Qualities of a Sadhu
17-11-85. Swamishri said, 'A sadhu's life is full of altruism. He always thinks of the happiness of others. If in the process of doing good of others they have to bear hardships, they would do so cheerfully and would never deflect from their work. They are like trees and lakes. A tree gives its fruits even to the person who insults it by throwing a stone. It gives its wood even to the person who strikes it with an axe. A lake, too, does not refuse its water to anyone. Similarly, everyone can benefit from a sadhu's generosity. 'Their tours are primarily to arouse people from the slumber of ignorance and to point out the goal of life. They show them the way to righteousness, devotion and redemption. 'They create angelic personalities by sublimating the demonic traits present in human beings and thereby establishing peace in society. Gunatitanand Swami was very successful in this direction. He imparted the knowledge of atma and Paramatma to thousands and provided solace and comfort in adversities of life.'
17-11-85. Swamishri said, 'A sadhu's life is full of altruism. He always thinks of the happiness of others. If in the process of doing good of others they have to bear hardships, they would do so cheerfully and would never deflect from their work. They are like trees and lakes. A tree gives its fruits even to the person who insults it by throwing a stone. It gives its wood even to the person who strikes it with an axe. A lake, too, does not refuse its water to anyone. Similarly, everyone can benefit from a sadhu's generosity. 'Their tours are primarily to arouse people from the slumber of ignorance and to point out the goal of life. They show them the way to righteousness, devotion and redemption. 'They create angelic personalities by sublimating the demonic traits present in human beings and thereby establishing peace in society. Gunatitanand Swami was very successful in this direction. He imparted the knowledge of atma and Paramatma to thousands and provided solace and comfort in adversities of life.'
Yogiji Maharaj's Equality Towards All
18-11-85. Swamishri said, Perceive selfhood in everyone. We must love others as we love ourselves. Never forget that others, too, experience pleasure and pain like us. Many sadhus have lived by this principle. Yogiji Maharaj was one such sadhu. For him there was no friend or foe. He was above the bonds of 'I' and 'Mine'. Wherever he cast his glance; he saw Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He saw Him in everyone; in a rich man and his servant, in a prince and a pauper, in a literate and an illiterate. He gave them an equal welcome and an equal love. He could do this because the Lord resided in him. If we keep the company of a sadhu like Yogiji Maharaj we will be raised to the highest spiritual height.
18-11-85. Swamishri said, Perceive selfhood in everyone. We must love others as we love ourselves. Never forget that others, too, experience pleasure and pain like us. Many sadhus have lived by this principle. Yogiji Maharaj was one such sadhu. For him there was no friend or foe. He was above the bonds of 'I' and 'Mine'. Wherever he cast his glance; he saw Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He saw Him in everyone; in a rich man and his servant, in a prince and a pauper, in a literate and an illiterate. He gave them an equal welcome and an equal love. He could do this because the Lord resided in him. If we keep the company of a sadhu like Yogiji Maharaj we will be raised to the highest spiritual height.
The Gift of Akshardham
1-9-86, 8.30 p.m. The Amdavad Bal Mandal had just finished a splendid drama. Sitting in a special seat in the audience, Swamiji had watched with a glowing smile. It was obvious to the multitude around him that he was pleased with the children's devotional performance. To give blessings, Swamiji was asked to come up on stage. As he eased himself onto his seat, the excited children crowded around him trying to touch his holy feet. One boy, Mayank, asked, 'Swami! What did you think of our program?' 'Very nice, very nice,' Swami replied in English. 'What present will you give us Swami?' Mayank asked. Swamiji looked around at the beaming, innocent faces. With an emphatic wave of the hand he announced, 'Go, I give you Akshardham.' The kids were clever and made doubly sure that Swami really meant what he said by asking, 'Promise Swami?' 'Yes, I promise' Swami replied.
