At 6:30 am the following day, Daaji graced the Paramdham ashram, meeting all the members who had lined up outside the hall before conducting the meditation session. The session was followed by a brief yet enlightening interaction session with those present. During this time, he shared profound nuggets of spiritual wisdom that resonated deeply with all who were listening, inspiring them to deep dive into their journey in the Heartfulness way.Daaji spoke about the challenges we face in cultivating gratitude, especially amidst life’s trials and tribulations. It invites the question: how does one accept difficulties while remaining cheerful? And why would one want to do that? Understanding the role of acceptance is paramount; it teaches us to let go of what we cannot control in life, fostering a deep sense of inner peace. Through Heartfulness practices, we learn to navigate these challenges with grace, allowing us to remain poised even in the face of adversity. Heartfulness meditation nurtures this ability, guiding us to cultivate a spirit of resilience and gratitude, ultimately transforming our meditation experience into one of profound joy and serenity.Daaji emphasized the significance of acceptance as a means to glean valuable lessons from our experiences. Surrendering to our circumstances—not as a sign of defeat but as an act of maturity—is crucial. He encouraged all sincere practitioners of Heartfulness to seek divine guidance through their very own Heartfulness prayer practice before bedtime, humbly offering their challenges to Beloved Babuji Maharaj, in thought and spirit. Trusting that support from a higher power will lead to positive outcomes can create a profound sense of peace in our hearts, aligning with all the benefits of meditation.Defining purity, Daaji shared that it means staying true to our inner essence. He pointed out that straying from our source leads to what we might call sin. It’s essential to engage in thoughts and actions that promote spiritual growth while consciously avoiding those that weigh our hearts down. Heartfulness meditation fosters inner purity through being aware of the divine presence within us, allowing us to transcend external circumstances. Daaji reminded us that even a fleeting negative thought can disrupt our purity. Therefore, maintaining a loving remembrance of the divine is paramount to shielding ourselves from impurities, echoing the benefits of meditation for emotional well-being.In response to yet another question, Daaji beautifully articulated that the mind and heart are not separate entities; they are interconnected, with the heart representing a deeper aspect of our consciousness. He referred to a well-known, erstwhile philosopher and trainer of our organization, Dr. K C Vardachari and his insights on achieving harmony between the mind and heart, which fosters clarity and focus. He reminded everyone that Heartfulness Meditation serves as a vital tool in regulating the mind, transforming it into a powerful ally on our spiritual journey. Daaji suggested incorporating micro-meditations throughout our day to maintain centeredness and enhance our spiritual absorbency. A heart filled with love and remembrance is essential for mindfully nurturing our spiritual well-being.Daaji expressed his joy in witnessing the remarkable spiritual condition of the Heartfulness practitioners in Bengaluru, who had gathered at the Zonal ashram and the Paramdham ashram.&nbsp; While comparing the same with those who live in Kanha Shanti Vanam, Daaji observed that the practitioners in Kanha often take his presence for granted, while those in Bengaluru and across Karnataka have been diligently practicing and working on their inner growth, enhancing their Heartfulness meditation experience by leaps and bounds, which was evident when Daaji conducted the group meditation there.

After lunch Daaji met a few guests which included the PROs of the Adichunchangiri Math, Mr. Lingesh and Mr. H S Gopal. They invited Daaji to Adichunchangiri Math as directed by Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Maha Swamiji, the 72nd Pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, Mandya District, Karnataka. Also, Dr. Hallegere Murthy, MD, from Miami, FL and Myetraie Murthy MA, met with Daaji at Paramdham. Dr. Murthy, who runs Scope Foundation, an NGO focused on providing underprivileged children with access to education and healthcare, discussed potential partnerships with Heartfulness. A demonstration of the Brighter Minds program was also presented to them.

Later that evening, Daaji conducted meditation for all from his room before he journeyed to Mysore, arriving there later that night. He kindly requested Sister Elizabeth Denley to conduct a late-night meditation session for all the practitioners who had eagerly assembled in the meditation hall.

Daaji expressed his joy in witnessing the remarkable spiritual condition of the Heartfulness practitioners in Bengaluru, who had gathered at the Zonal ashram and the Paramdham ashram.&nbsp; While comparing the same with those who live in Kanha Shanti Vanam, Daaji observed that the practitioners in Kanha often take his presence for granted, while those in Bengaluru and across Karnataka have been diligently practicing and working on their inner growth, enhancing their Heartfulness meditation experience by leaps and bounds, which was evident when Daaji conducted the group meditation there. &nbsp;

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Daaji graced the Paramdham ashram, met the present abhyasis, the PROs of the Adichunchangiri Math and ended his day with meditation before leaving for Mysore. 

Bangaluru 14th October 2024

Daaji emphasized the profound concept of being in Constant Attentiveness to the inner state, also called Constant Remembrance in the Heartfulness tradition, urging the practitioners to embrace this state with an open heart. Rather than attempting to force this remembrance, Daaji suggested allowing it to naturally uplift and guide one from within, thus furthering one’s spiritual journey.

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Daaji seemed joyful as he greeted the practitioners from Bengaluru and nearby areas. Their love and commitment to their Heartfulness practice resonated deeply with the spiritual energy of the gathering.

