Kamlesh Patel is known to many as Daaji. He is the Heartfulness Guide in a tradition of Yoga meditation that is over 100 years old, overseeing 14,000 certified Heartfulness trainers and many volunteers in over 160 countries. He is an innovator and researcher, equally at home in the fields of spirituality and science, blending the two into transcendental research on the evolution of consciousness, and expanding our understanding of the purpose of human existence to a new level.

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Daaji

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI explores the softer side of life and its benefits, drawing from Nature to illustrate why tenderness is a mature approach to life, self and relationships with others.</h4>&nbsp;Dear friends,These days there is a growing realization of the need to become more humane, tender, loving, and accepting in an increasingly changing and complex world.We can learn a lot about this from Nature; for example, the trees that grow tall, sturdy, and strong, like mahogany, oak, and acacia, cannot easily be cut. Yet, they do not provide us with bountiful fruit. Compare them with chikku and mango trees, whose branches bend easily in a breeze. Though their wood is soft, they yield delicious nourishing fruit. Softness is associated with yielding and sweetness in life.At the human level, we can observe how women are generally more loving and tender. It is their inherent nature, which has been bestowed lavishly on them. It is love that makes them tender, and this innate feeling keeps humanity alive. Come what may, they go through it all with love and acceptance.Without love, we struggle to become truly humane beings. Having only limited love in the heart, we invest it in a limited way, and miss out on the broader scheme that comes with letting it expand to become universal. So, the flow of the river of love remains stagnant in our own backyard.Now, what if we could ensure that this river of love reaches the ocean? Meditation is the key! Heart-based meditation nurtures the qualities of tenderness, softness and love. Even reading or saying these three gentle words melts our hearts. When love shines supreme in the meditative heart, whatsoever it touches is alchemized. Inwardly remaining meditative and externally remaining focused on our daily work and activities, our inner loving state transforms the very nature of the work we are doing.Even so-called emotional toxins are transformed when we are meditative. Greater understanding develops that can transform the toxins into nectar. The heart becomes like a prism, through which anything that passes becomes nectar.At times we can be drawn to respond to revenge with revenge, or anger with anger. No doubt, the energy arising out of anger is unique, and anger cannot be destroyed, but surely it can be transformed into compassion if we allow a few seconds to pause, reflect and apply understanding with wisdom. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten is an old saying that works! Instead of instinctively responding with anger, when we are in a state of love instinctively the response is colored with compassion. This is evolution.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Meditation is the key! Heart-based meditation nurtures the qualities of tenderness, softness and love.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/tenderness2_29cff7d533.jpg" alt="tenderness2.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_tenderness2_29cff7d533.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4>Compassion and love</h4>We can try to transform ourselves to become instinctively responsive with love and a smile, or with a little joke, instead of sarcasm and insults. This small exercise can help to change from strong emotions in the heat of an argument, to compassion and love instead.<ul><li style="text-align:justify;">Imagine a scene or evoke a memory where you were arguing with someone and responded with anger, or if you hurt someone with harsh words. What was the outcome?</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Now imagine yourself in that same scene, thinking that the person is there with you.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">During the argument you realize it is not going to lead you anywhere and will disturb your consciousness for the rest of the day.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">You terminate it in the middle, perhaps saying “I am sorry” and taking a step back. Pause and take a deep breath, connecting with a state of love and tenderness. Choose the wiser option.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">To help reinforce a more loving response to similar situations, you can note it in your journal, even rehearsing it so that it becomes more natural.</li></ul><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Remove the physical effects</h4>Anger and fear can also affect the physical body, so releasing physical tension eases the inner body, emotions and thought flow. Try this simple relaxation method to allow the flow of softness and love.<ul><li style="text-align:justify;">Sit comfortably, gently closing your eyes.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Relax your hands and fingers, feeling the tension reducing.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Let your shoulders drop.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Bring your awareness to your face, dropping your jaw and relaxing your mouth.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Feel all your facial muscles softening.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Allow your breathing to naturally slow down.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">With each breath your mind is relaxing and letting go.</li><li style="text-align:justify;">When you are ready, slowly open your eyes.</li></ul>I recall advice once given by an associate to another who had been disturbed by negative gossip. Softly and gently, he said, “We must treat each other with tenderness and care.” So simple, universal, and profound in its application.Wishing you all the best, Daaji

On tenderness, softness, and love

<h2 style="text-align:center;">LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS</h2>&nbsp;Dear Daaji,Why is it important to absorb the inner state of meditation and take it into our daily routine?<hr>Dear Satha,Navigating the demands and challenges of the objective world requires a meditative mind. Meditating at a certain time and then allowing the mind to wander aimlessly for the rest of the day is not what is meant by a meditative mind. Meditation must be completed so that the charge created lasts for an extended period. It is like charging our phones—we look for phones that require less frequent charging. The ideal phone would keep its charge for all our lives. Is this possible with meditation?When working in an office, cooking, playing a game, conversing, studying, or being with your beloved in silence, all with a meditative mind, you will surely appreciate the beauty and power of meditation.&nbsp;With a meditative mind, you won’t have to maintain mindful awareness, or remind yourself to observe the breath, since you are “all awareness.” With a meditative mind, you become kind and compassionate; the heart finds comfort and contentment in being empathetic. You don’t have to adjust your breathing to find a comfortable niche in the heart. Instead, you allow the inner meditative state to become dynamic and change your behavior, including your breathing.There is a fundamental difference between allowing the breath to create your mood and allowing the meditative state to regulate your breathing. Both bring about change, but the effects of the outside-in approach of focusing on the breath will last for only a few minutes. In contrast, the inside-out approach of creating a permanent meditative state will develop and intensify incrementally.Godliness emanates from a simple and pure heart in the way the fragrance of a golden Champa flower fills the atmosphere. Godliness is all that is precious, simple, pure, and full of love. Does the word “godliness” not evoke a feeling of something noble? And, if I am going to allow the divine impulse to pervade my being, then is it not paramount for me to display its godly manner—like the conduct of a benevolent king, a friend sharing happiness, or a true nobleperson who is graciously indifferent to the imperfections of others and generous toward those who are miserable?It means always acting from the depths of your being. In other words, while being meditative and pursuing spirituality, be steadfast in displaying your spiritual heritage and nobility—what revered Lalaji calls akhlaaq. The aim is to arrive at a natural state akin to a flower that can only radiate its fragrance. The whole pursuit is to arrive at this naturalness; it is the dream of every seeker.With love and respect, Kamlesh &nbsp;

The benefits of a meditative mind

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI explains why a plant-based diet is good for your health and well-being, and for the planet. Some of the reasons may surprise you. Yogic science is very comprehensive on this subject, and now medical science is catching up. Daaji then challenges us all to do an experiment for three months.</h4>&nbsp;Studies show plant-based diets reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, high blood pressure, obesity, some cancers, and more. —David SuzukiWhile we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this Earth?&nbsp; —George Bernard ShawDear friends,If you wish to do something positive for the planet, and for your own health, you may want to consider eating a plant-based diet. Excessive meat-eating is a luxury that our species can no longer afford if we are to address the climate crisis and our chronic health diseases. I’m not talking about tribes like the Inuit in Alaska, where meat eating is a necessity, but those communities that have access to fresh vegetables and fruit throughout the year.An Oxford University study published in 2023 (Scarborough et al.) demonstrates that people eating a plant-based diet significantly improve the health of the planet. “The study linked dietary data from 55,504 people—vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters, and meat-eaters—with food-level data on greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, eutrophication risk, and potential biodiversity loss from a review of 570 life-cycle assessments covering more than 38,000 farms in 119 countries.”Vegans had 25% of the dietary impact of high meat-eaters on greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and eutrophication, 34% of the impact for biodiversity loss, and 46 % of the impact for water use. Given that food systems create about a third of global emissions, and are responsible for 70% of freshwater use and 78% of freshwater pollution, these findings are highly important. And methane emissions were 93% lower for plant eaters than high-meat eaters!Their conclusion: a shift in the way people eat&nbsp;and drink will have the greatest overall effect, even though other ways to reduce food system impacts are needed, e.g. reducing food waste, increasing sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and supporting local food production.Another study published in the&nbsp;European Heart Journal&nbsp;in 2023 demonstrated that “plant-based diets can play a significant role in reducing blocked arteries, thereby lowering the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases, such as stroke and heart attacks.”<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Plant-based diets can play a significant role in&nbsp; reducing blocked arteries, thereby lowering the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases,&nbsp; such as stroke and heart attacks.</h4><hr>Today we look to science for answers, but from ancient times, sages of all cultures and eras have given special attention to eating lightly, reducing their footprint on the Earth, and taking minimum input and giving maximum output. They have defined morality as the care and conservation in the use of all resources, including food and water. The yogic science of Ayurveda is based on this approach.Many famous people have been vegetarian, for example, Leonardo da Vinci, who said, “If you are, as you have stated, the king of the animals… why not help other animals, rather than take their offspring to feed your gluttony?”Food is prana, a source of energy. Not only does it nourish the physical body, but the effect spreads through all three bodies of the human system—the physical body, subtle body (mind), and causal body (soul).Food is part of our energetic relationship with the environment, and a wise person will not disturb one atom of the universe unless it is necessary, because of their respect for all life. Nothing is wasted. This creates the lightest human footprint, and an attitude of living every moment in tune with Nature, content with Nature’s bounty in whatever form it is available.My teacher and guide, Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji) offers the following advice:“Food should be cooked neatly and cleanly in a proper manner. That is the hygienic point, but if it is sattvic and is cooked in constant remembrance of God, its effect will be surprising. And if it is taken meditating all the while on God, it will cure all kinds of spiritual diseases and remove things which hinder our progress.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simple_way_to_improve2_781b12a284.webp" alt="simple-way-to-improve2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_simple_way_to_improve2_781b12a284.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_simple_way_to_improve2_781b12a284.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simple_way_to_improve2_781b12a284.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">To minimize our human footprint, we can choose to eat plants, and so cause the least pain possible to other beings.</h4><hr>What is sattvic food? Sattvic&nbsp;qualities are pure, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, wise. A sattvic diet reflects Ahimsa, meaning not harming other beings. It leads to moderation in eating, and regular fasting is also done to detoxify the system.A sattvic diet emphasizes seasonal foods—fruits, nuts, seeds, oils, ripe vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and plant-based proteins. Dairy products can be included when the cows are fed and milked according to regenerative principles. Many people adopt a plant-based diet after understanding how food impacts their health, and how animal farming is destroying the environment.Consciousness studies add a deeper perspective: consciousness is the canvas upon which prana plays, including in the food we eat, and animals have a different level and quality of consciousness than plants.The yogic science of the three bodies of minerals, plants, animals, and humans shows us how it is beneficial to eat light sattvic foods for the evolution of our consciousness. Animal foods are heavier in vibration, whereas plant foods maintain the lightness of our whole system. And the lighter we become, the more we adjust to subtlety in everything we do.Also, the bodies, minds and souls of plants are more closely bound together than in animals; and the more evolved the animal, the greater the separation and flexibility. The freer this tethering of the mind to the body, the more possibility there is of pain in death. To minimize our human footprint, we can choose to eat plants, and so cause the least pain possible to other beings.The food we give to our bodies has a definite impact on our minds and souls. So, whether it is for the sake of your own health or the planet’s health, are you ready to experiment with a plant-based diet? You could try it for three months and see how you feel.I wish you the all the best with this experiment, Daaji<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The food we give to our bodies has a definite impact on our minds and souls.</h4><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simple_way_to_improve3_f60c6a7709.webp" alt="simple-way-to-improve3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_simple_way_to_improve3_f60c6a7709.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_simple_way_to_improve3_f60c6a7709.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/simple_way_to_improve3_f60c6a7709.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

A simple way to improve your health and the health of the planet

<h2 style="text-align:center;">LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS</h2>&nbsp;Dear Daaji,How can we develop unity when we experience so many difficulties working together?<hr>Dear Eva,Glad you could secure admission in the most prestigious management school of Europe. Be it the corporate world or a spiritual organization, what matters most is the ability to work together in harmony, with mutual trust and respect.Can these aspects become a subject of the academic world? At the most, we can share the importance of integrating various traits in a personality and erasing the unnecessary negative traits. Such a lofty aim is attainable naturally when we adhere to the ten principles given to us by Babuji. All these principles, including our meditative practice, are meant to create peace and harmony within while we grow in consciousness.The peace and harmony that develop become a canvas in our life. The integrated self can integrate well with others. It is impossible to expect unity from individuals who lack personal integration.The tendency to fight, argue, and dominate comes from the dominant influence of the lower chakras. What makes us human is the Heart chakra. As it blooms and unfolds, many qualities come alive, such as generosity, kindness, compassion, courage, etc. The discriminating intelligence is sharpened.The tendency to create ripples in a harmonious environment is like the entry of a tiger in ambush mode. Many people fall into this category when they express themselves. External behavior, words, and actions reveal the true spiritual dimension of an individual. The movement across various chakras is always dynamic. One day, I may be totally absorbed in a state prevalent at the third chakra, and a few hours later the condition of the ninth chakra may take over. Perhaps you are at the twelfth chakra with the grace of the Great Master, displaying all the traits of that environment, but due to carelessness you become fearful, plummeting your absorbency to the fourth chakra. Hence, there is a need for vigilance all the time.Finally, naturalness must exist among us when true unity prevails. No one needs to inspire us or remind us of its necessity. Let our spirit speak for itself. The guiding force is always the voice of the heart. Meditation with Pranahuti is a game changer in the field of yoga.Hope to see you all soon.With love and respect, Kamlesh

The integrated self

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">On the 42nd anniversary of the UN International Day of Peace, DAAJI explains how we can bring peace into our own lives, our families, and our communities, so that it radiates into the universe.</h4>&nbsp;Dear friends,The International Day of Peace (IDP) was established in 1981 by a unanimous UN resolution, and in 2001 the UN chose a set day of September 21 for 24 hours of nonviolence and ceasefire,1 thanks to the tireless work of British NGO Peace One Day and the UK delegation to the UN. This year, the theme is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.”A culture of peace is defined by the UN as a set of values, attitudes, modes of behavior, and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups, and nations.The 6 values that correspond to the UN culture of peace are: Spirituality, &nbsp;Justice, Compassion, Dialogue, Active nonviolence, and Stewardship of/sense of kinship with the Earth.That is, we are invited to treat others as we wish to be treated. This ethical principle applies at all levels-personal, family, community, and national. When honored, dignity and stability follow. When violated, instability results.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Can we change the global situation?</h4>We may wonder what we can do to change things at the global level. Bringing peace to the various violent conflicts in the world is a big challenge and overwhelming. However, I am reminded of the song, “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” We can make a difference in our own lives. Peace is our true nature, so when we nurture and connect to the peace at the Center of our being by practicing meditation, it will naturally radiate out to others and to our environment. The intention, attention, and awareness with which we live our lives will filter out to our neighbors, communities, countries, and the planet.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Peace is our true nature, so when&nbsp; we nurture and connect to the peace at the Center of our being, by practicing meditation, it will naturally radiate out to others and to our environment.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">How to lay a foundation for Peace</h4>Studies have shown that many people creating a vision can manifest it. Imagine joining millions around the world to create a vision of peace. What a world that would create!To contribute to a more peaceful world, try using these three intentions for peace as you go about your daily activities.These intentions will contribute to your peace of mind, as well as create harmony within your family, friends, and communities. Almost everything starts with thought, and a thought with a purpose is an intention. The energy of an intention has a ripple effect when it goes out into the world, and it can become a reality.First, choose one of the Peacefulness intentions. Then, take a moment to center yourself in the present moment. Think of the intention, connect with its meaning and imagine its effect spreading to everyone and everything around you. Most importantly, put your heart into it!&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention1_e0f05ee075.webp" alt="intention1.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention1_e0f05ee075.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_intention1_e0f05ee075.webp 351w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention1_e0f05ee075.webp 351w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention2_e5045c2a0c.webp" alt="intention2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention2_e5045c2a0c.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_intention2_e5045c2a0c.webp 351w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention2_e5045c2a0c.webp 351w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention3_ab3370935b.webp" alt="intention3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention3_ab3370935b.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_intention3_ab3370935b.webp 351w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention3_ab3370935b.webp 351w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;By uniting our intentions in a collective adventure, we will catalyze a wave of change that will resonate across borders and generations.“First, it is an intention. Then a behavior. Then a habit. Then a practice. Then a second nature. Then it is simply who you are.” —Brendon BurchardGo to the <a href="http://www.peacefulness.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peacefulness</a> website to become a peace partner and to find further activities for all age groups to promote peace.I wish you all the best in your efforts to bring peace to the world, Daaji<hr>1 Between 1982 and 2001, IDP was observed on the day of the opening of the annual sessions of the UN General Assembly on the third Tuesday of September every year.

