Spirituality

HDH Bapji is an inspiration for many aspirants walking the path of spirituality. Although he is an anadimukta satpurush, he has lived an inspiring, idealistic life as a model for all. Even a small glimpse of it gives the experience of inner peace.

Simplicity

HDH Bapji is the personification of simplicity. His simplicity catches the eye of both those who view his life from close and all other sants and devotees of the sect. "Jenu jivan sadu tej sadhu." "He whose life is simple is a sant." In line with this quote, HDH Bapji's eating, wearing, sitting and talking is free from luxuries and extravagances. His simplicity is also seen in his clothing. His Rampur Village's saffron-colored cloths are proof of that. Everyone had experienced that rather than the simplicity being a part of his life, HDH Bapji was the idol of simplicity. Although he was the Guru of millions and even unasked, devotees would pile luxuries at his feet, he kept the virtue of simplicity in focus and stepped over those piles. Simplicity can be seen in his seating, his glasses, his note, his pen, his white rubber slippers, and even in his simple undecorative seat in contrast with its location on the grand stages of huge celebrations. Like such HDH Bapji's life of simplicity gives inspiration to all.

Everflowing Discourses

With a mission to fill many hearts with Lord Swaminarayan, for HDH Bapji even 24 hours of preaching was not enough. Day and night, he had only one wish and that was ‘how can I explain Maharaj's form, supremacy, and glory to everyone' HDH Bapji would say, "Kathavarta (discourses) is my rest so schedule my 24 hours with katha. I like preaching about Maharaj's supremacy and glory 24 hours a day." Great sants have said in a kirtan/stanza: "Sadhu em odkhai, Hari ras pive sau ne pai." Guru HDH Bapji has never taken a rest from preaching in this entire life. Up till the age of 75, his 5 hours of constant katha flowed every day. Wither there were hundreds of thousands listening or just a handful, HDH Bapji's eagerness was always consistent. Furthermore, the listeners would experience that no normal sant was speaking but rather Maharaj himself was speaking through HDH Bapji.

Principled

Guru HDH Bapji holds the unique persona of unholding the principles of Lord Swaminarayan. That's why his famous life motto is: "Siddhantma samadhan nahi ane niyam dharma ma chutchat nahi." (Meaning "There should be no compromise in the principles and the rules and regulations") On the mission of upholding the principles of Shriji Maharaj and Beloved Abjibapashri, he has never given into the words or the pressure of anyone. He has stayed convicted to one principle: "Sarvopari Swaminarayan Bhagwanni upasna dradh karavi anadimuktni sthiti pamadvi." (meaning: "To teach all of the supremacy of Lord Swaminarayan and to have all attain the ultimate state of an anadimukta.") This divine persona has suffered a lot of hurdles and oppositions in upholding these principles but he has never let go. Not only that but he has uplifted a hive os sants and devotees who would give their lives for these principles. This gift of SMVS is what he has given to the world. To live a life in these principles means you have to stand out of the crowd and become the center for criticism but he has happily accepted this for one reason; To see Lord Swaminarayan's dream come to reality.

Love in the Face of Hate

No matter the harsh words spoken by any small or big person, HDH Bapji would not develop hatred towards them. At one point he was struck by storms of opposition yet he had never in his heart had any enmity for anyone. The word ‘enemy' has never been a part of his dictionary. ‘Eye for an eye' has never been his philosophy but rather he would even help those who would hurt. He drinks the hate of opposers and yet has never wished ill for them. Not only that but he has taught his sants and devotees to never keep this type of attitude but rather see the world with eyes of grace and mercy. His unconditional mercy is described perfectly by great sants: "Kene dukh devono dilma re bhule bhundo bhav nahi, Par upkare palpalma re upje icha antar thi."

