“Kodanda who is my dear, dearer, dearest friend, he proved that God exists.”
Earlier in the morning I asked Ananda-Lahari if he had any stories he might like to share. I thought he might recall some memorable experience from the many years he has run the race. Never once thinking he would come up with proof of the existence of the almighty.
https://vimeo.com/133703625
“On one hand it was really funny and on the other it was really touching. It is a really nice story for me. One day Kodanda was riding his bicycle next to me during the race a few years ago. He was holding in his hand a piece of watermelon. He was looking at it and saying, if this is not proof that God exists than what else.”
“How can such a thing be created from dirt. Look at its beauty. You could feel and you could see that these were not just words. He was really feeling and appreciating this creation of God that came from dirt.”
“Kodanda is very special. He is a musician, he comes and plays every year almost every day. I always like it. When he plays the music of Sri Chinmoy he plays different instruments. He must get in tune with the race. He gets into his soul or into his heart I don’t know.”
“When he is really able to get into it, you see his hands are playing the guitar but it is also all his being. His mind, his heart, his vital, his body, everything. It is really amazing.”
Sri Chinmoy also once remarked about Ananda-Lahari’s smile. “It was during the race in 2006. He was coming every day driving his car in the morning, around 6:30. He drove the car himself. He mentioned at a function one evening. There is one boy who smiles the most. He mentioned that it is very important when we smile. I am going to give him a special prize.”
“Sri Chinmoy came to my finish and he wrote a song for me.”
“He said on another occasion, to smile is very important. If you cannot smile sincerely than you should at least try a fake smile. Later on we will be able to smile from our heart sincerely. When we smile at the master all our poisons can go away.”
Click to Play Interview:
Ashprihanal demonstrating his morning stretch to Janos
The boys
It is incredibly cool this morning
Yuri wearing a speacil shirt.
Start Day 33
Mario ran a training marathon this morning in the opposite direction of the runners. The weather was perfect.
Ashprihanal is 35 miles ahead of the pace.
He ran 75 miles yesterday. He has 2456 miles
Enjoying a snack as he comes through camp.
Galya ran 71 miles yesterday.
He now has 2309 miles.
Effort
The canopy of trees
Vasu ran 70 miles yesterday.
Vasu now has 2219 miles.
Receiving emails from friends.
Nearly ready
Yuri ran 65 miles and has 2178 miles
Atmavir had 41 miles yesterday.
He now has 2055 miles
Surasa had 64 miles yesterday.
She now has 1987 miles
Always moving
Near and yet far.
Kaneenika had 63 miles yesterday. She now has 1923 miles
Doing so well.
A closer look
A place of shelter
Nirbhasa ran 62 miles and continues to be impressive. He has 1915 miles.
Stutisheel had another hard day yesterday with 37 miles.
He now has 1891 miles and is looking better today.
Another look
A touch of blue
Baladev had 51 miles yesterday. He now has 1733 miles
Water and sun
Trying for air
Mario finishes his marathon
Larisa has helped at the 3100 mile race on 3 different years. Last year she could not come but thought about the race very often.
“I can feel close to the race even in the winter time.”
“When I first came I thought it was the most sacred place in the world. I am very proud and happy to be here.”
“It is so fantastic I wonder if it is all real. It also inspires so many people.”
“I feel so close to the race I feel that is part of my soul. When I am home I wonder what is real, the place I live or being at the 3100.”
“Mentally I understand what is happening and how significant it is. But the more deeply I feel the race within the more deeply I understand.”
“I am also very happy that I can serve the race in many ways. I can sing, I can count laps, I can talk to people about the race and about Sri Chinmoy.”
Click to Play Interview…. translated by Satyaroop:
Prayer of the Day read by Surudhuni
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
Question: What is the best way to conquer depression?
Sri Chinmoy: The easiest and most effective way to conquer depression and all negative forces is to smile inwardly and outwardly with a sincere smile. Smile inwardly and outwardly at your enemy and say, “Oh, you have come. I am ready to conquer you.” If this smile is sincere and soulful, you cannot lose. The greatest strength you have is your inner joy, and this inner joy comes only from faith — faith that whatever is best for you will come from the Supreme. Now, what is best for you can be absolutely the worst thing for somebody else, and what is best for that person can be the worst thing for you. What you really need — not what you want but what you need — the Supreme is bound to give you.
Many thanks for this interview re: Kodanda and the watermelon. I love both!
There are many proofs that God exists. Another one is in Ananda Lahari’s smile!
Namaste to all “The Golden Children” running along Eternity’s Road and inspiring the rest of us pilgrims of the Lord Supreme.
Utsahi, Hi from Zlin !!
Hi Utpal
thank you
Thanks Utpal so much for all these interviews and comments. Ananada Lahari’s stories are so beautiful. He is such a gentle and still very powerful and self-giving person.
Congratulations to all runners. I don’t remember that we have had in last few years so many runners with such a high miles in only a month of running. This is definitely special blessing to all of us, everybody who is in any way connected to this unique event.
It was a wonderful comment about climbing Mount Everest and running 3100 Race.
Gratitude to all. There is so much joy entering the Race every day with the newest results and inspiration from New York, I feel I am over there with all of you.
Surudhuni’s sponteanous translating into her language is what I love most today,
thank you Surudhuni you are great.
Yes, I too know Kodanda as a fine, sensitive, helpful, understanding human being – just like Ananda-Lahari himself.
One funny thing is that one can connect to the race through nature as such, whether it be the season or my own running attempts. Wherever I go I see the blue sailors though rather lushy growing and blossoming and in big families.
2007
A blue-gold hope-bird is flying
In the heart-sky of humanity.
The Golden Shore is beckoning
The blooming God-life-seekers
And
The blossoming God-heart-lovers.
Before long, the world-mind-uncertainty
Will be buried in oblivion.
Before long, the world-heart-certainty
Shall start reigning supreme.
The mind’s power-drum is surrendering
To the sweetness-flute of the heart.
The oneness-peace-realities shall devour
The world-division-hunger-dreams.
Sri Chinmoy, New Year’s Messages from Sri Chinmoy, 1995-2007
this is a most positive New Year’s Message
Do not count the time you have lost,
But count the time
That is at your immediate disposal.
The time that is before you
Is more than enough
To enter into Infinity’s Heart
And Eternity’s Perfection-Delight.
Sri Chinmoy, Transcendence-Perfection, Agni Press, 1977