Devotion

Devotion

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Practical Spirituality
When some things are special, It is sorrow …

When one thing is special, It is deep misery …

When one thing is everything, It is sheer torture …

When nothing is special, All is joy …

When everything is special, All is Supreme Love …

THAT IS DEVOTION

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Acts That Liberate Us

Article Title:

Acts That Liberate Us

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Practical Spirituality

Article Text:

How is one to determine what actions are ordained for us by the Lord?

1. Duties that come to us unasked according to our status in life are to be understood as God sent. Their performance frees us from personal likes and dislikes.

2. The commands of the scriptures, elders, and teachers when acted upon liberate us from the negativities of the mind.

3. When we act according to our God given aptitudes and capabilities with an attitude of worship to Him, we get purity of mind.

Hindu of the Year

HINDU RENAISSANCE AWARD

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Sri Swami Tejomayananda, worthy successor to Swami Chinmayananda

By Archana Dongre, Los Angeles

Seven hundred devotees jumped to their feet and applauded enthusiastically as Swami Tejomayananda was honored as “Hindu of the Year ” by Hinduism Today magazine. I presented the award to Sri Swamiji as part of the opening of the new Chinamaya Mission Mithila Center in Tustin, California, on June 11, 2005. He had just flown in from France for the inauguration of the center. Swamiji was pleased to receive the award,while the audience responded with waves of joy and admiration and a prolonged standing ovation.

Starting in 1990, Hinduism Today has honored one eminent Hindu each year who has most impacted the faith and spread its values, compassion and profundity across the globe. Past renaissance winners are: Swami Paramananda Bharati (‘90), Swami Chidananda Saraswati, “Muniji ” of Parmath Niketan (‘91), Swami Chinmayananda (‘92), Mata Amritanandamayi Ma (‘93), Swami Satchidananda (‘94), Pramukhswami Maharaj (‘95), Sri Satya Sai Baba (‘96), Sri Chinmoy (‘97), Swami Bua (‘98), Swami Chidananda Saraswati of Divine Life Society (‘99), Ma Yoga Shakti (‘00), priest Sri T. S. Sambamurthy Sivachariar (‘01) and Dada Vaswani (‘02), Sri Tiruchi Mahaswamigal (‘03) and priest Pichai Sivacharya (‘04).

The plaque’s inscription reads, “Presented by Hinduism Today to Hindu of the Year, 2005, Sri Sri Swami Tejomayananda, spiritual leader of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, for fulfilling the vision of his guru, Swami Chinmayananda, guiding the Chinmaya Mission’s exemplary teaching programs, inspiring the dynamic expansion of the monastic order (including new swamis from the diaspora) and teaching hundreds of thousands to be better Hindus.”

The Mithila Center is itself a product of the Mission’s success. It is the second center to open in Orange County. The first one, Kasi, abode of a white marble murthi of God Siva, opened just nine years ago in nearby Anaheim, is less than 20 miles away. The new Mithila has a temple with Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. The facility will conduct Vedanta and meditation classes as well as educational activities that keep the Chinmaya Mission centers everywhere buzzing with enthusiastic youngsters and adults throughout the year. About 640 youngsters, in the age group of 5 to 18, regularly attend the Sunday Balvihars in the 10 Chinmaya centers in Southern California. While the kids attend the classes, their parents listen to talks on scriptures given by the swamis. Visit their website at www.chinmayamission.org for an overview.

“I am not in Swami Chinmayananda’s shoes, I am at his feet, ” Tejomayananda had been reported to have said many times. Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993) founded the Mission in 1951. He stated its purpose as, “The inner transformation of individuals through knowledge of Vedanta, spiritual practices and service to society resulting in a happy world around them.”

Born Sudhakar Kaitwade in Khandesh in a Maharashtrian family, Swami Tejomayananda was a physics student when he met Swami Chinmayananda at the age of 20. Influenced by his work, the young man went to Mumbai to study Vedanta in 1981. He was initiated into sannyasa in 1983 and became spiritual head of the Mission ten years later upon the Mahasamadhi of Swami Chinmayananda.

