Facing Stigmas and Rising Above Them

Established in 2021, Mentorship Sanga—an initiative of Chinmaya Mission Niagara—has united over 300 seekers across 100+ cities to support one another in living a life rooted in Sanatana Dharma. Through thoughtful mentor-mentee pairings and monthly Wellness Workshops, the programme offers space to explore sensitive topics in accordance with Vedantic principles.After five years of connecting virtually, this inspiring community gathered in person for the first annual Mentorship Sanga Retreat in March 2025 with the gracious support of Chinmaya Mission Cleveland. True to its values, Mentorship Sanga focused the retreat on Facing Stigmas and Rising Above Them, welcoming seekers in their teens to their 60s..As Sri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Niagara shared, ‘The feelings evoked from this retreat felt similar to that of a Yatra.’ Truly, seekers were transported to and held in a nurturing environment through the grace of Devi Gayatri to share insights around three themes: Exploring Identity, Understanding Mental Health, and Redefining Success.These sessions invited deep introspection into personal narratives and values. Participants explored understanding of mental health in comparison with mental illness, discussing how communities can dismantle stigma with compassion and support. Seekers also reflected on the ways they judge themselves and explored how to live beyond externally defined standards of achievement.A highlight of the retreat was a powerful trust fall activity—an act of collective vulnerability every participant embraced. The sense of unity and mutual upliftment was unforgettable.We look forward to the next Mentorship Sanga Retreat in 2026. Stay tuned!

Facing Stigmas and Rising Above Them

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