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In
December 1951 in Pune, India, the great Saint and
Master, Swami Chinmayananda delivered his first public
address on Vedanta. That was the start of the dynamic
'Chinmaya Movement', which aimed at spreading the
man-making knowledge of Vedanta to all corners of
India and the world. Chinmaya Mission was formed in
1953 by devotees of Swami Chinmayananda to give organisational
structure and cohesiveness to the work and the activities
being initiated by Swami Chinmayananda.
Over
the years, Chinmaya Mission grew into a worldwide
organisation. Today, it is involved in:
- Spreading
the sublime knowledge of Vedanta - Vedanta is
the core of Hindu philosophy. In fact, it is a universal
science of life. A science which is relevant to
all people everywhere, whatever their faith. An
understanding of Vedanta would inspire people to
understand their own faith (whichever it may be)
better. Therefore, although Chinmaya Mission is
a Hindu spiritual organisation, it does not seek
to change or convert anyone's beliefs. Chinmaya
Mission's stated mission is: "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".
- Re-invigorating
Indian culture - Chinmaya Mission is also involved
in reinvigorating Indian culture in general. The
Mission has forums for different age groups and
for professionals, with each forum engaged in understanding
and promoting Indian culture and spirituality. The
Mission also organizes and promotes Indian music,
dance, drama, art and literature. It also runs many
temples, carries out research into Indian scriptures,
traditions, rituals and languages, and has a vibrant
publications division so that spiritual and cultural
books, periodicals, audio tapes, video tapes and
photographs may reach as many people as possible.
- Doing
extensive social service - Chinmaya Mission
is also actively involved in social services focussing
especially on disadvantaged and underprivileged
people. Hundreds of thousands of people benefit
from the Mission's schools, colleges, hospitals,
diagnostic centres, old age homes and rural village
development projects. "To give maximum happiness
to the maximum number for the maximum time is our
religion." This is the Mission's motto.
Chinmaya
Mission has 243 centres in India and around the world,
which organize and coordinate the activities of the
Mission in their area. After the mahasamadhi of Swami
Chinmayananda in 1993, Swami Tejomayananda became
the head of Chinmaya Mission. He is the chairman of
Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT), which is the
apex body running the Mission. The headquarters of
CCMT is in Mumbai, India.
Contact
details: The Chief Executive, Central Chinmaya
Mission Trust, Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Saki Vihar
Road, Mumbai - 400072 India. Tel: 022-8578647, 8572367,
8575806 Fax: 022-8573065 E-mail: ccmt@vsnl.com
Website: www.chinmayamission.com
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