Author: BAPS Volunteers
The Quiet Power of Seeing Every Soul
Leadership That Leaves No One Unseen What if the greatest leaders aren’t remembered for the monuments they build—but for the people they uplift? In the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition, leadership is measured not by scale or speed, but by sensitivity. It is revealed in how patiently one looks at another human being, how fully one is present, and how deeply one believes that every soul matters. One quiet evening in Ahmedabad offers a living lesson in this truth—through the actions of Mahant Swami Maharaj. Leadership as Loving Attention Beyond Monuments, Toward Meaning Modern leadership often celebrates efficiency, outcomes, and expansion. But [Read More…]
The True Sadhu: Walking Hari’s Path in a World of Attachments
What does it really mean to live a spiritual life—not just in appearance, but in essence? In a world that constantly pulls us toward comfort, recognition, and indulgence, the verses attributed to Muktanand Swami offer a radical, clarifying vision of what it means to be a true sadhu. For BAPS Swaminarayan devotees, these teachings are not abstract poetry; they are practical signposts pointing toward a life centered on Hari, marked by inner freedom, balance, and unwavering devotion. This reflection is not about renunciation for its own sake. It is about discovering the joy and stability that arise when the heart [Read More…]
Compassion That Notices…
The Kind of Love That Turns Back Some spiritual lessons arrive through scriptures. Others arrive quietly—on the side of a road, under a blazing sun, remembered decades later by a saint who never forgot a single soul.This is one such lesson, lived by Mahant Swami Maharaj, and deeply resonant for every BAPS Swaminarayan devotee seeking to understand what genuine love truly looks like. Compassion That Notices Seeing Beyond the Crowd In spiritual life, compassion often begins with noticing. Noticing pain that others overlook. Noticing fatigue hidden behind silence. Noticing a soul who may never ask for help. Mahant Swami Maharaj [Read More…]
Beholding the Beloved…
Beholding the Beloved: Learning to See Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Everyday Life There are moments in bhakti when words stop being mere descriptions and become doorways. The verse “Dekhorī sakhī hamre piyājī kī chāl” is one such doorway—a poetic invitation to behold the divine grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan not only with the eyes, but with the heart. For BAPS Swaminarayan devotees, this composition by Premanand Swami is not just lyrical beauty; it is spiritual instruction wrapped in love. At its core, this kirtan teaches us how to see: how to notice God’s presence, how to feel transformed by His darshan, and [Read More…]
Serving Beyond the Self…
We live in a world that constantly measures us—by our achievements, status, wealth, and influence. But beneath these surface metrics lies a deeper question: What are we truly worth in the eyes of God?For devotees in the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition, this question is not abstract; it defines our spiritual purpose. True worth is not earned through what we accumulate, but through whom we serve and how sincerely we live in harmony with Bhagwan and His devotees. The Divine Measure of Worth Recognizing a Higher Standard Society may celebrate skill, fame, or fortune, but spiritual life demands a different kind of [Read More…]
True Greatness Is Never Self-Announced: A Memorable Moment with Mahant Swami Maharaj
Some stories don’t just inspire—they awaken. On 30 January 2023 in Sarangpur, Mahant Swami Maharaj revealed a lesson so profound that many spend their whole lives trying to learn it. It was not a discourse, a ritual, or even a celebration. It was a moment—soft, spontaneous, and deeply spiritual. This simple incident, involving a devotee named Pragat Bhagat, holds within it the essence of humility, devotion, and true greatness. And if you read only one reflection today—let it be this one. The Day Humility Took Center Stage A Lifetime of Quiet Service For fifty years, Pragat Bhagat served silently in [Read More…]
Seeing God the Way the Saints See Him…
When the Divine Lives in Our Eyes: Seeing God the Way the Saints See Him Every bhakta has whispered this prayer at some point in life: “May Maharaj stay with me—close, constant, and clear.”But what does it truly mean for God to “live within our eyes,” as Premanand Swami beautifully writes in his Chhabī?This devotional poetry is more than artistic expression—it is a spiritual blueprint for cultivating darshan in daily life. Below is a reflective, spiritually grounded essay—designed for BAPS Swaminarayan devotees—unpacking the essence of the verses and showing how their message can reshape our inner world. The Heart’s Darshan: [Read More…]
Discovering the Key to True Attainment…
For many of us, the pursuit of happiness is a constant companion. We chase success, build careers, and acquire possessions, yet a feeling of unfulfillment often lingers. The ancient wisdom of our faith offers a profound answer, one beautifully crystallized by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj in the scripture Satsang Diksha. This is not a guide to worldly achievement, but a manual for attaining ultimate peace, bliss, and an end to the inner search. It teaches us that the key to being “happy and blissful and peaceful in life” has been with us all along. I Am Blessed (Dhanyosmi) The journey [Read More…]
When Service Becomes a Way of Life: A Memorable Moment with Mahant Swami Maharaj
Few moments in life quietly shake us awake—reminding us what true compassion, humility, and service look like. This story of Mahant Swami Maharaj, set on an ordinary afternoon in June 2020, is one such moment. It challenges us to pause, reflect, and ask: Would I set aside my own comfort to uplift someone else? Below is a deeper exploration of that seemingly simple incident—and the profound spiritual principles it teaches all of us. The Heart of Seva: When Others Come First A Routine Interrupted, A Value Upheld Mahant Swami Maharaj had just finished his afternoon exercise in Nenpur, India, and [Read More…]
Hari is never his servant’s foe…
The verses of Nishkulānand Swami remind us of a truth every spiritual seeker eventually discovers: God’s ways are not always obvious, but they are always compassionate. 1. God Is Never Our Enemy—Even When Life Feels Difficult Understanding God’s Intentions We often interpret life’s challenges as obstacles, punishments, or evidence that God is distant. But Nishkulānand Swami flips this narrative entirely. He asserts that God is never against His devotee—His every act is meant for our spiritual upliftment. “Hari is never his servant’s foe… Whatever He does for us in life will end in our lasting good.” For the bhakta walking [Read More…]