Chinmaya Mission founded by Swami Chinmayananda, is a movement that continues to touch and transform all aspects of human life. To date, millions of people worldwide have benefited directly or indirectly from Chinmaya Mission'snumerous centres, ashrams, classes, events, services, and projects.
The Mission is involved in spreading the knowledge of Vedanta, re-invigorationg Indian culture and doing extensive social work. The single, most outstanding programme is the training of brahmacharins designed to impart the knowledge of the scriptures to inspired young people, in academies known as sandeepany sadhanalayas. The two-year rigorous training empowers candidates to work towards spreading this knowledge.
Other than this the Mission is engaged in developmental activities, playing a key role in the spread of culture and knowledge, reaching out across the board to individuals from different walks of life covering various disciplines and projects. Rural development, research in ancient Sanskrit texts, education, management, health and Indian classical art forms are some of the fields in which the Mission is actively working.
Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD)
The seva wing of the Mission operates under the acronym CORD? Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development. Its holistic programmes of self-upliftment have crossed countless social, economic, and political boundaries, resulting in exceptional service to over 600 villages in 2007 alone. CORD'sSidhbari project alone has over 45,000 participating villagers and over 250,000 beneficiaries.
On the philosophy and ethos of CORD, Swami Tejomayananda, the present head of Chinmaya Mission says, ?CORD is a bond of love and understanding between the ?haves? and the ?have nots? and to empower the ?have nots? to take charge of their life to become the makers of their own destiny. It is not a favour shown to them but only our duty fulfilled towards them. In this process of giving and serving, the giver grows spiritually within and the receiver is blessed with the power of transformation.?
The sapling of CORD was planted in Sidhbari (Himachal Pradesh) in 1985, in the shape of a Health Care and Training Centre. Beginning with health issues, the approach became more holistic influencing every aspect of rural life. Self empowerment and self-reliance are the cornerstones on which this movement stands. Some of the key issues covered by the programme are?health care and nutrition, micro banking, income generation schemes, rehabilitation of specially-abled children, natural resource management, strengthening local self-governance and conducting training programmes.
Today this holistic development programme has taken root not only in Himachal Pradesh but also in Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. CORD has its Registered Head Office in New Delhi.
Chinmaya Education Movement
The Chinmaya Education Movement is one of Chinmaya Mission'smost valuable contributions to society. From its humble beginning in 1967 at a nursery school in Kollengode, Kerala (India), the movement today encompasses over 76 Chinmaya Vidyalayas (schools), 7 Chinmaya colleges, and the Chinmaya International Residential School in India, and the first Chinmaya Vidyalaya outside India'sborders, in Trinidad (West Indies).
In almost 40 years of establishment, growth, and expansion, the Chinmaya Mission'sacademic institutions in India have seen over one million students walk through their halls and graduate through their doors. In the year 2007, there were over 50,000 students enrolled, over 3,500 dedicated faculty members, and over 1,000 administrative staff members.
The resounding success of the Chinmaya Education Movement has been primarily due to its unique vision of offering academic education complemented with spiritual knowledge. This has been made possible through the distinctive foundation programme of learning?the Chinmaya Vision Programme (CVP). The programme integrates the best of Indian culture and Vedantic philosophy with academic learning.
Chinmaya International Foundation
CIF established in 1989, was conceived as a cross-cultural forum for the exchange of knowledge. Swami Chinmayananda visualised CIF as a bridge between the East and the West, past and present, science and spirituality and between the pundits and the public.
CIF is an academic research foundation engaged in enhancing and promoting Sanskrit as a language as well as facilitating research and scholarly efforts in this most ancient of languages. CIF has recently received the ?Shodha Sansthan? certification and recognition from the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is a deemed University in New Delhi, functioning under the auspices of the HRD Ministry, Government of India, and recognition under it, is a very important milestone for any Sanskrit research institution. This recognition is due to the concerted efforts in Sanskrit research and indological studies that CIF has been actively engaged in from its inception in 1989. With this Shodha Sansthan recognition the responsibilities of CIF have become more onerous. The objectives of CIF Shodha Sansthan would be promotion and propagation of Sanksrit so as to engender a vibrant atmosphere of Sanskrit, apart from its main task of research and publication.
Chinmaya Institute of Management
The Chinmaya Institute of Management (CIM) is educational in context, philanthropic in spirit, logical and technological in action, and humanitarian in vision. Dedicated to the evolution of human resources as the primary factor for individual, organisational, and societal transformation and development, CIM'srenowned success in the corporate sector has impressed and benefitted industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and field personnel.
Offering over 50 management training modules on varying topics, CIM'sservices include contemporary training resources, hi-tech seminars, spiritual transformation workshops, and in-house management implementation techniques
Chinmaya Mission Hospital & Chinmaya Institute of Nursing
Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) has earned the reputation of ?Friendly Neighbourhood Hospital? and is located at Indira Nagar, in Bangalore. Serving all cross-sections of society and surpassing all language barriers, this multi-specialty hospital offers its best with the help of nearly 100 consulting specialists.
CMH began, grew, and continues to operate, on the generosity and unstinted support of patrons, donors, and Chinmaya Mission devotees. Its goal remains to live true to its motto, and to provide at affordable costs the latest and the best facilities and services in all fields of medicine and surgery.
Chinmaya Naada Bindu
Chinmaya Naada Bindu is an upcoming project, based amidst the picturesque hills around Kolvan in Maharashtra. It is envisioned as a residential school for Indian dance and music, with the objective of generating thousands of dignified ambassadors of Indian culture. The main subjects which will be taught are vocal music, instrumental music, and all major Indian dance forms. It will also attract world-renowned artistes to teach and perform at the premises. The school will be an ideal place of inspiration for musicians and music lovers to follow in the music traditions and lineage of a guru-shishya parampara.
Knowledge and culture tone the mental muscles and lend dignity to the personality. Personality includes not only the physical, the mental and the intellectual, but also the spiritual aspect. This last aspect is usually forgotten, leaving the person thirsty for something that he cannot identify. Chinmaya Mission is engaged in helping bridge this gap and bring peace to the needy personality.
(For more information visit the Chinmaya Mission website: www.chinmayamission.com)
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