Daaji arrived at the meditation hall at 8.55 a.m. for the inaugural&nbsp;session of the International Youth Seminar, ‘Rising with Kindness’. Around 9,500 youth from various countries&nbsp;and states of India had gathered in the hall and were waiting for the seminar to begin.Daaji conducted meditation for the group for about 35 minutes, and thereafter solemnized the weddings of the following couples:1. Mamata Venkat from the USA and Vishwas Subramanyam from Pune 2. Saraswathi Abbai from Kanha and Sukumar Swaminathan from Mysore 3. Ekta from Jalandhar and Prateek Tripathi from Prayagraj

Afterward, he gave a profound talk, gems from which are shared below.Rising with Kindness&nbsp;Very dear friends, we at Heartfulness are honored to have you all amongst us at Kanha Shanti Vanam. It is a rare and privileged opportunity, especially since UNESCO has come forward with this brilliant topic of kindness.A few months back, when the UNESCO representative, Anantha Duraiappah came here, he broached this topic in a very subtle way. He sowed the seeds of this conference at Kanha. And who else but the best, the youth, could be part of it? So, we are very happy to have you all here.We hear about kindness so often. We expect kindness from others, but somehow we lack the resonance. We forget the Self, to extend similar kindness from our side, and we are also lost in so many things. We say, “To be kind is not my responsibility. God is there to look after everyone. Why should I interfere in His work?” But these are foolish arguments. If God was going to do everything for me, then why don’t I stop eating? Why don’t I stop going to college? Why do I educate myself? Why do I exercise? Why do I entertain myself of my own volition?Expecting something from the Higher is a great blunder and the biggest excuse you can have. You fail in exams and say, “Oh, God failed me.” No! You failed yourself. Some people are very cruel. They say, “My father was not nice to me,” or “My professor was very strict with us. He is always failing the students.” That is again an excuse.Kindness can be extended in many ways. Kindness towards oneself, kindness towards others – family, community – and kindness towards prakriti, nature. Does my heart move when I see a dog limping on the road? If I can count the ribs of a dog, that means it is suffering from malnutrition. Does my heart move on seeing such an animal? When I see someone cutting a tree, do I stop them or do I fail my duty in some way?&nbsp;So kindness has a long role to play, especially with oneself. Many people say, “Be kind to yourself.” That means accepting your strengths as well as your weaknesses. But that, too, is a Catch-22 situation. For example, you have to get up in the morning at 6 perhaps, do some exercise and study. If you say, “But I accept my weaknesses. Oh, I am so kind to myself. I need to sleep a little more,” what will happen? That’s not kindness, that’s fooling yourself.&nbsp;Kindness Is Compassion in ActionI often wonder what the difference is between kindness, that the world is talking about today and compassion. Where is the root of sympathy, empathy, compassion, and kindness? What is the difference? How does compassion differ from passion, for example?All these, to me, are different forms of energy. When a seed is sown, it grows. It becomes a flower, a fruit, and the fruit is edible. Many people enjoy it. All these steps are an energy being transformed little by little. When you have a sympathetic heart, you are automatically going to become empathetic. Being empathetic means putting yourself in somebody else’s shoes and seeing how they would feel if you uttered certain words. How would your mother or father feel if you insulted them? Run it through your mind before you speak out. That is empathy.&nbsp;If you have a highly elevated level of consciousness, then you will prepare yourself ahead of time before you open your mouth. That is premeditation. When sympathy matures, when this energy is further purified, you become compassionate. Compassion is a quality of your heart. But is it enough to be compassionate? You see a sick person and your heart melts, “I feel so sad for this person’s sickness.” Is it enough or are you going to do something about it? Doing something about it after feeling compassion is kindness. To put it simply, to me, kindness is nothing but compassion in action.

