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- 3 January
2005 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar vad 7) Monday, Selvas, Athal, Selvas
Through the blessings
and efforts of Swamishri and the vicharan of sadhus, out of
72 villages in Selvas and Dadranagar Haveli Satsang has spread
in 55 villages.
After his morning puja, Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha
rituals of pujan and arti of the murtis for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir (hari mandir) in the village of Kudacha.
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- 11 January
2005 (V.S. 2061; Posh sud 1) Tuesday, Mumbai
After Pujya Viveksagar
Swami’s elaboration on a Vachanamrut the evening assembly
program celebrated Swamishri’s 65th diksha anniversary.
Four children spoke on different aspects of Swamishri’s
personality. Then a dance was presented on the bhajan, “Malya
mune Shastriji Maharaj...” Finally, Swamishri expounded
on a talk from the Swamini Vato and blessed the assembly.
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- 12 January
2005 (V.S. 2061; Posh sud 2) Wednesday, Mumbai
The Swaminarayan dhun
was chanted throughout Swamishri’s puja for a favorable
verdict on the Akshardham case in New Delhi. The dhun was continued
by sadhus and devotees after breakfast before Thakorji. At 11.45
am the Sanstha’s solicitor, Shri Sandip Mehta, broke the
news that the Supreme Court gave the judgment that the construction
of Akshardham is not illegal and there has been no encroachment
of land. The Supreme Court had dismissed the plaintiff’s
charges as invalid. Shri Harish Salve’s services as the
advocate for the Sanstha were noteworthy.
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- 14 January
2005 (V.S. 2061; Posh sud 5) Friday, Mumbai; Uttarayan
At 5.30 pm, while on
the way to the Uttarayan celebration venue Swamishri visited
the BAPS Pramukh Swami Eye Hospital in Sion, Mumbai. Swamishri
blessed the doctors and staff members in the hospital auditorium.
On arriving at Bhakti Park, a garden owned by the Ajmera family,
Pujya Viveksagar Swami’s speech was over and Pujya Adarshjivan
Swami was addressing the assembly of 14,000 devotees. The senior
devotees welcomed Swamishri with different garlands. Thereafter,
youths performed a traditional welcome dance and sadhus sang
a bhajan. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “The
more God is pleased the more happiness and peace will prevail
in one’s heart, social life and in business. By serving
with devotion, no matter how small it may be, one receives infinite
fruits. Whatever devotion one does in the house of God one is
blessed with liberation. Service done with devotion gives inner
peace. The devotion of Dada Khachar was such that Maharaj became
pleased upon him.”
In conclusion Swamishri proclaimed the joli call, ‘Narayan
Hare Sachchidanand Prabho’ with two joli bags hanging
from his shoulders .
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Three Principles of Management
- 6 January 2005, (V.S.
2061, Maghshar vad 10) thursday, Mumbai
A satsangi youth from abroad showed Swamishri
the plans for some mandirs. The youth and other volunteers were working
extremely hard to accomplish the deadline given by Swamishri.
With reference to this the youth echoed the burden of the project,
“Swami, we simply don’t get enough time to rest or sleep.”
Swamishri advised, “God is going to do everything. You just
have to keep endeavoring. Remember God while working. He is the doer.
Secondly, always say that it is going to be done but do not speak
weakly. Thirdly, when you all get together to discuss, you must accept
the result of what is decided in the meeting. Don’t criticize
each other. Unity should be a priority.”
Swamishri outlined the three principles of management, namely, God
as the doer and personal effort, to speak in a spiritual manner but
not weakly and to work unitedly.
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Power
of Effort and Refuge in God
- 6 January 2005, (V.S.
2061, Maghshar vad 10) Thursday, Mumbai
An unhappy aspirant expressed his woes,
“There is no success in the business I’m running. I believe
that many years ago someone had given me food that was illomened.
When I was young my jealous aunt had given me something to eat that
was charmed with bad mantras...”
“What is your aunt doing now?” interrupted Swamishri.
“She is dead,” replied the aspirant.
“Then give up your thought about your aunt. What can she do
to you now! Start putting in more effort in your business. Pray to
God. Nobody had given you anything bad to eat. Give up the superstition
you have. God is your protector. You have refuge in God. Then what
can anyone else do to you!”
Swamishri infused strength and self-confidence in the aspirant and
emphasized the power of refuge in God.
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Tolerance
in Silence
- 8 January 2005, (V.S.
2061, Maghshar vad 13) Saturday, Mumbai
Swamishri blessed a youth for success
in his business. Then he asked him about the state of his relation
with his family.
“O, everything is superb,” the youth replied enthusiastically.
“Do you beat your wife?” Swamishri asked.
The youth became quiet and ashamed.
“Are you a satsangi?”
“Yes.”
“Then, is this what you learn in Satsang!”
Then Swamishri advised him, “By living a married life you have
to shoulder the responsibilities. Do not get angry. When you get irritated
then chant ‘Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan...’. When you become
angry during a row then simply leave the scene immediately. Make efforts
not to get angry at all. Restrain your speech. Start reading satsang
books and live according to the preachings of Satsang.”
“Swami, bless me for peace of mind,” the youth prayed.
