Washington (WA). The 42nd state to join the Union in 1889

Washington factoids: The capital of Washington is Olympia; its largest city (by pop.) is Seattle. Today’s population in Washington is approximately 8 million (averaging around 115 people per square mile). Washington’s state tree is the ‘Western Hemlock’; its state flower is the ‘Pacific Rhododendron’; its state bird the ‘ American Goldfinch’; its state fruit is the ‘Apple’; and it’s state vegetable the ‘Walla Walla Sweet Onion’. Washington’s unofficial State Motto is: “Al-ki” (or Alki, a Chinook word ‘by and by’ or ‘into the future’).

Activities of Sri Chinmoy in the state of Washington (see page for activities in each of the 50 states)

1974

  • April 22, 1974. As part of his 50-state lecture tour, Sri Chinmoy delivers his second lecture of the day —in 3 states—  entitled: ‘Just for Today’ at 4 pm in Hughes Auditorium, Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.
  • October 17, 1974. The Seattle Sri Chinmoy Centre is established.

1980

  • May 1980. Sri Chinmoy meets with professors. With him is Nayak, the Seattle Centre leader who is also a professor.

    May 8, 1980. Sri Chinmoy

    • is invited to be a Visiting Lecturer by the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, WA
    • delivers a lecture entitled ‘What Is Art?’, to the faculty and student body of the School of Art (UW)
    • offers a concert at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA..
    • offers a concert at St. Joseph’s Church in Seattle, WA.
  • May 9, 1980. Sri Chinmoy receives the Distinguished Service to Athletics Award from the Division of Sports Medicine at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, WA.

1984

  • November 14, 1984. Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

1985

  • September 30, 1985. Sri Chinmoy offers two Peace Concerts — an early evening one and then an evening one —  at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, WA.
    • Sri Chinmoy meets with Alan Hovhaness, American composer, at the University of Washington in Seattle (UW), WA.

1986

  • November 19, 1986. Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the Seattle Opera House in Seattle, WA.

1988

Oct 27, 1988 “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” event  at UW. On stage are those who had been lifted by Sri Chinmoy. (Photos: Pulak)

  • October 27, 1988. Sri Chinmoy lifts 43 people, including numerous Washington University professors and Olympic athletes at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

1991

  • May 25, 1991. Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at Seattle Center Memorial Stadium in Seattle, WA.

1995

  • November 4, 1995. Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the University Temple, United Methodist Church, in Seattle, WA.
    • A letter was read from the Mayor of Seattle Norman B. Rice:

I am honoured to acknowledge you, Sri Chinmoy, as a renowned ‘Ambassador of Peace’ and as one of the Premier First Citizens of the World.

You have lived an exemplary life devoted to fostering the oneness of people throughout the world. By offering countless individuals of many nations the opportunity to discover the wellspring of peace that lies within themselves, you are creating the foundation for a lasting world peace. Your example is an inspiration to us all.

1996

    • Sri Chinmoy offers a Peace Concert at the opening of a week-long Soul-Bird drawings exhibition held at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

1998

  • 18 March 1998, In anticipation of Sri Chinmoy’s upcoming visit to Washington, Governor Gary Locke sends a Letter of Welcome.
  • April 2, 1998. Sri Chinmoy delivers a lecture entitled “Poet and Poetry” (listen to the recording here) at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, Washington
    • Sri Chinmoy is welcomed by the mayor of Seattle’s wife (who read a letter from the mayor), as well as by Prof. Shawn Wong, Chairman, English Department and is presented with The “Light of Asia Award” from the Dept. of English of the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. APRIL 2ND 1998The plaque that is presented to him reads:

      The “Light of Asia” award is presented to Sri Chinmoy by the University of Washington, Department of English, 2 April 1998, for sharing his spiritual inspiration, his creativity and his wisdom with millions of people worldwide. Illumining the ancient Eastern message of humanity’s oneness, he has shown us through his writings, art, music, silent peace invocation and global peace programmes that the betterment of humanity begins within the heart of each and every individual.

  • October 27, 1998. As part of his “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” programme, Sri Chinmoy lifts 43 people, including numerous Washington University professors and Olympic athletes at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, WA.

1999

  • September 11, 1999. An exhibition of Sri Chinmoy’s Jharna-Kala artworks opens at the Washington State Capitol Rotunda in Olympia, WA.

2003

  • An exhibition of Sri Chinmoy’s Jharna-Kala artworks in displayed at the Boeing Field Auditorium in Seattle, WA. on July 13, 2003.

    14 July 2003. An esraj concert at the “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” function at UW. (Photo: Pulak)
  • As part of his “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” programme, Sri Chinmoy
    • lifts 113 pilots in a single day on July 13, 2003, on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, at Boeing Field Auditorium in Seattle, WA.
    • lifts 55 people on July 14, 2003, including numerous professors at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He also gives a short Esraj concert at this event.

2006

2007

  • November 13, 2007. An exhibition of Sri Chinmoy’s Jharna-Kala paintings opens at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, WA.

1987-current, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run often visits Washington 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 ‘Washington‘ 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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