Bangaluru 13th October 2024

13 SeptemberDaaji reached the&nbsp;Vijay Vihar Hotel in Nagarjuna Sagar around 11 am. After a short meeting with all present there, Daaji left for the Heartfulness Nalgonda Ashram to conduct meditation. Eager practitioners greeted Daaji at the hall. He lovingly met each and every one there. When he was greeted by an elderly gentleman, Daaji spoke to him and asked for a photo to be taken with him.&nbsp;

After meditation and lunch, Daaji met with the local Heartfulness team and discussed future developments on the ashram site. In the evening Daaji was invited to visit Buddhavanam, a large Buddhist heritage theme park.&nbsp;It is located very close to Nagarjunakonda Island, an ancient site that was once a thriving center of Buddhism. Excavations there unearthed many archaeological treasures—some of which have been relocated, while antiquities, including the Buddha’s holy relics, are preserved in the Island Museum. After the tour,&nbsp;Daaji reached the ashram hall to conduct the evening meditation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

14 September&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji arrived at the Nalgonda ashram, toured the entire premise and had a discussion with the local team about the ashram land. After breakfast, he conducted meditation, which was followed by a short Q&amp;A session. Here are a few excerpts.Q: Daaji, How can one overcome fear when life feels so difficult, filled with pain and unbearable hardships? Daaji: We all go through that fear at some point in our lives. How I circumvent fear is very simple. I tell myself, “I have my Master with me, Revered Babuji Maharaj. So, whatever may happen, let it happen. I am prepared. I have my Master; why should I be afraid?" We have to remind ourselves that “God has looked after me so well and I am sure that, with the grace of the Masters I have, my life will be fulfilled—not only materially but also spiritually.Q: What is this life all about?Daaji:&nbsp;This life is about how to grow, evolve, and become a better human being. As Babuji Maharaj puts it very simply, the goal is to go from human to humane to divine. Most of us do not understand the difference between human, humane and divine—these are understood according to people’s level of consciousness, level of alertness, and level of awareness of their surroundings.We are able to expand this consciousness through our regular Meditation, Cleaning and Prayer. Through Meditation we are able to go from our normal level of awareness to super-consciousness; through the Cleaning process we are able to dive into our subconscious state; and the Prayer that we offer takes care of majorly two things:&nbsp;1.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;We recognize that desires are the problem;2.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;We recognize that I am myself, a problem for myself—the ego.&nbsp;And ultimately [through the Prayer] we surrender; we submit ourselves with a feeling that “Gurudev, without your help, I cannot progress at all.” I hope you contemplate and think over it seriously—how we can make our practice authentic and incrementally progressive. I would like to share information about the apartment projects here in Nalgonda. Some of you have plots. I would like to convert some of these plots into an apartment complex. Those who are willing to be part of this apartment complex are most welcome, and they can submit their names. I would like to begin construction by Basant Panchami 2025. Thank you so much.

Q: What is this life all about?Daaji:&nbsp;This life is about how to grow, evolve, and become a better human being. As Babuji Maharaj puts it very simply, the goal is to go from human to humane to divine. Most of us do not understand the difference between human, humane and divine—these are understood according to people’s level of consciousness, level of alertness, and level of awareness of their surroundings.

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In Telangana, Daaji’s next stop was Nagarjuna Sagar, where he visited Buddhavanam and shared his pearls of wisdom with abhyasis present. 

Nagarjuna Sagar, 13th and 14th September 2024

Miryalaguda is situated about two and a half hours away from Kanha Shanti Vanam in the Nalgonda district of Telangana. Daaji arrived at Shri Bikashapathi’s home in Miryalaguda around noon, where many practitioners [abhyasis] had gathered to welcome him. After offering prasad, Daaji conducted meditation.

