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Spirituality
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
NOV 06. 2018
</div><div class="blog_content__ErWmJ">Dear friends, Happy Diwali. <p>One sentence from the Upanishads has been coming to me again and again:</p> <p><span style="color: #3643bf;"><em>Asato m</em><em>ā</em><em> sadgamaya tamasom</em><em>ā</em><em> jyotir gamaya</em></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;">May I proceed from untruth to truth and from darkness to light.</p> <p>The Diwali festival is a ritual reminding us of the importance of moving from darkness to light, from ignorance to truth. And the intention is only this: how to evolve.</p> <p>What is the darkness in us? Primarily it is our state of ignorance, sloth, inaction and unawareness. Whatever we are doing, whether it is worshipping God, meditating, or any other activity in daily life, are we aware from within? Mindfully we may be aware, but heartfully are we aware of love flowing through our hearts in all our actions and thoughts?</p> <p>Heartfulness is all about this – awareness added to affection and love. Otherwise the whole awareness business is a very short-lived application.</p> <p>When we have the awareness of “Why am I here? What am I trying to achieve?” in every moment, along with love in everything that we do, it epitomizes and signifies Heartfulness. This attitude immediately brings light within. We are not talking of ordinary light or ordinary awakening. We are talking of divine awakening, divinization of our being.</p> https://youtu.be/u9UJgFJTH1k <p>Without ignoring the significance of rituals, let’s stick to the essence of them. When we are absorbed in Divinity, it must stir our hearts. Hearts must melt and dissolve, and when we interact with others nothing more is required. What happens when more and more love and affection oozes out of us all the time, even when we look at trees, in empty space, and when we are doing nothing on our own? Let this undercurrent of love and light continue throughout all our daily activities, while we remain completely aware of the highest goal in life, nothing less. May it be so. </p> All the best, Daaji 6 November 2018</div><hr class="bg-black"/><div class="blog_comment_container__5ZquE"><ul class="blog_comment__07Xk0"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.daaji.org/from-darkness-to-light" rel="noreferrer"><svg stroke="currentColor" fill="currentColor" stroke-width="0" viewBox="0 0 320 512" height="1em" width="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z"></path></svg></a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.daaji.org/from-darkness-to-light" rel="noreferrer"><svg stroke="currentColor" fill="currentColor" stroke-width="0" viewBox="0 0 512 512" height="1em" width="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 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D. Patel is the fourth spiritual Guide in the Sahaj Marg system of Raja Yoga meditation. He is a role model for students of spirituality who seek that perfect blend of eastern heart and western mind. He travels extensively and is at home with people from all backgrounds and walks of life, giving special attention to the youth of today.","socialMediaTitle":"CONNECT WITH US","footerDesc":"Heartfulness practices with a certified trainer are always free of fees or charges, whether in person or online.","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:03.303Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-22T12:39:38.597Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:54:29.480Z","socialMediaLinks":[{"id":2,"mediaName":"Find us on Facebook","profileUrl":"https://www.facebook.com/kamleshdaaji","mediaImg":{"data":{"id":15,"attributes":{"name":"facebook.png","alternativeText":"facebook.png","caption":"facebook.png","width":28,"height":28,"formats":null,"hash":"facebook_57a944630f","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":0.36,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/facebook_57a944630f.png","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:35.945Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:35.945Z"}}}},{"id":1,"mediaName":"Find us on Instagram","profileUrl":"https://www.instagram.com/kamleshdaaji/","mediaImg":{"data":{"id":14,"attributes":{"name":"default_instagram.png","alternativeText":"default_instagram.png","caption":"default_instagram.png","width":28,"height":28,"formats":null,"hash":"default_instagram_ee3758d3ea","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":0.36,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/default_instagram_ee3758d3ea.png","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:35.840Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:49.110Z"}}}},{"id":3,"mediaName":"Find us on Twitter","profileUrl":"https://twitter.com/kamleshdaaji","mediaImg":{"data":{"id":16,"attributes":{"name":"twitter.png","alternativeText":"twitter.png","caption":"twitter.png","width":28,"height":28,"formats":null,"hash":"twitter_dc6ef37e24","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":0.36,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/twitter_dc6ef37e24.png","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:35.997Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T07:35:01.166Z"}}}},{"id":4,"mediaName":"Find us on Linkedin","profileUrl":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamleshdaaji","mediaImg":{"data":{"id":17,"attributes":{"name":"linkedin.png","alternativeText":"linkedin.png","caption":"linkedin.png","width":28,"height":28,"formats":null,"hash":"linkedin_7f012cd098","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":0.39,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/linkedin_7f012cd098.png","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:36.019Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T07:34:36.019Z"}}}}],"ourWebsiteLinks":[{"id":1,"text":"SAHAJ MARG","url":"http://www.sahajmarg.org/homepage"},{"id":3,"text":"HEARTFULNESS","url":"https://heartfulness.org/en"},{"id":4,"text":"MAGAZINE","url":"http://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/"},{"id":5,"text":"CONTACT US","url":"/contact"}],"links":[{"id":6,"text":"Terms Of Use","url":"/terms-of-use"},{"id":7,"text":"Privacy Policy","url":"/privacy-policy"}],"nameImg":{"data":{"id":13,"attributes":{"name":"KDP-1.png","alternativeText":"KDP-1.png","caption":"KDP-1.png","width":226,"height":28,"formats":null,"hash":"KDP_1_f605afef4b","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":0.78,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/KDP_1_f605afef4b.png","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:02:20.781Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T07:02:20.781Z"}}}}},"currentBlog":{"id":55,"attributes":{"title":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT","date":"2018-11-06","description":"Dear friends,\n\nHappy Diwali.\n\u003cp\u003eOne sentence from the Upanishads has been coming to me again and again:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #3643bf;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsato m\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e sadgamaya\n tamasom\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e jyotir gamaya\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMay I proceed from untruth to truth\n and from darkness to light.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Diwali festival is a ritual reminding us of the importance of moving from darkness to light, from ignorance to\n truth. And the intention is only this: how to evolve.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is the darkness in us? Primarily it is our state of ignorance, sloth, inaction and unawareness. Whatever we are\n doing, whether it is worshipping God, meditating, or any other activity in daily life, are we aware from within?\n Mindfully we may be aware, but heartfully are we aware of love flowing through our hearts in all our actions and\n thoughts?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeartfulness is all about this – awareness added to affection and love. Otherwise the whole awareness business is a\n very short-lived application.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we have the awareness of “Why am I here? What am I trying to achieve?” in every moment, along with love in\n everything that we do, it epitomizes and signifies Heartfulness. This attitude immediately brings light within. We\n are not talking of ordinary light or ordinary awakening. We are talking of divine awakening, divinization of our\n being.\u003c/p\u003e\nhttps://youtu.be/u9UJgFJTH1k\n\u003cp\u003eWithout ignoring the significance of rituals, let’s stick to the essence of them. When we are absorbed in Divinity,\n it must stir our hearts. Hearts must melt and dissolve, and when we interact with others nothing more is required.\n What happens when more and more love and affection oozes out of us all the time, even when we look at trees, in\n empty space, and when we are doing nothing on our own? Let this undercurrent of love and light continue throughout\n all our daily activities, while we remain completely aware of the highest goal in life, nothing less. May it be so.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\nAll the best,\n\nDaaji\n\n6 November 2018","slug":"from-darkness-to-light","youtubeFrameLink":"\u003ciframe width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/u9UJgFJTH1k\" title=\"From Darkness to Light - Message by Daaji on Diwali\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" ","createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:02.414Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:14:49.894Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:05.372Z","seo":[{"id":38,"metaTitle":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null,"metaImage":{"data":null}}],"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"image":{"data":{"id":740,"attributes":{"name":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","alternativeText":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","caption":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":19.18,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":35.95,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":5.75,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":55.79,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z"}}},"comments":{"data":[]}}},"nextBlog":{"id":54,"attributes":{"title":"Travels and Conversations with Daaji, 12 to 20 November 2018","date":"2018-11-30","description":"\u003ch2\u003eShort notes on a long journey\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e12 and 13 November\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#2f5496\"\u003eA world beyond stars!\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe big Brighter Minds event at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on 11 November ended with a teaser note by Daaji:\n “Sitaaron ke aage jahaan aur bhi hai,” meaning, there is a world beyond the stars.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe next day was the beginning of a Heartfulness journey through the Konkan belt – the coastal area on the shores of\n the Arabian Sea.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 12 November, in the late evening, Daaji landed by flight at Goa to attend the concluding part of the conference\n organized by the Indian Government’s AYUSH Ministry. The next morning there were several meetings with AYUSH\n officials, who are relentlessly working towards promoting Yoga worldwide. Later in the afternoon, Daaji joined the\n Governor of Goa and the Minister of AYUSH on stage at the conference, ‘Yoga for Public Health’, to deliver the\n valedictory address, sharing his experience and insights on Yoga and the philosophy of Heartfulness meditation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_1_e33aa69015.