'We Have Done Nothing'
An outstanding feature of a leader is that he always gives credit to others for all successes and bears the blame upon himself for all failures. On 22nd October 1991, Mr. Amarshi Waghela, the former Gujarat State Minister for Land and Revenue, paid a visit to Swamishri in Gondal. During the course of their conversation, Mr. Waghela, gave accolade to Swamishri's work, 'The recent Cultural Festival of India that you inspired in America is hailed as victorious all over India.' 'The real victory belongs to the 2600 volunteers of the CFI,' replied Swamishri. 'They were the ones who planned, managed and executed the CFI. We have done nothing.' Swamishri then went on to talk about the magnificent dedication and sacrifice of the volunteers. Despite being the focal point of the festival and the motivational force behind the 2600 volunteers who helped to make the CFI such a success, Swamishri says he has done nothing. Such is the quality of a great leader. He who says he does nothing, does everything. He who listens to all, is listened to by all. He who trusts others, is trusted by all. He who sacrifices his time for others, everyone is eager to sacrifice for him. The strongest feature of Swamishri's leadership is that he says nothing but leads by example. We can all learn a lesson or two in superior leadership from Swamishri.
22-10-91, Gondal.
An outstanding feature of a leader is that he always gives credit to others for all successes and bears the blame upon himself for all failures. On 22nd October 1991, Mr. Amarshi Waghela, the former Gujarat State Minister for Land and Revenue, paid a visit to Swamishri in Gondal. During the course of their conversation, Mr. Waghela, gave accolade to Swamishri's work, 'The recent Cultural Festival of India that you inspired in America is hailed as victorious all over India.' 'The real victory belongs to the 2600 volunteers of the CFI,' replied Swamishri. 'They were the ones who planned, managed and executed the CFI. We have done nothing.' Swamishri then went on to talk about the magnificent dedication and sacrifice of the volunteers. Despite being the focal point of the festival and the motivational force behind the 2600 volunteers who helped to make the CFI such a success, Swamishri says he has done nothing. Such is the quality of a great leader. He who says he does nothing, does everything. He who listens to all, is listened to by all. He who trusts others, is trusted by all. He who sacrifices his time for others, everyone is eager to sacrifice for him. The strongest feature of Swamishri's leadership is that he says nothing but leads by example. We can all learn a lesson or two in superior leadership from Swamishri.
22-10-91, Gondal.
Scriptural Discourses
Even at that young age Dungar Bhakta (Shastriji Maharaj) could memorize scriptural tales on hearing them but once from a kathakar (teller of scriptural tales) visiting the village. Once a Mana-bhatt (bard) from Vaso came to the village to recite the story of Mahabharat accompanied by the beating of the mana (metal pot). Dungar Bhakta soon memorized the story. Half-way through the recitation, the Brahmin fell ill and died shortly thereafter. The recital remained incomplete. The village people, seeing Dungar Bhakta's devotion, pressed him to complete the recital. Dungar Bhakta, therefore, took his seat at the village square and beating the metal pot in the traditional style of the Mana-bhatt recited the story beautifully. The village people were much thrilled.
Dungar Bhakta now became known as 'Bhagat.' Everyone began to love him all the more. When sadhus came to the mandir he was offered the front seat in the congregation before discourses would begin. After listening to their talks, he would recite them from memory in the absence of the sadhus in the mandir.
Even at that young age Dungar Bhakta (Shastriji Maharaj) could memorize scriptural tales on hearing them but once from a kathakar (teller of scriptural tales) visiting the village. Once a Mana-bhatt (bard) from Vaso came to the village to recite the story of Mahabharat accompanied by the beating of the mana (metal pot). Dungar Bhakta soon memorized the story. Half-way through the recitation, the Brahmin fell ill and died shortly thereafter. The recital remained incomplete. The village people, seeing Dungar Bhakta's devotion, pressed him to complete the recital. Dungar Bhakta, therefore, took his seat at the village square and beating the metal pot in the traditional style of the Mana-bhatt recited the story beautifully. The village people were much thrilled.
