a. A gift from God, be it material or spiritual, must be shared. Swami Chinmayananda repeatedly emphasized that the student must give the knowledge. When students complete the Vedanta Course, they are free to decide if they want to serve the Chinmaya Mission fulltime. Swami Chinmayananda’s vision included a freedom for them to choose their own lifestyle regardless of whether it involved serving the Chinmaya Mission or not. Those students who are unsure after the Course, or have familial obligations or limitations, have the option to choose to stay in white for one or two years before deciding whether they would like to accept the yellow cloth. Many Acharyas in the Mission continue working in white, bridging the gap between spiritual and secular worlds.
b. While it is not mandatory, it is welcomed and hoped, that at the end of his/her course, each student will choose to be initiated into Chinmaya Mission's monastic order as a brahmacharin (yellow cloth) in order to follow in the guru's lineage (guru-shishya parampara) by serving at a Mission centre. In due time, Mission brahmacharis are initiated into sannyaasa (ochre robe of a swami or swamini).
c. An example of transition from White to Yellow to Orange: Sudhakar Kaitwade -> Br.Viveka Chaitanya->Swami Tejomayananda Saraswati.
More Info
Countless spiritual seekers, some from specific spiritual organizations, have walked through the portals of Sandeepany institutes. While many opted to join the Mission's monastic order, some went back into worldly life, and yet others went on to another spiritual organization.
1. Those who choose to serve, can serve in White-clothes or get initiated into Brahmacharya deeksha where they are offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society.
2. After a few years of steady service of the society in the chosen field/appointed center, they may opt to get initiated into Sannyas with a final new name.
3. The color white stands for the pure resolve in each one’s heart to evolve on the path of spirituality. The students are called Rishiputras who lead an austere life in thought word and deed while studying. Those who are unsure after the course or have familial obligations often choose to stay in white and serve, bridging the spiritual and secular worlds.
4. Those who choose to serve full time, get initiated into Brahmacharya(One who practices self-control or revels in Brahman) deeksha where they are initiated into Gayatri Mantra & sacred thread along with a tuft on the head, offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society. Belonging to the tradition of the Shankara Matha from Sringeri, the name begins with Brahmachari/Brahmacharini and ends with Chaitanya(Consciousness).
5. Saffron or ochre has the special glow of sacrifice and sanctity, born of the fire of true renunciation. Ochre robe is bestowed upon the initiates of Sannyasa who are either Brahmacharis in yellow clothes or senior devotees who have served the Mission throughout their lives.
Countless spiritual seekers, some from specific spiritual organizations, have walked through the portals of Sandeepany institutes. While many opted to join the Mission's monastic order, some went back into worldly life, and yet others went on to another spiritual organization.
6. Those who choose to serve, can serve in White-clothes or get initiated into Brahmacharya deeksha where they are offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society.
7. After a few years of steady service of the society in the chosen field/appointed center, they may opt to get initiated into Sannyas with a final new name.
8. The color white stands for the pure resolve in each one’s heart to evolve on the path of spirituality. The students are called Rishiputras who lead an austere life in thought word and deed while studying. Those who are unsure after the course or have familial obligations often choose to stay in white and serve, bridging the spiritual and secular worlds.
9. Those who choose to serve full time, get initiated into Brahmacharya(One who practices self-control or revels in Brahman) deeksha where they are initiated into Gayatri Mantra & sacred thread along with a tuft on the head, offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society. Belonging to the tradition of the Shankara Matha from Sringeri, the name begins with Brahmachari/Brahmacharini and ends with Chaitanya(Consciousness).
10. Saffron or ochre has the special glow of sacrifice and sanctity, born of the fire of true renunciation. Ochre robe is bestowed upon the initiates of Sannyasa who are either Brahmacharis in yellow clothes or senior devotees who have served the Mission throughout their lives.
The initiates perform the Viraja homa, renounce their tuft & sacred thread(brahmacharis only). They perform their last rites symbolising their end to the previous life and total dedication to contemplation & service of the society. They receive the Sannyasa mantra along with ocre robe and the title of Swami or Swamini, a new first name ending in Ananda and the last name of Saraswati. Ananda stands for endless Bliss and Saraswati indicates the experience of the Self Knowledge.
