Chinmaya Jyoti Yatra reached Gujarat on the auspicious day of Diwali, 11-11-2015. The Yatra was received by the Acharyas of all the Centres in Gujarat at Sahyog Trust, care centre for leprosy patients at Rajendranagar near Rajasthan – Gujarat border. A welcome ceremony was arranged by Shri Suresh Soni, trustee of Sahyog Trust and an old time devotee of Pujya Gurudev. Surprisingly, the event and the place were not the part of itinerary but somehow it was felt as if Gurudev had opted to meet His devotee.

Yatra reached Paramdham Ashram, Ahmedabad with a splendid ceremonial welcome followed by Paduka Puja. A grand Public Function was held on 12-11-2015 in the presence of Hon. Governorshri of Gujarat, Shri O.P.Kohli as the Chief Guest along with Swami Adhyatmananda from Sivananda Ashram and Shri Surendrabhai Patel, former AUDA Chairman. Hon. Governorshri expressed his gratitude towards Pujya Gurudev for the work done by Him, and His role in uplifting the spiritual and cultural values after the political independence of the country.

Chinmaya Sandesh Vahini travelled to various parts of the city like Tattavirth Ashram, Sola Bhagawad, Balaji Temple Kankaria, Vallabh Sadan, Swaminarayan Temple, Shahibaug where people in large numbers visited the exhibition and Sandesh Vahini. At Swaminarayan Temple, Swami Brahmaviharidas ji in his address recollected his every incident with Pujya Gurudev. All members of the Chinmaya family were overwhelmed with emotions. He recollected how Gurudev told him, “You are after my job”, when he addressed in front of Gurudev. He also shared numerous incidents and talked about the bonding between Yogi ji Maharaj and Gurudev despite they never ever conversed in words. Yogi ji Maharaj did not speak English and Gurdev did not speak Gujarati but divine SOULS never needed a language to communicate.

The three day program at Ahmedabad culminated with a grand procession from Paramdham Ashram to Samrtheshwar Mahadev temple covering a stretch of more than 5 kms.

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All Andhra and Telangana Dhyana Yoga Camp of Pujya Swami Tejomayananda ji was conducted from 25-11-2015 to 29-11-2015 at the picturesque Chinmaya Vibhooti Kolwan.

The beautiful campus was adorned with 1000 delegates including 950 registered campers and 50 guests. There were also 41 acharyas making the camp one of a kind and has aptly represented the centennial celebrations of Pujya Gurudev. The audiences were drowned in the nectarine bliss of Pujya Guruji’s fluent exposition of Dhyana Yoga. Pujya Guruji with his inimitable style has captured the minds of people and uplifted them all without exception. Not only did he give the essence of the chapter as taught by Bhagawan but also embedded them with his profound wisdom and logical thought flow. Each session of Pujya Guruji was simultaneously translated in to Telugu by Swami Chidatmananda ji in an excellent manner appreciated by one and all. The campers were overjoyed with his discourses from the day one.

The meditation sessions in the early morning by Swami Chidatmananda ji were giving a practical taste of Dhyana Yoga for all. The talks by acharyas in the morning session added a different flavour to the camp. Each of the acharyas, spoke on variety of topics including the life and vision of Pujya Gurudev making it a wholesome camp. Every one had a chance to visit the Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan. The camp also included the karthika poornima celebrations where people lighted lamps in Hanuman mandir on the full moon day. The lamps in the moon light was an exquisite scene to watch. Divine chants accompanied the lighting of the lamps. During the evenings, there were soulful recitations of devotional bhajans by Chinmaya Nada Bindu team.

The management at Vibhooti with their expertise and experience made the stay comfortable and facilitated all the programs. The volunteers from Hindupur centre did a wonderful job in emceeing, registration and also helping in kitchen. Paduka puja was conducted everyday invoking blessing of Pujya Gurudev for the wellbeing of the campers. The camp concluded with an inspiring tribute by Swami Chidatmananda ji to Pujya Guruji. The audiences were humbled and overwhemled with gratitude to Pujya Guruji and gave a standing ovation for him. Many people were in tears of thankfulness and blessedness. All the people left the Vibhooti premises longing for more and more such camps.

