News
Balavihar Classes Resume (2010-2011)
Aug. 2010
Over the weekend of Aug. 28/29 2010, the D/FW chapters of Chinmaya Mission opened its doors to an excited group of over 900 children. Many Chinmaya sevaks put in countless hours to get ready for Balavihar reopening to ensure that kids have the most positive Balavihar learning experience. Over the summer of 2010, we successfully implemented a new online registration system. Our resident acharya Br. Uddhav Chaitanya conducted grade-specific teacher training sessions for 150+ teachers to communicate the vision, mission and goals of Balavihar for each grade. Teachers are now better equipped to meet the challenges of imparting the teachings of Hindu culture to the next generation. Kudos to the groups of volunteers who assembled the CM D/FW Handbook 2010 and delivered classroom supplies so that children had them ready on their first day at Balavihar. The sevaks from the Publication team are also ready at the bookstore where you can purchase books specific to each grade-level. Be sure to browse through our collection for other Chinmaya publications too. Amidst all this, don’t forget to join the fun for the Labor Day Camp 2010!
The unprecedented growth in Balavihar enrollment came a few changes. Balavihar sessions will be conducted for the first time in our own property in Irving which Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda named as Chinmaya Chitrakoot; and classes will also continue at Chinmaya Saaket, our facility in Dallas metroplex. Click here for more details on locations, session timings, and acharya assignments.
Chinmaya Chitrakoot Inauguration
May 2010
May 8, 2010 is an extraordinary day in our lives. It is Pujya Gurudev's Jayanti, a day divine in and of itself. Those of us in Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) however, were blessed to have witnessed and accomplished the eagerly awaited pravesh (entry) of Chinmaya Chitrakoot in Irving, TX on this propitious day. Gurudev's grace and blessings flowed throughout the day starting with perfect weather in an otherwise unpredictable springtime in the D/FW metroplex. Indeed the day could not have been more auspicious and divine!
Festive decorations greeted us at the entrance and lead us to the divine altar decorated by dedicated volunteers. Center stage was Ram Parivar (Ramji, Sitaji, Lakshmanji and Hanumanji) along with Ganeshji and Gurudev Padukas. Deities of Lord Krishna and Kamadnathji adorned with pushpam (flowers), tulasi and toranam (garland) made from fresh mango leaves flanked on either side. Multitude symbols of auspiciousness such as, banana plants, rice and jaggery, soaked yellow moong, coconut, akshata, ornaments for Sitaji and many more from all parts of India were potent reminders of the uniqueness of our oneness in diversity! Artistically decorated cutouts of elephants sought earnestly to bring a little more of our traditions into the already sublime environment inside the hall. It was indeed a divine sight to behold and cherish! Diligent volunteers had painstakingly arranged and ensured that all samagri (materials) for the puja and havan (sacred ritual) were ready at hand for the ceremonies to start on time in keeping with the trademark of punctuality at Chinmaya Mission everywhere.
The ceremonies commenced with the symbolic cow (ornamental cutout) entering the building followed by the purohit Anant Padmanabhanji, our acharya Brahmachari Uddhava Chaitanyaji and the four yajmans. Ganapati puja at the very start removed all obstacles and paved the way for the performance of Ramji puja, Navagraha puja and Gurudev puja amidst chanting of Purusha Suktam, other Vedic chants, Rama ashtottarashatanamavali and Chinmaya ashtottarashatanamavali. The worshipped deities of Ram Parivar and Gurudev Padukas (feet) were then taken outside the building and back in a ceremonial procession replete with embellished umbrellas and traditional blowing of the divine conch.
As with any gruhapravesh, the shanti havans for Ganapati, Vaastu and Navagraha were also performed under the able guidance of our purohit and Br. Uddhavji. Yajmans subsequently went outside to further consecrate the premises by performing puja in all eight directions and by breaking a white gourd to ward off evil influences. Sprinkling sacred water using mango leaves, the yajmans also sanctified all the rooms. During this time members inside the hall chanted Guru Paduka stotram. Naivedyam was then offered to the Lord and sumptuous Mahaprasad was served for lunch in the spacious dining hall. Members mingled with each other enveloped in happiness and good vibrations of the ceremonies. Thus the 21000 square feet of divine space of Chinmaya Chitrakoot was inaugurated.