12 September Role of Consciousness Q&amp;A with DaajiThe evening program was arranged at a local convention hall where among the veteran and new abhyasis, there were many seekers who had come to experience Heartfulness meditation for the first time. After the meditation, Daaji answered two questions.Q: What is the inner consciousness and how do we develop it?&nbsp; Daaji: Consciousness has always been there. Even when we will not be, it will always be there. For example, do we really see the actual sunlight? No. We see the objects when it falls on them. Consciousness is everywhere, like light. If you keep your doors and windows closed, then you will not be able to see the luminosity, the light that emanates. You will see only darkness, though the light is very much there. Consciousness is our ability to perceive, to become aware. And it changes from person to person. For example, your mother may be sick. Your sister might notice her sickness before you would or vice versa. This is one level of consciousness/awareness—who perceives it faster? The next level of consciousness is how one responds responsibly. You may say to your mother, “Let me go to work. I will get the medicine for you on my way back from work.” But then what will happen to her in those eight hours? And your sister might say, “Let me sit with my mother, massage her feet or head and have someone get the medicine for her.” So we have to understand the situation. And this ability to perceive and act according to the situation is the function of our consciousness.&nbsp;This consciousness gets affected at multiple levels because of mainly three aspects:&nbsp;<ul><li>First is our desires. One may say, I want to serve my mother, but my desire is to go to&nbsp; work. So it depends which desire dominates in a particular circumstance.</li><li>The second is your intellect. It will analyze, “I spend some time here [with my sick mother] versus if I go to my office and work.” You will look at the profitability of the situation.</li><li>The third is our ego. Suppose you had a fight with your mother, who is sick at that moment. And because you fought with her, your ego is hurt, and you say, “Let me avoid her, let her suffer.” This is your ego talking.</li></ul>So these three aspects change our ability to perceive. But through our own purification, we are able to perceive things better and act appropriately. That is why when we close our eyes, many times we get so many thoughts. And these thoughts are not just irrelevant ones—they are there to remind us what to do, what we have avoided, and what we could have done better. They remind us of our guilt, our defects, and all the things that we have not done properly. They attack us during meditation. They don't leave us, until we understand very clearly, “Let me do things properly, responsibly.” And that is the fundamental role of consciousness.There are 18 chapters and 700 slokas in the Bhagavad Gita and they are divided into 3 major categories: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Chapters 1 to 6 are all about karma, what you should be doing and what you should be avoiding. Chapters 7 to 12 are all about Jnana and Bhakti. Our life is also like that, existential, emotional and spiritual.First is existential. Without karma you cannot exist: you have to work, work and work. It can be both karma as well as trauma. It falls in that category.Second is emotional fulfillment. Everyone needs that. To be pampered, to receive affection and share affection. These are all human needs.And the third, the highest, is spiritual fulfillment. You may have existential satisfaction, you may have emotional fulfillment, but without this spiritual fulfillment, your life will remain unfulfilled. It is like you have failed in the fifth class, and you have to repeat the fifth class. So if we fail in the spiritual realm, failing to fulfill our spiritual responsibility, Nature throws us back into the cycle of birth and rebirth. So, it is very important to become aware of our responsibilities towards the Self. The purpose for which we took this birth should take priority.&nbsp;We also must act on all levels of responsibilities—toward the family, community, country, and planet. But this acting on all levels cannot happen without becoming fully aware, fully conscious of the inside, and also of the outside. Only then will such a person not pollute the air; such a person will not pollute the water, or the earth, etc., because their mind is pure and unpolluted.It is thought pollution that creates many levels of pollution. So meditation is the key. Keep doing it regularly and don't ever ignore the process of purification, Cleaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: When I meditate every day, I feel a special energy around me, but when I don't meditate for 1 or 2 days, I feel that it is not there or that I have lost it, why is it so?Daaji: The cause is that you are not careful about your daily meditation. Do it regularly. It only shows you that “when I don't meditate, I don't feel.” So meditate. Don't skip it. To me, meditation is the most important thing, a part of our existence. You may not eat for a few days and it's okay, but never skip meditation, even for one day. It’s like this: suppose I have to make a building, I make it with one brick at a time. I put one brick, then another brick, then the third one, and that's how we build the walls. My spiritual empire is built brick by brick, one meditation at a time, second meditation, third meditation, and so on. It's a daily thing. You skip one, one brick is gone. It will remain hollow. So, consistency, regularity, discipline, and more than anything, how you meditate is important.Some masons will put the bricks haphazardly, then the finished wall looks ugly. When a professional mason lays the bricks, it looks so perfect that the wall does not even require plaster.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our worship, our&nbsp;bhakti&nbsp;[devotion] should take us to the highest. It should be the highest expression of our love. We should not worship because we need something. If you worship because you need something, then it becomes a business. And you can do business with others, but not with God. He knows your intentions, your thoughts, and your actions. You cannot cheat Him. And He's not a fool. In the process, you will only hurt yourself. And there is no point asking for anything from God. He may give you the whole world, but if he holds himself back, you're still a beggar.

13th SeptemberDaaji met with some guests in the morning, and during breakfast they discussed how to spiritualize the youth, and how to sensitize them to the need for spirituality in their lives. Daaji then left for the convention hall to conduct the meditation session. After the meditation, he spoke to the audience, with an interpreter who simultaneously translated his talk into Telugu. Later, he also answered some questions. Here are some excerpts from his speech.<ul><li>The specialty of the Heartfulness way is balance—the integration of spiritual and material life. Babuji Maharaj used to say, “We should not go into spirituality so much that our material life suffers.”&nbsp; Imagine a housewife who wakes up at 5 am and meditates till 12 noon. Imagine the condition of that house. And we should not get into material life so much that our spiritual life suffers. We have to integrate both without any specific importance to any.&nbsp;</li><li>This is about personal life; now think about the Mission. Let me give you a real-life example. I was in Baroda in September 2015 and I was spending my birthday with my mother, just being with her, nothing else. But I was already in the limelight of the Mission. People started coming from all over bringing lots of gifts. I asked one particular couple, “Why do you bring gifts, I am already a wealthy person; I don’t need them.” I was trying to discourage them. They said, “Please accept it; it will give us joy.” So I accepted it. Then I asked the girl, “How much did it cost you?”&nbsp; “2700 rupees.” Then I asked the boy, who said it cost him 10,000 rupees. I asked them if their parents knew about their spending so much money. “No.” “How much money can you spend each day without your parents knowing about it?” “Around 1000 rupees.” So I told them that instead of burning these 1000 rupees a month, at least save 100 rupees a day. So each month you will save 3000 and thus 36,000 a year. Imagine 100,000 abhyasis saving money like that?!</li><li>When the Ayodhya temple was to be built, I was approached for a donation. After giving the donation, I told them, “You are making a mistake. You go to one industrialist collecting 1 crore rupees, then another big person to collect another high amount and so on. Instead, make a pledge of getting a contribution of only 10 rupees from 100 crore Hindus, you will have 1000 crore rupees in 1 day. Even beggars can give 10 rupees. So I am encouraging abhyasis to save something and contribute to the Mission. Some can save 10 a day, some 100 a day, and some can save 1 lakh a day and nothing happens to them. The goal of the Hierarchy of Masters is to have a&nbsp;dhyaan mandir [meditation centre] in every major city of India. And for that our contribution as individuals will go a very long way. So I wish that, depending on your capacity, you start saving money, and contribute in such a way that having spent that much for donation does not hurt your family.&nbsp;</li><li>This morning we were discussing how to spiritualize the youth—how to sensitize them to the need for spirituality in their lives. No one gets convinced by talks, especially the youth. But when we offer them a yogic experience, they will say, “Yes there is something to it and I need to continue this practice.” So to fulfill such a need I think we have to intensify our efforts, and offer the youth our services by going to schools and colleges to train them. We offer them an opportunity to see how a mere human can become humane and then divine. Thank you for listening, and kindly accept my appeal. Take it to your heart.</li></ul>&nbsp;Q&amp;A with DaajiQ: Is there any connection between our dreams and our spiritual journey? Daaji: Yes, it’s always there.Q:&nbsp;I have repetitive dreams. Is there a remedy for it? Daaji: Write it in your diary and forget about it. [After a pause] It would be nice if one day, you write to me about these dreams which keep repeating.Q: In the present, with the&nbsp;samskaras [impressions] I have, with the problems I face and the people I meet, how do I lead my life as a witness to all this—without reacting or responding?Daaji: Well, we begin with this practice of meditation. Whenever we try to be a witness to everything in our life, because of our likes and dislikes, we identify ourselves with those actions. Suppose you are looking at a perfume; you try it, but you don’t like it. You look at a person in the family and say, “Oh, I don’t like him or her.” So even when you are witnessing, you somehow identify yourself with either likes or dislikes. And in that way, you create impressions.We have a very beautiful, simple solution—as a result of whenever we meditate, we arrive at a very special spiritual condition within us. Hold on to it. Having held on to it, we enter the world, do our worldly activities. For example, you are cooking, but at the same time that spiritual condition is tagging along with you. So now what happens is you are witnessing your inner condition with full attention, while giving just the minimal attention to your cooking, or other worldly activities. Sometimes, the opposite happens—full attention is given to external activities and very little attention to the inner spiritual state. But, it’s okay, as long as this thread of connection is there between your conscious mind and your subconscious act of holding on to that spiritual state.Simply put, it is being absorbed in the remembrance of the Master and doing things.This way is better than witnessing. This step, which Babuji Maharaj shared with us, is much better than Lord Krishna’s description in the Bhagavad Gita.Meditation is the mother of creating spiritual states. Meditation done with more and more&nbsp;bhakti [devotion] and more and more love will create better and better spiritual states. Supreme love and devotion—not ordinary love. Meditation done as an ordinary religious ritual will not help you much. No ordinary attachment will help.

