Desire for Discipline
Gunatitanand Swami had joined the group of Kripanand Swami. Kripanand Swami was extremely affectionate towards Maharaj. He disliked the slightest disobedience in carrying out Maharaj's orders. He disapproved of any behaviour outside the limits of Satsang. Once, somebody asked him, 'How is it that you like to accompany Kripanand Swami?' Swami replied, 'Unless a man is disciplined by elders he cannot imbibe his virtues. One cannot find out his own merits and drawbacks unless somebody points them out. Those persons who obey the guru can cultivate the virtues of great people. Kripanand Swami is frank and outspoken, so I prefer to remain with him.'
Gunatitanand Swami had joined the group of Kripanand Swami. Kripanand Swami was extremely affectionate towards Maharaj. He disliked the slightest disobedience in carrying out Maharaj's orders. He disapproved of any behaviour outside the limits of Satsang. Once, somebody asked him, 'How is it that you like to accompany Kripanand Swami?' Swami replied, 'Unless a man is disciplined by elders he cannot imbibe his virtues. One cannot find out his own merits and drawbacks unless somebody points them out. Those persons who obey the guru can cultivate the virtues of great people. Kripanand Swami is frank and outspoken, so I prefer to remain with him.'
Like a Snake in Pincers
Thereafter, Maharaj held an assembly and called Muktanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami and others and asked them, What is your opinion about Gunatitanand Swami as a sadhu?' 'He is a very good sadhu, he knows many kirtans by heart and delivers interesting and inspiring discourses. He renders very good service and undergoes strict austerities himself,' replied the sadgurus. ''These virtues, described by you are only external virtues. But in fact he is a very able sadhu. Just as a snake is caught in pincers he has caught My form in all the three states,' said Maharaj.
One hearing this, the Hindustani sadhu, Mahanubhavanand Swami, rebuked, 'Why have you caught Maharaj? Leave Him.' Then Maharaj explained to him, ''He has caught Me constantly. But that does not make Me unhappy. But it is not possible for others to catch My form like him. This sadhu has been serving Me since eternity. It will be only through this sadhu that My supreme worship will spread in the entire satsang. Nobody knows My wonderful glory as much as he knows.'
Thereafter, Maharaj held an assembly and called Muktanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami and others and asked them, What is your opinion about Gunatitanand Swami as a sadhu?' 'He is a very good sadhu, he knows many kirtans by heart and delivers interesting and inspiring discourses. He renders very good service and undergoes strict austerities himself,' replied the sadgurus. ''These virtues, described by you are only external virtues. But in fact he is a very able sadhu. Just as a snake is caught in pincers he has caught My form in all the three states,' said Maharaj.
One hearing this, the Hindustani sadhu, Mahanubhavanand Swami, rebuked, 'Why have you caught Maharaj? Leave Him.' Then Maharaj explained to him, ''He has caught Me constantly. But that does not make Me unhappy. But it is not possible for others to catch My form like him. This sadhu has been serving Me since eternity. It will be only through this sadhu that My supreme worship will spread in the entire satsang. Nobody knows My wonderful glory as much as he knows.'
Message from Mahant Swami Maharaj regarding Precautions during the Coronavirus Pandemic, Nenpur, India
Maharaj is Present in Gunatitanand Swami
Gunatitanand Swami had arrived at Samadhiyala along with Krupanand Swami. Here Gunatitanand Swami had permitted Vira Sheladia's son Lakshman to ask one question everyday and Swami used to reply to that question. On one such occasion, while replying to a question by Lakshman, Swami referred to the infinite glory of Maharaj. Swami became overwhelmed and so much light emanated from his body that Lakshman was dazzled. In the midst of a halo he saw Maharaj instead of Swami. So he began to touch the lotus feet of Maharaj to his chest. So Swami asked him, ' Lakshman, what are you doing?' Lakshman replied, 'I am touching the lotus feet Of Maharaj to my chest. This is Maharaj. Where are you, Swami?' All those who were present were surprised. When they shook Lakshman and asked, he narrated his experience in reply. In this way, everyone was convinced about the fact that Maharaj was constantly in union with Swami.
Gunatitanand Swami had arrived at Samadhiyala along with Krupanand Swami. Here Gunatitanand Swami had permitted Vira Sheladia's son Lakshman to ask one question everyday and Swami used to reply to that question. On one such occasion, while replying to a question by Lakshman, Swami referred to the infinite glory of Maharaj. Swami became overwhelmed and so much light emanated from his body that Lakshman was dazzled. In the midst of a halo he saw Maharaj instead of Swami. So he began to touch the lotus feet of Maharaj to his chest. So Swami asked him, ' Lakshman, what are you doing?' Lakshman replied, 'I am touching the lotus feet Of Maharaj to my chest. This is Maharaj. Where are you, Swami?' All those who were present were surprised. When they shook Lakshman and asked, he narrated his experience in reply. In this way, everyone was convinced about the fact that Maharaj was constantly in union with Swami.
True Worship
Sadguru Balmukund Swami of Junagadh said in Vartal, 'By installing the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam, Shastri Yagnapurushdas has purified the upasana (worship) in the Sampraday. Till now all of us had the upasana of various deities and incarnations. But now the upasana of Shriji Maharaj along with his choicest devotee, Gunatitanand Swami, has been established. Thus the pursuit of the upasana is facilitated.'
