Chinmaya Mission is a global charitable, spiritual organisation, aiming to facilitate inner growth and happiness through the teaching and application of traditional practices of enquiry, yoga, meditation, and dedicated work in everyday life.

Chinmaya Mission is named after world-renowned Vedanta master, Swami Chinmayananda (1916 – 1993). Following a long period of retreat and intense spiritual practice in the path of knowledge (jnana), and established in that truth Swami Chinmayananda, recognised the relevance and need for the saving knowledge of Vedanta for everyone, regardless of race, religion and culture.

Thus, in 1953, feeling an urgency to share this knowledge, he commenced a life of selfless service and teaching, spreading the time-tested teachings of the Bhagavad Geeta and the Upanishads, not just in India, but world-wide.

Chinmaya Mission has grown to be a global organisation, dedicated to the single goal of bringing peace and happiness to all. The Chinmaya Mission is primarily a teaching institution with more than 300 centres across 25 countries.

The current global head of the Mission is Swami Swaroopananda. Swamiji has been visiting New Zealand every other year since 1995. He is a lover of nature and is very fond of the natural beauty of Nelson and its surrounding lakes and mountains. His relaxed, loving and direct teaching style resonates with the open freedom-loving spirit of New Zealanders.

Born in St. Heliers, Auckland, Swaminiji was raised a Catholic. On the death of her father when she was just 10, she found herself with many unanswered questions regarding life and death. These unanswered questions smouldered in her heart, gradually kindling a fire of urgent spiritual enquiry in her mind. Her search led her to seek answers in other traditions and eventually to a visit to India where she learned yoga and engaged in charitable activities.

In June 1984, destiny brought her to Swami Chinmayananda on his first visit to Melbourne where she attended his public talks. Later in 1984, her determination and destiny brought her to Sidhbari, the Mission’s ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas, where she met Swami Chinmayananda personally and asked for guidance. Her questions were answered and her heart and doubts melted. She subsequently completed the Mission’s three-year Vedanta course in the Missions headquarters in Mumbai before returning to Melbourne, Australia to spread the message of Vedanta – not just as a philosophy, but as a practical way of living. She returned to New Zealand in 1995 and has been conducting classes in Nelson, Auckland and Wellington since then