Swami Prakarshananda was invited by the Speaking Tree and TOI (Times of India) to address the children of Cambridge Foundation School Rajouri Garden as part of a their newly launched initiative, Roots and Wings. This is a series of Knowledge Workshops to help students build a strong set of values that will help them face the challenges of life.

As Swamiji arrived he was warmly welcomed by the school authorities and smiling children. They were soon joined by the TOI team and proceeded to the school auditorium where over 200 children awaited Swamiji’s talk.

The topic was ‘Exam Stress’, a very relevant topic for all students. He mentioned that he too had undergone the same stress when he was their age and therefore, knew what they were going through.

Swamiji went on to explain how stress is at two levels, the physical and physiological. Physical stress is due to lack of physical strength and physiological stress is due to lack of mental strength. The former can be overcome by proper rest but the latter needs a different approach.  This stress is at the level of the mind.  The mind is the bridge between the body and the intellect. When the mind is disturbed then one is not able to do what one wants. The mind itself is nothing but a flow of thoughts. When one has positive thoughts, the mind is stable but as soon as negative thoughts arise it is disturbed. So, stress is to be understood as a flow of negative thoughts

To help the children remain positive he gave them two powerful quotes by Pujya Gurudev: Plan out your work and work out your plan; Do your best and leave the rest.

The Q&A session saw Swamiji adeptly answer question raging from:  How to control anger? How to increase concentration? What are the symptoms of stress? How does it manifest? Do family ties increase or decrease stress?

Swami Prakarshananda thanked the school authorities and congratulated the Speaking Tree team for this most needed initiative. He wished the students good luck and asked them to memorise Gurudev’s quotes and apply them in their lives.

Swamiji inaugurated Hanumanji’s Prathishta Mahotsav and Vigraha Ghosha Yatra after satsang.

Pujya Swami Gahanananda, Dharwad centre conducted a Jnana Yajna in Kannada from 01/01/2017 to 08/01/2017 at SRIPAADAKSHETRA, J P Nagar, south centre of Chinmaya Mission Bengaluru taking Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 in the evenings and Swaropaanusandhanashtakam in the mornings. The Yajna was inaugurated by Smt Shanta and Sri Pathi Sridhara, trustee of the Mission.

Pujya Swamiji stressed on the need to denounce the doership attitude and perform all activities with a cooperative spirit for the benefit of society. This is the only sure way to surrender the Ego and evolve spiritually.

The Yajna was very well attended.

Pujya Swami Ramatmananda, Chief Executive of Karnataka Chinmaya Seva Trust conducted a Jnana Yajna at Deenabandhu Temple, Indiranagar in English from 22/01/2017 to 29/01/2017 taking Mandukya Upanishad in the evenings. The Yajna was inaugurated by Smt Nirmala Menon, senior member of the Mission.

Pujya Swamiji explained the various aspects of “OM” upasana and how the subtle concept of Atman is clearly explained through the waking, dream, sleep and turiya states. He stressed that study of scriptures do not reveal knowledge about “ME” but remove all wrong notions with conviction that knowledge is “ME”.

The Yajna was well attended.

The Chinmaya Inspiration Yatra VIII in Silence was held from December 16th through December 25th 2016. Under the guidance of Vivekji, 18 seekers from across the country gathered in Pittsburgh for an inward journey in solitude to understand the Self. For these 10 days, Yatris were instructed not to speak to others or bring any notebooks or reading material. Upon arriving at the retreat center, all Yatris turned in their valuables (phones, electronics, car keys, etc) to Vivekji. They were also encouraged to slow down while performing physical activities such as walking and eating to help slow down thoughts in the mind.

For the first 7 days, the Yatris experienced silence in a controlled environment. Each day the first 90-minute contemplation sessions began at 6:00AM. Throughout the day there were 3 more contemplation sessions, interspersed with 90-minute individual reflections sessions and simple meals where Yatris each ate at individual tables. For the last 3 days of the Yatra, the Yatris traveled to Cleveland to remain in silence in an uncontrolled environment. During this time the Yatris attended public satsangs, went shopping at a large mall on Christmas Eve, and visited the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland all in silence.

On the final night of the Yatra, silence concluded and the Yatris shared both the challenges and peace they experienced over the past 10 days of solitude. Vivekji also shared insight on how they can continue to sustain this inner silence independent of the external context.

Over Thanksgiving last year, Vivekji [CM Niagara Falls] conducted the Chinmaya Inspiration Yatra (CIY) VII for the second time in Trinidad. Eight seekers from across the U.S. and Canada had the opportunity to feel the fervor of the Trinis and savor the delicious Doubles. More importantly, however, they had the opportunity to delve inwards by engaging in constant satsanga, sadhana and seva.

They studied in the Residential Vedanta Course where they learnt the eternal truths of Vedanta from the beloved Swami Prakashananda [CM Trinidad & Tobago.] They hiked overnight to the isolated hilltop of Tapovan where their hearts were engulfed by Mother Nature’s beauty, their olfactory senses treated by the fresh cocoa and their tolerance tested by the ruthless mosquitoes. Another highlight included crossing seas and forests to have satsanga at the Shiva Mandir on Chacachacare, an island once home to lepers.

The myriad of experiences, aided by the unique tranquility that the ashram offers, granted the yatris the ability to examine themselves: Who am I? How am I connected to the cosmos? How can I love – without attachment? What makes me most happy? Can I be independently joyous? How can I continue to explore myself even when I am in environments that are less conducive to self-exploration?

Several sevaks and sevikas, and especially Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, have made these scriptural teachings that were once reserved for only the rishis accessible to the common man through Balavihars, Jnana Yagnas and now, webinars, and this yatra was yet another reminder of how blessed we all are!

Chinmaya Mission Orlando was honored to host Swami Bodhatmananda from Jan 15 to 21, 2017. Swamiji arrived on the morning of Sunday, Jan 15 and was given a ceremonial welcome by Balavihar children and other devotees. He started his visit by addressing all the children during the morning assembly before they dispersed to their respective Balavihar classes and then delivered two talks on Hamsa Geeta. During the following week, the schedule consisted of morning talks on Mandukya Karika (Advaita Prakarna) and evening discourses on Hamsa Geeta. By mixing in humor and anecdotes, Swamiji was able to explain even abstract concepts in a manner that was well appreciated by the audience and accordingly, both talks drew a large throng of devotees. Swamiji also held a special session with CHYKs and high school children wherein he offered practical advice targeted toward their particular stage in life and also dealt with questions posed by some of the children. It was a homecoming of sorts for Swamiji since he began his spiritual journey as a seeker many years ago in this very center!