The currents of life are so strong that it is nearly impossible for any of us to remain static or immobile for long. There is no safe lofty perch to cling to and from which we can then view the tsunami of the world beneath us shift and evolve without us being caught up in its relentless power and force one way or another. Even trying to retreat into our own past is impossible for inevitably we are flung back into the present.
We can try an lock down the doors of opportunity, stuff cotton wool in our ears and be deaf and immune to the calls and cries of humanity around us but inevitably something deeper and higher in us will snatch away our deafness and defeat and pull us back into facing the divine task lying in front of us. Our goal is patient and our goal is kind. Despite allowing ourselves to be temporarily engulfed in billowing clouds of our stubborn resistance the call does not tire or surrender to the forces that would hold us back.
Our long friendship with ignorance will and must one day come to an end. For on the skybright horizon of eternity is our destination. When we can listen to our only true friend within and answer to his call we will then no longer recognize hesitation or delay in any guise. At this time our name will be nothing other than transcendence itself. And just beyond one more name awaits us, perfect perfection.
When Sri Chinmoy began weightlifting just over 27 years ago very few if any could have imagined just how far the journey would go or in fact that it would be remain an integral part of his life. It can be argued that it appeared to be at the time, an almost plan B. A second best athletic solution to his true favorite sport which was running. Which at that time was being compromised by persistent physical ailments, particularly his knees. At the same time he said, “The inner reason is because my Inner Pilot, my God, has commanded me to lift. For that reason I do it cheerfully.”
A spiritual master has of course clear access to the highest heights of spirituality and there was no confusion or hesitation at any time when he was asked from within to attempt anything and everything he did. On rare occasions he was not always immediately successful, the case of his 300 pound lift is legendary. For 4 long months in the summer of 1986 he attempted to lift 300 pounds 214 times. For his students at the time it was a powerful lesson on the very nature of persevering when confronted by a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
His many lessons to his students and in fact to all of the aspiring world were demonstrated in powerful and yet clear and simple ways. Certainly as exemplified each day here at his very own Self Transcendence race, the aspiring cry of the inner life cannot be separate or remain isolated from the soulful dynamism of our outer reality.
“When we live in the progress-world, always there is tremendous joy. This joy comes not only from transcending one’s capacities but from the effort itself. Say I have set my goal at 300 pounds, and I cannot do it. The very fact that I have been devotedly practising and practising gives me joy, and the tenacity or perseverance that I am showing is itself progress. Anything that we do devotedly and soulfully helps us make progress.”
Pranjal’s commitment to the race is legendary. Keeping his body functioning at its optimum is a process that does not just begin at 6am. This morning I discovered him picking the leaves he uses on his feet on a lawn he passes on the way to the race every morning.
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Sopan does a fast delivery of dirty laundry.
Pedro conducts a weigh in this morning. Everybody has lost at least a little.
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Start Day 16
“I am actually really good. I am in a good place.” Accompanied by laughter and his always sun bright optimism Pradeep starts his 16th day at the race. “I am really starting to feel that my body is relaxing into the race and kind of surrendering. It is still kind of a hard time, but if I can remember from last year all the different parts of your being start to surrender to the experience of the race.”
First it is the body after 7 to 10 days, you don’t have so much pain any more. Then it takes another 2 weeks before your energy system gets into it. Now we are getting more and more tired. It is hard to get up in the morning. Maybe in one week your body will just wake up and says, heh, let’s do this again.” (laughs)
“Both from the body and from the mind you start to get pain, then if you get scared everything tightens up. It totally makes it worse. It took a while to relax that. Now everything is pretty limber.”
“At the beginning of the race you are very consciously trying to aspire. You do your things, you sing, you try and meditate, and invoke all the experiences. Very consciously you try and focus all the time.”
“For me now in the course of the race as I try and feel that my physical self and spiritual self are merging. Just going around becomes something very sweet. I don’t consciously aspire very much I just am kind of in the moment. That is if there is not too much distraction from pain and other things.”
“In normal life I am not so good at being in the moment. But here, after 2 or 3 weeks it kind of comes. With is also comes a kind of acceptance. You watch life swing by around you and even inside you. It is a sweet kind of happiness that you observe. Maybe that is also a kind of gratitude.”
“In some ways everything is still new, but I wouldn’t know to compare to last year.”
“You need the inspiration of trying to achieve the journey otherwise there is no goal. But the journey itself is the most important thing, especially now at this part in the race. I know I am not in a position to push myself much. I have to listen very carefully to my body now. I just try and find my pace, find my energy and that seems to be working out.”
“All the runners are reminding each other to be happy, it is easy to say but quite different to have. If you can have that kind of happiness it is something very special and it doesn’t come easily and I am fortunate now at this point I am getting it.”
Click to play interview
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With just a little more than an hour passing there is some excitement in the camp. Dimitry readies the mileage board for a special occasion.
When Pranjal arrives bells are run and he just continues on.
Sarvagata ran the most miles yesterday, 73. Vasu had his best day in 10 with 64.
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 Kakali recites the poem of the day:poem |
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| Enthusiasm AwakenersClick to Play:parvati |  |
My Lord Supreme,
My Beloved Supreme,
My body’s strength
Comes from my mind’s happiness.
My mind’s happiness
Comes from my heart’s gratitude.
My heart’s gratitude
Comes from my life’s surrender.