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Compromising our ideals is also a form of paapam. We have a mental picture of an ideal life; but are we ready to make the necessary sacrifices to actualise it? Let us take the simple example of deciding to get up early in the morning. However, when the alarm rings, I say ‘Not today; let me sleep a little more. From tomorrow I will definitely get up early!’ If for the next seven days, I am not able to get up, on the eighth day, I tell myself, ‘What is the need of getting up early anyway? What does it matter?’ This compromise appear to be small but tends to become bigger and bigger until our whole life is filled with compromises. All the big payoffs, which we hear of, are nothing but compromises.

Sacrifice vs. Compromise

There are two kinds of actions –sacrifice and compromise. In both, a person has to renounce something. In sacrifice, a man sacrifices the lower for the sake of a higher cause or ideal. On the other hand, in compromise, the higher is given up for something lower. Whenever we compromise, we become weaker and weaker. Our willpower and moral strength are undermined. That is called paap.

Many Shades of Meaning

Any act that is below human dignity can also be called paapam. Stealing the property of another, injuring or killing another are acts considered below the dignity of a human being.

Human beings are highly evolved. Hence, the highly evolved must take care of the lesser evolved. Is that not so? In your own home when the elder child fights with the younger one over a toy, do you not say “You are a big brother, you must give that to the younger one.” So, as the more evolved, it is our responsibility to take care of those who are weaker than us – including birds, animals, trees, and plants. If we destroy them it is considered as paap. When we start viewing things in this light, we will realise the amount of paap that we commit every day!

People think that results of paap and punya come in the future. This is not correct. The moment you entertain a noble thought, a good thought, you immediately feel happy; you feel good about yourself. And the moment you entertain a wrong thought, you start feeling guilty. This outcome at the mental level is immediate. The grosser, tangible result may come later on.

There is a very interesting shloka in connection with paap and punya in one of the texts – ‘punyasa phalamicchanti punyam necchanti manavah, na papaphalamicchanti papam kurvanti yatnatah’

People are strange – they want the result of punyam, meritorious deeds which is happiness, but they do not want to do perform any meritorious acts. They do not want the result of papam which is sorrow, but commit sins methodically!

So the concept of paap has many shades of meaning – anything which pollutes the mind, any situation in which compromises are made, and wherever we act below our dignity as human beings. All these fall into the category of paap.

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

The post Many Shades of Sin – Speaking Tree 12th Dec, 2015 appeared first on Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

It is with deep feelings of sadness and loss that we announce the demise of Shri G.V. Eswarji on 3rd December 2015 in Coimbatore. A stalwart of our Mission, his devotion and dedication to Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji were exemplary. Ever spontaneous in response, large hearted and generous in giving, and prompt in action – these were some of the characteristic features of his many faceted personality. He
supported all our major projects – Chinmaya International Residential School, Chinmaya International Foundation, Chinmaya Vibhooti, Upanishad Ganga and Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, to name some – and many smaller centres of the Chinmaya Mission as well. Indeed, we will miss him a lot! Our heartfelt condolences to his devoted wife Smt. Ushaji and beloved daughter Sridevi and her family.

May God and Pujya Gurudev bless them all and bestow strength to bear this painful loss.
- Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda

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PRESS RELEASE – 2nd CIGCC 2015

Hari Om !!!

Chinmaya Mission is organizing an  International level Geeta Chanting Competition commemorate the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda. This concept was conceived and executed from the inspiration derived from Swami Chinmayananda who successfully led the first National level Geeta Chanting Competition  titled “Chant Geeta – Land Washington in 1991”

To spread the message of Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta among the masses as envisaged by Swami ChinmayanandaChapter XV “Purushottama Yoga” of Shrimad BhagawadGeeta was selected for this International event.

