West Virginia (WV). The 35th state to join the Union in 1863
West Virginia factoids: The capital of West Virginia is Charleston — which is also its largest city. Today’s population in West Virginia is approximately 1.75 million (averaging around 75 people per square mile). West Virginia’s state tree is the ‘Sugar Maple’; its state flower is the ‘Rhododendron’; its state bird the ‘Cardinal’; and its state fruit is the ‘Golden Delicious Apple’. West Virginia’s State Motto is: “Montani Semper Liberi” (Mountaineers Are Always Free).
Activities of Sri Chinmoy in West Virginia (see page for activities in each of the 50 states)
1974
- February 28, 1974. Sri Chinmoy delivers a lecture entitled “Problems” in The Chapel at Wheeling College in Wheeling, WV.
- After the lecture, Sri Chinmoy answered the following questions:
- Q: I understand that you are speaking in fifty states. What is the purpose of this tour?
- Q: You talk about first getting truth from within and then bringing it out to the world. I am wondering how much of an involvement you would allow for things like politics, marriage and other secular activities while one is engaged in the inner search.
- Q: Could you tell us a bit more about what being a disciple involves?
- Q: Does the Master remain in contact with the disciple through prayer and meditation?
- Q: Is it necessary for the Master and disciple to come together on occasion?
- Q: How do the Master and the disciple deal with a problem that seems to separate them rather than bring them together?
- After the lecture, Sri Chinmoy answered the following questions:
1980
May 30, 1980. Among three letters from state officials with respects to the SCMT’s USA Bicycle Relay, A. James Manchin, the Secretary of State of West Virginia appoints Sri Chinmoy an “West Virginia Ambassador of Good Will Among All People”.
1993
- West Virginia joins the thirteen (13) American states to be dedicated a “Sri Chinmoy Peace State” under the Peace-Blossoms programme. These include Alabama, Connecticut (19 Apr 1993), Delaware (13 Apr 1993), Florida (27 Apr 1993), Massachusetts (6 Apr 1993), Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey (9 Jul 1993), North Carolina (5 May 1993), Rhode Island (23 Jul 1993), South Dakota, Washington (1 Aug 1993), and West Virginia.
1987-current, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run often visits West Virginia on its cross-country trek and engages with its welcoming citizens.
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Listen to the melody Sri Chinmoy set for name ‘West Virginia‘ 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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