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Shravana Sadhana on Srimad Bhagawad Geeta Ch.9 at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

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By the grace of God and Pujya Gurudev, Shravana Sadhana on Srimad Bhagawad Geeta has started at Shree Mahalakshmi Temple, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai by Br. Ved Chaitanyaji from March 2016. The ninth chapter was taken from 12th to 15th December 2016. The sessions were interesting witnessing audience of more than 100 people everyday! It also saw growing young audience.

The ninth chapter named ‘Rajavidya-rajaguhya-Yoga’ starts with the Lord explaining the knowledge of His true nature to be the royal Knowledge & the royal secret. Through the seeming contradictory statements, Lord goes on to explain His nature as Paramatma. In this chapter, Lord also explains 3 types – wicked people, saintly people, devotees & seekers and emphatically promises to take care of His devotees & His declaration that His devotees shall never perish forms the highlight of this chapter.

The tenth chapter will be conducted from 2nd to 5th January 2017.

 Shravana Sadhana BG Ch 09 - 01 Shravana Sadhana BG Ch 09 - 02

 

Chinmaya Geeta Fest 2016, All Mumbai

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Chinmaya Geeta Fest 2016, was a mammoth task spearheaded by Br. Ved Chaitanyaji, where there were 14,000 participants for Geeta Chanting & around 250 participants for all the other competitions in Mumbai. Br Vedji had briefed at the start of the year the idea & importance of all the competitions of the Chinmaya Geeta Fest; trained all the zonal coordinators, sevaks, sevikas & interested parents. Volunteers from the zones contacted schools in their respective areas & started teaching the students or teachers as required. The preliminary round competition was conducted in various schools & those selected participated in the Area level finals in the respective zones. Certificates of participation were given to all participants at all levels. Certificates of Appreciation were given to all participating schools & individually to the teachers who helped in coordinating the competitions in their respective schools.

The highlight of this year’s competition was the introduction of G& H groups for young adults & adults respectively. Adults upto 60 years of age participated with as much enthusiasm, eagerness & competitiveness as the children.

The All Mumbai Final of Chinmay Geeta 2016 took place on December 11 2016 at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai under the able guidance of Br. Ved Chaitanyaji.  There were approximately 900 participants across all the age groups from the 16 areas of Mumbai.  Two sessions were organized – groups D, E, F, G & H in the morning session and groups A, B & C in the afternoon session.

The volunteers present that day helped organize the crowd of participants, their relatives and also took care of the judges.  Special thanks to the Chinmaya Mission members from Mulund & Dombivli who came as judges for the final!

During the morning session, accompanying relatives of participants gathered at Saraswati Nilayam to witness live, their final round of the Geeta Quiz at All Mumbal level. All the morning participants and their accompanying relatives were provided with lunch.

The afternoon session had the accompanying relatives engrossed in the talk on ‘Parenting’ by Dr Sunita Shankar held especially for them in Saraswati Nilayam. Participants & relatives were provided with snacks & tea.

All Geeta Chanting participants were judged & prizes were distributed by Br Yuktji, Brni Sandhyaji, Br Vedji, Shri Bharat Shah & Shri Mukul Patel at the end of each session for the respective groups.

Prizes were also distributed for all the other competitions, which were conducted as part of the Geeta Fest this year namely – Geeta Quiz, Article writing, Geeta Tweets, Video Clip making & Elocution.

Best school trophies for enthusiastic participation were given to schools with more than 200 registrations by way of appreciation for the role played by them.

This Chinmaya Geeta Fest 2016 surely became a great finale of Chinmaya Birth Centenary Celebrations; carrying the message of the Bhagawad Geeta & Pujya Gurudev to many families in Mumbai.

All Mumbai Winners - Other competitions Geeta Chinating Competition 2016 - All Mumbai Winners IMG_3657 IMG_3723 IMG_3855

Opening of CHINMAYA SHAKTI – Our New Centre

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With Gurudev’s grace and Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda and Swami Swaroopananda’s blessings, the new centre for Chinmaya Mission France was inaugurated on Saturday 3rd December, few days before Gita Jayanti, thereby at an auspicious time.

