Then, right after the race, somebody else came up to me and started asking me about food. He said, “Why do you not allow people to eat meat and fish?” I simply smiled at him.
This second experience happened immediately after the race, when I was so tired and exhausted. That is why I was not in the mood to answer the question.
RB 907. 12 September 1984↩
One of them said to me, “O great man, I bow to thee!”
I said to the boy, “I bless you.”
The boy was so startled: “What! You bless me!”
I said, “If you are bowing to me, then why should I not bless you!”
Then the boys ran away.
RB 908. 15 August 1985↩
It was an older gentleman from Hawaii who had run one of our races. He said, “My wife and I are your great admirers. We ran your 24-hour race, and tomorrow we shall come to your concert at Lincoln Center.”
He was wearing all kinds of plants and leaves around himself and a Hawaiian skirt. It was his costume for the New York Marathon.
RB 909. 11 November 1985↩
When she saw me, she jumped with joy. “Sri! Sri!” she screamed.
RB 910. 25 November 1985↩
But God wanted me to run longer! I was running and running and, as usual, I totally forgot my landmarks. So I got lost very nicely.
Finally, at six-thirty, I said, “Now I have to make inquiries.” So I started asking people where the Sun Route Hotel was. When I said, “Sun Route,” they did not understand my English. I had to say, “Sun Routo.” But even then nobody could help me.
I said, “Fine, nobody knows where it is!” So I continued my journey.
Then I saw a taxi driver and I asked him for directions. He spoke English well. He said to me, “It is quite far. You get in.”
I said, “But I have no money.”
He said, “Oh no, you do not have to pay.”
I told him, “But I want to run.”
“It is quite far,” he said again.
I said, “I will enjoy running.”
He was so nice. He took a sheet of paper and wrote down the directions. “You go to the station and make a right turn.”
So I continued running and came to the station, which was quite far. But instead of making a right turn, I made a left turn and got lost once more. Then I saw a policeman, who showed me which was the right direction.
Finally, I got tired and started walking. God knows where I was. Then I saw Projjwal and Pravaha running along the street. I said, “That means the hotel is very near.”
They told me, “Make a left turn and then a right.” Then they continued running.
For me, right and left are all the same! So again I got lost. Finally, I took a taxi back to the hotel because I was tired of running. The taxi ride lasted seven minutes. Altogether, for two hours I was out running and walking.
RB 911. 17 December 1985↩
Like me, they were lost souls in Tokyo!
RB 912. 20 December 1985↩
There was a big stone marking the turn-around point, but she did not go up to the stone. Before reaching it, she just turned around and went back. I thought, “How clever Padmasini is! There is such a big mark at the turn-around point, but she pretends not to see it.”
I thought that since nobody was there, she was taking a short cut. But I did not have the heart to say anything. Afterwards, I found out that she had already finished the race and was just doing some more walking and running.
RB 913. 1 January 1986↩
When elderly people run or do physical exercise, it inspires the younger generation. In the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nolini started running again after turning 65. Some of you people are 28 or 29, but you are acting as if you were ancient.
Those who do physical activity give me immense joy, and those who do not take exercise have to develop a new heart to feel my sadness.
RB 914. 13 January 1986↩
Then today it happened again. I was warming up before the start of our five-mile race. At about my second mile, which was at the 300-metre mark on the course, a runner came up to say hello. “Do you have the time?” he asked.
I said, “I have no watch, so I am not sure. It is around seven-thirty. The race has not started, so you will not miss it.”
He said, “But I want to practise.”
Then he went to one of the disciples to ask the time. That disciple told him, “It is exactly seven-thirty.” Then the runner was reassured and he went to practise. Every time I go to the 300-metre mark, somebody comes and asks me for something. That is the place!
RB 915. 19 January 1986↩
At 3:15 Alo happened to call. After my conversation with Alo, I took some stretching exercises. Then I went downstairs to attempt to lift 200 pounds. Unfortunately, I only pushed the weight up about four inches; so I still have eight more inches to go! Then I lifted some other weights and did various exercises. How many exercises I took upstairs and downstairs!
