This classic introduction remains an enduring favourite. With the simplicity and clarity that is the hallmark of Sri Chinmoy s writings, this comprehensive guide takes you from the first stages of concentration and meditation through the advanced practice of contemplation. Topics include: * Meditation techniques that anyone can learn * How to unfold your deepest spiritual self * Developing your power of concentration * How to find and keep lasting peace of mind * How to break through negative emotions like anger and fear * Awakening the heart center to discover the power of your soul . . . plus a special section in which Sri Chinmoy answers 150 questions on a wide range of experiences often encountered in meditation.
Born Chinmoy Kumar Ghose in the small village of Shakpura in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1931, Sri Chinmoy was the youngest of seven children. In 1944, after both his parents had passed away, 12 year-old Chinmoy entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community near Pondicherry in South India. Here he spent the next 20 years in spiritual practice - including long hours of meditation, practising athletics, writing poetry, essays and spiritual songs. In his early teens, Chinmoy had many profound inner experiences, and in subsequent years achieved very advanced states of meditation. In 1964, he moved to New York City to share his inner wealth with sincere seekers in the West. Sri Chinmoy sees aspiration - the heart's ceaseless yearning for ever higher and deeper realities - as the spiritual force behind all great advances in religion, culture, sports and science. By living in the heart and aspiring for continual self-transcendence, men and women can bring forward the best in themselves and find their path to true satisfaction. In his words: "Our goal is to go from bright to brighter to brightest, from high to higher to highest. And even in the highest, there is no end to our progress, for God Himself is inside each of us and God at every moment is transcending His own Reality." Sri Chinmoy serves as spiritual guide to students in some 60 countries around the world, encouraging a balanced lifestyle that incorporates the inner disciplines of prayer and meditation with the dynamism of contemporary life. Sri Chinmoy's life was an expression of boundless creativity. His vast output spans the domains of music, poetry, painting, literature and sports. His contributions in each of these fields have been striking and far-reaching. Sri Chinmoy frequently travelled throughout the world to offer free concerts, lectures and public meditations, to meet with his students, and to meet and discuss spirituality with world and community leaders. Sri Chinmoy did not charge a fee for his spiritual guidance, concerts, lectures and public meditations. Sri Chinmoy entered Mahasamadhi - the mystic process through which spiritual Masters leave the body, on the morning of 11 October 2007.
"There are not many people in the world who are so sincerely dedicated to the ideals of love and who are so self-giving in their actions, . . . Your deeds are invaluable, for they cannot be measured by any economic or political parameters; they are noble and cure the human soul" --MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, Nobel Peace Laureate
"I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace in so many countries. May we continue to work together and to share together all for the Glory of God and the good of man. --MOTHER TERESA, Nobel Peace Laureate
"Like Gandhi, like Mother Teresa, like Martin Luther King Jr., Sri Chinmoy's presence and work among us has enriched all of our lives" --CHARLES JOHNSON, Winner, National Book Award, Professor of English, University of Washington
"He is, above all, a poet of the inner landscape, and he never forgets that the poem is 'a finger pointing at the moon,' an invitation to the silence beyond the words." --Professor ALAN SPENCE, Writer-in-residence, University of Aberdeen
A BRIEF GUIDE TO SRI CHINMOY'S WRITINGS AVAILABLE ON KINLE
If you are unfamiliar with Sri Chinmoy's writings, this overview is intended to help you decide which books you might be interested in.
There are three categories of Sri Chinmoy's books on Kindle: Large compilations, smaller compilations, poetry collections and books about Sri Chinmoy.
1. Large compilations: These are the most widely read. They are extensive collections of Sri Chinmoy's writings on topics that are important to spiritual seekers. The following titles are available now for Kindle:
Kundalini: The Mother-Power En route to his own spiritual realization, Sri Chinmoy attained mastery over the kundalini and occult powers. In this book he explains techniques for awakening the kundalini and the chakras safely and effectively.
Meditation: Man-Perfection in God:Satisfaction This classic introduction remains an enduring favourite. With the simplicity and clarity that is the hallmark of Sri Chinmoy s writings, this comprehensive guide takes you from the first stages of concentration and meditation through the advanced practice of contemplation.
The Master and the Disciple The world of Guru's and Spiritual Masters can be hard to fathom: How do you find a real Guru? What can you expect from a real Guru? Sri Chinmoy's book explains some of the essential qualities of Spiritual Teachers. You get the feeling that Sri Chinmoy writes with real authenticity about the subject. Intuitively what he writes makes sense and it explains the importance of the seeker in using his own sincerity and heart to choose a real Guru. Good mixture of advice and stories to illustrate the points in the book.
