The meaning of SWADHYAY and about to DADAJI

[Brijesh Pandya]

Swadhyay began its journey in the early 1940s when
Revered Dadaji (Pandurang Shastri Athavale), a young scholar then in
his early twenties, began to deliver discourses in the Shreemad Bhagwad
Geeta Pathshala in Mumbai, India.

Swadhyay is a Sanskrit word meaning self-study, but
it is more than merely a "study". The word movement is an
incomplete description of what Swadhyay is and what it does; rather, it
is a tribute to Rev. Dadaji, who has founded it, nurtured it, and
inspired millions of people to join the Swadhyay stream. He has
single-handedly spearheaded a silent revolution which aims at the
social and cultural transformation of man.

A process of self-transformation and self-empowerment,
for Swadhyayees it is a life-changing experience, an experience that
gives dignity, self-respect, and self-esteem to the individual. It is a
network of interacting individuals and communities. They may have
different identities and orientations, yet they come together to share
a system of beliefs and a sense of belonging. Such integration
facilitates community regeneration and healing at both the individual
and social levels. The primary goal of Swadhyay is to develop an
awareness of the indwelling God -- the divine presence within every
human being. Another basic idea of Swadhyay is that bhakti (devotion)
is not strictly an introverted activity; rather, it is also a social
force. Bhakti is at the foundation of Swadhyay'. Bhakti is an
understanding of man's relationship with the Divine and with others.
But for bhakti to be a social force and move beyond ritualism, temple
worship, scriptural learning and attending religious discourses, it
would have to be transformed into selfless and righteous action based
on devotion. Self-perfection sublimated through constructive work for a
collective good is seen as kruti-bhakti (devotional activism), which
fosters a universal brotherhood under the fatherhood of God.

In Swadhyay, the sacred becomes more personal
while satisfying individual and community needs. These are not simply
material needs; rather, they are basic human needs like love, identity,
self-acceptance, and self-esteem. Though Swadhyay is an inwardly
focused spirituality, it is life-oriented.