Chinmaya Mangalam – CMW’s Vision Centre
On 18th August 2014, with the blessings of Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayananda Chinmaya Mission West (CMW) acquired Thousand Oaks Ranch in Barry, Texas USA. Pujya Guruji named it Chinmaya Mangalam. Located 129 kilometres south of Dallas, Texas, it’s the largest Chinmaya Mission property in the world. A Chinmaya Mangalam Executive Committee was appointed by Pujya Guruji for its upkeep and development.
Chinmaya Mangalam is a beautiful, serene 143-acre wooded property with a large 14-acre lake. The property comes with a great deal of existing infrastructure, like a sports dome, commercial kitchen, dormitory facilities, playing fields and a lake house. The property is blessed with large natural and open areas.
The development will be styled like Chinmaya Vibhooti in Kolwan, India with appropriate modifications and enhancements. When complete, it will be a tribute to Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda. It seeks to empower sevaks with training courses, thereby keeping Pujya Gurudev’s vision ever glowing and vibrant. Camps, retreats and discourses will be organised to foster spiritual growth, and bring awareness in society about the life and works of Pujya Gurudev.
Chinmaya Mangalam is jointly owned by all centres in North America, falling under the umbrella of CMW. They contribute annually for its upkeep. The plan is to upgrade the property to start hosting national yagnas and camps. The facility development will take place in phases. As per the guidance of Pujya Guruji and Swami Swaroopanandaji, the first phase will include accommodation for a 2-year residential Vedanta course, a temple and related infrastructure. The presiding deity will be Lord Dakshinamoorty. The aim is to start the Vedanta course in 2018.
When complete, Chinmaya Mangalam will be ready to host Mahasamadhi camps, family camps, Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), National Balavihar Teacher & Volunteer training, Corporate education seminars, Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan (CJD) and a gurukul for Performing Arts in the lines of Chinmaya Naada Bindu. The use of solar panels, geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels, central bio-mass furnace makes it equipped to accommodate 2000+ people to stay and attend camps and retreats in a sustainable way.
- Acquired by CMW in July 2014
- Located 60 miles south of Dallas near Corsicana
- Previously owned by a church and used as a retreat for youth camps
- 143 acre wooded ranch (1000+ Oak trees)
- 14 acre lake with a 2 bedroom lake house
- 16,500 sq ft Multi-use dome shaped hall with seating capacity of 450
- 2 story 3,200 sq ft 4 bedroom house
- 4 building dorm structure with 120 bunk beds with separate bathrooms for boys and girls
- Total sleeping capacity on campus is 150 persons
- 4,000 sq. ft. commercial kitchen (dining capacity 80)
- Baseball diamond with bleachers
- Large soccer field
- Amphitheater
- Walking paths around the property
- National vision center for North America
- National project similar to Vibhooti in India
- National property belonging to all centers under CMW
- Temple (Shree Dakshinamoorty presiding deity)
- Family accommodations
- Conference rooms, Classrooms
- Chinmaya Jeevan Darshan (CJD)
- State-of-the-art auditorium
- Open-air Amphitheater
- May take 5-15 years in phased development
- Camps
- YEP, CHYK, JCHYK
- Family
- Mahasamadhi
- National level training for teachers, volunteers
- Corporate education seminars
- Festival celebrations
- Sevak conferences
- International CM programs
- Naad Bindu type school of music & dance
- 2-year Vedanta course
- This project is for the next generation
- May take up to 10 years in phased development
- Project expenses in phases ~ $3-20+ Million
- Funds will be raised over time:
- Annual pledges by centers
- Annual pledges by individuals
- Legacy donations
- CHYK Fund raising