Buttermilk and Ready-made Garments distribution in Sayla

Since the last 25 years buttermilk distribution has been organized by Raj Saubhag Ashram, Sayla during the blistering summer months.  This year too many free buttermilk-distribution camps in 18 villages including Sayla, Sudamana, Chotila, Dhandhalpur, Dhajara, Chorvira were set up and have distributed over 3,000 liters of buttermilk.  This year ready-made garments were also distributed in a joint initiative with Arpana Foundation.

Each day over 200 poor villagers queued up to receive their share of the nourishing drink and garments. These camps start their distribution activities from mid-April, going on until mid or end of June, with volunteers distributing the buttermilk every single day for 3 months.  About 8,600 families have been benefiting from this noble initiative. 

Young women tested for Thalassemia free-of-cost

Over 200 young women were screened for Thalassaemia in a community health fair organised by Raj Saubhag Ashram Sayla and Indian Red Cross Society, Ahmedabad.  It is important for individuals to be aware of their thalassemia trait status, particularly individuals of reproductive age. Depending on the haemoglobin type of a current or future partner, future children may be at risk for thalassaemia disease or other related haemoglobin diseases. It has been often debated about how the time was right to have a national Thalassemia policy in India. The first case of thalassaemia in India was reported in 1938 and every year about 10,000 children with thalassemia major are born in India, according to a report published in the Hindu.

The Thalasseamia and Sickle Cell Prevention health fair was organised for young women of marriageable age as part of a Control and Research Programme in the premises of L M Vora College of Arts and Commerce, Sayla.

The event was featured in the local newspapers.

IVY Swadhyay - March 2018 - Simple Living: High thinking

“Gratitude is the attitude that takes us to our altitude” said Brahmnisht Minalben. “This whole year is an auspicious celebration for all of us. Gratitude is one feeling that should constantly reside in our hearts.  Gratitude towards the enlightened souls, Param Krupalu Dev and Lord Mahavir. The more you contemplate on their virtues and imbibe them, the more evolved, tolerant and soft-spoken people we become. Negative thoughts can emerge easily and take the charge of situation. However, it becomes our responsibility to stall old habits and replace the negative with positive. Accept the real truth, instead of insisting only your own beliefs to be true. Be open to broader thinking, adapt and practice simple living.”

This is possible by practicing the 3 C’s of inner transformation:

• Concentration: Do one thing at a time with complete attention even if it is as trivial as tying a shoe lace. Refrain from multi-tasking.

• Commitment: Be purposeful, respectful and dutiful towards the task at hand. Practice mind-body harmony and stay committed to the task.

• Courage: Courage is a decision, whereas fear is a reaction. Fears that aren’t faced, can become our limitations. Have faith in the Trinity. Pray to the Lord regularly. He is not going to solve all our problems but He surely strengthens us to face our issues bravely.

On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, Minalben asked the young mumukshus to observe and practice few guidelines from Lord Mahavir’s teachings:

• Do not disrespect your parents – Show reverence

• Don’t not be egoistic about your abilities – Be humble

• Do not counter-react– Be tolerant

• Don’t be dejected by failure – Be grateful

• Refrain from favouritism. Never take sides – Be equanimous

Reading Page 8 from ‘The pinnacle of Spirituality’: about Shrimad’s early school days’ sheds light on his courage and intelligence.  It is impossible for a diamond not to shine.

While Minalben laid the foundation, set the pace and built the momentum that would lead us to ‘simple living and high thinking’, Brahmnisht Vikrambhai highlighted the more intricate layers of devotion, dedication and development that complemented the guidelines of how one can be more virtuous.

Starting with the Bhajan ‘Ek janamyo raaj dularo…duniya no taran haaro…’ as a tribute to not only Lord Mahavir but also on the festive year of Pujya Bhaishree’s 75th birth anniversary, Vikrambhai spoke about the magical spells which are created by Lord’s divinity. Faith in the Trinity has the power to transform ‘a nar into narayan’.

Singing ‘khwaja mere khwaja’ Vikrambhai drew attention to how praying to the Lord and applauding his virtues would bring peace, patience and goodness within. Once you have studied a virtue really well, it is splendid to watch it percolate in all walks of our life. It is then we shall be able to accept ourselves, appreciate the uniqueness of others and learn to live in harmony and freedom.

When we speak of Pujya Bhaishree’s virtues, say meticulousness, we also speak of what meticulousness is not. Pujya Bhaishree is meticulous but not rigid. He is perfect in his ways and yet amazingly adapts to the circumstances. He is disciplined and has his principals but not at the cost of being disrespectful or creating hassle for others. We must train our mind to see this refined definition of his virtues and contemplate on them to realize - ‘How can I imbibe these virtues in my life?’.

