Akshaya Radhakrishnan, Lavanya Rao, Apaar Vijay

Between March 11-14, 2024, a group of 36 high-school seekers spent four days at Chinmaya Hanuman’s annual spring break youth camp, themed Mastering Communications, Mastering Circumstances. Retreaters dove deep and explored a sense of being, intended to help them in any pursuit they work towards. Vivekji and Sumanji guided them in directing their minds positively. Throughout the camp, the students participated in a wide array of physical, mental, and spiritual activities designed to bring change into their personalities. These exercises were based on the principles of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17.

Early in the mornings, these students would engage in quietening their minds through bhajans, asana, and satsanga with volunteers and guides. As the days went by, the campers became more comfortable and leaned into these practices as a means to invoke a feeling of peace – several students mentioned that these mornings were grounding and were inspired to apply them to their mornings before school.

Later in the day, they practiced maunam and got to eat sattvic snacks and lunch prepared by our Sevaks – a mix of cuisines from Maharashtra, Nepal, and Italy, cooked fresh. After getting re-energized, the campers joined their second daily satsanga followed by ‘Dynamics’ – a practical application of the knowledge they got to learn. This included preparing skits, intimate group discussions, and learning by doing. The end of their day was spent outside, playing sports and making friends they’ll keep in touch with beyond this camp. Each camper came up with a promise statement they would practice for the next 52 weeks on the final day. Anonymously polled at the end of the camp, every single student said they wanted to return again next year!