Dungar Bhakta now became known as 'Bhagat.' Everyone began to love him all the more. When sadhus came to the mandir he was offered the front seat in the congregation before discourses would begin. After listening to their talks, he would recite them from memory in the absence of the sadhus in the mandir.
I Am Only a Servant
After staying for some days in Rajkot, Swami Krishnacharandasji and his group of sadhus resumed their tour of the villages. In the course of their tour they visited Hajdiyala near Sardhar. There was no Swaminarayan mandir in the village, and therefore the sadhu rested at the chora (community hall) of the village.
It was noon. The sadhu, after the afternoon sermon (katha) retired for a short rest. Jina Bhagat, after completing his duties also lay down for some rest. A Rajput devotee, who was an expert in astrology and palmistry, was struck with wonder when he saw the soles of Jina Bhagat's feet. He had never seen such extraordinary lines on the feet of any sadhu before.
Thus when Jina Bhagat got up and he welcomed the Rajput Bhakta, the devotee exclaimed, 'Jina Bhagat, you will be a great sadhu one day. People in their thousands will follow you. They will pray to you to earn your favor and blessings. Shriji Maharaj will be your constant companion. There are urdhvarekhas on your soles. Holy men with urdhvarekhas are extremely rare. They are the holy signs possessed by a sadhu who has a constant rapport with God.'
On hearing these words, Jina Bhagat at once covered his feet and said, 'Don't utter things like that about me. I am just an ordinary sadhu. Krishnacharandas Swami is a great sadhu. Please never speak about this to anybody.'
But the devotee could not remain silent. He at once disclosed his thoughts to Krishnacharandas Swami. Swamiji smilingly said, 'Yes, he possesses all the qualities that a great sadhu should possess.'
After staying for some days in Rajkot, Swami Krishnacharandasji and his group of sadhus resumed their tour of the villages. In the course of their tour they visited Hajdiyala near Sardhar. There was no Swaminarayan mandir in the village, and therefore the sadhu rested at the chora (community hall) of the village.
It was noon. The sadhu, after the afternoon sermon (katha) retired for a short rest. Jina Bhagat, after completing his duties also lay down for some rest. A Rajput devotee, who was an expert in astrology and palmistry, was struck with wonder when he saw the soles of Jina Bhagat's feet. He had never seen such extraordinary lines on the feet of any sadhu before.
Thus when Jina Bhagat got up and he welcomed the Rajput Bhakta, the devotee exclaimed, 'Jina Bhagat, you will be a great sadhu one day. People in their thousands will follow you. They will pray to you to earn your favor and blessings. Shriji Maharaj will be your constant companion. There are urdhvarekhas on your soles. Holy men with urdhvarekhas are extremely rare. They are the holy signs possessed by a sadhu who has a constant rapport with God.'
On hearing these words, Jina Bhagat at once covered his feet and said, 'Don't utter things like that about me. I am just an ordinary sadhu. Krishnacharandas Swami is a great sadhu. Please never speak about this to anybody.'
But the devotee could not remain silent. He at once disclosed his thoughts to Krishnacharandas Swami. Swamiji smilingly said, 'Yes, he possesses all the qualities that a great sadhu should possess.'
A Solution to Problems
Once, after dinner, Swamishri caught everyone by surprise when he decided to look around the facilities in the kitchen and the dinning hall.
On his return, Swamishri stopped to talk to a youth who had relapsed from Satsang.
'Why have you stopped coming to the mandir?'
At first, the youth hesitated but then the words slipped out from his mouth.
'There are many problems,' he said.
'Your problems will only vanish when you start coming to the mandir.' Now make sure you attend everyday.'
Swamishri's tender words secured a feeling of joy and satisfaction in the youth's heart. In his fulfillment, he promised, 'Okay Swamiji, I will come from now on.'
Swamishri's approach was so succinct, yet it removed a long-standing misconception from the youth's mind. It may be so that Swamishri's sudden visit to the kitchen was merely to save one soul from falling from Satsang.
19-6-90, London.
Once, after dinner, Swamishri caught everyone by surprise when he decided to look around the facilities in the kitchen and the dinning hall.
