Daaji’s much awaited trip to Bhubaneswar to meet Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia ji, a world-renowned flute maestro, commenced on 1st September. He arrived at the Bhubaneswar airport at around 1.30 pm where many practitioners were eagerly waiting to receive Daaji. Much to everyone’s pleasant surprise, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia ji, despite his age, had also arrived there to receive Daaji. This gesture was not only symbolic of Panditiji’s respect and affection for Daaji but also showed great humility on his part. As soon as Daaji reached the lounge where Panditji was waiting, Daaji held out his hands and greeted him with just as much respect and love, if not more. It was evident to all present that this exchange was more of a spiritual nature than of mere words and handshakes. Panditji accompanied Daaji to the Mayfair hotel where his stay was put up.&nbsp;Both Daaji and Panditji were welcomed with flowers and a&nbsp;tilak [a red vermillion mark applied to the forehead during an Indian welcome ceremony to symbolize blessings, respect, and goodwill] After lunch, before Panditji left, he invited Daaji to visit his gurukul late in the evening for a special musical program arranged by Panditji’s students.

Greater the receptivity of the heart, the greater the openness of the heart, and greater the perceptivity of the heart.All the practitioners gathered at the venue for the evening meditation were waiting eagerly for a glimpse of Daaji. Daaji was welcomed affectionately by a group of little children with smiling faces. After a small Indian traditional welcome with a&nbsp;tilak, he took his place in the hall. Daaji, always respectful of people’s faith and sentiments, kept the&nbsp;tilak on during the entire proceedings of the evening session. Many questions were posed to Daaji after the meditation session.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: I do not know how to imagine the divine Light inside my heart. I am confused, please guide.Daaji: Many abhyasis even 10 years into their practice have this question. Meditation is about transcendence, going beyond thoughts, yet we begin with the thought of the divine Light is present in the heart: it’s an idea, a simple&nbsp;sankalpa&nbsp;[a sincere intention]. Pujya Babuji insists that we must not imagine its color or its form or quality, because that will limit our perception. If you imagine it’s blue, you will be limited to that blueness. So we have to let go of all our imaginations and instead have this feeling that ‘O Lord! Whatever it be, I am willing to experience it’; so no conditions. If you remain busy dissecting, analyzing, then it’s not meditation, it’s just mental jugglery.”&nbsp;Q: How can we adjust and manage in family life when our spouse does not support or actively opposes our spiritual practice? What to do when one spouse is meditating and the other opposes?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;Well, one can only pray for such individuals. There are categories of spouses: Some say, “You do what you want to do, just don’t force me to do the same. I have no objection.” In reality, they have so many objections. A psychological study was done by our sister abhyasi from M S University, Vadodara, on the comparative happiness quotient of various categories of couples: 1) couples that meditate together; 2) couples that don’t meditate; and 3) couples where one meditates and the other doesn’t. It was concluded that category 1 was the happiest, category 2 was reasonably happy, and the least happy was category 3. Hence I say I can only pray for such couples [category 3], I know it is difficult to manage in such situations.” &nbsp;Just as the category 3 situation seemed like a lost cause, Daaji promptly gave the example of his first preceptor, Smt. Draupadi Agrawal from whom he took sittings when he was studying in Ahmedabad, and how she had managed just such a situation.&nbsp;“She used to struggle to meditate when she came to live with her in-laws after her marriage because they wouldn’t allow her to meditate. So she adapted to the situation and devised a way where she would not create cause for arguments with her new family. She would get up an hour earlier in the morning and lay in bed under her quilt pretending to be asleep but in actuality she would be meditating. In the evening, she would go to the washroom and throw some water around in pretense and do the Heartfulness Cleaning.“So if you have a will you will find a way, but don’t escalate the issue unnecessarily. You may not be able to meditate with eyes closed but you can remain&nbsp;meditative. Don’t create quarrels in the family. No one can take your heart away once you like something.”Daaji concluded the session and promised to take more questions the next day after meditation.

After the Q&amp;A session, Daaji visited the music gurukul [school] of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiaji who is a world-renowned flute maestro. This was a much-anticipated event since the stellar performance of Panditji at Kanha Shanti Vanam a few years ago, when Panditji had invited Revered Daaji to visit his Gurukul. Panditji had added that if Daaji could not make it, he would himself come to Kanha again. But out of his characteristic humility and respect for elders, Daaji did not want Panditji to be troubled by the difficulty of travel at his age, and so Daaji decided then that he would visit Panditji’s gurukul in Bhubaneswar. And that is how Bhubaneswar came to be on Daaji’s travel itinerary.&nbsp;A warm welcome later, the students of Panditji gave a splendid performance in honor of Daaji. Daaji has always cherished Indian classical music and often emphasizes the importance of introducing it to children, suggesting, "It would be wonderful if they could wake up to classical music each morning."He then announced his vision regarding creating music gurukuls in the Heartfulness ashrams at various locations in India and the US. Speaking to the students who gave the performance, he encouraged them to take up leadership for these gurukuls.“We already have ashrams, the structures and residential facilities are already there, we don’t have to build new ones. We are ready to roll! We have a presence in 160 countries under the auspices of Shri Ram Chandra Mission well known now as the Heartfulness way of meditation. I recommend the following places for you to consider—the Heartfulness ashrams of Raipur, Chhattisgarh; Hyderabad, Telangana; Panvel, Mumbai; Chennai; Delhi; Bengaluru; Kolkata; Lucknow; Varanasi; Indore; Jaipur; Ahmedabad; Vadodara; and 3 major ashrams in the US—Fremont, California; Richmond, Virginia; and Princeton, New Jersey. I am leaving this list with Panditji, so please confer with him. When you graduate, these places are waiting for you to take over. May God bless you.”Daaji and Panditji then proceeded for a group photo with the entire team, before heading to dinner with the guests. Daaji then left for the Mayfair hotel for some much-needed rest.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Q: I do not know how to imagine the divine Light inside my heart. I am confused, please guide.Daaji: Many abhyasis even 10 years into their practice have this question. Meditation is about transcendence, going beyond thoughts, yet we begin with the thought of the divine Light is present in the heart: it’s an idea, a simple&nbsp;sankalpa&nbsp;[a sincere intention]. Pujya Babuji insists that we must not imagine its color or its form or quality, because that will limit our perception. If you imagine it’s blue, you will be limited to that blueness. So we have to let go of all our imaginations and instead have this feeling that ‘O Lord! Whatever it be, I am willing to experience it’; so no conditions. If you remain busy dissecting, analyzing, then it’s not meditation, it’s just mental jugglery.”