Daaji spoke for about 30 minutes. He then thanked K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development of Telangana, for joining the inaugural session online and invited him to address the youth. The minister spoke for about 20 minutes and then answered a few questions from the youth. Daaji closed the session by inviting the dignitary to Kanha and then left for his home.On his way home, he greeted hundreds of seekers who had gathered behind the meditation hall. He spoke briefly to the electronic media channels that had come to cover the international conference, and then, feeling tired, he left the venue.

The inaugural session was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. Anantha Duraiappah&nbsp;from the UNESCO MGIEP;&nbsp;Khatija Rahman;&nbsp;Grace Moore;&nbsp;Dr. Meenu Tewari, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina;&nbsp;J.D. Lakshminarayana,&nbsp;retired&nbsp;IPS;&nbsp;Tanya Maniktala;&nbsp;Joshna Chinappa, Indian squash&nbsp;player;&nbsp;and many others.

Between 7.30 and 8.25 in the evening, Daaji joined all the dignitaries who had come to attend the conference for dinner. The group included multi-Grammy Award-winning Indian music composer and environmentalist, Ricky Kej. A great conversation ensued between the dignitaries and Daaji at the dining table.

At 8.30 p.m., Daaji joined the Dil Se session with the youth and answered their questions. The question-and-answer session lasted for almost 40 minutes. As he was about to leave, he spoke a few parting words.Youth — the Harbingers of Peace, Compassion and Kindness"So tomorrow is the second day of the seminar. It’ll be exciting as we move forward. The great Ricky Key is also here for tomorrow evening’s entertainment, and I’m anxiously waiting for it.I personally request all of you to maintain silence in your hearts, even while you’re talking. You may talk, but retain the calm and poised state of your heart. Don’t be&nbsp;in a rush. Don’t try to prove anything. You are here for a special purpose. Take this opportunity so that you can move forward with a better attitude towards life. We are not here to give you lots of information; rather, I would like you to go back as wiser individuals, more capable of making day-to-day decisions and leading a very purposeful and happier life.Spread peace, spread compassion, spread kindness. Kindness is also reflected in considering how your very presence in a room can affect the environment. You know, there are some individuals who barge into the room and bang open the door. It's like a storm entering your room. In order to understand kindness and compassion better, try to understand what it is to be unkind. Think of that moment when someone else was unkind to you. Would you then be unkind to others? &nbsp;People blame the youth, but I find today’s youth to be far more excellent than in my time. Whenever I would talk about meditation in my time, in 1976, people used to laugh. Those were very difficult times. It’s a dream to see so many of you here, at least trying to meditate. So please take advantage of this moment. Sit quietly, and reflect within. To interiorize&nbsp;means to go deep within yourself, as deep as possible. You can harvest pearls and diamonds by going very deep into your consciousness.The Heartfulness practice is all about reaching the deepest level of consciousness in a very natural way. Many rishis and sages did tapasya [penance] for years and months together, but they could not attain such states of samadhi as we are experiencing today, even on the first trial.We are so fortunate to have such a Guide who is guiding us through Transmission. Each time you have a question, put it out just before you go to sleep and see how it gets answered by the time you wake up in the morning.Thank you. Goodnight, everyone."Daaji greeted all the seekers who were waiting to meet him and went home.

<h2>Being Kind to Oneself</h2>
We hear about kindness so often. We expect kindness from others, but somehow we lack the resonance. We forget the Self, to extend similar kindness from our side, and we are also lost in so many things. We say, “To be kind is not my responsibility. God is there to look after everyone. Why should I interfere in His work?” But these are foolish arguments. If God was going to do everything for me, then why don’t I stop eating? Why don’t I stop going to college? Why do I educate myself? Why do I exercise? Why do I entertain myself of my own volition?

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Daaji arrived at the meditation hall at 8.55 a.m. for the inaugural session of the International Youth Seminar, ‘Rising with Kindness’. Around 9,500 youth from various countries and states of India had gathered in the hall and were waiting for the seminar to begin.

