On Friday 4th July evening after work I came home, had a bath, packed my bag and, grabbed my bedding and started off to the Sannidhi. This was my first experience of a spiritual camp with no idea of what to expect. From my childhood reading of story books, spiritual camp was a total rough-out situation with bare minimum facility. The thought was itching me to give up the plan and enjoy the weekend sleep-in. But the thirst for knowledge and expectations that the knowledge would turn the way I would look at my day to day living gave me strength to go for it.» Read more

CHINMAYA ANNUAL CRICKET MATCH 2007

On Sunday 7th January, Chinmaya Mission Family and Friends had their second annual cricket match. The players were requested to come to the ground at 9AM but the cricket enthuisiasts as per the tradition they come from, all assembled and started warm up sessions at 8AM itself. By the time the game started we had 30 players and we had spectators.

Some took it so seriously that came in their whites.

Our Br. Gopalji went through the rules of the game and the conditions of play at Chinmaya Annual Cricket Match 2007.

By the Grace of God and the blessings and support of the Chinmaya Family, Amrita Ramjas has returned from the 2007 Special Olympics World Games with one gold medal and three silver medals for her performances in gymnastics. Amrita competed in Level One of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastic competition, which included routines on the beam, uneven bars, vault and floor. She was awarded three silver medals for her performances on individual apparatus and the overall GOLD medal in her level.

Ladies’ Retreat 13-14 July 2007 “Love Thy Self” with Br. Gopalji

Continues from last retreat

While saying bye to each other on the 20 Jan 07, after the Ladies’ Retreat 1, each one of us were saying a silent prayer to the Lord asking Him for another Retreat to happen soon! Our prayers were answered very soon! After all, that’s what we had learnt in that Retreat: ‘how to pray’!

For the last 2 years the Parents of the Balavihar Children and Junior CHYK children have been attending Bhaja Govindam Adult Lecture Class/Study Group of Br Gopal Chaitanya on Sunday mornings. Inspired by the Text "Bhaja Govindam" authored by Bhagavan Adi Shankaracharya, commentary by Swami Chinmayananda and lectures by Br. Gopalji, students of the class have started practising what they are learning. The difference has been seen already in the way the students have been interacting and dealing with situations that are arising around them and in them.» Read more

On April 21st 2007, Sydney (Australia) was blessed by the Divine Sage Sri Sankara, Gurudev, Guruji and Swami Swaroopananda. The children of Balavihar and Yuva Kendra, Chinmaya Mission Sydney celebrated Sri Sankara Jayanthi by organising a skit on Sri Sankaracharya’s life.

Article from Ladies Retreat 19th - 20th January 2007 that took place at Chinmaya Sannidhi.

The e-mail from Br. Gopalji sent on the 30 Dec 2006 carried a long awaiting piece of information that there would be a ‘Ladies Retreat’ in January 2007! Finally it happened! Ladies Retreat was to be held on 19 Jan – 20 Jan 2007. I was one of the Chinmaya Devis, who was waiting for this retreat, needless to say, that I enrolled myself at the very first opportunity.

Rama Navami

“For as long as mountains and rivers remain on the earth, so long will the story of Ramayana spread in the world.” Thus it was said by no less than Lord Brahma the creator, and indeed how true is this statement. There is a special beauty in the story of Lord Rama that continues to enchant us no matter how many times we have heard it before. So it was no surprise to see devotees of all ages thronging to Chinmaya Sannidhi (Abode of the Ram Parivar) to celebrate the Lord’s birth on Ram Navami.

Shivaratri – 16 February 2007

Mahashivaratri marks one of the most auspicious nights in the Hindu calendar. It is a celebration of Lord Shiva who personifies the path of renunciation and Supreme Knowledge. It is on this night that highly evolved seekers are initiated into Sanyasa.

Furthermore, the day is considered to be highly auspicious as the planetary positions create a natural upsurge in energies making it easier to achieve communion with God.

In a most celebrated portion of the Taittiriya Upanishad, it is stated:

Matru devo bhava (revere your mother as God)
Pitru devo bhava (revere your father as God)

In the Hindu culture, reverence to our elders is held utmost as a form of worship (Upasana). Thus, in accordance with this, children, teenagers and young adults (and older adults!) performed Matru Pada puja for their parents at Chinmaya Sannidhi on the 1st of October 2006.