Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members   Time:  7:00 - 8:45 pm Fridays on Balavihar weekends   Requires individual subscription to the Advanced Vedanta Course through Chinmaya International Foundation.   The class will review the entire CIF Baghavad Gita Course - all 18 Chapters in 30 lesson modules. There is no prerequisite for this course.    Note this course is not offered as part of Balavihar registration. The course requires a separate payment towards the course registration to the Advanced Vedanta Course through Chinmaya International Foundation.  Access to the portal including video content and lessons of the course are available lifelong.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time:  7:00 - 8:45 pm Fridays on Balavihar weekends   This year the class will complete learning to chant Vishnu Sahasranamam. Discussion will include the meaning of each name.    The class will also learn to sing a bhajan or a shloka set to a simple, easy to chant tune, followed by a short 5 minute guided meditation.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members   Time:  7:00 - 8:45 pm Fridays on Balavihar weekends   The Vedanta 101 study group is targeted towards beginners in Vedanta and  introduces the foundations and glossary of our scriptures in a structured and systematic way. The class will be discussing two books 'Self Unfoldment' by Swami Chinmayananda and 'Upadesa Sara' by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.    Self Unfoldment is a very popular book which explains the core concepts of Vedanta through simple examples.   Upadesa Sara concisely introduces all four paths enshrined in our Hindu scriptures with Ramana Maharshi's unique way of explaining Vedanta.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members   Time:  7:00 - 8:45 pm Fridays on Balavihar weekends   If the Upanishads are the text books of philosophical principles discussing man, world and God, the Bhagavad Gita is a handbook of instructions as to how every human being can come to live the subtle philosophical principles in the actual work-a-day world. Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Divine song of the Lord, occurs in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. This great handbook of practical living marked a positive revolution in Hinduism and inaugurated a Hindu renaissance for the ages that followed the Puranic era.   The fifth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga of True Renunciation is essentially a bridge between Karma-Yoga (dealt in Chapter 3 & 4) and the Yoga of Meditation (dealt in Chapter 6).  Gurudev’s commentary will be reviewed and discussed during the class sessions.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time:  9:15 - 11:00 AM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   Chanting of all verses in the 18 Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita will be taught with correct pronunciation and intonation.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time:  9:15 - 11:00 AM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   The group will learn simple bhajans that are melodious and easy to sing.  Prior musical experience not required.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 9:15 - 11:00 AM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   Vedanta is the science of life. It shows us the gateway to peace and happiness. To understand this subtle science, knowledge of certain terms and concepts is mandatory. With striking examples and ingenious poetry, Atma Bodha guides the reader along the path of Vedanta terminology. Reflecting on these verses will uplift the mind and elevate the soul. A great guide for beginners and a meditation prop for advanced seekers.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 9:15 - 11:00 AM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   If the Upanishads are the text books of philosophical principles discussing man, world and God, the Bhagavad Gita is a handbook of instructions as to how every human being can come to live the subtle philosophical principles in the actual work-a-day world. Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Divine song of the Lord, occurs in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. This great handbook of practical living marked a positive revolution in Hinduism and inaugurated a Hindu renaissance for the ages that followed the Puranic era.   This year the class will continue to review Karma Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.  The discussion will focus on learning how to implement “Yogah Karmasu Kowshlam” - the dexterity of action, the art of making any day to day karma into Karma Yoga.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 9:15 - 11:00 AM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   Its poetic diction, systematic development of thought (clear and concise) and scientific arrangement of highly philosophical ideas make Kaivalya Upanishad one of the most striking minor Upanishads. In this Upanishad, Asvalayana, the great teacher of Rig Veda is the disciple and Lord Brahma, the Creator himself is the teacher, who glorifies the unconditional Brahman.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time:  11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   Discussions in Marathi based on Dasbodha (Advice to the Disciple) by Samarth Ramdas Swami.  It is a comprehensive volume in verse form providing instructions on the religious life, presented in the format of a conversation between a Guru and disciple. The narration is believed to have taken place in a cave called Shivatharghal in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Contained within the chapters of Dasbodh, Ramdas Swami outlines the path of liberation through Devotion and Knowledge. Through knowledge, Ramdas Swami clears away all doubts and gives the understanding of one's "True Self." Ramdas Swami also reveals the true meaning and significance of "Discrimination" and "Detachment."  The text also deals with diverse aspects of human life such as politics, conducting business dealings and taking care of one's body and family life. 

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time:  11:15 - 12:15 PM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   This class will focus on understanding quotes and poems in Sanskrit.  

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 12:45 - 2:30 PM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   The Vedanta 101 study group is targeted towards beginners in Vedanta and introduces the foundations and glossary of our scriptures in a structured and systematic way. During this year the class will be following Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam with commentary by Swami Chinmayananda.     Bhaja Govindam, one of the seemingly simpler texts composed by Adi Shankaracharya is an extremely popular, Vedantic, poetic and lyrical work. Here the fundamentals of Advaita Vedanta are taught in simple musical verses. Yet, the verses have great depth if the intelligent seeker wishes to dive in. For such a seeker, a sincere study of this work, can help remove all their delusions (Moha). Hence the poem is also known as Moha Mudgara (hammer) - one that removes all delusions.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 12:45 - 2:30 PM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   If the Upanishads are the text books of philosophical principles discussing man, world and God, the Bhagavad Gita is a handbook of instructions as to how every human being can come to live the subtle philosophical principles in the actual work-a-day world.  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Divine song of the Lord, occurs in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. This great handbook of practical living marked a positive revolution in Hinduism and inaugurated a Hindu renaissance for the ages that followed the Puranic era.   This year the class will begin with a discussion on Kaivalya Upanishad - which is a short Upanishad - before embarking on Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita.  Kaivalya Upanishad is a concentrated and strong affirmation of the Moksha path that an eligible practitioner can use to reiterate the lessons of Jnana Yoga and liberation from this Samsara. This text expounds the concept that BRAHMAN is in EVERYTHING!   Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 is a detailed and in-depth teaching lesson on how to be in meditation and use the lessons of Vedantic meditation to progress on the path of Liberation. This text provides detailed instruction on how to be in meditation (Nidhityaasanam) in our day-to-day lives.

Adult Study Group Attendees:  Open only to registered Balavihar families or Parivaar/Sevak members Time: 12:45 - 2:30 PM Sundays on Balavihar weekends   The class will complete Kathopanishad this year. Kathopanishad, one of the major Upanishads expounds a great truth, very simply, as to what happens after death. It is in the form of a dialogue between the God of Death (Yama) and Nachiketas, a boy just nine years old.  Its importance can very well be gauged by the fact that many of its mantras are reproduced in toto in the Bhagavad Gita.   Following Kathopanishad, relevant portions from Bhagavad Chapter 6 and 7 will be reviewed. After the main topics described above are covered, if time permits, the class will begin discussions on Mundakopanishad.