Pujya Bhaishri addresses audiences in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

On July 22, 2003, Pujya Bhaishri addressed a packed audience of invited guests at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany, New Jersey. The event was organized by Vidya Vikas Charitable Trust (V.V.C.T.), a USA based non profit organization. The program included devotional songs by renowned singer Lalitya Munsha and a slide show by Girish Mehta. Dr. Navin Mehta, V.V.C.T. president explained that the Trust is guided by Pujya Bhaishri, and its primary goal is to provide education in villages and disaster affected areas in India. Pujya Bhaishri stated that Indian heritage and culture can only be preserved by education, and investment in humanity was bound to produce positive results. This is evident in several recent projects. Since 1993, more than 300 students at Sandipani Vidyaniketan in Porbandar are receiving free education. The curriculum spans from eighth grade through Masters Program, and courses include math, science, history, computers as well as Indian classical music, Vedas and Sanskrit. Based upon recent results of the Gujarat state exams for schools of its kind, a majority of top ten students are from Sandipani Vidyaniketan. Pujya Bhaishri also informed about the completion of Madhavnagar, an earthquake relief project at Nani Kehdoi, Kutch, which consists of a 52-home development with amenities such as water, sewer and electricity, roads, and a primary school with library. Radhanagar, a similar project with 130 homes is scheduled to be completed in November 2003. Guests were praised for their support for humanitarian efforts initiated by V.V.C.T., and were invited to visit Sandipani Vidyaniketan and other projects in India. The event concluded with dinner served by Aashirvad Palace.

On July 23, 2003, Pujya Bhaishri visited Himalaya Institute near Honesdale, Pennsylvania where he received a warm welcome from Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute and the successor of Swami Rama. Established more than a quarter of a century ago on a beautiful 400-acre campus in the rolling hills of the Pocono Mountains, the Institute uses techniques of yoga, Ayurveda, integrative medicine and principles of spirituality to bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity. In the spiritually vibrant prayer room of the Institute Pujya Bhaishri explained the ways to practice Bhakti to a large group of disciples. He also visited the herb garden, laboratory, and retail outlets of the Institute.