Invitation to 17th Dharma Sevak Course (July-August 2019)

Dear Vedanta Darshak,

Hari Om and Namaskaar!

In the serene atmosphere of Chinmaya Gardens, set in the foothills of Nilgiri mountain ranges, there is a natural ambience of beauty, peace and divinity which is ideal for study and experiencing the joy.

For the 17th consecutive year, we have the Dharma Sevak Course, under the guidance of Swamini Vimalanandaji. It has verily transformed all those who attended.

The course is from 19 July to 29 August 2019. Besides the wonderful learning times, we will also be celebrating various festivals like Janmashtami, Rakshabandan and Independence Day – that too in the presence of Pujya Guruji.

We invite you again to come for this very special course. Do share this information with all your friends, relations and contacts as sharing of joy multiplies our own joy. Do contact Sri Raghu at 9757120626 or Shraddha at 9427074290 for further details.

Looking forward to being with you at Chinmaya Gardens.

Chinmaya Garden Trust,

Nallur Vayal Post,

Siruvani Main Road,

Coimbatore 641114.

PH: 0422-2615637/2613493.

Email: chinmayagarden@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayagarden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chinmayagarden/

Website: www.chinmayagardens.com

Trishna’s Impressions

The Dharma Sevak Course was great. Very intense. I’m at a loss for words whenever someone asks me how it was. What can you say to describe 6 weeks of daily inspiration? When certain things like puja and japa and meditation become a part of daily life, it’s difficult to even see it as Sadhana anymore, or at least as what I used to understand Sadhana to be. It’s no longer something you have to do. I would wake up at 4.15am daily without an alarm clock because the day ahead would be so full and fulfilling.

There were moments when I felt so much joy I’d be skipping to the Annakshetra or I’d feel like dancing around my room to no music!

There were times I’d cry in Sanskrit class because it was so difficult and so fast-paced, but then I’d succeed at reading the Sanskrit pages of the Book of Hymns, albeit slowly, and it would be like I had climbed the highest peak! I ended up getting 97.2% in the Sanskrit exam and coming 2nd in class. I also came 3rd in the Geeta chanting competition. It was like being back in school!

Every day we would have to write our own short commentary on a verse from the Geeta, using our own examples and not Gurudev’s or Swaminiji’s. And we would randomly be called upon to share our reflections with the whole class in a 5-minute discourse. That way, reading the Geeta would be as enjoyable as reading Harry Potter, and much more so. Each word opens up in so many ways and when I’d start writing my commentaries, it would be difficult to stop!