Yoga and the Spiritual Life In this book the contemporary spiritual Master, Sri Chinmoy explains the philosophy of Yoga and Eastern mysticism. Written in a practical vein, it offers the newcomer as well as the advanced seeker a deep understanding of the spiritual life. Of particular interest is the section devoted to questions and answers on the soul and the inner life. As an illumined Yogi who experienced these realities firsthand, Sri Chinmoy answers offer a clarity and authenticity rarely encountered.
Commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita Brings together in one volume Sri Chinmoy's commentaries on these ancient Indian scriptures. An excellent introduction for readers who are coming to these texts for the first time and a series of illumining meditations for those who know them well.
2. Smaller collections: Highly focused and accessible, these shorter compilations were collected around a number of spiritual topics. They include:
Compassion Our very existence on earth depends on God's Compassion, yet its meaning eludes us. Sri Chinmoy explains that to understand Compassion, we must first recognize it; and, to recognize it, we must first experience it. It is God's Compassion that is moulding us, guiding us and illlumining us at every step of our journey through life. Divine Compassion is like a torrential downpour in our lives. the more we cry to God for Compassion, the more He innundates us. Sri Chinmoy says, God asks only that we distribute this Compassion to our fellow earth-travellers.
Forgiveness Mistakes are an inevitable and perhaps necessary part of human life. Sometimes we do the wrong thing consciously, at other times unconsciously. No matter whether our mistakes are grave or minor, there comes a time when we need forgiveness -- from God, from others whom we have hurt, even from ourselves. In this book Sri Chinmoy offers us his illumining guidance on how we may seek the divine Forgiveness that will not only transform our lives, but grant us the promise and hope of a cloudless new beginning.
Grace How often do we express the hope that by God's Grace something significant will take place in our lives? Or perhaps we recognise that because of God's boundless Grace our lives have already been blessed far beyond our imagination. In this small volume, spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy describes the constant flow of Grace from Above and explains how we can become more receptive to it.
Love Love enlarges our hearts. To offer love to another human being, to the world or to God is the greatest gift of life. Love enriches every moment, every act. And, because we are only human, we love to be loved in return. Alas, human love is fleeting; the world is unloving. Only in God do we find a Beloved whose love for us is eternal and unconditional. Sri Chinmoy vividly describes how God loves us more than we can ever imagine. Through his eyes, we begin to fathom the true nature of divine Love.
Spiritual Discipline A God-seeker, like an Olympic athlete, must manifest his dream through daily spiritual discipline and practice. His prayer is his discipline. His meditation is his discipline. In this book, Sri Chinmoy conveys in simple yet soul-stirring words the importance of discipline in the spiritual life. He provides the sincere God-seeker with practical methods of establishing and maintaining the kind of daily, disciplined spiritual practice that will take the seeker to his destined Goal.
The World Beyond What should we do when someone we love dies? Who can console us? What happens when someone passes beyond the Curtain of Eternity into the World Beyond? The World Beyond may be unknown, but it is not unknowable. In this insightful and uplifting book, Sri Chinmoy shares inner secrets and profound insights about what happens after death. Sri Chinmoy offers solace and a new realm of hope in the face of death. He explains that the afterlife does exist , and that is not something alien, to be feared, but a normal and natural experience that everyone shares. This book contains priceless wisdom about this world and the World Beyond and offers deep consolation and inspiration.
3. Poetry: Sri Chinmoy was a poet all his life. Many feel that his poetry offers readers direct access to spiritual emotions and inner truths. One of his most endearing shorter poetry collections, My Lord's Secrets Revealed is available for Kindle. In addition, the complete text of two of his major poetic works are also in Kindle format. These include 50,000 poems in the series Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees (unfinished at the time of Sri Chinmoy's passing) and the 27,000 poem set of Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants.
My Lord's Secrets Revealed Profoundly revealing, at times humorous, this collection of poetic conversations between the author and his beloved Supreme conveys an intimate relationship with God, made available to us all. A modern-day classic.
Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees (Parts 1-50 of 1,000 poems each) Sometimes the greatest poetry requires the utmost concentration to unravel the linguistic marvels the poet weaves. Sri Chinmoy deliberately seeks to create the contrary effect. Words are used with the utmost precision and reserve. The effect is that the Service-Trees poems are easy to read; they do not tax the intellectual mind but speak to the heart. The style of poems reflects in part their message - the benefits of simplicity, silence and an open heart.
