What is the most attractive part of Indian spirituality?
I don’t think there is anything in the world that can match the Vedanta. It is so logical, so rational, that similar satisfaction cannot be found in any other form of study. Some of the western practitioners who attended our Vedanta course are continuing it for over 40 years. This shows the knowledge of Vedanta is a treasure in their lives.
Is Indian spirituality getting more and more popular the world over?
In 1965, the Chinmaya Mission did not have any centre in the west. Now there are over 300 worldwide. This is true of other Indian spiritual organisations. People have found value in what Indian scriptures have to offer.
Yoga has been out there for a long time, it is easy for them to understand that. From yoga to pranayama and ayurveda, they have come to a point where they want to study scriptures systematically. That is the point at which they come to the Chinmaya Mission centres.
Is stress a factor?
The world over, we have strange ideas of what the world offers, we chase them, and realise they are not getting us anywhere. Thus begins the search for peace and happiness. And we come to the Upanishads where the ancient rishis have presented solutions to our problems. The same is found in the Bhagavad Gita.
What does it take to start a Chinmaya Mission centre abroad?
It is the same everywhere—a group of totally dedicated people who are ready to stand by the mission and be its trustees in whom the community has faith. If activities increase so much that they need a full-time acharya, we send one, if nobody from those centres can come to India and do the two-year programme.
Which discourses seem most popular?
When we talk on how to find peace and happiness, people say this is what I am looking for: how to meditate and discourses on the Gita. They are all popular. And each acharya brings his own flavour to his teaching.
Are international programmes different from those in India?
Even on Mars, the discourse on Bhagavad Gita or the Upanishads will remain the same.