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:56:46.540Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#2f5496\"\u003eAYUSH – Yoga is all about lifestyle\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji started his address as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“All dignitaries and my dear sisters and brothers,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Pranams to you with all my heart. During the last two days, you must have collected a lot of information about\n systems of Yoga. The most famous one, that you are all familiar with, was codified by Rishi Patanjali and is known\n worldwide as Ashtanga Yoga. But Ashtanga Yoga is not like a buffet where you can pick and choose your dishes: “Oh I\n like only ice-cream so I will eat only ice-cream.” “I like only Asanas,” or “l like only Pranayama.” No, you cannot\n pick and choose what you like. Each limb is an integral part of the entire complex eightfold path of Yoga, which has\n to be accomplished. Eliminating one limb is like eliminating one out of seven essential vitamins – what will happen?\n Remove one adenine from a DNA strand, and what will happen? The sequence will change, and if you change the sequence\n in a strand of DNA, its genetic expression will be different. Remove one strand from a gene, change the number and\n you have a disease.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Yoga is all about lifestyle, trying to achieve superconsciousness. Swami Vivekananda once mentioned that we all have\n some level of consciousness, but it is a very thin layer of consciousness. The purpose of the spiritual practices of\n Yoga is to fly into the sky of superconsciousness and dive deeper into the subconscious realms. Fantastic! It is\n very nice to hear about superconsciousness and subconsciousness, but how to do that? How to arrive at a\n superconscious state? What style of life must we lead in order to sustain such a level of consciousness?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The first step of Yoga is Yama, and I don’t think most of us understand the meaning of Yama. You must have heard of\n Lord Yama in Indian mythology, the God of Death. Why would Patanjali codify one of the steps of Yoga with a name\n denoting the God of Death? He is only trying to convey that we need to kill all these vices. You be Yama and destroy\n all the vices that are destroying your inner harmony.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“How many of us do understand the ultimate goal of human life? One in millions perhaps. And of those ones in\n millions, Lord Krishna says that if you gather hundreds of thousands of them, maybe one or two will achieve this\n goal. But we need to change this. We have to promise our Lord that we are not such weaklings. We will achieve it.\n The ways are there.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji then spoke about Heartfulness Meditation, Transmission and his personal journey and experiences. While talking\n about health and Yoga, he said,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“We are not only looking into problems associated with physical health, as today the major problem is mental health\n issues arising out of moral crises. How to tackle these moral crises at the root level? Generally we only talk of\n physical health while we are alive, but Yoga is all about going beyond life itself. It is all about Existence. It is\n not just about this life; it is about Existence. It is not only about mine, but everyone else’s Existence also.\n That’s why we have the Vishwashanti prayer in our Shastras, a prayer not for myself alone but for everything that\n exists in this universe. That is the purpose of Yoga. Thank you or listening.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_2_234c684564.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:59:19.180Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 6 p.m., Daaji conducted group meditation for abhyasis in the small Heartfulness Centre in the heart of Goa.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e14 and 15 November\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eto Udupi via Karwar and Gokarna\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji started a long road journey on 14 November to visit centres in the South Canara area. He left Goa around 11:30\n a.m. and reached Karwar by 2:30 p.m. for a short rest at the Premier Residency. The hotel team welcomed him warmly\n and served Daaji and the travel team with simple food. The Director of the hotel and the main operations person both\n started meditation. They were impressed with their first experience and willing to continue the practice and spread\n the word about Heartfulness. A new centre in the making!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 4:45 p.m., the road journey continued south until it was dark. Daaji stopped at Gokarna to rest overnight. The\n next day, 15 November, the journey continued towards Udupi. Daaji was keenly observing and learning about the towns,\n the culture and the greenery around. By 2 p.m., he stopped at Bhatkal for a short break. Here too, the owners of the\n place experienced their first meditation session. Finally, by 6 p.m. he reached Udupi, covering approximately 400\n kilometres of coastal journey.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFriday, 16 November\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\n \u003chr\u003e\n\n \u003cem\u003eUdupi and Mangalore\u003c/em\u003e\n\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#2f5496\"\u003eWho is an intense abhyasi?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 7:30 a.m., Daaji conducted satsangh in the Udupi Meditation Center. He met the Manipal Print Media leadership\n team and they all experienced their first meditation session with Daaji. On the same day, Daaji travelled to\n Mangalore and reached Pai’s residence by noon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an informal session, Daaji asked the question, “Who is an intense abhyasi?” He also asked, “What is the difference\n between trying and attempting?” He also talked about the idea of a sense of belongingness, and how it manifests in\n our thoughts and actions. Later, Daaji read out a letter written by Babuji in 1949 and highlighted several ideas.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji conducted satsangh at 6 p.m. and afterwards he invited abhyasis to ask questions. They sat in complete silence,\n so Daaji ended the short session with a big smile and two words, “Thank you.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_3_7c6cd66aa5.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T08:00:17.751Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSaturday, 17 November\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cem\u003eMangalore\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji conducted three satsanghs during the day. After the second satsangh, at 11 a.m., he gave the longest talk of\n the tour.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_4_81e5c88e2d.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T08:01:09.427Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are some excerpts from the talk:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn love one cannot impose conditions\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Our meditation process is very simple, extremely simple. Just relax and have a focused attention towards the heart,\n thinking that “The divine presence is already there in my heart,” and remain receptive. That’s all. Most of the work\n is done by the Master who shares Pranahuti with us. Because of this Prana, we are able to dive deeper in meditation.\n It is as simple as that. Now, how does this Prana work in creating the path from our present awareness and allow us\n to fly into a super conscious state? It is by the removal of obstacles between my present state and the higher\n state, which is yet to arrive.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Samskaras helps us go through this life, but at the same time samskaras are also the problem. Good samskaras give us\n such a beautiful life – you are tied up with a golden chain – and bad samskaras give us a terrible life with a lot\n of misery and pain – you are tied up by an iron chain. It doesn’t matter whether you are tied by the golden chain or\n the iron chain. Bandhan to bandhan hi hai! We cannot live with such entrapment because the soul is seeking freedom.\n So while being here, while going through the samskaras, we can develop the art of recognising that we would like to\n free ourselves. Free ourselves from what? Attachments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I will give you one simple example to show that attachment is nothing but conditioning of ourselves at an emotional\n level. When you tie an elephant with a steel pole or iron pole, he cannot move from there, his legs are tied. After\n some time he becomes conditioned to this. If you now tie him to a plastic chair, he won’t move though he can bring\n an entire circus tent down and make people run everywhere. Because of his conditioning, he has become a weakling.\n That is how we are. We have been conditioned throughout the ages. We have been fed information: this is paapam and\n this is punyam [sin and virtue]; this is attachment and this is detachment; this is worth doing and this is not\n worth doing; we are conditioned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Conditioning is always from the past, and desires to fulfill certain things keep us busy with the future: ‘Oh, if I\n have this I can achieve that in the future.’ But who thinks about what they must be doing in the present? We are\n always pushed by the past and pulled by future desires. And desires are nothing but the seeds of samskaras, yet to\n be created.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Let me give you one more example, for those of you who are not very clear about the example of the elephant. Maybe\n we human beings are even more conditioned, severely conditioned, worse than cats and dogs and elephants.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The state of sthit pragya is that in which we are like a lotus, unaffected by likes and dislikes. Dislikes also\n affect us; aversion affects us. ‘This person is not behaving well,’ and you feel tremendous aversion towards that\n person. That is also wrong. Why do you want to lose peace of mind because of another person’s behaviour?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“In love one cannot impose conditions, and for divinity never.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“There are only two things that can be offered at the feet of your Guru: one is gratitude, being thankful for what\n the Guru does for us; and the second is to make sure that others also benefit the way we benefit.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_5_b02bbda7eb.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T08:03:15.547Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter dinner, Daaji met many local abhyasis. Two children came with their parents to see Daaji. Daaji asked their\n names. The little one said, “I am Diksha.” He asked, “Do you know the meaning of diksha?” Diksha just kept staring\n without saying a word. Daaji said, “It means initiation into a lot of good things in life.” He continued, “The first\n initiator is the mother, the second initiator is the father, the third initiators are Elders around us, the fourth\n initiator is the Guru and the fifth initiator is God.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate in the evening, Daaji mentioned that the satsanghs here were out of this world. He was also happy with the\n spiritual potential and environment in these centres.