A culture of peace

Dear Master,What qualities allow us to go deeper into communication on various levels?&nbsp;Dear Chinu bhai,Everything communicates. We only need to perceive those vibrations, sometimes spoken, often unspoken, and sometimes expressed via painting, sculpture, architecture, music, meditation, or deep silence. There is so much that is communicated all around us. The ultimate communication is where we communicate with the Self and try to find the meaning of life. Will life speak to us?The entire creation is filled with sound. It began with sound, runs with sound, and will end with sound into deep silence. We are enjoying the running of this creation. There is no need to explore the sound that was there at the moment of creation, or the sound that will exist when there is nothing once again. What matters now is to perceive the Eternal Sound, the Eternal Vibration, the soundless sound akin to that which prevailed before the creation.Let us venture into one aspect of daily living. We observe such things happening in front of us all the time. Men are generally surprised by the intuition of their mothers, sisters, and wives. The intuition of a lady cannot easily be undermined. In general, her feelings surpass the logical and limited approach of men. Perhaps that is why men are more prone to getting into trouble, since intuition unveils their lies. Intuition is like reading–not a book, but a face, feeling the emotion in a voice, or the emotion behind silence. These are also forms of communication. Someone sets the vibration, and another person perceives and responds.Once, a group of us were traveling in France between Augerans and Grenoble in four cars. Those of us in our car were discussing how suitable one man was as a potential husband for a woman. In another car was the man who was the subject of our discussion, and he was being teased with a lot of sweetness, as generally happens around such topics. Surprisingly, in both cars, the discussion centered around bringing these two people together as a lifelong couple. When we had our lunch break, we discovered that all of us had been discussing the same topic. It was brought to the fore, and they were engaged that very afternoon!Why am I sharing this? Multiple individuals can have the same intuition. Though rare, it is possible. Many scientific discoveries happen simultaneously by researchers who are unknown to one another, sometimes within the period of a single week.I often used to sense the end of meditation during individual sessions with a trainer. My inner voice and the outer voice of the trainer would coincide as if I were announcing the end of the meditation. Perhaps it is not intuition, but it happens due to the nature of the spiritual work. I am not the only person who has felt this. I have noticed that many people to whom I have given remote meditations write back indicating how long they were, what I did in the beginning, and how they ended!Thus, we see the unfolding of many styles of communication. Another level of communication is between yourself and your Spiritual Entity (S.E.). First, you have to have a corresponding S.E., and then you must have a channel established between the two. Third, the need for communication must arise and evoke a response.Another level of communication is between earthly souls and the personalities of the Brighter World. Such encounters are rare but not impossible.Sometimes, less evolved beings are guided through dreams. If the hints had been given in a waking state, they might have considered them to be pure imagination. When instructions are given in a dream by someone they revere or love immensely, they cannot resist them.The basic requirement for deep communication is purity and simplicity. When purity and simplicity become the hallmark of our existence, inner silence becomes automatic, providing total clarity in all situations. Silence of the heart, giving birth to the essence of silence, opens infinite possibilities for spiritual growth and evolution at an individual level. In the silence of the heart we develop faith. In the silence of the heart we receive Grace. In the heart of silence we can have the true&nbsp;darshan&nbsp;of the Lord. The heart of silence remains unadulterated and in direct connection with the Creator. Listening to this deepest silence offers us the most rewarding aspect of our practice, and it makes available all the answers we seek.Silence allows the voice of conscience to be heard under all circumstances. There will be moments in life when our wisdom is challenged. At times, we make just the right decision, while at other times the decision is not made appropriately. When we reflect on these instances, we see that it was when we did not listen to the heart that we went wrong. Interiorization deepens the silence, whereas exteriorization moves us away from the heart of silence, the Center, and we suffer and lose peace.How can we increase the depth of inner silence? We have to focus deeply on interiorization. Personal work upon ourselves, plus group meditations, and the multiple seminars we organize are geared toward this purpose. Sit motionless, reverentially, with all attention toward the heart of silence, meditate prayerfully, and see the effect. You will have to make some conscious efforts to disconnect yourself from those things that would otherwise pull you outward.In deep silence, we receive inspiration, where feelings come to the surface and express themselves as words. Inspired words, arising from the very center of our being, are charged and have their own life. Additionally, decisions made in consonance with the heart of silence will always be correct. The practices of yama, niyama, pratyahara, and dharana all fall into place in just the right manner with utter simplicity, and this is&nbsp;sahajata.Thus, by remaining deeply in touch with the heart of silence, or to put it simply, by remaining meditative while engaging in all activities, including communication, we can witness supreme civility and nobility in all facets of life. This is the real meaning of&nbsp;Yogaha karmasu kausalam, योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् (Yoga is excellence in action).With love and respect, Kamlesh

The ultimate communication

<h3 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h3><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares some tips on how to improve your communication skills, to bring harmony and compassion to daily interactions with others in the workplace, in the family, and everyone you meet.</h4>&nbsp;Dear friends,I receive a lot of questions about communication: How to speak well? How to avoid conflicts, especially with loved ones? And how to become better communicators in the workplace?So far in this column, we have talked about ways to improve overall well-being through various simple exercises, such as using Heartfulness Meditation to raise our level of consciousness, Heartfulness Cleaning to rid ourselves of inner complexities and impurities, and Heartfulness Prayer to dissolve our individual identity. We have focused on when we do these spiritual practices and how they can help us every day.But what about the many waking hours each day we are communicating with other people? Our character is communicated in every little interaction. The quality of our communication affects the quality of our lives in so many ways.How can we make our way of communicating a way of becoming better human beings? Here are a few tips to become more effective and gracious communicators.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Intend to Connect</h4>Connection means to be open, and stay in touch with what matters to others—and to yourself—in every moment.Aim for a respectful and compassionate quality of connection, so that everyone can express themselves, be heard, and understood. Trust that the connection is more important and more nourishing than being right or having your say.When another person feels you understand them, they are more likely to be open to understanding you. Willingness to understand involves generosity, respect, self-control, compassion and patience. Be “curious instead of furious” about how others are different from you.Give others the freedom to act and watch them blossom.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Listen more than speak</h4>We have two ears and one mouth—a reminder of what is important!Listening is key. Often, we are only half listening, waiting for our chance to speak, wanting to make our point. When our attention is with our own thoughts, we are not listening.Listening means to enter into the world of the other person, to intend to understand them, even if we disagree with what they are saying.Be aware of how you are reacting to what the other person is saying. Are you attentive, neutral, open, in listening mode, or are you already reacting inside? The other person will feel what is going on inside you at the subconscious level.Listen well. What do you learn from others with active listening?&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/become_better_communicators2_06db4f9983.webp" alt="become-better-communicators2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_become_better_communicators2_06db4f9983.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_become_better_communicators2_06db4f9983.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/become_better_communicators2_06db4f9983.webp 450w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Connection, understanding and harmony</h4>Everything within you is expressed through your body, your facial expressions, the tone of your voice, and the vibrations that emanate from you. All these are picked up by others. Are your words in harmony with these elements? To have connection, understanding and harmony in your relationships, you need to nourish those aspects deeply within yourself.First comes self-compassion. The more we feel compassion for ourselves, the more we feel it for others. People who are high in self-compassion are wise and emotionally resilient.Empathy is all about feeling, resonating, and responding to needs. Both the needs of others and your own needs.Ask yourself, “If I were in their situation, what would I want?” The natural capacity of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is a helpful reminder when we find ourselves in a state of self-centeredness, of desire, and ego.The more joyful you are, the lighter and more inspiring your conversations and communications will be.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The more we feel compassion for ourselves, the more we feel it for others. People who are high in self-compassion are wise and emotionally resilient.</h4><hr>I hope these few tips, along with the practices of Heartfulness will bring more awareness, confidence, and joyfulness to your day-to-day connections with others.Wishing you all the best, DaajiFor further information on Heartful Communication go to:&nbsp; https://learning.heartfulness.org/courses/hc-english

Becoming better communicators

Definition of consciousness

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">On May 14, 2024, at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, DAAJI was interviewed by GUILA CLARA KESSOUS, the UNESCO Artist for Peace, and Ambassador for Peace of the Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace (Geneva) about art.</h4><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Art is a way to express your deepest feelings</h4>GCK: What is your definition of art?DAAJI: It’s very difficult to define, but I would say to make the inexpressible expressible through visual graphics.For example, when we talk philosophically about animal man becoming human, and humans becoming humane, and the humane quality advancing to become divine or angelic, how can you express that visually? Someone else is in love and dancing away with songs that express their inner state, which otherwise would be difficult to put on paper. So art is a way to express your deepest feelings, which cannot otherwise be expressed in words. When words fail, art can help us to a certain extent. But after some level, it’s difficult; for example, how can you express states beyond bliss through art?GCK: So it’s a way to connect the intangible with the tangible.DAAJI: Yes.GCK: Can art help to connect with the power of oneself and the power of others, as in meditation?DAAJI: For the artist, art can become a creative thing for centering oneself. Sportspeople get absorbed in playing tennis or badminton or football, and are so happy because they are in the flow. A similar thing happens to a flautist or a violinist or an artist. And meditation is also a kind of a flow, but it is going inward. Artistic expression presents things outward. They are two different directions.I can go inward to express something outward, to a certain extent. Art can be a powerful tool, but it cannot match the state of meditation because the directions are different. In meditation, we are connected at the deepest level. If we join hands and make a big circle, we are connected through our hands, not through our hearts. Meditation takes us in, purifies the heart, and connects the hearts of individuals. This is my understanding so far.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">In meditation, we are connected at the deepest level. If we join hands and make a big circle, we are connected through our hands, not through our hearts. Meditation takes us in, purifies the heart, and connects the hearts of individuals.&nbsp;</h4><hr>GCK: So art is a way to translate something intangible, something sacred, something divine.DAAJI: Well, to a certain extent the heart can help us express the beauty of Divinity. But how can you express the moment of creation, for example? You know, in physics, they talk about the Big Bang theory—there was a singularity, and from this singularity there was a burst of energy. And that energy was so powerful it ended up creating physical objects throughout the universe. How can you represent that moment on paper? Creation is a continuous process, a dynamic process. Once you have created an artwork, it becomes static. So, art has limitations. We would have to create multiple paintings, like a movie, the continuous depiction of the unfolding of creation.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Unconditioning the heart</h4>To me, the heart can be utilized for many things. Heart should be unconditioned. For example, how do I describe beauty on paper? In a certain way. How does a mother describe beauty on paper? Differently from me. How do you describe beauty on paper? And someone else? We all attribute beauty based on our backgrounds and our conditioning.There are 700 to 800 people here, and when we look at each other we are constantly screening and filtering. The first thing that strikes us: this is a woman, this is a man. Next, we might describe the dress. People who are interested in watches will spot the type of watch you are wearing. Lovers of jewelry will observe the jewelry you are wearing. And a cobbler will look at your shoes, and judge the kind of person you are based on your shoes.We are in the business of reading hearts, so with closed eyes we look at hearts. The heart can be felt when we close our eyes; the heart can perceive things when we close our eyes; whereas we create art with open eyes.Whatever we do, however, the heart will give the right signal, and this signaling from the heart must be protected. If we don’t have an unbiased heart-mind, our feelings and perception will be wrong. The purer the heart, the better the signals it gives to represent something as it is.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Whatever we do, however, the heart will give the right signal, and this signaling from the heart must be protected. If we don’t have an unbiased heart-mind, our feelings and perception will be wrong. The purer the heart, the better the signals it gives to represent something as it is.</h4><hr>GCK: You are such a creative person. Would you consider yourself an artist?”DAAJI: Human beings are multifaceted personalities, and when we include the heart, the aspect of creativity is infinite. You can write a lovely book, paint, play music, sit quietly and listen to music like nobody else, sit quietly for days without being disturbed, without asking for anything, or you can sit under a tree and gaze at the stars at night. These are all aspects of your individuality.But we can also go beyond this individuality, which is after all an aspect of ego, because it limits us. Artists, flautists, and violinists are limited professions. When we become individuals without personas, without masks, and go deeper in our hearts, many things come out in the form of creativity.If I say, “I’m an artist,” it will not be the truth according to the traditional definition. An artist is one who expresses something on paper or canvas, or through music, and I can do none of that. Yet I do feel that I am an artist from inside; but I am not only an artist. The multifaceted quality God has given us means that we are all infinite; there is no limit to our creativity. Being an artist is a beautiful thing, as it represents creativity, but just to create in one way is limiting. All the great artists and composers were also limited. Opening the heart creates infinity in front of us. That is the role of meditation.GCK: What is your advice to the younger generations to go beyond, unleash this creativity, and allow ourselves to be multifaceted?DAAJI: If you wish to go beyond, the question is: Where will you go? What is beyond yourself? What is beyond your heart? What is beyond your mind? The Creator. You are just a drop of water. Imagine you are on the beach at the seaside. Water sprays on you, and some falls on your palm. What would be going through that water drop if it had consciousness? That I’m separated from my mother, the ocean.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressing_the_inexpressible2_f3f0e9af4a.webp" alt="expressing-the-inexpressible2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressing_the_inexpressible2_f3f0e9af4a.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressing_the_inexpressible2_f3f0e9af4a.webp 400w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressing_the_inexpressible2_f3f0e9af4a.webp 400w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you wish to go beyond, the question is: Where will you go? What is beyond yourself? What is beyond your heart? What is beyond your mind? The Creator.</h4><hr>We are also droplets, separated from the ocean of consciousness. We are not aware that we are separate, but we do feel the pain of separation, and no one can ease this pain unless and until the drop falls back again into the ocean; until this lifeforce once again merges with the Ultimate. And this possibility exists for one and all. Solve this problem and all other problems in life disappear.Second, all beings without exception, be they human, bird, animal, or plant, seek happiness. No one seeks unhappiness, no one seeks misery. Can you remain happy under restless conditions, where there is violence, when you don't know what’s going to happen next? No. Though you have everything, because of the unpredictability, you will not have happiness. That means happiness requires absence of restlessness, which means harmony within and without. Can you be harmonious within without peace in your heart? Is peace possible without a contemplative mind? Is a contemplative mind possible without having a focused mind? And is a focused mind possible without exercising your mind? The only exercise to arrive at a focused mind is meditation. Now, you connect the dots.If you really want to be happy, in the true sense, meditate. Meditate on things you love; it need not just be God. Express yourself through art, make art your meditation and refer to the heart all the time, center your focus in the heart, and let the creativity flow outward.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="width:50%;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressing_the_inexpressible3_447757619d.webp" alt="expressing-the-inexpressible3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressing_the_inexpressible3_447757619d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressing_the_inexpressible3_447757619d.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressing_the_inexpressible3_447757619d.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you really want to be happy, in the true sense, meditate.&nbsp; Meditate on things you love; it need not just be God.&nbsp; Express yourself through art, make art your meditation and&nbsp; refer to the heart all the time, center your focus in the heart, and&nbsp; let the creativity flow outward.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4><hr>

