For the occasion of Pujya Gurudev’s 25th Mahasamadhi, Chinmaya Vibhooti hosted a camp in English called “Ageless Questions, Timeless Answers” by Swami Advayananda of CIF and Brahmachari Anand Chaitanya of Chennai. The camp, which covered Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 18, was well-attended with 115 campers from across India as well as from places as far off as USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The camp began on 3rd August 2018 with a splendid Paduka Puja at Pranav Ganesh Mandir, in the presence of the glorious Chinmaya Akhanda Jyoti. All campers, staff and sevaks participated in the archana. Swamiji spoke touching and uplifting words about the glory of the Guru and how blessed we all are to have a great Mahatma like Pujya Gurudev as our Guru.
The classes began on the same evening and the camp concluded on 9th August 2018. Brahmachari Anandji took morning meditation sessions as well as one session a day on the theme “In Tune With Swami Chinmayananda”, in which he shared several anecdotes, video clippings and quotations. There were also daily screenings of video clippings, group discussions and time for questions and doubts to be cleared by Swamiji and Brahmachariji. The campers wholeheartedly came forward to offer Yajaman and Bhiksha Seva and the entire camp had an overall ambience of service and devotion. On the final day, there was a Bhagavad Geeta Archana and a Paduka Puja where the success of the camp was dedicated entirely unto Mother Geeta and Pujya Gurudev.
REFLECTIVE REPORT – Ageless Questions, Timeless Answers
3-9 August 2018 at Chinmaya Vibhooti, Kolwan
If there is one question that has defied the passage of time, it is, “What is my higher purpose as a human and how do I approach it?”
An ageless, universal question indeed. And if there is any expounding as an answer to this, it is encapsulated in a text that has traversed centuries in time; namely, the Bhagavad Geeta.
To seek timeless answers, what better setting than the sylvan expanse of Chinmaya Vibhooti Vision Centre, in Kolwan, Maharashtra; an ashram that nestles gently in a valley, hugged by rolling hills as far as the eye can see. The hills transfix you with their moods… cloud-hidden and contemplative one moment and brilliant with sunshine the next. “The Switzerland of Pune” as one attendee put it!
As you enter the portals of learning, the setting transports you into a state of reflection and silence, in a natural way.
It is here that “Ageless Questions, Timeless Answers” began its journey deep into chapter 18 of Bhagavad Geeta, over a period of six days, from 3rd to 9th August, 2018, under the able guidance of Swami Advayananda. In attendance were 115 campers drawn from far-off parts of India and the world. (Namely, Australia, USA, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.)
“This learning is neither for the old, nor for the young; neither for the sad, nor for the joyous; neither for the rich, nor for the poor, “Swamiji reminded gently, “It is for the spiritually sensitive.”
What are the paving stones on our spiritual journey? Karma Yoga was revealed to be the bedrock of the journey. And the litmus test of a Karma Yogi is to check if one is able to surrender one’s very ownership of the Punya Phala (rewards) of the selflessly done karma!
Just when you thought that Karma Yoga was the clear way to liberation, the surprise is sprung on you. Through Karma Yoga you have established that you are neither the Karta (performer of action) nor the Bhogta (enjoyer of the fruits of action); and so you are free! But wait!
“What role do you think Karma Yoga plays in the attainment of the ultimate?” prodded Swamiji.
He continued, “Karma Yoga is not your shortcut to liberation.” What then is the purpose of Karma Yoga? It serves to purify your mind, i.e. Chitta Shuddhi. In Chitta Shuddhi, the mind dwells in the Saatvik (pure and noble) and is driven away from Kaamya-karma (desire-driven action), effortlessly.
So one has to keep one’s life-vehicle on the karma yoga track and join another track for the long journey ahead. Another track?
Yes, having reached the second level, it is here, in the higher realm, that the mountain river of scriptural knowledge pours forth as you do Shravanam (listening), churn your mind through Mananam (contemplation) and silence it in Nidhidhyaasanam (abidance in that knowledge) .
Thus, Karma Yoga acts as a launching pad to propel us into the realm of higher learning. The ground is prepared. The mind is ready to listen to the scriptures and words of wisdom that have come down the centuries like a clear river of knowledge, purifying, washing away, gushing on and impelling you to that final Union with the Ultimate, the immutable, the cosmic Consciousness.
With impeccable erudition the discourses of Swami Advayananda cut sharp and deep, as he used skilful logic to drive it.
It did occur to the listeners that like Lord Krishna in the final verses of the chapter and text, Swamiji too is endowed with immense compassion, walking with the seekers to unfold the answers, verse by verse and layer by layer, softening the weight of the profound knowledge with sparkling humour.
Each day, the answers drove the learning deeper and cut through the darkness with urgency and determination.
At each point the discourse led into group discussion and introspection. The knowledge dawned that at the Jeeva level, we differ greatly in the Gunaas that are our natural behavioural aspects, our personality. Each one of us in our thought, word, action, intelligence, and effort bring to the board Sattva, Rajo and Tamo Gunaa.
We thus carry our perfection and imperfections with us. We must gravitate towards our highest Sattva Gunaa if we are to attain the Ultimate. Thus, with this logic, the path to liberation lies with us!
A last leg of the journey remains. The part where we contemplate THAT energy which powers each of these functions and instruments of action. Knowing THAT power, one drops all that one has known, and abides in the pure Consciousness, suspending all thought and action, even seeking!
Thus, knowledge that at first seemed daunting was built brick by brick until the edifice stood luminescent in the light.
The enlightening camp had begun with an auspicious Paduka Puja on the occasion of the 25th Mahasamadhi of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda.
Each day began with meditation, and was punctuated by an enlivening session by Brahmachari Anand Chaitanya who brought to the campers rarely seen clips and anecdotes of Pujya Gurudev in a series.
In the late evenings under starlit skies, seekers would troop into Swami Advayananda’s kutiya to press him with more ageless questions. The questions poured in, the churning continued; and the timelessness of the answers held us transfixed. Each day was one step forward to propel us closer to our own true nature; pure Ananda.