Graceful Aging

Graceful Aging is a compilation of a series of discourses delivered by His holiness Swami Tejomayananda, at chinmaya Mission’s ‘Sandeepany Sadhanalaya’ in Mumbai, India, in June 2008. He Communicated the teachings of this art an ease that makes learning simple and structured for the student.

Thecentral chinmaya vanaprastha Samsthan (CCVS), Chinmaya Mission’s Vedanta forum for senior citizens, regulary organizes talks on topics prevalent to the elderly, such as staying healthy; disease prevention; constructive activities; personal, social, and financial planning and management; and psychological well-being. It was thus, no doubt, a great honour to have His holiness Swami Tejomayananda who kindly agreed to conduct an enlightening spiritual camp ‘Graceful Aging,; organized by CCVS. The publishers are thankful to all who contributed to this work. Illustrations by Brni. Nivedita Chaitanya and artwork by Radhika Chopra.

His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda, founder of Chinmaya Mission, taught spirituality as the art of living. Through Jnana-yoga (the path of Knowledge), he emphasized the balance of head and heart, pointing out selfless work, study, and meditation as the cornerstones of spiritual practice.

Not satisfied by woldly aspirations or his degrees in literature and law, Balakrsna Menon pursued spiritual studies for nine years in the Himalayas, under the guidance of Swami Sivananda and the tutelage of Swami Tapovanam. He eventually came to share this dynamic teacher known as Swami chinmayanada.

Swamiji is renowned worldwide as a spiritual master and one of the foremost teachers of Bhagavad-gita. He is created with the renaissance of spirituslity and cultural values in India, and with the spreading of te ageless wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, as expounded by Adi Sankaracarya, throughout the world.

Swami Chinmayananda attained mahasmadhi in august 1993. His legacy remains in the form of written, audio, and video publications; social service projects; Vedanta teachers whom he taught and inspired; and chinmaya Mission centres worldwide, serving the spiritual and cultural needs of local communities.

Additional biographical information can be found in Journey of a Master, Ageless Guru, Swami Chinmayananda : A Teaching of Inspiration and service, At Every Breath, A Teaching and Swami chinmayanda Reader, which are available from Chinmaya publications (ccumtpublications@chinmayamission.com)

His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, the present spiritual head of Chinamaya Mission worldwide, is fulfilling the vision that Swami Chinmayanda charted. As he Puts it, “I am not in Swamiji’s shoes; I am at His feet.’

Swami Tejomayananda has served as Acarya (dean) of the Sandeepany institutes of Vedanta (Gurukulas of Chinmaya Mission) in India, and as Acarya in Mission on scriptural texts, translated Swami Chinmayananda’s commentaries into Hindu culture: An Intgroduction, which has been acclaimed for its clear description of the basics of Hinduism and adopted as a reference text in some American high schools.

Swamiji excels in expounding upon a wide spectrem of Hindu Scriptures, from Ramayana, to Bhagavad –gita, to the Upanisads. His easy manner, combined with his in-depth analyses and devotional renderings of vedantic texts, have drawn many newcomers into the spiritual fold.