FAQ

Meditation is a tool. The intention we make during meditation of “the Source of divine Light is already present within my heart, and is attracting me from within,” and the lifestyle we adopt in day-to-day life, will either be in sync or at odds. A conscious lifestyle and positive regenerative values will complement a meditative practice. When we adopt a…... Read More.

Scientists have been studying meditation empirically for the last 60 years, and the impact of meditation on neuroplasticity, brain health and overall well-being has been established. We have sufficient proof that meditation improves stress management, sleep management, decisionmaking, emotional intelligence and relationship-building. Meditation has been shown to improve individual well-being, and this in turn positively impacts communities and society in…... Read More.

Cleaning the mind of its excessive thoughts and worries restores and rejuvenates the mind. GUIDED LIMB CLEANING • Imagine the divine current is flowing from above you. • Draw the current down to your heart. • Now let this current move towards your left shoulder, then let it descend down your arm to your biceps, your elbow, your wrist, your…... Read More.

Fast breathing is one manifestation of stress. Conscious efforts to slow down your breathing can reduce the effects of stress and bring immediate relief. LEFT NOSTRIL BREATHING • Relax your body and mind. • Close your right nostril with your right thumb. • Smile while you breathe. • Slowly inhale through your left nostril and exhale through your left nostril,…... Read More.

Life is a continuous process of facing and solving problems and challenges, as we are living in the VUCA world, and sometimes it is overwhelming. Our bodies and minds get stressed. Not all stress is bad – eustress is positive stress, and distress is harmful stress – but prolonged, uncontrollable distress can negatively affect our immunological, neurological, physiological, and psychological…... Read More.

Stress originates in the energy field of the heart-mind and then affects different parts of the body. Relaxation can have deeper effects on both the body and mind. GUIDED RELAXATION • Sit comfortably and close your eyes very softly and very gently. • Let’s begin with the toes. Wiggle your toes. Now feel them relax. • Feel the healing energy…... Read More.

The term ‘Master’ refers to God – the Divinity within each of our hearts. But if the prayer is addressed to God, then why repeat the sentence, “Thou art the only God and Power to bring us up to that stage?” This question is worth pondering, and you will have to draw your own conclusion. In fact, the entire Heartfulness…... Read More.

Prayer has been the natural response of humans to cope with difficult situations in life, such as poverty, petulance, sickness, death or disaster. Traditionally we pray to a higher power or god for things of necessity and want. Prayer cultivates an attitude of humility and acceptance, and establishes our relationship with the source in the right manner. It creates a…... Read More.

Begin your morning meditation with a silent offering of the Heartfulness Prayer. Offer it once and start meditation. You may also offer the same prayer at night, just before going to sleep. At that time, repeat the prayer a few times, and allow yourself to become absorbed in the feelings that unfold within you. In this prayerful state, go to…... Read More.

Meditating with regularity, at the same time ever day, makes meditation easy. It becomes our natural inclination at that moment – just as taking breakfast at the same time daily makes us naturally hungry at that time. With regularity of timing, we can sink into deep meditation from the very moment that we sit down. Regularity creates a biorhythm, establishing…... Read More.

Is it so easy to fall asleep in an upright pose in a matter of only a few minutes? We must understand that in deep meditation our condition resembles that of a sleeping person, and it is known as a Samadhi-like state. However, we can easily understand whether we have been sleeping or meditating by observing how we feel afterward.…... Read More.

The mind is our friend, not our enemy. Just as the eyes are for seeing and the ears are for hearing, the mind is for thinking. We cannot forcefully stifle its activity, nor should we. There is a reason for the rush of thoughts that sometimes occurs during meditation. Think of what happens when you open a fizzy beverage. There…... Read More.

The length of meditation is dictated by how you feel. If you are benefiting from meditation you will sit longer. If you are disturbed, however, it is a good idea to start with the Heartfulness Cleaning for 10 minutes, and then attempt meditation. If you are able to sink into deep meditation within a few minutes, then perhaps you only…... Read More.

