A Spiritual Lift

American Fitness, Jan, 2000

On July 14, 1999, in front of approximately 50 observers, international peace leader and strength champion Sri Chinmoy, 68, set two world strength records. Using a standard seated calf-raise machine, Chinmoy lifted 1,000 pounds. Then, just a couple of hours later, he lifted twice that weight using a standing calf-raise machine--2,000 pounds or a full ton of metal weight. Just one year ago, Sri Chinmoy was only able to lift 740 pounds in the seated calf-raise and 1,500 pounds in the standing calf-raise.

International strength authorities are astounded not only by the tonnage Chinmoy has lifted, but by the dramatic progress he has made at his age. Ernie Frantz, president of the 28-nation World Powerlifting Congress, describes Chinmoy's feats of strength, combined with his small size and advanced age, as "magnificent" and "absolutely fantastic." Dr. Andres Rodriguez, medical director of the New York Road Runners Club, says, "Nobody else in the world can even come close to doing what Sri Chinmoy is doing! Age is not an obstacle to his performance. In fact, he gets better every year."

Speaking about his own record-smashing feats of strength, Chinmoy says, "Age is no barrier. I find that the mind makes us feel we are very old. The moment I use my heart, I am 20 years old again. When we experience deep meditation, we see that spiritual energy is the source of physical, vital and mental energy."

Chinmoy has been a vegetarian since childhood and was a sprinter and decathlete in his youth. He took up running and ultra-distance running at the age of 36 when he moved to Queens, New York. He has completed more than 200 road races, including 21 marathons and five ultra-marathons.

Chinmoy didn't start lifting weights until age 54, but it is only one of his activities. He is better known to the rest of the world as a peace activist, peace concert organizer, poet, author, artist, musician and founder of the annual worldwide "Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home-Peace-Run." He has written more than 1,200 inspirational books, offered more than 500 peace concerts worldwide and met with countless religious leaders, heads of state and luminaries worldwide.

Not everyone can balance the physical and spiritual, but Chinmoy has always considered physical fitness to be tremendously important. He feels the physical plays a very special role in our quest for perfection and should not be neglected. Sri Chinmoy is testimony that we can always transcend ourselves and go beyond our present achievements.