ABOUT US:
Spiritual knowledge, knowledge of our essential nature, has been passed down to us through a long line of teachers. It is a living tradition.
Learn about the Chinmaya Mission, our teachers and what we teach.
· Chinmaya Mission in Essence
· What is Vedanta? The Vision of Oneness
· Swami Chinmayananda, our Founder.
· Guruji Swami Tejomayananda
· Swami Swaroopananda, current head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide
· Swamini Vinayananda, your teacher in Central Victoria
· Chinmaya Mission in Central Victoria
Spiritual knowledge, knowledge of our essential nature, has been passed down to us through a long line of teachers. It is a living tradition.
Learn about the Chinmaya Mission, our teachers and what we teach.
· Chinmaya Mission in Essence
· What is Vedanta? The Vision of Oneness
· Swami Chinmayananda, our Founder.
· Guruji Swami Tejomayananda
· Swami Swaroopananda, current head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide
· Swamini Vinayananda, your teacher in Central Victoria
· Chinmaya Mission in Central Victoria
Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide spiritual organisation founded in 1953 by Swami Chinmayananda in India. From its small beginnings, it has now grown to encompass a wide range of spiritual, educational and charitable activities, ennobling and enriching the lives of countless people both in India and beyond her shores.
Following the perennial teacher-student tradition (guru-shishya parampara) Chinmaya Mission makes available the eternal wisdom of Vedanta, the knowledge of the One changeless Reality, so that everyone can realise this Truth as their own essential Self. As the Upanishads roar “Tat twam asi”,“You are That”.
“To give the maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time,” is the motto which inspires the Mission to uplift humanity through sharing this knowledge; a knowledge that will lead to happiness and harmony for all without and inner peace and fulfilment within.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
“To provide to individuals, from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.”
Following the perennial teacher-student tradition (guru-shishya parampara) Chinmaya Mission makes available the eternal wisdom of Vedanta, the knowledge of the One changeless Reality, so that everyone can realise this Truth as their own essential Self. As the Upanishads roar “Tat twam asi”,“You are That”.
“To give the maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time,” is the motto which inspires the Mission to uplift humanity through sharing this knowledge; a knowledge that will lead to happiness and harmony for all without and inner peace and fulfilment within.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
“To provide to individuals, from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.”
The word Vedanta is made of two Sanskrit words; “Veda” which means “knowledge and “anta” which means the “end” or “culmination”. So Vedanta is the knowledge given at the end of the Hindu Scriptures, the Vedas, called the Upanishads or more importantly, Vedanta is the culmination of all knowledge.
What is that knowledge, knowing which, one knows everything and there is nothing else to be known?
Like knowing water, one knows all waves in the past, all waves now and in the future.
That knowledge is the theme of Vedanta.
MAN’S SEARCH
Vedanta enquires into the most fundamental questions that mankind has always asked and continues to search answers for.
Who am I?
What is this world?
What is its cause?
What is the purpose of my life?
OUR CURRENT EXPERIENCE
Currently I take myself as my body and all my experiences from my earliest memory to now and the world is seen as other than myself. My experience of life is the duality of me and the world; one of limitation, continuous change and the endless search for happiness and fulfilment.
ENQUIRY
Vedanta is an enquiry into this experience.
It is an enquiry which seeks to discover one’s true nature and the true nature of the world about us.
THE VISION OF ONENESS
Just as a single wave that has taken itself to be the shape only, to be born, live for a while and die, and as other than all the other waves in the ocean, discovers its essential nature as water. Its resultant way of experiencing itself and the world undergoes a radical change from individuality, limitation and otherness (duality) to feeling one with everything, infinite and changeless. A shift from name and form to being-consciousness. A shift from wave to water! This is the vision of Oneness, knowing which there is only love and oneness.
A shift from duality to unity.
THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
This is the purpose of life.
Vedanta is the means to reveal this direct experience.
What is that knowledge, knowing which, one knows everything and there is nothing else to be known?
Like knowing water, one knows all waves in the past, all waves now and in the future.
That knowledge is the theme of Vedanta.
MAN’S SEARCH
Vedanta enquires into the most fundamental questions that mankind has always asked and continues to search answers for.
Who am I?
What is this world?
What is its cause?
What is the purpose of my life?
OUR CURRENT EXPERIENCE
Currently I take myself as my body and all my experiences from my earliest memory to now and the world is seen as other than myself. My experience of life is the duality of me and the world; one of limitation, continuous change and the endless search for happiness and fulfilment.
ENQUIRY
Vedanta is an enquiry into this experience.
