Tejvan’s world

“If the trains are going to be bigger and the country is bigger - won’t we need a giant to push the train?”

from: Goodness Gracious Me

UK’s Queen is Indian

I have heard Louis Armstrong’s “What a wonderful world” many times. It is a beautiful, simple song, but, watching the video gives an added dimension. Louis Armstrong has such a wide infectious smile. He is not just singing the words, but really enjoying the music.

Video of Wonderful World.

Video of Somewhere over the Rainbow

I had only heard a rather saccharine version in the Disney film, but, this version by Kamakawiwo Ole’s is quite different.

If you would like to receive a daily poem of the day visit:   Poem of the day at Short Poems.org

This is a poem by the nineteenth century mystic Ramprasad Sen

The Diamond Essence of Awareness

Ma Tara, you are truly the exalted one,
the essence of awareness.
But are you aware of the foolish poet
who sings this song?
You are indeed the radiant truth,
the sun that dissolves like morning mist
the illusory suffering of conscious beings.
But what about my persistent misery?

Continue reading →

In Oxford, we offer meditation courses 3 times a year as a community service on behalf of the Sri Chinmoy Centre. Many people are interested in meditation for a variety of reasons such as deeper relaxation, inner peace and discovering more about our own self.

These are some of the Benefits of Meditation - an article at Write Spirit.

Also, Q.A. on the Benefits of Meditation

People may have preconceived ideas about what meditation is. However, in essence meditation is quite a simple exercise - we are basically trying to still the mind. This is an introduction to meditation, with some suggestions on How To Control our own thoughts.

Meditation and Music

Music can play a helpful role in meditation. Meditative music can help inspire our meditation and create an atmosphere conducive to stilling the mind. There is a good selection of meditation music at Radio Sri Chinmoy.

• A popular recording is this flute music meditation by Sri Chinmoy Quick Time - listen now

Meditation Videos

These are some short meditation videos at Sri Chinmoy TV

More Meditation Links

• Meditation Workshop
• Quotes on Meditation at Poetseers.org
• Meditation at Sri Chinmoy Centre
• Learn Meditation in UK

Photo by Tejvan from Oxford Botanical gardens

At the weekend I managed to complete my first cycling race of the year for Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team. (link) It was a 25 mile time trial and my time was 54.24.

Oxford Self Transcendence Races

Yesterday, we had our first 3 Mile Self Transcendence race at the Peace Mile in Cutteslowe Park, Oxford. 15 runners came on a wet and grey evening. results at Sri Chinmoy Races

Running and Vegetarian Diet

Some people question whether a vegetarian diet is compatible with a vegetarian diet. Tim Van Orden, is running on just a raw vegan diet. - Running Raw

One of the fastest growing sports is running up tower block stairs. Sounds great fun. Article at Guardian

Boris Purushottama Grebenshikov at Royal Albert Hall. photo Pavitrata

It’s been a busy few weeks in the UK.

Firstly we had the World Harmony Run visit the UK.

Secondly, we had a reception in honour of Sri Chinmoy at the House of Lords.

The really big event was a concert for 5,000 people at the Royal Albert Hall

Other Links

Congratulations to Ashrita on Breaking his 200th Guinness World Records. That is a marvellous achievement and a record all by itself!

Recent article - How To avoid being a grumpy old man

I am going on a cycling holiday in Ireland with a few ‘non cycling’ friends. I have sent them all a training schedule. That should get them ready for 100 miles a day.

I have never run more than 13 miles in my life, so multi day running is a little hard to comprehend. Looking at statistics is impressive, but it doesn’t convey the stories and experiences which go into clocking up the phenomenal miles.

Utpal has done a very good job in giving us a fascinating insight into this world of multi day running - including the many perspectives and people who go into both organizing and running the 6 and 10 Day Race in New York.

Some recent blog post on Heart-Lotus Blog include:

Near and Yet So Far - As the joke goes about the 3100 miles, - the first 3,000 miles are the hardest. This is about the race as it nears the last 48 hours, with 8 days completed.

In The Still of the Night - the night shift is never easy, the unsung heroes of the small hours

Time For Plan B. - When it rains in New York, it can really pour down; not what you want when you’re in the middle of a 10 day race

In the past 8 days or so, some of the runner have already completed upto 800 miles (pretty close to the distance of running from Lands End to John O Groats). and I try to think what I have done in the past 8 days.

My other experiences of multiday running include:

• Count at the 24 hour running race held by Sri Chinmoy MT in London ever year.
• Living with Top Welsh distance runner, Abichal. Who never really does much training to suggest he is going to do 3100 miles. And yet, every year he just goes out and does it.

The 6 10 Day Race was founded by Sri Chinmoy, and forms an integral part of his philosophy of self-transcendence. Sri Chinmoy

Other Links

• Worth the Weight - Ashrita recounts his latest Guiness world records
• Concert for Sri Chinmoy - Am helping to leaflet a concert by Boris Purushottama Grebenshikov and friends . See also Grebenshikov Concert
• Things we don’t like to Admit - article for Pick The Brain

These Flower Flames are from a selection of 207 Poems that Sri Chinmoy made from his series 10,000 Flower Flames.

Today I am Wise

Yesterday I was clever.
That is why
I wanted to change the world.

Today I am wise.
That is why
I am changing myself.

~

One Thing To Learn

Every day there is only
One thing to learn:
How to be honestly happy.

~

A Diplomatic Death

Since each thought
Is an atomic power,
You can give each thought
A diplomatic death.
~

I Am Not Needed

I am not needed
To say the right thing.
I am only required
To be the right thing.

~

Miracles Worth Seeing

Only two miracles are worth seeing:
The miracle of loving
And
The miracle of forgiving.

Continue reading →

Does anyone have a good 404 Error page?

Did you know that 404 error pages are the most commonly visited webpages on the internet, and yet are usually the ones with least effort.

Here are my feeble attempts:

Sri Chinmoy self improvement blog 404 page

Tejvan.co.uk error page