Swamini Shivapriyananda
Swamini Shivapriyananda is our Senior Acharya for Chinmaya Mission Toronto – Shivalaya. Swamini-ji was a scientist. While visiting the United States in 1981, Swamini-ji stumbled upon a lecture on ancient Indian scriptures by Swami Chinmayananda.
“I was a scientist and thought I had all my answers about life in a test tube, but that somehow failed,” said Swamini-ji. “Then I met Gurudev (Swami Chinmayananda) and during that first lecture, I realized all the answers including finding holistic approach to life can be found within the Vedas (scriptures).Once I realized there’s a higher science than the one I knew, I decided to dive into it.”
Soon after that fateful meeting, the young scholar, embarked on a trip to the Himalayas and later travelled to India and immersed herself with ancient texts. Inspired by Pujya Swami Chinmayananda, Swamini Shivapriyananda completed the brahmachari course in Bombay in 1986 and was posted as Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Toronto.
She received sannyasa initiation (diksha) from Pujya Swami Tejomayananda on Shivaratri in 2003. Swamini-ji teaches adults and youth through lectures, seminars and workshops. Conducts stress management courses as well as relaxation training. Swamini-ji has been a charismatic leader and is an inspiration and guidance behind our Bala Vihar success.
Acharya Gina Singh
Born in Accra, Ghana, Acharya Gina was introduced to Chinmaya Mission at a young age through local Bala Vihar programs. After moving to India and then Canada for higher studies, her interest in spirituality and involvement in Chinmaya Mission grew steadily from teaching Bala Vihar and attending study groups in Toronto to finally entering deeper Vedantic studies. After completing a degree in Psychology and Management from McGill University, a Montessori teaching diploma, and holding roles in both fields respectively, under the loving guidance of Swamini Shivapriyananda Gina received blessings from Guruji to join the 2nd Residential Vedanta Course in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.
After almost two years studying Vedanta and Sanskrit, having been moved deeply by the love and divinity demonstrated by her Acharya, the beloved Swami Prakashananda, Pujya Guruji and Gurudev, Gina decided to serve the Mission full time and was assigned to return to Canada to continue Mission work in Toronto, where she resides currently with her husband Acharya Dev
Acharya Dev Singh
Born in Canada, Acharya Dev Singh was exposed to spirituality from a young age through Bala Vihar and satsanga. After completing a BBA at the University of Toronto and working for several years as a Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, the young seeker developed a strong interest in a life of service, and was at the same time reintroduced to Chinmaya Mission through CHYK. Happy to meet many like-minded seekers, Dev eagerly became an active member expressing a strong thirst for knowledge. Under the caring guidance of various mentors and local Acharya Swamini Shivapriyananda, Dev enthusiastically approached Pujya Guruji about joining a Vedanta Course. He joined the 2nd Residential Vedanta Course in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 under the tutelage of the beloved Swami Prakashananda.
Having studied Sanskrit and Vedanta for almost two years, with the grace and guidance of Pujya Guruji and deeply inspired by his Acharya, Dev decided to make his primary aim serving at the Ashram in Toronto, Canada, where he is currently posted with his wife Acharya Gina Singh.
