Advice for Balavihar
Pujya Gurudev encouraged people to start Balavihars and gave them clear guidelines about how to handle the children.
How much importance Gurudev gave to create the right atmosphere for children to learn is made clear by his suggestion for boards near a nursery school. He knew that children get distracted easily and wanted people to be aware of it too.
We must put a board in the parking yard there:
Careful. Silent.
Children learning to live!!
What do you think of it? In Ashas place and in our other schools we can have:
DRIVE SLOWLY
Children learning to LIVE.
In a letter to Pramila Modi in 1972 he shows how to balance love with discipline.
Children recognise and appreciate much more readily the love and sincerity in others. Pour out your love and sincerity to them: yet be strict for their own discipline. They will be a little wild in the beginning: soon they will be quiet and nice. The juniors: allow them more freedom than for teenagers.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Be a common mother to them all. Love them sincerely.
Good that you started a Balavihar at your place. Keep them constantly in competition with each other in study, in story-telling, in singing, dancing, in scoring at school, in doing noble, heroic and good acts of kindness to men and animals.
In short, be a common mother to them all. Love them sincerely, intensively. They are as many Krishnas – each with His Gopas and Gopies all around Him!
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Even the minute details are carefully presented.
Don’t take the children’s class more than one hour. 1¾ is too much. They should never feel tired. Let them play under your own eyes … watch them and read their strengths and weaknesses. Guide them slowly …
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
The goal of educating the children is beautifully explained in this short snippet.
Love the children. They alone are our only hope for the future. Let us try to leave in them some higher and nobler values. This done – we have then educated them for the highest achievements.
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
Pujya Gurudev encouraged people to start Balavihars and gave them clear guidelines about how to handle the children.
How much importance Gurudev gave to create the right atmosphere for children to learn is made clear by his suggestion for boards near a nursery school. He knew that children get distracted easily and wanted people to be aware of it too.
We must put a board in the parking yard there:
Careful. Silent.
Children learning to live!!
What do you think of it? In Ashas place and in our other schools we can have:
DRIVE SLOWLY
Children learning to LIVE.
In a letter to Pramila Modi in 1972 he writes about how to balance love and discipline.
Children recognise and appreciate much more readily the love and sincerity in others. Pour out your love and sincerity to them: yet be strict for their own discipline. They will be a little wild in the beginning: soon they will be quiet and nice. The juniors: allow them more freedom than for teenagers.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Be a common mother to them all. Love them sincerely.
Good that you started a Balavihar at your place. Keep them constantly in competition with each other in study, in story-telling, in singing, dancing, in scoring at school, in doing noble, heroic and good acts of kindness to men and animals.
In short, be a common mother to them all. Love them sincerely, intensively. They are as many Krishnas – each with His Gopas and Gopies all around Him!
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Even the minute details are carefully presented.
Don’t take the children’s class more than one hour. 1¾ is too much. They should never feel tired. Let them play under your own eyes … watch them and read their strengths and weaknesses. Guide them slowly …
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
The goal of educating the children is beautifully explained in this short snippet.
Love the children. They alone are our only hope for the future. Let us try to leave in them some higher and nobler values. This done – we have then educated them for the highest achievements.
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
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Sketches for Children_test
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Love for Children
Pujya Gurudev shared the spontaneous and uninhibited joy of children, responding to them in the same way with a dance of joy. Writing at a level that the child can understand.
Kochu Balan, who was taught to bow daily to Gurudev's Padukas, received a personal response from the Swami.
I am receiving every day your namaskarams at the Guru-Paduka. Thanks. Do you feel that I touch you when you prostrate?
You are growing a very very good boy.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
And while conveying his love, Gurudev made it lively with a sketch and an image that the children could understand and relate to.
I am crushed by the bear-hugs and choked with the candy ones!! God save me from such loving devotees!!
Your tendency is cruel! Why do you corner into your answer papers all the marks available for the questions? Should you not leave a bit more for others! You have bagged 77%. Great Looter Great!!
Looter Rama Looter Rama Rama Rama Loot O! Loot O!!
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!!
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev shared the spontaneous and uninhibited joy of children, responding to them in the same way with a dance of joy:
Thanks for your letter of 8th October.
Congratulations. I am lifting you over my head and running round and round your house in my joy. My Balan has got FIRST RANK in class!
Never give it up: BE FIRST.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
In his letter to Rama, a six year old child, he addresses her as "sister", perhaps because the child thought of him as a brother. Gurudev was 39 when he wrote this letter. He writes at a level that the child can understand, even using a clear handwriting.
My dear Sister,
Om Namah Sivaya!
Namasthe!!
I got your letter. I was so happy. I danced with joy. Everybody thought I am mad. What do they know that my Rama’s letter had come to me.
You must drive (away) the cow when it eats the flowers. Cows can eat grass. But beautiful flowers are for God.
My beard does not grow. We will have to wait for beards to grow. It grows in God’s own time. When grown we can cut it away; but we cannot make it grow without His Grace.
I am praying to Him to make it grow as long as my knees, white as lily, just like Uncle Santa.
Do you pray.
With Prem and Om,
My dear,
Swami Chinmayananda
Another gem from Gurudev. His response to the child is a dance of joy. Complete with a beautiful sketch and a simple instruction at the end.
Your letters – they gave me such a joy that it was with much difficulty that I kept sane and did not make a fool of myself. Think of a tall stupid Swami holding two pieces of paper in hand and dancing in and out of the Los Angeles traffic, with a posse of policemen whisking their head away, running helter skelter to catch the Swami!! And at the end of it all under T.V. lights they realise that it was all because of two girls in St. John’s and American police cannot reach you as you belong to another country!! HA! HA! HA!! HA!!!
Be regular. Be good. And remember ME always.
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev was careful with his handwriting when he addressed letters to children. Sometimes he used capital letters so that the child could understand.
Balan
Tattamangalam.
I got your letter. Thanks. I love you. Congratulations. HAPPY BIRTH DAY. MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS.
BE A GOOD BOY. PRAY DAILY. LOVE YOUR MUM and DAD. TOUCH THEIR FEET.
LOVE.
SWAMI.
Since letters took time to reach, Swamiji drew an intricate sketch of a donkey carrying flowers to the child so she could understand.
I am sorry I couldn’t reply yours earlier. I have got only this stupid slow donkey to carry my flowers for your birthday, and it is loaded so much with my love that the stupid beast couldn’t walk faster!! Anyway we have reached you; and my flowers are still fresh with my love for you all and here I pay my special loyalty to your Birthday.
With Love Love Love,
Thy Own Self
Swami Chinmayananda
Pujya Gurudev shared the spontaneous and uninhibited joy of children, responding to them in the same way with a dance of joy. Writing at a level that the child can understand.
Kochu Balan, who was taught to bow daily to Gurudev's Padukas, received a personal response from the Swami.
I am receiving every day your namaskarams at the Guru-Paduka. Thanks. Do you feel that I touch you when you prostrate?
You are growing a very very good boy.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
And while conveying his love, Gurudev made it lively with a sketch and an image that the children could understand and relate to.
I am crushed by the bear-hugs and choked with the candy ones!! God save me from such loving devotees!!
Your tendency is cruel! Why do you corner into your answer papers all the marks available for the questions? Should you not leave a bit more for others! You have bagged 77%. Great Looter Great!!
Looter Rama Looter Rama Rama Rama Loot O! Loot O!!
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!!
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev shared the spontaneous and uninhibited joy of children, responding to them in the same way with a dance of joy:
Thanks for your letter of 8th October.
Congratulations. I am lifting you over my head and running round and round your house in my joy. My Balan has got FIRST RANK in class!
Never give it up: BE FIRST.
Swami Chinmayananda
In his letter to Rama, a six year old child, he addresses her as "sister", perhaps because the child thought of him as a brother. Gurudev was 39 when he wrote this letter. He writes at a level that the child can understand, even using a clear handwriting.
My dear Sister,
Om Namah Sivaya!
Namasthe!!
I got your letter. I was so happy. I danced with joy. Everybody thought I am mad. What do they know that my Rama’s letter had come to me.
You must drive (away) the cow when it eats the flowers. Cows can eat grass. But beautiful flowers are for God.
My beard does not grow. We will have to wait for beards to grow. It grows in God’s own time. When grown we can cut it away; but we cannot make it grow without His Grace.
I am praying to Him to make it grow as long as my knees, white as lily, just like Uncle Santa.
Do you pray.
With Prem and Om,
My dear,
Swami Chinmayananda
Another gem from Gurudev. His response to the child is a dance of joy. Complete with a beautiful sketch and a simple instruction at the end.
Your letters – they gave me such a joy that it was with much difficulty that I kept sane and did not make a fool of myself. Think of a tall stupid Swami holding two pieces of paper in hand and dancing in and out of the Los Angeles traffic, with a posse of policemen whisking their head away, running helter skelter to catch the Swami!! And at the end of it all under T.V. lights they realise that it was all because of two girls in St. John’s and American police cannot reach you as you belong to another country!! HA! HA! HA!! HA!!!
Be regular. Be good. And remember ME always.
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev was careful with his handwriting when he addressed letters to children. Sometimes he used capital letters so that the child could understand.
Balan
Tattamangalam.
I got your letter. Thanks. I love you. Congratulations. HAPPY BIRTH DAY. MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS.
BE A GOOD BOY. PRAY DAILY. LOVE YOUR MUM and DAD. TOUCH THEIR FEET.
LOVE.
SWAMI.
Since letters took time to reach, Swamiji drew an intricate sketch of a donkey carrying flowers to the child so she could understand.
I am sorry I couldn’t reply yours earlier. I have got only this stupid slow donkey to carry my flowers for your birthday, and it is loaded so much with my love that the stupid beast couldn’t walk faster!! Anyway we have reached you; and my flowers are still fresh with my love for you all and here I pay my special loyalty to your Birthday.
With Love Love Love,
Thy Own Self
Swami Chinmayananda
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Advice for Children
Sometimes a line of advice from the Swami could have a great impact on a child. Rohit Nene wrote to Gurudev in detail about his dog and here is the reply he received:
Thank you for your dog-life letter!!
See what an amount of attention, effort, love are necessary to look after a mere dog. How much more your parents must struggle to mould you, train you and feed you to make you a perfect gentleman and a dynamic person capable of facing all ‘problems’ in your world!!!
Jai Jai Jagadeeswara!
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
In his dealings with children, Gurudev ensured that they develop the right values. Here is an incident that Swamini Kaivalyananda remembers.
Once Swamiji was staying with a host who had a grand-daughter. Every morning she would wear her uniform and come to Gurudev, who would feed her the first morsel from his breakfast. One day, she was not wearing her uniform, but was dressed in coloured clothes. Apparently it was the day the host was offering a bhiksha to Gurudev. “Why aren’t you going to school?” asked Gurudev, but the child did not reply, nor did she go to school. Gurudev ignored the child all through the morning and during the bhiksha. It was unusual because generally he would fuss over her and shower her with attention. The child was very upset at this and cried a lot. Later in the evening, Gurudev cuddled her as usual, making it very clear that she must not miss school on any account.
Narendra Veer Madnani, who joined a boarding school, received the following advice from Gurudev.
Score. Be free with all. Mingle with everyone. Make use of your tutors and house masters. Be friendly with all students.
Never for a day miss your prayers. If morning you cannot, do it in the evening. Let His grace flow towards you from all sides. Remember your noble father and divine mother each night and mentally prostrate to them.
Love, Love, Love
Swami Chinmayananda
At the same time, Gurudev made it very clear where the priority lay.
Now I heard all about your sports, games, fiddling from the roof etc. But these are all side-dishes. The main meal is your scholastic progress. No. This is very disappointing. Of what use is your health, games, sports, a few medals if you are not scoring in your studies. No…
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Two sisters received their instructions very clearly in this letter as to what the priority was.
It is not right that you two don’t go to school just because Swamiji has come. Religion and spiritual living should make the devotee more conscientious and dutiful towards life. Your duties now are to study and attend classes. That is your dharma. You should never give up your dharma.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
When a child was unable to cope with the studies and secure good marks, Gurudev was compassionate and supportive.
The very desire to get the ‘first’ is cheating you from your success. Surrender it to the Lord. Just study hard and be ready to accept whatever the Lord gives.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Parents can learn a lot from the way Gurudev counselled children about handling the exams.
Relax. Don’t worry. Stop all excitements and unnecessary fears of exam. Then you will score more. When we have our surrender to “Wahe Guru”, relaxation comes automatically. You then work in inspired brilliancy, be it in sport or in work.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Along with studies, Gurudev encouraged children to participate in extra-curricular activities.
How is your tennis play? Are you regular and fix your eyes on the ball on the time in each stroke?
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
He stressed all around development.
Never give up your daily prayers. Be the best student in the Eglon School both in studies, in games, and in hiking, mountaineering, camping out etc. Be an all-rounder. This means you will have to be alert and dynamic mentally at all times. Vacation time you can come home and meet parents.
Love your brothers. Respect your father. Revere your mother.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Advice on how to take care of siblings, especially younger ones.
You are the elder brother and so should protect and love your twin brothers – even when they are mischievous. They are our brother always.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Sometimes a line of advice from the Swami could have a great impact on a child.
Rohit Nene wrote to Gurudev in detail about his dog and here is the reply he received:
Thank you for your dog-life letter!!
See what an amount of attention, effort, love are necessary to look after a mere dog. How much more your parents must struggle to mould you, train you and feed you to make you a perfect gentleman and a dynamic person capable of facing all ‘problems’ in your world!!!
Jai Jai Jagadeeswara!
Love,
Swami Chinmayananda
In his dealings with children, Gurudev ensured that they develop the right values. Here is an incident that Swamini Kaivalyananda remembers.
Once Swamiji was staying with a host who had a grand-daughter. Every morning she would wear her uniform and come to Gurudev, who would feed her the first morsel from his breakfast. One day, she was not wearing her uniform, but was dressed in coloured clothes. Apparently it was the day the host was offering a bhiksha to Gurudev. “Why aren’t you going to school?” asked Gurudev, but the child did not reply, nor did she go to school. Gurudev ignored the child all through the morning and during the bhiksha. It was unusual because generally he would fuss over her and shower her with attention. The child was very upset at this and cried a lot. Later in the evening, Gurudev cuddled her as usual, making it very clear that she must not miss school on any account.
Narendra Veer Madnani, who joined a boarding school, received the following advice from Gurudev.
Score. Be free with all. Mingle with everyone. Make use of your tutors and house masters. Be friendly with all students.
Never for a day miss your prayers. If morning you cannot, do it in the evening. Let His grace flow towards you from all sides. Remember your noble father and divine mother each night and mentally prostrate to them.
Love, Love, Love
Swami Chinmayananda
At the same time, Gurudev made it very clear where the priority lay.
Now I heard all about your sports, games, fiddling from the roof etc. But these are all side-dishes. The main meal is your scholastic progress. No. This is very disappointing. Of what use is your health, games, sports, a few medals if you are not scoring in your studies. No…
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Two sisters received their instructions very clearly in this letter as to what the priority was.
It is not right that you two don’t go to school just because Swamiji has come. Religion and spiritual living should make the devotee more conscientious and dutiful towards life. Your duties now are to study and attend classes. That is your dharma. You should never give up your dharma.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
When a child was unable to cope with the studies and secure good marks, Gurudev was compassionate and supportive.
The very desire to get the ‘first’ is cheating you from your success. Surrender it to the Lord. Just study hard and be ready to accept whatever the Lord gives.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Parents can learn a lot from the way Gurudev counselled children about handling the exams.
Relax. Don’t worry. Stop all excitements and unnecessary fears of exam. Then you will score more. When we have our surrender to “Wahe Guru”, relaxation comes automatically. You then work in inspired brilliancy, be it in sport or in work.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Along with studies, Gurudev encouraged children to participate in extra-curricular activities.
Never give up your daily prayers. Be the best student in the Eglon School both in studies, in games, and in hiking, mountaineering, camping out etc. Be an all-rounder. This means you will have to be alert and dynamic mentally at all times. Vacation time you can come home and meet parents.
Love your brothers. Respect your father. Revere your mother.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
He stressed all around development.
How is your tennis play? Are you regular and fix your eyes on the ball on the time in each stroke?
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
Advice on how to take care of siblings, especially younger ones.
You are the elder brother and so should protect and love your twin brothers – even when they are mischievous. They are our brother always.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
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Work Life Balance
Sometimes we get caught up in too many areas of work and feel stressed out. Gurudev shows how to handle it.
Work can never kill anyone. I know you have lot of work – college, home, society, Mission. But if your mind is made to rest in Lord Shiva, and body dedicated to Him in action, you shall find yourself gurgling with energy in spite of all your programmes of activities.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
When a devotee felt overcome by inertia and listlessness or frustration, Gurudev would infuse renewed vigour and enthusiasm.
If I were you I will continue striving to fulfil my duty, however risky and joyless it may be, demanding in life only for a chance to strive and do our duty! Just because you heard of Prarabdha you have not understood it. Strive and do Purushartha. Let Prarabdha decide the fruits, but we shall live fully enjoying the sweat and thrill of Purushartha.
And no sacrifice is a waste. Every sacrifice ennobles us – polishes us. Sacrifice and love – actions fulfilling our duties are the strings and bow to tickle the music of “Life” from our frail but song-full body. A fiddle in its box is idle – the ideal is when it is laughing out its contents of peaceful emotions and throbbing melody. Serve – Love – Purify – Meditate.
Be pure – Be pure – Meditate.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Another precious bit of guidance to a lady about how to balance spiritual activities with domestic responsibilities.
It is nothing but extreme love for you which creates a sense of possessiveness and you must congratulate yourself that you have got such a loving husband. Your over enthusiasm in spirituality should not force you to neglect your duties towards your family of husband and children. The time wasted in small talks can be creatively used for spiritual unfoldment.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
The Raman family has been serving Pujya Gurudev and the mission for several decades now. Parvathy Raman was the editor of Tapovan Prasad and is currently the editor of this website. Dr. Akhilam, aunt of Parvathy Raman was the resident doctor for the dispensary in Sidhbari for many years. She is now Swamini Nishthananda and lives in Powai Ashram, Mumbai. Dr. Shankar Raman was in charge of the construction at the Sidhbari Ashram for a couple of years in the mid eighties. This is how Gurudev involved entire families in his work.
Seen here with Pujya Gurudev: Front Row L to R: Parvathy Raman, Dr. Akhilam (who is now Swamini Nishthananda), Pujya Gurudev, Dr. Shankar Raman and Shri Trilokinath a well known academician who was then manager of Sidhbari Ashram.
Smt. Parvathy Sankar,
Sidhabari.
Hari Om! Hari Om!
Salutations!!
I am jealous of you now and your life – so serene, divine, peaceful and steady. Give my love to Bhaskar and Hari.
As you sit facing peak behind my kutia I will be behind you — naturally!
Love to Dr. Akhilam!
Love,
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
While making decisions many of us have doubts whether it is God's will or not. Gurudev indicates a good way to proceed.
Lord has delegated “work” for each of us for our own inner unfoldment. Let us not become wiser than Him. Let us wait and watch…if circumstances are providing us of what we “plan” to do let us have the wisdom to cheerfully decide “Thy WILL be done – not mine.”
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Decision of Retirement
Whatever the Lord asks of you to do, in the language of circumstances, you do it cheerfully. That is the best for each one of us. Thus, if you are compelled to retire, joyously retire, without any hesitation, because the Lord must have a plan for you.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
When a devotee expressed his displeasure over his transfer orders, Swamiji wrote:
Nobody can transfer you from your own Self. No other transfer is a transfer since no other place is permanent. Nothing is permanent. Learn to enjoy the transfer. You had enough of rest. Rest is rust. An ampler field for expression of your efficiency is the thing provided when we think deep over it. Re-evaluate the situation. Learn to smile at the very thing you are now sighing – Wish you success “in the fresh woods and pastures new”.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
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Thumbnails
The archives is home to thousands of photographs of Pujya Gurudev and the Guru Parampara. Below is a selected set of images shown as thumbnails. If you need the original for official use, please click on the thumbnail to get the file name and send it to archives@chinmayamission.com
The archives is home to thousands of photographs of Pujya Gurudev and the Guru Parampara. Below is a selected set of images shown as thumbnails. If you need the original for official use, please click on the thumbnail to get the file name and send it to archives@chinmayamission.com
From Gurudev's Pen
Pujya Gurudev brought joy wherever he went. So did his letters. The bold and well-loved handwriting on the envelope would make the recipient’s heart jump with joy. Today in the world of emails and other electronic communication, that kind of joy is inconceivable. The inevitable waiting for the snail mail made the letters sweeter still. He was a prolific writer, known to write hundreds of letters in a week. The Chinmaya Archives is fortunate to house a collection of over 15,000 of Gurudev’s letters.
This section of the website gives us a peep through the window of Gurudev’s words, thanks to some precious letters that devotees have saved and donated to the Archives. These letters have been categorized by topic and presented in their original format along with a typed version.
To purchase the book ‘Yours Forever’ which has the full selection of letters please contact:
eshop@chinmayamission.com.
