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A WORD, A THOUGHT, A QUESTION

In the November edition of Heartfulness Magazine, we explore divine flow—the currents of benevolence that reach us from beyond. Whether through grace’s spontaneous touch, the directed stream of pranahuti, or other sacred channels, these divine mechanics each work in their own distinct way, touching the heart, clearing obstacles, and opening new dimensions of existence.Daaji clarifies the distinct ways divine assistance operates, distinguishing between grace, pranahuti, shaktipath, and prana-pratishtha. Elizabeth Denley reveals grace as the creative spark behind breakthroughs. Jarna Khimani traces her journey from desire to stillness. And much more.We welcome contributions from all—whether you have an idea, perspective, or story you want to share, please email contributions@heartfulnessmagazine.com.

November 2025 Edition

<h3 style="text-align:center;">A Dialogue on Grace, Pranahuti, Shaktipath, and Prana-Pratishtha</h3><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI clarifies four transformative processes— and why grace stands apart—compiled by APOORVA PATEL from a dialogue with SUCHIT R. and KESAV S.</h4>&nbsp;Suchit: Daaji, in Heartfulness practice, we hear and read a lot about pranahuti. How is it different from other types of spiritual transmission, such as prana-pratishtha or shaktipath?Daaji: That’s a lovely point to start with. You see, pranahuti is very different from other practices, even though people often mix them up. Let me tell you about four different realities: pranahuti, prana-pratishtha, shaktipath, and grace. Each has its own nature, specific mechanisms, and purposes.&nbsp;Apoorva: Seekers of spirituality might assume that the four of those are just different forms of the same thing—ways of infusing divinity into the material world, right?&nbsp;Daaji: That’s what most people get wrong. Let’s look at each one and see how wonderfully different they are. Firstly, there’s pranahuti, which is the basis of our Sahaj Marg [Heartfulness] practice. In Sanskrit, pranahuti means the offering of prana, or the life force. In our system, as Babuji defined it so clearly, it is the use of Divine power to change people. This is not philosophy! It is real life.&nbsp;Kesav: How exactly does pranahuti work?Daaji:&nbsp;Pranahuti flows directly from the heart of a Master of caliber to the heart of the person who receives it. But the important part is, this transmission is initiated by the power of will. The Master’s conscious will creates two main types of spiritual effects. The first is the ridding of obstacles, in which samskaras, or impressions that get in the way of growth, are broken down. The second effect is the creation of spiritual states. Pranahuti can directly create or bring about certain spiritual states in the aspirant, thereby raising their consciousness. Its effect is a progressive, systematic transformation.Kesav:&nbsp;But what is being transmitted? What is the energy?Daaji:&nbsp;Pranahuti means “life of life” or the prana of prana itself. Thus, pranahuti is not ordinary vital energy, but the most refined, divine essence. You can call it divine energy, ultimate energy, or the most subtle consciousness. This is what makes pranahuti so special—it is what we call “forceless force,” or “powerless power.”Apoorva: But that sounds like a contradiction of itself!Daaji:&nbsp;It does, but these contradictory words capture its essence perfectly. You see, pranahuti works without causing any resistance or reaction, unlike regular force. Let’s take an example. What would happen if you reprimanded your children harshly, really shouting at them?Apoorva:&nbsp;They would react immediately, by getting very upset or defensive.&nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;Exactly. Force makes people react, but does it actually change them? Usually not. Force always causes an instantaneous reaction, but love can change people without making them react. Pranahuti is the process by which divine love is poured into our hearts. As it is not forced, it will work over infinite distances and through all of time. Love alone can act, breaking all barriers.Kesav:&nbsp;And what is the “powerless power” referring to?Daaji:&nbsp;It can be used to describe the Center, or God, which doesn’t really have power on its own. But powerlessness includes the idea of power that is stuck, as is the case at the Center. This means that the stagnant or static state, which is seen as powerlessness, is the real source of power.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Pranahuti means “life of life” or the prana of prana itself.&nbsp; Thus, pranahuti is not ordinary vital energy,&nbsp; but the most refined, divine essence.&nbsp; You can call it divine energy, ultimate energy,&nbsp; or the most subtle consciousness.&nbsp; This is what makes pranahuti so special— it is what we call “forceless force,” or “powerless power.” &nbsp;</h4><hr>Suchit:&nbsp;And what about prana-pratishtha? I’ve heard about this, but I’m not sure I’ve understood what it means. Is it the same as pranahuti?Daaji:&nbsp;This is where many people get confused. While prana-pratishtha is a religious ceremony, it is very different from what we do in Sahaj Marg. Here you would see pujaris, or priests, perform rituals to “install” prana into an idol or maybe a sacred image. They do this by reciting specific mantras to call on the divine presence. They are essentially turning a statue into a living embodiment of the deity, making it worshipable. It depends on external ceremony, on mantras, on things outside the body. The whole point of it is to make some object the focus of worship.Suchit:&nbsp;Whereas pranahuti works from within, from heart to heart.Daaji:&nbsp;It doesn’t need any outside rituals or mantras; it happens because the Master wants it to happen, and the seeker is willing to go through with it. It can happen at any distance, and most importantly, it awakens the Divine within the disciple’s own being, not in an outside object. Prana-pratishtha is essentially ritualistic, while pranahuti is entirely inside and based on the Master’s yogic ability.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/divine_mechanics_change2_5e7ba46ad6.webp" alt="divine-mechanics-change2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Pranahuti can directly create or bring about certain spiritual states in the aspirant,&nbsp; thereby raising their consciousness.&nbsp; Its effect is a progressive, systematic transformation.