Guru Purnima
21 July 2005 (V.S. 2061 Ashadh sud 15) Thursday, Bochasan; Guru Purnima
In the morning Guru Purnima assembly, the senior sadhus spoke of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s exemplary saintliness and unique glory as an ideal guru. Then, serveral new Swaminarayan Aksharpith publications were inaugurated: Pramukh Vandana – audio cassette with bhajans hailing the glory of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Swabhav-vash Sansar, a Gujarati publication written by Viveksagar Swami and Rishis, Mystics and Heroes of India, an English publication in colour written by Mukundcharan Swami.
Afterwards, Swamishri was honoured with garlands and then, finally, Swamishri blessed the 70,000 devotees who has gathered for the Guru Purnima festival, “Ved Vyas has written the glory of God in many scriptures. That form of God is explained as it is by the Gunatit Sadhu. And Maharaj has written in the Vachanamrut that He has brought such a sadhu (with Him) from Akshardham, as well as countless muktas and His powers. Bhagwan Swaminarayan came on this earth so that countless jivas could reach the divine Akshardham of God and attain moksha.”
24 July 2005 (V.S. 2061 Ashadh vad 4) Sunday, Bochasan
Blessing the morning assembly, Swamishri said, “This world is inanimate and perishable. It is a cause of misery. If this is understood then attachment for it is overcome. Our forefathers have gone and have not taken anything with them. They have left everything and gone. One has this knowledge that they have not taken anything, but one does not understand that we also have to leave everything and go. From all this, only that which is used for God is of (real) worth. So, God and His Sadhu are true. Peace and happiness is attained through them.”
31 July 2005 (V.S. 2061 Ashadh vad 11) Sunday, Bochasan; Children’s Day
For the first time, all children of the Bochasan region gathered for Children’s Day Programme in the presence of Swamishri in Bochasan.
In the morning assembly, the children asked Swamishri some questions.
Question: How can we children become dear to Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj and you? Please teach us the method.
Answers: Becoming dear (to them) means they shower their love on us, call us, listen to us, they become like us and play with us. For this you have to please God and His sadhus. Study well, obey your parents, do not eat improper food, do not eat out, bow (daily) to your parents and guru. If you obey their wishes, you will become dear to them. 85Do not steal, do not tell ties. If you copy in school (the teacher) is not pleased. Similarly, if you steal even in the mandir, God is not pleased.
Question: Please show us the key by which we can excel in studies and satsang.
Answers: To excel in studies go to school everyday. Whatever the teacher teaches, pay full attention and learn. But if you misbehave, you will not learn. Also, finish your homework daily. Whatever lessons have been given do them properly and do not watch TV. Only then can you excel in studies. The bad things shown on TV make bad impressions on your mind. So do not watch TV. If you have studied well, you can serve well, be of service to others and please God.
Second, to progress in satsang, listen to spiritual discourses. Do not misbehave, since good devotees behave peacefully. Satsang is the sang (company) of that which is sat (truth) – that is God and His Sadhu. The scriptures are true, so by reading them, eg. Vachanamrut, Swamini Vato, one is said to be keeping their company. Dharma is sat, so by obeying the Shikshapatri God is pleased and dharma is strengthened. There are four things which are sat: God, scriptures revealed by God, the dharma given by God and the Satpurush.
Also, the children of the Bochasan region asked Swamishri a written question: Swami Bapa, please write us a formula so that we may progress in every aspect of life.
In reply, Swamishri wrote: Offer bhajans (worship) to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Develop unshakeable love, atmabuddhi, in the Satpurush. Pray. Keep faith. And concentrate/be focused. These are the ways to progress in life.
15 August 2005 (Shravan sud 10), Monday, Bochasan
Today marked India’s 59th Independence Day anniversary. Swamishri arrived on stage for his morning puja. The Nadiad Yuvak Mandal band greeted Swamishri as he arrived. Then Swamishri unfurled the Indian national flag, following which the national anthem was sung. After the formalities were over, Swamishri, still standing, blessed the devotees, “Today we pray to Maharaj that India progresses tremendously in the coming years. May there be peace throughout India. May there be goodwill towards all. May the country’s leaders also be blessed to serve well. May the country remain united. May India’s relations with the surrounding countries be peaceful. May relations with the rest of the world also be cordial. Dharma is our foundation. Life without dharma is not life85 we have to preserve the culture and traditions we have inherited. Values, dharma, knowledge, detachment and bhakti are all eternal. Such values and culture are our life. If God becomes our life, then true peace and happiness is possible.”
19 August 2005 (V.S. 2061, Shravan sud 15) Friday, Bochasan; Rakshabandhan
After Swamishri’s morning puja, Tyagvallabh Swami presented a garland made of over 6000 rakhdis. These sanctitied rakhdis were later given to the devotees who had come for the Rakshabandhan assembly.
24 August 2005 (V.S. 2061, Shravan vad 5) Wednesday, Bochasan, Atladra
Swamishri left Bochasan in the evening and arrived at Atladra mandir at 7.15 pm.