Around 1,000 devotees, including 130 children and 77 teenagers, from across the Gulf Region attended the two-day Satsang Shibir at the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi. Themed ‘Prapti – Today, Everyday’, the shibir provided a practical roadmap to integrate the practice of ‘Prapti no Vichar – Realization of Attainment’ in their daily lives.
The shibir as presented in four sections: Attainment, Commitment, Engagement, and Fulfillment.
Attainment: Realizing Our Greatest Gift
Anandswarup Swami explained the necessity of understanding the virtues of the Satpurush and recognizing that through him, we have attained Bhagwan Swaminarayan himself.
Commitment: Taking the Basic Step
To establish the daily habit of ‘Prapti no Vichar’, three essential ideas were emphasized: Contemplating the glory of the Satpurush, firm belief that we have attained Bhagwan through him, and realizing that nothing else is needed in life.
Engagement: Learning How to Think About Prapti
This section emphasized four daily activities to strengthen the daily practice of ‘Prapti no Vichar’:
Katha: Learning how to actively listen, reflect, and apply the messages of discourses.
Mansi Puja: Strengthening the inner connection with the Satpurush through meditation.
Spiritual Reading: Reading and sharing the words of Bhagwan and the Satpurush to reinforce the realization of one’s prapti.
Bhajans: Delving into the bhajans on prapti composed by the paramhansas, fostering joy and deeper comprehension.
During the group discussions, devotees discussed challenges, shared practical solutions, and discovered personalized engagement techniques.
This section included insightful guidance from Pujya Doctor Swami and Pujya Viveksagar Swami and Brahmavihari Swami.
Fulfillment: Experiencing the Joy of Prapti
The final section provided real-life applications of fulfillment, with explanations from the Satpurush, a Q&A with Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and Pujya Ghanshyamcharan Swami, a skit illustrating true contentment, and soul-stirring bhajans.
During the shibir, children, teenagers, and youths attended tailored sessions on the same theme, with teambuilding activities, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, letter writing, and other engaging activities.
The shibir provided clarity and determination to the participants, equipping them with the tools, confidence, and devotion to make ‘Prapti no Vichar’ a daily habit.