On 12 August at Satyachetana Sikhyashram in Balanga, Odisha, Swamiji and a team of 18 launched the “Jnana Ganga” mission. This is an outreach program on behalf of Satyachetana International, to deliver in-person spiritual education to 300 schools in the state, with the purpose of elevating the overall consciousness by providing students with specific spiritual tools to help them thrive in whatever material challenges they may face.
Swamiji invited all the team members to interact with the students on this momentous day. Here is an excerpt from the sharing of SCI board member Vishnupriya.
Preparing for the Guru Purnima Zoom call from Satyachetana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai
Guru Purnima this year is 10 July. On this sacred full moon day when we express reverence for the force of the Guru that manifests through the form, that form addressed devotees and admirers around the world via the following Zoom call.
On 27 June, in sync with the tradition of Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, the deities from the Jagannath Temple at Satyachetana Ashram underwent a ratha yatra, or chariot procession, to the campus of the Veda Vidya Gurukulam.
Envelope of birthday card hand-painted for Swamijiby 13-year-old Aditi, daughter of Satyachetana Life Members Ajaya and Purnasmita
“One who has no sense of physical existence, you all were celebrating his birthday. It was very, very odd for me.” Swamiji explained this as part of the reason for designating 18 June as the annual celebration of Ashram Foundation Day, instead of a celebration of his birthday.
The following was recorded at Satyachetana Ashram after Guru Puja on the morning of 18 June, with preparations for Ashram Foundation Day fully underway in the background.
Other quotations from this talk that were considered as titles for this post: “If you can just keep this in mind” and “Please don’t get identified with who you are.” Just sharing these for inspiration.
As you may know, Swamiji’s vision is to continue performing Brahmakunda Yajnas 365 days per year to restore elemental harmony, leading to global peace and prosperity.
One of the challenges in this work is manpower. To ensure the ongoing availability of specially trained Brahmin priests that are proficient in the proper chanting of each of the four Vedas and have expertise in the Yajna procedures, the Veda Vidya Gurukulam was founded to educate ongoing generations of Brahmins. Already, one graduate from the first batch of students is now teaching here as a full-fledged Rig Veda Acharya, and participates in the daily Yajna program.
Running a residential gurukulam is costly, especially one with ongoing daily Yajnas and Pujas. For that reason, support is now invited from all awakened beings that have an interest in universal harmony. Anyone that feels capable is welcome to send an offering. Contributions will help pay for Veda instructors, food, accommodations, kitchen staff and other needs.
Simply informing you about this. There are no expectations.
Contributions from outside India may be sent to the University of Spiritual Research (USR). For details visit: usronline.net/donations
Please do not send any funds directly to Swamiji for this purpose.
For those that haven’t yet had the opportunity to sponsor a Brahmakunda Yajna, that opportunity is also available. Feel free to share this message with those whom you feel may be interested.
For the 16 December satsang at Satyachetana Ashram, Swamiji gave the following question to consider in advance: Lord Krishna and Arjuna, both were at the battlefield. Which of them actually fought the real battle?
Swamiji explains his answer in the below audio excerpt.
