Video #363: Spiritual Teacher Guidance | Spirit Matters #45

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Introduction to Spiritual Teacher Guidance

Are gurus still relevant today? Why do I need a spiritual teacher after a spiritual awakening? These are crucial questions that arise once the initial dust of awakening has settled. Without proper Spiritual Teacher Guidance, it is easy to fall back into false fears and widespread misconceptions about gurus. In this episode of Spirit Matters, Abhinabha and Vajin take an honest and practical look at the necessity and value of a spiritual teacher on the path.

Why the Question Matters

After a spiritual awakening, many people feel they can continue alone. Others become cautious because of stories about false teachers and cults. Both reactions are understandable. Yet if you are serious about lasting spiritual growth, making an informed choice about guidance becomes essential. This conversation addresses the topic directly, drawing on more than 25 years of lived experience on a guru-guided path.

Distinguishing a Genuine Path from a Cult

One of the most useful parts of the episode is a clear and simple way to distinguish a cult from a genuine spiritual path. True spiritual teachers strengthen a person’s agency rather than diminish it. They encourage independent thinking, personal responsibility and inner growth. In contrast, unhealthy groups tend to control, isolate and create dependency. Understanding this difference helps remove unnecessary fear and allows seekers to approach the subject with greater clarity.

Guru-Devotion Versus Personality-Worship

Another important distinction the hosts explore is the difference between genuine guru-devotion and personality-worship. True devotion is directed toward the highest consciousness that the teacher embodies and transmits. It is not blind admiration of a personality. When practised sincerely, this form of devotion can become a fast and powerful track toward the Divine. The episode explains how this works in daily practice and why it is often misunderstood in modern culture.

What Actually Happens on a Guided Path

Drawing from their own long experience, Abhinabha and Vajin describe what it is really like to learn from a spiritual teacher. They speak about expansion, challenges, breakthroughs and the moments that push a person beyond old comfort zones. A genuine teacher does not remove difficulties; rather, he or she helps the student meet those difficulties with greater awareness and inner strength. Over time, this process builds resilience, clarity and a deeper connection to one’s own soul.

Strengthening Agency, Not Replacing It

A common misconception is that following a spiritual teacher means giving up one’s free will. The opposite is closer to the truth. Authentic Spiritual Teacher Guidance aims to awaken and strengthen the student’s own inner guidance. The teacher points the way, offers tools and holds a higher standard, but the real work remains with the individual. This approach fosters maturity rather than dependency.

Addressing Modern Scepticism

In today’s world, scepticism toward spiritual authority is widespread and often justified by past abuses. The episode does not ignore these concerns. Instead, it invites listeners to look beyond generalisations and examine the actual qualities of a path and a teacher. Lived experience, consistency over many years, and the tangible growth of students become more reliable indicators than media narratives or second-hand opinions.

Can You Walk the Path Alone?

Many people successfully practise meditation and self-inquiry without a formal teacher. At the same time, the right guidance can significantly accelerate progress and help avoid common pitfalls. The hosts explore both possibilities with honesty. They suggest that the decision is deeply personal and depends on the individual’s temperament, readiness and longing. What matters most is sincerity and the willingness to grow.

Practical Insights for Seekers

Throughout the conversation, practical points emerge. Listeners learn how to observe their own reactions to the idea of a teacher, how to test the atmosphere of a path, and how to recognise whether their sense of agency is increasing or decreasing. These simple checks can save years of confusion and help seekers move forward with greater confidence.

Previous Episodes in the Spirit Matters Series

This episode continues the rich tradition of practical spirituality offered by Spirit Matters. Explore more transformative conversations:

Final Reflections

The question of whether a spiritual teacher is needed cannot be answered by slogans or fear-based generalisations. It requires honest inquiry, personal experience and a clear understanding of what genuine guidance actually looks like. This episode of Spirit Matters offers exactly that — a grounded, open and experience-based exploration of Spiritual Teacher Guidance. For anyone standing at this important crossroads after awakening, the conversation provides clarity, courage and a deeper sense of what is possible.