Expressing the inexpressible

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares some simple mental practices that will help you accept your thoughts and emotions, and feel at peace with yourself. They are best done alone and all of them are great balancing exercises.</h4>Dear friends,There are many instances in our lives where we feel hurt by others. Perhaps they tell us off, point out deficiencies, or are angry for no apparent reason. At other times we go through feelings of grief and sadness upon losing a loved one. And in our day-to-day dealings with people at work there may be someone whose attitude is disturbing to our level of peacefulness. Sometimes we feel resentment if people don’t meet our expectations. All these situations can create such ripples in our minds that we are unable to let go of what that person did to us.Also, there are situations where we hurt others, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly, and we feel deep regret. If someone close to us has died we may feel such sadness that we did not say something important to them, but it is too late. These disturbing issues can leave heaviness and impressions in our hearts.How can we deal with these all-too-common human frailties? How can we come to a state of equanimity, feeling compassion and empathy for others, or compassion and empathy for ourselves. How can we prevent the thoughts and emotions from disturbing us and come to a sense of resolution and acceptance?Here are a few exercises that will help to bring a state of acceptance and of forgiveness, and allow you to find inner peace.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Seeding positive thoughts toward someone who has hurt you</h4>Sit comfortably and close your eyes.Imagine the form of the person in front of you.Have the thought that, “This person is my friend and well-wisher.”Think that all negative thoughts the person has about you are going, and thoughts related to your welfare have been infused in them instead.Whenever you have the opportunity to go near the person, gently and subtly pay attention very indirectly to their face, without staring.When you breathe out, have the thought that particles of your love and affection are entering their heart.When you breathe in, have the thought that you are pulling all the negative thoughts they have about you from their heart and throwing them aside.Initially this task may seem difficult, and you may feel resistance, but if you are courageous it will become easy as you practice it.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The empty chair technique for unresolved issues.</h4>This technique can help us to express our emotions in a safe space where we can communicate feelings of sadness, anger, or guilt. Perhaps it is with someone who has passed away, or someone with whom you have had an argument or hurt in some way, either knowingly or unknowingly. It is derived from the Gestalt Empty Chair technique. Do this somewhere where you will not feel disturbed.Put out two chairs facing each other.Sit in one of the chairs and imagine that the other person is sitting facing you, and listening to what you have to say. You may even speak to a part of yourself.Begin a conversation, explaining your thoughts and feelings, and whatever else you would like to say to that person. Feel free to be honest and authentic toward yourself and the other.When you feel that you have been able to express what was needed, move to the other chair and respond from the other person’s perspective. That is taking on their role.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset_part2_2_d866cc6d9d.webp" alt="reset-part2-2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_reset_part2_2_d866cc6d9d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_reset_part2_2_d866cc6d9d.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset_part2_2_d866cc6d9d.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;This simple exercise can be repeated until you feel a sense of connection, peace, and understanding from both sides.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Journaling</h4>Every day, spend 15 minutes of quiet time with your journal. Only you will see this journal. Explore how you are feeling and draw or write your observations. Try to do this without over-thinking or judging, just let your feelings flow onto the page.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset_part2_3_aa0ade157f.webp" alt="reset-part2-3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_reset_part2_3_aa0ade157f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_reset_part2_3_aa0ade157f.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset_part2_3_aa0ade157f.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"><h4 style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</h4><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Self-acceptance</h4>Sit comfortably and relax. Close your eyes and rest in your heart for a few moments. Feel your heart’s natural acceptance and let it spread through you. Allow this state of acceptance to expand through your whole system.Have the conviction that deep within your heart there is a space that is free from fear and from resentment. Here you will experience total freedom, taking refuge in this space. A regular meditation practice will help you to feel free of your emotional limitations.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Have the conviction that deep within your heart there is a space that is free from fear and from resentment. Here you will experience total freedom, taking refuge in this space. A regular meditation practice will help you to feel free of your emotional limitations.</h4><hr>If you are experiencing deep depression or other extreme feelings, please contact a health practitioner.I wish you all well in your journey to deeper understanding of your higher self and purpose in this life,Daaji&nbsp;

Reset, part 2

<h2 style="text-align:center;">LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS</h2>Dear Dad,Please speak to us about change.<hr>Dear Sahaj and Marg,One of the things that is eternal is change. You cannot avoid it. If it is toward the welfare of the universe, it will be evolutionary. Change demands adjustment. The faster the change, the faster the process of adjustment. Implementing change demands focus and rapidity. Be it a process or a personal matter related to a relationship, any such scenario demands energy input and effort. Whatever demands energy input is bound to be expensive, and eventually destabilizing. Stability is life. Modern life is constantly changing, so hardly anything repeats except constant adjustment, constant re-learning of the “new.” It drives us all toward instability. The next step is that we become protective as far as energy consumption is concerned. Entropy or attrition is a natural consequence.The greater the objective, the wider the gap between what is now and what is to be accomplished, so more effort and energy input is needed. Does that mean we should avoid change? No, not at all. If we avoid change, the next question arises: What about my evolution? If God, Infinity, is our goal, imagine the infinite input needed from our side! You can always say, “God, I have invested everything within my ambit. Now, I surrender and leave the matter in your hands.” Such a prayer must be genuine and from the heart.Change comes in many ways – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. In all these, there is one common thing, and that is a change of perspective and outlook on life. Ask yourself, “Has my outlook on life changed recently?” If not, consider yourself stuck. Either that or you have reached the final frontier where no further growth is possible!Change is difficult when it is against your desire. When you are in love, you will adjust and fulfill every little hint of your beloved without any resistance. In the absence of love, even things you like to do become a burden.So, what have I learned so far? Above all, whenever there is an inner calling, and a desperation that I must accomplish “this” no matter what, it surpasses all sorts of inducement for change. It is self-sustaining and arises out of a deep inner conviction. I hope you will invite changes in a sahaj [natural] manner.With lots of love, Dad

On change

<h2 style="text-align:center;">LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS</h2>&nbsp;Dear Kamlesh bhai,In Heartfulness, you start with the last three steps of Ashtanga Yoga – dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Why not start with the first two steps, yama and niyama, as in the traditional view?<hr>Dear Swamiji,Pranams. You have raised a very valid point, but after years of practical experience, I can say that my Guru’s guidance is absolutely practical. Let me try to explain why.The goal of yoga does not mean the absence of mind, intellect, ego, consciousness, and physical existence. The ultimate achievement does not deny their presence. The ultimate blossoming only shows us the beauty of all that is. There is a great shift in the understanding of the body, mind, intellect, ego, and consciousness; they are the vehicles that become finely tuned with the inner being we call the soul.Meditation (dhyana) is the pathway to ultimate nothingness. It helps us to refine the mind, intellect, ego, and consciousness. A person with a refined consciousness cannot harm themselves or others by any means. Right and wrong, good and bad, are easily discernible by such a mind. With sharpened discernment, a developed mind becomes the perfect vehicle.Having begun the eight-fold path of Ashtanga Yoga with dharana, dhyana, and samadhi, we can then appreciate the value and importance of yama and niyama. In contrast, if we begin with yama, it is like putting the cart before the horse.Please visit Kanha ashram and stay with us for as long as you wish.With salutations,&nbsp; Kamlesh

Why start with meditation instead of yama and niyama?

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares some simple exercises that will help you get out of your thoughts and worry, and reconnect with your body and the world around you. They are fun and can be done alone or with friends and family. All of them are great stressbusters.</h4>&nbsp;Dear friends,As our lives seem to be more and more complicated, with feelings of being overwhelmed, of uncertainty and stress, our thoughts take on a life of their own. We can feel powerless with the bad news that surrounds us. We may be struggling with addictions of one sort or another, e.g. our phones, the Internet, food, and substances, or difficult situations in our family or work lives.Sometimes what can help is a little reset. Some simple practices to turn our minds from brooding over the seemingly endless thoughts that disturb our equanimity and abilities to thrive in daily life.Touch and movement are great ways to get out of your head and into your body. So here are a few simple reset exercises. You can do them by yourself or with friends and family. They bring joy, laughter, and a feeling of lightness that opens a different perspective on life. Please go at your own pace and be attentive to what your body is able to handle.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Warm-up</h4>Stand with your feet apart, feet facing forward and slowly twist your body from one side to the other, swinging your arms. Do this a few times on each side. It will loosen your body and help you feel relaxed.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset2_e5d92b6ca9.webp" alt="reset2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_reset2_e5d92b6ca9.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_reset2_e5d92b6ca9.webp 369w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset2_e5d92b6ca9.webp 369w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Some simple practices to turn our minds from brooding over the seemingly endless thoughts that disturb our equanimity and abilities to thrive in daily life.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Become like a child</h4>Walk on all four of your limbs like a cow. Crawl like a baby.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset3_e902280bc0.webp" alt="reset3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_reset3_e902280bc0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_reset3_e902280bc0.webp 493w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset3_e902280bc0.webp 493w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Jump!</h4>In a standing position feeling balanced on your feet,&nbsp; turn to face East and jump five times, turn to face North and jump five times,&nbsp; turn to face West and jump five times,&nbsp; turn to face South and jump five times.&nbsp; Repeat this whole sequence a few times.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset4_0f3c9e7913.webp" alt="reset4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_reset4_0f3c9e7913.webp 108w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reset4_0f3c9e7913.webp 108w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_reset4_0f3c9e7913.webp 145w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Look up</h4>Go outside and look up the sky. Actively observe what you are seeing, such as treetops, birds, cloud formations, or chimney tops.Looking up squeezes the area at the base of your brain and has a balancing effect on your system. Going outside connects you with the world and expands your horizon.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Walk backward</h4>Choose a place where you will not run into anything.&nbsp; Start slowly, taking five steps forward and five steps back.&nbsp; Increase the pace and distance as you gain more confidence.Researchers have found differences in neural activity when we walk backward. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for cognitive skills such as making decisions, is especially activated when reverse walking. It can also bring physical benefits to relieve back pain, etc.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Researchers have found differences in neural activity &nbsp;when we walk backward. The prefrontal cortex,&nbsp; responsible for cognitive skills such as making decisions,&nbsp; is especially activated when reverse walking.&nbsp; It can also bring physical benefits to relieve back pain, etc.</h4><hr>I hope these few exercises, along with the daily practices of Heartfulness Meditation and Cleaning, will bring some peace and confidence to your heart and mind.Wishing you all the best, Daaji

Reset, part 1

Refined consciousness

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">At the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, DAAJI shares his vision for bringing about world peace through individual peace, through cooperative projects, and through staying together to dissolve differences and bring progress.</h4>The dream of Swami Vivekananda ji has been perceived by so many of us in this particular moment of bringing many paths and followers together. Now that we have come together, it is just the beginning. What do we do next? What is the purpose of this gathering? Our goal is very clear: to bring about harmony within each community through individual peace, so that we build the capacity for global peace.There is no magic wand that can change the level of peace and global harmony in one stroke. Lord Krishna could not attain it; none of us can attain it alone. First, we all have to work together, individually—one heart at a time. Next, all of us can take up some projects together, co-share those projects, implement those projects and successfully complete those projects across the globe.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we work together,&nbsp; we will be able to dissolve our differences,&nbsp; and that will be the sign of progress.&nbsp; Working together is the next step to a mere beginning.&nbsp; A further step is to grow together.&nbsp; When we maintain these relationships&nbsp; of working together for longer and longer periods,&nbsp; we will see how the small step of coming together evolves.&nbsp;</h4><hr>When volunteers from Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Transcendental Meditation, Brahma Kumaris, Heartfulness, and no tradition all work together, we will be able to understand each other’s minds, hearts, and emotions. When we work together, we will be able to dissolve our differences, and that will be the sign of progress. Working together is the next step to a mere beginning. A further step is to grow together. When we maintain these relationships of working together for longer and longer periods, we will see how the small step of coming together evolves. This is especially vital for our youth.When people of different faiths come together and do simple things like planting trees, going to villages to help children understand the importance of education, teaching farmers how to double their crop productivity, increasing the intuitive capabilities of little children—so many things can be achieved.This gathering is not just about exchanging philosophical ideas; it is mainly to come together as one to spread the message of love. Otherwise, such meetings will go on and on.Actually, when did we ever have such a meeting? I don’t recollect it ever happening like this in the recent era, and our grateful hearts go out to the Ministry of Culture for bringing so many groups together to promote brotherhood, love, and compassion toward each other.<h4>Activity</h4>Take up a local project in your community. Here are some examples, but please don’t be limited by these:<ul><li>Take up an ecological project, e.g. planting trees in an area that has been deforested; cleaning up a stream, river or lake; setting up recycling centers and compost facilities in local communities, and training people how to use them.</li><li>Take up an educational project, e.g. teaching Brighter Minds programs to disadvantaged children; collecting books and setting up a mobile library for children where story-time is offered; offering art, music, or dance classes.</li><li>Take up a health project, e.g. working with local groups to promote healthy eating, good hygiene, digital detox, sleep habits.</li></ul>Partner with other organizations that are also interested in the same projects, pool your resources, and work together for maximum benefit. There is no limit to what we can accomplish together.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When people of different faiths come together&nbsp; and do simple things like planting trees,&nbsp; going to villages to help children understand&nbsp; the importance of education,&nbsp; teaching farmers how to double their crop productivity,&nbsp; increasing the intuitive capabilities of little children— so many things can be achieved.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/working_together2_c245ac45d4.webp" alt="working-together2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_working_together2_c245ac45d4.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_working_together2_c245ac45d4.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/working_together2_c245ac45d4.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

