Guiness Record for Balancing Milk Bottle

The conditions for breaking a world record are never perfect, but I wish they could sometimes be just a little less imperfect! On the other hand, having to face the added challenges may be a good thing they compel you to intensify your determination and concentration. I know in my case, at least, the obstacles certainly make my prayers to God considerably more fervent!

A few months ago, I was invited to participate in the Impossibility-Challenger World Record Games in Munich, Germany, to be held in November. I thought about trying to improve my time for skipping a marathon, but eventually opted to attempt bettering the time for running a mile while balancing a full pint glass milk bottle on my head. The current record is 9 minutes and 24 seconds. Although this event sounds silly (the distance version of this record was first established by a clown), it actually requires tremendous one-pointed focus. At no time can the bottle fall off your head, and if the bottle starts sliding, you cant use your hands to adjust it. Instead, you must gently jerk your neck to reposition the bottle and do this without breaking stride. Also, in my case, since my head is not flat on top, I have to keep my noggin tilted to maintain a level surface and try to run as fast as possible in this awkward position. It is not a pretty sight!

Obviously, since so much of the ability to balance the bottle resides in the neck, the worst thing that could happen while preparing for this event would be to get a sore neck. Well, two weeks before the Munich Gamesno, I didnt injure my neck, but I developed a strained calf muscle (from too much rope jumping), which is almost as bad. The key to good milk bottle racing is to reduce the bounce in your stride as much as possible. This is best accomplished by keeping a low center of gravity and vigorously pushing off with your feet, using your calves. With a week to go, there was not much improvement in the calf department, so I unwisely decided to brush up on another feat Ive been working on keeping the most 20-ounce beer glasses stacked up in a massive tower balanced on my chin for 10 seconds. My friend Bipin and I had a strenuous practice, which ended when the 60-pound glass tower came crashing down to the ground. My hopes for breaking the milk bottle mile came crashing down along with it, because suddenly I realized my neck hurt when I turned my head.

There was not much point in going to the Games, so I called the organizer, Anke, to explain the situation. Fortunately or unfortunately, when Anke answered the phone, she was so enthusiastic, I just didnt have the heart to break the news to her. Well, I thought, if the track condition is good and if it isnt too windy, maybe I can salvage this thing. Wind is a bottle balancers worst enemy. A strong wind causes the precariously perched bottle to shift in unexpected and unpredictable ways. But when I inquired about the weather, Anke effused, Oh, youll love it, the weather is perfect for running cool and windy!

I decided to take up the challenge anyway, despite all the problems. As long as my power of concentration was good, maybe I could still do well. I boarded Lufthansa, flew through the night and arrived in Munich on Saturday, November 7th, hoping to catch up on my sleep later on so I could be sharp for the event the next morning. However, at midnight, after only a 3- hour snooze, I jumped out of bed, totally awake and tuned in to New York time. Finally, at 8:30 a.m, having spent a sleepless night, I began to feel really light-headed and exhausted. That was the good news. The bad news was that my event was scheduled to start in one hour!

I focused on a photo of my spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy, and tried to meditate for all I was worth. To my immediate relief, it worked! I felt deeply tranquil; I could almost touch the sea of inner peace that descended into the room. My troubles vanished, and when I arrived at the track and planted the milk bottle full of organic milk on my head, I was in another zone. With the German T.V. cameras rolling and the small crowd of spectators full of expectation, the official timers called out, On your mark, get set, go! I took off like a rocket and within 20 steps the bottle fell off my head!

That was not only embarrassing, it was downright distressing. I confidently yelled out, Dont worry, it sometimes takes time to warm up, Ill try again. But in my own mind Im thinking, Wow, I hope that doesnt happen again! I refilled the bottle, the timers repeated their lines, and this time everything just flowed. The neck, the calf, the wind, the lost sleep, even the frost on the track, faded into a gentle current of peace that just carried me along with it. As I rounded the first turn of the second lap, the bottle started to slide off, but I was able to rebalance it. On the third lap, I felt my calves getting a little tired for just a moment and, as I rounded the turn on the final lap, I was able to quickly banish the disturbing thought that if I dropped the bottle now, I would have to do the whole thing all over again!

The officials announced that the time was 8 minutes 27 seconds (8:27), and cheers erupted from the sidelines. I was thrilled and amazed. The time was almost a minute better than the previous record but, for me, there was a deeper significance. Sri Chinmoy was born on August 27th (8/27). In the end, after all the trials and tribulations, I couldnt have planned a better result even if I had tried!