“Peace lies within you. If you stop getting angry then you will
have peace. By remaining quiet there will be peace. When someone is
telling you off, you should be tolerant. Then there will be peace
in your house.”
Swamishri emphasized the need to integrate spiritual principles in
life.
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Study
Tips
- 9 January 2005, (V.S.
2061, Maghshar vad 14) Sunday, Mumbai
“I read but by my mind is restless,”
revealed a student to Swamishri.
“When you read with the belief that you will not be able to
do it then nothing works. Strive more and pray to stabilise your mind.
If you read properly then you won’t have problems. Before reading
chant ‘Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan’. Do it and your mind
will not be restless. Don’t give up or get bored. You have my
blessings. You’ll get confidence and strength.”
“But I cannot remember after reading,” the student added.
“First resolve in your mind that you want to study. And if you
read with that attitude then you won’t have problems. But when
you want to just roam around, then how can you remember!”
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Realizing
One's Atma
- 11 January 2005,
(V.S. 2061, Posh vad 1) Tuesday, Mumbai
A youth asked Swamishri, “How can I realise
my atma?”
“Through spiritual association (samagam). One understands one’s
study books and progresses further in studies through the guidance
of a teacher. Likewise, through the spiritual association of a Sadhu
one gets knowledge and realises one’s atma.”
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Prescription
for One's Soul
- 11 January 2005,
(V.S. 2061, Posh vad 1) Tuesday, Mumbai
A doctor and satsangi youth came for Swamishri’s
darshan. Formerly, as a child and teenager he used to regularly attend
the mandir and satsang assembly. But recently, due to a lot of work,
he has become irregular in attending the Sunday satsang assembly.
Swamishri reminded him, “Whatever you have studied and achieved
is all due to the grace and blessings of God and Yogiji Maharaj. It
is good of you to serve by treating the sadhus but you should come
to listen to spiritual discourses. You do know the command of Yogiji
Maharaj! Even if you can earn a profit of Rs. 25,000 you should give
it up and come. If you come regularly then your grandparents will
be very happy. I am telling you so because your family is related
to Satsang from the time of Yogiji Maharaj.”
On learning that he treats devotees free of cost, Swamishri added,
“It is the duty of a doctor not to take fees from a poor devotee,
but does he not have to do something for his own soul? The assembly
and spiritual association is for the elevation of your soul. So do
come regularly from now onwards.”
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Liberation
from Immorality
- 11 January 2005,
(V.S. 2061, Posh vad 1) Tuesday, Mumbai
Mr. Chitaliya, the Bureau Chief of Divya
Bhaskar, a Gujarati daily, asked Swamishri, “On the one hand
we see an increase in mandirs and religious places of worship and
on the other hand the attack on our culture has increased through
TV and cinema theatres. Consequently people go astray. What thought
prevents a person from straying?”
Swamishri replied, “People become morally wayward due to the
immoral things shown on TV and in theatres. Man indulges in sense
pleasures because it is in his soul. As a result it does not take
long to lose virtues and good thoughts. There are vices in the soul,
therefore one should make a person understand that these things are
wrong. You should give them up. But the problem is he does it because
of his desires. Those who screen or sell such things do it for money.
Despite a ban on liquor people sell it. So, when the consumer resolves
not to take it then there will be no problems. People should think
that there is no happiness in doing immoral things. One learns this
through spiritual education. Spiritual education is that which dissolves
desires in one’s soul. And so the soul is transformed. To achieve
all this one has to make effort. We keep on talking to people to give
up addictions and only a few give them up. We get 25% success. The
main thing is not to give up. If one makes an effort then transformation
takes place.”
Mr. Chitaliya asked, “What is your message for those who want
to come out from the dirt of immorality?”
Swamishri replied, “Many love to remain in the dirt. A worm
that wallows in faeces is not pleased to be in a garden. If a person
wants to really come out then he would come out. If he gives up bad
company then it is possible to give it up. It is because of spiritual
ignorance that he wallows in it. But when spiritual knowledge dawns
he has no problems.”
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Family
Harmony
- 13 January 2005,
(V.S. 2061, Posh vad 4) Thursday, Mumbai
An 80-year-old satsangi man came for Swamishri’s
blessings. Swamishri was aware of his family problems and asked him,
“How are things with you now?”
“There’s an improvement,” the old man replied.
“Now that you are old you should be calm. Worship God. Is it
proper for a satsangi to behave in this manner? Patch up and stay
together. Do not be suspicious of anyone. You are a satsangi, so is
this the command of Maharaj?”
Swamishri was talking to the elderly man as if he was advising a youth.
Swamishri was aware that the old man used to beat his 75-year-old
wife everyday and was suspicious of her character. Because of his
harassment she had left him.
The old man spoke, “At present she is in a town near the Himalayas.”
“No matter where she is, you should call her back. It is not
proper of you to do this at this age. It brings disgrace to Satsang
and disrepute to Maharaj.”
“I am tired of making her understand,” the old man replied.
“But who is it that needs understanding? You or her? And aren’t
there ways of making someone understand? But when you scold her by
saying that you are like this and like that, then any person would
lose his or her mind. If you want to make someone understand then
do it calmly.”
“Swami, I’ll do whatever you say,” the old man concluded.
Swamishri endeavors to repair broken families and establishes harmony
and friendship.
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