Category: Sri Chinmoy Centre Activity

News #98: Auckland Half-Marathon Series Race 8 – Pure Joy!

Posted on by Yatkara

Auckland Half-Marathon Series

Another beautiful chapter of the Auckland Half-Marathon Series unfolded on Sunday, 23 November 2025. Runners gathered at the peaceful War Memorial Park in Mt Roskill under a soft, cloudy sky. A warm late-spring breeze greeted everyone. Even with a 10-minute late start, smiles never faded. The beloved trio of half-marathon, 12 km and 6 km distances welcomed every kind of participant – from speedy racers chasing personal bests to happy families and giggling children enjoying their first event.

Why the Auckland Half-Marathon Series Feels So Special

First, the park offers flat, shaded loops on the famous Lovelock Track – perfect for relaxed running or fast racing. Second, volunteers cheer with genuine warmth and quiet encouragement. Finally, the atmosphere stays calm and meditative from start to finish. All of this blends into the perfect recipe for joyful running. Many regulars smile and say they come not just for the run, but for the quiet peace they always carry home.

Half-Marathon – Strong Performances

Mark Andrew powered to a clear victory in 1:32:54, followed by Vince Sesto (1:36:45) and Thomas Milliken (1:40:21). In the women’s race, ultra-legend Susan Marshall – who once finished the incredible 3,100-mile Self-Transcendence Race – showed her timeless strength with a winning 1:53:02. Melissa Kjestrup (1:58:24) and Kirsty Sesto (2:00:15) completed a happy podium. Runners spoke afterwards about how the peaceful park setting helped them find a smooth, flowing rhythm.

12 km & 6 km – Speed, Smiles and Family Moments

Melanie James flew to an impressive outright victory in the 12 km with 59:42, while TK Higuchi led the men in 1:03:06. The 6 km brought pure delight: Christopher Rawles sprinted to first place in 29:06, proudly followed by his dad Stephen (36:21). Larissa Wildsmith topped the women in 31:36, with Liz Hardley (36:15) and Melissa Stewart (42:11) enjoying every step. The shorter distances are always full of children, grandparents and first-timers discovering the simple happiness of moving together outdoors.

A Global Family of Peaceful Races

Since Sri Chinmoy founded the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in 1977, members of the SCMT have lovingly organised more than 500 events worldwide every year. The Auckland monthly series, now in its 22nd season (since 2004), is one of the longest-running regular community race series in New Zealand and among the most enduring monthly programmes in the entire global SCMT family.  Whether you race the half-marathon or take the 6 km at your own pace, the same warm, open-hearted feeling is there for everyone. Race 8 at War Memorial Park reminded everyone why they keep coming back: beautiful places, kind people and the gentle feeling that, for a couple of hours, the world is exactly as it should be.

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.

Video #332: Meditative Classical Music Concert | Vienna 2025

Posted on by Yatkara

Meditative classical music fills the air in this beautiful live recording from Vienna, Austria, on 14 October 2025. The renowned Gandharva Quartet – Shamita Achenbach-König (cello), Stephan Achenbach (violin), Bhoiravi Achenbach (violin), and Vapushtara Jongepier (piano) – brings Sri Chinmoy’s heart-melodies to life with rare warmth and precision.

The Magic of Meditative Classical Music

These melodies do more than sound beautiful. They calm the mind and open the heart. Sri Chinmoy’s songs blend Eastern feeling with Western harmony. Therefore, every note feels like a quiet prayer. In this cozy Vienna hall, the music flows gently and invites deep peace.

Gandharva Quartet – One Family, One Soul

The four musicians have played together for many years. Consequently, their interplay feels effortless. Shamita’s cello grounds everything with its rich tone. Stephan and daughter Bhoiravi add soaring violin lines. Vapushtara’s sensitive piano completes the picture. Together, they create meditative classical music that touches the soul.

Sri Chinmoy – Composer of the Heart

Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) wrote more than 23,000 songs. He saw music as the inner language of God. He gave nearly 800 free Peace Concerts worldwide, including several in Vienna. Today, groups like the Gandharva Quartet keep his light alive.

Why This Concert Feels So Needed Today

In our busy world, meditative classical music offers true rest. Many listeners say tension simply melts away. Others feel a spacious joy that stays with them. Play it in the morning to start softly, or in the evening to unwind. Let the music carry you home.

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News #96: Sri Chinmoy Centre at Gracie Mansion Diwali 2025, New York

Posted on by Yatkara

Sri Chinmoy Centre Joins Diwali Celebration at Historic Gracie Mansion

A Night of Light, Music, and Unity

The Sri Chinmoy Centre joined a radiant Diwali celebration at Gracie Mansion on October 18, 2025. The evening brought together community leaders, artists, and cultural organizations for a night full of light, music, and shared joy. With glowing lamps, festive décor, and the warm energy of attendees, the mansion became a true stage for celebration.

