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Every August, over a thousand people converge on a beautiful sunny open-air meditation space in Queens, New York: during the time they are there, the place will play host to a cornucopia of singing and instrumental performances from the four corners of the globe, accomplished theatrical improvisations, heartfelt tales of inspiration, a Guinness world record or two, a marathon, and a fully-fledged circus! The reason? Quite simply, a birthday like no other.

The birthday in question is that of Sri Chinmoy, an internationally renowned spiritual leader, philosopher poet and harmony advocate. Most of the attendees are Sri Chinmoy's students, and as well as celebrating his birthday, it is also a chance to acknowledge his unflagging service to the West ever since he set foot on American soul over forty-three years ago. However, in the Indian tradition, it is the birthday recipient that is the giver, and on every August jayanthi celebration, Sri Chinmoy tirelessly offers his soul's light to his students in the form of meditations, art, musical performances and weightlifting exhibitions.

These gatherings are informally known as 'Celebrations'; another major celebration is also held on April of every year on the anniversary of his setting foot in the West. The only constant in every celebration is the sheer variety of events and ways in which Sri Chinmoy tries to inspire us all - no two meditation functions are the same, and no two Celebrations are the same! Singing, poetry, art, instruments, humour all play a role in each meditation. In addition, Sri Chinmoy encourages many of his students to run (or walk, depending on their capacity) the Self-Transcendence Marathon in upstate New York three days before Sri Chinmoy's birthday.

For the last few years, Ashrita Furman, a student of Sri Chinmoy and holder of more Guinness world records than anyone else on the planet, has assembled a team of to break a Guiness record! Last year it was the largest popcorn structure (a 27 foot high cake), before that the biggst number of candles on a cake (27,000) - it will be interesting to see what it will be this year! And if that wasn't enough, one day in the year is entirely given over to a circus - every student of Sri Chinmoy performs an act either singly or with a group and we spend the entire day watching and cheering on each other's acts. For Sri Chinmoy, anything that brings in joy and banishes depression and lethargy is as good as meditation, and a circus certainly fits that bill.

The focal point of the celebrations, however, is naturally the day of Sri Chinmoy's birthday on August 27. For many years, a small group of runners have traditionally run a 47 mile race close to the starting at midnight on the day of the birthday and ending at dawn. The medition space itself is decked out in the most beautiful of decorations, and the whole place just seems suffused in such silence, you could breath in the meditation. Again on his birthday, Sri Chinmoy is the epitome of service, blessing each of his students, and presenting the entire audience with delicious Indian meals and prasad, which he often makes himself by hand. Indian spirituality holds that birthdays are particularly significant in that the soul comes to the fore and reminds you of your purpose here on earth; but for Sri Chinmoy, serving others - his reason for being here on earth - is something he does day in, day out. And perhaps in that sense alone, August 27th is just like any other day.

Photos: the first one is of the streamers that fly over our outdoor meditation ground, and add a tremendous tranquility and dignity to the proceedings. The photo of Sri Chinmoy is by Pavitrata Taylor.

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