The 2nd Chinmaya International Geeta Chanting Competition 2015 was conducted by Chinmaya Institute of Technology ( Chintech ) as part of the Centenary Celebrations with The Chief Sewak, Shri KK Rajan as the Chief Coordinator, Ms Sugeetha Rajan as the Joint Coordinator, Dr Harikrishnan as International Coordinator, Dr KiranRaveendran as National Coordinator & Mr Ashokan P as Project Assistant.

The competition was categorized as Centre Level, State Level, National Level and International level.  This mega event received a very encouraging response from all over the world especially from India with a total registration of more than 1.5 lakhs participants. Andhra Pradesh being at top with almost 44000 registrations followed by Maharashtra 37000, Tamil Nadu 17000 and Kerala 16000 participants approximately.

The Centre Level and State Level competition have already been conducted in the month of October and early November.

The National Level Competition was conducted at ChinmayaVibhooti, Kolwan, Pune on 22nd November, 2015 .It was an enriching experience, to listen to  the chanting of Bhagawad Geeta by children from all over the country . Students spiritually elevated the audience in four stages from 9a.m. to 12:30p.m.at ChinmayaVibhooti 140 students from four years to 15yrs participated at the National Level Competition.

The competition held under Categories A, B, C and D was Judged by Acharyas and Sanskrit scholars.

The International Level of competition was held at Chinmaya Vibhooti, Kolwan, Pune on 22nd December, 2015 and had participants from 11 countries Australia, Bahrain, Hongkong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Kenya,

Singapore, New Zealand, UAE ,USA along with  participants from India.

Poojya Swami Tejomayananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide distributed prizes to the toppers.

Poojya Guruji  was immensely happy at the good response of the participants. Poojya Swami Tejomayananda said,

“……………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………”

 Chat Geeta Enchant Krishna

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Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

The post Results of CIGCC 2015 appeared first on Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

Why does man compromise with his ideals, engage in actions which are below the dignity of a human being or perform deeds that have a negative impact on his mind, thereby creating more sorrow for himself? Why does it happen?

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna asks Sri Krishna, ‘Why does man commit sin even though he does not want to (anichchena)? In spite of himself, he does so. What is that force, factor, or entity that pushes him, forcibly as it were, into wrong doing?

Bhagavan responds with a direct answer. ‘kaam eshe’. It is kaam – desire, lust, passion. It is irresistible, uncontrolled and uncontrollable desire. Desire is the cause and it is desire, itself, that takes the form of anger or rage, if it is obstructed.

Nature of Desire

The nature of desire is such that the moment it arises, it immediately causes agitation and restlessness. We may be busy reading, writing or listening to something and suddenly a thought comes, ‘I think I need a coffee break now’. Immediately, the mind is disturbed, agitated, and restless. If the desire for coffee is obstructed, and there is someone preventing its fulfilment, the desire turns into anger.

How does desire arise? It rises from rajoguna. The quality of rajoguna is agitation. The mind becomes more and more restless.

Anger

What is the difference between desire and anger? Desire is mahashanah and krodh is mahapapma. Ashan means eating, hunger. Desires are insatiable and never fulfilled. We go on buying, collecting and hoarding objects, but we never say, ‘Enough’. The Shastras give the beautiful example of fire. They point out that trying to fulfil desires is similar to adding fuel, in the form of firewood, oil or ghee, to put out a fire. Actually, the more you add, the more it grows. Desire is indeed a peculiar thing: you fulfil one  thinking that it is the very last time and you will end it once and for all. But, immediately, it again comes up. And it also gives rise to new desires. Mahashanah this hunger is insatiable.

Krodh is mahapapammah – Anger is a great sinner. Anger can make you do wrong things and commit sin – loot, plunder and even kill.

Now somebody may ask, “I understand that if my desire is obstructed, it will turn into anger. But suppose it is fulfilled. Will I not get peace? If my desire is fulfilled then there will be peace.”

I suggest you try it and see for yourself!

