Inspiration-Letters - Running issue

In this edition of "Inspiration-Letters," several writers from the Sri Chinmoy Centre share their thoughts on the topic of running. From reminiscences of coming last in a race to the spiritual odyssey of running a 47-mile race and thoughts on the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race.

To Sri Chinmoy, running was an essential aspect of his spiritual path, teaching that the inner running and outer running should go together because running can definitely encourage good qualities of dynamism, concentration, perseverance and transcendence of mental problems.

“Running helps us considerably. Running is continuous motion. Because of our running, we feel that there is a goal — not only an outer goal but also an inner goal.”

– Sri Chinmoy [1]

Editor of Inspiration-Letters, Mahiruha Klein offers a suitable introduction - remarking on some of his memories of being inspired by running on Sri Chinmoy's Path.

"The longest race in the world is the Sri Chinmoy 3,100 Mile Self-Transcendence Race, held every summer in Queens.  The runners need to complete at least sixty miles a day (more than two marathons daily) to finish in the fifty-day cutoff.  I have often gone to see them; sometimes I just go and sit and read.  The feeling of self-transcendence is palpable.  Whenever I go to watch them run, I feel I should maintain soulful silence.  I feel like these runners are a symbolic offering to the world, through their own stamina, endurance, determination, they are pathfinders of a new world."

Read edition

• Inspiration-Letters Running edition (online version)
• Inspiration-Letters Running edition (PDF)