He invited&nbsp;Dr. Paul Luu, Ministry of Agriculture, Executive Secretary of the 4 per 1000 Initiative from France, and a few other guests for dinner. After dinner, the group settled into Daaji’s office at home for a chat.


 Paul Luu discussed the&nbsp;conference planned for February 2023 at Kanha on soil health and regeneration for government and NGO leaders from the Asia Pacific region. He also shared his thoughts on what can be done to mitigate environmental destruction.


 This was one of the final activities of the day for Daaji.

Daaji conducted an individual meditation session for&nbsp;Hemangi Radhakrishna Shenoy between 6.20 and 6.45 p.m.

In the evening, at around 5.30 p.m., he answered a few questions for a recording by the media team. He also recorded a message for the Zee portal on the question:


 How can children grow up emotionally secure and mentally equipped to deal with the chaos of life?


 There are so many things happening around us. What kind of a world are we gifting our children every single day? Who is the creator of this chaotic style of life? Should we blame the parents, the grandparents, the children themselves, or anybody else?


 Children will learn to deal with such chaotic lifestyles based on the responses and the training parents and grandparents give them. Under stressful and time-bound situations, children notice how their father or mother deals with the problem, and they imbibe the same. They learn to deal with such situations in the same way. For example, if parents are restless, children will also be restless when they themselves handle their own chaotic lives. So, parents have to set an example and lead their lives in such a way that children can remember and follow their footsteps.
 
 
 Our responses also depend on genetic disposition. Are we genetically restrained? Yes and no. Through a mutated genetic pattern, we can create responses that are unlike our parents. For that, some level of training is a must.


 A meditative mind can change certain levels of genetic expression. A meditative mind is a poised mind; it responds based on every situation. And all the responses coming from a meditative mind will be very peaceful. It will surpass all the genetic expressions.


 So I highly recommend teenage children, especially after the age of 15, learn how to meditate. And children who are below 15 can simply learn how to relax and center themselves within their hearts so that the whole situation can be improved and elevated to better confront life in all its unpredictable phases.

As he was about to leave, Daaji met the seekers waiting outside the office and distributed prasad to all of them.

Later, he was joined by Kotiveera Nagaiah Konduti and his team from Miryalaguda, who presented him with photo frames engraved with tiny marble stones. They also gave him some samples of marble stones of different shapes and sizes.

At around 10 a.m., he had a meeting with the Wellness team in his office behind the meditation hall. He also met up with Ronald Rose to discuss the Heartfulness initiatives in villages.

Daaji’s day began at 7 a.m. with his routine walk in the company of plants in the rainforest around his house.

<h2>
 How can children grow up emotionally secure and mentally equipped to deal with the chaos of life?
</h2>
 

 Children will learn to deal with such chaotic lifestyles based on the responses and the training parents and grandparents give them. Under stressful and time-bound situations, children notice how their father or mother deals with the problem, and they imbibe the same. They learn to deal with such situations in the same way. For example, if parents are restless, children will also be restless when they themselves handle their own chaotic lives. So, parents have to set an example and lead their lives in such a way that children can remember and follow their footsteps.

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Daaji was joined by Kotiveera Nagaiah Konduti and his team from Miryalaguda, who presented him with photo frames engraved with tiny marble stones. They also gave him some samples of marble stones of different shapes and sizes.   

Kanha Shantivanam 23rdSeptember22

After dinner, Daaji again spent time&nbsp;with seekers in his office. He was up with them till 10.15 p.m. Thereafter, asking the preceptor candidates to join the meditation session the next day, he retired for the night.

At around 5.30 p.m., he conducted an individual meditation session for a couple.

At 12.30 p.m., Daaji sat with a few seekers in his office at home. In reply to an e-mail, he shared profound thoughts on the topic of spirituality:


 What Is Spirituality?


 To answer your first question, “How is it possible to gauge spiritual progress?” I would respond by asking you, “Is your attitude and outlook toward life-changing? How so?” This self-reflective exercise will tell you if you have progressed.


 Another way of looking at it is this: spiritual progress is all about arriving at purity and simplicity. In other words, as you progress you will feel purer and simpler. You are welcome to ponder over this and ask, “Where is purity and simplicity in me?”


 As you progress, you will notice that simpler ways of living become your priority.


