[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22691]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         IN HONOR OF HIS DIVINE HOLINESS PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of His Divine 
Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the worldwide 
BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Santhsa). He 
visits the Greater Cleveland area on Tuesday October 17.
  HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth spiritual successor of Lord 
Swaminarayan, the spiritual figurehead of the BAPS. At the age of 79, 
he continues to demonstrate the highest order of caring for others. In 
his role as religious leader, he has visited over 15,000 villages, 
250,000 homes and personally counseled over 610,000 people. He also had 
the distinguished honor of delivering an inaugural address at the 
recent Millennium World Peace Summit at the United Nations. His 
compassion for humanity and his altruistic tendencies have formed the 
basis for a wide range of noble projects. All his work is united by the 
common goal of improving the condition of humanity as a whole. As such 
he is an example to us all.
  BAPS is a remarkable organisation which has reached out and touched 
over one million followers across the world. It has over 6,800 
international centers for youth, women and children. Under the 
leadership of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS has built the largest 
traditional Hindu Mandir outside India. In a nation of religious 
freedom and diversity, we should pay our respect to such outstanding 
work for the betterment of humanity.
  I ask the House of Representatives to join me today to honor the 
arrival of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj to the Greater Cleveland area.

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