Video #286: Sri Chinmoy 5K 2025 – Records Fall at Scottish Championships

The 2025 Sri Chinmoy 5K, held on Friday, 16 May at Silverknowes, Edinburgh, once again hosted the Scottish 5K Road Championships and delivered an evening of exceptional performances and record-breaking achievements.

Under clear skies and warm evening sunshine, approximately 600 of Scotland’s top club runners competed on the fast, flat, and traffic-free riverside course, renowned for producing swift times.

In the men’s race, Scottish international Logan Rees of Fife Athletic Club claimed victory with a new course record of 14:04, surpassing the previous best of 14:12.  The top four finishers all broke the former record, highlighting the depth of talent in the field.

The women’s race saw Morag Millar deliver a superb performance, finishing in 15:57, just four seconds shy of her own course record. 

Notably, 35 runners completed the course in under 15 minutes, and 432 runners finished under 20 minutes, underscoring the competitive nature of the event.

In the Men’s Junior Under-20 category, Edinburgh University’s Angus Wright secured gold with a time of 14:30. Corstorphine’s Stuart Livingstone set a new MV40 course record of 14:57, ahead of Edinburgh AC’s John Lenehan, who finished in 15:10. 

The event attracted participants from across Scotland, with some athletes traveling over 100 miles from the North and North-East, and even flying in from the Scottish Islands to compete.

The race continues to build its reputation among the running community, and the organizers received fantastic positive feedback from participants, who, along with volunteers, contributed to making it another special event.

For full results and more details, visit the official race page: uk.srichinmoyraces.org

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

News #26: Vienna Meditation Week | May 5–9, 2025

From May 5 to 9, 2025, the Lotus Seminarzentrum in Vienna hosted the third annual Vienna Meditation Week, drawing approximately 460 participants across nine sessions. Each day welcomed around 100 attendees, creating an atmosphere of peace, youthfulness, and aspiration.

The program featured a blend of English and German sessions, each evening focusing on a unique theme presented by experienced speakers. Highlights included Satyaki’s sessions on foundational meditation techniques, Thomas’s exploration of the heart’s path in meditation, and Nidhruvi’s insights into the connection between sports and meditation. The week culminated on Friday with a powerful workshop by Sadanand from Ireland, followed by a soulful sitar concert performed by Kanala and Sadanand.

To continue the journey, follow-up sessions are now being held twice a week—one in English and one in German.

For upcoming events and more inspiration from the Vienna meditation community, visit:
👉 www.meditationwien.at

To discover worldwide activities and explore the spiritual legacy of Sri Chinmoy:
👉 www.srichinmoycentre.org
👉 www.srichinmoy.org

News #19: Earth Day 2025 – New York

To honour Earth Day, the Sri Chinmoy Centre joyfully took part in the Earth Day Festival at Union Square, New York City, on April 17th, 2025.

At its booth, the Sri Chinmoy Centre featured the book Listen to Nature: Living in Harmony with the Earth, and offered hundreds of magnet cards with nature photos and inspiring poems from the book.

The heart of Mother Earth
Any earth-child can open
At his sweet will.
~ Sri Chinmoy
77,000 Service-Trees, part 46

To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

Video #275: Mountain Silence – Concert in Vicenza, Italy 2025

Experience the soulful performance by the Mountain Silence international ensemble as they render spiritual and devotional songs composed by Sri Chinmoy in the historic Basilica of Saints Felice and Fortunato in Vicenza, Italy. Filmed on March 8, 2025, in a venue that still boasts exquisite Roman mosaics, this memorable concert is a heartfelt tribute to Ottaviano Costa, a dear friend remembered with deep admiration. 

To find out more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit the official website: www.srichinmoy.org

News #13. Sri Chinmoy Culture-Light Award Presented to Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack has passed away at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy that transcends music. A Grammy-winning artist and spiritual seeker, she was known in the Sri Chinmoy community as Addwitiya, meaning “matchless” or “second to none.” With a voice that defied genres, she infused songs like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with rare depth and soul, making them truly timeless.

February 16, 2025 – In recognition of her profound contributions to music and her ability to inspire millions, Flack was honored with the Sri Chinmoy Culture-Light Award on her 88th birthday in a special ceremony at her New York residence. This prestigious award celebrates those who illuminate the human spirit through their work, and Flack’s lifelong dedication to uplifting humanity through song made her a most deserving recipient.

A classically trained musician, she was the first artist to win back-to-back Grammys for Record of the Year, using her extraordinary talent to express deeply felt messages that continue to resonate across generations. Her music invited listeners to explore their inner worlds while embracing life’s beauty. Reflecting on her journey, she once shared, “I want to keep my feet on the ground and let my spirit soar.” This powerful sentiment was later set to music by Sri Chinmoy, the spiritual leader, composer, and humanitarian after whom the award is named.

The award, directed by Ranjana Ghose, has previously honored luminaries such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Mikhail Gorbachev, and composer Philip Glass. Its crystal design bears an etching of Sri Chinmoy’s world-harmony painting, Unity, adorned with his signature peace-bird drawings—symbols of the soul’s boundless journey. Alongside the award, Flack was presented with a certificate featuring a poem by Sri Chinmoy, capturing the essence of her artistic vision and life’s work:

God never encouraged me
To learn the world-denial-song.
On the contrary,
He inspired, encouraged
And blessed me
To sing the world-acceptance-song
And dance the world-transformation-dance.

– Sri Chinmoy

The ceremony also included a heartfelt birthday celebration for Roberta Flack, to whom the community extended warm wishes. A special slideshow, created by Vyakulata and Gesiane, beautifully highlighted the occasion.

With this recognition, Roberta Flack joins a distinguished list of honorees whose creativity and dedication continue to inspire and uplift the world. Her music remains a beacon of hope, reminding us all of the power of song to unite hearts and transcend boundaries.

To find out more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit the official website: www.srichinmoy.org