28 July, Sancoale Ashram
Nestled in the verdant hills of South Goa, the Heartfulness Sancoale ashram is a place of natural beauty and quietude. Daaji’s visit here was eagerly awaited by all practitioners from Goa and surrounding states. Daaji arrived in the evening at the ashram, where he was received respectfully by many standing outside the hall, and many others waiting inside, silently preparing for the meditation session. Following the meditation, Daaji answered many questions from the youth. Here are some points to ponder upon.
Q: In school where there are smart front benchers, back benchers who don’t care about studies, and weak ones who struggle to even pass. In your class, Daaji, I am the weak one. I don’t want to waste my life, so what is your advice for me?
Daaji: I often say follow your heart, as the person who is really going through whatever be the situation in life, knows best. They also know the outcome and how to steer their way through. One piece of advice, or even hundreds of them are not fit enough because life throws different curve balls, different problems in diverse situations and the solutions that you may have received through advice in the form of dictation may not apply there at all; every time it may differ.
So what is required is a presence of mind, awareness and taking a bold step courageously. Often we know the answer/solution to the problem but the next step is missing, because we lack the courage to follow that step.
Q: It is mentioned that an aspirant must meet his/her Spiritual Guide at least once in a lifetime and that one meeting is enough, but how must that meeting be? Is this (being here in your presence right now) what it means to be ‘meeting the guide’ once in a lifetime?
Daaji: What's wrong in meeting him again and again? [laughter] It was advised by Babuji Maharaj that when you meet your Master at least once during your lifetime, you should not waste that moment. So the biggest question here is how do you meet your Master?
Do you come to him asking for solutions to your problems, looking for answers, or for spiritual gifts? You have to analyze what you are here for and match that with your aspirations. When we first went to see Babuji Maharaj, we had no questions, no expectations—nothing. We were just there. We had no conversations. In his [the Master’s] presence one has to be fully engaged from inside: fully alert like how a cat is, when waiting for a mouse.
Here pratyahara, the 5th step of Ashtanga Yoga, makes lots of sense. It means bringing all your attention inward. In the olden days there were no phones, hence no distractions. These days I wonder; you may be meeting him, but are you really meeting?
Q: Have you fallen in love? And does it happen once, or can it happen again and again?
Daaji: The feeling of love is eternal when we arrive at this stage [in spirituality]. However, I believe your question is from a romantic perspective, right? Well, in that case once is enough! If one [partner] could not satisfy you, the second one will never satisfy you: the romantic game is like that.
