Menoculayshunal; Shifting Gears

By the time we returned to Sandeepany following the idyll that was Chinmaya Vibhooti, there was something of a different mood around the place. Part of it is that thing that happens when everyone realises we are closer to the end than the beginning and that there is an enormous amount of work still to be covered. Then there is the writing of dissertations/theses. 

...say what?!!

That took an interesting turn. Bearing in mind that we were essentially producing work for a PhD, we were asked at first to submit by the end of March (2013) our average 80k words. All 60 of us did that and had them returned with positive and constructive comments... and the request to reduce that same work into 20k words. 😮 Okay. Six weeks later, we managed to distil our work somehow and received them again with positive and constructive comments... and the request, finally, to reduce the same work to no more than 2000 words. 😵 If you haven't cottoned on by now, the concepts and precepts of Advaita are - - intense - - complex - - some might say obscure... so to present our ideas in such a condensed manner seemed peculiar. Then it was announced that there would not be 60 different theses published, but one single volume for the course. Eight students did not have their work entered (although their efforts were acknowledged in the endnotes) due to lateness or not meeting the required standard. Thus we ended up with one comprehensive manual of Vedantic thought from Batch 15 Gurukula Sandeepany Sadhanalaya. The result was an amazingly congruent flow of chapters covering many aspects, from the practical application to the esoteric and around the corners of conundrums. This, it turned out, had been an exercise not in academic prowess alone but the consistency of thought, appreciation of a common mind and sequestration of the ego.

Additional workgroups were added, and our afternoon personal time grew less. We were to cover all the learning that would go with working within the Chinmaya Mission establishment. Those of us taking the yellow robes would be assigned to centres all around India and the globe, and we had to be able to teach at all levels. A particular emphasis was given to Balvihar - akin to Sunday School in church. This is a very popular program with Indian families in every corner of the planet, even if the parents themselves do not attend Vedanta class. It covers ages 5 yrs - 15yrs. In the next three years, children are expected to concentrate on their final years at school. Once they reach 18, they can join the CHYK group - Chinmaya Yuva Kendra. This group can be taken up to age 35. There are GRhasta (Householder/Adult) study groups and Jnana Yagnas (public discourses) and then Vana Prastha groups - over 60s age group. Other things too, like Swaranjali (dedicated music groups). 

Elsewhere, CM has an entire system of regular schools around India and an international boarding school. Another branch is CORD - the rural support and development program, which is very successful.

Anyway, you get the picture. No longer were we simply learning our subject, but also inculcating the values and programs of the Mission. However, something else arose that caused me to take stock during this time. Several discussions were had about the role of religion in politics. There was a fellow jostling for the role of prime minister of India. He was creating waves and stirring up what is referred to as Hindutva. Unsettlingly, a few among the students clearly subscribed to this thinking. I was further perturbed to find that the meeting hall by the library was being leased to the local chapter of the RSS...(Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)

I, to be clear, am very against the mixing, indeed the conflation, of politics and religion. What has happened in India since my departure is heartbreaking. That jostling fellow achieved his aim. 

Everything that Modi stands for and spouts is contrary to Advaita, yet the Mission has to tread the tightrope with him due to his spiritual guru being none other than our own Sw. Tejomayananda (Guru-ji). At no time does the Mission engage in teaching what could be construed as Hindutva - but I had to wrangle with the understanding that some in its ranks are not going to decry the very un-Vedantic words and actions of the country's most powerful man. 

I know I was not alone. But I am not here to talk for others on this. I can only relate that the presence of those brown shirts on the ashram was a final straw - while still devoted entirely to Vedantic life and to the Mission as a whole, I came to understand that I would not be able to curb my political self sufficiently to survive comfortably within its structure.

That was a huge realisation, only three months out from graduation.

NB: there will again be a break from these memoir posts as April is dedicated to A-Z activity. On return in May, we will reach the concluding 'mop-up' posts...