On his return, Swamishri stopped to talk to a youth who had relapsed from Satsang.
'Why have you stopped coming to the mandir?'
At first, the youth hesitated but then the words slipped out from his mouth.
'There are many problems,' he said.
'Your problems will only vanish when you start coming to the mandir.' Now make sure you attend everyday.'
Swamishri's tender words secured a feeling of joy and satisfaction in the youth's heart. In his fulfillment, he promised, 'Okay Swamiji, I will come from now on.'
Swamishri's approach was so succinct, yet it removed a long-standing misconception from the youth's mind. It may be so that Swamishri's sudden visit to the kitchen was merely to save one soul from falling from Satsang.
19-6-90, London.
Master of Spiritual Wisdom
Swamishri is a master of the spiritual field. We can savor his spiritual wisdom from the following incident. As Swamishri was walking back to his residence from the assembly, a youth asked, 'Have you seen God?'
'Yes, I have - and, that is why I feel happy and fulfilled,' replied Swamishri.
'How can I see God?'
'First, you have to seek a true Guru (a spiritual teacher) and next, you must surrender before him.'
'How do I surrender?' enquired the youth.
'A disciple who fully observes the Guru's commands with impeccable faith is said to have surrendered his all. The more one obeys the Guru's commands, the closer the Guru takes one to God. There is no other path to reach God.'
'What is the highest goal of life?' came the next question.
'To worship God and to live a life in accordance with God's law. The human body is not to be squandered in chasing desires such as fame, riches and power. These wants are too insufficient and trivial to satisfy man's real needs. Sooner or later, all men arrive at this indisputable truth. It is then, that man seeks the divine.'
2-11-91, Rajkot.
Swamishri is a master of the spiritual field. We can savor his spiritual wisdom from the following incident. As Swamishri was walking back to his residence from the assembly, a youth asked, 'Have you seen God?'
'Yes, I have - and, that is why I feel happy and fulfilled,' replied Swamishri.
'How can I see God?'
'First, you have to seek a true Guru (a spiritual teacher) and next, you must surrender before him.'
'How do I surrender?' enquired the youth.
'A disciple who fully observes the Guru's commands with impeccable faith is said to have surrendered his all. The more one obeys the Guru's commands, the closer the Guru takes one to God. There is no other path to reach God.'
'What is the highest goal of life?' came the next question.
'To worship God and to live a life in accordance with God's law. The human body is not to be squandered in chasing desires such as fame, riches and power. These wants are too insufficient and trivial to satisfy man's real needs. Sooner or later, all men arrive at this indisputable truth. It is then, that man seeks the divine.'
2-11-91, Rajkot.
Austere Jina Bhagat
The king of Mengni was a great devotee of God. At his request, Swami Krishnacharandas would visit Mengni every year to celebrate the Annakut mahotsava.
But once the king of Lodhika, invited Swamiji to visit Lodhika instead, to celebrate the Annakut festival. The king was a staunch devotee of the Lord. He provided all the necessary materials for the festival. The sadhu and parshads were busy preparing the various sweet delicacies from morning till evening. When the day of Annakut arrived, a grand festival was held. Food was first offered to the Lord and then the king served sumptuous meals of 'sata and jalebi' to everyone.
Jina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj) used to fast some days in the month. Realizing that such delicious sweets like sata and jalebi will be served on that day he decided to observe a fast. All the sadhus went for lunch except Jina Bhagat.
When the king heard that Jina Bhagat was fasting, he pleaded with him saying, 'It's a festival day today, therefore please have some food.' Jina Bhagat politely refused. The king repeated his request several times but Jina Bhagat told him that he had a pain in his stomach and that he could not eat anything.
The king then appealed to Krishnacharandas Swami, 'Please tell the young Jina Bhagat to have his meal today.' So Swamiji asked Jina Bhagat not to fast that day. But he gave the same reply to Swamiji, that he could not eat because of a stomach-ache. Krishanacharandas Swami was inwardly pleased to find that Jina Bhagat was not tempted even by the tastiest of sweets to break his fast. He praised his austerity and self-control. That night he called Jina Bhagat and placed his hands on his head, and blessed him. He advised the other young sadhus to cultivate the same attitude of austerity and self-restraint as Jina Bhagat.
