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 was on his way to bathe. For most of us, such a moment marks a natural boundary—first, I finish what I need to do; then I’ll help others.
But for Swamishri, the spiritual compass points in the opposite direction.
When his attendant asked whether replying to letters while exercising made him tired, Swamishri simply smiled and said:
“This is my seva, my service.”
In that single line lies a worldview: seva isn’t an activity; it’s an identity.
Seeing Souls, Not Letters
To Swamishri, every letter wasn’t a task—it was a life. A hope. A worry. A heart reaching out.
His responses weren’t mechanical; they were deeply human.
“It was someone’s life, someone’s worry, someone’s hope.”
This is the rare ability to see divinity in the smallest details of another person’s life.
A Hallway Becomes a Classroom of Compassion
Choosing Service Over Comfort
As Swamishri reached the bathroom, he noticed a sadhu waiting with more letters. Without hesitation—without a thought for the heat, fatigue, or the schedule—he said:
“Come, let’s go through them.”
His attendants gently urged him to bathe first.
But for Swamishri, their needs always came before his.
Patience That Teaches Without Words
There in the hallway, he stood and listened as each letter was read aloud. He offered thoughtful replies—carefully, lovingly—before finally going for his bath. And when more letters came later, he answered those too.
The message was unmistakable: compassion isn’t postponed.
Seva as a Reflection of Spiritual Oneness
Putting Souls Above Schedules
In a world where convenience often dictates our choices, Swamishri’s example invites us to make decisions from a place of love, not comfort. For him, people weren’t interruptions—they were the purpose.
“People always came before his own comfort.”
This is the essence of Ekantik Dharma—offering oneself fully, in every moment, as an instrument of God.
Spiritual Leadership Through Action
Mahant Swami Maharaj didn’t preach about selflessness; he practiced it in small, unseen, and unrecorded moments. These are the moments that shape saints. These are the moments that inspire devotees.
Living This Teaching in Our Daily Lives
A Small Pause, A Big Impact
The story closes with a simple message that speaks directly to us:
Pause your own plans this week to help someone.
It might be small for you—but for them, it could mean the world.
Let Every Act Become Seva
Whether it’s listening to a friend, supporting a family member, volunteering at mandir, or showing kindness to a stranger—each action becomes sacred when done with love and surrender.
Conclusion: The Seva We Choose Shapes the Devotee We Become
Mahant Swami Maharaj’s quiet, humble act in that hallway is more than an anecdote—it’s a spiritual blueprint. It reminds us that seva is not measured by scale but by sincerity. When we choose others over our conveniences, we move a little closer to the ideal he embodies.
This week, let us live one extra moment of seva.
One extra act of kindness.
One extra choice to put someone else first.
In doing so, we honour his example—and become the devotees he inspires us to be.
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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