Sri Chinmoy Day in New York City

Sri Chinmoy and Councilman Povman after the proclamation has been read.

— photo by Bhashwar

Councilman Morton Povman: Ladies and gentlemen, I am here today to make a presentation in honour of your Guru. I was saying to the Guru just now that it seems almost a miracle that he has people, not highly trained in running, run 47 miles with only one person having to drop out. I know that this is because of the inspiration that Guru provided for the runners. Spiritual inspiration and aspiration is what keeps them going at a time when they should want to lie down flat.

It is an honour for me to represent Mr. Donald Manes, the Borough President of the Borough of Queens, to declare today, the 27th of August, the 47th birthday of the Guru, as Sri Chinmoy Day in Queens County. I would like to read the Proclamation.

Borough of Queens City of New York DONALD R. MANES, PRESIDENT

Proclamation

Greeting:

WHEREAS, Sri Chinmoy of Jamaica is a renowned spiritual leader, poet, artist, musician and lecturer; and

WHEREAS, Sri Chinmoy has travelled and lectured extensively throughout the world and is Director of the United Nations Meditation Group; and

WHEREAS, Sri Chinmoy has been a leader in many beneficial community efforts and was instrumental in organizing the Liberty Torch program to help celebrate our Nation's Bicentennial; and

WHEREAS, August 27th is the birthday of Sri Chinmoy and he will be honored on this day,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD R. MANES, President of the Borough of Queens, the City of New York, do hereby proclaim Sunday, August 27th, 1978, as

SRI CHINMOY DAY

in Queens in recognition of the teachings, leadership and contributions of Sri Chinmoy.

Done at Borough Hall, Kew Gardens, in the City of New York, on this the twenty-fifth day of August, in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight.

DONALD R. MANES PRESIDENT, BOROUGH OF QUEENS

Sri Chinmoy: Today, Councilman Povman, in you my disciples and I have felt a true member of our little spiritual family. You have been extremely kind to us for the last few years. You have granted us the opportunity to feel that we have done something real for the world at large. I wish to say that what we have done is really the result of pure Grace from above. It is the inspiration from above that has guided my students in this run, as well as my heart-felt sympathy with their struggles.

You have always been kind to me and my students. What we can offer you is our gratitude, and this gratitude blossoms in our hearts like a lotus, petal by petal, every day and every hour. Today, 300 students of mine have felt your heart, and I wish to say that you have conquered the very depths of their gratitude-hearts, for when someone shows me sympathy, love and oneness, my disciples’ gratitude-hearts enter into that person.

You are not only a councilman, but also a distinguished member of society and a true loving brother and friend in the heart of all my disciples. You are our loving, kind, sympathetic oneness-friend.

On behalf of all my students, I am offering you my gratitude-heart on this auspicious day, my birthday. You have been dedicated to the Supreme in us, in all of us. The oneness of my gratitude-heart, plus all my disciples’ gratitude-hearts I am offering to you this day.

Councilman Povman: You are the luckiest man in the world to have all these people who believe in you. [To the disciples] He is the richest man in this world. He has no material wealth, but he has the richness of the people who are here, and there is no greater wealth than this in the world. If the world would learn this lesson, it would be a much nicer place to live in.

Office of the President of the Borough of Manhattan City of New York

Proclamation

Whereas: The Borough of Manhattan is not only the center of this nation's culture, and commerce, but is also a home to religious and spiritual organizations, and

WHEREAS: Sri Chinmoy, renowned spiritual leader is an example of the diversity that our city cherishes, and

WHEREAS: Sri Chinmoy has contributed to the spiritual well-being of the Borough's 1.5 million residents, now

THEREFORE: By the power vested in me as President of the Borough of Manhattan, I, Andrew J. Stein, do hereby proclaim Sunday, August 27th, 1978 to be Sri Chinmoy Day in the Borough of Manhattan.

ANDREW J. STEIN MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT

Robert Abrams President of the Borough of The Bronx

Presents this

Citation of Merit

to

SRI CHINMOY

In recognition of his enormous contributions in the spiritual, artistic, literary and musical fields.

Sri Chinmoy has served the public as an administrator at the Indian Consulate in New York and has devoted himself to spiritual, artistic and literary pursuits. He has discussed his spiritual philosophy with many world leaders and has lectured at major universities throughout the United States, the Far East, Europe and Australia.

A man of diverse talent, Sri Chinmoy has composed music that has been performed at such places as Lincoln Center, Carnegie and Town Halls, and his poetry has won international acclaim. He has also been awarded the "Contribution to the Arts" award by the Hew York School of Visual Arts in recognition of his many paintings which have been exhibited in various galleries and museums in the United States and Europe.

Today, August 27, 1978, in honor of his birthday, my fellow citizens in the Borough o£ The Bronx join me in saluting Sri Chinmoy for his great contributions to the spiritual, literary and artistic fields, and in wishing him many more years of joy and happiness which he has tirelessly endeavored to bring to countless others.

ROBERT ABRAMS PRESIDENT, BOROUGH OF THE BRONX

Office of the President of the Borough of Staten Island City of New York

Proclamation

Whereas: the remarkable career of Sri Chinmoy, spiritual teacher, artist, composer and poet, continues with superlatives heralding the unselfish motivation of this New Yorker; and

WHEREAS: Sri Chinmoy's contribution to our spiritual and cultural life remains unrivaled, and has been noted by world leaders, educators, and, most significantly, by the thousands of persons he has touched with his good will and commitment; and

WHEREAS: through traditional and unique communicative techniques, Sri Chinmoy maintains a quieting empathy with multitudes of people dedicated to continuing understanding of all men and all beliefs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANTHONY R. GAETA, President of the Borough of Staten Island by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the laws of the City and State of New York do hereby proclaim Sunday, August 27, 1978 as

SRI CHINMOY DAY

in the Borough of Staten Island and urge our 352,000 residents to join with me in celebrating the unique achievements of this spiritual teacher on the occasion of his 47th birthday.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Borough of Staten Island this twenty-fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight.

Anthony R. Gaeta

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN CITY OF NEW YORK

Proclamation

WHEREAS, SRI CHINMOY IS A NATIVE OF INDIA WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1964 AND HAS SINCE FOUNDED 60 CENTERS WHERE MEDITATION AND OTHER SPIRITUAL SKILLS ARE TAUGHT; AND

WHEREAS, SRI CHINMOY'S TEACHINGS, BOOKS, WATERCOLORS AND DRAWINGS, AND HIS MUSICAL PERFORMANCES HAVE PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS WITH SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND AESTHETIC ENJOYMENT; AND

WHEREAS, SRI CHINMOY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS IN MANY OF THE WORLD'S COUNTRIES; AND

WHEREAS, SRI CHINMOY'S MANY FOLLOWERS AND ADMIRERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF HIS BIRTHDAY ON AUGUST 27TH, 1978;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, HOWARD GOLDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SUNDAY, AUGUST 27TH, 1978, AS

SRI CHINMOY DAY

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN TO BE AFFIXED THIS 25TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1978.

HOWARD GOLDEN PRESIDENT OF THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN