After breakfast, Daaji was on the swing when Chirag Kulkarni joined him. After a while Daaji prepared to attend the ETV channel interview. While he was recording that interview, several practitioners had gathered there. Daaji met them after the interview. Stanislas Lajugie gave some updates to Daaji on the ongoing Deep U retreat program.&nbsp; &nbsp;Sriram Raghavendran shared some inputs on the Bio-charcoal and Napier grass initiatives that Daaji has been incubating. When Sriram Raghavendran asked Daaji for a good name for the Bio Charcoal initiative, Daaji laughed and said, “Sriram Bio-char”. While everyone burst into smiles. Daaji encourages the volunteers who take care of the initiatives by giving them not just his trust but bestowing on them his appreciation in this gentle manner. Daaji had some work to attend to, which brought these interesting interactions to a pause for the day. &nbsp;

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Sriram Raghavendran shared some inputs on the Bio-charcoal and Napier grass initiatives that Daaji has been incubating. When Sriram Raghavendran asked Daaji for a good name for the Bio Charcoal initiative, Daaji laughed and said, “Sriram Bio-char”.

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Daaji prepared to attend the ETV channel interview. While he was recording that interview, several practitioners had gathered there. Daaji met them after the interview.

Kanha Shantivanam 29th January 2024

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

16 June&nbsp;After his brief stop in Iglas, Daaji proceeded towards Aligarh, arriving there in the late evening. Hotel reservations had been made in advance for Daaji and those traveling with him. A large hall within the hotel had been thoughtfully transformed into a meditation space, creating a serene environment for the upcoming sessions.In the evening, Daaji conducted meditation, after which he spoke to all. Here are a few translated excerpts from the speech.<ul><li>The Heartfulness method is a divine gift—the distilled essence of the Vedas,&nbsp;Puranas, and Gitas, especially the Bhagavad Gita. It contains within it the very spirit of all these scriptures.</li><li>Many avatars and saints have graced our land, each expressing truth in their own way. Lord Buddha spoke of nirvana, Mahavir Swami of the Jainism tradition said ‘reach the condition of kaivalyadham.’ Saint Kabir urged us to become ‘nothing,’ like a drop that merges into the ocean and becomes one with it. Lord Krishna told us to be like the lotus leaf, on which water does not stay, meaning, to live in such a way that no thought or action leaves an impression upon our consciousness.</li><li>But no one has shown the way to achieve all these states. Nowhere, except Sahaj Marg. Sahaj Marg says ‘meditate.’ But people misunderstand what meditation is—they think it means controlling the mind, developing thoughtlessness, or focusing and concentrating with the mind. All these meanings are wrong. How will you truly do that which you don’t understand?</li><li>As long as&nbsp;samskaras (impressions) remain, the cycle of birth and rebirth continues. So what to remove? Remove the samskaras that lie dormant in seed form. This technique is also in Sahaj Marg.</li><li>Yogic transmission works as a fuel; it connects our consciousness with the Divine consciousness, and so we can experience it. So we must keep in mind that ours is not an ordinary meditation—we are connected with Him via a subtle thread, through a flow of energy. Revere Him, welcome Him. Say, ‘I don’t know you, I don’t even know if you exist, but whatever it may be, I want to experience you.’ Meditate with this approach in the morning. Create a longing, surrender your condition to Him and then meditate.</li><li>After meditation, preserve the inner condition that develops. Remember it through the day. Even if work or activity makes you forget, recall it again and revive it from the depths of your heart.&nbsp; Enlivening the condition intensifies it. Try to become one with it even while working—then, your connection with Him will remain intact. The fragrance of spirituality will begin to permeate all your material work and actions. You will notice that any work undertaken in this spirit will naturally attain perfection; it will never remain incomplete or half-hearted. In this way, your actions will no longer leave impressions on the consciousness.</li><li>&nbsp;These threads of spirituality will begin to weave a new destiny for you—you will spiritualize your material existence. This all happens in a (sahaj) natural way and hence our path is ‘Sahaj Marg.’ Since we perform all actions with the heart, it is ‘Heartfulness.’ See it from any angle, and you will find it is a completely natural path.</li></ul>Later on, Daaji offered a few reflections on the importance of maintaining a meditative state even outside of formal sittings. He reminded everyone that ‘the true measure of meditation is how it changes our response to life.’ On his way back to his room, Daaji stopped at the garden lawn for a photograph with all the children of the abhyasis. He even took the littlest one in his arms! Afterwards, he retired to his room for dinner and continued working late into the night.