Consciousness has always been there. Even when we will not be, it will always be there. For example, do we really see the actual sunlight? No. We see the objects when it falls on them. Consciousness is everywhere, like light. If you keep your doors and windows closed, then you will not be able to see the luminosity, the light that emanates. You will see only darkness, though the light is very much there. Consciousness is our ability to perceive, to become aware. And it changes from person to person. For example, your mother may be sick. Your sister might notice her sickness before you would or vice versa. This is one level of consciousness/awareness—who perceives it faster? The next level of consciousness is how one responds responsibly. You may say to your mother, “Let me go to work. I will get the medicine for you on my way back from work.” But then what will happen to her in those eight hours? And your sister might say, “Let me sit with my mother, massage her feet or head and have someone get the medicine for her.” So we have to understand the situation. And this ability to perceive and act according to the situation is the function of our consciousness.

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Miryalaguda is situated about two and a half hours away from Kanha Shanti Vanam in the Nalgonda district of Telangana. Daaji visited Miryalaguda in September, 2024. 

Miryalaguda, 12th and 13th September 2024

Daaji started his day in the early hours, around 4 am. He spent the quiet hours working on his upcoming book, immersed in thoughts and reflections. After a couple of hours, he returned to bed at 6:30 am for some rest. By 9 am, he was ready to start his day. After breakfast, he rested for a while on the large indoor swing, a familiar sight in traditional Gujarati homes, and was soon joined by his grandchildren. Their laughter filled the morning with joy as they played with their beloved&nbsp;dada&nbsp;(grandfather). &nbsp;

At 11:30 am, Daaji returned to the auditorium for another session with the Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities on the second day of their conference. Daaji conducted meditation for all present and later answered several questions posed by the attendees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Later, Daaji asked one of his guests whether he had seen the new Kanha Global School. They took a leisurely drive around it, as the school was closed for the day. During the drive, the guest shared an interesting idea, mentioning that he knew an artist who could carve the Deccan Plateau's massive rocks into beautiful animal sculptures. Daaji, always open to creativity and enhancing the environment with meaning, suggested that the artist visit Kanha to explore the possibilities. &nbsp;

After lunch, Daaji spent some time in his office and also met with functionaries.After a restful afternoon, Daaji went for a short walk, a routine he enjoys – connecting with nature and quiet introspection. At 7:30 pm, a few dinner guests arrived, and after sharing the meal, Daaji made his way to the meditation hall where he was to lead the virtual ‘Dil Se with Daaji’ program for the National Youth Seminar participants from Seattle, USA. Even across great distances, the thread of Heartfulness united them, as Daaji’s guidance and presence brought a sense of closeness and inspiration to all watching the program online. Daaji conducted a meditation session before leaving for home. &nbsp;

Daaji made his way to the meditation hall where he was to lead the virtual ‘Dil Se with Daaji’ program for the National Youth Seminar participants from Seattle, USA. Even across great distances, the thread of Heartfulness united them, as Daaji’s guidance and presence brought a sense of closeness and inspiration to all watching the program online.

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Daaji’s day was filled with meeting the vice-chancellors of the agriculture universities of India and a virtual session of the ‘Dil Se with Daaji’ program for the National Youth Seminar participants from Seattle, USA. 