</h4><hr>&nbsp;Kesav:&nbsp;And what about shaktipath? As you mentioned earlier, is it also different from pranahuti?&nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;This is another process meant to awaken a particular chakra or level of consciousness by having one’s guru touch the person’s body directly. In traditional shaktipath, the guru touches specific points on the disciple’s body. This touch is meant to awaken or activate particular chakras, and sometimes that awakening can be quite dramatic! But pranahuti doesn’t require physical touch or even proximity. It works over any distance and is gentle and gradual. It also focuses on overall spiritual growth rather than just chakra activation.&nbsp;Apoorva:&nbsp;So pranahuti, prana-pratishtha, and shaktipath all do involve transmission, but the methods of each are very different.Daaji:&nbsp;Yes, and the results too.Kesav:&nbsp;Now, where does grace fit into all of this?Daaji:&nbsp;Grace is different from all other spiritual processes that involve human intermediaries. It is entirely independent of human action and flows only from divine will. This is probably the most important thing to know when practicing spirituality. Grace works on principles that people can’t understand or control. First, divine sovereignty. Grace comes from God’s will alone, not from human effort, ritual, or even transmission. Second, it is beyond demand. One cannot demand, expect, or earn grace. This is why there is a strong taboo in Brahm-vidya [divine knowledge] against expecting the fruits of one’s actions. If we expect results, then we miss the very essence of surrender.&nbsp;Kesav:&nbsp;Then why practice? If you don’t mind my asking, why not just sit and wait for grace to arrive?&nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;Here is another paradox for you. Grace is not something that can be expected or asked for, since it is independent of human action. However, sincere spiritual practice creates the best condition for receptivity. Grace is not an arbitrary thing; it responds to the seeker’s sincerity, surrender, and effort. <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/simplify-your-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spiritual practice</a> is the expression of one’s sincerity. So, grace interacts with personal practice in ways that enhance it. While sincere effort lays the foundation, grace provides the necessary upliftment to go beyond limitations.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Spiritual practice is the expression of one’s sincerity. So, grace interacts with personal practice in ways that enhance it.&nbsp; While sincere effort lays the foundation, grace provides the necessary upliftment&nbsp; to go beyond limitations.</h4><hr>&nbsp;Apoorva:&nbsp;How can we identify grace when it comes? Sometimes, we are not able to say for sure whether what we experienced in a meditation session was transmission or divine grace.Daaji:&nbsp;Grace is the love and help that the Divine gives freely, without expecting anything in return. It is not earned through good deeds or rituals, nor is it the result of bargaining or asceticism. Instead, it comes from the abundant love and compassion of God. When you are under the spell of grace, you melt. Even the power of pranahuti is much smaller than grace. There is actually a sort of hierarchy of power, you see: Grace is more subtle than <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/experiencing-pranahuti" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pranahuti</a>, which is subtler than shaktipath, which is subtler than prana-pratishtha. Really, grace can do in an instant what hundreds of pranahuti sessions can do over time. What pranahuti does subtly over long distances through the Master’s will, shaktipath tries to do through direct physical intervention. What all three do internally, prana-pratishtha does externally through rituals that usually have very shallow, short-lived effects.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Grace is the love and help that the Divine gives freely, without expecting anything in return.&nbsp; It is not earned through good deeds or rituals,&nbsp; nor is it the result of bargaining or asceticism.&nbsp; Instead, it comes from the abundant love&nbsp; and compassion of God or a realized being. When you are under the spell of grace, you melt.</h4><hr>&nbsp;Suchit:&nbsp;Knowing these differences must have some impact on our practice now. In the real world, day-to-day practices, I mean.&nbsp;Daaji:&nbsp;We need to be welcoming of pranahuti with reverential receptivity. Be open and regular, knowing that the Master’s will decides how you progress. And with grace, the keyword is surrender. This means letting go, being grateful when grace touches, and learning to recognize it when it works, even when it’s not so obvious.&nbsp;Kesav:&nbsp;And where does cleaning fit in with all this?Daaji:&nbsp;Now this is an important one. The most important, I would say. I have to tell you that pranahuti won’t help you at all without cleaning. Divine energy makes everything stronger. As Babuji said, “Transmit to a thief, and he will become a perfect thief.” So, cleaning gets rid of the unnecessary things while pranahuti builds spiritual qualities. Together, they make a change that works. You can’t have one without the other.&nbsp;Suchit:&nbsp;So, the combination of cleaning, pranahuti, and grace is the key to spiritual evolution?Daaji:&nbsp;In essence, spiritual evolution is ultimately circular. From God, through the Master, to the disciple, and back to God, transformed and divinized. The process is complete when the aspirant’s refined consciousness merges back into the divine ocean from which it emerged. Remember, pranahuti is a gift like no other, and even then, it pales in comparison to what a single touch of grace can do. This is what really sets the Sahaj Marg path apart: honoring human effort through practice, seeking the Master’s help through pranahuti, and surrendering completely to divine grace, which can do the impossible.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/divine_mechanics_change3_8a9ca8544d.webp" alt="divine-mechanics-change3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">In essence, spiritual evolution is ultimately circular. From God, through the Master, to the disciple,&nbsp; and back to God, transformed and divinized.&nbsp; The process is complete when the aspirant’s refined consciousness merges back into&nbsp; the divine ocean from which it emerged.&nbsp;</h4><hr>&nbsp;

