In 1988, Sri Chinmoy found an entirely new focus for his weightlifting: honouring his fellow man for their dedicated service to mankind. The 'Lifting Up the World With a Oneness Heart' award was founded, the centrepiece of which Sri Chinmoy would lift the recipient overhead with one arm as they stood on a specially constructed overhead platform.
Sri Chinmoy meditates before a lift
The initial apparatus was perhaps a rather unsettling experience for the recipients as they only had a pole to hold on to as they were hoisted upwards, but later apparatuses were modified to include a support rail. Many of the recipients would later testify to being lifted up not only in body, but in spirit. In addition, Sri Chinmoy would often compose songs appreciating the inspiring qualities of that person, and sometimes even set the recipient's own inspiring words to music: these songs were then sung by a choral group of Sri Chinmoy's students, and never failed to bring the recipient's heart to the fore.
This award was to carry on for almost 20 years, in which time Sri Chinmoy had lifted up over 8,000 people - presidents, prime ministers, Nobel laureates, spiritual and religious leaders, scientists, celebrities and other people of note, but also the people who form the backbone of society and without their unrecognised service society would simply collapse - for example, teachers and professors, police and fire officers, nurses and social workers - and pilots. For example in 2003, to mark the centenary of the Wright brothers' epic first flight, Sri Chinmoy bestowed this honour on 112 pilots assembled at Boeing Field, Washington - the most people he had ever lifted in one day. During the event he was named an honorary member of the Civil Air Patrol. "It was something I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life", said Leonard Dorcas, a former pilot with Northwest Airlines with 23,000 logged hours of flying time, who was lifted on the day. "Sri Chinmoy is a very impressive man to be able to do the things he does, and with such dedication to the world. I admire him very much."
- Lifting Up the World With a Oneness-heart at Sri Chinmoy.org