Among the highlights was a performance by renowned sarangi musician Ustad Kamal Sabri. His music added soul and depth to the evening, inspiring everyone present. Guests also shared Diwali greetings and spoke about peace, unity, and community connection. The Sri Chinmoy Centre took part in the evening, joining others in the celebration of light, music, and community.

Media coverage by ITV Gold ensured that the event reached a wider audience. Interviews captured the atmosphere and allowed members of the Centre to express warm wishes for the festival. The celebration was more than entertainment — it demonstrated the beauty of harmony across cultures, faiths, and generations.

The occasion was covered by ITV Gold

Who Was Sri Chinmoy — In Short

Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) was a spiritual teacher, poet, artist, and musicianSri Chinmoy (1931–2007) was a spiritual teacher, poet, artist, and musician. After moving to New York in 1964, he devoted his life to guiding people toward inner peace, self-transcendence, and universal oneness. Over his lifetime, he created nearly 1,600 books, including poetry, essays, lectures, stories, and plays, and produced a vast collection of spiritual art and meditations.

Through his works, Sri Chinmoy encouraged seekers to look beyond surface-level differences and recognize the shared divine essence in all beings. His vision was global: he believed that inner peace leads to outer harmony and that every gesture — no matter how small — can contribute to universal love. The Centre’s Diwali celebration embodied this vision by sharing light, music, and goodwill in a civic space, bringing spiritual ideals into everyday life.

Light is the Creator yet to be fulfilled.
Light is the Creation yet to be realised.
Light is the Voice of Silence in the inner world.
Light is the fruit of action in the outer world.

– Sri Chinmoy, My Ivy League Leaves

Why This Evening Mattered

Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. These themes are universal. The event naturally highlighted the values of Diwali, and the Sri Chinmoy Centre joined the celebration warmly, simply enjoying the evening alongside other honored guests. 

The event showed that spirituality, culture, and community are not separate; they are intertwined in our shared human experience. Music, tradition, and fellowship created a space where compassion and unity were tangible. Attendees left with a sense of belonging and hope, reminded that light — both inner and outer — brings people together.

Ultimately, the evening carried a quiet sense of Sri Chinmoy’s teachings, felt more than spoken. It reminded participants that spiritual ideals are alive in every sincere smile, greeting, and act of kindness. By fostering connection across boundaries, the Diwali celebration became a celebration not only of light but also of human unity and shared purpose.

Learn More

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

News #95: ‘Listen to Nature’ at Miami Book Fair – A Quiet Call for Earth and Spirit

Posted on by Yatkara

Listen the Nature booth at Miami Book Fair 2025

From November 16 to 23, 2025, the Sri Chinmoy Centre of Miami set up a gentle Listen to Nature booth at the Miami Book Fair. This is one of the largest literary gatherings in the United States.

Listen to Nature: A Place to Pause

The fair is always full of energy. Thousands of visitors move between hundreds of booths and talks. Yet, in the middle of it all, the Listen to Nature space offered stillness. Many people stopped by simply because it felt peaceful.

The Sri Chinmoy Centre of Miami joined the fair to share a few of Sri Chinmoy’s books. Over eight days, visitors from different countries quietly browsed. Some asked questions. Others stayed longer to read.

Listen to Nature — A Book Rooted in Love for the Earth

Listen to Nature: Living in Harmony with the Earth appeared in 2021. It gathers Sri Chinmoy’s poems, answers, meditations, and reflections from decades of talks and earlier writings. Everything is arranged by theme. As a result, the book flows gently and invites meditation on our bond with nature.

The volume includes:

  • poems from earlier collections,
  • short aphorisms and prose passages,
  • spiritual thoughts on environmental care,
  • answers to questions from seekers, scholars, and UN officials,
  • simple exercises to meditate on trees, rivers, silence, and the Earth.

Jane Goodall wrote the foreword. Professor Kusumita Pedersen wrote the introduction. Together, they create an accessible bridge between spirituality and today’s ecological concerns.

At the booth, visitors also found other Sri Chinmoy titles on meditation, poetry, and the inner life. This gave a fuller picture of his creative legacy.

Sri Chinmoy — A Voice of Peace and Oneness

Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) taught meditation and wrote over 1,600 books. He was also a poet, musician, and artist who dedicated his life to world harmony. Above all, he encouraged inner peace and love for all living beings.

Nature has its own rhythm, its own harmony, its own peace and joy.

