy

Tumpeng Yellow Rice

Afterwards, the Tumpeng was cut (traditional Indonesian yellow rice shaped in a cone)  and traditional Balinese cakes were also offered as prasad.

New York - August Celebrations

In Jamaica Queens, New York, Sri Chinmoy Centre members from over 50 countries gathered to observe the August 27th birthday of Sri Chinmoy. This year more than 1,500 visitors from countries across the globe shared meditation, musical performances, plays, and athletic activities over a two-week period.

For the first time during August Celebrations,  a poetry festival was held paying tribute to the tremendous legacy of devotional poetry written by Sri Chinmoy. Professors lectured on his literary contributions and his work was recited in both English and Bengali, his native tongue.

Other activities traditionally shared during August Celebrations in New York included a public marathon hosted by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in Rockland State Park, New York; a public Songs of the Soul Concert at the New York University Skirball Center in Greenwich Village and the setting of a Guinness World Record on August 27th, Sri Chinmoy's birthday,  by Ashrita Furman and an international team of helpers. This year's record was the creation of the world's largest lollipop.

Visit Sharani's complete gallery albums.

• Gunthita talks about her experience in a 12 hour walk and singing with her music group Mountain Silence. Gunthita on Life Voices
• Mandu Trummer a great musician from Linz discusses his outlook on life. Mandu on Life Voices

Life Voices is produced by Kedar Misani from Zurich Switzerland. A new episode is published on the 13th of every month. Life Voices at Sri Chinmoy TV

- Sri Chinmoy speaking on gratitude from A Seekers Mind

Poems on Gratitude at Sri Chinmoy Poetry

To put it in perspective this single lollipop would be the equivalent of 165,070 regular-sized lollipops!

Ashrita at work - Photo by Jowan Gauther

Created in his Queens, New York neighborhood, the giant lollipop was hoisted into the air briefly on Sri Chinmoy's birth anniversary, August 27th, 2009.  Onlookers included some of the 1,500 visitors from 50 countries gathered in New York to observe Sri Chinmoy's birth anniversary. The lollipop's colourful happy birthday message to Sri Chinmoy together with a reproduction of one of Sri Chinmoy's soul bird drawings came into view as the lollipop lifted into the air.

In honour of Sri Chinmoy's birthday, Ashrita dedicated the record to the late philosopher, poet and athlete who inspired him and humanity with his weightlifting world records and the World Harmony Run. "We know Sri Chinmoy for his compassion, kindness and sweetness and for that reason we are celebrating his birthday by making the largest lollipop," commented Ashrita.

Airborne - Photo by Sharani Robins

Ashrita has set Guinness World Records on Sri Chinmoy's birthday on several occasions. In 2005 and 2008, he set a record for the most lit candles on a cake. In 2007, he dedicated the world's largest pencil to Sri Chinmoy. 2006 saw the creation of the largest popcorn sculpture and in 2004 he set a record for the largest flower bouquet.