From Neurosurgeon in Chicago to Swaminarayan Sant: Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj on The Sarvesh Mishra Show
Described in the episode as having grown up in Chicago, studied neuroscience, trained as a neurosurgeon, and taken sanyas at around 25.
When people hear “Chicago,” many think of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech. In this episode of The Sarvesh Mishra Show, the guest is a young monk who grew up in Chicago, built a business there, studied neuroscience, and trained as a neurosurgeon. At 25, he walked away from it all and took sanyas.
Pujya Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj belongs to the Swaminarayan Sampraday (Vadtal diocese). In this conversation with Sarvesh Mishra he talks about why he left a life of comfort, the criticism he has faced for wearing saffron, and why he speaks so openly about the habits that he believes are hollowing out India’s youth.
How law of karma works @akhandswami | Sarvesh Mishra Show Neurosurgeon of india · 78 min 57 sec
Why he left everything behind
Swamiji says every person reaches a turning point that reveals their purpose. In his college years, he saw that money, cars, bungalows and fame can give sukh (pleasure), but not anand (lasting joy). Sukh is temporary, while anand is eternal. His study of the scriptures led him to a simple conclusion: lasting joy comes from surrendering to God and serving others selflessly.
You should plant a tree under whose shade you do not plan to sit.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, as quoted by Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj
The friend whose cancer disappeared
Swamiji describes a classmate, a brilliant white American neuroscience student and an atheist, who was diagnosed with stage-four blood cancer at 22 and given two to three months to live. According to Swamiji, this friend dreamed on three consecutive nights of a figure in yellow robes. The figure said first “I will cure your cancer,” then repeated it. When the friend searched online for “Hindu” images, he recognised the deity from his dreams. He then went for fresh tests, and, as Swamiji tells it, the cancer had disappeared.
Swamiji says this incident, along with the talks of his guru, pushed him toward sanyas. If God could do this for a non-believer, he reasoned, then a life dedicated to God was worth it.
This is Swamiji’s personal account and is not independently verified. It is not a medical claim or a treatment recommendation.
Facing ridicule for tilak and saffron
Swamiji says the mockery started long before sanyas. In college he wore a tilak with his pants and shirt, and he was teased, mostly by fellow Indians, who asked why he displayed his faith. His reply: “This isn’t display, it’s our culture.”
- At age 17, a colleague at his job told him not to wear tilak to work. He asked why, when others around him did far less appropriate things.
- At school, classmates mocked the khichdi he brought for lunch. His answer: if they have no problem with meat, why should khichdi bother anyone?
- As a monk, he says insults still come, and he has learned to respond with forgiveness and good wishes.
How his family reacted
His former mother was devastated when he first mentioned sanyas, and she fasted for the day. He dropped the subject, prayed, and gradually explained that a sant can do good for millions of people, and that she would share in that merit. Eventually she gave her consent, which his sampraday requires before anyone can take sanyas.
She also set two conditions:
- He must be fully committed to this path with no regrets.
- He must never fall from the spiritual path or live for personal gain, only for God and others.
He promised to keep both for life.
What is dharma? What are sanskar?
Swamiji defines dharma not as external rituals but as the discipline that teaches vastness, service, sacrifice, and seeing God in every person. His example: one person sees a woman as a sister, another with lust, and dharma teaches us to see other women as mothers or sisters.
Sanskar, he explains, comes from a Sanskrit root meaning to refine. Sanskar teach discernment (viveka), dignity (maryada), and how to live honestly. He calls them not just important but essential, and says Sanatan Dharma teaches them best.
He also clarifies that “Sanatan” is the term the scriptures use, while “Hindu” came later.
The youth, addiction, and brahmacharya
This is the most intense part of the conversation. Swamiji says he speaks frankly about pornography, masturbation, drugs and alcohol because India has the world’s largest youth population, and he believes addiction is draining it. These are his religious and pastoral views, not medical consensus.
- Exposure is the problem. Most young people he meets feel regret and want to change, but constant exposure makes it hard to quit.
- It is not only a youth issue. He says serving IAS and IPS officers, and even ministers in their 60s and 70s, have contacted him for help after listening to his talks on brahmacharya.
- A larger conspiracy? Swamiji calls it a sajish (conspiracy), arguing that while Westerners adopt yoga and Ayurveda, India’s youth are being pulled toward harmful habits. That is his interpretation, not a documented finding.
- Brahmacharya means more than celibacy. He explains it as living in God-consciousness, with self-control as the foundation. For married people, it means fidelity and not looking at others with lust.
- For those who feel they have made mistakes: don’t fear. Take a vow not to repeat them, which he calls the real prayashchit (atonement).
On the claim that these habits have health benefits, Swamiji asks for peer-reviewed evidence, and notes that scientific findings also change over time while the scriptures don’t. Mainstream medical bodies generally do not treat masturbation as harmful; readers should treat health questions with a qualified clinician, not a podcast.