The Divine Mechanics of Change

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">ELIZABETH DENLEY reflects on grace, transmission, and creativity, revealing how grace lies at the heart of inspiration and insight.</h4>Do you sometimes feel that life is blessed and things are unfolding effortlessly, without force or struggle? Some people say it is because of “grace” or “God’s grace.” There is a famous proverb, “There but for the grace of God go I,” attributed to John Bradford, who witnessed criminals being led to their death by execution in the 1500s. It expresses the humility and acceptance that we are not any more worthy, simply blessed by the grace of God.Grace is more likely to be gifted when we are lost in whatever we are doing or in a condition of complete helplessness. This happens when we are no longer the doer, when we transcend ourselves and enter that “invisible somewhere” (to borrow a phrase from Daaji), and our most joyful, creative states emerge.If you look around, you will find the word “grace” appearing often. While it may not be so fashionable these days due to its religious connotations, it has been part of our language for centuries. The Latin “gratus” meant pleasing or thankful; “gratia” in Old French meant favor, charm, or thanks; “grateful” appeared in Old English, and “grace” in Middle English. The words “pleasing,” “thankful,” “gracious,” and “grateful” are all connected to the concept of grace.In Sanskrit, there are several words for grace, including “kripa,” also meaning mercy and blessing; “anugraha,” also meaning favor and blessing; and “prasada,” which refers to grace as a gift. The Hebrew word “hēn” conveys the idea that grace is not earned but given freely by God. A good analogy is that the sun shines on everything, yet we choose whether to expose ourselves to it or not. Similarly, grace is available everywhere, so how do we prepare ourselves to receive it? The way may not be what we think!&nbsp;The most beloved Christian hymn of all time is “Amazing Grace,” which has been recorded by legendary artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. It expresses the beauty of a sinner’s redemption and celebrates the transformative power of divine grace. The hymn’s writer, John Newton, was a slave trader leading an unscrupulous life. A dramatic turn occurred when he was rescued from a storm at sea and was transformed by the grace of God. He experienced a deep spiritual awakening and wrote the hymn to express his gratitude.And then there’s the remarkable transformation of Saint Paul, who was struck by a blinding light on the road to Damascus, heard the voice of Jesus, and was transformed from a persecutor to a lover. He later wrote in a letter to the Corinthians, “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” This statement hints at the importance of qualities like vulnerability and humility. It resonates with the Heartfulness tradition, where Lalaji once shared with Babuji: “The power earned through self-effort is not as potent as that obtained through divine grace. Full power is given only as a gift.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/grace_creative_spark2_554cba846d.webp" alt="grace-creative-spark2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;Creative people resonate with this principle. We may practice an art form diligently to acquire the necessary techniques, yet both a beautiful piece of music and a magnificent painting emerge from beyond the craft. The creative spark is a gift. And this is true in all fields, not only the arts. Did Sir Issac Newton discover gravity through analytical thought? No, it started with the inspiration of watching an apple fall from a tree and asking why it fell down, not up or sideways. His ability to then relate this to the force that held the moon in orbit around the Earth led to the universal law of gravitation.In the Heartfulness tradition, we speak of “divine grace” as flowing from the Base or Center as a gift. The living master readily attracts that flow; in fact, it regularly flows wherever he is and sometimes showers upon us during special, large gatherings where we gather with him to celebrate sacred events. He also utilizes the process of transmission, or pranahuti, which is not as subtle and potent as grace, yet remains a potent catalyst for human transformation initiated by the will of the Master. This ability to utilize transmission was the great rediscovery of Lalaji, which enabled the practices of Heartfulness to flourish from the early 20th century till today, when thousands of trainers around the world form a network that acts as a distribution system for the transmission.In his latest book, The Heartfulness Way, Book 2, Daaji has written, “Babuji said that what we really need for our ultimate purpose is only divine grace, and this is where the role of the master becomes vital. As we discussed, he directs the flow into our hearts and doses it according to our needs and for our growth, through pranahuti.”Babuji also said, “Everything, no doubt, depends upon the divine grace, but our job is to make room for it within ourselves. That is all the purport of our practice or abhyas, to which we should all try to remain alive at every moment.” In other words, our daily meditative practices are the tools that make room for it. By meditating on the heart with transmission, we invite divine grace into our lives every day.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Grace is more likely to be gifted when we are lost in whatever we are doing or in a condition of complete helplessness. This happens when we are no longer the doer, when we transcend ourselves and enter that “invisible somewhere” (to borrow a phrase from Daaji), and our most joyful, creative states emerge.&nbsp;</h4><hr>&nbsp;But there is more! Lalaji also told Babuji, “The condition of right action is created in someone only through God’s grace. This is to say that the origin of that rightness of action is God. Then where is the occasion for pride?” This was the experience of John Newton and Saint Paul, as well as my own and that of many others. Without the gift of God’s grace and the master’s transmission, life would have remained wanting, without true purpose and depth. Various dimensions would not have opened up, and my character could not have transformed. Self-effort is commendable, but it is not enough. Yielding to something higher is essential for transformation. This is the open secret to living in this world and to growing spiritually. And it is not enough to know it intellectually; the revelation has to come from lived experience.Babuji once described an associate who initially visited him with an extremely complex and heavy condition, so Babuji removed the entanglements and heaviness. When the associate visited him a couple of years later, Babuji found him full again, but this time with a subtle form of heaviness, and it was much harder to correct. So he traced the cause to the fact that the associate relied on his own labors rather than on the grace of God.Many artists share this understanding. For example, Julia Cameron, a contemporary teacher of the creative arts and author of over fifty books, most notably The Artist’s Way, describes creativity as a <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/your-life-is-an-expression-of-your-attitudes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spiritual practice</a>. The Baroque composer J.S. Bach relied on God for his inspiration, viewing his musical talent as a divine trust and dedicating every composition to God. The great Michelangelo said, “I work out of love for God, and put all my hope in Him,” and “Only God creates. The rest of us just copy.”Sometimes we hit a creative wall and wait for divine inspiration to flow again. Regarding this, Heartfulness has been life-changing for me, because the master’s ability to direct pranahuti offers continuous presence and inspiration. Creative burnout is widely discussed, but the simple act of meditating with pranahuti can offer unexpected awareness and expanded consciousness, enabling a new perspective and awakening potential in mysterious ways. Although it is not the primary reason for meditating, as we sit with our eyes closed and dive into our hearts, we invite the divine grace, which is available to us all. It is the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/safety-transformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">creative spark</a>.&nbsp;