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Daaji traveled to Bhubaneswar to meet Pandit Shri Hariprasad Chaurasia, the world-famous flute maestro who also shares a bond of friendship, mutual respect, and spiritual connection with Daaji. 

Bhubaneswar 1st September 2024

10th AugustDaaji reached Ahmedabad on the 10th evening. He arrived at the Heartfulness center in Adalaj at 5.45 pm and proceeded almost immediately to conduct meditation for all the practitioners waiting for him. He also spoke briefly to the audience thereafter in Gujarati.“Namaste, everyone. I don’t really wish to speak about anything in particular, but I have a couple of questions for you to reflect upon. Many of you may have read the book&nbsp;My Master. Those of you who have not yet read it, please raise your hands.”Since not everyone in the audience had read the book, Daaji said, “You must make some effort to know or at least have some desire to know the guide, the guru whom you are following. If you talk about progressing ahead without knowing, how is it going to be possible? So please read the book. There is no joy in putting forth those questions to you; if you are not even familiar with the book, what do I say about it? In my next visit, I will ask you the questions. Thank you.”

11&nbsp;AugustInterview with Editor-in-Chief,&nbsp;Jankalyan&nbsp;Magazine and Q&amp;A with audienceThe next morning, the audience that had gathered in the meditation hall included many Heartfulness practitioners from the surrounding villages of Ahmedabad who had been practicing for 3 years or less under the Village Connect Heartfulness program. After the meditation conducted by Daaji, some of the villagers shared their experiences with the Heartfulness meditation practice. Following this, Daaji was interviewed by Dr Harish Dwivedi, Editor-in-Chief of the&nbsp;Jankalyan magazine. This monthly magazine has been publishing philosophical, spiritual, and religious content in Gujarati for the past 74 years, enlightening readers in India and the Gujarati diaspora across the world. Daaji’s articles have been a regular feature in this magazine for the last three years. Here are some translated excerpts from the interview.&nbsp;Dr Dwivedi: I took my first sitting long back with a preceptor in Ahmedabad, the late Shri Dahyabhai Patel. Then I got busy with my profession, with job transfers and so on and lost touch. Many years later, when I took over the&nbsp;Jankalyan office, I came across a book titled&nbsp;Designing Destiny in Gujarati which had been a gift to the former Editor-in-Chief. I read it and was deeply impressed, finding it remarkable that all its principles aligned with those of Sahaj Marg. Inside, I found a scribbled phone number—it belonged to a preceptor in Ahmedabad, Smt. Tara Chauhan. I reached out to her, and since then, I have revived my practice. I wish to ask you, Daaji, which among all factors mentioned in the book, is the main one that leads to designing one’s destiny? Daaji:&nbsp;Let me put it this way. Where is our mind? Wherever your thoughts take you, that’s where the mind is. If your thoughts are with your mother, then your mind is with your mother. Where your thoughts take you, your mind follows. The breeze blowing through a garden carries the sweet fragrance of flowers, but if it passes over garbage, it carries a stench. Similarly our thoughts too can bring either sweetness or stench.&nbsp; As your goal is, so are your thoughts; as your thoughts are, so is your mind. So to truly design your destiny, you need to figure out where your interest lies. And when this interest is awakened it can truly transform your life and design your destiny. Suppose your interest is to make fast and easy money, your mind will work toward it, your thoughts will be of a similar nature, it will become your lifestyle, and eventually you will become a thief of great fame. So our goal determines our destiny.Dr Dwivedi: If anyone from the audience wishes to ask a question to Daaji, please come forward.Q: In this race, this competition of life, how can Heartfulness be of guidance?Daaji: Who are you competing with? There are all kinds of competitions in life. Every day, there are various competitions happening all the time with some or the other person. If you try and engage in each and every one, you will lose. Compete with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others; there is no end to that. Today, you must be better than you were yesterday. Tomorrow, be better than you are today. Lord Krishna said, “Ego manifests in three major ways—self-respect, pride and arrogance. If you are a doctor and say, “I am a doctor,” that’s self-respect. If you say, “I am a good doctor and I will become a better doctor day by day,” that’s a matter of pride as long as you don’t compare yourself with others. But if you say, “There is no better doctor than I,” it becomes arrogance.Q: I am a vice principal and for 5 minutes or so before each class, I make the children do some meditation. But the teachers in my school warn me that this will make the children too calm and they will lose the spirit of competition. So, is it true that with meditation, the children will lose their desires and spirit of competition?Daaji: It’s true that the desire to compete diminishes. But they will begin to compete with themselves. They will begin to focus on how they can study better without comparing themselves to other students. They will connect to the source within and develop one-pointed attention and concentration, which automatically brings about cooperation with Nature. But yes, small children up to the age of 15 should not be made to meditate. Do Heartfulness Relaxation with them, in the morning before school starts and at the end before they go home. Also, teach the children that they must go home and at night hold their parents’ feet and do the Relaxation for them. They may begin by saying, “Energy is flowing from me to you.”Dr Dwivedi:&nbsp;Spiritual Anatomy explains numerous chakras. For the benefit of the layman who may not be well-versed in these concepts, could you highlight the one chakra that serves as the key to overall spiritual progress—much like the saying&nbsp;ek saadhe, badhu saadhe [by mastering one, everything is mastered]?Daaji:&nbsp;The Heart chakra. Our spiritual&nbsp;yatra&nbsp;[journey] begins in the heart chakra and ends in the heart chakra. The heart chakra is connected to all the other smaller and bigger chakras in the body. So, when we meditate on the heart, the&nbsp;pranahuti [transmission] that we receive with the guru’s grace, enters the heart. And from there, it spreads not only to all the other chakras, but also to all the cells of the body. Hence, meditating on the heart is a very profound and noble practice—Lord Krishna has said it, science says it, yoga treatises say it, and even your own experience says it. In the first sitting [mediation with a trainer] itself, you experience peace. What does that mean? So let’s meditate on the heart and progress ahead.At the end of the interview, Daaji shared his childhood memories of the&nbsp;Jankalyan magazine. He said, “Ever since I could read, perhaps by the time I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, I have been reading&nbsp;Jankalyan. It used to come regularly to our house in the village; it still does. My father used to read it aloud, with or without an audience! Who knows, maybe some of it would reach someone's ears and contribute to their well-being?!