Kanha Shantivanam 12th August 2022

It is the festival of Rakshabandhan. The activities of the day began at around 9.30 in the morning.V. Bhagaiah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) met Daaji at his residence and tied him with a rakhi. Daaji conducted meditation from 9.55 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., after which V. Bhagaiah took leave.

At around 11 a.m., Anila Reddy met Daaji in his office and tied him a rakhi.

Thereafter, Milee Ashwarya from&nbsp;Penguin India came to say goodbye as she was leaving after a short stay in Kanha. Daaji signed a copy of the Kanha coffee-table book and gave it to Milee as a parting gift.

Most of the day was spent welcoming youth from different parts of the world, who had started arriving&nbsp;in Kanha for the International&nbsp;Youth Conference scheduled between the 12th and 14th of August 2022. The atmosphere was filled with joy and enthusiasm.

At 5.25 in the evening, Daaji had a meeting with some of the members of the accounts team, including M.D. Santhanagopalan, Balaji and Sriram.Between 6.15 and 6.35 p.m., he conducted meditation for a group of seekers from France, followed by a Yoga session with Bhushan Bhukte at 7.30 p.m.

Later in the night, at around 10.15 p.m., Daaji shared some wonderful insights regarding kindness, the theme for the upcoming youth seminar. The idea kept reverberating that “kindness is compassion in action”.What Flows Is EnergyEvery quality – for example, love, compassion, cruelty, anger – has a specific energy. They are all energy manifestations, energy taking different forms. Let us say I am thinking of anger. Until this thought or word becomes a feeling, it does not become a state of anger. I can think of love, but until love flows from my heart, it is meaningless. Likewise, ‘divine’ is a mere word unless and until those qualities of the Divine flow in my heart as energy, just like the energies of love or hate.So, the quality must flow. And whatever flows is always energy. This energy may have many currents, which flow together or against each other. There may be crosscurrents, or currents at different angles, different dimensions, which are opposing. Some currents support each other.But the perfect energy is the one that flows only in one direction, like the river that flows towards the ocean; there is no branching. Likewise, when our full attention goes in one direction, it makes the energy flow in that direction, you see. That’s when the energy becomes Absolute. We have no more desire to go this way or that way. We are not conscious that we have to be compassionate or cruel; it just happens as the moment requires.With this, Daaji called it a day and went to rest.

<h2>What Flows Is Energy</h2>Every quality – for example, love, compassion, cruelty, anger – has a specific energy. They are all energy manifestations, energy taking different forms. Let us say I am thinking of anger. Until this thought or word becomes a feeling, it does not become the state of anger. I can think of love, but until love flows from my heart, it is meaningless. Likewise, ‘divine’ is a mere word unless and until those qualities of the Divine flow in my heart as energy, just like the energies of love or hate.<br

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Most of the day was spent welcoming youth from different parts of the world, who had started arriving in Kanha for the International Youth Conference scheduled between the 12th and 14th of August 2022. The atmosphere was filled with joy and enthusiasm.

Kanha Shantivanam 11th August 2022

At around 7 p.m., he met up with seekers in his office behind the meditation hall. The guests included IPS B.V. Ramana Kumar and his wife, Ramesh Krishnan and Nivedita Shreyans.After updating him on the upcoming&nbsp;youth seminar at Kanha, Nivedita asked Daaji if there&nbsp;were any books he would like to give the youth attending the program. Daaji suggested a reading of the following titles: &nbsp; 1. The Heartfulness Way 2.&nbsp;As a Man Thinketh by James Allen 3. Simple Heartfulness&nbsp;Practices

