Sri Chinmoy begins his weightlifting adventure on 26 June 1985, with a lift of just 40 pounds. Over the next year and a half, his progress astounded the weightlifting world, culminating in a lift of 7063¾ pounds on 30 January 1987. Here, we honour his weightlifting anniversary with a visual celebration of his landmark achievements.
June 26th 1985
40-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts a 40-pound dumbbell overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, at Aspiration-Ground in Jamaica, NY, USA.
In Sri Chinmoy’s Words
From the outer point of view, I have taken up weightlifting because my knee injury has kept me from running and compelled me to do something else. So the unconscious human in me thought of weightlifting. But the conscious being in me took up weightlifting at the express command of my Inner Pilot. The conscious being in me has listened to and has obeyed implicitly the dictates of my Inner Pilot.
Published in Soul-Illumination-Shrine, Body-Preparation-Temple, part 1
July 7th 1985
50-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts a 50-pound dumbbell overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, in New York, NY, USA.
July 14th 1985
60-lb lift
July 30th 1985
70-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts a 70-pound dumbbell four times overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, at Progress Promise function hall in New York, NY, USA. To celebrate, he offers a 70-item prasad.
August 13th 1985
80-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts an 80-pound dumbbell four times overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, in New York, NY, USA.
September 6th 1985
85-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts an 85-pound dumbbell four times overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, at his home gym in New York, NY, USA.
October 7th 1985
98½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts a 98½-pound dumbbell four times overhead from the ground — ‘clean and press‘ — using only his right arm, in New York, NY, USA.
October 9th 1985
106¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 106¼ lbs. overhead from shoulder height (suspended in a rack) using only his right arm at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. On 11 October, Sri Chinmoy lifts 106¼ lbs. overhead from shoulder height (placed in his hand) using only his right arm at Aspiration-Ground in Jamaica, New York.
November 1st 1985
117-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 117 lbs. overhead from shoulder height (suspended in a rack) using only his right arm in Jamaica, New York.
November 3rd 1985
131½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 131½ lbs. 22 times, overhead from shoulder height (suspended in a rack) using only his right arm, in Jamaica, New York.
November 12th 1985
140-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 140 lbs. overhead from shoulder height (suspended in a rack) using only his right arm, in Jamaica, New York.
November 18th 1985
155-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 155 lbs. – equal to his own body weight – 24 times (two sets of one-arm presses of 10 and 14 repetitions), using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
January 16th 1986
170-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 170 lbs. overhead, using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
March 6th 1986
200-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy achieves a lift of 200 lbs., using only his right arm, setting a new record for his weight (157 lbs.) and age (54 years), at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. Later, Sri Chinmoy is awarded a Certificate of Recognition and Merit by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States for his noteworthy achievement in lifting 200 pounds with one arm. A similar certificate is presented by the British Amateur Weightlifters Association.
April 28th 1986
210-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 210 lbs. overhead, using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
May 8th 1986
220-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 220 lbs. overhead, using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
May 17th 1986
230¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 230¼ lbs. overhead, using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
June 21st 1986
240½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy first lifts 240½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. Sri Chinmoy’s body weight is 159¾ lbs.
July 31st 1986
250½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 250½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
August 7th 1986
260½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 260½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
August 11th 1986
303¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy achieves a lift of 303¼ lbs., using his right arm only, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. After his first attempt on 23 May 1986, Sri Chinmoy finally achieves the lift on his 214th attempt. Sri Chinmoy weighs 160 lbs.
Progress
by Sri Chinmoy
I first tried lifting 300 pounds on May 23rd and I eventually succeeded on August 11th, after 80 days. It was my 214th attempt. Then I tried 313 pounds. I began on August 12th and I did it on August l9th — eight days later. Then I jumped to 320 pounds, which was double my body weight. I started the morning of August 21st, Agraha’s birthday, and I did it the afternoon of that same day. At his request I did it. Now I need a few more disciples’ birthdays to inspire me. It took a long time to go to 330 pounds — two weeks! But to reach 340 pounds it took only 12 attempts and for 350 ˝ pounds, just eight attempts. So my speed is increasing. I think I am still getting the benefit from attempting 300 pounds for two and a half months. — 11 September 1986
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 1
August 21st 1986
320½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy achieves a 320½-lb. right-arm lift (double his body weight) at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 5, 1986
330½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 330½ lbs. using only his right arm; and during a standing calf-raise workout, lifts a total of 106 tons, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 9, 1986
340½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 340½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 11, 1986
350½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy outside his home in New York, easily holding a 70-lb weight. On the ground is the 350½-lb dumbbell he lifted earlier in the day using only his right arm and, as a comparison, a calf of the same weight stands nearby.
A Calf Story
by Sri Chinmoy
This afternoon Unmilan and others put a dumb-bell with 350 pounds on it in front of my house. Next to it they put a calf which also weighed about 350 pounds. They had rented the calf from the zoo. Then they took a picture of me standing next to the weight and the calf. In this way they wanted to show how much weight 350 pounds is.
