The verse from Kritajnataa says that Swami Chinmayananda was dynamic and yet rooted in detachment. The Lotus leaf is the symbol of detachment. Though it is born, stays and decays in water, it does not get wet. The analogy is taken from Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 5 Verse 10. 

 

Brahmany– adhayakarmanisangamtyaktvakaroti yah,

lipyatenasapapenapadma – patramivambhasa. 

 

He who does actions, offering them to Brahman, abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it. 

 

Gurustotram also says - Vedantambuja Suryoyaha Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah. Salutations to the Guru who is like the Sun in whose presence the lotus of Vedanta blooms. 

 

You can also read about the anecdotes of Swami Chinmayananda’s detachment in the text section of this verse. As you go ahead, on your left you will find a conch.

 

Anecdote 1: Walk Alone

 

As Swami Chinmayananda(Age 75) was walking down the steps slowly, a youngster gave his hand for support. Swamiji lifted his hand but withdrew and walked down alone. When he sat in the car, he said – “Never Depend. Walk Alone.” He knew that this youngster will be a Brahmachari and so he gave him that message. In the youth camps, Swamiji always encouraged the youth to walk alone, spend time in solitude and introspect. This strengthens the detachment and gives clarity of purpose.

 

Anecdote 2: Work & Detachment

 

“Swamiji, we have watched you working, on the average, 17-18 hours a day. Don’t you ever get tired?” “If I were doing the work, I would have been exhausted, not just tired. But,” he pointed to the sky, “with Lord Narayana Himself doing the work, why should I get tired.”

 

Anecdote 3: When are you coming back?

 

“Swamiji, when are you coming back to visit us again?” “Certainly I will come again – when He brings me back here! All I dare to do is work on a travel schedule about one year ahead. Planning past that is interfering with the Lord’s Plan. He is incharge, not I !”

 

Anecdote 4: Chinmaya Mission Close-Down

 

Swami Chinmayananda had unbelievable capacity to detach himself from the organizational success or failure. In the life of Chinmaya Mission West came a painful period of factions and the Mission’s foundations were rocking. Devotee: “Swamiji your life’s work, Chinmaya Mission, is itself in danger of being destroyed.” “So what?” was his answer. “The mission was established to serve a purpose. If that purpose has now been served, what’s there to cry about? If it is His will, the Lord will provide us with another vehicle for work.” Chinmaya Mission West did survive the tests and has grown stronger with each passing year.

 

Anecdote 5: Chinmaya Mission after you

 

Someone asked Swami Chinmayananda - “What will happen to the Chinmaya Mission, after you?” Swamiji said - “ I felt like doing, I have done. If after me, they want to do something, they will do.” On another occasion he said - “He who is taking care of it now, will take care of it even after I'm gone.”

 

Any attachment takes us away from the vision. Attachment to the Mission takes us away from the Vision. There is a difference between being attached to the Mission and being committed to the Mission. Same thin line is there between attachment and commitment in work, relationships etc. Attachment will increase our ego, insistence, decrease our flexibility. It hurts us and others. Our capacity to serve etc. is reduced. Detachment brings more commitment because we are inspired by a higher vision. Its not for self-glory.

 

Anecdote 6: Gold Watch Given Away

 

A devotee offered a Gold watch to Swami Chinmayananda. He wore it for a few days. In one of the projects, when someone had given their heart and soul to it, Swamiji wanted to appreciate them. He removed his Gold watch and gave it as a gift of appreciation. The devotee who had given it, for him also it was a lesson in detachment.

 

Anecdote 7: No dependency on medicines:

 

Though he was a diabetic, a heart patient and had to take insulin, he had no dependency on it. Whenever he took medicines, he would point out to the tablets and say - This is Vivekachoodamani, this is atmabodh, geeta and upanishads. On Shivaratri day he would not take any medicine or insulin injection. He would say - Shiva does not need any medicines.

 

Design Notes

 

Lotus Pond

 

Life size cut-outs of Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tapovanam are there on the banks of the Lotus pond. On the background of Swami Chinmayananda is a digitally printed panel that curves over the lotus pond. The artwork depicts detachment through the metaphor of the lotus leaf. Lotus was very dear to Swami Chinmayananda and there was a lotus pond in the same place as the present one. The new pond has been made into a natural pond without concrete boundaries and much more bigger in size. Swami Tapovanam is also present at the banks of the pond, looking at the pond and the fishes inside it, revelling in Nature as Brahman.