In this context, it is worth mentioning a reply that Daaji gave in response to an e-mail.The Essence of the BeingAt a physical level, the body is enriched by a balanced diet and regular exercise. At a mental level, we educate ourselves, contemplate, and learn from various sources. This happens at a very subtle level. At a spiritual level, how can we enrich the soul? In Sanskrit, we call this enriching the atman by receiving pranasya prana? This happens at the subtlest level.We studied under a few chemistry professors in our Pharmacy college days, and we used to describe them in particular ways. One professor inspired fear in most of my friends – they considered him to be a “terror.” Another professor was known for his speed in teaching. Another we couldn’t understand. But there was one who taught us so wonderfully that we never had to revisit the topic again! We could have studied from books without the help of the other professors, but the professor who really taught us was the one worth thanking. Chemistry became livelier, more joyful, and very creative with this professor. We also had a pharmacology professor who was exceptional. He had returned from Canada to take up a teaching post in India, and our college was lucky to have him. His style of teaching was exceptional, but his life was made miserable by the other staff members because he was so good, and he passed away due to a heart attack. I will always admire his style and commitment. May God grant peace and progress to the departed soul.So, you see, people live in us forever. Some with good memories and many with not-so-good memories.The point I am trying to make by sharing with you some details from my college days is that the message we give carries with it the essence of our being, even when the topic is pharmacology or chemistry. We could have studied without professors, but it would be lifeless teaching. Even with a bad teacher, we still learn something.

The group was joined by&nbsp;S. Prem Krishnan, IAS,&nbsp;Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Kerala.Daaji conducted meditation from 7.35 to 7.55 p.m. He invited Prem Krishnan for dinner, and afterward, they discussed matters related to the upcoming badminton court in Kanha and other sports.The evening ended with Kapil giving a demo of Brighter Minds.

<h2>The Essence of the Being</h2>
At a physical level, the body is enriched by a balanced diet and regular exercise. At a mental level, we educate ourselves, contemplate, and learn from various sources. This happens at a very subtle level. At a spiritual level, how can we enrich the soul? In Sanskrit, we call this enriching the atman by receiving pranasya prana? This happens at the subtlest level.

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Daaji rested most of the day. There was some movement and activity later in the evening.

Kanha Shantivanam 8th August 2022

Daaji started from his house at 7.25 a.m. to conduct meditation for the gathering of 1,050 seekers in the meditation hall.After the session, as he was about to leave, he met Pardha Saradhi Maddipati,&nbsp;head of the ESG team of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, and his wife. Daaji invited the couple for breakfast.&nbsp;Afterward, they had a discussion on the various plantation activities and techniques being carried out in Kanha. At around 9.45 a.m., Daaji took the couple on a tour of the Kanha campus and showed them the Deep Root Irrigation (DRI)&nbsp;technique that is being used here. From there, they proceeded to the Madhuvanam pond and the surrounding plantation area. Daaji gifted the couple a sapling of the allspice&nbsp;(Pimento dioica) plant.

The group then gathered in the office behind the meditation hall, where Rukmini&nbsp;gave a demo of Brighter Minds for the benefit of the guests. Then Daaji shared his vision for creating green mountains covered by lakes and forests.

Mountains of ChangeWe need to develop three or four mountains, as an example, then we can change the whole state.&nbsp;It will be an ecosystem, a combination of water, plants, and other life forms. We can also have cottages in these mountains where, irrespective of their religion, people can go and offer their prayers. You can do your namaz there, or you can worship the Lord Christ. Or, if you want, you can do Yoga and meditation. There won’t be any idols or statues. It will be a neutral place where you can be with nature. A place where people from various communities can come together and work together.We have to bring in&nbsp;various&nbsp;communities to achieve this project, then it will become an example. It will mark the beginning of working together, where instead of just talking, people will eat, sleep, and work together. Hopefully, that will bring harmony and set&nbsp;a&nbsp;trend.

After giving his guests a warm send-off, Daaji visited the pond at Saireddyguda village. He sat there for a while, enjoying the silent atmosphere.&nbsp;

Later in the evening, Daaji spent time with family members and seekers from France at his residence. He conducted a short meditation session for the group between 6.20 and 6.40 p.m.