 The constant struggle in today’s developed nations is not for physical survival, but for mental and emotional well-being. Every moment demands energy in knowing right from wrong, moral from immoral, and profit from loss. How can we make decisions that are logically sound as well as appealing to the heart? It means the refinement of both thinking and feeling. Simple Heartfulness practices can easily make that happen.


 Material wealth demands some level of work and effort. Likewise, spiritual wealth demands consistent efforts from our side. It all begins with intentions.


 Consciousness is the key to human growth. When we observe trees, we see that it is inherent that the seed will turn into a tree one day, provided circumstances are appropriate for its growth. Consciousness is slightly different. Consciousness can fail to reach its potential even when the circumstances are favorable. Why? Because we have free will, the will to choose, and often we choose something easy rather than evolutionary.


 Evolutionary processes are transformative plus challenging. If our awareness decides that it is not possible to become God-like, then we have chosen not to proceed in that direction. How can such an understanding help to evolve our consciousness to its fullest? Trees manage, because out of thousands of seeds at least two will become fully-grown trees. But among human beings, it is so rare to find one Christ or one Krishna. Sadly, today, many people believe that no one can come close to those highly praised personalities of the past. So, even if the possibility of spiritual progress exists, it is discarded even before it is considered.


 A spiritual system is based on experience, including the awareness of progress. I invite you to try it for yourself and then write to me again about what you discover.


 Afterward, Daaji went to rest.

After a meeting at 10.30 a.m. with Santosh Khanjee and Sudhir Marwaha, he left for a round of the ashram.


 He inspected all of the water bodies on campus and, after instructing the team to install floating solar units, he urged them to begin using them to generate power on the premises as soon as possible. He also directed the team to complete all pending work related to plumbing, electricity, plantation, and nursery around the ponds at the earliest.

It’s a typical day at Kanha. The morning began with Daaji taking a walk in the company of plants in the rainforest surrounding his house.

<h2>
 What Is Spirituality?
</h2>

 To answer your first question, “How is it possible to gauge spiritual progress?” I would respond by asking you, “Is your attitude and outlook toward life-changing? How so?” This self-reflective exercise will tell you if you have progressed.


 Another way of looking at it is this: spiritual progress is all about arriving at purity and simplicity. In other words, as you progress you will feel purer and simpler. You are welcome to ponder over this and ask, “Where is purity and simplicity in me?”

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Daaji inspected all of the water bodies on campus and, after instructing the team to install floating solar units, he urged them to begin using them to generate power on the premises as soon as possible. He also directed the team to complete all pending work related to plumbing, electricity, plantation, and nursery around the ponds at the earliest. 

Kanha Shantivanam 19thSeptember22

Daaji’s own flat in Madhuvanam has been under renovation hence, after a visit to one of the apartments in F block, he went to Anila Reddy’s house, where he was joined by Haresh and Reema from Hong Kong. The couple had a few questions, which Daaji patiently answered.


 Does bhakti mean we should completely obey the physical Master and do whatever he says without a question?


 Bhakti is an outcome of your sadhana [practice]. Premature bhakti, premature faith, and premature love do not work in spirituality. Spirituality demands willingness from the heart. Bhakti is not about surrendering the mind; it’s all about surrendering the heart.&nbsp;


 If you are a person with bhakti, even when you have no shelter, even when you don’t have clothing, you will say, "This is my tapasya [penance]. I am dedicating this life to the Lord." Similarly, if you don’t eat for two days because you don’t have food on the table, you will consider that God is helping you in your upasana [a higher form of worship coupled with devotion] through fasting.


 What I’m trying to say is that in a state of bhakti, you’ll always give credit, even in adverse circumstances. Even when you drink water, it becomes charanamrit [water that becomes sacred by using it to wash the feet of a holy person or god]. Even when you are performing your duties in the business world, you’re connected with God, and your mindset is such that everything is dedicated to Him, so your business also becomes a sort of service.


 If you are a preceptor and you have to travel from place to place to give sittings to people, such travel can become your own personal pilgrimage. It’s a matter of attitude, that’s all. Even when you are with your beloved, in your bedroom or living room, or watching a movie together, be in sync with the Lord. Develop the attitude that you are there because you want to make your Master happy. When you partake of food in His loving remembrance, in such a way that you vibrate like Him, you think like Him, you become Him, then that food can also become prasad.


