Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, Global head of Chinmaya Mission conducted a Satsang at R V Dental College, J P Nagar, Bengaluru from 29th Sep 2016 to 1st Oct 2016 taking Shiva Sankalpa Suktam in the evenings. Pujya Guruji as he is addressed in the Mission circle was visiting Karnataka for the first time after being decorated with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award earlier this year. He was accorded a grand reception and the short felicitation ceremony was witnessed by a galaxy of invitees which included Swamins and Brahmacharins of Karnataka headed by Pujya Swami Brahmananda, trustees of the Mission, trustees of various spiritual organizations in the city and over 1500 spiritual sadhaks. Sri B Krishnakumar, president of the Mission welcomed the gathering. Smt Aishwarya Vijayanand’s introduction of Pujya Guruji was the highlight of the programme showcasing the journey of Pujya Guruji ever since he took up the enormous task of heading the Mission globally, completing the unfinished projects of Pujya Gurudev, embarking on several new projects channelizing the resources for benefit of society in several fields like spirituality, research in Sanskrit & Vedantic texts, education, health, rural development, arts, adopting villages besides bringing massive awareness of our rich culture along with Pujya Gurudev’s Vision, Mission and Teachings through his pet project – Chinmaya Vibhooti using the latest media technology that can be understood by sadhaks from any part of the world.
Pujya Guruji was felicitated by Sri Sakala Narasimhulu Setty, Sri B Krishnakumar, Sri Pathi Sridhara and Sri Manohar Pai representing the trustees of the Mission to a standing ovation by the entire audience when he was anointed with a special shawl, cardamom garland, famous Mysore Peta and a big basket of special fruits as nadaswara mangalavadya was rendered in the background. Pujya Guruji appeared like a monarch of the spiritual kingdom and all present became emotional as he very humbly acknowledged all the felicitation as his offering to his Guru Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. The R V Institutions in whose auditorium the Satsang was held shared the dias with their secretary Sri A V S Murthy also felicitating Pujya Guruji. Sri Sakala Narasimhulu Setty, trustee of the Mission formally inaugurated the Satsang by lighting the inauguration lamp.
Satsang
Pujya Guruji thanked the entire spiritual fraternity for the felicitation and dedicated his entire success to Pujya Gurudev. Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is a prayer of the Rishi seeking the Lord to fill the mind with auspicious thoughts. Sankalpa is a wish arising in the mind and when it is towards achieving the higher with unswerving faith, it brings the mind closer to Self. Mind is inert and is illumined by the Consciousness without which it cannot perform. The pull of mind towards Self is spirituality and pull towards outer world is materialistic. Once the journey towards the Self is discovered and appreciated, it becomes very difficult to run after objects. Until a firm decision is taken the mind is restless but once decision is taken the mind becomes calm and peace prevails. Most decisions are based on past experiences and impressions left on the mind. This depends on the essential nature and experiences from the acquired nature. The basic and real nature of mind is peace without which it cannot function efficiently – even we cannot go to sleep if mind does not become peaceful.
The mind which runs after external objects in time and space in the waking state has to return to the Self to enjoy the deep sleep state. It is important to ensure that the mind while working in the waking state should be rooted in divine and constructive thoughts for efficient performance. One should not hanker on results and leave it to the Lord who knows what is best. This is applicable in all fields of activity with the main sankalpa to achieve peace of mind. The direction, purpose and intention should be of satvik nature. Even while going to sleep, remembering the Lord, the sankalpa should be to wake up with revitalized energy to serve the Lord and society. The mind is needed to collect the experiences through all the senses, integrate and analyse them to understand the real import with the attitude of Shiva Sankalpa to make the life Shiva Maya. The mind when extrovert is the cause of bondage and when turned inwards the same mind guides one to liberation.
The mind is responsible for all actions performed but the attitude should be similar to the mind of great thinkers who have mastery over their minds and perform actions with viveka and Yajna attitude for the benefit of mankind. It is extremely important not only to make a sankalpa but also to firmly decide to work towards it inspite of obstacles that may come enroute and enjoy the performance of action without getting provoked or disturbed by the dualities. A wise person sees beyond all temptations and does not get worried by the results. One should not perform actions with a mechanical and routine attitude and be able to discriminate between good and bad, what is Self and what is not Self.
The continuous enlivening flow of thoughts because of which mind can act needs to be auspicious for not only performance but also for acquiring knowledge in all fields. For this the mind needs to be ever alert and aware with total focus fixing the mind on action being performed.The mind is aware of all the past, present and all that we will experience in future. All experiences in life are available through the sense organs as an oblation or Yajna to the Self which is enlivening our life. That is why one needs to be careful as to what he sees, hears, eats, smells or touches and ensure that they are pure and auspicious.
The individual mind needs to be tuned with the total mind of the Lord to understand the overall vision as we cannot appreciate the happenings with our limited resources and thoughts. The individual mind being a part of the total cosmos cannot exist independently and all misery arises because we try to dissociate from the universe allowing our ego to dominate. The total mind being free from Raga and dwesha helps the individual mind to rise above all dualities.
All knowledge gross, subtle and secular are centred in the total mind which is Vedamaya just as the spokes of the wheel are connected to the central hub. The individual mind being a part of the total mind can also grasp the entire knowledge only if allowed to blossom with purity and dedication through sincere study and adherence to instructions. Just as musicians need to tune to the tala, laya and swara to bring out melodious music, the individual mind should get integrated with the total mind to lead a peaceful life of purpose and benefit to society. When such unison takes place the individual mind can draw the total power from the total mind and all sankalpas however difficult and strange they may look become Shiva Sankalpa. The concept of individual mind lying in the total mind can be best understood through the experience of sleep where several minds exist in the single mind of the dreamer. Pujya Guruji’s explanation of the concept by Gurudev standing tall by his side and guiding all his actions was very touching and the entire audience became emotional.
The total mind which is controlling all the Jivas (just as the charioteer controlling the horses) has a total vision and the individual mind that follows the will of the total mind is sure to accomplish any feat. The secret of success in spiritual field or for that any matter any field lies in total surrender to Lord who is sure to guide the individual mind in all the ups and downs of life just as Lord Krishna ensured victory of Arjuna who completely surrendered to Him. Looking at all happenings as Shiva Sankalpa is the only way to find a meaning in one’s life and realise one’s true nature.
The Satsang was very well attended on all the three days.
Pujya Guruji also inaugurated the new Mother and Baby unit in Chinmaya Hospital in Indiranagar on 1st October, 2016 at 11.00 am which was attended by over 700 devotees.