Chinmaya Mission Portland (Chinmaya Haridwar) was privileged to host the 6th National Parenting Retreat from 26 May to 28 May 2023 under Shri Vivek Gupta. ”Vision of Growth” was the focus for the Retreat and Shri Vivek Gupta explored this topic through Swami Tejomayananda’s ‘Jivanasutrani – Tips for Happy Living’.
Once a parent, one is a parent forever – parenthood can be equated to perpetual opportunities to get better, a Yoga.
70 adults and 35 children from across the US and Canada attended the camp and enjoyed age-appropriate programmes and family fun activities. The campers enjoyed Yoga sessions, meditation, bhajans, soccer in the park and movie nights in between parenting workshops. Chinmaya Yuva Kendra sevaks (volunteers) assisted by high schoolers were running parallel workshop sessions for elementary and middle school campers. CM Portland’s ‘Shadras’ kitchen offered sumptuous meals throughout the camp.
The camp also facilitated the Upanayana Samskara for 16 children under Shri Vivek’s guidance. Volunteers enabled enough practice sessions for the batus/vatus to familiarize themselves with the Sandhyavandana vidhi (evening prayer practice) thus empowering them to practice on their own once the camp ends.
Youth of CM Portland organized the annual CORD walk during the camp, emphasizing Daana (charity) for a higher cause. The walk raised $12,000 towards Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development, for women empowerment projects.
The camp concluded with some take-ways for parents of all ages and with plans to meet again for the next Parenting Camp.
report by camp attendee – Aparna Easwar
