Tag: Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Finding Freedom from Swabhāvs…
The most recent episode of Satsang Conversations whisks us to the Sant Talim Kendra in Sarangpur, Gujarat, where a circle of sādhu-students reflect on Vachanamrut Gadhadā II-7, “A Poor Man.” Though the passage is short, its message is disarmingly practical: our inborn swabhāvs – habits such as anger, stubbornness, jealousy or ego – are the hidden disease that keeps us from tasting lasting peace. The cure, Shriji Maharaj explains, begins with vairāgya (detachment), but for most of us it flowers through one very concrete discipline: atiśay sevā – stepping beyond comfort to serve the Satpurush and his Satsang. The sadhus [Read More…]
The Secret of Success lies in Steady Steps: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
A single drop is easy to overlook. Yet let that drop fall, unhurried and uninterrupted, and soon it becomes a stream, then a pool, then a lake that carves its own landscape. We see the same quiet power in the Great Wall of China: 13,000 miles long, but laid brick by patient brick, day after day, dynasty after dynasty. No one celebrated any single brick; together they formed a wonder visible from space. Life—yours and mine—unfolds in just the same way. Bhagwan Swaminarayan distilled this truth beautifully: consistent, wholehearted effort turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Imagine giving your body [Read More…]
Inner Richness is Humility, not Pride: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
Ego is perhaps the subtlest barrier on our spiritual journey: it can insinuate itself even into the most noble of virtues—devotion, renunciation, knowledge, or disciplined vows—turning them from ladders into stumbling blocks. The moment we find ourselves thinking, “I am more devoted,” or “I understand better,” pride has taken root and humility slips away. A timeless Sanskrit proverb captures this beautifully: “The branches of a tree laden with fruit bend downward, just as virtuous persons bow humbly, but dry wood and fools never bend.” In this image, the heaviest branches are those most fruitful, bowing under the abundance they bear; [Read More…]
Mastering your Influences
This week on Satsang Conversations, we traveled virtually to the serene BAPS Mandir in Johannesburg, South Africa. Joined by Pujya Snehmuni Swami and Pujya Adarshmuni Swami, the discussion centered on a profound section of the Vachanamrut: Gadhada Section 1, Number 78. This Vachanamrut tackles a fundamental question about the forces that shape our lives: what holds more sway – our past actions (karma) or our present circumstances and choices? Maharaj’s Pivotal Question: Past Karma vs. Present Factors Shriji Maharaj, in his characteristic way of sparking deep thought, posed a question to the assembled swamis and devotees: Which influences our lives more [Read More…]
Finding true Fulfillment beyond Validation: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
There’s a subtle chain that often goes unnoticed in the pursuit of success — the need to be admired. It hides behind ambition, it dresses up as drive, and sometimes, it even disguises itself as self-improvement. But beneath it all, it’s vanity — a craving for validation, a thirst for recognition, a constant measuring of our worth against others. Vanity isn’t just about appearances. It’s not limited to how we look or how others perceive our style. It goes deeper. It’s the desire to impress, the itch to be acknowledged, the silent question that asks, “Do I matter more now?” [Read More…]
Lyrical Reflections: For the realized soul, all grief has flown…
In a world dominated by appearances, expectations, and endless cravings, the teachings of the great poet-saints of India offer not just solace but awakening. Muktanand Swami, a beloved paramhansa of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, was one such spiritual luminary. His bhajans are not mere verses—they are the lived wisdom of one who had tasted the Divine. In this reflective composition, Muktanand Swami speaks of the anubhavi, the realized soul, and paints a portrait of what it means to live from within rather than react to the world outside. “Anubhavine apda antarthi bhagi re…”For the realized soul, sorrow no longer holds sway. Why? [Read More…]
Winning the Spiritual Battle
This week on Satsang Conversations, we journeyed to the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi to unpack a particularly resonant section of the Vachanamrut: Gadhada 1-70, aptly titled “Kakabhai’s Question.” This episode delved into the internal struggles we all face and how, with faith and right action, we can find a state of “befikr” (carefreeness) amidst life’s chaos. A Timeless Setting, a Timeless Question: Just like the conversations held by Bhagwan Swaminarayan centuries ago, our discussion unfolded in an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds could openly explore profound questions. Kakabhai’s simple yet powerful inquiry resonated deeply: “Deep within one’s [Read More…]
Lyrical Reflections: Your life is wasting away, without worship…
Life often feels like a relentless pursuit of desires and fleeting pleasures. We get so absorbed in the superficial glitter of the world that we fail to acknowledge the deeper reality of our existence. Brahmanand Swami’s bhajan powerfully reveals this truth and offers a sobering reminder of the ignorance that clouds our vision. As we journey through life, we remain trapped in illusions, foolishly believing that worldly pleasures will bring us lasting happiness. Yet, as Brahmanand Swami points out, death approaches relentlessly, a truth we choose to ignore. This ignorance blinds us to the higher purpose of life, leading us [Read More…]
The Power of Forgiveness: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
Forgiveness is a strength, not a weakness. The life of Nelson Mandela exemplifies this truth. Despite enduring 27 years of imprisonment, facing relentless suffering and harsh conditions, Mandela emerged from captivity not with anger, but with an incredible sense of forgiveness. As he once said, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Mandela’s release and subsequent rise to power as South Africa’s first black president was not just a political victory; it was a triumph of [Read More…]
Lyrical Reflections: Worshipping Hari brings true joy, understand O mind…
True love for God is not just an ideal to be spoken of; it is a reality that blossoms in the presence of a soul who has transcended the illusions of this world. The saint who has realized the divine does not merely guide; he transforms. His presence alone ignites the flame of pure love for God within the hearts of those who seek truth. It is this pure love that dispels delusions no other could conquer, lifting the veil of ignorance that binds us to fleeting desires and falsehoods. Compassion is the truest mark of the divine. A soul [Read More…]
Finding Freedom from Swabhāvs…