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To Discover Happiness – Learn from the Bhagavad Gita

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Happiness is a subject dear to everyone’s heart. From womb to tomb, all our actions are in the pursuit of happiness. Yet there is no definitive answer as to why we want happiness.

We deceive ourselves into believing that the joy we seek lies in the materialistic objects of the world. We forget that what we have today is taken away from us tomorrow, causing us even greater misery. Through all this, we don’t realize that what our soul actually longs for – is happiness.

What is this happiness that we seek? We want everlasting happiness, but ironically, we knowingly seek it in ever-changing and impermanent prisms – changing people, changing situations and changing objects. Sometimes, in the blink of an eye, we face situations in which we lose our health, loved ones, and even life itself. Therefore, deep down we carry a sense of insecurity.

Is permanent happiness possible?
We seek permanent love, success, and deep down also a permanent life. We have received the precious gift of human life to recognize the difference between the permanent and the mortal.
The Bhagavad Gita reveals to us the eternal and shows us how to live happily here and now – not in some distant future. Shri Krishna’s message in the holy scripture simply states, “Be wise and refuse to be miserable.”

Life can be painful but it need not be sorrowful – there is a difference between the two. You may cut your finger and be in pain, but lamenting ‘why me’ or blaming situations and people results in suffering. In any situation, two people react differently – one is happy and the other sad. Similarly, happiness or misery is not inherent in any situation. Happiness is the art of right contact with life. Only that which is everlasting leads to permanent happiness.

We may lose our wealth but not our values. Responsibility comes to those who take charge, accept the challenge and are courageous. If life brings us such opportunities, then it is up to us to manage them well and transform failures into successes. This is true glory.

Shri Krishna enunciates the importance of having the right perspective on life. We are all here to be happy, then why do we create misery for ourselves? A famous saying makes this more explicit, “We can feel gratitude for the half we have got or be miserable for the half we don’t have.” Every situation can be viewed either as a problem or an inspiring opportunity for change.

Shri Krishna points out the way to the right action – focus on the work in hand and not wait until the end to be happy. Also, we are advised not to dwell on the result – success or failure. This one sutra in the Gita provides a perfect remedy. It is like a medicine capsule that explodes inside. This simple-looking statement produces results even if followed by a child.

The result does not depend on our whims and fancies but on the present action. If we spend time wondering whether we will be appreciated, criticized, or earn bonus points, then we will never enjoy the task. For instance, parents don’t think about whether or not their children will look after them when they grow old. They live in the present and simply enjoy their parenting responsibility. So if we live by the holy book’s principles, things will certainly work.

Enjoy the present, irrespective of the result. Sometimes it may be the way we want it, sometimes not; but if we have enjoyed the journey, we will happily reach the destination, making the task enjoyable and the travel worthwhile. An enjoyable action ensures an enjoyable result. If the action itself is a struggle, the result will not even be worth it. Struggle does not mean that there was no effort put in. It means we are not happy about the action. A miserable state develops when we are not present in the action itself but are busy listening and believing the ego talk in our mind.

This is a simple lesson, like the other lessons of life. Practicing them can be difficult if we do not understand them completely. Therefore, a proper study under the right teacher is required to convince the intellect. We may have expectations but we must understand that only dedicated work will bring the desired results. If expectation drives us to work, acceptance keeps us committed until the end. The result is always dependent on the action. If we learn to accept the result, we will enjoy whatever comes our way. This is infinitely better than complaining about what we did not get. Just enjoy the process. Do your best and accept the result. Is this not wisdom?

Make each moment happy. Find a silver lining in every cloud. This is a matter of attitude, which in turn is a matter of right knowledge.

Another pointer from Shri Krishna – remember that the people we love and those who love us are more valuable than the objects we often crave.

Smile and the world smiles back
In life, we should be willing to share whatever we have – smiles, compliments or talent. In turn, we will receive them back from others too. Our personalities should reflect the values and attitudes that we admire in others and not harbour those we do not like. Remember – values beget values.

Finally, spiritual progress is about how happy we are. It is about how much happiness we can give others, and how far we have progressed towards an ego-less state. We can discover happiness by living the wise, universal and simple sutras in the Gita. There is no age to be happy. Misery stems from attitude, not from situations or pains. Drop all judgmental attitudes; be humble and happy now!

Swami Swaroopananda
Global Head, Chinmaya Mission

‘Tapovan Prasad’ Magazine Now in All-Colour!