Krishnaji Ada, the mahamukta (great soul) of Rajkot also advised everyone, 'If you wish to discuss the true knowledge freely, go to Bochasan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas has rendered yeoman service to the Sampraday.
Sadguru Balmukund Swami of Junagadh said in Vartal, 'By installing the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam, Shastri Yagnapurushdas has purified the upasana (worship) in the Sampraday. Till now all of us had the upasana of various deities and incarnations. But now the upasana of Shriji Maharaj along with his choicest devotee, Gunatitanand Swami, has been established. Thus the pursuit of the upasana is facilitated.'
Krishnaji Ada, the mahamukta (great soul) of Rajkot also advised everyone, 'If you wish to discuss the true knowledge freely, go to Bochasan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas has rendered yeoman service to the Sampraday.
Divinely Transported
In V. S. 1913, Bhagatji Maharaj was leading a group of devotees to Gadhada. It was raining heavily and it was very dark, visibility was poor and the road was full of thorns and stones. The devotees were greatly troubled. Then Bhagatji made them sit in a circle and asked then to hold one another's toes and pray with their eyes shut. After some time he woke them up. To their surprise they found themselves sitting on the banks of the river Ghela at Gadhada. Thus in no time Bhagatji Maharaj had placed them at Gadhada.
In V. S. 1913, Bhagatji Maharaj was leading a group of devotees to Gadhada. It was raining heavily and it was very dark, visibility was poor and the road was full of thorns and stones. The devotees were greatly troubled. Then Bhagatji made them sit in a circle and asked then to hold one another's toes and pray with their eyes shut. After some time he woke them up. To their surprise they found themselves sitting on the banks of the river Ghela at Gadhada. Thus in no time Bhagatji Maharaj had placed them at Gadhada.
A vision so different
One, two, three… and so on. One could just sit and count the cars zooming by all day long and still fail to see the last of them.
This was the situation when one gazed out of the car in which Swamiji was seated. The car seemed comparatively minute as the over-shadowing sky rise constructions that lined the streets of New York reached dizzying heights. Astounded by the unimaginable scenery one of the devotees burst out saying: 'How ingenious and artistic are these constructions?' Before anyone could nod in agreement, Swamiji interrupted with a smile, 'Tell me the difference between a gram of dust and a ton of dust? There's virtually none. They are both dirt. Likewise, in India there are small constructions and here large. But both are mere concrete. So there's nothing aesthetic about it whatsoever.' It was not only an eye-opener, which made visible the vanity of worldly objects but a heart-opener too which instills profound detachment in many a heart.
One, two, three… and so on. One could just sit and count the cars zooming by all day long and still fail to see the last of them.
This was the situation when one gazed out of the car in which Swamiji was seated. The car seemed comparatively minute as the over-shadowing sky rise constructions that lined the streets of New York reached dizzying heights. Astounded by the unimaginable scenery one of the devotees burst out saying: 'How ingenious and artistic are these constructions?' Before anyone could nod in agreement, Swamiji interrupted with a smile, 'Tell me the difference between a gram of dust and a ton of dust? There's virtually none. They are both dirt. Likewise, in India there are small constructions and here large. But both are mere concrete. So there's nothing aesthetic about it whatsoever.' It was not only an eye-opener, which made visible the vanity of worldly objects but a heart-opener too which instills profound detachment in many a heart.
On Guru Purnima, our beloved Guruhari Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj presented a special gift to the entire Satsang community. Swamishri has personally written a message to us through a new book called 'Satsang Diksha'. 'Satsang Diksha' is grounded in Bhagwan Swaminarayan's teachings, describes our Akshar Purushottam upasana, and gives guidance for our day-to-day Satsang sadhana in simple and concise language that is relevant to our experience today. Swamishri has personally requested every balak, balika, kishore, and kishori to read 5 verses daily in Gujarati. For those who cannot read Gujarati, please use the audio book provided below to listen and memorize. As per Swamishri’s agna, let’s all begin by memorizing the Ahvanam and Punaragaman mantras. Videos of both mantras are provided in the link below.
https://baps.box.com/v/SatsangDiksha
https://baps.box.com/v/SatsangDiksha
See only virtues
One youth joked at the expense of an elder devotee. The devotee often scolded the youngsters and so he was not a favorite. Everyone laughed heartily at the joke. Swamishri neither smiled nor became serious. As laughter died down he taught, 'His nature may be as it is, but we should look towards our own faults. Be careful that such faults do not enter our lives. See only the virtue in others. We also have faults. Become positive. Looking to the faults of others we lose our own virtues. Look to the good of all people and things. Think always of why we have accepted Satsang.'
One youth joked at the expense of an elder devotee. The devotee often scolded the youngsters and so he was not a favorite. Everyone laughed heartily at the joke. Swamishri neither smiled nor became serious. As laughter died down he taught, 'His nature may be as it is, but we should look towards our own faults. Be careful that such faults do not enter our lives. See only the virtue in others. We also have faults. Become positive. Looking to the faults of others we lose our own virtues. Look to the good of all people and things. Think always of why we have accepted Satsang.'