A Spiritual Travelogue of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

16 February 2002, Auckland, New Zealand
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22 February 2002,Auckland, New Zealand
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25 February 2002, Singapore
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Auckland (3 pages)
Singapore
New Delhi (4 pages)
Download (3,659KB ) (Auckland, Singapore)
Download (4,544KB ) (New Delhi)

Swamishri's Itinerary

Highlights:

February 2002

18 to 23:
24:
25:
26:
27 to 28:

Auckland
Auckland, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore, N. Delhi
N. Delhi

20 February 2002 (VS 2058, Maha sud 8) Wednesday, Auckland
- At 11.15 p.m., Swamishri visited the Radhakrishna Mandir for darshan. Swamishri performed arti and blessed the trustees.
  Thereafter, Swamishri visited the Bharatiya Mandir for darshan. After performing arti, Swamishri briefly addressed the congregation.
- In the evening, after the Shikshapatri parayan by Pujya Viveksagar Swami, the Kishores enacted the drama on Joban Pagi's transformation.
22 February 2002 (VS 2058, Maha sud 10) Friday, Auckland
- At 11.20 a.m., Swamishri went to Mt Eden, the highest point in Auckland. Swamishri had Shri Harikrishna Maharaj bless the entire city with His grace and divinity. Then, Swamishri took the sanctified flowers and showered them on the city, saying, "It is a good city. Let us pray for the progress and goodness of this city." Then everyone joined in the chanting of dhun, and in conclusion Swamishri said, "Now that it has been blessed by Harikrishna Maharaj everyone will be redeemed."
- In the evening assembly, the kishores performed a short drama on the honesty of Govind Bhagat. Finally, Swamishri addressed the assembly.
23 February 2002 (V.S. 2058, Maha sud 11) Saturday, Auckland. Bal-Kishore Day
- From 9.30 am to 12.00 noon, a special Bal-Kishore program with the theme 'Be the Best' was organized. Speeches by sadhus, a question-answer session with kishores and recitation of verses by balaks were presented before Swamishri's arrival. Finally, Swamishri addressed the balaks and kishores, saying, "Everybody desires to be great and the best. But there are two sides to being the best - the good way and the bad way. We should not become great by making others miserable or by persecuting them but by making others happy…An ideal or best kishore is one who attains first rank in class, who preserves his character and who pleases his parents in all that he does...One requires the strength of God and the blessings of the holy Sadhu to progress in one's goal... You must nourish one thought that you want to become the best of all. To achieve degrees in medicine, engineering, etc. is good, but even further than this is to become a devotee or servant of God...
- In the afternoon, a women's convention was held in the mandir in which 700 ladies had participated.
- In the evening assembly, after the conclusion of the Shikshapatri parayan, the balaks and kishores performed a drama about the little boy who defeated his mind to offer a pumpkin to Shriji Maharaj. Then the kishores performed an impressive mandir-dance.
  The highlight of the evening assembly was the honoring of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. The murti of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was carried in a decorated palanquin by festively adorned kishores and youths. After a brief procession in the mandir hall, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was placed on a decorated seat on stage. Swamishri finally addressed the audience.
24 February 2002 (V.S. 2058, Maha sud 12) Sunday, Auckland, Singapore
- After his morning puja, Swamishri blessed all the devotees with words of wisdom.
- At 3.00 pm, Swamishri was given an emotional farewell by the devotees of Auckland and welcomed in Singapore by the devotees at 8.00 pm (1.00 pm NZ time)
26 February 2002 (V.S. 2058, Maha sud 14) Tuesday, Singapore, N.Delhi
- At 7.00 pm, Swamishri departed from Singapore and throughout the flight read Satsang literature.
- At 9.55 pm (IST) Swamishri landed in New Delhi and was welcomed by senior sadhus and dignitaries.
28 February 2002 (V.S. 2058, Maha vad 1) Thursday, N.Delhi
- At 9.30 am, Swamishri arrived at the Akshardham site and saw the newly acquired land, the ongoing construction of Akshardham complex and the construction of the mandir and Sant ashram.
- In the evening, Shri Kashiram Rana, Central Textile Minister, came for Swamishri's darshan and blessings.

Living with Swamishri :

Inner Peace

18 February 2002, Auckland

Prior to retiring for the night, Swamishri saw the youths and teenagers standing outside his door.
"Is everything alright?" Swamishri enquired.
"Yes, everything is fine," everyone said.
"The body is fine, but it is important that the atma be fine," someone added.
At this, Swamishri elaborated and said, "That's what I had been asking, is your atma fine or not? The body may be healthy or ill, but the atma should be fine. That is what you should strive for. There is food, drink and everything for the body, however, to have peace within one's atma is important. And this is attained through the power of bhajan, satsang, reading good books and obeying the commands of Yogiji Maharaj. Then, there will be peace, happiness and happiness! Heaps of happiness. God's happiness is infinite. If one remains absorbed in it, then one will transcend honour and insult."

Solutions to Anger and Laziness

24 February 2002, Auckland to Singapore

Swamishri was travelling by Singapore Airlines from Auckland to Singapore. During the flight, Kirtan, a boy of thirteen, asked Swamishri a few questions.
Kirtan: I get very angry! How can I overcome it?
Swamishri: Whenever you get angry, remember Shriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj and chant, 'Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan,' in your mind. By remembering Maharaj your anger will subside. Now, just think where is the need to get angry? There is no gain by getting angry on anyone. By getting angry, your work is not done. In fact the other person is left miserable and distressed. By doing bhajan, chanting 'Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan,' the distress of the other person, and yours, is dissolved.
Kirtan: I am very lazy. How can I get rid of it?
Swamishri: That you shouldn't have at all. How can you be lazy at such a young age. If you have laziness at this age, then you won't be able to study and will never get a good job. Laziness is your enemy. Think likewise and get rid of it.
Wake up early in the morning. Engage yourself in prayer and study. You should not be lazy in any type of work. Don't say 'later', do your work 'now'. Don't leave your study, lessons, your mala for tomorrow or later. Do it today.
After a while, Swamishri asked Kirtan, "Now I'll ask you a question. When you grow up will you be as good as you are now? Because children get spoilt when they grow up. They don't come to Satsang, don't do puja and they get into bad company. God will be happy and grant you moksha if you maintain satsang in your life."
Kirtan promised Swamishri that he would maintain satsang in his life.