Issue 16: Focus on YouthThe purpose of ChinmayaYuva Kendra is to give 'rootand wings' to the youth –roots of their culture andwings to soar high in thevast expanse of beauty, joyand service. Swami Tejomayananda

APRIL 2007CHINMAYA MISSION (UK) NEWSLETTER

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This issue has been sponsored in memory of Induben andPranlalbhai Sheth, whose philosophy was:'The people who get on in this world are the people who get upand look for the circumstances they want,and, if they can't find them, make them.' (George Bernard Shaw)

Chinmaya Mission UK Working CommitteeRupin Vadera (President)SureshWadhwani (Vice-President & Secretary)Tushar Karia (Treasurer)Sandeep Patel (Assistant Treasurer)Trishna Gulrajani (Assistant Secretary)Members: Kavita Chanrai, Ramesh Pattni, Zia Rawji, Milan Samani,Smita Samani, Mohini Samtani, Milen Shah, Madhavi Vadera,KanchanWadhwani

Editorial Team: Anjali Patel, Mita Patel and Kripali Manek

Chinmaya Mission UK Board of TrusteesSwami Tejomayananda (Chairman)Swami Swaroopananda (Vice-Chairman)Rupin Vadera (Secretary)Tushar Karia (Treasurer)Members: Dasi Budhrani, Raju Mahtani, Ramesh Pattni, SureshWadhwani

Resident Acharya: Brahmacharini Sumati Chaitanya

Editorial

Our newspapers scream at us daily: climate changethreatens our existence; wars are spiralling out of con-trol.The language of today's world is one of 'conflict'.

We are bombarded with it every day. And we bombard theworld with it too. And so the cycle continues unabated – aself-perpetuating spiral where conflict feeds on conflict.But if we were to stop and really analyse the root of the

problems we see in the world, would we not see that theseconflicts come down to us as individuals alone? For aren'tthe climate changes only the results of the lifestyle choicesthat we have made as individuals? Aren't the wars ravagingvarious parts of the world, at their core, a problem of indi-viduals' inability to accept the values of other people? Andwhen we see conflict in our homes, in our workplaces, canwe really point fingers at politicians, nations or the world atlarge?When we really stop to think, we realise that the con-flict around us is nothing but a reflection of the conflictwithin ourselves.This has been the declaration of Vedanta, the ancient

Indian philosophy, for centuries. It declares "Change your-self and the world around will change!" And that is the stepthat the ChinmayaYuva Kendra (CHYK), the youth wing ofthe Chinmaya Mission, has taken. CHYKs undertake a hugevariety of activities, from weekly study classes and annualretreats to service (seva) programmes and musical and cul-tural celebrations – each geared towards helping us bringexcellence into our social, material and spiritual lives.CHYKs come together to serve, enjoy, learn and transform– to live life to the full in its truest sense!And for most, this all started with taking just one small

step.Whether it was coming along to a study class, or listen-ing to the talks of our Acharyas (teachers) or even simply

being dragged to an event, each one of us will say thatbecoming a CHYK has been life-transforming – an educa-tion in the true sense! And the message has been spreadinglike wildfire: whether it is young professionals seeking moreto life than money and recognition or youths drawn by adesire to understand more about themselves and their placein the world, CHYK is being received in all quarters of theUK with incredible enthusiasm.In this issue, we have tried to provide a sense of what

CHYK is about, to convey its vision and dynamism, todemonstrate its value for young people today and to give asense of the life-long friendships that it generates. But to dothis justice by words alone is impossible! CHYK transformslives in a way that is difficult to convey. So if you think youmight be interested, please come and experience it for your-selves!This issue is not just relevant for the young in body, but

for all those who are young at heart, who wish to see achange in the world, and are willing to start with themselves.Because youth is about having the daring to change, that iswhat is required for a really promising future.The great per-sonalities in the history of the world teach us this. Mandela.Gandhi. Mother Teresa. These are personalities that trulystand out. They are like beacons, magnets. The revolutionsthey began started with a process of transformation withinthemselves.CHYK helps us realise this: that each day that we walk

out into the world, we have much to achieve and the powerto achieve it is all our own.We find that our energy is trans-formed into dynamism, our imagination into creativity.Tomorrow, what we do today will be called history. SwamiTejomayananda says, "There must be a special stamp, a sig-nature of the person you are.”We must remould ourselves,and the world, in the image that we want. Are you ready?Hari Om!

Chinmayam Issue 16

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Chinmaya Yuva Kendra ('CHYK') is the youth wing of the ChinmayaMission, an international spiritual movement. But is spirituality reallyrelevant for young people? And even if it is, what can CHYK really offer theyouth? With his characteristic clarity, Swami Tejomayananda, affectionatelyknown as 'Guruji' within the Mission, explains the real purpose of CHYK.

"When theyounger

generationcomes to feelinspired by aprogrammeof revival,it gathersmomentumand floodsthe heart

of thatgenerationwith a new

spirit ofcourage and

goodwill"Swami

Chinmayananda

Roots and wings: takingcharge of your life Swami

Tejomayananda

Let us begin with a very simple question.Whenyou join a medical college what do you expectto become? A doctor of course!When you join

an engineering college you will become an engineer.When you join any service organisation, such as theRotary Club or Lions Club, you know what you willdo. But when you join CHYK, what are you sup-posed to become? If you do not understand this,your very purpose will be defeated.

FULFILLING A NEEDFirst, one must be clear on what CHYK is not. It isnot a youth club. Not just a meeting ground foryoung people, a fun group or an event managementgroup. That is not the purpose of CHYK.

We must understand that generally when we takeup any activity, it is because some need is fulfilled orsome interest catered for.When a person picks up anewspaper, he first looks at what interests him. Ifone is a businessman, one will look at the business

pages. A sports enthusiast will go to the sports section.Our need and interest will determine what we read.

Therefore, only if the need is felt and interestfuelled, can the activity be successful. For this reason,it is important for the youth to understand the needwhich CHYK fulfils. A kind of direct motivation,which we have when we decide to go to university orto the movies or to a sports club, should also be therein CHYK.

TAKING CHARGE OFYOUR LIFEThe motto of CHYK is 'HarnessingYouth Potentialthrough Dynamic Spirituality'. Generally peopledon't think spirituality can be dynamic; they thinkspirituality is meant for old people, that it means hid-ing oneself in Himalayan caves. This is not correct.

