A Film's "Quest": The Philippine Indian Community's Upcoming Film Screening

- April 2, 2015, Thursday.

- Recently, better and more exciting things have been happening in the Indian community in the Philippines. Days after the color-filled Holi celebration in MOA early this month, another announcement regarding a special and once-in-a-lifetime Indian film showing will be done this mid-April. (And of course, I'll be there too!!)

- Chinmaya Mission Philippines is currently organizing the screening of the film "On a Quest," produced by Chinmaya Creations. This English-language film narrates the life story of Swami Chinmayananda, the founder of the Chinmaya Mission. Swami Chinmayananda's life is an unbelievably remarkable search for the meaning and truth of spirituality and religion. From a freedom fighter during the latter part of the British colonial era, he became a journalist, and later leaving the profession to become the religious leader and passionate teacher that he is known today. He organized the Chinmaya Mission in the 1950s, a spiritual organization that advocates Advaita Vedanta (i.e. the identity of the Self and the universal spirit as pure consciousness.) Even though Swami Chinmayananda has passed on in 1993, his teachings are still very influential to Hindus all over the world; currently, the mission has over 300 centers around the world, with over 120 teachers.

Movie poster.

- Just like the title, the movie itself has been "on a quest" around Asia, travelling country after country to be shown to the locals of those countries. The Philippine screening will be held twice:

First screening: Power Plant Mall, Cinema 4, on April 14, 2015 (Tuesday,) at 8:00pm; 400php per ticket

Second screening: SM Megamall, Cinema 1, on April 19, 2015 (Sunday,) at 6:00pm; 350php (upstairs seats) and 300php (downstairs seats)

**For ticket reservations, contact:  Sonaal Nandwani (0917-851-0070) or Nisha Advani (0927-300-6180)

**The first screening in Powerplant is more special since it will be graced by the mission's current head,  Swami Tejomayananda.  Swami Tejomayananda visits the Philippines every two years, and being in his presence will surely be an honor.

Swami Tejomayananda.

- Just to spark more interest, the film's trailer was also released:

- The film screening was formally announced at the Chinmaya Mission center during the Hanuman Chalisa celebration (i.e. a prayer session devoted to the monkey-god Hanuman) that I attended on March 7. Fortunately, one of the mission's teachers  allowed me to observe their prayer session. The mission's members and attendees are made up of the close-knit Indian community in Manila. The mission provides different regular classes and talks on Hinduism. I was pleasantly surprised to know that my friends Rosh, Jash, and Jas act as teaching assistants for the children's classes, called "Balvihar." Apart from the excitement of experiencing my first Hanuman Chalisa session ever, another thing that sparked my interest was the mission center's bookstore containing religious books for kids to adults, including books written by Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tejomayananda. I got myself a how-to-speak Sanskrit book (I hope I get to learn the language soon!!) Most of all, I was impressed by the members' enthusiasm, devotion, and community spirit.   

Filipinos from the Hare Krishna mission leading the chants.

Devotees giving offerings to Hanuman.