Author Archive
(Русский) День 48. Высочайшая Победа (4 августа)
Augu 4, 2017Day 45…To Better Ourselves (August 1, Utpal)
Augu 1, 2017This morning Kaneenika got a sweet surprise. While she was passing Parvati and the Enthusiasm Awakeners, Parvati stepped out to hand her a picture. It was taken, at best guess 11 years ago, when Sri Chinmoy used to come to the race each morning and teach the girls a new song.
In the photo Kaneenika is across the street watching, arms comfortably folded, and wearing a Sri Chinmoy Marathon team shirt. Her days of watching of course are long over. This is her 3rd summer here and as she starts the day here she is 310 miles away from doing something historic. Setting a new world record for women at the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race.
This morning as we are talking and the subject of this great ordeal nearly being over comes up. She feels that, “There is a time to start and a time to finish.”
“You have to do things a day at a time, actually even a lap at a time. But there are things that are surprising me. I have had experiences in the previous races when you feel like you can’t go on. This is it. How can I possibly make another step and then something happens and you are running again.”
“It is definitely all about the miracles and grace out here.”
Day 42… All Gratitude To Be Here (July 29)
July 29, 2017Imprinted on the running shorts that she is wearing today are the words, Happy Run. They are a perfect match for the smile that she has so often carried with her these past 41 days.
In a race that did not develop quite as she had hoped but in many ways as she intuitively expected, she has now run 2128 miles. Nidhruvi’s joy and infectiously positive attitude will most definitely help her with the not so easy next 11 more days of running here at the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race.
I ask her if over the course of the race she can value the hard days as much as the better ones. “I guess so. It is not just the days it is even the moments. You have moments when you are totally happy and then it can switch so fast, and sometimes you don’t even know why.”
“Sometimes you start crying and you have no idea why. So it is really really interesting.”
“For me there is so much gratitude that I have to be here and to serve my Guru and to serve the world. So it doesn’t matter how hard it is. It is just such a privilege. Therefore I am totally grateful.”
Day 41…School Of Life (July 28, Utpal)
July 28, 2017If Sergey had started running east from his home in Nizhny Novgorod on June 18 instead of around the block that contains Thomas Edison High school, his 2139 miles would have taken him across much of Russia. Instead, after 40 days he begins his day in the exact same spot he started his epic journey. Circling the same block now 3898 times.
Of course Sergey’s journey, like that of all the 10 runners is not just about how far they have gone by foot, but just how much then can accomplish within. What new horizons in their inner life’s journey can they reach. New goals that can never be tracked or recorded by lap sheets and score boards
In our previous discussion Sergey philosophically spoke about all the runners he shares this sacred path with. This time I hoped he might speak more about himself. But always the humble smiling selfless man that he is, he continued this time to speak about the inspiration he has received from the many visitors to the course over the past 40 days.
“I would like to talk today about the other people who come to the race to help. I am much more inspired by their example. They are stories of daily trials and heroism. In this way we are inspiring one another. Here it feels that the entire universe is composed of those who are inspiring one another.”
(Русский) День 40 … Пробуждающие Энтузиазм (27 июля)
July 27, 2017(Русский) День 36…Внутреннее безмолвие (23 июля)
July 23, 2017“I am feeling pretty good. A little tired. You know, standard answer after 35 days.”
When we greet each other a routine question is usually to ask the other person how they are. Nirbhasa has spent the last 35 days doing very little else than running around the block here in Jamaica Queens.
Yesterday he tied with Kaneenika for the most mileage of the day with a very good 64 miles 117 laps. Probably there can be no better answer than his , “pretty good.” Particularly when you take into account that he has so far run 2233 miles and still has 867 more miles to go.
Photo by Alakananda
The conditions on the course yesterday were best described as brutal. Crowds swarmed around a handball tournament in the corner and the day was hot and muggy. Welcome to the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race.
I start our conversation this morning by telling Nirbhasa about a story I had printed in the blog yesterday about the great Indian Spiritual Master Sri Ramakrishna. I mentioned how he had given a spiritual experience to a family member who had not strived and worked for it so did not fully comprehend or appreciate what they had received. I wondered how he felt that, compared to his and the other runners super human efforts to achieve their goals here.
