84th Birthday of Pramukh Swami Maharaj
19 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 8) Sunday, Navsari
As per Swamishri's instruction there was no celebration or mentioning of Swamishri's 85th birthday. His morning puja and blessings in the evening assembly were according to routine.
15 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 4) Wednesday, Navsari
* On the first day of Dhanurmas, when Thakorji begins studying for one month, Swamishri wrote a message on a slate, "We should have the resolve that we want to go to Akshardham. The Delhi Akshardham festival be celebrated supremely and hundreds of thousands avail of it and be blessed ..."
* In the evening satsang assembly Viveksagar Swami elaborated upon the Taittriya Upanishad. Thereafter youths performed a traditional dance and a drama called 'Survan Tak'.
20 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 9) Monday, Navsari
Swamishri participated in a yagna for the opening of the new assembly hall in the mandir precincts. A total of 810 devotees participated in the yagna. Finally, in his blessings Swamishri said, "Today, for the inauguration of the new assembly hall we are participating in a yagna. We listen to spiritual discourses, sing kirtan and bhajan and perform yagnas to please God... Shriji Maharaj has through an analogy explained that we should engage and sacrifice our senses in God, that is, with our eyes we should do His darshan and through our ears listen to His glory. By doing this day and night we attain a state where God is realized in our hearts and we see nothing but Him. When this happens then the yagna is said to have been completed..."
Atachment to God
15 December 2004, (V.S. 2061, Maghshar sud 4) Wednesday, Navsari
A devotee prayed to Swamishri, "Bless me so that my soul becomes attached to God."
"Keep remembering God and do bhajan," Swamishri replied concisely.
"Give me a mantra," the devotee requested.
'Say Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan."
Swamishri is constantly attached to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and remembers Him in all his activities. The holy name of God is his life and breath and he thus prescribed the means to become attached to God.
Remedy for Depression
15 December 2004, (V.S. 2061, Maghshar sud 4) Wednesday, Navsari
A depressed and frustrated young man was brought by his relatives to receive Swamishri's blessings. The young man voiced that due to a particular problem he was losing his faith in God.
Swamishri confidently advised him, "No matter what happens you should not lose faith in God. God is essance base and support of everything. It is because of Him that we all exist. Any misery or pain due to one's fate is no reason to become depressed. Tell me what exactly is your problem?"
"I always worry about my son's future! And supposing if my business runs down, then what!"
Swamishri reassured him, "Your business will run well. It is by God's wish that everything happens. Nothing happens by anyone else's will . You work hard then your business will run well. But if you keep on thinking about the future then instead of it running, it will collapse. So don't think otherwise.
"See, just as God helped you grow then don't you think God will not help your son grow big and be successful. Have faith in God. God is the all-doer."
The young man left resuscitated with his faith, hope and strength revived.
Lessen in Service
18 December 2004, (V.S. 2061, Maghshar sud 7) Saturday, Navsari
Many youths from USA and India, who have decided to became sadhus, are traveling as sadhaks with Swamishri. Their daily routine involves them in various seva like washing utensils, slicing vegetables for cooking purposes, sweeping and mopping floors and washing clothes. They also take the opportunity of doing darshan and listening to spiritual discourses.
On 18 December 2004 Swamishri was in Navsari. One morning Swamishri was on his way to his room. He noticed the layers of cement and dirt stuck on the tiled pathway joining the kitchen and his room. For a few moments Swamishri stood there thinking about who to tell to clean up the pathway. One seeing the twenty-five sadhaks traveling with him Swamishri instructed them, "Since you are all traveling with me I would like all of you to clean this pathway now. There shouldn't be one single stain left. I will come here after lunch. Everyone start cleaning right now."
Like Yogiji Maharaj, Swamishri engaged the sadhaks from USA and abroad in seva. The young sadhaks were happy and charged at Swamishri's behest. Every sadhak immediately sat down to clean and scrub the pathway. Though they are not accustomed to menial services Swamishri's words charged them to action.
At around 1.30 pm, after having his lunch, Swamishri came to see the sadhaks doing seva. Swamishri expressed his joy on the sadhaks for doing seva and added, "You are doing it well, but clean the edges properly." Then Swamishri said, "Now that you have nearly done this I'd like you to clean the toilet and bathroom that is a little away from Thakorji's sanctum. You'll have to wash it and spray disinfectant... Do it properly and sincerely."
Swamishri told the sadhaks to wash all the toilets and bathrooms on the mandir precincts. The sadhaks happily agreed to Swamishri's agna (command) and toiled all day long.
Swamishri's method of training the sadhaks reminds one of the Upanishadic gurus who engaged their disciples in menial and physical services to dissolve their ego and body-consciousness. The gurus of Aruni, Upmanyu and Satyakam Jabali told them to tend to the cows and do menial services in the ashram and thus made them eligible for divine knowledge.
During his evening address to a satsang assembly at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bharuch Swamishri elaborated upon the ideal Guru-shishya relationship in the Upanishadic era.
28 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar vad 2) Tuesday, Tithal
At 10.50 am Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of the murti of Shri Nilkanth Varni in the hall beneath the mandir podium. Thereafter Swamishri performed pujan and bathed the murtis with panchamrut and water mixed with saffron. Then in his blessings to the devotees Swamishri said, "We first consecrated the murti of Nilkanth Varni in Bharuch and then abroad in Toronto, Chicago and London. Whosoever comes for darshan of this murti an performs abhishek (oblation) will have his wishes fulfilled. His problems too will be solved. But you need to have faith. If you have faith then your wishes will be realized. So you should offer devotion with your mind, body and wealth. Shabri was a tribal woman, but she remembered Ram with inner faith and thus Ram came..."