Shortly before 5:30, I went out for a run. As soon as I came out of my house, I said to myself, “How I wish Trishakash would come down this weekend so I can tell him the juicy story about this morning’s blessing.”
As usual, I began running on the edge of the street because the asphalt is softer than the cement sidewalk. When I reached my 300-metre mark on 150th Street, all of a sudden I saw a car come to a stop very close to me.
A very tall, strong man came out of the car. O God, it was Trishakash! What was he doing there in Queens at that hour of the morning!
Another disciple, a young boy, was in the car. He was astonished to see me at that hour. They had both just arrived from Canada.
Trishakash screamed, “O Guru!”
He was standing on one side of the car, and I was standing on the other. I was shouting at him — as if he were deaf — telling him the story about his soul.
When I was looking at him, I was seeing not his body but his soul; his soul was on his face. His face, his eyes, his ear — everything — was all soul!
So you see, there is something called the soul. You have to believe it! The body is unreal, but the soul is so real. The real thing you do not see or value. But when the real thing is pleased with you, then it is something! And when the real thing is displeased with you, at that time everything in the inner world is dislocated.
So today Trishakash’s soul was very pleased with him.
He told me, “O Guru, today is my birthday.” A few days ago I had known his birthday was coming soon, but this morning, when his soul had come to me, it was not in my mind.
RB 916. 31 January 1986↩
A man came up to me and said, “Here is someone who is really enjoying watching the race!”
A disciple immediately came up and said, “Oh no, he has just finished running.”
RB 917. 2 March 1986↩
On the way back, I was in a very high consciousness — in another world. All of a sudden, I saw the soul of one of our newer disciples from the New York Centre. Her soul asked me for special blessings so she could fulfil the inner promises she had made this year. I was very pleased. Immediately I blessed the soul with utmost concern and poured solid determination into the soul.
Then, shortly afterwards, I saw someone on the street who looked like my rabbi, Sanatan. I was on the street and he was on the sidewalk. There was a van and a car in between us, but his vibration I still got.
Around my 400-metre mark on 150th Street, I was dying with exhaustion. Then I saw someone running towards me, but I could not recognise her. When she passed me, immediately I felt the vibration of her soul. Although my eyes could not recognise her, I got a vibration from her soul. It was the same New York disciple whom I had blessed earlier.
So I stopped and screamed at her. She also stopped. I told her, “I just blessed your soul. Go straight and make a left turn to my 900-metre mark. Then stand there and meditate.”
Hundreds of things like this happen every day. I do not tell you people how many times your souls come to me for special blessings, affection and love. But your souls come to me only if you are in a good consciousness. If you are in a bad consciousness, your souls know how to sleep!
If you are sincere, if you are determined, then your souls will definitely come to me again and again for extra blessings, affection, concern and determination to fulfil your promises.
RB 918. 3 March 1986↩
All around the one-mile loop there were beautiful blue flags, quite small, and large pictures of important runners. They started with Robert de Castella’s picture, then some English runners, and ended with Sebastian Coe’s picture — as if he were finishing first.
There were also twelve stone plaques on the course with the inscription “Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile”. There was also a big plaque that told our ideals and philosophy in a nutshell.
Thirty metres away from the starting line there were four golden statues of Lord Buddha in a peace pagoda. Right near the start was the River Thames, which runs along about 800 metres of the course. It was all very beautiful!
I always speak about enthusiasm. This time the British have shown enthusiasm from beginning to end. How cheerfully they worked together! In terms of happiness, enthusiasm, warmth and oneness, this race far surpassed all the races we have ever held, including those in New York. I always say, “Become, and then go beyond.” So they have become one with all the good qualities that New York offers in its races, and they have gone far beyond.
The big shots who came were so nice! How kindly and respectfully they talked to me. I was so deeply moved.
RB 919. 15 March 1986↩
The Mayor said he would do so only on one condition: I had to be on the stage beside him. So we stood together, and he released the doves.
RB 920. 15 March 1986↩
I had a very long talk with him. I said, “You will get another chance in Korea.”
He replied, “This time, if I do not get a medal, I will give up.” He had seen a video of me lifting 200 pounds and he was very impressed. He said he used to lift 40 pounds, but it was too much for him.