Explore More 

For more information about events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoycentre.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

Inspiring News #139: Stunning English Channel Crossing Victories

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Celebrating Outstanding English Channel Crossing Achievements

In the past weeks, members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team have once again demonstrated extraordinary endurance and determination in the waters of the English Channel. Two successful solo crossings and an earlier all-women relay have added inspiring new chapters to the team’s long history of open-water swimming. These achievements highlight the spirit of self-transcendence that defines the team’s approach to sport.

Abhejali’s Historic Breaststroke Crossing

On 28–29 July, Abhejali Bernardová completed her third solo crossing of the English Channel, this time swimming breaststroke. She finished in 17 hours and 38 minutes. Abhejali is only the fifth woman and the 18th person overall to complete a breaststroke crossing of the Channel. Even more remarkably, she is the only person in the world to have swum the English Channel in both freestyle and breaststroke. Supported by a dedicated crew including Dhavala, Shyamala and Nina from the Czech Republic, her achievement stands as a landmark in open-water swimming history.

Jayasalini’s Unique Double Achievement

One week later, on 7 August, Jayasalini Olga Abramovskikh crossed the English Channel in 18 hours and 27 minutes. With this swim, she became the only person in the world to have completed both the “Everest of long-distance running” — the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race (which she finished in 2014) — and the “Everest of open-water swimming,” the English Channel. Her pilot Eddie, who had previously guided Vijaya’s successful swim, knows the team well and provided excellent support.

The Sri Chinmoy Peace Dreamers Relay

Earlier in the season, on 14 June, three accomplished women ultra-athletes from the team — Abhejali Bernardová, Jayasalini Olga Abramovskikh and Vasanti Niemz (age 69) — completed a three-person relay across the English Channel. They named their team the Sri Chinmoy Peace Dreamers and dedicated the swim to peace. The relay took place in water temperatures of around 15°C and was guided by the experienced pilot Simon Ellis and Marilyn Critchlow on the boat High Hopes.

The three swimmers rotated hourly, facing the challenge of getting back into cold water after only short rests. Despite some seasickness, they made steady progress, aided by favourable winds and currents. After approximately 13–14 hours, they reached the French shore at La Courte Dune near Cap Gris-Nez. In the dark, with some bioluminescence in the water, they lit a Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run torch on the beach and offered a peace prayer together.

Honouring Gertrude Ederle’s Centenary

The relay was inspired in part by the centenary of Gertrude Ederle’s historic 1926 crossing. One hundred years earlier, on 6 August 1926, the 19-year-old American Olympic champion became the first woman to swim the English Channel solo. Two days after their own successful relay, the three women visited the Gertrude Ederle memorial at Kingsdown and took a short commemorative swim near the site.

A Long Tradition of Channel Swims

For the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, this was the fifth successful English Channel relay and the fourth all-women relay (following relays in 1989, 2009, 2014 and now 2026). Full details and a list of all team swims can be found here:

Channel Swimming Records – Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team

The Spirit Behind the Swims

Throughout the relay the swimmers carried a Peace Run torch on board and meditated briefly with it before each rotation. Their motto and theme song came from Sri Chinmoy:

Only the Peace-Dreamers, Peace-Lovers and Peace-Servers can transform the world.

The English Channel has long been called the Everest of open-water swimming. These recent successes by Abhejali, Jayasalini and the Peace Dreamers relay show that with preparation, teamwork, inner determination and a higher purpose, even the most demanding challenges can be met.

Looking Ahead

Both Abhejali and Jayasalini, as well as Vasanti, continue to inspire with their ongoing ultra-distance projects. Abhejali’s breaststroke crossing and Jayasalini’s unique double achievement will surely encourage many others to explore their own limits — in the water, on the road, and in daily life.