Kanha Shanti Vanam 7th September 2024

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A live journal of blessed activities in and around Kanha with Daaji

11 JuneDaaji arrived at the Delhi airport in the afternoon where a group of abhyasis were waiting inside the terminal to receive him. Daaji then drove to the Gurugram Ashram, where many abhyasis had lined up to welcome him. Upon reaching the cottage, Daaji offered prasad to Babuji Maharaj and asked someone to call all the children to collect prasad from him.After a short while he had a quiet lunch and took rest. By 5:30 p.m., despite the punishing Delhi heat, over 3,000 abhyasis had gathered in the hall awaiting Daaji to conduct satsangh. A short Q&amp;A session followed thereafter.&nbsp;Q:&nbsp;What defines success in life? Is it the satisfaction of thoughts and fulfilment of desires? &nbsp;Daaji: Success to me is a relative thing. It keeps changing its meaning at every stage of our life. As a child, when you were four years old, what did you understand about success? Lots of trophies, chocolates and toy cars! As we grow, our goals change.And because of this changing of goals, and depending upon how fast you attain those goals, whether they are academic or professional goals, you feel either that you are successful or that you are not successful. So in every little field there is some goal established but it keeps transcending; it keeps on evading us. Always, we either wish to maintain our position or achieve higher targets—there is no limit to this.Spiritual success is something else—the more you lose, the better you become. The more you lose, the greater the success within you. It’s a paradoxical understanding. So, we must be able to integrate the material world (where we seek more and more of ‘more and more’) and the spiritual realm (where we seek less and less of ‘less and less’ or we seek more and more of ‘less and less’).And when you are able to integrate these, only then you can confidently say when you're breathing your last, that ‘now I am able to leave this world contentedly.’ Because, when you are successful in the material world while you're alive, you will feel happy, but when that final moment [of death] comes, you will say ‘Sigh! I have not been able to do anything all my life.’So, success lies in integrating the spiritual and material life. Even though you may not be successful in the material life as much, and if the idea comes to your heart that ‘enough is enough,’ at that time, consider that you have succeeded to some extent.Q:&nbsp;Daaji, I have just got married. What is the best way to move ahead happily into this new phase of life? Daaji:&nbsp;Both of you must respect each other’s parents—you have to respect her parents and she must respect your parents. Let it be a competition! If even the idea of ‘parayaapan’ [that these are not ‘my parents,’ they are my spouse’s parents] creeps in, life will be a disaster. Don’t think that you have come to live at ‘someone else’s house.’ Babuji used to say that women do not respect men; they already fester the habit of ‘ghrina’ [strong dislike, hatred, aversion] hidden away in their hearts—they are not able to love their husbands, for whatever reasons. I would recommend you to read&nbsp;The Wisdom Bridge. Master it.Q: Daaji, when we practise intensely, a craving for higher levels of experience creeps in, rather unknowingly. This is also a form of desire, and I am unable to overcome it. Daaji: It’s good you have that awareness. My attitude while meditating must be: “God, I have no expectations. Whatever wish to bestow, bestow, if not, also ok—I am sitting to meditate with love in my heart.” That’s all. No expectation even from God—then see how it changes your meditation. And once this idea sinks into your heart in an authentic manner, your progress will accelerate.

12 JuneDaaji’s day began early with satsangh at 7:30 a.m. The meditation hall was already full when he entered. Daaji walked in quietly, took his seat, and the meditation began without announcement. The room settled even deeper.&nbsp; After the meditation, he returned to his residence where breakfast was served, and many abhyasis gathered around him. Also present among them were several dignitaries, including Dr Himanshu Gupta (IAS, Director CBSE); the Director of AIIMS Delhi; Dr Rahul Malhotra with the Heartfulness Research team; and a delegation from IIT Delhi.Over breakfast, the conversation focused on education, research, and well-being. Dr Malhotra shared findings on how Heartfulness meditation affects heart rate variability. The discussion moved toward introducing such practices to children early on — not just to support academic growth, but to build emotional strength and mental clarity. Daaji emphasized the importance of early inner development to help children grow into balanced and responsible individuals.In the evening, Daaji conducted satsangh at 5:30 p.m. Afterwards, he responded to a few questions and engaged briefly with those present before returning for dinner.Q: You have mentioned that anyone can change our destiny because of free will. Today also a plane crashed causing many casualties. What about such scenarios? &nbsp;Daaji: A family who lost their dear one in a car accident asked a similar question. This afternoon a flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed: among the casualties was a preceptor couple who lost their lives. And naturally, questions do arise—whose fault was it? Who decides such a destiny? Was it in our karma? Not everything is in our individual karmas. Sometimes, others can also influence our karmas—it’s a perpetual thing. Destiny is closely related to cause and effect. Our limited understanding says ‘I am the only one causing an effect on my life.’ But anyone can change your destiny.&nbsp; So we have to be very careful how we prepare our trajectory and that’s where meditation comes into the picture. Many times our heart says things as per our own destiny, but sometimes you decide against it, out of greed, perhaps. If we follow the heart, one life should be enough for liberation.At dinner, Daaji met with representatives from Galgotias University, as well as several officers from the Indian government. They had come to discuss how Heartfulness could be brought into higher education. The conversation went beyond theory — touching on implementation, student wellbeing, and values-based learning. Daaji shared his view that true education must cultivate ethics, purpose, and self-awareness — not just academic output.

13 JuneDaaji conducted morning satsang with the abhyasis at the Gurgaon Ashram and after breakfast he left for the Galgotias University, located about two hours away in Greater Noida.

Daaji said, “Spiritual success is something else—the more you lose, the better you become. The more you lose, the greater the success within you. It’s a paradoxical understanding. So, we must be able to integrate the material world (where we seek more and more of ‘more and more’) and the spiritual realm (where we seek less and less of ‘less and less’ or we seek more and more of ‘less and less’).And when you are able to integrate these, only then you can confidently say when you're breathing your last, that ‘now I am able to leave this world contentedly.’ Because, when you are successful in the material world while you're alive, you will feel happy, but when that final moment [of death] comes, you will say ‘Sigh! I have not been able to do anything all my life.”

