"Awakening": Contents and Introduction

This site takes excerpts from a number of Sri Chinmoy's books, including "Awakening: The Early Life of a Spiritual Master", first published in 1988 by Citadel Books  (edited and compiled by Alan Spence).  Stories marked with an asterisk (*) are available on this Life of Sri Chinmoy site.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION, p. 5 [see below]

GROWING UP

Aiming at the Heavens*, p. 11; My Only Ambition*, p.12;  Kettledrum*, p. 13; 

Stories from the Mahabharata*, p.14;  A Singer and a Poet*, p. 15;

Who Wants to Study?*, p.16;  The Lion and the Goats - Father & Brothers*, p. 18;

My Mother's Wish*, p. 20;  The Dhoti*, p.28;  The Last Illness*, p.29;

Consolation from Krishna's Conch*, p.30;  Food for the Dead*,  p.32;

ESCAPES FROM DEATH

My Prayer is Stronger than Smallpox*, p.35;  My Mother in the Eyes of a Lion*, p.40.

INTRODUCTION

..."Told entirely in his own words, most of the stories appeared in print in 1988 for the first time. (The others appeared in AUM magazine in the late sixties and early seventies). The first section, on his earliest childhood, contains stories told recently (as of first printing in 1988). They have all the simple directness and charm, the warmth and intimate sweetness of tales told to a gathering of family and friends. There is great humour in them, but also a poignancy, especially in the stories of his remarkable parents who died when he was so young?."

     - Excerpt from "Introduction " in Sri Chinmoy, Awakening, Citadel Books, 1988, p. 5.

These stories from Sri Chinmoy's early years include sweet incidents with family members, the reason he was called "Madal", his childhood ambition and love of trains; village life, early experience with death and his energenic approach to exploring his world.