On the evening of October 9, 2016, in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, the sun had dipped low, casting soft golden hues over the BAPS campus. The air was calm, the atmosphere reverent. Mahant Swami Maharaj, having completed his evening engagements, began his walk back to his room.
As he stepped onto the metal bridge connecting the Sabha Hall to the Pradakshina path, a familiar scene unfolded. Devotees—many of whom had stood there countless times before—waited eagerly for his darshan. Their eyes shimmered with devotion. Their hands folded with hope. Their hearts beat with silent prayers.
Swamishri paused.
He didn’t glance briefly and move on. No. He stopped, folded his hands in return, and looked—truly looked—into the eyes of every single person. His expression carried the weight of deep love and humble reverence. For him, it wasn’t a routine. It was a moment. A sacred exchange between soul and soul.
Watching this, a sadhu nearby—Yogvijay Swami—couldn’t help but comment, “Swami, they’re all the same people.”
Perhaps he meant it innocently. Perhaps he wondered why Swamishri paused with such devotion, even after seeing the same faces again and again.
But Swamishri’s response was swift—and unforgettable.
“So what if they are the same people?” he replied, with a hint of irritation. “If we do darshan of them a thousand times, it’s still not enough.”
That’s the essence of Mahant Swami Maharaj.
To him, no person is “just another” person. No moment is too small to care. Even if it’s the same devotee, standing in the same spot, day after day—Swamishri sees them anew, every time. His heart doesn’t grow weary. His love doesn’t lessen. His humility never pauses.
And that’s the lesson.
So often, we move through life on autopilot. We pass by the same people—at home, at work, at school—and we stop seeing them. We forget to smile at our parents. We miss saying thank you to the colleague who always helps. We take for granted the familiar, simply because it’s familiar.
But Swamishri teaches us something different. Something powerful.
If we truly love someone… seeing them a thousand times will still not be enough.
So today, let’s try to slow down. Let’s look up from our phones. Let’s truly see the people around us. Let’s meet their eyes. Let’s offer our presence—not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually.
Because every person matters.
And sometimes, the smallest act of genuine attention can echo louder than any grand gesture.
If this story moved you, take a moment—right now—to appreciate someone you see every day. Send them a message. Give them a smile. Tell them they matter.
Because they do.
And because Mahant Swami Maharaj has shown us, again and again, that no soul should ever go unseen.
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/
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