Kanha Shantivanam 14th May 2023

Daaji's day began with 30 practitioners from Pune arriving at Kanha Meditation Hall to see him. Daaji met with Dr. Mukesh Kumar Sinha, Chairman of the Godavari River Management Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, before leading a group meditation and officiating a few weddings. Smt. Vaidhya Tanuja Nesari, Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda, and a few other practitioners met Daaji at Gokul Point and walked with them. While walking, Daaji talked about different types of flora, various farming techniques, and deep root irrigation. Daaji met a few people in the evening who had come to congratulate him on receiving the Padma Bhushan.

A young girl presented a box of prasad (an offering) to Daaji; upon being asked what it was for, she said that it was her birthday the next day that she would be turning 15 and that she wished to be initiated into meditation. Daaji permitted her to start the meditation practise and asked her if she knew the process. To this, the young girl promptly started explaining the cleaning process. Daaji, with a smile, told her that he would teach her how to meditate and explained the method. Daaji said, "As you said, you understood correctly. Relax, have your attention towards the heart, and pray to God. God, I don't know you." Daaji looked at the girl and asked, "Well, do you know him?" The girl answered, "No." Daaji then said, "So, it’s good to be honest with him. I don't know you. I don't even know whether you are there or not. And what I would like to experience is your presence if you are there, and just wait for that." Saying thus, he asked her to sit and join the meditation. He asked the others present to also join in the meditation, saying, "Meditation to me is also prayerful waiting. Meditation is a kind of prayerful waiting for the Lord to descend. So we provide that environment inside our hearts, free from impurities and complexities.

The day began with around 30 practitioners from Pune gathering behind the meditation hall to meet Daaji. Daaji reached the meditation hall at 7.23 am, met the eager practitioners from Pune, and proceeded to pose for a group photo on their request. Daaji also met Dr. Mukesh Kumar Sinha, Chairman, Godavari River Management Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, for a few minutes before proceeding to conduct morning meditation. Daaji conducted the group meditation from 7.30 am until 8.23 am and then solemnised six weddings. 1. Anisha from Khalilabad and Azad from Khajani 2. Uma from Baran and Rajkumar from Sikar 3. Shobhikashree from Erode and Praveen from Vellore 4. Dixha from Guna and Anuj from Gwalior 5. Sowmya from Kanha and Shivam from Kolkata 6. Ashika and Shubham from Kanha

Following this, Daaji returned home, where he met several guests and practitioners who were eager to meet him. Around 11.10 am, Smt. Vaidhya Tanuja Nesari, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, Ayush, and a few other practitioners met Daaji in Gokul Point. Daaji conducted a short meditation from 11.15 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and then proceeded to go on a walk with them. While walking, there was a steady flow of conversation, with Daaji pointing out the diverse varieties of flora growing in the forest behind Gokul Point and explaining their importance and benefits to an awestruck group. He also explained the various farming techniques implemented as well as the deep root irrigation techniques that were carried out using solar power. He then took the group over to the hydroponics farm and walked them through it, all the while describing the techniques used and their use for farmers. Tanuja Ji expressed her astonishment and awe at the various projects and their results. After this, the group returned to Gokul Point and joined Daaji for lunch. After lunch, they took their leave.

In the evening, Daaji again met a few guests around 5.45 p.m. Amongst them were Dr. Prem Raj, BJP, 3 sarpanches, and 1 youth wing leader, who were in Kanha to meet Daaji and felicitate him for having recently been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award. Amidst the guests were Dr. Karthikeyan, IPS (Rtd), and Mr. Rao, Chairman, Pragathi Resorts, who had visited Kanha Shanti Vanam (Kanha) to spend a couple of days in the spiritual oasis and learn about its goings-on. To them, Daaji said, "I would love to show you around and explain all the details." After the felicitation, Dr. Karthikeyan gifted a few of his books to Daaji, who accepted them gracefully. A short while later, a young girl presented a box of prasad (an offering) to Daaji; upon being asked what it was for, she said that it was her birthday the next day that she would be turning 15 and that she wished to be initiated into meditation. Daaji permitted her to start the meditation practise and asked her if she knew the process. To this, the young girl promptly started explaining the cleaning process. Daaji, with a smile, told her that he would teach her how to meditate and explained the method. Daaji said, "As you said, you understood correctly. Relax, have your attention towards the heart, and pray to God. God, I don't know you." Daaji looked at the girl and asked, "Well, do you know him?" The girl answered, "No." Daaji then said, "So, it’s good to be honest with him. I don't know you. I don't even know whether you are there or not. And what I would like to experience is your presence if you are there, and just wait for that." Saying thus, he asked her to sit and join the meditation. He asked the others present to also join in the meditation, saying, "Meditation to me is also prayerful waiting. Meditation is a kind of prayerful waiting for the Lord to descend. So we provide that environment inside our hearts, free from impurities and complexities." Daaji conducted the meditation session from 5.59 p.m. to 6.22 p.m.

Post-meditation, Daaji discussed a few upcoming plantation projects with the group and then asked Dr. Karthikeyan and Mr. Rao to join him for a walk. He escorted them around the ashram and then finally took them to the Kanha Sarovar. Walking around, Daaji explained to the duo how the area had been developed, pointing out several interesting facts about the place. Back home, he took Dr. Karthikeyan and Mr. Rao on a walk to the forest behind Gokul Point, shedding light on the varied flora. They walked to the hydroponics farm, admiring the deep root irrigation system, before ultimately being awestruck by the floating hydroponics system installed there. The pair joined Daaji for dinner at his house, which was followed by a demonstration of Brighter Minds. Daaji then dropped Dr. Karthikeyan and Mr. Rao at the Pearl Hotel for the night and, once back home, retired for the day.