by Nina Bhattacharya

“Let your hands and legs function, but let a part of your mind steadily hold on to the idea of the divine essence in you,” said Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. With this vision to anchor their efforts, 29 seekers from 16 cities committed themselves to the 100 Day Giving Challenge — a movement to give resources, time, and effort towards individual and societal development. This meant giving 5 dollars/day to help society, reading 10 pages/day to support self-development, and completing a 20-kilometer run in their own cities on October 11.

Guided by Shri Vivek of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, the community participated in regular satsang as they prepared for the half-marathon. Each week, runners reflected on insights about the body, mind, and intellect that emerged from training. For many, this was the first time they had taken on a physical and mental challenge of such magnitude. For others, this was the fourth year they had participated in the running community.

“This has been a tremendous year and running has not only helped with health, but also has kept things in perspective,” shared one seeker during the virtual satsang following the race. “Running this year has helped to bring positivity, perspective, strength, creativity, stamina, community, inspiration, and connection.”

The 29 seekers raised over $28,000 for diverse causes across the United States and India, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Girls on the Run, the Cleveland Food Bank, the Children’s Heart Foundation, Mental Health America, and more. With these efforts, the Chinmaya Mission Niagara community is nearing its goal to raise $100,000 for society in 2020.

Unto Him Our Best!