In the quiet village of Lavarpur, near Gandhinagar, lived Rakeshbhai Patel — a man whose life had been chained by addiction for more than three decades. Alcohol and tobacco had slowly consumed him, draining not just his health but also his wealth, his land, and nearly his family.
His addiction ran so deep that even his son, Karan, began walking the same painful path. Rakeshbhai believed there was no turning back — that this was just how life would be.
But destiny had a different plan.
In 2022, Rakeshbhai visited the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Festival in Ahmedabad. He didn’t go seeking change or redemption; he simply went to serve. Day after day, in the heat, the dust, and the crowds, he offered his time and effort as seva (selfless service). Something inside him began to stir.
Then, one day, he had darshan (a sacred glimpse) of Mahant Swami Maharaj. No words were spoken. Just a silent moment — a glance. Yet in that moment, something within him broke open, and something new awakened.
“I felt peace,” Rakeshbhai says. “As if Swamishri had pulled me from the edge.”
From that day forward, not a single puff, not a single drop. His decades-long addiction ended in an instant of divine grace.
Today, both father and son live completely addiction-free. What was once a home filled with pain and despair is now a haven of prayer, purpose, and satsang.
One moment. One glance. One saint.
That’s all it took to transform a life.
If you believe in second chances, in silent strength, and in the power of a pure soul to heal, remember this story. Change doesn’t always come with noise — sometimes, it comes in silence.
To know more about Mahant Swami Maharaj: https://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/TheFounder%E2%80%93BhagwanSwaminarayan/TheSpiritualLineage-TheGuruParampara/Mahant-Swami-Maharaj.aspx
Mahant Swami Maharaj: An Introductory Film on the Spiritual Leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s1OeBc3lHw&t=9s
BAPS Website: https://www.baps.org/
+ There are no comments
Add yours