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In September 1985, Sri Chinmoy had asked some of his students if a special machine could be made so that he did not have to bend and pick up the weight from the ground. This led to the construction of a metal power rack or cage with suspended bars to hold the weight just above shoulder height. The safety factor of the lift was now increased considerably. If dropped, the dumbbell would return to the metal supports, instead of crashing to the ground.

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Since Sri Chinmoy did most of his workouts at home alone in the early hours of the morning, this meant that he did not have to have spotters or other assistants present during the lifts. The apparatus was built and welded by Unmilan Howard, a metallurgist from Brisbane, Australia.

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After the introduction of the cage, Sri Chinmoy's progress became significantly faster.



ONE-ARM LIFT FROM A STANDING POSITION

WEIGHT WEIGHT DATE BODYWEIGHT
(pounds) (kilos)
(pounds)
106 48.2 9 October 1985
117 53.1 1 November 1985
131 59.6 3 November 1985 154
140 63.5 12 November 1985
155 70.3 18 November 1985 155

QUOTES FROM SRI CHINMOY AFTER LIFTING 106.25 POUNDS WITH ONE ARM

"Not to give up under any circumstances should be the motto of our lives. There will be obstacles, but we have to defy the obstacles. Even if we fail, we will try again. We will win the inner race in the battlefield of life."

"Everything is in the mind. If you can discipline the mind, what is not possible?"

"Everyone can bring their own capacity to the fore. If you can access the inner world, then you can bring forward inner strength and light."


COMMENTS ON SRI CHINMOY'S 155-POUND EQUAL BODYWEIGHT ONE-ARM LIFT


"That's amazing! Really, that's tremendous! A man such as this can be an asset to humanity simply because he's able to reach so many different types of people and encourage everyone to do better."
Bill Pearl
Five-time Mr. Universe
Best Built Man of the Century


"Forget about age, forget about weight -- just to lift that much weight in itself is phenomenal! It takes years and years to be able to do this kind of thing. Sri Chinmoy must possess mental powers that are hard to believe."
Dan Lurie
Editor, Muscle Training Illustrated


"It is beyond my own comprehension how anybody could do what Sri Chinmoy did. His strength obviously comes from a source much greater than he is. It's a very powerful force that he's tapping into."
Frank Zane
Three-time Mr. Olympia


"He's out of my league! That is so much weight! His accomplishment is phenomenal. If he can lift that much weight, then he can inspire me to break that long jump record!"
Carl Lewis
Winner of nine gold medals in track and field in the Olympic Games


"He's showing that age is of no consequence."
Al Oerter
Four-time Olympic gold medallist in discus

COMMENTS ON SRI CHINMOY'S 106 POUND ONE-ARM LIFT

"106! That is a sign that God is with him spiritually and physically. There is so much war and hatred. We need more men like him to spread the word."
Muhammad Ali

"Very huge accomplishment! His mind definitely controls his body. It shows that what the mind conceives, his body achieves."
Ken Norton
Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

SONGS TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST LIFTS


These are the words to songs which Sri Chinmoy wrote as he made each new advance in weightlifting. They convey his enthusiasm for his self-transcendence in this field.

"I can lift up fifty pounds!
Therefore my joy knows no bounds!"

"I can lift up seventy pounds, I!
Therefore I smile, I dance and fly."

"I can lift up eighty pounds, I can!
I am fulfilling my Lord's cutest Plan."

"I can lift up hundred fifty-five pounds --
       My body-elephant!
Indeed, I am a huge smile-sky triumphant."

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