The birth of a new creation

On 19 November 1988, just 12 days after this awe-inspiring performance, Sri Chinmoy shattered his own record mercilessly. By eliminating his breaks and reducing the transition time between lifts, Sri Chinmoy was able to execute the full one hundred lifts in a rapid sequence, taking more than forty minutes off his previous time. To validate his record attempt, Sri Chinmoy invited Wayne DeMilia and his wife Karen to be present. Mr. DeMilia is Vice-President of the International Federation of Bodybuilders, professional division, and Head Judge of the Mr. and Ms. Olympia competitions, held to be the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding competitions. Karen DeMilia is Executive Assistant to both competitions.

Mr. DeMilia weighed Sri Chinmoy in at 156 pounds. He then certified that the power rack was loaded correctly. It comprised 137 pounds in metal plates and also the wooden cut-out of Sri Chinmoy. The remaining 19 pounds was the weight of the lifting platform. To the left of the platform, a large chronometer was positioned to show the precise elapsed time and, above it, a video screen was set to flash the number of each lift.

Sri Chinmoy concentrated deeply and moved swiftly into action at 2:59 p.m. He completed the first fifty lifts in 10 minutes 30 seconds, alternating left and right arms as he had done on the previous occasion. At the 99th lift, he requested Wayne and Karen DeMilia to stand beside him. He then completed the final two lifts, clocking a staggering 22 minutes 43 seconds for the entire feat.

The urge to transcend his previous record had carried Sri Chinmoy to a new creation, a feat of such might that it seemed to dissolve time itself. Although executed according to strict rules and guidelines, Sri Chinmoy’s act is unfathomable on a human level. It belongs to that realm of deeds which shall forever be fixed in the memory of mankind because they are a direct manifestation of Divine Power and Energy.