Working together

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">On the second day of the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, DAAJI spoke about the purpose of the gathering, why there are different religious practices in different faiths, how to nurture the soul, and how all people can come together for a better world.</h4>&nbsp;Lovers of God, to you all my heartfelt Pranams. I hope this will become a yearly tradition throughout the globe. Coming together is only the beginning. When we work together it will translate into progress, in the words of Henry Ford. When we join hands and grow, we will have to understand each other, and how to work together to fulfill a goal.Many ask me, “What is the purpose of this event?”&nbsp; I reply, “It is to come together for the moment, learn from each other, understand each other, know each other, and then roll out programs across the globe.” There will be volunteers from many organizations who can work together on specific projects.The United Nations SDGs are there, including pollution control of all kinds (soil, water, air), the education of women, equality, poverty eradication, etc. But fundamentally, they have not included the one thing that is the cause of all the other problems.A dear brother from France highlighted this need for meditation to regulate the mind so as to address all the SDGs. A mind that has transcended differences can discriminate, discerning right from wrong. An unregulated mind will always be tempted to do wrong. Why would a person with a sane, regulated mind think of polluting the air or polluting the water? It is not possible; hence the need for meditation. In brief, all the various types of pollution in the world are the product of mental pollution.In the traditions of India, we pluck Tulsi leaves. Is Tulsi a goddess? No, but we call her a goddess. Why? Because Tulsi has so many healing properties that no one should destroy her. Our ancestors called Tulsi a goddess so we wouldn’t destroy the plants, we would worship them. Isn’t it wonderful, respecting a little plant, worshipping it?Likewise, there are many other traditions, like breathing exercises, Pranayama. Do you think huffing and puffing will bring God toward you? Not at all. But when Pranayama is tied with religion, people do it. Pranayama is mainly to look after your koshas for your health and well-being.In Hinduism, we have a sattvic diet prescribed. Why? Because through a sattvic diet we nourish our physical body. Through mental activity, such as interacting with our elders, learning in colleges, universities, and schools, and now through Google matha [mother], we nourish our minds.How do we nourish the soul? The Adi-guru of Heartfulness, Shri Ram Chandra ji, also known as Lalaji Maharaj, showed us how to enrich our prana in order to enrich our souls. He said that it is through pranasya pranaha or pranahuti—prana of the subtlest order transmitted by a yogi of caliber. It awakens our dormant consciousness, and helps that consciousness to travel from the base to the human to the humane to the divine levels. This is the promise. It is not a false promise; it is a promise that can be experienced.In science we don’t have to believe. There are factual things—gravitation, the quantum field, the laws of genetics, chemical reactions, the laws of thermodynamics—where the fundamental laws stay the same. So it is in spirituality. The fundamental law that governs all is love. Then, we speak of “Ekam Brahmam dvitya naste,” meaning there is only one God. In the Quran it says “La ilaha illallah,” also meaning there is only one God. In the Christian tradition too there is only one God.Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.” Lord Krishna said, “Abandon all dharmas, surrender to me, I will save you from trials and tribulations.” In Buddhism it is “Buddham Saranam Gacchami,” meaning I go to the Buddha for refuge. When we listen to such statements and we don’t understand them, they seem superficially egotistic. But they are not. I must tell you, love means surrender.Here, I speak about surrender not in the form of defeat, but because I have won over myself. My ego is now sublimated, so “I” exists no more. Though art the only one, dear God.We can realize this state as a follower of any religion. If you are a Hindu, be the best Hindu you can be. If you are a Christian, be the best Christian. If you are a Muslim, be the best Muslim, and so on.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Pranasya pranaha or pranahuti—prana of the subtlest order—transmitted by a yogi of caliber awakens our dormant consciousness, and helps that consciousness to travel from the base to the human to the humane to the divine levels.</h4><hr>Will there be wars if you follow your own dharma perfectly? No, there cannot be. Religions are all faithful systems. Kofi Annan, former Director-General of the United Nations once said, “The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful.” The faithful believe in their faith alone, and think they are superior to others. This is the problem. My Guruji Maharaj used to say that there is nothing wrong with thinking you are great, but always think the other person is greater.So with this little understanding, with peaceful hearts, let us all practice on a daily basis. When you do your Namaz, be receptive to the godly Grace. When you do your puja pat in front of your favorite deity, be receptive, be loving, open your heart. Whatever form of practice you are performing, do it with a receptive heart, not as a ritual, not out of fear, not out of temptation, not for begging, but with love for the sake of love.When we maintain this, we will change. Once we change, the world will change. And we will contribute much more this way.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Whatever form of practice you are performing, do it with a receptive heart, not as a ritual, not out of fear, not out of temptation, not for begging, but with love for the sake of love.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_for_the_sake_of_love2_95eda68d70.webp" alt="love-for-the-sake-of-love2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_love_for_the_sake_of_love2_95eda68d70.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_love_for_the_sake_of_love2_95eda68d70.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_for_the_sake_of_love2_95eda68d70.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4 style="text-align:center;">AI generated illustrations</h4><hr>

Love for the sake of love

Sat, rajas, and tamas

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares his experience of the healing power of trees, and how a simple tree practice improved his health. He invites us all to try that same practice.</h4>Dear friends,In the early 20th century, the great sage, Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh (Lalaji), visited a village in the tribal area of Rawati in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India. He was greatly taken by the place, which reminded him of the ancient ashram of Kakabhushundi. Whoever entered that ashram experienced a sense of liberation.Lalaji liked the natural beauty and innocence of the village people. He wanted to stay there, and realize his dream of building an ashram like that of Kakabhushundi. He wrote, “Such places have a better capacity to absorb feelings and Transmission than people do, and can retain them for a longer period. As a result, whoever goes there cannot but be influenced. This is the reason why even today this place looks like Brindavan. Even if one looks at it from the traditional angle, one can do better sadhana here than in other places.”In 2007 I went looking for this village, now called Raoti. On reaching the railway station, I could see that there were hardly any trees for hundreds of hectares; they had been cut down. And as I reached the village, I noticed the stream had almost dried up. Yet on the banks were beautiful trees, including a huge banyan tree with a giant canopy. Perhaps Lalaji visited this very spot. I sat there and felt immensely benefited.Why are trees so special? First, they retain spiritual charge for a longer period than humans, because their consciousness is of a different quality. We have a very dynamic consciousness that gives us the potential to willfully evolve, but also of going in the opposite direction.By and large we do not know how to use what is given to us, and we tend to lose it. In addition, our constant activity of thoughts, emotions, and actions create thought pollution, changing the environment around us.Trees, on the other hand, retain spiritual charge as it is given, without creating disturbance. They are vibration banks that retain the divine charge of Transmission. So future generations also benefit from them holding spiritual charge. Trees do not go backwards in the field of evolution, but they also cannot evolve willfully. It is actually their lack of will that protects the charge once it is absorbed in them.Trees are also conduits for the flow of energy from the earth upward and from the cosmos downward. Through this flow, they sustain all the lifeforms around them by distributing their charge, for example, through fungal networks in the soil, and in all the lifeforms that live on and among their branches and leaves.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Trees retain spiritual charge as it is given,&nbsp; without creating disturbance. They are vibration banks that retain the divine charge of Transmission. So future generations also benefit from them holding spiritual charge.</h4><hr>Have you ever observed the branches and leaves of a large tree dancing in the breeze? You can feel the joyous expansiveness in their movements. Whereas when a branch is being cut, the feeling is of a totally different nature-constrictive and defensive. During different seasons, also, the energy flow will vary. In winter, the energy and nutrients flow down into the roots to regroup and remain dormant for some time, so that in spring they can rise up and the tree flourishes with new buds, new leaves, flowers, and eventually fruits for the production of seeds. In extreme heat also, trees conserve their energy remarkably, and only produce the bare essentials. Everything is about maintenance at that time.We have a lot to learn from being with trees. In fact, once when I was very sick, I was told by a healer from Europe, “Why don’t you sit with a prayer to a tree, asking the tree, ‘Will you exchange?’” Our relationship with trees is complementary. What is not good for us, like carbon dioxide, they can use, and vice versa. There is a healthy exchange. Trees and humans generally have a good relationship. We have to look after them.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">A simple tree practice</h4>So here is the simple practice that healer taught me. I invite you to try it also.After asking a tree for permission to sit, with a prayer, you may sit on the ground with your back against the trunk of the tree. Make sure the width of the trunk is narrower than your back.Whatever illness or disturbance you have in your system, offer it to the tree, saying, “Please take this away. Also, take whatever you need from me, and give me the strength to survive and heal myself.”I wish you all the best of health and well-being, Daaji<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:57.22%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/healing_power_of_trees2_f00d77b470.webp" alt="healing-power-of-trees2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_healing_power_of_trees2_f00d77b470.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_healing_power_of_trees2_f00d77b470.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/healing_power_of_trees2_f00d77b470.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;

The healing power of trees

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares a simple way to open your heart and expand awareness of your connection with others and the world.</h4>Dear friends,You have consciousness, awareness, and free will. So, how can you use these gifts to evolve from being human to humane to divine?When we are born, we are not aware of differences and similarities; we simply accept. As we grow up, we start to identify and label ourselves and others according to color, culture, religious or spiritual leanings, gender, career, place in our culture and society, mental and physical health, and so on. There are so many labels and categories. We become attached to them and think they are real. As a result, we establish a whole suite of likes for some and dislikes for others, leading to prejudice and separation.In order to become humane, we need to reverse this construct and move toward a simpler awareness. This goes hand in hand with the expansion of our consciousness. And the result is that we become kinder, more empathetic, affectionate, and compassionate in a natural way. We move from judgment to tolerance, from separation to connection. We allow our small self to become absorbed into the higher Self. My spiritual guide described this advancement as moving “from animal man to human to divine.”We experience this as a result of meditative practices. The labels drop off. Instead of seeing differences, we begin to feel the divine spark that resides in us and every living being. We become aware that we do not live on our planet as visitors, we are part of it, part of nature. When we see images of the Earth from outer space, we cannot detect the differences that separate us: we see it as a whole, a beautiful blue jewel floating in space. There is no separation.Meditation takes us deeper into the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious parts of the mind, where we feel and experience the unity of all beings. In addition to the inner practices of Heartfulness, here are two simple exercises that will help you experience connection and unity:<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Meditation takes us deeper&nbsp; into the conscious, subconscious,&nbsp; and superconscious parts of the mind,&nbsp; where we feel and experience&nbsp; the unity of all beings.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/connect_with_others2_934057321e.webp" alt="connect-with-others2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_connect_with_others2_934057321e.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_connect_with_others2_934057321e.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/connect_with_others2_934057321e.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Experiencing connection and unity throughout the day</h4>The Sanskrit word “Namaste” literally means “I bow to you.” This first exercise uses the familiar Namaste greeting to bring inner awareness of connection with others and your environment. It allows love to radiate from your heart in a more conscious way.You may practice it alone or with others. You may prefer to say the equivalent word/s in your own language, or do the practice in silence. This activity is also a fun and profound group activity for children and/or adults in any workshop or seminar setting.The idea is to greet others with the word “Namaste” in order to honor and acknowledge the higher Self within them.Gently place your hands together in a prayerful position over your heart, with your eyes lowered, and your body slightly bowed. Let yourself dive into the higher Self, the pure essence within you. Then, let that essence radiate out to the higher Self of others. They will reciprocate. Now, expand this feeling to include your surroundings: the air particles, the birds, the trees, the flowers, everything around you.Allow this awareness to continue throughout your daily activities. Take the feeling of connection and unity wherever you go, with all who cross your path, to your city, country, the world.This simple gesture will open your heart to the pure essence of all beings. Whether practiced silently within your heart, or when you greet others, it will expand your awareness from human to humane to divine.<h4>An extension</h4>If you wish to take it further:Imagine a person you dislike—perhaps someone who has hurt you—standing in front of you. Have the thought that, “This person is my friend and well-wisher.”&nbsp;Allow the feelings of love and empathy you have created in the Namaste exercise to flow into that person as you breathe out. Have the thought that particles of your love and affection are entering their heart. Let the feeling manifest as forgiveness, empathy, and compassion.When you breathe in, have the thought that you are pulling all the negative thoughts they have about you from their heart and throwing them aside.I wish you all the best on your onward journey, Daaji&nbsp;

Connect with others

<h3 style="text-align:center;">LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS</h3>&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker2_c3817bddce.webp" alt="who-is-a-seeker2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_who_is_a_seeker2_c3817bddce.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_who_is_a_seeker2_c3817bddce.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker2_c3817bddce.webp 2000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker3_2e5b9a3a48.webp" alt="who-is-a-seeker3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_who_is_a_seeker3_2e5b9a3a48.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_who_is_a_seeker3_2e5b9a3a48.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker3_2e5b9a3a48.webp 2000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker4_9e6c1eab0b.webp" alt="who-is-a-seeker4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_who_is_a_seeker4_9e6c1eab0b.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_who_is_a_seeker4_9e6c1eab0b.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_a_seeker4_9e6c1eab0b.webp 2000w," sizes="100vw">

Who is a seeker?

