Guest guest Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Sir(s) I have followed the messages on this great group for over a year now and have learnt a lot. I would like to attend formal instruction in Vedanta and I seek the groups guidence on that. There is a Chinmaya mission located in my town which I have attended a couple of times. However on doing research on the Internet, I find that it is affliated to the VHP - which, I understand, propagates a fundamentalist version of Hinduism. Please guide me in this respect. Thank You. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 You need not worry about any connection with VHP. The Brahmacharis and Swamijis in Chinmaya Mission are well-trained people and you can be sure of getting the correct instruction on Vedanta from them. S.N.Sastri On 9/20/07, idealistkumar <idealistkumar wrote: > > Sir(s) > I have followed the messages on this great group for over a year now > and have learnt a lot. > > I would like to attend formal instruction in Vedanta and I seek the > groups guidence on that. There is a Chinmaya mission located in my > town which I have attended a couple of times. However on doing > research on the Internet, I find that it is affliated to the VHP - > which, I understand, propagates a fundamentalist version of Hinduism. > Please guide me in this respect. > > Thank You. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 namaskaram when we learn Vedanta, we open our mind to a process of learning to look at life. This is purely removing the ignorance. Neither VHP nor any other so called Hindu parties know much about Vedanta. And my friend, you are the one to learn, think and act....so why worry? learning always help to think.. enjoy " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote: You need not worry about any connection with VHP. The Brahmacharis and Swamijis in Chinmaya Mission are well-trained people and you can be sure of getting the correct instruction on Vedanta from them. S.N.Sastri On 9/20/07, idealistkumar <idealistkumar wrote: > > Sir(s) > I have followed the messages on this great group for over a year now > and have learnt a lot. > > I would like to attend formal instruction in Vedanta and I seek the > groups guidence on that. There is a Chinmaya mission located in my > town which I have attended a couple of times. However on doing > research on the Internet, I find that it is affliated to the VHP - > which, I understand, propagates a fundamentalist version of Hinduism. > Please guide me in this respect. > > Thank You. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 advaitin , " idealistkumar " <idealistkumar wrote: > > Sir(s) > I have followed the messages on this great group for over a year now > and have learnt a lot. > > I would like to attend formal instruction in Vedanta and I seek the > groups guidence on that. There is a Chinmaya mission located in my > town which I have attended a couple of times. However on doing > research on the Internet, I find that it is affliated to the VHP - > which, I understand, propagates a fundamentalist version of Hinduism. > Please guide me in this respect. > > Thank You. > Namaskarams, There are issues and ways of dealing with them. It is the latter that may indicate fundamentalism, etc. That Chinmaya mission is affiliated with VHP indicates that there are issues like deceitful conversion, etc. that are considered problems by a good percentage of Hindus. Either politics through community or politics through personality: that is part of vyavahaarika and organization. Gandhiji was also a nationalist, etc in British eyes. thollmelukaalkizhu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Putranm writes : ( Gandhiji was also a nationalist, etc in British eyes.) Welcome back, my friend, Tholmelu kaal kizhu! Times were different . We were in a different era, different mindset - under the grip of a Colonial rule . Gandhiji himself said " " Most religious men I've met are politicians in disguise, I however wear the guise of a politician but am at heart a religious man. " ! What a powerful statement ! Yes, the Mahatma practiced 'Satyam and Ahimsa ' ( Truth and non- violence) while dealing even with political issues - He never ever wavered from these two higher principles - For Gandhiji 'Truth was God' and 'God was truth' In fact , the Mahtma never indulged in 'dirty' poltics . In fact , Gandhiji used religion more as a spiritual discipline ( fasting , Taking a vow of silence etc etc ) while dealing with the dirty poltical problems of his Day! He was so upright and honest that even his own countryman Nathuram Godse assasinated Gandhiji saying ' Gandhiji was unfavorably favorable to the muslims " .... But that was Gandhiji , a true advaitin who practiced absolute 'oneness' ! He never believed in distictions of caste , creed, gender etc .... Gandhiji never exploited Religion to further his own personal ends . He was not into power politics. But today , we are living under different circumstances. Every politician is out there for his own personal gain - in fact , they are so unscrupulous they use big religious instititions to further their own interests. " Secularism' has become a neat poltical gimmick to get more votes . So sad but true! To be quite honest with you , i withdrew myself from many egrouops for this very reason because there was either lot of muslim bashing going on or anti hindu / anti christian propaganda . When Kurukshetra war was being faught , we were fighting a battle of 'dharma' but now in india of today , WARS ARE BEING FOUGHT ON THE STREETS OF MAJOR CITIES to uphold 'adharma' .... Gandhiji was a karma yogi and bhakti yogi par excellance . His famous words were " I would dance with joy if I had to give up politics. " My friend , We need to be cautious which religious organization we want to be part of and therefore we should check out thoroughly before joining any of these organizations! i got 'burned' when i joined ISKCON several yeas ago. a GURU for who i did 'paduka puja ' for years was found guilty of murder etc etc .... That was first dose of 'reality' ...... in spiritual matters! i myself like to read books and listen to tapes/cds etc etc rather than be directly involved with any institution. After all, Swamijis reside in their 'spiritual discourses' not in their ochre robes! Tagore said " " The soil, in return for her service, keeps the tree tied to her; the sky asks nothing and leaves it free. " I always keep this in mind while appraching any spiritual master! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Namaste Sri Kumar: Honestly speaking, I don't believe that Chinmaya Mission (CM) is affiliated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). To some extent, CM is sympathetic and supportive for specific activities carried out by VHP. One of the reasons for its support is due to the fact that Swami Chinmayananda was instrumental in the original formation of VHP. Swamiji had the vision to propogate and promote the Hindu Ideals, the rich Heritage and ethical values to the people of India including those Hindus who live outside India. With that vision, he mobilized several like minded idealistic leaders to formulate VHP during 1964. As for as I know that Swamiji didn't believe in mixing spirituality with politics and he made sure that the activities of Chinmaya Mission were not influenced by politics. The acharyas in all CM centers are well trained on Vedic and Vedantic literature with sufficient background in Sanskrit. The acharyas have pledged to dedicate their entire life to serve the community by conducting classes and discourses for both adults and children. There are thousands of CM centers established all over the world and they have been serving the universal community. Please go ahead and attend the Vedantic classes and discourses at the CM center in your town for few months and then decide whether you find them useful. If you have time and ideas then contribute them through voluntary service. With my warmest regards, Ram Chandran Note: Here are some background information on VHP. I request members not to initiate any discussion on VHP which is beyond the scope of this list. VHP Origin, Purpose and Activities: V.H.P. was founded in India on August 28, 1964 on Krishna Janmasthami day at Sandipini Ashram Mumbai by Swami Chinmayanandji, Swami Satyamitranandji, Sri K.M. Munshi, Master Tarasingh, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Ayer, Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Jain Muni Sushil Kumarji, Dalai Lama and Guruji Gowalkar and with the blessings of all Shankaracharyas and many other saints. VHP started with the conviction that a Hindu as one who follows any set of worship originated in India, though residing anywhere in the world but proud of the rich heritage, culture and tradition of Sanatanadharma. The primary goal of VHP was to develop a unified Hindu Society by eradicating the disruptive tendencies arising from diversities of sect, languages, faith, caste and creed. VHP had the secondary goal to promote unity, harmony and mutual respect between the followers of various sects of worship within India. VHP's original intent was to arouse consciousness to inculcate a sense of self pride, service to humanity and solidarity among Hindus. VHP being a representative world body of Hindus proclaimed to serve the Humanity without getting entangled in politics. Institutions with noble ideals will likely fail if they can't withstand the political pressures and VHP is a good example for such failures. advaitin , " idealistkumar " <idealistkumar wrote: > > > I would like to attend formal instruction in Vedanta and I seek the > groups guidence on that. There is a Chinmaya mission located in my > town which I have attended a couple of times. However on doing > research on the Internet, I find that it is affliated to the VHP - > which, I understand, propagates a fundamentalist version of Hinduism. > Please guide me in this respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 namaste and thanks a lot Shri Ram Chandranji for this wonderful information. Ram Chandran <ramvchandran wrote: Namaste Sri Kumar: Honestly speaking, I don't believe that Chinmaya Mission (CM) is affiliated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). To some extent, CM is sympathetic and supportive for specific activities carried out by VHP. One of the reasons for its support is due to the fact that Swami Chinmayananda was instrumental in the original formation of VHP. Swamiji had the vision to propogate and promote the Hindu Ideals, the rich Heritage and ethical values to the people of India including those Hindus who live outside India. With that vision, he mobilized several like minded idealistic leaders to formulate VHP during 1964. As for as I know that Swamiji didn't believe in mixing spirituality with politics and he made sure that the activities of Chinmaya Mission were not influenced by politics. The acharyas in all CM centers are well trained on Vedic and Vedantic literature with sufficient background in Sanskrit. The acharyas have pledged to dedicate their entire life to serve the community by conducting classes and discourses for both adults and children. There are thousands of CM centers established all over the world and they have been serving the universal community. Please go ahead and attend the Vedantic classes and discourses at the CM center in your town for few months and then decide whether you find them useful. If you have time and ideas then contribute them through voluntary service. With my warmest regards, Ram Chandran Note: Here are some background information on VHP. I request members not to initiate any discussion on VHP which is beyond the scope of this list. VHP Origin, Purpose and Activities: V.H.P. was founded in India on August 28, 1964 on Krishna Janmasthami day at Sandipini Ashram Mumbai by Swami Chinmayanandji, Swami Satyamitranandji, Sri K.M. Munshi, Master Tarasingh, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Ayer, Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Jain Muni Sushil Kumarji, Dalai Lama and Guruji Gowalkar and with the blessings of all Shankaracharyas and many other saints. VHP started with the conviction that a Hindu as one who follows any set of worship originated in India, though residing anywhere in the world but proud of the rich heritage, culture and tradition of Sanatanadharma. The primary goal of VHP was to develop a unified Hindu Society by eradicating the disruptive tendencies arising from diversities of sect, languages, faith, caste and creed. VHP had the secondary goal to promote unity, harmony and mutual respect between the followers of various sects of worship within India. VHP's original intent was to arouse consciousness to inculcate a sense of self pride, service to humanity and solidarity among Hindus. VHP being a representative world body of Hindus proclaimed to serve the Humanity without getting entangled in politics. Institutions with noble ideals will likely fail if they can't withstand the political pressures and VHP is a good example for such failures. Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.