Greed

The nature of desire is such that once it is fulfilled, it becomes greed. I just want a little more…then a little more…and then a little more….It never stops. This craving continues throughout one’s life.

Take the example of a child wanting something. If you try to put it off, you will be faced with a massive tantrum. For the child, there is no tomorrow or evening or later on, the desired object is wanted ‘right now!’ You try to be smart, ‘Alright, I will give it to you, but do you promise, you will not ask for anything else? Absolutely Promise?’ And every parent knows how innocently and promptly the child will promise to never ask for anything again! How long does it last?

Desires can be compared to a box of paper tissues. Like tissues, another pops up as soon as one is pulled; as soon as you satisfy one desire, the second is waiting for you. Desires have a good understanding among themselves – it is only when the first goes that the second one surfaces. Fulfil it and behold  the third is waiting for you!

This just goes on and on. The root of all sins is this greed.

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

The post Desire – The Enemy Within – Speaking Tree 19th Dec, 2015 appeared first on Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

In our life, we must distinguish between our needs and our desires. We have natural, physical needs – when you are hungry, you want food; when you are thirsty you want to drink something. These are natural; they cannot be categorized under desire or kaama.

Categories of Desire

The desire for realization of Truth, for Liberation, or desire for God, are all desires and there will be some agitation until the desire is fulfilled. This type of desire which is for one’s own upliftment will not make you engage in sinful acts. Such a desire cannot be said to be mahashaani or mahapaapama.

So the desire that should be considered as your enemy is the desire for more and more sense pleasures, indulgence and gratification of the senses. Greed for more power, wealth and pleasures can never be fulfilled. These desires are very different from fulfilment of our natural needs. Here we are talking about the extrovert mind and the consequent seeking of pleasure in sense objects. Such desires only go on multiplying. Sri Krishna says ‘viddhi enam iha vairinam – understand this to be your enemy. It makes you do wrong things.

Overcoming harmful Addictions

It is true that some desires are very strong and difficult to overcome. They cause so much sorrow that you think, ‘I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do this’. For example, someone suffering but addicted to alcohol or drugs, says, ‘I want to quit’. Unfortunately, by that time the habit has become so ingrained, the inclination (vasana) has gathered strength and become so deep rooted that it cannot be easily overcome. Just his saying that he wishes to give it up is very superficial; it is not a strong desire. Mark Twain said “Giving up cigarette smoking is the easiest thing to do. I have done it a hundred times”. We are just like him!

Another reason for ‘feebly’ wanting to give up something is because we like it. It gratifies our senses and we enjoy it, even though we know it is harmful. That is why Bhagwan says: ‘Kaama esha, krodha esha rajoguna tamsovaha ….’

Thus, we may say that we do not want to do a particular thing, but secretly we enjoy it. Sometimes I say, I want to give up a particular habit because it is considered wrong or undesirable by others. But the fact is that deep down, I do not think that it is wrong.

If you do not want to do a certain thing, nobody can force you to do it. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda used to say that if somebody does not want to attend a Gita lecture, twenty horses cannot bring him here. Often in our lives we fail to do many things which may benefit ourselves or others but we are unable to do so. Why? Because there is no real will or desire to do so.

So the reason why we commit sin is because of ignorance, wrong notions or the power of habits which have gained such a strong grip over us that they push us into doing something that we may not want to do.

Hence, Sri Krishna answers Arjuna’s question by stating that desire is the enemy within that forces a person to do wrong things. But that is not the end of His response. The Lord goes on to describe what happens when desire arises in our mind.

To be continued…

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

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On 22^nd December 2015 with HIS immense blessings and grace of our Pujya Gurudev and Pujya Guruji, our CHINTECH team successfully organised the 2^nd Chinmaya International Geeta Chanting Competition (CIGCC) in the most enchanting way and in connection with Pujya Gurudev’s Birth Centenary Celebrations. The electrifying final was held at Chinmaya Vibhooti, Kolwan.

