This year Chinmaya Mission Australia is celebrating its 25th anniversary in a grand way, starting with a power packed tour by our resident acharya Swami Swaroopanandaji and culminating at the end of the year with a full dramatic performance of the Ramayana to the general public.

Swamiji began the year with an inspirational Chyk Camp called "Unleash the Power of Your Mind" held in the scenic Otford Valley on the south coast of Sydney from 31st March to the 2nd of April. Ninety youth were challenged to think outside the box with respect to their goals in life. To think laterally not literally, to widen their view horizontally not just vertically, that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Group activities enhanced this vision bringing the impact of experience into sharp relief. A major highlight was the "drum orchestra" with 90 youth, each with a drum and a given rhythm of drum beats, producing a final magical and powerful unison of sound sensation. It is a higher goal for the greater good of all that indeed unleashes the latent power in everyone's minds. Please click here to see some photos from this camp.

This year's celebrations are particularly highlighting Lord Rama and the epic of the Ramayana. So it was a most auspicious and fitting start to the year, to celebrate Ram Navami in Sydney. Swamiji gave an enchanting satsang on "The Glories of Lord Rama" tuning up the hearts of all present.

Dashing to Melbourne, all was ready for the long awaited Aranyakand Yagna by Swamiji from the 10th to the 16th of April. A good crowd of people attended and were entranced by the concluding dance, mime drama performances by the CHYKs each evening. Swamiji's talks were full of devotion and this was magnified in the hearts of all as we saw before our eyes the beloved Ram, Sita, Lakshmana and Sabri in their full majesty, beauty and grace. This was strikingly contrasted with the high drama and tension of the demons, the golden deer and Ravana's kidnapping of Sita. Please click here to see some photos from this yagna.

On concluding Swamiji flew to Sydney to give the same Yagna there with the Sydney Chyks excelling in their corresponding dance drama performances to an equally large crowd of people. Pushpa Jagadesh enchanted the crowd with her exquisite singing of the Ram stuties. The whole event was televised on Channel 31.

Swamiji's stay in Sydney culminated with a two day Junior Chyk Camp called "Roller Coaster of Life" in which 25 youngsters explored goal setting, team building and maintaining equinimity in the ups and downs of life taking inspiration from the symbolism of Lord Shiva. Please click here to see some photos from this camp.

After a two week visit to New Zealand Swamiji was back in Australia to enlighten us with the depths of the Upanishads. What better way to start these talks than by honouring the Guru. Gurudev's Jayanti was celebrated grandly at the Baulkham Hills Civic Centre in Sydney with bhajans, Pada Puja and a talk by Swamiji.

 

Then from the 9th to the 14th of May Swamiji took Kenopanishad to an enthusiastic group of devotees. The talks were entitled "Who am I?". It was the very first time Swamiji had taken an Upanishad in Sydney so the people were absolutely thrilled. Please click here to see some photos from this Kenopanishad talks.

Swamiji then came to Melbourne from the 15th to the 21st of May for the morning talks at the Chinmaya Dham Ashram taking the Brahmananda Vali of the Taittiriya Upanishad. Many sincere students drank in the nectar of the Supreme Truth.

Preparations are well under way for the "Ramayana at the Park" (RAP) in Melbourne to be performed over two consecutive weekends on Sunday 26th of November and Sunday 3rd of December. Swamiji will be with us. Its unique feature is that the audience will move from location to location in a beautiful park as the scenes of the story unfold. It will be our way of offering our devotion and gratitude to the blessed Feet of Gurudev for bringing Chinmaya Mission to Australia and blessing us with the knowledge of Advaita and giving us the opportunity to serve. We also fondly remember Mataji Dr. Ganapathy who started the Mission under Gurudev's direction and held classes for some 20 years.

We extend a very warm invitation to all our Chinmaya Family to attend the "Ramayana at the Park". Please check out our main website www.chinmaya.com.au or our special RAP website rap.chinmaya.com.au.

Hari Om!!