Be yourself a ‘Sandeepany’ who lights the lamp of Truth in the hearts of all. After the training of the students, Swami Chinmayananda would send the students into the world to serve, “Go out to sweat and work!” The students would be posted to different centers and would take up service according to their innate temperament. “Your life’s work is to discuss and impart the essence of Vedanta and to inspire others to live the dynamic, courageous chaste life of love and dedication.” Hundreds of Acharyas of Chinmaya Mission are doing exemplary service of sharing the knowledge of Vedanta in different countries, to different age groups, to different sections of the society in different languages.
Missionary Training
Missionary work is subtler than art,
More demanding than science,
More precise than literature,
More adventurous than space-walking.
Therefore we must exhaustively and thoroughly prepare ourselves
before we enter into the fields of action,
to serve others, to lead and guide the seekers.
Periodically, Swami Chinmayananda would ask the students to speak a few words on a text in front of the class. More often if there were guests present. Their delivery had to be original. If the student dared to repeat the words or examples that Samiji had used in his discussion, he would roar: “Stop! If i wanted to hear the exact words I had said, i could have bought myself a dozen tape recorders and taped it. I would not have the expense of feeding and clothing the tape recorders. Dont vomit back my words. What you have thought of these verses for yourself? What Mananam(reflection) have you done? You must reflect on the verses and reach your own insights. You must discuss only what you have assimilated yourself!
Sometimes he would give them hypothetical case of a certain type of audience that they were to address, so they would learn to speak on the level of any specific person or organisation. Giggling college girls, an old folk’s retirement home, a businessman’s club, a sick friend, a bereaved mother.....He challenged their flexibility. After they spoke Swamiji would give his critical comments and give them suggestions. One day he gave the topic - a night club to Br.Kutty. Neither Kutty nor any of his fellow students had ever entered a night club. Nevertheless, he forged ahead with a lengthy discussion on the three states of consciousness. Swamiji said - “Look! You are surrounded by dancing girls and a drunk manager. You have only 3 minutes before the beer bottles start to fly. Now what will you have to say?”
He gave them further instructions. “You know now to sit and talk; now you must learn to stand and talk.” He would observe them during their discourses and make comments, sometimes imitating them, their shifting feet and wringing hands. He then demonstrated how to stand by panting the feet squarely for a good base. Thus he proceeded moulding and shaping them into teachers by making them aware of every aspect of their delivery, both physical and intellectual.
“Never talk to the audience. Talk to your own mind and make it a louder reflection in yourself to yourself. Thereby, you will not only stop the growth of your own ego in you, but also will be talking to the mind and heart of your audience. May your missionary lectures and inspired preaching be a homely talk and a fruitful discussion between your own intellect and the lower mind. If those who are around you are benefited by your own self-reflection, it shall be the glory of the Lord and not your personal efficiency. Glory to the Rishish for the beauty and depth of significance of this sacred attitude of the ideal Hindu missionary.”
“The secret of giving this mysterious ‘touch of life’ to ideas, lies in practice; Live morality before you talk of it. Practice meditation before you preach it. Taste goodness before you recommend it. Gain bliss before you offer it to others.”
Missionary Work
After the training of the students, Swami Chinmayananda would send the students into the world to serve, “Go out to sweat and work!” The students would be posted to different centers and would take up service according to their innate temperament. The students encountered many challenges. Complains would also crop up sometimes, but Swamiji considered the Brahmacharis his children and would always thake their side. One member reported that the Brahmachari in his city was not living up to what he was teaching. “Of course, he is not!” retorted Swamiji. ‘No one can! He is teaching the goal that each of us is striving for. I;ve sent these young people out into the world to be polished up; they are learning. They are so young; you are older, more mature. What example are you setting for them?”
More than 300 acharyas of Chinmaya Mission are doing exemplary service of sharing the knowledge of Vedanta in different countries, to different age groups, to different sections of the society in different languages.
When someone asked Swami CHinmayananda inquiring about how the Brahmacharis were doing, Swamiji replied - “All of them are doing really well, and they are improving; they are all in different stages of unfoldment. Some take longer to shed their ego and so for a length of time they suffer under its inner entanglements and inhibitions. Some surrender their personal ego too quickly, explode into blinding brilliance, and then again recrystallize for themselves a new ego built laboriously on their own little successes. To break it, they need constant help from us, perhaps for years.”
“I am closely observing and anxiously reviewing the performance of my boys and girls who have completed the course and those who are now with us in the Sandeepany Sadhanalaya. There is no point in hurrying anyone. Growth is effective and enduing, beautiful and enchanting, only when it takes place at its own leisurely stride and natural rhythm. Watch a flower opening! Look at the dawn and the sunrise, the dusk and the sunset! No hurry. Let it happen in His gracious pace!” - Swami Chinmayananda.
Swami Chinmayananda started Sandeepanies in many parts of India and in other countries too.
Sandeepany Across India & the world,
a. On November 7,1979 Sandeepany West (Also known as Krishnalaya) was founded in Piercy, Northern California.