The essential principle of meditation is that you become what you meditate upon. You imbibe the qualities of that object of meditation. So what sort of object will lead us towards enlightenment? The object of Heartfulness Meditation is union with the higher Self, the Source, and that is also the meaning and purpose of Yoga. Only like can unite with…... Read More.

The best pose is the one in which you are comfortable. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he writes, “Posture should be that which is steady and comfortable.” Your pose should be steady enough that you can hold it easily for the duration of your meditation. However, what Patanjali points out is that only a comfortable pose can truly be steady, otherwise…... Read More.

Children from the age of 5 years can learn both the Heartfulness Relaxation and Heartfulness Prayer. Many children enjoy doing these practices, but there is also no need to force them. Anyone who has completed 15 years of age can learn all the Heartfulness practices, including Relaxation, Meditation, Cleaning and Prayer.... Read More.

The most fascinating aspect of Heartfulness is pranahuti, or yogic Transmission. Transmission has been defined as “the utilization of divine energy for the transformation of a human being.” Here we are not speaking of physical transformation, as our bodies are limited by our genetic makeup. When we speak of transformation, we refer to our personality or our mental intellectual and…... Read More.

Problems with sleep are endemic in modern urban society. Disciplining our sleep cycle changes our life, because how well and how deeply we sleep determines our state of mind throughout the day. Generally, it is better to sleep early to be in tune with natural cycles. Also, meditation will improve drastically, as we are not struggling with our consciousness. When…... Read More.

If you can lead a stressful lifestyle, you also have the choice to create a calmer lifestyle. If you want to feel peaceful and calm, meditation is key. Even if it takes an hour of meditation to achieve twenty-three hours of a good day, is it not a good investment of time? Take the example of physical well-being: If you…... Read More.

Most Heartfulness practitioners lead normal family lives, raising children and going to work. They are not extreme, in the sense that they don’t go into the material world so much that their spiritual world suffers, and they don’t go into the spiritual world so much that their material existence suffers. Heartfulness advocates a balanced existence: balance within, balance in the…... Read More.

The name ‘Sahaj Marg’, or ‘natural path’, says it all. Everything about our approach to spirituality must be natural. Many people find that their lifestyle automatically adjusts itself after some time due to the inner changes brought about by the practice. Many unwanted habits simply drop off. Whenever you realize that you have a bad habit, however, and it is…... Read More.

A vegetarian diet is best suited for a wayfarer on the spiritual path. If you are attached to laddus or other sweets, and feel that the meal is not complete without them, even though this is vegetarian it will create unpleasant ripples within. The partaking of a meal with gratitude somehow evokes pious feelings and aids digestion and assimilation. If…... Read More.

If you can sit comfortably without being disturbed, feel free to meditate. The moment you begin to feel uneasy, there is no need to force yourself to meditate.... Read More.

Do you stop taking breakfast or lunch while traveling? When you are in a flight or traveling by train, if the heart is inclined to meditate there is no harm. Simply be careful of your individual possessions if you are alone, and ensure that the destination is not missed!... Read More.

Heartfulness does not distinguish between the material and spiritual aspects of life. A bird flies with both wings. When both wings are equally outstretched, the bird flies as straight as an arrow. If the bird leans towards one side, it flies in circles. Our life also has two wings. We can call them the material and spiritual wings. If we…... Read More.

Heartfulness trainers are themselves practitioners on the path who have voluntarily taken up the duty of training others in the practices of Heartfulness and by imparting yogic Transmission. To be a trainer is not a profession. Trainers are volunteers who earn their livelihood through other means; rather, to be a trainer is a vocation. They are enabled to impart Transmission…... Read More.

The main purpose of learning from a trainer is for them to impart yogic Transmission. As already proposed, you can determine for yourself whether a trainer is necessary or not by conducting a simple experiment. Simply meditate on your own without a trainer, and when you are satisfied that you have fully comprehended that experience, meditate along with a trainer,…... Read More.

