Question: Is it better to concentrate or meditate when running a marathon?
Sri Chinmoy: It is always advisable to concentrate while running a marathon. If you meditate, then you will feel that you are either on the top of a snow-capped mountain or at the bottom of the sea.That is the very highest type of meditation, but that will not help your running. But if you concentrate on the running, then at every moment you will be able to regulate your steps and your forward movement. Also, discouraging, destructive and uncomely thoughts will not be able to lower your consciousness. If your consciousness is not lowered, then naturally you will run faster. Before you run, meditation is good to make the mind calm and quiet so that wrong forces do not enter. Before running a marathon, meditation is of paramount importance. But while running, concentration is of paramount importance.
Sri Chinmoy, AUM — Vol.II-6, No. 7, July 1980, Vishma Press, 1980
