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CHINMAYA MISSION AUSTIN

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Chinmaya Mission Austin has embarked on an path breaking journey to establish a premier center of Vedantic learning in Central Texas. Focused on the mission of teaching Vedanta, to children and adults alike, Chinmaya Mission Austin wants to enhance and complement the diversity of religious institutions in Central Texas. By establishing this Center in the heart of Austin, Chinmaya Mission Austin is focused on making this center accessible to one and all. By becoming a Sponsor you have the unique opportunity to participate in this momentous journey and leave a lasting legacy towards enhancing the diversity of Central Texas. Click here for finding out on Opportunities to Leave a Legacy for generations to come
ANNOUNCING CHINMAYA MISSION WEST VEDANTA COURSE 2010 With the blessings of His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, the head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, Chinmaya Mission West is pleased to announce its one year, residential Vedanta course at CMW headquarters, the ashrama Krishnalaya in Northern California. The one year course, without any holidays, will be conducted in English. The course is open to sincere seekers within the ages of 20 to 70. The course is scheduled to commence on August 7, 2010 and will conclude in August 2011. Please see attached information brochure for more details. To register complete the form at http://www.chinmayamission.org/piercy For more information please contact CMW at 707-207-5011 or prabhodh@chinmayamission.org
LIVE WEBCAST OF SANGEET TULSI RAMAYANA It gives us great pleasure to inform you all that Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayanandaji's Sangeet Tulsi Ramayan Recitation is from 19-27 March, 2009 at the Open Air Auditorium in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai. For the first time we are going to attempt to do a live webcast. The timings are 4-6pm and 7-9pm (IST). Detailed instructions will be uploaded on the CCMT site on the following link: http://www.chinmayamission.com/news-details.php?news_id=70&albumid=0 Kindly go to the above mentioned link on the 19th after 12noon (IST) to get detailed instructions on how to view the live webcast. Please bear with us during the webcast if there are interruptions or the reception and sound is not clear. We will do our best to let all members enjoy this great spiritual event.
EASY SANSKRIT ONLINE STUDY COURSE Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), the Center for Sanskrit Research and Indology, takes delight in introducing the Easy Sanskrit Online Study Course. This course covers the salient aspects of Sanskrit Grammar and learning without unduly burdening the students with many details. It is truly Sanskrit made easy! You do not have to know the Sanskrit Script or even for that matter any Indian language. For details of the Course visit www.easysanskrit.chinfo.org Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji, the Head of the Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, will be launching this course on 26th January 09, the Indian Republic Day, at Palakkad, Kerala, India. Rush in your registration online and become the very first students to begin this Easy Sanskrit Course. You can start right away studying the Course on the 26th Jan itself! Address your queries to the Administrator, Easy Sanskrit Online Course at easysanskrit@chinfo.org
PADMA SHRI AWARDED TO DR. KSHAMA METRE CM heartily congratulates Dr Kshama Metre, Director of CORD (Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development) and the driving force of CM's Sidhabari Project, for being awarded India's prestigious Padma Shri Award for Social Service. The Padma Shri is awarded by the Government of India in recognition of the distinguished contributions of Indian citizens in various spheres of activity, including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service and public life. The Padma Shri award stands fourth in the hierarchy of India's civilian awards, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Padma Bhushan. The Padma awards were announced in January 25, 2008 by the President of India, who approved the 119 award winners. The on-going social, economic and spiritual work in the Himalayan foothills of CORD's Sidhabari project is vast and unique. Dr Metre and her team have been serving entire villages through innovative, vocational, micro-banking, medical, educational, and social programs for over 15 years. With inspiration and blessings from Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji in the 1980's, Dr.Kshama Metre became the driving force and dedicated herself to the