tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19113801714318234582024-03-18T23:09:03.835-05:00Chinmaya Yuva Kendra West AustinHarnessing youth potential through dynamic spirituality. <br>
Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) is the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission which provides youth with opportunities for self-growth, by creating a platform for youth to discuss, engage and participate in Hindu culture through a variety of activities including study groups, travel, adventure sports and creative projects. In Austin, CHYK has two study groups - one in University of Texas, and the other in Chinmaya Mission Austin in Round Rock.CHYK Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04508216537145243266noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-80310840486342605352012-05-21T14:39:00.002-05:002012-05-21T14:41:21.447-05:00Swami Mitrananda's Visit to Austin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Swami Mitrananda will be visiting Austin on June 2-3! We invite you to meet him at any of the events below:</div>
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June 2, 2012, 7pm - Dinner bhiksha with CHYKs (18-35yrs) & Junior CHYKs (14-17)</div>
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Please contact <a href="mailto:chykaustin@gmail.com">chykaustin@gmail.com</a> if you would like to attend.</div>
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June 3, 2012, 10.30am - Public talk open to all, at <a href="http://chinmayaaustin.org/" target="_blank">Chinmaya Vatika</a>, "<strong>The Art of Raising Joyful Children</strong>"</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">About Swami Mitrananda<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Swami
Mitrananda is the Acharya of Chinmaya Mission, Chennai, and Director of the All
India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (AICHYK) the global youth wing of Chinmaya Mission.
Inspired by the truth on which his Master, H. H. Swami Chinmayananda, stood
rooted, he took up the study of ancient Hindu Philosophy at Sandeepany
Sadhanalaya, in Mumbai, in 1989. He has dedicated his life to the service of
humanity, and travels all over India and South East Asia, conveying the
profound Vedantic Truth with appealing logic and clarity. He is a highly
sought-after speaker in the corporate circle and has delivered management
related talks to various leading corporate-houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Swami
Mitrananda has a huge youth following, largely because of his innovative
methodologies in making the ancient wisdom of Hinduism extraordinarily
appealing to the rational and adventure-seeking young minds. Under his
leadership, the Chinmaya Yuva Kendra organized two large-scale projects, the
nationwide ‘Awakening Indians to India’ quiz program and the Youth Empowerment
Programme. Through the Awakening Indians to India quiz programme, he reached
out to 500,000 youth across the nation and thus, conducted the largest ever quiz
in the sub-continent. The Youth Empowerment Programme was designed by him to
create empowered and dynamic youth leaders to do socially relevant work in
different parts of India and abroad.</span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Swami
Mitrananda has travelled to many countries including United Kingdom, Turkey,
Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Dubai to spread the
message of Hinduism and Vedanta. He has lectured at various leading corporate
houses of India such as Hyundai Motors, Polaris Industries, TVS Group, and has
also addressed students of leading business schools in India such as Symbiosis
Institute of Management. He represented India at the Global Forum of
Faith-based Organizations for Population and Development organized by UNFPA in
Turkey in October 2008. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">To
watch Swamiji’s interview with Poonam Sagar on the program, India Talks, please
click here: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xVq1ztp7AI"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xVq1ztp7AI</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
</div>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-12260547743228799052012-03-29T14:16:00.004-05:002012-03-29T14:23:27.290-05:00The first-ever National Junior CHYK Camp!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCFK7RXltC0ASJ0Dr93KsCzTwAMysyTUMUF7f29ZlAcTpf7w6FXbooWZj547B-gozT4A1-Bu4GyDC2_-CMkTQUEGqJBaSBeVX_Wni53I26Y8g90cHYYdhztwyTMUCxOnpW5OwBz-yfGMr/s1600/National+JCHYK+Camp+Flier.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 247px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725400655712441698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCFK7RXltC0ASJ0Dr93KsCzTwAMysyTUMUF7f29ZlAcTpf7w6FXbooWZj547B-gozT4A1-Bu4GyDC2_-CMkTQUEGqJBaSBeVX_Wni53I26Y8g90cHYYdhztwyTMUCxOnpW5OwBz-yfGMr/s320/National+JCHYK+Camp+Flier.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you ready for fun? Are you ready for an adventure? Are you game to survive? Get ready for a challenge!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The first ever National Junior CHYK Camp (NJCC) is set to kick off in Brownwood, Texas from June 3-6, 2012 at the </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 204);" href="http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Texas 4-H Center</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. Save the date!