Hari Om! With Pujya Gurudev’s, Pujya Guruji’s, and Pujya Swami Swaroopanandaji’s grace, Chinmaya
Mission San Jose held its annual CHYK retreat, “Mind the Gap” on February 12-15th, 2021. Retreat attendees ranged in age from 17 to 45 and included many of the growing Chinmaya Setukari (CSK)
demographic.
Due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, the retreat was conducted virtually instead of on San Jose Sandeepany ashram premises. Through the virtual format, the retreat was able to reach over 150 seekers from all over North America. Vivekji and Brahmachari Sohamji led the creative process behind this retreat, conducting five discourses on puja, japa, and dhyana as taught in Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s Upadesa Sara. Vivekji also treated attendees to a discourse on the Raas Leela from Srimad Bhagavatam,giving new significance to Valentine’s Day. Discourses were made available to the public through the Chinmaya Mission Niagara YouTube channel.
A team of local CHYKs gathered in the yagna spirit to organize and curate content for this retreat. Retreat workshops focused on likhita japa, mindfulness both indoors and outdoors, and exploring the three gunas through music. Attendees were able to informally speak with Vivekji and Sohamji in virtual chat sessions,meet like-minded peers across the country in discussion groups, and connect more deeply to their spiritual practices.
All attendees left with determination to deepen their sadhanas and serve as stabilizing forces within their surrounding communities.
CHYK San Jose thanks Chinmaya Mission for their continued support in harnessing youth potential through dynamic spirituality.
– Aarjav Joshi, Aashika Suseendran, Keshav Venkat, Nidhi Bangari, Sahana Rao
