On 17 October 2021, 42 seekers from 21 cities around the globe completed the ‘Running From The Mind’ challenge, organized by Chinmaya Mission Niagara. Seekers with various levels of experience were invited to quieten their minds through long distance running or walking. The only guidance that Shri Vivek Gupta provided was to run or walk without input; this meant no listening to podcasts, chants or music. This guidance ensured that the runners paid attention to the thoughts arising in the mind rather than seeking distraction from media.

For five months, this group sought ways to support one another, build accountability and encourage each person on his or her journey. The 42 seekers repeatedly engaged in the community through multiple channels and formats. Everything from email threads where seekers shared their physical and spiritual goals to virtual documentary film gatherings, helped build an ongoing sense of togetherness regardless of physical distance. One seeker even developed a data tracker to document each person’s daily run and reflection. This tool not only created a centralized location for seekers to monitor each other’s progress but also reinforced the collective effort being made.

The challenge culminated when most of the group completed a half-marathon (13.1 miles / 21.1 kms) in their respective cities. For most, this accomplishment demonstrated the power of quieting the mind and building stillness in the intellect.

This was the fifth consecutive year for the ‘Running From The Mind’ challenge and already there is much anticipation for next year, as more seekers aim to benefit from the power of this group activity.

Report by Theos Stamoulis

Chinmaya Seva Project, Lathikata, and CORD Odisha organized a programme at Degaghat on 31 October 2021 under the head ‘Comprehensive Outlook & Integrated Development’. The session was titled ‘Education & Appreciation’ and it was attended by high school and college students, who benefited from interacting with Swami Kevalananda and Swamini Rishipriyananda.

As part of the initiative ‘Connecting Heart To Heart’, a programme was organized by Chinmaya Seva Project (Lathikata) at Pandripathar, Odisha, on 29 October 2021. During the session, which was based on ‘Life Development Based on Geeta Saar’, Swami Kevalananda also taught the attendees how to prepare and use home remedies for common and chronic diseases using the bark of the tree Terminalia Arjuna.

Guna Gaaun Main, popularly known as G2M, a devotional online singing competition, has become one of the signature events of Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukula, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth. This was the 3rd year of the event and the 2nd year in succession of it having been conducted as an online event.

This year’s G2M drew 300 participants in the 1st round from 10 countries – Australia, Canada, Iceland, India, Kuwait, New Zealand, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA. 80 of them stepped up to the 2nd round leaving 40 to vie for the coveted prizes.

Swami Advayananda, Trustee at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth and Director of Chinmaya International Foundation, inaugurated the final event. He expressed his happiness at knowing that so many people have benefited from G2M, participating from even far off places like Iceland! He congratulated the finalists, opining that the judges would find it difficult to choose the very best, because the best were gathered!

Placing literature, music and the fine arts on a high pedestal, Swami Advayananda quoted Bhartrhari, saying that those not inclined to the finer arts have no inner refinement and operate at a very basic level of evolution. Among all the arts, music and dance – positioned at the acme – have in them the capacity to take one to the highest of perfection. Swami Tejomayananda’s motto for Chinmaya Naada Bindu (CNB) “Swara to Ishwara, Nartana to Paramatmana” bows in reverence to the supreme joy these divine arts provide.

Two luminaries from the world of music carried out the extremely difficult task of judging the contestants – Kum Sriranjani Santhanagopalan and Shri Sriram Parasuram.

Sriranjani Santhanagopalan, a sought-after Carnatic musician, is an “A” graded artiste of All India Radio. Winning her first award as a 4-year-old, through her music journey, she has received several prestigious awards.

Sriram Parasuram, an amazing achiever, hails from a family steeped in musical tradition. He gave his first public performance on the violin when he was 8 years of age. He is an A-TOP grade artiste on All India Radio and Doordarshan for both Carnatic and Hindustani Violin.

The performances by the finalists left listeners amazed at the depth of talent available in the genre of Indian classical vocal music. The command over the raga, laya, sur, taal and the melody in the voices kept one riveted from start to finish. It is evident that some of these vocalists have a long promising journey in the world of music.

The judges offered very encouraging feedback to the contestants, mentioning that a high standard of competition was maintained, and also lauded the efforts of the organizers.

The Chinmaya Naada Bindu team that worked for the success of this programme thanked all the participants – those who made it to the final rounds and those that did not. The margins by which some did not make the final list were miniscule. Some of those faces will surely be seen in the finals next year!

The morning spent in listening to the melodious singing of the name of the Lord was simply divine.