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is an adventure retreat for teenagers in grades 9-12 , called Life is a Jungle - Are You Game to Survive?. There will be various planned activities such as a ropes course, ziplining and hiking. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Three acharyas will be leading this camp - Swami Sarveshananda, Brahmachari Girishji and Acharya Vivekji. Chinmaya Mission Austin is the host center. CHYK West Steering Committee is the lead organizer for this event.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Out of town participants should plan to arrive and depart from one of the following airports: Austin (AUS) or Dallas (DFW) on Sunday, June 3rd before 4:00pm. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Transportation will be arranged into the retreat center from Chinmaya Vatika (Austin), and Chinmaya Chitrakoot (Dallas) and tickets will be available for purchase online.Information, </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Registration and Camp Fee will be up soon on </span><a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" href="http://chykwest.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.chykwest.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> . </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Join the Facebook Event Page: </span><a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" href="http://www.facebook.com/events/390846797592257/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.facebook.com/events/390846797592257/</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Do share this information with high school students, 2012 high school graduates and parents who might be interested.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><em>Volunteer Opportunities</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We're looking for a few CHYKs to help make this a grand success. If you're interested in being a camp counselor or facilitator, please send an email to </span><a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: arial, sans-serif;" href="mailto:chykwestsc@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:georgia;">chykwestnjcc@gmail.com</span></a> This is a fab opportunity to make a positive difference to young minds!CHYK Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04508216537145243266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-67014979980027461742011-10-15T13:40:00.004-05:002011-10-15T13:49:23.649-05:00The Dark Knight Movie Workshop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH8dPnwHqeE/TpnT_izqkUI/AAAAAAAAGpA/3FD1PSqEtIA/s1600/DARK%2BKNIGHT.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH8dPnwHqeE/TpnT_izqkUI/AAAAAAAAGpA/3FD1PSqEtIA/s400/DARK%2BKNIGHT.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663791095023833410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;">Get ready to gain mind-blowing insights into the world of <em><strong>The Dark Knight</strong></em> in a unique and novel movie workshop!</span></span> </span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Released in 2008, <strong><em>The Dark Knight</em></strong> is a critically acclaimed film by Christopher Nolan and grossed nearly $1billion in revenue. In this iconic film, Nolan examines the idea of true heroism through the fictional comic book vigilante hero, Batman. In a 2-day interactive workshop, Swami Sarveshananda will go beyond the sophisticated cinematography and chilling characterizations in the film, to stimulate new perspectives through a modern, thought-provoking spiritual exploration of the story through the lens of Vedanta, an ancient school of Hindu philosophy. This is not your regular movie night, so don’t miss this rare opportunity!</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-size:large;" ><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>About the Facilitator</strong></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Through his 22 years of service as a dynamic monk in Chinmaya Mission, <strong>Swami Sarveshananda</strong> has inspired many people with the depth of his knowledge of Vedanta, innovative teaching, and engaging public-speaking skills. He is the Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Dallas, and the National Director of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) West, the youth wing of Chinmaya Mission West.</span></span></span></p><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong>DATES: Nov 1 (Tue) and Nov 2 (Wed), 2011 </strong></span> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME: 7:00pm-9:00pm</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>LOCATION : <span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1901+E+51st+St,+Austin,+TX+78723&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.285401,151.699219&vpsrc=0&hnear=1901+E+51st+St,+Austin,+Texas+78722&t=m&z=17" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Austin Studios Screening Theater</span></a> </span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>REGISTRATION: (Includes Dinner & Workshop on both days)</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://chykaustin.com/payment/"><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#ff0000;" ></span></a><a href="http://chykaustin.com/payment/" title="Payment" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>GENERAL: $20/person </strong><strong>STUDENT: $15/person </strong><strong>AT-THE-DOOR: $25/person</strong></span></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=" ;font-size:small;color:#000000;" ><strong>Registration deadline to avail online pricing is Oct 30, 2011.