The ceremony started with a Pûjâ conducted by Swamini Umananda, CMF, followed by a satsang of bhajans with all the members of the congregation, mainly the attendees of the study groups.

Swamiji then conducted a brief session sharing the highlights of her recent lecture visit to Canada, and the schedule of events planned at the centre over the coming months.  She welcomed the Chinmaya family to their new home, and invited everybody to explore the centre.

This was followed by a distribution of Prasad to all.

The centre is now fully operational and changes will be made, shortly, to the website and the official documentation. Is is located in a very nice area of Paris, in the west side, near Unesco and Eiffel Tower.

We invite all members of the worldwide Chinmaya family to come and visit us in our new home!

Unto Him Our Best

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Swami Bodhatmanandaji’s visit to Singapore

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Chinmaya Seva Centre Singapore welcomed Swami Bodhatmananda for a series of 4 talks on “Living Vedanta (Vedanta Cintanam)”  at the centre from November 9 to 12.

Swamiji started the series of talks by enticing our attention through a very beautiful example in which a teacher systematically using branches of a tree points to the crescent moon.   Then he threw light on our cluttered mind, by taking us from one branch to another telling us we are not this body, mind, intellect, nor this ego, the individuality. Finally, Swamiji beautifully portrayed what our vision or darshan of this world should be. The talks were well attended and the devotees offered a samsti bhiksha after the conclusion of the talks.

Study group members made the best use of Swamiji’s visit.  Swamiji kindly gave a lot of time for them, as he conducted 5 sessions with study group members, and with others who were present during bhikshas.  Swamiji answered specific questions relating to text they are studying like Amrit Bindu Upanishad, Tattva Bodha, Hanuman Chalisa, and on mahima of chanting.

Swamiji was the chief guest for graduation day of the balvihar children between age 8 to 13 held on November 12. Swamiji with his humourous stories and melodious bhajans kept around 300 children engaged.  He also addressed the parents highlighting the importance of sending their children to balvihar, and urge them to participate in all our mission activities.

Swamiji released a 75-page souvenir book written specially for balvihar children on life and journey of Pujya Gurudev.  The book contains questions and answers about Pujya Gurudev’s life, His Gurus, His teachings, and about His work and mission. Swamiji said that the book can not only be used as source material for conducting quiz on Pujya Gurudev, but also could be taken up for study on journey and life of Gurudev in senior balvihar classes. Swamiji was so kind, he presented to each child personally a copy of the souvenir book.

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Tap into the Secret of Prayer

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People often ask…

“WHY SHOULD I PRAY?”

“I believe in leading a moral life and doing good deeds.

Is that not enough?”

However, to be CONSISTENTLY virtuous one requires:

  • tremendous strength
  • determination
  • noble ideals

ELSE…it is easily given up

We then lament,

“Why should I go on doing good and suffer

when OTHERS are not doing so and enjoying life?”

So as NOT be discouraged from a righteous life

we must UNDERSTAND the secret of prayer.

For a fan to move it must be connected to electricity.

The fan’s connection is like its PRAYER to the source of energy.

The Lord is the ultimate source of all goodness.

He provides the spiritual strength to lead a good and moral life.

One may WISH to do good

but the mind is easily distracted.

Duryodhana also knew what was right

BUT DESPITE THAT continued to live a sinful life.

Prayer is not BEGGING or presenting a list of DEMANDS

Perform your duties in life remembering God.

…With a mind thus tuned to Him

…His qualities and power will flow to you.

Often people serve society for POWER or FAME

…and if their efforts are not recognized they STOP.

BUT if we work for the Lord, we will NOT be upset,

EVEN when criticized or crucified.

Helps to REMEMBER…the beauty, strength, and talent

we have…are indeed HIS blessings and gifts.

