My spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy once said something like “There’s always someone better than you.” The context of this quote was with regard to human pride. No matter what we do, there’s always someone better than us. If we rely on human pride for satisfaction, there will always be something to knock us back.

I find it a strangely reassuring maxim – ‘There’s always someone better than you’. I think it is because it also reminds us to remember the highest spiritual philosophy – if we are all one – who is better than whom?

It is also a subtle reminder that real satisfaction doesn’t come from being the best, but getting joy from whatever the result and outcome.

Of course, philosophy is one thing, but living philosophic ideals – is something else.

Swami Vivekananda once told some young men, they would be better off playing football than reading the Bhagavad Gita. The point of this statement was that we may need dynamism and even desire, before we are ready to go to the next stage of lofty spiritual ideals. Only when we have had certain experiences are we more receptive and understanding of higher ideals. After experiencing winning and losing, we can start to understand and appreciate better the ideal that it doesn’t matter who wins.

Photos from weekend racing

Pateley Bridge

Pateley Bridge.

Golf balls and sheep.

View.

Guise Edge.

Related

Not everyone can be Eddy Merckx

I have been counting at the Sri Chinmoy 24 hour race since 1999. Usually, I just come for the first 10 or 11 hours, then drive home and do a cycle race on Sunday. It’s a good shift, but I always feel a little bit like a part-timer compared to those who stay from start to finish.

This year, an injury meant I had no cycle race and was free to attend the whole 24 hours.

The first 11 hours went quite quickly and I enjoyed the experience. The main job of a counter is to concentrate on being ready to mark down the times of the runners – as they come around the 400m circuit, every 2-4 minutes.  It might sound easy, but as the hours go by, it becomes a challenge to keep focused and always on the look out for the next time the runner comes round the track.

Often, you need to keep eyes open, whilst at the same time writing down the numbers and working out the splits. Amongst the counters, there is a bit of chat and good humour, which is helpful to keep spirits up. But it is a constant challenge to keep the balance and remain always on the look out for your runners.

By acknowledging the runners every time they come past, you become part of their race. A good counter can hopefully encourage the runner. It also works the other way – as a counter, you can pick up on the energy and determination of the runners. I often have difficult sleeping after a days counting shift – which is strange as you would expect to be tired after 12 hours of sitting down counting runners, but the race creates a lot of energy.

The hardest part was coming back, after a fitful sleep, at 6am the next morning, but it was good to be able to see the finish of the race. I was lucky to have the lead runner James Stewart from Scotland, who kept up an excellent tempo for the whole race to set a new course record of over 160 miles. Counting him in the last hour, I could feel his joy as he achieved real self-transcendence; he had that aura of an athlete who was on a good day.

It was interesting to be on the other side of the counting shed so to speak. Usually, I am the one being timed racing up hills. Today I was the one counting. I enjoyed the experience and look forward to next year and trying to do a good job for the runners.

Amateur video of race

This is a video of the race made up of a few short videos and photos whilst counting. It is the first video I’ve made, so I’m just using it to learn about the art of making videos.  But, you can get a small idea about the race from the counters perspective.

Watch out for 1.58 where I point down the camera and a large slab of chocolate momentarily pops into the viewfinder. You might think that was just more amateur videography, but actually it was very carefully planned and expertly executed. Just after the chocolate appearance is the best bit with James Stewart’s finish.

Mahasatya ran 103 miles this year.

During the race, Ann Bath also set a new women’s world record in her age group (0/65) for 24 hours. (115.9 miles)

Related

• London 24 hour race at Sri Chinmoy Races
• Photos by Surabhamat
• View from the counting shed – article by Sumangali from 2004.

The London Olympics of 2012 seems a long time ago now. But, I do remember the wave of optimism and positivity which swept across the nation for those balmy three weeks. The nation caught the Olympic spirit, and it was a wonderful occasion.

Part of the success of the London Olympics was putting ordinary people at the heart of the movement and organisation. It wasn’t committees or powerful people, but volunteers freely giving their time which made the event  special.

The Olympics is also a wonderful opportunity for the world’s nations to come together and – through sport – remember we have much more in common than that which divides.

Another thing I remember about 2012 was the overwhelming negativity and cynicism that was rife in the months leading up to the games. The media seemed to pick up on a range of negative stories and pessimism, which left very low expectations. But, within 20 minutes of the opening ceremony starting, everything seemed to change and for those three weeks you felt the world was making tremendous progress.

The opening ceremony was directed by Danny Boyle, who lived in East London. Following on from Beijing 2008 was a very difficult challenge (some people even felt impossible). But, Boyle had faith that he could create something, new, original and dynamic which celebrated the best of British history and culture.