Just as you judge the capabilities of a chef by the quality of their food, you can judge the guru by the effect of his method and Transmission. To judge the method, you will have to practice it for some time. If you find its effects to be positive, then you can conclude something about the guru. If you wish,…... Read More.

At first, our relationship is with the practice, and there is no guide or guru involved. If we come to a point where our heart longs to know who is behind the effectiveness of the practice, we will observe that .the guru has been at work all along, silently and anonymously. We will observe that he works in the background,…... Read More.

The current Heartfulness guide is Kamlesh Patel, known to many as Daaji. Born in Gujarat, India, in 1956, his own journey with Heartfulness started in 1976, while he was still a pharmacy student in Ahmedabad. After migrating to the USA, he raised a family and started a successful pharmacy business in New York City. In 2011, he was announced as…... Read More.

Comparison is not the only way to assess value. For example, before you can enjoy a mango, do you first sample five or six other pieces of fruit to conclude that the mango is good? No, you simply enjoy the mango. You are happy to eat it. Similarly, when your heart is convinced by your experience with a particular practice,…... Read More.

The path of Heartfulness has stages and destinations, but let’s look at this from another perspective: are they things to be “achieved”? For example, suppose that a son stands to inherit the fortune of his mother. Should the idea of receiving the inheritance ever become his goal? Should that be his motivation for maintaining a good relationship with his mother?…... Read More.

Heartfulness is a heart-centered approach to life, where you will ideally be able to live each moment by the heart. It is to live naturally, in tune with the noble qualities of a heart, enlightened and refined through spiritual practice. These qualities include compassion, sincerity, contentment, truthfulness, and forgiveness; attitudes such as generosity and acceptance; and the heart’s fundamental nature,…... Read More.

We often to use the terms “Heartfulness” and “Sahaj Marg” interchangeably. To be precise, Sahaj Marg is the name of the practices that were first offered to the world by Ram Chandra in the mid 20th century. It means “natural path.” Heartfulness is the heartful approach to this practice, to oneself, to others, and to life itself. Simply put, Heartfulness…... Read More.

Purpose can never be imposed from the outside. Rather, it comes from within. In anything that you choose to do in life, your heart must be convinced. If you play chess, your heart must be convinced before you make a move; if you play music, your heart has to be convinced in order to play the melody. Follow your heart’s…... Read More.

Yes. Heartfulness is based on direct perception and science rather than on religious beliefs, although the founders of all the great religions also based their teachings on their own direct perception and experience. Hence anyone from any traditional or religious background can benefit from these practices. Until you experience something for yourself, you will tend to doubt it. The practices…... Read More.

The fastest response can be immediate. You do not have to wait five years or ten years or even until the next day. The effect can be felt instantaneously, right then and there. It is like sunlight; when you expose yourself to the sun, you immediately feel warm. When exposed to yogic Transmission, you may feel its effects instantly. But…... Read More.

No. Heartfulness practices are always free of charge. As Babuji used to say, “God is not for sale. And if God were for sale, how much would you pay? And if you could afford to buy God, then why would you need God?” The Heartfulness Institute and affiliated organizations run mainly on donations and grants, and are registered as charitable…... Read More.

Behind every religious and spiritual tradition, there is a nameless, formless Reality. In Heartfulness Meditation, we approach that Reality directly. Therefore, this system is universal in its application, transcending name and form. It can resonate with any path that leads toward the Ultimate. The approach followed in Heartfulness evolved out of the ancient tradition of Raja Yoga. To learn more…... Read More.

There is only one requirement, and that is your interest. If you do it because someone else wants you to, it will not be as successful. This is true of any endeavor. Interest and willingness are key to success in anything. There is a saying that you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.... Read More.

In helpless circumstances, sincere prayers and surrender to the Divine are very liberating. The ideal time for prayer is bedtime when you are completely free in your body and mind, after the completion of your day’s activities. REMOVAL OF FEAR • Sit in a comfortable position. • Gently close your eyes and bring your attention to your heart. Dive as…... Read More.

