Author: BAPS Volunteers
Letting go of what fades…: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
The Illusion of Permanence When What We Chase Keeps Slipping Away We spend so much of life collecting—possessions, recognition, followers, and moments of fleeting success. Yet each treasure eventually fades. Cars rust, phones become outdated, careers stall, and even the reflection in the mirror changes with the seasons. Gunatitanand Swami’s timeless reminder pierces this illusion: “All of creation is perishable.” This simple truth is not meant to depress us but to awaken us. Everything we see, own, and admire carries an invisible expiry date. Still, the mind whispers, “Just one more purchase, one more achievement, one more compliment…”—as though the [Read More…]
Accepting Humility just from a Pair of Sandals : A Memorable Moment with Mahant Swami Maharaj
A Quiet Evening, A Powerful Gesture When Reverence Stopped the World for a Moment September 4, 2018 – Ahmedabad. The evening was calm as Guruhari Mahant Swami Maharaj stepped out for a simple walk through the mandir’s corridors. But a few steps later, something extraordinary unfolded in the most ordinary of places. As he passed by the kitchen, Swamishri noticed a neatly arranged line of sandals belonging to sadhus—simple, worn, and unremarkable to most. Yet in that humble row of footwear, he saw holiness. Without hesitation, he paused, folded his hands, and bowed his head in full pranam. “Here was [Read More…]
He cares not for one’s form or clan, But seeks devotion’s steady hand…
Love—the Language God Listens To Beyond Name, Race, or Ritual Muktanand Swami begins this exquisite composition with a truth that unites all seekers across time: God is won not by status or scholarship, but by love. “The dark-hued Lord, so full of grace,Is won by love—not name or race.He cares not for one’s form or clan,But seeks devotion’s steady hand.” In every era and every culture, humans have tried to approach God through action, intellect, and austerity. Yet Muktanand Swami—one of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s foremost paramhansas—reminds us that love (prem bhakti) is the truest path to His heart. God is not [Read More…]
Inner Richness is Humility, not Pride: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
The Quiet Enemy Within Ego doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it whispers through our virtues, disguising itself as devotion, knowledge, or discipline. Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings remind us that ego isn’t only about arrogance or pride in worldly success—it can also seep into our spiritual pursuits. Whether we take pride in our bhakti (devotion), vairagya (detachment), or dharma (righteous conduct), the sense of “I” can quietly take root. “I do not like ego—whether it arises from one’s virtues of bhakti, renunciation, understanding, or observance of vows.” These words pierce through the spiritual façade that ego often hides behind. Even noble qualities lose [Read More…]
Finding True Value: A Memorable Moment with Mahant Swami Maharaj
In a world driven by the allure of the latest gadget, the trendiest outfit, and the next big purchase, it’s all too easy to lose sight of what really matters. We chase after material comforts, hoping they’ll fill the void inside us, only to discover that the emptiness remains. Yet, hidden in the life of Mahant Swami Maharaj is a quiet counterpoint to this relentless pursuit—a story of humility, devotion, and unwavering simplicity that offers a profound lesson for us all. The Tale of a Two-Anna Rosary On November 21, 2016, during his daily cheshta—a ritual of devotion—Pujya Mahant Swami [Read More…]
All who praise the Lord are raised…
The Transformative Power of Devotion True bhakti is not measured by status, scholarship, or birth—but by the sincerity of one’s heart. In the timeless Gujarati verse “Hari bhajta sahu motap pame,” Muktanand Swami beautifully captures this truth. Those who devote themselves to Bhagwan are lifted beyond the cycle of birth and death, freed from sorrow and filled with divine strength. “All who praise the Lord are raised,Freed from birth and death—unfazed.Like iron touched by mystic stone,They shine like gold all on their own.” When iron meets the touchstone, it becomes gold; likewise, when a soul meets Hari, it transforms. Devotion [Read More…]
Mastering your Influences
The Company You Keep: How Your Associations Shape Your Spiritual Destiny In the spiritual journey, we often wonder what determines our path. Is it our past karma? Divine grace? Or something more within our control? The ancient wisdom of the Vachanamrut reveals a profound truth about what truly shapes our spiritual destiny. The Eight Factors That Influence Your Life Shriji Maharaj identifies eight key factors that actively influence our present reality: Desh (place), Kaal (time), Kriya (actions), Sang (company), Mantra (words), Shastra (scriptures), Diksha (initiation), and Dhyan (thoughts). These aren’t abstract concepts but practical elements we encounter daily. Your Present [Read More…]
Winning at Life: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
What if you could win at everything—and still lose at life? Gunatitanand Swami gives us a powerful reminder: You could spoil ten million tasks and still make progress in your liberation. And on the flip side, you could perfect ten million tasks—and still lose everything that actually matters. Think about that. We chase careers, promotions, wealth, reputation. We pour our energy into building lives that look successful from the outside. But if we lose sight of our soul’s purpose—liberation—what have we truly gained? Because real success isn’t about how much we accomplish. It’s about whether we’re moving closer to freedom [Read More…]
Seeing Extraordinary in Every Soul: A Memorable Moment with Mahant Swami Maharaj
March 16, 2019. Navsari, Gujarat. The evening celebration had just concluded. Mahant Swami Maharaj, having blessed the assembly, quietly made his way to the car waiting to take him back to the Sant Ashram. As the vehicle gently pulled away, his gaze caught something that made him pause. There they were—lined up with innocent smiles and hopeful eyes—a group of young boys, patiently waiting for one last glimpse of their beloved Guru. A sevak sant, noticing Swamishri’s glance, leaned forward and explained, “Swami, these are the boys who performed for you tonight.” Instantly, Swamishri’s eyes welled up with love. These [Read More…]
Lyrical Reflections: One who dares to take that leap, Finds pearls of truth in oceans deep…
In the journey of life, few questions haunt the heart as deeply as: What is real? What is lasting? What lies beyond this fleeting world?For the realized souls—those rare ones who have turned inward and touched the eternal—the answers are not theoretical. They are lived truths, revealed in silence, in surrender, and in stillness. Muktanand Swami, the great paramhansa of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, distills these profound insights into his timeless bhajans. In this spiritual composition, he describes the path, the experience, and the outcome of realization—not for the curious, but for the committed seeker. “Anubhavi anandma Govind gave re…”The wise joyously [Read More…]