An oasis of serenity for a fast-paced world

HACKENSACK, N.J.– Like many houses of worship, the Sadhu Vaswani Center in Closter, N.J., has a sign that displays spiritual messages to passers-by.

But rather than trumpeting familiar injunctions like “Praise the Lord,” the Hindu congregation’s sign says: “You get what you expect. Therefore, expect the best and the best will come to you.”

The message reflects the hope-filled teachings of Dada J.P. Vaswani, an 89-year-old India-based scholar, humanitarian and spiritual leader.

    Vaswani has a growing following in New Jersey, especially among Hindu families with roots in the Sindh region that became part of Pakistan after the partition of India. Large numbers of Hindus left Sindh, settling in India and other parts of the world, including Bergen County, N.J.

“The Sindh community is so widespread and he is one of the humanitarian and spiritual figures that link the community,” said Sandhya Nankani, who grew up in Demarest, N.J., and wrote a book about Vaswani, “Moments with a Master.”

Vaswani, who has written more than 100 books, strongly backs animal rights and vegetarianism. He also preaches on the concept of ahimsa _ a Sanskrit term meaning non-violence, and a staple of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s philosophy.

Vaswani is an advocate for inter-religious cooperation and tolerance. Although he is considered a Hindu, his books also cite the teachings of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism as well as literary and artistic works.

“The truth may be one _ but the ways to truth are many,” Vaswani wrote in his book, “Peace or Perish.” “You walk along one way _ your neighbor, your friend, countless other strangers may choose a different way. Allow them their freedom of choice!”

Members of the Closter center say Vaswani’s teachings help them stay calm and act with integrity in a fast-paced, stress-filled world.

“I would be totally lost without these teachings,” said Ashok Lalwani of Secaucus, N.J. “These are the basic principles about how life should be lived.”

Lalwani, president of the Somerville, N.J.-based firm American Spraytech, said the teachings cover all aspects of his life, from conduct in business to the treatment of strangers.

Vaswani’s teachings can even be applied to daily conundrums, such as commuting to work on busy highways. Rather than reacting in anger to a reckless or abusive motorist, Lalwani said he tries to adopt a calm, measured demeanor.

“You just say ‘OK’ and try to understand the other person,” he said. “Perhaps he was in a rush. Perhaps his mother was sick and he needed to go to the hospital. You try to get an understanding of the other person, this is God’s will.”

One of the hallmarks of Vaswani’s teachings is to have a daily “appointment” with God.

“He says choose that figure that best represents your idea of God and spend five or 10 minutes,” Nankani said. “If you are not a religious person, then sit in silence. That stepping outside of the busyness and hectic nature of one’s daily life can be a grounding experience.”

About two dozen people _ some in South Asian dress, others in American clothes _ did just that on a recent Thursday. They gathered in the pink-carpeted Closter center for worship that included rhythmic chanting accompanied by a hand drum.

After the chants, a viewing screen was electronically lowered from the ceiling and a recording of a Vaswani lesson was broadcast to the congregation.

Vaswani delivered a lecture in Manhattan last month, telling his audience to avoid holding grudges and to always be in a mode of forgiveness.

    Hemant Wadhwani, of Elmwood Park, N.J., said he brought 12 high school dropouts from the Bronx in the hopes of exposing them to the message.

    “They had never seen anything like it before,” Wadhwani said.