This morning a man in the early autumn of his days came to my line. He had grey to white hair, but looked in good condition. He told me he beat cancer and is preparing to start running triathlons again. I told him I know a running mantra that I use all the time, written by my spiritual teacher. He asked me about the mantra, and I recited this one: “With a happy speed I run and run…”
He immediately crossed himself, kissed two fingers of his right hand and held them up above his head in salutation to God, and told me I had made his whole day. He asked me who wrote it and I told him “Sri Chinmoy”. He thanked me from the bottom of his heart.
Guru’s poetry embodies his aura. It’s Guru’s own spiritual aura that makes these experiences possible. People feel Guru’s divinity in his writings, for they are inseparable.
A little later a forty-ish looking man came to my line. He asked me if I was a Sri Chinmoy follower. I said yes, and then he reminded me that he was the one who attended a meditation class in Washington DC around 2002. He had told me about his experience a few months ago. He said that as soon as the presenter walked into the room, he felt she brought with her the most rarefied energy, and light, just pure light. She was simply radiating light. He told me that he gasped when he saw her, that her face was just shining with light. He told me that class changed his life. He told me she was a great ultra-runner and I told him her name is Suprabha, which means something like “glorious morning light”.
He always associated Sri Chinmoy with the light that Suprabha brought into the room.
I had called Suprabha the next day and told her about this man’s experience. She was so moved. She thanked me for sharing the story and also thanked Guru for “accompanying us to all the classes.” She said she feels this is a sign for her to begin giving classes again: “the time is now.”
A few nights later, I had dreamt I was at Aspiration-Ground, and Suprabha offered me a vase of gratitude-flowers. To me, these flowers represent the highest purity. Maybe her soul was telling me that we can solve all our problems just by being more soulful in our dedicated service.
Towards the end of my shift, an older gentleman named Frankie came through my line. Noticing his accent, I asked him what country he was from, and he said, “Puerto Rico”. I told him that my Guru, Sri Chinmoy, established his mission in Puerto Rico, and Frankie said, “Yes, in 1964.”
I gaped! I asked him how he knew that and he said that he has known of Guru for decades. He said that he knows our community in Chicago, and that he has a co-worker who looks just like Sri Chinmoy. He said that this reminds him of Sri Chinmoy every day.
We said “namaste” to each other, and the man walked away.
I recited many more poems today, including one of my favorite mantras- it’s the English translation of this Bengali song: “…I will be another Buddha…”
I also recited this stunning mantra from 365 Father’s Day Prayers: “Go out if you want to widen your mind…”
It was a good day.
Great anecdotes. I really like it when people respond so enthusiastically to the poetry of Sri Chinmoy, it makes me want to learn these poems that have inspired other people.