Deepavali celebration in our Govt. Hospital. “SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE IS SERVICE TO THE LORD OF LORDS”. Collected fruits and biscuits from friends and others and provided as Deepavali gift to the patients. Gave amman photo and kumkum Prasad to them. They felt so happy.
The 12th Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Himalayas, Sidhbari from 2017-2019 was successfully completed, on the auspicious Ekadashi day, 8th Nov 2019, under the Resident Acharya, Brahmachari Visharad Chaitanya.
In the august presence of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, and Swami Subodhananda, the students received their initiation at the Brahmacharya Deeksha Ceremony.
It gives me great joy to announce their new names below:
Students’ Old Name New Name
Brahmacharinis
Anita Brni. Kalindee Chaitanya
Ritu Brni. Shambhavee Chaitanya
Brahmacharis
Ravi Br. Anshuman Chaitanya
Manoj Br. Ashutosh Chaitanya
Yogesh Br. Pundareek Chaitanya
Rasananda Br. Aniket Chaitanya
Suyodhan Br. Niranjan Chaitanya
Vaishnava Das Br. Nandan Chaitanya
Photographs of the students of the 12th Vedanta Course are attached.
May the grace of God and the blessings of our entire Guru Parampara be with them, on their path to the ultimate goal of Self-realisation. May their selfless, dedicated seva offered at the holy feet of Pujya Gurudev, benefit us all.
Many CHYK’s studied Chapter 4 of the Kenopanishad during this year’s Ann Arbor CHYK retreat. Retreat-goers learned how to become the Greatest of all Time (G.O.A.T.) by recognizing the infinite within each person, leading one to the Lord, and thus becoming the GOAT. Over the course of 3 days and 4 discourses, Shri Vivekji taught the attendees 9 key actions to help them understand what they can do to get on the path to being Great. These actions were derived from the 9 mantras in Chapter 4 of the Keno Upanishad and are as follows: appreciate, expand, concentrate, internalize, feel, simplify, subjectify, mature, and trust. Those present enjoyed several team activities, lively discussions, and practical applications of the Upanishads to everyday life. The lessons from the Upanishads were integrated into many of the activities of the retreat. While participating in a cooking workshop, groups were tasked to concentrate on their assigned recipes from the new Traditions cookbook and work with teams, while simultaneously chanting. During an escape room team challenge, the groups had to simplify the challenges and hints as they found a way to escape. As teams headed outdoors to play soccer and handball, they had to trust in each other. Most importantly, the participants learned from Vivekji to mature from being Searchers to Seekers; to not just blindly look for information, but to actively seek knowledge from great texts, such as Kenopanishad.
The donation received under this category shall be used by CCMT for Balvihar magazine.
Take Time Off – The musings of a converted skeptic
It’s not everyday that one takes a giant leap of faith and plunges into the depths of the unknown. It takes courage and perhaps discrimination to perceive a gap in one’s understanding of Vedanta and its ocean of knowledge. This unfortunately continues to remain an enigma to most in the world; and more so amongst some of us pseudo Indians who so easily gravitate to cultural influences of the western world and fail to look within at this vast repository of knowledge at our doorstep.
At the recent retreat held at the uniquely serene settings of Chinmaya Vibhooti; cradled within an expansive valley surrounded by nature (Kolwan) and solitude; Global Head of Chinmaya Mission Pujya Swami Swaroopananda hosted a 3.5 day camp on the Vibhishana Gita; a guide to understanding the virtues that make us a complete and resolute human being in any setting. The retreat took place from 1 to 4 November 2019 and was attended by 130 adults and 15 children.
‘Take Time Off’ turned out to be an antonym of sorts with a schedule rivalling our daily lives especially for us who come from a corporate setting; however what was uniquely surprising that making the choice to stay disconnected from our digital obsessions was hardly missed. The programme seamlessly blended guided meditation sessions, discourses, nature walks, musical evenings with Smt. Pramodini Rao, stargazing with Chinmaya Vibhooti’s brand new telescope, and many impromptu interactions with Pujya Swamiji, exemplifying the overall experience for us all. One such interaction was the group activity at the amazing Swanubhooti Vatika which helped enunciate the key teachings of the Vibhishana Gita.
The future vision of Pujya Guruji Tejomayananda in creating Chinmaya Vibhooti and the award winning Swanubhooti Vatika, a reflective paradise (a splendorous botanical garden in verdant surroundings) seeded with pearls of wisdom for any seeker. Such creations reinforce Chinmaya Mission’s effort in not only spreading this ‘jyot’ (light) of knowledge with the world but also creating hallmarks of excellence for society.
To encapsulate an experience in a few paragraphs doesn’t do justice to all the learnings, interactions, shared moments and importantly the connect with our scriptures which enables a better You and Me on this journey of life.
Events like ‘Take Time Off’ are a must do for anyone, from any sphere or stage of life; to reconnect with our inner selves… to tune in to the higher and more so at a destination like Chinmaya Vibhooti.
A beautiful psycho-spiritual one day workshop titled “No More Drama” was conducted by Dr. Leena Bahrani, a longstanding member of Chinmaya Mission and a leading psychiatrist from Mumbai on 12th and 13th of October 2019 at Paramdham, Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad.