I said, “You do not need to do it.”
There was also a runner from Iran who holds eight Asian records. He was very humble and very nice. He was appreciating me like anything, and I also was appreciating him. He feels I have special blessings from Allah. He also gives all credit to Allah for his running success.
Then, an ex-Olympian from the 1948 Olympics came over to introduce himself to me. He said, “I am a friend of Dhrubha Hein’s father.” This world of ours is so small! Here I was in London and I met a friend of Dhrubha’s father.
RB 921. 15 March 1986↩
From the beginning to the end my place was fixed: last. When I started, I had barely covered 100 metres when the children were at 400 metres. They were so fast!
One lady was wheeling her child in a perambulator. She was ahead of me. Then something happened at around 300 metres, and she fell down. I felt miserable!
Afterwards, the father of the girl who had stood first in the competition begged me to be in a photograph with his daughter. She had defeated me badly, so he was very proud of her. The father was the photographer, and he took a very nice picture.
RB 922. 15 March 1986↩
Unfortunately, I did not care for that statue. So after we had taken the picture that he wanted, I asked him to stand in front of another statue for another picture. According to me, this second statue was infinitely better.
At that time his photographer was missing. We had two photographers of our own, but he wanted to have his own photographer. So we had to wait.
The Mayor was shouting: “Where has he gone! Where has he gone!” Finally, his photographer came and took the picture.
RB 923. 15 March 1986↩
RB 924. 16 March 1986↩
Then she asked, “Are you Pakistani?”
I said, “No, I am Indian.”
She told me, “Pakistanis always wear shorts.”
RB 925. 3 April 1986↩
I said, “No!”
Then she said, “You want me to feel that I am an old lady!” She was wearing a brown coat.
I told her, “No, you are quite young.”
She said, “You have made my day!”
She is the lady who has a dog. She always says something funny to me.
RB 926. 3 April 1986↩
I said, “Thank you, thank you!”
Her mother, who was driving, felt sorry, She said, “Sorry, sorry, Mr. Sri.”
Perhaps the little girl saw me as an old man dying of exhaustion, so she was saying, “You are an idiot. Why do you have to run?”
RB 927. 3 April 1986↩
Cahit had given me the number ‘1’ for my running number. At about a mile and a half into the five-mile race, a little girl was running near me with her father. He said to the child, “Look, number 1 is running with you.”
At the time I was struggling and struggling. The little girl said, “Number 1 is a lousy runner.”
The father said, “Don’t say that!”
Then she went ahead of me. We were competing with each other.
Finally, what happened! I went ahead of her towards the finish of the race.
Cahit gave me the number ‘1,’ so number one got wonderful appreciation from that little girl.
RB 928. 21 April 1986↩
Today he was telling me, “You are supplying us with everything. It is a perfect day; everything is perfect!”
I said, “We are all aiming at perfection. That is why this race is happening.”
RB 929. 4 May 1986↩
Dan comes from England, but he acts like an Indian; his soul is all joy. He is like a heavenly angel. His smile, his movements, everything about him is angelic. Each time you see him, it is like seeing a continuously blossoming flower.
Dan is so nice. How many times he has come up to me to shake hands! Sometimes I am in a serious mood, but his smiling face immediately takes away my seriousness.
Alan Fairbrother is all British. He is measured and very strict and disciplined. But he smiled at me quite a few times; he also is very nice.
RB 930. 4 May 1986↩
Stu was telling one of the disciples that he had been seeing my Transcendental Picture on his third eye for hours.
RB 931. 4 May 1986↩
Then, when I came to the 800 metre mark, one of the runners ran by me. After going three or four metres ahead, he turned around and gave me the broadest smile. His soul was on his face; so when he turned around, it was his soul that smiled. It was the same soul that I had seen and blessed at the 700-metre mark. His name is Siggy Bauer.
In just thirty or forty seconds from the time I blessed his soul, his soul was able to convince his mind, and that was his response.
The first time he took prasad, he told someone that he felt he was in Heaven.
RB 932. 4 May 1986↩
She suffers so much, but even then she smiles at me. What am I going to do?
RB 933. 4 May 1986↩
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.