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Daaji’s Gurugram visit will be remembered as a beautiful opportunity where abhyasis could see him guide meditation sessions and share his pearls of wisdom. 

Gurugram, Haryana, 11th to 13th June 2025

20 AprilDaaji reached the Raipur ashram early in the evening. He conducted meditation at 6 pm, after which he retired for the day.

21 AprilIt is a short walk from the cottage in the ashram to the meditation hall, and as Daaji made his way to the hall to conduct the morning meditation, he was greeted by many abhyasis. After the meditation Daaji left for breakfast, and by the time he finished his meal, many abhyasis trickled in and the dining hall was soon filled with people.One sister asked Daaji what one should do when there is no support from the family and it becomes difficult to practise. In response, Daaji gave the example of his preceptor, Draupadi Devi Agarwal, from whom he had taken his very first sitting. He explained how she would pretend to be asleep early in the morning and meditate while lying under the quilt, and in the evening, under the pretext of going to the toilet, she would do her evening cleaning there. Daaji said matter-of-factly, “Jisko karna hai, usko kaun rokega? (If someone truly wants to do it, who can stop them?).”A young girl talked with Daaji about her studies abroad. Daaji asked her her age and if she was married. She responded by saying that she was only 26 and wanted to wait for some more time before she got married. Daaji smiled and said, “Tujhe jaldi nahi hai, lekin Nature ko jaldi hai! (You are not in a hurry, but Nature is.)”Daaji then asked all the members of the kitchen team for a group photo. After meeting with a few more abhyasis, Daaji left. In the evening he conducted meditation at 6 pm.

22 April 2025Around 10.30 am, Daaji met a few members of the Tukdoji Maharaj spiritual organization. Daaji spoke to them for a while and then conducted a meditation session.The evening program featured a visit by the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, and an interview with Tarang Khurana, National Chairman of Young Indians (Yi)—an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry, established in 2002 as a pan-India platform to empower the youth in realizing the vision of a developed nation.Daaji welcomed the Chief Minister, and after a warm exchange of felicitations, they sat down for a tête-à-tête. Also present there was a group of Yi members. Daaji spoke about the various Heartfulness initiatives, followed by a Brighter Minds demonstration. Later, Daaji accompanied him to the meditation hall, where, before conducting meditation, he gave a brief explanation of how to meditate the Heartfulness way.After the meditation, Daaji presented books and gifts to the Chief Minister. The CM then took his leave from the meditation hall. Daaji remained there to continue with the scheduled interview with Tarang Khurana from Young Indians.Here are some excerpts from the interview.Q: Keeping in mind the awareness for climate consciousness and the need to take action toward it, what suggestions do you have for our youth to bring about these changes in their daily lives so we can leave a better world for our future progeny? &nbsp;Daaji: It is a great feeling to have the youth being exposed to Heartfulness which is a way of life guided by the heart. And whenever we are guided by the heart, we become extra sensitive to our conscience—should I do this or that? Should I invest money here or not? Whom to marry? Whenever you follow the mind, it tricks you into fulfilling your own selfish desires. Whenever you have gone against the heart and followed the mind, observe the consequences. To get clearer and clearer solutions from your heart, the lens of your heart must be clear too. The main thing we have to understand is ‘how do I get the right message from the heart?’ So firstly, create purity in the heart. We can sail through complicated situations in life, only when we follow the heart.There are no guide books to help navigate us through life. Osho’s story about a thief describes this very well. (Watch Daaji narrate the story in the link below)A presence of mind is required in every situation. And every situation in life throws a different kind of curve ball at us. Just like in cricket, if you are used to batting against only a certain kind of bowling, it would have been easy. But now and then there will be a different kind of bowling—with a different speed, with a spin, full toss and so on.&nbsp; So life throws different curve balls at us, but a meditative mind picks up the problems often before they arise. Meditation to me thus, is like vaccinating the mind against many situations.Q: Young people say, ‘Our time is now. Time for meditation will come later.’ How do we, as young people, come sooner to this side of spirituality and why is it important that we do this? &nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;According to me, the spiritual journey should begin at the very moment of conception. Imagine for a moment that you are retired, 60 or 70 years old. Would you be able to meditate? Would you be able to sit—at already such a young age you have taken up chairs. Imagine yourself at 60+. Would you be able to sit properly, even in the chair, with your back erect? When you cannot even remember things, how will you remember the continuity of your spiritual experiences which are so refined? So I would not recommend you to postpone the most essential thing. Think about it in a scientific manner: a genetically pre-exposed spiritual man or spiritual woman and their respective progeny. If you become spiritualized at the age of 70, how can you transfer your genetic pre-exposure to your next generation? If you want to transmit your spiritual bent of mind to the future generation, you better be spiritual even before you get married.&nbsp;&nbsp;

23 AprilOn the day of his departure from Raipur, Daaji conducted meditation early in the morning and after breakfast he met with many abhyasis in his room, one group at a time. Amidst many fond farewells, each group had a photo taken with Daaji. He then left Raipur for Kanha at around 10 am.

One sister asked Daaji what one should do when there is no support from the family and it becomes difficult to practise. In response, Daaji gave the example of his preceptor, Draupadi Devi Agarwal, from whom he had taken his very first sitting. He explained how she would pretend to be asleep early in the morning and meditate while lying under the quilt, and in the evening, under the pretext of going to the toilet, she would do her evening cleaning there. Daaji said matter-of-factly, “Jisko karna hai, usko kaun rokega? (If someone truly wants to do it, who can stop them?).”

