Insights from the CHYK West Seva Retreat

On 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 Be The Change, 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.

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.

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.

I remembered that in the book, the Manual of Self-Unfoldment, Swami Chinmayananda discusses the process of daily self-analysis:
1. Introspect - our actions, thoughts
2. Detect - discover your weaknesses
3. Negate - become truly conscious of these self-limiting thoughts
4. Substitute - replace this negative thought with a positive one

What if we practiced this more regularly? We would be free of the baggage of negative thoughts!

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.

Weekly Classes for Young Professionals

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 here for a brief description of Girishji).

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.

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 .

Here are some FAQs:

Q: What are the classes about?
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.


Q: How are the classes conducted?
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.

Q: What are some of the topics of discussion?
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.

Q: Is this religious dogma?
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.

Q: What is the age-group of attendees?
Approximately 25-35years.

Q: Is there a charge for the classes?
The classes are free.

Q: Do I have to attend every week? What if I miss classes?
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.

Q: Can I come for one class to just see if this is for me?
Absolutely! Come see if this is your cup of tea! Drop us an email today to sign up for the evite list.

Upcoming Event: Bhoomi Puja @ Chinmaya Sundaram

Chinmaya Mission Austin
invites you to attend
Bhoomi Puja
(Ground Blessing Ceremony)
at our new property
Chinmaya Sundaram
12901 North Mo-Pac, Austin, TX 78727
(Just north of Parmer and Mo-Pac intersection; behind the TX-Tag building)
In the presence of
H.H. Swami Tejomayananda
Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide

Program Details:
June 26, 2011 (Sunday)
4:30 pm Bhoomi Puja
5:30 pm Bala Vihar brick seva ceremony
6:00 pm Guruji’s pravachan
7:00 pm Dinner prasad

For more information, please visit www.chinmayaaustin.org or contact Ph: (512) 689-8659

A CHYK Adventure in London

My trip to London was unexpected but the plan fell into place seamlessly. I wanted to attend Swami Mitrananda’s week-long yagna in London, followed by a CHYK camp. 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 other.

SWAMI M

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”. He has organized success

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. 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.

CHYK CAMP – PURE DYNAMISM AT ITS BEST

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). The text for the camp was “Gita for Yuva” (Gita for Youth) which is a collection of shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita that relate to youth concerns and goals.

The CHYK camp a phenomenal experience. The amazing enthusiasm and dynamism of the UK CHYKs really blew my mind away. They undertook all their tasks with enthusiasm, creativity, skill and professionalism. There was no room for half-heartedness. This truly embodies the spirit of dynamic living that Sri Krishna discusses in Bhagavad Gita – do your duty to the best of your ability.

Swamiji had about 5 sessions with the camp participants, including a Q & A. Other sessions included watching and discussing the movie, “October Sky” which had a great message about the power of perseverance. 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. 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. The camp participants were fun and spirited, so it was a very entertaining evening.

PERSONAL CAMP HIGHLIGHT

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. The hardest part about philosophy is to walk the path. And here came my opportunity to walk the talk, so I could not refuse.

The Ultimate Leap of Faith

Due to lack of time, we had to choose a single activity, and I picked the Ultimate Leap of Faith. 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. I had to face my fear of heights – and it was not easy. I was buckled and harnessed for safety purposes, but this was very little assurance for me. 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 was significant pressure. It was battle with my mind to climb up the pole. 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”). I stayed focused on the task. The challenge was hauling myself onto a platform at the top of the pole (only wide-enough for 1 person to stand). I had continuous encouragement and guidance from my friends below, and that definitely helped. Every second felt like an hour. Once I finally got on top of the platform, I had to stand 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. I then gathered everything I had and leaped forward to catch the trapeze – and I made it! J

This activity was very insightful. It made me realize that it was a good analogy to life. 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. Another insight was how fear can be a powerful agent in limiting our potential. 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. The way to deal with fear is through conscious positive thinking and self-encouragement – every step of the way. 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.

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.

Sharanya Rao

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!