Swami Chinmayananda :
Swami Tapovanam
To,
All Members,
“Chinmayananda” is a compound word of three units — cit-maya-ananda (consciousness–full of–bliss) — meaning, “one who revels in bliss which is full of pure consciousness.”
Very often, the name given to a sannyasi indicates the goal he is seeking, or it might represent a predominant quality in his character (yatha nama, tatha guna — as the name, so the qualities).
It was in Swamiji’s (as we will now call Swami Chinmayananda) nature to question everything, to be intellectually satisfied, and to accept nothing simply on faith.
At the same time, he had the courage to accept the truth once it was revealed to him.
He had a remarkable ability to be honest with himself, and to be uncompromising in his quest for truth.
As a result, it was only natural that Swamiji would want a thorough grasp of scripture, that is to say, a word-by-word analysis of their meaning rather than a mechanical recitation of something he did not understand.
Swami Sivananda was well aware of Swamiji’s disposition and directed him accordingly.
“You want to master the scriptures?” he said to Swamiji one day.
“Go to Swami Tapovanam, the great teacher from Kerala, your own home state.”
Chinmaya Mission
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