Let us begin with the basic things. All of us areborn in this world whether we like it or not. All ofus have to live our lives. Someone else cannot live ourlives for us. Your parents may be very loving, but if

4 Chinmayam Issue 16

"Religion, like the science of nutrition or health, canserve only those who live up to the Laws and not thosewho know the Laws. Very few are found to have theevolutionary urge, the progressive vision, the daringdynamism, the inner heroism to rise above and live theLaws. Those who did have exploded into an amplerworld of mightier fulfilment and joy. Would you?"Swami Chinmayananda

son.Why is a team a brilliant success at times and anutter disaster on the next occasion?The only reason isthat we do not perform to our full potential.We haveinfinite potential; we just have not harnessed it so far.Therefore we do not shine at the individual level, norat the collective level. Our potential at the physical,mental, emotional and spiritual levels has to bebrought out. And we must learn to work with otherswithout making an issue of differences – alone wemay be good, but we must also shine in togetherness.

Our full potential can manifest only when we havea goal. The higher the goal, the more your abilities

will be displayed. A deer wasgrazing in a forest when a lion

started chasing him. When thedeer outran the lion, on being taunt-

ed by his friend, the lion replied, 'I wasonly running for my food, the deer was

running for his life!' The deer's inspirationwas higher! If you study only to pass, you

will not do your best. If you wish to top theclass, you will surpass yourself.CHYK helps you understand your own truepotential and set yourself goals to enable you tosurpass yourself. That is how you achieve suc-cess. Then you may be applauded for yourachievements and at the same time respected foryour values. This is how one becomes a completeperson. You bless yourself and your life becomes a

blessing to others. Such a person is called a trueCHYK.

BEGINNINGTHE PROCESSWhen you join CHYK therefore, join with the goalof becoming a complete person in the true sense.Then you will excel. Spirituality is not just for oldpeople. Spirituality is the spirit that inspires, thatmakes life dynamic. The purpose of CHYK is toempower the youth with the right vision of life andthe practical means to achieve it – to give you thetools to carve out the life you want. By taking chargeof our lives in this way, we can come to understandand live what it truly means to be CHYK!

you are hungry, you alone have to eat; for an exami-nation you alone have to study; your physical painyou alone have to endure. Hence the responsibility ofyour life is in your hands. But generally, we are readyonly to take up some responsibility, and when thingsgo wrong, we readily blame others. If you do not batwell, you say that the pitch was bad. How is it that theother person made a century on the same pitch? Youhave to start by taking full responsibility for youractions.

CULTIVATINGVALUES AND IDEALSThe next question is: what kind of life do you wantto lead – what do you want out of your life.There arecertain people who have lived in such a way that themere mention of their name evokes great reverence –these are people of character, of values. The vastmajority however may have ideals, but will not knowhow to live up to them or will set them so low thatthey mean little. One must ask oneself: do I want tobecome a person with values or only with valu-ables?

You may choose your own field ofwork and shine in it. But there mustbe a special stamp, a signature ofthe person you are. Rememberone thing – you may beapplauded for yourachievements or your possessions, but you will berespected only for what you are. There is a big differ-ence between what one has and what one is. CHYKgives you the vision of what you want to become. Itis said, 'If you don't stand for something, you will fallfor everything'.

Once you inculcate this character, these values,they will manifest through whichever field youchoose. You don't become a complete person just bywearing a branded suit or sporting a flower.You needsomething more for that.

BRINGING OUTYOUR POTENTIALWhy is a person a great success sometimes and a mis-erable failure at others? After all, he is the same per-

5April 2007

DynamicSpiritualityIt was in December 1951 in Pune, India that the

great Saint, Swami Chinmayananda, delivered hisfirst public address onVedanta, the ancient Indian

philosophy. It was from these beginnings that thedynamic worldwide 'Chinmaya Movement' was born,aimed at spreading the man-making knowledge ofVedanta to all corners of the world.

From the time of that first address, every momentof Swami Chinmayananda's life was dedicated torevitalising the study of the ancient Vedic texts. Afaith grown old and decayed by centuries of blindbelief and habitual commitment to rituals was rekin-dled. Centres were established across the globe.Schools, hospitals and clinics were built. Thousandsof books and letters were written.Through the untir-ing work of his growing team of disciples, the workof the Mission expanded rapidly.

Within just two decades,Chinmaya Mission had become ahousehold name – synonymouswith dynamic spirituality. Itwas at this time thatSwami Chinmayanandafelt that the time wasripe for starting ayouth wing. Hishope was for"young people ofperfection, beautyand excellence inevery field ofwork, as it is ahighly competitiveworld that we willenter in the 21st cen-tury".

His vision for theyouth was: ‘Spirituality inAction’

YOUTH POWERYouths have always been the basis of anygreat movement, whether it was a revolutionary

one or an evolutionary one. Youths represent thequalities of energy, dynamism and courage. And his-tory is full of examples of occasions when the youthof the world actively expressed what they stood for.Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was a young woman whoshook the entire British Empire during the first warof independence in 1857. Bhagat Singh repeated thefeat in 1931 as he smilingly wore the noose aroundhis neck at the young age of 24. Adi Shankaracharyahad hoisted the flag of Sanatana Dharma in all direc-tions, completing his mission when he was only 32.Swami Vivekananda was only 38 when he roared themessage of Hinduism at the Parliament of Religionsin Chicago.

Time and again, the youth have pioneered greatachievements. All that was needed was the right

advice, a noble cause to serve and the rightchannel to express the vast amount of

energy within them. SwamiChinmayananda recognizedthis. On a visit to a col-lege in Kerala, seeingthat many windows inthe college werebroken, he said,with a wide smile,"I am pleased.This shows thatthe youth herehave energy. Myonly job is tochannel it". Andso, at a timewhen the poten-tial of the youthwas widely disre-garded, Swami

Chinmayananda knewthat the sky could be the

limit provided the youth weretaught how to fly properly. He

wanted "at least a hundred inspired,purposeful, sincere, dedicated youngsters,

"Dynamismis generated

when wediscover forourselvesa goal anddedicate

ourselvesto it withreverenceand love"

SwamiChinmayananda

THE HISTORY OF A TRANSFORMING MOVEMENT

6 Chinmayam Issue 16

spanning over a hundred centres around the world.Not only did it grow in size, but its activities expanded

into every conceivable sphere of work – spiritual, social, cul-tural, educational and service-oriented. Today, weekly CHYKclasses are held all over the world. Discussion groups, campsand lectures in universities, workshops, youth fora, debatesand national youth conventions are held every year with theguidance of Chinmaya Mission Acharyas. Literally thousandsof service projects have been pursued with relentless energy,from large-scale and high-profile fundraisers, to village uplift-ment programmes, medical treatment camps, disaster reliefinitiatives and education projects. National quizzes and com-petitions, drama and musical productions, books and audio-visual productions have been organised aimed at awakening aglobal cultural revival.

