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Guru Purnima Parva - Day 3

Kshanti

Stuti: [(Shrimad Sadgun Shālinam…), Jaynād (1 min)]

Dhun: [Bhaj Man Swāminārāyan  - Anirdesh Kirtan Muktavali (3 mins)]

Kirtan: Haji Bhala Sadhu (Listen to Yogi Bapa singing to the Kirtan - found on Akshar Amrutam App). 

Gun Grahan: [Write down 3 qualities of people you have met, seen, or heard about this week, and share these with your family.]

Prasang Reading (3 mins): - Prasang from Eternal Virtues:

“Kshanti means to forgive. It is an extraordinary quality of God and the Gunatit Sadhu. Even if he is insulted, offended, robbed, poisoned or killed a true sadhu always forgives. A true sadhu never seeks revenge or punishment for those that have harmed them. That is forgiveness.” 

Swamishri took over as Yogiji Maharaj’s spiritual successor in 1971. He travelled from village to village, house to house, touching the hearts of people from all walks of life and teaching the messages of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. His selfless ways and humble manner inspired thousands. His success as guru was met with strong resistance by many jealous individuals. To their surprise, their every antagonistic step was met with love, mercy and forgiveness. 

In 1977 a few conspirators plotted to have Swamishri arrested and falsely charged. They bribed a police inspector to come and arrest Swamishri. Swamishri had just arrived in Gadhada and was doing darshan at Lakshmi Vadi, the farm of Dada Khachar sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The inspector arrived there and announced that he had orders to arrest Swamishri. The devotees demanded that the inspector show them the arrest warrant. 

The inspector was caught off-guard and he revealed that he did not have an arrest warrant. Calmly, Swamishri asked him to come to the BAPS mandir. After arriving at the mandir, the devotees called the authorities and exposed the plot. The inspector panicked, “What am I going to do?” He was trembling as he paced back and forth. Swamishri noticed that the inspector was near tears. Swamishri called him, placed his hand on his head and said, “Don’t worry. It is almost lunchtime, so take lunch before you leave.”

Swamishri asked the sadhus to seat the inspector before him during lunch. Swamishri lovingly served the inspector, as if he was an invited guest!

The inspector remembers Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s mercy even to this day. 

Ishwarcharan Swami, who was a witness to this incident, recalls a similar episode that occurred in 1966, “Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj were seated in the evening satsang assembly in the grounds of Ahmedabad mandir. At that time a group of people arrived from Vidyanagar and demanded to meet Swamishri right away. Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj went with the group behind to the old assembly hall and closed the doors. There, the group angrily started insulting and shouting at Swamishri. They had been misinformed and, losing all sense of respect, were accusing Swamishri. A few devotees noticed the commotion and told us. 

“Some youths quickly arrived. We pushed the door open and barged into the room. We were upset at the way the group was insulting Swamishri. But, Swamishri stood up and requested all of us to leave. We didn’t listen. Swamishri forced us out of the room saying, ‘All of you leave. There is no need for you to do anything. They are here to talk to me so let them finish. Now, leave.’ 

“The environment was so charged that the meeting had to be called off. The group from Vidyanagar realised the situation and left the room. Swamishri safely escorted them to the main gate to ensure that nobody blocked their way. 

“Swamishri has maintained his composure through a variety of such incidents. He has offered respect to people who didn’t have the slightest bit of respect for him. His ability to forgive and forget enabled him to mend the errant ways of others and reach a solution regardless of the situation’s complexity.”

Discussion: 

What values have you picked up from these Prasangs?

How would you have reacted in these situations? Why would you react like that? 

How do you think we can imbibe these values in our lives?

What can we learn from these Prasangs? 

 

Activity - Forgiveness Bingo:

Materials Needed: Bingo cards, markers.

How to Play:

• Create Bingo cards with different acts of forgiveness (e.g., apologizing to a friend, forgiving a sibling, etc.).
• As children complete each act of forgiveness, they can mark it off on their Bingo card.
• The first child to get a line or full card can share their experiences with the group.

Activity - The Forgiveness Tree:

Materials Needed: Large paper, coloured markers, sticky notes or leaves cut from paper.

How to Play:

• Draw a large tree on a piece of paper or a board.
• Give each child several paper leaves or sticky notes.
• Ask them to write down acts of forgiveness they have done or received on the leaves.
• Stick the leaves onto the tree.
• Discuss how the tree grows and becomes beautiful with each act of forgiveness, illustrating how forgiveness can grow and strengthen relationships.