RB 934. 8 May 1986↩
I promptly said “Good morning” back to him.
Usually he does not say anything while he is running.
RB 935. 8 May 1986↩
The runners will feel sad today that the race is over and that they are not on the course running. The handlers will feel happy.
We do not have much money-power, but we have heart-power. Other organisations may have so much money and thousands of people. But money-power does not work and man-power does not work. It is with our heart-power that we put on the 1,000-mile race.
RB 936. 11 May 1986↩
I said, “Yes.”
He said that he had read about the 1,000-mile race in the newspaper. Then he said, “Oh, how I would love to meet Sri Chinmoy!”
Then I said, “I am Sri Chinmoy.”
He dropped his umbrella.
RB 937. 13 May 1986↩
RB 938. 15 June 1986↩
A young man and a few girls were in the car. The young man said to me, “Good morning, Sri Chinmoy. You should always go first!”
Then he signalled for me to cross in front of him. I smiled at him and he smiled at me. Then I crossed the street.
RB 939. 6 July 1986↩
So I went somewhere and bought a paper cup. Then the man at the first store gave me some water.
RB 940. 30 July 1986↩
Then wisdom dawns. She is running, whereas I am seated in my chair just watching. I have to succeed in admiring her!
RB 941. 10 August 1986↩
Nowadays I am unable to run at all, but when I saw the lawnmower rolling towards the street, I came running over to grab it. I was afraid it might hit a car and cause an accident.
The lady was holding her hand on her heart. “Oh, thank you, thank you! You are such a nice man,” she said.
But her friend, who was standing next to her on the lawn, said, “Why do you have to thank him? It was his duty!”
RB 942. 23 October 1986↩
The owner of the candy store asked me, “Are you from Trinidad or India?”
I said, “I am from India.”
He told me that he was from Gujarat.
I said, “Gujarat has produced many eminent persons,” and I named one very famous Gujarati.
He asked, “Is he still alive?”
I said, “Unfortunately, he is dead.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I am sure,” I replied. “His wife is also dead.”
He said that he had been in America for fifteen years, so he was not in touch with what was happening in Gujarat. I did not have the heart to tell him that I have been in America for twenty-two years.
RB 943. 2 November 1986↩
One disciple went at least fifty metres past me. Then, when he heard “Sri Chinmoy,” he came back fifty metres just to look at me.
RB 944. 2 November 1986↩
RB 945. 2 November 1986↩
After eight or nine miles, the course became very narrow and everybody had to go to one side of the street. At that time I saw them and they also saw me.
RB 946. 2 November 1986↩
Four or five times other people hit my hand with their hand as they were running by. They hit me so hard!
One or two recognised me, and while touching me said, “Sri Chinmoy!” But some just gave me a slap.
RB 947. 2 November 1986↩
The man was wearing a T-shirt that said, “Jack.”
His running partner could not believe what he was doing. He kept asking Jack, “Who is it? Who is it?”
RB 948. 2 November 1986↩
Afterwards, I became more alert. I would run a little ahead of the people coming and then cross.
RB 949. 2 November 1986↩
RB 950. 2 November 1986↩
Then the man called someone else, whom he called “Honey.” But this person also did not want to come.
Then he called “Mum.” But Mum also said no. She was the third person to refuse him. Then he said such a nasty word to his mother over the phone.
Afterwards, I saw him cross the street to get the bus. Poor fellow, once he had to cross the street to make the phone calls, and again he had to cross to go to the bus stop.
RB 951. 2 November 1986↩
The man behind me was so annoyed. Perhaps he thought I was dialing the same number each time.
He said, “What is the matter with you? Why are you dialing again and again?”
First he had to wait for the injured man to call all his relatives. Then he had to wait for me.
RB 952. 2 November 1986↩
Many years ago I had that experience when I was running the New York City Marathon. What an insult! The first insult was not enough — that Chameli went ahead of me! Then came the second insult: I saw the police taking down the wooden barricades while I was still running.
RB 953. 2 November 1986↩
RB 954. 3 November 1986↩
From:Sri Chinmoy,Run and become, become and run, part 18, Agni Press, 1996
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/rb_18