A letter to the Acharyas by Swami Chinmayananda
A Letter by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda to Swamis And Bramhacharis, written In 1989
Read on to feel how lovingly, like a mother Pujya Gurudev advises Swamis and Bramhacharis about their work, their attitude, the goal, ‘Rishi Rna’ (debt to the Rishis), surrender, and tips on public speaking …..
Blessed One,
Hari Om! Hari Om! Hari Om!!!
Salutations!
Yours Is the job of communication. You have to deliver your knowledge for the full understanding of your listeners. Each group of listeners will be of different types, with varying levels of understanding. The successful speaker will be he who can judge the crowd of listeners around him and intelligently modulate his speech to the ability, mood and interest of the crowd.
In short, learn to love your listeners, and feel a sincere concern for their welfare. The rest will come to you. You will not go wrong. Since you have to thus change your raga and tala according to the quality of your listeners, you must have reflected sufficiently upon the thoughts of the scriptures and planned how you will explain it to people of different standards of grasping power.
When you know a hundred ideas, you would be lucky if you are able to express even twenty of them from the platform. The hundreds of staring eyes can evaporate many ideas even from an experienced public speaker.
With a cheerful smiling face, look straight into the eyes of the audience and speak. Let your gaze sweep over the entire crowd all the time, without lingering at any one spot in the hall, or at any section of the audience. Let your voice be modulated to reach everyone, even those in the last row. When you have brought the last row to attend with interest and enthusiasm, you have conquered the entire audience.
Illustrate your ideas again and again until the face of every listener beams with the light of understanding.
Again I must repeat that this extra sweetness in your words can come only as a result of His Grace, invoked by your regular anushtan, and it is immaterial if your anushtan is upon a Form (saguna) or the Formless (nirguna).
Speaking is more risky than writing. In writing, we can change a word or words, remodel a sentence to better express what we want to convey. While speaking, once the word, or words have been said, you cannot call them back or change them. Therefore His Grace alone should guard us against all wrong expressions and the consequent dire misunderstandings in the listeners. An overcrowded platform, over decorated backdrop on the stage, people moving about, children screaming, volunteers roaming about, each doing his own appointed duties etc., all these can distract the attention of the listeners. Strictly avoid them all diligently.
Keep smiling. Expect adverse criticism. Don’t ever get perturbed. Words are but disturbances in the air created by merely wagging the tongue. If there is nothing true in the criticism, ignore it all as meaningless blabbering. If there is truth, accept it with gratitude and bring about the necessary changes in yourself. Thus improve; come to shine more than ever before. Be grateful to all the creative critics all through your life.
Daily read a bit of the Upanishads and the Gita. Thus keep your heart inspired and ever afire with enthusiasm to live the nobler life of meaningful strife.
Have the larger vision ever in front of you. Hindu revival is our goal; this is the sole purpose of the Chinmaya Mission. In striving to bring it about in life, we are also paying up our personal rishi-debts (rishi-rna). We are taught by our teachers; we owe them a debt of gratitude. We pay it back as much as we can by imparting this knowledge to others and by constantly living life as taught to us by our teachers and acharyas.
Have faith in yourself and in Him and His constant and steady support. If you didn’t deserve it, the Lord would not have chosen you to serve His cause in the world. When we serve and surrender to Him in love, and work loyally, without compromising any of His laws of a good life, He will never fail you. His gracious hands are ever protecting you. Fearlessly work. May He fulfil His will through us in the world around us.
Love,
Chinmaya
For More about Sandeepany and upcoming Vedanta Course details, contact
Tara Cultural Trust,
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya,
Saki Vihar Road, Powai,
Mumbai - 72.
