Born in 1931 in the small village of Shakpura in East Bengal (now Bangladesh), Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, later known as Sri Chinmoy, was the youngest of seven children. Following the untimely passing of both his parents, 12-year-old Chinmoy entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community near Pondicherry in South India. For the next 20 years, he immersed himself in intense spiritual practice, including long hours of meditation, athletics, and the creation of poetry, essays, and spiritual songs.
From an early age, Chinmoy experienced profound inner realisations and attained advanced states of meditation. In 1964, feeling a divine call to share his inner wealth with the West, he moved to New York City, where he began guiding sincere seekers on their spiritual journeys.
Sri Chinmoy viewed aspiration—the heart’s unceasing yearning for higher and deeper truths—as the driving force behind all great human achievements in religion, culture, sports, and science. He believed that by living in the heart and striving for continual self-transcendence, individuals could unlock their highest potential and discover true fulfillment. In his words:
“Guru is a Sanskrit word which means “he who illumines”. The one who offers illumination is called a Guru. According to my own inner realisation I wish to say that there is only one real Guru, and that is the Supreme.”
— Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy served as a spiritual guide to students in over 60 countries, promoting a balanced lifestyle that harmonised the inner disciplines of prayer and meditation with the dynamism of contemporary life.
His life was a testament to boundless creativity, with contributions spanning music, poetry, painting, literature, and sports. Sri Chinmoy’s impact in each of these fields was profound and far-reaching.
Throughout his life, Sri Chinmoy traveled the world, offering free concerts, lectures, and public meditations. He met with his students and engaged in discussions on spirituality with world and community leaders. True to his principles, Sri Chinmoy never charged for his spiritual guidance, concerts, lectures, or meditations.
Sri Chinmoy entered Mahasamadhi—the mystic process by which spiritual Masters consciously leave the body—on the morning of October 11, 2007. His legacy continues to inspire those who seek a life of peace, self-transcendence, and inner fulfillment.