Swami Shreeji

Volume 4, Issue 8 August 31, 2014 Satsang Times

Meet Dinkar Uncle! - Parixitbhai

Dinkar Uncle loves to help. He is a personable and talented individual with In this issue: the mind of an engineer and the heart of a benevolent. While working in

 Meet Dinkar Uncle! Elkhart, Indiana, he came in to association with Kakaji, and progressively over the years, decided to live a life to help others, simultaneously preaching the  Dinkar Uncle: A Genuine message of unity, harmony, and oneness. The first time I met Dinkar Uncle in Devotee, Giver and June, 2001, when I came to America. The home-cum-temple, where the Guru! weekly assemblies were conducted, was only a few houses away from where I  Engaging in Devotion! lived. Since then, I have become acquainted with him and have learned something about his faith and spirit.  Advent of Independent For over thirteen years, I have been a witness to his character, his integrity, Learning! and his love for family, friends and community. He is an extraordinary citizen

 We are So Fortunate! and an exemplary human being. Dinkar Uncle often cherishes moments of his first meeting with Kakaji, which changed his life for good. When he met Kakaji first time on July 7, 1973, he fell in love with Kakaji at the first sight. Divine Days: Kakaji’s divine persona left a deep impression on him. In 1976, Dinkar Uncle moved to Waukegan, IL and accepted a position at Abbott Laboratories.  October 1: Dinkar Kakaji has visited him several times. Inspired by Kakaji’s selfless service and Uncle’s Birthday devotion, he too became intentional about dedicating his life to others. Since then, He was often seen helping devotees fixing air conditioners, doing oil changes, resolving legal issues, making food and living arrangements for needy devotees, visiting and praying for them during the time of crisis. In 1981, on the occasion of the 200th birthday of Lord , Kakaji

enshrined the moorti (images) of Swaminarayan Bhagwan (June 21) and

converted Dinkar Uncle's home into a temple. During Kakaji's seventh and Note from the Editor: final visit in 1985, on the occasion of the 200th birthday of Gunatitanand Please contact us at Swami, Kakaji enshrined the moorti of in the Waukegan [email protected], temple. Kakaji returned to Akshardham on March 7, 1986. Kakaji has or entrusted him with spreading the divine message of Lord SwamiNarayan in [email protected] America. In order to materialize it, in June 1989, he, along with Bapu, started with any feedback. Friday evening sabha (assembly), where they would discourse on fundamental principles of spirituality and humanity. They would teach us how to be a good From Chicago, husband, a good father, a good citizen, and a good human overall. Filled with Richa Shah’s timeless wisdom and practical steps you can right away, these discourses were Jay SwamiNarayan such that you want to listen and refer to again and again. Their practical approaches to dire circumstances are worthy of emulation. By participating in various cultural activities, festival, and picnics arranged by them, young children, along with spiritual knowledge, would also gain the real life knowledge and learn various skills such as public speaking, decoration, organizing events, singing, reading, etc. Just like a thread is common and passes through all beads of a rosary, the messages of broad-mindedness and positive thinking is the common message of his discourse. His positivity is more than co-incidental. His broad- mindedness is more than incidental. His love and care for us is not for any material gain. Neither it is for fame or respect. It is an act of selfless love and fervent devotion toward his master Kakaji.

Satsang Times, Volume 4, Issue 8

Dinkar Uncle- A Genuine Devotee! - Angieben

We may call you as our "uncle" but you are so much more to us. You are our Dear Divine Guru, the One who will remove our impurities and make us faultless after so many births. God resides eternally in your heart, so you are our Akshar. You have such perfection in your devotion that Swaminarayan Bhagwan has promised to act through you and sees through your eyes, walks through your legs, and do the work of the universe through your actions.