1-9-86, 8.30 p.m. The Amdavad Bal Mandal had just finished a splendid drama. Sitting in a special seat in the audience, Swamiji had watched with a glowing smile. It was obvious to the multitude around him that he was pleased with the children's devotional performance. To give blessings, Swamiji was asked to come up on stage. As he eased himself onto his seat, the excited children crowded around him trying to touch his holy feet. One boy, Mayank, asked, 'Swami! What did you think of our program?' 'Very nice, very nice,' Swami replied in English. 'What present will you give us Swami?' Mayank asked. Swamiji looked around at the beaming, innocent faces. With an emphatic wave of the hand he announced, 'Go, I give you Akshardham.' The kids were clever and made doubly sure that Swami really meant what he said by asking, 'Promise Swami?' 'Yes, I promise' Swami replied.
Proper Lighting
16-8-86, Sunday, 7.45 a.m. The Shangar arti was completed. Swamiji had as usual circumambulated the mandir and a few minutes later was seated in his personal puja on the stage. On the mandir lawns and ground, covered by a canopy to keep out the monsoon rains, sat more than a thousand people, having darshan of Swamiji. Swamiji, facing the sadhus seated on the right of the floodlit stage made the mark of tilak and chandlo on his forehead and then sat in quiet meditation. The sadhus sang kirtans. After a short while, Swamiji took his rosary and began to chant softly to himself the Swaminarayan mahamantra. But then he stopped and signaled to a nearby sadhu to come to him. 'Switch off the light above me.' The sadhu scurried over to the switchboard.
Again Swami said, 'Turn off the overhead light behind me and switch on the one in front of me.' The sadhu complied. 'Switch off the halogen light,' Swamiji again ordered emphatically. The serving sadhus were puzzled, 'What was wrong? Was it heat from the lights, or were the light hurting Swamiji's eyes?' Once more Swami ordered a light to be switched off and another re-switched on. The hundreds of devotees wondered what the sadhus were doing and the sadhus wondered what Swamiji was doing. Finally, Swamiji had all the lights, save two meager tube lights, switched off. Then he once again settled into his puja and all was forgotten, until early next morning. Swamiji arose the next day as usual, and finished his morning routine and was putting his dhoti on in his inner room.
A few sadhus were present with him. Swami addressed them, 'Change the lighting on the stage because during puja, due to reflection from the surfaces of the murtis, I cannot have darshan of the Lord.' The mystery was solved. Swami was not bothered by heat or the reflection on his cataract-operated eyes. He longed only for the darshan of his Lord. Swamiji sees the Lord eternally within his heart, but frequently shows us the method of devotion.
16-8-86, Sunday, 7.45 a.m. The Shangar arti was completed. Swamiji had as usual circumambulated the mandir and a few minutes later was seated in his personal puja on the stage. On the mandir lawns and ground, covered by a canopy to keep out the monsoon rains, sat more than a thousand people, having darshan of Swamiji. Swamiji, facing the sadhus seated on the right of the floodlit stage made the mark of tilak and chandlo on his forehead and then sat in quiet meditation. The sadhus sang kirtans. After a short while, Swamiji took his rosary and began to chant softly to himself the Swaminarayan mahamantra. But then he stopped and signaled to a nearby sadhu to come to him. 'Switch off the light above me.' The sadhu scurried over to the switchboard.
Again Swami said, 'Turn off the overhead light behind me and switch on the one in front of me.' The sadhu complied. 'Switch off the halogen light,' Swamiji again ordered emphatically. The serving sadhus were puzzled, 'What was wrong? Was it heat from the lights, or were the light hurting Swamiji's eyes?' Once more Swami ordered a light to be switched off and another re-switched on. The hundreds of devotees wondered what the sadhus were doing and the sadhus wondered what Swamiji was doing. Finally, Swamiji had all the lights, save two meager tube lights, switched off. Then he once again settled into his puja and all was forgotten, until early next morning. Swamiji arose the next day as usual, and finished his morning routine and was putting his dhoti on in his inner room.
A few sadhus were present with him. Swami addressed them, 'Change the lighting on the stage because during puja, due to reflection from the surfaces of the murtis, I cannot have darshan of the Lord.' The mystery was solved. Swami was not bothered by heat or the reflection on his cataract-operated eyes. He longed only for the darshan of his Lord. Swamiji sees the Lord eternally within his heart, but frequently shows us the method of devotion.