Daaji stayed for four days at the Heartfulness center in Ahmedabad. During this time, he met with many guests and practitioners, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel. On the morning of the 12th, Daaji welcomed the Chief Minister and his team. After a brief discussion, Daaji gave him an individual sitting. They then proceeded to plant tree saplings near the meditation hall.

After the Hon’ble Chief Minister took his leave, Daaji retired for some rest before gearing up for more meetings. In the late afternoon, Daaji met with young students from Silver Oak University. Later there was a meeting with a team from the Adani group in which discussions took place about many initiatives. After the meditation session in the evening, Daaji answered questions previously collected from the audience. Here are all the translated Q&amp;As.Q: What is the condition of a contemplative mind like, and how to develop it?Daaji: When we develop a meditative condition after each meditation, we pay attention to it, try to hold on to it as if we have just received a valuable gift. All conditions that occur during meditation are valuable. But we don’t contemplate on them; there is no need for contemplation on them. Just be one with it and let that condition carry you through the day. The mistake we make is holding on to it and going ahead through the day. Instead, let the condition hold you and take you further. Just make a suggestion that just like the guru is holding our hand and leading us forward, the spiritual condition too is taking us forward—it will expand automatically.If we just take a joyful interest in spirituality, everything will happen on its own, we won’t have to do anything except morning meditation, evening cleaning, and nighttime prayer.Q: By the expansion of my consciousness, how can I be of use to the Mission and the Master?&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji: That depends on your capacity. When the consciousness expands, such a question won’t arise—the consciousness itself will guide you what to do and what not to do. Just change yourself, transform yourself; that is the biggest service you can render.Q: How can I know that my superconsciousness and subconsciousness are expanding?Daaji:&nbsp;You will know when it happens! In fact, it happens every day. Those who don’t meditate won’t know, because it happens very slowly. Those who meditate should know: if they don’t, it means they are not meditating properly. So, follow the protocol. Do as it is prescribed. Then if nothing happens, we can raise a complaint to Babuji, “I meditated, I did the cleaning and the prayer, but I am still the same. Why is it so?” But if we have not done it properly, then we will keep finding fault all our lives, “Should I have done that? Did I do it properly?” It will end up like an unfinished task. So if you do it, do it perfectly. If you can’t, leave it. It doesn’t work if you do it one day and skip it the next day.After the program in the meditation hall, Daaji met with Dr Hasmukh Adhia, IAS, (Retd.) Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Dr K.L.N. Rao, Additional Director General of Police, Prisons &amp; Correctional Administration, Ahmedabad. Before dinner, Daaji also met with architects on the upcoming projects in the Heartfulness center in Ahmedabad.