"The powers of such a person are such that since it is God who sees through his eyes, he empowers the eyes of all of the beings in the brahmänd; and since it is God who walks through his legs, he is also capable of endowing the strength to walk to the legs of all of the beings in the brahmänd. Thus, since it is God who resides in all of the indriyas of such a Sant, that Sant is able to empower the indriyas of all beings in the brahmänd. Therefore, such a Sant is the sustainer of the world." ( First 27)

Even one glance from you can grant eternal liberation - how fortunate are we that to fulfill God's command, you have chosen to spend 70 years on this Earth, and 40 of those years have been in Chicago! On your 70th birthday, I thank you for every moment that you have graced us with your patience and humility, in your earnest desire to continue Kakaji's lineage of gunatit Saints. For us, you have made the highest goal so easily attainable for every man, woman, and child in your company. I pray that we understand your commands, and that after these past 40 years, you can use our eyes and legs to do your work in this universe. I pray that we can humbly fulfill our highest potential while in your company.

Dinkar Uncle- A Genuine Giver! - Emilyben Dinkar Uncle is a giver: a giver of knowledge, wisdom, love, hope, time, values, strength, smiles, positivity, blessings, prayers and peace. He fills our hearts with the magnanimity of Lord SwamiNarayan and all brahmswaroop saints. It is through his actions and words we can find ultimate liberation. On bended knees, I say to all - I am so grateful and thankful to have his association, as well as the company and friendship of his devotees. I pray to fully understand Lord SwamiNarayan, Kakaji, and his greatness and for us all to be able to live out his commands while fully imbibing true upasana.

Dinkar Uncle- A Genuine Guru! – Parixitbhai Once, a devotee asked Sirla Prabhupada, “How will I know who is the genuine guru?” Prabhupada gave very thought provoking answer. He replied, “Just find out the one who is most addicted to . He is genuine.” For us, Dinkar Uncle is such a genuine guru. Dinkar Uncle’s love for Lord Swaminarayan and His devotees is very apparent in his all actions. He speaks about God and nothing else. He is after God, and God only. He has no interest in materialistic pleasures. He has no other business, but to preach everyone to become a devotee of God. Not even for a moment, his mind is not occupied with the thought of greatness of God. His all actions are devoted to God.

The further elaborated on the qualities of the genuine guru, “Srotriyam brahma-nistham”. He is well-versed in scriptures and is absorbed in brahmic consciousness. Dinkar Uncle is well-versed in all scriptures. His knowledge of Vedic and other religious scriptures is very in-depth and very much apparent in his discourses. His style of presenting the hardest principle of scriptures in the simplest manner is worth mentioning. Dinkar Uncle lives in brahmic consciousness. Every day, his day starts with, “I am brahm and servant of God”, and ends with the same. In Bhagvad Geeta (18.54) Lord Krishna further explains:

Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kankshati samah sarveshu bhuteshu mad-bhaktim labhate param

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“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

Dinkar uncle is ever joyful. His mind is pristine and his heart is pure. I haven’t seen him lamenting or desiring for anything else but God. No sort of biases, prejudices, and pre-conceived notions are to be found in him. He treats everyone with the same affection and respect as he would treat his master, Kakaji. He has equal glory for all religions, taking the good from everywhere. No one is big, or small for him. No one is rich or poor. No one is intelligent or foolish. For him, we are nothing but the forms of God. Even if we insult him, there would be absolute no change in his thin lines of face. He still would treat us with the same affection and respect. These are the qualities of brahm that Dinkar possesses.

On the auspicious occasion of Dinkar uncle’s 70th birthday, we pray to Lord SwamiNarayan, Gunatitanand Swami, and gunatit saints that we become instrumental in your mission to become brahmroop, worship Lord, and spreading the divine message of Lord SwamiNarayan and His saints. We become brahmroop and humble of the humblest. Engaging in Devotion! – Discourses by Dinkar Uncle

Gunatitanand Swami Ni Vaato, Chapter 12/215: It is not that we lack food, clothing etc. (i.e., these are no longer the cause of unhappiness and miseries). We get them now; but now there is misery from lust, anger and greed. Whatever job/work related activities one may have - they are limited. After that one should engage in bhajan (devotional songs, chanting, etc.)

