MISSION STATEMENT
To help children Learn Values with fun, To delight like the moon and shine like the sun - Swami Tejomayananda"
PURPOSE OF BALA VIHAR
To inculcate in our children and youth a reverence for our ancient culture, and inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding. To create self-confidence so that they are able to serve and act cheerfully. To generate personal discipline
, dynamic leadership, and true affection in all their contacts. To develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the environment in which they grow. In Bala Vihar, the rich cultural heritage of India, including moral values, are taught to children and youth at different levels, using the medium of stories, drama, arts, crafts and discussion. Children are also taught popular Bhajans and Slokas. Chinmaya Mission centers have become models for teaching India's rich spiritual heritage and the fundamentals of Vedanta to the next generation. Chinmaya Bala Vihar classes are organized into different grade levels from pre-KG to Grade 12 to match the child's learning ability with the teaching material and techniques. In promoting and teaching the universal philosophy of Oneness (Advaita Vedanta), children are made to understand that although Hinduism may appear to have many Gods, the Truth (God) is the one ultimate Reality, and thus it is one God appearing as many forms. BALAVIHAR CURRICULUM
Chinmaya Bala Vihar Curriculam includes various devotional, philosophical & ethical texts and topics, focusing in the early years on developing love for God, in the elementary years on learning & practicing valuebased living, and in the teenage years on understanding spirituality and fundamental Vedantic principles. The syllabus covers topics and texts from Hinduism's Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas. It is child-friendly and taught on age-appropriate levels. A typical curriculam includes: ABC of Vedanta, Ramayana, Introduction of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Symbolism in Hinduism, Hanuman Chalisa, India and Festivals of India, Values from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Ramacharitamanasa Hindu Culture. Additional topics are developed and taught at the Chinmaya Bala Vihar camps. BALA VIHAR TEACHERS
Teachers of Bala Vihar are trained volunteers who devote their time to educate the children using a Missionwide syllabus and training modules. They are also trained on a regular basis by our Resident Acharya, Pujya Swami Sharanananda.
