Swami Prakarshananda Visits Chinmaya Degree College, Haridwar On Saturday morning, 22 April 2017, Chinmaya Degree College was blessed with a visit by Swami Prakarshananda, of Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding, Delhi. He was welcomed and greeted with the "Purna Kumbh" by the entire staff of the College and then escorted to the seminar hall- where more than 100 students were waiting for him. Aarti Chaudhary (MSc – Zoology) welcomed Swamiji and requested him to light the lamp. Saraswati Vandana was sung by a group of students. Thereafter, Swamiji was introduced to the audience.

Swamiji established a good rapport with the listeners and made them feel at ease. He spoke briefly on the subject of "Life" and how it could be made beautiful. He emphasised that our studies must have relevance to our day to day living and pointed out that the college years are is the best ground for the training and management of mind. Laziness must be removed by hard work to achieve success. Swamiji answered some questions raised by the students.

After a short break, Swamiji spoke to the faculty in the seminar hall. Dr PK Sharma conducted the program. Swamiji was welcomed with a bouquet of flowers – first by the Principal and then by the Chairman, Managing Committee. He touched upon the dynamics of the teaching / learning process and also stressed on the importance of the factor of 'love' in every field. Swamiji urged the faculty members to consider the students as their own children and treat them with sensitivity. After the Vote of Thanks was given, Swamiji was given a tour of the College.

ANDOVER, MA- Dr. Shashikala Dwarkanath, MD, the person behind Chinmaya Mission Boston, one of New England’s largest spiritual centers, which has played a vital role in the lives of thousands of people in the area—will receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon annually by INDIA New England News, one of the nation’s largest print, online and video magazines covering the Indian and South Asian community.

“We have known Shashi now for over 25 years. She is an accomplished doctor, an excellent mother, a very supporting spouse, a community leader and more recently intensely seeking the very purpose of life,” said philanthropist Desh Deshpande. “She is one of the most complete human beings in our community, inspiring hundreds and thousands of young and grown up adults with her calming presence.  Congratulations on a well-deserved award.”

Dr. Dwarkanath, a physician at Lowell General Hospital and one of the founders of Chinmaya Mission Boston, will receive the award on Friday, May 26, at the 15th Annual Woman of the Year gala, where 20 outstanding women in the areas of science, technology, business, healthcare, arts and culture, and community and social services will be honored.

“To produce more than what we consume and giving more than what we take, I dedicate this honor and award to the children, our future, to the great masters and to Chinmaya Mission who has given me an opportunity to serve and grow,” said Dr. Dwarkanath, who co-founded Chinmaya Mission Boston center with her husband Dr. Gopala Dwarakanath, MD.

Dr. Dinesh Patel, an orthopedic surgeon for the last 40 years at Massachusetts General Hospital and faculty member at the Harvard Medical School, who has known Dr. Dwarkanath, said that she has pioneered the dissemination of art, culture and spiritual knowledge to the entire community.

“She not only started Val Vihar in her basement and later co-founded the Chinmaya Mission Boston building, but she has played a great role in spreading spiritualism,” said Dr. Patel. “She is a very unique person and a physician who is now an Acharya. I am so delighted that she is getting this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”

For over 30 years, Dr. Dwarakanath has nurtured the physical and spiritual health of her New England community. After receiving her medical training in the United Kingdom and India, she moved to the Boston area to complete her residency at Harvard Children’s Hospital Medical Center, New England Deaconess Hospital and the Lahey Clinc. As the Chief of Pathology at Lawrence General Hospital and subsequently Lowell General Hospital, she oversaw laboratory activity focused on the diagnosis of disease through the study of patient tissue and blood. Her work has been crucial to individual patient care as well as overall public health.

