Our Vision
The Mission of the Chinmaya Mission® organization is to provide to individuals, from any background, the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means of spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society.
Chinmaya Mission was established in India in 1953 by devotees of the world-renowned Vedanta teacher, H.H Swami Chinmayananda. Under his guidance, these devotees formed the nucleus of a spiritual renaissance movement that now encompasses a wide range of spiritual, educational, and charitable activities, ennobling the lives of thousands in India and world-wide. The Mission is now headed by His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda with 300 centers world-wide.
Chinmaya Mission makes available the ageless wisdom of Vedanta, the knowledge of the one Reality, and provides the tools to realize that wisdom in one’s life. “to give maximum happiness to the maximum number for the maximum time” is the tenet that drives Mission workers to uplift humanity beyond selfish and sectarian attitudes and activities. Each person’s gain is many-fold: personal growth, heightened efficiency, contentment, and the ability to live with others in peace and harmony.
We started the Portland center in 1996 with two teachers and a single class of 19 students. Today our membership is at 120 students in 9 class-groups from Pre-K – 12 and we follow the Beaverton school district calendar. We have multiple tracks for adult study groups. In addition, to Yoga practice session after Bala vihar classes, in 2009 we started the Samskritam language classes.
We are visible and active in the community; a few examples illustrate the volunteering efforts from our members: NAMI’s annual walkathon, Cedar Mill library,
Oregon Food Bank, Loaves and Fishes senior center, Jane’s place women’s shelter, Washington Park Zoo and Tualatin Hills’ reforestation programs.
We look forward to continue to grow and meet the needs of community interested in education of Vedanta and Indian culture/heritage.
Our vision is to establish a center for Vedantic studies in the Portland metro area in the next 3-5 years. A center which includes a prayer hall, auditorium, class rooms and dining room that will cost several million dollars to build. We plan to implement this in phases with the first step to raise funds to acquire land.
We hope you will join us in this journey with enthusiastic support that will not only help enrich our lives, but also create a lasting legacy for generations to come.
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Pledges
Collections so far - $19,917
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