For the occasion of Pujya Gurudev’s 25^th 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 3^rd 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 9^th 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 3^rd to 9^th 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 25^th 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.

Parents and students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya,Trupunithura showed overwhelming response during the collection of relief materials for the recent flood situation in Kochi. Teachers and students under the guidance of Principal, Vice Principal and Academic Coordinators sorted the materials and divided themselves into groups to supply the  same in various relief camps. The initiative by our alumni in helping the Vidayalaya to coordinate the relief work was commendable.

Our Vidyalaya was able to supply materials to :

1. Chinmaya Vidyapeeth relief centre.
2. St Thomas relief centre, Perumanur
3. Nirmala College, Mulanthurathi
4. Manakunnam village office
5. Nadakavu relief centre.

Chinmaya Somnath located in Virginia USA, successfully concluded the largest ever annual youth camp conducted by Vivekji from July 16 – 20, 2018.

This youth camp is a very unique opportunity for the youths not only in the DMV area, but also across the US and Canada to interact closely with undivided attention from Vivekji, one of the most highly respected and sought after Vedanta teachers, who instills Hindu spiritual knowledge by adapting more traditional Vedantic teaching techniques to better engage with the modern day youth.

This year Vivekji chose the yoga sutras by Pathanjali as the Vedantic topic of the camp, a topic that changes annually to better impart a wide spectrum of knowledge to the participants. Yoga is about asanas related to body, and entails controlling one’s mind before conquering the body. In this camp, campers learned how to quiet their minds and maintain focus on their tasks. Furthermore, campers learned that being an extrovert is not always good and is often conducive with acting due to FOMO (fear of missing out) rather than focusing on JOMO (joy of missing out). This is very relevant, as these days campers and adults alike are often found glued to their phones and other devices in order to keep up with the daily activities of their peers rather than simply enjoying time spent alone and in the moment.

Vivekji meticulously planned the camp activities with not just Vedantic talks but also included many aspects like physical and seva activities. Through their seva, the campers learned to inculcate the helping attitude without expectation, providing a permanent sense of joy. With physical work, the body is strengthened, allowing for the effective completion of one’s duties, whatever they may be.  During the camp, there were also numerous fun moments while the youth participated in athletics, which taught campers to team up and play in rain or shine, which they literally practiced by running in the pouring rain.

There are numerous ways that the campers got to focus their minds, such as learning about unit tasking while eating, in which they were told to focus on their eating rather than talking in order to appreciate their food and the Brahman in it. Campers were also taught about the 3 C’s that they must avoid in their lives, which includes Criticizing, Crying unnecessarily and Complaining. Instead they learned to maintain one basic C, which is Contentment.  One of the biggest highlights of this camp was that it was also a residential camp. Many Virginia families hosted almost 35 – 40 campers from out of state, with youth coming from places such as Georgia, Illinois, Canada, Maryland, and Fredrick. This created a very unique opportunities for the families to learn to be a real “aditi” and find joy in serving their guests. Local campers who hosted other kids also found friendship and like-mindedness amongst their out-of-state peers.

Spiritual parenting may bring to mind a multitude of thoughts. Some parents in the midst of life with young children may even think the term is an oxymoron! How does one meld the powerful teachings of the Vedas with the intense marathon of parenting, one of the most commonly shared experiences among humankind, and one of the biggest responsibilities embraced in adulthood. Answering this question was the purpose of the Spiritual Parenting retreat, held on July  13-15, 2018 at Chinmaya Somnath in Chantilly, Virginia.

With the theme of “Vision of Balance,” the weekend brought together approximately 60 people, both couples and families to enjoy a mix of discourses, participatory and practical sessions, individual reflection time and leisure activities. Dedicated Sevaks ran a parallel session for children, during the adult lectures, including sessions with Avinashji, yoga, and storytelling. The participants were grateful to have Vivekji and Vilasiniji to guide them through the topics covered.

Through Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita on Gunas, Vivekji distilled the characteristics associated with the Gunas and translated them to simple and practical actions parents can take to invoke Vedantic philosophy in their parenting. Vilasiniji used entertaining comic strip images to illustrate the everyday challenges parents face, and sparked discussion on solutions for engaging cooperation from children and helping them manage their emotions. The weekend also included ideas on how to create a saathvic home, and a lively and participatory session on navigating technology and social media in children’s lives, where parents had an opportunity to learn from each other and discuss their shared challenges.

