His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj is a divine incarnate whose profound impact on the society is recognized by millions of people world wide. As the head of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu denomination, he has inspired and mobilized over 40,000 volunteers from 5,570 centers in 45 countries to contribute over 170 million volunteer hours in serving the society at large. This summary briefly outlines H.D.H. Pramukh Swami’s seminal work in leading humanitarian, environment, and social causes.

Humanitarian/Environmental Work
H.D.H. Pramukh Swami is a true “Global Citizen” reaching out to the troubled masses, providing charitable health services, and advocating enduring values. First, be it an earthquake in Los Angeles or Hurricane Hugo, riots in Los Angeles, or a disaster in India, this organization has been the first to arrive and last to leave. Second, his strong belief in “Health for All” is reflected through the countless charitable hospitals and health care centers he has built around the world. Through numerous educational campaigns, he has spent limitless hours towards a drug free, AlDS-free society. As a proponent of family values, he has established 2,200 youth centers and 3,000 children’s centers focused on education and character-building, and has inspired over one million families to live up to the adage, “a family that prays together, stays together” in order to build strong family units.

The work done by BAPS in various humanitarian fields has earned it a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status at the United Nations. In the environmental field, he has dedicated his life to making our world a better place by encouraging and institutionalizing activities such as recycling, water conservation, and using renewable energy. For example, the BAPS volunteers have collected seven million cans for recycling in London, England, and have planted over 1.2 million trees in rural India.

Activities in North America
     In 1991, BAPS organized a 30-day Cultural Festival of India in New Jersey and attracted over 1.2 million visitors. The organization has gained tremendous momentum in the US, with over 173 community centers that host one million visitors annually. By the year 2001, BAPS will have 29 temples in the US that will serve as major cultural and educational centers. The local, South Florida temple is under construction at Boynton Beach scheduled for opening later this year. In addition, H.D.H. Pramukh Swami has inspired the BAPS’ resources to build a sprawling cultural wonderland in New Jersey that will serve as a lasting tribute to Indian Culture and humanitarian ideals.

One cannot help but feel deeply inspired in front of this 80- year-old saint who has spent every moment of his post-teenlife for others, attending to everyone regardless of his social or economic standing. H.D.H. Pramukh Swami has a humble and unpretentious presence. He communicates with a calm intensity through his actions and through the sheertransparency of his purpose. His message is simple: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”

H.D.H. Pramukh Swami’s compassion for humanity has touched many world, national, and religious leaders. His principle centered life is dignified, unadulterated, and bereft of controversy, so much so that great leaders have insisted on inviting him to their homes, including H.R.H. Prince Charles at Kensington Palace, and the President of India, Zail Singh. The Houses of Parliament in London and Ottawa have honored him. Political leaders such as Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Majors, and Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpai have met with him. Spiritual leaders such as H.H. Pope John Paul 11 and the reverend Archbishop of Canterbury have shared their common visions with him.

His Message
On August 29th 2000 H.D.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, addressed the inaugural session at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit. Amongst prominent speakers like H.E. Kofi Annan (Secretary General, UN), H.E. Francis Cardinal Arinze (Vatican Christianity), H.E. Abdullah al-Obaid (World Muslim League, Islam), Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau (Ashkenazi, Judaism), Dr. Ted Turner (CNN), H.H Pramukh Swami highlighted in his address, ‘A Call to Dialogue Our Collective Responsibility’:

“Just as the unity of our followers makes our religion strong and protected, the unity of all faiths will make our common future strong and protected... True progress of any religionlies not in growth by numbers but by the quality of life and purity and the spiritual awakening in the adherents. Thus every Hindu should become a better Hindu, every Jew a betterJew, every Christian a better Christian and every Muslim a better Muslim and every follower should become a better follower... Religious leaders should not dream of establishing their religion as the one religion of the world, but dream of a world where all religions are united. Unity in diversity is the first lesson of life. Flourishing together by workingtogether is the secret behind peace. From Rigvedic times, the Hindus have professed this global broad mindedness of a Beautiful Borderless World.”

In conclusion, H.D.H Pramukh Swami stressed that,

“We must not progress at the cost of others, but sacrifice apart of ourselves for the good of others. For true religion is that which inspires love for one another”.