<h2>Mountains of Change</h2>We need to develop three or four mountains, as an example, then we can change the whole state.&nbsp;It will be an ecosystem, a combination of water, plants, and other life forms. We can also have cottages in these mountains where, irrespective of their religion, people can go and offer their prayers. You can do your namaz there, or you can worship the Lord Christ. Or, if you want, you can do Yoga and meditation. There won’t be any idols or statues. It will be a neutral place where you can be with nature. A place where people from various communities can come together and work together.We have to bring in&nbsp;various&nbsp;communities to achieve this project, then it will become an example. It will mark the beginning of working together, where instead of just talking, people will eat, sleep, and work together. Hopefully, that will bring harmony and set&nbsp;a&nbsp;trend.

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Daaji spent the day meeting seekers and meditating. 

Kanha Shantivanam 7th August 2022

At 9.30 in the morning,&nbsp;Elizabeth Denley&nbsp;met Daaji and discussed upcoming&nbsp;publications of Heartfulness. Slowly, the room started filling up with seekers. Daaji conducted meditation for the group from 10 to 10.35.

In reply to an e-mail, Daaji emphasized the significance of a teacher, or a Guide, in every aspect of learning.Silent WisdomIn spirituality, the teaching comes to life when we are learning from someone who is really evolved. Their being will speak to us in silence. The moment we try to connect with such a person in the utter silence of our heart, their powers, their wisdom, and their being will start flowing into us, and eventually, it is just a matter of time before they will be revealed to us.The Bhagavad Gita as upadesha was not spoken to Arjuna but conveyed to him by Lord Krishna. Pranahuti from the great Master flows into us, carrying the essence of his being, and it rejuvenates us, purifies us, and nurtures us. Most of us have felt this when we meditate, and when we are silent and centered within – we start getting absorbed. We have witnessed how impactful such silent moments can be. Learning from such a soul remains embedded for a longer time than just flipping the pages of a book, however holy that book may be.

In the evening at around 5.50,&nbsp;the trustees of Siddha Samadhi Yoga, Arundhati Rishi Prabhakar, and Siddhant Prabhakar, met Daaji at his residence. Among the dignified guests was also Preeti, the daughter of Panchayat Raj Minister,&nbsp;Errabelli Dayakar Rao. After a short discussion, Daaji conducted meditation&nbsp;for the guests between 6.10 and 6.30.

After seeing off his guests, Daaji set out on his rounds of the ashram. He visited the site near the Madhuvanam pond, where the team from Zscaler had planted trees in the morning and then went for a walk.On his way back home, he stopped near the meditation hall to check the lighting over the stone engravements of Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg and The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg. He directed the electricity team coordinator, Ramaswamy, to differentiate both sets of engravements with lights of two different colors.

<h2>Silent Wisdom</h2>In spirituality, the teaching comes to life when we are learning from someone who is really evolved. Their being will speak to us in silence. The moment we try to connect with such a person in the utter silence of our heart, their powers, their wisdom, and their being will start flowing into us, and eventually, it is just a matter of time before they will be revealed to us.&nbsp;

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Daaji stopped near the meditation hall to check the lighting over the stone engravements of Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg and The Efficacy of Raja Yoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg.

Kanha Shantivanam 6th August 2022

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

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. 

Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 20th to 23rd April, 2025

The following day began with Daaji offering yet another beautiful meditation session in the early morning. After a profound Heartfulness meditation session that was telecast live on the Heartfulness channel, Daaji invited Mr. Linguswamy to give a talk. His talk revolved around his experiences with the Heartfulness meditation practice and its transformative effect. He expressed his gratitude to Daaji referring to him as a ‘real hero.’&nbsp;This was followed by a heartwarming Q&amp;A session with Daaji. His words resonated deeply with the eager practitioners, leaving everyone inspired and deeply moved.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Later that evening, Daaji welcomed a group of practitioners from the Baduga tribal community of Ooty, a beautiful hill station nestled in the Nilgiri mountain range. Their hearts were deeply touched as Daaji interacted with them personally. His gentle words and affectionate demeanor created an unforgettable experience for the community members. He ended the meeting with a promise saying, “I will come soon to Ooty,” filling their hearts with even more joy! He then posed for a group photo with them.&nbsp;Many dignitaries had come to meet Daaji in Tiruppur: Mr. V. Sundararajan, Chairman of Sky Group of Companies and the Founder Secretary of Vanam Foundation, Palladam, Tiruppur District; the Founder Director of the Coconut Farmers Producer Company; and Mr. K. R. Nagarajan who is the Chairman of the Ramraj Cotton Group of Companies and Vice President of the World Community Service Center.&nbsp;Daaji met with Padma Shri Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Poppy's Group of Companies and Honorary, Founder President, Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA); the President of Federation of Indian Exporters Organizations (FIEO); and Mr. N. Thirukkumaran Managing Director, Ess Tee Group of Companies and General Secretary, Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA). Daaji also met with Mr. Kumar Duraiswamy who is the Managing Director, Eastern Global Clothings, the Joint Secretary of Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), and also the Project Director, 'Vanathukkul Tiruppur' - Initiatives of Green Tiruppur; and the Convenor, Tiruppur Stakeholders Forum (TSF).&nbsp;&nbsp;After a brief discussion with them on varied initiatives Daaji then asked for the Brighter Minds demonstration to be presented to all the guests.&nbsp; Later they all joined Daaji for the evening Heartfulness meditation session, after which he gave a talk that touched every heart present in the audience. Daaji expressed his joy saying, “My stay here at DJ Park has been very productive and I admire your sacrifice for coming here despite so many inconveniences. Returning home you will notice even greater changes that will unfold in your day-to-day lives because of these three meditation sessions. Tomorrow I will be returning back home but my heart will always remain here and I intend to come back hopefully on the 11th November.”&nbsp;Touching upon the topic of peace, Daaji reminisced about Babuji Maharaj’s letter to the United Nations dated July&nbsp;8, 1957 where Babuji emphasized that world peace cannot be possible until individual peace is granted. Daaji said, “And who can grant this individual peace? No one, but yourself. It’s an individual attitude: a person under turbulence can remain unshaken and a person without any sort of problems remains stressful and anxious. Our path, the Heartfulness way is a direct gift from the Divine because through this&nbsp;pranahuti or transmission all willing practitioners are able to experience a minimum level of peace.”Daaji threw light on the intricacies of how attaining liberation during this lifetime can take us to that state of non-duality whose inherent quality is peace. He also differentiated the peace that one attains before liberation at the Atma chakra [2nd point in the heart region] and the peace experienced beyond the 9th point.&nbsp; He said, “There is no solution in asking or praying for peace. Liberation is in our hands: no God or Guru can grant it if we are not deserving. So our only job is to become deserving individuals.”Daaji also gave simple solutions as to how one can become deserving individuals. He then went on to reveal, “something that most people have not understood in the very first chapter of&nbsp;Reality at Dawn.” Daaji divulged the true interpretation of Babuji Maharaj’s very profound statement –&nbsp;Where religion ends, spirituality begins; where spirituality ends, reality begins; where reality ends, bliss begins.&nbsp;By linking the intricate concepts of God, divine experiences, desires and transcendence, Daaji clarified the meaning of this statement.

Daaji threw light on the intricacies of how attaining liberation during this lifetime can take us to that state of non-duality whose inherent quality is peace. He also differentiated the peace that one attains before liberation at the Atma chakra [2nd point in the heart region] and the peace experienced beyond the 9th point.&nbsp; He said, “There is no solution in asking or praying for peace. Liberation is in our hands: no God or Guru can grant it if we are not deserving. So our only job is to become deserving individuals.”

