On a beautiful fall morning in Flushing Meadows Corona Park we celebrated the 5th anniversary of the dedication of the Sri Chinmoy Heart-Garden and of the Sri Chinmoy street.

Excerpt from a speech Sri Chinmoy made at the inauguration on October 11, 2006, "This Flushing Meadows Park invites the attention of the whole world...I am extremely, extremely, extremely grateful to you for allowing me to be associated with the kindness, greatness and goodness of this park. I offer you all, gratitude, gratitude from the inmost recesses of my heart."

Part of the celebration was a two mile race in which was great fun and took place on much of the same 1-mile loop which is used for the annual Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day Races which take place in late April.

Rupantar LaRusso, head of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, welcomed the specials guests and all the runners.

Salil Wilson, World Harmony Run Executive Director, presented the torch and shared spirit behind the World Harmony Run.

New York City Councilman Jim Gennaro, addressed the gathering and reminisced about the first time we gathered at this spot in 2006 to celebrate this garden's inauguration with Sri Chinmoy.

A picture from 11 October, 2006 with Jim Gennaro, New York City Councilman, Commissioner Estelle Cooper Administrator of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for Queens Dorothy Lewandowski, accompany Sri Chinmoy at the dedication.

Councilman Gennaro also commented after reading the back of the souvenier T-shirt "'Everything that is beautiful, inspiring and aspiring can easily be found inside our heart-garden.' These are Sri Chinmoy's own words. What a joy, privilege and blessing to be able to be in the inner heart-garden for decades which we have done thanks to Sri Chinmoy."

Nancy Barthold, NYC Parks Assistant Commisioner of Recreation shared her introduction to Sri Chinmoy and the World Harmony Run highlighting a wonderful event the Parks Department Summer Camp program hosted in 2010 to celebrate the finish of the Us World Harmony Run. Nancy remarked, "I have been so happy to help get thousands of our New York City children from the five boroughs to take part in your World Harmony Run which Sri Chinmoy founded. All these children got involved in the whole fitness of running and in a spiritual approach which embraces everyone." See post on the 2010 NYC Parks Summer Camp Program.

Nancy also referred to this year being dedicated as the International Year of Forests (IYF) and highlighting the fact that New York City Parks are the custodians of the forests in the city of New York.

Former Olympic gymnast, Rose Voisk, was deeply moved by all the new friends she found at the race and encouraged us all to continue with this inspiring ideas and initiatives.Rose said, "Every one of you projects peace and harmony. I can tell that you always strive to do your very best, just like Olympians strive to do. This is the message that Sri Chinmoy has shared with millions of people all over the world."

Taraje Williams-Murray, former Olympic Judo competitor, offered his encouragment also.

Nikos Spanakos, former Olympic boxer, was deeply inspired by Sri Chinmoy, and encouraged everyone to continue sharing their inspiration. Nikos observed, "What I see is that you all have come here and uplifted yourselves through your running and through your approach to life-thanks to yourselves and to spiritual guide Sri Chinmoy, whom I have deeply admired for many, many years."

Michael Voudouris, former Olympic skeleton racer, loved meeting everyone and was extremely enthusiastic in supporting our efforts. He concluded saying, "I remember coming to the 24-hour races in the 1980's here in the park which the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organized. Throughout the years I had the chance to meet with Sri Chinmoy, and he always had that spiritual glow around him. This allowed me to get back into sports myself. I learned from him that perfection is trying to attain perfection and to always go beyond it. That is what I see in all of your faces."

All the speakers joined together for a photograph.

New York City Parks Representatives and Olympians joined together to hold the torch. (from left to right) Norman Chen, Director Special Events, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Nancy Barthold Assistant Commissioner of Recreation for New York City Parks, Nikos Spanakos former Olympic boxer, Taraje Williams-Murray former Olympic Judo competitor, Rose Voisk former Olympic Gymnast and Michael Voudouris former Olympic skeleton racer.

After the formalities the Olympians leds us on a short walk before we began the race.

Some of the runners shared the torch as part of their 2-mile experience, Prakashita came all the way from Slovenia.

Two displaced Russians, Gagane and Deepra, now make their home in New York.

Dundubhi, an accomplished musician from Austria, was all smiles.

Aruna, from Augsburg, Germany finishing strongly.

Dharmik, from Czech Republic, was sporting an old Peace Run T-shirt, precursor to the World Harmony Run.

Rose presents Agnikana with her first place award.

The top three men and women from the 2-mile race.

The top two men racers.

Mitch Proffman - our local chiropractor was delighted to run the two miles with his wife, Carolyn Ryan.

Charana - British by Birth, Welsh by the Grace of God!

The World Harmony Run proudly supports the International Year of Youth (IYY) and the International Year of Forests (IYF) proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

See the recent Youtube video on African experience which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice"  International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony. They surprisingly mention Presidents and UN Secretary-General in a unique way! 

See also the UNESCO World Heritage (WH) Centre support for IY of Forests.  ... Convention for conservation of forest biodiversity. (more)

Listen to the World-Harmony-Run song: 2 min version // 6 min 

See also:  Music Scores;  Arrangements;   Song in Non-English Languages;  Schools Arrangements and Performances

– Salil Wilson

Distance: 2 miles

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!