Be The Light (Reflections on Diwali)

After close to 18 years in Chinmaya Mission, I know what Deepavali (“Diwali”) means, but this season, I had the opportunity to reflect on what Diwali meant to me.

It’s more than a time of yummy food and new clothes – it’s about sharing the special occasion with your family & friends. Not everyone can share those moments together. For instance, the Bhutanese community in Austin who moved from Nepal (after fleeing their homes in Bhutan), were not able to celebrate as a community until this year, when CHYK member, Jay Parmar, brought the community together for Diwali by facilitating a community event for them. Many of them did not have their own transport to get together, and so, they were dependent on volunteers to take them to the temple. For the first time this year, this special community was able to celebrate their traditions and rituals and remember Diwali the way they wanted to. It was a heart-warming sight at Bartholomew Park yesterday – children dancing, adults getting together for puja etc. The celebration was indeed a sight to behold. It made me think about how all these years, I had taken for granted the times that I had spent with my family and friends at Diwali.

By organizing such a community event, Jay Parmar truly embodied the spirit of Diwali – to be a source of light unto others. He gave the community what the community wanted, with no expectations of return or any agenda. This spirit of selflessness is what service is about. Jay facilitated the transport, food and logistics, and empowered the community to plan their own program. He also arranged for a toy drive to give 33 Bhutanese children Diwali presents. This truly made the event special for the children. I was invited to give away some of the presents , and as I looked into the joyous eyes of child receiving her Diwali present, I caught a glimpse of Divinity. And when the little one whispered gleefully, “Thank you”, it made my day and in fact, it made my Diwali. It was then, I truly understood what it meant to others when we work to share the light.

I am deeply grateful to Jay for showing me the meaning of true service and for embodying the spirit of Diwali.

A BIG THANK-YOU to all those who participated in toy drive! Thank you for sharing the light with others this festive season!

Junior CHYK Parents' Workshop

On October 24, 2010, 20 parents of 11 Junior CHYK members gathered for a lively workshop - conducted by the teenagers! The engaging debate and interactive discussion provided parents with an insight into how their teenagers think and what they know about religion. Kudos to the teenagers for putting up thought-provoking activities!

The JCHYK Parents' Workshop

Maha Ganesha Pancharatnam

Given that this is my first post here, I thought I should start by sharing some thoughts about a hymn to Lord Ganesha: Maha Ganesha Pancharathnam. I think it is fairly certain that Sri Adi Shankara composed this hymn, although I have seen some controversy over this on postings in cyberspace.

I grew up listening to my mom sing this hymn, however, I don't think I ever joined her in singing it aloud. Fast forward several years to last year, when I ran into this stotram on YouTube. To my surprise, I realized it was internalized to the point where I could recall most of the words. I've taken this as a big sign, pointing me to play as much devotional music to my kids as I can, before they start listening only to the Justin Biebers of this world... :-)

There are two things that I found very striking in this hymn. The first is that this is a very lyrical hymn, one that really brings out the poetic beauty of the Sanskrit language, even to someone who doesn't understand its meaning. The second is the powerful mental image that is potrayed by the second-to-last line: "Hrudantarey Nirantaram Vasantameva Yoginam" -- "Like the eternal spring in the heart of a Yogi". I find myself thinking of that image often, in the hope that, with the grace of Lord Ganesha, I can model my heart after the aforementioned Yogi.

For a great rendition of this stotram, you can listen to M.S. Subbulakshmi:



For the complete lyrics and meaning, see: जय पशुपतिनाथ Aum Namah Shivya: MahaGanesha Pancha Ratnam महागणेश पञ्चरत्नं

Hari Om!

Take the Big Step!

Global Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) Camp: Take the Big Step – based on the Taittiriya Upanishad

December 24th 2010 to January 1st 2011

Chinmaya International Residential School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Camp fee: US$250

Ages: 18-35

In a climate of uncertainty, now more than ever, it is essential to have clarity of goals to navigate through the murky waters of economic instability and insecurity. Learn how to tune yourself to your inner compass to forge ahead with your goals through the Global Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) camp! Global CHYK camps are life-transforming experiences. Last year, 120 CHYKs from around the world for the Mahabharata Global camp. It is an opportunity for self-reflection and learning in a fun atmosphere with like-minded youth. Take the Big Step towards achieving your goals!

To register, send a mail to chykaustin@gmail.com with your name, age and mobile number. Payment details will be provided.

Click here for the official promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xHFvrCNKjM