A tireless worker, he constantly travels the globe conducting lectures and guiding the administration of the centers. He is assisted by the Mission’s monastic community of 240 people, including 49 ordained swamis and 26 ordained swaminis.

“Swami Tejomayananda is a man of many talents. He sings well, writes poetry in Sanskrit, composes music and plays harmonium. He is even a great cook, ” said Swami Ishwarananda, head of Mithila Center. In the past 15 years he has written Sanskrit works like Dhyanaswaroopam, Manahshodhanam, Jnanasaram and Bhakti Sudha. Inspired by the Ramacharitamanas of Sant Tulsidas, he has written Manas Bhaktisutras. He has written books based on his talks, such as Peace in the Restless World, Right Thinking, Parenting, The Game of Life, The Hindu Culture, The Vision of Geeta and Meditation. One of his key contributions is Hindu Culture: an Introduction which is a text in some American high schools.

Swami Tejomayananda’s administrative style is such that swamis and devotees alike feel at home with him. “He does not preach, but teaches by example. He gives a lot of freedom to the swamis in their work and is very forgiving, ” Swami Ishwarananda said.

Asked his guidelines in running the Mission, Swami Tejomayananda said, “Without losing sight of the vision given by our Revered Gurudev, Swami Chinmayanandaji Maharaj, we remain steadfast in doing our work in a team spirit invoking God’s grace and Sri Gurudev’s blessings. Our teaching programs in the West have become successful and popular because that is the need of the hour fulfilled by our mission’s sevaks and sevikas (volunteer teachers and workers) in an interesting and appealing manner with utmost devotion. All credit goes to them. Moreover, we have made it a family program where children and parents learn simultaneously, attending their respective classes.”

Swami Tejomayananda, now age 55, is currently spearheading the Chinmaya Vibhooti Spiritual Complex on 55 acres of land in Kolwan, among the Sahyadri mountains near Pune, a project that will be built in three phases at the cost of about us$1.6 million. The project itself will be a grateful tribute to Swami Chinmayananda by all his disciples and devotees.

What is the secret of the expansion of Chinmaya Mission Centers? They now have 243 centers in more than 70 countries of the world, with 30 in the US. “It is simple, ” Swami Ishwarananda explained, “Our area of work is very specific. We want to get the whole family involved. When we do it sincerely, the whole society gets involved in our Jnana Yajnas (spiritual lectures), Bal Vihars (children’s classes) and Yuva Kendras (youth programs).” Ishwarananda added, “Our main focus is on Vedantic knowledge. Although we teach the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, and some Puranas, our concentration is on Vedanta as elaborated in the Upanishads.”

The whole family treats the center as their spiritual home, and gathers there not only for the Sunday classes and evening seminars, but for religious observances and festivals, including Sivaratri, Ram Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Navaratri and Diwali.

The efforts are supported by the superb training and unwavering dedication of their brahmacharis (celibate lay monks and nuns in training) and ordained swamis. For example, as Swami Ishwarananda, 40, takes the helm at new Mithila, Brahmachari Girish Chaitanya, in his late 30s, has become the spiritual head of Kasi. During his few months here, he has already earned respect and admiration for his brilliance, knowledge and winning ways with the youth. The India-born, California-raised, Girishji worked as a successful electrical engineer for 10 years, and then, following his inner voice and spiritual inclinations inculcated since childhood by his pious mother, joined the Vedanta gurukul or school conducted at Sandeepani Sadhanalaya in Mumbai in 2002, and graduated from it in 2004, before his appointment at Kasi as the brahmachari acharya (teacher).

Swami Ishwarananda conducted the 2002-2004 class. He said, “The two-and-a-half-year long Vedanta courses are offered at our Mumbai and Siddhabari (in Himachal Pradesh) centers. We advertise the course in major publications, then select 60 to 80 students, who must be under 30 years of age and bachelors, from the hundreds of applicants.

