Sri Chinmoy was born in present-day India (East Bengal) in 1931. At the age of 11, his parents died within the span of 6 months of one another.

He was taken by his elder brothers and sisters to continue his education at an ashram (spiritual community) in South India led by revolutionary-turned-sage Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, though rooted in Indian tradition, was highly dynamic and he attracted numerous followers from the West, including Margaret Wilson, the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson. In his ashram, the Cambridge-educated saint provided ample opportunity for the development of the physical.

Sri Chinmoy found at a young age an inherent talent for athletics. He reigned as the ashram 100-meter champion for 11 straight years, the decathlon champion twice and captained the soccer team.

In this video, watch Sri Chinmoy describe the connection between the meditation and physical fitness.