17 June The next morning Daaji woke up early and after breakfast, came down to conduct the meditation session. Afterwards, Daaji spoke briefly. Here are some translated excerpts from his speech.<ul><li>In business, for example, there is competition from others and anything can happen. But in spirituality there is no competition with anyone. In the material world, where success is not always guaranteed, we put in all our efforts, but in spirituality there is no one to stop you except yourself.</li><li>&nbsp;Lack of success in spirituality cannot be blamed on the Guru or God; we can only blame ourselves. So don’t allow yourself to be blamed; it will result in collecting more sin. To neglect our duty is a great sin.</li><li>&nbsp;Lord Krishna says in the Bhagvad Gita, ‘Understand your own responsibilities. Do not get involved with someone else’s responsibilities.’ And our greatest responsibility is to move ahead in spirituality.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>When we love someone, we must give them freedom. They are not your slaves or servants.</li></ul>So practice wholeheartedly. It must be a complete practice, with interest, not with&nbsp;majboori (helplessness or desperation). That little [Divine] flame which is burning within you, make it bigger, and immolate yourself in it.

Daaji’s Kasganj VisitOnce the session concluded, Daaji returned to his room, to prepare for departure to the next stop on the journey. Around 8.30 am, Daaji left Aligarh to proceed towards Kasganj, a stop en route to Badaun. On reaching Kasganj, Daaji conducted the meditation for all the abhyasis gathered there. After lunch and a short rest, Daaji then continued the drive to the Badaun. On reaching, Daaji went directly to the auditorium where the evening meditation was planned. After the meditation Daaji answered a few questions.Q:&nbsp;If someone who has been meditating regularly stops for a period of time and then resumes the practice, does their progress continue from where they left off, or do they have to start from scratch? &nbsp;Daaji: This is a technical question that lacks practicality. Some people meditate each day, but it doesn’t mean they have progressed. Some meditate for only 10 minutes and some for 2 hours. There is a difference between these. It’s like if someone forces a student to sit in class and says, ‘You never study, now sit here in front of me and study.’ Even if that student stays there for 8 hours he will not learn anything. Here too I observed in meditation that some people were restless, some were absorbed. Why this restlessness, when the aim of meditation is union with God? And when the moment of union comes [in meditation], what sort of restlessness is it that keeps you diverted and holds your attention? This is no longer meditation. So everything depends on the attitude and intention we have when we sit to meditate. The key thing is ‘how well you are in tune.’ That’s all.Q: The aim of meditation is to become loving. I don’t understand where this love in the heart comes from. I haven’t been able to develop that condition of love. Please guide me. Daaji:&nbsp;Sometimes, even I don’t have that love in my heart! [smiling] I too get angry. To get angry or irritated doesn’t indicate a lack of love in you. Observe this: we only get angry with the ones we love the most.&nbsp; So if someone gets angry at you, understand that they love you a lot. It depends on you how you take it, it’s your perspective. The mistake we make is in thinking whether the other person loves us or not. Forget that. If we love them, it’s enough. Don’t expect from others, or even from God.Q: Does the samskara of fear get removed during cleaning or does it continue to remain associated with a particular object? Daaji: When we do our cleaning in the right way, every kind of samskara is removed. If you are unable to remove something, pray to the Masters, they will do it.After the Q&amp;A, Daaji continued to speak for a short while, imparting more words of wisdom. He said,&nbsp;“Challenge the method. Don’t believe in it blindly; no benefit is derived from blind faith. So like a scientist, experiment with it. You might have done all kinds of worship and seen their results as well. We can also perform experiments in various methods of meditation. Not only Heartfulness, there are many other paths out there. Take each one, including Heartfulness, and follow it very sincerely for a week. Note your results, and then take up whichever method makes you feel best and keep following it. There is no need to anchor faith in the very beginning of any method. Like a true scientist, be fearless in your experiments.”After dinner, Daaji met with the youth of Badaun—a lively group ranging from adolescents to young adults. The atmosphere was light and joyful as Daaji interacted with them, asking questions, sharing laughter, and engaging in warm, friendly conversation.