Thanks to Gurudev's blessings, now the members from various parts of the D/FW metroplex have one more place to call their own. Children are excited and eagerly looking forward to starting their next Balavihar session in Chinmaya Chitrakoot! As an early manifestation of this anticipation, the Chinmaya Mission D/FW board successfully held its annual General Body Meeting for 2009-2010 in the dining hall in the afternoon. Located centrally in the DFW metroplex with easy access to three major highways, the airport and the surrounding suburbs with 2.75 acres that promise plenty of room to grow, Chinmaya Chitrakoot is poised to be humming with activity soon and is eagerly awaiting Ram-Bharat Milap, the divine picture that will adorn the main hall!
CMDFW Graduation 2010
May 2010
Congratulations to all of the graduates of Chinmaya Mission! The inspiring CMDFW graduation ceremony was held on Saturdat May 15 at CMDFW West, and on Sunday May 16th 2010 at Chinmaya Saaket. All the graduates seemed eager to embark upon a new and higher educational journey.
Each and every one of them has been blessed with an education in Hindu traditions and values in a disciplined, methodical and enjoyable manner. It was apparent that all of them cherished what they had learned through their speeches. Their respectful conduct towards their gurus, acharyas and their parents is the first indication that Chinmaya Mission has indeed had a positive influence on them.
The confidence, ease and poise that they displayed while giving their speeches was very impressive. They all seemed so sure of themselves and were very aware of their own talents as well of the talents of their friends. They playfully teased one another yet held each other’s special qualities in high regard.
Another delightful surprise was that many of them chose disciplines that are different from the norm. It is their confidence in their ability to excel that allows them to pursue avenues that people of our region don’t generally consider. Such self-assurance comes from a balanced mind and inner strength. This balance is another fruit of the combined efforts of the students, teachers, acharyas and the invaluable teaching of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. They will easily tackle whatever difficulties they face in life as stated in the book Self -Unfoldment “What we meet in life is Destiny; How we meet what we meet is self effort.” The graduates are equipped to meet their destinies head on.
One of the greatest benefits of being part of Chinmaya Mission for all the Balavihar students is that they will never feel culturally displaced. Being a second or third generation Indian is not easy when there is a vast difference in the expectations at home and the world outside. Chinmaya mission then becomes their spiritual and cultural family from which they can discover their roots, yet maintain their individuality. It is the one constant in their lives that gives them direction when they stand at crossroads. The Balavihar students are less likely to fall prey to an identity crisis because they belong. They belong to the Chinmaya Parivar (family) no matter where they go in the world.
In the end when all of the graduates stood on stage in their elegant Indian attire, shimmering with the smiles of their accomplishments and the dreams of exciting times that await them, one couldn’t help but notice the tears in their parents’ eyes. You may not know any of the graduates personally, but many people in the audience had difficulty holding back their tears. It was as though every parent looked forward to the day to see their children on stage at their graduation ceremonies. And then like all the mothers of the Balavihar graduates, we will let our tears of pride flow joyfully.
Jivan Mukti (Liberation) Through Swadharma
Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto XI, Part 3
April 2010
Canto XI of Srimad Bhagavatam is a dialog between Shri Lord Krishna and His beloved cousin Uddhav. The Lord had taken a sankalpa (wish) to withdraw His Leela (play) and end the powerful Yadav dynasty. He had tasked Uddhav with taking sanyaas (renunciation) and spreading the divine knowledge. Uddhav uses this opportunity to learn the knowledge directly from The Source - Lord Shri Krishna Himself to seek clarification and guidance on some of the most commonly intriguing questions. Here we see how one can purify and transcend the mind by following one's Swadharma in light of Varna Dharma and Ashram Dharma. Understanding elements of Moksha Dharma and qualifications for one to be one the path of either Gyana Yoga, Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga it humbles us to dedicate and devote our expressions to a higher altar. Lord Shri Krishna painstakingly explains gunas (nature) of Prakirti (expressed world of limitations) and Purusha (the Observer). The gunas (qualities) of the Prapancha (manifest world) are inherent in all perceivable elements. Transcending these gunas (qualities) such that we are not under their influence is then possible for the gunatitah (liberated soul) who is free from the cycle of birth-n-death and the laws of karma (action).
Saadhana (Spiritual Practice) of Tuning-In
Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto XI, Part 2
March 2010
In spite of divinity pervading in-n-through the entire universe, how does one blatantly miss it? Br. Uddhav Chaitanya reflected on this during the satsangs (divine company) on Srimad Bhagavad Canto XI Part 2 held at Chinmaya Saaket from Mar. 01 to 05, 2010. Through the Avadhoot Gita, Lord Shri Krishna helped us realize the potency of the seemingly mundane occurrences in our daily life. Each of the 24 Gurus relayed a beautiful message. Every experience unfolding in our life has an implicit subtle lesson. If we know the art of right contact with the external world, we can certainly tune into the divine experience. However, we resist eacg incident with our shades of likes and dislikes, thereby limiting ourselves from spiritual unfoldment.