Grace is the Creative Spark

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">ALANDA GREENE meditates on gratitude and reciprocity, finding ways to honor life's preciousness without denying its suffering.</h4>A Creston woman recently recounted her experience in a check-out line. Behind her, two young men had few items; she waved them ahead. When she came forward to pay, the cashier said she owed nothing. The two young men had paid her bill. Overwhelmed and grateful for their <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/kindness-makes-a-world-of-difference" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">kindness</a>, she resolved to repeat their generosity for another. A friend who heard her story also promised to do the same. Gratitude inspires and begets more of itself. Biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer observes, “If our first response is gratitude, then our second is reciprocity: to give a gift in return.”Last autumn, returning from an exhilarating visit to southern Alberta, I felt huge gratitude for the richness and magic of these days. Their precious gift brought refreshed focus to strengthen my effort to care for our Earth, to serve and honor this land.Attending an evening service [satsang] at Yasodhara Ashram, a suggestion was offered to feel thankful for the gift of a human birth. Though I had not before understood why this is something to feel <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/gratitude-companion-kindness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gratitude</a> for, I did feel it. Suddenly, understanding emerged that with a human birth, I have the gift of choice, the opportunity to consciously evolve and thereby to be of use, to contribute, to offer service.Sometimes I meet advice to be thankful for everything that happens. This I do not yet understand. So much suffering, loss, illness, death—I mourn for the beings who experience this. How can I feel grateful for it? But what I do understand is to use these events to remember that pain, loss, and despair, regardless of their source, are part of life. Remembering this brings forth questions: what then is important? How does one live? My own death will come, its time unknown, as it will for all living things. I can remember to offer kindness, compassion. I feel no gratitude for the increasing pain and distress in our world. But I can use these opportunities to send prayer in whatever form it is understood—words, heartfelt feelings, light—and remember the preciousness of this gift of life, its impermanence, fragility, precariousness. From the Isha Upanishad of ancient India comes the exhortation: O my soul, remember past strivings. Remember.Gratitude brings gifts. Perhaps this understanding prompted Meister Eckhardt’s words, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Gratitude brings gifts. Perhaps this understanding prompted Meister Eckhardt’s words, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Gratitude’s Gift

