Oneness with Guru
“Switch off the bathroom light,” Swamishri instructed an attendant sadhu.“The sadhu reminisced, “Your habit of being particular is like that of Swami Bapa’s [Pramukh Swami Maharaj]. He never liked lights to be kept on unnecessarily, and always instructed his attendants to switch them off.”Mahant Swami Maharaj replied, “But my [diligence is] not like that of Bapa’s.”Mahant Swami Maharaj always holds his guru in the highest esteem.The attendant sadhu added, “But both of you are spiritually one, so it is natural to find your likes and dislikes to be common.”Swamishri agreed, “Yes, that is true.”
9 November 2016, Rajkot
“Switch off the bathroom light,” Swamishri instructed an attendant sadhu.“The sadhu reminisced, “Your habit of being particular is like that of Swami Bapa’s [Pramukh Swami Maharaj]. He never liked lights to be kept on unnecessarily, and always instructed his attendants to switch them off.”Mahant Swami Maharaj replied, “But my [diligence is] not like that of Bapa’s.”Mahant Swami Maharaj always holds his guru in the highest esteem.The attendant sadhu added, “But both of you are spiritually one, so it is natural to find your likes and dislikes to be common.”Swamishri agreed, “Yes, that is true.”
9 November 2016, Rajkot
Short Cut to Akshardham
Mahant Swami Maharaj took a short cut while entering his residence through a large open window. A devotee was waiting near the main entrance of the house. On seeing Swamishri he asked, “You have taken a short cut to enter the house, similarly, can you tell us the shortest way to Akshardham.”Swamishri replied in one word, “Satpurush.”Taking the refuge of a true guru is the easiest and shortest way to attain moksha. The guru guides, encourages and also blesses the disciple to attain moksha.
3 December 2016, Surat
Mahant Swami Maharaj took a short cut while entering his residence through a large open window. A devotee was waiting near the main entrance of the house. On seeing Swamishri he asked, “You have taken a short cut to enter the house, similarly, can you tell us the shortest way to Akshardham.”Swamishri replied in one word, “Satpurush.”Taking the refuge of a true guru is the easiest and shortest way to attain moksha. The guru guides, encourages and also blesses the disciple to attain moksha.
3 December 2016, Surat
From Akshardham
Three youths had come from abroad to avail of Mahant Swami Maharaj’s spiritual association. One of them said, “I’m from Australia,” the second youth announced, “I’m from America,” and the third stated, “I’m from Canada.” Then one of them asked Swamishri, “Where are you from?” Instantly Swamishri raised his hand and replied, “Akshardham.”
17 December 2016, Selvas
Three youths had come from abroad to avail of Mahant Swami Maharaj’s spiritual association. One of them said, “I’m from Australia,” the second youth announced, “I’m from America,” and the third stated, “I’m from Canada.” Then one of them asked Swamishri, “Where are you from?” Instantly Swamishri raised his hand and replied, “Akshardham.”
17 December 2016, Selvas
Nirdosh Buddhi in All
Today marked the Uttarayan festival – the festival of kite-flying and offering charity. Swamishri was on his way out of the abhishek mandap when he saw a child, Harsh Mamtora, dressed in a kite costume. He asked Swamishri, “I am a kite. Some fly me higher and higher in the sky. Some fly me to the right side and sometimes to the left, and some even cut my string. However, I want to soar to the highest point, Akshardham. What should I do?”Swamishri replied, “Have nirdosh buddhi [perceive all devotees to be faultless and pure].”
14 January 2017, Ahmedabad
Today marked the Uttarayan festival – the festival of kite-flying and offering charity. Swamishri was on his way out of the abhishek mandap when he saw a child, Harsh Mamtora, dressed in a kite costume. He asked Swamishri, “I am a kite. Some fly me higher and higher in the sky. Some fly me to the right side and sometimes to the left, and some even cut my string. However, I want to soar to the highest point, Akshardham. What should I do?”Swamishri replied, “Have nirdosh buddhi [perceive all devotees to be faultless and pure].”
14 January 2017, Ahmedabad
Blessings Transform
Vivekprakash Swami narrated an incident of a devotee’s transformation before Mahant Swami Maharaj and others in Sarangpur: “Vitthalbhai Rao was a BAPS devotee who lived in Bijol village, Gujarat. His father, Jemalbhai, was a non-devotee. In fact, he was steeped in all types of vices and addictions. Vitthalbhai always nursed a deep wish that his father abstain from addictions altogether. Because of him meat also had to be cooked at home. Subsequently, for three years, Vitthalbhai had been fetching water for himself from a river to drink and cook his meals. Under these harrowing circumstances, Vitthalbhai took his father to Bochasan for Mahant Swamiji’s darshan in 1997. He described to him about his father’s nature and bad habits. Mahant Swamiji blessed Vitthalbhai and said, ‘You will get the result in two to three hours.’ Then, Mahant Swamiji initiated Jemalbhai into satsang and placed a kanthi around his neck. “Thereafter, Vitthalbhai and his father left. While they were travelling back to their village Jemalbhai declared, ‘I am blessed to have been initiated into satsang by a great sadhu. I pledge from now onwards to give up all my addictions.’ From thereon his father became a staunch devotee.