Report by Smt Parveen Bahl

In 1993, Swami Chinmayananda was invited to speak at the Parliament of World’s Religions. Due to the condition of his health, he couldn’t make it but that wasn’t the end of that! Almost 30 years later, he made his way to the Parliament through the biopic on his life, ‘On A Quest’. On 17 October 2021, ‘On A Quest: A Biopic on the Life of Swami Chinmayananda’ was screened at 2:00 PM ET / 11:30 PM IST at the Virtual Parliament of World’s Religions. Attendance was by prior registration. The virtual movie screening followed by a live Q&A with Swami Mitrananda, who led the scripting, direction and production of the movie.

Part of what was said by Swami Mitrananda:

The movie is about our life – all of us are on a quest and we do not know where to seek. In this movie we brought out how Swami Chinmayananda, who was a non-believer, took this up and moved in the right direction and he found his way – so it should inspire us to get back on a Quest! That is the aim – to show people how a person walked this path, served the community and reached the highest.

What Chinmaya Mission does, is what he has told us to do – Seek the Self through study and service; Self Unfoldment through Study and Service. That is what He has taught and that is what we have tried to bring out in the movie.

Under the head ‘Connecting Heart To Heart’, a programme was organized at Zadakudar, Odisha, on 27 October 2021, on ‘Life Development based on Bhagavatam’. Women also learnt Yogic exercises and preparation of home remedies for major and minor illnesses from a well-known practitioner. The programme, which was presided over by Swami Kevalananda and Swamini Rishipriyananda, was coordinated by Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development’s Lathikata section, which is the Chinmaya Seva Project of Chinmaya Mission Lathikata.

The Prati-sthapana of Sri Abhaya Anjaneya Swami at Chinmaya Mission Visakhapatnam (Vizag) was done in 2006, on Dussehra day. Every year the Pratishtha day is celebrated on a grand scale, and every five years, Maha Kumbhabhishekam or Purna Kalashabhishekam is done to the Kalasha atop the Gopuram (sanctum).

Dussehra day of 2021 marked 15 years of the pratishtha of the vigraha of Sri Abhaya Anjaneya. Abhishekam to the Moola Murthy with Panchamrta and 11 other Dravyas began at 4:00am, followed by Alankara.

Then a special Puja was done to all the Sahasra (1000) Kalashas, starting with lighting of Diyas and offering of flowers. After Arati, nearly 70 devotees carried the Kalashas to the top of the temple Gopuram and Abhishekam was done to the Purna Kalasha, amid Vedic chants.

Following this, 1000 Boorelu/Poornalu sweets were offered as Naivedyam, poured from atop the Gopuram, with the devotees standing below to catch the Prasad! It was a wonderful site!

This was followed by Manyu Sukta Homam, considered very dear to Hanumanji.

After the Homam, a sumptuous lunch was hosted by the Mission for all the devotees present. The Mission also hosted breakfast and distributed Prasad to all.

It was indeed a grand celebration of Dussehra as well as the Pratishtha day of beloved Sri Abhaya Anjaneya Swami.

During Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, the Edakaatuvayal Grama Panchayat felicitated SEVA@CVV volunteers for their service in skill enhancement of students from the schools in the Panchayat jurisdiction. The event, held at the Farmers’ Hall of the Panchayat on 2 October 2021, was inaugurated by Adv. Anoop Jacob, Member of Legislative Assembly, Piravom Constituency.

The following students were honoured:

1. Aswin Rajeev (Second-year, BSc Applied Psychology)
2. Meenakshi Nair (Second-year, BSc Applied Psychology)
3. Devangana Maneesh (Second-year, BSc Applied Psychology)
4. S. Sarada (Second-year, BSc Applied Psychology)

These students were volunteers for the project ‘Social Room for Study Group’ (SRSG) that provided support to develop life skills as well as basic skills for comprehending Maths and English. The project was led by Faculty Coordinator Dr. Bindu M. P., Assistant Professor, School of Ethics, Governance, Culture & Social Systems.

The felicitation was attended by the parents of the volunteers, along with Dr. Bindu.

Shri Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated on a low key this year on 29 August 2021. The actual celebration commenced on 23 August through daily morning and evening abhisheka and tulsi archana, followed by devotional programmes in the evenings. The programme on 29 August commenced with morning abhisheka, Gita chanting and Vishnu homa. The Utsav Murty was taken to Chinmaya Mission Hospital where He was given a grand reception followed by bhajans. The evening programme consisted of bhajans followed by evening abhisheka, alankara and arati.

The temple wore a festive look and several devotees visited the temple seeking the Lord’s grace.