In every outward expression of service, each youth comesto learn more about himself and grow into ampler fields ofhappiness. And, in turn, his or her outer expressions come tobe divinised by the touch of spirituality. It becomes a self-per-petuating cycle, strengthening and reinforcing our owngrowth. This is the essence of CHYK.

In every opportunity that Gurudev got to interact with theyouth, he unrelentingly reminded them: “Mighty plans ofaction can be undertaken only by equally mighty men. A manis mighty according to the amount of energy and concentra-tion and tranquility of mind he can bring into his undertak-ing with confidence in himself and faith in the goal he haschosen to reach.…To live a large life each youth must have arich store of personal courage. Fortified with your identifica-tion with Him, you shall become fit for success even in themost formidable of enterprises. You can …You must!”

Today, as Gurudev’s children, the young members ofCHYK form the most active and dynamic arm of ChinmayaMission. In their hands, one can see a confident present, anassuring future and the continuation of an everlasting heritageof spiritual strength. And thus, over the years, in their infiniteenthusiasm, limitless energy, and dynamic spirituality, CHYKhas come to stand as nothing less than a personification ofGurudev Swami Chinmayananda's own eternal youthfulness.

Compiled from the book, 'Crescendo Peaks', and other sources

turned brilliant both in their secular fields as well as in theirspiritual understanding of the culture of India, and thereafterit shall be the duty of these youngsters to bring this knowl-edge to the others".

It was out of this powerful vision that the beginnings ofthe Chinmaya Yuva Kendra came into being.

THEVISION OF CHYKIn 1975, Swami Chinmayananda formed a small youth forumin Bangalore. He introduced texts dedicated for the youth. Hisintention was to make CHYK the hallmark of an ideal youthmovement, solid in its foundation and lofty in its ideals. Heensured from its very inception that the youth made use ofCHYK as a platform for self-development, spiritual progressand discovery of their latent talents.

The first spiritual and cultural orientation camps for theyouth followed. Through fora, classes and camps burgeoningall over India, Swami Chinmayananda exhorted young peopleto not only read, understand and reflect upon the scriptures,but also bring them into day-to-day expression. CHYKbecame a meeting place for young minds with an urge to knowmore about the purpose of life – it became for the youth atraining centre for life. Very rapidly, CHYK-inspired serviceprojects multiplied, spearheaded by those who had begun tosee the process of self-transformation in their own hearts.Emphasising this, Swami Chinmayananda said,

“Never before has the world needed such dynamism astoday…Your future job is to uplift the country, revitalize andmake it a nation. This cannot be done by mere materialknowledge or mere secular ideology. It needs in the leadersthis explosive expression, personal magnetism and thisdynamism cultivated through proper education. Study of thescriptures should never be given up – that is the secret fuelthat must fire up our enthusiasm, and inspire us to sacrificeand service”.

THE GROWTH OF CHYKWORLDWIDEFrom the moment it was formed, there was no looking back.In a short span of about a year, CHYK had established cen-tres in nearly 10 cities in India. Then, from this small groupof inspired youths grew an international youth organisation

"This lamp is generally used in South Indian Templesand ancient houses as a lantern to carry when going intodarkness. This is light in transit. Generally this is lit atthe main lamp and the individual carries this light withhim when he goes out. En route, it has less chance ofdying away if a sufficiently broad and thick wick is used.Against sudden gushes of wind the flame is to be pro-tected by a guarding palm. This lamp has as its middle awide container to carry oil, and the spoon on the chainis to feed the wick with oil from time to time.Nahin gnanena sadrisham pavitramiha vidyate means

there is nothing more purifying than Knowledge.Let this lamp be our emblem for the Yuva Kendra.Let each one of you be a lamp lit at the main light at

His altar, and may each one of you have enough faith anddevotion, born out of your study and knowledge, to feedfrom time to time the mind that lights up the path withits incandescence. You are all torchbearers for the world,spreading the light of the eternal scriptures that youyourselves have studied and practised. This is the signifi-cance of this emblem."SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

An International AgeCHYK Across the World

"Reinforced with Vedanta when man’s mind and intellectbecome integrated, such an inner personality is the

noted soldier in the material world and in the spiritualarena, invincible and reigning ever on the top"

Swami Chinmayananda

To any youth reading this who is contemplating spendingany length of time travelling around the world, I wouldsuggest packing three things: a passport, a toothbrush

and one simple mantra.The mantra is so powerful that it does not need to be spo-

ken out loud but hold its four words in your heart and you willnot merely be protected, you will be embraced with love andshowered with hospitality wherever you go, from Boston toBangalore, Singapore to Sikkim.What is this secret mantra? What are these magical four

words?“I am a CHYK.”CHYK did not begin as a seed in any one country, for a

seed planted in one place must grow to a mature tree before itspollen can catch the westerly wind and find fertile soil. Thistakes many years to happen. But in just 30 years, CHYK hasblossomed into a forest that traverses the globe ….From All India CHYK to centres in Bahrain and the

Middle East; from there crossing the Sahara Desert viaNairobi and onto Paris and London and then across theAtlantic, to the United States of CHYKWest … from therepassing over the Pacific rim to the sunny shores of CHYKAustralia until arriving back in India via the islands of thePhilippines, Hong Kong and Singapore: make no mistake,CHYK is a trans-national forest whose seeds were planted by

Gurudev in his 50 years of roaming the earth, no countrylarge enough to hold Him for long and in whose soft shadewe all learn, serve and grow together as One Global CHYKFamily.After the recent International CHYK Camp held in

Coimbatore in December 2006 and conducted by SwamiSwaroopananda, it was this fact, that we are all members ofthe same family, that we have all firmly come away with.But why should CHYK be described as a family?A family is a group of people who are united through love

and share a unifying connection with one another. They pro-tect and care for each other and share a common goal andvision. These are the attributes that unite us as a globalCHYK family, made visible by the fact that no matter wherein the world you go, you instantly feel at home when you arein the company of a fellow CHYK.And now the time has come for this international bond to

be galvanised and fortified through a regular exchange ofideas. The bridges of love that exist between CHYK centresacross the world must now be supplemented with bridges ofdialogue, co-operation and mutual assistance.The benefits of this are many. As we learn of initiatives

across the world, we become inspired, both because of thework that is being carried out in spreading the knowledge ofVedanta in other lands but also because we can replicate their

