The following is a sample press release that may be used to copy and paste onto
an email to publications local to you:


Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, the Bengali born guru better known as Sri Chinmoy, died
on Thursday, October 11, at his home in Queens at age 76. Sri Chinmoy, who has
resided in New York since 1964, was one of a series of self acclaimed “holy
men” from India who attracted hippies and spiritual seekers in the late 1960s.
Privately he confided to his disciples that he was the highest Avatar, or Direct
Representative of God, that ever was or ever will be. He espoused traditional
Hindu spiritual practices, but insisted that his disciples meditate only on him
or on a specially designated photograph of him.
His group, first known as the AUM Centre, later as the Sri Chinmoy
Centre, initially grew rapidly and included guitarists John McClaughlin (given
the name “Mahavishnu” by the Guru) and Carlos Santana (named “Devadip”). By the
early 1970s the novelty of being a guru teaching meditation was waning, and Sri
Chinmoy began to re-invent himself in various personas utilizing a highly
motivated cadre of PR savvy disciples to attract more publicity. Over the next
30 years he was promoted as an author, poet, painter, United Nations meditation
group leader, tennis player, marathon runner, sprinter, cyclist, weigh lifter,
stunt man, song writer, singer, musician, composer, Bicentennial booster,
Twentieth Century’s First Global Man, world peace advocate and perpetual
candidate for the Nobel Literature or Peace prizes. His disciples continually
arranged photo opportunities between Sri Chinmoy and anyone better known than
he.
Sri Chinmoy expected total unconditional surrender from his
disciples and often controlled every aspect of their lives. As is common with
cult-type groups, anyone leaving the sect was shunned and contact between
disciples and family members was discouraged. The cult-like domination resulted
in husbands being separated from wives and parents being cut off from their
children. A number of ex-disciples have documented their sexual experiences
with the guru while at the same time he advocated for the celibacy of his
disciples. Sri Chinmoy never denied the sex allegations, but his publicists
claim he was misunderstood. According to sources, Sri Chinmoy died of a stroke
or seizure. A memorial gathering of disciples is planned in Queens.



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