In this talk, Gunatitanand Swami is saying that SwamiNarayan Bhagwan came on this Earth and took care of the 2 basic things: food and shelter (in terms of clothes and homes). During the time of SwamiNarayan Bhagwan, there were lot of draughts and poverty. Lots of people were famished. Gunatitanand Swami is saying that those who have become devotees and taken the roadway to become brahmroop, their basic necessities have been taken care of by SwamiNarayan Bhagwan. On the behalf of all the devotees, he had obtained a boon from his guru Ramanand Swami that none of his devotees should go without food, clothing and shelter: “If the devotee has that in his fate, may that come to Me but let the devotee be happy in this regard.” This is indeed a great boon and at the same it is also a very interesting that those who have accepted the shelter of Lord Swaminarayan, their fate changes.

There is another talk in which Gunatitanand Swami has said, that ‘Kusangi na fel ma, na rotalaa…” i.e., the amount of money a kusangi (non-believer) wastes on bad things like addictions etc., a satsangi ( a believer) is able to take care of his regular household expenses. Normally a person may be wasting lot of his money on addictions like drinking, smoking, gambling etc., but when he becomes a satsangi (resolves to live as per God’s commands), he would stop all such bad habits and naturally save that much money. Even in this country (USA), many years ago, gambling was not allowed. But those who were the leaders, maybe they themselves were inclined to gamble and hence they justified saying that people are doing it regardless so let’s allow it so that at least we can generate tax revenue. Thus casinos and other gambling became legal. However, none of the religious books support this.

SwamiNarayan Bhagwan has clearly stated in the that devotees should not engage in the vices like gambling, drinking etc. So by being a sincere devotee, if we follow these commands, then in turn we would not have any problems of food and shelter. Swami is saying that those who are devotees will not have problems with food or shelter, but that is not the end! Those who come in the temple and are devotees, they have to take the next step. They have to elevate to the next level, otherwise they would still feel miserable and be 3

Satsang Times, Volume 4, Issue 8 unhappy. What is that next step? Swami is going back to the in which Lord Krishna told Arjun that there are 3 doors to hell (suffering). There are 3 things which will take one in the wrong direction:

“Trividham naraksyedam dwaram naashnamatmanh,Kaamh krodhstatha lobhastasmadettrayam tayjet. (Gita 16/21)”

As per the Bhagavad Gita, doors for the destruction of the soul are kaam (lust), krodh (anger), and lobha (greed). Krishna Bhagwan is saying that “O Arjun! One should get rid of these three and elevate.” Gunatitanand Swami is saying the same thing, that we being satsangi should control lust, anger, greed, etc. We being a satsangi should strive to remove these negative vices. We, being a satsangi should consider them as poison. We being a satsangi should tell those who are in our association that they are poison. We have to do this in order to elevate ourselves to the brahmroop level. These are the steps we have to take towards our goal and Bhagwan is very happy if we take this roadway. Gunatit Swaroops are very happy if we take this roadway.

But, beyond lust, anger and greed, there are other high level factors that too bring misery and unhappiness. Lust, anger and greed act at the gross body (outer senses) level. They are not related with inner senses but mostly with gross body. The other higher level problems are hata (stubbornness), maan (ego), and isrshaa (jealousy). And we have to understand these as well and also transcend them. In this talk, Swami is only talking about the first category.

We are all busy and have things to do. Somebody would have things to do for 6 hours. Someone would have things to do for 3 hours. In America, is mostly 8+ hours! But those who are fortunate and lucky and have good business setup or job setup or income setup, they don’t have to do lot of extra work. They should focus their time on spirituality and God. Back in the day during Gunatitanand Swami’s time, people were mainly into farming and there were few businessmen. Normally, a farmer’s job is seasonal and once it is done, they are free. With their free time, they could do good things or bad things depending on their inclinations and habits.