7April 2007

ideas in our own countries, sharing our resourcesand pooling our talents.For example, in 2006, CHYK Australia

organised a production entitled ‘Ramayana in thePark’, involving two performances of the greatepic at a public park in Melbourne to a combinedaudience of over 5,000 people that took a team of 50 ama-teurs and professionals 18 months to conceive and actualise.In the same year, CHYK Chennai performed their productionof the ‘Kamba Ramayana’ at an international festival in Bali,where they were selected to represent India by their nationalembassy. These are just two of the larger events that occurredin 2006. Think if we knew of all the camps, workshops andinitiatives being carried out by CHYKs across the world.In India, as much emphasis is put on ‘adventure activities’

as it is on study classes. When I asked Swami Mitranandaabout this, saying that surely study classes were the backboneof CHYK, he replied that, ‘Knowledge must be the backbone’and that spiritual knowledge can take many forms. One canoften learn more from transcending one’s fear through abungee jump (as Swamiji made all 55 cast-members of theKamba Ramayana do in Bali) than through studying a scrip-

ture. It is not that one technique is more impor-tant than the other, but that in different locales,emphasis is placed upon different avenues ofknowledge expansion, depending upon the envi-ronment in question.Knowledge of these different techniques

helps to expand our minds and allows us to grow and evolvein new and unexpected ways. Having seen first-hand the ‘char-acter-building’ activities of the Global CHYK Camp and thefearless attitude of the All India CHYKs, many CHYKs inthe UK and Australia now see the personality-shaping role ofCHYK in a whole new light. Likewise, workshops such as‘The Power of One’ in London and ‘Make it Happen’ inSingapore have inspired CHYKs in Mumbai.It is vital for CHYK centres across the world to come

together over the coming years and transform their bridges offriendship into information superhighways across which ourideas, our insights and of course our love can touch and trans-form the lives of CHYKs the world over.This is the call to CHYKs across the globe for the latter

part of this decade: the ushering in of a truly international age.Milan Samani

Awakening Indians to India21 years ago, Swami Chinmayananda casually mentioned to a group of youths that Indians were notproud of their country and that this lack of pride stemmed from a lack of awareness. ‘To know India,is to love India” he said.One of the youths present that day would later be ordained as Swami Mitrananda and 17 years later,in 2003, he set about fulfilling Gurudev’s vision to ‘Awaken Indians to India’.While the current press is full of stories of India’s explosion into the global arena, just 4 years agothe lack of national pride in India’s youth was tangible – they would scoff at talk of India becoming

a global superpower and the Indian ‘brain-drain’ was at its peak.

Swami Mitrananda’s remedy was simple:• Collate 500 facts about India celebrating its rich and wondrous heritage and bright and promising future.• Assemble these facts into a 500-page book entitled, ‘Awakening Indians to India’. The book would be divided

into sections such as Science, History, People and Culture and include facts such as Pythagoras’ theorem being dis-covered in India by Boudhayana, hundreds of years before Pythagoras was born.

• Distribute the book via a national competition, where registrants would pay 25 rupees (30 pence) for a copyof the book and entry to a quiz on its contents.

The initiative surpassed all expectations. Quizzes occurred on local, regional, state and finally national levels andthe event is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as having the largest participation of any quiz ever: some200,000 registered participants in all. The national-level final was broadcast in a 13-part series on Zee TV and theevent was advertised and endorsed by celebrities including actress Kajol, industrialist KM Birla (the youngest billion-aire in the world), India’s president APJ Kalam and of course our very own Guruji, Swami Tejomayananda.Just five years on, the tide in India has turned. Indian students who a short while ago scoffed at the thought of

India becoming a superpower now announce it proudly, and the same Indian professionals who flocked to Americaand Europe for work now wish to stay and build their country from within.Was ‘Awakening Indians to India’ responsible for this shift in thinking? Probably not. But if 200,000 people regis-

tered for the quiz, then over 1,000,000 people must have heard the publicity talks and launch events across the coun-try. If you include the television audience, this number increases many times over.To influence even one mind is noble work but to give national pride and self-respect to millions of people is a

truly incredible accomplishment and the realisation of a vision 17 years in the making.

8 Chinmayam Issue 16

CORD: Transforming Lives in Rural IndiaCORD (Chinmaya Organisation for RuralDevelopment) runs the Mission's many rural uplift-ment projects in India. It transforms the lives of hun-dreds of thousands of poor every year through a vast

array of projects aimed at facilitating participatory sustainabledevelopment. Many CHYKs from the UK have volunteeredwith CORD. Just some of its projects include:

• rural health care centres• sanitation projects• legal and social justice cells• income generation schemes• micro-banking schemes• self-governance initiatives• literacy and education programmes• women & youth empowerment projects

• rehabilitation programmes for the disabled or 'differentlyabled' as they are called in CORD

• participatory natural resources management initiatives.

Yuva Veer: Youth Empowerment ProjectSince 2003, CHYK has run Yuva Veer – YouthEmpowerment Programme (YEP), a comprehensivetraining and service programme aimed at tackling thecause of social problems.

You are invited to give 2 years of your life to India and under-go an outstanding 3-level programme to Learn! Serve! Grow!• LEARN! 4 months of training in various subjects includingattitude management, time and stress management, and keyverses of the Bhagavad Geeta, other philosophical texts andelementary Sanskrit.• SERVE! in different centres across India for 20 months,conducting workshops, seminars and counselling sessions andundertaking a huge variety of upliftment projects.• GROW! On completing their course of study and service

9April 2007

• CHINMAYA UDGHOSH, Monthly Youth MagazineThink, laugh, reflect, learn! Get an introduction to Indian val-ues and culture, read inspirational articles by renowned lead-ers, look through Q&As on spiritual subjects, anecdotes, say-ings and cartoons, and keep yourself up to date on CHYKevents and activities. This is a truly unique international mag-azine for the youth with material to help you learn how to pre-pare yourself to face real world challenges. £20.00 a year.

Publications can be purchased online from our e-bookshopon www.chinmayauk.org.ebookshop

Udgosh. Latest issue now available

Looking to make a difference?

spanning 2 years, Yuva Veers, equipped with expertise in con-ducting large-scale programmes, are made offers of place-ments in a variety of corporate or other organisations.

If you would like to volunteer for any CORD projects or if youwould like to find out more or apply for YEP, please contactMilan, Anoli or Nikhil (contact details on page 11 overleaf).

Two major projects in India offer young people from anywhere in the world fantasticopportunities to help transform lives and make a mark.

1

2

10 Chinmayam Issue 16

Right here.Right now.

Most youngsters I know and have grown upwith are quite content with living life fromeach day to the next – “working hard and

playing hard” – without giving too much thought toshort term or even long term goals. Life is lived atsuch a fast pace that there is no time to even stop andinquire into why certain choices have been made tothink or act in a particular way.

CHYKs also work hard but the difference is thatthe hard work is purposeful and no matter what taskis at hand, ‘sadhana’ (spiritual discipline) remains themost important work. That’s why CHYK is sorefreshing. Ee “play hard” too, but we see the socialaspect of CHYK as ‘satsanga’ (keeping the company ofthe good and true). The result? Creativity, energy anddynamism to be our best. And the best in us is whatwe offer as ‘seva’ (selfless service).

