By Adarshjivandas Swami BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Pramukh Swami Maharaj has a unique aptitude to understand youths, and also to help them understand others. He has discoursed to them, but his talks have never weighed them down. He has transformed them, but they have not felt the convulsions of change. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has liberated countless youths from...
We can thank God by leading ethical lives of nonviolence, truthfulness, purity, humility and selfless service. By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj There is a story about how God sent two angels to earth to listen to the prayers of humanity. One angel was asked to collect all the prayers in which people asked God for something. The other angel was...
By John Di Leonardo Last week, I wrote about how we were going to be distributing vegan Thanksgiving roasts to the community and how I hoped to rescue turkeys from live slaughter markets like we have in years past. We were successful in both these endeavors, giving out hundreds of vegan meals and also exchanging two vegan...
Diwali, known as the Hindu Festival of Lights and New Year, is a cherished and significant time for many around the world. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated by illuminating homes with lamps or diya. This act serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of nurturing one's inner light throughout the...
By John Di Leonardo This Saturday, November 4th, the animal rights movement lost a giant. Karen Davis, PhD was the President and Founder of United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domesticated birds including a sanctuary for chickens in Virginia. Inducted into the National Animal Rights Hall of Fame for...
Worship, often associated with hand gestures of prayer or gratitude, is a practice of expressing reverence to a higher power or deity. Rooted in religious and spiritual beliefs, it involves rituals, prayers, and sacred acts showcasing dedication to one's faith. In Hinduism, forms of worship include Puja (prayer), Aarti (ceremony of light), Dhyān (meditation), Kirtan (singing hymns). At the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir...
Navigating Life With Our Inner Compass The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Maryland holds a special place in my life. Amidst the demands of being a student, dedicating time to matters of faith and spirituality might seem unusual in today's modern world. Yet, many young individuals like myself find solace and guidance in these practices. The...
By John Di Leonardo Long before discovering Jainism, I was raised Christian. As a child, I went to Sunday school, and in high school, I worked in the Church rectory, was appointed as a Eucharistic minister, and was active in my Church’s youth group. For my education, I went to a Catholic high school, a Franciscan college,...
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj There is a story of God sending two angels to earth to listen to the prayers of humanity. One angel was asked to collect the prayers asking God for something. The other angel was asked to collect the prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. The two angels were given large baskets to collect and descended to earth to begin their...
