Enhanced Seva Training

Enhanced seva training is a master class with Shri Vivek, trained spiritual guides and educators in learning the skills to follow and share your passion for spiritual learning.

Apply here!

Enhanced Seva Training

An online program with Shri Vivek, trained spiritual guides, and educators in effectively facilitating spiritual education for second and third generation youth, deepening your own self development in the process.

The Enhanced Seva Training program is designed to build a community of spiritually like-minded individuals who want to be the best seekers for themselves and the best teachers for their students.

For a whole year, be immersed in a supportive community of spiritual guides, facilitators, and peers who will mentor you and celebrate your successes.

Apply here!

Application: Registration closes on Jun 15, 2024
When: Thu 6.30a – 7.30a ET commencing Jun 30 2024
Where: Virtually through Zoom

Why Enhanced Seva Training:

As a teacher in spiritual setting, why should you apply for the Enhanced Seva Training opportunity? To:

Ignite Young Minds: Master techniques to connect with & inspire 2nd & 3rd generation students in your spiritual classroom.
Fresh Practical Tools: Discover innovative ways to make ancient wisdom relevant and engaging for younger audiences.
Supportive Community: Grow alongside other educators and share best practices for spiritual education.
Deepen Your Practice: Strengthen your own understanding for more confident and impactful teaching.
Stay Relevant: Learn to present spiritual teachings in a way that resonates with the modern world.

Eligibility and Selection:

Planning to teach youth (K4-12) on a weekly basis for the 2024-25 academic year.
Application components include a brief background of your spiritual journey and reasons for applying for the program.
Committed to attending all weekly sessions live. Repeated absences may result in withholding of the certification.
Attending a weekly Vedanta class with a trained Vedanta teacher.
Vivekji will review applications and select candidates based on the sincerity/authenticity of their responses.

Absence Policy

If a seeker misses up to 4 classes (excused or otherwise), they are expected to catch up with class notes and through their assigned pod.
If a seeker misses 5 classes (excused or otherwise), the EST team will share recordings of all the 5 missed sessions with the seeker for a period of 2 weeks. Seeker will be required to submit notes and reflections for each of these sessions within the 2 week period.
If the assignment is completed within the stipulated time, Seeker will be back on track for certification.
If the assignment is not completed within the stipulated time or if the seeker misses another session, the EST team will seek Vivekji’s guidance to determine whether the seeker is able to continue with the program.

Credential

Earn a Teaching Qualification to serve second and third generation youth more effectively and more efficiently.

Our Curriculum

While you teach your weekly classes, learn from experienced guides and facilitators who will inspire you to develop a reflective and powerful teaching practice. Our curriculum, designed around the fundamental concept of teaching as a spiritual practice, equips you with these essential concepts:

A) Philosophical Foundations of Teaching:

Explore the purpose behind and inspiration needed for teaching with intention and devotion.

B) A Teacher’s Toolbox:

Discover teaching approaches to help spirituality better resonate with second and third-generation youth.
Refine organizational skills through a variety of planning strategies.
Increase confidence in teaching with training in public speaking techniques and other effective ways of teaching concepts.

C) Student-Centered Teaching:

Learn techniques to help foster social-emotional well being based on age-appropriate child and adolescent development.
Discover ways to guide students gently yet firmly using student-centered classroom management.

D) Engaging Outside of the Classroom:

Develop a culture of positive interaction with parents, families, and broader organizational structures outside of the classroom to enhance in-classroom learning.

E) Evolution in Teaching:

Develop a habit of growth and reflection to continually evolve as a dynamic, responsive teacher.

The Enhanced Seva Training Curriculum is guided by our inspiring and authentic spiritual guide, Shri Vivekji, and has been developed by professional educators, physicians, and social workers; all of whom are experienced teachers in spiritual contexts.

Are you ready to become a spiritual teacher who inspires young minds?

Our Guides

Shri Vivek Gupta

Shri Vivek Gupta, renowned for his spiritual teachings, inspires individuals to pursue lives filled with purpose and independent joy. Combining formal monastic training with life experience, he makes philosophy accessible across cultures. Dissatisfied despite worldly success, he embraced monkhood at Chinmaya Mission’s monastery in India under Swami Tejomayanandaji’s guidance. Vivekji shares his insights through courses, workshops, and retreats, reaching diverse audiences globally. As a Hindu chaplain, he’s spoken at prestigious institutions and authored two books, including “The Seeker’s Wordbook”. Through podcasts, YouTube, and social media, his teachings resonate worldwide. Currently guiding Chinmaya Mission Niagara Falls and Cleveland, Vivekji resides in Canada with his family, expanding his spiritual influence globally.

Shri Shankar Rajupet

Shankar Rajupet was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a senior pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics, just trying to figure out his way through life when he was first introduced to the simple, yet most profound teaching of Vedanta. Shankar was told that there exists a permanent state of independent joy accessible to all. This one idea took hold of his mind and completely reshaped his priorities. In an effort to abide in this state of independent joy, he sought to gain clarity in understanding this Supreme Knowledge by studying in a Vedanta course. At an ashram in Trinidad and Tobago he studied the Hindu scriptures for two years under the guidance of Swami Prakashananda. After completing the course in November of 2018 he is now studying and teaching in the Pittsburgh area.

Shri Suman Rajupet

Suman, driven by his parents’ wish for his happiness and independence, pursued various societal avenues but remained unfulfilled. Seeking deeper meaning, he attended a Satsang in Pittsburgh, where he encountered Advaita Vedanta through Shri Vivek Gupta. Convinced of its potential, he enrolled in a two-year residential Vedanta course under Pujya Swami Prakashananda in Trinidad & Tobago. Returning in 2018, Suman works as an IT Manager in Providence, RI, while actively contributing to Chinmaya Mission Niagara and Cleveland. He travels extensively to share the profound message he embraced: perpetual, independent joy constitutes one’s essence.

Our Facilitators

Vinay Mallikaarjun

Vinay is a professional educator, having taught high school science for several years. He is currently an Ed.D Candidate in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
A lifelong Chinmaya Mission member, Vinay integrates educational best practices with the sacred science of Vedanta to create enriching classroom experiences. He has taught students of all ages in the CMWRC Balavihar and Summer Camp programs, and has also guided the creation of several Balavihar curricula.

Juie Deo

Juie is a macro social worker and trainer of workforces programs. She is a mom of two and always enthusiastic to connect with young minds on being introspective. Facilitating love for self-development with highschoolers and adults for more than 15 years has helped her grow personally and professionally. Enhanced Seva Training has immensely helped her to understand her role in the context of the Whole. More practically, she has learned not to overthink and go with the flow after all the prep and planning of teaching.

Vignesh Sadras

Vignesh is a seeker of the Divine and Independent Joy, and is currently a resident physician training to be a psychiatrist who serves marginalized populations at the intersection of spirituality and mental health. His life and goals have been inspired by the spirituality of Sanatana Dharma, and he is committed to following and furthering the vision of his spiritual guides. The Enhanced Seva training has given him the mindset and tactile skills to nurture the spirituality of adults and children.