18 JuneThe next morning, Daaji conducted meditation early. Post meditation, he took time to answer questions from abhyasis. He interacted with them peacefully, without any sense of rush or urgency, giving thoughtful responses and encouraging deeper introspection.Q:&nbsp;We get so easily distracted in our lives, and no matter how busy we are, we always manage to find time to attend to that distraction. So how do we curb this tendency? &nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;Babuji Maharaj used to say ‘एक साधे सब सधै, सब साधे सब जाय’&nbsp;(When you focus your energy on one goal or one essential thing, everything else falls into place naturally. But if you scatter your attention trying to handle everything at once, you end up achieving nothing.) So make such a strong connection or relationship to that one essential thing, that all else [that is unnecessary] drops off automatically. This is not just the issue with today’s youth. Even the elderly entertain such fancies and whims, but they keep quiet about it lest they appear to sound foolish. No one here can say with pride that we don’t have negative thoughts. Even the women. So connect your hearts with God early on. Then there will be no distraction; everything will transform into duty.Q: Sometimes the practice is going on beautifully, but suddenly I encounter a low and I lose interest in meditation completely. Why does this happen and what should I do about it? &nbsp;Daaji: This high and low comes in every abhyasis’s life. At the time when you feel this ‘low’ take a sitting from a preceptor; everything will get fine-tuned once again.After this session, Daaji left for Bareilly.Stay tuned for more events from Daaji’s travels in Bareilly and Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Many avatars and saints have graced our land, each expressing truth in their own way. Lord Buddha spoke of nirvana, Mahavir Swami of the Jainism tradition said ‘reach the condition of kaivalyadham.’ Saint Kabir urged us to become ‘nothing,’ like a drop that merges into the ocean and becomes one with it. Lord Krishna told us to be like the lotus leaf, on which water does not stay, meaning, to live in such a way that no thought or action leaves an impression upon our consciousness.

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Daaji’s next stops were Aligarh, Kasganj, and Badaun, where the devotion and sincerity of the abhyasis were truly remarkable in every location.

Aligarh, Kasganj and Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, 16th to 18th June 2025

14 JuneDaaji reached the Satoha ashram in Mathura around 7:30 pm. The newly renovated ashram is situated in a high-security, yet serene zone, just steps away from the sacred site of Lord Krishna’s birthplace. The ashram building now includes rooms on the first floor, a spacious meditation hall, and a dining area in the basement.The hall was already full of abhyasis who had been waiting patiently, yet eagerly for Daaji’s arrival. Daaji entered quietly and conducted meditation. Later, he retired to his room for work and rest.

15&nbsp;JuneThe morning meditation was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. The atmosphere was calm. Daaji took his seat in the hall and began the meditation. It ended around 8:15 a.m., followed by a short address in Hindi.Daaji spoke openly about the weight he experienced in this place — not physical, but subtle. This was the land of Lord Krishna’s birth, a place held sacred in the Hindu tradition. Yet Daaji noted that the history here was not peaceful. It was a birthplace surrounded by violence and trauma; Lord Krishna’s parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were imprisoned, and several of his siblings were killed by Kamsa, the tyrant king. Lord Krishna himself was born in hiding, under threat. Moreover, many who tried to oppose Kamsa were killed. Little wonder then that Lord Krishna later on left this place and took up abode in a barren land like Dwarka in Saurashtra.Daaji said, “Wherever we see structures from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when the Mughal invasion took place, it wasn’t just seven or eight people who died—millions perished. Just think how much tension and suffering must have gone into building those mosques.”Daaji clarified, “This land holds impressions of great pain, trials and tribulations,” he said, “and this too must be cleaned. Let us pray that all these impressions are removed forever. Perhaps that is why we have come together here in Sahaj Marg. And let us also pray that this atmosphere of tension that has built up may dissolve away forever.”