I remember I used to go to my uncle’s farm in Dhansura (Sabarkaatha district) during summer and vacations. Lunch would be ready by 11:30 AM and after lunch, my father and uncle would take a small nap. They would get up at around 2 PM and read nice religious books like Srimad Bhagavat, Yog Vashista Ramayan (a deep philosophical book written by the Guru of Lord Ram, Vasishta Guru). I used to also read books like Ramayan, Gita, Mahabharat, Bhagavat in my childhood. I picked up Swami Ni Vato after Kakaji’s darshan. I used to read another book called SwamiNarayan Gita. There was a devotee named Narayan Jaduram Pandya who wrote SwamiNarayan Bhagavat and SwamiNarayan Gita. It has a lot of glory of Gunatitanand Swami and SwamiNarayan Bhagwan. But what Swami is saying that when we don’t have things to do, the remaining time we should devote to a spiritual cause, towards our own spiritual progress.

If we do dhun and bhajan, we would have lots of peace inside. Our problems would go away. If we make it a habit, we would feel different and elevated. If we focus on God while doing all of our regular activities, we will be more relaxed. For instance if we do dhun and bhajan while driving, we can avoid bad fate like accidents, etc. Many years ago, my father told me that big busses and trucks do a good job of transporting people and things from one place to another, but I remember that they are like “living giants.” If we get into an accident with them, it could be really fatal and they would devour us like a giant. One day in high school, I was crossing the road and there was a farmer with a herd of buffalos going to the other side. There was a truck coming fast towards the intersection, and he was thinking to get out of way. One buffalo was either changing the direction or something, and was hit by the truck. I remember seeing the buffalo’s body ripped open and I could see all intestines, ribs, etc. And the poor animal cannot scream or cry or communicate its pain. 4

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Even we walk at 3-4 mph speed into a wall, we would get hurt. Can you imagine getting hit by something 40 – 50mph speed? So we want to be careful and pray. The other thing is that our fate naturally takes us to whatever that is in store for us - problems, etc. But if we do bhajan, we can avoid our bad fate. Hence Swami is saying, whenever we are done with our work, we want to do dhun. Instead, we say, I want to finish dhun and do work! While doing dhun we think that after doing dhun, I will do so and so. We need to change our attitude and focus on God as the first priority and not worldly things. We want to focus on God and let God/divinity guide us every moment.

Advent of Independent Learning! – Richaben I n school, I was told to listen to a Ted Talk from a man named Sugata Mitra. He told us about how effective learning by yourself indeed can be! He conducted research in several slum areas in . He placed a computer in a slum area and left it there. It made the kids very curious but in efforts to collect data, he told the kids nothing about the computer. He left and returned only a few weeks later and what he saw shocked him. He saw the children typing on Microsoft Word, and there was no keyboard! They had found the menu to type with the mouse.

He thought that it may have been a fluke or that a colleague may have walked by and told them how to use the computer. Therefore, he repeated his experiment another time in a rural area in South India. He had a camera installed in the computer to see what the kids were doing this time in order to monitor their progress over the few months that he would be gone. He made a hypothesis which he was convinced was impossible. He said that by the time I return, the kids will have learned all about DNA and the DNA molecule which animation is stored in the computer. Setting such high standards, he left and then returned back a few months later. The kids seemed to be struggling so he asked them "What have you learned?" The children responded "Nothing." He then began thinking that the first time was most definitely a fluke and there was no way that they had learned anything. Until the children said, "We have learned nothing except the basic form of DNA molecules."

Mitra was stunned! He then went through the same experiment in several slums and found the same interesting result! He concluded overall that children learn more than expected purely from curiosity or peer encouragement. He stated one true quote which really made me contemplate learning quite differently. Mitra states "Education is a self- organizing system, where learning is the emergent phenomenon."

The link to the TED video is below: http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=179015266

Dinkar Uncle’s Birthday Celebration!

The members of Divine Society, Chicago, humbly invite you to participate in the festivities commemorating the 70th Pragatyadin of P. P.

Dinkar Uncle on October 4, 2014 at Grayslake, IL, celebrating the teachings of unity, harmony, and oneness.

For more information, please visit http://www.kakaji.org/dinkar70.html.

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