 A brief report of the event

 The final round witnessed competition among 42 finalists from 11 countries – Australia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Kenya, Singapore, New Zealand, UAE and USA, apart from the hosts – India. The finalists qualified for the finals after competing at Centre, State and National levels. Chapter XV ‘Purushottama Yoga’ of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta was selected for the competition.

 The competitions were held under Categories A, B, C and D and was judged by Senior Acharyas - Swami Sharadananda (CIF, Eranakulam), Swami Sharanananda (USA), Swami Advaitananda, (Resident Acharya, Chinmaya Vibhooti), Swami Siddheshananda (Pune) and Smt. Pramodini Rao (Resident Director, Chinmaya Naada Bindu, Chinmaya Vibhooti).

 The total participants enrolled for the competition was 1,52,757 of which 2,463 were from overseas countries. The most number of participants (outside India) were from UAE (1,839), followed by USA (176), Bahrain (103), Hong Kong (92), Singapore (79) and Malaysia (66). From India, Andhra Pradesh topped the list with 43,837 participants, followed by Maharashtra (37,301), Tamil Nadu (17,401), Kerala (16,149) and Gujarat (7,627). With regards to centre-wise participation from India, Mumbai represented the maximum with 20,000 plus followed by Piller in AP (5135), Vadodara, Gujarat (4874) and Trichy, Tamil Nadu (4226).

 The competition started at 9am at Vinay Mandir. The whole atmosphere vibrated with divine energy with the chanting of blessed participants till 12:30pm. The grand valedictory function commenced at 1:30pm.

 The presence of Pujya Guruji made all the difference. One could feel the warmth, affection, love and compassion in his holy presence. The words of Pujya Guruji that “every participant is a winner and winning is just an incident” made all the 42 participants feel like a winner. The real purpose of the event was “all about collaboration; not competition”. Books personally selected by Pujya Guruji were presented to all participants. Pujya Guruji, all Acharyas, Country, State and Centre coordinators appreciated the efforts put forth by CHINTECH team in organising the event.

 The details of the winners are as follows:

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

 On behalf of entire CGICC team we wholeheartedly thank all for the excellent support in conducting this memorable event.

Our Pranaams to all of you once again.

 Team CGICC

 K.K Rajan,Chief Coordinator,

Mrs.Sugeetha Rajan,Joint Coordinator,

Dr.Harikrishnan, International Coordinator

Dr Kiran Raveendran,National Coordinator, &

Mr Ashokan P, Project Assistant.

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Following are the events which will be streamed live :

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On 20-12-2015, Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad celebrated the graduation ceremony for 2015 Balavihar program. Children promoted to the next group received a Tulasi Mala from their fellow classmates. Everyone sang the graduation song wishing each other a successful year ahead. The year ended with a happy note with greetings exchanged by children, parents and sevaks.

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A New Year has begun. Does it bring any novelty for us? There should be something new in our lives besides the date on the calendar. Does it bring any external or internal change? External novelty refers to changes outside such as painting the house, buying a new car and so on. Internal novelty refers to a change in our viewpoint. If our vision of life does not improve, we keep living the way we always did.

Now a days, everyone receives many text messages or email wishes for a happy New year. How do we make our new year happy? Here are a few formulae.

Good health

For a happy life, it is necessary to have good health. If our body is not healthy, we can neither sit for discourses nor watch a movie or hear music. We cannot enjoy anything. Therefore, we must ensure that we keep our body healthy.

Wealth

The second requirement is that of wealth. For our worldly life, money is required. To have money does not mean one should be a millionaire. But there must be enough wealth in our homes. Even for serving others, we must have sufficient money.

Discrimination

The third requirement is a discriminative intellect. Discrimination helps us to understand what is right and what is wrong. It also inspires us to hold on to the right.

Goodness of heart

The fourth is goodness of heart – goodness, purity of emotion and feeling, truthfulness of the heart. All parents want their children to be educated, intelligent and smart. But the main desire is to have a ‘good’ child.

Thus if all the four are present, then there is happiness all around. But how does one gain them?