Final Reflections

These English Channel crossings are more than athletic accomplishments. They are living expressions of self-transcendence, teamwork and a sincere dedication to peace. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team continues to show that when the heart is strong and the goal is clear, the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

Explore More

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

O My Heart #36: Sri Chinmoy Songs sung by Tanima

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Welcome to this series sharing four beautiful songs from Sri Chinmoy’s “O My Heart” collection. Sri Chinmoy wrote thousands of heartfelt songs full of hope, thanks, and inner light. They’re simple melodies that speak straight to your heart, helping you feel calm, peaceful, and a little brighter – whether you’re meditating, relaxing, or just going about your day.

These songs from “O My Heart” carry that gentle, uplifting feeling. Tanima, a longtime student of Sri Chinmoy and one of the early singers in his community, performs them here with real warmth and care. Her gentle, soulful voice makes each song feel alive and easy to connect with.

You can just listen quietly, hum along, or let the melodies play softly in the background — they bring a soft, happy lift to your day.

Featured this time:

Songs

  • Chalo… Kathati Na Kabhu Balo Sudur
  • Chanchala Man Dure Rakhi
  • Chalbo Ami Parama Pita
  • Chalo Jai Chalo Jai Chalo Jai

Listen & Learn

You can learn by watching the notation while listening, follow along with the melody, or download both the audio and the PDF scores for your personal practice. Everything is available for free, so you can learn at your own pace and enjoy the music more deeply. Use the links below to easily listen to the audio, download the recordings, and view or download the PDF sheet music for your convenience:

Track1
Track2
Track3
Track4
Song Scores

 

Lyrics:

1. Chalo… Kathati Na Kabhu Balo Sudur

Chalo chalo chalo chalo
Kathati na kabhu balo
Sudur desher udar madhur
Sangit suru halo
Jyoti saranir shankha
Nashibe malin panka
Param kanti charam shanti
Phule phale dekha dilo
Rupantarer dak shune aj
Dyulok bhulok abhinna haye gelo

Composed on April, 1983
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘Journey’s Ecstasy’ songbook


2. Chanchala Man Dure Rakhi

Chanchala man dure rakhi
Chanchala mor man

Translation:

I keep aside my restless mind;
Always I keep it aside.

Composed on 1977
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘Journey’s Goal, Part 10a’ songbook


3. Chalbo Ami Parama Pita

Chalbo ami parama pita tomari sathe
Samarpaner giti geye dibasa rate

Translation:

O my Beloved Father Supreme,
Singing the song of my constant self-offering,
All day and night
I shall walk along with You.

Composed on January 26, 1978
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘Journey’s Goal, Part 9b’ songbook


4. Chalo Jai Chalo Jai Chalo Jai

Chalo jai chalo jai chalo jai
Hetha nai hetha nai hetha nai
Asha hasi aradhana prema sudha
Aloker asimer puta khudha
Chalo jai chalo jai chalo jai
Hetha nai hetha nai hetha nai
Amader bidhatar tari banshi
Achhe shudhu bhul giri rashi rashi
Nahi pabo hetha kabhu jaha chai

Translation:

Let us go.
Here there is no hope, there is no smile,
     no adoration,
No divine love, no nectar, no hallowed
     hunger for the Light of the Infinite.
Let us go, let us go.
Here there is no boat, no flute of our
     Supreme Lord.
Here there is only a chain of falsehood
     mountains.
Whatever you want, you shall never get it here.
Let us go, let us go.

Composed on December 17, 1972
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘Garden of Love-Light, part 2’ songbook

 

For more of Sri Chinmoy’s published songs, visit the official website: www.srichinmoysongs.com.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

© 2026 Sri Chinmoy Centre

Video #362: Invitation to Jharna-Kala Fountain Art Exhibition in Prague

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Introduction to the Invitation

This video is a warm official invitation to the exhibition Jharna-Kala Fountain Art by Sri Chinmoy, taking place from 1 to 30 September 2026 in one of Prague’s most beautiful Baroque gardens. Step into the UNESCO-listed Vrtba Garden (Vrtbovská zahrada) at Karmelitská 25, Prague 1 – Malá Strana, and discover art that speaks directly to the heart. The exhibition offers a quiet oasis of peace in the middle of the city and a chance to pause, slow down and enjoy beauty born of meditation.