</strong></span></p>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-81439217362049347262011-10-02T14:44:00.004-05:002011-10-02T16:11:55.203-05:00Insights from the CHYK West Seva RetreatOn October 1, 2011, the CHYK West Seva Retreat organized by CHYK Austin. In this unique retreat, CHYKs participated in a community service project as part of <a href="http://www.bethechangeaustin.org/">Be The Change</a>, an initiative by SAALT, where 1000s of people around the country came together on Gandhiji's birthday to do community service. At the retreat, CHYKs participated in seva for the first half of the day, and then reflected on the service in an afternoon workshop conducted by Brahmachari Girish Chaitanya.<br /><br />The service project our group volunteered for was the Montopolis Greenbelt clean up. Volunteers were requested to remove trash and invasive species of plants from the park, which was to be donate to the City of Austin. Over 30 youth worked together to remove trash, and it was truly eye-opening about what had been dumped on the trails. I found beer cans, prescription bottles, paint cans, dolls, toys, food wrappers etc. Some of the more surprising finds were mattresses, tables, a tricycle and tires. Some of this trash had been around for so long, they were deeply embedded into the ground, wrapped around by vines and tree roots. This made it very difficult to pull out of the ground.<br /><br />As I tried to extricate a rotting tricycle from the grasp of undergrowth, it suddenly struck me: how often do we clean our inner mental landscape of negative thoughts, limiting assumptions, dashed expectations, and painful memories? Some of these thoughts are harder to remove than others because we have been clinging to them for so long... The longer they have been there, the harder they are to root out. If we consciously dropped the negativity from our minds on a more regular basis, it would become easier to purify, and we could get rid of our limiting thoughts more quickly before they became deeply rooted in our Ego.<br /><br />I remembered that in the book, the <a href="http://chinmayapublications.org/detail.php?id=56&prodid=AS17">Manual of Self-Unfoldment</a>, Swami Chinmayananda discusses the process of daily self-analysis:<br />1. Introspect - our actions, thoughts<br />2. Detect - discover your weaknesses<br />3. Negate - become truly conscious of these self-limiting thoughts<br />4. Substitute - replace this negative thought with a positive one<br /><br />What if we practiced this more regularly? We would be free of the baggage of negative thoughts!<br /><br />I resolved to make introspection a more regular practice. Service proved to be a great teacher - just as in the material world, regular cleaning of the landscape results in a prettier, safer park, in the same way, our inner landscape can also benefit from the regular practice of introspection.Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-69979668110303276452011-09-01T16:28:00.004-05:002011-09-02T11:08:45.789-05:00Weekly Classes for Young Professionals<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03r08-4HU7I/Tl_5g8SYCQI/AAAAAAAAGoc/j9P-IfCqntU/s1600/CHYK_flyer-new.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647506802080221442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-03r08-4HU7I/Tl_5g8SYCQI/AAAAAAAAGoc/j9P-IfCqntU/s320/CHYK_flyer-new.jpeg" border="0" /></a>
<br />The youth wing of the Chinmaya Mission is Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK). CHYK Austin’s weekly young professionals group kicks off today! Our facilitator is Brahmachari Girish Chaitanya (click <a href="http://www.chinmayamission.org/acharya.php?id=28">here </a>for a brief description of Girishji).
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<br />Girishji is a captivating speaker and facilitator, and being a young monk, he connects easily with young adults. He studied Electrical Engineering from University of California-Davis, and Sanskrit at Universtiy of California-Berkeley. He joined Chinmaya Mission as a monk in 2002. He moved from Los Angeles last year to head the Chinmaya Mission in Austin.
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<br />The CHYK sessions will be on Thursdays, from 7.30pm-8.30pm at one of our members' houses in the Great Hills area. We have an evite that we have set up, if you would like to be on the list, please drop an email to chykaustin@gmail.com .
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<br />Here are some FAQs:
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<br /><strong><em>Q: What are the classes about?
<br /></em></strong>The classes are an opportunity for self-reflection of our daily lives. Think of it as a stopping to take a deep breath during your hectic week. Pausing in our modern context can be quite a luxury, but it is a necessity because it gives us some perspective about where we're at - with ourselves, our family, our relationships and our work. The class is a pause in your week, where you sit down and reflect on your thoughts, words & actions. Vedanta is a criteria to assess your actions and provides a framework for understanding why you think and behave the way you do. In addition, the class has a special focus on issues pertaining to young adults such as work-life balance, career as a means of self-development, parenting, etc.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: How are the classes conducted?