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In April 2025, Daaji visited the Raipur Ashram in Chhattisgarh and shared his profound philosophies with the abhyasis present there. 

Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 20th to 23rd April, 2025

&nbsp;29 MarchAfter his Delhi trip, Daaji arrived at Indore early in the morning. After a warm welcome at the airport Daaji went to the Marriott Hotel. Sadly, Daaji was very tired and developed severe back pain and was unable to be physically present to conduct the meditation for the abhyasis gathered in Indore. After some much needed rest Daaji left for Ujjain in the afternoon and arrived at the Ratnapriya Hotel and Resort. Daaji wanted to come for the evening meditation but could not come due to the back pain. Daaji spent the day resting due to the severity of his backache.

30 March Speech in Ujjain:&nbsp;Role of Attention in Maintaining our Spiritual Condition&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji was not feeling well but he wanted to come and conduct the meditation. Apart from conducting the morning meditation at 9am, he also solemnised two weddings. He addressed the audience afterwards, saying that he was grateful for everyone’s prayers for his recovery and that he had recovered enough to finish the task at hand that day.He shared that that morning he was wondering about how his illness (vertigo) came about so suddenly. He said he had been advised not to make sudden movements with his neck while looking up, down or to the left and right, but due to just a little carelessness, he moved his neck sharply and the vertigo came back. “It was my mistake,” he said with great humility. Here are a few choice excerpts from his talk.Daaji continued, “But when I think about this from a spiritual angle, I remember what Babuji Maharaj told Chariji once. Babuji said that as one progresses on the spiritual path, one has to be just as careful and cautious while living life. Even the slightest carelessness, slightest slip, and we fall from whatever heights we have achieved. And we have to start all over again. For example, when we are walking, we have the freedom to walk anywhere; on a cycle, we can only ride on some terrain, we have slightly less freedom; in a car, we have even less freedom—we can only drive in certain lanes and we can’t drive on the wrong side of the road, etc. But in India, everything goes—they misuse the freedom and then cause accidents, harming not only themselves but other people as well.&nbsp;“Babuji further gave an example of a rocket heading into space—there is no scope for freedom of movement there at all. Even the astronauts have such limited movement in the spaceship. They cannot even stand up, drink, or eat as they wish. Everything is controlled—even the amount of their food and water intake!“Similarly, in spirituality, so much is revealed to us, but carelessness in our behaviour, our thinking, our attitude has a strong impact upon our inner condition. So we might think we have not done harm to anyone, stolen, or lied, then why does our spiritual condition get spoilt? Because we haven’t kept our condition in check.“Our carelessness at a physical, mental, and spiritual level is directly related to our freedom to act in a precise, correct way.”

Later in the day Daaji left for Vikram University of Ujjain where he had been invited as the Guest of Honour for their 29th Convocation Ceremony. Many dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mohan Yadav, and the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai C Patel were present at the ceremony. They met with Daaji before the ceremony began.Following the opening ceremony, Ph.D. and D.Litt. (Doctor of Letters) graduates were awarded their degree certificates and gold medals, receiving congratulations from the dignitaries on stage. This was followed by the formal exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Vikram University. Daaji was then invited to address the gathering.

The day continued with more events, and later in the evening Daaji visited a factory where a small gathering had been organised. There he conducted meditation and answered a few questions from the audience.Q: Should we work on [getting rid of] our tendencies which pose as hindrances to our progress, or is this dependant on the grace of the Master? &nbsp;Daaji: You should do it. You only have to do it. In Babuji’s words, “There is a great difference between samskaras [impressions] and tendencies. When impressions are deepened by repeated actions it is akin to water dropping on earth and forming a stream and then into a river. Even if the river dries up, the river bed remains and if water falls again, the river come to life. So the river bed is like your tendencies. Babuji said, ‘Become like the living dead.’ Just like you wash and dress a corpse before burial or cremation: it will not resist you. It doesn’t mean you should be dead inside—you should be a witness to what’s happening. So you witness, but you do not react. If your wife or husband abuses you, it's okay, be happy—it is they who will get angry, why should you get irritated?It is this reaction that creates problems.

31 MarchDaaji joined all the abhyasis for breakfast on the open lawns of the hotel. He conducted meditation at 9 a.m. after which he left for Indore airport to take a flight back to Hyderabad.

Daaji said, “But when I think about this from a spiritual angle, I remember what Babuji Maharaj told Chariji once. Babuji said that as one progresses on the spiritual path, one has to be just as careful and cautious while living life. Even the slightest carelessness, slightest slip, and we fall from whatever heights we have achieved. And we have to start all over again. For example, when we are walking, we have the freedom to walk anywhere; on a cycle, we can only ride on some terrain, we have slightly less freedom; in a car, we have even less freedom—we can only drive in certain lanes and we can’t drive on the wrong side of the road, etc. But in India, everything goes—they misuse the freedom and then cause accidents, harming not only themselves but other people as well.

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Daaji’s Ujjain visit was a remarkable opportunity for all the abhyasis to get a glimpse of his profoundness in person and be a part of meditation sessions conducted by him. 

