Minnesota (MN). The 32nd state to join the Union in 1858
Minnesota factoids: The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul; its largest city (by pop.) is Minneapolis. Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, today’s population is approximately 5.7 million (averaging around 71 people per square mile). Minnesota’s state tree is the ‘Norway Pine’; its state flower is the ‘Pink-and-White Lady’s Slipper’; its state bird the ‘Common Loon’; and its state fruit is the ‘Honeycrisp Apple’. Minnesota’s State Motto is: “L’Étoile du Nord” (Star of the North).
Activities of Sri Chinmoy in Minnesota (see page for activities in each of the 50 states)
1965
- Christmas week, December 1965. Highlights of a series of talks, Three Secrets: Reincarnation, Evolution and Transformation*, delivered by Sri Chinmoy at the residence of Ms. Ida Patterson (Sukhukee) in Minneapolis, MN. Sri Chinmoy met Ida Patterson in 1962 while he was living in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and she visited there. (*Note: these talks are later published in two parts as Two Secrets: Reincarnation and Evolution and Evolution)
- Sri Chinmoy tells the story of the first talk as well as other humorous anecdotes from that visit (A promise, The wrong way, On the trolley,)
- The following questions were asked and answered by Sri Chinmoy at these functions:
- Q: Could you please tell me why people in India worship so many gods and goddesses and not one?
- Q: I believe that love is always the same, whether human or divine. Is this true?
- Q: You have been speaking of faith. Could you make it a bit easier for me?
- Q: Would you kindly advise me as to whether I should leave my wife and child in order to enter deeper into the spiritual life?
- Q: Are spiritual experiences absolutely necessary to realise God?
1969
- May 7, 1969. Sri Chinmoy delivers a lecture entitled “Mysticism” at the University of Minnesota (U of M) in Minneapolis, MN.
1974
- October 26, 1974. Sri Chinmoy delivers a lecture entitled “‘Ego and Emotion” at 7pm at the University of Minnesota (U of M) in Minneapolis, MN.
- The following questions were asked and answered by Sri Chinmoy after the lecture:
- Q: In the Bible there is a part that explains about Moses’ revelation from God. Can you tell us a little bit about Moses?
- Q: How does a person overcome doubt about himself?
- Q: How can I make my inner cry more sincere?
- Q: Sometimes during my meditation something shows me some imperfection in my human nature…Should I hold it and destroy it or push it aside…?
- Q: What is the best way to keep a spiritual consciousness during the day?
- The following questions were asked and answered by Sri Chinmoy after the lecture:
1987
- October 2-3, 1987. Sri Chinmoy visits Minneapolis, MN and
- enjoys a reunion with his ‘spiritual sister’, Ida Patterson (Sukhukee), and composes this song for her;
- gives an two Organ Recitals
- at 8:34pm on October 2, 1987 at St. Mary’s Basilica
- at 9:29am on October 3, 1987 at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
- offers a Peace Concert and piano performance on October 3, 1987 at the St. Paul Civic Center
- June 25, 1991. The Lake Street/Marshall Avenue Bridge connecting the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota is dedicated a Sri Chinmoy Peace Bridge by the presidents of both city councils.
- June 26, 1991. Sri Chinmoy attends the inauguration of another Peace Bridge: the privately-owned, industrial bridge which runs the MD&W/Boise Cascade Rail Way, which dedicated its commercial train as a Sri Chinmoy Peace Train International Bridge which crosses the Rainy River and which connects the towns of International Falls, Minnesota (USA) and Fort Frances, Ontario (Canada). He also attends the dedication of a commercial train that runs accross the bridge as a “Sri Chinmoy Peace Train”. These are both then-owned by Boise, Inc. These events coincide with the arrival of the Peace Run team on its cross-country journey with the Peace Torch.
1995
- April 13, 1995. Sri Chinmoy receives a Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Science from St. Mark’s Major Seminary and College in Minnesota. An excerpt from the honorary degree reads. in part, “In recognition for his outstanding contributions in the spiritual sphere to bring God’s Peace in the heart of all people
- October 1, 2000. Sri Chinmoy’s interview with The Edge Magazine, is published in Minnesota.
Peace Concert, Oct 2000 - October 14, 2000. An interview with Sri Chinmoy appeared in the Metro/State Section of The Star Tribune (Minnesota). The interview with ‘Faith and Body’ columnist Martha Sawyer Allen was conducted over the telephone on Sunday, 8 October at 9:30 a.m.
- October 21, 2000. Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.
- At the concert he recites 30 poems on the theme ‘Here and Now’, later published in a book of the same name.
1987-current, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run often visits Minnesota on its cross-country trek and engages with its welcoming citizens (see example of photos of its previous visit).
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Listen to the melody Sri Chinmoy set for name ‘Minnesota‘ as part of the “50 Oneness-State-Songs”:
(read more about these on the 50 Oneness-State-Songs page)
Fifty oneness-state-songs,
Our Lord’s Compassion-Gongs.
Within, without, a seeker’s sleepless cry
To reveal America’s perfection-sky.
—Sri Chinmoy
(see https://www.srichinmoysongs.com/fifty-oneness-state-songs)
Among the many songs Sri Chinmoy composed on America, his adopted country, this one is perhaps the most powerful:
America, America, America!
Great you are, good you are,
Brave you are, kind you are.
O my America, America.
Your Heaven-freedom is earth’s aspiration-choice.
With you, in you, is God-Hour’s Victory-Voice.
—Sri Chinmoy
(see https://www.srichinmoysongs.com/america-great-you-are-good-you-are)
The song “America! Great You Are, Good You Are” recording, below, as performed by the Sri Chinmoy Choir:
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