India.Spiritual Rainbow of Chinmaya Mission - Exhibit 46
a. A gift from God, be it material or spiritual, must be shared. Swami Chinmayananda repeatedly emphasized that the student must give the knowledge. When students complete the Vedanta Course, they are free to decide if they want to serve the Chinmaya Mission fulltime. Swami Chinmayananda’s vision included a freedom for them to choose their own lifestyle regardless of whether it involved serving the Chinmaya Mission or not. Those students who are unsure after the Course, or have familial obligations or limitations, have the option to choose to stay in white for one or two years before deciding whether they would like to accept the yellow cloth. Many Acharyas in the Mission continue working in white, bridging the gap between spiritual and secular worlds.
b. While it is not mandatory, it is welcomed and hoped, that at the end of his/her course, each student will choose to be initiated into Chinmaya Mission's monastic order as a brahmacharin (yellow cloth) in order to follow in the guru's lineage (guru-shishya parampara) by serving at a Mission centre. In due time, Mission brahmacharis are initiated into sannyaasa (ochre robe of a swami or swamini).
c. An example of transition from White to Yellow to Orange: Sudhakar Kaitwade -> Br.Viveka Chaitanya->Swami Tejomayananda Saraswati.
Read Less
More Info
Countless spiritual seekers, some from specific spiritual organizations, have walked through the portals of Sandeepany institutes. While many opted to join the Mission's monastic order, some went back into worldly life, and yet others went on to another spiritual organization.
1. Those who choose to serve, can serve in White-clothes or get initiated into Brahmacharya deeksha where they are offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society.
2. After a few years of steady service of the society in the chosen field/appointed center, they may opt to get initiated into Sannyas with a final new name.
3. The color white stands for the pure resolve in each one’s heart to evolve on the path of spirituality. The students are called Rishiputras who lead an austere life in thought word and deed while studying. Those who are unsure after the course or have familial obligations often choose to stay in white and serve, bridging the spiritual and secular worlds.
4. Those who choose to serve full time, get initiated into Brahmacharya(One who practices self-control or revels in Brahman) deeksha where they are initiated into Gayatri Mantra & sacred thread along with a tuft on the head, offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society. Belonging to the tradition of the Shankara Matha from Sringeri, the name begins with Brahmachari/Brahmacharini and ends with Chaitanya(Consciousness).
5. Saffron or ochre has the special glow of sacrifice and sanctity, born of the fire of true renunciation. Ochre robe is bestowed upon the initiates of Sannyasa who are either Brahmacharis in yellow clothes or senior devotees who have served the Mission throughout their lives.
Countless spiritual seekers, some from specific spiritual organizations, have walked through the portals of Sandeepany institutes. While many opted to join the Mission's monastic order, some went back into worldly life, and yet others went on to another spiritual organization.
6. Those who choose to serve, can serve in White-clothes or get initiated into Brahmacharya deeksha where they are offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society.
7. After a few years of steady service of the society in the chosen field/appointed center, they may opt to get initiated into Sannyas with a final new name.
8. The color white stands for the pure resolve in each one’s heart to evolve on the path of spirituality. The students are called Rishiputras who lead an austere life in thought word and deed while studying. Those who are unsure after the course or have familial obligations often choose to stay in white and serve, bridging the spiritual and secular worlds.
9. Those who choose to serve full time, get initiated into Brahmacharya(One who practices self-control or revels in Brahman) deeksha where they are initiated into Gayatri Mantra & sacred thread along with a tuft on the head, offered yellow clothes and their name is changed signifying the birth of a new entity dedicated to the service of the society. Belonging to the tradition of the Shankara Matha from Sringeri, the name begins with Brahmachari/Brahmacharini and ends with Chaitanya(Consciousness).
10. Saffron or ochre has the special glow of sacrifice and sanctity, born of the fire of true renunciation. Ochre robe is bestowed upon the initiates of Sannyasa who are either Brahmacharis in yellow clothes or senior devotees who have served the Mission throughout their lives.
The initiates perform the Viraja homa, renounce their tuft & sacred thread(brahmacharis only). They perform their last rites symbolising their end to the previous life and total dedication to contemplation & service of the society. They receive the Sannyasa mantra along with ocre robe and the title of Swami or Swamini, a new first name ending in Ananda and the last name of Saraswati. Ananda stands for endless Bliss and Saraswati indicates the experience of the Self Knowledge.