What Is Jharna-Kala – Fountain Art?

Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) was a globally respected humanitarian, philosopher, musician and artist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his lifelong dedication to peace. He called his artwork Jharna-Kala, meaning “Fountain Art.” This art does not arise from intellectual self-expression, nor does it belong to any particular artistic movement. Instead, it flows spontaneously from the profound inner silence of meditation. Each work carries a living quality of peace, light and upliftment that can be felt by the viewer.

Exhibition Details

  • Dates: 1–30 September 2026
  • Venue: Sala Terrena Gallery Exhibition | Vrtba Garden (UNESCO)
  • Address: Karmelitská 25, Prague 1 – Malá Strana
  • Official website: artforpeace.cz/en

Highlights of the Exhibition

The exhibition features several rare and meaningful collections:

  • The World Harmony series, originally shown at the United Nations
  • A new selection of Messages for Humanity
  • A rare set of Chinese Scrolls displayed to the public for the very first time
  • An exclusive outdoor presentation of originals from the Dream-Freedom-Peace-Birds collection, previously exhibited at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris

These Peace Birds, placed in the garden itself, beautifully symbolise the soul and carry an uplifting feeling of inner freedom.

Under the Patronage of Maestro Debashish Chaudhuri

The exhibition is held under the gracious honorary patronage of the distinguished Indian conductor Maestro Debashish Chaudhuri. In today’s turbulent times, the organisers wish to build a bridge of inner peace and unity, echoing the timeless universal message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — “The World Is One Family.”

A Unique Artistic Voice

Martin Kemp, Professor of the History of Art at the University of Oxford and a leading international expert on Leonardo da Vinci, has said of Sri Chinmoy’s work:

“His art is extraordinary and unique. It is unlike anything I have ever seen.”

This recognition from one of the world’s foremost art historians underlines the special quality of Jharna-Kala Fountain Art. It stands outside conventional categories and speaks directly to the heart.

Why Visit This Exhibition

In a busy city, an exhibition that invites visitors to slow down and experience peace is a precious gift. The combination of Sri Chinmoy’s spontaneously created artworks and the serene Baroque setting of the Vrtba Garden creates a rare atmosphere. Whether you come for the beauty of the garden, the uniqueness of the art, or simply to find a quiet moment, the exhibition offers something deeply nourishing.

Previous Presentations of Jharna-Kala

Sri Chinmoy’s artwork has been exhibited in many prestigious venues around the world, including the United Nations, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and galleries across Europe, Asia and America. Each exhibition carries the same core message: that art born of meditation can become a silent ambassador of peace and oneness.

Final Invitation

We warmly invite you to visit the Jharna-Kala Fountain Art exhibition in Prague this September. Let the video invitation inspire you, and then come and experience the art in person. In the quiet of the Vrtba Garden, surrounded by works that flow from inner silence, you may discover a moment of real peace.

Explore More

For more information about Sri Chinmoy Art, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyart.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

Video #361: Spiritual Growth Signs | Spirit Matters #44

Posted on by Yatkara

Introduction to Spiritual Growth Signs

Your spiritual awakening is only the beginning. Without clear signs that you are actually growing, it is easy to wonder whether your meditation practice is making any real difference. In this episode of Spirit Matters, Abhinabha and Vajin unpack seven practical Spiritual Growth Signs that appear in daily life — not just in books or peak experiences. If you do not have a spiritual teacher guiding you directly, this conversation offers honest, grounded wisdom to help you know whether you are on the right track.

Why Spiritual Progress Needs Clear Markers

Many seekers feel stuck or uncertain after an awakening experience. The mind keeps saying nothing is happening, while subtle but important changes are already taking place. Real spiritual growth is not measured by how many hours you sit in meditation or how elevated you feel during peak moments. It is measured by how you react, how you treat others, and how much lighter your inner world becomes over time. This episode focuses on those lived, practical signs.

