During the weekend of March 18th, Chinmaya Mission Niagara held it’s 3rd
annual family retreat and CORD fundraiser in Grand Bend, Ontario. Families from
United States and Canada came to engage in discourse and discussion about the
importance of sacrifice and service in our daily lives. Children were split into three
groups and enjoyed learning from Devji, Ginaji and Sachinji, while adults
and CHYKs studied the first half of Sadhana Panchakam with Vivekji. To
help us understand the text, each teaching was paired with a tangible practice to
take home, allowing attendees to connect these messages to their lives. The
Vivekji, Devji, Ginaji and Sachinji showed us that through the sacrifice that comes with diligently practicing sadhana and the happiness that comes with service, one develops the sincerity needed to be truly joyous in life.
In addition, the weekend was filled with fun activities like a photograph
scavenger hunt, soccer, and an open-mic night where the Balavihar students
demonstrated what they had learned from their classes in short skits; other
attendees, also, shared their talents, filling the night with music, laughter and joy.
Family retreats like this provide a very special opportunity to take a break from
daily life and learn about how to grow individually and as a family.
In keeping with the tradition of the last three retreats to raise funds to
support CORD, the Chinmaya Inspiration Yatris strived to raise $30,000 USD in
order to reach a total of $100,000 USD for CORD in honor of Gurudev’s birth
centenary. These funds will continue to support CORD Siruvani’s community work
and CORD Chennai’s flood relief. This year, with the love and generosity of the
Chinmaya Mission family, this goal was surpassed at the retreat with a fundraising
total of $40,000 USD. Consider joining us next year to experience the knowledge and the joy of these retreats with your family.
Click here for photos:
