Chinmaya Mission invites applications for the 19th Vedanta Course commencing on 15th January 2024 under the guidance of Pujya Swami Swaroopananda, the Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, and Swami Advayananda. The two year residential Vedanta Course, to be conducted at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya Powai Mumbai, provides an ideal opportunity for all those who want to learn, teach and live the Vedanta way of life.
More About the Vedanta Course:
In this two-year Course, students withdraw fully from worldly life and follow a disciplined schedule of classes and activities in an ashram setting to promote learning, reflection and contemplation. Thereafter, they are encouraged to work in the field as missionaries for their own people, although this is not a stipulation for joining the Course.
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, an Academy of Knowledge, was founded in 1963 by Swami Chinmayananda – a visionary and saint of our times. The forerunner among institutes of Vedantic studies, it is based in the Chinmaya Mission Ashram in Powai, Mumbai. The Ashram complex is blessed by the famous Jagadeeswara Temple, presided over by Lord Shiva seated in a meditative pose. This hallowed space has witnessed the conduct and completion of eighteen Vedanta courses. Stationed across the world, hundreds of its graduates, some now as Swamins and Brahmacharins engaged in diverse roles, have been selflessly serving society and enriching humanity, in whichever way possible.
Vedanta Course Overview
Swami Chinmayananda's vision was to build a group of full-time, well-educated trained sevaks, without worldly ambitions or vested interests — brave and courageous — who were willing to leave personal ties and concerns behind, for a life of surrender to the Divine through service to mankind. Through the entire duration of this intensive two-year residential course, the Acharya closely observes and monitors the progress and development of the students. Students are expected to observe strict discipline and there are no holidays during this entire period. A typical day at the Ashram begins at 4.00 am and ends at around 10.00 pm. The schedule includes the study of Vedanta, Sanskrit, Vedic chanting, Meditation, Bhajans, Satsang, and Narayana Seva.
Students are exposed to the wisdom of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahmasutra and Prakarana-granthas, authored by Adi Sankaracharya, Vidyaranya Swami and other scholars of Vedanta. Texts unveiling the depths of Bhakti like Ramacharitmanas and Bhagavatam are studied in great detail. Students get an overview of the six Darshanas (philosophical systems) prevalent in India. They are also introduced to the basics of world religions. They receive a firm grounding in Sanskrit, which gives them command over the language, and helps in their quest of the study of ancient scriptures.
Option 1: You may download, complete and save the editable PDF Application Form and email it along with the supporting documents and your recent photograph (the photograph can also be attached to the editable form) to sandeepany@chinmayamission.com
Option 2: Print, complete and send the Application Form along with your recent photograph and supporting documents by SpeedPost / registered post or courier to the address mentioned on the form.
Link to application form for the 19th Vedanta Course:
Click here to download the application form
Eligibility
Spiritual seekers, regardless of their upbringing and faith, are carefully selected and interviewed before being accepted to undergo intensive residential training in Vedic literature.
To apply for the Vedanta Course the following is mandatory. Candidates should:
Have an intense desire to study the scriptures
Be proficient in English, the medium of instruction
Be unmarried men or women
Be free from family and other encumbrances
Be aged 20-32 years
Be a graduate in any one discipline
Be mentally and physically fit and able to withstand the intense training.
Gender, caste, creed, religion, nationality are no bar for applying for the Vedanta Course.
Mukhya Acharya: Swami Swaroopananda
The Global Head of Chinmaya Mission since 2017, Swami
Swaroopananda guides and leads the organisation’s various Centres, projects and
institutions.
After graduating from the Vedanta Course at Sandeepany
Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, in 1986, he has maintained a busy global teaching schedule
in Australia, Hong Kong, other parts of the Far East, the UK, India, the
U.A.E., Africa and the USA.
In addition to teaching Vedanta, he has led the Chinmaya
International Residential School in Coimbatore as Director since 2005,
nurturing it to become a leading school in India. He is currently leading
development of Chinmaya Mission’s innovative tertiary institution, Chinmaya
Vishwa Vidyapeeth in Kerala, as Chancellor.
Swami Swaroopananda is a frequent speaker at prestigious
universities and has conducted numerous spiritual management seminars for
executives of major corporations. His books on life management are very
popular, connecting Sanatana Dharma to everyday life and business success.
Resident Acharya: Swami Advayananda
Inspired
by the teachings of the visionary saint Swami Chinmayananda, a young seeker
joined Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, as a student, in 1990. In 1993, on
completing the Vedanta Course, he was ordained into dedicated spiritual life by
Swami Chinmayananda. Later, in 2003, he was initiated into the sacred order of
sannyasa by Swami Tejomayananda, and given the name Swami Advayananda.
Presently, he is serving as the President of Chinmaya International Foundation
(CIF) and as a Trustee of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth (CVV).
After initially serving Chinmaya Mission Centres at Kodaikanal and Trichy in
Tamilnadu, he guided the spiritual and cultural education at Chinmaya
International Residential School (CIRS), Coimbatore, from 1996 to 2000.
Thereafter, in the year 2000, he became an Acharya of Sandeepany Vidyamandir at
Coimbatore, and conducted a Vedanta Course in Tamil–English.
Since 2003, Swami Advayananda has been serving at CIF. Between 2011 and 2013, he was the Acharya for the 15th Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai. He also served as the Acharya of the one-year residential Vedanta Sadhaka Course at CIF in 2021-2022.
Curriculum
Swami Chinmayananda envisioned a programme of study for the Vedanta Course, with the twin objectives of developing both the head and the heart of the student. It is in tune with this objective, that the two year, intensive Advaita Vedanta curriculum is standardised. Traditional in its teaching methodology, its exhaustive focus is on Prasthana-Trayi – the primary trio of the Hindu scriptures.
In the light of Adi Shankaracharya’s detailed commentaries, the course of study examines all the major Upanishads, Bhagavad-gita, and Brahma-sutras. To aid in their understanding and provide greater depth to their knowledge, students are also taught Sanskrit grammar. Training in Vedic chanting and stotram singing are incorporated in the daily routine. To tune the heart, to love for God and devotion to the Guru, students are exposed to an in-depth study of devotional texts and hymns composed by great spiritual masters. For details on the curriculum visit this link.
For answers to frequently asked questions please click here.
Contact: Ms. Kiran Sarafdar
For any further queries, you may contact
Phone: +91-22-2803 5100 | Mobile: +91-9920223361
Email: sandeepany@chinmayamission.com
Write A Public Review