It has been raining in Kanha. At 9 in the morning, Daaji went for his rounds of the ashram. After checking the water level in the Madhuvanam pond, he instructed the team to prepare for the plantation by digging pits with the help of the JCB units. He had a discussion with the nursery team regarding the variety of plants proposed to be planted around the pond.

Daaji went on to inspect the pond behind the kitchen area and instructed the team to add charcoal to purify the water. He made a final halt at the pond opposite the dining hall, after which he returned home. On the way, met Rahul Thopte and gave him a few suggestions related to construction activities. Between 12 and 12.30 p.m., he was once again at the site to inspect the preparatory work for the plantation near Madhuvanam pond.

At 7 in the evening, Daaji met seekers and other guests in his office behind the meditation hall and conducted meditation. As he returned home, he invited Nitin Govila and his family to join him for dinner.

There was an e-mail on the topic of constant remembrance. Daaji explained with the help of a beautiful story from the Puranas.

Meditation is the mother of constant remembrance

“Great importance is given to the concept of love-filled remembrance. It is taken as a means to develop love. In reality, it is an outcome of your own practice. Just as Vairagya is an outcome and not a practice, it is exactly like that.

“So, where is the beginning of this remembrance, which finally leads to constant remembrance, which in its trail helps us to build love? It is at this stage that we begin to accept life in totality.

“There is a lovely story I would like to share with you, which is perhaps from the Vishnu Purana. Radha was deeply in love with Lord Krishna. She was so deeply absorbed in his remembrance that she started to recite ‘Krishna, Krishna.’ She began to identify her being with his. But then a moment dawned when she started reciting her own name, as she had become Krishna. This is the perfect example of mergence.

“Our dear Babuji introduced this concept of not mere memory recall or remembrance, but constant remembrance. He also said that without well-done meditation you won’t develop even simple remembrance. In his words, ‘Meditation is the mother of constant remembrance.’

“Remembrance culminates in natural resonance with the one you are remembering. Often we remember people we dislike! Is it worth resonating with them? You already dislike them, so why do you want to attract their vibes into your system? The best is to pray to put an end to such feelings of likes and dislikes, and to rise above all that is mundane and full of dwandwas or opposites.”

With this evoking little tip on the art of remembering, the day came to an end.