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e18 and 19 November\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cem\u003eMangalore and Vittal\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji conducted the morning satsangh and then left Mangalore by 11:15 a.m. for Vittal. The greenery of this area\n captured his heart completely. Daaji conducted satsangh around 6 p.m. in Vittal and answered questions from the\n audience. The session ended with an invitation by Daaji to all the abhyasis gathered:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I am very happy to be here. It is a very nice place and I don’t know how we missed this place for many years. I hope\n the centre grows and grows, and soon you will all have a beautiful ashram. Thank you and I hope you will all come\n soon to Kanha.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe was very happy with the Vittal centre, and sat out with abhyasi till late into the night before going to rest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe next morning, Daaji conducted satsangh and welcomed visitors. At around 11:40 a.m. he reached Kabaka Puttur\n railway station and was given a formal warm welcome by the railway staff. While he was waiting for the train, he met\n a few people who wanted to start meditation. The train arrived on time, and Daaji was in the Chair Car coach along\n with 15 abhyasis who were travelling with him. The train passed through the scenic western Ghats and many tunnels\n before reaching Sakleshpur, our destination. He appreciated the scenic beauty of thick and lush green forests,\n filled with many varieties of tall, established trees. Most of the journey he was looking out the window, asking the\n Media Team to take photos of rare trees and flowers, which he wants to plant in Kanha. It was a different kind of\n joy for the abhyasis around him to see how he appreciates the beauty of nature. Daaji felt that every forest officer\n should make a point to visit the Western Ghats.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_6_2e9f7bb2fc.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T08:04:23.584Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji had a light lunch in the train with abhyasis, and a few other passengers on board the train also interacted\n with him and some requested photos with him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a 3-hour slow journey through the Western Ghats, Daaji reached another small station at Sakleshpur. He wants to\n bring the Western Ghats greenery to Kanha! He reached the Hassan Centre by 5 p.m. and conducted satsangh at a\n retreat. Around 200 abhyasis were gathered from nearby centres. His travel along the Konkan Coast ended here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/nov_bulletin_7_4791cfce70.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T08:05:00.678Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo be continued.\u003c/p\u003e","slug":"travels-conversations-daaji-12-20-november-2018","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:47:43.773Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:14:12.361Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:47:49.616Z","image":{"data":{"id":739,"attributes":{"name":"Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","alternativeText":"Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","caption":"Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f.jpg","hash":"small_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","path":null,"size":31.54,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f.jpg","hash":"medium_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","path":null,"size":56.61,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_Daaji-12-20NOV18.jpg","path":null,"size":9.7,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":87.06,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Daaji_12_20_NOV_18_b554b3484f.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T08:57:33.964Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T08:57:33.964Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":1,"attributes":{"title":"ARTICLES","slug":"articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:32.631Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T07:43:24.258Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:33.856Z"}},{"id":10,"attributes":{"title":"Reflections – daaji’s blog","slug":"reflections-daajis-blog","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:54.048Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:47:25.436Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:55.115Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":37,"metaTitle":"Travels and Conversations with Daaji, 12 to 20 November 2018 | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},"prevBlog":{"id":56,"attributes":{"title":"SVU bestows honorary Doctorate on Daaji","date":"2018-10-22","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e- Felicitation is in recognition of the exemplary work done by Heartfulness Foundation for\n the betterment of human life\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHyderabad/Tirupati, October 21st , 2018:\u003c/strong\u003e The prestigious Sri Venkateshwara University of Tirupati\n bestowed an honorary Doctorate on Sri Kamlesh D Patel, affectionately known as Daaji, the 4th global guide of\n Heartfulness. The felicitation will take place as a part of the 56th \u0026amp; 57th Convocation Day ceremony of the Sri\n Venkateshwara University on October 21st in the University campus.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji, who teaches Heartfulness Meditation from his personal experience as a devoted student of spirituality and his\n deep spirit of enquiry and respect for the world’s great spiritual traditions and scientific advancements, was\n bestowed with the honorary Doctorate certificate by Sri E S L Narasimhan, Governor of Telangana \u0026amp; Andhra\n Pradesh.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCommenting on the felicitation, Daaji said, “\u003cem\u003eheartfulness is a way of life. The many benefits of the practise can\n only be felt with experience. It has been a single-minded mission for all at heartfulness make the meditation\n practised available to\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in Gujarat in 1956, Daaji displayed an early interest in meditation and spirituality. He started Heartfulness\n Meditation at the age of nineteen, while studying to be a pharmacist, and soon after met Shri Ram Chandra (Babuji),\n the second Guide in the Heartfulness lineage and the founder of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter graduating, Daaji moved to New York City, and steadily built a successful pharmacy business. In addition of\n being a successful entrepreneur, Daaji continued to pursue his passion for meditation; and in 2011 he was selected\n to lead the Heartfulness Foundation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDaaji now fulfils the many duties of a modern-day Guide, extending his support to seekers everywhere. He is\n especially supportive of today’s youth, guiding them with practical self-management tools and universal values.\n Students and faculty in over 2,500 schools, universities, and colleges are now benefiting from his dynamic\n self-development programs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the works and research of Daaji in the fields of spirituality and consciousness that has benefitted thousands\n of his followers; and the Sri Venkateshwara University is bestowing an honorary Doctorate for the positive impact he\n has created in the lives of people.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n \u003cimg src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_4_300x199_365d39317c.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:14:35.496Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"img-padd alignnone wp-image-2646 size-medium\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_3_300x199_93c1443dbd.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:19:58.419Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"img-padd alignnone size-medium wp-image-2655\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_6_300x199_c42c13c234.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:26:11.616Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"img-padd alignnone wp-image-2645 size-medium\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_2_300x199_ca9ee9537b.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:20:06.791Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"img-padd alignnone wp-image-2644 size-medium\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_1_300x199_9deeb1a82b.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:20:18.795Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"img-padd alignnone wp-image-2648 size-medium\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_5_300x199_c0dd59b7a6.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:20:31.763Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\"\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout SRCM:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eShri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) is a non-profit organisation which provides\n spiritual training to interested seekers from around the world, through Heartfulness meditation, which has\n its roots in the Sahaj Marg system. It offers a way for balanced living in a heart-based way. SRCM was\n founded in 1945 by Shri Ram Chandra of Shahajanpur, in honor of his spiritual teacher and guide, Shri Ram\n Chandra of Fatehgarh. With a presence in over 100 countries worldwide [\u003ca\n href=\"http://www.srcm.org/centres/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eSRCM Centers\u003c/a\u003e] and on every\n continent of the globe, it has its world headquarters in Chennai, India. \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/small\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Heartfulness:\u003c/strong\u003e Heartfulness is a system of Raja Yoga meditation founded at the turn of\n the 20th century. A century later, Heartfulness has been embraced globally by groups in civil society,\n government departments, schools, colleges and the corporate world. Discover more at \u003ca\n href=\"https://heartfulness.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ewww.heartfulness.org\u003c/a\u003e. In over 130\n countries and supported by thousands of certified volunteer trainers, over a million people are practicing\n Heartfulness. This number continues to grow globally through hundreds of Heartfulness Centers worldwide. Kamesh\n D Patel, also known as Daaji is the fourth global guide of Heartfulness.\u003c/small\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch6 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFor further Details Please contact Rajesh Gurram, Perfect Relations @ 98490-42184 or mailto:\n rajesh@perfectrelations.com\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h6\u003e","slug":"svu-bestows-honorary-doctorate-daaji","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:57:25.809Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:21:52.270Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:57:29.272Z","image":{"data":{"id":1084,"attributes":{"name":"svu-featured.jpg","alternativeText":"svu-featured.jpg","caption":"svu-featured.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_svu_featured_0a171cec62.jpg","hash":"small_svu_featured_0a171cec62","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_svu-featured.jpg","path":null,"size":48.8,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_svu_featured_0a171cec62.jpg","hash":"medium_svu_featured_0a171cec62","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_svu-featured.jpg","path":null,"size":96.69,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_svu_featured_0a171cec62.