Date : 09 Mar 2024

From Sankranti (14 January 2024) to Shivaratri (8 March 2024), the Efforts for EQUALity (EFE) initiative, spearheaded by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission (CM) Niagara Falls, aimed to foster greater contemplation, collection and contribution in the community. Divided into three distinct and interconnected components, the initiative brought together seekers from various CM Centres to make a meaningful impact.

The initiative comprised of:

Contemplation – giving Effort
Led by Shri Vivek, registered seekers participated in daily guided contemplation sessions at 5:30 AM ET for 30 minutes for 54 days from Sankranti to Shivaratri. This unique opportunity instilled discipline by waking early and cultivating a habit of regular contemplation.

Collection – giving Time
Throughout North America, food bank usage has increased where demand for food bank services far outweighs the supply. Seekers in the community gathered resources in the form of collecting 10,800 pounds of non-perishable food for their local food banks. While the initiative faced a slow start, momentum grew towards the end of February and early March. Ultimately, the efforts culminated in over 15,700 pounds of food being collected. The community achieved 146% of their 10,800 pounds goal.

Contribution – giving Resources
Seekers raised funds for the Mississippi Food Network in the US and the Akshaya Patra Foundation in India. The Community’s generosity in giving resources expressed itself through the completion of raising over $54,000 and achieved 108% of the goal.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Guru Shishya Parampara for inspiring us with this challenge and to all those who supported this initiative. As part of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s 108th Jayanti (His Jayanti is also known as Seva day in Chinmaya Mission), the Community’s contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of those in need, exemplifying the spirit of compassion and unity within our community.

By Vinita Uppal (sevika from Chinmaya Mission Calgary)