The nature of higher consciousness

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI invites you to spend some time doing things for others. Whether it is volunteering, serving others, or cleaning up your local environment, every small act helps! Daaji also shares a simple night-time ritual that we can all do to make a difference.</h4>&nbsp;“I devote a portion of my time to helping others. It is good for my own health.” —Louise HayDear friends,Many people, both young and old, tell me how they are feeling helpless and hopeless with the constant news of disasters, wars, and the environmental impacts of human behavior on our beloved Earth. They are concerned and uncertain about the future. And, indeed, the news is disturbing.But the news doesn’t tell us everything. What about the stories of the many individuals, groups, and organizations around the world selflessly working to aid others less fortunate, cleaning up the environment, planting trees, and feeding others, bringing hope with acts of kindness, compassion, and love?The principle of seva (Sanskrit for selfless service) has endured forever. Seva in its subtle essence is not confined to external actions; it is a state of being, a way of life that embodies love in action, with no expectation of reward or recognition. It is an attitude that eventually becomes our nature. Selfless service and volunteering on an individual level are transformative; they contribute to our personal health and spiritual growth, as well as to collective upliftment.An experiment done with children aged 3 to 4 demonstrates that helping without any personal gain is inherent in the human psyche. An adult picks up a ball from the floor then drops it. Making a pretence of sadness, he picks it up again and drops it again. This pretense continues a few more times, until one of the children walks up to the adult, picks up the ball and places it in his hands. Simple!Volunteering and service directly feed our feelings of self-worth: they combat loneliness, bring us out of our isolation, open us up to new experiences, improve our self-confidence, and bring a sense of purpose and self-esteem, so we feel valued, which in turn protects us from stress and depression.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Selfless service and volunteering on an individual level are transformative; they contribute to our personal health and spiritual growth, as well as to collective upliftment.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:60.84%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/make_a_difference2_fb0c2217ea.webp" alt="make-a-difference2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_make_a_difference2_fb0c2217ea.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_make_a_difference2_fb0c2217ea.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/make_a_difference2_fb0c2217ea.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<h4>What would you like to do?&nbsp;</h4>It is a question with a multitude of answers. Our lifestyles and responsibilities determine how much any of us can do, so it may be something very simple. For those with more time and energy, there are many roles in larger organizations that help the less fortunate and the environment.It may be as simple as visiting an elderly person who is lonely, volunteering at an animal rescue center or homeless shelter, working in a food bank, creating a vegetable garden in waste ground for others, reducing your use of plastics, cleaning up litter, doing small acts of kindness, or teaching others to relax and meditate. There are so many ways.Where do you see a need that resonates in your heart?<h4>The 9 p.m. prayer for humanity</h4>Another subtle and potent way of serving others is through prayer. A prayer that radiates from a sincere heart with a genuine desire to alleviate suffering and bring joy creates a remarkable vibration for change. I invite you to join our global movement by praying with thousands of others around the world at 9 p.m. local time for fifteen minutes. It creates a beautiful resonance in your heart, a softness, and a feeling of connectedness that expands to all.&nbsp;Everyone is being filled with love and devotion and real faith is growing stronger in them.Truth, righteousness, and faith are being established in the world.All kinds of distractions faced by our country and our planet&nbsp; are going away.May this entire Earth be engulfed with peace and with love.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we take one step at a time, doing one positive thing each day, we will collectively bring joy, care, and hope to others through kind and selfless acts.</h4><hr>When we take one step at a time, doing one positive thing each day, we will collectively bring joy, care, and hope to others through kind and selfless acts. Every gesture, no matter how modest, will contribute to the collective welfare of humanity and our dear Mother Earth. We will not only uplift others; we will also experience profound personal growth and fulfillment.All the best, Daaji&nbsp;

Make a difference: volunteer and serve

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4>DAAJI invites you to start the year with two simple grounding exercises that will bring you both focus and joy as 2024 dawns.</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;">“Life on Earth is about evolution.&nbsp; Every life is an evolution in developing wisdom, skills and attitudes.” —Daaji</h4>&nbsp;Dear friends,The New Year is a good time to pause, evaluate, and focus on the coming time. This is especially true if you are so caught up in busy-ness that you have lost track of where you are going, and even more so when you have experienced trauma or sudden change, a serious illness, a relationship ending, or a loss of someone close. To add to the mix, these days the events in the world bode a sense of helplessness, so it is easy to feel uncertain about the future.&nbsp;One thing that will ground you is a regular practice of meditation, which softens the heart and brings you closer to your higher being. There is no doubt there are big changes happening in the world, and a regular practice of meditation can help you see the bigger picture with a wider perspective.In addition, I invite you to try the following exercises that will bring focus and joy, and will enhance your abilities to both plan for your future and accept the unforeseen.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Exercise 1: 5 priorities</h4>Sit somewhere comfortable where you will not be interrupted. Close your eyes and ask yourself what are the sticking points in your life right now, what would you like to focus on that will bring you peace and well-being. Allow your mind to be filled with wonder, daydream, and explore.&nbsp;When you are ready, with pen and paper in hand, prioritise five things, number one being the most important.For example, you may be concerned about the effect of social media in your life and want to limit it. Or you may want to repair a relationship with a friend, change careers, or make more effort to strengthen your marriage. Write whatever is uppermost in your mind that has been creating some anxiety or concern.Post the list where you are able to see it. Ponder how you are going to bring the first one about: what actions, what attitude, what changes you may need to make. Imagine how you are going to do it. For instance, if you want to limit phone use, see yourself turning your phone off and putting it somewhere out of the way. Then, think about what you will do with the time you have released for yourself. What would you enjoy doing that would make you feel more positive about your life?<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Exercise 2: Celebrate joy</h4>After (and it could be some time after) you have decided on your priorities, again relax and sit in a comfortable place reminiscing about the activities in your life that brought you joy. What brought you happiness; especially, what lit you up as a younger person? What are your memories of those joyful episodes? A friend told me she had been happy climbing trees in her childhood. Revisit these simple memories and remind yourself how to bring joy to everyday life.&nbsp;And if possible, do some of those activities again. For example, if watching birds brought you joy, go bird watching in your local park or even take a trip to a nature reserve. If you liked dancing as a child, put on some music and dance. It can be as simple as that. It’s all about rekindling joy.All the best, Daaji&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ground yourself

<h4>Dear Mr. Kamlesh Patel,&nbsp;</h4>How is it possible to gauge spiritual progress?&nbsp; What changes should I expect in my inner well-being as well as lifestyle?<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/daaji_letter_4ec8adba7c.webp" alt="daaji-letter.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_daaji_letter_4ec8adba7c.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_daaji_letter_4ec8adba7c.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/daaji_letter_4ec8adba7c.webp 1058w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/daaji_letter2_ec2af8ee90.webp" alt="daaji-letter2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_daaji_letter2_ec2af8ee90.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_daaji_letter2_ec2af8ee90.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/daaji_letter2_ec2af8ee90.webp 1058w," sizes="100vw">

What is spirituality?

<h3 style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h3><h4 style="margin-left:0cm;">As 2023 draws to a close, DAAJI invites you to take stock of the gifts the year has brought, and treat yourself to a simple gratitude practice to end the year.</h4> Dear friends,Over this past year, we have explored various exercises to improve our lives and to heal what needs to be healed. We’ve covered topics like meditation, dealing with thoughts, mental and physical well-being, anger and stress detox, imagining and setting intentions for personal change, being in the present, and acceptance.&nbsp;At year end, it’s time to take stock and feel gratitude for the gifts given and received. This exercise can point the way for our future to become better and better human beings.&nbsp;<h4>Journaling&nbsp;</h4>Keeping a journal is one effective way to take stock. You can look back and see how you have changed over the year. I heartily recommend it.There is so much to write about: your aspirations, observations of how you feel, narrating difficult situations. In the latter, you may find that getting the thoughts and feelings on paper allows your heart to come to acceptance and a way forward.&nbsp;On a spiritual path, keeping a daily journal of what you feel during your practice, any changes in your behavior, and insights is a way to look back and see how far you’ve come. The changes can be subtle, or seemingly instant, but journal writing encourages interest, which in turn designs your destiny.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">At year end, it’s time to take stock&nbsp; and feel gratitude for the gifts given and received.&nbsp; This exercise can point the way&nbsp; for our future to become better and better human beings.</h4><hr><h4>The gratitude list</h4>Another way to take stock is to note the things for which you are grateful. It is an inspiring and heart-opening exercise, giving perspective and hope. Also, take the time to reflect on any changes you have noticed during the past months. It can chart your future with more positivity.&nbsp;<ul><li>Start by writing down 5 things for which you are grateful. If you discover more than 5, keep writing. They could be very small things, like a special smile from someone, a piece of music, or bigger life-changing happenings</li><li>What touched you the most during this past year? It could be either a happy occasion or a sad occasion. What have you learned from it?</li><li>What brought you the most joy?</li><li>Imagine your next year. What changes would you like to make? Keep it simple. And then set the intentions that will help you to realize your dreams.&nbsp;</li></ul>I wish you all the best in your onward journey, Daaji&nbsp;

Time to take stock

<h4>DAAJI’s latest book, Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras, and the Journey to the Center, was released in the U.S. in October 2023, and will be released in other parts of the world in early 2024. It is already a bestseller. In this excerpt, we get a taste of the tips he offers to all spiritual seekers in his groundbreaking book. Here, he shares 3 important attitudes that will help us on our way.</h4>If you wish to realize your fullest human potential, to live from your heart, calm your mind, and expand your spiritual capacity, it’s not the hours you spend in meditation that matter most: It’s your attitude. &nbsp;Be it meditation, writing a letter, or even making a sandwich, the attitude with which we work shapes our inner being. In any task, what we do accounts for 5 percent, and the remaining 95 percent is the attitude with which we do it.You acquire your attitudes through your upbringing and life experiences. You also inherit some of your attitudes from your parents. You can also actively cultivate attitudes. How you think or feel about something or someone is guided by your attitude. Attitudes are so ingrained in you that you aren’t aware of how they shape your destiny. In fact, your life is an expression of your attitudes.Your active focus on cultivating beneficial attitudes helps to accelerate your progress in your spiritual journey. Think what happens when you are digging a well for water. You dig from the top and keep digging deeper (outside in), while the water under the earth is also gushing up to meet the surface (inside out). When it comes to your spiritual journey, the outside in is your cultivating attitudes, and the inside out is the meditation practice doing its work. The two work in tandem.What are some attitudes that we should cultivate? Why these attitudes specifically? There are three core attitudes that will serve you as you elevate your consciousness, which I call the mother tincture attitudes.<h4>THE MOTHER TINCTURE ATTITUDES</h4>In some forms of medicine, there is the idea of a mother tincture. It is the base formulation from which other medicines of varying potency are created. Some core attitudes are like the mother tincture, from which other attitudes emerge. If you can master these mother tinctures, they will lay a strong foundation for your inner development and support you in your day-to-day affairs.The three mother tincture attitudes are:• Sense of urgency • Humility • Liveliness<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_secret_ingredient2_91efec613f.jpg" alt="the-secret-ingredient2.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_the_secret_ingredient2_91efec613f.jpg 115w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_the_secret_ingredient2_91efec613f.jpg 372w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_the_secret_ingredient2_91efec613f.jpg 558w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Sense of Urgency</h4>In any endeavor, a sense of urgency is crucial. It is the first step to creating change. Without a sustained sense of urgency, efforts become lukewarm, and complacency sets in. In your spiritual journey, a sense of urgency helps you focus on your priorities in the present.Make a habit of asking yourself this question: “What’s the most important thing to do in this moment?” It will help you re-center and cultivate a sense of urgency toward your goal. As urgency increases, your eagerness to get to the goal also increases. Questions such as, “What am I here for?” “What do I need to do?” and “What is my goal?” become more frequent. Each time these questions surface in your mind, they leave a ripple of restlessness in your consciousness.But don’t worry – the restlessness I am writing about is nothing like you feel when you are late for a flight or your takeout is delayed. Neither is it the unhealthy restlessness that leads to anxiety or despair. This is spiritual restlessness. It propels you toward the soul’s true purpose: to grow and evolve. If you have been in love, recall the restlessness with which you waited for your lover. Amplify this many times, and you will get a whiff of the restlessness I talk about.The spiritual restlessness created in your meditation finds an ally in the sense of urgency you cultivate. Together, they help you stay focused on the goal. Alertness, initiative, and agility are natural outcomes of a sense of urgency.Now, be mindful that urgency is not desperation. Urgency is a positive driving force you create, but desperation is a knee-jerk reaction grounded in fear or scarcity. A sense of urgency helps you focus on making progress toward the goal daily, whereas desperation creates a flurry of activity that fatigues you.&nbsp;A sense of urgency helps you counter inner entropy and creates protection against a lukewarm approach to life.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_secret_ingredient3_e9599a38fd.jpg" alt="the-secret-ingredient3.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_the_secret_ingredient3_e9599a38fd.jpg 220w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_the_secret_ingredient3_e9599a38fd.jpg 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_the_secret_ingredient3_e9599a38fd.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Humility</h4>Humility is the most sublimated state of ego. Humility is not flattery or servility. Instead, humility is a sign of great self-awareness, where you are aware of your smallness in front of a much bigger ideal. Such awareness gives you a feeling of insignificance that helps you grow. A humble person is respectful by nature and cultivates reverence in the hearts of others. Just as a tree laden with fruit bends naturally under the weight of its gifts, a human being bearing spiritual fruit becomes increasingly accessible to one and all.&nbsp;Humility attracts grace. When a low-pressure area is created in the atmosphere, the wind rushes in to fill the void. In the same way, when you create space within by sublimating the ego, you create a low-pressure area in the heart, which is then filled with grace. When there is humility within, grace descends automatically. And grace is a catalyst for inner progress.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_secret_ingredient4_0135c7c60a.jpg" alt="the-secret-ingredient4.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_the_secret_ingredient4_0135c7c60a.jpg 115w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_the_secret_ingredient4_0135c7c60a.jpg 372w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_the_secret_ingredient4_0135c7c60a.jpg 558w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Liveliness</h4>Long-drawn faces, gloomy moods, and irritable behaviors stretch the journey. But a song in the heart, a smile on the lips, and a spring in the step make the journey livelier. Cultivate an attitude of liveliness.Become livelier, more cheerful. Carrying the baggage of sadness, sorrow, and unhappiness will not work. How long would you like to carry that sadness with you? Is sorrow that precious? Is it worth storing it in your beautiful heart and burdening it? Moreover, in almost all cases, the reason for sadness will always be another person, who is also God’s creation. To bring about transformation, be livelier. Throw away the deadwood that fixates you. Stay pliable in spirit. Emotional and mental flexibility come from the openness of the heart. A sad, heavy heart cannot stay open. Only a lively heart is open and flowing.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">To bring about transformation, be livelier.&nbsp; Throw away the deadwood that fixates you.&nbsp; Stay pliable in spirit.&nbsp; Emotional and mental flexibility&nbsp; come from the openness of the heart.&nbsp;</h4><hr><a href="https://heartfulness.org/en/spiritual-anatomy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://heartfulness.org/en/spiritual-anatomy/&nbsp;</a>Excerpted from Spiritual Anatomy by Kamlesh D. Patel. Copyright © 2023 by Kamlesh D. Patel. Reprinted with permission of Balance Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. All rights reserved.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by YULIA VERESK</h4><hr>&nbsp;