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_svu_featured_0a171cec62","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_svu-featured.jpg","path":null,"size":13.38,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"svu_featured_0a171cec62","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":160.91,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/svu_featured_0a171cec62.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-24T09:41:19.771Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-24T09:41:26.831Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":9,"attributes":{"title":"Press","slug":"press","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:32.530Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:46:51.299Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:33.473Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":47,"metaTitle":"SVU bestows honorary Doctorate on Daaji | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},"relatedBlogs":[{"id":8,"attributes":{"title":"THE HEART OF THE GITA","date":"2021-09-02","description":"\u003cp\u003eNamaste ji and Happy Janmasthami.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe teachings from the Gita are eternal and time-tested. They inspire us in some fashion. Unfortunately,\n inspirations, however lofty, do not move us to the next step of actualizing the truth we are seeking.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are always being told by our teachers and preachers of high rank and reputation that the best thing to arrive at\n is sthita pragya. No doubt. Also, to understand that man should never consider himself to be the actual doer of\n things. Okay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWould you be happy simply reading the menu at a five-star hotel when you are hungry? We read. But witnessing bhava,\n the sthita pragya state, or a balanced state, or all those lofty states – how are we to arrive at them? Our\n observation says that mere reading or hearing it is of no avail unless we take up the means to achieve all those\n states in a very practical way. We are always in the dark about those means which are necessary for the purpose.\n Nowhere can the slightest hint to that effect be traced out in all their discourses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is that those who are listening are wrongly led to this conclusion, that only frequent repetition like\n mantras, verses after verses, should be enough. Things like, “I am not the doer,” or “I am Brahman,” or “Aham\n Brahmasmi” – is it enough just reciting? It is detrimental, in fact, to remain under the illusion of having merely\n done our part of recitation. We must adopt the right means to arrive at the right results, earning the fruits of our\n practice, like the sthita pragya state of mind, or having a condition like that of a lotus leaf in a dirty pond of\n water that remains unaffected, or becoming a witness, or joyously embracing saranagati [true surrender], or\n performing nishkam karma, or the desireless state. Will recitations such as “I am Brahman” or “I am merely a\n witness” actually give birth to such states? Think over it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf it was so easy, then by now all reciters and listeners would have attained what Lord Krishna is hinting at in many\n different ways. I would like to share with you a great revelation, a mercy of my Beloved Master Pujya Shri Babuji\n Maharaj. Please pay close attention.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet us visit the Mahabharat scene when the war was just about to begin. Arjuna is despondent and decides not to\n fight. Now, consider how much time Lord Krishna could have possibly required for speaking out the total text of the\n Gita as we find it today. The armies were standing face-to-face on the battlefield and war trumpets were sounding\n aloud, announcing the zero hour for that ultimate action. How much time was there at the disposal of Lord Krishna to\n bring Arjuna back to the proper course, getting him ready to fight the war by preaching sermons to him? Think over\n it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe recitation of eighteen chapters packed with 700 slokas requires at least a few hours. How could that be possible\n at that critical moment? Evidently, he could not have taken more than a few minutes for it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fact is that Lord Krishna actually transmitted to Arjuna within a few minutes, all those mental states necessary\n for the purpose, at that very moment. Really, they were the very conditions which a spiritual seeker passes through\n during the course of the spiritual journey. The process brought Arjuna instantly to a higher state of a feeling of\n spiritual consciousness, and purged out the feeling of undue attachment from his heart.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis can as well be possible today if a personality of that calibre is there, but as too commonly witnessed, people\n hear and they recite the Gita for the whole life without taking in the least effect thereof. The essence of the Gita\n never touches their heart. How many have so far turned around like Arjuna in spite of hearing the Gita for years\n together?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLord Krishna transmitted the knowledge to Arjuna as witnessed by Sage Vyasa, who transcribed the same in sloka\n format. This is important to understand – that whatever transpired between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the unspoken\n words which were transmitted were transcribed in sloka format later on by Sage Vyasa.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis heart-to-heart transmission from the heart of the Lord to Arjuna was witnessed by Sage Vyasa, who carefully\n transcribed those emotions and conditions in slokas that became what we read today as the Gita.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actually recited verses were only seven. These seven gems were imparted to Arjuna through seven verses. The rest\n were added by many sages over the passage of time, besides what Sage Vyasa transcribed – the heart-to-heart\n conversation that was between the Lord and Arjuna. The heart-to-heart dialogue was also no less important. Perhaps,\n more important than those seven verbally communicated verses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a lot of reverence to the Lord, to my beloved Babuji Maharaj, with a heart flowing in gratefulness, I would like\n to share with you all those seven gems, the seven verses:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1) Chapter 2, verse 55, Sankhya Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eप्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान्\n |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्ट: स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e Śhrī Bhagavān Uvācha:\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e ātmany-evātmanā tuṣhṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadochyate\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e O Parth, one who, having renounced all desires born of the mind,\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e one who is content in the self, and by the self, is said to be one\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e whose inside is steady - sthita pragya.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e2) Chapter 2, verse 62, Sankhya Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eसङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e dhyāyato viṣhayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣhūpajāyate \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e While contemplating the pleasures of the senses, one is attracted\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e to them. From attraction arises desire, and from desire arises\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e anger.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e3) Chapter 2, verse 63, Sankhya Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eक्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम:\n |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eस्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e Anger leads to confusion or delusion of the mind, which results in\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e loss of memory. When the memory is lost, the intellect is lost,\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e destroyed.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e And the ruin of the intellect leads man to destruction.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e4) Chapter 2, verse 64, Sankhya Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eरागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन्\n |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eआत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e rāga-dveṣha-viyuktais tu viṣhayān indriyaiśh charan \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e ātma-vaśhyair-vidheyātmā prasādam adhigachchhati \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e But one who controls the mind and is free from likes and\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e dislikes, raga and dvesha, even while using the objects of the\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e senses, attains the grace of God.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e5) Chapter 2, verse 66, Sankhya Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eनास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eन चाभावयत: शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुत: सुखम् ||\n 66||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e nāsti buddhir-ayuktasya na chāyuktasya bhāvanā \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e na chābhāvayataḥ śhāntir aśhāntasya kutaḥ sukham \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e There is no wisdom for a man without harmony, and without\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e harmony there is no contemplation. Without contemplation there\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e cannot be peace. How can there be happiness for one lacking\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e peace of mind?\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6) Chapter 3, verse 35, Karma Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eश्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्\n |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eस्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e Better is one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e another well discharged. Better is death in one’s own duty; the\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e duty of another is fraught with fear.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eIn short, Babuji would have said, “Mind your own business.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e7) Chapter 3, verse 4, Karma Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eन कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते\n |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eन च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnute \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e Not by refraining from action does man secure freedom from \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e action. Nor does he secure ultimate perfection by mere\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e renunciation that he may secure.