Thus, this swadhyay urges us to think higher, accept vastness and rejoice wholeness.

Three aid and equipment Support Camps for the disabled in Verawal, Thara and Dhanera

Support Camp 1

Location: Veraval

On 23rd of December 2017, Mumbai-based donors Varjivandas Shah family and Raj Saubhag Ashram organized an aid and equipment support camp for the disabled in Verawal.

A total of 405, disabled people were provided wheelchairs, tricycles, artificial limbs, hearing aids, calipers and educational kit for the mentally challenged pupils, and other equipment to help them cope with on-going or recurring physical disabilities.  All equipment was given free of cost.

In the first week of November 2017, 9 volunteers from Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla surveyed 40 villages, distributed pamphlets, encouraged people to have their disabilities assessed during two diagnostic camp held in Shri Shantinath Jain Derasar on the 16th-17th of November and Navdurga Mataji Mandir in the last week of November.  The volunteers required 9 days to reach most of the families in these 40 villages.

Doctors then arrived a fortnight after the survey team finished the initial task.  During the diagnostic camp, the patients were assessed and their requirements noted.

On the 23rd of December, the entire support staff, doctors, volunteers and donors arrived to ensure that the equipment was handed over to the patient and he/she was advised about usage of the equipment.  Among the equipment distributed were tricycles, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, crutches, C P walkers, hearing aids, surgical shoes and educational kits.

Support camps for the disabled have been known to provide immense relief to patients twice-cursed – by disease and by poverty.

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Support Camp 2

Location: Thara 

A total of 127 villages like Kankarej, Radhanpur, Harij, and Disa from Patan Zilla were surveyed and 400 people were shortlisted at the diagnostic camp and 322 disabled poor people were given aids and appliances according to their needs.

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Support Camp 3

Location – Dhanera, Banakantha, Palanpur

Several Indian families living in the UK chose to sponsor a support camp for the disabled in Banakantha. Heavy floods, where 10-feet deep water collected in residential areas, causing heavy monetary loss and damage to property and equipment, had struck this region earlier.

Volunteers from Ashirwad Trust for the Disabled, Sayla surveyed Disa, Dantiwada, Lakhani and Tharad talukas.  Diagnostic camps were held in Shri Ramchandra Savrajbhai Shah Hospital

Over 404 disabled people were provided wheelchairs, tricycles, artificial limbs, hearing aids among others.  A month before the actual camp was to be held; about 55-60 villages were surveyed by 7 volunteers, who camped in the region for a week. Following a standard operating procedure, the diagnostic camp was held about a fortnight after the survey team completed their assignment.  The doctors shortlisted the patients and their requirements, and the final support camp is organized in the presence of donors.

Raj Saubhag Ashram thanks donors – Dr. Bhupenbhai and Neetaben Mehta, Nanalal Katariya, Kantaben Katariya, Bhanumati Kataria, Satishbhai Katariya, and Laxmiben and Manjuben Popat family for supporting such a noble cause.

Diwali 2017

During the Diwali celebrations this year Param Pujya Bhaishree took the text: 'Maniratna Mala' by Shree Tulsidasji. Param Krupaludev Shrimad Rajchandra had instructed in Letters 435, 789, 796 and updesh chaya 11 that this text was important to read. It contains many outstanding examples and understandings of 'Moh' which is worth contemplating on. The text is made up of 32 Shloks or stanzas. The expanded explanation of these 32 shloks is in the form of 100 questions and answers.

We share the swadhyays with you here below. 

Ashirvad Banaskantha Mobility Camp

Distribution of Mobility Appliances to Flood Victims in Banaskantha & Patan Districts

29th August 2017

The late monsoon rainfalls in India have been very heavy and have taken their toll in several states of India. North Gujarat and particularly, Banas Kantha has suffered from severe flooding.

Blind People’s Association along with with Shree Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal and support from the social workers from Palanpur had surveyed 127 villages from the Patan and Banaskantha districts’ (talukas of Kankrej, Radhanpur, Haarij and Disa). They examined the appliances distributed previously by Raj Saubhag to about 400 disabled persons, 315 of them were deemed to require replacement appliances which included tricycles, wheel chairs, crutches callipers, mobility sticks etc.