Bhagawan Shri Krishna further explained the qualities of a saint, and how to inculcate bhakti (devotion) in our hearts. Through dhyaan (contemplation on the Lord) we can break away from our own conditionings and establish in the blissful existence. En route, we acquire various kinds of siddhis (powers). If we get distracted and focus on the siddhis (powers), we lose track of the goal of our sasdhana (spiritual practice), that is, spiritual unfoldment. Nothing should divert our attention from the tapasya of the Lord!
For those of us who are pulled out in the external world, the Lord relayed His Vibhooti (manifestation) in the universe. By tuning into That divinity through our interactions, our mind can remain focused on the Lord. Just when you thought that such a vision was enough for sharanagati (seeking refuge) at the Lord’s feet, Bhagawan Shri Krishna instructs us to perform one’s Swadharma (duties) dictated by the guna (quality) and ashram (household). If karma (actions) is understood in the right context, then we can reflect on varna (quality), ashram (household) and dharma (duty) during the next month’s satsang on Srimad Bhagwad.
Divine Devotional Diaglogs
Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto XI, Part 1
January 2010
During the week of January 18 - 22, 2010, Br. Uddhav Chaitanya tuned us to listen to divine devotional dialogs. One of them was Narad ji's narration of a conversation among Raja Nimi and the Nava Yogis (9 sons of King Rishabha, 4th generation of Swaayambhu Manu). The essence of Bhagavad Dharma is in the following mantra (chant)
Kayena vacha manasendriyair va, buddhyatmana va, prakriteh svabhavat
Karomi yadyat, sakalam parasmai, Narayanayeti samarpayami.
Follow the simple practice of dedicating (samarpayami) all our interactions to a higher altar (Narayana). This is the best cleansing method and is guaranteed to purify us. As is characteristic of Naradji's visits, He certainly instills the Bhakti bhav (devotional attitude). We just have to be ready to receive Him!
Another such divine dialog was Shri Krishna's response to Uddhav ji, His cousin who was instructed to be a renunciate instead of joining the Lord during His final moments. Shri Krishna explains what Dattatreya learned from his 24 gurus. These elements (Earth, Air, Space, Water, Fire, Moon, Sun, Pigeon and Python) have so much to teach us ... as mentioned earlier, we simply have to be ready to receive the instructions!
There are many more opportunities to tune to these dialogs. These satsangs (divine dialogs!) are scheduled to continue from Feb. 01 to Feb. 05, 2010. Join us to find out what the rest of the 24 gurus have to say.
Chinmaya Mission Family Camp 2009
Spiritual Retreat in D/FW
December 2009
We were showered with blessings from Lord Shiva and Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda as unexpected snow and ice ushered us to the spiritual retreat on Christmas eve! Chinmaya Mission D/FW was honored to welcome Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, acharyas and guests and from all over the world for a week-long winter camp at the Hilton D/FW lakes in Grapevine, TX. In spite of the weather, almost 650 camp attendees enjoyed the retreat and embarked on The Journey from Change to Changeless.
Our president, Mr. Ashok Dandekar kicked-off the camp with a welcome note. The inauguration ceremonies featured a welcome address by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda and a melodious prayer song with accompaniment by our own balvihar kids.
Each day of the camp was filled with age-appropriate activities for children, youth and adults along with plenty of time to relax and mingle with attendees from different places and delicious vegetarian food. These were followed by sessions conducted throughout the day for different age groups.
Swami Sharanananda began the day began bright and early for children while he conducted yoga. Classroom sessions for children incorporated the Changeless Values of Sanatana Dharma. The middle-school and high-school kids learned the 20 values from Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 (verses 8-13) taught by Swami Sharanananda and Swamini Shivapriyananda respectively. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda had a very special treat for the kids as he visited each classroom. The kids enjoyed His presence whether it was for clarifying their questions or simply being engrossed listening to stories he told. In the later half of the day the children also learned how to chant the vedic aarti taught by visiting acharya Smt. Lakshmi Sukumar; while the high school children on the other hand were engaged in daily satsangs with various acharayas - Swami Sharanananda, Swami Shantananda, Smt. Sharada Kumar, Br. Prabodh Chaitanya and Acharya P. B. Ghate.
