|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 16 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
"Chinmaya Mission touches many lives" Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, was the founder of the Chinmaya Mission. He dedicated his entire life to spirituality where he made available to all the people, the pathway to reach reality and the ultimate experience. The gangothri plan as it is known, evolved when Gurudev realized the fact that the wonderful knowledge he had gained from Swami Thapovan maharaj should be shared with as many as possible. He brought the holy knowledge of truth to the world from the heights of the Himalayas, blessed many with mental peace, and helped others to reach the goal of self-realization. Gurudev's vision manifested itself through the Chinmaya Mission to great heights. He has blessed all those who have come within his orbit and many others who have not. The Chinmaya Mission which is a rare institution, continues to propagate the divine goal envisaged by Gurudev through the many Swamis and Swaminis. It has a practical and disciplined approach to living a good life. The Mission helps the individual to grow in childhood through the many Balavihars, which introduce the initial insights of Vedanta to the very young. The Balavihars pave the way to Yuvakendras, which harnesses the vibrant potential of the youth into useful channels of society. Even though Gurudev had great compassion for humanity, yet the youth were very special to him. He firmly believed that the youth are not useless but are used less. The Mission continues to have this special touch for them. They are taught to serve in a selfless manner dedicating and surrendering all their actions and results to the Lord. They should accept the ups and downs in life as the Lord's divine will. Such an attitude helps the young sincere seeker to curb his ego - the most hostile element each individual has to overcome. Once the ego is under conscious scrutiny, its devastating effects are less though not totally eliminated. As the stage of youth pass into adulthood the individual grows to hold many responsibilities in career and family. There again the Mission reaches out to them through the many study classes where Vedanta concepts are discussed and explained by the resident acharyas. In the study class the teacher discusses and clears the doubts of the devotees and guides them along the path to experience the Truth through further self study and contemplation of the Self. We human beings are by temperament extroverts. Extrovertedness is glorified in all lifestyles. But, does worldly possessions grant a permanent solution to the search for inner peace? - the peace which is beyond all happiness that we presently experience in our lives? No. The permanent bliss could be reached only when we choose through divine grace to look within and sincerely endeavour to experience who we really are. Man is besotted with the material problems of life; he realises their impermanence and yet he renounces not fully; finally he reaches old age - the vanapasta stage, where the individual grows old gracefully and turns to the Lord within. The Mission guides us through these various stages in life, leading us towards spiritual fulfilment. The Chinmaya Mission offers knowledge to all, in its quiet manner and this is a great service leading to peace and harmony. This noble task continues under the graceful guidance of Guruji, Swami Thejomayananda. Blessed is the mission and all the Swamis who carry out Gurudev's message with dedication. Hari Om ... Om ... Om ... Sumathy Subramaniam, Chinmaya Mission, Colombo |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