A Total Vision

In the Bhagwad-gita, Sri Krishna symbolizes a holistic vision of life. Arjuna represents ‘a person ready to put efforts in accordance with that vision or knowledge.’ Thus, where there is both right vision and right action, there is success. As a result of the knowledge imparted by the Lord, Arjuna who was in deep sorrow, came out of it, took up arms and became victorious.

Clearly, we should gain the knowledge contained in the Gita and the Upanishads. This knowledge enables us to see the oneness in all beings. It creates true love in our mind and because of that love we take an interest in performing our duties. Love and knowledge leads to bliss and peace. Sorrow and delusion are removed by Self-knowledge.

May we attain all these things in this birth. May we all attain infinite bliss.

May every year be a Very Happy New Year

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

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Desire is our greatest enemy. What happens when desire arises? How does it affect us? Sri Krishna presents three striking examples: fire covered by a screen of smoke; a mirror concealed by dust; and a foetus enveloped in the womb. Similarly, our knowledge is covered by the constant enemy in the form of irresistible and insatiable desires, lust, passion and cravings.

Three Contemplative Examples

Let us examine these three examples. Fire is not seen because it is covered by smoke. We have all experienced this. Here it is noteworthy to understand that fire is actually present with its quality of heat and light, but we are unable to see it. In the same way, a mirror has the capacity to reflect. It does not lose it even when it is covered with dust. But because of the dust we are not able to see any reflections. In the same way, the foetus is present in the womb, it exists, but it is not seen.

Sri Krishna points out that knowledge is covered by desire. The Knowledge, capable of removing ignorance, is indeed present, but is covered by the veil of desires.

Knowledge

What is the meaning of Knowledge in this context? Here, Knowledge denotes the ability to discriminate and understand. This faculty of discrimination is also called jnanam. With this faculty, we have gathered lot of knowledge right from childhood – information from our parents, from school, by reading books, from our own and other people’s experiences. All of it is stored as our total knowledge. What is right and wrong, good and bad, is also known – to some extent. Hence, jnanam refers to the faculty of understanding as well as the knowledge (worldly and scriptural) that we have gathered.

However, when you are in the suffocating clutches of desire, there is a ‘stay order’; you do not have access to that knowledge. Your ‘bank account’ of knowledge is frozen and you cannot operate it.

The three examples are given to highlight this point. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda interpreted them as indicating the three types of coverings depending upon the types of desires – noble and (sattvic), restless (rajasic) or inertia (tamasic) – that shroud Knowledge.

Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic Desires

Certain desires are noble in nature. Just as a slight breeze is sufficient to remove the smoke and reveal the blazing fire, sattvik desires are very light in nature. In this case, knowledge is veiled temporarily and manifests with very little effort. Let us take the example of a very sentimental and emotional person who says, ‘I can’t bear to see people suffering; I want to do something to help them.’ Such a person cannot sit down and comprehend the highest knowledge because the mind is too emotional at that time. Once the desire is fulfilled by serving the community, he will easily understand.

Other desires are rajasic – if an ambitious person, who wishes to acquire possess and enjoy, is told about seeking the highest knowledge, he will not be interested at all. He will retort, “Keep quiet! There is no time for such pursuits now. I have too much to achieve, too much to become and many goals to reach.” Rajasic desires are like the dust that covers a mirror – more effort is needed to wipe it clean.

The third type is tamasic – like the foetus in the womb. A gentle breeze or concentrated rubbing is not sufficient to remove the impurities of the mind. Tamasic desires are very stubborn. In their case, both time and effort are necessary for the preparation of the mind to grasp the knowledge. A person may even have to undergo some suffering before understanding dawns.

Whether the desires are low, ambitious or even noble, they all veil, in different degrees, our knowledge and faculty of discrimination.

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

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Desire is the constant enemy of the wise man. In this context the term ‘wise’ refers neither to a man of enlightenment nor an ‘ignorant’ man who continuously seeks pleasure from the outside world.