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Daaji spent the day at Tiruppur, conducting meditation and question and answer sessions and meeting dignitaries. 

Tiruppur 21st October 2024

Despite the heavy downpour from the previous night, the ashram was serene and prepared for the day's events. After the meditation session, Daaji solemnized three weddings in a simple ceremony.&nbsp;<ul><li>Disha and Abhishek</li><li>Astha and Kshitij</li><li>Garima and Sandeep</li></ul>

He returned to the cottage for breakfast, joined by a few guests, including Dr. Kannan, affectionately known as ‘Sanskrit Kannan’ within the Heartfulness community. Their conversation revolved around Dr. Kannan's ongoing study of Vedic texts in the light of Heartfulness teachings, a rich dialogue blending ancient wisdom with the spiritual depth of the Heartfulness approach.

Later in the day, Daaji embarked on the journey to the next destination – Tiruppur. By the time he arrived at the DJ Park Ashram in Tiruppur in the evening, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and eagerness on behalf of the practitioners assembled there. While Daaji was conducting the evening meditation, it began to rain heavily. Many viewed this as a divine affirmation; as if the spiritual hierarchy above was rejoicing alongside the practitioners, their joy mirrored by the rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While Daaji was conducting the evening meditation, it began to rain heavily. Many viewed this as a divine affirmation; as if the spiritual hierarchy above was rejoicing alongside the practitioners, their joy mirrored by the rain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Daaji spent his day solemnizing weddings, discussing Vedic texts and traveling to Tiruppur. 

Chennai and Tiruppur 20th October 2024

Daaji began his day early, looking forward to continue his journey to Chennai. He invited a few Heartfulness practitioners to join him for breakfast, where they discussed plans for the days ahead.&nbsp;His first stop upon reaching Chennai was the Heartfulness International School, Omega branch. There, Daaji launched several important initiatives and took time to meet with school officials. During his speech, he shared his vision to open more such Heartfulness schools across India, calling upon educators within and outside the Heartfulness community to contribute to this noble cause.&nbsp;In response to student inquiries about following one's heart, Daaji answered with his characteristic warmth and clarity, encouraging the youth to trust their inner guidance which is greatly enhanced when nourished by a sincere Heartfulness practice. He explained how a meditative practice strengthens this inner connection, allowing one to navigate life with a deeper sense of purpose.

From there, Daaji proceeded to the Babuji Memorial Ashram in Manapakkam, where hundreds of Heartfulness practitioners from Chennai and nearby centers lined the roads, welcoming him with love and devotion.&nbsp;&nbsp;Daaji enjoyed a hearty South Indian lunch and after a brief rest, he conducted the evening meditation. Several celebrities from the Tamil film industry had been invited to experience Heartfulness meditation by Mr. N. Lingusamy, a Heartfulness trainer and renowned movie director.Daaji inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Youth Seminar with the theme ‘Awaken Your Inner Potential’ with an inspiring talk after meditation. This was followed by an engaging Q&amp;A session with the young participants. Daaji encouraged them to embrace Heartfulness practices with dedication, urging them to research the effects of following one’s heart versus ignoring it. He emphasized that with a consistent meditation routine, they could develop a courageous spirit capable of navigating life's challenges.

As Daaji made his way back to the cottage, a large crowd gathered, each one vying for his attention. Daaji often lovingly reminds everyone that there is no need to struggle for this external attention. He has mentioned that true connection arises from cultivating an inner state of deservingness, where the deep silence of the heart prepares one to receive Divine grace. In this state, the flow of yogic transmission becomes natural and automatic. He gently but firmly asked everyone to leave, before retiring to the cottage for a quiet dinner.This day was filled with moments of deep connection, reflection, and inspiration, as Daaji continued to share the message of Heartfulness with all those who came to meet him.