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Tapovan Prasad is the international monthly magazine of Chinmaya Mission. It provides in-depth reading, points for quiet reflection, anecdotes and stories of Masters, answers to nagging questions and doubts – in short a regular monthly dose for spiritual introspection and growth. It also keeps members abreast of the diverse events and activities of Chinmaya Mission all around the world, providing them with details of forthcoming yajnas, camps, and so on.



At ‘Tapovan Prasad’, it is a constant endeavour to improve and upgrade the magazine. We are delighted to announce the new all-colour ‘Tapovan Prasad’ from the August 2022 issue onwards!



Artistic Expression – Bala Vihar Sikkim

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Recently, 30 children who attend Bala Vihar in Sikkim were given a project to work on an artistic depiction of negative energy and positive energy, as well as what is out of our control and what is within our control.

They also pondered on the topics, to understand them well and to negate or substitute them in their daily lives.

We present a collage of the images of some of the submissions.

How to change your destiny

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Life as we know it is a culmination of all our past decisions. It is not a set chronology of events pre-determined by an extra-terrestrial force, but rather a personal trajectory. People often associate their present stature with the forces of Destiny or Luck. But, what if we got to know that these are just arbitrary terms and that it is entirely possible to control our experiences, joys and sorrows?

By accepting the philosophy “as you sow, so shall you reap”, we can master our own destiny. We have the ability to achieve this by performing actions to the best of our ability. Instead of reacting or placing the fault on other forces, we should observe our own mind. This, in essence, is a delicate act. When we separate ourselves from our life and surroundings, we become observers. It is similar to watching a movie. In the same way, by letting life flow, we eliminate reactiveness.

We can transcend destiny once our ego devolves from its seminal existence. We need to curb our habits of complaining and letting emotions get the better of us. Once we can rise above the need to complain, compare and react, we can let our life unfold.

To master destiny, we need to view life as a spectator, rather than a doer, sufferer or enjoyer; making way for things to happen instead of letting situations affect our feelings and our consequent actions. Dichotomizing ourselves from our present state is important in taking charge of our destiny. Be mindful, because life will present myriad events that come with their own set of anticipated reactions, and the consequent decisions that may stem from our reactions.

By letting go of the reaction and the actions that follow, we allow our conscience to take charge, instead of the ego. Being in the moment now and always is the key to living a fulfilling life and mastering fate. This also provides us with detailed knowledge of how to actively participate in any given situation in the present.

There are a million situations, both natural and synthesized, that are responsible for our existence. How then can one sole event vouch for our reaction to it, especially if it creates no positive change in our life? Acting in a state of emotional upheaval propels us towards an immature perception of life. However, once we have mastered the art of remaining unaffected and being actively observant, we master our destiny.

As human beings, we are subject to a variety of possible reactions. When we are emotionally charged, our lives are affected by our emotions. However, why should we be affected by each isolated incident? Why shouldn’t our feelings towards them remain equanimous? When we let parts of our life influence the life that lies ahead, we drag our own fate to a point of stagnancy. We need to acknowledge that our present fate was created by past actions and our current actions will give birth to our future destiny.

May we all find the power to change our attitude, to face our destiny.

Swami Swaroopananda
Global Head, Chinmaya Mission

Chinmaya Mentorship Program – Mentors’ Note

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Under the guidance of Shri Vivek Gupta, 18 months have been completed in the Chinmaya Mentorship Program. Currently, there are 126 participants across 85 cities in 4 countries. Participants (mentees) comprise members of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) and Junior Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (JCHYK) aged 15-28, who are individually matched with mentors who are members of Chinmaya Setukari (CSK) aged 29-45.

Mentor-mentee pairs meet virtually twice a month to provide mutual friendship, guidance and support, resting on a Vedantic foundation. Mentors are seekers, not counselors, so any clinical issues are escalated to the Advisory Committee – a group of sevaks professionally trained in youth wellbeing. Additionally, participants come together monthly for interactive wellness workshops on relevant topics such as ‘Grounding Stress and Anxiety’ or ‘Aligning your Career with Swadharma.’

This year, participants collaborated with other communities for special initiatives. With Prithvi Sevasanga, the communities achieved a sankalpa (intention or pledge) to plant 1000 trees and raised over $26,000 for “One Tree Planted”. With Vanaprasthas (senior citizens), ‘High Chai’ was launched, where mentor-mentee pairs meet a Vanaprastha to inspire one another in an exchange of youthful vitality and age-old wisdom.

Seekers have expressed immense gratitude for this dynamic mentorship community characterized by meaningful relationships in a judgment-free space. One mentee said: “I’ve found someone I connect with on a deeper level who inspires me in so many ways.” Several mentors shared how much they wished such a program existed while they were growing up.