During their study, they are provided free accommodation, food, white clothing, instruction and all educational material. Neither the male nor female students are allowed to leave the premises for the duration of the entire course. They go through a rigorous discipline of starting their day at 5.30 a.m. with Vedic chanting and meditation. Their day comprises Vedanta classes, Sanskrit language classes and activities like yoga, gardening and prayers. The students also get practical experience conducting classes for youth. About 65 started the intensive course, out of which 43 graduated and became acharya teachers. Upon becoming an acharya, a brahmachari is appointed to a center to assist a swami. A brahmachari becomes a swami in about seven to ten years, Ishwarananda explained.

“Vision Plus Action Equals True Transformation. Our beloved Swami Chinmayananda used to say that ideas will become reality when you supply hands and legs, ” Swami Tejomayananda had said in his June 11, 2005 address at Mithila. Truly, his vision illuminates the path for families and individuals alike who seek enlightenment the Vedic way to enrich their lives.

 

Am I a fit seeker of the Truth?

Article Title:

Am I a fit seeker of the Truth?

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Practical Spirituality

Article Text:

The following acid test would show our fitness:

(a) If required to do so, am I willing to do what I do not like and give up what I like?
(b) If I am told the truth would disturb or end my present way of life, am I still willing to give it up and know the Truth?
(c) If I am faced with the fact that the Truth is somehow terrible and bitter, am I willing to know it?
(d) Am I willing to pursue it, whatever the cost? I may even have to face death like Nachiketas.

If I answer yes to all of the above, I stand a good chance. On the other hand if I say,

(a) What is the material benefit of knowing the Truth?
(b) What is the use of this knowledge, in continuing my worldly life comfortably?
(c) I am willing to accept only what appeals to my mind and inclinations;
(d) I am unwilling to sacrifice anything;

then I am unfit for this knowledge, because I am more interested in the comforts of my present life than in knowing the Truth.

Yes or No?

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THINK BIG! ACT WISELY! SHOW RESULTS!

Article Title:

THINK BIG! ACT WISELY! SHOW RESULTS!

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Practical Spirituality

Article Text:

We are all faced with various problems in life. At the individual level, there may be problems related to health, emotions, relationships, marriage, children, career, coping with death, and so on. At the national level, there are problems of poverty, unemployment, social unrest, illiteracy, corruption, etc. These problems often bring us sorrow and pain. Yet, if we analyze them honestly we will find that their root cause is almost entirely a lack of proper thinking and acting. When not handled properly, our wrong thoughts lead to a defective vision of the world and a very chaotic relatioship with it. As a result we have false expectations and disappointments at every step. If we can only improve our thinking, we can mend our homes and make the world a better place to live in. But alas! Many choose to suffer rather than to think ! They get caught up in the mesh of wrong thinking, often coloured by prejudices and narrow mindedness.

THINK BIG

That which is needed foremost from the modern youth is right thinking, leading to a clear vision of life. We should remove all barriers of pettiness and THINK BIG ! Big things are achieved in the world, first, by daring to conceive them in our mind. Man dared to think that he could fly like a bird – and the first flying machine was invented ! He dared to think that he could reach the moon, and lo ! Man landed on the far away moon ! Nothing is impossible for the one who thinks. Our thoughts alone bind us and make us small, and thoughts alone can free us. Break this bondage of narrow limiting thoughts and THINK BIG !

To think big means not only to think as an individual but as a nation as well. Think what will be benificial to the nation, what will bring about national good. When Pujya Gurudev learned the scriptures from His Teacher, He thought as to how He could pass on this man making Knowledge to the people of the nation and to the entire world. This is called ‘Thinking Big ‘ Swami Vivekananda used to spend restless nights in America thinking of the welfare of India and the entire world. Even as a child, Samartha Ramdas Swami was thinking of universal good.

ACT WISELY

After ‘thinking big’ through proper vision, one should then strive to ACT WISELY ! As Pujya Gurudev said, ‘Plan out your work and work out your plan’. To act wisely is to act with proper understanding and good attitude.