Daaji inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Youth Seminar with the theme ‘Awaken Your Inner Potential’ with an inspiring talk after meditation. This was followed by an engaging Q&amp;A session with the young participants. Daaji encouraged them to embrace Heartfulness practices with dedication, urging them to research the effects of following one’s heart versus ignoring it. He emphasized that with a consistent meditation routine, they could develop a courageous spirit capable of navigating life's challenges.

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This day was filled with moments of deep connection, reflection, and inspiration, as Daaji continued to share the message of Heartfulness with all those who came to meet him.

Thiruvallur and Chennai 19th October 2024

The following morning saw Daaji rise early to meet more practitioners who with eager hearts had gathered at the hotel to greet him before he left for the venue. The day began with a group meditation, where Daaji, with his signature calm, shared what he had felt during the meditation in his heart. He beautifully explained how once we begin our yogic practice, it is crucial to bring it to completion. Often, it is the unfinished tasks that leaves us with the trauma of regret and guilt, which can be practically impossible to erase.His thoughts flowed like a calm river carrying a deep current of spiritual insight. Leading a holistic lifestyle has been a central theme in Daaji’s talks and work. He emphasized the importance of working on ourselves, making sure not to leave anything unfinished: for a sincere yogi, it is important to note that doing the right thing is a triumph, but neglecting to do the right thing at the right moment can be far more detrimental to one’s spiritual progress.The essence of Heartfulness is to live without creating unnecessary&nbsp;samskaras or mental impressions that weigh us down on our spiritual journey.&nbsp;Akarma, which translates from Sanskrit as action performed with pure love and without attachment, is the ideal state for a spiritual aspirant. The riddles of life – what to do, what not to do, and how to live in the best way – were unraveled by Daaji with ease, making the profound seem simple and achievable.Daaji spoke about the need for self-restraint and how living a life absorbed in divine remembrance can reduce the need for the evening Heartfulness Cleaning practice. When we are truly absorbed in the presence of the Divine, we think and perform actions without creating new imprints on our consciousness. This intensity of practice can help us lead a life of inner peace and harmony.Before leaving, Daaji said that he would have stayed a few days longer if he could have. However, he promised to return soon. He shared how a spiritual guide finds joy in being with sincere and absorbing hearts, ready to deepen their practice and apply the teachings of Heartfulness in their daily lives.

On his way, Daaji made a surprise visit to a Heartfulness trainer’s sari shop. By the time he reached Thiruvallur, Chennai had recovered enough from the heavy rains, and preparations were in full swing to receive him. Interestingly, the rain seemed to follow him, pouring down in Hosur and Vellore after his departure, as though nature itself was in tune with the spiritual energy he emanates. Several thousand practitioners from nearby centers had gathered there, their hearts open and ready to receive their beloved guide.After entering the cottage, Daaji went to his room for a quiet moment to offer&nbsp;prasad. [Sweets offered with an attitude of reverence and in remembrance of the Divine. The sweets are divinized by this infusion of love and reverence, creating an osmosis between what is offered and the one to whom it is being offered.]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After the prasad was distributed, the practitioners made their way to the hall for a meditation session while Daaji took some much-needed rest. Over high tea, Daaji met with a few practitioners, before making his way to inaugurate the Heartfulness International School in Thiruvalllur.&nbsp;This special moment was marked by the first official admission to the school, which was performed by Daaji personally. He then conducted another group meditation in the main hall, followed by a lively and engaging interaction with the practitioners gathered there. Later during dinner, Daaji met with more practitioners before retiring for the night.&nbsp;

Daaji spoke about the need for self-restraint and how living a life absorbed in divine remembrance can reduce the need for the evening Heartfulness Cleaning practice. When we are truly absorbed in the presence of the Divine, we think and perform actions without creating new imprints on our consciousness. This intensity of practice can help us lead a life of inner peace and harmony.

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Daaji’s day was filled with sessions and meetings with abhyasis and his travel from Hosur and Vellore to Thiruvallur.

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