The secret ingredient

<h3 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h3><h4>DAAJI shares some simple practices to cultivate acceptance – of self and others. They will change your life as you are able to let go of the hurts, grudges, and guilt you hold and live life with contentment in the present.</h4>Dear friends,Our daily struggles are often the result of unmet expectations, plans gone awry, and feeling like we have no control of situations. How to foster a state of inner peace and accept whatever comes our way?When we learn the art of acceptance, it is the acceptance that makes life successful.&nbsp;Life is full of surprises, and navigating change is not always easy. It is better not to expect too much. When we are able to accept whatever life throws at us, we learn to constantly adapt to situations and the actions of ourselves and others without being disturbed. There is no perfect human being. We are colliding against each other with our imperfections! We accept some things with so much joy and have aversion to others. It is when our hearts become small that acceptance bids goodbye. We more easily accept people and their idiosyncrasies when they are our own. When they are not our own, it is a different matter. But connecting with our hearts and diving deep within brings a new perspective and allows us to accept and grow with empathy and compassion.Here are some simple practices to foster acceptance of ourselves and others:<h4>Self-acceptance</h4>Sit quietly and give yourself a hug, with feelings of cherishing the person you are. Rest quietly in this pose for a while. This can release feelings of anxiety, sadness, and persistent thoughts of difficult situations or hurt given or received.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Connecting with our hearts and diving deep within brings a new perspective and allows us to accept and grow with empathy and compassion.</h4><hr><h4>Let go</h4><ul><li>Sit in a comfortable position.</li><li>Gently close your eyes and bring your attention to your heart. Dive as deep as you can within your heart and rest there for a few moments.</li><li>Feel your heart’s ability to accept everything, and let that acceptance spread through you. Notice the vacuum that is created when you are able to accept.</li><li>Invoke the presence of the Divine, which will naturally flow into the vacuum.</li><li>Go deeper into that state of acceptance and allow the presence of the Divine to expand within you.</li><li>While deeply absorbed in the Divine, ask for forgiveness for any mistakes you may have committed, even unknowingly. Resolve not to repeat them again.</li><li>Stay in this state with total self-acceptance for a few minutes.</li></ul><h4>Acceptance of others – seeding positive thoughts&nbsp;</h4>Sometimes it is difficult to accept the behavior and actions of others. It disturbs our equanimity and causes distress. This exercise helps us to feel more accepting and understanding of them.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/accept_yourself_and_others2_a802cc2c1c.jpg" alt="accept-yourself-and-others2.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_accept_yourself_and_others2_a802cc2c1c.jpg 245w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_accept_yourself_and_others2_a802cc2c1c.jpg 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_accept_yourself_and_others2_a802cc2c1c.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure><ul><li>Sit comfortably and close your eyes.</li><li>Imagine the form of the person in front of you.</li><li>Have the thought that “this person is my friend and wishes well toward me.”</li><li>Think that all negative thoughts the person has about you are going, and thoughts related to your welfare have been infused in them instead.</li><li>When you breathe out, have the thought that particles of your love and affection are entering their heart.</li><li>When you breathe in, have the thought that you are pulling all the negative thoughts they have about you from their heart and throwing them aside.</li></ul>Initially you may feel resistance, but if you are courageous it will become easier as you do it.These practices are more effective once you have had three free Heartfulness meditation sessions with a certified trainer. You can find and contact a trainer near you at www.heartspots.heartfulness.org.&nbsp;I wish you all the best, &nbsp;Daaji&nbsp;

Accept yourself and others

<h4>DAAJI explains a simple way to bring the states of consciousness received in meditation into daily life, creating a state of inner remembrance, which eventually becomes constant remembrance.</h4>After we start a heart-based meditation practice, we soon begin to appreciate the benefits we experience from daily practice. We also start enjoying the condition of stillness and composure we experience after each meditation in the morning.Progressively, this condition starts to extend throughout the day. We remember the inner state more frequently, and with this undercurrent of stillness we are able to fulfil our world responsibilities effectively, with minimum emotional disturbance. In other words, we start becoming meditatively active – with an inner meditative state we are outwardly active. This is an important transition, because active meditation leads us to be meditatively active.&nbsp;It is often short-lived, though, as it is difficult to retain a meditative state in the midst of day-to-day activities. It recedes as the day goes on, we end up losing the state of remembrance, and we find it difficult to retrieve. What if we could extend this meditative state throughout the day?&nbsp; To reach the stage where it becomes permanent we need a method, and it is explained through the acronym AEIOU. It is a way of deeply absorbing the meditative state within us. This method is practiced after meditation for a few minutes. It can also be done at other times during the day for a few minutes, like switching between activities, so as to retrieve the meditative condition into our consciousness.<h4>How to practice AEIOU?</h4>A is Acquiring the condition. To do this, we study our condition closely right after meditation. For example, we may observe our breathing pattern, the quality and intensity of our thoughts and feelings, any activity or movement we experienced in the chakras during meditation, and any inspirations. We can contrast this with what we observed before meditation. Then we can appreciate what we have acquired.This leads to E, Enlivening the condition. We do this by enjoying the condition received. It is a special gift conferred on us, and gratitude intensifies the joy.This leads to I, Imbibing the condition. We do this by suggesting and feeling that the condition is percolating every cell of our physical body and every part of our subtle body. This way, we begin the process of digesting the condition.This leads to O, becoming One with the condition. We do this by suggesting that everything around us – the air particles, birds, trees, and so on – is filled with the same condition.This leads to U, Union with the condition. We do this by suggesting that we are dissolving in the condition and allowing the condition alone to exist.If we adopt this practice for a few precious minutes after meditation, ideally with eyes closed, we will deeply encode the condition into our consciousness. Our ability to retrieve and re-experience the condition during the day will be enhanced. Just as we are able to recall a fine joke and laugh over it, we will recall our meditative state and enjoy it all over again. We start mastering our condition and gaining a grip over it.&nbsp;Then, periodically pause for a few minutes during the day, and also practice AEIOU. Progressively, remembrance will become more and more frequent and eventually become Constant Remembrance.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We start becoming meditatively active &nbsp;– with an inner meditative state we are outwardly active.&nbsp;</h4><hr><h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/remembrance_made_simple2_bc5d38c455.webp" alt="remembrance-made-simple2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_remembrance_made_simple2_bc5d38c455.webp 151w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_remembrance_made_simple2_bc5d38c455.webp 484w," sizes="100vw"> &nbsp;Neuroscientists agree</h4>There is also merit to AEIOU from a scientific perspective. Neuroscientific studies suggest that our ability to retrieve information from long-term memory (the part of our memory system that stores experiences) into working memory, is directly influenced by how effectively we encode the event into our long-term memory as soon as it occurs. In turn, the quality of encoding is enhanced when we truly connect to the feeling of the experience. That is exactly what we do through interiorizing and absorbing the experience after meditation.&nbsp; So as to better encode the new meditative state into the depths of our being, we also recommend writing a journal after meditation.<h4>The process of absorption</h4>AEIOU is a way of absorbing any state inward through the levels of being. It starts at the surface, with the mental level of thinking. We use the mental faculties of thinking, intelligence, and identification to understand. Then it moves deeper, to the level of feeling in the heart. As we go deeper still, we “become” that state; we move past feeling and experience to becoming. The next step is to “be” the state. This is where we develop Oneness or osmosis. Eventually, we are no longer aware that the state is there at all. We are so merged in it that it is no longer identifiable as a state. We have moved to non-being. These are the levels of the heart – thinking, feeling, becoming, being, and eventually non-being.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/remembrance_made_simple3_d8dd66acca.webp" alt="remembrance-made-simple3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_remembrance_made_simple3_d8dd66acca.webp 156w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">These are the levels of the heart – thinking, feeling, becoming, being, and eventually non-being.&nbsp;</h4><hr>At a practical level, this deep immersion in our inner state has a profound effect on our communication with ourselves. The inner chatter and especially the negative inner dialogue that most of us are prone to – self-criticism, self-blame, self-judgement, worry and so on – makes way for a silent inner communion with ourselves and inner joy. This in turn creates a vacuum in the heart attracting divine Grace, further amplifying our joy. A virtuous cycle is established.<h4>The effect on others</h4>This inner communion has a soothing effect on those around us. We start speaking in a calm and loving manner, with an intention to connect with others. Any intention to hurt others is gone, so non-violence becomes a part of our being. Our tone of voice is refined, as the weight of emotions reduces. Our inner communion reflects in our outer communication. People are automatically drawn to us and become more receptive to our ideas and suggestions.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Our communication evolves into communion.&nbsp; Our inner joy radiates, too.</h4><hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/remembrance_made_simple4_6b373be300.webp" alt="remembrance-made-simple4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_remembrance_made_simple4_6b373be300.webp 130w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Progressively, inner stillness speaks. Our ability to listen improves. Even when someone is aggressive or attempts to hurt us, we remain unphased. People start feeling safe with us. They experience a clarity, connection and even healing in their interactions with us, even though we don’t say much. Our communication evolves into communion. Our inner joy radiates, too.There is a beautiful story of Lord Buddha in this connection. Once a fearsome thief accosted the Buddha to harm him. On seeing the blissful composure of the Buddha, his own violence dissolved. The thief went on to become one of Lord Buddha’s most devoted disciples. Such is the power of inner stillness – it creates an echo in the Universe. Our world today is in dire need of this deep and transformative stillness.<h4>Mastering meditation</h4>Through AEIOU, we add depth and richness to meditation. We start the meditation by thinking that “The source of Light that is already present within my heart is attracting me from within.” Once we settle into the thought, we dive deeper into the feeling behind the thought – we want to experience the presence of the source of Light in the heart. As this feeling permeates our being, we become the Light, then we move to the state of being the Light, and eventually all of it disappears into nothingness, into non-being. That is why meditation is the mother of Constant Remembrance. When we meditate well, we will know how to absorb the spiritual state we have received and become one with it at the deepest level of our being.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">AEIOU is not only a method to absorb and gain true mastery&nbsp; over the state gifted during meditation.&nbsp; It is also a way of taking our inner state to the next level. It helps us dive deeper through the levels,&nbsp; from thinking to feeling to becoming to being to non-being.&nbsp;</h4><hr>So AEIOU is not only a method to absorb and gain true mastery over the state gifted during meditation. It is also a way of taking our inner state to the next level. It helps us dive deeper through the levels, from thinking to feeling to becoming to being to non-being. In other words, it takes us from the surface to the Center. It enables our spiritual development and also has a positive effect on our interaction with the world.You can apply the process equally to the practice of remembrance. How deep is your remembrance? How can you evolve from thinking about the Divine to resonating with the inner essence, so that you eventually forget your very existence in the state of complete non-being?&nbsp;

