Chinmayananda
Swami Chinmayananda ( Hindi : स्वामी चिन्मयानन्द) (born May 8, 1916 in Ernakulam, Kerala ; † August 3, 1993 in San Diego , USA) (real name: Balakrishna Menon ) is a teacher of modern Hinduism and the founder of the Chinmaya Mission .
Life
Chinmayananda grew up in a very devout Hindu family who strictly followed the traditions of Kerala. He attended a modern English school, where he also learned Malayalam and Sanskrit . In 1940 he began his studies at Lucknow University and in 1942 he joined the Indian independence movement, which is why he had to spend several months in prison. In 1945 he graduated in law and then began a journalistic career at The National Herald in Delhi, hoping to influence political, economic and social reforms in India.
However, his life changed fundamentally when he met Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh in 1947 and thereby became interested in the Hindu path. He stayed in Rishikesh for some time, but continued to pursue his journalistic career in Delhi. In 1949 Balakrishna Menon finally entered the Ashram, received initiation and became a samnyasin with Swami Sivananda. He was given the name Chinmayananda (the one who has attained bliss and absolute consciousness ) and studied in the ashram for some time. For him, however, it was clear that the path of Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge) was the right one for him. Sivananda recognized Chinmayananda's potential and sent him to Uttarkashi in the Himalayas to study with the great guru Tapovan Maharaj, where Chinmayananda studied for twelve years. At the end of his training, he decided to spread his teachings around the world.
His concern was to bring the rich knowledge of the rishis (wise men) to the people and thus to bring about a revival of the moral and spiritual values of the whole nation, in which he noted a fall from the philosophical principles of Vedanta . His goal was: "To convert Hindus to Hinduism".
This was not an easy task, since up to now the study of the scriptures in India has not been possible in public, but has only been handed down by priests. His public lectures, which were also held in English, the language of the colonial rulers, met with resentment from the established. In addition to his lectures, Chinmayananda wrote commentaries on texts of the Vedanta, such as the Upanishads, as well as numerous books on general religious questions, which contain many examples taken from modern life.
During the forty years of travel and teaching, numerous centers and ashrams have opened around the world; schools and hospitals were also built. His merit was to have made the teachings of Vedanta accessible to all interested parties, regardless of age, nationality or religious background.
His life's work, the Chinmaya Mission , is now represented in India, especially in the USA.
literature
- Swami Chinmayananda: Discourses on Kenopanishad , Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, 1993
- Swami Chinmayananda: Symbolism in Hinduism , Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, 1996
- Swami Chinmayananda: Kindle Life , Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, 1996
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Chinmayananda |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Balakrishna Menon |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Indian teacher of modern Hinduism, founder of the Chinmaya Mission |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 8, 1916 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ernakulam, Kerala |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd August 1993 |
| Place of death | San Diego , USA |