This section shows how ‘sadhana’, ‘satsanga’ and ‘seva’come together so beautifully in the activities offeredby CHYK UK.

CHYK ClassesCHYK UK now has 6 classes a week, not to mentionclasses which CHYKs facilitate in Universities suchas LSE, Imperial College and Kings College. In eachclass, texts are read through and discussed, with theentire group participating and sharing thoughts.CHYK class is much more than just an extra-curric-ular activity. Each class is an inspiring, uplifting andthought-provoking experience which remains withthe attendees all week.

Summaries of classes are prepared each week toenable attendees to reflect on the concepts discussed.These can be found on our website at www.chin-mayauk.org. One of the classes has also undertakenthe exercise of writing a 'Sadhana Journal' – a sharedjournal recording the experiences of each attendee in

undertaking a spiritual practice, or 'sadhana', everyweek – like a continuous internal audit. At least onenew CHYK class is introduced every year, and oneexciting prospect at the moment is to start a new classfor Young Professionals working in the City. Moreinformation will soon be available at www.chin-mayauk.org so do visit the website regularly.

The attendees of the CHYK classes also meet atregular workshops held at Chinmaya Kirti, theChinmaya Mission's ashram in London. The threeworkshops which have taken place in the last year –“Breaking Borders”, “The Power of One” and“Enjoying the Journey” – have inspired creativity inmany a CHYK. A series of CHYK workshops willbe held this summer and more information will fol-low by email and through web updates.

CHYK CampsEvery year CHYK UK organises a long-weekendretreat, or 'CHYK Camp', for the youth, conductedby a Chinmaya Mission Swami. The main attractionat the camp is the series of discourses given by ourSwamis throughout the long weekend. These areinterspersed with various activities such as discussiongroups, walking meditation, yoga, t’ai chi, presenta-tions, role-plays, cultural entertainment evenings,workshops, educational games, bhajans and chanting,barbeques, picnics, camp fires, and so much more.Camp offers a fantastic opportunity to bond withlike-minded young people in a spiritually conduciveatmosphere in the company of learned Acharyas(teachers) – always an unforgettable experience! Lastyear CHYK UK organised an Easter camp in Francetogether with Chinmaya Mission France. It was agreat success and marked the launch of CHYK inFrance. This year’s Easter camp “Right Here RightNow” taking place in France again from 6 to 9 April

CHYKUK

"Let theactions,words,

behaviour,even the

demeanourof the

CHYKsdeclare that

you are aclass apart –brilliant in

youraspirations,clean in your

thoughts,unapproach-able by the

baserinstincts

and pulls ofsocial living"

SwamiChinmayananda

11April 2007

2007, sold out within a few weeks of it being advertised.

CHYK ConferencesIn September 2006, CHYK UK organised its firstever, all-day youth conference, hosted by KingsCollege London – “Success Inc.”, which attractedover 200 students and young professionals. The dele-gates participated in interactive sessions withSwamiji, discussion groups, activities and a Q&A ses-sion.The feedback from attendees was excellent, withmany people wanting more regular events of this kindto take place.

And that’s exactly what’s in the pipeline! InSeptember 2007, SwaminiVimalananda will be visit-ing the UK and one of the events on her itinerary willbe a youth conference, which we are expecting over300 people to attend. Add your details to our mail-ing list to receive more information about the confer-ence and future events of its kind.

CHYK Social EventsMeeting at least once a week at CHYK class, work-ing together to organise events, and generally sharingsimilar goals and ideals mean it is inevitable thatstrong bonds of friendship are formed betweenCHYKs. Each event organised by the CHYKs, be ita camp, conference or seva project, includes a definiteelement of fun and camaraderie. Many brainstormingsessions for CHYK events have taken place over apizza after CHYK class. Other CHYK social eventsinclude an annual group booking of tickets at aGarba during Navratri.We also try to organise groupbookings for plays and concerts every once in a while.On a personal note, the CHYKs are more than justfriends, we’re family.

CHYK Seva (Selfless Service)Many people call the CHYKs the “army” ofChinmaya Mission, ever ready to serve others and liveup to the Mission motto of spreading “maximumhappiness to the maximum number for the maximumtime.” Most of the sevaks (volunteers) who teachchildren in the Mission's 'Bal Vihar' and teenagers in'Junior CHYK' classes are CHYKs who devote manyhours each week to planning for lessons. One CHYKwho really stands out as a role-model is Darpan Patelwho has combined his enthusiasm as a teacher withhis love for music to start 'CHYK Soul' music classesfor children and teenagers at Chinmaya Kirti.The chil-dren have now found a platform from which to expresstheir creativity and skill, and it’s not rare to see CHYKSoul performing at a Chinmaya Mission event.

Other CHYKs have come forward to help withfundraising and 22 April 2007 will mark the 3rdLondon Marathon in a row that the CHYKs haverun for, on behalf of Chinmaya Mission UK. Thisyear it will be Dr. Neha Tanna and Dr. Deepak

Kansagra running the Marathon and we are sure thatthe time and devotion that they have put into prepar-ing for the run will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.In November 2006, the CHYKs undertook a BoneMarrow Register Drive in association with theAnthony Nolan Trust. The idea came from PranaiBuddhdev, a medical student and long-time CHYK,and it was such a success that over 60 new people reg-istered to be on the bone marrow donor list. Otherareas where the CHYKs regularly offer seva are event-organising, website maintenance, Swaranjali (musicgroup) co-ordination, managing audio-visual require-ments and doing DIY work at Chinmaya Kirti, toname a few. When the inspiration from our Gurushas no limits, how can the seva have any limits?

CHYK OutreachOne of the reasons why CHYK UK has continued togrow from strength to strength is the fantastic out-reach work that takes place all year round. With theinspiration and guidance provided by BrahmachariniSumati Chaitanya, the resident Acharya in the UK,the CHYKs have organised talks at some of the besteducational institutes in the UK, including LSE,UCL, Kings College, Imperial College and QueenMary. Brni Sumatiji has also spoken at events organ-ised by the National Hindu Students Forum(NHSF) and Hindu Youth UK (HYUK). CHYKsDr. Milen Shah and Sanjive Sachdev are regularlyinvited to perform pujas, explain the meaning behindHindu festivals and conduct talks on Seva (selflessservice).

Following an exceptionally successful presentationon the fundamentals of Hinduism conducted byCHYK at UBS, hosted by the UBS Hindu Networkand City Hindus Network, new and exciting outreachtalks are now also being planned in the corporate sec-tor for young professionals. We’d love to hear yourideas and suggestions, no matter what field you’re in,so please get in touch …Trishna Gulrajan

Visit www.chinmayauk.orgto view CHYKclass summariesand read moreabout past, cur-rent and forth-coming events.

