Category: The Satsang Life
The Real Path to Spiritual Growth: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
Moving Forward—or Standing Still? Life often brings us to the same crossroads, the same opportunities, the same acts of service. Yet not everyone moves in the same direction. Some advance steadily, finding peace and depth, while others seem to circle the same ground—outwardly busy but inwardly stagnant. What makes the difference? Gunatitanand Swami, the first spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, offers a timeless insight: “It’s not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.” “Spiritual growth doesn’t come from action alone—it comes from the attitude behind the action.” Two people may perform the same seva, chant the [Read More…]
Engaging in Spiritual Dialogue: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
The Noise Around Us—and the Voice Within Every day, our senses are flooded with a constant stream of sound—notifications, conversations, commentaries, and advertisements. Much of it entertains, but little of it truly nourishes. Amid this ocean of noise, Bhagwan Swaminarayan offers a timeless remedy: “Lend your ears to the discourses of Purushottam Narayan (God) with shraddhā (faith) and prīti (love).” These are not ordinary words; they are divine vibrations—sounds that have the power to calm the restless mind, steady our focus, and dissolve cravings for worldly pleasure. In an age where attention has become fragmented, Bhagwan’s teaching calls us to [Read More…]
Letting go of what fades…: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
The Illusion of Permanence When What We Chase Keeps Slipping Away We spend so much of life collecting—possessions, recognition, followers, and moments of fleeting success. Yet each treasure eventually fades. Cars rust, phones become outdated, careers stall, and even the reflection in the mirror changes with the seasons. Gunatitanand Swami’s timeless reminder pierces this illusion: “All of creation is perishable.” This simple truth is not meant to depress us but to awaken us. Everything we see, own, and admire carries an invisible expiry date. Still, the mind whispers, “Just one more purchase, one more achievement, one more compliment…”—as though the [Read More…]
Inner Richness is Humility, not Pride: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
The Quiet Enemy Within Ego doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it whispers through our virtues, disguising itself as devotion, knowledge, or discipline. Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings remind us that ego isn’t only about arrogance or pride in worldly success—it can also seep into our spiritual pursuits. Whether we take pride in our bhakti (devotion), vairagya (detachment), or dharma (righteous conduct), the sense of “I” can quietly take root. “I do not like ego—whether it arises from one’s virtues of bhakti, renunciation, understanding, or observance of vows.” These words pierce through the spiritual façade that ego often hides behind. Even noble qualities lose [Read More…]
Winning at Life: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
What if you could win at everything—and still lose at life? Gunatitanand Swami gives us a powerful reminder: You could spoil ten million tasks and still make progress in your liberation. And on the flip side, you could perfect ten million tasks—and still lose everything that actually matters. Think about that. We chase careers, promotions, wealth, reputation. We pour our energy into building lives that look successful from the outside. But if we lose sight of our soul’s purpose—liberation—what have we truly gained? Because real success isn’t about how much we accomplish. It’s about whether we’re moving closer to freedom [Read More…]
Finding true Fulfillment beyond Validation: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
There’s a subtle chain that often goes unnoticed in the pursuit of success — the need to be admired. It hides behind ambition, it dresses up as drive, and sometimes, it even disguises itself as self-improvement. But beneath it all, it’s vanity — a craving for validation, a thirst for recognition, a constant measuring of our worth against others. Vanity isn’t just about appearances. It’s not limited to how we look or how others perceive our style. It goes deeper. It’s the desire to impress, the itch to be acknowledged, the silent question that asks, “Do I matter more now?” [Read More…]
The light of truth, peace, and inner joy: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
What if someone told you that almost everything you’re chasing in life—you don’t actually need? Gunatitanand Swami put it simply and powerfully: there are only five things a human truly needs to live—food, water, clothing, sleep, and salt. That’s it. Everything else is optional. Think about that for a second. We spend so much of our lives chasing things we’re told we need—status, wealth, followers, fame, approval. But strip it all away, and we’re left with a profound truth: most of what consumes our thoughts, drains our energy, and steals our peace… are just wants, not needs. And when we [Read More…]
Finding True Strength in Humility: Lessons from the Vachanamrut
There’s a quiet struggle that often hides behind pride — the restless fire of superiority. A person who sees themselves as above others may appear confident on the outside, but deep within, they remain uneasy, day and night. Like a half-burnt log, they smoulder constantly — not quite at peace, never fully at rest. This feeling isn’t strength. It’s a burden. We may mistake superiority for confidence. But true confidence doesn’t need to prove itself. It doesn’t demand to be the loudest voice in the room or insist on being right all the time. On the contrary, the need to [Read More…]
The illusion of Desire: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
Have you ever tried to catch your own shadow? No matter how fast you run or how cleverly you try to corner it, it always slips away—just out of reach. Gunatitanand Swami beautifully reveals a profound truth through this simple metaphor: a shadow cannot be caught. In the same way, material desires are endless. No matter how much we acquire—wealth, recognition, success—there’s always something more to want. Just when we think we’ve found fulfillment, the next desire emerges. Like chasing a shadow, the pursuit never ends. Modern life often convinces us that happiness lies just around the corner—once we get [Read More…]
God’s Compassion: Lessons from Gunatitanand Swami
“God does not look at the faults of the Jivas. If a Jiva prays to God and says, ‘I am at fault’, then God forgives him of his flaws.” Swamini Vat Section 1, Number 77. In life, we all make mistakes. As human beings (Jivas), we are bound to have flaws, yet God does not judge us solely based on them. Instead, His love is infinite, and His grace is ever-present. When we sincerely acknowledge our faults and turn to God in prayer, He does not turn us away. Instead, He embraces us with compassion, forgives our shortcomings, and gives us the [Read More…]