This is presented very beautifully in the following famous prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’

For example, Shri Ram knew which situation to accept as it was and which to take action against. Without complaint or mental agitation he accepted his exile in the forest for fourteen years as the call of Dharma, but when Sitaji; his wife, was kidnapped by the wicked king, Ravana, Ram put forth efforts to collect an army and attack Ravana in order to get her back.

SHOW RESULTS

Keeping the head calm and balanced, one should act efficiently, to SHOW RESULTS ! Let the results be seen in the transformation of our personality. We should strive to become better human beings. Our purity, efficiency and wisdom should steadily grow. The result of our work should also be seen in our environment. The team of people with whom we work should become integrated and happy. The work should lead to harmony, beauty, and prosperity in the society.

This convention will give an opportunity to the youth of the country to harness their inner potential. Here is an oppotrtunity to learn to break all barriers in our thinking process. THINK BIG ! This is an opportunity to learn the secret of right action. ACT WISELY. Finally, this is an opportunity to get inspired and achieve greatess in the world within and without.

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NEW YEAR SONG

Wedding Anniversary Song

Article Title:How to determine my duty?

Article Title:

How to determine my duty?

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Practical Spirituality

Article Text:

Q: How can we know what our duty, or swadharma, is?

A: There are some duties we don’t have to go in search of. They come to us automatically according to our designation. For example, we are human beings, so we must live up to the dignity of a human being.

Our first duty is to take care of those who are below us, or in a lower state. Among brothers, the elder must protect the younger one. We should take care of those who are less fortunate or less evolved, whether they be birds, animals, other creatures, plants or trees. This is our first duty. But today we find strong people destroying those who are weaker, the rich exploiting the poor etc. This is wrong.

When I am born in a family, as the son of my parents, I gain a certain identity automatically. As a son I must obey my parents, serve them. My duty is clear. Then I go to school and college and I am a student. I must study. This is my duty according to my status. Then I get a job and I have a designation. The post, duties and responsibilities are assigned to me clearly. These duties are known to us. Our problem is that we don’t do them. So, when a difficult situation comes, we don’t understand it.

The second category of duty is a little different. This is in accordance with your aptitude. Brahmana dharma, kshatriya dharma etc., refer to this. What is your aptitude? You must choose that field of activity. If a person is an artist by temperament, that is his swadharma. If he pursues it, he will enjoy it, succeed and contribute to the field of art. But where is the money in art? So he is advised to become a doctor, businessman etc. If he switches to some other profession, he is not doing his duty. He may continue to pursue art as a hobby, but he never shines as an artist. You must pursue that field for which you have the aptitude, even if other people dissuade you. That is your swadharma and you will shine there.

Q: How can one work with dedication to the Lord while doing duties one doesn’t like?

A: Once you say ‘duties’, don’t label it as pleasant or unpleasant. In duty the question of like or dislike does not arise. You can’t say, “I like hiring people but not firing them!” If my position is such that I have to do both these jobs, I must do it without any feelings of like or dislike. If you remember your altar of dedication, then these things won’t count.

See what happened to Arjuna. He did not like his duty, so he wanted to go away. It was because of dislike. So Bhagawan said, “If you are going away because of dislike, it is not the right thing to do. You must do it because it is your duty.” The very definition of duty is ‘that which has got to be done’. So we have to remain firm in it whether we like it or not.

Q: Please suggest some methods by which one may remain focussed on the Lord while performing actions.

A: If it is just physical work, a method can be prescribed. If you ask, “How to clean this hall?”, I would say, “Use a broom or a vacuum cleaner or employ somebody.” There are methods because it is a physical thing. But dedication is an attitude; it comes by right understanding. How to gain this attitude?

Suppose I apply for a job in a private company or in a government office, what would they expect from me? Simple, I must work for them. If I get the job and instead of working for that company, I start misusing that power and authority to collect money only for myself or join hands with a rival company and start working against my employers, what would happen? I’d be dismissed. When you are given a job, a designation, a status or money, you are expected to work for them. To that source from which I derive all my powers, I must dedicate everything. This is the principle.

From birth onwards I have got the faculties of the sense organs, the mind, the intellect, the body. How many different kinds of powers and abilities have been given to me! Without these, nobody would even have given me a job.