A letter to the Acharyas by Swami Chinmayananda
A Letter by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda to Swamis And Bramhacharis, written In 1989
Read on to feel how lovingly, like a mother Pujya Gurudev advises Swamis and Bramhacharis about their work, their attitude, the goal, ‘Rishi Rna’ (debt to the Rishis), surrender, and tips on public speaking …..
Blessed One,
Hari Om! Hari Om! Hari Om!!!
Salutations!
Yours Is the job of communication. You have to deliver your knowledge for the full understanding of your listeners. Each group of listeners will be of different types, with varying levels of understanding. The successful speaker will be he who can judge the crowd of listeners around him and intelligently modulate his speech to the ability, mood and interest of the crowd.
In short, learn to love your listeners, and feel a sincere concern for their welfare. The rest will come to you. You will not go wrong. Since you have to thus change your raga and tala according to the quality of your listeners, you must have reflected sufficiently upon the thoughts of the scriptures and planned how you will explain it to people of different standards of grasping power.
When you know a hundred ideas, you would be lucky if you are able to express even twenty of them from the platform. The hundreds of staring eyes can evaporate many ideas even from an experienced public speaker.
With a cheerful smiling face, look straight into the eyes of the audience and speak. Let your gaze sweep over the entire crowd all the time, without lingering at any one spot in the hall, or at any section of the audience. Let your voice be modulated to reach everyone, even those in the last row. When you have brought the last row to attend with interest and enthusiasm, you have conquered the entire audience.
Illustrate your ideas again and again until the face of every listener beams with the light of understanding.
Again I must repeat that this extra sweetness in your words can come only as a result of His Grace, invoked by your regular anushtan, and it is immaterial if your anushtan is upon a Form (saguna) or the Formless (nirguna).
Speaking is more risky than writing. In writing, we can change a word or words, remodel a sentence to better express what we want to convey. While speaking, once the word, or words have been said, you cannot call them back or change them. Therefore His Grace alone should guard us against all wrong expressions and the consequent dire misunderstandings in the listeners. An overcrowded platform, over decorated backdrop on the stage, people moving about, children screaming, volunteers roaming about, each doing his own appointed duties etc., all these can distract the attention of the listeners. Strictly avoid them all diligently.
Keep smiling. Expect adverse criticism. Don’t ever get perturbed. Words are but disturbances in the air created by merely wagging the tongue. If there is nothing true in the criticism, ignore it all as meaningless blabbering. If there is truth, accept it with gratitude and bring about the necessary changes in yourself. Thus improve; come to shine more than ever before. Be grateful to all the creative critics all through your life.
Daily read a bit of the Upanishads and the Gita. Thus keep your heart inspired and ever afire with enthusiasm to live the nobler life of meaningful strife.
Have the larger vision ever in front of you. Hindu revival is our goal; this is the sole purpose of the Chinmaya Mission. In striving to bring it about in life, we are also paying up our personal rishi-debts (rishi-rna). We are taught by our teachers; we owe them a debt of gratitude. We pay it back as much as we can by imparting this knowledge to others and by constantly living life as taught to us by our teachers and acharyas.
Have faith in yourself and in Him and His constant and steady support. If you didn’t deserve it, the Lord would not have chosen you to serve His cause in the world. When we serve and surrender to Him in love, and work loyally, without compromising any of His laws of a good life, He will never fail you. His gracious hands are ever protecting you. Fearlessly work. May He fulfil His will through us in the world around us.
Love,
Chinmaya
For More about Sandeepany and upcoming Vedanta Course details, contact
Tara Cultural Trust,
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya,
Saki Vihar Road, Powai,
Mumbai - 72.
India.
Ph: 022-28570368
Email: [email protected]
www.sandeepany.chinmayamission.com
To your left is the section on books & publications.
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).
Ph: 022-28570368
Email: [email protected]
www.sandeepany.chinmayamission.com
To your left is the section on books & publications.
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).