Remembrance made simple

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI shares some simple guidance on how to integrate ourselves and refine ourselves to become the best we can be and improve our potential for success in all endeavours.&nbsp;</h4>Dear friends,The purpose of yoga is integration, starting with the integration of body, mind, and soul. So I have been reflecting on the Integration Quotient devised by Dr. Ichak Adizes, a leading management expert, to see how it applies to us as individuals. His quotient looks like this:<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/becoming_whole2_45655ef3a6.jpg"></figure>Our success as individuals is reflected in our ability to be integrated, whole. This manifests as things like peace of mind, happiness, balance and moderation, career growth, integrity, etc. What holds us back is internal disintegration, and this is reflected in inner turmoil, self-doubt, mistrust, and destructive tendencies.&nbsp;As a rule, energy is first directed toward resolving internal disintegration (the denominator), and only after that does leftover energy flow toward external integration (the numerator). For example, when we are ill or emotionally disturbed, we have little energy for innovation and creativity. When we reduce internal disintegration, energy is available for integration and success. Generally, the greater the value of the quotient, the better chance we have of being happy and healthy, while the smaller the value of the quotient, the greater the internal disintegration and the more disturbance there is.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Character, behavior, and tendencies</h4>How can we better understand this from a behavioral perspective? The first two limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are Yama and Niyama. Yama means to remove unwanted character traits and tendencies, while Niyama means to cultivate noble character traits and tendencies.&nbsp;The five Yamas are:Ahimsa – the removal of violence, forceful tendencies and imposition, so that love remains. Satya – the removal of distortion so that truth and authenticity remain. Asteya – the removal of the habit of stealing from others so that a giving nature remains. Brahmacharya – the removal of sensory imbalances and excesses so that moderation remains. Aparigraha – the removal of possessiveness so that generosity remains.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yama_ef310af519.jpg"></figure>By developing these Yamas, we reduce internal disintegration and the energy needed to maintain it. In fact, the adoption of the Yamas will naturally bring the denominator toward zero, meaning that just through this one limb our ability to become whole is limitless. While this is an astounding achievement, it is not all.We can also work on the numerator, by adopting the five Niyamas of:Shaucha – the cultivation of purity of body and mind. &nbsp; Santosha – the cultivation of contentment and inner happiness.&nbsp; Tapas – the cultivation of shining simplicity through self-discipline.&nbsp; Swadhyaya – the cultivation of self-awareness and continuous improvement through self-study. Ishwara Pranidhana – the cultivation of surrender to God.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/niyama_b2a41ea843.jpg"></figure>These Yamas and Niyamas can only really be practiced in our relationships with others in everyday life. They are not for ascetics who renounce society and worldly life.&nbsp;When we look at the Adizes Quotient in this light, we can replace the Niyamas in the numerator and the Yamas in the denominator. In other words, to reduce the denominator and increase the numerator for maximum integration, we can say:<img class="image-style-align-right" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/success_yama_niyama_2e46088941.jpg"> &nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/becoming_whole3_0457cf9b78.jpg"></figure><h4 style="text-align:justify;">How to cultivate the Yamas and Niyamas?</h4>But then comes the challenging part. How to cultivate these Yamas and Niyamas? Let’s take the first Yama, non-violence. Is it easy to remove violence from every situation? Violence doesn’t just mean killing, it also means getting irritated by another person and snapping at them, or passively-aggressively ignoring a person when you don’t like them or they disagree with you. As we start to work on our behavior, we become skilled at subtler forms of violence, thinking that we have overcome it when really we are just more potent antagonists!<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">As we start to work on our behavior,&nbsp; we become skilled at subtler forms of violence,&nbsp; thinking that we have overcome it&nbsp; when really we are just more potent antagonists!</h4><hr>The second Yama, truthfulness, is a tricky one, because there are as many universes as there are people – we all have our own perception and awareness of truth. We don’t actually reach a stage of Absolute Truth until far along the spiritual journey, when all the colorings or layers are removed from view. This Yama is totally dependent on spiritual practice and the resulting expansion of awareness.&nbsp;With the third Yama, non-stealing, most of us would say, “I don’t steal,” but when we reflect we realize that it impacts many aspects of our lives. For example, our current environmental crisis, climate change, and the mass extinction of species are a result of our stealing from Mother Earth without restraint.&nbsp;Osho challenges us by saying that most of us are stealing most of the time. It may not be money, land, or possessions – we steal other people’s thoughts and words. He says that most of our knowledge and opinions are stolen.&nbsp;The first Guide of Heartfulness, Lalaji, says, “Taking more than what is rightful is also stealing. If we hoard something that is not useful in the present, but we keep it for the future, that is also stealing, because it may be useful and necessary to someone else when it is useless to us. Collecting for the future more than is necessary for the present is also stealing.”And Swami Vivekananda writes, “Receiving is just as bad as stealing, because when receiving gifts the mind is acted upon by the giver, destroying the independence of the mind of the receiver.”&nbsp;Major industries rely on this stealing mentality; for example the world of fashion relies on us wanting to look like someone else by wearing the same clothes or having the same hairstyle.&nbsp;But non-stealing is only the beginning. We can also move to the next level of this principle – generosity and a giving nature. For example, when we are empathetic, compassionate, loving, and when we give more than we receive, we will also be more helpful.The fourth Yama is moderation of the senses and sensual tendencies. Given that we interact with the world through our senses, it is involved in everything that we think, feel, and do. Brahmacharya is about purity of intention and conservation of energy. And sensuality is not only associated with sex. Our senses can be stimulated by food, clothes, drugs, digital technology, or any other pursuit that leads to desire-based indulgence. It refers to moderation in all areas of life. With spiritual practice, we may reach a stage where there is no longer any pull of the senses, and this is known as Uparati. As with everything in yoga, there is a stepwise progression, beginning with restraint and self-discipline and arriving at the effortless and joyful freedom of Uparati.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">A person who has reached a high level of moderation&nbsp; has an extremely light footprint on the Earth,&nbsp; and does not disturb anything or anyone unnecessarily.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Moderation has a direct effect on our level of happiness, because the spectrum of happiness to sadness is within the sensory realm. Happiness is indirectly proportionate to the number of desires we have, and the intensity of those desires. Desires are created by the pull of the senses, and by how much we allow sensuality to remain unchecked. Yet, through Brahmacharya, the senses can become an ally instead of a hindrance.A person who has reached a high level of moderation has an extremely light footprint on the Earth, and does not disturb anything or anyone unnecessarily. Their tone of speech becomes moderate, as do their moods, relationships, way of eating, sleeping, walking, working, and playing. There is no need to talk about work-life balance or go on diets to promote healthy eating, and there is no addiction. Everything takes its rightful place.The fifth Yama is non-possessiveness, the principle of taking and using only what is needed. It involves self-restraint, and avoiding overindulgence, covetousness, and greed. Another definition is to give more than you receive. It is to live in the consciousness of abundance instead of scarcity. It means to be content with whatever the universe provides.&nbsp; These five Yamas are designed to remove internal disintegration, bringing the denominator of the Integration Quotient close to zero. For this, a regular spiritual practice is vital, and in particular the practice of Cleaning, which purifies the mind of all the subconscious programs that lead to internal disintegration. Turning to the numerator of the Integration Quotient, we come to the Niyamas. The first is cleanliness and purity. Purity is the essence of inner transformation. Inner purity leads to happiness, concentration, and mastery of the senses. The second Niyama is contentment and inner happiness. Contentment is complete and natural acceptance of whatever is happening. It is a first step to creating a neutral starting point in any situation from which to move forward, even when change is required.&nbsp; The remaining three Niyamas – refinement through self-discipline, self-study, and surrender to God – are known as Kriya Yoga or yoga in action. Having worked to change our thought patterns, the results now start to express in action.&nbsp;Self-discipline is the process of continuously refining ourselves to become the best we can be. It is our trajectory toward a simple life, an uncomplicated life, wrapped in love, starting with self-love and culminating in becoming love itself.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Self-discipline is the process of continuously refining&nbsp; ourselves to become the best we can be.&nbsp; It is our trajectory toward a simple life,&nbsp; an uncomplicated life, wrapped in love,&nbsp; starting with self-love and culminating in becoming love itself.</h4><hr>Self-study is the cornerstone of psychology. It is based on the wonder of exploring the inner universe. It is also the way to reach the Divine, implying that the Divine is within us. When we witness all the dimensions of our being, the work of the Yamas and Niyamas becomes effortless, because we see what needs to be removed and what needs to be cultivated. Our habits are gradually exposed, even those that are programmed deep within the subconscious. In self-study, we shine the light from our Center outward, illuminating every aspect of our character.&nbsp; With the last Niyama, surrender to God, we remain in constant osmosis with God. Whether we are awake or asleep, aware or unaware, active or passive, we remain in this state. In yoga the concept of surrender is very positive – we are held, protected, and supported like a newborn babe in her mother’s arms. It is a liberating, carefree state. When we offer all the fruits of our work to God, we are at peace. We take neither credit nor blame onto ourselves, as both are surrendered to God. When we have studied ourselves, purified ourselves, and refined ourselves, surrender is very simple. It is the ultimate quality, the culmination of the other qualities. The roots of enlightenment arise in absolute surrender.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/becoming_whole4_040219c71b.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The roots of enlightenment arise in absolute surrender.</h4><hr>The development of all these qualities is possible through Heartfulness meditative practices. You may even say it happens automatically when yogic Transmission is present, although efforts and interest are required. I hope you will try it for yourself and experience what unfolds. It is a sure method for individual and communal integration and evolution, bringing joy and purpose to life.With love and respect, Daaji

Becoming whole

<h4>DAAJI shares some simple practices that allow peace to manifest in daily life. The ripple effect as more of us do this is already building momentum.</h4>Peace. This most evocative word has many meanings. You may dream of world peace, the cessation or absence of war, and the freedom from civil disorder and dissension. But the feelings of hatred and violence all around create anxiety and it is easy to feel helpless. What to do in these situations that appear to be out of your control?&nbsp;In fact, you are not helpless. You can manifest and create peace within yourself and around you.Inner peace is a state of tranquility and harmony within the heart, which leads to acceptance, no matter what comes your way. And in creating peace with others in your relationships, you can reconcile differences and establish friendliness by connecting your heart with theirs. This radiates outward, creating a feeling of unity.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Inner peace is a state of tranquility and harmony within the heart, which leads to acceptance,&nbsp; no matter what comes your way.</h4><hr><h4>How to manifest peace?</h4>By using the power of intention, and practicing it every day with sincerity and feeling, you will create a new and peaceful reality for yourself. Here are three exercises that will help you manifest a state of equanimity and peace:<h4>1. The ocean of peace</h4>This practice removes emotional heaviness from your mind, bringing it back to its original peaceful state:Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine that you are in a gentle ocean of peace. The waves are soothing and blissful. Have the firm thought that you are immersed in this ocean of peace, and the waves are removing all your coverings. Do this for as long as you can, but no more than thirty minutes.<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:29.64%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/manifest_peace2_fa3aa313d0.jpg"></figure><h4>2. The tree pose</h4>This is one of the fundamental Hatha Yoga poses, a simple practice of balancing on one leg, which has many health benefits, including bringing you to a state of peace as well as relaxing your mind and body.Stand tall with your feet together in a relaxed and balanced pose. Take a few deep breaths. Bring your hands to the Namaste position at your center. Start by lifting one leg, bending the knee, and placing your foot on the side of the calf of your other leg. Then with practice, gradually place your bent leg higher up so that your foot reaches the knee.&nbsp; Focus on your breathing and remaining still as your mind and body relax.Note, it can be physically challenging for hips and ankles, so be aware of your body’s capabilities and only do what is comfortable for you. If you need to place your foot on the ankle of your other leg, that is also okay.<h4>3. Radiate peace with intentions</h4>I invite you to use any of these three intentions whenever you have a spare moment. Feel free to use your own words and create new peace intentions.<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:27.68%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/manifest_peace3_5a83bd9467.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Intention 1</h4>Among all people in the world Let there be compassion Let there be kindness Let there be love Let there be peace&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Intention 2</h4>Everything around you&nbsp;is absorbing peace,&nbsp; including&nbsp;the sky, the oceans, the trees,&nbsp; the people, the wildlife,&nbsp;the buildings –&nbsp; and everything&nbsp;is radiating peace.&nbsp;<h4 style="text-align:center;">Intention 3</h4>Everyone is becoming peaceful,&nbsp; nurturing correct thinking, right understanding,&nbsp;and&nbsp; integrity of purpose.&nbsp;“First, it is an intention. Then a behavior. Then a habit. Then a practice. Then a second nature. Then it is simply who you are.”—Brendon Burchard<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">By using the power of intention, and practicing it every day with sincerity and feeling you will create a new and peaceful reality for yourself.</h4><hr>

How to manifest peace

<h3 style="text-align:center;">THE WISDOM BRIDGE SERIES</h3><h4>In September 2022, DAAJI released his latest bestseller, The Wisdom Bridge, and throughout 2023 we are sharing highlights from the various chapters to give you a taste of the wisdom the book offers. This month the excerpt is from chapter 10 on Principle 5: Early Childhood Is the Foundation.</h4><h4>Relaxed Efforts Go a Long Way</h4>Saint Kabir wrote a couplet that goes like this:Dheere dheere re mana, dheere sub kucch hoye Mali seenche so ghara, ritu aaye phal hoye Slow down, dear mind, slow down. Everything happens in its own time.&nbsp; The gardener may pour a hundred buckets of water,&nbsp; but only when the season is right will the trees yield fruit.In a few words, Saint Kabir shares the wisdom behind doing things at the right time and waiting patiently for the results.Parents know about doing things at the right time. And even if they don’t, they can read about it and learn. But waiting for the results is an attitude one needs to develop. Especially in today’s world of FOMO (fear of missing out) and instant gratification, waiting can be a tough exercise.What do we mean by waiting? In its real sense, waiting means allowing a process that has begun to complete without interfering. Just as we sow a seed and then wait. We put the potatoes on to boil, and then we wait. We teach children good habits, and then we wait. We offer a prayer, and then we wait. If you analyze it, life is nothing but waiting interspersed with moments or bursts of activity. Waiting takes up a large part of our life and not activity. Waiting comes from the faith that actions done well will yield the right results. It is waiting that is the art.As parents, there is hardly anything more important to you than the well-being of your children. So, you do everything you can to help your children succeed. All the sleepless nights and ferrying your children from one activity to another is to prepare them for their life ahead.I commend the efforts parents put in these days in raising their children. I do have a suggestion. Once in a while, relax. Do less. You are already starved for time, don’t try to squeeze more into your day. Less is more. One advice new parents often get from parents with grown-up children is, “Spend as much time as you can with your little ones. It goes by too fast.” They are right.If you need to drop something to get more time with your child, then do it. If you both enjoy cuddling and poring over a book together more than the piano class or the taekwondo training, go ahead and do that. If you feel like taking the day off and going for a picnic with the children, then do that. Our fondest memories are usually of childhood. There is no need to rush children through their childhood. Don’t force your children to grow up fast. Your son is being clingy and wants to spend more time with you? Great, spend time with him. Your daughter doesn’t feel like reading the story book on her own? No problem, read it to her. Let them take their time.Each child is unique. Some learn math fast, while others create wonderful art. Some love helping in the kitchen, while others like to spend time running around the park. Children’s minds are like flower buds. Do not force them to bloom. Be patient, be present, and be loving.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Children’s minds are like flower buds.&nbsp; Do not force them to bloom. Be patient, be present, and be loving.</h4><hr>Patiently wait for your child to bloom, in the same way a flower blooms on its own. Children’s minds are like flower buds. They should not be forced open. Do not push them too much.<h4>Keep Listening</h4>Knowing what to do and what not to do equips you better on the parenting journey. Gaining knowledge is an important step. Most of us know a lot more about the global economy or the statistics of the last ball game than we know about the development cycles of a child. Educating ourselves on the best practices of parenting is helpful. This happens organically in a family with elders around. If that’s not the case, reading and learning about parenting is helpful. A group of parents getting together once every few months, specifically to share notes and ideas on parenting, will also help.What helps the most is listening to your child. Listening will teach many things that are otherwise lost in the noise of life. The tantrums of your child, the meltdowns, the loving hugs, the shyness, the mischief are all opportunities to listen to the unsaid feelings of your child’s heart. Keep listening with your eyes and ears, and your heart will speak its guidance more clearly.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/art_relaxed_efforts2_078d153b1e.jpg"></figure>While our life circumstances can be unique, a common factor that unites all parents is a perennial dearth of time. So, be kind to yourself. Learn to wait and understand that everything happens in its own sweet time. Enjoy the journey because the destination is a moving goal post.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Learn to wait and understand&nbsp; that everything happens in its own sweet time.&nbsp; Enjoy the journey because&nbsp; the destination is a moving goal post.</h4><hr><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/art_relaxed_efforts3_e5ffc02399.jpg"></figure>Daily DilemmaQ: My child seems to lack confidence. She hesitates in asking the teacher about her doubts and even when I remind her, she doesn’t. What to do?Daaji: Some children are shy. It’s part of their make-up. Parents often remember their own so-called shortcomings and are over cautious about such tendencies in their children. Please introspect and see if that’s what is happening in your case. Also, positive suggestions and indirect advice work well over time. Be patient and keep me posted on how things come along.From Chapter 10 of&nbsp;The Wisdom Bridge.1&nbsp;To be continued.<hr>1Patel, K.D., 2022.&nbsp;The Wisdom Bridge: Nine Principles to a Life that Echoes in the Hearts of Your Loved Ones. Penguin, India.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE</h4><hr>&nbsp;

