Mission with a Vision An offering at the Lotus Feet of the Lord Newsletter, August 2017
Editor’s Note Happy 99th Birthday to our dearest Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani! If one had to describe Dada in one word, that word would be LOVE. Dada is love personified. He displays unconditional love to one and all. His love is patient, kind, true, compassionate, understanding and self effacing. As we approach Dada's Centenary Year, we find that Dada's and Sadhu Vaswani Mission's humanitarian activities are so immense that we must try to give a few glimpses of these activities to the world through a newsletter. Hence the idea of this newsletter was born. This newsletter would have been incomplete without the wise words of Dada himself. We thought it would be great to hear from him about leadership, as he's been leading the Mission (and us) for over 51 years. We are looking forward to celebrating his centenary with various activities, including 100 satsangs across India through the “Aao Jyot Jaagein” initiative and a service programme called “Aao Hath Badhayein”. We wish him a grand Centenary Year and pray for his eternal life. He is not only our spiritual guide but also our dearest father who always mentors and counsels us, and asks us to work for others dedicatedly and with compassion. Dada encourages us to give till it hurts, to be of service to others, to engage in volunteering work as it teaches compassion and understanding. Service to others is not just a way of life. It is a way to live fully. Dada, may you have a fantastic birthday and many, many more to come! We love you! Manju Nichani
An Insight into Sadhu Vaswani Mission The Sadhu Vaswani Mission (SVM) is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that is dedicated to the service of the disadvantaged, provides quality healthcare for all through its multi-specialty hospitals, and offers value based education to children through its many schools and colleges. SVM was founded by Sadhu T.L. Vaswani in 1949, who believed that in order for India to succeed as a nation, the focus has to be on the youth and their character building. With this view, he reestablished the “Mira Movement in Education” in Pune which enriches students with vital truths of modern life and at the same time makes them lovers of Indian ideals and culture. Even today, the Mira Movement philosophy is going strong with 9 schools across India, and 4 colleges and institutes in Pune. Sadhu Vaswani had reverence for all life, and his life was dedicated to seva of animals, mankind and all creation. He was against animal cruelty, and deeply cared about birds and animals and protected them whenever and however he could. He was always ready to serve the poor and the lowly, the sad and the afflicted. In 1966, when Sadhu Vaswani shed his physical body, he passed on the baton to
Sadhu Vaswani with St. Mira’s School students his disciple Dada J.P. Vaswani. Dada’s teachings are practical and easy to follow in this modern world. He has won hearts all over, with his illuminating smile and a great sense of humor. At the age of 99, Dada’s spirit is ever young and ever fresh as he carries the flame of love, tolerance and compassion around the globe. Dada J. P. Vaswani has worked tirelessly to spread his Master’s message of love and service for all. To this end, SVM has established 5 clinics and hospitals across Pune; these are Shanti Clinic, Inlaks & Budhrani Hospital, Morbai Naraindas Budhrani Cancer Institute, K.K. Eye Institute and Fabiani & Budhrani Heart Institute; and a clinic in Khandala where professional excellence blends with compassionate care. SVM has grown in strength since its inception with 46 centers in over 20 countries across the globe. The primary focus at these centers and SVM Pune has been on satsang, as Sadhu Vaswani said, “The noblest work is to cultivate the soul.”
SAK Association
Meatless Day Campaign Kindly observe November 25 as an International Meatless Day Visit us on:
We Can Make a
Services provided by the SVM’s Medical Complex Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani believes that everyone should have access to the best healthcare. He says that, “Every patient is a picture of God. To serve him is to worship God.” And in this spirit, SVM has founded The Medical Complex and Shanti Clinic where every patient is treated with love, respect & sympathy and not reduced to a mere case number. This ‘Temple of Healing’ provides healthcare checkups, bypass surgeries, angioplasties, eye surgeries and many more services for free and/or at concessional rates for the poor and the needy.
worth r 1,11,62,410
PATIENTS
received free customised artificial limbs
4,666 PATIENTS offered free and concessional services
Sight for the Sightless Project and Dekhna Hai Mujhe Project strives to reach out to those who cannot afford even basic eye care
worth r 21,45,895
worth r 10,52,347
PATIENTS
PATIENTS
*April 1, 2016 to Feb 28, 2017
offered free and concessional eye surgeries
offered free OPD & IPD services
2,078
11,921
SHANTI CLINIC
1,922
36,638 PATIENTS received free medical aid and medicines through mobile vans
MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICE PROGRAMME
offered free OPD & IPD services
K.K. EYE INSTITUTE
PATIENTS
SNAPSHOT
SADHU VASWANI ASHRAM MEDICAL CENTRE, KHANDALA
55,158
FABIANI & BUDHRANI HEART INSTITUTE
These services are provided during various camps held at the hospitals throughout the year, as well as camps conducted by the hospitals in remote areas in and around Pune.
ARTIFICIAL LIMB SERVICE PROGRAMME
INLAKS & BUDHRANI HOSPITAL MORBAI NARAINDAS BUDHRANI CANCER INSTITUTE
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Difference
SVM’s charitable efforts would not have been possible without the Grace of the Guru and God. We are very grateful for all the help received, be it in cash, kind, thought or prayer.