service of the community. It is further enhanced by the formation of CORD (Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development) under the holy guidance of Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji. Started as a small effort in Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, it has now expanded to Orissa, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh with aim to expand gradually to other states in India. The work of CORD has been possible only through the generous contribution of individuals and institutions continuously. Dr. Didi, National Director for CORD, has given her life in dedicated service to this vision, and relentlessly continues to do so. From the desk of Swami Tejomayananda Dear Mission Members, Hari Om! I am extremely happy to inform you that our own Dr Kshama Metre has been awarded the Padma Shri for her social work. We are proud of her and congratulate her. With Prem and Om, Tejomayananda Letter from Dr Kshama Metre Dear Chinmaya Mission Members, Hari Om! Thank you for your kind greetings and message to Pujya Swamiji for the Padma Shri award. It is with gratitude and humility that I acknowledge your wishes. The award is the grace and blessings of Pujya Gurudev and our Pujya Swamiji. They have made CORD what it is today, and by their grace, it will continue to bless many more people in our country. This award also acknowledges the many thousands of people who have contributed to the work in many diverse ways. My salutations to all. To all of you in Chinmaya Mission, I extend my congratulations, as you are an essential part of this honour. With warm regards, Kshama Metre
PUJYA GURUJI INITIATES FOUR INTO SANYAS ASHRAM Every year Puyja Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, confers Sannyas Deeksha (order of renunciation) to some Brahmacharis. Yesterday, on the auspicious Mahâshivarâtri day, Pujya Guruji initiated Brni Bhakti Chaitanya (Acharya of Chinmaya Mission France) along with three others. Their new names, and location of their centre appear below : Old Name New Name Brahmacharini Bhakti Chaitanya Swamini Umânanda (France) Brahmacharini Karuna Chaitanya Swamini Kirtanananda (Maharashtra Brahmachari Avinash Chaitanya Swami Krishnâtmananda (Tamil Nadu) Brahmachari Surya Chaitanya Swami Nigamananda (Orissa)
CM PRODUCES TV SERIAL "UPANISHAD GANGA" The impact of televised media is tremendous, as seen by the success of the TV serials on Ramayana & Mahabharata. The theme of the Upanishads, however, is unique and has never been telecast as a serial to date. Chinmaya Mission is privileged to take up this project under its new wing, "Chinmaya Creations." Upanishad Ganga is made for television serial that will be dedicated to Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji, who began his spiritual work with teachings on the Upanishads. In each episode the main Upanishad concepts will be explained through a blend of traditional and contemporary approaches, through drama, dance, music and captivating stories. Each episode is aimed at depicting teachings that have practical implications in daily life and that inspire individual, inner transformation. The episode will address both:1) the lay audience or the general public, who know little about the Upanishads and 2) the scholars who are already exposed to this knowledge. This serial will emphasize the Upanishadic message that "All problems are due to lack of right thinking. Human life is rare and precious. Its main purpose is to enquire into and realize the supreme Truth, which is the support of this world and the Self of all beings. This Realization can be gained through purity of mind and the Upanishadic wisdom learned from enlightened Master. The Realized Master ever remains engaged in the welfare of all beings." A core of Chinmaya Mission acharyas and scholars will do the research and conceptualisation of each episode. Chinmaya Mission has selected and appointed Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi (of Chankya fame) as the Creative Director of this serial. The serial will be in Hindi, as its largest audience will be Hindi-speaking. Eventually DVDs with subtitles and/or dubbing will be released in various languages. The serial will consist of a total of 52 episodes. The cost of each episode is approximately $35,000. To date over 13 episodes have been completed and previewed by the creators as well as people from various backgrounds. Their high acclaim and positive feedback has been greatly inspiring. We invite all those who value this project to donate generously. All donations are tax-deductible. Interested donors who wish to donate in US$ may contact their local Chinmaya Mission centres and specify the purpose of their donations. Donors who wish to donate in Indian rupees may contact Central Chinmaya Mission Trust at ccmt@chinmayamission.org for details
