Guru Is Always Present
Rushil, a youth, had drawn a nice picture of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. A few sadhus pointed out to Swamishri some unique aspects of the picture, “Swami Bapa is laughing beautifully, but his eyes are closed. It is difficult to draw a good picture with the eyes closed, and that is why people don’t draw it.”
Brahmavatsal Swami showed Swamishri a photo of Pramukh Swami Maharaj laughing with his eyes closed. Also, in that photo, Mahant Swami Maharaj is laughing, but his eyes are open. Then, Brahmavatsal Swami pointed out, “Here the eyes are closed and here they are open.”
Swamishri smiled softly and added, “The closed and opened eyes are one and the same.” Swamishri authenticated the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in him.
The guru is always present and alive.
16 August 2017, Houston
Rushil, a youth, had drawn a nice picture of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. A few sadhus pointed out to Swamishri some unique aspects of the picture, “Swami Bapa is laughing beautifully, but his eyes are closed. It is difficult to draw a good picture with the eyes closed, and that is why people don’t draw it.”
Brahmavatsal Swami showed Swamishri a photo of Pramukh Swami Maharaj laughing with his eyes closed. Also, in that photo, Mahant Swami Maharaj is laughing, but his eyes are open. Then, Brahmavatsal Swami pointed out, “Here the eyes are closed and here they are open.”
Swamishri smiled softly and added, “The closed and opened eyes are one and the same.” Swamishri authenticated the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in him.
The guru is always present and alive.
16 August 2017, Houston
Striking Humility and Glory
In the morning, Swamishri performed the consecration rituals of Ghanshyam Maharaj’s abhishek murti and the worship rituals of the base stone of the first under-construction pillar in the Paramhansa Mandapam in Akshardham, Robbinsville. Thereafter, Swamishri arrived in the satsang assembly to celebrate this occasion. Four pillars made of fibreglass, with each having a murti of a paramhansa, were arranged as a backdrop on the main stage along with Thakorji’s and Swamishri’s seats. When Swamishri came to one of the pillars the paramhansa positioned on it moved a little. On looking up, the paramhansa smiled. Swamishri was amazed and expressed his joy to see a child dressed as paramhansa Nishkulanand Swami. The paramhansa was holding a flower garland. When he stretched his hand to honour Swamishri with the garland Swamishri beckoned for Thakorji to be brought to him so that the garland could be offered to him first. However, someone informed him that it had already been offered to Thakorji. Thereafter, Swamishri took a few steps forward and the child- Nishkulanand Swami garlanded him. Then, Swamishri stretched his hands to touch the paramhansa’s feet. While the child kept gesturing ‘no’ with his face Swamishri reverently touched his feet. Thereafter, Swamishri went to the second pillar in which Muktanand Swami, another child dressed as a paramhansa, was positioned. Swamishri also reverently touched his feet.
The whole assembly was overwhelmed by this divine sight. Swamishri’s glory for the children dressed as Shriji Maharaj’s paramhansas was soul-stirring.
At the conclusion of the assembly, Swamishri garlanded both the child-paramhansas and touched their feet again.
Swamishri, a guru, knew fully well that the paramhansas were children dressed for the occasion, yet he humbly touched their feet because of the glory and esteem he has for the senior paramhansas of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. All the devotees were inspired by Swamishri’s humility and the glory he has for God’s disciples.
In the morning, Swamishri performed the consecration rituals of Ghanshyam Maharaj’s abhishek murti and the worship rituals of the base stone of the first under-construction pillar in the Paramhansa Mandapam in Akshardham, Robbinsville. Thereafter, Swamishri arrived in the satsang assembly to celebrate this occasion. Four pillars made of fibreglass, with each having a murti of a paramhansa, were arranged as a backdrop on the main stage along with Thakorji’s and Swamishri’s seats. When Swamishri came to one of the pillars the paramhansa positioned on it moved a little. On looking up, the paramhansa smiled. Swamishri was amazed and expressed his joy to see a child dressed as paramhansa Nishkulanand Swami. The paramhansa was holding a flower garland. When he stretched his hand to honour Swamishri with the garland Swamishri beckoned for Thakorji to be brought to him so that the garland could be offered to him first. However, someone informed him that it had already been offered to Thakorji. Thereafter, Swamishri took a few steps forward and the child- Nishkulanand Swami garlanded him. Then, Swamishri stretched his hands to touch the paramhansa’s feet. While the child kept gesturing ‘no’ with his face Swamishri reverently touched his feet. Thereafter, Swamishri went to the second pillar in which Muktanand Swami, another child dressed as a paramhansa, was positioned. Swamishri also reverently touched his feet.
