On the 6th of July, Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney) held their family camp at the Bundilla Scout Hall with Br
Gopalji.

Everyone gathered inside the main hall to play icebreaker games; the parents needed to write down “Why God” and the children needed to say what they expected from their parents. After that, delicious cupcakes and yummy samosas were served for morning tea.

Soon after, Gopalji told a story about three princes, who wanted to find out about Who is God, What is God, Where is God? After lunch we played family Olympics in the main hall.

Then the kids made cookies with Anita Aunty and we had to decorate them with attention and care. Then Gopalji gave our biscuits away and we all had to eat someone else's biscuits. We learnt that even though each biscuit looked different it was made up of the same material. In the same way, everything in this world looks different, but they are all made up of the same GOD. So we should understand that all biscuits are one and we should be able to share it happily as everything and everyone is God in different forms.

Next we had an activity where we were all given a scenario and we had to perform it as a family based on what normally happens in the home. We then did a devotional dance about Ganesha and went to our cabins to sleep. The next day we sang bhajans and played lagorie [a fun indian game taught to us by Kieran anna], chains and bull- rush.

We then learnt three laws in class to help us understand “Why God”. Law 1: Every Effect must have a cause. Law 2: Effects are nothing but the Cause itself in different forms. Law 3: if you remove the cause from the effect nothing remains. Gopalji explained that the Cause itself is the entire effect, Cause is everywhere in the Effect. In the
same way, the world is nothing but God in different forms, so if we remove God, the world will not exist, which means I will not exist. This means I am God. All the practices that we learn in Balavihar, from scriptures etc is to help us to remember that we are God. We were also taught that because everything is God, everything is me. So I must love everything the way I love myself. The children listening and the teacher Gopalji speaking are all God in different forms. So Why God – why do we need Him? Without God, I won’t be here and neither will the world. Therefore God is necessary and I have to find God. That is, I have to find Me.

Next, we had a fun quiz. We acted our role plays and the topic of the role plays were “How does God help us in our every day lives?”. We had a Great craft activity. We also made a family calendar where we had to organise family activities during the month. Lastly, we learnt how to do simple family pooja. I felt very happy doing the pooja with my whole family including my grandma.

One my friends wrote “The family camp this year was super! It was a fabulous experience for the entire family. A great time to relax yet learn about God! We learnt about the laws of causation, the five elements that are; space, air, fire, water, and earth. During the two days we understood the concept of 'Why God'. Everything everywhere at all times is nothing but 'GOD'. There was so much to do and it felt like there was so little time, we just didn't want it to end. Cant wait till the next family camp!!“ - Ananya