5-9-86, Amdavad. For 24 magnificent days, Swamiji's Divine presence had graced Amdavad city. For thousands it had become second nature to arise early and dash to the mandir for his darshan, and then eagerly return again early evening. Everyone, according to his or her faith and devotion, had physically or mentally, from a distance offered pure worship and bathed in unearthly bliss. A small boy, not much more than four, was also so inspired. What could he offer? How should he worship? His mother gave him a beautiful fresh red rose. Happy, but slightly apprehensive, with rose clutched in his tender little hand the boy determinedly struggled through the crowd of people to reach the mandir staircase. At the first step, he stopped and waited.
Soon Swamiji would pass that way on his way up to the sanctum sanctorum for darshan of Thakorji. As usual, Swamiji, a perfectionist, was right on time. He approached the mandir steps just before 7.30 a.m. Volunteers had cordoned off a cler passage for him and the sadhus to walk through. Devotees lined the passage, paying their respects as Swamiji passed by And Swamiji did pass. The small boy, expectantly holding out his red rose was missed. Disappointed and bewildered, the boy looked down. Tears took form in his innocent eyes.
But he was determined. Through the 24 days he had watched Swamiji every morning and knew that in a short while he would come down the same steps. He would try again. With the arti performed and bhajans sung, Swamiji slowly descended with two sadhus carefully supporting him. Reaching the last step, Swami looked straight ahead. He knew the boy would be waiting. He smiled at the boy. Swamiji walked over to him, bent over and extended his hand to accept the now much battered rose, from his small outstretched hand. The boy was happy and Swami even more so. He gently patted the boy's head in blessing and returned his rose. Swamiji slowly turned away and walked to the stage for his morning puja. The boy rushed off happily to find his mother.
Soon Swamiji would pass that way on his way up to the sanctum sanctorum for darshan of Thakorji. As usual, Swamiji, a perfectionist, was right on time. He approached the mandir steps just before 7.30 a.m. Volunteers had cordoned off a cler passage for him and the sadhus to walk through. Devotees lined the passage, paying their respects as Swamiji passed by And Swamiji did pass. The small boy, expectantly holding out his red rose was missed. Disappointed and bewildered, the boy looked down. Tears took form in his innocent eyes.
But he was determined. Through the 24 days he had watched Swamiji every morning and knew that in a short while he would come down the same steps. He would try again. With the arti performed and bhajans sung, Swamiji slowly descended with two sadhus carefully supporting him. Reaching the last step, Swami looked straight ahead. He knew the boy would be waiting. He smiled at the boy. Swamiji walked over to him, bent over and extended his hand to accept the now much battered rose, from his small outstretched hand. The boy was happy and Swami even more so. He gently patted the boy's head in blessing and returned his rose. Swamiji slowly turned away and walked to the stage for his morning puja. The boy rushed off happily to find his mother.
Indifferent To Taste
29-8-86, Amdavad. Swamiji had sat down for lunch. Of the various vegetable dishes and eatables before him he selected a few morsels and started eating from his wooden bowl. As with everyday, in the kitchen the serving sadhus quickly prepared small, soft chapattis and served them to Swami one by one. Swami encouraged conversation with a sadhu before him. Thus, lost in small talk the sadhus failed to notice that Swami was only nibbling at his food. A sadhu brought in a hot chapatti. He gently removed its slightly thick brown edges, tore the soft center of the chapatti into small pieces and placed them into Swamiji's bowl. Swamiji only looked up. After three to four minutes, the sadhu returned with another chapatti. He carefully tore it into pieces.
As he leaned over to put the pieces into the bowl, he noticed that the former chapatti had remained untouched. He quickly removed the chapatti and replaced it with the hot one. 'What are you doing?' Swami questioned. 'Serving you a chapatti, Swamiji,' the sadhu mumbled a reply. 'Then why did you take one out from my bowl?' 'Because it was cold and I had a hot one.' The sadhus had stopped talking. They anxiously watched the scene before them. Swamiji was slightly irritated. 'Listen,' Swami spoke quickly, 'I do not mind whether they were hot or cold.' The sadhu returned to the kitchen, and Swamiji again induced a conversation. For one who is eternally immersed in the Lord verily transcends matters relating to the palate. To him the pleasures become a troublesome irritation. And eating becomes a menial chore.
