SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Her Holiness Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Sant Nirankari Mission, was called one of the most influential women in India at a recent chiropractic conference drawing thousands of doctors and students to the San Francisco Area.
Life Chiropractic College West honored Her Holiness with the President’s most prestigious award, the ‘Service to Humanity’ Award for the Mission’s humanitarian efforts, ranging from building hospitals and schools to hosting blood donations drives and cleanliness drives across the globe.
The award was presented during Life West’s Annual Chiropractic Event, The Wave 2017, to a packed room of about 2,700 conference attendees at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame on August 4. Brig. P.S. Cheema, from the Mission’s Social Welfare Department in Delhi, accepted the award on behalf of Her Holiness who conveyed her thanks in a recorded message.
In appreciation of the award, a large framed picture of His Holiness Babaji and Satguru Mataji was presented to the President Dr. Ron Oberstein by Dr. Iqbaljit Rai, President, Sant Nirankari Mission, USA. Dr. Oberstein was also honored by a traditional Shawl, which was draped around his neck, as an expression of giving the highest honor.
“There are individuals whose only intention is to serve others and in doing so, make the world a better place to live,” said Life West President Dr. Ron Oberstein.
The Mission, an international spiritual movement emphasizing oneness and selfless service to humanity, provides a major spiritual retreat twice every year in India. Since 2013, Life West has been sending a team of doctors overseas to treat tens of thousands of people of all ages.
“Over 1.75 million people come to these camps where the message of oneness is spread and the embodiment of lasting purpose- giving, doing, loving and serving is lived to its fullest capacity,” said Oberstein.
The field of chiropractics remains a relatively new concept in India and Life West estimates there are only about 10 full-time practicing chiropractors in the country. In hopes of helping people who have no access to healthcare, Life West has teamed up with the Sant Nirankari Mission.
“The philosophy of the Mission as well as the philosophy of chiropractics -they are the same message. And, so, the reason they both harmonize and work so well together is that they’re both about spreading love and they’re both about being a servant,” said Dr. Angel Ochoa-Rea, who has been on three mission trips to India.
The Sant Nirankari Mission was invited to set up an exhibition during the multi-day conference highlighting its social welfare activities, including the Chiropractic Camps. It gave thousands of conference attendees an opportunity to learn more about the mission trips. The exhibition was organized by the Social Welfare Department, SNM, USA under the active guidance of Mrs. Harlivleen Bajwa.
The highlight of this exhibition was the ‘Fountain of Oneness’, which was an exact miniature replica of it original structure located in Delhi, India
“Wow, in one word. I was really moved by the level of service…The impact and how a few people got together and turned it into a world-wide mission, amazing, just amazing,” said conference attendee Jeanne Ohm, who has been in chiropractics for almost 40 years.
Her Holiness concluded her video message thanking Life West for the award, with these words, “This message of humanity and for the betterment of humanity, is to be joined by many hands and hearts so that we can and shall come together to make this world a global family.”
The Sant Nirankari Mission is essentially a spiritual movement. Its principal commitment to its followers is to make their minds conscious of the Eternal Reality and unite their Soul with the Creator, the Formless God.
Prafull Lande & Arti Nehru