Select a category below:
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Introduction
Pujya Gurudev brought joy wherever he went. So did his letters. The bold and well-loved handwriting on the envelope would make the recipient’s heart jump with joy. Today in the world of emails and other electronic communication, that kind of joy is inconceivable. The inevitable waiting for the snail mail made the letters sweeter still. He was a prolific writer, known to write hundreds of letters in a week. The Chinmaya Archives is fortunate to house a collection of over 15,000 of Gurudev’s letters.
This section of the website gives us a peep through the window of Gurudev’s words, thanks to some precious letters that devotees have saved and donated to the Archives. These letters have been categorized by topic and presented in their original format along with a typed version.
To purchase the book ‘Yours Forever’ which has the full selection of letters please contact:
eshop@chinmayamission.com.
Nothing found.
Parenting
The challenges of being a good parent were very well known to Gurudev. When asked for advice he tailored it to the situation and needs of the concerned person. In the letter below Gurudev counsels a parent who has to handle a difficult child.
Very positive instructions were given to a mother-to-be.
You remain quiet spending your time in prayers. Be cheerful. Even though the peculiar changes within may give you many emotional and physical convulsions, with your understanding and love for the little one conquer all such feelings and keep a cheerful face. Fill your heart with cheer and joy. Remember the mother’s mental attitude gets imparted to the child within. Start his pre-natal education right now. Let him be the Great One the world is waiting for. Let him be a brilliant boy exploding to become a youth of dynamic activities serving the country and the cause of world progress.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Pujya Gurudev points out that our attitude makes all the difference - it can lend divinity to our actions.
The divine service is always open to all of us. Your sewa of the child and husband are also not anything less divine. Look after them well – and give the son a healthy, happy, and disciplined atmosphere to grow.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev tells a parent to leave the married children well alone.
Congratulations all around. May the couple learn to live in love and mutual harmony. May the parents realise that children grow and must have their own independent fields to grow up. Leave them alone.
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
Here is Gurudev's advice to a mother who wants her daughter to get married. Such advice was tailored according to the person.
It is glorious of you to have sent your daughter for Medicine. Let her study it. She wants to study and serve. Why force her to marry? And if later on she wants it, let her do so as she meets the right boy in her life.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev cites River Ganga as the best example of a glorious mother.
The mother goes by singing Her unbroken song of joy and cheer, gushing out in love to serve the world on both sides of Her, along Her own chosen path. No obstruction can stop her – and nothing can disturb her joy and verve. She is She ever – go wherever you like. This is culture. This is depth in character. Be ever like Ma Ganga ji.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
There is no greater heaven on earth.
And to have a reading session at home – where father reads and all children listen and discuss – I assure you there is no greater heaven upon earth. And you don’t realize the influence you are leaving upon your children. Nothing impresses them in their deeper depths as that which happened to them through their own father and mother.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev counsels a parent who has to handle a difficult child.
Very positive instructions were given to a mother-to-be.
You remain quiet spending your time in prayers. Be cheerful. Even though the peculiar changes within may give you many emotional and physical convulsions, with your understanding and love for the little one conquer all such feelings and keep a cheerful face. Fill your heart with cheer and joy. Remember the mother’s mental attitude gets imparted to the child within. Start his pre-natal education right now. Let him be the Great One the world is waiting for. Let him be a brilliant boy exploding to become a youth of dynamic activities serving the country and the cause of world progress.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Pujya Gurudev points out that our attitude makes all the difference - it can lend divinity to our actions.
The divine service is always open to all of us. Your sewa of the child and husband are also not anything less divine. Look after them well – and give the son a healthy, happy, and disciplined atmosphere to grow.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev tells a parent to leave the married children well alone.
Congratulations all around. May the couple learn to live in love and mutual harmony. May the parents realise that children grow and must have their own independent fields to grow up. Leave them alone.
Love
Swami Chinmayananda
Here is Gurudev's advice to a mother who wants her daughter to get married. Such advice was tailored according to the person.
It is glorious of you to have sent your daughter for Medicine. Let her study it. She wants to study and serve. Why force her to marry? And if later on she wants it, let her do so as she meets the right boy in her life.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Gurudev cites River Ganga as the best example of a glorious mother.
The mother goes by singing Her unbroken song of joy and cheer, gushing out in love to serve the world on both sides of Her, along Her own chosen path. No obstruction can stop her – and nothing can disturb her joy and verve. She is She ever – go wherever you like. This is culture. This is depth in character. Be ever like Ma Ganga ji.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
There is no greater heaven on earth.