<br /></em></strong>We have facilitated discussions. Girishji generally gaves an introduction to the topic, and we ask questions directly to him about the topic and everyone in the session shares thoughts. It's not a rigid lecture format, rather an opportunity to commune and reflect as a group.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: What are some of the topics of discussion?
<br /></em></strong>We have thus far covered the basics of Vedanta philosophy and the applicability in our daily lives. Beginning this Fall, we will study Swami Jyothirmayananda’s Ramayana, and lessons that we can apply from this famous epic.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: Is this religious dogma?
<br /></em></strong>No. Absolutely not. Vedanta is an accommodative framework of thinking, where the Universe is seen as One, not segmented by race, color, religion, national boundaries etc. Girishji will be presenting the basics of the Vedanta school of thought, and clarifying questions as well as commonly-held beliefs about Vedanta.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: What is the age-group of attendees?
<br /></em></strong>Approximately 25-35years.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: Is there a charge for the classes?
<br /></em></strong>The classes are free.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: Do I have to attend every week? What if I miss classes?
<br /></em></strong>You are not obliged to attend every week. That said, the maximum benefit comes from attending class regularly. Most of the topics will be self-contained in the class.
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<br /><strong><em>Q: Can I come for one class to just see if this is for me?
<br /></em></strong>Absolutely! Come see if this is your cup of tea! Drop us an email today to sign up for the evite list.
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<br />Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-86818934402761077072011-06-23T08:17:00.003-05:002011-06-23T08:20:21.280-05:00Upcoming Event: Bhoomi Puja @ Chinmaya Sundaram<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Chinmaya Mission Austin<br /></span></strong>invites you to attend<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000099;">Bhoomi Puja</span><br /></span></strong>(Ground Blessing Ceremony)<br />at our new property<br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Chinmaya Sundaram</span></strong><br /></span>12901 North Mo-Pac, Austin, TX 78727<br />(Just north of Parmer and Mo-Pac intersection; behind the TX-Tag building)<br />In the presence of<br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">H.H. Swami Tejomayananda<br />Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide </span></em></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Program Details:<br /></strong>June 26, 2011 (Sunday)<br />4:30 pm Bhoomi Puja<br />5:30 pm Bala Vihar brick seva ceremony<br />6:00 pm Guruji’s pravachan<br />7:00 pm Dinner prasad </div><br /><div align="left"><br />For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.chinmayaaustin.org/">www.chinmayaaustin.org</a> or contact Ph: (512) 689-8659 </div>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-24068846443926226102011-04-05T00:21:00.007-05:002011-04-05T00:31:09.793-05:00A CHYK Adventure in London<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">My trip to London was unexpected but the plan fell into place seamlessly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wanted to attend Swami Mitrananda’s week-long yagna in London, followed by a CHYK camp.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Having known Swamiji for more than 15 years, I knew that this was an adventure I could not miss. Swami M is a monk like no </span>other.</div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif""><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif""><br /></span></i></b></div>SWAMI M</span></i></b> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">His means of teaching Vedanta to youth are largely non-traditional, for instance, Swamiji has organized motorbike rallies in the Himalayan region and to Leh, Ladakh, as part of a program called “Meditation on Wheels”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He has organized success</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">ful CHYK adventure camps (including whitewater rafting, trekking and camping). He lives by the tenet Vedanta is learnt through adventure and by living and breathing it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Swamiji’s innovative approach to teaching Vedanta inspired me as young adult and under his guidance, I attended the Yuva Veer Program (Youth Empowerment Program) to become a trained youth facilitator.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">CHYK CAMP – PURE DYNAMISM AT ITS BES</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">T</span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Apart from attending morning and evening talks by Swamiji, I attended a 2-day CHYK camp in Ashford with about 117 young adults (25-35yrs).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The text for the camp was “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Gita for Yuva</b>” (Gita for Youth) which is a collection of shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita that relate to youth concerns and goals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The CHYK camp a phenomenal experience.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The amazing enthusiasm and dynamism of the UK CHYKs really blew my mind away.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They undertook all their tasks with enthusiasm, creativity, skill and professionalism.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There was no room for half-heartedness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This truly embodies the spirit of dynamic living that Sri Krishna discusses in Bhagavad Gita – do your duty to the best of your ability.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Swamiji had about 5 sessions with the camp participants, including a Q & A.