“This award is very close to my heart and this year it honors a special lady who is a physician, an educator and a spiritual leader,” said Dr. Manju Sheth, who launched the Lifetime Achievement Award at INDIA New England News four years ago. “As a physician, it is especially gratifying for me to see the community has decided to honor a physician this year. Shashi is a remarkable woman of science who has dedicated her life to spirituality and service to others. Her kindness, compassion and positive attitude leaves an indelible mark on everyone who meets her. My congratulations to Shashi, her family and especially the entire Chinmaya Mission family that she has served for over 25 years.”

Outside of the hospital, as a member of Chinmaya Mission, Dr. Dwarakanath has fostered the spiritual growth of families in the Greater Boston area and beyond. She began organizing values-based classes for children in her own home in 1989 and eventually oversaw a children’s Bala Vihar program spanning four New England locations and attended by over 650 children. To meet the growing demand of their local mission, Dr. Dwarakanath along with her husband Gopala created the Chinaya Maruti Center in Andover, MA in 2003. The center currently hosts over 400 children and adults who participate in weekly classes and prayer services.

Currently, Dr. Dwarakanath is the Acharya, or spiritual head, of Chinmaya Mission Boston. In recent years, she has attended a two-year residential Vedanta course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, India. She has brought what she has learned back to her local community, teaching classes on the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, devotional texts and meditation. She has presented talks on parenting and organized a women’s retreat centered on “Harnessing the Power of Emotions.”

In her free time, Dr. Dwarakanath enjoys writing poetry and playing the veena. She is happy to share her passions with her husband, two children and six grandchildren.

The “Understanding Marriage Retreat” was an excellent camp. Vilasiniji and Vivekji led the gathering very effectively with a combination of teaching, Q&A sessions and practice.

Event Highlights

–  The event agenda was very well designed with a mixture of lecture, reflection, Q&A and activities that enabled us to practice and discuss the teachings.

–  Chapter 4 of the Bhagvad Gita was used as a backdrop to the Retreat. Vivekji used the verses in the chapter to give several examples and stories that helped us understand concepts such as responsibility, kindness, empathy, reverence, commitment and adaptation.

–  The feedback from couples was the discussions and Q&A facilitated deeper questions and conversations among couples on the meaning of marriage.

–  The recreational activities on day 2 helped adults bond with each other and the kids.

–   Vilasiniji and Vivekji’ s positive energy and love flowed throughout the week.

–   Vinayji was adored by the kids and facilitated two days of fun filled activities and teachings for the children!

 Friday April 14^th

 We started with beautiful Aarti and Bhajans followed by dinner and a commencement session led by Vivekji and Vilasiniji. We learned that Marriage is Karma-Yoga – trying one’s best while being neutral to rewards or outcomes such as success or failure. In a marriage purpose pulls performance, you will get what you give! The responsibilities associated with being married strengthen each spouse. As an exercise the couples were asked to reflect on 4 changes in ourselves since marriage – the most common qualities mentioned were patience, loving, adaptation and understanding! Even though Vivekji and Vilasinji had travelled all day to be there on Friday evening – the energy and smile on their face made us all feel very warm and welcome and ready for the next day!

Saturday April 15^th

Vivekji talked about Yagna – dedication in marriage and the power of Admitting and Adapting. If we take our spouse for granted, we do not adapt hence it is very important to dedicate and adapt for both parties. Another reflection covered was the need to shift from being an Owner to an Observer – The more we observe in a marriage the more we are balanced. If we are on the same team in a marriage, there is less judgment and more understanding.   Every Marriage needs a Growth Strategy for the couple and family. Our spouse is nothing less than a gift from God. We need to have a beginner’s mind and get rid of our egos and be humble for a marriage to flourish.  Annoyances in a marriage are OK –  We need to be committed and dedicated. Vilasiniji spoke on the Art of Listening, and walked us through the IMAGO technique of expressing ourselves clearly to our spouse, mirroring/reflecting, validating, expressing empathy and responding. The technique was very valuable for all as most of us observed that even after being married for long number of years’ couples are often talking at each other vs. communicating with each other.  Practice of the IMAGO couples dialogue technique was a practical technique that every couple found value in.