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<h4 style="text-align:justify;">ROSALIND PEARMAIN speaks of the attitude of softness, the world of the senses—of hard and soft, force and forcelessness, warmth and cold—and how we harken to a more profound and beautiful world at the core of our being through the heart.</h4>&nbsp;We are living in a time of hardening edges, of ever harsher decisions affecting millions of our fellow human beings.On the other hand, Babuji stressed from the very origins of Heartfulness that it was fundamentally based on a forceless force—on softness.Another Heartfulness Guide. Chariji, often reminded us of the strength of a tiny plant root in breaking up rocks:“What is this miracle, you see, that the softest thing can penetrate the deepest, hardest substance known? Whereas a hard thing can only up a hard thing. Can you break water by bashing it with a crowbar?“It was a tremendous risk that the Masters took, Lalaji and Babuji. Because it’s like building a house of butter and then asking the people who come in to have torches in their hands. The whole thing would melt. But they had this almost nonsensical stupid faith, that a soft thing can never be broken.“And we have also, in our fairy tales, that when the wind blew, all the hard trees which would not bend were just blown down, and the soft things which were willing to bend, bent almost to the Earth, recovered. It is the soft which wins the battle always. Not the hard, you see; the hard is broken. It survives until it meets something harder than itself. But the soft, nothing in the universe can break it. Nothing in the universe can destroy it.”<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Our journey in forceless force</h4>It seems that as human beings our souls choose to inhabit a specific existence in time and space as it unfolds on our planet and in relation to all creation.So we find ourselves inhabiting a field of feeling unique to each. Is it woven from DNA and patternings that have been transferred into this lifetime? This field of feeling has many layers and dimensions and knots that we perceive through different sensory gateways. They could be in terms of color or light, density and heaviness, warmth and cold, sound, or as qualities of touch. With the help of a being who is attuned to subtlest dimensions, we can harken to a more profound and beautiful world that is ours at the core, and long to return to this original part of creation.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_power_of_softness2_6da4490505.webp" alt="the-power-of-softness2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;The core of this sensibility is in the organ of the heart which integrates energetic information from the nervous system, from the organs, from viscera, from the brain, from soul. Furthermore our heart can be seen as a kind of organ of sensibility and perception whose intelligence can refine throughout life as it links with the capacity of the mind to focus <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/lack-of-awareness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">awareness</a> with the array of feeling at the most subtle levels.In this vein, then, our existence is a field of vibratory exchange with environment, with all sentient life forms, with human beings. This vibratory array is like a glimmering or a shimmering, sometimes soothing sometimes discordant, similar to the domain of music.It seems to me that the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/spirituality-in-daily-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spiritual journey</a> can bring us closer and deeper to the source of all manifestation of life, as a sound of love resonating through all creation. It is potentially experienced by us in layers of a kind of infinite softness that absorbs and transforms and brings everything into a larger field of connectivity which can keep expanding and softening as it moves towards a steady flow of coherence that can integrate increasing complexities within evolving life.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_power_of_softness3_b5a40fe2a1.webp" alt="the-power-of-softness3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It seems to me that the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/i-am" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spiritual journey</a> can bring us closer and deeper to the source of all manifestation of life, as a sound of love resonating through all creation.</h4><hr>Heartfulness gives us a resource emanating from the most profound and subtle level of vibration; the very original stir, in which to be reminded through a silent soft intimation felt within the heart of our source. This awakens our dormant longing to be dissolved into this field, and resonate in harmony with a nameless and marvelous ultimate. It is in the service of coherence, beauty, truth, and infinite love that we feel our longings for this return to our origin. Our individual journey is shaped by our intrinsic uniqueness and the kinds of samskaras and tendencies that need to be dissolved and reconciled with this core longing.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>

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The power of softness

Ravi Venkatesan and Mark Milton explore listening skills and empathy.