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, 29th to 31st March 2025

The following day began with Daaji offering yet another beautiful meditation session in the early morning. After a profound Heartfulness meditation session that was telecast live on the Heartfulness channel, Daaji invited Mr. Linguswamy to give a talk. His talk revolved around his experiences with the Heartfulness meditation practice and its transformative effect. He expressed his gratitude to Daaji referring to him as a ‘real hero.’&nbsp;This was followed by a heartwarming Q&amp;A session with Daaji. His words resonated deeply with the eager practitioners, leaving everyone inspired and deeply moved.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Later that evening, Daaji welcomed a group of practitioners from the Baduga tribal community of Ooty, a beautiful hill station nestled in the Nilgiri mountain range. Their hearts were deeply touched as Daaji interacted with them personally. His gentle words and affectionate demeanor created an unforgettable experience for the community members. He ended the meeting with a promise saying, “I will come soon to Ooty,” filling their hearts with even more joy! He then posed for a group photo with them.&nbsp;Many dignitaries had come to meet Daaji in Tiruppur: Mr. V. Sundararajan, Chairman of Sky Group of Companies and the Founder Secretary of Vanam Foundation, Palladam, Tiruppur District; the Founder Director of the Coconut Farmers Producer Company; and Mr. K. R. Nagarajan who is the Chairman of the Ramraj Cotton Group of Companies and Vice President of the World Community Service Center.&nbsp;Daaji met with Padma Shri Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Poppy's Group of Companies and Honorary, Founder President, Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA); the President of Federation of Indian Exporters Organizations (FIEO); and Mr. N. Thirukkumaran Managing Director, Ess Tee Group of Companies and General Secretary, Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA). Daaji also met with Mr. Kumar Duraiswamy who is the Managing Director, Eastern Global Clothings, the Joint Secretary of Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), and also the Project Director, 'Vanathukkul Tiruppur' - Initiatives of Green Tiruppur; and the Convenor, Tiruppur Stakeholders Forum (TSF).&nbsp;&nbsp;After a brief discussion with them on varied initiatives Daaji then asked for the Brighter Minds demonstration to be presented to all the guests.&nbsp; Later they all joined Daaji for the evening Heartfulness meditation session, after which he gave a talk that touched every heart present in the audience. Daaji expressed his joy saying, “My stay here at DJ Park has been very productive and I admire your sacrifice for coming here despite so many inconveniences. Returning home you will notice even greater changes that will unfold in your day-to-day lives because of these three meditation sessions. Tomorrow I will be returning back home but my heart will always remain here and I intend to come back hopefully on the 11th November.”&nbsp;Touching upon the topic of peace, Daaji reminisced about Babuji Maharaj’s letter to the United Nations dated July&nbsp;8, 1957 where Babuji emphasized that world peace cannot be possible until individual peace is granted. Daaji said, “And who can grant this individual peace? No one, but yourself. It’s an individual attitude: a person under turbulence can remain unshaken and a person without any sort of problems remains stressful and anxious. Our path, the Heartfulness way is a direct gift from the Divine because through this&nbsp;pranahuti or transmission all willing practitioners are able to experience a minimum level of peace.”Daaji threw light on the intricacies of how attaining liberation during this lifetime can take us to that state of non-duality whose inherent quality is peace. He also differentiated the peace that one attains before liberation at the Atma chakra [2nd point in the heart region] and the peace experienced beyond the 9th point.&nbsp; He said, “There is no solution in asking or praying for peace. Liberation is in our hands: no God or Guru can grant it if we are not deserving. So our only job is to become deserving individuals.”Daaji also gave simple solutions as to how one can become deserving individuals. He then went on to reveal, “something that most people have not understood in the very first chapter of&nbsp;Reality at Dawn.” Daaji divulged the true interpretation of Babuji Maharaj’s very profound statement –&nbsp;Where religion ends, spirituality begins; where spirituality ends, reality begins; where reality ends, bliss begins.&nbsp;By linking the intricate concepts of God, divine experiences, desires and transcendence, Daaji clarified the meaning of this statement.

Daaji threw light on the intricacies of how attaining liberation during this lifetime can take us to that state of non-duality whose inherent quality is peace. He also differentiated the peace that one attains before liberation at the Atma chakra [2nd point in the heart region] and the peace experienced beyond the 9th point.&nbsp; He said, “There is no solution in asking or praying for peace. Liberation is in our hands: no God or Guru can grant it if we are not deserving. So our only job is to become deserving individuals.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Daaji spent the day at Tiruppur, conducting meditation and question and answer sessions and meeting dignitaries. 

Tiruppur 21st October 2024

Despite the heavy downpour from the previous night, the ashram was serene and prepared for the day's events. After the meditation session, Daaji solemnized three weddings in a simple ceremony.&nbsp;<ul><li>Disha and Abhishek</li><li>Astha and Kshitij</li><li>Garima and Sandeep</li></ul>

He returned to the cottage for breakfast, joined by a few guests, including Dr. Kannan, affectionately known as ‘Sanskrit Kannan’ within the Heartfulness community. Their conversation revolved around Dr. Kannan's ongoing study of Vedic texts in the light of Heartfulness teachings, a rich dialogue blending ancient wisdom with the spiritual depth of the Heartfulness approach.

Later in the day, Daaji embarked on the journey to the next destination – Tiruppur. By the time he arrived at the DJ Park Ashram in Tiruppur in the evening, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and eagerness on behalf of the practitioners assembled there. While Daaji was conducting the evening meditation, it began to rain heavily. Many viewed this as a divine affirmation; as if the spiritual hierarchy above was rejoicing alongside the practitioners, their joy mirrored by the rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While Daaji was conducting the evening meditation, it began to rain heavily. Many viewed this as a divine affirmation; as if the spiritual hierarchy above was rejoicing alongside the practitioners, their joy mirrored by the rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Daaji spent his day solemnizing weddings, discussing Vedic texts and traveling to Tiruppur. 

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