Chinmaya Goloka’s Resident Vedanta Teachers – Sri Venkatesh ji and Smt Veena ji.
Venkatesh ji has been community leader and a long-term resident of Canton, Michigan. Shri Venkatesh ji has served in several Managerial positions at Ford Motor and The Boeing company. He holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering and an MBA. He was inspired in his early childhood, by Swami Purushottamananda ji in the Bangalore Ramakrishna Matt as a Vivekananda Balaka Sangha student. His Late father, a recipient of National award for teachers always inspired him to teach and spread the knowledge. During his youth years, he was inspired by Pujya Gurudev’s Gita Jnana Yagna conducted at the National college grounds in Bangalore.
Shri Venkatesh ji has been serving the Chinmaya Mission in Michigan for over 27 years. He graduated from the 17th Batch at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, an immersive full time Residential Vedanta course for over two years under the guidance H.H. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda ji and the tutelage of Swami Bhodatmananda ji. In this course, he underwent a deep study of several advanced Vedanta texts in a structured way. At Sandeepany Ashram students withdraw fully from worldly life, follow a disciplined schedule of classes in a Gurukula setting which not only promotes learning and also a life style of spiritual sadhana, reflection and contemplation. Venkatesh ji is passionate about Music and enjoys singing Bhajans. His recent Jnana Yagna in Michigan on the “Essence of Bhagavad Gita” Lectures received an overwhelming response. His ongoing “Adhyatma Prakasha” series is well received as he makes a modular attempt to introduce concepts of Vedanta simplified for the understanding of general public. He has been a conducting various weekly Vedanta classes and Lectures in SE Michigan, leading several study groups and teaching Balavihar classes to children. Venkatesh ji has also been serving as a Board Member in the IFLC (Interfaith Leadership council of Detroit) participating in propagating Hinduism in the SE Michigan community.
Smt. Veena ji holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Business Administration. She has been a part of Chinmaya Mission in Michigan for over 25 years. She served in the Canton Public Library for many years. She grew up in a traditional family and enjoys Pujas. She loves cooking and serving people. She is an avid reader and enjoys simple humor. Smt.Veena ji graduated from the 17th Batch at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, an immersive full time Residential Vedanta course for over two years under the guidance H.H. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda ji and the tutelage of Swami Bhodatmananda ji. She has been a Balavihar teacher for little ones and adores their purity. Upon return from the Vedanta course, she has been conducting classes on Atma Bodha and Devi Stuti.
Veena ji and Venkatesh ji are blessed with two children. Varun a Graduate from University of Michigan serves as a Captain in the US Army and is in Ford Hood Texas. Vibha daughter a Graduate from the Wayne State University, serves in Public Policy for the city of Detroit and is on the Board for Amnesty International.
Veena ji and Venkatesh ji are excited with the new opportunity of serving as a Spiritual guide/ Vedanta Teachers for Chinmaya Mission phoenix. They are immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve Pujya Gurudev through conducting Satsang and spreading the joy of Spiritual knowledge.