Swamishri performs the murti-pratishtha rituals for BAPS hari mandirs in the villages of Gadariya, Kharvada, Olgam, Achhavani, Kosamba Bhangda, Bhagdavad and Dungri
30 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar vad 4) Thursday, Tithal
After his morning puja Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of murtis for six BAPs hari mandirs for the villages of Gadariya (Dadar), Arvada, Olgam, Achavani, Kosamba Bhangda (Bhagdavad) and Dungri.
Swamishri performs the murti-pratishtha rituals of the murtis
31 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar vad 5) Friday, Tithal
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of ten BAPS kutir mandirs for ten villages, namely: Bilpodi (sherimal), Kangvi, Sundhalvan, Khanda-bhavada, Hanmalpal, Navi Madhni, Dharasana, Umarsadi, Potivada and Dhej
1 January 2005 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar vad 5) Saturday, Tithal (Kosamba)
o After puja, Swamishri performed the groundbreaking rituals (khatmuhurt) for five mandirs for the villages of Chimla, Segva, Khajurdi, Goima and Lilapur.
o At 7.00 pm, in the evening assembly, a report was given about the BAPS Tsunami relief services. Thereafter prayers (dhun) were offered by Swamishri for the peace and happiness of the tsunami victims.
20 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 9) Monday, Navsari
Swamishri participated in a yagna for the opening of the new assembly hall in the mandir precincts. A total of 810 devotees participated in the yagna. Finally, in his blessings Swamishri said, "Today, for the inauguration of the new assembly hall we are participating in a yagna. We listen to spiritual discourses, sing kirtan and bhajan and perform yagnas to please God... Shriji Maharaj has through an analogy explained that we should engage and sacrifice our senses in God, that is, with our eyes we should do His darshan and through our ears listen to His glory. By doing this day and night we attain a state where God is realized in our hearts and we see nothing but Him. When this happens then the yagna is said to have been completed..."
Swamishri performs the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for BAPS hari mandirs in Haladva, Navapur, Kolhakui, Areth villages
21 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 10) Tuesday, Sankari
o Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for four BAPS Swaminaryan Mandirs for the villages of Haldava, Navapur, Kolhakui and Areth. Thereafter Swamishri blessed the devotees from these villages.
o In the evening Swamishri blessed an assembly of 300 dignitaries who were mainly owners of sugar factories and leading social workers. On behalf of all the dignitaries Bhikhabhai N. Patel praised for Swamishri's services to society and thereafter presented Swamishri with a citation of honor.
23 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 12) Thursday, Sankari
At 11.00 am Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for BAPS Swaminaryan Mandirs for the villages of Betavad and Vadgam.
Swamishri in a happy, humble mood
26 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud 15) Sunday, Sankari
Every month more than 6,000 to 7,000 devotees assemble from neighboring villages for the Punam assembly at the Sankari mandir. Today in the presence of Swamishri 14,000 devotees were present in the morning Punam assembly. Swamishri in his blessings to the assembly, said, "Today is Punam. Here you get the opportunity to do Thakorji's darshan and listen to discourses. Both, darshan and discourses, are eternal. The material happiness is temporary. Because one has not realized this one runs after that happiness and expends one's entire life ... Bhagwan Swaminarayan has said that the essence of the four Vedas, six shastras, 18 Purans, Mahabharat and other scriptures is that God and His Sadhu are the means to moksha. We have all not read the shastras but the heart of what is preached is that we should give up this world and endeavor for moksha..."
Swamishri engages sadhaks from USA and abroad in seva
Many youths from USA and India, who have decided to became sadhus, are traveling as sadhaks with Swamishri. Their daily routine involves them in various seva like washing utensils, slicing vegetables for cooking purposes, sweeping and mopping floors and washing clothes. They also take the opportunity of doing darshan and listening to spiritual discourses.
On 18 December 2004 Swamishri was in Navsari. One morning Swamishri was on his way to his room. He noticed the layers of cement and dirt stuck on the tiled pathway joining the kitchen and his room. For a few moments Swamishri stood there thinking about who to tell to clean up the pathway. One seeing the twenty-five sadhaks traveling with him Swamishri instructed them, "Since you are all traveling with me I would like all of you to clean this pathway now. There shouldn't be one single stain left. I will come here after lunch. Everyone start cleaning right now."
Like Yogiji Maharaj, Swamishri engaged the sadhaks from USA and abroad in seva. The young sadhaks were happy and charged at Swamishri's behest. Every sadhak immediately sat down to clean and scrub the pathway. Though they are not accustomed to menial services Swamishri's words charged them to action.
At around 1.30 pm, after having his lunch, Swamishri came to see the sadhaks doing seva. Swamishri expressed his joy on the sadhaks for doing seva and added, "You are doing it well, but clean the edges properly." Then Swamishri said, "Now that you have nearly done this I'd like you to clean the toilet and bathroom that is a little away from Thakorji's sanctum. You'll have to wash it and spray disinfectant... Do it properly and sincerely."
Swamishri told the sadhaks to wash all the toilets and bathrooms on the mandir precincts. The sadhaks happily agreed to Swamishri's agna (command) and toiled all day long.
Swamishri's method of training the sadhaks reminds one of the Upanishadic gurus who engaged their disciples in menial and physical services to dissolve their ego and body-consciousness. The gurus of Aruni, Upmanyu and Satyakam Jabali told them to tend to the cows and do menial services in the ashram and thus made them eligible for divine knowledge.
During his evening address to a satsang assembly at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bharuch Swamishri elaborated upon the ideal Guru-shishya relationship in the Upanishadic era.
We present Swamishri's audio-blessing of that assembly