More informationfrom:Milan Samani:07957 568 879Anoli Rayvadera:07956 636 525Nikhil Tanna:07782 362 279

To be added to themailing list, pleaseemail chyk@chinmayauk.org

Chinmaya

“Why do you give so much importanceto the Bhagavad Geeta? Aren't otherreligious texts of equal importance?

Every religious textbook is of equal importance.But I have no authority to recommend books I

have not studied myself. I studied the Geeta – and itwas of great help to me – and, therefore, I recom-mend it to everyone. The methodology followed bythe Geeta is conducive to the modern, scientific mindand the educated classes. For they want everything tobe rationally proved, intellectually defensible. And theapproach of the Geeta is very rational becauseKrishna had to address a dynamic, young, intelligentman who was a born sceptic. Arjuna did not under-stand that Krishna was an intellectual giant. Krishnahad to make him believe it by the strength of logic.This approach appeals to people like you and I. Itconverted me from an atheist into a believer …

You were an atheist?!

Of course. Any intelligent, rational man is an atheistuntil, of course, he is initiated into religion. So

when you criticise religious people at times, I sympathisebecause I was also like that. I also thought that religionmeant ritualism. I never knew there was a science to it,that ritualism was just a bark, the outer bark of the greattree that shelters the whole community.The bark is nec-essary for the tree. But the bark is not the tree.

You are often exhorting young peopleto search for a new ideal that wouldgive them motivation for dynamicaction. Where do you think such anideal lies?(Laughing loudly) An ideal I can never give you. Youhave to find an ideal. Uncompromisingly you have to

live up to it under any circumstances. Then the bestin you starts coming out. Look at Mahatma Gandhi.So long as he was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, hewas an ordinary man. But with the ideal of freedomfor 400 million people, out of him came such a bril-liance that he has carved out a permanent niche inworld history. One ideal, and the whole world changes.It was the same withVivekananda. And with Buddha.

Do you believe that straight politicalideals, no moral or spiritual stringsattached, can also help to transformthe condition of our society?

Any ideals can - not just political ideals, artisiticones too: the belief that I can be the greatest

artist - the best in you then starts coming out.

Surely, an ideal is not enough.Without a moral stand, mankind istaken backwards. We see this withpolitical and religious wars today.

It is not the ideal that puts man back. It is the inter-pretation. Religion is not the cause for wars or the

disaster we see today. It is religion interpreted in aparticular way. Take the harijan problem in India.Caste is a universal principle. The problem is not inHinduism, it is the man-made interpretation ofHinduism – and you suffer for it. Take democracy:government of the people, for the people, by the peo-ple. But by the time you practise it in a parliament itbecomes government on the people and the peoplesuffer. So, even the best things when man-handledbecome the worst of things.

There is a tension today between dif-ferent ideologies in the world and a

Below are extracts from an interview with Swami Chinmayanandain 1980. Swamiji's hard-hitting words will echo deeply with manyyoung readers searching for rational and scientific answers to the

complex issues we face today. They show that Vedanta does not breakdown at the level of politics, conflict or materialism – that, in fact, itdoes not break down at any level. It is this universality of Vedanta thatmakes it so appealing in our quest to understand both the world andthe individual, the macro and the micro. It is this same universal quali-ty of Vedanta that makes this ancient science of life as necessary andrelevant for the youth today as it has been for thousands of years. Tofind out more, or to read the full interview, please visit our website onwww.chinmayauk.org or email chyk@chinmayauk.org.

“

“

Thundersgrowing concern that some countriesshould not have nuclear weaponsbecause of the ideologies they hold.

This is not new. It was the same in theMahabharata war. Arjuna with his spiritual ide-

ology refused to fight his cousins. Krishna’s answer:“Don't be a fool. You are fighting, not your cousins,but against an ideology.” Fighting as such is neithermoral nor immoral. It becomes so depending on whatideology you are espousing. This is also just thesymptom. The disease is deep down in the humanmind itself. It has been polluted. The moral atmos-phere is choking today – it has been brought about byman’s craze for material acquisition, the craze forpower. As our rishis rightly said, material acquisitionmay give you pleasure but not happiness.

How do you judge an act? Galileo waspersecuted in his time. Scientists,messiahs, poets and philosophershave been killed at some points ofhistory and worshipped at others forsaying almost the same things.

Your attention is on the act. Focus on the individ-ual. Take Rama walking away from the palace.

The public said: 'Remain!'. A modern politicianwould have said: 'The country wants me: so I will stay.'But Rama said instead: 'Even though it is unjust, apromise was given.' And he walked out. The readinessto sacrifice the security of the present, to live up to theideals you have set for yourself – that is a noble act.

Many people believe that there is avast hiatus today between the worldsof religion and everyday reality –this explains why young people aremoving away from spirituality andseeking their answers in the tough,materialistic world where survivalitself is the most challenging battle.

You see only with one eye. You see only peoplemoving away from religion and striving to find

their values in materialism. You don’t see the otherstream – all those striving for and seeking spirituali-ty. It’s not just one-way traffic.

Can modern science and religioncoexist intelligently?

(Laughing), You are talking in the language of the19th century. A century back, this question was valid.It no longer is. Physics and metaphysics have mergedtoday.

Isn’t it true that the only religion ofour time that has any respectabilityis religion in action? Not Hinduism,Christianity, Buddhism or Islam. Weneed those who work for social caus-es, for Love. Most of us would have nointerest in Mother Teresa, theCatholic nun, but every one of usdeeply respects Mother Teresa, thesocial worker.

Perfect! But also remember that without MotherTeresa the nun you would never have had Mother

Teresa the social worker. It is religion that is behindeverything that she did.

But, still, why this vast gap betweenthe search for spiritual values andthe quest for materialistic reorderingof society based on principles of jus-tice and equality? And isn't everyreligious person searching for self-realisation as self-centred as a mate-rialistic person?

First, tell me what is religion – then you'll under-stand. Materialism you know – it is purely selfish:

my happiness is all important, my wife and childrenmust be happy. In Hinduism, the greatness of you liesnot in what you possess but in what you did withwhat you possessed. In the modern materialisticworld, what you possess is the criterion of your glory.What you do with it – nobody questions.

Understand, Self-realisation is not a piece of cakethat the seeker wants to get. He is trying to expandhis consciousness. He wants to embrace the wholeuniverse. Not with his hands. Not with power. Notwith money. But with understanding. It’s a newdimension of consciousness he is attempting: to reachthe higher echelons of consciousness in himself. Onlythen can we know true freedom. That is religion orspiritualism. In fact, religion is the technology bywhich these spiritual ideals can be reached.

