Enhanced Seva Training
An online program with Shri Vivek, trained spiritual guides, and educators in effectively facilitating spiritual education for second and third generation youth, deepening your own self development in the process.
The Enhanced Seva Training program is designed to build a community of spiritually like-minded individuals who want to be the best seekers for themselves and the best teachers for their students.
For a whole year, be immersed in a supportive community of spiritual guides, facilitators, and peers who will mentor you and celebrate your successes.

Apply at: https://tinyurl.com/EST2025-26
Application: Registration closes on Jun 15, 2025
When: Thu 6.30a – 7.30a ET commencing Jun 30, 2025
Where: Virtually through Zoom
Why Enhanced Seva Training:
As a teacher in spiritual setting, why should you apply for the Enhanced Seva Training opportunity? To:
- Ignite Young Minds: Master techniques to connect with and& inspire 2nd and& 3rd generation students in your spiritual classroom.
- Fresh Practical Tools: Discover innovative ways to make the ancient wisdom of Vedanta relevant and engaging for younger audiences.
- Supportive Community: Grow alongside other educators and share best practices for spiritual education.
- Deepen Your Practice: Strengthen your own understanding for more confident and impactful teaching.
- Stay Relevant: Learn to present spiritual teachings in a way that resonates with the modern world.
Key Program Components:
- Weekly live master class
- Weekly teaching of youth (K-12) and established by the seeker for the academic year 2025-2026
- Weekly live Vedanta class by a trained teacher
- Monthly small group reflections, seva, and practice meetings
- Monthly coaching and mentoring (optional)
Application and Selection Criteria
Application includes a brief background of your spiritual journey and reasons for applying for the Enhanced Seva Training. Vivekji will select candidates based on seeker’s:
- Availability to fully participate in key program components above
- Openness to coaching and practice teaching with peers
- Authenticity to implement teaching as sadhana
- Sincerity and thoroughness of the application responses
Absence Policy
- There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences in EST. Missing a session will count towards your absence total whether or not you notify the team in advance of your absence.
- If you miss more than 20 minutes of any class, you will be counted as absent for that class.
- Whenever a class is missed, you must take the following actions as detailed below –
- 1st Absence through 4th Absence – For each class missed, you will watch the recording from the Resource Folder, take notes, and send the notes from that session to your Pod leader.
- 5th Absence – Email your notes from all five missed sessions to the EST team (est@chinmayaniagara.com).
- 6th Absence – Vivekji and the EST team will reconsider whether you can continue with the course.
Credential
Earn a Teaching Credential Qualification to serve second and third generation youth more effectively and more efficiently.
Our Curriculum

While you teach your weekly classes, learn from experienced guides and facilitators who will inspire you to develop a reflective and powerful teaching practice. Our curriculum, designed around the fundamental concept of teaching as a spiritual practice, equips you with these essential concepts:
A) Philosophical Foundations of Teaching:
Explore the purpose behind and inspiration needed for teaching with intention and devotion.
B) A Teacher’s Toolbox:
Increase confidence in teaching with training in public speaking techniques and other effective ways of teaching concepts.
C) Student-Centered Teaching:
Discover teaching approaches to help spirituality better resonate with second and third-generation youth.
Refine organizational skills through a variety of planning strategies.
- Learn techniques to help foster social-emotional well being based on age-appropriate child and adolescent development.
- Discover ways to guide students gently yet firmly using student-centered classroom management.
D) Engaging Outside of the Classroom:
- Develop a culture of positive interaction with parents, families, and broader organizational structures outside of the classroom to enhance in-classroom learning.
E) Evolution in Teaching:
Develop a habit of growth and reflection to continually evolve as a dynamic, responsive teacher. The Enhanced Seva Training Curriculum is guided by our inspiring and authentic spiritual guide, Shri Vivekji, and has been developed by professional educators, physicians, and social workers; all of whom are experienced teachers in spiritual contexts.more efficiently.
Our Guides

Shri Vivek Gupta
Shri Vivek Gupta, renowned for his spiritual teachings, inspires individuals to pursue lives filled with purpose and independent joy. Combining formal monastic training with life experience, he makes philosophy accessible across cultures. Dissatisfied despite worldly success, he embraced monkhood at Chinmaya Mission’s monastery in India under Swami Tejomayanandaji’s guidance. Vivekji shares his insights through courses, workshops, and retreats, reaching diverse audiences globally. As a Hindu chaplain, he’s spoken at prestigious institutions and authored two books, including “The Seeker’s Wordbook”. Through podcasts, YouTube, and social media, his teachings resonate worldwide. Currently guiding Chinmaya Mission Niagara Falls and Cleveland, Vivekji resides in Canada with his family, expanding his spiritual influence globally.