 So, it’s up to you how you convert your activities so that they are lifted to the next level. If you don’t have food, you consider it as a fast in remembrance of God. If you don’t have clothes or shelter, you consider it to be your tapasya. In simple words, you do not complain about anything. In bhakti, no one complains. A true bhakta [devotee] never complains.


 We have to become grateful for everything that we have, truly grateful that we need nothing more. That doesn’t mean we don’t earn more money – this is a fallacy. People, especially those following spiritual paths or religious systems, relegate their abilities. They say, “Why should I do it? I’m on my way to becoming a saint. Somebody else will do it.” This is not a good idea.


 If you don’t make money, you leave that opportunity in the hands of people who do not deserve it. Bad elements of society will continue to make more and more money. And when the bad elements gain more and more, then such a society goes through a lot of corruption and becomes weak. There will be a compromise on its moral values. So good people should make more and more money if possible but use it wisely. That’s it.


 By doing anything in God’s remembrance, you take it to the next level. Even the very act of sex becomes holier. It is no longer profane.&nbsp;


 Is it true that when you perform the act of sex, there is a fall in your level of consciousness?


 It is not true, provided you develop this level of bhakti. In fact, with that attitude, the very act will take you to a different level.


 In life, you are either passionate or compassionate. For example, a rapist is overpowered by passion. In that state, he takes advantage of the other person. In spite of disagreement, he forces his will upon the other for his personal satisfaction. In compassion, you don’t do that. Instead, you sacrifice yourself for the upliftment of the other person, for the happiness of the other person. That is compassion.
 
 
Sex can take you down when you think only of yourself. And, generally, this act is such that everyone is overpowered and they think only of themselves. So, consciousness drops a bit. But then you can do the cleaning. I don’t recommend cleaning at all when it is natural. There’s nothing wrong when it is legitimate. Just change the attitude, that’s all.


 Later, Bernie from France met Daaji and gave him the things she had brought for him. Afterward, he left for home.

At 5 p.m., he had a meeting with Elizabeth Denley to discuss new publications that were up for release in the near future. At around 5:30 p.m., he took a walk in the company of his beloved plants.

Later in the evening, a few dignitaries from the Ministry of Culture joined Daaji for dinner.

At around 10 a.m., he reached his office behind the meditation hall to meet a few guests and seekers and conducted meditation for the group between 10.00 and 10.30 a.m.


 The guests included Prasuna Doddapaneni from the American Telugu Association. In response to a question she wrote to Daaji, he replied:


 Can meditation help remove stress?


 Meditation, of course, removes stress. But why would you want to do that? For example, in the case of students, if stress is removed, they’ll never study. Life’s problems are also like that: if there is a problem and you are not stressed about it, you will not think of solving the problem. So, solve the problem. Don’t wait for meditation to resolve your stress – that is escapism. We must learn to face the problem and not worry about the stress caused by it.


 Daaji distributed 15 copies of The Heartfulness Way and suggested donating the money received from the sale of the books. He spoke for a while with the guests and then left for Madhuvanam in Kanha.

At around&nbsp;8.45 a.m., he set out to inspect a construction&nbsp;site and later went for a walk again in the rainforest surrounding his home.&nbsp;

Daaji went for a walk in the rainforest surrounding his home at around 7 in the morning. During the walk, he had a few inspirations regarding the Master's literature, which he shared for the benefit of all:


 Mirror, mirror, on the wall


 The Master's books are comparable to mirrors. A mirror helps us to set our hairstyle – our aesthetic look – and adjust it to our liking. Similarly, reading the Master's literature offers us an inner mirror. They serve as an inner mirror so that by reading them we understand our wrinkles and our weaknesses. Accordingly, we try to adjust ourselves so that we become presentable in the spiritual world. Having reflected ourselves in the mirror of the Master's literature, it is our duty to at least correct ourselves. If we ignore and don’t correct ourselves if we don’t adjust ourselves to the beauty that They’d like us to reflect, what purpose shall such a mirror serve?

<h2>
 Mirror, mirror, on the wall
</h2>

 The Master's books are comparable to mirrors. A mirror helps us to set our hairstyle – our aesthetic look – and adjust it to our liking. Similarly, reading the Master's literature offers us an inner mirror. They serve as an inner mirror so that by reading them we understand our wrinkles and our weaknesses. Accordingly, we try to adjust ourselves so that we become presentable in the spiritual world. Having reflected ourselves in the mirror of the Master's literature, it is our duty to at least correct ourselves. If we ignore and don’t correct ourselves if we don’t adjust ourselves to the beauty that They’d like us to reflect, what purpose shall such a mirror serve?