The king of Mengni was a great devotee of God. At his request, Swami Krishnacharandas would visit Mengni every year to celebrate the Annakut mahotsava.
But once the king of Lodhika, invited Swamiji to visit Lodhika instead, to celebrate the Annakut festival. The king was a staunch devotee of the Lord. He provided all the necessary materials for the festival. The sadhu and parshads were busy preparing the various sweet delicacies from morning till evening. When the day of Annakut arrived, a grand festival was held. Food was first offered to the Lord and then the king served sumptuous meals of 'sata and jalebi' to everyone.
Jina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj) used to fast some days in the month. Realizing that such delicious sweets like sata and jalebi will be served on that day he decided to observe a fast. All the sadhus went for lunch except Jina Bhagat.
When the king heard that Jina Bhagat was fasting, he pleaded with him saying, 'It's a festival day today, therefore please have some food.' Jina Bhagat politely refused. The king repeated his request several times but Jina Bhagat told him that he had a pain in his stomach and that he could not eat anything.
The king then appealed to Krishnacharandas Swami, 'Please tell the young Jina Bhagat to have his meal today.' So Swamiji asked Jina Bhagat not to fast that day. But he gave the same reply to Swamiji, that he could not eat because of a stomach-ache. Krishanacharandas Swami was inwardly pleased to find that Jina Bhagat was not tempted even by the tastiest of sweets to break his fast. He praised his austerity and self-control. That night he called Jina Bhagat and placed his hands on his head, and blessed him. He advised the other young sadhus to cultivate the same attitude of austerity and self-restraint as Jina Bhagat.
'If We Do This...'
The students in Vidyanagar performed a program in Swamishri's presence entitled, 'Why I like Yogiji Maharaj.'
Youths, children and elders came onto the stage to say why they liked Yogiji Maharaj. In the end, a youth put the same question before Swamishri.
'Everybody likes Yogiji Maharaj,' started Swamishri. 'He had infinite redemptive qualities and everybody was drawn towards him because of his selfless love and child-like innocence. He was such a pure and holy sadhu, free from any sense of pride or ego. He didn't even boast about his unique saintliness. Yogiji Maharaj used to say, 'Please tell me my mistakes so that I can improve.' We don't like admitting our mistakes - that is the great difference between Yogiji Maharaj and us. A great gulf separates us and Yogiji Maharaj. This year we are going to celebrate his centenary so we should constantly think of him and his saintly character. We should strive to attain his divine virtues such as humility and simplicity. If we do this, we will earn the grace and happiness of God forever.'
Swamishri emphasized the need to cultivate humility and simplicity for one's happiness - the happiness that was always visible on Yogiji Maharaj's ever-smiling face.
29-11-91, Vidyanagar.
The students in Vidyanagar performed a program in Swamishri's presence entitled, 'Why I like Yogiji Maharaj.'
Youths, children and elders came onto the stage to say why they liked Yogiji Maharaj. In the end, a youth put the same question before Swamishri.
'Everybody likes Yogiji Maharaj,' started Swamishri. 'He had infinite redemptive qualities and everybody was drawn towards him because of his selfless love and child-like innocence. He was such a pure and holy sadhu, free from any sense of pride or ego. He didn't even boast about his unique saintliness. Yogiji Maharaj used to say, 'Please tell me my mistakes so that I can improve.' We don't like admitting our mistakes - that is the great difference between Yogiji Maharaj and us. A great gulf separates us and Yogiji Maharaj. This year we are going to celebrate his centenary so we should constantly think of him and his saintly character. We should strive to attain his divine virtues such as humility and simplicity. If we do this, we will earn the grace and happiness of God forever.'
Swamishri emphasized the need to cultivate humility and simplicity for one's happiness - the happiness that was always visible on Yogiji Maharaj's ever-smiling face.
29-11-91, Vidyanagar.