Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

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“We have to make choices.  The masses of people they are making a choice to live a comfortable and mundane life.” For the moment we are walking at a gentle pace.  Minutes earlier Swamaji Parameshanandaji of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, had been almost sprinting around the course.  It is not often that he ever moves around the loop other than with intense purposeful strides.  His face always soft, still, and focused.  Perhaps an occasional thought drifting out into the chaos of the mundane world but when he is running he reflects something else, that is poised, quiet, and at peace.

Read the rest of the entry here http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/25/june-25-that-is-wisdom/#more-37015

Three years ago when Sarvagata entered the race for the first time he had a phenomenal if not unprecedented entry into this epic journey called the Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race.  He not only set the new record for a first timer but also came in first, in 44 hours and 13 days.

Read the rest of the entry here http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/24/june-24-deeper-inside/#more-36897

“I am just doing something.”  Teekshanam adds, that he is not categorizing his performance so far in the race as neither bad nor good.  “I am just doing something that feels good.  If it feels good than you are okay.”

Read the rest of the post here http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/23/june-23-doing-something/#more-36794

“It is perfect.  The sun is shining and a runner is running,” says Sopan to me this morning, as he jogs with light shuffling steps beside me. It is very early on a quiet bright Saturday morning, the 21st of June.  It is a date that smacks of special significance for most of us.  For it is the day with the most hours of sunshine of the entire year. (Southern Hemisphere people you will get your chance again in 6 months time) But in what has to be a strange irony, just now as the days gradually grow just a little shorter, and offer up less and less of their light, the race itself has barely just begun.  The colossal distance still remainging in front of the 14 runners here feels almost like completing it will take an eternity. Read the rest of the post here: http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/21/june-21-make-progress/#more-36577

When Fred Lebow visited our 1,000-mile race, he said we are so efficient. I laughed, because at every second we are having a heart attack! He told me that we are making history. It is so true; the race is a real victory for America. Where else can they hold this kind of race! And this year it was won by an American. -8 May 1986 Sri Chinmoy, Run And Become, Become And Run, Part 18, Agni Press, 1996 The rest of the post here: http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/20/june-20-making-history/#more-36468

During the 6 and 10 day race in May in Flushing Meadow Zulma showed up to help.  “I got there and I told them that I had never counted in my life.  So I went to one of the counting booths and I said, how do you do it?” It can get pretty chaotic during the race because there were close to 80 runners going around the 1 mile loop 24 hours a day.  From the moment she sat down and looked at the steady stream of runners coming endlessly towards the counting booths, she says, “It was amazing.” From the beginning she found herself being inspired.  “To see all those people concentrating and having a smile on their face.  Doing this all with such beautiful hearts and with such grace from God.” The first time she came she helped out for 2 hours but really wanted to come back and take a full counting shift. The rest of the post here http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/19/june-19-surrender-to-this-race/#more-36374

Stutisheel has been quoted as saying about the race, “this is real life.” He did not come to the race last year after 9 straight summers out on the course.  Over the years we have had many informative and interesting discussions, not always talking about the meaning of existence.  Quite often the silly and mundane wanders into our exchanges which reminds us both just how human we really are.   I missed not having him here last year and asked him to explain to me this morning what he meant by this powerful statement. “There is nothing artificial about it.  Everything that is unnatural just fades away.” The rest of the post here http://perfectionjourney.org/2014/06/18/june-18-real-life/#more-36263