News
To understand anything is to find in it something which is our own.
-Swami Chinmayananda
Archival News/Other News
Announcing the next Hindi Vedanta Course
The 14th Vedanta Course (2024-2026) in Hindi at Sandeepany Himalayas (HIM), Sidhbari, will be inaugurated on 8 May 2024, the 108th Jayanti of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. Swami Prakarshananda will be the Resident Acharya of the Course.
Below is a flyer sharing more information. The last date for submission of applications is 31 January 2024. Detailed information, including the application form, is available at:
https://sidhbari.chinmayamission.com/apply
For any further queries and Seva options, you may contact the General Manager:
Phone: +91-1892-234324 / 236199
Mobile: +91-9899107730
Email: sandeepany.him@chinmayamission.com, ctt@chinmayamission.com
Do spread the word.
Chinmaya Vidyalaya Bokaro Alumni’s UPSC Success
Congratulations to two alumni from Chinmaya Vidyalaya Bokaro for their inspiring success with Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exams.
Avinash Kumar has an All India Ranking of 17.
Shruti has an All India Ranking of 506.
Below is a screenshot of a news piece from 25th May 2023 that appeared in the Bhagalpur edition of Prabhat Khabar.
While speaking with the news reporter, Avinash mentioned that he was an average student when he joined Chinmaya Vidyalaya Bokaro. The teachers identified the latent potential in students, aided by the encouraging atmosphere of the school.
Avinash got ample opportunities to showcase his talents and leadership skills at Chinmaya Vidyalaya Bokaro. He received a gold medal for securing first rank in English.
Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development Annual Report
Read and be inspired! Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD) leaves no stone unturned in serving the people of rural India in meaningful and impactful ways.
Click on this link to read CORD’s Annual Narrative Report for 2022-2023:
https://share.chinmayamission.com/docs/CORD-report-22-23.pdf
CORD looks forward to sharing more of their wonderful work with you!
Sevaks’ Conference in USA
Spiritual Parenting Retreat in Portland, OR, USA
Chinmaya Mission Portland (Chinmaya Haridwar) was privileged to host the 6th National Parenting Retreat from 26 May to 28 May 2023 under Shri Vivek Gupta. ”Vision of Growth” was the focus for the Retreat and Shri Vivek Gupta explored this topic through Swami Tejomayananda’s ‘Jivanasutrani – Tips for Happy Living’.
Once a parent, one is a parent forever – parenthood can be equated to perpetual opportunities to get better, a Yoga.
70 adults and 35 children from across the US and Canada attended the camp and enjoyed age-appropriate programmes and family fun activities. The campers enjoyed Yoga sessions, meditation, bhajans, soccer in the park and movie nights in between parenting workshops. Chinmaya Yuva Kendra sevaks (volunteers) assisted by high schoolers were running parallel workshop sessions for elementary and middle school campers. CM Portland’s ‘Shadras’ kitchen offered sumptuous meals throughout the camp.
The camp also facilitated the Upanayana Samskara for 16 children under Shri Vivek’s guidance. Volunteers enabled enough practice sessions for the batus/vatus to familiarize themselves with the Sandhyavandana vidhi (evening prayer practice) thus empowering them to practice on their own once the camp ends.
Youth of CM Portland organized the annual CORD walk during the camp, emphasizing Daana (charity) for a higher cause. The walk raised $12,000 towards Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development, for women empowerment projects.
The camp concluded with some take-ways for parents of all ages and with plans to meet again for the next Parenting Camp.
report by camp attendee – Aparna Easwar
Bala Vihar Summer Camp in Delhi
It started with a thought and then a phone call to Swami Prakarshananda, Chinmaya Mission Delhi, whose suggestions and guidance got the ball rolling and the first ever Bala Vihar Camp outside the Chinmaya Mission premises in Delhi fell into place. The camp took place from 5 June to 23 June and the beneficiaries were 150 children of an NGO called Nai Disha Educational and Cultural Society, Vasant Kunj.
Sharmila Bhowal from Chinmaya Ranjan spearheaded the planning of the camp with the theme – Vande Bharat. Children learnt shlokas, songs, dances, did art and craft activities, heard many value-based stories from Bharatiya culture, were taught about indigenous foods and best nutrition, about unsung heroes and freedom fighters down the centuries and of course daily Yoga classes. International Yoga Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm. A science workshop was included in the camp. They went on an online Magical Bus to different parts of the country learning about the diversity, animals, plants, festivals and clothes, art and dance forms and the people of India. Definitely an exciting eye-opener.
