Upcoming Events

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Chinmaya Mission Portland Volunteer Agreement & Liability Waiver

1. Volunteer Agreement

I, the undersigned, acknowledge that I am serving as a volunteer Bala Vihar Teacher/Helper at Chinmaya Mission Portland. I understand that:

  • I am not an employee of Chinmaya Mission and am not entitled to wages, benefits, or insurance.
  • My role is to assist in providing a safe, nurturing environment for children.
  • I agree to abide by all Chinmaya Mission Portland policies, procedures, and instructions related to child safety.

2. Code of Conduct & Safety

I agree to:

  • Never be alone with a child (always follow the “two-adult rule”).
  • Refrain from physical discipline or inappropriate contact.
  • Treat all children with respect and care.
  • Immediately report any suspected abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions to Chinmaya Mission Portland leadership.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding children and families.

    • 3. Background Check & Training

    • I consent to Chinmaya Mission Portland conducting a background check as a condition of serving.
    • I agree to complete any required child-safety or training provided by the mission.

    4. Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk

    I understand that volunteering may involve risks, including potential injury. In consideration of being allowed to serve, I agree to:

    • Release and hold harmless Chinmaya Mission Portland, its leaders, and representatives from any liability, claims, or damages arising out of my volunteer service, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
    • Assume full responsibility for my participation, including risks of accidents, illness, or injury.
    • Authorize emergency medical care for myself if necessary while volunteering, with the understanding that I am responsible for any related costs.

      • 5. Acknowledgment

      I have read and understood this agreement. I agree to comply with Chinmaya Mission Portland’s child protection and safety policies. I understand that failure to follow these guidelines may result in removal from volunteer service.

        Signed by: *

        First Name: *

        Last Name: *

        Email Address: *

        Mobile Number: *

        Signed Date(Pick Today's Date): *



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    Cooking for Homeless Shelter continues

    When: Every Saturday
    Location: “Chinmaya Haridwar” 3551 NE John Olsen Ave
    Volunteering Opportunity Exclusively For Our Sponsors!
    Signup Required

    Develop noble and enduring qualities. Watch in others for weaknesses that you should guard against, in yourself. Love all. Serve all. Love creates and lust destroys the peace in the heart of man.
    – Swami Chinmayananda

    Hari OM!

    On Saturdays, we cook for a homeless shelter…

    Since 2013, we have partnered with Transition Projects to support Portland’s most vulnerable residents. Every Saturday, volunteers cook and serve meals at a homeless shelter, providing for around 100-120 residents. Few service projects have such an immediate impact or offer as meaningful and personal an experience as preparing and serving a meal to those in need.

    We invite you to sponsor a Saturday meal for the shelter ($250) through the button below. Your contribution will serve as dedicated seed funding for this essential work. Don’t forget to check with your employer about matching grants—they can double the impact of your donation today!



    Thank you for your kindness & generosity in advance!

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    Sahayana Participation Release of Liability

    Release of Liability must be signed online -BEFORE- driving/riding on behalf of Sahayana

    The spirit of advaita is not to keep away from anything, but to keep in tune with everything.
    – Swami Chinmayananda

    Hari OM!
    Please fill this form to sign the release of liability.

      Waiver and Release (Senior Program – Including Transportation & Volunteer Drivers)

      In consideration of my participation (or my family member’s participation) in this Chinmaya Mission program, including any transportation provided, I voluntarily agree to the following:

      I waive and release Chinmaya Mission and its officers, trustees, volunteers, coordinators, drivers, and participants from any and all liability for injury, illness, loss, or damage arising from participation in the program or related transportation. This includes claims of negligence and excludes only claims arising from willful misconduct.

      I understand that participation, particularly for seniors, may involve risks including health, mobility, and travel-related risks, and I voluntarily assume all such risks, whether known or unknown. I affirm that I (or my family member) am able to participate.

      If I am serving as a volunteer driver, I certify that I hold a valid driver’s license and carry the legally required insurance. I agree to operate my vehicle safely and understand that I am acting as a volunteer, not as an employee or agent of Chinmaya Mission. I assume all risks associated with driving and transporting participants and release Chinmaya Mission from any liability arising from my role as a driver, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law.

      I acknowledge that organizers and drivers are not medical professionals and authorize them to obtain medical assistance in case of emergency, at my expense. I agree to inform organizers of any relevant medical conditions or special needs.

      I grant permission for photographs or videos taken during the program to be used by Chinmaya Mission for informational or promotional purposes.

      I confirm that participation is voluntary and that I have read and understand this waiver.

      Name *

      Email *

      Mobile *



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      Our Senior Shuttle Initiative, request a ride – Sahayana

      Dates: Specific Dates will be coordinated offline with you
      Days & Time: Wednesdays, meeting starts at 6 PM
      Sign up here to request a ride

      Hari OM!

      We are excited to launch Sahayana’s Senior Shuttle Initiative—a program dedicated to helping our elders attend their weekly Wednesday meetings safely, with dignity, and care.

      We are requesting the seniors who need rides to the senior meetings to sign up here. We will contact offline to get more details.

      For more details or to sign up, please fill out the form, and Shyam will reach out to coordinate available Wednesdays.

      Thank you for helping us bring “Traveling Together with Dignity, Safety, and Care” to our community.

        Name *

        Email Address *

        Address *

        Mobile Number *

        Number of people *

        Date of Shuttle Ride Schedule *



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        Volunteer Drivers Needed for Our Senior Shuttle Initiative – Sahayana

        Dates: Specific Dates will be coordinated offline with you
        Days & Time: Wednesdays, meeting starts at 6 PM
        Sign up to make a difference!