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Other sessions included watching and discussing the movie, “October Sky” which had a great message about the power of perseverance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The CHYKs also organized a unique musical production for the evening. Each group of participants was assigned to perform one story of Sri Krishna’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In between every group’s performance, their Swaranjali group (singers and musicians) sang lively bhajans, and this musical continuity turned a series of skits into a musical production.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The camp participants were fun and spirited, so it was a very entertaining evening.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">PERSONAL CAMP HIGHLIGHT</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The highlight of the camp for me, however, was the outdoor adventure activities, in particular, High-Ropes. There were three activities – Jacobs’ Ladder, The Equilibrium and The Ultimate Leap of Faith – all of which tested your ability to conquer fear of heights and (an essential teaching of the Bhagavad Gita) overcome your fear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hardest part about philosophy is to walk the path.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And here came my opportunity to walk the talk, so I could not refuse.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdMGM8cOWis/TZqnUolkN5I/AAAAAAAAF9o/a5jVduCTR1Q/s320/Holy%2BTrinity.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591965860268095378" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">The Ultimate Leap of Faith<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Due to lack of time, we had to choose a single activity, and I picked the Ultimate Leap of Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had to climb a 30-foot pole (with the support of wooden cogs), and onto a small wooden platform, and then jump to catch a trapeze.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had to face my fear of heights – and it was not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was buckled and harnessed for safety purposes, but this was very little assurance for me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did not want to fall off a 30-foot pole (nor dangle in suspension) and I did not want to fail. I knew that others were watching (as was Swamiji) and this w</span>as significant pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was battle with my mind to climb up the pole.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I climbed up the 30foot pole, I continuously pushed away any negative thoughts (“OMG, I must be crazy!”, “I HATE heights”, “I’m going to fall”, “”I can’t balance”, “My hands are slipping, I cannot grip the cogs”).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I stayed focused on the task.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The challenge was hauling myself onto a platform at the top of the pole (only wide-enough for 1 person to stand).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had continuous encouragement and guidance from my friends below, and that definitely helped.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every second felt like an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once I finally got on top of the platform, I had to stan<span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">d up and face the trapeze which was about 4-5 feet away from me. The instructor below started counting down to my jump, but I stopped her and told her I would do it in my own time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I then gathered everything I had and leaped forwar</span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">d to catch the trapeze – and I made it! </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family:Georgia;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span></p><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RmhItHX2D4U/TZqn9YDQrTI/AAAAAAAAF9w/PjiiCGe5JHI/s320/IMG_5798-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591966560203877682" /><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"">This activity was very insightful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It made me realize that it was a good analogy to life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Divinity is the “safety harness” in our lives, and so really speaking, we are in good hands. However, our fears and our desire for control are so strong that we often forget that the Divine is looking out for us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Another insight was how fear can be a powerful agent in limiting our potential.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My fear of heights had the ability to affect my physical body (sweaty palms, deep breathing, quivering etc), and seriously affected my ability to perform.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The way to deal with fear is through conscious positive thinking and self-encouragement – every step of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally, it made me realize that if we truly want to reach our highest potential, we must be willing to surrender our fears and take a leap of faith. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span>The UK CHYK camp proved to be an amazing learning experience, where I had opportunities to practice Vedanta outside of the classroom and spent time in the inspiring company of the UK CHYKs and Swamiji.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i>Sharanya Rao</i></b></p></div>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-75983950437253661402010-11-08T08:32:00.000-06:002010-11-08T08:33:22.478-06:00Be The Light (Reflections on Diwali)<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia,serif;">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. <span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia,serif;">It’s more than a time of yummy food and new clothes – it’s about sharing the special occasion with your family & friends. <span> </span>Not everyone can share those moments together.