From an interview with Swami Chinmayananda, 1980

her own potential to the maxi-mum and build for him or herselfa happy life. In the same way thatplaying a sport against great play-ers makes you raise your game,being a CHYK has helped meraise my standard.

I love being a CHYK ..."

14 Chinmayam Issue 16

“The art ofspiritualliving is

subtler thanall otherarts, moredemandingthan allknownsciences,

more precisethan

literature,more

adventurousthan space-walking”

SwamiChinmayananda

Although CHYK will mean something very individual andparticular for each CHYK, they will all agree that it offers thepotential for tremendous personal upliftment, deep friendshipand greater self-awareness. We asked some of our youthswhat it means to them to be CHYK. Here are their reflections:

CHYKCHATDevayani Khakhria,Designer

CHYK generates a confidenceand an optimism that is born outof the special knowledge ofVedanta. CHYK is a special ener-gy, a wavelength of understandingin the heart that you share some-thing of infinite value, and whichignites your inspiration uponcontact.

CHYK is about self-discoverythrough the study of Vedanta. Bycoming together to learn about thescriptures in a way that relates toour lives, we create a live forum forintellectual discussion and stimula-tion, which makes us examine ourown lives, and redefine our lifegoals and achievements.

There is a loving guidancethat is extended to CHYKs bytheir teachers and this is GurudevSwami Chinmayananda's legacyto us. Gurudev used to say,''CHYKs who don't studyVedanta are not CHYKs'', so inthe end, CHYK is a responsibili-ty, but one that is joyfully under-taken for the benefit of one's owngrowth. And in striving to under-stand and to share the knowledgewith others, a self-renewing cir-cuit of exchange is created.

It is a win-win scenario, whereyou never stop learning ... And inthe process, true friendships growalong with you. Through healthydecisions made in the company ofthose with integrity and honesty,a CHYK learns to fulfil his or

together by an unknown force.Their feet move lightly towardseach other over the rocky ground.As though choreographed bysome absent administrator, theybreak their gaze and turn theirheads towards the summit of theMountain. And with the firmestof conviction, with fire in theirhearts, they step hand-in-handinto the Mist."

Milan Samani,Chartered Accountant

"A CHYK is a seeker. He or sheis one who, at some level, feelsthat there is something more tolife than the mundane. It is as if,perched atop a rock, he looks outtowards the horizon and sees twopaths before him. The first leadsdown into the Valley, the other,to the summit of the Mountain.The Way of the Valley, the lowroad, is the one easy to tread,worn by many and demarcated bythe temptations of everyday life.But a CHYK is a seeker and aseeker flinches at the Way of theValley. He looks down and seesthe masses, the pleasantries andmaladies, the conformity and thehumdrum, and though he isdrawn to them, something withinhim resists.

So he looks up. To the Pathof the Mountain.

But the Way of the Mountainis shrouded in mist. And this isnot a bad thing; for the Way ofthe Mountain is fraught with dif-ficulty. He knows others havewalked this path before. He seesthem from time to time and rev-els in their radiance. He reads andlistens to their words; contem-plates and understands theirmeaning: but still he is unsure.And all the while, the laughterand tears of those from the Valleybelow echo up and tempt him.

So there he remains, perchedatop his rock, moving neither upnor down. But then, he hears anoise. He looks across and hiseyes connect with anotherCHYK, seated on a rock near hisown. No words are spoken; noneis required for they are drawn

15April 2007

demands) that I find some senseof peace on my life's journey,whilst heading towards the finaldestination, the Infinite. However,as many wise men have said timeafter time, the true seeker findsthe destination in the journeyitself. Vedanta has helped me tounderstand this and CHYK helpsme to live it each day in, I hope,the Master's Way."

Darpan Patel,Management Accountant

"I love music. Having been aCHYK for almost 9 years, I findit increasingly easy to talk aboutthe value-based principles ourMasters have demonstrated andpassed down to us over many mil-lennia. But this time, I'll use thelanguage of music in order to tryto convey what CHYK means tome.

Music is, in its simplest form,sound and silence. That's thebeauty of it for me as a spiritualaspirant (and an aspiring artist).We all hear the silence as well asthe sound, knowingly or unknow-ingly. But are we listening to it?Life should be the same as musicin this respect. For me, becomingconscious of this silence feelsalmost like a new voyage of dis-

covery when you truly start to lis-ten, experience and become moreaware of yourself. And so myjourney of rediscovery is to expe-rience the soundless sound, therhythm within, the harmony inthe unity of this infinite creationand its unending melody ofexpression.

This is my understanding ofmusic and of spirituality, and thisunderstanding has unfolded in mewhilst being a CHYK because ofGurudev Swami Chinmayananda'slife-transforming teachings, theMaster's grace. Now I find myselfwalking the path of spirituality asthat aspiring artist and seeker ofthe Truth. I feel more rooted inlife and in who I am, be it as amusician or otherwise. For if Ican understand one thing throughand through, I can understandeverything. So music ensures (and

CHYK, and still continue to doso. Horizons keep expanding,there is no end to the talent thatwe have – CHYK is a workingexample of Man's own innerpotential – it gives you a chanceto show the world what you havegot. I have witnessed so manypeople grow (very rapidly) whenlit with the torch of knowledge.

I end by saying that I am verygrateful for meeting the path ofCHYK, my life has definitelychanged, and is continuallychanging in the right direction."

Nishal Hurry,IT Project Manager

"I remember being drawn toCHYK because of the rich anddeep conversations generated withlike-minded people. CHYK is aunique forum, a refreshing oasiscompared to the usual rat racecrowd focussed on ambition,achievement and money. CHYKsclick with each other because theyhave a genuine regard. They arenot interested in what work you do,or what car you drive.The essenceis that we have all come togetherbecause we have similar questions,seeking ultimately theTruth.

To be honest, CHYK filled ahole for me – or to put it better,created a space for me to thinkabout life. It allowed me to askquestions such as, "Why are wehere?" and "What is our purposein life?"I remember my first studyclass where I was asked what Ithought God was... I felt verynervous revealing thoughts that

had never previously been shared,let alone with a group of com-plete strangers! It was very com-forting to know that my answer(which I thought zany at thetime) was accepted as very closeto Vedantic philosophy. I wasamazed at this revelation, and felta real 'connection' and a desire toknow more. That is the beauty ofCHYK – it helps to know youare not alone, others too are seek-ing the same things. And you gainclarity in your thinking. I havefound many solutions to prob-lems as a direct result of theteachings, in fact you find prob-lems dissolve in class and do notrequire a solution.