13,428 ANIMALS treated
worth r 51,72,197
TO SPONSOR A Heart Surgery: r 85,000 (US $1400) A Cataract Eye Surgery: r 2,500 (US $50) An Artificial Limb: r 2,500 (US $50)
East and West Series A monthly journal for selfimprovement, self-knowledge and self-realisation Annual Subscription: r 100 E-mail: eastandwestseries@sadhuvaswani.org
Education SVM runs Child Education programme to offer support to deserving children who do not have the means to pursue the education of their choice. This year, 400 students are being provided financial aid.
TO SPONSOR
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Education of one child for a year: r 12,000 (US $200)
Seva Sadhu Vaswani believed that, “To live is to give.” With this philosophy in mind, SVM’s bhandara cooks and distributes food to the poor and the needy and to institutions which look after the underprivileged. Birds and animals are also fed daily.
Come be a part of us. Contact: svm.admin@sadhuvaswani.org
T
he three things that are dearest to Rev. Dada is satsang, seva and education. For Dada’s centenary celebrations, SVM has planned to conduct 100 satsangs across India. This initiative has been named Aao Jyot Jagein (AJJ) to spread Beloved Dada’s message. The first satsang was held in Indore on 29th April, 2017 in conjunction with unveiling of Sadhu Vaswani’s statue. In the past three months, 21 satsangs have been conducted (19 in Maharashtra, 1 in Indore, and 1 in Chennai). These satsangs have encouraged people to come in groups to visit Pune to meet Beloved Dada in person and experience Darshan Museum. As part of AJJ, two workshops were also held in Pune where eminent Sindhis were invited to join in the celebrations. If you would like to join this initiative, please connect with Rajesh Aidasani via email (rajesha@sadhuvaswani.org)
May we take this opportunity of inviting you to come and see Darshan – the first of its kind in India giving glimpse into the life and work of our Revered Master Sadhu T. L. Vaswani
darshan
Show Timings: 10 am to 6 pm Thursdays closed
A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE
020-40064447
darshan@sadhuvaswani.org
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Lead the Right Way with Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This proverb so beautifully expresses the importance of teamwork. However, any great team needs a great leader. While we see many leaders around us, how many are truly leading? A fundamental function of a leader is to influence -to be able to change minds, shape opinions and motivate others to act. This ability is one of the essential skills required for leaders at all levels. To be able to influence others is tough, but a leader must master the nuances, if he/she wants employees to identify with them, follow and respect them and internalize their values and embrace their vision. Every leader must possess high EQ (Emotional Intelligence) to be effective. EQ is the art and science of managing ourselves and handling our relationships with others. Without using jargons, Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani provides us with a simple toolkit on how to raise your emotional intelligence and become an effective leader with influencing ability.
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Let your heart guide you Listen to everyone with patience and understanding but do as your heart tells you. As the Hindi saying goes: Suniye koyee lakh sunave, keejiye jo dil bataye.
Learn self-control When we lose our temper, we are not in control; we give away the power to the person who makes us angry. Hence, to always make the right decision, it's important to practice self-control. George Washington Carver, an African-American activist was once asked, “Don’t you hate white people?” His answer was that he will never give anyone the power to make him hate them.
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Lead life by example A Greek philosopher Thales was once asked, “What is the easiest thing for a man to do?” He said, “The easiest thing for a man to do is to give advice to another. He may not be living up to that advice, but he will easily give advice to another.” In order to inspire others, you need to be a living example so that others can follow you easily.
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Let love be the mantra of your life A good leader should be magnetic, so that people are drawn to him. What is the fun of being a leader, if you have no followers? People are always going to be drawn to you if you are an epitome of love. The most simple and effective method to grow in love is to start your day with the following prayer: ‘I love you, God, and I love all beings created by you.’
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Accept others as they are You cannot change others; you cannot control them. You can only change yourself, and help them be themselves. Years ago when India was undivided, Swami Ram Tirath put an advertisement in The Tribune, it said (in big bold words): WANTED REFORMERS And underneath in a very small font were the words: Who is prepared to reform themselves?
go wrong, and he would always give credit to others for a job well done. Since, the team’s success is a leader’s victory and a team’s failure is his loss. Forgive and forget A great leader forgives even before forgiveness is asked. He not only forgets what others do to him, but he also forgets his resentments, his disappointments and his regrets. He has to drop all the excess baggage and move ever forward, ever onward, and ever Godward.
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Be in the service of God In order to be an effective leader, you must enjoy what you do. The only way to enjoy your duties is to offer them unto the Lord. In the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Arjuna whatever you eat, whatever you give in charity, whatever austerity you practice, whatever you do, do it as an offering unto me.” If you turn yourself towards God then you will experience pure joy.
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Dada says, “God Is! God is watching me! God is watching over me!” He continued, “A great leader knows that he can make decisions, but the results are ultimately in God’s hands. He prays to God to arrange things in such a way that he becomes the best leader to his team.” By implementing any one of these suggestions upon ourselves, we can transform into a great leader. But remember, “It is life that is needed, not words!” Recommended Books:
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Handling success and failure A good leader will always take the blame when things
Sadhu Vaswani Mission 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune – 411 001 Contact: +91-20-40064447 Website: www.sadhuvaswani.org Sonali Enterprises: Yerwada, Pune-6 Tel.: 9822814171