Shri Shashikala Dwarkanath
Shri Shashikala Dwarkanath, the person behind Chinmaya Mission Boston, one of New England’s largest spiritual centers, has played a vital role in the lives of thousands of people in the area. She was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by INDIA New England News, one of the nation’s largest print, online and video magazines covering the Indian and South Asian community.
She is an accomplished doctor, an excellent mother, a very supporting spouse, a community leader and more intensely seeking the very purpose of life. She is one of the most complete human beings in our community, inspiring hundreds and thousands of young and grown up adults with her calming presence. She currently leads our Devis in our CommUnity.

Shri Vijay Gupta
Born in India, Shri Vijay earned a Science degree from Kanpur University and moved to Canada in 1974, where he became a successful entrepreneur. His life transformed after attending a Chinmaya Mission Camp in 1995, inspired by Pujya Swami Tejomayananda. He soon began hosting Study Groups and Bala Vihar® at home.
After partially attending the Vedanta Course in Piercy, he completed the full course in Sidhabari in 2014. Now serving at Chinmaya Mission London, he conducts over six weekly classes on the Gita, Upanishads, and meditation, and leads the Vanaprastha segment—making Vedanta practical and transformative for many.

Shri Shankar Rajupet
Shankar Rajupet was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a senior pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics, just trying to figure out his way through life when he was first introduced to the simple, yet most profound teaching of Vedanta. Shankar was told that there exists a permanent state of independent joy accessible to all. This one idea took hold of his mind and completely reshaped his priorities. In an effort to abide in this state of independent joy, he sought to gain clarity in understanding this Supreme Knowledge by studying in a Vedanta course. At an ashram in Trinidad and Tobago he studied the Hindu scriptures for two years under the guidance of Swami Prakashananda. After completing the course in November of 2018 he is now studying and teaching in the Pittsburgh area.

Shri Kritika Chaitanya
Brahmacharini Kritika Chaitanya was born in Toronto, Canada. After studying International Development Studies and Philosophy at the University of Toronto and engaging in much social work and volunteerism, she joined the 2nd Residential Vedanta Course at Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago Ashram in 2013. After a year and a half of studying the highest knowledge and Sanskrit under the guidance of Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji, she has committed herself to serving Chinmaya Mission. She is currently posted in Trinidad, conducting public satsangas and classes for adults, seniors and young females, and assisting with Ashram activities and enterprises.

Shri Suman Rajupet
Suman, driven by his parents’ wish for his happiness and independence, pursued various societal avenues but remained unfulfilled. Seeking deeper meaning, he attended a Satsang in Pittsburgh, where he encountered Advaita Vedanta through Shri Vivek Gupta. Convinced of its potential, he enrolled in a two-year residential Vedanta course under Pujya Swami Prakashananda in Trinidad & Tobago. Returning in 2018, Suman works as an IT Manager in Providence, RI, while actively contributing to Chinmaya Mission Niagara and Cleveland. He travels extensively to share the profound message he embraced: perpetual, independent joy constitutes one’s essence.
Our Facilitators

Vinay Mallikaarjun
Vinay is a professional educator, having taught high school science for several years. He is currently an Ed.D Candidate in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
A lifelong Chinmaya Mission member, Vinay integrates educational best practices with the sacred science of Vedanta to create enriching classroom experiences. He has taught students of all ages in the CMWRC Balavihar and Summer Camp programs, and has also guided the creation of several Balavihar curricula.
Our Alumni

Testimonials
Code of Ethics

Contact Us
Inspired? Got questions? Wanna Collaborate?
Email at EST@chinmayaniagara.com for answers.