In the late afternoon, Daaji gave a 45-minute interview to Doordarshan, India’s public service broadcaster. The interview centered on the theme “Youth Challenges and Meditation.” The questions were direct, as were his responses. He spoke about the distinction between religion and spirituality, urging a natural shift toward internal transformation.“Meditation,” he said, “must take the central role. Even in the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna advises meditation on the heart, because God resides in the heart.”Here are some excerpts from his interview translated from Hindi.<ul><li>Before changing the world, I have to change myself first. The expectation that ‘I expect the other person to change’ might bring dissatisfaction in my life. Sometimes, we are unable to change ourselves knowing full well what is good for us, then how can we change someone else—with love or with force? It is absolutely not possible.</li><li>What is consciousness?&nbsp;Is it this body? Is it the mind? Is it the intellect?&nbsp; Is it the ego? Is it the soul? Consciousness is expressed through the coming together of all these. If there is a body but no soul, there is no consciousness. If there is a soul but no body, consciousness cannot be expressed. The mind, intellect, and ego—all assist in expressing consciousness. So we can say that consciousness is a combined state, where soul, mind, intellect, ego, and body all come together.</li><li>To the people of Braj, once again my salutations. This is the land of Krishna. All of you must surely have the Gita in your homes. Study it. Learn something from it.</li><li>This is Krishna’s birthplace, or the place where he spent time. Do not be proud merely of that. In his time too, there were many people, but no one recognized him. Today he is not on this land, so how will you recognize him now? So the message he gave through the Gita—study it and adopt it in life. I see that no one has adopted it yet. I will give you only one example. Read Chapter 10, verse number 20. There he has given his address. He has said that “I am in your heart.” Have you ever peeped in to see where he is?</li><li>God dwells within. Do not wander here and there. Courage is needed to look inside. But when people dare to look inside, then what appears first? All the wrong that has been done, that alone is seen. That is why people are afraid to look within.</li></ul>After the interview, Daaji met with the President of the Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust, who had come specifically to welcome him. The interaction was warm and respectful. The Trustees then took Daaji to the Janmabhoomi (birthplace).At 6:30 p.m., Daaji conducted the evening satsangh at the Satoha Ashram, after which he retired for the day.

16 JuneDaaji rose early, and after light refreshments, he prepared for a special visit—one rooted in the sacred geography of both Lord Krishna’s life and Babuji Maharaj’s biography. A small group traveled with him by car, leaving before sunrise.Their destination was a quiet, almost-forgotten spot on the banks of the Yamuna River, where it is believed Lord Krishna was cremated. The location is marked only by a modest memorial, a single stone platform near the base of a railway bridge. At first glance, it appears ordinary, easy to miss. But its significance is known within the tradition, recorded in the biography of Babuji Maharaj, and preserved now through Daaji’s attention.Chairs had been arranged along the riverbank. Despite the overcast sky, a few abhyasis had gathered. As Daaji conducted a short meditation, the sound of distant thunder began to roll, and light rain started to fall as though the moment itself was being marked from above.&nbsp;&nbsp;From there, the group continued to the nearby village of Iglas, located in the heart of Uttar Pradesh. On the surface, it looked like many other villages—narrow lanes, modest homes, small temples—but there was something unique there: almost every household in Iglas belongs to an abhyasi.The villagers had prepared a tent next to their small local ashram. Daaji conducted meditation under the tent as rain fell steadily, soaking many of the abhyasis seated at the edges. But no one moved. The silence was deeper than the weather.After meditation, Daaji moved to a tiny room inside the one-room cottage used as the ashram. There, he remained for some time as abhyasis entered one by one to meet him. He gave each of them time, listening, exchanging a few words, or simply sitting together in silence. From Iglas, Daaji proceeded towards Aligarh, arriving there in the early evening.Stay tuned for more events from Daaji’s travels in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Daaji spoke openly about the weight he experienced in this place — not physical, but subtle. This was the land of Lord Krishna’s birth, a place held sacred in the Hindu tradition. Yet Daaji noted that the history here was not peaceful. It was a birthplace surrounded by violence and trauma; Lord Krishna’s parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were imprisoned, and several of his siblings were killed by Kamsa, the tyrant king. Lord Krishna himself was born in hiding, under threat. Moreover, many who tried to oppose Kamsa were killed. Little wonder then that Lord Krishna later on left this place and took up abode in a barren land like Dwarka in Saurashtra.