5 February 2017, Sarangpur
Vivekprakash Swami narrated an incident of a devotee’s transformation before Mahant Swami Maharaj and others in Sarangpur: “Vitthalbhai Rao was a BAPS devotee who lived in Bijol village, Gujarat. His father, Jemalbhai, was a non-devotee. In fact, he was steeped in all types of vices and addictions. Vitthalbhai always nursed a deep wish that his father abstain from addictions altogether. Because of him meat also had to be cooked at home. Subsequently, for three years, Vitthalbhai had been fetching water for himself from a river to drink and cook his meals. Under these harrowing circumstances, Vitthalbhai took his father to Bochasan for Mahant Swamiji’s darshan in 1997. He described to him about his father’s nature and bad habits. Mahant Swamiji blessed Vitthalbhai and said, ‘You will get the result in two to three hours.’ Then, Mahant Swamiji initiated Jemalbhai into satsang and placed a kanthi around his neck. “Thereafter, Vitthalbhai and his father left. While they were travelling back to their village Jemalbhai declared, ‘I am blessed to have been initiated into satsang by a great sadhu. I pledge from now onwards to give up all my addictions.’ From thereon his father became a staunch devotee.
5 February 2017, Sarangpur
Swamishri’s Humility
Chaitanyamurti Swami recounted an incident before Mahant Swami Maharaj and others in Sarangpur: “In 2001, children satsangis from USA had come to India on a satsang trip. Mahant Swami was to address them on ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj: My Friend’. Swamishri pondered on and prepared his speech well. He also told an artist to make some illustrations and finally got a Powerpoint presentation prepared. Mahant Swamiji’s speech was arranged in Bochasan. The boys arrived in Bochasan. They were exhausted and the environment and culture was new to them. Swamiji’s speech got a little prolonged and subsequently the boys outstretched their legs and went to sleep. After finishing his speech Swamiji left for Atladara. On reaching there, Swamishri felt he had not delivered his speech as he had intended to. So, Mahant Swamiji wrote a letter of apology to the kids, “I regret that I was unable to explain to you what I had in my mind. That was a sort of punishment for you. My lectures are never so long. This was my first trial and therefore I was unable to balance my time. Next time it won’t happen. Sorry, pardon me. Yours, Jai Swaminarayan from Sadhu Keshavjivandas.”
5 February 2017, Sarangpur
Chaitanyamurti Swami recounted an incident before Mahant Swami Maharaj and others in Sarangpur: “In 2001, children satsangis from USA had come to India on a satsang trip. Mahant Swami was to address them on ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj: My Friend’. Swamishri pondered on and prepared his speech well. He also told an artist to make some illustrations and finally got a Powerpoint presentation prepared. Mahant Swamiji’s speech was arranged in Bochasan. The boys arrived in Bochasan. They were exhausted and the environment and culture was new to them. Swamiji’s speech got a little prolonged and subsequently the boys outstretched their legs and went to sleep. After finishing his speech Swamiji left for Atladara. On reaching there, Swamishri felt he had not delivered his speech as he had intended to. So, Mahant Swamiji wrote a letter of apology to the kids, “I regret that I was unable to explain to you what I had in my mind. That was a sort of punishment for you. My lectures are never so long. This was my first trial and therefore I was unable to balance my time. Next time it won’t happen. Sorry, pardon me. Yours, Jai Swaminarayan from Sadhu Keshavjivandas.”
5 February 2017, Sarangpur
Fulfilling a Devotee’s Wish
Aksharprem Swami narrated an incident of Mahant Swami Maharaj: “It was 2013, and Mahant Swamiji arrived in Jaipur. One day, Swamishri returned to the mandir after visiting and sanctifying the homes of devotees. A devotee was waiting in the mandir for Mahant Swamiji to arrive. He said, ‘My home has not been sanctified by you.’ I knew the devotee was going to stay there for only two years and thereafter he would be moving elsewhere. So, I reminded the devotee that his house was under renovation and it would not be proper for Mahant Swamiji to visit his temporary home. But he insisted and wished that you came. Subsequently, you told me, ‘Let us go.’“It was 1.00 p.m. The attendant sadhu had told you not to go because you were already late for lunch. In spite of that you wished to please the devotee and thus visited his house and took your lunch after coming back to the mandir. You satisfied him, and then on our way back I asked you, ‘Don’t you get bored during such situations?’ You replied, ‘I’ve never stuck to my resolve [on such matters]. Yogiji Maharaj taught us to please others. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had ignored his mealtimes to please the devotees.’”Mahant Swami Maharaj disregarded his routine schedule and discomfort to please a devotee and respect his wish.