The adults' meditation sessions early in the morning were followed by Pujya Guruji's discourses on Kaivalyopanishad. He emphasized on the proper way to chant the Shanti mantra (peace invocation) and rendered it's meaning. Along with Ahswalayan, we learned the Bramha-vidya (ultimate knowledge) that will help us try to achieve moksha – true freedom from grief. In these satsangs we also learned how to meditate following the saguna saakar (form of the Lord). Swami Shantananda's discourses on Gopika Geetam gave an historical perspective on the gopis (female friends) and the meaning of Gopika Geet (song of the gopis). In addition, various acharyas gave discourses by on Karma Yoga (Path of Action) as an applied science that all of us could relate to.
Families treasured precious moments with Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda as they participated in daily Guru Paduka Puja or Bhiksha (meal offerings) with Pujya Guruji. The evening yagna on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 was open to everyone, enabling the maximum number of people to be in His presence.
Camp Part I concluded with the annual banquet. The event featured performances by including songs, dances, Gita chanting and Slokathon trophy awards. Pujya Guruji’s keynote address included a story of young cowherd who did not know the value of the diamond he found and a jeweler who knew the price of the diamond but not its value. Pujya Guruji asked each one of us to reflect on the true value of Balavihar and Chinmaya Mission and its impact on our lives.
Camp Part II concluded with an evening of cultural program presented by Balavihar kids and CHYKs (Chinmaya Yuva Kendra members). The show was a pure delight to watch. Our youngest little ones taught us the most touching lesson. Their skit reminded us that every single aspect of this universe is important - whether it is grass, or trees, flowers, animals, etc.. Every one matters and we all have a role to play, regardless of how big or small our contribution is. A musical performance on Shabari and Navadha bhakti (nine forms of devotion) certainly struck a chord in everyone's hearts! The CHYKs presented a skit about kids' and parents’ expectations and resolving dilemmas as kids grow up in America's Indian households. The underlying message was loud and clear, and every single person in the audience could relate to it especially since it applied to children's upbringing in America. The evening was concluded with a dandiya presentation by the kids and CHYKs.
The overall camp experience was extremely satisfying. The camp was an even higher success considering what each one of us received here – zeal to work harder, better in our workplace as we learned from the teachings on Karma Yoga, desire to live life with an incline towards sattvik (godly) tendencies, our children trying to emulate the 20 values learned from Bhagavad Gita and the closeness we felt towards each other as an extended family. This truly was a memorable experience. If you were unable to partake in this camp this year, we hope you can take part in similar camps in the future.
From Vrindavan to Mathura
Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto X, Part 3
October 2009
Our resident acharya, Br. Uddhav Chaitanya has resumed discourses on Srimad Bhagawatam at Chinmaya Saaket. The essence of Srimad Bhagavatam is in Canto X – we can truly believe that as we listen to the Lord’s leela. Lord Krishna’s childhood touches every listener to fill our bosom with bhakti (devotion) As Yashoda maiya (mother), you can feel the pangs of separation with the mere thought of Him leaving Vrindavan and going to Mathura. As a father (Nand baba) or birth parents (Vasudev and Devaki), you cannot but bask in His glories as He eradicates adharma (lawlessness) by killing Kamsa and other demons. As a Gopi (childhood friend) you are completely enamored by His charms; yet, you definitely want to (playfully) let Him know about how upset you are by His sudden departure to Mathura!
In spite of being the Lord of the Universe, Shri Krishna goes through the rites and rituals prescribed in the Hindu culture by Sanatana Dharma. After His Upanayanam (thread ceremony) He goes to Gurukul (school) in Sandeepany to complete his education. He then returns to Mathura and fulfills his duties to rebuild the city and protect its citizens
If your schedule permits you, please come and bask in these stories of Lord Krishna that are not only entertaining, but also have a lot of deep underlying meanings within it.
Balavihar Reopens for 2009-2010
August 2009
After successful Teacher Training sessions Balavihar reopened on Aug. 22 at both the facilities – Chinmaya Saaket and CMDFW West. We invoked Lord Ganesha on the opening day and were blessed to cater to almost 900 children at the various locations. Kudos to all the Chinmaya sevaks for a remarkable job of ensuring a smooth transition into the academic year 2009-2010. Not only did we add a session on Saturday (3:30 to 5:30 PM) under the guidance of Acharya Asha Ghate, but CMDFW West center also moved to a new location in Coppell.