It is an enquiry which seeks to discover one’s true nature and the true nature of the world about us.
THE VISION OF ONENESS
Just as a single wave that has taken itself to be the shape only, to be born, live for a while and die, and as other than all the other waves in the ocean, discovers its essential nature as water. Its resultant way of experiencing itself and the world undergoes a radical change from individuality, limitation and otherness (duality) to feeling one with everything, infinite and changeless. A shift from name and form to being-consciousness. A shift from wave to water! This is the vision of Oneness, knowing which there is only love and oneness.
A shift from duality to unity.
THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
This is the purpose of life.
Vedanta is the means to reveal this direct experience.
KNOWN TO US AS GURUDEV
The life of Swami Chinmayananda was one of extraordinary spiritual strength, immeasurable love and tireless service. In more than half a century, he has left behind a wordwide organisation, hundreds of institutions and millions of devotees. This was all aimed at a single theme, discovering the eternal within.
Early Life
Swami Chinmayananda was born on May 8th 1916 as Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Erukulam, Kerala. His family was very devout in religious life and had regular contact with holy men. This influence moulded Balan’s mental and moral make-up preparing him for the mission of his life ahead. Balan excelled in his education graduating in Science, Political Science, Law and English Literature at Lucknow University. A man with strong ideas and idealism entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence political, economic and social reform in India. At this time he met Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh and became very interested in the spiritual path. Here he found the answers that he was seeking.
Swami Chinmayananda Is Born
Balakrishna Menon took monkhood (sannyas) from Swami Sivananda to become swami Chinmayananda, “the one saturated in Bliss and Consciousness.” Swami Shivananda saw the great potential in Swami Chinmayananda and sent him to study under the greatest Teacher in the Himalayas, Swami Tapovan Maharaj. Swami Chinmayananda studied for 12 years under Swami Tapovan’s guideness, leading a very austere and rigorous life. Then he felt a deep inner desire to share his knowledge and wisdom with the mass of humanity. He descended to the planes and held his first yagna (spiritual discourse) in Pune to a small group of three people. This humble beginning rapidly expanded to more than 500 series of lectures given to audiences numbering thousands.
The Rapid Growth of Chinmaya Mission
During his 40 years of travelling and teaching. Gurudev opened numerous centres both in India and worldwide, he also build many schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. As well as invigorating India’s rich cultural heritage, swami Chinmayananda made Vedanta accessible to everybody regardless of age, nationality or religious background. On 3 August 1993 Swami Chinmayananda passed away attaining Mahasamadhi. He worked tirelessly to the very last moment and created an international spiritual revolution.
Early Life
Swami Chinmayananda was born on May 8th 1916 as Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Erukulam, Kerala. His family was very devout in religious life and had regular contact with holy men. This influence moulded Balan’s mental and moral make-up preparing him for the mission of his life ahead. Balan excelled in his education graduating in Science, Political Science, Law and English Literature at Lucknow University. A man with strong ideas and idealism entered the field of journalism where he felt he could influence political, economic and social reform in India. At this time he met Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh and became very interested in the spiritual path. Here he found the answers that he was seeking.
Swami Chinmayananda Is Born
Balakrishna Menon took monkhood (sannyas) from Swami Sivananda to become swami Chinmayananda, “the one saturated in Bliss and Consciousness.” Swami Shivananda saw the great potential in Swami Chinmayananda and sent him to study under the greatest Teacher in the Himalayas, Swami Tapovan Maharaj. Swami Chinmayananda studied for 12 years under Swami Tapovan’s guideness, leading a very austere and rigorous life. Then he felt a deep inner desire to share his knowledge and wisdom with the mass of humanity. He descended to the planes and held his first yagna (spiritual discourse) in Pune to a small group of three people. This humble beginning rapidly expanded to more than 500 series of lectures given to audiences numbering thousands.
The Rapid Growth of Chinmaya Mission
During his 40 years of travelling and teaching. Gurudev opened numerous centres both in India and worldwide, he also build many schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. As well as invigorating India’s rich cultural heritage, swami Chinmayananda made Vedanta accessible to everybody regardless of age, nationality or religious background. On 3 August 1993 Swami Chinmayananda passed away attaining Mahasamadhi. He worked tirelessly to the very last moment and created an international spiritual revolution.
KNOWN AS SWAMINI VINAYANANDA
Swamini Vinayananda first met Pujya Swami Tejomayananda on his first world tour as the newly appointed Head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide when he visited Melbourne in 1994.
This was a turning point in her life, meeting her Guru.