An unmistakeable feature of reading the Service-Trees is that one feels the words are speaking directly to oneself. One particular aphorism may suddenly spring out as being the answer to an inner problem. Another aphorism may feel like one's own conscience speaking. In the back of our minds we know the right thing to do, but quite often we need this good thought reinforced. In the right frame of mind the Service-Trees can help us to surmount our own doubts, fears and insecurities.
Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants (Parts 1-27 of 1,000 poems each) On July 10th, 1983 Sri Chinmoy embarked on a unique poetry project: it was his inspiration to create 27,000 short, spiritual poems. They are of varying lengths and styles. Some rhyme, while others do not. Yet all introduce the great themes that he would touch on again and again: the journey of the soul, the role of the mind and the heart, the meaning of death, the longing for the divine. As the years unfolded, so he added new insights to his portrayal of the inner life.
Sri Chinmoy wrote the final poem in the series in Cancun, Mexico, at 1:30 am on January 24th, 1998. His immense project had taken him 14+ years. Initially, the poems were published in small volumes of 100 poems each. Here we have included 1,000 poems in each volume. Whichever way the poems are presented, it is clearly an epic universe, one that is composed of compact, distilled stanzas rather than a long, narrative tale.
Sri Chinmoy's poems are addressed to us; they reflect universal experiences and longings. If we dip into them at will, we will inevitably find the mirror of our own inner condition. We are all seekers after truth; we all search for answers to the great questions of life. Here, in the pages of this seer-poet, you may find some of them. At the very least, you may be inspired to continue your search. As Sri Chinmoy has written in one poem from the series,
Life's perfection road Is very long, But the journey is richly rewarding.
4. Books about Sri Chinmoy
Simplicity and Power: The Poetry of Sri Chinmoy by Vidagdha Bennett In this pioneering study of the early poems of the late Indian poet and philosopher Sri Chinmoy, Dr. Bennett explores his innovative use of the compound noun, his mystical lyrics and his kinship with spiritual poets such as Rabindranath Tagore and Gerard Manley Hopkins.
She concludes, "It is by virtue of their power and simplicity that Sri Chinmoy's flower-gatherings of poems across the span of these ten years have been able to unfold in ample measure the life of the soul, and it is through them that spiritual perceptions are once again lifted into the great themes of poetry."
The life of Sri Chinmoy by Madhuri A personal account of Sri Chinmoy's life by one of his earliest and closest disciples. Written with devotion and wonder, this work gives an intimate view of the Master's activities and interactions with his students.
Happiness Will Follow You by Sri Chinmoy, Tejvan Pettinger and Nirbasha Magee\ "I wrote these articles over a period of 12 months. Part of the motivation for writing them was that I found the act of writing helpful for my own spiritual life. Of course, writing and reading about what you should be doing is the easy part, actually living them and putting them into practise is the real test.
Many of the quotes in this book are from my spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy. As a student of Sri Chinmoy I have learnt a great deal about meditation and how to live a more peaceful life. Included are also a few stories by Sri Chinmoy on the theme of self-improvement, from his wonderful book, "The Mind-Jungles and The Heart-Gardens of Life". I hope you get some inspiration from this book and it might help you to make some practical changes which help make life less stressful and more peaceful. It certainly is possible."
People Who Have Changed the World for the Positive, Vol. 13: Isaac Newton, William Blake, Sri Chinmoy and Henri Bergson by Victoria Hockfield This book is about people who've changed the world, in a positive way. Read biographies of Isaac Newton, William Blake, Sri Chinmoy and Henri Bergson.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose was born in the small village of Shakpura in East Bengal, India (now Bangladesh) in 1931. He was the youngest of seven children in a devout family. In 1944, after the passing of both of his parents, he joined his brothers and sisters at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community near Pondicherry in South India. He prayed and meditated for several hours a day, having many deep inner experiences. It was here that he first began writing poetry to convey his widening mystical vision. He also took an active part in Ashram life and was an athletic champion for many years.
Heeding an inner command, Sri Chinmoy came to the United States in 1964 to be of service to spiritual aspirants in the Western world. During the 43 years that he lived in the West, he opened more than 100 meditation Centres worldwide and served as spiritual guide to thousands of students. Sri Chinmoy's boundless creativity found expression not only in poetry and other forms of literature, but also in musical composition and performance, art and sport. In each sphere he sought to convey the diverse experiences that comprise the spiritual journey: the search for truth and beauty, the struggle to transcend limitations, and the supremely fulfilling communion of the human soul with the Divine.
