Weightlifters and athletes
Bill Pearl
Sri Chinmoy is truly unique and special. He is like the old-time bodybuilders and weight-lifters. Sri Chinmoy has rediscovered the lost art of special strength feats and weightlifting. Sri Chinmoy has special style. Machines do all the work for most people these days. But Sri Chinmoy uses good old strength; he is really unique, and he trains for good, sound reasons.
Sri Chinmoy is amazing, seriously; just to support 1300 pounds in any way is amazing. I cannot do this; I cannot even get this amount of weight off the ground. He has got the biggest, heaviest calf machine in the world. It is tremendous, so wonderful. It is beyond me.
For Sri Chinmoy to lift 240 pounds with one arm is unbelievable, incredible, absolutely beyond me. It is a miracle that this man can even support this kind of weight. It is so difficult, the style that he has chosen to push the weight up. I do not know another person in the world who can do this. There are very few people, to be honest, very few bodybuilders in the world who could even support 240 pounds with two arms overhead.
That Sri Chinmoy does not hurt himself is an absolute miracle to me, an absolute miracle. He is pushing the weight uphill; he is doing it with his shoulders and elbows. You know, the elbow has the smallest and most fragile joints in it. It is difficult, so hard for anyone to lift this kind of weight without tearing themselves up.
Sri Chinmoy impresses me, let me tell you; this man impresses me. It is a shame that there are not more people like him in this world. He is really an inspiration to me, much more than I can be for him. Sri Chinmoy sure is dedicated.
I do not think of the spiritual as much as Sri Chinmoy, and I look at things from a cosmetic standpoint. So you can understand, when I think of bodybuilding or whatever, to a degree, but not 100 per cent, I think of cosmetics. He is looking at it strictly from a spiritual standpoint — to spiritually lift himself up. But I look at it like a woman putting on lipstick and eyeshadow — the cosmetic effect. Now that is equally as important to some people as his spiritual is to him.
Comments made during a visit to Sri Chinmoy’s art gallery: Sri Chinmoy’s paintings are really beautiful. He has so many talents, so many ways of expressing life. Now just look at the colours. There is a painting for every mood you could possibly be in. Look how dynamic this painting is and look how peaceful this one is. Amazing! I bet he has not one picture in his gallery that is exactly like another. Beautiful, really beautiful!
I’m sure that visiting with you folks has been one of the most inspirational things that has ever happened to many of the visitors here. It is really moving. And one thing that moves me the most is that whenever I look up at you people, everybody is smiling — smiling back at me from the love you have inside your hearts. And what a wonderful thing that is!
Sri Chinmoy is the type of person who will bring out the best qualities in you if you have anything good in you at all. You get around Guru, and boy, I tell you, it is going to come out; it’s got to. It is tremendous to have this kind of impact on an individual and not to have to demand it, but to get that kind of respect.
Sri Chinmoy is really, really a unique man. He is so self-giving that I am sure many people wonder what the catch is to all this. But I tell you, this man is a true spiritual Master. This man is real! He is the most devout, devoted person I have ever known.
In my whole career, no kidding, there are only certain things, maybe three things, that have stuck with me and moved me enough to remember over the years. But here with Sri Chinmoy is by far the best. This is a day to remember forever. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In five lifetimes you might never see this. It is tremendous, so incredible.
You are all very, very special people. I wish the world were made up of only people like you all. Thank you for everything. If there is any time I could be of assistance to Sri Chinmoy in any way, please tell me. My wife and I will never, ever forget you.
Bill Pearl 1953 AAU Mr. America 1953 NABBA Mr. Universe, amateur 1956 Mr. USA, professional 1956 NABBA Mr. Universe, professional, tall men’s class 1961 NABBA Mr. Universe, professional 1967 NABBA Mr. Universe, professional 1971 NABBA Mr. Universe, professional 1974 WBBG World’s Best Built Man of the Century 1978 Entered into the WBBG Hall of Fame 1978 Elected IFBB National Chairman of the Professional Physique Judges Committee