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The superpower of listening

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">This World Storytelling Day, March 20, we bring you a story by SARA BUBBER, based on a common folk template. May the stories within the story entertain you!</h4><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Stories have been a tool in the passage of rites from one generation to the next since time immemorial. Entertainment, knowledge, wisdom, and education was passed down in the form of stories.</h4>Once upon a time, the Earth was an open canvas. People lived a nomadic life. Traveling from one place to another for food, shelter, and clothing was a common sight. With no radio, television, and phones the only way to entertain each other was to tell stories. Stories about new roots, giant trees, and scary tigers. Travelers were given lodging in exchange for stories, work could also be done by telling stories.One such day, a group of friends were traveling. After a long day they were tired and were trying to decide who would fetch firewood and cook for the group. They tried many ways of deciding but then saw a young girl who was coming the same way. They thought they could get her to cook for them while they rested. They asked her where she was from and if she cared to listen to some stories.The young girl loved stories. She immediately agreed. The group of travelers asked if she wanted to make the story session interesting. They placed a little bet. The travelers would tell the girl a story that was absolutely impossible. If the girl said that the story was impossible, she would have to cook food. The bet also went the other way. The young girl would tell a story, and if the travelers would say that it was impossible, they would cook for her instead.The story session began.One of the travelers started: “My grandfather was a poor farmer who worked in a rich household. He was always called names for working as a slow and careless worker. He prayed to God every day. However much he tried, he couldn’t work faster and was scolded endlessly. One day, the God he prayed to appeared in front of him and when he woke he had great strength. The next day as he was scolded, the energy he had felt rushed through his veins, he grew in size, lifted the house, and took a big leap. The house shook, the cupboards fell, the beds flew out and the windows shattered. He kept flying high until his employer begged him to stop. His employer not only stopped calling him names but also gave him the place of a family member.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tale_of_tales2_7bab8dfbf1.webp" alt="tale-of-tales2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;“How was the story? Does someone disagree?” No one disagreed.Another traveler continued: “Once there was a famine in my grandfather’s land. My grandfather was a very weak person. One day, in a fight with his brother, he had to leave home. He thought of finding fame for himself. He walked into a forest and came across a man painting. He painted a deer and, as my grandfather continued watching, to his surprise the deer came alive. He thought it was such an amazing device, that he wanted to possess it. When he got the chance, he went ahead and painted a boat with the owner of the brush in it. He added winds on the lake and blew the owner away. Now he had full possession of the paintbrush. He took the brush back and painted clouds and grains which solved the problems of his village. He became the treasurer of the village and one day, he created a son from the paintbrush. He was so exceptional that there was no girl to match him. Then he created a fully grown young girl as a match for his son. And thus, I was born from parents who were painted. The brush is gone, but it seems like my smooth hair is a gift from the paintbrush. I use the best herbs from the best orchard that my grandfather painted.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tale_of_tales3_5c925060a1.webp" alt="tale-of-tales3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;“This is my story, do you agree?” “Yes we all do.”Now it was the little girl’s turn. She began her story. “My grandparents possessed many things. They were well respected in their community, and helped many people achieve greatness. They possessed hulk-like strength and various magical possessions. One day, in a civil strife, the servants of the house ran away with the chest of hulk strength and some of the magical possessions like a wish-granting paintbrush. My parents looked for it all their life, and today I set off in search. I have finally found all my family possessions with you. It seems you are the long lost servants of our family who have our possessions.&nbsp;“This is the end of my story. Do you agree?” “Yes we do.” The little girl continued, “That is wonderful news, now, give my possessions back.” “But… no we do not agree,” said the group. “Oh, then you must cook for me.” And the little girl, using her wit, rested as the team cooked for her.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tale_of_tales4_c3079e9217.webp" alt="tale-of-tales4.webp"></figure><hr><h3>Interesting facts about stories</h3><h4> &nbsp;Aesop’s Fables</h4>Aesop was a slave who lived in ancient Greece. He wanted freedom more than anything else. He noticed the supervisor of slaves and began to tell stories every day. The supervisor was impressed and one day asked Aesop what he wanted. Aesop asked for food for all his fellow slaves. His selfless gesture made the supervisor give Aesop and his community the freedom they deserved. These tales were combined into the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/once-upon-a-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Aesop’s Fables</a> that you have all loved growing up!<h4>Grimms’ Fairy Tales</h4>Grimms’ Fairy Tales is a German collection of fairy tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, first published on December 20, 1812. It is considered the seminal work of Western children’s literature and is listed by <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/master-yoga-2024-unesco-paris" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UNESCO</a> in its Memory of the World Registry.<h4>Panchatantra&nbsp;</h4>Panchatantra is a collection of stories from ancient India based on politics, behavior, communication, and economics. These stories are based on the Vedas, Upanishads, the Ramayana and Mahabharata as a trove of wisdom. The princes of Amarasakti had no interest in pursuing their studies and thus a teacher, Vishnu Sharma, made a comprehensive manual for these princes to be taught in the form of stories. The Panchatantra started the story within a story form of learning, which delights young readers to this day. &nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tale_of_tales5_3adb201b5e.webp" alt="tale-of-tales5.webp"></figure><hr><h4>Activity 1</h4>Guess these popular stories from the details: 1. A young girl who loses her shoe that gives her the chance to marry a prince:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2. A boy who climbs a tall natural element that grows from magic beans and finds treasures in the clouds:&nbsp;…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. A prince who moves to the forest with his brother and wife to live for fourteen years. The wife is kidnapped and he goes to rescue her with an army of monkeys:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4. A little creature born into a family of ducks goes into the world alone to find his true form:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5. Two unusual friends who come together near a riverbank. The friendship ends when one large friend asks his tree-dwelling friend for his heart:&nbsp;……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………<hr><h4>Activity 2</h4>Write your own story here. It can involve animals, kings, kingdoms, humans, plants, or anything else that tells a story.Create a story with a beginning, some problems that come up, and a solution to end the story.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">AI generated images</h4><hr>

Join Sara Bubber’s adventure tale this World Storytelling Day.