Greatly inspired and after some correspondence with Guruji, she was invited to do the Brahmachari Course in India. She gave up a career as a Mathematics teacher at Korowa Anglican School to embrace the spiritual quest.
In 1996-8 she completed her studies of Advaita Vedanta at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, India and returned to Australia and took up the post of resident acharya (teacher) in the Melbourne Ashram in Templestowe. Here she led a monastic life of meditation and sadhana as well as teaching the Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other Advaitic texts, Vedic Chanting and basic Sanskrit. She has taught children, youth and adults. Swamini is committed to the Advaitic vision of the oneness of all and has dedicated her life to bring his liberating knowledge to humanity. Swamini Vinayananda moved to Bendigo in 2010 to share these teaching throughout country Victoria. She currently lives in Castlemaine and teaches in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Ballarat, Mount Macedon, Mildura and Melbourne conducting weekly classes and weekend Retreats. Swamini has also conducted three Yatras (Spiritual Pilgrimages) within India in 2012, 2014 and Char Dham Yatra in 2019.
Swamini Vinayananda first met Pujya Swami Tejomayananda on his first world tour as the newly appointed Head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide when he visited Melbourne in 1994.
This was a turning point in her life, meeting her Guru.
Greatly inspired and after some correspondence with Guruji, she was invited to do the Brahmachari Course in India. She gave up a career as a Mathematics teacher at Korowa Anglican School to embrace the spiritual quest.
In 1996-8 she completed her studies of Advaita Vedanta at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, India and returned to Australia and took up the post of resident acharya (teacher) in the Melbourne Ashram in Templestowe. Here she led a monastic life of meditation and sadhana as well as teaching the Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other Advaitic texts, Vedic Chanting and basic Sanskrit. She has taught children, youth and adults. Swamini is committed to the Advaitic vision of the oneness of all and has dedicated her life to bring his liberating knowledge to humanity. Swamini Vinayananda moved to Bendigo in 2010 to share these teaching throughout country Victoria. She currently lives in Castlemaine and teaches in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Ballarat, Mount Macedon, Mildura and Melbourne conducting weekly classes and weekend Retreats. Swamini has also conducted three Yatras (Spiritual Pilgrimages) within India in 2012, 2014 and Char Dham Yatra in 2019.
SWAMINI VINAYANANDA’S COTTAGE, A BRIEF HISTORY
After living and teaching in the Melbourne Ashram for over 10 years, Swamini Vinayananda was invited to conduct some monthly classes in Bendigo in country Victoria in 2009. People were very attracted to the teachings and wanted more regular classes so Guruji Swami Tejomayananda gave his blessings to start a new Chinmaya Mission Branch in Bendigo to share the knowledge of Vedanta in regional Victoria. So Swamini Vinayananda moved to Bendigo and started Chinmaya Mission Bendigo in 2010 teaching in Bendigo and in the surrounding country towns of Ballarat, Castlemaine, and Mt Macedon and also in the Melbourne Ashram every fortnight. Since then, she has also reached out to Gisborne, Maryborough, Daylesford, Sale, Warburton and now as far as Mildura. She is now living in Castlemaine and conducts numerous classes in her beautiful cottage as well as classes in other country towns. She conducts one and two day retreats at weekends and during the week runs regular weekly classes in the teachings of Vedanta as well as Chanting and Meditation Classes. Swamini also takes pilgrimage tours (yatras) to India every few years.
Swamini would be glad to visit your country town and warmly welcomes all to her current classes!!
After living and teaching in the Melbourne Ashram for over 10 years, Swamini Vinayananda was invited to conduct some monthly classes in Bendigo in country Victoria in 2009. People were very attracted to the teachings and wanted more regular classes so Guruji Swami Tejomayananda gave his blessings to start a new Chinmaya Mission Branch in Bendigo to share the knowledge of Vedanta in regional Victoria. So Swamini Vinayananda moved to Bendigo and started Chinmaya Mission Bendigo in 2010 teaching in Bendigo and in the surrounding country towns of Ballarat, Castlemaine, and Mt Macedon and also in the Melbourne Ashram every fortnight. Since then, she has also reached out to Gisborne, Maryborough, Daylesford, Sale, Warburton and now as far as Mildura. She is now living in Castlemaine and conducts numerous classes in her beautiful cottage as well as classes in other country towns. She conducts one and two day retreats at weekends and during the week runs regular weekly classes in the teachings of Vedanta as well as Chanting and Meditation Classes. Swamini also takes pilgrimage tours (yatras) to India every few years.
Swamini would be glad to visit your country town and warmly welcomes all to her current classes!!