Swedish tennis star Mats Wilander, 1988 world’s number-one player, and his wife pose with Sri Chinmoy after being lifted and playing a set of tennis with him at Aspiration-Ground in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Sri Chinmoy achieves a standing two-arm lift of 320 lbs. (160 lbs with each arm) in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Weightlifting Prayer
by Sri Chinmoy
at 6:19 a.m. before lifting 160 lbs. with both arms simultaneously, a total of 320 lbs. — a new record — at his home in New York
My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!
My Lord’s Newness-Dream
Is my life’s progress-reality.
My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!
Published in My Morning Soul-Body Prayers, part 3
A New Double-Arm Record
by Sri Chinmoy
Today I lifted 160 pounds with both arms simultaneously on my very first attempt. The very thought of 160 pounds on each arm really frightens me. For a week I shall do 160 and then I shall try 165.
It is very difficult when the hands are separate to keep the balance. If there is only one bar you get help. This way, with two separate dumbbells, it is so difficult to concentrate. Each arm demands special attention. You have to pay equal attention to both arms. Otherwise, once one arm goes up, it is very difficult to bring the other one high.
Published in A Mystic Journey in the Weightlifting World, part 2
Importance of Physical Fitness
Read out by Sri Chinmoy
several times, after reading out excerpts from his book Run and Become, Become and Run, part 21
""My request to all my spiritual children is to give importance to physical fitness. Otherwise, your body will become your worst enemy. The one that is supposed to be your best friend, your physical body, will become your worst enemy. Then you will have to live with your worst enemy.""
This should be my mantra, your mantra: "The one that is supposed to be your best friend, your physical body, will become your worst enemy. Then you will have to live with your worst enemy." Remember, you will have to live with your worst enemy. Who wants to live with your worst enemy?
Physical fitness is of paramount importance. Do whatever exercise you want to, as long as you do something. I take daily at least two hours' exercise, sometimes two and a half, sometimes three. Usually, I do it at three different times during the day. Even at night, before I go to bed, I have some special exercises that I take.
Only my two poor knees are not my friends. Otherwise, the rest of my body is my very good friend.
Published in The Inner Meaning of Sport