‘In the joy of others lies our own, in the good of others abides our own’ – a simple, yet profound maxim of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj was etched on a disc that travelled aboard IM-1 on a remarkable journey to the south pole of the Moon.
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On Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 6:23 pm, the Intuitive Machines-1 commercial lander, in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, successfully landed on the Moon, carrying along with it an etched disc commemorating the life and universal messages of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), the late spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu organization.
Amid the celebrations that followed the exciting announcement from mission director Tim Crane, “Odysseus has found its new home,” soared a loving tribute in the hearts of those who knew Pramukh Swami Maharaj. ‘In the joy of others lies our own, in the good of others abides our own,’ was his life motto, a simple but profound message, etched on a disc developed by Relative Dynamics, that travelled along IM-1 on this remarkable journey to the south pole of the Moon.
The mission not only represented the first controlled descent to the lunar surface by a U.S. spacecraft in over 50 years, but also symbolized, as aptly put by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, a “triumph for humanity.” A triumph in the form of a universal message of harmony and compassion for all of humanity as lived by a spiritual leader, coming together with the finest application of science and technology in a spacecraft by scientists and innovators, to ascend in unison towards this historic lunar landing.
Commemorating the teachings and universality of the values practiced by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Intuitive Machines shared the following message on LinkedIn ahead of the landing:
“Created in coordination with Intuitive Machines and Relative Dynamics Inc., the IM-1 mission will fly an eternal tribute to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan organization. The etching honors the life and service of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a Hindu spiritual leader who championed the universal human value of selfless service. Such a cultural engagement between nations and corporations allows for the development of shared values, efforts, and responsibility in the pursuit of space exploration.”
The disc was blessed by the current spiritual leader of BAPS, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, on December 29, 2022, during the centennial celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Amdavad, India. It carries Mahant Swami Maharaj’s heartfelt prayer of peace and happiness for all:
“In the joy of others lies our own. In the good of others abides our own. With this life-motto, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), a universal spiritual leader and great saint of our time, dedicated his entire life in the upliftment of humanity. On the occasion of his Centenary Celebrations, I pray at the lotus feet of Bhagwan Swaminarayan that may all people get bliss and happiness through imbibing spiritual and moral values. May harmony and unity spread everywhere in the world. May love and respect for each other flourish everywhere. May auspicious wishes come true.”
Stressing this spirit of the shared values for all of humanity, Intuitive Machines CEO Stephen Altemus, remarked, “It is clear that space exploration endeavors are for all of us, all of humanity, to strive for and share in.”
In this manner, a universal message of harmony, unity, and compassion touched the Moon in a true extension of the Hindu scriptural sentiment, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning, ‘The world is one family.’
