“The inner light actually comes from the soul; it is already inside us. The moment we can have free access to our soul, we will see that this light is coming to the fore to permeate our whole outer existence.”

Indian spiritual leader, author, artist, poet and musician

Sri Chinmoy, born Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, was an Indian spiritual leader, writer, artist, poet, and musician active in the United States from 1964. He became known for teaching meditation in New York and for building a large following around his message of inner peace and spiritual discipline. He opened his first meditation center in Queens and later taught thousands of students in many countries. Chinmoy also staged public concerts and meditations, and he promoted prayer, meditation, and athletic practice as parts of the spiritual life. His interests included distance running, swimming, and weightlifting, which he pursued himself and also encouraged through marathons and other races.