Life in the Sri Chinmoy Centre

It is often said that everything flows from within, or as Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." As human beings we often tend to get lost in the unhappy experiences of the past or the uncertain events of the future, neglecting not only the present, but also the real source of our inner happiness. However, once we embark on the spiritual life we come to learn that it is inside ourselves that we must search if we are to experience anything lasting and meaningful.

For Sri Chinmoy, finding inner peace and fulfillment starts with meditation, but it also extends beyond meditation. Meditation is the practice that allows us to hear the inner voice, but if we want to truly understand and grow into our spiritual nature, then we must expand our spiritual consciousness to fill each and every precious moment of our lives.

Spirituality is the universality of Truth, Light and Bliss. Spirituality is the conscious necessity for God. Spirituality is the constant opportunity to realise and prove that we all can be as great as God. God is Delight. Delight is the breath of the soul. – Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy believes that while most of us do not have the capacity or opportunity to meditate for more than one or two hours a day, we do have the capacity to continually expand our consciousness through a multitude of other activities. As a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, I try to embrace this philosophy on a daily basis. It has certainly enriched my life unimaginably, allowing me to expand both my understanding of myself and my awareness of those around me.

One of the things I like most about the Sri Chinmoy Centre is Sri Chinmoy's emphasis on the importance of innocent spiritual joy. In order to remain in the heart, we all need a regular dose of innocent joy. We are all children of the Supreme and children are never to be found in the 'dryness of the mind'. Part of our spiritual journey is therefore about rediscovering our childlike qualities. One of my favourite events in New Zealand was the Teddy Bear's Picnic in Auckland, a special event for children where I sometimes dressed up as a clown on stilts. Armed with a bag full of sweets and a water pistol, it usually wasn't long before I had entered into that wonderful world – the world of sweetness, simplicity, purity and spontaneity. Here are two of my favorite spiritual aphorisms by Sri Chinmoy on this topic:

Whenever I find myself becoming weighed down by the worries and responsibilities of the world, I try to remember these aphorisms and my essential nature as a child of the Supreme.

Here in the Sri Chinmoy Centre, we also never miss an opportunity to go on 'Joy Days', special retreats intended to do just that – to give us innocent joy, to free us from the mind and to rekindle the spirit of childlike spontaneity that eternally dwells within the divine inside us. We often venture into remote places where nature's vastness and beauty remind us of these same ineffable qualities deep within.

Physical exercise is also an important part of the Sri Chinmoy Centre. Exercise keeps us fit, healthy and dynamic. It is also one of the secrets of keeping our childlike nature. I have always loved the freedom and beauty of the outdoors and so for me exercise has been a special companion for many years, whether it's running, swimming or cycling, there is always some way for me to rediscover this love of mine and in so doing discover my own inner capacity.

Some years ago my love of open-water swimming took me all the way to the shores of Dover in England for the great crossing of the English Channel and while my quest to land on the shores of France unaided was not successful, this whole adventure remains one of the great pinnacles and mysteries of my entire life.

Following the spiritual path is not always easy. It does require a certain amount of discipline and dedication and you sometimes don't get the support you need from those around you. But once you reach a point in your life, as I did, where you no longer find satisfaction in outer things, when you no longer share the same outer goals and ambitions as your old friends, then it may just be that spirituality is the only thing that will ever bring you lasting inner peace. At that time, no matter what you seek and find outwardly, nothing will ever bring you real satisfaction. Real satisfaction comes only when we finally embark on the spiritual journey with a new goal, leaving behind all the unfulfilled desires of yesterday. Our new goal now becomes the perfection of our nature and our oneness with the Supreme.

Lead me from untruth to Truth Lead me from darkness to Light Lead me from death to Immortality

- Hindu prayer from the Upanishads