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The tale of tales

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">LYNNE McTAGGART is one of the central authorities on the new science of consciousness, and the award-winning author of seven books, including the internationally bestselling The Intention Experiment, The Field, The Bond, and The Power of Eight. Here, Lynne is interviewed by PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN about the transformative power of intention, the profound impact of group intention, and the potential for individuals to create significant change in their lives and the world.</h4>&nbsp;Q: Lynne, welcome. You are known for your pioneering work in the science of intention in <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-journey-of-total-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">consciousness and healing</a>. You’ve explored this science behind intention so deeply. Can you share how you personally define the power of intention?&nbsp;LM: Okay, well, first of all, it’s important to understand that our thoughts aren’t locked inside our heads. They’re trespassers, and they can go out and affect other people and things. We’ve seen that from countless studies on everything from single-celled organisms to human beings. In my own work, I’ve seen that we can affect everything from making plants grow faster, to purifying water, to lowering violence in war-torn and violent areas, and even healing people of things like post-traumatic stress disorder. And I’ve seen it in big groups and small groups. Essentially, thoughts are energy, just as everything else in the body is a collection of energy and energy fields of different varieties. And those thoughts can go out and affect things.I see an intention as a focused thought. You and I are having about 80,000 thoughts a day, and most of them are undirected, most of them are negative. And they oftentimes undermine our life because we’re focusing on negative outcomes, instead of intending for what we want.So, I always teach intention as a respectful and very specific request to the universe. And I find it gets amplified in small and large groups.Q: During your intention experiments, have you encountered any surprising results? Are there poignant moments, epiphanies, which have made you stop and think? What has defined or redefined your expectations of these intention experiments?LM: I think many of the peace intention experiments really surprised me. I wasn’t at all sure they were going to work when we started in 2007. We started with simple things, trying to affect the light emissions of a leaf. And then we moved on to seeds, trying to make them grow faster. And then we moved on to water, trying to purify water, then trying to lower violence in areas.My first experience of something mind-blowing was the seed experiments. I did my very first seed experiment in 2007 when I was speaking in front of an audience in Sydney, Australia. I worked with the University of California’s Dr. Gary Schwartz, a noted psychologist who has a special laboratory with the Laboratory for Consciousness and Human Evolution. He prepared four sets of seeds, each set with 30 seeds, and had his team photograph them and send them to me. And I showed these to the audience and allowed them to select one of the four seeds to send an intention to. So we sent an intention to seed group A for ten minutes. After we were done, I called Dr. Schwartz and told him we were done, but I did not tell him which seeds we sent the intention to. I told him as that was the cue for him to plant the seeds.Five days later they measured the seeds. After they’d measured them, I unblinded the study and told them which seeds we’d sent an intention to. And lo and behold, those seeds grew taller than any others.We did this five more times in different locations with different-sized audiences. And every single time the seeds that were sent an intention grew taller than the controls. But here’s the fascinating part—I was with my audience in Sydney, Australia, and the seeds were back in Tucson, Arizona, 8,000 miles away. Plus, we weren’t sending an intention to the seeds themselves, only to a photograph of the seeds, a symbolic representation of the seeds. So I realized from that very early time that we essentially create a psychic-internet when we make an intention in a group scattered around the globe. That I could see over and over again with the other intention experiments.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Essentially, thoughts are energy, just as everything else in the body is a collection of energy and energy fields of different varieties. And those thoughts can go out and affect things.</h4><hr>Another one that blew my mind was a Sri Lanka peace intention experiment we ran in 2008, when Sri Lanka was in the midst of a 25-year civil war. We did a peace intention for 10 minutes a day over eight days with 15,000 people participating from around the globe. Now, during that week, to my alarm, violence went up rather than down. And I had a professor of statistics doing the analysis. It then plummeted after that. But a more interesting thing happened. The government won a few decisive battles during that week that turned around the entire course of the war. For some time, both sides had been at a stalemate. Then, within a few months, the government was able to take back the north, which was held by the rebel forces. And a few months later, that 25-year intractable war was over.Now, did we do this? Well, it turned out that during the week of our intention pivotal battles occurred, and that was cause for an extraordinary surprise. When you do one experiment like that, it means nothing. There are too many variables in a war. But when you keep doing it and keep getting results, as we’ve done with peace intention experiments, they start becoming interesting.For instance, in 2017, we ran an experiment to lower violence in St. Louis, Missouri, officially the most violent place in America. And we chose a neighborhood called Fairground that was the most violent of all. We had very accurate police data. I once again asked Dr. Jessica Utz from the University of California to analyze data from several years beforehand to six months afterward, to look at the effect of our intention. She found that violence had been going up in all areas of St. Louis, and continued to go up everywhere except the neighborhood we intended where violence went down by 43%. And so it’s happened over and over again.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp" alt="intention-revolution2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 110w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 353w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 529w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I always teach intention as a respectful and very specific request to the universe. And I find it gets amplified in small and large groups.