IndiaPost.com - Spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy passes away

NEW YORK: At a private ceremony befitting the universal message of Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy, dozens of luminaries from all around the world joined thousands of followers to pay final tributes to the spiritual leader, Sri Chinmoy, who passed away Oct 11 morning at his home in Queens, New York. In his 43 years in the West, Sri Chinmoy endeavored to inspire and serve mankind with his soulful offerings - his prayers and meditations, literary, musical and artistic works.

Born Chinmoy Kumar Ghose in the small village of Shakpura in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1931, Sri Chinmoy was the youngest of seven children. In 1944, after both his parents had died, 12 year-old Chinmoy entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community near Pondicherry in South India.

Here he spent the next 20 years in spiritual practice - including long hours of meditation, practising athletics, writing poetry, essays and spiritual songs. Sri Chinmoy later came to be known for his ‘Oneness of Heart’ movement and his unique way of spreading the message of physical fitness by literally weight-lifting celebrities across the world.

Religious leaders of all faiths, UN officials, humanitarian workers, world-class athletes and renowned musicians gathered in Sri Chinmoy’s meditation garden, where his body lay in wake, to express their condolences on his sudden passing. “Sri Chinmoy always inspired me,” said nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis.

“He used to call me his outer coach in running but say he was my inner coach. I may have lost my student, but, though he has passed on physically, I know I have not lost my coach spiritually.” Six-time Grammy Award-winning singer Roberta Flack added, “I loved Sri Chinmoy. I love Sri Chinmoy. My whole life changed when I met him and I thank the whole world for that.”

“I say on behalf of my father Muhammad Ali,” shared Khaliah Ali, daughter of the boxing superstar, “that if I ever thought Sri Chinmoy’s physical presence was powerful, being here in this period of transition with all of you has been truly transformational.”

Leaders who could not be present but who sent letters of condolence ranged from US Congresspersons and Senators to Prime Ministers from countries as varied as Nepal and Namibia. Numerous Nobel Peace Prize winners offered statements as well. Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev wrote, “With deep regret I learned that my long-time close friend passed away. In our hearts he will forever remain a man who dedicated his whole life to peace.

We shall remember Sri Chinmoy forever.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote, “Sri Chinmoy was a great man. God is smiling to know the immense good he has accomplished and encouraged in others. In a world of suspicion, hostility and conflict, he worked tirelessly to bring the different faiths together and inspired many to emulate.”

Bishop Carlos Belo of East Timor, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, wrote, “The Lord of Life and of Death receives his most blessed son who during his life sleeplessly worked for the peace and harmony of between peoples of religion.” Svenn Kristiansen, Mayor of Oslo, Norway, an ardent supporter of Sri Chinmoy wrote, “You will forever remain inside our hearts. May your light continue to spread throughout the length and breadth of the entire world.”

Vijay Nambiar, Chief of Staff to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remarked, “I am sure I represent the Secretary-General when I express my profound respect and gratitude to Sri Chinmoy for his contribution to the building up of inner peace in the United Nations as in the world at large.”

Sri Chinmoy had led twice-weekly meditations for peace at the UN Headquarters in New York since 1970 when he founded The Peace Meditation at the United Nations under the aegis of then-Secretary-General U Thant.

Former UN Deputy Secretary-General and current Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, Lord Mark Malloch Brown, wrote, “In the UN we felt the force of his love for us. A man of the spiritual life, he understood the need for the UN in the material world if the two were ever to find justice and harmony.”

Jan Eliasson, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Darfur said, “It is a great loss. Sri Chinmoy was a man of compassion and tolerance, representing the very best in humanity.” US leaders like Al Gore and Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii paid tribute to Sri Chinmoy, who had made his home in New York City since 1964 and wrote extensively on the beauty and promise of his adopted country, the United States.

“Known as the Ambassador of World Peace, he shared his inner wealth with sincere seekers throughout the world. I join his students in bidding Sri Chinmoy a fond aloha,” wrote Senator Akaka. Congressman Gary Ackerman who represented the district in which Sri Chinmoy lived paid tribute to the late leader on Saturday delivering an impromptu eulogy during the wake.

“Each and every one of us has been privileged, because we have been touched by a great master-teacher, a great inspirer, who has given us a message, a message to live by,” said the Congressman.

“Death in itself is confusing. It is even more confusing when somebody who has exhibited such unbelievable dynamism, such strength, such humility, and such power somehow seems gone from our lives. But that is not the truth. It may be the reality, but it is not the truth. Because what is a visionary, but for his vision? The visionary may be gone, but the vision is here.”

Sri Chinmoy’s dear friend Ravi Shankar, who, like Sri Chinmoy, hails from Bengal, India, sent a message which read, “I can't believe that brother Chinmoy is gone and that we will not see or hear him anymore. He had so much love for everyone.

I am going to miss him always.” Legendary music producer and humanitarian Quincy Jones wrote, “I don't have words to express my sadness. Sri’s spirit will always be with us all. I just thank the higher power to have briefly had him and you in my life.

Men like Sri Chinmoy were all too rare in this world. In fact, Sri Chinmoy was truly one-of-a-kind. I was, am and will always be his biggest fan, for he understood what truly matters most in life: and that is love. His love could fill an ocean. I join the many people touched by this man and pray that his message will touch many more. Sri, we love you, and we miss you.”