After conducting the Saraswati Puja during Navaratri we now look forward to Diwali celebrations. Children from various grades will perform on stage to the theme of Khestra Mahima. Come to any one of the Balavihar sessions on Oct 17 or Oct 18 and be amazed at what we learn from our young talented children!
Reveling in Colors!
CMDFW Picnic 2009
By Manju Menon
May 2009
On Saturday, April 25, 2009 the Chinmaya Mission DFW (CM-DFW) held their annual picnic at the Myers Park and Event center also known as the Collin County Youth Park in McKinney. The event is open to members and guests of members.
This annual event has grown from a mere 600 people in 2005 to almost 1900 in attendance this year. Since 2007, the highlight of the event is the boisterous celebration of the Indian festival of Holi. This festival captures the high-spiritedness of many Hindu festivals and is characterized by revelers who smear color and drench each other with colored water. Holi is the harbinger of spring and traces its origins to the time when a youthfully exuberant Lord Krishna smeared his favorite gopi (cow-herdess), Radha and her friends with color, until everyone looked no different from the Lord himself. So also the revelers of Holi, young and old, male and female all end up looking as one, merging with the resplendent colors of spring.
Myers Park sprawls over more than 100 acres and is a perfect indoor-outdoor setting for this event. Outdoor events included kite flying, 3-legged races and tug-of-war, accompanied by foot stomping, popular, Bollywood and Indian folk music. Volunteers roasted corn, whipped up crunchy bhel puri (Indian trail mix tossed with variety of garnishes) and offered spiced buttermilk for a jog down the smoky lanes of Mumbai and Delhi! The Show Barn which encloses an arena of nearly 40,000 sf held many games for the younger kids in attendance. The Show Barn also serves as a great back-up locale if the capricious Texas weather turned stormy.
On this day, weather defied all odds of an April shower and turned out perfect for a picnic. The only water that flowed was from the pichkaris (Indian water guns) of the Holi revelers who doused each other after happily lunching on billowy soft bhaturas (fried bread) made fresh on-site teamed with steaming hot chole (spicy chick peas). It was an experience that suffused the senses! The youthful and dynamic Swamiji (pastor) at the Mission, who is normally resplendent in his yellow robes was turned yellow and red drenched in Holi colors by the end of the afternoon much to the glee of Sunday schoolers.
The fun was infused with meaning and purpose by a Walkathon conducted by Sunday school students, of mostly middle school age, who got first hand experience organizing an event, selling T-shirts and obtaining pledges. They handily beat the goal of raising $5000. These funds will be donated to help settle a growing stream of refugees of Bhutanese and Nepali origin who have been resettled in the Dallas area among other US cities, by the US government. These refugees are victims of ethnic cleansing in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, that only recently received much-needed action from the UN and member nations. CM DFW made arrangements to bus these refugees to the picnic site so they could participate in the festivities – many of whom could not remember the last time they celebrated anything.
It was a memorable day of fun and revelry infused with the purpose of spirituality.
CM DFW leaders look forward to a day when every child and adult, in our Metroplex, irrespective of origin, blend as one with the colors of spring and air rings with the call “Holi Hey”!
Divine Grace
Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto VIII, Part 2
"The fiery touch of the LORD's grace, when it descends upon His devotees, is invariably felt by the seeker, more as a refreshing shower of divine mercy."
-- Swami Chinmayananda
Our beloved Br. Uddhavji enabled an experience of this divine touch as his discourses on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto VIII Part 2 concluded on Thursday, Jan. 15 2009 on the CMDFW premises. In this power-packed satsang (gathering) the "refreshing shower of divine mercy" cascaded in the retelling of the glories of various avatars of the Lord. The splendor and beauty of the Lord's sustenance of this world provided through Kurma (tortoise), Shakti (energy), Mohini, Vamana, Matysa (fish) infused the audience with joy and bliss.
The valuable lessons learned through these stories include
- The power of prayers
- Being vigilant of the mind's polarity
- Maximizing efforts for creating a synergy
- Awareness of inherent talents and tendencies
- Remaining focused on the goal of our saadhana
- Meaning of immortality
- Following guru's teachings
- Actions and consequences
- Fulfilling promises
- Lord's abundant providence
- Serving the Lord in all capacities as a humble servant.
We now have the technology to listen to the Bhagvatam talks via uStream, albeit a rather weak substitute for attending the satsang in person! May Gurudev's blessings continue to shower on us with many more satsangs (gatherings) on Srimad Bhagvatam.
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