Krishna Janmastami was celebrated in a most grand manner this year in Melbourne in the presence of our beloved Krishna at the Ashram. For the last few years we have celebrated Krishna’s birthday at Box Hill Town Hall but this year Krishna had other plans. We could not get the booking this year and all enquiries into other venues proved fruitless. When it was decided to have the celebration at the Ashram it felt right and many people expressed their delight that we would be with our own Krishna.

On the 26th of July at the Agora Theatre eight months of planning and effort came into fruition on the opening night of the CHYK play ‘A day in the life’. This tale of a mother and daughters’ attempting to build careers, find love and dance the night away whilst being under the influence of a gypsy potion was written, directed and starred members of the Melbourne CHYKs who surpassed themselves in selling out two shows and generating valuable funds for the Mission’s work here and around the world.» Read more

Over forty students and staff members gathered to hear the first lecture titled "Master Your Mind and be a Master of This World" on March 19 presented by Gautamji at the University of Melbourne. Learning the language of self-knowledge was something new that the students had the chance to discover during their lunchtime break. It was very appropriate that a former alumnus of the University and still a very young Brahmachari of the Chinmaya Mission was to deliver this important message.

An invocation to Lord Ganesha marked the beginning of the auspicious celebration of Shivaratri on Thursday March 6th at the Ashram. The main feature in the hall was the altar. Placed in the centre was a magnificent picture of Lord Shiva, adorned with decorations. In front of the picture, a large brass tray had been placed to hold the Shiva Lingas brought there by a number of attendees. As the agitation and excitement of the day was calmed and our minds brought in tune with the Lord, Niveditaji started the puja.

As a regular attendee of the Sunday Family Program at the Chinmaya Dham where I had been studying the Bhagavad Gita for more than ten years, I could not resist the urge of the “Chinmaya charge” and creative enthusiasm it brings. Consequently, when we moved to our new home at Lynbrook near Cranbourne I was planning to start a Chinmaya Centre there. The grace of Gurudev and Swami Swaroopanandaji exalted us to go ahead. Brni Niveditaji’s availability was perfectly matched with the timing of the classes on Sundays.» Read more

For those who imagine a ladies’ retreat as an expensive one-day spa holiday, offering mineral spring water therapy and fragrant oil massages and facials, this year’s Chinmaya ladies’ retreat in Melbourne on Sunday March 2nd was poles apart. Instead of healing by approaching only the physical body and leaving the chattering mental noise untreated, Brni Nivedita and her many helpers succeeded in creating a conductive atmosphere where the women in attendance had a chance to get in touch with the core of their existence – their inner wisdom.» Read more

This was a free public talk by Brni Nivedita Chaitanya in Cranbourne held on January 27 to inspire the people around the Cranbourne, Lynbrook area to come to the new Chinmaya Mission Centre opening on Sunday 3 February at Kutty Krishnan's home, we decided to have a free introductory talk to the public on the Logic of Spirituality. Kutty, Radhakrishnan and Sunil did marvelous jobs promoting and organizing the talk with a dedicated team of people from the area.

On New Year’s Eve about thirty devotees gathered in the Ashram to send away the old year and to welcome the New Year. After the entertaining festivities concluded with a hearty game of Pictionary, in which varying artistic skills were displayed, Swamiji graced us with handy advice for the New Year.

On the morning of New Year’s Day more than 60 devotees gathered at the Chinmaya Dham to meditate on the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu in the presence of Swami Swaroopananda. The atmosphere was festive and yet quietly reverent. The ritual began and finished with devotional singing which allowed our minds to ascend to the spheres of the divine. After the beginning of the puja ten devotees took turn in chanting the 1000 names.» Read more

Sixty children attended a fabulous 5 days of fun, friendship and learning at the Children’s Holiday Program (CHP). This year the theme was Maha Bharata and Brni Nivedita stated way back with King Shantanu and Ganga Devi each day crossed the generations to the mighty Pandavas and the wicked Kauravas. Such an entrancing story! The children learnt about half of Mantra Pushpam and sounded really great! Then off to yoga and this year uncle Rick got the older group stretching and relaxing, while Sabu and Nivedita handled the wiggly younger ones.