13 August&nbsp;Daaji’s day began busy as usual. In the morning, he met with many guests including Shri Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel, who holds Health and Family Welfare, Higher &amp; TechnicalEducation, Medical Education, Law &amp; Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs in the current Cabinet. A short discussion later, Daaji proceeded to conduct mediation. On his way, he was greeted by two monks from the Swaminarayan&nbsp;sampradya&nbsp;[sect]. Before starting meditation, Daaji gave a speech where he elaborated on various topics related to religion and spirituality. Below are some translated excerpts from his talk.<ul><li>Many people question me: What is the difference between religion and spirituality? Religion teaches us to have faith, preaches the concept of surrender, and gives us a belief system. In this belief, it says that God is omnipresent, omniscient, and almighty. Spirituality says, “Now experience God—and test whether God is really omnipresent, omniscient and almighty. In Vedic times, the rishis [sages], whenever they looked at the sky, the mountains, or rivers, they would bow down in respect, because they felt the Divinity in everything around them. Back then, there weren’t any temples. Temples came much later, around 2500 years after that. If you were to do carbon dating, you wouldn’t find any temples from those times, because they weren’t needed.&nbsp; Temples are merely symbolic of the fact that God exists.When we bow down in a temple, we do it with faith. But, deep inside, we still wonder if the Divinity is really there. We bow down, but we don’t experience. The truth is, the real experience of divinity comes only through meditation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Arjuna says to Lord Krishna, “You have shown me your Vishwarupa (Universal Form), but I am terrified and overwhelmed by it. Please return to your friendly form.” Even great figures like Bhishma and Dronacharya saw this divine form, yet in spite of this, they didn’t fully comprehend that they were actually fighting against Lord Krishna, the Supreme One.</li><li>Hence, simply seeing something is of no benefit; it's like water flowing over rocks. Until one's heart melts, one can't truly feel or experience the presence of the Divine. If by seeing the true form [of God], we haven’t progressed, how are we going to move forward by just seeing His fake form?</li><li>Recently, DGP Vikasbhai talked about the generational gap in the police force. He mentioned that those who joined after 2010 belong to a new generation. It’s not that they are not good, but the gap in ideologies is quite large. Every batch, whether from the 70s, 80s, or 90s, has its own set of values, morals, and standards. In families too, we see this generational gap. The gap between me and my father was smaller, but now there's a wider gap between me and my children, and an even bigger one between me and my grandchildren. The more rapid transformation [of society and the world], the more the gap grows. As a result of this gap, there’s often instability, imbalance, and chaos in the family. We cannot accept that someone else’s opinion is different from ours, and this leads to arguments and our egos getting hurt.</li><li>But through meditation, the entire atmosphere can change. I’m not saying everyone in the family will suddenly start listening to you. Differences will still exist—in fact, it's healthy to have differences. However, when you begin to accept those differences, it can make a huge difference.</li><li>Meditation sensitizes us. Meditation makes us understand, by looking at situations and&nbsp; scenarios from all angles. Thus we start to develop a sense of discrimination.</li></ul>After the meditation session, Daaji and Shri Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel planted tree saplings on the ashram premises. Later, Daaji took a group photo with the team working on the reforestation of the Taranga Hills (located in the Aravalli mountain range) in Gujarat, as part of the Forests by Heartfulness initiative. This marked the end of Daaji’s trip within Gujarat, after which he departed for Hyderabad to return to Kanha Shanti Vanam.

“Where is our mind? Wherever your thoughts take you, that’s where the mind is. If your thoughts are with your mother, then your mind is with your mother. Where your thoughts take you, your mind follows. The breeze blowing through a garden carries the sweet fragrance of flowers, but if it passes over garbage, it carries a stench. Similarly our thoughts too can bring either sweetness or stench.&nbsp; As your goal is, so are your thoughts; as your thoughts are, so is your mind. So to truly design your destiny, you need to figure out where your interest lies. And when this interest is awakened it can truly transform your life and design your destiny. Suppose your interest is to make fast and easy money, your mind will work toward it, your thoughts will be of a similar nature, it will become your lifestyle, and eventually you will become a thief of great fame. So our goal determines our destiny.”

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Daaji reached Ahmedabad on the 10th evening. He arrived at the Heartfulness center in Adalaj at 5.45 pm and proceeded almost immediately to conduct meditation for all the practitioners waiting for him. He also spoke briefly to the audience thereafter in Gujarati.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat 10th and 13th August 2024

Daaji reached Rajkot on the evening of the 9th after a long drive from his previous destination, Meghpur Titodi in Jamnagar. After a brief rest, he went to the Pramukh Swami Auditorium, where he conducted meditation and answered some questions from the audience in Gujarati. Here are some translated excerpts.Q: I can dive deep in meditation, but on the Wednesday evening&nbsp;satsanghs&nbsp;[group meditations], after a whole day at the office, my meditation is spoiled by lots of thoughts. What is the difference between Sunday and Wednesday satsangh?&nbsp; Daaji: Any difference felt during various satsanghs is only because of ourselves. Satsanghs are all the same—same transmission, same Master. But on Sundays, we come to morning satsangh relaxed and well-rested, whereas on Wednesdays, we come rushing from work. At such times, it takes a while to just settle down. So, I suggest that when you arrive, take a few minutes to sit and do cleaning. See if that helps to make a difference.Q: What is the purpose of being born as a human? Daaji: It can be defined according to each one’s understanding. One way is, “How can I become a perfect being?” Perfection is relative—we can each define perfection based on our own perception. But it can also be defined as bringing our work/actions to completion to the best of our satisfaction, and with that completeness how we can merge with Him, who is complete/whole.Another purpose is, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, to evolve our consciousness. It is only our consciousness that can progress. The physical body won’t change beyond a certain point—our bodies just grow older. The Darwinian theory of morphological evolution is not possible in this short lifespan.So, there is no evolution of the physical body. The soul cannot evolve, as it is complete or perfect in itself; it is immutable. So the only thing that can change is our consciousness.Swami Vivekananda said that our consciousness is like a thin film of water that is sandwiched between two giant oceans—the superconsciousness above, and the subconsciousness below.There are two methods in Sahaj Marg [Heartfulness] to access the heights of superconsciousness and the depths of subconsciousness. The former can be reached through meditation and the latter through evening cleaning.A sister just asked about thoughts disturbing her in Wednesday satsanghs. If you do a little cleaning before, if you clean your subconsciousness and then sit for satsangh, you can move forward in the superconsciousness. Otherwise, the pull of the subconsciousness, when heavy, is so strong that it keeps us from going up. Transmission is present, but even then we can’t expand upwards into the superconsciousness. You become like a helpless person.Q: What should be abhyasis' attitude towards unfavorable workplace politics? Daaji: No one can escape workplace politics. Human nature is so competitive that people will play all kinds of games to survive or to excel better than the others. Surpassing someone through politics is the easiest way, but surpassing someone through performance is more difficult. Those who progress through performance are honest and hardworking people. Those who play politics, get a greater reward here. But for the honest ones, although the reward may not manifest here, God will definitely give them what they deserve.Many times, workplace politics gives us sleepless nights, takes our peace away, and leaves us feeling embittered. Lalaji Maharaj has shared a technique to deal with unfavorable people in the workplace. It is explained in detail in his&nbsp;Complete Works, Volume 3. However, I won’t reveal it here—I want you all to buy and read the book.