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThose are the seven gems. Later on, towards the end of the first day of the war, while cajoling Arjuna, the Lord\n reveals three more personal secrets to Arjuna:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1) Chapter 4, verse 7, Gyana Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eयदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eअभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e Whenever there is a decline in righteousness \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e and an increase in sinfulness,\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e O Arjuna, at that time I manifest myself on Earth.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e2) Chapter 4, verse 8, Gyana Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eपरित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eधर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e and to re-establish the principles of dharma,\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e I appear on this Earth, age after age.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd a very important one,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3) Chapter 18, verse 66, Moksha Sanyas Yoga\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eसर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज | \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eअहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच:\n ||\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #8a5a02;\"\u003e ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhucha \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e unto me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions:\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003cspan style=\"color: #1c4587;\"\u003e do not fear.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, all the best my dear friends and celebrate this Janmashtami with gusto, with joy, with fervour, and see if some\n of you can fast also.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContemplate the meaning of these verses and, as I said, these were verbally communicated from Lord Krishna to Arjuna.\n That does not mean that non-verbal communication, which is heart-to-heart, is of any less importance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe entire Gita is relevant today, more than ever, in our lifetime, and it shall continue to sound and resound for\n future generations to benefit from.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThank you and pass on the tradition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTalk given on 29 August 2021, Kanha Shanti Vanam\u003c/p\u003e","slug":"the-heart-of-the-gita","youtubeFrameLink":"\u003ciframe width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sc5u8mSpfGo\" title=\"The Heart of The Gita | Seven gems of wisdom | Daaji | Heartfulness\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c/iframe\u003e","createdAt":"2022-10-26T09:45:27.797Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T05:47:00.870Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T09:45:28.827Z","image":{"data":{"id":715,"attributes":{"name":"tn-thotg.jpg","alternativeText":"tn-thotg.jpg","caption":"tn-thotg.jpg","width":3840,"height":2160,"formats":{"large":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/large_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad.jpg","hash":"large_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"large_tn-thotg.jpg","path":null,"size":71.91,"width":1000,"height":563},"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad.jpg","hash":"small_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_tn-thotg.jpg","path":null,"size":24.74,"width":500,"height":281},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad.jpg","hash":"medium_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_tn-thotg.jpg","path":null,"size":45.29,"width":750,"height":422},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_tn-thotg.jpg","path":null,"size":8.35,"width":245,"height":138}},"hash":"tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":558.09,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/tn_thotg_bb427cf0ad.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T07:06:42.397Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T07:06:42.397Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":1,"attributes":{"title":"ARTICLES","slug":"articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:32.631Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T07:43:24.258Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:33.856Z"}},{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":53,"metaTitle":"The Heart of the Gita | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":44,"attributes":{"title":"The Indie Spiritualist","date":"2019-01-16","description":"\u003ch2\u003eChris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist\n \u003cem\u003eEp. 84 – Kamlesh Patel\u003c/em\u003e\n\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKamlesh Patel (Daaji) visits the Indie Spiritualist Podcast to talk about going within naturally and shifting our\n consciousness with heart-based meditative practices.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://beherenownetwork.com/chris-grosso-the-indie-spiritualist-ep-84-kamlesh-patel-daaji/\" target=\"_blank\"\n rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1032\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/bhnn_homepage_logo_cfb8d4c68d.png?updated_at=2022-11-17T05:54:18.164Z\"\n alt=\"beherenownetwork-logo\" width=\"181\" height=\"71\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.planetradiocity.com/devotional/show-podcast-smaran/Dil-Ki-Awaaz-With-Kamlesh-Patel/69\"\n target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eLISTEN TO EPISODE on beherenownetwork.com\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e","slug":"the-indie-spiritualist","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:14:40.132Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T07:18:28.683Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:14:45.090Z","image":{"data":{"id":73,"attributes":{"name":"be-here-now-podcast.jpg","alternativeText":"be-here-now-podcast.jpg","caption":"be-here-now-podcast.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35.jpg","hash":"small_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_be-here-now-podcast.jpg","path":null,"size":20.25,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35.jpg","hash":"medium_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_be-here-now-podcast.jpg","path":null,"size":38.38,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_be-here-now-podcast.jpg","path":null,"size":6.02,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":61.93,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/be_here_now_podcast_6348be5b35.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:13:59.343Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T12:13:59.343Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":8,"attributes":{"title":"Podcasts","slug":"podcasts","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:12.723Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:46:13.352Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:13.699Z"}},{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":27,"metaTitle":"The Indie Spiritualist | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":47,"attributes":{"title":"How Can Every Meditation Become an Act of Surrender?","date":"2017-11-17","description":"\u003cp\u003eOnce upon a time in Tibet there was a boy who wanted to fly. The story goes that one fine day he saw a big bird\n flying majestically in the sky, but as he looked more closely he realised it was a man flying like a bird, so he\n went from village to village searching for the flying master. Finally, after many months of searching, he came\n face-to-face with him. He pleaded his case with eagerness to learn the art of flying so the teacher took him under\n his tutelage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2157\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/surrender_1_0baae6b160.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T06:18:04.468Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"283\" height=\"400\"\u003eAs the years passed by, the boy dutifully served his teacher, until one fateful\n day on the full moon the teacher imparted to him the knowledge of how to fly like a bird. He asked the boy to put\n this knowledge into action by meditating at midnight. Then he added one caveat: “The only rule for the technique to\n work is that you are not allowed to think about monkeys.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2158\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/surrender3b_9a3c101cb1.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T06:18:04.482Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"515\" height=\"400\"\u003eOverjoyed with the knowledge, the boy left for home. As he walked, he thought to\n himself, “Why would I think of monkeys? I have never seen a monkey. I will not think about monkeys,” and in this way\n his train of thought continued. Later that night, when the boy sat in meditation, all his focus and thoughts were on\n ‘not thinking about monkeys’, so the moment came and went and the opportunity was lost.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2159\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/surrender4_meditator_b9a713d7b7.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T06:18:04.462Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"283\" height=\"400\"\u003eOur \u003ca href=\"http://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/evolution-of-consciousness/\"\n target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003espiritual journey\u003c/a\u003e is also fraught with such pitfalls, which are primarily the\n result of our expectations and the thoughts that arise from them. Instead of \u003ca href=\"http://en.heartfulness.org/\"\n target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003esimply meditating\u003c/a\u003e, we end up meditating with the expectation of gaining and\n achieving something. For example, if one day we have a profound experience in meditation, we then expect more of the\n same. We want deeper sittings, profound visions, and inner inspirations. The list of expectations goes on and on.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/expectation-vs-hope\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eExpectations act as\n a barrier to experience\u003c/a\u003e. Expectations rob us of the gifts that Nature wants to bestow upon us. When we don’t\n have the experience we expect, not only do we lose the gift we were meant to receive but we also feel disappointed\n and create doubt within ourselves. We end up doubting the place, the people, the method and even the Master. “Is\n there something wrong with my practice?” “Maybe the group I am meditating with is not right,” “Have I lost my \u003ca\n href=\"http://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-march-to-freedom/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003einner\n connection\u003c/a\u003e?” These are all statements I have heard from seekers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe then compound the problem by discussing our experiences with other seekers and comparing our experiences with\n theirs. When someone else describes an amazing experience we think, “Why am I not bestowed with something similar?”\n Comparisons and expectations are partners in crime and relentlessly play tricks with the mind.