CHINMAYA NAADA BINDU This is one of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust's most enterprising and visionary ventures. Its conception was based on the same premises as of Chinmaya Mission's many educational institutes for Vedantic studies, academics, nursing and management. It is therefore of no small significance that a new educational institute, one fully dedicated to Indian classical music and dance will soon be added under the Chinmaya Mission banner. Situated on the Chinmaya Vibhooti site in Kolwan near Pune, India, Chinmaya Naada Bindu, a residential school of Indian classical music and dance, will invite and welcome students from all over the world. The main subjects will be vocal music, instrumental music and all major Indian dance forms. Affiliated to a reputed university, Chinmaya Naada Bindu, will house appointed, highly qualified faculty and visiting faculty of celebrated contemporary artists. The school will be an ideal place of inspiration for musicians and music lovers to follow in the music traditions and lineage of guru-shishya parampara. If you would like to fund this project through funding or personal talents, please contact ccmt@chinmayamission.org. To learn more about the programs that will be offered at Chinmaya Naada Bindu, contact Director Promodini Rao at promodini_rao@yahoo.co.in
LORD HANUMAN - EVER IN SERVICE AT SIDHBARI Last October in 2007, an extraordinary event took place near the Himalayas in India. It was the silver Jubilee anniversary of the Mastak Abhishek ceremony of Lord Hanuman at Sidhbari ashram. This form of worship takes place at the ashram every 5 years according to pujya Gurudev's instructions. For this grand event, a record number of Chinmaya Mission devotees and acharyas gathered from around the world to take part. This time they included many chyks and CM members from London, as well as HK, Florida, Singapore, Hyderabad & Sydney. Also present were the recently graduated 'batch' from the 2 year residential Vedanta training course in Mumbai. There was a beautiful sea of orange, yellow and white clad teachers at all the events, throughout the week. We found that we were to learn a great deal from every single soul we met that week... The camp and programme was led by Guruji Swami Tejomayanandji. Over the course of the week, a great variety of activities took place for the camp delegates. These included talks, pujas, concerts, a play perfomed by the brahmacharis, and intense prayer and archana, culminating in the grand bathing ceremony on the last day. Across the week, an amazing atmosphere of devotion and excitment was building up. By both day and by night, every small happening it seemed, was significant...But wait a moment. Let me draw the scene for you: The Chinmaya ashram at Sidhbari is located across the Kangra valley from Dharamsala. A Himalayan retreat that is set amidst a breathtaking expanse of the Dauladar mountain range, this is no ordinary place, but the very spot where Swami Chinmayanandji's mahasamadhi is located. Amongst the many striking features of the ashram, however the colossal moorti of Lord Hanuman stands literally head and shoulders above all the others, being at a height of 23 foot and on an 8 foot base. You would actually as well as metaphorically have to lift yourself upto to touch his toe... it's true! His compelling pose is that of veerasana (posture of the braves). He is seated but ever ready to spring into action in the sevice of Lord Rama. Whether by night, outlined against the beautiful stars of the Northern hemisphere, or by day against the pure cerulean blue Indian sky, Shri Hanumanji gazes across the ashram towards where His Lord, Sri Rama is located, at the Shri Rama mandeer at the ashram. How did such an awe inspiring and beautiful depiction of Lord Hanuman come to be located here? The Kangra valley was a wind tunnel. Nothing could grow and no building could withstand the force of the winds. Pujya Gurudev said ''We will worship Hanuman here, He is the controller of the winds.'' After Sri Hanumanji's idol was built and installed, the winds died down, gardens were cultivated and buildings came up, safely protected by His shelter. His presence at Sidhbari is also a reminder for us all to be ever ready to serve all those around us with humilty and love, in constant remembrance of the Divine. Alright, so what did the chyks actually do at Sidhbari for a whole week? Well, where to start... during the camp part of the programme for the first 4 days we heard Guruji's talks on each verse of the Hanuman Chalisa, including soul-stirring songs of love and devotion to the Lord. The chyks participated