Simahin Ran Well Today. He was losing the race, But …

In December 1981, during my first trip to visit Sri Chinmoy in New York City, I took part in a series of early morning sprint/ middle distance races between visiting students of Sri Chinmoy from various countries … 7 consecutive races each morning over distances from 100 metres up to 1 mile.

The races were held between 7:00 - 8:00 am at a local high school athletic track … points were awarded for placing in the first 7 in each race ‘Grand Prix’ style. Most mornings it was very cold and on some days the races were canceled due to snow and ice on the track. Sri Chinmoy watched us and after each of our races he would run the same distance with tremendous intensity as a personal time trial.

My roommate, Hutashan from Zurich, was full of warmth, and at just 20 years of age was a talented, emerging, distance runner with lots of natural speed. On the first day he took the lead in the 5 longer races and I would try and run just behind him. Going into the final turn in each race I would overtake or challenge Hutashan, only to have him immediately respond with a strong finishing kick and go on for a comfortable win. This happened in the 400 metres, the 600, 800 and 1,200 metres, plus the 1 mile. Hutashan came second to a German runner in the 100 and 200 metre sprints.

Afterwards Sri Chinmoy meditated with us at a nearby 'Annum Brahma', an Indian/ vegetarian restaurant owned by his New York students, and gave us prasad (an Indian word meaning blessed food). While we were having hot drinks Guru said to me …

“Australia was beaten today by Zurich, you were leading with only 50 metres to go!”

I replied …

“Hutashan is too quick for me Guru”

The next morning I decided not to run the 100 and 200 metre sprints so that I could concentrate on the 5 longer events.

In the 400 metre race I ran on Hutashan’s shoulder for the first 250 metres and then took off. To my surprise he did not overtake me and I pushed on to finish in first place. In the 600 metres, 800 and 1,200 metres, it was a repeat of the same and I won four races in a row with Hutashan in second place.

In the 1 mile race I once again took off with 150 metres to go, and was in the lead coming down the home straight, when suddenly Hutashan flew past me. I was already giving my all; my legs were turning to jelly and I could not respond, so I shouted “well done” as he went past.

Hutashan was always fiercely determined … a year or two latter his friends nicknamed him “kamikaze” because of his commitment and self-sacrifice when racing. But on that day I knew that he was also very sore and tired, having just 48 hours before run the Jersey Shore Marathon in freezing cold and very windy conditions (I had pulled out after 14 miles).

So, after winning 4 races I felt elated and proud of my victories. Even though I had lost the last race I felt very happy as I had never won a race before, not to speak of 4 in succession, and I eagerly hoped that Sri Chinmoy would mention or praise my winning performances.

However, I soon began to learn that Guru has a unique and very divine way of seeing things.

After the races. at Annum Brahma restaurant, Sri Chinmoy affectionately said to us …

“Simahin ran well today, he was losing the race but he was still smiling”

Guru did not mention my 4 wins but praised my reaction in the only race I lost!