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, how to overcome this very real and troublesome issue? The answer is so simple: \u003ca\n href=\"https://www.daaji.org/attitude-full-of-love/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eattitude\u003c/a\u003e. The attitude\n with which we approach meditation will determine the altitude we achieve. \u003ca\n href=\"http://www.sahajmarg.org/babuji-maharaj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eBeloved Babuji\u003c/a\u003e has given us\n wonderful guidance in this arena. In his book \u003ca\n href=\"https://www.sahajmarg.org/publications/ebook/commentary-on-10-maxims\" target=\"_blank\"\n rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCommentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/a\u003e, he says to practise “with a heart full\n of love.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery meditation can be an act of surrender. When we meditate with such an attitude we negate our existence, nullify\n our expectations and create the vacuum within for the higher dimensions to descend.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2160\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/surrender4_6933074273.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T06:18:04.490Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"311\" height=\"400\"\u003eThe concept of surrender is widely misunderstood. We do not surrender to someone\n or something. Instead, every action done with love is akin to surrender. This is where we realise the brilliance of\n the statement from \u003ca href=\"http://www.sahajmarg.org/babuji-maharaj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ebeloved\n Babuji\u003c/a\u003e urging us to practise with a heart full of love. When we meditate with love, we naturally create a\n state of surrender. In such a state, there are no longer any worries about the experiences we receive. Meditation is\n no longer a transaction with Divinity. We are now open to whatever needs to happen. The path is now the destination\n and when the path becomes our destination, we can consider ourselves to be surrendered.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this state of surrender, any worry is an insult to the Lord. So, let’s meditate with love and let the magic\n happen!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #333333;\"\u003eIllustrations by Chloe Tayali\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n Also published at\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n \u003ca href=\"https://mozaic.theassemblage.com/the-beauty-of-surrender/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\n style=\"color: #00ccff;\"\u003ehttps://mozaic.theassemblage.com/the-beauty-of-surrender/\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e","slug":"can-every-meditation-become-act-surrender","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:24:49.308Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T07:44:45.518Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:24:50.294Z","image":{"data":{"id":76,"attributes":{"name":"surrender_featured.jpg","alternativeText":"surrender_featured.jpg","caption":"surrender_featured.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_surrender_featured_d42443ca21.jpg","hash":"small_surrender_featured_d42443ca21","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_surrender_featured.jpg","path":null,"size":19.35,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_surrender_featured_d42443ca21.jpg","hash":"medium_surrender_featured_d42443ca21","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_surrender_featured.jpg","path":null,"size":46.61,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_surrender_featured_d42443ca21.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_surrender_featured_d42443ca21","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_surrender_featured.jpg","path":null,"size":4.74,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"surrender_featured_d42443ca21","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":84.85,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/surrender_featured_d42443ca21.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:24:46.184Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T12:24:46.184Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":30,"metaTitle":"How Can Every Meditation Become an Act of Surrender? | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":50,"attributes":{"title":"Inner Light","date":"2017-10-18","description":"\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat lies behind you and\n what lies in front of you,\n\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003epales in comparison\n to what lies inside of you.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e— Ralph Waldo Emerson \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDear friends,\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiwali means Festival of Lights. Most rituals have a significant purpose behind them. Worshipping and adoring a\nstatue of our revered Deity is supposed to transport us to feeling the essence of that Deity, wherein we move from\nform to formlessness. Likewise, the external light lit with reverence in a worshipping mood triggers thirst, an\nauthentic search for the inner Light, inner guidance and inner wisdom. We celebrate rituals like Diwali by finding\nthe time to renew family harmony, allowing new beginnings. What was originally a very simple harvest festival when\nfarmers honoured the generosity of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, has now become a multi-million dollar\nindustry around the world. This Diwali, let’s go back to basics and share the real spirit of this joyous festival.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiwali is the Indian subcontinent’s most significant religious celebration, symbolising Lord Rama and Mother Sita’s\nreturn to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. On their return, the people decorated the whole city with lights to\ncelebrate the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair and good over evil.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet me tell you a story.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere once was a king who had four sons, and he wanted to choose one of them to be his heir – the one who could rule\nthe kingdom with fairness and happiness for his people. It was a tough decision, so he conducted a test. He created\nfour palaces and asked each son to fill one of them with something very precious. But there was a catch: the budget\nwas meagre, equivalent to today’s 1,000 rupees!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon hearing this condition, the eldest son cursed his father as he felt entitled to the throne. He asked, “How in\nthe world do you expect me to fill this palace with 1,000 rupees?” Just by asking this question, he ensured that he\nwasn’t the heir. The second son said, “Let me scour the markets and find things.” He went and bought all kinds of\nriff raff but with only 1,000 rupees how much could he buy? All that junk did not fill up the palace.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe third son put up his father’s photographs and clay statues everywhere. It was a novel idea, but he was still not\nable to fill the palace. The fourth son, the youngest, was a humble man. He sat in the empty palace quietly with a\nlot of reverence. With a heart full of love he prayed for guidance, because he wanted to make his father very happy.\nThat was his only goal.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt is love that creates change within us; \u003c/em\u003e\n\u003cem\u003echange for the better. \u003c/em\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eWe want to become better human beings, \u003c/em\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eall the while entertaining a loving atmosphere in our hearts.\u003c/em\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"alignright wp-image-2088 size-medium\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/innerlight4_300x225_9252adbade.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:31:57.368Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuidance came from within, and so he went about lighting up the palace with candles and incense. The light filled the\nentire palace and the fragrance of the incense wafted out the windows to distant neighbourhoods. Everyone was drawn\nto see what was happening at the palace, and the people of the kingdom gathered to see the beauty of this simple\nendeavour. The king was so happy with his youngest son’s wisdom. He could see how love and reverence had helped him\nto find a simple solution to the problem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo fill the emptiness is very easy, but to fill the emptiness so as to remain pure and light is only possible through\nlove.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeartfulness is the path that facilitates us to continually empty our hearts of complexities and keep filling them\nwith purity, light and love. There are no dogmas, rigidity or compulsions in Heartfulness. Everything that we do is\nfor the sake of love. In fact Heartfulness Meditation, supported by \u003cem\u003epranahuti\u003c/em\u003e, begins with the initial\n\u003cem\u003edharana \u003c/em\u003ethat Divine Light is already present in the heart. We then perceive the effect of \u003cem\u003epranahuti\n\u003c/em\u003eimmediately during each meditation. We are able to instantly relate to the familiar calm, while deeply going\ninwards to the everpresent Eternal Source of that true elixir of life we call love.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is love that creates change within us; change for the better. We want to become better human beings, all the while\nentertaining a loving atmosphere in our hearts. This Diwali, give the gift of love. Give the gift of light.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll the best,\nDaaji\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_ENG_9560dadd80.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:49.149Z\"\u003e\u003cimg\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/pdf_1_4cd82b54f8.png?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:32:46.835Z\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_ENG_9560dadd80.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:49.149Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eDownload -\nEnglish Version\u003c/a\u003e\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_Hindi_Final_ee33d9ce3e.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:48.677Z\"\u003e\u003cimg\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/pdf_1_4cd82b54f8.png?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:32:46.835Z\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca\nhref=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_Hindi_Final_ee33d9ce3e.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:48.677Z\" target=\"_blank\"\nrel=\"noopener\"\u003eDownload – Hindi Version\u003c/a\u003e\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Inner_Light_Kan_4e6e0aea5e.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:49.176Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cimg\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/pdf_1_4cd82b54f8.png?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:32:46.835Z\"\u003eDownload\n– Kannada Version\u003c/a\u003e\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_Marathi_b2ec9497ba.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:49.030Z\"\u003e\u003cimg\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/pdf_1_4cd82b54f8.png?