in the daily schedule of the ashram, with early morning prayers, the evening aartis at the mahasamadhi, the Sri Rama mandeer and at Sri Hanumanji's feet. We took part in Gurudev's paduka puja in the amazing atmosphere within his kutia. We spent as much time as possible in the holy and spiritually charged places that are all in the ashram. By day, we spent time with our acharyas who had all come there, from London, Paris, Hong Kong and of course, from the CM ashrams all over India. We were fortunate to know many of them. Throughout the week, they took care of us, guiding us and giving us their company. They taught us and gave us time and love so generously. In between Guruji's talks and the scheduled activities on the timetable, we chyks walked in the lush, fragrant pine forests, and in and mountain-fringed valley around the ashram. Sometimes we undertook meditation exercises conducted by Swamji....we visited the project run by CORD, the Chinmaya Organsiation for Rural Development, directed by Padma Shri award winner, Dr Kshama (Didi) Metre. We met many CM people who knew, loved and worked with Gurudev personally. They all shared their love for and experiences of Gurudev with us. Memorably, was Anjali Singh who gave a lot of time to the chyks, telling us by turns, hilarious and poignant and spiritually enlightening stories from her experiences with Gurudev. And in the evenings? One evening we watched an excellant play by the brahmacharis. This was on the qualities of Sri Hanumanji through eyes of a modern day professor character, which was played by none other than our very own former UK Chyk, Shayur! One other evening, quite incredibly, the entire camp delegation and ashram staff were treated to a once-in-lifetime concert performance by the highly treasured Pandit Jasraj, India's living master of Hindu vocal and accompanied by his foremost disciples. It is hard to comment on that transcendental musical experience: Except as Guruji said, that you could feel each of the Gods that Panditji invoked becoming present through the devoted magic of his legendary talent. By the way, he agreed to give the concert, for no fee, only out of devotion to Guruji and to Lord Hanumanji. So perhaps that will give you an inkling of the atmosphere! For the 2 days after the Hanuman Chalisa talks by Guruji, each devotee sat for puja to offer prayers to Lord Rama and Shri Hanuman, from early morning to lunchtime and each day the atmosphere of love and devotion was building. And then the day of the abhishek dawned... the intense planning and organisation that had been painstakingly laid in place for months in order to manage the record number of devotees, was about to be tested! And everything went beautifully. There was a speactaular pyramid built of of kalashas, which are the traditional pots filled with water from India's holy rivers. This jal or holy water within the vessels had been divinely charged by 6 full days: there had been suvh a wealth of prayers, chanting, havan, and puja that had been conducted by South Indian priests with the participation of all the Gurus and devotees present. One by one, everyone took their kalasha, and chanting Sri Hanumanji's name throughout, we all took part in a procession that led along past the Himalayan mountain range that lies behind Gurudev's mahasamadhi. Then, through the residential block, leading up flights of stairs upto the 33 foot high scaffolding platform that the Indian army had errected as their annual seva. This was lavishly decorated with garlands of fresh flowers, above and behind Sri Hanumanji's head... Then the moment was over too quickly, as each of us offered the holy water and our prayers. We poured the offerings along with our love, in worship over the body of Lord Hanumanji, in a magnificent bathing ceremony, which spanned throughout the morning and early afternoon. Picture if you will, many of our acharyas dancing garba and singing bhajans at the feet of the Lord..... together with hundreds of devotees. All the amazing personalities, many of whom gave us rich insight to pujya Gurudev's life. How many people whose lives Gurudev has touched and who gathered there out of inspiration and in devotion to Shri Hanumanji. There were all those mission family members from the ashram, the villagers, the CORD project, all the new brahmacharis, right through to us chyks........it was a glorious, colourful, musical celebration flavoured by euphoria and pure joy. We hear the word seva, or dedicated voluntary service, said a lot during chyk camp and at class. Here's some insight into the true meaning, in the words of our Gurus, inspired by the Mastaka Abhishekam. ''The underlying aim of taking part is to surrender to the Lord and invoke Him in our hearts, because