Finally, there is another sidewhich I have left till the end.CHYKs that you meet will beyour friends forever – this isbecause the bond of friendship isbased upon selflessness. ActuallyCHYK is a great way to learnthis valuable virtue. I have metthe most amazing people through

ADULT STUDY (AGE 30 +)Adult study groups are held on everyday of the week by Brni SumatiChaitanya and experienced sevaks. Asystematic study scheme is followed,providing attendees with an opportu-nity to learn Vedanta and discoverpractical tools to bring the ideas intoexpression in daily life. Classes areheld for all levels of advancement andin various locations in London includ-ing Hendon, Harrow, Northwood, StJohn's Wood, South Croydon, Ilford,West Wickham and SouthseaPortsmouth.

Study of a wide range of texts andsubjects is undertaken, including SelfUnfoldment, Art of Manmaking,Bhaja Govindam, Kindle Life, AtmaBodha, Vivekachudamani and TattvaBodhah. These classes are free and allare welcome to attend. For moreinformation contact RameshbhaiPattni on 07765 837 134.

VANPRASTHASANSTHAN (SENIORCITIZENS’ GROUP)(AGE 55 +)The first ever Chinmaya VanprasthaSansthan, or Senior Citizens Group,outside India has been commenced inthe UK.The motto of theVanprasthaSansthan is 'Graceful Ageing throughSpiritual Living'. Regular classes areheld fortnightly on Wednesdays and awide range of workshops and otherprogrammes are held. For furtherinformation please contact:Mannu Bhalla: 07946 581 929,Lal Nawbatt: 020 8954 6490 orBharat Kiri: 07766 705 393.

CHYK (YOUTH) STUDYCLASSES (17-30 yrs)CHYK classes for the youth are con-ducted in Baker Street and Hendonfor beginners, intermediates andadvanced levels. The classes are aimedat building a clarity of vision andsharpness of intellect. Talks by ourAcharya, Brni Sumatiji, and our expe-rienced young speakers are held at uni-versities around the country. Theseclasses and talks are open to all and allyouth are strongly encouraged toattend. For more information contactMilan Samani: 07957 568 879 or onchyk@chinmayauk.org

BALVIHAR (CHILDREN'S)CLASSES (4-12 yrs)Swami Chinmayananda has said,“Children are not vessels to be filled,but lamps to be lit”. At our Balviharcentres in Hendon, Northwood, StJohn's Wood, Harrow, Edgware andWanstead, children are given value-based education, learning the funda-mental and enduring values of ourreligion and developing a reverence forour ancient culture. For more infor-mation contact Madhavi Vadera on07980 597 810.

JUNIOR CHYK(TEENAGERS') CLASSES(12-17 yrs)Junior CHYK classes provideteenagers with an introduction toVedanta, allowing them to develop arational and logical approach to reli-gion. Through the company of like-minded peers, they develop a healthyresistance against temptations andlearn the tools to excel in all avenuesof life. Classes take place in Hendon,Northwood, St John's Wood, Harrowand Edgware. In addition, JuniorCHYKs are offered the chance to sitfor GCSE Hinduism, taught by ourtrained sevaks.More information fromMadhaviVadera on 07980 597 810.

DISCOURSESWeekly discourses are given by ourresident Acharya, Brni Sumatiji, atChinmaya Kirti in Hendon on the fol-lowing texts: Taittiriya Upanishad,Bhagavad Geeta Chaper 10, TulsiRamayana and DakshinamurtiStotram. With impeccable logic andprecision, the essence of these impor-tant scriptural texts is explained.Contact Rodney Peel: 07813 610704 (for Upanishad and Geeta dis-courses); Aruna Bhalla on 01494711 917 (for Tulsi Ramayana); andJaishree Pillai on 020 8578 0800(for Dakshinamurti Stotram).

SANSKRIT CLASSESWeekly Sanksrit classes are held for alllevels of advancement and are taughtby experienced sevaks. These comple-ment our study of the ancient Vedictexts. Please contact Bal-KrishnaPatel on 07973 472 042.

MEDITATIONBrni Sumati Chaitanya holds weeklyGuided Meditation sessions, teachingus the techniques of meditation inorder to bring about an experience ofcontinuous peace both within andwithout.More information from SteveFitch on 020 8880 7622.

CHANTING AND PUJA,MUSIC AND BHAJANSThe following Pujas, chanting andbhajan sessions take place atChinmaya Kirti and are conducted byBrni Sumati Chaitanya who, withmusic and laughter, shows us how toform a relationship with the Lord.The musical classes provide a meansto explore, cultivate and improve ourcreative abilities with the help of qual-ified musicians:• Guru Paduka Puja – devotion andprayers at the feet of the Guru.Sapna Khanchandani: 07801 064 296• Sponsored Hanuman Puja andHanuman Chalisa. Aruna Bhalla:01494 711 917• CHYK Soul (Youth music group).Darpan Patel: 07956 855 017• Swaranjali (Bhajan session, firstSunday of every month). DarpanPatel: 07956 855 017• Vedic Chanting from Book ofHymns & Bhagavad Geeta. SmitaSamani: 07961 177 106

Detailed information on all our study classes,including timing and venues, available onwww.chinmayauk.org. Please visit our e-book-shop on www.chinmayauk.org/ebookshop

CHINMAYA MISSION UKSTUDY CLASSES AND ACTIVITES

UPCOMING YAGNAS & CAMPS

APRIL:"Lively Aliveness"

Swami Chidatmananda, Head ofChinmaya Mission Hyderabad andRegional Coordinator of AndhraPradesh• 7-day discourse. Sunday 15 –Saturday 21 April 2007, 7.30-9.00pm daily at Chinmaya Kirti, 2Egerton Gardens, Hendon Central,London NW4 4BALiveliness transforms Thought intoActuality. In liveliness one enjoys everymoment of one’s work.When the pro-found Vedantic concepts are practisedsincerely one attains Happiness. Thishappiness spreads and influenceseveryone and everything to come Aliveand live in Peace and Joy.

SEPTEMBER:Geeta Chapter 18

Swamini Vimalananda visits Londonin September.Head of Chinmaya MissionCoimbatore; Director of ChinmayaVision Program (Education) andChinmaya International ResidentialSchool; author of the bestseller 'InIndian Culture, Why Do We?'

• 7-day discourse. Sunday 16 –Saturday 22 September 2007, 7.30-9.00pm at the Advait Centre, 40Avenue, Wembley, London.

• 7-day discourse, 24-30 September2007, in Cardiff

• Course on 'Principles of Meditationand Guided Meditation', Sunday 16 –Saturday 22 September 2007 atChinmaya Kirti (Attendance only byadvance registration. £100).

• Youth conference, Saturday 22September 2007.

• Sessions for teenagers and children.

Details on these andfurther events will be

updated on our website:www.chinmayauk.org