GEETA FOR ALL
Guruji Swami Tejomayanandji’s talks on Ch. 15 of Bhagvad Geeta, titled “Geeta for All- Non-Believers and Believers” were held every evening from 14th to 18th December.
The talks started with welcoming Pujya Guruji with Purna Kumbh, and felicitating the Pramukh Yajna Yajman, Shri Mukul Patel and family of Harasidh group. Their daughter Radhika welcomed the devotees on behalf of the family and the Mission.
Highlights of the talks in brief :
· Geeta is the essence of the Upanishads and Ch. 15, Purushottam Yoga is the essence of the Geeta.
· There are many different types of believers and non-believers, however, everyone accepts their own existence, and that, there is a cause for this creation.
· Ch. 15 begins with the description of the Ashvathh tree, with its roots above and branches below, and Ved-mantras as its leaves. Ashvathh means ever-changing and it aptly represents this Samsaar. Vriksa means that which can be cut down. So too, the sorrowful and changing experiences of the world can be ended through detachment and shifting our attention to the Lord.
· The Vedas indicate the virtuous path that we need to follow in order to find that permanent happiness we are all seeking.
· Our actions and their reactions bind us to this samsaar and like silkworms, we too get stuck in our cocoons. It’s only in human life that we can destroy this bondage by seeking that Primordial Being, who nourishes this tree.
· The wise men reach that Goal Eternal, by freeing their minds from pride and delusion, detaching from the world of objects and conquering all desires for ephemeral sense objects, and never return to the earlier state of confusion and ignorance.
· It is the Light of Consciousness which makes us aware of the brilliance of the Sun and the Moon.
· Expressing through the Body, Mind and Intellect, the infinite consciousness itself becomes the egocentric personality (Jeeva), experiencing joys and sorrows in the world.
· Jeeva takes up various bodies from time to time, according to its desires, retaining sense faculties and mental impressions (subtle body) with itself. At the time of death, the subtle body departs from the gross body.
· With the Eye of Knowledge, the highly contemplative seeker intuitively recognizes the play of the Divine in the world of plurality.
· The Lord Himself expresses as light in the Sun, the Moon and fire and supports all beings by His Energy. He nourishes all plants, pulsates through the body of all living beings and digests the food they eat. He is seated in the hearts of all. It is He alone, who is to be known by all Vedas, is the Author as well as the Knower of the Vedas.
· The changing world of matter, which constitutes the field of experience is “Perishable Purusa”, whereas Consciousness, the Self in all, which is aware of it, is “Imperishable Purusa”. The Lord alone expresses as both, the Perishable and the Imperishable. He pervades and sustains the three worlds of waking, dream and deep sleep.
· By transcending the Perishable realm in contemplation, the wise men reach the state of the Highest Reality, the Purushottama.
Guruji’s talks were very enlightening and he made this Knowledge very simple to understand even for those who were new to Vedanta. Our salutations and heartfelt gratitude to him for this beautiful Yajna.
LIGHT – ENLIGHT
Light – Enlight, an evening of soul-stirring bhajans written, composed and sung by Guruji Swami Tejomayanandji was held on 20th December evening. He was accompanied by singers and musicians from Chinmaya Naada Bindu.
The theme of bhajans was to pray to the Lord, who is full of compassion, knowledge and virtues, to help us cross this ocean of Samsaar that we are so deeply stuck in. By chanting His name, singing His glories and contemplating on His form, we will definitely reach Him.
Guruji sang beautiful bhajans of Shri Ganesh, Shri Ram and Shri Krishna bhagvan and Pujya Gurudev, and the audience often joined in chorus, with their hearts full of devotion and gratitude.
GEETA UTSAV
Geeta Utsav, held on 20th December evening, to celebrate traditions, talents and inspiration based on the Geeta, was the culmination of the 7-day Chinmaya Anand Utsav.
It started with a Geeta-based quiz, followed by chorus chanting of Ch. 15 by the winners of Geeta-chanting competition. Musicians from Kharghar performed percussion based fusion music inspired by Ch.1 of the Geeta. Chyks and Balvihar children from all over Mumbai presented skits and dances based on various themes from the Geeta. President Abdul Kalam and Pujya Gurudev are perfect examples of Karmayogis and skits based on their lives were very inspiring. Seeing so much talent and purity of minds in the young children, we can be sure that there are more karmayogis in the making !
The highlight of the evening was the first ever performance by Shishu Vihaar children, between the ages of one and five. Dancing and singing the glories of various Gods and Goddesses, they stole the hearts of one and all with their sweetness and innocence.
Heartiest congratulations to all the sevikas and volunteers who put in tremendous efforts to light the lamps of love in the hearts of these young children. It was wonderful to see Pujya Gurudev’s vision of igniting young minds coming to life.
Chaula Bhimani