</h4><hr>Perhaps the one that amazed me the most is an intention experiment I did that same year, at the end of 2017, with eight Arab cities and a large audience of Israeli Jews. I had special equipment so we could put cameras in eight different locations in Arab cities. Each different Arab city had an audience there. And the ninth camera was with an audience of Israeli Jews. I asked them all to make an intention to lower violence in an area of Jerusalem that was suffering from a high degree of violence.Before that, I had to broker the entire thing, as nobody was speaking to anyone else. They started talking, because I could call on the different places. They would talk to me, and then they would also communicate with the people in all the other locations. And they started sending love to each other, they started sending “Your God is my God,” talking about beautiful visions of people coming together from both sides. There was a big love fest. I found that every time I put together polarized and hated enemies, they seemed to come together after these intention experiments.Since 2008, I’ve run 41 intention experiments, and 37 have shown measurable significantly positive effects. I also surveyed the people involved, and for those who responded, about 40% have reported more peace in their own lives. They’re getting along better with estranged partners or parents or children. They’re getting along better with bosses and coworkers. They’re feeling more love for everybody, and around 50% consistently report they feel more love for everyone they meet.Essentially, they’re hugging strangers and peaceful things happen in their lives. Also, about one-third have reported an improvement in a health condition or a downright cure. So that is the biggest and most amazing effect, the mirror effect of these intentions: the people who are sending intentions are being healed as much as the targets.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So that is the biggest and most amazing effect,&nbsp; the mirror effect of these intentions:&nbsp; the people who are sending intentions&nbsp; are being healed as much as the targets.</h4><hr>Q: I was blown away by the seed experiment. How has the scientific community embraced this, or conversely, what are the challenges you’ve faced to try to share this with them?&nbsp;LM: I'm not interested in the scientific community because they aren’t going to accept it. Scientists are supposed to be explorers and very few of them really are. There are a lot of reasons for that. People lose their positions at universities for stepping out of the accepted paradigm. So I don’t need to convince scientists. There are enough scientists who are true explorers, who are fascinated by my work, and who have helped to measure the work.I work with people at prestigious universities to run the intention experiments—Princeton, Penn State, University of California, University of Arizona, and others in Europe. I choose people who are open-minded enough to do decent research.There are skeptic organizations who attack my work, but they attack it in the flimsiest of ways. My book, The Field, had more than 400 solid scientific references. I had interviewed exhaustively—frontier physicists, biologists, etc.—and had them check every last fact in that book to make sure I had written it correctly. The skeptics have said the book was based on nothing more than Star Wars, which is just incorrect, close-minded, and ignorant.So, I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in getting this information out to people so they can understand that we have extraordinary capabilities waiting to be unleashed, and we are very different from what we are told in mainstream orthodox science.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp" alt="intention-revolution3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 214w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Orthodox science is only 300-plus years old, and new studies and discoveries are being found in universities, in little pockets of academia here and there, that are completely transforming the way we think about ourselves and our world. And we’re far greater than we’ve been told!Q: Thank you for that very candid response. For someone who’s intrigued by your work, who’s curious about your work, and who wants to start applying this <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/how-to-manifest-peace" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">power of intention</a> in their own life, how can they begin?LM:&nbsp;They can join my community and my website. When they join, they receive some basic tools and information about how to do intention and how to form a group. They can also read my books. <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-intention-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Power of Eight</a>, the last book published on this topic, has basic descriptions of how to do intention in a group. For people who really want to learn more, I have a whole series of foundation courses.I also have a <a href="https://lynnemctaggart.com/courses/intention-masterclass/the-power-of-eight-intention-masterclass-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">year-long masterclass</a>, my kingpin course, where I work with people live and interactively for a year. Participants start working in groups after six weeks, and each group meets once a week. Under my instruction, they use intention for relationships, for health and healing, for finances and career, and for life purpose. There’s specific information and instructions, and I coach them throughout the year.So there are all kinds of things at all kinds of price points, including free, and every intention experiment is free. I feel everybody should be able to participate.Recently, Gaia released a documentary about my work with large and small groups, The Power of Eight, plus the intention experiments. They interviewed the various scientists who’ve worked with me, and numerous people who have had extraordinary healings with The Power of Eight, too. And it will culminate in an intention on February 1, 2025. I’m going to have a live audience at Gaia’s headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, and we’re also going to livestream it around the world.It's an invitation. So everyone can take part by going to <a href="https://lynnemctaggart.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://lynnemctaggart.com</a>, where there are instructions.Q: I am really looking forward to it.To be continued.

Explore Lynne McTaggart’s groundbreaking work on intention and its transformative power in healing.

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 Unleashing our extraordinary capabilities