        Hari OM!

        We are excited to launch Sahayana’s Senior Shuttle Initiative—a program dedicated to helping our elders attend their weekly Wednesday meetings safely, with dignity, and care.

        We are looking for adult volunteer drivers with their own cars to give a few hours on Wednesday evenings starting in April. Your support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our seniors.

        For more details or to sign up, please fill out the form, and Shyam will reach out to coordinate available Wednesdays.

        Thank you for helping us bring “Traveling Together with Dignity, Safety, and Care” to our community.

          Name *

          Email Address *

          Mobile Number *



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          Chinmaya Swaranjali Choir sign up by 09/20/2026

          Location: “Chinmaya Haridwar” 3551 NE John Olsen Ave
          Exclusively for our sponsors & a yearly signup is required to participate.

          Hari OM!

          Language classes, Vedic chanting, Swaranjali (Chinmaya Choir) and volunteering programs are all open only to our current annual sponsors.

          Chinmaya Swaranjali Portland – the musical wing of CMP is open to singers and musicians, of *all ages*. No prior experience is needed.

          Sign-up closes on Sept 20, 2026, Sunday morning. When registering, please mention any musical instruments you play, if applicable.

          This year, we plan to meet after Bala Vihar classes. Re-registration is required even if you were part of Swaranjali last year. Attendance in Bala Vihar is mandatory for students to participate in Swaranjali.

          Parent volunteers played a huge part in the success of Swaranjali in the last few years. If you would like to sign up to help with Swaranjali in any way; help with coordination, organization, acoustics, etc, please do mention that in the sign-up options.

          If you have questions please reach out via email.

          Sincerely in His Service,
          CMP Swaranjali team

            Name *

            Parent's/Your name *

            Mobile Number *

            Email *

            Grade (or choose adult) *

            Do you play an instrument? *



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            Thanksgiving camp 2026 with Swami Aparajitanandaji

            Topic for Adults: Train the Mind for Life’s Final Exam, Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8
            Topic for Children: The Power of Positive Thoughts
            Location: “Chinmaya Haridwar” 3551 NE John Olsen Ave
            Dates: Sessions:
            Nov 25 2026 Thanksgiving Dinner & Inauguration
            Nov 26-27 2026 Sessions 1 through 4
            Nov 28 2026 Valedictory Session
            Open to all, Registration Required to Attend

            About the topic:

            The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to prepare the mind. Chapter 8 highlights the power of focused thought, devotion, and detachment, showing that the quality of our final consciousness shapes our next journey. By cultivating remembrance of the Divine, disciplined living, and mindfulness throughout life, we train the mind to face the ultimate transition with peace and clarity.

            About the speaker:

            Swami Aparajitananda is renowned for his clear and insightful discourses on Vedanta and Hindu scriptures. Before embracing monastic life, he trained and worked as an Electronics and Communication engineer and served as a lecturer at an engineering college in Bangalore. Following a profound spiritual calling, he underwent intensive Vedanta training at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, continuing his spiritual journey as a brahmachari before eventually receiving sannyasa deeksha.

            Swamiji is widely appreciated for his engaging English discourses on texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, as well as his writings and contributions to magazines. He currently serves at the Chinmaya Mission center in Chicago and continues to inspire audiences worldwide with practical and profound spiritual teachings.

            REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON..

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            Sing Bhajans During Assembly!

            Location: “Chinmaya Haridwar“
            Volunteering Opportunity Exclusively For Our Sponsors!
            Signup Required

            Love is the heart of religions, the theme of all classical works of art and literature, the song of all devotees. Scientists know only what love does not what love is.
            – Swami Chinmayananda

            Hari OM!

            Devotional Singing (Bhajans) and Namasmarana (repetition of the Divine name) have often been prescribed by eminent divine personalities and true spiritual leaders as an age-old tool for spiritual, mental, and emotional upliftment. In short, an end result is an act of purification to one’s being and surroundings.

            If you are our Bala vihar participant and you or your child would like to sing Bhajans, here is the perfect opportunity, during our assembly! The bhajan singing slot is from 9:20 to-9:30am. Any devotional song, in any language, can be sung as long as all can sing along. Please prepare bhajan(s) to be sung in an assigned 10 minutes duration. You will need to be in the hall (or login to zoom) by 9:15 am. The lyrics of the bhajan need to reach our AV coordinators by Friday of the preceding week at the latest.

            Please signup below and appreciate your flexibility about the date.

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            Who is a Yajman?

            Hinduism places great importance on rituals, ceremonies, and pujas, where devotees seek blessings through offerings. In traditional practice, a “Yajman” serves as the patron of a puja or yajna, supporting the priest who conducts the ritual. The word “Yajman” comes from the Sanskrit root “Yaj,” meaning worship, and typically refers to the head of a family or community leading the sacrificial ceremony. After the puja, the Yajman offers Dakshina (a donation) to the priest, marking the completion of the ceremony.

            At Chinmaya Mission, we strive to make these sacred rituals accessible to all. At Chinmaya Mission Portland, a different family is honored as the Yajman for each puja. The Yajman begins the ceremony with a “Sankalpa,” a firm, positive resolution or prayer offered to the Lord. They bring offerings such as flowers, fruits, and naivedyam (food offerings), and conclude by making a tax-deductible donation to the mission at the feet of Madhur Krishna, as an expression of gratitude. In return, the Yajman receives blessings and Puja Prasad from the priest, deepening their connection to the divine and inviting wisdom and positive energy.

            Rest assured—our Festival team works closely with the Yajman every step of the way to ensure the experience is meaningful and enjoyable for all.