<span> </span>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. <span> </span>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. <span> </span>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. <span> </span>The celebration was indeed a sight to behold.<span> </span>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.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia,serif;">By organizing such a community event, Jay Parmar truly embodied the spirit of Diwali – to be a source of light unto others. <span> </span>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.<span> </span>Jay facilitated the transport, food and logistics, and empowered the community to plan their own program.<span> </span>He also arranged for a toy drive to give 33 Bhutanese children Diwali presents. This truly made the event special for the children.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>It was then, I truly understood what it meant to others when we work to share the light.<span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span></span>I am deeply grateful to Jay for showing me the meaning of true service and for embodying the spirit of Diwali.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A BIG THANK-YOU to all those who participated in toy drive! Thank you for sharing the light with others this festive season!</span></p>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-7555023030763263182010-10-29T21:28:00.003-05:002010-10-29T22:01:38.491-05:00Junior CHYK Parents' Workshop<div>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!</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsojEHCaLOLLRfgHOq5tHp44UsxfSjDOH7rMSbhnELNa58i1ZmvyXQMCjEoXQL8T8siME7hWZBF42vKasO9w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>The JCHYK Parents' Workshop</div>Arvind Viswanathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11341403313758547646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-71353593544802555262010-10-12T20:40:00.006-05:002010-10-12T23:42:39.271-05:00Maha Ganesha PancharatnamGiven 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.<br /><br />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... :-)<br /><br />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.<br /><br />For a great rendition of this stotram, you can listen to M.S. Subbulakshmi:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYg4xfP7hBQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYg4xfP7hBQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />For the complete lyrics and meaning, see: <a href="http://shivu360.blogspot.com/2009/07/mahaganesha-pancha-ratnam.html">जय पशुपतिनाथ Aum Namah Shivya: MahaGanesha Pancha Ratnam महागणेश पञ्चरत्नं</a><br /><br />Hari Om!Arvind Raghavanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04762114511786075697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-83200161855351213682010-05-08T12:22:00.006-05:002010-09-21T23:08:53.482-05:00Take the Big Step!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6m06H2VMjrs/TJmBPqFoPOI/AAAAAAAAE9c/XyOSuWTK8ig/s1600/Global+CHYK+Camp+2010+e-flyer-USA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6m06H2VMjrs/TJmBPqFoPOI/AAAAAAAAE9c/XyOSuWTK8ig/s400/Global+CHYK+Camp+2010+e-flyer-USA.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519584924315172066" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Global Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) Camp: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Take the Big Step </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">– based on the Taittiriya Upanishad</span></i></span></b></span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></u></b><div class="im"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">December 24th 2010 to January 1st 2011</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Chinmaya International Residential School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India</span></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Camp fee: US$250</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ages: 18-35</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To register, send a mail to chykaustin@gmail.com with your name, age and mobile number. Payment details will be provided.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Click here for the official promo video: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xHFvrCNKjM" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr>v=7xHFvrCNKjM</span></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-33122353156837676122009-10-10T18:47:00.008-05:002009-10-19T10:51:31.679-05:00Upcoming Film Workshop for Teenagers - Registration is open!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chykaustin.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391124679463029922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6m06H2VMjrs/StEfVSM8TKI/AAAAAAAADqg/oZjBGv4QqQo/s320/filmworkshop.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-19810464561678197022009-08-26T14:33:00.002-05:002009-08-26T14:37:31.498-05:00Classes begin this fall!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6m06H2VMjrs/SpWOeP0u7yI/AAAAAAAADiU/7emzZLOmPW0/s1600-h/flyer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374358380631486242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6m06H2VMjrs/SpWOeP0u7yI/AAAAAAAADiU/7emzZLOmPW0/s400/flyer.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-83806217325425637362009-06-07T21:10:00.001-05:002009-06-07T21:12:20.484-05:00Mahabharata: The 2nd Global CHYK Camp with Swami SwaroopanandaHari Om,<br />After the success of the 1st Global CHYK Camp in 2006, Chinmaya Mission presents ‘Mahabharata’, the 2nd camp to bring together CHYKs across the world under the guidance of Swami Swaroopananda.<br />Mahabharata: the 2nd Global CHYK CampSwami SwaroopanandaDecember 24th 2009 to January 1st 2010Chinmaya International Residential School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaCamp fee: $200 (USD)<br /><br />Topic and Acharya<br />For most CHYKs across the world, Swami Swaroopananda needs no introduction. Director of the Chinmaya International Residential School, senior Acharya of the Chinmaya Mission and inspiration to tens of thousands of people across the world, the first global CHYK camp, ‘7 Days, 7 Powers’ in 2006 was Swamiji’s vision to bring together CHYKs from Australia, Africa, Europe, USA and Asia. The result was a truly uplifting 7 days that most attendees will never forget.