Daaji had an early morning walk where he was joined by a few people and then he conducted a meditation session at 7.30 am in his office. Around 9.15 am Daaji went to the conference hall to meet the MENA, (Middle East and North Africa) seminar participants and conducted meditation session. 

When Daaji was about to leave from the conference hall, he was cornered by the participants, each one trying to have a personal glimpse of him and seek his attention, get a few moments to speak to him. Many of them were trying to give him some gifts they had brought for him. Daaji patiently spoke to as many practitioners as possible. The practitioners followed him to his car. 

At times one wonders if we have really grasped the true purpose of Sahaj Marg. As we develop our depth of consciousness with each successive meditation, as we purify our inner environment with every cleaning, it becomes clearer that the only real appreciation of Daaji’s presence is the one which we can make in absolute stillness, deeply absorbed in the waves of transmission which emanate from him. 

It takes practice to achieve that kind of stillness. No matter how much attention we draw from the Master, unless and until we make ourselves deserving, it cannot bring any results. Unless we are ready to receive the highest state of inner refined tranquillity we cannot hope to retain it to move on to the next stage.

Daaji has time and again tried very patiently to explain how the real meeting with the Master occurs when we are in a state of absorbency. It was such a deep and beautiful Satsang which had happened that morning. But in the rush to meet Daaji, it is possible that many of us lost our grasp on that fine state. It is like throwing away priceless diamonds to grab dust. 

We really need to focus on the practice. A truly mature practitioner does not feel the need to draw the Master’s attention to herself/himself because there is no longer a need for anything else but the incredibly beautiful state that comes from an intense practice. 

After going back home Daaji discussed the biochar initiative. Some updates were provided to him about the status of the Rural Livelihood Initiatives around Biochar, Mini Nurseries, and bamboo Playhouses. The field trials and experiences of other organizations that have tried these initiatives were discussed. Daaji has a great interest in the flourishing of rural India. He reiterated the importance of livelihoods for rural households and that this has to go hand in hand with spirituality. The team updated Daaji on their visit to the BAIF Development Research Foundation. It is an NGO based in Pune in Maharashtra, India, that pioneers agricultural development and was founded in 1967 by Manibhai Desai. The team submitted to him their learnings from several of the initiatives that are aimed at enhancing the income levels of farmers. A team from Heartfulness will spend a week at the BAIF campus in Pune and a senior team from BAIF has also been invited to visit Kanha Shanti Vanam. 

In the evening, Mr Prakash came and shared news on the Sarovar project with Daaji. Mr Gopichand Pullela, the illustrious badminton coach visited Daaji. There ensued a discussion on the Badminton Academy in Kanha. Daaji then conducted a meditation session from 6.24 pm to 6.47 pm. 

Later in the night around 8.30pm, Daaji came to the dormitory area to meet all the practitioners and the participants from the MENA seminar. There was a pin-drop silence as all participants and residents of Kanha eagerly awaited the presence of Beloved Daaji. Daaji conducted meditation from 8.39 pm to 9.02 pm.

He then answered the questions from the participants of the MENA seminar. 

Daaji spoke on the war situation in certain parts of the world. He felt that there was nothing much we could do except to pray. 

We humans often feel that we are better than others. Such an attitude with religious fervor is the root cause of such conflicts. When people are ready to die for their religion then such fervour is bound to cause violence. Humanity is head-bent on destroying itself. What can you do about it? Absolutely nothing. 

When a practitioner asked what kind of a character we should have to remain detached, Daaji replied, “This question has been around for millennia. Even back then they thought that detachment would cause a desire-free state. And because of that, we would be able to achieve liberation and higher knowledge. 

If you refer to the dialogue between Raja Janak and Ashtavakra, the very first question is about how to detach oneself. Ashthavakra gives a solution that treats desires as poison. Desire is to be avoided. So what to include if such is the case? There he describes five qualities that he recommends that we imbibe. For reference, I suggest that you read the Ashtavakra Gita. Read commentaries by great philosophers on the matter. 

I think the way described by Ashthavakra to Janaka is rather complicated for today’s mind. So Babuji came forward saying Don't try to detach yourself, you will most certainly fail. And he offered a beautiful solution. He said, attach yourself to the right cause. When you are connected with your guide, you are connected with the almighty, you are connected with your heart, and then all these things come around very naturally. 

Shri Krishna speaks about cultivating the attitude of a lotus leaf in a dirty pond. We must remain unaffected by life. But how to do so? That remains the big question.

Krishnamurthy and Patanjali also talk about developing choiceless awareness. Lord Buddha talks of being in mindful awareness. Babuji says, remember the one who loves all and in that state of mind you will not deviate here and there. You will establish a strong connection with one who loves all and then the other connections will weaken over a while till they drop off on their own, very naturally without having to force yourself to do so.

The best way is to mentally scan all your daily activities and see where we have gone wrong. It is to promise yourself that it won't be repeated. The theme of this MENA seminar is ‘Attitude, Attribute and Attainment’. It is a beautiful theme. Try to find out which attitude can help us become lighter and more loving. Create an attitude of that caliber so that we don't form impressions and don't form complexities and impurities in ourselves.

If you can learn this simple art of deflecting impressions before they can sink into our awareness, then you have won a big battle in life.

The next step is to study those attitudes which can embellish your life and make it even more beautiful. Referring to the subject of attachment and detachment, Babuji simply gives a positive spin to everything. He recommends developing an attachment to the truth and reality. 

What sort of detachment should we develop? That of being lovingly detached. Not hatefully detached. We can be detached in a manner that is not replete with hatred, dislike, indifference, or fear of bondage. We can rise above and see things in a very positive way by remaining optimistic”.

Daaji was asked how he manages the responsibility of the mission without wanting to run away from it all. 

He said, “Perhaps they knew that he would not run away and that is why they selected him. It may be surprising to hear this but I was put to the test several times and almost thrown out of the Mission. Once I had a beautiful argument with Chariji. He not only said it but wrote it to me in a letter that ‘I can throw you out of this mission’. Imagine the kind of tests one goes through when something greater is awaiting after the tests. The greater the responsibility, the greater the tests that can be thrown at you in a very debilitating way.”

Daaji explained that when such terrible things happen it is important to stay put. Because it is not easy to understand why you are put through these tests. But if we decide to react by quitting then we create our own destiny. It is best to submit ourselves to His will. 

Then Daaji gave references mentioned in Babuji Maharaj’s autobiography, where so many saints put him to the test. They wonder whether Babuji Maharaj will pass or not. But once he clears the test they gift him lavishly.

One such incident was that of Radha ji who decided to test Babuji Maharaj. There was so much praise in the Brighter World regarding the love between Babuji Saheb and Lalaji Saheb. They said that no such love ever existed. It surpassed that of Radha and Krishna. So Radhaji decided to test Babuji. She repeated something in her mind and told Babuji to read her mind. Babuji was successful at this seemingly impossible task. Lalaji and Vivekananda ji were so happy with this that they told Babuji Maharaj to make them his disciples. One can only imagine Babuji’s condition at that time when his own master said adopt me as your disciple. He must have wanted to bury his head in the ground! A selfless love makes for a beautiful journey. 

Sahaj Marg practice helps us to remain detached from our spiritual attainments. We learn to let go of all our attainments, not just the miseries and the pains. It could be an iron chain or a golden chain but attachment is attachment isn't it?

After a long question and answer session Daaji bid goodbye to everyone while promising to meet the MENA seminar participants again the next day.