And to have a reading session at home – where father reads and all children listen and discuss – I assure you there is no greater heaven upon earth. And you don’t realize the influence you are leaving upon your children. Nothing impresses them in their deeper depths as that which happened to them through their own father and mother.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
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Marriage
With a rich fund of experience from his observations of life and people, Pujya Gurudev had very valuable advice to offer, tailored to the requirements of the given individual. He describes an ideal marriage:
The newly wed couple,
Jai Jai Jagadeeswara!
Salutations!!
Marriage is for life – to live in total companionship with each other. The attempt is to feel a merger of each with the other all through your life’s ups and downs.
It is possible only if each of you expect nothing from the other, and each is wishing to “give” to the other. In such a selfless relationship, the two entities merge to become one – and the harmony so born is the reward of a successful marriage.
I wish you both all success and joy.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Sudheer and Manju,
Secret of happy married life is in discovering mutual harmony. This rises when each lives expecting nothing to get from the other. Each only wants to give to the other.
This is the Hindu Family Bliss. May you both learn to live in this joy with hearts flowing in love for each other and the Lord.
Thy Own Self
Swami Chimayananda
25. Jan. 1979
To a young girl about to get married, Pujya Gurudev writes:
Realize that you are entering a great and noble life in which adjustment through love and accommodation through understanding alone are the means for harmony and joy. Make the life of both of you a beautiful poem. You have the ability and the necessary tact.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
The strength of matrimonial togetherness in handling the challenges in life is appreciated and highlighted by Pujya Gurudev:
It was a pleasure to receive both the invitation cards for your marriage. May Jagadeeswara’s blessings be ever upon you both and all that are yours.
Whatever Lord does to us has each its own message to us. To recognise it and to live joyously is spiritual life. to confuse it as His unkindness is our delusion and ignorance.
Be grateful to those who out of their love and vanity gave you both so much of agony. But you both have stood the test beautifully. Siva-Siva! This has been a training to know how both of you together can face any amount of challenges in life. This is true meaning and purpose of marriage. Material and worldly ups and downs are to be expected. They come and go. In their stormy play when you are holding firmly your hands together each can give to the other a steady balance.
This is the significance when Hindus consider their wife as SAHA-DHARMA-CHARINI = A companion to live together in DHARMA.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
With a rich fund of experience from his observations of life and people, Pujya Gurudev had very valuable advice to offer, tailored to the requirements of the given individual. He describes an ideal marriage:
The newly wed couple,
Jai Jai Jagadeeswara!
Salutations!!
Marriage is for life – to live in total companionship with each other. The attempt is to feel a merger of each with the other all through your life’s ups and downs.
It is possible only if each of you expect nothing from the other, and each is wishing to “give” to the other. In such a selfless relationship, the two entities merge to become one – and the harmony so born is the reward of a successful marriage.
I wish you both all success and joy.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
Sudheer and Manju,
Secret of happy married life is in discovering mutual harmony. This rises when each lives expecting nothing to get from the other. Each only wants to give to the other.
This is the Hindu Family Bliss. May you both learn to live in this joy with hearts flowing in love for each other and the Lord.
Thy Own Self
Swami Chinmayananda
25. Jan. 1979
To a young girl about to get married, Pujya Gurudev writes:
Realize that you are entering a great and noble life in which adjustment through love and accommodation through understanding alone are the means for harmony and joy. Make the life of both of you a beautiful poem. You have the ability and the necessary tact.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
The strength of matrimonial togetherness in handling the challenges in life is appreciated and highlighted by Pujya Gurudev:
It was a pleasure to receive both the invitation cards for your marriage. May Jagadeeswara’s blessings be ever upon you both and all that are yours.
Whatever Lord does to us has each its own message to us. To recognise it and to live joyously is spiritual life. to confuse it as His unkindness is our delusion and ignorance.
Be grateful to those who out of their love and vanity gave you both so much of agony. But you both have stood the test beautifully. Siva-Siva! This has been a training to know how both of you together can face any amount of challenges in life. This is true meaning and purpose of marriage. Material and worldly ups and downs are to be expected. They come and go. In their stormy play when you are holding firmly your hands together each can give to the other a steady balance.
This is the significance when Hindus consider their wife as
SAHA-DHARMA-CHARINI = A companion to live together in DHARMA.
Signed
Swami Chinmayananda
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