Courage is the antidote to fear. After removing the root cause of fear, we can then fill the heart with courage and confidence. Deep within your heart, there is a space that is free from fear. Here you will experience total freedom. Taking refuge in this space through regular meditation will help you to feel free of your emotional limitations.…... Read More.

Here are two very effective methods to remove the root cause of fear: Method 1 is for general fear of situations, places, events, etc GUIDED LIMB CLEANING • Imagine the divine current is flowing from above you. • Draw the current down to your heart. • Now let this current move towards your left shoulder, then let it descend down…... Read More.

Fear is one of our fundamental emotions. It arises out of the perception of danger or separation; it results in the ‘fight or flight or freezes’ response. It is a survival response that has played a fundamental role in the evolution of humanity and civilization, and it continues to play a critical role today, shaping lives, personalities, and destinies. It…... Read More.

Fear arises first in the energy field of the heart-mind, then in the body, and eventually, it leads to action. The action may be to run away, to attack, to freeze or to call for help so that others come to the rescue, etc. Here is a simple breathing technique that activates the calming part of your autonomic nervous system…... Read More.

GUIDED INQUIRY • What situations and conditions create fear in you? • What memories and imaginary situations create fear in you? • What are your worst fears? • Do you know why are you feel fear? (You may not always know the real cause, and that is okay.) • Write your discoveries in your journal.... Read More.

It is recommended that you try the Heartfulness Relaxation. At the end of the process, revisit the affected organ and allow the energy from Mother Earth to flow there. Spend more time with that organ, and if necessary you can gently touch the same with your hands and allow the energy to comfort the organ or the region. Also, during…... Read More.

If you miss the chance to complete the cleaning in the evening, you can attempt it just before you go to bed.... Read More.

Because cleaning removes the accumulated impressions of the day, it is best done in the evening, after you have finished the majority of the day’s work. It is like coming home and immediately taking a shower before doing anything else. Because cleaning requires alertness, it is best not to put it off until bedtime, when you are too sleepy to…... Read More.

Cleaning is a way to remove the emotional burdens that we carry on a daily basis. These burdens are the emotional content of our experiences, and the emotional residue that lingers from our past, our memories. In yogic terminology, these burdens are known as samskaras, or impressions. Over time, impressions harden into tendencies of thought and emotion, causing us to…... Read More.

Recalling daily events will only deepen their impact. The idea is to remove the impact created by events without recalling them.... Read More.

Anger is an emotional reaction that is often expressed outwardly against someone or something. The reaction leaves an impression in your field of consciousness and deprives it of its original joyful state. Cleaning of these impressions restores that joyful state. Whenever you experience anger, take a few minutes to clean and free yourself from the effects. Guided “Ocean of Peace”…... Read More.

Anger expresses in the way we speak and behave, leading to harsh words, arguments, and hurtful actions. By connecting to your higher Self and modulating your speech to resonate with the gentle current of the Divine, you can learn to manage anger by preventing its negative manifestation. Over time, by practicing the following exercise, you can manage the way you…... Read More.

If misused, the fire of anger can destroy a happy family, friendship and peace of mind. It can lead to bitterness and revenge, self-affliction, loss of self-confidence and loss of courage.  Anger affects your body, mind, and heart. It is a contraction of energy manifesting as stiffness in the body, physical dysfunction, and a loss of energy, sensitivity, and awareness.…... Read More.

Anger leaves an impression on your heart. Though the anger may have passed, the emotional memory may still remain and become the seed for a future bout of anger. This can become a habit. Flooding the heart with higher love can dissolve the habit and offer permanent freedom. GUIDED MEDITATION • Gently close your eyes and let your body relax.…... Read More.

Anger also affects the physical body—so releasing physical tension eases the inner body, emotions and thought flow. GUIDED RELAXATION AND ATTENTION • Sit comfortably and gently close your eyes. • Relax your hands and fingers. Feel the tension-reducing. • Let your shoulders drop. • Bring your awareness to your face, drop your jaw, and relax your mouth. • Feel all…... Read More.