On the morning of the 10th, Daaji conducted a meditation session at an abhyasi’s farmhouse near the scenic Nyari Dam. He also spoke briefly to the audience in Gujarati. Here are a few translated excerpts.<ul><li>Without meditation, no one has progressed in spirituality. Even&nbsp;avatar purushas [divine incarnations] had to meditate. Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Lord Rama, and other avatars are also depicted as meditating. So why did they need to meditate, and what were they meditating upon? What was that essence they were meditating upon?</li><li>Each of us carries that essence within—the&nbsp;antaryamin&nbsp;[the One who resides within]. So, we must meditate with full attention toward that antaryamin, with love and gratitude, acknowledging that, “Without You, I can't even take a single breath.”</li><li>One thing is sure: the soul, the life-giving spark, whatever name you give it, is definitely within us. In meditation, we acknowledge its presence. The more we lose ourselves in the external world—if our search is external—the more the soul feels sorrow. And when we find the right path, the right guru, the right method, then the soul finds the purpose with which it is born fulfilled, and it makes us experience a sense of peace.</li><li>If you experience this peace after meditation, know that that path is right for you. But if you experience unrest or a lack of peace after meditation, then understand that that path is not right for you. The heart always gives us the correct indication.</li></ul>

Q: What is the purpose of being born as a human? Daaji: It can be defined according to each one’s understanding. One way is, “How can I become a perfect being?” Perfection is relative—we can each define perfection based on our own perception. But it can also be defined as bringing our work/actions to completion to the best of our satisfaction, and with that completeness how we can merge with Him, who is complete/whole.&nbsp;Another purpose is, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, to evolve our consciousness. It is only our consciousness that can progress. The physical body won’t change beyond a certain point—our bodies just grow older. The Darwinian theory of morphological evolution is not possible in this short lifespan.So, there is no evolution of the physical body. The soul cannot evolve, as it is complete or perfect in itself; it is immutable. So the only thing that can change is our consciousness.

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Daaji reached Rajkot on the evening of the 9th after a long drive from his previous destination, Meghpur Titodi in Jamnagar. After a brief rest, he went to the Pramukh Swami Auditorium, where he conducted meditation and answered some questions from the audience in Gujarati. On the morning of the 10th, Daaji conducted a meditation session at an abhyasi’s farmhouse near the scenic Nyari Dam.