To learn more, please visit: www.chinmayaniagara.com/communities/mentorship/
Registration remains open.

Talk by Swami Avyayananda at Lambagaon, Himachal Pradesh

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On 10 July 2022, a Satsang with Swami Avyayananda was organized at Lambagaon, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. With the help of words from ‘The Holy Geeta’, Swami Avyayananda explained how we may progress towards infinite bliss and lasting peace with many practical examples often given by Swami Chinmayananda.

This talk was organized under the initiative and leadership of Shri Satish Soni of Palampur. Lambagaon is about 4 hours drive from Sidhbari. Some Chinmaya Mission devotees live in this village and organized the event well. Attendees were of all age groups.

After the talk, Swami Avyayananda visited a few homes and met with family members. All were invited to Tapovan Ashram, Sidhbari, for upcoming events.

To conclude the day, a visit and Puja at the nearby Kunjeshwar Mahadev Mandir was organized, a place of historical importance and spiritual significance.

New Release for Kids!

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While focusing on the power of thoughts, the book ‘Body-Mind Connection for Kids’ by Swamini Supriyananda, guides children on how to recognize the different types of thoughts we have and consequently, their effect on us as individuals. This book is for children aged 4 years and above.

Link to purchase:
https://eshop.chinmayamission.com/product/body-mind-connection-for-kids

Chinmaya Bala Vidya is an educational series of books introducing simple Vedantic concepts in a child-friendly way. The knowledge of the Vedas shapes the young minds and in turn, their personality and actions so they can blossom into balanced and well-adjusted individuals who make their future world a better place.

Prthvi Sevasanga by Chinmaya Mission Niagara

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One who is living Sanatana Dharma thinks, lives and acts in harmony with nature and their lifestyle naturally cares and protects Prthvi (Mother Earth). Envisioned and led by Shri Vivek Gupta, Chinmaya Mission Niagara launched the Prthvi Sevasanga initiative in January 2022.

Why?

The tragedy of human history is decreasing happiness in the midst of increasing comforts.
– Swami Chinmayananda.

Human selfishness, greed and apathy have led to:

●   The wildlife population plummeting by more than two thirds in the past 50 years
●   Unsustainable living conditions and food insecurity due to weather extremes
●   Excessive food waste that can feed about 2 billion people while approximately 690 million people go hungry.

The next 10 years are critical to addressing the climate crisis.

Through the Prthvi Sevasanga initiative, seekers serve individually and collectively to restore the health of our Universal Mother Earth. To date, a community of over 200 seekers across the globe are learning, engaging and supporting environmental efforts through Prthvi Sevasanga.

Every month, seekers meet to learn, discuss, and reflect on topics related to environmental issues. The monthly workshops are led by seekers who are professionals in the field and advocates for protecting the environment. Topics covered in the last 6 months include:

●   Climate Change 101 – a beginner’s guide
●   Planetary Health – our interaction with the Earth
●   Sustainability – living in tune with Nature
●   Sustainable Eating Practices – evolving how we eat
●   Food Waste – changing how we purchase and consume food

Additionally, every month seekers engage in practices called AIMs (Action to Implement of the Month) to help change individual habits with daily actions such as:

●   finding alternatives to the most common type of trash
●   choosing local and seasonal foods
●   reducing food wastage
●   planting trees
●   using cold water for laundry and line drying
●   unplugging chargers when not in use
●   using energy saving mode on electronics

In countless ways, seekers have started living a greener lifestyle in all aspects of life. At a local level, seekers collectively planted over 1000 trees in the span of one month and have begun Prthvi seva projects at their Chinmaya Mission Centres and communities.

Projects include book drives, tree planting, composting, buying biodegradable cleaning and kitchen supplies, developing Prthvi ambassador programmes and generating awareness. At a global level, in under 100 days, the community raised more than $100,000 to support organizations committed to the care of the environment. Support for other organizations working globally to protect our Air, Water, and Earth is ongoing.

With consistent learning and efforts, seekers are inspired to bridge the gap between philosophy and practice, and transition to an ecocentric lifestyle. With this lived inspiration, Prthvi Sevasanga has created a Prthvi Seva Guide to help all Chinmaya Mission Centres and communities take action and incorporate this most important seva into their classrooms and daily operations. The guide will be released on Guru Purnima, 13 July 2022, and will be available at:

https://www.chinmayaniagara.com/

(By Juie Deo)

Value Camp for The TVS School

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Under the guidance of Swami Sivayogananda, Chinmaya Mission Madurai conducted a value camp for ‘The TVS School’ on 7 July and 8 July 2022. More than 300 students studying in the 8th grade participated with great enthusiasm.

