In the evening, Daaji met with Bonita Hampton Smith, author and Chief Operating Officer of The King Center.
Early in the conversation, Daaji asked her about where she lived in Arkansas and turned to someone in the room to locate the nearest Brighter Minds instructor and preceptor. That person came back five minutes later with the details of the nearest abhyasi who happened to be in a nearby town, Bentonville, AK. Bonita was surprised at how quickly they were able to locate someone for her to connect with!
Daaji and Bonita chatted on the importance of a heartful living and promoting a nonviolent lifestyle.
Bonita: Where do you see the Heartfulness movement going?
Daaji: I would like every heart to experience the Heartfulness way of meditation at least once in their lifetime. And then see if it’s their way, and if they can incorporate it into their lifestyle. Close your eyes and sit for a few minutes and receive the Grace, that’s all. Once it becomes a daily habit, then one will be able to witness the ever-changing life - you won’t feel ‘I’m stuck.’ This feeling of being stuck will never be there. Either something greater will pull you up or fellow members from the congregation will push you up.
Daaji discussed with Bonita the logistics of introducing batches of children to Brighter Minds. He said, “That part [of locating the nearest trainer from Chicago, etc.] you leave to us. You just do your part – where can they assemble. And have batches of children, spread over a few weekends. We need at least 8 weekends for one batch. We can do it simultaneously – in the morning and evening for 3 hours each. So like that we can handle 2-4 batches depending on how many trainers we get. This can continue throughout the year. In summer, we could have it run continuously for the whole week.”
Bonita: That would be amazing! I was in a meeting today where they said they were having the college football playoffs coming here. The gentleman in the meeting was from Arkansas but we didn’t know it. We both were sitting there and thinking, ‘we need to do something for Arkansas’ because we both landed in the same meeting today. It just feels like a full circle.
Daaji: It is in the air!
Bonita: Yes. It really is. I’m a crier, so I can’t keep from crying, because it means so much.
Daaji: When a few of our children begin to do that [the exercises], please, reserve your tears for that moment.
Bonita: Okay, I'll do that.
Daaji: Cry all you want then.
Bonita: Does that mean you don’t want to see me cry? (room erupted in laughter). These are tears of joy.
Bonita: The county where I was born, they were great; wonderful people in my county. Just under-resourced, though. So there are many such places where bright children just don’t have resources. And this would take them beyond the physical, to understand the possibilities.
Daaji: Yes. The only thing is you have to continuously keep inspiring them to practice these brain gym exercises.
Someone in the room recounted that earlier Bonita had shared that she was listening to the Spiritual Anatomy audio book in the car, while driving, and in between it said ‘Close your eyes’ (the room erupted in laughter). “They need a disclaimer,” Daaji joked, “we need to remove that!”
Daaji: You see, even if you’re sitting comfortably and listening to that book, it will still bounce. That book, Spiritual Anatomy is meant to be read. You can listen, but how much will you understand?
Daaji: Tell all your friends, if they can’t fall asleep, do this relaxation while lying down. It’s often better than sleep medication.
Daaji signed and handed her two sets of books – one for her and another for Dr. Bernice A. King (CEO of the King Center and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.). Then Daaji invited Bonita to take a sitting and experience Heartfulness Polarity.
