Name of event: Viveka Choodamani Camp
Dates: 25th – 31st May 2015
Venue: Tapovan Ashram, Siddhabari
Reported by: Reena Rajpal
Swami Swatmanandji and Brahmacharini Niddhi Chaitanya conducted a camp on Viveka Choodamani for 48 campers from across the country in Siddhabari. Interactive study sessions, DVD talks, a brain- storming workshop on the movie The Adjustment Bureau and guided meditation sessions helped campers understand:
- the glory of spiritual life and the rarity of human birth
- the importance of self-effort
- attitude and aids in meditation
- vasanas and how to give them up
- how to increase sattva guna and achieve excellence
- what is superimposition and how to end it
A Samashthi Paduka Puja in Gurudev's Kutiya and a Vadamala Puja of Shri Hanumanji were also carried out. A Gayatri Havan conducted on the last day was an apt conclusion to the camp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of event: Corporate Workshop: Success & Beyond
Date: June 6th 2015
Venue: The Palladium Hotel
Reported by: Milind Sanghavi
Success & Beyond, the Chinmaya Mission’s eighth corporate workshop, was held on June 6, 2015 at the Palladium Hotel. Mr. R. Gopalkrishnan, Director - Tata Sons, enthralled the full house with Six Lenses of Success. Mr. Ajay Piramal shared anecdotes about his application of the Geeta and his success. Swami Swatmanandaji complemented both the panelists with his presentation on Success & Beyond using potent videos by Pujya Gurudev. The audience appreciated the dynamic Q & A sessions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event: Tapovan Sadhana Camp - 2
Venue: Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Gomukh
Dates: 7th - 14th June 2015
Reported by: CHYK Rohit Hegde
Swami Swatmanandaji led a group of 29 Mission members and CHYKs to the Tapovan Sadhana Camp – 2 starting on 7th June at .jpg)
Uttarkashi. The group ranged from active 23-year-olds to a dynamic 58-year-old Amma
Mornings began with yoga sessions by Chyk Ankita, followed by inspiring video talks of Pujya Gurudev and maintaining silence in Tapovan Maharaj’s kutir to a trek to in the woods to Nachiket Taal. From Uttarkashi, the group reached Gangotri where they interacted with Swami Sunderananda (direct disciple of Sw Tapovan Maharaj and Guru Bhai of Gurudev) and did the Gangaji aarti. The next stop was after a 14km trek at Bhojwasa which is 5km from Gomukh. The high altitude of 13,500 ft made breathing difficult and negotiating the hilly terrain - part ice, part rocky - was a huge challenge. But the group ably led by Swatmanandaji kept chanting and with the blessings of Mother Ganga reached Bhojwasa camp by early evening hours.
The journey continued with the final ascent to Gomukh. This stretch was rapidly scaled by the group. On the shores of the Ganges, we thanked the Masters chanting Guru stotram and prayed to Mother Ganga -chanting the Ganga stotram at the very source of these blessed waters, was an amazing and truly humbling experience. Swamiji motivated the group with a deep insight that this trek symbolised our journey back to the source of all thoughts, that spring of consciousness within us and how one needs to go against the current to reach the source (Gomukh) ie. Consciousness
Our learnings from the camp were: keep the faith - if the Mind has reached the goal, the body will follow. Just focus on the next step and be in the present; thinking of the past or future would only dissipate your energy. This camp was a test of one’s endurance, will power and the willingness to take on a challenge and push oneself beyond one’s limits while keeping unwavering shraddha in the Lord and Gurudev who blessed us at each step.