The whole assembly was overwhelmed by this divine sight. Swamishri’s glory for the children dressed as Shriji Maharaj’s paramhansas was soul-stirring.
At the conclusion of the assembly, Swamishri garlanded both the child-paramhansas and touched their feet again.
Swamishri, a guru, knew fully well that the paramhansas were children dressed for the occasion, yet he humbly touched their feet because of the glory and esteem he has for the senior paramhansas of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. All the devotees were inspired by Swamishri’s humility and the glory he has for God’s disciples.
After Thirty-five Years
A well-wisher came to meet Swamishri. Swamishri immediately said to him, “We were together!” On enquiry, the well-wisher revealed, “My name is Inayat Fativala. In 1982, I used to live in Valsad. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s car had broken down and my father was repairing it. Mahant Swami Maharaj was also in the car at that time. I was 12 years old and Mahant Swami Maharaj was sitting at the back.”
Swamishri’s recall after almost 35 years astonished everyone.
14 October 2017, Leicester
A well-wisher came to meet Swamishri. Swamishri immediately said to him, “We were together!” On enquiry, the well-wisher revealed, “My name is Inayat Fativala. In 1982, I used to live in Valsad. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s car had broken down and my father was repairing it. Mahant Swami Maharaj was also in the car at that time. I was 12 years old and Mahant Swami Maharaj was sitting at the back.”
Swamishri’s recall after almost 35 years astonished everyone.
14 October 2017, Leicester
A Key Message
After lunch, Anandanand Swami showed Swamishri the phrase to be printed on mementos for the 2018 North American National Convention: ‘The Gunatit Sant can grant moksha’. Instantly, Swamishri pointed out, “Only the Gunatit Sant. That is the key message.”
17 October 2017, Paris
After lunch, Anandanand Swami showed Swamishri the phrase to be printed on mementos for the 2018 North American National Convention: ‘The Gunatit Sant can grant moksha’. Instantly, Swamishri pointed out, “Only the Gunatit Sant. That is the key message.”
17 October 2017, Paris
A Little More
During Swamishri’s journey by car to the Espace Venise hall for his morning puja, Nainesh Patel, the driver, asked, “We keep experiencing ups and downs in Satsang. How can we remain stable?”
Swamishri guided, “You have to do a little more: more samagam, more reading, more listening to discourses and other things.”
Swamishri revealed the technique of how to attain stability on the spiritual path.
18 October 2017, Paris
During Swamishri’s journey by car to the Espace Venise hall for his morning puja, Nainesh Patel, the driver, asked, “We keep experiencing ups and downs in Satsang. How can we remain stable?”
Swamishri guided, “You have to do a little more: more samagam, more reading, more listening to discourses and other things.”
Swamishri revealed the technique of how to attain stability on the spiritual path.
18 October 2017, Paris
Independent of the Indriyas
Swamishri was scheduled to depart from London for India on 21 October 2017, the day after the annakut festival. With reference to this, Anandpriya Swami requested, “Why don’t you stay two more days and rest before you go.”
Swamishri replied, “I have to follow the arrangements made.”
Anandpriya Swami said, “But, you are svatantra [independent].”
Swamishri responded naturally and instantly, “Independent of the indriyas [physical senses]!”
The Gunatit Sant is purely divine and is never swayed by his senses and mind.
19 October 2017, London
Swamishri was scheduled to depart from London for India on 21 October 2017, the day after the annakut festival. With reference to this, Anandpriya Swami requested, “Why don’t you stay two more days and rest before you go.”
Swamishri replied, “I have to follow the arrangements made.”
Anandpriya Swami said, “But, you are svatantra [independent].”
Swamishri responded naturally and instantly, “Independent of the indriyas [physical senses]!”
The Gunatit Sant is purely divine and is never swayed by his senses and mind.
19 October 2017, London
Love for Reading
Today, Swamishri woke up at 2.30 a.m. He completed his morning ablutions and exercises and came out of his room at 5.00 a.m. Everyone was surprised by his early appearance. But everyone was overwhelmed when they came to know that Swamishri was ready by 4:00 a.m. and had read and contemplated upon his favourite spiritual text, Purushottam Bolya Prite, from 4.00 to 5.00 a.m.
Swamishri’s inclination and love for reading and pondering upon Shriji Maharaj’s discourses are truly inspiring for all.
15 November 2017, Mumbai
Today, Swamishri woke up at 2.30 a.m. He completed his morning ablutions and exercises and came out of his room at 5.00 a.m. Everyone was surprised by his early appearance. But everyone was overwhelmed when they came to know that Swamishri was ready by 4:00 a.m. and had read and contemplated upon his favourite spiritual text, Purushottam Bolya Prite, from 4.00 to 5.00 a.m.
