CHINMAYA MISSION AUSTRALIA
Spiritual Classes in Central Victoria, Australia with Swamini Vinayananda
All my life I have been fascinated with the concepts of truth, beauty and God and were drawn step by step, as my life unfolded, to a deeper and deeper understanding. Then in 1994 I was graced to meet a remarkable human being, Swami Tejomayananda who opened my mind and heart to the universal vision of oneness of all names and forms at the level of Being as given in the Vedas.
My heart sang a doubt free “yes!”
In the heart of all beings is the one I AM, the one existence-consciousness, timeless, limitless, ever-present and of the nature of supreme peace. It is just hidden under the noise of the mind, like silence is just beneath the clamour of sound; beyond our personality, our true essential Self; the one God within. The purpose of life was clear; the return to the centre. The door was standing open!
My life is devoted to sharing this timeless knowledge of Vedanta knowing which there is all fulfilment, love and harmony.
My heart sang a doubt free “yes!”
In the heart of all beings is the one I AM, the one existence-consciousness, timeless, limitless, ever-present and of the nature of supreme peace. It is just hidden under the noise of the mind, like silence is just beneath the clamour of sound; beyond our personality, our true essential Self; the one God within. The purpose of life was clear; the return to the centre. The door was standing open!
My life is devoted to sharing this timeless knowledge of Vedanta knowing which there is all fulfilment, love and harmony.
NEW CHANTING CLASS FOR BEGINNERS STARTING FEBRUARY 2021:
See CLASSES Page for more details.
See CLASSES Page for more details.
MONTHLY RETREATS FOR 2021
New!! Every third week of the month Swamini will conduct a two day Zoom Retreat on various topics. Times will be 8.30am to 10.00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Cost $40. Registration required! Looking forward to seeing you!!
New!! Every third week of the month Swamini will conduct a two day Zoom Retreat on various topics. Times will be 8.30am to 10.00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Cost $40. Registration required! Looking forward to seeing you!!
NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM 2021:
Payments for Swamini Vinayananda’s Classes and Retreats will now be through Internet Banking using the BSB number for Chinmaya Mission Australia. Cheques are also accepted.
Please see the CONTACTS page for all the details.
Payments for Swamini Vinayananda’s Classes and Retreats will now be through Internet Banking using the BSB number for Chinmaya Mission Australia. Cheques are also accepted.
Please see the CONTACTS page for all the details.
MESSAGE FROM SWAMINI VINAYANANDA
Hari Om my dear friends!
Often in the face of big world-wide events beyond our control, in which we are swept along, we feel helpless, anxious and fearful. Other generations have faced the horrors of war or a great depression. We now face the world-wide ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic! Some may also include the existential threat of climate change as well!
How can we, who appear such an insignificant cog in this big crushing wheel of world events, play any meaningful part?
I believe we can!
I was reflecting on this and I remembered the wonderful story of how the little Indian squirrel, so beloved of all Indians, got his three stripes. It is a truly inspiring and courageous tale, told in the great Indian Epic called the Ramayana.
Hari Om my dear friends!
Often in the face of big world-wide events beyond our control, in which we are swept along, we feel helpless, anxious and fearful. Other generations have faced the horrors of war or a great depression. We now face the world-wide ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic! Some may also include the existential threat of climate change as well!
How can we, who appear such an insignificant cog in this big crushing wheel of world events, play any meaningful part?
I believe we can!
I was reflecting on this and I remembered the wonderful story of how the little Indian squirrel, so beloved of all Indians, got his three stripes. It is a truly inspiring and courageous tale, told in the great Indian Epic called the Ramayana.
Ramayana Story: The Little Squirrel who helped Lord Shri Rama
Lord Shri Rama and his army of monkeys and bears were preparing for war against the evil demon Ravana who had kidnapped Mother Sita, Rama’s wife. Shri Rama asked them to build a great bridge or course way from Rameshvaram to Sri Lanka across the ocean, a distance of about 800 km. Work began at once and the monkeys heaved great rocks from the mountains to the shoreline, shaped them and on one wrote Raa and on another Maa. The stones united to form the Lord’s name Rama. Nothing is impossible with the Lord’s name! The boulders floated on the surface defying their nature. In this way thousands of the huge monkeys (varnaras) and bears worked tirelessly night and day.
Rama felt happy, “How hard they work! Their love for me makes them work like this!”
One day Rama saw a small grey squirrel. He was going up and down the seashore with little pebbles in his tiny mouth depositing them in the sea.