The mobility appliance distribution took place at Thara, in Kankrej Taluka of Banaskantha District on Tuesday 29th August.  Param Pujya Bhaishree and Pujya Vikrambhai had graced the occasion. Smt Nandiniben Raval, Executive Director BPA, had hosted the distribution program.   

The total cost of the 315 appliances and 7 education kits was almost Rs 14 lacs. Raj Saubhag India had contributed Rs 5 lacs and Raj Saubhag UK Rs 2 lacs towards the total cost.

Shree Raj Saubhag is planning another mobility appliance distribution camp in Banakantha district in January 2018.

IVY Swadhyay - Making Paryushan easy and part of our daily life

IVY Swadhyay - July 2017

Making Paryushan Easy and part of our daily life.

With the holy festival of Paryushan not even a month from now, all the believers in Jainism would have plans to increase their level of spirituality by fasting, meditating and praying.
While fasting is not always easy, there are other options that everybody (regardless of age, intelligence, profession or class) can undertake easily like the four principles of Jainism. Practicing them daily helps them integrate effortlessly into our lives.

Non-Violence (Ahimsa) - Ensuring that we do not harm to any soul in any way. That is, being extremely careful when you walk, talk, move, eat, use water, electricity etc.

Truth (Satya) - Always speak the truth. Pujya Bapuji would often say: ‘In difficult situations keep mum rather than speak a lie’. Either do not engage into things that you cannot tell others about or have the courage to confess when you have committed any wrong deed.

Non-cheating/Stealing (Achaurya) - Never let even the thought of stealing or cheating enter your mind. In case it does, be vigilant enough to not entertain such a thought.

Non-Possession/Non-attachment (Aparigrah) - Often our stress comes from trying to handle more than necessary – same goes for possessions or material things – allocate the quantity of things you need and give away excess possessions to those in need.

At the end of the day, we may have saved some lives and stopped ourselves from hurting others and mustered courage to own our mistakes, confess and ask for forgiveness.
For spiritual enrichment, Brahmnisht Minalben suggested to follow 6 simple things everyday. These 6 tasks have as much potential as meditation to uplift one’s spirits, make one happy and lead a disciplined life filled with gratitude.
    •    Wake up with a smile, look at life with enthusiasm and bow 3 times before the enlightened souls to say ‘Thank you’.
    •    Fold your hands in namaskar mudra to the universe and establish connection with everyone who is a part of it – celestial bodies, nature, family & friends. All souls are alike; the only difference is in the bodily form they take.
    •    Resolve to see things in positive light. Replace the negative thoughts with positive ones.
    •    Aspire something for the day. It can be anything as simple as spending time with an elderly person, teaching something to someone, helping a friend, politely talking to a person you dislike, to anything personal as beginning to learn a new skill. One must remember that desire is not the same as aspiration. Desire has latent selfishness whereas aspiration is about the joy of learning and giving.
    •    Never let yourself feel lonely. At any point you feel that you are alone, remind yourself that our Sadguru and our mother are always with you.
    •    Lastly, before going to bed, pray the Almighty to organize your life, while giving you the strength to take care of your day-to-day activities and the courage to live life judiciously.
Minalben ended with a beautiful and empowering couplet-

Alone I can say, together we can talk
Alone I can enjoy, together we can celebrate
Alone I can smile, together we can laugh
 
Giving his discourse in the same vein, Brahmnisht Vikrambhai sang a spiritually elevating song from the movie ‘Hamraaz, 1967’ that inspires about living life to the fullest and not letting anything influence you negatively, let alone harm you.

“If life is a song - sing it.
If life is an opportunity – grab it.
If life is a game - play it.
If life is a challenge - meet it.
If life is a dream - realize it.
If life is a sacrifice - offer it.
If life is love - enjoy it.”
Sai Baba”
 
Vikrambhai said: “Come what may, I choose to be Happy from within. I will not shy away from my duties, be righteous in my conduct, respond and not react in any circumstances. I will not let any force shake my determination, weaken my will or steal away my joy, even if that force is the thought of death. We often associate sadness and sorrow with death; but once you have befriended death, every moment of one’s life will be absolutely exciting. Think of life like a restaurant where everyone is served what they deserve. Thus, there is no place for complaints or regrets. There is going to be acceptance, love and happiness.”
Lyrics: Words so profound that they fill us with courage; a stirring power is transpired in us:

ના મૂંહ છૂપા કે જિયો ઔર ના સર ઝુકે કે જિયો
ગમોં કા દૌર ભી આયે તો મુસ્કુરા કે જિયો
ના મૂંહ છૂપા કે જિયો ઔર ના સર ઝુકે કે જિયો

Click here to her a poem