Overall, parents had an opportunity to reflect on not only their parenting style, but also their own journey of self-development, and how both are intimately tied together in having the potential to positively impact and influence their children.

“The retreat provided specific steps and workable actions which each parent could take to have more peaceful and positive atmosphere at home. It also helped in opening our eyes on how we as parents are equally responsible for a negative environment at home. The retreat was a testimony to how self-improvement of each individual is a must to have a happy home. It takes a village to raise a kid. Retreat provided the opportunity to build that village for your child,  as every parent were dealing with similar situations with their kids and together we could build a community to support each other and our families.”  ~ Testimonial from a participant.  

Early July 2018, Pujya Swami Swaroopananda visited Chinmaya Dhara in Niagara Falls for the first time ever. This small center, guided by Vivekji and located in a city that serves as a conduit between two great North American nations, was eagerly awaiting Swamiji’s visit.

The mood was festive, buzzing with excitement, yet calmness pervaded. Swamiji spoke for two nights, on the small yet profound Laxman Gita, where Laxmanji speaks to Nishad Raj on the importance of karma, and on how to find joy in daily living. With Bhagawan Krishna and Bhagawati Radha looking on, Swamiji expounded on great truths from our scriptures, in simple ways that resonated with all.

Learning from Swamiji is always a special experience, but even more so is the opportunity to spend time with Swamiji in intimate settings. Many such opportunities presented themselves for devotees, to be with Swamiji and take in the beauty and charm of Niagara Falls. Satsangas by the lake-front, visiting local businesses and other such moments touched us all deeply.

And like the fragrant flower that attracts bees, birds and other creatures, being around Swamiji meant being around other teachers and guides, who flock to Swamiji, like baby ducklings to their mother. Not only was our Vivekji present, but others such as Devji and Ginaji from Toronto, Sachinji from Kitchener, and Rahulji and Priyaji from Washington D.C also travelled to see Swamiji. At the end of the day, the benefit was ours, to be able to learn both in so many ways.

And although the experience was one that none will forget in a hurry, us humans are after all a greedy bunch. The main sentiment going through everyone’s mind as Swamiji left was, why only two days? Why not longer? Of-course, we want Swamiji to return, soon and for longer. In the mean-time, we will endeavor to be worthy of God and Guru’s grace and blessings, by reflecting on Swamiji’s message and living a simple and joyful life.

Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji’s 25th Aradhana day was observed from 01st August 2018 with all its serenity in the Vidyalaya. Bhajans and mass chanting of 15th Chapter of Bhagwat Gita were conducted. This year being the 25th year of Gurudev’s Maha Samadhi, the Vidyalaya is undertaking 25 Seva projects.

In connection with 25th Aaradhana Day (03/08/18) of our Gurudev Swami Chinmayandaji, Seva activities started on 2nd August 2018. On the auspicious occasion Shri. Theruvoram Murugan was the chief guest. Shri Murugan aroused the students of the need for sharing and caring in human life, the quality which makes an individual a real human being. He also inspired students to respect one’s parents as they are working hard for their upbringing. Students from L.K.G to 12th donated many necessary items including clothes, pulses, grains, and sanitary items for the needy. Students of Std XII contributed an amount to Master Arun Sanu, a chronic kidney patient.

Mahasamadhi Day was observed on 03rd August, 2018 with great reverence. Chinmaya Ashtakam was chanted along with the usual prayers. Sri .K R Nambiar, Former President, Chinmaya Mission, Ernakulam was the Chief Guest. Through his simple and lucid words, he motivated the students and teachers, to spend quality time to learn scriptures and make life a better and pleasant experience. He also shared his fond memories with Gurudev and expressed his immense pleasure to step in the Vidyalaya on this great day. An exhibition of the News Letters, based on the life, works and contributions of Gurudev, prepared by students of various classes were inaugurated by the Chief Guest. Students of various classes spoke on the mission and vision of Swami Chinmayananda.

A seminar on the topic ‘ The Incomparable Contributions of Swami Chinmayananda on Indian Culture and Spirituality’ was conducted. Selected students from classes V- XII participated in it. Students of the KG, Primary and Middle sections offered their Pranams at the lotus feet of Gurudev by presenting skits and bhajans. A student of class VII declaimed Swamiji’s famous speech ‘ Service Above Self’. The Principal Mrs.Priya C. Pillai addressed the students. All the students of the Vidyalaya offered their humble Pranams to Gurudev and received Prasadam. Bulletin boards were adorned by beautiful charts highlighting his quotes.