Free meditation classes in Philadelphia, PA

Meditation means our conscious growth into the Infinite. When we meditate, what we actually do is enter into a vacant, calm, silent mind and allow ourselves to be nourished and nurtured by Infinity itself. 

Sri Chinmoy

Throughout the year the Sri Chinmoy Centre of Philadelphia offers a number of free workshops and events designed to help you create or support your meditation practice.  Our programmes are based on the philosophy and teachings of Sri Chinmoy and include introductory meditation classes, weekend 'urban retreats', live concerts of meditative music, as well as workshops on creativity, Vedic chanting, meditation and sports. 

You can see when we hold our next set of workshops and classes on our dedicated meditation website.

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About us

The Sri Chinmoy Centre is located in the heart of Philadelphia's historic colonial district and offers meditations and free workshops on Sundays for the local area.

 

Sri Chinmoy had a special love for Philadelphia. He visited Philadelphia on numerous occasions over a 36-year period, offering lectures, concerts and participating in local running events.

Sri Chinmoy's November 1st, 1996 Peace Concert at the CoreStates Spectrum had an audience of 10,000, the largest US Peace Concert ever given.

Sri Chinmoy's last visit to Philadelphia was in 2006, when we hosted standing room only free concerts at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. 6,000 people came from all over the eastern seaboard to hear and experience Sri Chinmoy's meditative music.

America’s capital, from the spiritual point of view, is Philadelphia. Philadelphia – the name itself is a ringing bell. As soon as I hear the word ‘Philadelphia’, no matter who utters it, I hear a bell ringing ....  Philadelphia for me always carries Divinity’s Reality.  It is very, very haunting and, at the same time, illumining and fulfilling. 

Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy in Philadelphia - a timeline

March 18, 1970
Lecture on The Inner Light at the University of Pennsylvania, published in My Ivy League Leaves.
November 29, 1972         
Lecture on The Wisdom-Sun of Vedic Truth at Bryn Mawr College.
January  22, 1974 
Lecture on The Heart at the University of Pennsylvania.
June 1, 1975
“Sacred Fire” troupe performs excerpts from Sri Chinmoy’s Bicentennial play about America’s leaders, on the steps of Independence Hall.
January 10, 1976
Meditation offered by Sri Chinmoy at Christ Church, on the occasion of the Liberty Torch Bicentennial Relay Run.
December 1976
Travelling exhibit of Jharna-Kala paintings selected by Henry Geldzahler, curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 20th century collection.
January 17, 1977
Three hundred of Sri Chinmoy’s books presented to the Free Library of Philadelphia, received by Mayor Frank Rizzo.
December 6, 1977
Esraj Concert, Unitarian Church, Philadelphia.
Fall, 1979
Ran 21 miles of the Philadelphia Marathon
October 9, 1980
Sri Chinmoy appointed as an honourary Deputy Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia, by Sheriff Joseph A. Sullivan, in connection with the Salutations to America relay.
Early 1981
Ran the Philadelphia Half-Marathon, Fairmount Park.
April 25, 1981
Lecture on Music at the University of Pennsylvania.
November 14, 1989       
Peace Concert at Philadelphia Civic Center; 4,000 attended.
May 16, 1992 
Peace Concert, Cathedral Church of the Saviour; 700 attended. 
November 1, 1996
 
Peace Concert, CoreStates Spectrum; 10,000 attended, the largest US Peace Concert.
May 30, 1997
Peace Concert, Annenberg Center, University of Pennsylvania, in honour of the 50th anniversary of India’s independence; 500 attended.
October 7, 2000             
Peace Concert, Old Pine Community Church, 400 attended.
June 10, 2003
Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart, University of Pennsylvania, honouring distinguished professors and members of the community.
June 22, 2006
Sri Chinmoy in Concert, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, two overflow performances; 6,000 attended. 
June 30, 2007
Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart, at the Strongest Man competition, Fairmount Park, part of the City of Philadelphia’s Welcome America! Celebration for the 4th of July. Sri Chinmoy honoured champion strongmen from the United States and Europe; attended by Mahasamrat Bill Pearl and Bhavatarini Judy Pearl.

Philadelphia - a song written by Sri Chinmoy

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.
O sweet city of brotherly love.
O God-perfection below, above.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.
Your world-attention Liberty Bell
Proclaimed the death of our bondage-hell.
O freedom-lovers' utopia!
Philadephia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.

Sri Chinmoy