Sage of the Vachnamrut

Vachnamrut is the holy scripture composed of the spoken words of Lord Swaminarayan himself. Vachnamrut is also the holy scripture that HDH Bapji loves very much. He would always say that from all the scriptures, Vachnamrut is the best and all scriptures are contained in the Vachnamrut. The cures to all sicknesses, social and spiritual, are in the Vachnamrut. That is why he wanted all to learn and teach the Vachnamrut.

He has simplified and explained the deep and complex meanings behind every word of the Vachnamrut. He has explained the same Vachnamrut many times over and yet each time it would feel new. That's why whenever he would explain the Vachnamruts everyone would feel as if Shriji Maharaj himself is explaining his own words. This is why Guru HDH Bapji is famously known as the Acharya of the Vachnamrut (Sage of the Vachnamrut).

Perceiver of Virtues

One of Guru HDH Bapji's greatest virtue is that although being an ocean of virtues the divine being would perceive virtues in even the smallest of souls. As a guru of hundreds of thousands of sants and devotees, he would teach his unique way of accepting the positive habits, virtues, and thoughts from everyone. He would preach to them, "We should take as many as virtues from others as possible but should never focus on their vices." He would never feel hesitation or would never feel small in doing so and this reflected his divinity. He felt that to perceive vices in others is a waste of time and a type of negativity that would wash away all the good that is done. It was because of this that in his presence no one dared to speak ill or negatively of anyone.

Unwavering

Guru HDH Bapji faced many hurdles in the initial days. He did not have turmeric to put in khichdi, no sant to form a pair, nor slippers for his feet, yet for the propagation of Maharaj's principles, he has never compromised in the rules and regulations set by Shriji Maharaj. Even in the harsh days of sickness, he has never disobeyed the commands of Shriji Maharaj. Everyone changes in the flow of time but he has never changed the boundaries built by Shriji Maharaj. He has also not let any of his sants or devotees keep any flaws in this matter. Under the influence or pressure of anyone, HDH Bapji has never compromised. This is why from the entire sect HDH Bapji and his followers stand out for their flawless obedience to Shriji Maharaj's commandments.

Choosing Adversity

He has passed his whole life amid austerities and difficulties. "Endurance is true sainthood." Under the circumstances of adversity, it is the way of the world to suffer austerity but to choose to live in austerity in favorable circumstances was the way of HDH Bapji's sainthood. To this day, he has never wished for suitability but even if someone were to offer some convenient luxury he would decline their request. Whenever and whatever he received, he accepted it graciously. Furthermore, he has never acted in this manner to advertise his virtue but rather he accepted everything silently. We have time and time again seen that HDH Bapji has shown what it means to apply the famous words of great sants: "Hari rakhe tem rahevu ane dekhade to jovu" (meaning: "Stay as God keeps us and see what God shows us.")

Doership of Maharaj

Kartum, akartum and anyathakartum means that in the infinite universes only Shriji Maharaj is the doer of all. No one else does anything. Such doership of Shriji Maharaj was continually seen in his life. Although being a potent, enlightened individual himself, he has always pointed us towards Shriji Maharaj. Through his words of blessings, hundreds of thousands of people have seen their wishes fulfilled and their pains healed, yet he has always attributed everything to Shriji Maharaj. Even when people would come to him attribute their success to his blessings, he viewed those words as poison and would teach them the doership of Shriji Maharaj. Never has he ever taken the glory onto himself.

Equality in Humiliation and Praise

"Sagar jeva dilada jeva kedi nav chalkai ji,

Jerana ghutada ne jiravi jane pachi amrut sau ne pai…"

"An ocean-like heart that never spills,

Absorbing poison-like words and feeding nectar to all…"

One can see these words personified in HDH Bapji's life. Although he is a divine being, free from any mundane attributes, he has endured the insults of even feeble, mere people. Even in the insults, he has never felt insulted but he has always born it with a smiling face. Never has he had a longing for praise or loathing for insults. To him, both are equal. Furthermore, he has never kept any difference between the praiser and the insulters. He has always kept equality and has always wished well for all.