The man of enlightenment is not troubled by desires as he is always content and revelling in the Infinite Self.

The ‘ignorant’ person feels very happy when a desire crops up; he rushes to fulfil it and enjoys the consequent result. His main preoccupation is to satisfy all the desires that arise in his mind.

Dilemma of the Wise

It is the ‘in-between’ man, who is disturbed by desire. He has understood that desires cause problems and agitations. They lead to wrong doing. Yet, at the same time, he is unable to give them up. That is a very unenviable position. Let us take the example of a simple desire of going to watch a movie. We know it is a useless movie, but still head to the Cineplex. On reaching there, we feel guilty, ‘What a foolish thing I have done. It is a waste of time and money.’ Hence, we neither enjoy the movie nor can we give it up.

Such people are constantly troubled by their desires. When a desire crops up, they cannot overcome it; but when they attempt to fulfil it, the wisdom and understanding gained through previous experiences interfere with the enjoyment. Therefore, the person laments, ‘Anything that I want to enjoy, I know it is illegal, immoral or fattening. But what to do, I just can’t give it up! I have read so much about the evil effects of overeating, drinking and smoking, that I have stopped reading altogether!’ He does not heed the warning of the intellect because he does not have the will power to say, ‘No’.

Abode of Desire

Now, having discussed who the enemy is and how it veils our wisdom and understanding, Sri Krishna tells us where the foe, desire, resides and its methodology of operation. Thereafter, Bhagavan reveals how to gain victory over this mighty and seemingly invincible enemy. He gives a complete and perfect answer to Arjuna’s question.

The Lord points out that the dwelling places of desire (kama) are the sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin), the mind and intellect. Through these, desire deludes man. It puts a veil over the ‘light’ of his understanding and knowledge. When a thief wishes to rob a house, he first cuts off the power supply and telephone lines. In the resulting darkness and confusion, he is able to operate better and walks away with many valuables. Similarly, when desire arises it first veils the ‘light’ of discrimination in us, thereby rendering us incapable of benefiting from our wisdom and understanding. Our ‘head light’ is off. Confused and groping in the dark, we become overwhelmed by desire and are unable to fight it.

To be continued…

The Author is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

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Delighted to share the news that today the Government of India has officially communicated that Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda has been conferred the ‪#‎Padma‬ Bhushan award.

The Padma Bhushan award is one of the most prestigious civilian National awards in India, recognising the recipients’ distinguished service of high order to the nation.

It is befitting that in the birth centenary year (2015-2016) of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, His devoted disciple is being recognised through the conferring of this award. It is indeed recognition of the work of the entire organisation.

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http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-padma-awards-2016-declared-anupam-kher-rajinikanth-vinod-rai-sania-mirza-amongst-winners-2170091

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25 January, 2016
Kolwan, Pune

Swami Tejomayananda, global head of spiritual organisation Chinmaya Mission, has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan in the field of Spiritualism. The Padma Bhushan is one of the most prestigious civilian national awards in India, recognising the recipient’s distinguished service to the nation.

It is befitting that in the birth centenary year of renowned spiritual master Swami Chinmayananda, his devoted disciple and torchbearer has been recognised through this award. On this occasion, Swami Tejomayananda has expressed the following:

“I thank the Government of India for bestowing on me the honour of Padma Bhushan. In all humility I dedicate this award to my parents, my Guru Swami Chinmayananda, and the most worshipful God with whose grace and blessings this was possible.”

Chinmaya Mission, under the able leadership of Swami Tejomayananda, lives up to its motto “To give maximum happiness to maximum people for maximum time.”
This is achieved through its various activities in the fields of education, rural development, healthcare, youth empowerment and promotion of cultural and spiritual values to people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Dear All,

Hari Om!

It is with great sense of grief that I inform you that Shri Narain Bhatia, Trustee-CEO of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust passed away at 2.30 AM on 1^st February 2016.

We will have a prayer meeting at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya on 3^rd February,2016 at 4.30 P.M.

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