<br />2009 sees the second such camp and the ambitious topic is the entire Mahabharata.<br />Probably the greatest epic in the history of the written word, the Mahabharata is a reflection of life: its verses filled with dilemma, moral ambiguity and ultimately spiritual truth. Its story contains the entire spectrum of human values: who better to guide us through it than Swamiji? <br /><br />The Venue<br />The camp is fully residential and will take place at the Chinmaya International Residential School set in the lush and beautiful Nilgiris hills surrounding Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Accommodation and food are of international standard and the school’s grounds are simply breathtaking in their natural beauty.<br /><br />Dates<br />The camp will commence on Thursday 24 December 2009 and end on Friday 1 January 2010.<br /><br />Cost<br />The cost is $200 (US). This include all meals, accommodation and materials but excludes transport to and from CIRS.<br /><br />Registration<br />The camp is open to young people across the world (aged 18-35). Contact your local Chinmaya Mission centre for detail of how to register or send an email to <a href="mailto:chyk@chinmayauk.org">chyk@chinmayauk.org</a>Harihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707475719624333278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-31079916957366373082009-06-04T15:52:00.001-05:002009-06-04T15:58:10.105-05:00Prayer before sleepSloka<br />Kara charana kritam vaak kaayajam Karmajam vaa Shravana nayanajam vaa Maanasam vaa aparaadham,Vihitamavihitam vaa sarvametat kshamasva Jaya Jaya karunaabdhee Shree Mahaadeva Shambo<br /><br />Meaning:<br />Kara Charana Kritam = (faults) committed by (my) hands or feet Vaak = (or by) Speech Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa = or (through) actions associated with (my) body,Shravana Nayanajam Vaa = (faults)associated with (my) ears and eyes Maanaasam Vaa aparaadham = or faults of the mind Vihitam Avihitam Vaa = (faults born of actions) knowingly or unknowingly Sarvam Etat Kshamasva = Forgive (me for) all these Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe = Victory be unto you, Ocean of sympathy Shri Mahaadeva Shambo = O Shambu, the Great Lord.<br /><br />O Lord, kindly forgive all the wrong acts and omissions I have committed,whether I committed them knowingly or unknowingly,with my hands, feet, words, ears, eyes, or mind.Glory to you, Mahadeva, who is the ocean of kindness and compassion,and the cause of happiness.<br />Before going to sleep, one ends the day with this prayer.One asks the Lord for forgiveness for wrong acts that one may have knowingly or unknowingly committed during the dayHarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00707475719624333278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-24615302056087461582009-04-24T09:27:00.004-05:002009-04-27T11:17:33.758-05:00Weekly Classes for Young Adults<div align="justify">CHYK Austin has started a weekly young adults' group with Brahmachari Girish Chaitanya (click <a href="http://www.chinmayamission.org/acharya.php?id=28">here </a>for a brief description of Girishji). </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br />Girishji is a captivating speaker and facilitator, and being a young monk, he connects easily with young adults. He studied Electrical Engineering from University of California-Davis, and Sanskrit at Universtiy of California-Berkeley. He joined <a href="http://www.chinmaya.org/">Chinmaya Mission </a>as a monk in 2002. He moved from Los Angeles last year to head the <a href="http://www.chinmayaaustin.org/">Chinmaya Mission in Austin</a>. The youth wing of the Chinmaya Mission is Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK). </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br />The CHYK sessions will be on <strong>Thursdays, from 7.30pm-8.30pm</strong> at one of our members' houses in the Great Hills area. We have an evite that we have set up, if you would like to be on the list, please drop an email to <a href="mailto:chykaustin@gmail.com">chykaustin@gmail.com</a> . </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br />Here are some FAQs to consider: </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: What are the classes about?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">The classes are an opportunity for self-reflection of our daily lives. Think of it as a stopping to take a deep breath during your hectic week. Pausing in our modern context can be quite a luxury, but it is a necessity because it gives us some perspective about where we're at - with ourselves, our family, our relationships and our work. The class is a pause in your week, where you sit down and reflect on your thoughts, words & actions. Vedanta is a criteria to assess your actions and provides a framework for understanding why you think and behave the way you do. In addition, the class has a special focus on issues pertaining to young adults such as work-life balance, career as a means of self-development, parenting, etc. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: How are the classes conducted?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">We have facilitated discussions. Girishji generally gaves an introduction to the topic, and we ask questions directly to him about the topic and everyone in the session shares thoughts. It's not a rigid lecture format, rather an opportunity to commune and reflect as a group. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: What are some of the topics of discussion?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">We have thus far covered the basics of Vedanta philosophy and the applicability in our daily lives. Beginning May 2009, we will start on a series of topics from the <a href="http://www.chinmaya-chicago.org/mananam/">Mananam series </a>beginning with "Values in the Workplace" which takes a look at how we can apply spirituality in the workplace.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: Is this religious dogma?