Chant Geeta | Enchant Krishna | Celebrate Chinmaya
Chapter 2: Verses 54-72 | The Yoga of Knowledge
MARCH 16, 2024 & MARCH 17, 2024
Registration Pledge Amount: Individual – $25; Family – $50
Chinmayam
Silver Spring, MD
Chinmaya Somnath
Chantilly, VA
Frederick Chapter
Frederick, MD
Richmond Chapter
Glen Allen, VA
General Questions
How to Sign Up | Participation Categories | Participation Tips | Practice Materials | Awards | Results
View Geeta Chanting Competitions Archive
The Bhagavad Geeta
Swami Chinmayananda breathed, lived and talked Bhagavad Geeta throughout His life. He carried the message of the Geeta to kindle the knowledge of the Self in millions worldwide! For that reason Srimad Bhagavad Geeta is the heart of Chinmaya Mission.
The Bhagavad Geeta is a manual for living, a book of direct experience. It Instructs on how to live a productive life, attaining fulfillment here and now.
Has the Bhagavad Geeta gone through YOU? For more comprehensive resources and invaluable inspiration, please visit www.theholygeeta.com!
Why Chant Geeta?
From the recitation of the Bhagavad Geeta arises the desire to know its meaning. Thence arises the Knowledge (of the Self). From this Knowledge arises fulfillment.
The study of the Geeta is the key to opening the vast treasure of God’s love for us. It starts with chanting, then study, and over time, assimilating (embracing) that same love wholeheartedly and completely.
Geeta Chanting allows one to begin this journey here and now, and opening themselves to the embrace of the infinite love.
Geeta Chanting Competition
Swami Dheerananda nurtured our Geeta Chanting Program from its initial beginning as a small competitive event with love and care. Geeta Chanting has now been institutionalized into Children Summer Camp curriculum and Weekly Bala Vihar Common Time agenda. As our Geeta Teacher, Swami Dheerananda has expanded participation categories to include reading and comprehension, to invite greater adult participation.
In keeping with His Guru’s mission, Swamiji is sowing the seed of Geeta Jnana in every CMWRC member, and through chanting and comprehension, making each of us more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Chapter 2: Verses 54-72 | The Yoga of Knowledge
Sthitaprajna Lakshana – A Man of Realization and steady wisdom
In the previous verses of Chapter 2, Bhagavan Sri Krishna imparts to Arjuna the knowledge of how to achieve steadiness in life, rise in the highest knowledge, and carry out our duties in the spirit of selfless dedicated service or through Karma Yoga. This leads to Arjuna’s questions in verse 54: What is the State of the realized master in Samadhi? How does a realized master speak? In what is the realized master established? And how does a realized master move about in the world?
From verses 55 to verse 72 Bhagavan Sri Krishna answers Arjuna’s questions. His words are like a lighthouse that guides us in the ocean of samsara as we work towards the goal of life.
“Sthita” means established. “Prajna” refers to our wisdom or intellect. Sthitaprajna is the one whose wisdom is established, one who is centered in this knowledge of their true identity. Our mind gets caught among the different finite roles we play – mother, father, son, daughter, friend, etc and hence becomes oblivious to the true nature of our being. Sthitaprajna is a person who has centered himself in the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Reality.
In gratitude to the Guru Parampara and to Gurudev who conducted Geeta Jnana Yajna all around the world, we invoke ‘Om Sthitaprajnaya Namah!’ – Salutations to the one who is established in the highest wisdom.
Chinmayam
46 Norwood Rd
Silver Spring, MD 20905
In Person
March 16
1 pm – 5 pm
Chinmaya Somnath
4350 Blue Spring Dr
Chantilly, VA 20151
In Person
March 16
Noon – 4 pm
Frederick Chapter
Urbana Middle School
3511 Pontius Ct
Urbana, MD
In Person
March 17
9 am – 11 am
Richmond Chapter
11537-A Nuckols Rd
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Online via Zoom
March 17
3 pm – 4 pm
Competition Categories
We encourage all children to participate in the memory categories. The participation categories also include reading and comprehension for adult participation. By participating in chanting and comprehension, we will be more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Memory-Child
Open to Pre KG, KG & Grade 1 Children
Participants will chant by memory
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 54-61
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Memory
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by memory
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 54-72
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Memory and Comprehension
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by memory the verses listed below. The judges will then read the English meaning of a random verse, and the participant will need to identify the relevant verse. This will be repeated for a total of 4 verses.
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 54-72
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Reading
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by reading
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 54-72
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Reading & Comprehension
Open to All Adults & Children
Participants will chant by reading the verses listed below. The judges will then read the English meaning of a random verse, and the participant will need to identify the relevant verse. This will be repeated for a total of 4 verses.
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Verses 54-72
- Conclusion
- Chapter 18: Verse 66
Writing (Reflection)
Open to All Adults & Children
This category can be selected by itself or in addition to any of the above categories.
Reflect on one or more of Chapter 2: Verses 54-72 by studying the word meanings, the shloka meaning and the associated commentary. Then, write a short passage in your own words on what impressed you or inspired you most about what you studied.
- Submit your passage in WORD as an ATTACHMENT via email to smrithi-editor@chinmayadc.org by March 31, 2024.
- Passage should not exceed 500 words
- All written submissions will be published in Chinmaya Smrithi Magazine.
- Passages exceeding 500 word count will be published only at the discretion of Chinmaya Smrithi editorial team in a later edition.
Practice Materials (Chapter 2 Verses 54-72)
We encourage all children to participate in the memory categories. The participation categories also include reading and comprehension for adult participation. By participating in chanting and comprehension, we will be more and more conscious of the knowledge of the Self.
Complete Audio
Audio by Verse (Swami Dheerananda – Lead and Repeat)
Audio by Verse – Swami Dheerananda
Bhagavad Geeta Practice Videos
Tips for participation
Practice
Swami Dheerananda has gone extra lengths to provide many means of practice for all age groups: YouTube, audio, booklet. A simple tip is to listen to the audio with a booklet in hand and listen again and again. In a short time, you will become intimate with the Chapter.
Pronunciation
Sanskrit is the language for chanting the Geeta. Please pay close attention to Swamiji’s pronunciation as you practice.
Presentation
The ‘Presentation’ aspect of Geeta Chanting competition draws judges focus on two key attributes – Dress and Attitude.
- Dress: Preferably, the participants should wear customary Indian dress. Other attire is acceptable as long as it is appropriate for a spiritual/prayer activity.
- Attitude: Participants should adorn a respectful and prayerful attitude during the entire chanting session (entry, chanting and exit).
Format of the Competition
Each Participant chants in front of two judges in a closed room.
Comprehension & Writing
Read Swami Chinmayananda’s commentaries during your practice and preparation. As you grasp the meaning of what you are practicing, your intimacy with the Chapter will be even deeper. Swami Tejomayananda explained knowledge as unstirred sugar in a tea cup. The tea becomes sweet only after we stir the sugar thoroughly. Listening and chanting places the knowledge in our minds. Comprehension and writing begin the stirring process for growth.
Awards
All Children will receive Trophies based on the Competition Results. All Adults will receive a voucher or a Vedanta Book.
Eligible Awards for each category
| Category | Diamond Star | Diamond | Gold | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory-Child | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memory and Comprehension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reading | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reading & Comprehension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Writing | ✓ |