A father brought his young son, Sunil, to receive the yagnopavit (sacred thread) from Swamishri.

The sadhus sang Vedic verses as Swamishri ceremoniously placed the sacred thread around Sunil. Swamishri applied a chandlo to his forehead and said, "Do puja daily. How many rosaries do you turn each day?"

"One."
"Now do two. For Akshar and Purushottam. Do you know who Akshar is?"

"Yes, Gunatitanand Swami."

"And Purushottam?" asked Swamishri.

"Sahajanand Swami."

"Good. So do two, and say Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan."

As Sunil got up to leave, Swamishri added, "Study well. Do puja and offer devotion to God. Don't tell lies. And serve your mother and father."

In Indian culture, the yagnopavit ceremony is a rite of passage following which a child begins his education.

Swamishri clearly prescribed the path for moral, spiritual and mundane development for all children.