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">No. Absolutely not. Vedanta is an accommodative framework of thinking, where the Universe is seen as One, not segmented by race, color, religion, national boundaries etc. Girishji will be presenting the basics of the Vedanta school of thought, and clarifying questions as well as commonly-held beliefs about Vedanta. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: What is the age-group of attendees?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">Approximately 25-37years.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: Is there a charge for the classes?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">The classes are free. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q; Do I have to attend every week? What if I miss classes?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">You are not obliged to attend every week. That said, the maximum benefit comes from attending class regularly. Most of the topics will be self-contained in the class.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em><br /><br />Q: Can I come for one class to just see if this is for me?</em></strong></div><div align="justify">Absolutely! Come see if this is your cup of tea! Drop us an email today to sign up for the evite list.</div>Sharanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684038848629409573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1911380171431823458.post-69142011575587170582009-03-20T13:45:00.000-05:002009-03-20T13:45:00.785-05:00About Chinmaya Mission<p style="padding-top: 0pt;" class="paragraph_style"><span style="line-height: 22px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" class="style">What is Chinmaya Mission?</span><span class="style_1"><br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Under the guidance of His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, devotees formed the nucleus of a spiritual renaissance movement that now encompasses a wide range of spiritual, educational, and charitable activities, ennobling the lives of thousands in India and worldwide.<br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Presently headed by His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, the Mission is administered by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) in Mumbai, India. Under Swami Tejomayananda's guidance, the Mission has continued mushrooming across the universe and stands today with over 300 centres worldwide.</span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" class="style_4">Mission Statement</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">To provide to individuals from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.<br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_3"></p><p class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" class="style_4">Mission Motto</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">To give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time is our religion.</span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 22px;" class="style_6"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What does Chinmaya Mission teach?</span><br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_3"></p><p class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold;" class="style_4">Advaita Vedanta</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Following the Vedic teacher-student tradition (guru-shishya parampara), Chinmaya Mission makes available the ageless wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, the knowledge of Universal Oneness, and provides the tools to realize the wisdom in one's life. "To give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time" is the tenet that drives Mission workers to uplift humanity beyond selfish and sectarian attitudes and activities. Each person's gain is manifold: personal growth, heightened efficiency, contentment, and the ability to live with others in peace and harmony.<br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Vedanta, the essential core of Hinduism, is the universal science of life, relevant to all people of all backgrounds and faiths. Vedanta inspires spiritual seekers to understand their own faith better. Thus, although Chinmaya Mission is a Hindu spiritual organization, it does not seek to convert other religious practitioners.</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What does Chinmaya Mission do?</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_3"><span style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold;" class="style_4">Many Services, One Goal</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chinmaya Mission is a movement that continues to touch and transform all aspects of human life. As a spiritual movement that aims for inner growth at individual and collective levels, the Mission offers a wide array of Vedanta study forums for all ages, promotes Indian classical art forms, and operates numerous social service projects. To date, millions worldwide have benefitted directly or indirectly from Chinmaya Mission's numerous centres, ashrams, classes, events, services, and projects.</span><br /></p> <p class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Activities at Regional Centres</span><br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chinmaya Bala Vihars (Value education classes for children)<br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chinmaya Yuva Kendras - CHYK (Vedanta forums for youth)<br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chinmaya Study Groups (Vedanta forums for adults) & Devi Groups (Vedanta forums for housewives)<br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jnana Yajnas (Vedanta lecture series, seminars, workshops) and Spiritual Retreats and Camps (for all ages)<br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="paragraph_style_2"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chinmaya Swaranjali (Musical wing of Chinmaya Mission)<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Chinmaya Vanaprastha Sansthan (Vedanta forums for senior citizens)</span></span>Sushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16352076612657217612noreply@blogger.com