(On 7 November 1997, Swamishri was to leave London to fly to Mumbai. A few hundred teenagers had gathered for a special assembly in Swamishri’s presence. One of the teenagers said that he would dearly miss Swamishri and asked, “After you leave, who is going to look after us?”

Swamishri didn’t say anything. The teenager continued, “Today, all the kishores will receive a mala from you. We will turn it every night and think of you. Will you give us strength through the mala? You will, right? Promise?”)

Swamishri spoke very confidently, “Bhagwan Swaminarayan has already promised all of his devotees that. You should never say things like ‘Who will take care of us?’ and ‘What are we going to do without you?’ Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj are with you! Yogiji Maharaj had written a letter to a devotee in the town of Vyara. In it he said that we are never alone. God, the Gunatit Sadhu and all the akshar muktas are always with us. We must keep that firm in our minds. They are with us while we eat, sleep, talk and perform any other activity. If we don’t have that understanding then we will always feel lonely. With that understanding you will be comfortable wherever you go. Remember that God is always with us.”

Then Swamishri said, “Faith is the source of strength in life. The faith that God is always manifest. That he is always with us.”