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 1
September 15, 1986
360¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 360¼ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 17, 1986
370¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 370¼ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 19, 1986
380½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 380½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 21, 1986
400½-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 400½ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 26, 1986
450-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 450 lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
September 29, 1986
503-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 503 lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
October 27, 1986
604-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 604 lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
She Wanted Me To Do More
by Sri Chinmoy
When I lifted 604 pounds with one arm, my physical mother appeared before me in the inner world, full of compassion, to watch. After the fourth attempt, she wanted me to do more. I said, “I am tired. I am satisfied with this.” — 27 October 1986
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 2
November 1, 1986
705¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 705¾ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
Help In Reaching My Goal
by Sri Chinmoy
This morning I reached my ultimate goal — 705 pounds. I have done it with my Beloved Supreme’s infinite Grace. Just before I started lifting, my prayer was:
My Lord Supreme,
My Beloved Supreme,
Your infinite Compassion decides
The choice hour for me.
Your infinite Compassion also transforms
My human greed
Into Your divine Need.
When human greed becomes His divine Need, then one can be of real inspiration and true service to mankind. So this was my prayer, and a few minutes after it was offered, I was able to lift 705 pounds.
When I lift, there is always some divine Grace in the form of gods, goddesses or relatives and friends who come to inspire me. They are of real help. Today it was my dearer-than-the-dearest Mother Kali who came. Inside me she is always visible, but today I saw her very vividly on the wall, where the window is. She had a larger-than-the-largest garland around her neck. I saw it when I was lifting. On my third attempt she was looking at me so powerfully and compassionately. On my fourth attempt I clearly saw her placing her feet on the metal plates and the bar. Then I saw in my intuitive world that I was going to lift it. On that attempt, I was looking only at her face. My concentration was so powerful at that time, I didn’t see the garland, and I was wondering where it went. Then, in my highest point of concentration, I saw that the garland was on my neck. Then I made the attempt and I was successful. She had garlanded me before I had actually made the lift. Then I lifted it again on my fifth attempt. After that she was playing with the garland she had placed on me.
Now I can cut jokes. About a month ago some of the disciples didn’t have faith that I would be able to lift 700 pounds. I said I would put them into garbage bags. So many disciples I put in garbage bags! Today I can open up the garbage bags and release them.
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 2
November 7, 1986
806¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 806¼ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
All Credit To Mother Kali
by Sri Chinmoy
This morning when I was attempting to lift 800 pounds with one arm, Mother Kali was right in front of me, full of compassion and power. When I was about to make my fourth attempt, Mother Kali said to me, “My son, it is already done.” Then I did lift 800 pounds.
So for both 700 and 800 pounds, all credit goes to my dearest Mother Kali.
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 2
November 10, 1986
1007¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 1007¾ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
A Visit from Nivedita
by Sri Chinmoy
Early this morning while I was taking exercise, Mother Kali and the soul of my physical mother were there. The soul of Nivedita was also there for at least 45 minutes.
Nivedita’s soul is most beautiful, most beautiful. So lovingly she was watching me while I was taking various exercises. She was moving around and telling me, “My Lord, you can do it, you can do it, you can do it!” And she was absolutely right, absolutely right! This morning I lifted up 1,007¾ pounds. As soon as I completed the lift she offered me a most beautiful flower, and while offering the flower she said, “Congratulations, my Lord, and my eternal gratitude.”
These visions are more real to me than my own name, Chinmoy. Chinmoy is just a fleeting name, an earthly name. But my God-realisation-experiences, visions and illuminations, which come from my Beloved Supreme’s infinite Compassion, are infallible and immortal.
Published in My Weightlifting Tears and Smiles, part 2
November 17, 1986
1317¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 1317¾ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
Mother Kali Is Always There
by Sri Chinmoy
When I was lifting 1,317¾ pounds with one arm, again Mother Kali came! Mother Kali is always there.
Published in My WeightliftingTears and Smiles, part 2
November 24, 1986
1515¼-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 1515¼ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
November 27, 1986
2039-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 2039 lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York.
January 20, 1987
3081¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 3,081¾ lbs. using only his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. The lift is approximately 19 times his own body weight.
January 30, 1987
7063¾-lb lift
Sri Chinmoy lifts 7,063¾ lbs. with his right arm, at his home gym in Jamaica, New York. Sri Chinmoy weighs 162¼ lbs. — the lift is more than 43½ times his own body weight.
Lyrics:
Seven Thousand Pounds, I have reached my goal!
My poor body smiles through my rich soul.
God in Heaven, God on earth asks me one thing.
Oneness-fulness-song, am I ready to sing?
Published in Weightlifting Songs
Note:
The dates cited are the official dates of Sri Chinmoy's lifts. However, very occasionally he would lift the same weight again a day or so later for a public demonstration, or for a clearer photograph to be taken. A case in point is his 106¾-pound lift, which he had done on 9 October. On 11 October, a photograph was taken in front of an audience at Aspiration-Ground.