Rajkot, Gujarat 9th and 10th August 2024

After the meditation session, the villagers asked Daaji many questions on the spot, and he answered each one of them in a way they could relate to. The atmosphere was lively and some of his remarks sent everyone into peals of laughter. Here are a few translated excerpts from the Q&amp;A session.Anchor: If you have questions for Daaji, please feel free to ask. You can ask in Gujarati, as Daaji is well-versed in it.Daaji: [after a few moments of silence, when no one ventured forth] If you don’t ask me questions, I will have to ask you some! [laughter] Think about this: why do we meditate? You don’t have to answer, just think about a couple of things: why do we do the morning meditation, the evening cleaning, and the prayer to God at night? Ponder deeply on these three matters.You have seen photos of Lord Shiva sitting on Mount Kailash, right? What does the image depict? He is sitting in meditation, isn’t he? You must have seen pictures from the &nbsp;Ramayana, where Lord Ram, Hanuman, Laxman, and Sita are meditating. When the Mahabharata war was about to start, Lord Krishna was meditating. So now think about this: Why did&nbsp;avatar purushas [divine incarnations] like Lord Shiva, Lord Ram and Lord Krishna need to meditate? And whom were they meditating upon?&nbsp;&nbsp;One should ask questions—without asking, how will you get answers? Curiosity is key. Small children ask, “Where is God?” Before you answer, they ask, “Who made God?” They don’t seek answers; they are just happy that you are listening to them.Some people ask questions of a scholarly or philosophical nature, “Is there God?” And we say, “Yes.” But now that they know God exists, what are they going to do about it?Further than that there is a state called&nbsp;mumukshutva [desire for liberation or final emancipation]—when a man is really craving for Realization and he asks, “Is there a God?” And we say, “Yes.” Then he asks, “How to realize Him?” And when such a&nbsp;mumukshutva awakens in him, he will not rest until he achieves his goal.If you are thirsty, will you read about water? A chemist will say, “Its formula is H2O and it has two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen,” but that is not going to quench your thirst, is it? Knowing, or knowledge alone cannot satisfy anything. Similarly, no matter how much knowledge you gather about God, you will still be like a parrot—reciting from rote memory. So in order to know Him, you have to walk towards Him, you have to make efforts for it, and therefore, you have to practice meditation. So go inwards, and experience Him within you.We must practice meditation consistently, without breaks. If we do it one day and skip the next, it won’t work. What if the sun took a break? Darkness would prevail, and life would perish. Our inner spiritual life is the same—it fades without regular nurture. Then, no matter how many&nbsp;diyas [lamps used in ritual worship of God] you light, there will be darkness within you. So, think deeply about this. Now, if you have any questions, please ask.Q:&nbsp;What does it mean when during meditation or prayer, I get tears in my eyes? Daaji: It means the heart is melting. That is a good thing. This condition remains till the end. Congratulations! After all, who sheds tears for God these days?Q:&nbsp;Here, joint families are common, but I observe that 50% of the family's energy is often lost with women engaging in jealousy and the men trying to appease them. How can spirituality help overcome this? Daaji:&nbsp;You have asked me a very difficult question! [laughter]. The solution is difficult and not in our hands. Making someone understand is a difficult thing. Take the example of Queen Kaikeyi and King Dashratha in the&nbsp;Ramayana. It was her jealousy and his ego that resulted in Lord Ram being sent into exile. She held him to his promise, but it was his ego that made him do wrong by his son. So if one is sensible, one will not give in to promises that might harm someone. For example, if your child tells you, “Daddy, you promised to let me ride the scooter,” what will you do? If you give the scooter, and your child has an accident, what then? If you are sensible, you will say, “Yes, I promised you, but grow up first.” So, being rigid about promises is foolishness. When needed, you can break your promise. Dashratha could have told his wife, “You are wrong in asking this. Be quiet! Enough!” If she had threatened to go to her maternal home, he could have had the courage to say, “Fine. By all means, go.”The joint family system can be a blessing, but nowadays, many girls set a condition before marriage: “I won’t live with your parents.” And because the boy is so smitten, he agrees. But he should see this as a red flag—a sign that things may not go well in the future with such a wife. Having elders at home is a blessing, and their value is often realized only when they are no longer there.Q:&nbsp;Daaji, for 40 years now, I have had major leg issues. Please give me your blessings so that I am able to travel to Kanha and immerse myself deeply into meditation. Daaji: I will give you blessings, but how will you take them? Have you brought a bag?! [the audience, including the questioner, bursts into laughter] Never ask God or the guru for blessings. If you want blessings, you must prepare yourself—make the heart clean, pure, and simple. When it rains on a rocky and unprepared field, the water is washed off; nothing grows except weeds. But on a well-tilled, fertile field, the rain can reap a bountiful harvest. So, one need never ask for blessings because the guru’s grace and God’s blessings are raining on us at all times within our hearts. All we have to do is keep the heart ready like tilled fields. We have to cultivate the fields of our hearts with our meditative practice. Even God Himself is searching for pure, simple hearts filled with love. We don’t have to search for God; He is searching for us.

Daaji said, “Think about this: why do we meditate? You don’t have to answer, just think about a couple of things: why do we do the morning meditation, the evening cleaning, and the prayer to God at night? Ponder deeply on these three matters. You have seen photos of Lord Shiva sitting on Mount Kailash, right? What does the image depict? He is sitting in meditation, isn’t he? You must have seen pictures from the&nbsp;Ramayana, where Lord Ram, Hanuman, Laxman, and Sita are meditating. When the Mahabharata war was about to start, Lord Krishna was meditating. So now think about this: Why did&nbsp;avatar purushas [divine incarnations] like Lord Shiva, Lord Ram and Lord Krishna need to meditate? And whom were they meditating upon?&nbsp;&nbsp;One should ask questions—without asking, how will you get answers? Curiosity is key. Small children ask, “Where is God?” Before you answer, they ask, “Who made God?” They don’t seek answers; they are just happy that you are listening to them.

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After an overnight stay at Jamnagar, Daaji travelled the next morning to Meghpur Titodi, a village located in Kalyanpur Taluka, about 80 kms from Jamnagar city.

Titodi, Gujarat 9th August 2024

Revered Daaji’s visit to Amreli was followed by a trip to Jamnagar, an erstwhile princely state renowned as a seat of oriental studies with a rich legacy in Ayurvedic tradition. Daaji was invited as a speaker by the&nbsp;Dept. of Swasthavritta at the&nbsp;Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) for an evening themed "Human Excellence through Indian Heritage." ITRA is the first Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy).