A great monkey carrying a large heavy stone on his back nearly trod on him and shouted with a voice like thunder, “Hey, you little fellow! Get out of my way! What are you doing here! I nearly fell over! You will get crushed if you stay here!”
The little squirrel looked up at the huge monkey and said in his tiny voice, “I am sorry brother monkey! I am helping Shri Rama to build the bridge!”
“What you?” shouted the monkey and laughed aloud. “Did you hear that?” he said to the other monkeys. “The squirrel is building the bridge with his tiny pebbles! I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous!” All the monkeys laughed.
The squirrel replied, “Look I can’t carry mountains or boulders. God gave me only a tiny strength. My heart is full of love for Shri Rama and I’ll do all I can for him!!”
The monkeys said, “Don’t be stupid! Do you think you can help Lord Rama by building this mighty bridge with those miniscule grains of stone? Go away and keep out of our way!!” But the squirrel would not go away! He continued to go up and down the shore depositing his tiny pebbles. The monkeys got angry and one of them picked him up by his tail and flung him away.
The little squirrel, crying out the name of Rama, fell straight into the hands of Lord Shri Rama.
Then Rama held the little squirrel close to him.
He said to the monkeys, “Do not make fun of the weak and the small. Your strength and what you do is not important. What matters is your love. The little squirrel has love in his heart! O Vanaras, have you not noticed that the tiny pebbles and sand brough by the squirrel and other small creatures are filling the gaps between the huge stones and making the whole structure firm and strong? Yet you hold their efforts as insignificant!”
Rama continued, “Always remember, however small, every task is equally important. A project can never be completed by the main people alone. Please go and continue your work happily.” Rama held the squirrel closer to him and said softly, “Little one, your love touches my heart!” Saying this, he gently stroked the back of the squirrel with his fingers and three white lines appeared where the Lord’s fingers had stroked him.
This is how the Indian squirrel got his stripes and why he is so gay and light and joyful in all he does. The Lords looks at our love, not what kind of tasks we do!
Wherever we are, is where we are meant to be, whether our tasks are large or small. Whatever the circumstances, good or bad. Do all for love of God!
No task and service to the Lord, however small, is unimportant! Drop by drop the water pot is filled.
Drop of love with every action, with every breath, by drop of love, slowly our hearts fill with love for all beings, for the Lord! Our service becomes love made visible. Love is the important thing, just little drops, little pebbles.
Take the name of the Lord, say it with a little drop of love, another and another, drop by drop it takes us to the Lord. Even when the circumstances of life are fearful, painful, when life bruises and rejects us, flings us away, remember His name and he will catch you and embrace you!
Love overcome fear!
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Krishna says,
“Whosoever offers to Me, with love, a leaf or a flower or just water, I accept it, for it is offered with love and purity of mind.”
“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away and whatever austerities you perform, do that as an offering of love to Me (Lord).
“Ere long mind becomes quiet and virtuous and attains everlasting Peace. My devotee is never abandoned.”
“So, fix your mind on Me, devote yourself to Me, sacrifice for Me, surrender to Me, make Me the object of your aspirations, and you shall assuredly become One with Me who am your own true Self.”
There are so many wonderful contemplations in this one simple story!
What did you understand?
Pop it into action!
God bless you all!!
Gurudev bless you all!!
Lord Shri Rama and his army of monkeys and bears were preparing for war against the evil demon Ravana who had kidnapped Mother Sita, Rama’s wife. Shri Rama asked them to build a great bridge or course way from Rameshvaram to Sri Lanka across the ocean, a distance of about 800 km. Work began at once and the monkeys heaved great rocks from the mountains to the shoreline, shaped them and on one wrote Raa and on another Maa. The stones united to form the Lord’s name Rama. Nothing is impossible with the Lord’s name! The boulders floated on the surface defying their nature. In this way thousands of the huge monkeys (varnaras) and bears worked tirelessly night and day.
Rama felt happy, “How hard they work! Their love for me makes them work like this!”
One day Rama saw a small grey squirrel. He was going up and down the seashore with little pebbles in his tiny mouth depositing them in the sea.
A great monkey carrying a large heavy stone on his back nearly trod on him and shouted with a voice like thunder, “Hey, you little fellow! Get out of my way! What are you doing here! I nearly fell over! You will get crushed if you stay here!”
The little squirrel looked up at the huge monkey and said in his tiny voice, “I am sorry brother monkey! I am helping Shri Rama to build the bridge!”
