Chinmaya Mission UK was blessed with the presence of the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, Swami Tejomayananda (Guruji) during His annual visit to London from 4 – 12 August 2015.
The main focus of Guruji’s visit was His five evening talks entitled Timeless Questions, Eternal Answers based on the Sri Rama Gita by Saint Tulsidas. The Sri Rama Gita, which falls in the Aranya Kanda of the Ramacharitramanas, is a discussion between Sri Rama and his brother and student, Lakshmana, whilst they are exile in the forest.
Over 5 evenings, Guruji explained with great clarity and humour, Lakshmana’s state of mind (as a seeker of the Truth) as he approached Sri Rama with a series of profound questions, the nature of the two types of maya (illusion), avidya maya and vidya maya, which stand in the way of a seeker’s realisation of the Truth, the importance of gyana (knowledge) so that one can see the One Supreme Self equally in All and the significance of vairagya (dispassion) to enable one to renounce all accomplishments of the world. Guruji further elaborated on the superficial distinction between the individual jiva and the Lord of totality (ishvara) eloquently citing the analogy of the wave (likened to the jiva)and the ocean (likened to ishvara). His talks concluded with a beautiful explanation of the three essential facets of devotion to the Lord (bhakti) - unconditional love, complete trust and steadfast respect, and the nine-fold forms of devotion to melt the heart of the Lord.
The final talk in the series was preceded by a fusion Eastern and Western classical music concert featuring talented musicians from the musical wing of Chinmaya Mission UK, Chinmaya Swaranjali, and the Spronk Family of Chinmaya Mission Holland.
Guruji’s talks were well attended by seekers from in and around London, despite the strike affecting London’s underground network on the first two days of the discourses. Prior to the talks, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the incredible Chinmaya Jagruti Darshan exhibition on the life and history of the founder of Chinmaya Mission, Pujya Swami Chinmayananda, and to browse the vast array of books and CDs presented by the bookshop of Chinmaya Mission UK, Chinmaya Vani.
