For many years Swamiji would run the loop every day early in the morning. Starting before the official 6 am start he would always go in the direction of the day and he would always look as though he was deep in prayer and meditation.
Not that he wouldn’t talk or carry on light conversation but it was clear that his vibrant presence was not just about early morning jogging. No one kept track of just how many miles he would do each day but it was not insignificant. His intentions were always deep, personal, and meaningful.
This morning he returned once again but this time in his bright colored robes and he was happy to talk about his love of the race. “I lived in the neighborhood and it was through word of mouth that I heard about it. That’s how I joined the race but it was a blessing to do it for me.”
Swamiji says that he would have preferred to have come and run this morning but his extensive travel schedule prevented it. “I just got back last night so the tiredness is there.” He is excited about a new pair of running shoes he just got. “I am ready to run I must. It is a maximum spiritual experience in motion. I can’t miss that. It is a very rare opportunity to do something like this.”
“I wish many more people could understand this.” He knows that by time the race is over everyone involved in the event has been fashioned into a more spiritual mold. “It is what’s driving them and moving them along. This is really meditation in motion.” He feels that there are benefits to be gained not just by the runners but for all those who identify and partake in even any small way with the race.
“I want to spend some time here and reap the benefit. It recharges me to help me with all the work that I do around the world. United Nations, conflict resolutions, spiritual harmony. This is fuel to recharge me.”
“The Guru never dies. He is always operating. But we are human beings and we are so used to seeing a name and a form. Which creation is all about. We should see God in all his creation. This is the purpose of life. We can’t always remain living in the lower level. We have to move up. Because we are all consciousness and we have to rediscover that. This race allows us to do that.”
“We want to go back to consciousness where we came from.”
Interview from 2013
The Board at the Start of Day 18
Camp early
Vajra back on the job this morning
Time
Ashprihanal stretches
Smarana now has an electric bike
Harita arrives
Rupantar doing his daily video
Ushika
Harita
Ananda-Lahari
Start Day 18
Hot and humid day
Ashprihanal has 1117 miles
He ran 65 miles yesterday
Morning mail
He leads Nirbhasa by 12 miles
Japanese Maple
Race Director break
Nirbhasa has 1105 miles
He ran 64 miles yesterday
He leads Vasu by 28 miles
Running well
Getting mail
Jadranka
Vasu has 1077 miles
He ran 58 miles yesterday
Nicolae came yesterday to help him
Changing shoes
He leads Smarana by 3 miles
Flower
Daulot
Smarana has 1074 miles
He ran 57 miles yesterday
16 miles ahead of Ananda-Lahari
Flower
Garima and Sahishnu
Ananda-Lahari has 1048 miles
He ran 59 miles yesterday
31 miles ahead of Harita
Flower
Niriha
Harita has 1019 miles
She did 62 miles yesterday
She leads Todor by 2 miles
With Anita
Flower
Leila and Nirjharini
Todor has 1017 miles
He ran 59 miles yesterday
Running well
Flower
Todor
Ushika has 933 miles
Getting worked on by Max
Everyone hopes he can get through this
Flower
Anita and Leila
Poem of the Day held by Boijayanti
A
God-rising life
Is a
God-shining
Heart
Sri Chinmoy July 3rd, 2006
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Be happy.
You will get what you like most.
You will be what you like best.
Dear Utpal,
Thank you so much for your tireless work on bringing us all these most inspiring interviews! Each and every one of them is a treasure! May the inspiration bird stay with you through out the race! Thank you again :o)! Happy July 4th!
Dear Utpal
Thank you again for the great work you do. Who are those amazing musicians in today’s Sounddrack? So magic.
All the best
Johannes