Guyana Visit June 11th–12th 2024

Guyana, “Land of Many Waters,” is a country on the Northern coast of South America, and is the least densely populated country on Earth, with a wide variety of natural habitats and a large portion of the landscape being a part of the Amazon rainforest.

Beloved Daaji arrived at Georgetown, Guyana, on a beautiful evening on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He was accompanied by a handful of Heartfulness practitioners and trainers for this first visit. Upon arrival and a brief resting period, Daaji proceeded to a state dinner with the Hon’ble President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.

The vision Daaji had for Guyana would unfold over the next day, charged with hope and confidence both at spiritual and humanitarian levels.

The Hon’ble President Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister, and several ministers from the cabinet of Guyana were present at the dinner, along with representatives from the Indian High Commission. The President welcomed Daaji and honored him in recognition of various accomplishments of Heartfulness. The audience was treated to a demonstration of Brighter Minds and enjoyed the volunteer participation of the Prime Minister.

The next morning, the team visited the agricultural research facilities in Georgetown and met with the Minister of Agriculture. The minister expressed numerous challenges that Guyana was facing in terms of Rice cultivation and the loss of crops due to infestation, seaweed affecting vegetation, efficiency in hydroponics for organic microgreens, and soil erosion challenges in mangroves along the coast. The minister expressed keen interest in research and learning at Kanha Shanti Vanam and anticipates using guidance from Daaji in addressing the issues. The minister and his staff are expected to visit Kanha in the coming months. The minister extended an invitation for scientists from India to visit and exchange learnings for agricultural reform.

Guyana is also seeking guidance and assistance from Heartfulness in the development of Eco-tourism. There was significant interest in learning about the ‘Agritechture’ framework that Daaji has created as a model for self-sustainability in housing development. Daaji also extended this idea to include residential learning facilities.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Travel and Tourism, the team was presented with a vision for elevating the presence of Guyana as one of the world’s better tourist destinations. With 90% of Guyana's landscape being a rainforest, there are numerous opportunities for adventures, birding, and glamping. Combined with the Agritechture Framework, it presents a unique opportunity to attain the goal of eco-tourism.

Daaji stressed the potential for the development of the education system and the vision for enhancing the agricultural system. Daaji believes that adopting the Brighter Minds and value-based education system would equip the children of Guyana to lead the country to greater heights.

After a brief siesta, Daaji so was happy to meet with the first practitioner in Guyana, who was introduced by a trainer who had traveled to Guyana a few months earlier. He greeted him and remarked, ‘This is only the beginning’.

Daaji had high tea with the Head of Defense, the High Commission of the UK, and other interfaith leaders. Daaji introduced Heartfulness with a meditation session with all present. After the meditation, the Head of Defense recalled a near-death experience where he had crashed a plane in the Amazon rainforest. The rescue efforts ceased that night, and he was stranded in the wilderness, bleeding profusely, amongst vampire bats, animals, and crawling carnivores. Certain that he was going to die, he resorted to centering himself in his heart and felt a strange sense of safety. He identified that the feeling he had in the meditation with Daaji was identical to the episode of safety and protection on that scary night. He was rescued the next morning.

The Hon’ble Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, visited Daaji at the Arthur Chung Convention Center. There was significant alignment between Daaji and the Vice President to bring Guyana to the forefront of agricultural prowess by founding a best-in-class agricultural research institution.

Daaji spoke on the benefits of yoga and meditation at the Convention Center, attended by several dignitaries, scores of students, and parents. Daaji’s talk was followed by a demonstration of Brighter Minds, Meditation and a Q&A session. After the presentation, Daaji met with several students and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. Many of the visitors expressed their commitment to begin the Heartfulness practice.

Daaji departed for the US on the morning of June 13, with a sense of happiness, having laid the foundation for further progress and anticipating many more heartful visits to Guyana.