He lives in the hearts of all. '' ''The spirit of service is not limited to a sense of duty. If one has the spirit of service then whatever one does, feels or thinks is service. Sri Hanumanji embodies a spirit of service that is born of love for all beings, which is why his love for the Lord becomes devotion, and the service that flows from such devotion becomes worship. He is the very embodiment of devotion-inspired service - this is true worship. A spirit of service that born out of love means that the love becomes devotion and the service that flows from such devotion becomes worship.'' '' Mastak Abhishek symbolises the invocation of Self-luminous vision in our heads and overflowing love in our hearts. '' Incidentally, whilst walking around the ashram and touring CORD, we shopped in the women's co-operative handicrafts outlets. Here, we were able to buy items handmade by people, many of whom had social disadvantages or physical disabilities. They had been trained up in sewing and other vocational crafts by the project team. We were only lending a little support to the initiative of the project and we found the quality of the items was excellant, true to Gurudev's high standard. Additionally, the people who served us had a warmth and the products had lovely handmade feel that it is not available to us everyday. We learned a lesson from the humility and love these ladies have for the Guru. Also from their professional pride in what they do, and their tremendous self effort and attitude of discipline. This strength was combined with a true gentleness of spirit towards us chyks. With these folk, there is no sense from them of anyone owing them anything, only deep commitment to the opportunity that has been created for them to make their own efforts to raise themselves up, with all the love and the blessings of the Guru. We witnessed the villagers' reverent response to Swami Swaroopanandji and Swami Chidatmanandji. Conversely, we saw firsthand the gentlenesss and respect of our Swamijis for these devoted folk. Talk about a win-win situation! It makes one think about what true blessings actually are. Maybe one could say this feeling is the very greatest blessing possible. This feeling that was evident in the eyes and manner of those we met: which is a sense of reverent gratitude for the Guru's Love - a love which has been expressed in every facet of life, both within oneself as well as within the life of the ashram and surrounding villages. Since we visited, I still wonder about it and think it may be this very feeling of the love that the Guru has given, that inspires love in us. In the process purifying our own heart from within..... It was such a depth of experience! The chyks and Chinmaya Mission members who had the rare blessing to be present on this occasion, together with all the devotees present, were given a new definition of love. At pujya Gurudev's ashram, all the love, company and encouragement we received meant that heartfelt devotion, love itself was our true prasaad. So it was very hard to leave! And for such an event to take place in the grand setting of Sidhbari made it feel like heaven on earth. Where will you be in 2012, when the the next one takes place?
CIF'S CORRESPONDENCE E-VEDANTA COURSE The Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) is pleased to invite all spiritual students to enrol in it's progressive home study programme for vedantic studies. Objective: The primary aim of these courses is to provide clarity and depth in a seeker's Vedantic studies. Each course covers in a series of 24 detailed lessons, various central Vedantic concepts as taught in introductory texts such as Vivekachudamani, Atma Bodha, Vakya Vriti, and Panchadashi. Levels: CIF'S one year correspondence Vedanta Course is offered on two levels, Basic/Foundation and Advanced. While students must have general Vedantic knowledge, before opting for the advanced course, CIF's specific basic course is not a pre-requisite to sign up for the advanced course, which provides an in-depth understanding of principal Vedantic concepts About CIF: Established in 1989, CIF is a research centre for Sanskrit and Indology, recognised by the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. Swami Chinmayananda visualized CIF as a bridge between East and West, past and present, science and spirituality, pundit and public. CIF is located in Kerala, India, at the maternal ancestral home and birthplace of Advaita Vedantin, Adi Shankara. Registration: Students may choose to enrol at any time during the year in either a postal correspondence course or an online correspondence course. (lessons are sent via email) E - COURSE: US $100; POSTAL COURSE: US $175 VISIT: WWW.CHINFO.ORG TO REGISTER OR GET MORE DETAILS