This in turn will REDUCE our pride and arrogance.

Ravana suffered greatly, BUT his ego would not let him surrender.

A simple way to remove the ego is

…dedicate the work to God, and derive spiritual strength.

Q…what is GOD?

A…God is that CONSCIOUSNESS which makes the INERT living.

Some say, “There is no God.”

But FORGET that even the power by which they TALK is God.

Simple formula…To live in harmony with the world and oneself

PRAY TO GOD…

…receive His blessings and with that

…gain the strength to live a life of dharma or righteousness.

PRAYER GIVES STRENGTH

-Swami Tejomayananda

Chinmaya Mangalam – Chinmaya Mission West’s Vision Centre

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On 18th August 2014, with the blessings of Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayananda Chinmaya Mission West (CMW) acquired Thousand Oaks Ranch in Barry, Texas USA. Pujya Guruji named it Chinmaya Mangalam. Located 129 kilometres south of Dallas, Texas, it’s the largest Chinmaya Mission property in the world. A Chinmaya Mangalam Executive Committee was appointed by Pujya Guruji for its upkeep and development.
Chinmaya Mangalam is a beautiful, serene 143-acre wooded property with a large 14-acre lake. The property comes with a great deal of existing infrastructure, like a sports dome, commercial kitchen, dormitory facilities, playing fields and a lake house. The property is blessed with large natural and open areas.

The development will be styled like Chinmaya Vibhooti in Kolwan, India with appropriate modifications and enhancements. When complete, it will be a tribute to Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda. It seeks to empower sevaks with training courses, thereby keeping Pujya Gurudev’s vision ever glowing and vibrant. Camps, retreats and discourses will be organised to foster spiritual growth, and bring awareness in society about the life and works of Pujya Gurudev.

Chinmaya Mangalam is jointly owned by all centres in North America, falling under the umbrella of CMW. They contribute annually for its upkeep. The plan is to upgrade the property to start hosting national yagnas and camps. The facility development will take place in phases. As per the guidance of Pujya Guruji and Swami Swaroopanandaji, the first phase will include accommodation for a 2-year residential Vedanta course, a temple and related infrastructure. The presiding deity will be Lord Dakshinamoorty. The aim is to start the Vedanta course in 2018.

When complete, Chinmaya Mangalam will be ready to host Mahasamadhi camps, family camps, Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), National Balavihar Teacher & Volunteer training, Corporate education seminars, Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan (CJD) and a gurukul for Performing Arts in the lines of Chinmaya Naada Bindu. The use of solar panels, geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels, central bio-mass furnace makes it equipped to accommodate 2000+ people to stay and attend camps and retreats in a sustainable way.

Mangalam Site Information:
 Approximately 143 acres including a 14 acre Lake plus 4 additional bodies of water;
 Over 1,000 oak trees and other natural wildlife;
 A 3,200 sq. ft. 2 story home;
 A 16,500 sq. ft. multi-use dome hall with stage and seating capacity of 450;
 A 4,000 sq. ft. building equipped with a commercial kitchen and dining hall with 80-person capacity;
 A 4-building dorm (with separate bathroom facilities for men and women);
 A second similar facility for women;
 A double wide mobile home;
 A 2,200 sq. ft. Lake House with a gorgeous lake view; and
 Baseball and soccer fields

Since its acquisition, Chinmaya Mangalam is undergoing the process of restoration and refurbishment. Several camps and events have been held to date, hosting up to 150 children and adults.

A focused marketing effort will be launched in the first quarter of 2017 to provide information and exposure about the project. More updates about Chinmaya Managalam will be available in due course.

Mangalam Entrance

Mangalam Entrance

Dome
Dome

Dining Hall
Dining Hall

Wooded area between dorms & dining hall
Wooded area between dorms & Dining Hall

Deer roaming on the propertyDeer roaming on the property

View of the lake from the lake house
View of the lake from Lake House