A key feature of his opening ceremony was inviting thousands of volunteers to take part in the choreographed sections of the event. He put these volunteers at the heart of the event. For an event which lasted a couple of hours, the preparations involved several months of hard work and practise. In the video, the volunteers and organisers talk about all their doubts and worries – but also the tremendous pride and joy in bringing everything together on the night.

It is a very moving 100 minutes, especially towards the end when you see the ceremony and all the background stories behind it. It is also a wonderful affirmation of the human spirit – and amidst the current cynicism, negativity and depressing news – a reminder that when people come together in a spirit of selflessness and oneness, extraordinary things can be achieved.

In a very broad sense, the Olympic games and opening ceremony had a strong spiritual underpinning. It combined dynamism, volunteers giving up their time, people working together and working towards a common vision. It also shows that if you have a talented director with both vision and humility to lead people, you can really do great things. The extraordinary thing about Danny Boyle is that he pulled off this masterpiece without any sense of ego.

The great thing about the Opening Ceremony was that it was a success on so many levels – not just the visual and audio presentation, but the way it was achieved; it also genuinely celebrated the best of British traditions and culture. It was a way to feel proud of your country – without any of the negative connotations such patriotism can sometimes engender.

Sri Chinmoy writes on the inner potential of the Olympic games.

“The very word Olympics is, for me, a magnificent thrill, absolutely a universal thrill, and it raises the consciousness of humanity in the inner world. True, in the outer world we may notice some wrong forces, but in the inner world the Olympics is a great opportunity for the upliftment of human consciousness.

This world is full of sadness, sorrows, frustrations and depression, and so many unfriendly, hostile things happen. But in the Olympics at least we get the opportunity to meet together for a few weeks and create a oneness-world-family. Alas, afterwards we go back to our animal life.”

– Sri Chinmoy Answers, part 28

Related

• The inner significance of the Olympics at Sri Chinmoy Race
• Great moments of the London Olympics – Cycling Info, written 2012

Sri Chinmoy said to Muhammad Ali:

“You are changing the face and fate of mankind. Your very name encourages and inspires. As soon as people hear ‘Muhammad Ali,’ they are inspired. They get tremendous joy. They get such dynamism to be brave and face ignorance. Your very name does that. That’s why I am so grateful to you, so proud of you.”

– Sri Chinmoy (Sept 1977, during meeting with Muhammad Ali, New York.)

I have watched quite a few youtube videos where Michael Parkinson interviewed Muhammad Ali, and I get so much joy watching them.

If anyone else had been saying the same words “I am the greatest” it might have fallen flat and you thought the person arrogant, but with Ali, his self-belief and deeply held convictions were infectious. I think it was because underneath the bravado, you knew this was a deeply courageous and good person.

US President Barack Obama said of Ali:

“Ali shook up the world – and the world is better for it,” Obama said.

“He stood with King and Mandela; stood up when it was hard; spoke out when others wouldn’t. His fight outside the ring would cost him his title and his public standing,” Obama added.

I  admire Ali for refusing to fight because it was against his principles – no matter what the personal cost. This is true courage, more so than going into a boxing ring.

Muhammad Ali Quotes

“It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”

1. On his arrogance

It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.

2. On Golf

I’m the best. I just haven’t played yet.

3. On opponents

If you sign to fight me, you need speed and endurance but what you need most is to increase your insurance.

4. On his speed

Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom, hit the switch and was in the bed before the room was dark.

Seat belt story

A friend of Ali once told this humorous story of Ali. He explained that when the pair had been boarding a flight from Washington to New York, a flight attendant asked:

“Mr Ali; please buckle your seatbelt.”

Muhammad Ali responded:

“Superman don’t need no seatbelt.”

The air stewardess replied sweetly:

“Mr Ali, Superman don’t need no plane.”

Hauser said of the speech he gave: “When I retold that story, Muhammad’s face lit up and he laughed as hard as anyone in the audience.”

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Ali said:

“I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times.

Who was humorous and who treated everyone right.

As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him.

And who helped as many people as he could.

As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what.

As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love.

And if all that’s too much then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people.

And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”

Related

• Tribute to Muhammad Ali at Sri Chinmoy Races

France 20 – New Zealand 18

Yesterday, I was counting runners at the 24 hour race in Tooting Bec, organised by Sri Chinmoy A.C and Run and Become. I was glad to be counting runners, because it meant I would miss watching England getting beating by Australia (or so I thought).

What a turnaround. Sport can often throw up surprises. But, this is one of the great upsets, given England and France’s performances in their first game.

Who Know what will happen in the next games. Anything could happen.

rugby world cup is here at priyadarshan.org

Commiserations to my Australian and New Zealand friends, 🙂