During the 1960 Satsang tour to Africa, Pramukh Swami’s diet reflected his sensory control. Pramukh Swami never once complained and ate whatever was in his wooden bowl. Plain food without any oil or spices would be cooked for Yogiji Maharaj, Santvallabh Swami and Balmukund Swami. Pramukh Swami had no issue with eating spicy food yet he would eat the exact same food which was prepared for his guru and the senior santo.
In 2005, Pramukh Swami instructed Pujya Bhadresh Swami to write the Swaminarayan Bashyam. When asked to describe this incident, Bhadresh Swami said: “In 2006 I pleaded to my guru, “Swamishri! You have complete realization of Bhagwan. You are the only one with the right and the insight to write a bhashya. I am afraid. I have no experience. What if I fail?”
Swamishri replied, “You feel that you are writing, but you are wrong. You will not write the bhashyas; our gurus, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj, will write through you.”
During the historic writing of these commentaries, whenever Bhadresh Swamiji was hurdled by a doubt or confusion, he went to Swamishri with the question. Almost immediately, Swamishri would point out the direction to clear the doubt.
This quality is depicted through art on chocolate.
A young boy named Nachiketa once waited at the gates of Yama, the God of death, for three days. Due to his fearlessness, Yama granted him 3 boons. Nachiketa asked for the knowledge of the Atma or soul. He remained resolute in his wish only for the knowledge of the inner self and was not tempted by Yama’s offers of worldly riches and pleasure. Impressed by the child's steadfastness, Yama gave him the knowledge of Atma and Paramatma.
This quality is depicted through art on burfee
“Houston, we've had a problem." At 55 hours, 54 minutes and 53 seconds into the Apollo 13 mission, a problem was identified and everyone at NASA and thousands across the globe began to work and pray for the safe return of the crew.
Jerry Woodrill, an Alarm System Engineer working on the mission has said: "Many might regard the rescue as the 'spiritualising' of a dramatic event for religion's sake. I would agree, had I not found most of the evidence to the contrary. The New York Times reported special prayer services.... Prayers were said at the Chicago Board of Trade and prayers for the Apollo 13 crew sounded at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem." Even the United States government adopted a resolution urging prayers.
NASA produced medallions with the words “Apollo 13... And the whole world prayed' which shows that even NASA believed in the important contribution of prayer in their successful rescue.
The entire rescue operation was a perfect example of how effort combined with prayer leads to success.
Let the storm go to the ocean. The greatest strength is the strength of God