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:32:46.835Z\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca\nhref=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Innerlight_Marathi_b2ec9497ba.pdf?updated_at=2023-01-04T10:49:49.030Z\" target=\"_blank\"\nrel=\"noopener\"\u003eDownload – Marathi Version\u003c/a\u003e","slug":"inner-light","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:30:48.762Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-04T10:52:28.162Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:30:49.885Z","image":{"data":{"id":79,"attributes":{"name":"innerlight_daaji.jpg","alternativeText":"innerlight_daaji.jpg","caption":"innerlight_daaji.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0.jpg","hash":"small_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_innerlight_daaji.jpg","path":null,"size":23.8,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0.jpg","hash":"medium_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_innerlight_daaji.jpg","path":null,"size":53.3,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_innerlight_daaji.jpg","path":null,"size":6.06,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":88.62,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/innerlight_daaji_50c26f94f0.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:30:45.584Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-26T12:30:45.584Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":33,"metaTitle":"Inner Light | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":55,"attributes":{"title":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT","date":"2018-11-06","description":"Dear friends,\n\nHappy Diwali.\n\u003cp\u003eOne sentence from the Upanishads has been coming to me again and again:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #3643bf;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsato m\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e sadgamaya\n tamasom\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e jyotir gamaya\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMay I proceed from untruth to truth\n and from darkness to light.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Diwali festival is a ritual reminding us of the importance of moving from darkness to light, from ignorance to\n truth. And the intention is only this: how to evolve.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is the darkness in us? Primarily it is our state of ignorance, sloth, inaction and unawareness. Whatever we are\n doing, whether it is worshipping God, meditating, or any other activity in daily life, are we aware from within?\n Mindfully we may be aware, but heartfully are we aware of love flowing through our hearts in all our actions and\n thoughts?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeartfulness is all about this – awareness added to affection and love. Otherwise the whole awareness business is a\n very short-lived application.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we have the awareness of “Why am I here? What am I trying to achieve?” in every moment, along with love in\n everything that we do, it epitomizes and signifies Heartfulness. This attitude immediately brings light within. We\n are not talking of ordinary light or ordinary awakening. We are talking of divine awakening, divinization of our\n being.\u003c/p\u003e\nhttps://youtu.be/u9UJgFJTH1k\n\u003cp\u003eWithout ignoring the significance of rituals, let’s stick to the essence of them. When we are absorbed in Divinity,\n it must stir our hearts. Hearts must melt and dissolve, and when we interact with others nothing more is required.\n What happens when more and more love and affection oozes out of us all the time, even when we look at trees, in\n empty space, and when we are doing nothing on our own? Let this undercurrent of love and light continue throughout\n all our daily activities, while we remain completely aware of the highest goal in life, nothing less. May it be so.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\nAll the best,\n\nDaaji\n\n6 November 2018","slug":"from-darkness-to-light","youtubeFrameLink":"\u003ciframe width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/u9UJgFJTH1k\" title=\"From Darkness to Light - Message by Daaji on Diwali\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" ","createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:02.414Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:14:49.894Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:05.372Z","image":{"data":{"id":740,"attributes":{"name":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","alternativeText":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","caption":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":19.18,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":35.95,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":5.75,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":55.79,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":38,"metaTitle":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":58,"attributes":{"title":"Spirit Matters Podcast","date":"2018-07-14","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpirit Matters Podcast is a very popular site showcasing an eclectic mix of talks about contemporary spirituality.\n The hosts are \u003ca href=\"http://speakingfreelywithdennis.com/about-dennis/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eDennis\n Raimondi\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http://philipgoldberg.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ePhilip Goldberg\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDennis has a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard University and is a former member of the Dean’s Council at\n Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is the host of the radio talk show Speaking Freely with Dennis\n Raimondi \u003ca href=\"http://www.dennis.tv/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ewww.dennis.tv\u003c/a\u003e and his past guests\n include President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Mitt Romney, Bernie Sanders, Marianne Williamson,\n Father Thomas Keating, Dr Lewellen Vaughan Lee, Radanath Swami and Sheryl Crow. He recently did a series in\n collaboration with the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. Dennis has been practicing\n meditation for over 45 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilip has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 45 years, as a practitioner, teacher and\n writer. An Interfaith Minister, meditation teacher and spiritual counselor, he is a skilled speaker who lectures and\n leads workshops throughout the country and in India. He is the author of numerous books, including \u003cem\u003eRoadsigns on\n the Spiritual Path\u003c/em\u003e, the award-winning \u003cem\u003eAmerican Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and\n Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West,\u003c/em\u003e and most recently,\u003cem\u003e The Life of Yogananda: The\n Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru\u003c/em\u003e. He blogs regularly on his personal website as well as\n Spirituality \u0026amp; Health and Elephant Journal.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 1 July, together they interviewed Daaji about spirituality, Heartfulness and his new book release, \u003cem\u003eThe\n Heartfulness Way\u003c/em\u003e. You can watch this inspiring and dynamic interview on the Spirit Matters Podcast website\n at \u003ca href=\"http://spiritmatterstalk.com/daaji/\" target=\"_blank\"\n rel=\"noopener\"\u003ehttp://spiritmatterstalk.com/daaji/\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u003ca href=\"http://spiritmatterstalk.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\"\n src=\"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Logo_Spirit_Matters_Biggg_1200x230_b89bd300b1.jpg?updated_at=2022-11-17T07:40:44.493Z\"\n alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"230\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e","slug":"spirit-matters-podcast","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-26T13:04:10.476Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:42:09.586Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T13:04:12.280Z","image":{"data":{"id":742,"attributes":{"name":"Spirit-matters.jpg","alternativeText":"Spirit-matters.jpg","caption":"Spirit-matters.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8.jpg","hash":"small_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_Spirit-matters.jpg","path":null,"size":34.59,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8.jpg","hash":"medium_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_Spirit-matters.jpg","path":null,"size":77.97,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_Spirit-matters.jpg","path":null,"size":7.96,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":138.89,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Spirit_matters_9aa21a4fa8.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T09:00:57.500Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T09:00:57.500Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":8,"attributes":{"title":"Podcasts","slug":"podcasts","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:12.723Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:46:13.352Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:12:13.699Z"}},{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":41,"metaTitle":"Spirit Matters Podcast | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}},{"id":63,"attributes":{"title":"SEEKING GOD","date":"2016-07-23","description":"\u003cp\u003eThrough the ages, so much has been written about the spiritual seeker – ranging from yoga journals and self help\n books to religious scriptures and deep and insightful literature from legendary philosophers. The seeker’s journey\n has been charted out and explained in great detail. Guidance from various sources is available to those who are\n looking for enlightenment, or simply a better way to live their life.\u0026nbsp; Seekers sometimes undertake long,\n arduous journeys from all corners of the world to find spiritual guidance and wisdom. There are organizations\n dedicated to the cause of helping spiritual seekers, which offer countless practices and approaches for achieving\n the goal of life. We are all seekers of the ultimate truth, investing \u0026nbsp;considerable energy into learning how to\n refine our process of seeking.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if the tables were turned and God, or the Ultimate, or the Source, is actually seeking us? \u003c/strong\u003e\n\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImagine for a moment that we don’t have to go anywhere, or to do anything except simply sit wherever we are, and\n \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eallow\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e ourselves to be found? Imagine that heavens are waiting to enter our heart, right\n here and now! What a powerful concept! How do we make this a reality and allow ourselves to be found? How do we\n create such a state where the higher presence naturally settles within our hearts?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe answer possibly lies in cultivating the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eseeds of contentment \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003ewithin our hearts.\u0026nbsp;\n We will come back to this idea, but to understand its significance, let us contemplate the type of environment that\n would attract the Ultimate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink of the innocence of small children who content themselves with their toys and games, with the implicit\n confidence that their parents are taking care of all their basic needs. Food, shelter, clothing, education and even\n entertainment – in whatever form these are available – are blissfully taken for granted by children till a certain\n stage is reached. One can say children enjoy a state of ‘independence in dependency’!