About the Author

J.P. Vaswani, nephew and spiritual successor of Sadhu Vaswani, seeks to awaken love in the hearts of individuals and fill them with inner peace. He emphasizes that more than developed brains we need enlightened hearts. In an age when over indulgence at every level is the norms, he offers simple but profound guidelines to ensure robust health at both the physical and mental levels. His remedies are both practical and spiritual.

His universal vision, non-sectaraian approach, avoidance of any religious bias, and refusal to impose dogma or propagate the ritual of any particular religion has endeared him to people not only in India but around the world.

Foreword

"Life has no meaning," said a young man to me. He is highly educated and is a popular Professor at the University.

Sometimes, when we are sitting in silence, a voice within us asks: "What for am I here?" "Who am I?" "How can I make a difference?" From where have I come?" "Whither am I moving?"

Three centuries ago, the poet John Drydervsaid: "Every age has a kind of universal genius, which inclines those that live in it to some particular studies."

The twentieth century produced Albert Einstein who had a genius for exploring the material world. People travelled in space, walked on the moon, invented gadgets that could perform miracles. The early years of the twenty-first century have revealed that there is something more than knowledge of the physical world - and that is spirituality.

It is commonly believed that a spiritual man is even he who turns away from the world or who lives a life of isolation and solitude. Far from it, spiritual life is all inclusive: to be truly spiritual is not to live for self alone: it is to see oneself in all - men and birds and animals, fish and fowl, indeed in every atom.

Is this not the essence of Vedanta - that all life is One, and that the spirit of God permeates the entire Universe?

I am not one of those who believe that spirituality has no place, no relevance in today's world. Quite to the contrary, I firmly believe that there is a spiritual renaissance that is happening all around us. More and more people are beginning to realize that money, material comforts, power and satisfaction of sense-desires cannot bring them what they need most - peace, contentment and inner harmony.

At a question and answer session in a public forum, a youngster once asked me: "Dada, why is it that all our saints and sages say the same thing? And why do they say the same things over and over again?"

I replied, "When they are convinced that what they have to say has been absorbed by us, they will move on to different things. But can we give them the assurance that we have understood and assimilated the truths that they teach?"

Let us put ourselves to the test: how many of us can honestly say that we have absorbed, assimilated and put into practice the following ideals?

Saryarn vada krodham makuru

Saryarneva jayate

Do unto others what you would have others do unto you.

Love thy neighbours

Do not covet what does not belong to you.

Speak gently to everyone

Treat everyone you meet with kindness and courtesy.

Let us admit - we have not even touched upon 'higher' ideals such as Oneness of all Life, awareness of the spirit or even recognition of the Supreme Being.

More often than not, when J touch upon such values as honesty, truth and integrity, kind friends tell me that I am being unworldly, for I am not aware of the realities of the Global marketplace.

They add, for my benefit, that values and ethics 'have their place' somewhere in theory on principle, but cannot be out into practice, for it will only ruin their business interests.

Do you now begin to see why Out saints and sages have to keep repeating themselves? And why little ones like me are still at work, drawing the attention of my fellow travelers on the road of life - my fellow pilgrims, if I may use that word - to spiritual: deeds and aspirations.

In this task, I am grateful that I have the benefit of friends like Ms Anita Raina Thapan, who has taken it upon herself to carry my humble words to a wider audience.

We, at the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, had the privilege of coming into contact with Anita in the Dada Darshan project that has indeed been a dream of ours for the last two decades. Anita was sensitive, discerning and perceptive: she has ability, intelligence and a maverick creativity. Her heart, fund and soul were obviously touched by what she heard and read of the Master, Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani. Out of this first impression aroused her decision to bring out a book compiling same of my writings.

I express my appreciation for her sensitivity and understanding of the Master's ideals. She is a wonderful human being blessed with those qualities of head, hand and heart that have made her so receptive; and that is more important to store what she had seen and read with others.

Anita has said certain things about me in her gracious introduction which I have done little to deserve. But whatever good she has seen in me, whichever of my writings she has chosen to publish, all that I know and say, I have learnt at the feet of my Gurudev. All glory to the Master!

A lecturer preached about the immensity of God, urging that God is everywhere. He noticed that when he said these words a little shepherd girl shows signs of great joy. When the lecture was over he called the girl and asked her why she had been so happy. She replied immediately: "Because from now on I will not be afraid any longer when I am alone, in the forest tending the flock. I was afraid because I was afraid I was alone: but now I will know that the Lord is with me."

"Yes," said the lecturer, "You are not alone, God is there, but you may not see him with your physical eyes."

"That doesn't matter," said the girl, "As long as I know He is there! At night I used to be afraid to sleep alone, but then I realized my sister was with me. I can't see her in the darkness, but it's enough for me to know she is there. The same thing will happen in the woods. I know the Lord is there and although I may not see Him, I will no longer be afraid because I will not be alone."

The little shepherd girl was spiritual. She had taken the first step. She realized she was not alone. When shall we take the first step?

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