From 12 July to 16 July 2021, Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara led the annual summer youth camp of Chinmaya Somnath, Chantilly, Virgina.
The largest high school camp in Chinmaya Mission West came together online daily for two hours of engaging discourse, discussion, dialogue and dynamic activity. The camp’s theme was “Managing Me.”
This year’s camp brought together 92 youth from more than 13 states across North America. In this camp, Shri Vivek Gupta taught the youth about investing in the self, managing the body, breath, mind, intellect, ego and lifestyle (Shatakosha Viveka).
A highlight of the camp was a fast-paced game of Taboo, where the campers experienced guided imagery and guided reflection. They made blackout poems with excerpts from Swami Chinmayananda’s book “Self Unfoldment”, to dig deeper into the mind and thoughts.
Parents gathered during one of the evenings for a special dialogue with Shri Vivek Gupta, which was a most intimate, meaningful experience for all.
A major takeback was how one’s external lifestyle influences one’s internal life:
“A managed self is at peace, and a mismanaged self is distracted.”
The feedback from the campers was positive and all of them opined that they would love a longer camp next year!