After many introductions and felicitations, the highlight of the event finally arrived—Daaji’s address. His speech (in Gujarati) delved into the deeper aspects of Yoga and Consciousness in the context of Heartfulness practices. Here are some translated excerpts.<ul><li>Nowadays, there is significant discourse surrounding the topic of Yoga. World Yoga Day on 21st June highlights many of its physical practices like&nbsp;asana&nbsp;(poses) and&nbsp;pranayama (breath work). But the fundamental basis of yoga, as taught by Patanjali, starts with&nbsp;yama and&nbsp;niyama—what not to do and what to do, respectively. Unfortunately, our minds rarely focus on that. Who wants to follow rules like "do this, don’t do that," right? It’s like when your wife says, "Don’t do this—do that," and you respond angrily, "Be quiet!" The same happens with our heart. It tells us what’s right and wrong, especially what not to do. But when we ignore the heart, it gets heavy, skips beats, or makes us sweat—that’s its way of guiding us. Still, we often ignore these signals, and in doing so, we miss the divine help that comes through it.</li><li>In the Sahaj Marg method, emphasis is placed on&nbsp;dhyana&nbsp;(meditation) to refine and regulate the mind. This naturally develops discrimination—what to do and what not to do—automatically establishing yama and niyama. Meditation creates awareness before we act, guiding us on what should or shouldn’t be done and its potential outcomes. A sensitized heart can only be cultivated through meditation.</li><li>There are many more yogic chakras than those traditionally charted in&nbsp;yoga shastras (yoga treatises). Most yogis have only progressed up to the&nbsp;Sahasra Dal Kamal (SDK) chakra. They did not move beyond it because the spiritual condition of&nbsp;sat-chit-anand&nbsp;(truth, consciousness, bliss) at SDK is so beautiful and blissful, that they became captivated by it. So, this bliss can become a trap. It is akin to a worm relishing cow dung and enjoying its flavor. The practitioner becomes addicted to this particular condition of the consciousness and gets trapped there. You have to get out of that trap.</li><li>Each yogic chakra presents a unique spiritual condition, and getting stuck in any one of them leads to horizontal expansion of consciousness—an infinite expansion, because each chakra has infinite possibilities. This is what is called the&nbsp;avdhoot state, where the practitioner loses awareness of what’s happening. Hence, the guidance of a living guru is essential—the guru can discern the practitioner's position and chart the path for their continued progress.</li><li>Comparative studies of philosophies and religions have been conducted extensively so far. However, India and the world would greatly benefit if similar studies were undertaken to explore and compare various methods of meditation. Do a study on how quickly one can reach the delta wave state, which corresponds to the fourth level of consciousness also called the&nbsp;turiya&nbsp;state in our yoga shastras. There are four states of consciousness:</li></ul><ol><li>Wakeful state</li><li>Dream state</li><li>Sleep state</li><li>Deep sleep-like state but with full awareness or turiya state</li></ol>So compare various methods of meditation through a blind study and publish the results to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of different practices. When supported by scientific evidence, these results will help protect people from blind superstition.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;After the speech, Daaji conducted meditation. This was followed by a Q&amp;A session, where he addressed questions previously collected from the audience. Here is a translated excerpt.&nbsp;Q:&nbsp;You spoke about joyful obedience. Why is it that obedient and committed people often face the most challenges, while mean and manipulative people seem to enjoy life?Daaji: Obedience, especially joyful obedience, is not always easy. For instance, when a teacher says, “No talking, no phones, pay attention,” some students may follow the rules outwardly but remain distracted, their minds elsewhere. However, joyful obedience means being fully present and engaged—it transforms study, sports, meditation, and even eating into acts of worship. Togetherness with family should also be joyful, a time to connect.Sadly, today’s family interactions put the “three monkeys” of Gandhiji* to shame. Nowadays, it’s a case of—“I see not, I hear not, I speak to no one”—all because people’s attention is always on their smartphones. The joyfulness has gone, the interconnectedness has gone:&nbsp; those who are our near and dear ones, who are around us, we ignore. And the ones who are distant and who are not really our dear ones, we give them attention calls and messages. So, ask your mind, what is right and what is not?The&nbsp;sadhana chatushtaya&nbsp;and&nbsp;shatsampat** mention this: “The first emergence of success in yoga, is the development of discrimination or discernment (vivek buddhi).” We have to become “yama”—killers of our negative tendencies. And its exact opposite is “niyama”—embracing good qualities and imbibing them in us.&nbsp;&nbsp;*The three monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi are a visual representation of the proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".**[Four pillars of practice (sadhana&nbsp;chatushtaya), which include six virtues (shatsampat), are cultivated on the path of Self-Realization by the school of Vedanta or Jnana Yoga.]&nbsp;&nbsp;

Q:&nbsp;You spoke about joyful obedience. Why is it that obedient and committed people often face the most challenges, while mean and manipulative people seem to enjoy life?Daaji: Obedience, especially joyful obedience, is not always easy. For instance, when a teacher says, “No talking, no phones, pay attention,” some students may follow the rules outwardly but remain distracted, their minds elsewhere. However, joyful obedience means being fully present and engaged—it transforms study, sports, meditation, and even eating into acts of worship. Togetherness with family should also be joyful, a time to connect.

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Revered Daaji’s visit to Amreli was followed by a trip to Jamnagar, an erstwhile princely state renowned as a seat of oriental studies with a rich legacy in Ayurvedic tradition.

Jamnagar, Gujarat 8th August 2024

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

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

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. 