The workshop for ChYk and Setukaris (age group of 18 to 45 years) was focused on improving interpersonal relationship through synchronization of thoughts, feelings and behaviour i.e. our Body, Mind and Intellect. Spiritual concepts like ‘Panchakosha’ and ‘Jagrat, Swapna and Sushupti avastha’ were co-related with the concept in psychology. The workshop was focused on how one’s psychological layer can be utilized to connect to one’s deepest and subtlest spiritual layer.
Using role plays on various day-to-day situations of our life, the concepts related to different ego-states were explained. Simple exercises for self assessment of different personality types were also carried out. All the participants could see one’s routine transactions from a totally different view point based on psychological and spiritual aspects. This made the knowledge of the “how the mind functions” directly utilizable in daily life.
Overall, it was a fulfilling experience for all as it made each one understand oneself better.
The 7th Annual Divya Shakti Retreat, held at Chinmaya Mission Orlando i n Florida, was deeplynourishing and i nsightful. Ninety women, thirty from other states, gathered for the three and a half day event from October 17-20, 2019. The theme of “Finding Your Path” i ncluded a balanced program of yoga asana, guided meditations, arts and games, and, most i mportantly, Vedanta discourses and workshops conducted by inspiring teachers Vilasiniji and Vivekji. Adi Shankaracarya’s Shiva Manasa Puja was the retreat text. Both Vivekji and Vilasiniji expounded on this stotram i n practical ways. He explained how the offerings made during the puja ritual represent the virtues of the i deal which i s to be i nternalized. The key aspect of any action i s the feeling, or bhaava, supporting i t which makes that action efficient, effective and j oyful. Thus, when any action i s undertaken with the right bhaava, i t i s transformed i nto worship or puja, with Moksha, or Eternal Happiness, as the ultimate goal.
Vilasiniji used the stotram to guide the morning meditations and i nteractive workshops on finding a purpose and path i n l ife. She explained how paths vary, depending on temperaments and phases of life. Through discussions and small group sessions, she encouraged reflection of short-term and long-term goals, as well as the practices which could be undertaken to overcome obstacles along the way. In this fast-paced age of technology, self-inquiry is becoming a forgotten practice. This retreat helped the attendees realize the need to be intentional in thought as well as action. The overall atmosphere
which emerged during this retreat was conducive to spiritual reflection and evolution. Gratitude to the Guru parampara and our teachers.
Activities In Bengaluru During Oct 2019
Gita Jnana Yajna in Vijayanagar
Pujya Swamini Sampannananda of Malleswaram centre conducted a Jnana Yajna in Kannada taking Vakya Vritti at Chinmaya Mission Centre, Vijayanagar from 13th to 19th Oct, 2019. The Yajna was inaugurated by Sri K B Kamath, senior member of the Mission.
Pujya Sampanamma explained how Bhagawan Shankara in Vakya Vritti has beautifully explained unity in diversity through the vision of oneness besides removing all wrong notions that ‘I’ am the body. His down to earth examples remove all misconceptions regarding death inspiring the sadhak to lead a fearless life full of meaning and gratefulness just as a Mahatma who revels in His inner peace amidst all the ups and downs in life.
The Yajna was a grand success with participation of several sadhaks.
Gita Jnana Yajna in Indiranagar
Pujya Swami Chidrupananda of Noida centre conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in English taking Bhagavad Gita Chapter – 13 at Deenabandhu Kalia Mardhana Krishna Temple, Indiranagar from 18th to 24th Oct, 2019. The Yajna was inaugurated by Smt Bharati and Sri Sunil, senior members of the Mission.
Pujya Swamiji gave a vivid explanation of how the study of Bhagavad Gita expands one’s vision giving a crystal clear concept of life which is nothing but a series of challenges from womb to tomb and interaction with “I” the individual and outer world. All our suffering is mainly because of identification with the pluralistic world due to ignorance and wrong notions. Inculcation of positive values in life protect one from various situations, problems and onslaughts of society helping the sadhak navigate the sea of samsara to gain the supreme knowledge.
The Yajna was well attended with Pujya Swamiji also conducting a Youth workshop entitled – Making Success a Habit on Sunday, 20th October, 2019 which was attended by over 75 youngsters.
Navaratri and Deepavali Celebrations
Both Navaratri and Deepavali were celebrated in Sripaadakshetra, J P Nagar and Deenabandhu Temple, Indiranagar with all religious fervor under the guidance of Pujya Swamini Samatananda. Navaratri was observed with daily archana and special Devi puja followed by keertans, bhajans and classical music all the nine days from 1st to 9th Oct, 2019. Deepavali was observed as festival of lights with the entire complex beautifully lit up along with special puja and bhajans on all the four days from 26th to 30th Oct, 2019.
H.H.Swami Swaroopanandaji’s Geeta Jnana Yajna was conducted in Thrissur from October 17th to 21st based on 12th Chapter, The Science of Love. Some photos of the visit of H.H.Swami Swaroopanandaji in Thrissur is attached herewith. Swamiji inaugurated the newly constructed KG Block in Kalladathur Chinmaya Vidyalaya.
H.H.Swami Swaroopanandaji unveiled the Ashtalakshmi Mural paintings in Chinmaya Bhuvaneswari Temple on 19th. Morning talk was based on Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in Neeranjali.
Swamiji met the Trust Board members of CSTK and CMECT, Vidyalaya and College Teachers, College Chyk, Balavihar Co-ordinators of Chinmaya Mission Centres in Kerala, Executive Committee members of various Centres in Kerala, the Yajna Committee members and school children. We all enjoyed the busy Schedule with Swamiji.