Parenting: the “4 S” framework
Swamiji’s tips for parents:
| The 4 S | What he asks of parents |
|---|---|
| Samay (Time) | Give children quality time rather than toys or smartphones. He cites Warren Buffett’s time with his children and grandchildren as an example. |
| Samajh (Understanding) | Understand your child before trying to correct them. |
| Swikaar (Acceptance) | Accept the child as they are, and avoid constant comparison. He shares two stories of fathers whose comparisons backfired. |
| Sanskar | Teach children to handle struggle and failure, stay balanced in joy and sorrow, and respect elders. |
He also argues that parenting begins at the time of choosing a life partner, and that the thoughts and emotions of parents, especially during pregnancy, shape a child’s character. For a different, doctor-led conversation on pregnancy and garbh sanskar, see Dr. Vishnu Mane.
Karma, bhagya, and the story of the two disciples
On the karma vs. destiny debate, Swamiji says bhagya (fortune) is not independent. It comes from karma, either from past lives or this one. He describes three types:
- Sanchit karma: the accumulated reservoir across lifetimes
- Prarabdh karma: the portion assigned for this lifetime
- Kriyamaan karma: what we do now
He illustrates with a story of two disciples. One attended satsang and got a thorn in his foot, while the other went to unsavoury places and found a small diamond. The guru explains that the first was meant to die that night, and his good karma reduced it to a thorn. The second was destined to be a king, but his misdeeds reduced his fortune to a small diamond.
Dhyan vs. meditation, diet, and daily practice
- Dhyan is deeper than meditation. Swamiji says meditation concentrates the mind, whereas dhyan leads to samadhi and connection with God.
- Self-contemplation: He spends 30 minutes each night reviewing his day: did I hurt anyone, did I act against the scriptures?
- Diet: He eats mainly fruit while travelling, practises 16 to 18 hours of intermittent fasting, and avoids wheat, rice, sugar, fried food and refined flour. He says energy comes from the mind, sunlight and oxygen as much as from food. This is his personal practice, not a diet prescription.
- Five questions about eating: What, how much, when, how, and why.
Why he doesn’t take photos with or touch women
Swamiji explains that Lord Swaminarayan instructed his sants to follow eight forms of brahmacharya. It is not out of disrespect or hatred, he says, but a precaution so that a monk’s mind never strays.
His mission
His goal is to work for Indians and Sanatanis in education and healthcare, to free people from addiction, to reconnect youth with their culture, and to serve the elderly. In short, he wants to take people from the material to the spiritual. He says he doesn’t belong to any political party, but encourages anyone working for Sanatan Dharma.
Closing thoughts
Sarvesh Mishra closes by pointing out the question many viewers may ask: what could a young American neurosurgeon have been missing, with everything he could want? Swamiji’s answer throughout the episode is that he was looking for something that outlasts wealth, fame and comfort.
Watch the full episode on The Sarvesh Mishra Show and share your questions in the comments for a possible Part 2.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj?
Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj is a Swaminarayan sant who says he grew up in Chicago, studied neuroscience, trained as a neurosurgeon, and took sanyas at around 25. He is the guest on this episode of The Sarvesh Mishra Show.
Why did he leave a career in neurosurgery to become a sanyasi?
He says wealth, fame, and comfort gave him sukh (temporary pleasure) but not anand (lasting joy). After studying the scriptures, he concluded that lasting joy comes from surrendering to God and serving others selflessly.
Which sampraday does Swamiji belong to?
He belongs to the Swaminarayan Sampraday and comes from the Vadtal diocese (Vadtal Desh).
What is the difference between sukh and anand?
According to Swamiji, sukh is temporary and fades, while anand is eternal. Material things can offer sukh, but anand comes from connecting with the eternal through devotion and selfless service.
What does brahmacharya mean according to Swamiji?
He explains that brahmacharya is not only celibacy. It means remaining absorbed in God, with self-control of the senses as its foundation. For married people, he says it means fidelity and not looking at others with lust.
What are the “4 S” of parenting that Swamiji shares?
The four S are Samay (give children quality time), Samajh (understand them before correcting them), Swikaar (accept them as they are without constant comparison), and Sanskar (teach them to handle struggle, stay balanced, and respect elders).
How does Swamiji explain karma and bhagya?
He says bhagya (fortune) is not independent but comes from karma. He describes three types: sanchit karma (accumulated across lifetimes), prarabdh karma (assigned for this life), and kriyamaan karma (actions done now). He says the fruit of karma may be experienced in this life, a past life, or a future one.
What is the difference between dhyan and meditation?
Swamiji says meditation is concentrating the mind on one point, while dhyan is deeper and can lead to samadhi and a connection with God.
- Sukh is temporary, anand is eternal
- Dharma is service and sacrifice, not just ritual
- Sanskar begin before birth, even before choosing a partner
- Give children time, understanding, acceptance, and sanskar
- Karma travels across lifetimes
Watch the full episode
Watch the full conversation to hear Akhand Swami Ji Maharaj in his own words. Leave a question in the YouTube comments if you want a possible Part 2.
How law of karma works @akhandswami | Sarvesh Mishra Show Neurosurgeon of india