We can see, hear, taste, smell, talk, think, feel, act – from where did we get all these? Did any government or private company give them to us? Did we buy them in the supermarket? No, we were blessed with these from birth. Just think, a person who merely employs me and gives me a little money expects loyalty from me and that I should work for him. The Lord, in His infinite kindness has given us all these things – isn’t it our duty to dedicate them to Him alone?

Hence we chant the sloka:

Kaayena vacha manasendryier vaa buddhyaatmanaa vaa prakriter svabhaavaat
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai naaraayanaayeti samarpayaami.

I dedicate all my karmas, all that I do with my body, mind, senses, intellect, to Narayana. I offer Him these powers and abilities.

Once we become aware thus, dedication is natural. In a democratic set-up, when we vote leaders to power, we expect them to work for us, for the country. Any politician or minister who remembers this will become the beloved of everybody.

We owe our very existence to Paramatma. This awareness, this knowledge is the only method by which we can remain focussed. If we forget this, no other exercise we do can be of any use.

Q: We are often unable to decide what our duty is. For Arjuna, Krishna was available. Some people may have advisers. If a person is totally unaware of all this and no one is there to guide him, what will he do?

A: Life is such that even when such a situation arises, whether you have professional advice or not, you have to take decisions to the best of your ability or understanding. How does a person who is unaware and has no adviser take decisions?

Firstly he fixes his identity. Accordingly he also fixes his duty. A subordinate is asked by the boss to do something. He doesn’t know whether he should do it or not because it may appear that what the boss is asking him to do is not the right thing. How to decide?

He may think, ‘I am only a subordinate, he is my boss. Why should I unnecessarily think too much about it? He has told me to do it; I will.’ That is one way. Or he may think, ‘I am a responsible person also. If I protest and resist, he may give a bad official report about me. I may be demoted or suspended, I have a family …’ If he thinks of himself only as a subordinate or a householder, he will do what he is asked to do.

If he sees himself as an individual, a responsible citizen, a spiritual seeker, he will think, ‘I will not do this even if I have to resign my job.’ What he decides will depend on his understanding or maturity, his identification of himself as a householder, citizen etc. He may even do it without so much philosophical analysis!

Sometimes consequences of the decision may be okay, sometimes it would be painful and cause trouble. He learns from experience. Thus life goes on. Even if we get professional advice, often we do not follow it because it goes against our desire.

God is seated in your heart. Seek Him, sincerely pray to Him and ask Him for His guidance. If you are sincere, He will surely guide you from within.

Pujya Swami Tejomayanandaji

Compiled from a series of Satsangs at Trinidad and Tobago, from June 11-13, 2002.

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Birthday Song

Birthday Song

By Pujya Swami Tejomayananda

 

Transliteration

janmadinamidam ayi priya sakhe

śantanotu te sarvadā mudam ||1||

Prārthayāmahe bhava śatāyuṣi

īśvarassadā tvaṁ ca rakṣatu ||2||

punya karmaṇā kīrtimarjaya

jīvanaṁ tava bhavatu sārthakam ||3||

Translation

O dear friend! May this birthday

bring auspiciousness and joy to you forever.

Indeed, we all pray for your long life.

May the Lord always protect you.

By noble deeds, may you attain fame and

may your life be fulfilled.

Article : THOUGHTS OF REVERENCE

Article Title:

THOUGHTS OF REVERENCE

Article Author:

By Swami Tejomayananda

Category: Vision of Chinmaya Mission

Article Text:

Getting Swami Tejomayananda to talk on Gurudev was quite tough. He kept on saying that he had nothing new to say on Gurudev. “I have already said whatever I wanted to, last time,” Swamiji said. I tried again. “Swamiji, let me, at least, ask the questions. This time they are different, so your answers will automatically be different.”

He kept dodging. Looking at Sakshi, a two year old baby, he said, “She is distracting me. She is looking at me and that is distracting me.” I replied, “Swamiji, she is merely a Sakshi – an observer. “

But Swamiji, still at his evasive best, retorted, “You know, there Is someone who just by BEING can be so distracting. He doesn’t need to do anything. Just BE and that distracts you.”