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Daaji’s journey through Uttar Pradesh reached a meaningful milestone with his visit to Mathura and Iglas, where he shared profound pearls of wisdom with the abhyasis gathered there.

Mathura and Iglas, Uttar Pradesh, 14th to 16th June 2025

13 JuneA significant highlight of Daaji’s travels in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh was the inauguration of the Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Kendra (Centre of Indian Knowledge Systems—CIKS) at Galgotias University situated in Greater Noida. CIKS is envisioned to blend India’s ancient knowledge systems and spiritual wisdom with contemporary science, innovation, and AI. In alignment with the Ministry of Education’s vision of embedding India’s intellectual heritage into higher education, this initiative marked a thoughtful step toward preserving tradition while preparing institutions for the future.Daaji’s arrival at the university was met with ceremonial fanfare. NCC cadets lined a red carpet, standing in formation. The university’s chairman, his son, and the family received him warmly. The welcome was formal, yet personal.The first stop was the inauguration of the Heartfulness Lounge—the first of its kind within a university in India. The lounge was designed as a dedicated space for students to learn and practice Heartfulness meditation. Fully air-conditioned and thoughtfully furnished, it featured instructional videos, a curated selection of Heartfulness literature, and weekly sessions led by certified trainers. Daaji offered prasad and formally opened the space.On stage, Daaji was felicitated by the university’s Chancellor, Shri Sunil Galgotia, and the CEO, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, before the unveiling of the CIKS plaque. Soon after, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Heartfulness and Galgotias University, laying the foundation for collaborative research, educational programs, and outreach initiatives.In his inaugural address, Daaji highlighted how the essence of Indian knowledge lies not just in preservation but in integration—reviving the wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and spiritual sciences while making them relevant to today’s students. He urged the younger generation to carry forward this legacy with scientific curiosity and experiential practice, particularly through meditation. His reflections beautifully emphasized that true knowledge must not remain confined to books but should transform minds, hearts, and ways of living—an echo of the very aim behind the new centre. Following the meditation session led by Daaji, a lively and engaging Q&amp;A unfolded. Here are a few excerpts from it.Q:&nbsp;My peers mock me, saying meditation is doing you no good, one can’t really focus during it, and tranquillity isn’t a real thing. I really want my loved ones to feel the peace I feel during meditation. How can I make them understand this? Daaji: Welcome to the world of struggles in life! If you try to convince others, it will always fail. Practice yourself; it’s for yourself. And once they start seeing change in you, the trajectory of your life, then they will be awed. My college mates in LM College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad, also made fun of me back in 1976 when I started meditating, but soon enough, when my professors began to notice the change in us (a group of 25 who were meditating in college), they began to meditate—including my dean, who is now 99 years old. If one compares the students back then who weren’t meditating, and their families now versus the students who were meditating and their families now, you will notice a big difference.I recommend you read a book&nbsp;The Biology of Belief by Dr Bruce Lipton which teaches how our lifestyle impacts our inner environment, our genetic manifestations, and how life changes simply by thought. It is our ancient wisdom packaged in a new style!For example, Dr Lipton researched how the external environment changes the genetic manifestation of the embryo while in the mother’s womb. He noted that when an expectant mother lives under constant stress, her sympathetic nervous system activates, diverting blood from the abdomen, lungs, and brain to the limbs. The fetus experiences the same effect, leading to poor brain and digestive development. With reduced blood flow to the frontal cortex, thinking weakens while the primitive brain dominates, making the child reactive and prone to ADHD. In Indian tradition, pregnant women were often sent to their parents’ homes to stay happy and relaxed. This kept the parasympathetic system active, leading to calmer and more intelligent children.Q:&nbsp;How can Heartfulness app help us become mindful, emotionally resilient and socially attentive leaders in this modern world? Daaji: All three aspects of life you mentioned are to do with your awareness. When Lord Krishna says in the Bhagvad Gita, “yoga karmashu kaushalam,” i.e. if you take meditation seriously and attain a state of yoga, all your activities in that state of mind will attain perfection. Meditation and cleaning are the means, it is up to you how to use them.Q: Some scriptures highlight desires as good, some do the opposite. How do you align western philosophies of existentialism, nihilism with Indian philosophies? Daaji:&nbsp;Everyone says ‘don’t have desires.’ But how would you proceed in life then? If you wish to eat, you go to the canteen and eat. When you go home, and your mother has cooked something but you say you only want pizza, then something is wrong. Passion, which leads to desires, cannot ever be destroyed.&nbsp; You cannot have compassion without passion. Love, hate, likes, dislikes—all carry energy, and energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. If a desire arises in the heart, what to do with it?—transform it, and make it better. So desires are not wrong; what matters is how and for what we use them. Similarly, the mind is not bad—we have to just train the mind, and the only mental gym we have is meditation. Ego too is not always negative. If it pushes you to improve, it is helpful; but if it makes you feel superior to others, it becomes arrogance. Ultimately, it depends on how we use our desires, mind, and ego—it’s about perspective.After the talk, Daaji joined the chairman’s family and a few visiting professors from Singapore for a private lunch. Later in the afternoon, Daaji traveled to the home of a long-time preceptor and abhyasi family in Noida. Later, though the schedule was originally set aside for writing and recovery, Daaji decided to visit the Noida Ashram, where a large group of abhyasis had gathered in the meditation hall. Daaji conducted a brief session there and spent time with the abhyasis before returning home.Dinner was followed by a few short meetings with dignitaries who had come to consult on upcoming projects. The day closed late, but on a note of progress—calm, deliberate, and forward-looking.