 

Swami Sivayogananda inaugurated the camp and took value sessions for the students on both days. The session based on a shloka from Bhaja Govindham was well received by the students and the importance of learning Bhagavad Gita from a young age was stressed upon. The story telling sessions, bhajans, activities and video sessions of the value camp were based on topics such as “World Created by Parents”, “Surrendering to the Almighty”, and “Culture and Legacy of Bharat”.

 

The children also played team games with exuberance. A special video session on patriotism was conducted by Brahmachari Jitesh Chaitanya from Chinmaya Mission Tirunelveli. Pattimandram Sri. Raja, a famous speaker from Tamil Nadu, gave a motivational talk to the students. Refreshments and lunch were provided to all the campers.

 

Very good feedback was received from the school management and they have requested for more such value camps for their students. Such programmes sow important seeds in young minds and hearts during their formative years.

What Does It Mean to Be The Best?

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Born into different circumstances, we share a constant throughout existence – the goal to live a worthy life. There are some who constantly seek inspiration to achieve this goal, and some who possess everything they need, to be excellent. However, despite all this, some feel a sense of insecurity about their path to excellence. They are overwhelmed by all the uncertainties that surround them, on a daily basis. Since we are all not alike, sudden adversities and bleak situations beget different responses amongst us. It is natural to feel a sense of anxiety, and lack of clarity when faced with making life-altering decisions. Is it possible to overcome these tough battles of the mind?

We get many chances in life to refresh our knowledge, and strive to become better versions of ourselves. When we find an opportunity to ponder over this ability, we can reflect upon our past achievements or failures with dispassion. The hidden lessons to be learnt from prior experiences guide us towards this goal of excellence.

Is being the best about being excellent?
An analysis about the collective lives of human beings brings the realization that each and every one wants to be good. By this, I mean that we all want to appear ‘good’ in society. Even Kamsa and Ravana who represent evil in our scriptures, wanted to be seen and perceived as good people with virtues. Not just wanting to be good, most of us want to be seen as the best. However, is being the best akin to being excellent? The answer to this is that being the best is inevitably in comparison with something else. It is imperative to understand that to be the best is not always possible. However, to do our best is definitely possible. Being excellent, on the other hand, is giving our best to a given task, to the best of our knowledge and ability, to bask in the glow of fulfillment afterwards.

What is excellence and can it be exceeded?
Excellence is a quality of being outstanding, of being exemplary. This aspiration, when combined with equal efforts, leads to greatness. Since humans are mired in society’s expectation of perfection, sometimes the desire for excellence may be suppressed or even given up due to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy and a weakened emotional state. Let me share the story of Arjuna. His practice, determination and undying love for his skill made him the best archer. Arjuna achieved excellence multiple times. But what happened to him right in the middle of the battlefield, when he needed to put that excellence to test, and exceed it? He experienced mental conflict, despondency and the unwillingness to attack and kill his elders and teachers. Even though one part of his life was resolved and had attained fulfillment, his emotions around relationships remain unresolved. To overcome this strife, he needed to exceed his own excellence.

Combating fear and failures
Arjuna’s pathos on the battlefield of Kurukshetra has remained a significant moment for centuries thereafter. It was here that Lord Krishna imparted the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita, also known as ‘The Song of the Divine’. Krishna’s lessons from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita helped Arjuna to drive away his feeling of despair and transcend his state of depression; the negativities which had prevented him following his Dharma. Krishna reminds Arjuna – when you get what you want, there is a sense of happiness, yet when you are able to express your potential to the best of your capacity, there is an inner sense of peace and satisfaction that supersedes the happiness of attaining the object of your desire. This state of infinitude is devoid of distress, comparisons and dissatisfaction. It is here that we can find contentment and peace.

The ultimate lesson of excellence
In this karmic world, our ultimate focus is to live life to the fullest, to achieve the greatness we aspire for. We live from goal to goal, feeling happy when we get what we want. However, our joy is dependent on that which leads to temporary contentment. This requires a delicate balancing of many aspects of life and can hence be daunting for many. Very often, one failure drowns us in misery, ruining our chances for success. Self-introspection provides us the clarity to recognize our potential, so it can be channelized into actions where we can actualize our potential every time. The continuous pursuit for excellence ensures that we continue to grow mentally and spiritually. The decision to invest our best efforts in meaningful actions is the path to transformation. Exceed your excellence, be your own competition, and be the best for yourself.

Swami Swaroopananda
Global Head, Chinmaya Mission

This article was published in Sikkim Express on 1 July 2022