Sant Priti: Ashvindada

Sant Priti: Ashvindada
extremely rare for us to find a guru that we can attach ourselves with
Ihavetandisfound
gain wisdom from. Therefore, we youth are extremely blessed to
gurus like Ashvindada to take in as confidants. Known as one
of the original founders of Anoopam Mission, Ashvindada is not only the
administrator of Anoopam Mission but he is also the care taker of all of
the sadhak bhaiyos. He is intelligent and spiritual being who has infinite
love for everybody. I am extremely blessed to be able to call him my guru;
his guidance and patience has molded me into a better individual allowing
me to progress further in my spiritual
journey.
Whenever I think about Ashvindada, his smiling face automatically
appears before me. In his smiling
eyes, I can automatically see the everlasting love he has for all of us youth.
Furthermore, I get drawn to this love,
and find strength and motivation
whenever I am in need of it the most.
There have been many instances
where I have sought out Ashvindada’s advice. Only Ashvindada has
the ability to talk to me rationally
when I am in an irrational mood.
There is one occurrence that has left a lasting impact on me: our talk on jealousy.
A couple of years ago, I finally had the courage to talk to Ashvindada
about my jealousy towards my brother. Though it seems trivial now thinking back, it was a big deal for me at that time as it was not an emotion I
wanted to feel towards anybody. When I told Ashvindada about my feelings, he laughed it off and calmly told me that it was not jealousy towards
him but a desire to accomplish what he had achieved. I remember Ashvindada explicitly telling me to find the trait I was “jealous” of and try to attain it for myself. I did what Ashvindada told me do, and before I knew it
I never felt envious of my brother again; instead, I felt joyous for his accomplishments. Since this prasang, I formed a bond with Ashvindada and
never hesitated to seek his advice and blessings. I have faith amongst others he will guide me closer towards Akshar Purushottam Upasana.
-Bhumika Patel (Lakeland, FL | age 21)
|| Swami Shreeji ||
Sant Priti: Jayeshmama
ven if I use a thousand words, it would be impossible for me to deE
scribe the greatness of such an amazing sadhu, Jayeshmama. I have
become so close to him in the past couple of years. Since the first time I
met him, he has always been a joyful and cool sadhak bhai who understands the youth so well.
I met Jayeshmama for the first time in 2007, when Sahebdada came to
Fremont for a shibir. He was extremely warm and welcoming. His incredible personality and the friendship convinced me to come to camp for the
very first time. If he hadn’t convinced me to come to camp, I wouldn’t be
here today and wouldn’t be writing this article.
From the day I met Jayeshmama he has always been a person that I
can chat and spend time with. He is always joking around and is very
hardworking. He spends so much time looking after the mandir; most
importantly he takes Sahebdada, Shantidada, Ashvindada, and other sadhak bhaiyo on vicharan.
Three winters back, there was a
winter retreat in Fremont which Jayeshmama and all the youth leaders had
attended. Every night during the
retreat we would go back to the hotel
to sleep. I usually sat in the front passenger seat because everyone would
be tired and I’d be the only energetic
one. However, one night, they made
me sit in the back and Jayeshmama
was so tired that he almost drove
past a red light. I was the only one
paying attention and I started yelling,
“Red light che! Red light Che!” Till
this day everyone in that car still remembers that moment and Jayeshmama knows that I will always have his back because he always has mine.
Jayeshmama has always been by my side even though I have only
known him for a couple of years. He makes an instant connection with
the youth. He always finds quick and easy solutions to all types of problems. He is easy to stay in touch with because he always has his phone on
him. In fact, I say Jai Swaminarayan and see how he is doing almost everyday because he takes his time and remembers to send me darshan of Thakorji.
Over the years, I have made a special bond with Jayeshmama. His
unconditional love towards mandir and youth helps me understand why
Maharaj and Sahebdada has sent him to the United States. Most of all, he
understands me in every situation and always takes his time to do the
smallest things just so that I can have a smile on my face. I truly cannot
thank him enough for being someone special in my life. He loves each and
every youth equally and he truly shows this by the connections and bond
he has with each one of us. You can see the love that he has for us
through his eyes because it’s ultimately Bhagwan and Sahebdada that portray actions through him. Jayeshmama does so much seva for all of us
and we appreciate it so much.
-Bansari Patel (Fremont, CA | age 17)
|| Swami Shreeji ||
Notes from Yesterday’s Sabhas
P. P. Harshaddada and P. P. Shantidada graced the senior sabha
with their presence. Harshaddada asked the seniors what makes you
want to be a part of satsang? Why are you devoted to satsang, camp
and G. P. P. Sahebdada?
P.P.Harshaddada summarized the replies he heard. ‘You feel so
at home when you come to mandir. You receive so much love. The
reason is in the first vat from Swamini Vato, ‘God has come into
this world with his entire family.’ Though we are born in different
places, each of our souls has a divine touch. This is why when we
meet we have so much love for each other. No one is as lucky as we
are. God has brought us together.’
P.P.Shantidada then arrived and blessed the seniors. “I am happy to do your darshan. You know why? By looking at your faces, I
can tell that you study well, pray everyday, and do everything to
please Sahebdada. On your face I can see bhav and love. Just do
these three things.”
In the junior sabha, P. P. Shantidada introduced the three murtis
of dham, dhami, and mukta and all the other murtis of the gunatit
swaroops in the mandir. He emphasized that even though G.P.P.
Sahebdada is not physically here, he is present through his murti. He also introduced P. Barindradada/Binduba & P. Virendradada/Manjuba and spoke of their background and how they are ideal
devotees in satsang. To become like them what do we need to
do? Puja, prayers, & studying well are all important for
this. P.Shantidada really emphasized school and how it is important
to study well because this will make your parents and your Guru
happy. He concluded with a sankalp to Maharaj and Sahebdada for
the juniors saying “ We are going school, be with us. Let us remember everything our teachers are teaching us. Protect us so that we
only make good friends. We will only eat vegetarian, no onion and
garlic. We will not fight with our peers.”
Yogi Gita
Quote of the Day
“Remain intent on obeying commands. For, just one command
given by the Satpurush is worth
more than a million others.”
|| Swami Shreeji ||
Thakorji Today
Brain Teasers
AM Word Search
What has rivers but no water, forests
but no trees, and cities but no people?
A map
I start with an E, end with an E and I
only have one letter. What am I?
An envelope
What has four legs and a back, but
can't walk?
A chair
UNSCRAMBLE THIS!
(Hint: Vratdhari
)
HADKSA
__ __ __ __ __ __
Daily Quote
“If your actions ins
more, learn more, pire others to dream
do more
more, you are a lea and become
der.”
John Quincy Adam
s
Chandlo
Pranayam
Paramhansa
Chhoglu
Satpurush
Tilak
Did You Know?
In one ceremony, Lord Swaminarayan initiated 500 sadhus as
paramhansas, granting them the
special ability to remain
in constant communion with God.