11.

For me, Sri Chinmoy is a really good example of right effort. It means doing the best you can in a situation. It’s important to have right effort in order to reach the goal. It means doing everything you possibly can in a situation to reach a goal. Sri Chinmoy reached his goal of lifting 200 pounds much sooner than the time he set for himself. With full application of one’s power, and Sri Chinmoy has many powers, you can do these things.

Sri Chinmoy has been an inspiration to me. Just simply that he has had a goal like his one-arm lifting and he is working towards it has inspired me greatly. In bodybuilding, you need to draw on inspiration all the time. In the gym I’ve often drawn on Sri Chinmoy’s inspiration. When I have negative internal dialogue, like doubt, he inspires me. I try to always remember my real self, to become aware of the purpose. The poster of Sri Chinmoy that I have up is a reminder of the goal. It’s a very inspirational picture. I use it to draw inspiration, and it will inspire a lot of other people!

Also, I use his transcendental picture to draw inspiration. I have put it on the lever arm of my Soloflex. When you press the bar all the way up, Sri Chinmoy is looking straight at you. You go into a meditative state with this picture. In one of my exercises I do supersetting with a 45 degree incline dumbbell and then go to the Soloflex. With his photo there it helps me to use what the Buddhists call “Shin Buddhism” or “other power” to draw power from a source other than my limited self. The first 12 to 15 repetitions are “self power” and the last 5 are “other power.” It’s the same way with the squat. After 20 reps I say, “This is it! I stop.” Then I look at Sri Chinmoy’s picture, and I can do 5 more.

Sri Chinmoy’s example is one of tremendous discipline. He is the only real spiritual leader doing bodybuilding, and he is setting an excellent example for athletes. I myself have always been a teacher. But it is like a ladder. Sri Chinmoy is way up on the ladder and passing spirituality along to many, many others. Buddha, Christ and Sri Chinmoy are on my list of the great, great teachers. They are Bodhisattvas. Literally, that means “Compassionate Ones.” They have foregone the ultimate self-dissolution in order to stay in the world to teach others.

Sri Chinmoy has encouraged me to work on the heart a lot, to work on compassion. Many of my limitations are due to anger and resentment. But since our meeting I now feel a sadness for people who have problems and are creating their own suffering. I have more of a feeling of oneness. Sri Chinmoy has helped me to have more compassion by example.

This one-year anniversary of Sri Chinmoy’s weightlifting is really something special. I’ll be there in spirit, and I will meditate at the same time as the anniversary celebration.

Sri Chinmoy, please accept my best regards and congratulations. I’m thankful for your existence as a person and for your inspiration as a friend.

Frank Zane Three-time Mr. Olympia