Chennai and Tiruppur 20th October 2024

Daaji began his day early, looking forward to continue his journey to Chennai. He invited a few Heartfulness practitioners to join him for breakfast, where they discussed plans for the days ahead.&nbsp;His first stop upon reaching Chennai was the Heartfulness International School, Omega branch. There, Daaji launched several important initiatives and took time to meet with school officials. During his speech, he shared his vision to open more such Heartfulness schools across India, calling upon educators within and outside the Heartfulness community to contribute to this noble cause.&nbsp;In response to student inquiries about following one's heart, Daaji answered with his characteristic warmth and clarity, encouraging the youth to trust their inner guidance which is greatly enhanced when nourished by a sincere Heartfulness practice. He explained how a meditative practice strengthens this inner connection, allowing one to navigate life with a deeper sense of purpose. &nbsp;

From there, Daaji proceeded to the Babuji Memorial Ashram in Manapakkam, where hundreds of Heartfulness practitioners from Chennai and nearby centers lined the roads, welcoming him with love and devotion.&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji enjoyed a hearty South Indian lunch and after a brief rest, he conducted the evening meditation. Several celebrities from the Tamil film industry had been invited to experience Heartfulness meditation by Mr. N. Lingusamy, a Heartfulness trainer and renowned movie director.Daaji inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Youth Seminar with the theme ‘Awaken Your Inner Potential’ with an inspiring talk after meditation. This was followed by an engaging Q&amp;A session with the young participants. Daaji encouraged them to embrace Heartfulness practices with dedication, urging them to research the effects of following one’s heart versus ignoring it. He emphasized that with a consistent meditation routine, they could develop a courageous spirit capable of navigating life's challenges.

As Daaji made his way back to the cottage, a large crowd gathered, each one vying for his attention. Daaji often lovingly reminds everyone that there is no need to struggle for this external attention. He has mentioned that true connection arises from cultivating an inner state of deservingness, where the deep silence of the heart prepares one to receive Divine grace. In this state, the flow of yogic transmission becomes natural and automatic. He gently but firmly asked everyone to leave, before retiring to the cottage for a quiet dinner.This day was filled with moments of deep connection, reflection, and inspiration, as Daaji continued to share the message of Heartfulness with all those who came to meet him.

Daaji inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Youth Seminar with the theme ‘Awaken Your Inner Potential’ with an inspiring talk after meditation. This was followed by an engaging Q&amp;A session with the young participants. Daaji encouraged them to embrace Heartfulness practices with dedication, urging them to research the effects of following one’s heart versus ignoring it. He emphasized that with a consistent meditation routine, they could develop a courageous spirit capable of navigating life's challenges.

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This day was filled with moments of deep connection, reflection, and inspiration, as Daaji continued to share the message of Heartfulness with all those who came to meet him.

Thiruvallur and Chennai 19th October 2024

The following morning saw Daaji rise early to meet more practitioners who with eager hearts had gathered at the hotel to greet him before he left for the venue. The day began with a group meditation, where Daaji, with his signature calm, shared what he had felt during the meditation in his heart. He beautifully explained how once we begin our yogic practice, it is crucial to bring it to completion. Often, it is the unfinished tasks that leaves us with the trauma of regret and guilt, which can be practically impossible to erase.His thoughts flowed like a calm river carrying a deep current of spiritual insight. Leading a holistic lifestyle has been a central theme in Daaji’s talks and work. He emphasized the importance of working on ourselves, making sure not to leave anything unfinished: for a sincere yogi, it is important to note that doing the right thing is a triumph, but neglecting to do the right thing at the right moment can be far more detrimental to one’s spiritual progress.The essence of Heartfulness is to live without creating unnecessary&nbsp;samskaras or mental impressions that weigh us down on our spiritual journey.&nbsp;Akarma, which translates from Sanskrit as action performed with pure love and without attachment, is the ideal state for a spiritual aspirant. The riddles of life – what to do, what not to do, and how to live in the best way – were unraveled by Daaji with ease, making the profound seem simple and achievable.Daaji spoke about the need for self-restraint and how living a life absorbed in divine remembrance can reduce the need for the evening Heartfulness Cleaning practice. When we are truly absorbed in the presence of the Divine, we think and perform actions without creating new imprints on our consciousness. This intensity of practice can help us lead a life of inner peace and harmony.Before leaving, Daaji said that he would have stayed a few days longer if he could have. However, he promised to return soon. He shared how a spiritual guide finds joy in being with sincere and absorbing hearts, ready to deepen their practice and apply the teachings of Heartfulness in their daily lives.

On his way, Daaji made a surprise visit to a Heartfulness trainer’s sari shop. By the time he reached Thiruvallur, Chennai had recovered enough from the heavy rains, and preparations were in full swing to receive him. Interestingly, the rain seemed to follow him, pouring down in Hosur and Vellore after his departure, as though nature itself was in tune with the spiritual energy he emanates. Several thousand practitioners from nearby centers had gathered there, their hearts open and ready to receive their beloved guide.After entering the cottage, Daaji went to his room for a quiet moment to offer&nbsp;prasad. [Sweets offered with an attitude of reverence and in remembrance of the Divine. The sweets are divinized by this infusion of love and reverence, creating an osmosis between what is offered and the one to whom it is being offered.]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After the prasad was distributed, the practitioners made their way to the hall for a meditation session while Daaji took some much-needed rest. Over high tea, Daaji met with a few practitioners, before making his way to inaugurate the Heartfulness International School in Thiruvalllur.&nbsp;This special moment was marked by the first official admission to the school, which was performed by Daaji personally. He then conducted another group meditation in the main hall, followed by a lively and engaging interaction with the practitioners gathered there. Later during dinner, Daaji met with more practitioners before retiring for the night.&nbsp;

Daaji spoke about the need for self-restraint and how living a life absorbed in divine remembrance can reduce the need for the evening Heartfulness Cleaning practice. When we are truly absorbed in the presence of the Divine, we think and perform actions without creating new imprints on our consciousness. This intensity of practice can help us lead a life of inner peace and harmony.

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Daaji’s day was filled with sessions and meetings with abhyasis and his travel from Hosur and Vellore to Thiruvallur.

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Jamnagar, Gujarat 8^th August 2024