We had an excellent hike and games at Five Oaks school where adults and kids enjoyed the company of each other and got a lot of fresh air on a sunny day.

Sunday, April 16^th

Vivekji talked about CSI – Alter your life positively by making your marriage clean, simple and inspiring. Be reverential to your spouse – LOVE + Respect.  Vilasiniji talked about five practical steps to handle negative emotions 1) Viveka – Step Back and Analyze situation 2) Vairagya – Put the situation in perspective 3) Express your feelings with the IMAGO technique 4) Shraddha -Faith, and 5) Compromise.  We wrapped up with a beautiful dialogue with Vilasiniji and Vivekji, closing aarti and lunch.

Beautiful tropical twilight hours smudged with pregnant clouds of pure devotion that showered unbridled sentiments of gratitude through sonorous chants, prayers and bhajans offered at the feet of the Adi (very first) Advaita philosopher and teacher.

Chinmaya Mission Tri State Center, Cranbury NJ

Chinmaya Vrindavan in Cranbury, NJ was blessed to host Swami Ishwaranandaji for 3 days of spiritual immersion from April 20^th to April 22^nd 2017.  During the morning pravachans for the Vrindavan Devi group on Thursday and Friday, Swamiji expounded on the concluding verses of the honey laden composition Mukunda Mala by Kulashekhara Alwar.  Describing Lord Krishna as the only one capable of protecting us, Swamiji pointed out that the Lord must ever be the subject in every single transaction of our lives; that our spiritual practice starts with considering our own soul as most sacred by invoking Him within ourselves.

The highlight of Swamiji’s visit was The Life of I – journey from i to I – three day workshop, which commenced with an introduction on Thursday evening.  Friday evening began with the workshop format, where Swamiji created 6 groups of 20 each, giving each two questions related to the practice of karma yoga.  After a lively discussion of their understanding based on reading the book as well as personal experiences, each group presented answers to the entire audience.  Having thus put us in the zone to receive deeper learning, Swamiji then explained karma yoga in his unique and engaging style, elevating the sadhaka’s understanding of sadhya and sadhana, kriya and karma.  Swamiji stressed the importance of karthavya karma at every stage of life to guard ourselves against indulging in kamya karma that has the tendency to transgress into the realm of the unethical or unlawful.  Swamiji also discussed the shortcomings of selfless action in the absence of a higher goal, and how our vasanas that lead us to action, are also in turn impacted by our actions.

On Saturday morning, the group discussion on bhakti yoga was followed by Swamiji’s talk which began with the hard hitting truth that the transition from karma to bhakti is a dramatic change.  Swamiji emphasized that belief is the starting point and faith is the journey or the path towards God Realization, and only with this goal can idol worship transcend to ideal worship.  Swamiji assured us that whatever we do externally as worship will cleanse us internally.  Subsequently, the groups broke out for Dhyana yoga and Jnana yoga discussions.  Swamiji’s clear and logical explanations on the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious mind, and the role each plays in our thought processes was eye-opening.  Swamiji presented concrete means to overcome our vasanas and thereby protect our knowledge from draining away.  Swamiji concluded that the path of realization does not belong exclusively to any one marga, a sadhaka will go through all four paths to reach the goal.  Swamiji explained that ultimately through contemplation, knowledge and experience, buddhi awakens from the aham karta bhava, destroying the ego.

The workshop was attended by about 150 people at various stages of exposure to Vedanta.  Everyone participated enthusiastically in the discussions and expressed sincere gratitude to Swamiji for this opportunity. In addition, bhiksha with Swamiji offered devotees a chance to interact in smaller intimate settings to clear their lingering doubts.  Swamiji’s humor laden word play to make abstract concepts more relatable, will be remembered fondly by all.  Chinmaya Vrindavan is eagerly awaiting Swamiji’s next visit.