I had a conversation once with a Chinmoy’s ex-disciple who said that Chinmoy , in his home , in front of a group of disciples , argued that he was rejected in his bid to become the next leader of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram when the Mother died. Knowing Sri Aurobindo & Mother path for a long time I found this claim rather odd , and tried to contact someone from the Ashram to get more insights on that matter.
The following message was sent to me in 2020 by a former ashram resident who was at the Ashram in the 60s. He is from bengal and knew Mere. He is now living in France. He wrote the following comments on this claim :
Following Sri Aurobindo’s passing away in 1950, the Mother took measures to relinquish the management of the Asham in the hands of 5 nominated trustees,of whom she was one and also the Managing Trustee. After the death of any of these 5 members, the 4 others would automatically choose a new member to succeed the deceased trustee. So, you realise the futility of anyone to dream of succeeding the Mother, least by Chinmoy who was only known as an ace athlete holding the 100m sprinting record in those days.
In 2007 I had also sent a message to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives regarding that matter and received the following message from Bob Zwicker :
Chinmoy left the Ashram as a young man to work in the West and develop his own kind of Yogic practice. He does not teach in the name of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother or practise their Integral Yoga. There was never any question of him succeeding the Mother after her departure. No one has succeeded her. No one will replace the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
There is no hereditary lineage in this path.
Sincerely
Bob Zwicker
Bob Zwicker works at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives and is the (co)editor of several books on Sri Aurobindo.
Patrick B.