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Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy was born in 1931 in the Indian province of Bengal, in what is now Bangladesh. At age 12, his parents passed away and he with all of his brothers and sisters entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondichery. Aurobindo's teachings were that of "Integral Yoga" which blended a life of meditation with outer activities such as sports and selfless service, all within the context of Ashram life. There Sri Chinmoy spent many hours a day in meditation and attained the high states of consciousness described in various traditions as enlightenment or God-realisation. In 1964, out of obedience to an inner command, Sri Chinmoy came to New York in 1964 to share his inner realisations, where he made his home until his passing in 2007. Here he founded the first Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre. There are now Sri Chinmoy Centres located all over the world, and several thousand students study meditation and live a devoted spirtitual life based on his teachings and guidance.

To learn more about the life, philosophy and works of Sri Chinmoy, please see Sri Chinmoy and visit Srichinmoy.org for a much more extensive biography.

A student of Sri Chinmoy

In today's era, the relationship of Spiritual Teacher and student is oft misunderstood and mis-represented. Certainly, a student-teacher relationship is understood in the common sense, but upon close examination, that relationship is quintessential in almost every human experience. Even in something as casual as sharing a conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee, we lend our opinions (we teach) and absorb those of others (we learn). It is part of being human! And as part of that experience, in addition to communicating outwardly, we also learn the ability to communicate in communicate in consciousness. When we witness a loved one feeling "a little down", its quite natural to try to lift that individual with your own love, compassion and care. To the extent that we do this, we are all little gurus in training! Elevating the consciouness of the seeker-student is precisely the role of a spiritual Teacher. But the vehicle he uses is the power of meditative silence, the power of consciousness operating from the highest level.

It is an essential principal of spiritual practices all over that within each and every one of us is a higher spiritual power, or an aspect of the divine. One may call upon this as soul, spirit, inner pilot, Atman, or whatever. Regardless of the name used, the important tenet of the spirtual life is to nuture that aspect and discover ourselves as representatives of the Infinite, or God, or the Supreme. Each and every one of us has that capacity. Perhaps today you will realize God, tomorrow he or she will realize God. A genuine Spiritual Teacher is someone who realized God just the day before. He is simply an elder brother of humanity, but as someone who has ascended the realization mountain, he can help and guide others up that mountain.

The student-Teacher relationship; The lifestyle of a student

The U.S. Sri Chinmoy Centres

The Sri Chinmoy Centres are inspired by and dedicated to the teachings of Indian Spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy. Each Centre provides spiritual fellowship and inspiration to its student-membership community. At the same time, the Centres regularly offer events for the public: free instructional programs in meditation; special evenings of inspiration, for example, The Songs of the Soul musical concert program; local runs, and more. Major Centres have been founded in New York, Washington DC, Tampa, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego.  Smaller meditation groups can be found in various cities throughout the United States. Sri Chinmoy made his home in Jamaica, NY which serves as the headquarters for the Sri Chinmoy Centres around the world.

Each Centre strives to serve the twin goals of world harmony and inner peace. From concerts, athletic events, meditation classes and art exhibitions, the Sri Chinmoy Centres have fashioned many initiatives with a single aim: the fulfilment of the limitless potential of the human soul.

Directory of US Sri Chinmoy Centres; Learning Meditation; Activities of the Sri Chinmoy Centres