As a self-described student of peace who combined Eastern spirituality and Western dynamism in a remarkable way, Sri Chinmoy garnered international renown. In 1970, at the request of U Thant, third Secretary-General of the United Nations, he began the twice-weekly peace meditations for delegates and staff members at UN headquarters that continue to this day. He offered hundreds of peace concerts, always free of charge, in the U.S. and many other countries. He founded the World Harmony Run, a biennial Olympic-style relay in which runners pass a flaming peace torch from hand to hand as they travel around the globe bearing the message of universal oneness. And he established the Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles humanitarian organization, which serves the less fortunate members of the world family by supplying food, medical and educational equipment and other urgent support.
On 11 October 2007, Sri Chinmoy passed behind the curtain of Eternity. His creative, peace-loving and humanitarian endeavours are carried on worldwide by his students, who practise meditation and strive to serve the world in accordance with his timeless teachings.
The luminaries on the international stage who enjoyed a special friendship with Sri Chinmoy include President Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Teresa, President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
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For further information and for a catalog of Sri Chinmoy's books, please write:
Aum Publications 8610 Parsons Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11435
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a book about meditation., November 30, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Meditation: Man Perfection in God Satisfaction (Paperback)
Sri Chinmoy is a modern spiritual master (an enlightened being) who lives in Queens, New York and has written prolifically on the spiritual life. Meditation is his most famous book on how to meditate. In it he gives the steps, elaborates on all of these, and answers questions about the process of meditation. What is amazing - and unique - about Sri Chinmoy's books is his highly advanced level of consciousness, the intensity and clarity with which he addresses spiritual matters, and the fact that he breaks new ground. He discusses - and gives answers to - spiritual matters not discussed by others. He is VERY DETAILED about the minutiae of spirituality, and has definite ideas as to the FORM it should take. In person, he is an amazing person, filled with POWERFUL spiritual energy, seemingly endless stamina, and overflowing creativity. He radiates purity and strength. His viewpoint is unique - he does not come out of the Christian tradition (although he embraces the divinity of Christ), but the Eastern tradition, so his style is quite different from a Western one. I recommend this book, and his books, for exposure to the spirituality he offers, and for those who feel personally called to follow his path. In addition, the meditation he offers is sound. It is heart-centered, and can be applied to any tradition in which one feels comfortable.
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This review is from: Meditation: Man Perfection in God Satisfaction (Paperback)
I am standing at the entrance gates of a huge Spiritual Bazaar. Every vendor within this bazaar has a "Sri" before his name. Who do I approach first? Who is sincere? How can a journey begin when so many True paths present themselves? This book by Sri Chimnoy answers: Meditation.
How do I meditate? What is the best time? Where is the best place? In what manner should I sit? Is what I am experiencing normal? Are the experiences during meditation taking me beyond or are they only the mind deceiving me?
The book is in question and answer format and you will find your question(s) here because all the questions come from those who are meditating, from those who are wondering, experiencing, doubting and celebrating the same as you. This was of great value to know that what I experience; the sometime bliss and the often frustration, the phantom and the concrete, have been experienced by others, that their questions are my questions. We walk upon the same path, bruise our heels on the same stones, marvel at the same vistas. What a revelation and a relief to know this!
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This review is from: Meditation: Man Perfection in God Satisfaction (Paperback)
Sri Chinmoy is a fully realised spiritual master dedicated to inspiring & serving those seeking a deeper meaning in life. He teaches that love is the most direct way for a seeker to approach God. Through his teaching of meditation, writings, & lectures (he conducts peace meditations for ambassadors and staff at the United Nations), and dedicated service to humanity, he tries to show others how to find inner peace and spiritual fulfillment. Yoga means spiritual union with God (not performing exercise postures), and meditation is the single most important thing a person can do to attain peace, love & advance themselves spiritually. This book describes in detail and clarity, the various techniques for concentration, visualization, meditation and contemplation (the stages of Yoga). Sri Chinmoy also discusses the philosophy and idealogy of Yoga, so that it is an invaluable aid/reference to meditation students of all levels of expertise. I have personally given numerous copies to family and friends, and consider "Meditation" by Sri Chinmoy to be one of the most important books a person can purchase in their life.
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