Hari OM!

Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney)'s Canberra Centre had the wonderful fortune of having Brahmachari Gopal Chaitanyaji (Acharya of Sydney & Canberra & Adelaide) down with us for the weekend of the 14th-15th of April. Gopalji arrived on Saturday morning to meet and greet with the Canberra sevaks and to provide some valuable advice and guidance to improve the quality of the Chinmaya classes (Adult: Bhagavad Geeta, Teenagers: Hindu Culture, Youth: Self Unfoldment).

He also was present for the Adult and Junior CHYK classes and both became a kind of question and answer session in which Gopalji answered many of the doubts that had emerged over the previous week's classes. The adult class, in particular, turned out to be a very valuable session and class members were so inspired that they did not actually want to stop the class!

In the evening, Gopalji attended the first CHYK (youth) Bhiksha in Canberra! The evening was relaxing and inspiring for all as the youth had the chance to meet and greet Gopalji as well as ask questions from classes. Gopalji expounded the meaning of Om, the primordial sound symbol in Hinduism. This sacred sound symbol, he said, is made up of four aspects, A, U and M. The fourth aspect is the silence at the end of the Om. The first three states represent the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and the fourth – the silence (Turiya) – represents the Self which is the substratum of the three other states.

Having spoken on Om and answered other doubts, the CHYKs shared in a veritable feast prepared by the CHYKs themselves (well, with some help from their parents of course!). The night ended with giving of Prasad by Gopalji and all the CHYKs dispersed.

Gopalji left for Sydney on early Sunday morning, leaving behind some wonderful memories and experiences.

With Inspiration given by Gopalji, we also had our first festival and how befitting that it was Chinmaya Jayanthi on 8th May 2007.

It was fantastic. Raji Aunty spoke on the Inspiring life of Gurudev, we had some bhajans by Uncle Chandra and Prasanth. Prasanth spoke on his experiences how Chinmaya Mission has changed his life. We did Arati of Gurudev and we had some wonderful sweet prasad prepared by our Lakshmi aunty. CHYKs during their CHYK class spoke and discussed on Gurudev's life and the impact Gurudev made on the society at that time and time to come.

We look forward for Br. Gopalji's next visit to Canberra. He will be visiting Canberra on the Saturday 19th of May.

Photos from CHYK Bhiksha Click Here

Photos from Canberra Gurudev's Jayanti Click Here

Classes in Canberra

CHYK Classes (Youth 18yrs - 30 yrs)

Day: Monday
Time: 7.30PM to 9.00PM
Veue: Taylor Primary school, Marconi Crescent, Kambah
Text: A Manual of Self Unfoldment
Contact: Prasanth Ramkumar on 0422-770-541

Saturday Family Program (For Adults & Teenagers)

Time: 4.30PM to 6.00PM
Venue: Pearce Community Centre, Collett Place, Pearce

Text for Adults: Bhagavad Geeta (Video Study Group)
Text Junior CHYK Class (Teenagers 12-17yrs): Hindu Culture
Canberra Study Group Coordinator: Chandra Rangnath (mobile: 0424 466 335)

We have classes for both Parents and Teenagers at the same time, facilitated by sevaks

All are welcome to attend. Give it a try.

Hari OM
Prasanth Ramkumar
Canberra Youth Sevak