Paris 13th May 2024

Daaji got up early and got ready to depart to Paris from Dubai. He left to the airport around 6 a.m. to board the flight EX73/A380, which was scheduled to depart at 8.20 am

A bright day in Paris with ambient temperatures of late spring welcomed Daaji to France. Many abhyasis had come to receive him at the airport. Landing at 2:30 pm on the flight from Dubai to Paris, he was driven to his hotel, which was in the heart of Paris. He was much-awaited, as days before his arrival, the ashram had been prepared to receive him and all those who were travelling with him. 

Daaji went straight to his hotel just near the Ile Saint Louis, a few minutes’ walk from the ashram of Paris. He entered the room reserved for him and immediately offered prasad to Babuji Maharaj. He distributed the prasad, and while giving it to a young boy, a little bit of it dropped on the floor. Daaji immediately asked that it be picked up with care. Not a drop of prasad should be allowed to be on the floor, much less wasted. Daaji then discussed the plan of his visit before retiring to rest for a while. 

At four thirty in the afternoon, he was ready and began preparing to go for the satsangh at the ashram. He arrived at the ashram by car, and on the way, he saw a very interesting ice cream card in front of the famous Tour d’Argent restaurant. He asked that it be photographed, as it was a good idea to try a similar setup for our salad bar at Kanha Shantivanam. It is always inspiring to see how he remarks on interesting things and relates them to improving things for our projects!

At the ashram, he walked in admiring on the walls, the original paintings displayed by Sister Kathleen Scarboro, an American artist living in Paris, which were hanging as a colorful exhibition on India’s beautiful portraits.

He immediately began satsangh upon arriving at the ashram. After satsangh, Daaji said he would answer questions, if any. When asked how he felt about being there, he said, “I am so delighted to be here after a long absence of 12 years. I believe we must have cancelled our travel plans at least 30 or 40 times in the past few years. But now I am here because of the grace of Babuji, and the Hierarchy, who have permitted this miracle to happen. Please focus on the few ideas that I am sharing with you now in the next few days that we will spend together in order to intensify your practice.”.

He suggested that money is important, and not just earning it, but how to spend it. In the same way, he asked the abhyasis to think carefully about the gifts of states of consciousness that come with our daily Heartfulness practice, as he did in Dubai. “What is the role of Samadhi? What is the role of these various spiritual conditions we receive during every satsangh, during every moment we meditate, and whenever we think of the Master in constant remembrance? Somehow, we are able to attract that spiritual fragrance toward us. What is the role of that? We have been invited and we have earned, now, how are we going to spend it?"

He explained various aspects of the practice, speaking about the various ways in which one can dive deep into one’s practice.

After that, he went for a brief stroll in the lovely neighborhood, accompanied by some abhyasis. And he came back for dinner at the ashram and invited several abhyasis to join him. After dinner, he went back to the hotel and went to sleep.