8 February 2017, Sarangpur
Aksharprem Swami narrated an incident of Mahant Swami Maharaj: “It was 2013, and Mahant Swamiji arrived in Jaipur. One day, Swamishri returned to the mandir after visiting and sanctifying the homes of devotees. A devotee was waiting in the mandir for Mahant Swamiji to arrive. He said, ‘My home has not been sanctified by you.’ I knew the devotee was going to stay there for only two years and thereafter he would be moving elsewhere. So, I reminded the devotee that his house was under renovation and it would not be proper for Mahant Swamiji to visit his temporary home. But he insisted and wished that you came. Subsequently, you told me, ‘Let us go.’“It was 1.00 p.m. The attendant sadhu had told you not to go because you were already late for lunch. In spite of that you wished to please the devotee and thus visited his house and took your lunch after coming back to the mandir. You satisfied him, and then on our way back I asked you, ‘Don’t you get bored during such situations?’ You replied, ‘I’ve never stuck to my resolve [on such matters]. Yogiji Maharaj taught us to please others. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had ignored his mealtimes to please the devotees.’”Mahant Swami Maharaj disregarded his routine schedule and discomfort to please a devotee and respect his wish.
8 February 2017, Sarangpur
Oneness with Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Arvindbhai Saheb of Nairobi narrated before Mahant Swami Maharaj, “In 2003, I had invited Pramukh Swami Maharaj to inaugurate my new factory in Selvas. But he was unable to come, so he told me, ‘I will send Mahant Swami, who is like me and will bless you with happiness like me.’”
17 March 2017, Ahmedabad to Nairobi
Arvindbhai Saheb of Nairobi narrated before Mahant Swami Maharaj, “In 2003, I had invited Pramukh Swami Maharaj to inaugurate my new factory in Selvas. But he was unable to come, so he told me, ‘I will send Mahant Swami, who is like me and will bless you with happiness like me.’”
17 March 2017, Ahmedabad to Nairobi
Good Actions
Some devotees were using coloured pencils to colour a map of Africa and show the spread of Satsang among the Indian community. Swamishri stopped by to look at what they were doing. Someone told the devotees, “You cannot inspire Satsang by merely colouring a map of Africa in this manner.” The devotees colouring the map paused and asked Swamishri, “How can we inspire the colour of Satsang in Africa.”“Through one’s own actions and behaviour,” replied Swamishri. One’s demeanour or virtuous personal behaviour is the key to inspiring others towards noble thoughts and actions.
1 April 2017, Dar-es-Salaam
Some devotees were using coloured pencils to colour a map of Africa and show the spread of Satsang among the Indian community. Swamishri stopped by to look at what they were doing. Someone told the devotees, “You cannot inspire Satsang by merely colouring a map of Africa in this manner.” The devotees colouring the map paused and asked Swamishri, “How can we inspire the colour of Satsang in Africa.”“Through one’s own actions and behaviour,” replied Swamishri. One’s demeanour or virtuous personal behaviour is the key to inspiring others towards noble thoughts and actions.
1 April 2017, Dar-es-Salaam
A Servant of God
Two questions were addressed to Swamishri by an aspirant in a letter, “Give me your introduction?” Swamishri wrote, “Shriji na das [the servant of Shriji Maharaj] and a Param Ekantik Sant [God-realized Sadhu].”The second question was, “When I pray in my daily puja does it reach you?”Swamishri wrote, “The prayers you offer in your puja reach me.”Swamishri candidly revealed his servitude to Shriji Maharaj and also the fact that he is a sadhu of the highest spiritual calibre for the benefit of all aspirants.
5 April 2017, Kampala
Two questions were addressed to Swamishri by an aspirant in a letter, “Give me your introduction?” Swamishri wrote, “Shriji na das [the servant of Shriji Maharaj] and a Param Ekantik Sant [God-realized Sadhu].”The second question was, “When I pray in my daily puja does it reach you?”Swamishri wrote, “The prayers you offer in your puja reach me.”Swamishri candidly revealed his servitude to Shriji Maharaj and also the fact that he is a sadhu of the highest spiritual calibre for the benefit of all aspirants.
5 April 2017, Kampala