29-8-86, Amdavad. Swamiji had sat down for lunch. Of the various vegetable dishes and eatables before him he selected a few morsels and started eating from his wooden bowl. As with everyday, in the kitchen the serving sadhus quickly prepared small, soft chapattis and served them to Swami one by one. Swami encouraged conversation with a sadhu before him. Thus, lost in small talk the sadhus failed to notice that Swami was only nibbling at his food. A sadhu brought in a hot chapatti. He gently removed its slightly thick brown edges, tore the soft center of the chapatti into small pieces and placed them into Swamiji's bowl. Swamiji only looked up. After three to four minutes, the sadhu returned with another chapatti. He carefully tore it into pieces.
As he leaned over to put the pieces into the bowl, he noticed that the former chapatti had remained untouched. He quickly removed the chapatti and replaced it with the hot one. 'What are you doing?' Swami questioned. 'Serving you a chapatti, Swamiji,' the sadhu mumbled a reply. 'Then why did you take one out from my bowl?' 'Because it was cold and I had a hot one.' The sadhus had stopped talking. They anxiously watched the scene before them. Swamiji was slightly irritated. 'Listen,' Swami spoke quickly, 'I do not mind whether they were hot or cold.' The sadhu returned to the kitchen, and Swamiji again induced a conversation. For one who is eternally immersed in the Lord verily transcends matters relating to the palate. To him the pleasures become a troublesome irritation. And eating becomes a menial chore.
Swamishri Moves
4-7-88, Ormond Beach, America.
After dinner at Mohanbhai's house, while Swamishri was answering letters, Ishwarcharan Swami telephoned from Amdavad. As their conversation continued, Swamishri suddenly stood up unaided and went into the bathroom to discuss some private matter.
Normally, Swamishri takes the support of two attendant sadhus to stand up. So when he returned to the room and sat on his bed, we asked, 'Why did you get up? If you had just indicated, we would all have left the room.'
Swamishri replied, 'It is not proper to tell sadhus to leave like that. It is easier for me alone to move than to move all of you!'
Brahmadarshan Swami
4-7-88, Ormond Beach, America.
After dinner at Mohanbhai's house, while Swamishri was answering letters, Ishwarcharan Swami telephoned from Amdavad. As their conversation continued, Swamishri suddenly stood up unaided and went into the bathroom to discuss some private matter.
Normally, Swamishri takes the support of two attendant sadhus to stand up. So when he returned to the room and sat on his bed, we asked, 'Why did you get up? If you had just indicated, we would all have left the room.'
Swamishri replied, 'It is not proper to tell sadhus to leave like that. It is easier for me alone to move than to move all of you!'
Brahmadarshan Swami
Remembered My Illness
In 1988, while Swamishri was in London, I fell ill in Bochasan. I was unable to eat and in a span of 15 days, I'd lost much weight and strength.
Tyagvallabh Swami wrote to Swamishri about my illness. Promptly, Swamishri replied and blessed me for a quick recovery. Within days I had recovered.
Four months later, we had gone to Africa, for Swamishri's 68th birthday celebrations. Having arrived in Nairobi, we went to Nakuru for Swamishri's darshan. Swamishri was overjoyed to meet all the sadhus. He embraced all, one-by-one. When my turn came, he embraced me and asked, 'How are you now? Has the vomiting stopped?'
I was overcome with emotion. Even after four months and all the hectic activities of his tour, he still remembered that I had fallen ill. This is a characteristic of Swamishri's true love and care.
Ghanshyamvallabh Swami
In 1988, while Swamishri was in London, I fell ill in Bochasan. I was unable to eat and in a span of 15 days, I'd lost much weight and strength.
Tyagvallabh Swami wrote to Swamishri about my illness. Promptly, Swamishri replied and blessed me for a quick recovery. Within days I had recovered.
Four months later, we had gone to Africa, for Swamishri's 68th birthday celebrations. Having arrived in Nairobi, we went to Nakuru for Swamishri's darshan. Swamishri was overjoyed to meet all the sadhus. He embraced all, one-by-one. When my turn came, he embraced me and asked, 'How are you now? Has the vomiting stopped?'
I was overcome with emotion. Even after four months and all the hectic activities of his tour, he still remembered that I had fallen ill. This is a characteristic of Swamishri's true love and care.
Ghanshyamvallabh Swami