Sign 1: Breaking the Autopilot Loop

One of the clearest Spiritual Growth Signs is the ability to interrupt automatic reactions. Instead of living on autopilot and repeating the same emotional patterns for years, you begin to notice the moment of choice. This is where your future stops repeating your past. The tiny pause between stimulus and response becomes a doorway to freedom. Without this pause, we continue throwing emotional grenades we never intended to throw.

Sign 2: Dropping the Dead Weight of Negativity

As real growth begins, jealousy, chronic worry and fear start to lose their grip. They do not disappear overnight, but their intensity softens. You find yourself carrying less emotional weight. This lightening of the inner load is one of the most reliable indicators that consciousness is expanding. The episode explores how this process unfolds naturally when the spiritual life is lived sincerely.

Sign 3: Choosing Your Response

Spiritual progress shows itself in the capacity to choose rather than react. You begin to catch yourself before speaking words you will later regret. This ability to pause and respond from a calmer place protects relationships, preserves peace of mind, and builds quiet self-respect. Over time, these small choices rewrite the personality itself.

Sign 4: The Return of Freshness to Ordinary Days

When spiritual growth is alive, ordinary days start to feel new again. The world looks fresher, more alive, more interesting. Losing this sense of newness is often the first quiet warning that the inner life is beginning to dry out. The hosts discuss why travel sometimes feels spiritual and how the same quality of freshness can be cultivated at home through a living practice.

Sign 5: Taking Radical Responsibility

A major shift occurs when we stop blaming others and reclaim authorship of our own lives. Victimhood gives way to agency. Instead of feeling trapped in a story written by someone else, we begin creating a more beautiful present — and therefore a more beautiful past. This willingness to take full responsibility is both challenging and liberating.

Sign 6: Becoming Less Impulsive

Another clear sign is a growing ability to interrupt the chain of reaction. Old patterns become visible. You see the same old personality habits rising, and you choose differently. These repeated small choices gradually reshape who you are. The episode offers practical insight into how this process works in ordinary conversations and daily decisions.

Sign 7: Faith Moving from the Soul into the Mind

One of the most beautiful Spiritual Growth Signs is the quiet increase of faith. Doubt loses its dominance. Faith that once lived only as a deep soul feeling begins to settle into the mind. The inner life gains more room to breathe. This does not mean the end of questions, but it does mean that questions no longer control the atmosphere of the heart.

The Balance Scale of Consciousness

Throughout the conversation, Abhinabha and Vajin return to a helpful image: the balance scale of consciousness. On one side is the desire life; on the other, the aspiration life. Real progress is felt when the scale slowly tips toward aspiration — when the pull of the soul becomes stronger than the pull of old habits and fears.

Testing Spirituality in the Real World

True growth is tested not in the meditation room alone, but in the marketplace of daily life. How do we respond when someone criticises us? How do we handle disappointment or delay? The episode emphasises that spirituality, which cannot survive ordinary human friction is still incomplete. Real progress requires getting our hands dirty in the world while keeping the heart clean.

Happiness as a Reliable Indicator

Sri Chinmoy taught that progress is happiness. The hosts explore what this means in practice. Outer pleasure comes and goes, but a quieter, more stable inner joy begins to appear as consciousness expands. Even when outer circumstances remain difficult, this deeper happiness can be felt as a background presence.

Previous Episodes in the Spirit Matters Series

This episode continues the rich tradition of practical spirituality offered by Spirit Matters. Explore more transformative conversations:

Final Reflections

Spiritual growth is often quieter and more ordinary than we expect. It shows up in the ability to pause, in the lightening of old emotional burdens, in the return of freshness to daily life, and in a slowly deepening faith. This episode of Spirit Matters offers a clear and compassionate map of these changes. For anyone who has wondered whether their practice is actually working, these seven Spiritual Growth Signs can serve as honest and encouraging companions on the path.

Explore More 

For more information about events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoycentre.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.