(1956 – Present)
Kamlesh D. Patel is an original voice in an ancient tradition. Known
to many as Daaji, his teachings on Heartfulness Meditation arise from
his personal experience, while reflecting his deep spirit of enquiry
and respect for the world’s great spiritual traditions and scientific
advancements.
Born in Gujarat in 1956, Daaji displayed an early interest in
meditation and spirituality. He started Heartfulness Meditation at the
age of nineteen, while studying to be a pharmacist. Soon after, he met
his first Guru, Babuji, the second guide in the Heartfulness lineage.
After graduating with honours from L.M. College of Pharmacy in
Ahmedabad, Daaji married and moved to New York City. There, he and his
wife raised their two sons, while he steadily built a successful
pharmacy business. At the same time, Daaji continued to pursue his
love of meditation as a devoted disciple of Babuji’s successor,
Chariji. Over the years, Daaji played an increasingly active role in
the Heartfulness Movement, both organisationally and by spreading its
message and teaching its method. In 2011, Chariji selected Daaji as
his spiritual successor.
As the leader of the Heartfulness Movement, Daaji now fulfils the many
duties of a modern-day guru, travelling widely and extending his
support to seekers everywhere. Daajifirmly believes in nourishing
today’s youth with practical self-management tools and universal
values. Under his guidance, students and faculty in over 2,500
schools, universities, and colleges are now benefitting from a
portfolio of value-based self-development programs.
As a self-professed student of spirituality, Daaji devotes much of his
time and energy to his personal research in the field of spirituality
and consciousness, and regularly shares his findings through public
speaking engagements, his website and social media platforms, and in
broadcast, print, and digital media. Daaji’s articles have appeared in
various leading publications including Huffington Post, Chicago
Tribune, Times of India, and Business Standard. His well-received
Radio City Swaran series, Dil Ki Awaaz, ran for twelve episodes.
Daaji advocates bridging ancient tradition with modern scientific
understanding, and has assembled a team of one hundred scientists to
research the physiological and genetic effects of meditation and yogic
transmission. He believes in approaching spirituality with scientific
methodology – a practical approach stemming from his own experience
and mastery in the field. As he often says, “You are the experimenter,
the experiment, and also its result.”
Daaji's wish is for Heartfulness Meditation to be available to every
household around the world. Under his guidance, Heartfulness
organisations offer free meditation training at thousands of Heartspots
and Retreat Centres in 130 countries, and Heartfulness trainers are
available worldwide for individual and group meditation in person or
remotely via the Let’s Heartfulness app for iPhone and Android.
To learn more about Daaji, please visit
http://www.daaji.org/