The take away was this – We are India, we are Indians. To be proud Indians we have to be good human beings with the right values. Religions may be many but God is One. We all call Him by different names. So love God and pray to Him for yourself and for everyone.
At such short notice, an army of sevaks came from far and wide to take sessions. A big shout out to all of them. Some called and encouraged, some helped with refreshments while others with resource material. Many sevaks came from as far as Noida and Gurgaon besides different parts of Delhi to take sessions with the children.
Guru Purnima Celebrations
On this auspicious Guru Purnima day, that is 3 July 2023, devotees from all corners of the world united in reverence to express their gratitude to the worship Guru. With joyful fervor, they gathered to honour the divine wisdom that flowed from these spiritual masters, illuminating lives and guiding seekers on the path of self-realization. Through soul-stirring discourses, devotional chants, and selfless service initiatives, the celebration echoed the teachings of Swami Chinmayananda, spreading love, compassion and knowledge to uplift humanity. As the light of wisdom shone brightly, the global Chinmaya family embraced unity, harmony and the timeless bond between Guru and disciple.
For a glimpse into global celebrations, take a look at the video presentation at this link:
Satsang in Malleswaram, Bengaluru
Swamini Kashikananda of Koramangala Centre in Bengaluru conducted a Satsang on ‘Glory of Ramayana’ in Malleswaram on 4 June 2023 to observe the 27th Punyatithi of Brahmaleen Swamini Darshanananda who left her mortal body on 2 June 1996 after a very purposeful life serving Chinmaya Mission in various capacities in different Centres of Karnataka. The programme consisted of bhajans and chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama followed by Satsang in the divine presence of Swamini Sampannananda.
Swamini Kashikananda highlighted the significance of Ramayana as applicable to the modern generation, referring to Rama, Sita, Bharata, Lakshmana, Guha, Jatayu and Hanuman. We should study Ramayana not just as a story, but try to learn the underlying message that each great hero is trying to convey. Even the negative characters have a lot to convey, warning us of our possible downfall if we neglect to watch our mind that always tries to run behind the outer attractive world. Every human relation – son, brother, husband, wife, devotee, enemy – is dealt with in the epic showing clearly the ideal behaviour that has no parallel.
Lord Rama, throughout the epic, led the life of an ordinary human being, never exhibiting divine powers, showing the entire humanity that righteous living in accordance with Dharmic principles can raise a human to a divine status. Every hero in the epic – even those who appear for a very short duration – convey tremendous morals, creating an impact. Progress on the spiritual path is not a cakewalk; it needs immense patience, perseverance, sincerity and dedication.
The Satsang was well attended by local devotees.
Gita Jnana Yajna in Vijayanagar, Bengaluru
Swami Gahanananda of Chinmaya Mission Tumkur conducted a Gita Jnana Yajna in Kannada from 1 June 2023 to 8 June 2023 on ‘The Greatness of Bhakti’ based on chapters 7, 9 and 12 of Bhagavad Gita, at Chinmaya Mission Vijayanagar. The Yajna was inaugurated in the presence of senior members of Chinmaya Mission.
Swami Gahanananda explained that many mistake Bhakti to be just an act of worship, temple visit or a pilgrimage. But the true meaning of Bhakti is unconditional, pure, unflinching love towards the Lord. The Lord’s grace is always available, but it is necessary to develop a pure heart worthy of receiving it without any complaints and criticism. True Bhakti is the understanding that peace of mind is not in the outer world, but our very nature which is the inner silence that is the true abode of the Lord. Spiritual progress never depends on our birth. What is important is our sadhana (spiritual practice) with sense control and total surrender to the Lord.
Several devotees participated and derived benefit from the Yajna.
Rath Yatra celebrations at ParamDham
Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad celebrated the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra on 20th June with splendor and devotion. A special puja of all three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Bhalbhadra, and Devi Subhadraji was performed. The deities began their journey in the wooden chariot specially made at Jagannath Puri, Odisha in the evening which was welcomed at different places in the temple surroundings by the devotees. The Lord was welcomed with special aarti and offered naivedya. Devotees sang kirtans and played garba and the temple was resounded with the sounds of Jai Ranchhod Makhanchor and Krishna Murari Jai Krishna Murari. The Yatra came to completion at the temple again after an hour and a half, and all the devotees present there felt His presence in their hearts and prayed for more devotion.