“What you?” shouted the monkey and laughed aloud. “Did you hear that?” he said to the other monkeys. “The squirrel is building the bridge with his tiny pebbles! I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous!” All the monkeys laughed.
The squirrel replied, “Look I can’t carry mountains or boulders. God gave me only a tiny strength. My heart is full of love for Shri Rama and I’ll do all I can for him!!”
The monkeys said, “Don’t be stupid! Do you think you can help Lord Rama by building this mighty bridge with those miniscule grains of stone? Go away and keep out of our way!!” But the squirrel would not go away! He continued to go up and down the shore depositing his tiny pebbles. The monkeys got angry and one of them picked him up by his tail and flung him away.
The little squirrel, crying out the name of Rama, fell straight into the hands of Lord Shri Rama.
Then Rama held the little squirrel close to him.
He said to the monkeys, “Do not make fun of the weak and the small. Your strength and what you do is not important. What matters is your love. The little squirrel has love in his heart! O Vanaras, have you not noticed that the tiny pebbles and sand brough by the squirrel and other small creatures are filling the gaps between the huge stones and making the whole structure firm and strong? Yet you hold their efforts as insignificant!”
Rama continued, “Always remember, however small, every task is equally important. A project can never be completed by the main people alone. Please go and continue your work happily.” Rama held the squirrel closer to him and said softly, “Little one, your love touches my heart!” Saying this, he gently stroked the back of the squirrel with his fingers and three white lines appeared where the Lord’s fingers had stroked him.
This is how the Indian squirrel got his stripes and why he is so gay and light and joyful in all he does. The Lords looks at our love, not what kind of tasks we do!
Wherever we are, is where we are meant to be, whether our tasks are large or small. Whatever the circumstances, good or bad. Do all for love of God!
No task and service to the Lord, however small, is unimportant! Drop by drop the water pot is filled.
Drop of love with every action, with every breath, by drop of love, slowly our hearts fill with love for all beings, for the Lord! Our service becomes love made visible. Love is the important thing, just little drops, little pebbles.
Take the name of the Lord, say it with a little drop of love, another and another, drop by drop it takes us to the Lord. Even when the circumstances of life are fearful, painful, when life bruises and rejects us, flings us away, remember His name and he will catch you and embrace you!
Love overcome fear!
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Krishna says,
“Whosoever offers to Me, with love, a leaf or a flower or just water, I accept it, for it is offered with love and purity of mind.”
“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away and whatever austerities you perform, do that as an offering of love to Me (Lord).
“Ere long mind becomes quiet and virtuous and attains everlasting Peace. My devotee is never abandoned.”
“So, fix your mind on Me, devote yourself to Me, sacrifice for Me, surrender to Me, make Me the object of your aspirations, and you shall assuredly become One with Me who am your own true Self.”
There are so many wonderful contemplations in this one simple story!
What did you understand?
Pop it into action!
God bless you all!!
Gurudev bless you all!!
Mangalayatono Harihi
Reflection and Prayer on Covid-19 Pandemic by Swami Tejomayananda
Reflection and Prayer on Covid-19 Pandemic by Swami Tejomayananda
Sat-sangatve nis-sangatvam. Nis-sangatve nir-mohatvam.
Nir-mohatve nis-chala-tattvam. Nis-chala-tattve jivan mukti.
Which means “Through the company of the good (sat), there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment arises freedom from delusion; through freedom from delusion the immutable Reality is discerned; knowing the Immutable Reality one attains liberation in life.” It comes from a text called Bhaja Govindam by Adi Sankara and it often called the “Ladder of Ascent”. So, I encourage you to keep the company of the good and true, both mentally and physically and grow and flourish in happiness and spirit in 2020!
With Om and Prem
Swamini Vinayananda
Nir-mohatve nis-chala-tattvam. Nis-chala-tattve jivan mukti.
Which means “Through the company of the good (sat), there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment arises freedom from delusion; through freedom from delusion the immutable Reality is discerned; knowing the Immutable Reality one attains liberation in life.” It comes from a text called Bhaja Govindam by Adi Sankara and it often called the “Ladder of Ascent”. So, I encourage you to keep the company of the good and true, both mentally and physically and grow and flourish in happiness and spirit in 2020!
With Om and Prem
Swamini Vinayananda
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Satsangatve nissangatvam. Nissangatve nirmohatvam.
Nirmohatve nischala tattvam. Nischala-tattve jivan mukti.
BHAJA GOVINDAM
Nirmohatve nischala tattvam. Nischala-tattve jivan mukti.
BHAJA GOVINDAM