Inspiring People

These are some of the people who I admire and who have inspired me in different fields

Inspiring People - Spirituality

Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy is a spiritual teacher who is also active in many fields. He inspires people to lead a spiritual life through his own evident spirituality and extensive writings. Sri Chinmoy is 74 but is still showing the dynamic benefits of meditation.  Sri Chinmoy weightlifting

"When all else fails
Try to smile.
To your great surprise
You will succeed."

- Sri Chinmoy

Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo was a former revolutionary who left the political arena to become a great spiritual teacher. Sri Aurobindo developed a new approach to yoga which he termed  "Integral Yoga". I wrote a biography of his fascinating life:

" We are sons of God and must be even as He." - Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo Biography

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of the great spiritual master Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Vivekananda travelled to the West to spread the ancient message of Vedanta. Swami Vivekananda was one of the first Indian Spiritual Masters to come to the West.

" I look behind and after
And find that all is right,
In my deepest sorrows
There is a soul of light. "

- Swami Vivekananda

I wrote a biography of Swami Vivekananda here

Hafiz

Hafiz was a great mystic poet in the Sufi tradition. His poetry reflected great sponataneity and his love of the divine. I have written a biography of Hafiz.  Poetseers has a good selection of poems by Hafiz including many versions by Daniel Ladinsky and versions closer to the original persions

Hafiz,
Why carry a whole load of books
Upon your back
Climbing this mountain,
When tonight,
Just a few thoughts of God
Will light the holy fire.

- Version by Daniel Ladinsky

Rumi

Like Hafiz, Rumi is a great mystical poet in the Sufi tradition. The poetry of Rumi has witnessed a remarkable resurgence of interest in recent years. 

The mystic plunged into the vat.
Someone called." Come on out. You're done."
He replied in rapture, " How can I?
I am the vat! I can't do anyting."

- Rumi

Rumi Poetry at Poetseers

Page added by Richard Pettinger

Inspiring Books

Hall of the Gods