I caught this line and twisted it back. “Swamiji, exactly this sort of feeling must have happened to you with regard to Gurudev who just by BEING could be so ATTRACTING. ” With that, the key shot home and the door unlocked. Swami Tejomayananda unfolded…….. Love cascading from his heart in an unbroken stream of thoughts towards his reverential lips…,…..A well hidden tear peeped out of the curtains of his eyelids and danced in an ecstatic revelry at the rememberance of the Great Master.

“How can I say what is best about Gurudev? His presence was most appealing. His presence spoke more than his words and taught more than his lectures. I see his presence in his pictures also. Just to be with him was a great joy and an experience in itself. I specially used to love to dine with him and I had plenty of such chances. Because he used to be relaxed at that time, he made fun of all those who were working. Once, we were invited to have Bhiksha at a Rajasthani house. They were making idlis for Gurudev. But they didn’t know how to make them. Somehow or the other, they made the idlis which were looking quite strange. When Gurudev saw the final product, he looked at me and remarked, “See, the cartoon of idli is coming.”

Gurudev’s greatness went beyond his presence and he showed it in every little thing. In big things everybody shows off. But Gurudev showed it even in small things, e.g. When I was studying Vedanta here at Sandeepany, Bombay, I used to teach Sanskrit also to the Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis. There was a small hall where I used to hold the class. Once, Swamiji was here and he wanted to discuss something with a group of people. He just arrived here and saw that I was teaching. He could have asked me to finish the class. But he humbly requested, “May I use the hall for sometime?” That is his greatness. He did not say get out, let me use this place.

I also had the great fortune of learning from him. Many a time, he would take me along with himself to Uttarkashi. At that time, there was no regular Vedanta training course, so Gurudev used to take the classes on the Vivekachoodamani and the Geeta. While other Mission members would come off and on, I was nearly permanent and I used to sit right in the front. Actually, I felt that Gurudev used to teach me alone. Every now and then, he would ask questions and, if out of ten questions I didn’t answer even one or didn’t answer quickly enough, he would say that you don’t know the answer or that you were sleeping during the class. Or, sometimes, he would speak and leave the sentence half-way and leave me to complete it. And if I spoke softly Gurudev would ask me to go out on the banks of the Ganga and speak so loudly that the man on the other side could hear me.

Discipline was one thing which Gurudev loved. Not only was he himself a very disciplined person but he also enforced it. The beauty of his discipline was that it was not dry and harsh but accompanied with compassion. For instance, once, during a Geeta Gnana Yagna, all the Brahmacharis were not present for the meditation class. That day he ordered, “Brahmacharis will not be served lunch today. But, at tea time, we were given special upma along with the tea. Otherwise, we would get only tea. Thus, he punctuated discipline with compassion.

Gurudev’s whole vision for the Mission was essentially two-fold. One, External i.e. activities – wise or project – wise and the other, Internal, viz. the unfoidment of the personalities of the members while undertaking those projects. So, as far as the outer activities started by Gurudev are concerned, they have expanded, grown and benefitted the society. Unfoldment, by itself, is subjective and each worker will have to honestly and sincerely evaluate himself or herself. But the very fact that thousands of people have been working for such a long period of time shows that they have been getting something or else they wouldn’t work. So, we have succeeded to a great extent.

Really speaking, there is no final goal.

Outwardly, the sky is the limit. Inwardly also, one can improve. There is no room for complacence. There is more room for expansion outside and refinement inside. Thus, there is no full stop. Even in our Guru Dakshina – our Offering unto him – there is no questioin of fulfillment. Whatever you do is little. It is not even equal to what the Great Master has done. So, never can our Guru Dakshina be enough. Supposing we say that we have finished, then what will we do? So we keep on GIVING only.

And in the performance of our daily activities, I can only quote the words of Krishna in the Bhagavad Geeta, “Remember Me and do your duty !”