Page 4 - newsletter4.0

A BRIEF PROFILE

Swami Swaroopananda

The orange robes and serene, ever-smiling face do not betray a successful young
businessman who on hearing the call of Gurudev (Swami Chinmayananda), forgot
all his worldly comforts to follow him unwaveringly.

Swamiji admits that even as a child he had Diksha by Gurudev and was named
an inclination for the spiritual, often sitting Swami Swaroopananda.
quietly with a mala in his hand. As a young
boy Ashok (Swamiji) was reared on Krishna Many of us can remember the young
and Rama stories from the Puranas but it Swamiji who accompanied Gurudev to
was only several years later in Hong Kong London in 1993 and gave the morning
where he joined the family business that he talks. The following year he conducted the
came across Gurudev’s commentary on the entire yagna in London, and soon after
Holy Geeta. Studying this, he became became the Acharya here.
aware of the deep philosophy buried in his
childhood books. Shortly afterwards when Presently stationed in Melbourne he is Head
he heard Gurudev in person, he was in his of the Mission in Australia and is also the
own words, totally swept off his feet with Acharya for the Far East, Africa and the UK.
awe and reverence. Craving close contact He travels frequently all over the world
with Gurudev he joined the Yuva Kendra delivering the teaching of Vedanta with great
for 2 years. conviction and clarity, adding witty insights
which endear him to old and young alike.
In 1981 he went to Sidhabari where he
experienced Gurudev’s work and vision. More recently his dynamic topics like
It was here that “Win the mind,
Ashok realized that A devotee lamented Win the world”,
the two things he “Born to Succeed”,
wanted most dearly “When will I ever get called “From Potential to
Swami Swaroopananda could be achieved by the Lord?’’ Performance”,
through Vedanta _ Swamiji replied: “Krishna has “Make It Happen”,
- his search for true crossed his legs from tiredness, he “Chief Executive
knowledge and an has gone blue from Officer” present
aching desire to blowing on his flute, he has Vedantic values in
help people. Earlier a success-oriented,
he had consi- spondalitis in the back user -friendly
dered a career in from standing so long .. And you package of great
homeopathy as his still have not heard him?” appeal to youth
means, and even and adults alike.
now he is very interested and Furthermore his interactive workshops for
knowledgeable about Ayurveda. top level management at major
corporations demonstrate how these
Ashok entered the Sandeepany in Mumbai strategies can be used successfully to
in 1984 and was a student of Guruji, Swami cultivate dynamic leadership and
Tejomayananda. During this time Gurudev’s management techniques, helping in the
frequent visits were a continuing source of process to create an environment which is
inspiration. In 1986 on completion of the positive and inspiring. Welcome to vedanta
course he became Brahmachari Susheel; to the workplace.
On Mar 2, 1992 he was given Sannyas

4