Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar Program 2010-2011

1. Chinmaya MissionBalaVihar Program2010-2011 Offered at Hindu Temple of Central Illinois, Peoria, IL

2. Chinmaya Mission • A global organization with over 300 centers round the world engaged in spiritual, educational and social services. • Under the guidance of His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, 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 worldwide. • Presently headed by His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, the Mission is administered by Central Chinmaya Mission Trust (CCMT) in Mumbai, India. Under Swami Tejomayananda's guidance, the Mission has continued mushrooming across the world and stands today with over 300 centers worldwide.

3. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar "Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit. The seed of spiritual values should be sown in young hearts, and the conditions made favorable for sprouting and steady growth through proper control and discipline. It must be cared for with the warmth of love and affection, and such a tree shall blossom forth flowers of brotherhood, universal love, peace, bliss, beauty, and Perfection". - Swami Chinmayananda.

4. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar • The Chinmaya BalaVihar program offers weekly spiritual Vedanta classes for children in their formidable and molding years (5-12 years). • The classes are categorized by varying age groups, start and end with Sanskrit prayers, and include chanting, bhajans, stories of devotion and values, interactive discussions, and creative games. • Conducted worldwide, the 90-minute classes are based on specially designed syllabus for BalaVihar

5. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar • To inculcate in our children and youth a reverence for our ancient culture, and inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding • To create self-confidence so that they are able to serve and act cheerfully • To generate personal discipline, dynamic leadership, and true affection in all their contacts • To mould their capacity to brilliantly express their individuality • To help our children and youth develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the atmosphere in which they grow • To provide an atmosphere of growth that is filled with noble ideals, healthy emotions, and physical discipline.

6. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar • Chinmaya Mission’s BalaVihar classes promotes and teaches the universal philosophy of Oneness (Advaita Vedanta), children are made to understand that although Hinduism may appear to have many Gods, the Truth (God) is the one ultimate Reality, and thus it is one God appearing as many forms, as all things, as beings, and as the entire universe. • In the weekly classes, and at special events and festival celebrations, both the children and the sevaks/sevikas (teachers and administrators) learn the art of living in a loving, nurturing environment of discipline, where their personalities spontaneously blossom on physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels. The interactive classes, through absorbing stories, games, plays, and songs, impress the teachings and practices of karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga-all for the making of an integrated personality.

7. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar Curriculum • The Chinmaya Bala Vihar curriculum includes various devotional, philosophical, and ethical texts and topics, focusing in the early years on developing love for God • Learning and practicing value-based living, and in the teenage years on understanding spirituality and fundamental Vedantic principles. • The intensive syllabus covers topics and texts from Hinduism's Vedas, Puranas, and Itihasas. A typical curriculum includes: • ABC of Vedanta • Ramayana • Shrimad Bhagavatam • Mahabharata • Symbolism in Hinduism • Hanuman Chalisa • India and Festivals of India • Values from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Ramacharitamanasa • Characters of Ramayana and Mahabharata • Hindu Culture • Introduction to Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

8. Chinmaya MissionStudy Group • Parents are highly recommended to attend Chinmaya Mission’s Study Group • Study Group will be conducted concurrent to BalaVihar Classes • Parents will drop the children in BalaVihar class and attend the Study Group • The benefits of regular attendance and participation in Chinmaya Study Groups are manifold: • Knowledge of Hindu scriptures and culture • Art of listening • Self-discipline • Clarity in thinking • Perseverance • Inner strength to face challenges • Self-development • Personality transformation. • All Adults are welcome to attend Chinmaya Mission’s Study Group. Registration required

9. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar • Fee information • First Child - $200 • Second Child - $100 • Three or more Children - $50 • $350 Max/Family • Study Group – No Fee. Registration required for every participant • Registration • Registration Forms are available for enrollment • Registration starts from today 11th Sep • Classes to begin from 26th Sep

10. Chinmaya Mission BalaVihar • Copies of Syllabus are available for display • Copies of Text Books are available for display • Highly Encourage the parents to enroll your children in Chinmaya Mission’s BalaVihar program • Please take advantage of this unique opportunity for your children.

11. Thank you