– Sri Chinmoy, Meditation: man’s choice and God’s Voice, part 1

A Quiet Corner of the Fair

The Miami Book Fair takes place each year in downtown Miami. It brings together publishers, authors, and tens of thousands of readers. Amid the lively crowds and bright displays, the Listen to Nature booth became a gentle refuge. Here, people could pause, breathe, and feel the link between inner peace and the living Earth.

Some visitors loved the simplicity. Others were touched by its care for the Earth. Many discovered Sri Chinmoy’s lifelong work for peace and service for the first time.

Several people said how refreshing it was to find such a calm corner. A few called it “a breath of fresh air.” Others simply smiled, nodded, and carried the quiet feeling with them.

The Sri Chinmoy Centre of Miami enjoyed the fair very much. Therefore, they hope to join similar events again. After all, the simplest things — a book, a smile, a moment of silence — can touch a heart.

More about Listen to Nature and Sri Chinmoy

Video #330: Sri Chinmoy “News Report” – with a Smile

Posted on by Yatkara

This playful “News Report” takes you through some remarkable moments with the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team (SCMT) – celebrating extraordinary endurance, global heart, and good-humoured community spirit.

Triathlon in Canberra: Not Your Average Swim

At 5:30 AM, athletes in Canberra, Australia, dove into the Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, a 150 km off-road extravaganza. Picture this: three full triathlons back-to-back, swimming in three different lakes, biking up and down ten peaks, and running all over the city. Solo competitors and teams competed, all sharing one goal – pushing their boundaries, then doing it again. The “Stuffed Puffs” won top honors, while the “Diggers” came in second – and yes, they joked that Australia’s dangerous wildlife couldn’t catch them.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon in Canberra, Australia

Vasanti Niemz and the Iconic Manhattan Swim

Meanwhile, Vasanti Niemz of Germany took on the legendary 20 Bridges Challenge – a 48.5 km swim around Manhattan Island. She navigated three tidal rivers – the East, Harlem, and Hudson – in conditions that most would call “completely crazy.” Despite it all, she completed the swim in 9 hours 34 minutes. She cheerfully suggested that 27 bridges would be more meaningful than 20, and even pressed New York’s mayor to build a few more.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Vasanti Niemz 48.5 km swim around Manhattan Island - 9 hours 34 minutes

Shamita Runs Across Europe, London Goes 24-Hour

On the running side, Shamita Achenbach-König, a musician from Vienna, ran 2,000 km from Vienna to Oslo, crossing several countries for friendship and harmony. Back in the UK, SCMT’s 24-hour race in London brought runners together for a full weekend – laps, laughter, and the shared joy of endurance.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Shamita runs across Europe 2000 km, Vienna - Oslo

And in other cities – Munich, Salzburg, San Diego – 6-hour races added to the global mix. In San Diego, the race got a surprise visitor: a large rattlesnake allegedly finished (at 5.2 mi) and helped itself to 80% of the race snacks. (Yes, that part’s playful.)

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race - Amstelveen, Netherlands

Why This Report Connects with Everyone

This “News Report” works because it makes extraordinary feats feel familiar. By pairing real SCMT achievements with playful commentary, it invites a wide audience — not just ultrarunners – to marvel at what people can do when they combine heart, discipline, and a little humour.

Whether you’re inspired by long-distance triathlons, open-water swims, or cross-continental runs, this video shows that the Sri Chinmoy community is about more than athleticism. It’s about connection, self-transcendence, and uplifting one another – values that resonate far beyond any finish line.

Learn More About These Incredible Stories

If you’re curious to explore more about the events mentioned:

Featured News

  • News #61: Vasanti Niemz Completes 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan – Read more
  • News #66: The 18th Annual Self-Transcendence 4/21 km Race – Erdenet, Mongolia, September 13, 2025 – Read more
  • News #67: The 12th Annual Sri Chinmoy Peace-Mile 6-Hour Race – Munich, Germany, September 13, 2025 – Read more
  • News #71: Self-Transcendence 24-Hour Track Race – London, United Kingdom – Read more
  • News #73: Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race – Amstelveen, Netherlands – Read more
  • News #92: Inspiring Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race in San Diego 2025 – Read more
  • News #93: Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon in Canberra – A Day of Endurance, Teamwork and Inspiration – Read more

Featured Videos

  • Video #314: Shamita Achenbach-König’s Solo Run – Vienna to Oslo – A cross-continental journey for harmony – Watch video
  • Video #316: Swimming 20 Bridges Around Manhattan for Peace – Vasanti Sets Record – An aquatic odyssey around New York City – Watch video

More Information

To explore upcoming Sri Chinmoy races: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy: www.srichinmoy.org.