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Daaji’s day constituted of the activities and meetings, along with some valuable reflections he shared with all.

Kanha Shantivanam 15thSeptember22

He went for a short walk at around 4.30 p.m. and conducted meditation&nbsp;for a couple at 5 p.m. He again went for a walk&nbsp;at around 7.30 p.m.

At around 10.30 a.m., Daaji had a physiotherapy session with Surekha Banda, during which he shared some new ideas regarding visiting and touring the Yatra Garden. He said, going forward, he would like every visitor to clean, meditate, and prepare themselves before entering the premises of the Yatra Garden. This would help them derive the maximum benefit from their tour of the spiritual chakras in the garden.


 Daaji rested for a while after this.

Soon, a seeker arrived to gain clarity on some work that he had been entrusted with. Daaji nudged him to seek guidance from within, saying, “Pray to Babuji, and he will guide you.”


 In order to explain further this way of seeking inner guidance, Daaji gave an analogy:


 The Art of Seeking Guidance from Within


 Do you know the significance of visarjan [the act of immersing in water]? Why do they immerse the idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali in water after worshipping them for weeks together? I mean, they pour their hearts out in worship and then finally throw the idols into the water. What for?


 Well, this act or ritual has great significance. It means, “Lord, I have imbibed your form inside. Now I’ll be guided from within, and I don’t need you outside.”

After breakfast, at around 9.15 a.m., he was relaxing on the swing in his house when a few seekers met him. Daaji asked them if they had breakfast. When they said they hadn’t, he directed one of his associates to get breakfast ready for them.&nbsp;He sat with them till about 10.15 a.m., listening to their journey of starting and experiencing Heartfulness.


 It had been raining since morning. From his perch on the swing, Daaji spotted a person who worked as a gardener getting drenched in the rain. He called him and gave him a raincoat.&nbsp;The man was simply delighted with the gesture and gratefully accepted this little token of care and affection from the Master!&nbsp;

Daaji arrived in the meditation hall of Kanha at around 7.30 a.m. to conduct the Sunday group meditation for all seekers. He was joined by a few students on the stage for their introductory meditation sessions. In addition, seekers from over 150 centers and subcenters in Karnataka joined the session via Zoom.


 Daaji greeted everyone and conducted meditation for half an hour. He had a revelation from Babuji during meditation, which he shared afterwards with one of his associates:


 What Lies Beyond Religion?


 This is one of the rarest and best sittings so far. I am fully content with the work that happened. It was profound and intense. During the sitting, Babuji emphasized one thing: “Religion and culture are not two different things, but they are interdependent. Culture should take priority.


 “Karnataka has a very special culture, and they should maintain that culture without inevitably mixing it with religion. Religion and culture are important, but we must be vigilant and flexible enough to embrace the futuristic and evolving patterns of culture and religion. We must go beyond religion, if possible, into spirituality.”


 After meditation, he gave a short talk and answered questions from the Karnataka group:


 Why Prepare?


 It’s a very happy occasion. I really don’t have much to share, but before you all come to the Bhandara, kindly prepare yourselves.


 Preparation is the most important thing, especially in Sahaj Marg.&nbsp;Before the Masters can grant us anything, we must prepare ourselves. There is no compromise and there is no way out. If we remain the way we are and come here without making efforts, of course, we will get something, but that would hardly be 1% or .01% of what we could otherwise have. There is something greater, much more that awaits us.


 So, start preparing. And to that effect, I would like to work with you all. I invite you all once again this coming Wednesday and Sunday to meditate with me over Zoom.


 As he left the hall and was about to get into his car, he was met by a seeker and her young daughter. With tears in her eyes, the seeker conveyed that her mother had recently passed away.


 Daaji replied, “I can understand. These are hard times.” He was deeply moved to see the little girl also in tears, and he assured them, “There will be pain for a few days. We shall all pray for her soul.”

The day began very early, with Daaji calling for Sanjay Sehgal at 6.30 a.m. He was quite impressed with Joan Even’s recent presentation to preceptors on quotes and reflections on Lalaji’s works, and he proposed publishing a new book based on Lalaji’s writings and calling it The Secrets of Spirituality. He said he was inspired by the idea while reading Lalaji’s Truth Eternal for perhaps the 100th time, and he wanted Joan to work on the new book. He shared with Sanjay his idea of including quotes from Lalaji’s works in this book, followed by a detailed commentary on each quote.