14 JuneThe morning began quietly. After some light refreshments, Daaji decided to head early to the meditation hall at the Noida Ashram. By the time he arrived, several hundred abhyasis (practitioners) were already seated, waiting in silence. He conducted meditation without delay. A short interaction with the abhyasis followed.Here are some excerpts:Q: Of late, I do not feel very connected to the Master. Earlier, there used to be a pull towards him, but now I do not feel it, and it worries me why I do not feel this closeness or nearness anymore? Daaji: (smiling) That is your problem! There are many obstacles that come on the way in the form of tests. You have to find your own solutions to surmount certain problems, and that is where the success lies. Think of a metaphor—what would happen if you don’t let the butterfly struggle to break out of its cocoon, or the bird hatch out its egg by itself, or if you forcefully open a flower bud before it blooms on its own? Similarly, don’t let any master forcefully open it for you—you have to allow your inner flower [to bloom] with the warmth of your love and devotion: that is your business. Q: Daaji, you have taken Heartfulness to such great heights with so much efficiency. Is it possible for an abhyasi, at a human level, to become like you? Daaji: This work can never be done without abhyasis. I believe Babuji Maharaj was unfortunate—he, as such a great personality was there, but you all were not there. So, without abhyasis, even the Masters cannot do anything. Even Lord Krishna, Lalaji Maharaj, and Swami Vivekanand would say that it is indeed very sad that in spite of there being so much power in him [Babuji Maharaj], people do not recognize him and benefit from his being there. So, you see, those who could spread his message are here, but were not there back then. So the credit goes to all our sisters and brothers. (…) Our job is to keep working for the mission, not for rewards: just keep working, that itself is the reward.

