Addressing contemporary issues with ancient remedies: Chinmaya Mission launches “108 Nights of Bhagavad Gita Discourses”

Many modern-day issues beset countless individuals in Guyana, prompting them to seek advice and help, which often leads to an ongoing search for spiritual growth.
However, few may know that one group here is using ancient teachings to address these modern-day challenges.
Chinmaya Mission, formed in 2023 and now set to transform Guyana, has launched its “108 Nights of Bhagavad Gita Discourses,” which began on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti: January 14, 2025.
The Bhagavad Gita is a text that teaches about yoga, righteousness, and the philosophy of Atma Dharma; and this monumental initiative is designed to take individuals on a journey through the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in a series of discourses that cover all 700 verses of these texts across 108 consecutive nights in 108 mandirs throughout Guyana.
These discourses are aimed at helping individuals overcome various challenges through ancient practices, foster spiritual growth, and inspire persons to become positive contributors to society by engaging in selfless work.
The Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide teaching organization that is committed to imparting the profound wisdom of Vedanta, and many local pioneers and members of the Guyanese diaspora have, for years, urged the Chinmaya Mission to undertake this initiative.
This series is being led by Swami Prakashananda, and discussions, chants and practical reflections are integral components thereof.

In a recent telephone interview with this publication, Dev Singh, a spiritual teacher of the Chinmaya Mission in Guyana, revealed the scale and vision of this initiative. According to him, the series would span the entirety of Guyana: from the communities of Crabwood Creek and Skeldon in Berbice, Guyana’s eastern region, to communities on the Essequibo Coast in Guyana’s western region. Mandirs and organizations would be visited, talks and discourses would take place on the Bhagavad Gita, and participants would be involved in an array of activities, such as discussions and chanting.
Emphasising the importance of listening and reflecting on the wisdom that is taught, and giving serious consideration to discussions on how the teachings could be applied in life, Singh declared, “So, the main thing is coming to listen and reflect on the wisdom, and then discuss how it can be applied in life; that is the main thrust of the whole event. So, people participate by coming and listening, and then hosting discussions thereafter.”
In regard to the systematic approach being employed in covering all 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita, Singh said, “By systematically covering all the verses, the listening public — online or in person — get a full grasp of the text, as opposed to scraps and bits here and there. They get a full, systematic, authentic presentation.”
Explaining that Chinmaya Mission aims to deliver the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to contemporary audiences in English, and by using everyday examples with problems that Guyanese may face within their personal lives, Singh said, “The text is in Sanskrit, but our expertise is in teaching (it) in English; using modern examples and showing how this ancient wisdom can solve modern-day problems like mental health issues, social well-being, and proper citizenship. By addressing these, we tackle contemporary issues.”
Singh disclosed that among the challenges involved in organizing this grand initiative were logistics and timing; but those were overcome by the collaborative efforts of community leaders and villages. He explained that each community is taking responsibility for hosting the event for one night, making the event a collective endeavour.
Singh is encouraging persons who may be interested in so doing to attend these public talks. He says attendance is free, and local communities would be visited.
The full itinerary of locations and dates are available on social media, including Facebook. Virtual attendance is also an option for those unable to attend in person.
Disclosing that the aim is to attract young persons of all religious and ethnic backgrounds to these teachings by engaging in activities such as healthy philosophical discussions on how the teachings can be applied in their lives, Singh
said, “So, we have a younger generation participating, first by following every night. There’s a group coming every night on the East Coast. They are participating and helping (to) organize (the event), and they are asking questions. They are having what you call a healthy debate over topics.”
Pointing out that Chinmaya Mission would soon be offering courses for all ages on various topics in Sanatana Dharma, Singh explained that that is because the idea is to offer courses on these teachings for all ages: from toddlers all the way up to retirees.
He added that the Mission is also working on a free course to teach participants how to chant the Bhagavad Gita. This course, organized in collaboration with the High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center in Georgetown, would culminate in a competition in which medals would be awarded to participants.