“A great dream is coming true on this auspicious day. Twenty five years ago the idea sprang up that we must have an up to date modern organized institute where children of the technological age could be intelligently introduced to the in-depth significances of ‘life’ itself. This subjective science Vedanta was already with us but in the march of society under the propulsion of history, we got exiled from our own self-mastery in ourselves and came to roam about in sorrow and dejection, in the forest of shameless sensualitv.
Twenty five years ago the idea exploded in me and those were the days when nobody would take me seriously ,and even the pundit-class looked at me aghast, with silent sympathy, wondering how such a bright, intelligent young man, can so early in life go so totally crazy
Those were the twenty-five years of struggle, of uphill climb, of meeting objections, bulldozing opposition. fearlessly rnarching ahead against insufferable odds and painful inertia. It is incomprehensible even for those who are recognised and accepted as faithful and religious, our spectacular success in India, broke down the barriers. An impossible flood of dynamic devotion gushed out in the Hindu community in India.It is on the crest of that wave that Chinmaya Mission reachedAmerica to be born as Chinmaya Mission(West). Perfect yourself & help others perfect themselves. We expect from you hard and sincere work, selfless dedication,total surrender,admirable discipline and industrious Sadhana.We are not asking you to change. But we shall ask you to watch the transformation of your lifestyle taking place as a result of your inner unfoldment. Perfect yourself, so that you can help others in perfecting themselves.
For the coming two-and-a-half to three years, you all are not men and women caged in you unholy and unsanitary physical body, but you are that Highest State of Consciousness, and in you, the universe is floating about as some disgusting garbage upon the surface of the ocean. Born in love, united with love, striving for love, reaching out to each other with love, live and strive as a team. Have faith and obedience. Be a disciplined and cheerful team of Sandeepany Students. Make yourself – so that you can help others in making themselves.”
b. On April 25, 1981, Sandeepany(HIM) was inaugurated in Sidhbari, Himachal Pradesh(near Dharamsala), for the Hindi speaking students
“Some 26 years back, recognizing the national need for cultural reintegration, Chinmaya Mission started training workers to serve the community. We now need workers who will cover the Hindi-speaking areas, especially at the district and rural levels. Sandeepany(HIM) is an institution that will be teaching purely in Hindi, all our main scriptures. The students will be trained to sing and explain Tulsi Ramayana.”
The first acharya for the 1st Vedanta Course in Hindi(1981-83) was Br.Vivek Chaitanya. He is a student of the 2nd Vedanta Course at Powai. Now he is Swami Tejomayananda, the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission since 1993.
c. On Feb 8, 1982, Sandeepany Andhra Pradesh was inaugurated in Chinmayaranyam, ellayapalle for Telugu-speaking Students. Swami Chinmayananda worshipped Mother Earth and sanctified the 24 acre land by his tapas and prayers. He narrated the story of a young man who worked upon a dry piece of land to convert it into a beautiful garden. Swamini Sharadapriyananda started Sandeepany in Telugu and English but with a difference. When any seeker approached Swamini Amma, she would take them in and start teaching and would cover all training within 4 years.
d. On April 14, 1985 – Sandeepany Prayag was born in Hindi. Br.Vishal Chaitanya(now Swami Subodhananda) was the first Acharya. Course consisted of 7 students and was completed on March 31, 1987
e. On February 16, 1988, Mahashivaratri day, Sandeepany kerala was inaugurated in Kasargod, Kerala, For Malayali Speaking students. Swami Chinmayananda said –
“Sandeepany would bind the people together within the Hindu culture and tradition. Its not I who have come here to bless the Sandeepany, but the numerous devotees who have gathered here today, must bless the institution with their support.” 21 students participated in the first course from 1988-1990.
f. On May 9th 1988, Sandeepany Tamilnadu was inaugurated in Siruvani, near Coimbatore, Tamilnadu for Tamil-Speaking students. Swami Chinmayananda dealt at length on the genesis of Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, of the Mission in particular and the thrust of the Chinmaya Movement.
g. On May 10th, 1988, Chinmaya Sandeepany was inaugurated in Deenbandhu Devasthanam in Bangalore, Karnataka for Kannada-speaking students. It was shifted to Chokkahalli in 1990.
Swami Chinmayananda said “12 centuries ago when Adi Shankaracharya arrived on the scene, conditions were similar to what we find today. Within an active life span of about 20 years, Shankara brought about a spiritual revival and set up religious organisations in all corners of the country. Over a thousand years, the impact of western science and thought has severly weakened the spiritual values and faith. Only a revival of Upanishadic Culture with its foundational principle of love, compassion and one-ness of all beings can now save the world.
Simple living and high thinking is the main goal of all students in Sandeepany who are inspired to ‘teach both by precept and practice.’ ”
Swami Brahmananda was the Acharya of the course from 1988-90. h. On August 24, 1997, Sandeepany Kolhapur was inaugurated in Kolhapur, Maharashtra for Marathi speaking students. Swami Purushottamananda was the acharya of the courses held here.
i. Durban
j. Trinidad also have conducted Sandeepany Courses.
Design Notes
The third sub-section presents the growth of Sandeepany in India and the numerous Sandeepanies established around the world through a visual montage panel. The lotus in a stylized form is used for the installation, which presents the individuals’ development from a Rishiputra (White) to A Brahmacharin (Yellow) and to A Sannyasi (Saffron).