After the session, Daaji left the ashram to visit a nearby apartment complex where many of the Noida abhyasis reside. Over the years, this residential cluster had become a close-knit spiritual community, with nearly every flat occupied by practitioners. One apartment had been prepared for Daaji’s visit. He was welcomed warmly by the abhyasi sisters who had prepared a home-cooked breakfast. Over the meal, the conversation moved across a range of topics—personal, spiritual, and practical. Soon, more abhyasis came in, one by one, hoping for a few moments with Daaji. He listened patiently, offered guidance where needed, and made time for as many as he could.Before beginning this journey, Daaji had mentioned something simple and clear:&nbsp;“On this trip, I want to meet abhyasis, as many as possible. This time is for them—to listen, to meditate together, and to simply be present with one another.” That’s exactly how the day unfolded.From there, Daaji left for an interview for the Speaking Tree (Times of India Group), a special section (both in print and online), which is dedicated to spirituality, philosophy, and self-development. On YouTube, this interview was one of their “Connect with Antaha-Karan” [Connect with Inner Instrument] series.The Speaking tree team was eagerly waiting to meet Daaji. They had a very interesting interaction right before the interview began. One of the team members mentioned that she had a meditative practice.Daaji asked her, “How do you meditate?”She replied, “With Shiv mantra, Devi mantras, visualization, guided meditation; I am a Shiv bhakt (devotee).”Daaji continued, “So, let’s talk a little bit: what is meditation?”She answered, “Anything that has your concentration is meditation, according to me.”Daaji questioned again, “What is its Sanskrit word?”She said, “Dhyaan.”Daaji elaborated, “How do you split this word?After a short pause, Daaji continued, “Dhy + yaan. Dhy [pronounced as ‘dhee’] is repeated twice in the Gayatri mantra. What is this ‘dhy?’ Divine wisdom, Ultimate wisdom. Yaan means vehicle. So the vehicle which transports you to divine wisdom is dhyaan (meditation). When we chant, the mind is busy, it is occupied; it cannot be transported. A busy mind can never be transported, whether you are meditating on Krishna or Shiva or your boyfriend. So in order to transport the mind, we have to use this vehicle, and you also need to fuel this vehicle. So how do you fuel this vehicle? Any vehicle needs to be fueled, right? So here, the fuel for transporting the consciousness has to be subtler than what you are propelling. Whatever fuel needs to push the consciousness has to be subtler than the consciousness, or else it will be a shock. Anything that sustains us has to be subtler than what you want to sustain. For example, if you want to go to sleep. So what is more refined, subtler than the consciousness? It is the subtle energy we call ‘prana.’ Prana is what supports our consciousness. In the Kena Upanishad, the sage says that all the koshas need nourishment; so what can support your soul?”She replied, “Soul food.”Daaji explained, “And what is that soul food? It is called ‘pranasya prana’ and that is the invention of Heartfulness where the Guru, with his grace transmits this pranasya prana or pranahuti [yogic transmission], and that works as the fuel for the vehicle to transport your consciousness. And your awareness suddenly shifts as if from the third gear to the fifth.”Another team member posed a question to Daaji: So, for receiving this pranahuti, is ‘patrata’ (eligibility, worthiness) necessary?Daaji replied, “Not necessary: if it was, you would never evolve.’She asked again, “But nowadays, why do gurus insist on it, that if you are not worthy, then the ‘shaktipata’ (energy transfer from guru to disciple) will not happen?”Daaji’s reply was crystal clear. Even before she finished her question, he replied, “To escape the responsibility. You see, to escape this responsibility you can blame anyone at any time—‘you don’t deserve it’ or ‘you didn’t do what I told you to do’ or ‘you didn’t follow the protocol.’ It makes you feel guilty and with this guilt and heaviness, you can never progress. A Guru’s job should be to not to add to what is already existing in the form of heaviness. She asked, “What is pranahuti [yogic transmission] like?” Daaji smiled and said, “Experience it. Shall we begin meditation?Daaji then led the meditation for them, and a short discussion later, the interview began.It was one of the most amazing interviews where Daaji talked about his life experiences, whilst shedding light on many spiritual concepts. Daaji was very happy with the way the interview happened. Daaji asked all the team to come to Kanha so that more interviews could be planned. In the late evening, Daaji left for Mathura by road—a two-hour drive from Noida. The destination was significant: the ashram located near Krishna Janmabhoomi, [the birthplace of Lord Krishna].Stay tuned for more events from Daaji’s travels in Mathura and Iglas.

Q:&nbsp;How can Heartfulness app help us become mindful, emotionally resilient and socially attentive leaders in this modern world? Daaji: All three aspects of life you mentioned are to do with your awareness. When Lord Krishna says in the Bhagvad Gita, “yoga karmashu kaushalam,” i.e. if you take meditation seriously and attain a state of yoga, all your activities in that state of mind will attain perfection. Meditation and cleaning are the means, it is up to you how to use them.

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The significant highlights of Daaji’s travels in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were the inauguration of the Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Kendra (Centre of Indian Knowledge Systems—CIKS) at Galgotias University situated in Greater Noida and his visit to Noida Ashram.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 13th and 14th June 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Gurugram, Haryana, 11th to 13th June 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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