Day 20… A Perfect Attitude (July 5)

“We are all here not just to do the 3100 miles.”

In all the usual sporting events there are winners and there are losers. There are nearly always trophies and prizes but in the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race none of those things are lined up for you once you cross the finish line. (Note there is cake ) Nirbhasa went home last night at midnight with 1233 miles on the board and after completing yet another day of running 64 miles.

His motivation like that of all those who run here is based almost entirely on an experience that takes place within. That cannot be seen or measured only felt and appreciated on a deeper personal level.

When asked how he felt about his experience here after nearly 3 weeks of continuous running. “In one way it is kind of nice. You have definitely done a substantial part of the race. You basically cannot think about where you really are. You have to treat every moment as the eternal now.”

https://www.srichinmoyultraphoto.com/3100-mile-race/2019

“If you start thinking, O I have come so far. Then you start thinking about how far you still have to go. That certainly takes a lot of the joy out of it. You can say we are here to make inner progress.” Nirbhasa says that part of his strategy is to try and not identify with his mind so much. Instead he tries to identify with something deeper inside himself. “The only way to do that is to be in the moment, and be happy to be in the moment.”

He laughs as he describes that he is not in prison, marking down his days left to be served. Though he confesses that there is a part of him that identifies with how nice it would be if he were home tucked into his bed. “I am trying to go completely beyond that part of the mind, and enjoy being here.”

“The more that you can enjoy it, and the more that you can be here, then the more you can reduce that part of your mind that is reluctant to be here. The more fulfilling experience you are going to have.”

“It seems that naturally you just have deeper and deeper experiences every time you come back. You are building on the races that you have done before. You have deeper experiences, deeper awakenings. You feel closer to God. It is something that just happens naturally. I guess our role is to just stay in the moment and enjoy it.”