\u0026nbsp; A child’s heart is free\n from any burdens – it is simple and pure.\u0026nbsp; Innocence is its natural condition, making such a heart an ideal\n abode for the divine.\u0026nbsp; What happens as we grow older?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs young adults, we start seeking our own version of life. \u0026nbsp;Actually, the first part, the youthful days of life\n are spent mostly in pursuit of pleasure, satisfying the senses and building our intellect. The ego develops and we\n transition into a state of ‘dependent freedom’ – we like to make our own choices and think we are free but our\n happiness depends on so many external factors. We become proud of our accomplishments and tie our happiness to them.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs we proceed through life, in most cases, this progresses further into a state of complete bondage internally and\n externally.\u0026nbsp; We become slaves of our desires and are bound by external conditions, while breeding discontent\n and frustration internally. Even in old age, though there is apparent wisdom backed by life’s experiences, we often\n find people pining for their prime years that have passed, or expecting a glorious afterlife based on the suffering\n they are going through. The desires have not left, but have merely transformed from pleasure-oriented desires in\n youth to ego-satisfying desires as we age: the desire for praise, recognition, fame, a legacy to leave behind, and\n so on. It's a complex gamut of existence where desires run underneath when the body cannot cooperate, and on top of\n that the legacy of fulfilment! Often it is a regretful situation where one has spent the whole life waiting for such\n an old age in anticipation of devoting life for the fulfilment of the higher purpose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere has the state of innocence gone? If a state of innocence and a desire-free heart are the ideal abode for God,\n it would seem that our early childhood is our best chance of experiencing this! Perhaps this is actually the case,\n and the higher presence does dwell in the innocent hearts of children, only to be hidden or refused an abode as a\n person grows more complex and grosser.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsider this situation of a warm, comfortable, familiar home changing into a uninviting, foreboding place with\n strange, fearful characters. Would you like to stay in such a place? Would the Lord like to reside in a heart that\n is pulled in different directions by various desires, which contains the thorns of pride and jealousy, and has\n become a warehouse of complex emotions? This is why a sad, discontent or angry heart deflects sublime grace, to the\n extent that we are unable to believe that God is seeking us!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow do we restore the innocence and purity of our childhood, when life inevitably draws us into situations that\n demand difficult choices, competition for survival and self-preservation? How do we cultivate the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eseeds\n of contentment \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003ein our heart, which flower into a state of desire-free innocence and purity?\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt starts with a simple suggestion that everything we need is already present within us. All the love of the world,\n the beauty of life, the seed of perfection is present in our heart represented as a source of light. This suggestion\n is strengthened through actual experience in meditation, as the idea of light leads to a feeling of an inner\n presence.\u0026nbsp; This inner presence becomes a reality as our consciousness expands, and we become aware of a\n wholeness of being. When we begin to experience this state of wholeness and perfection at our core, the clouds of\n discontent and ignorance start to dissolve. The heart regains its light and innocent nature.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder such circumstances, the egoless heart, the humble heart, automatically draws the heavens towards itself. Such a\n heart is perfectly adjusted to its external circumstances.\u0026nbsp; It creates heaven around itself.\u003c/p\u003e","slug":"seeking-god","youtubeFrameLink":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-27T05:35:07.310Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T10:21:42.551Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-27T05:35:08.460Z","image":{"data":{"id":92,"attributes":{"name":"seeking-god.jpg","alternativeText":"seeking-god.jpg","caption":"seeking-god.jpg","width":1000,"height":563,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_seeking_god_b3321c7d87.jpg","hash":"small_seeking_god_b3321c7d87","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_seeking-god.jpg","path":null,"size":30.79,"width":500,"height":282},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_seeking_god_b3321c7d87.jpg","hash":"medium_seeking_god_b3321c7d87","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_seeking-god.jpg","path":null,"size":67.85,"width":750,"height":422},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_seeking_god_b3321c7d87.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_seeking_god_b3321c7d87","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_seeking-god.jpg","path":null,"size":7.2,"width":245,"height":138}},"hash":"seeking_god_b3321c7d87","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":113.82,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/seeking_god_b3321c7d87.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-10-27T05:34:58.554Z","updatedAt":"2022-10-27T05:34:58.554Z"}}},"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":1,"attributes":{"title":"ARTICLES","slug":"articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:32.631Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T07:43:24.258Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:00:33.856Z"}},{"id":3,"attributes":{"title":"From the desk of Daaji","slug":"from-the-desk-of-daaji","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:01:58.042Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:41:44.116Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:01:59.286Z"}},{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"seo":[{"id":56,"metaTitle":"SEEKING GOD","metaDescription":"Through the ages, so much has been written about the spiritual seeker -ranging from yoga journals and self help books to religious scriptures and deep and","keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null}],"comments":{"data":[]}}}],"seo":{"id":55,"attributes":{"title":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT","date":"2018-11-06","description":"Dear friends,\n\nHappy Diwali.\n\u003cp\u003eOne sentence from the Upanishads has been coming to me again and again:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #3643bf;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsato m\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e sadgamaya\n tamasom\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e jyotir gamaya\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMay I proceed from untruth to truth\n and from darkness to light.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Diwali festival is a ritual reminding us of the importance of moving from darkness to light, from ignorance to\n truth. And the intention is only this: how to evolve.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is the darkness in us? Primarily it is our state of ignorance, sloth, inaction and unawareness. Whatever we are\n doing, whether it is worshipping God, meditating, or any other activity in daily life, are we aware from within?\n Mindfully we may be aware, but heartfully are we aware of love flowing through our hearts in all our actions and\n thoughts?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeartfulness is all about this – awareness added to affection and love. Otherwise the whole awareness business is a\n very short-lived application.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we have the awareness of “Why am I here? What am I trying to achieve?” in every moment, along with love in\n everything that we do, it epitomizes and signifies Heartfulness. This attitude immediately brings light within. We\n are not talking of ordinary light or ordinary awakening. We are talking of divine awakening, divinization of our\n being.\u003c/p\u003e\nhttps://youtu.be/u9UJgFJTH1k\n\u003cp\u003eWithout ignoring the significance of rituals, let’s stick to the essence of them. When we are absorbed in Divinity,\n it must stir our hearts. Hearts must melt and dissolve, and when we interact with others nothing more is required.\n What happens when more and more love and affection oozes out of us all the time, even when we look at trees, in\n empty space, and when we are doing nothing on our own? Let this undercurrent of love and light continue throughout\n all our daily activities, while we remain completely aware of the highest goal in life, nothing less. May it be so.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\nAll the best,\n\nDaaji\n\n6 November 2018","slug":"from-darkness-to-light","youtubeFrameLink":"\u003ciframe width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/u9UJgFJTH1k\" title=\"From Darkness to Light - Message by Daaji on Diwali\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" ","createdAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:02.414Z","updatedAt":"2023-01-02T09:14:49.894Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T12:53:05.372Z","seo":[{"id":38,"metaTitle":"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT | Kamlesh D Patel","metaDescription":null,"keywords":null,"metaRobots":null,"structuredData":null,"metaViewport":null,"canonicalURL":null,"metaImage":{"data":null}}],"blog_categories":{"data":[{"id":13,"attributes":{"title":"Spirituality","slug":"spirituality-articles","createdAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:01.602Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-23T11:49:42.859Z","publishedAt":"2022-10-26T07:14:02.491Z"}}]},"image":{"data":{"id":740,"attributes":{"name":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","alternativeText":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","caption":"From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","width":1000,"height":662,"formats":{"small":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"small_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"small_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":19.18,"width":500,"height":331},"medium":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"medium_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"medium_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":35.95,"width":750,"height":497},"thumbnail":{"ext":".jpg","url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","hash":"thumbnail_From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","mime":"image/jpeg","name":"thumbnail_From-Darkness-to-light2.jpg","path":null,"size":5.75,"width":236,"height":156}},"hash":"From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253","ext":".jpg","mime":"image/jpeg","size":55.79,"url":"https://daajiprod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/From_Darkness_to_light2_f82f092253.jpg","previewUrl":null,"provider":"aws-s3","provider_metadata":null,"createdAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z","updatedAt":"2022-11-04T08:58:41.424Z"}}},"comments":{"data":[]}}}},"__N_SSG":true},"page":"/[blogs]","query":{"blogs":"from-darkness-to-light"},"buildId":"NaOdNqddUjTP0mkP1dFGu","isFallback":false,"gsp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>