<h2>
 Why Prepare?
 
</h2>

 Preparation is the most important thing, especially in Sahaj Marg.&nbsp;Before the Masters can grant us anything, we must prepare ourselves. There is no compromise and there is no way out. If we remain the way we are and come here without making efforts, of course, we will get something, but that would hardly be 1% or .01% of what we could otherwise have. There is something greater, much more that awaits us.

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Daaji arrived in the meditation hall of Kanha at around 7.30 a.m. to conduct the Sunday group meditation for all seekers. He was joined by a few students on the stage for their introductory meditation sessions. In addition, seekers from over 150 centers and subcenters in Karnataka joined the session via Zoom. 


Kanha Shantivanam 11thSeptember22

Daaji left for his usual walk in the rainforest surrounding his house at 6 a.m. The walk is interspersed by short halts, not only for attending to the plants on the way but also for picking up dried leaves that have fallen on the pathway.


 Back home from the walk, he was delighted to receive a gift of plants from Santosh Khanjee, who had just arrived from the USA. With child-like joy and enthusiasm, Daaji added them to his collection of plants in Kanha.

In the evening, at around 6.35 p.m., Daaji went for a walk in the Yatra Garden.

In reply to an e-mail, Daaji clarified why, in Heartfulness, we begin with the last three steps of Ashtanga Yoga instead of Yama and Niyama.


 The Heartfulness Twist to Ashtanga Yoga


 No-thingness does not mean the absence of mind, intellect, ego, consciousness, and physical existence. The ultimate achievement does not deny their presence. The ultimate blossoming only shows us the beauty of all that is, since there is a great shift in the understanding of the body, mind, intellect, ego, and consciousness. They are the vehicles that become finely tuned with the inner being we call the soul.


 Meditation is the pathway to ultimate nothingness. Meditation helps us refine the mind, intellect, ego, and ultimately consciousness. A person with refined subtle bodies cannot harm themselves or others by any means. Right and wrong, good and bad are easily discernible by such a mind. With sharpened Viveka (discriminative intelligence), a developed mind becomes the perfect vehicle.


 Having begun the eight-fold path of Ashtanga Yoga with Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, we are able to appreciate Yama and Niyama. Whereas if we begin with Yama, it is like putting the cart before the horse.

At 1.15 p.m., he met Dolly Nicolai and a few&nbsp;other members of the wellness team in his office. Dolly updated Daaji on some initiatives and programs planned by the Yoga team.&nbsp;She informed him about the Saturday Retreat offered twice a month to interested participants by the Yoga team, which encourages people to visit Kanha and savor the offerings and benefits of Yoga and the Wellness Center. These events are therapeutically planned to address health conditions related to blood pressure and diabetes.


 Daaji suggested planning&nbsp;this retreat for every Saturday and also including similar programs for thyroid and pregnancy. He also asked for a calendar to be put in place, indicating the time and venue of all the Yoga programs in Kanha, so that visitors become aware of and utilize the opportunity during their stay in the ashram.


 He then suggested combining the wellness and Yoga offerings of Heartfulness since the programs are complementary to each other.

At around 9.45 a.m., Daaji retired to his room for some rest.

<h2>
 The Heartfulness Twist to Ashtanga Yoga
</h2>

 No-thingness does not mean the absence of mind, intellect, ego, consciousness, and physical existence. The ultimate achievement does not deny their presence. The ultimate blossoming only shows us the beauty of all that is, since there is a great shift in the understanding of the body, mind, intellect, ego, and consciousness. They are the vehicles that become finely tuned with the inner being we call the soul.

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Daaji met Dolly Nicolai and a few other members of the wellness team in his office. Dolly updated Daaji on some initiatives and programs planned by the Yoga team. She informed him about the Saturday Retreat offered twice a month to interested participants by the Yoga team, which encourages people to visit Kanha and savor the offerings and benefits of Yoga and the Wellness Center. These events are therapeutically planned to address health conditions related to blood pressure and diabetes. 


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Kanha Shantivanam 23rdSeptember22

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Kanha Shantivanam 15thSeptember22

Kanha Shantivanam 11thSeptember22

Kanha Shantivanam 7thSeptember22