Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami was invited to visit the Chinmaya Mission in Anaheim during his visit to Southern California last year, but the schedule was too tight to include it. This year, we made it a reality. Here, a Chinmaya devotee introduces Bodhinatha to a group of Balvihar acharyas, or children’s class teachers. Bodhinatha gave a wonderful talk to the group. He spoke about putting Hinduism into practice in our lives, quoting from Swami Chinmayananda’s first public talk, which he adores. He also gave specific advice about speaking with mixed, interreligious marriages. He advises that elders speak with couples before they get married in order to sort out religious affiliations and help make choices about what religion the children will be raised in. Working these things out after marriage just doesn’t work.

After the talk, gifts were presented.

Bodhinatha then spoke with Swami Ishwarananda over some snacks. We have always felt a closeness with the Chinmaya swami order, so the discussion was quite productive.

The Chinmaya Mission Anaheim main shrine: Siva Sankara in His Himalayan abode.