Swamishri’s inclination and love for reading and pondering upon Shriji Maharaj’s discourses are truly inspiring for all.
15 November 2017, Mumbai
Pleasing the Devotees
After his morning puja, Swamishri performed arti of 45 newly made home mandirs (ghar mandirs) that belonged to devotees of the rural region. Then, Swamishri went close to all the small-sized ghar mandirs and offered his respects by touching the murtis inside each one of them.
In this way, Swamishri disregarded the delay in his daily routine to offer bhakti and please the devotees.
2 December 2017, Jaipur
After his morning puja, Swamishri performed arti of 45 newly made home mandirs (ghar mandirs) that belonged to devotees of the rural region. Then, Swamishri went close to all the small-sized ghar mandirs and offered his respects by touching the murtis inside each one of them.
In this way, Swamishri disregarded the delay in his daily routine to offer bhakti and please the devotees.
2 December 2017, Jaipur
Virtue of Non-taste
Swamishri was eating a slice of boiled parval during dinner. The attendant sadhu serving him wondered whether the parval was bitter. When another attendant sadhu tasted the parval he realized it was bitter. The attendant sadhu serving Swamishri asked, “Why didn’t you say anything after eating three slices of bitter parval?” Swamishri replied, “After eating one slice I thought the second one and the third one would not be bitter.”
Under such circumstances an ordinary person would have immediately rejected the boiled vegetable. But Swamishri did not utter a single word of complaint or show any sign of rejection on his face. Swamishri’s virtues of vairagya and non-taste became apparent to all.* * *On 15 December, Swamishri was travelling by car from Sarangpur to Surendranagar. An attendant sadhu gave Swamishri some pecans (a dry fruit similar to walnuts) to eat. Later, when the attendant sadhu ate one he found it to be rancid, yet Swamishri had not uttered a single word of complaint and neither had he expressed discontent on his face.
26 December 2017, Himmatnagar
Swamishri was eating a slice of boiled parval during dinner. The attendant sadhu serving him wondered whether the parval was bitter. When another attendant sadhu tasted the parval he realized it was bitter. The attendant sadhu serving Swamishri asked, “Why didn’t you say anything after eating three slices of bitter parval?” Swamishri replied, “After eating one slice I thought the second one and the third one would not be bitter.”
Under such circumstances an ordinary person would have immediately rejected the boiled vegetable. But Swamishri did not utter a single word of complaint or show any sign of rejection on his face. Swamishri’s virtues of vairagya and non-taste became apparent to all.* * *On 15 December, Swamishri was travelling by car from Sarangpur to Surendranagar. An attendant sadhu gave Swamishri some pecans (a dry fruit similar to walnuts) to eat. Later, when the attendant sadhu ate one he found it to be rancid, yet Swamishri had not uttered a single word of complaint and neither had he expressed discontent on his face.
26 December 2017, Himmatnagar
Unmindful of Physical Strain
Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj blessed 1,750 devotees and well-wishers during his personal meeting session. After the session, the administrative head (kothari)of the mandir bowed down at Swamishri’s feet and said, “Swami, thank you for giving your divine joy to all. However, we ask you to forgive us for putting you through a lot of strain [bhido]. Swami, it is our mistake for arranging a large number of devotees for your personal darshan.”
Swamishri was totally unmindful of the physical strain he had borne that day. He replied, “[For me] the growth of Satsang is rest. Maharaj, Swami and the gurus had travelled and endeavoured a lot. They made tremendous efforts.”
Swamishri’s face beamed with joy for having pleased the devotees. In addition, Swamishri, discounting his own physical efforts, deeply appreciated and sung the glory of Shriji Maharaj and his gurus’ intense efforts.
1 January 2018, Himmatnagar
Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj blessed 1,750 devotees and well-wishers during his personal meeting session. After the session, the administrative head (kothari)of the mandir bowed down at Swamishri’s feet and said, “Swami, thank you for giving your divine joy to all. However, we ask you to forgive us for putting you through a lot of strain [bhido]. Swami, it is our mistake for arranging a large number of devotees for your personal darshan.”
Swamishri was totally unmindful of the physical strain he had borne that day. He replied, “[For me] the growth of Satsang is rest. Maharaj, Swami and the gurus had travelled and endeavoured a lot. They made tremendous efforts.”
Swamishri’s face beamed with joy for having pleased the devotees. In addition, Swamishri, discounting his own physical efforts, deeply appreciated and sung the glory of Shriji Maharaj and his gurus’ intense efforts.
1 January 2018, Himmatnagar