The art of relaxed efforts

<h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4>DAAJI shares 4 simple practices to tune into the present moment and bring about a joyful, contented lifestyle. Doing these regularly will create sustainable peace.</h4>Dear friends,Take a moment to review your day so far. Has your mind been busy with thoughts? Were they full of what to do next, or what has happened in the past? Were you rushing from one task to another, feeling overwhelmed? Did you spend hours scrolling on your phone? Were you multitasking while eating, unmindful of the food? Did you take time to breathe and feel your surroundings, aware of that moment of stillness, rejuvenation, joy and gratitude?As Thích Nhất Hạnh once said, “We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, or a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.”For many of us, being aware in the present moment is a rare occurrence. So, how can we make it happen more frequently? It takes some effort, but once we practice, it becomes second nature to us.&nbsp;Here are a few short exercises to help you tune in to the present moment:&nbsp;<h4>Relax</h4>Turn off your phones and other distracting devices, and sit comfortably with eyes closed. Relax your body, from your toes to the top of your head, so that pain and tension melt away. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwqL34FCjA">Heartfulness Relaxation</a> is an ideal method and it takes just a few minutes. You can also find it on the Heartfulness App, which is free to download on your phone or iPad.<h4>Breathe</h4>Left nostril breathing is a simple technique that activates your parasympathetic system. It brings clarity and calmness.<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Relax your body and mind</li><li>Close your right nostril with your right thumb</li><li>Slowly inhale through your left nostril and exhale through your left nostril, breathing deep into your abdomen.</li><li>Smile while you breathe</li><li>Repeat 9 more times</li></ul><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Relax your body, from your toes to the top of your head, so that pain and tension melt away.</h4><hr><h4>Eat with awareness</h4>If you eat at your work desk, grab a quick snack while rushing, or eat while texting on your phone, you probably do not really appreciate what you are eating. You’re also compromising your digestion by multitasking, as there is not enough blood available for proper digestion. Most traditional societies take time to pray or say grace at the beginning of a meal, allowing us to activate the current from the Source that is woven into the fabric of Nature, including every atom of the food that has been prepared for us.&nbsp;So, before eating, have the thought of being happy to eat in constant divine thought whatever you receive, and hold that subtle connection while eating.&nbsp;The subtle vibrations will filter down into the food and spread throughout your system. This promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:39.64%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/turn_into_present_moment2_b0f9ae90e3.jpg"></figure><hr>Before walking, clear your mind, focus on your heart,&nbsp; connect with your meditative state,&nbsp; and walk in that state.<hr><h4>Walk meditatively</h4>Before walking, clear your mind, focus on your heart, connect with your meditative state, and walk in that state.&nbsp;Then, spread that inner state to everything you come across, being aware that everything around you is absorbing peace – including the sky, the oceans, the trees, the people, the wildlife, the buildings – and everything is radiating peace. &nbsp;Awareness of the present moment creates a sense of being unlike any other. And over time, such a state of awareness cultivates peace. This in turn fosters an expansion of our minds and hearts, which enriches our thoughts and feelings, and enables us to live a life of contentment, compassion and joy.All the best, Daaji&nbsp;

Tune in to the present moment

Our next evolution

<h4>DAAJI speaks about the role of the heart in healing, and the important aspects of a healthy life. He explains the concept of total health and how we can attain it through yoga.</h4>The words “healing” and “health” are connected. We heal not just the body, but also the emotions that scar our hearts. You can remove the scars from your skin, but the scars in your heart are very difficult to remove. In Heartfulness, we all know that the removal and the healing of our samskaras, of our inner conditioning, are very difficult.For example, how to remove mis-understanding? What is behind the misunderstanding others, or understanding others correctly? Understanding happens only when we proceed with right thinking. And what precedes right thinking is right attitude. Do you really want to understand another person? Listen carefully. That’s where the heart comes into the picture. Our next evolution as human beings is all about this – whoever uses the heart will survive, and the rest will not. Nature works in a very different way, where the subtlest, the finest survive, and there is no way you will be able to survive in the future if you don’t use the heart.What is the role of the heart? Now, science also acknowledges it and there are some great books on this topic. One is The Heart’s Code by Paul Pearsall, and another is The HeartMath Solution by Doc Childre and Howard Martin. When you have a problem at an emotional level, because somebody misunderstands you, you will remember it all your life. But if you let go from the heart, if you forgive that person, you will have no problem. So we have to learn this art of using the heart, being empathetic and more forgiving. Then the evolution of consciousness will happen.Let’s take the example of sleep. Deep sleep is also a type of consciousness where Delta waves are measured. Now, if you don’t cultivate yama (the removal of unwanted tendencies) and niyama (the cultivation of noble habits), the first two limbs of yoga, you will destroy your inner hygiene. Would you go to a restaurant where there are a lot of flies and mosquitoes, where the kitchens are not hygienic and the person serving you puts his fingers in the water bottle and expects you to drink from it? You would avoid such places. Our inner hygiene is just as important, and it is hijacked by our weaknesses. Take the yama of asteya: if you try to steal something from someone, be it their money, their partner, or their ideas, you will not have inner hygiene. Also, if you cultivate the niyama of santosh, contentment, it will help to maintain your inner hygiene.Lacking inner hygiene, you will not be able to sleep. Lacking inner hygiene, you will not enter the state of samadhi. Lacking inner hygiene, you will not have viveka, buddhi, the discriminating faculty. And if you cannot discriminate, you cannot differentiate what is right from wrong, what is cause and effect, what is good and bad for yourself. These things will not work without inner hygiene.How to make your heart and mind conscient? It’s only through meditation. Close your eyes and start with reflection. If meditating on God is too far for you, begin with reflection and try to center yourself. The Sanskrit language has a beautiful word, swasthya, meaning health. But it’s not mere health. Swa-sthya means one who is settled within, in the higher self, in the soul, in the center of their being. Such individuals, despite a headache or fever, remain settled within themselves. They are not irritated or dejected, just because they are inconvenienced by fever or headache. They’re settled within. There can be tornadoes, hurricanes all around, but they remain centered. They’re safe.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_total_health2_c9bae81878.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So we have to learn this art of using the heart, being empathetic and more forgiving.</h4><hr>Our attention is too much on the periphery, too much on the body. If you pay too much attention to your bodily health you’re sure to become sick, you somehow attract what you don’t like. People obsessed with physical health always attract diseases. AIMS has done research on sattvic, rajasic and tamasic gunas, and I would like to refer to it because these trigunas are fascinating subjects. Just as the three subatomic particles (proton, electron and neutron) constitute the entire universe, the three gunas are a spectrum in which consciousness plays out. Your consciousness will be filtered accordingly. For example, a person dominant in tamas is generally agitated, irritable, and angry; the consciousness of a person dominant in rajas generally gravitates towards what is pleasant, they love to relax. But each guna has a purpose; for example, if tamas is not activated at night, you won’t sleep.The right guna needs to be activated at the time required. If you say, “I’m so tired, and need to rest,” and you want to develop the sattvic guna at that moment, it will not work. It is also not something that you can order – it is either who you are or not. How can you instantly mutate from a sattvic state to a tamasic state, or tamasic to sattvic? It’s very challenging. That’s why yoga comes into the picture, where you can develop the mastery of switching gears. This switching gears has nothing to do with yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, etc.; it is all about shifting from one level of consciousness to another level of consciousness, and that can only happen when you have control over your heart and mind. Heartfulness goes beyond the mind. As long as we remain within the realms of mind, we’re bogged down by knowledge and logic. Knowledge is good, but it’s not enough. Take knowledge of God, for example. We may say, “God is there,” but this is superficial knowledge. Who told you so? “My mother told me so,” or “My father told me so,” or “My shastra speaks about it.”But when you do experience God, through spirituality, then it’s a different matter altogether. And is it enough to experience God once in a while? It’s like visiting a very rich friend and enjoying their hospitality for three months. You have the experience of what richness can offer, but would you then not wish to become rich yourself? And so we move from knowledge to a higher level of experience, and then to becoming. Becoming is also not the final stage, according to the yoga sastras. From becoming we move to a state of being, and being is also too much of a burden, so we move to a state of non-being. This is the journey of total health, where even bliss becomes a burden. We’re talking of freeing ourselves from disease. You may think that means having bliss, joy, and laughter, but bliss is also a kind of a disease according to yoga. We must transcend all these things. People have misunderstood two words, dhyana and meditation. According to the Oxford Dictionary, meditation is to focus your mind on one object. But God is not an object, and meditation is all about God. You have to transcend your mind. Let the mind be left behind, though the mind has a very special role to play.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It is all about shifting from one level of consciousness to another level of consciousness, and that can only happen when you have control over your heart and mind.</h4><hr><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_total_health3_c00c5f3964.jpg"></figure>The mind is not our enemy, it can be our best friend, but eventually it will not carry the burden of bliss. In our shastras, we often talk about sahasra dal kamal – the thousand-petaled lotus above the top of the head in the middle. Knowing the location will not help you, you have to experience it, but it is not the ultimate, it’s only where you feel the ultimate bliss, sat-chit-anand. Anand becomes too heavy for the spiritual system. Dhyana takes us not only beyond the mind, but also beyond bliss.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Dhyana takes us not only beyond the mind, but also beyond bliss.</h4><hr><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_total_health4_6cd8123548.jpg"></figure>You renounce bliss. It’s easy to renounce what you don’t like, but renouncing sahasra dal kamal and going beyond is a different matter altogether. Heartfulness offers such a journey, from the heart chakra to the atma chakra to the fire, water, and air chakras, and many chakras are there beyond these in an experiential way.How would you measure the consciousness of a person who is in the turiya state? The turiya state is when you are in deep sleep state but are fully aware. Scientific measurements are there through EEG, and when you see the delta waves, you will conclude the person is in a deep sleep state. How will you know that the person is aware? You have to ask questions to that person. And then, the fifth level of consciousness is turiyatit, where a state of deep sleep with awareness remains even with open eyes. Turiya is where you attain the deep sleep state with awareness with closed eyes. In deep sleep you’re not aware at all. I hope, I wish, I pray that one day science will be able to measure this frontier instrumentally. Deep in my heart, I feel that it cannot be measured, but let’s see how science turns out.It will be wonderful if, instead of measuring through machines, one measures such possibilities through oneself. These are individualistic. Medicine, whether it is Ayurveda or allopathy or any other field of medicine, works on a large scale. If you give a pill for a headache, it should work on most human beings. But when you give a method in yoga, depending upon that individual’s mindset – whether it is rajoguna or tamoguna or satoguna – it changes from person to person.When we all meditate together with Transmission, we will never have the same experiences as each other; everyone will have a unique experience. And for one person, the same Transmission will not work in the same way at different times. Each moment is unique. Transmission plays a very specific role with our consciousness.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/journey_total_health5_20b2f28c64.jpg"></figure><hr>Excerpts from a talk given at the international Heartfulness conference, “An Integrative Approach to Health and Well-being,” at Kanha Shanti Vanam, December 2022. The full talk can be viewed at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NURlOlwyEK8&amp;t=7248s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NURlOlwyEK8&amp;t=7248s from 1:35:30</a>.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>

The journey of total health

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">DAAJI dispels the myth that thoughts in meditation are bad, and helps us understand how to accept our thoughts in a constructive way, eventually leading to periods of thoughtlessness.</h4>Dear friends,One of the most common complaints we hear from newcomers to meditation is, “I’ll never be able to meditate well, as my mind is so busy with thoughts. How can I focus with such an active mind?”In fact, rarely does anyone start a meditation practice with a regulated mind, otherwise why would we need to learn to meditate? It’s like saying we need to know how to swim before we can get in the water to learn to swim – it takes practice! The outcome of regular meditation practice is a balanced, carefree, focused mind.<h3 style="margin-left:0;text-align:justify;">The natural function of the mind is to think</h3>The natural function of the mind is to think. Thinking is necessary to live and to make wise decisions. Thoughts are not the enemy. The best approach is to accept them. The mind is a powerful instrument and will not be subdued by force. If you try to use force to dispel thoughts or push them down, it will be counterproductive, for once that force is lifted, the disturbing thoughts will come back a thousandfold. When you fight with your thoughts, they become stronger.So, don’t try to avoid thoughts, during meditation or at other times. Simply remain unmindful of them, and do not harbor the expectation that “I must have a thoughtless state.” When you are watching a film, reading a book, or focusing on a particular task, are you disturbed by other thoughts? Usually not. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have them. You are not attentive to them because what’s happening at the time is taking your attention and interest.The same thing happens during meditation. When you are more interested in the light in your heart, other thoughts no longer bother you. Only if you give them attention do they draw power from you and remain, constantly nagging.Sometimes, you will experience really intense thoughts and emotions during meditation, and this can be unsettling. The reason this happens is that you repress these thoughts and feelings in the normal course of your days. You push them down into the recesses of your subconscious. But that doesn’t get rid of them, and they remain within you, coloring your experiences and shaping your behavior in subtle and not so subtle ways. During meditation, these thoughts rise to the surface, like air bubbles in a pot of boiling water.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When you are more interested&nbsp; in the light in your heart,&nbsp; other thoughts no longer bother you.&nbsp; Only if you give them attention&nbsp; do they draw power from you and remain, constantly nagging.</h4><hr>Rest assured, they are in the process of leaving, so try to pay them no heed. They have been inside you all along, even though you weren’t aware of their presence. You create space when you meditate and they start coming out. They are better out than in! During meditation you become aware of them.&nbsp;<h3 style="text-align:justify;">Thoughts come only to leave, so let them come and go&nbsp;</h3>So, simply let your thoughts flow, although that doesn’t mean you should indulge them. We often indulge both negative thoughts that worry us and good thoughts that impress us. It is never good because it reinforces them, creating more heaviness in our systems. If a thought does keep recurring, despite your best efforts, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Otherwise, be unmindful of all thoughts during meditation, regardless of their nature.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dealing_with_thougths2_d82119f8fa.jpg"></figure>How? When you realize your attention has wandered, remind yourself that your thoughts are passing like clouds in the sky and gently return your attention to the light in your heart.Order can only be brought into the mind’s busy-ness in the subtlest manner.A time comes when you will enter a state of thoughtlessness during meditation. This will happen when you dive into the subtlest realms of consciousness.Through the complementary effects of the daily Heartfulness Meditation and Heartfulness Cleaning methods, you will bring the heart to a peaceful state and the mind to a restful one. Once this is achieved, you will naturally be able to regulate your thoughts. Try it and see for yourself.Meditation is much more effective once you have been introduced to the Heartfulness practices by a certified trainer. You can find and contact a trainer near you at <a href="http://www.heartspots.heartfulness.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.heartspots.heartfulness.org</a>.&nbsp;All the best,&nbsp; Daaji

Dealing with thoughts

<hr><h4>DAAJI explores the topic of destiny, including our own role in determining our future, as well as the roles other people, circumstances, and the environment play. He shares with us some practices and attitudes that help to make the most out of life.</h4><hr><h4>What determines our destiny?</h4>This is a fundamental question of existence. We all want to change our behavior so that our loved ones can resonate with us. And we also expect our loved ones to change their behavior so that we love them even more. Now, in order to understand human behavior, we first must understand how the conditioning of our behavior patterns came about. And also, can we break away from these patterns? Researchers study these things in a very limited way. For example, they study alcohol addiction, drug addiction, sex addiction, and other habits that become ingrained as the nervous system becomes hardwired.I would like to focus on the way we develop vrittis, the activities and tendencies of the mind, and how we develop our prakriti, our individual nature, based on these mental activities. It eventually becomes our hardcore genetic nature, which determines our future. We can say that we create our destiny according to the tendencies we develop.<h4>How do we create tendencies?</h4>The first thing that contributes to our conditioning is environment. For example, say you had a love affair, and you loved that person very much but you broke up. After some time, you meet them again. How do you behave? Do you start fighting with them, or do you say, “I’m sorry it ended like that”? Are you nice, or does your mind become volatile when it is triggered by seeing the other person?The second thing is memory, which plays a big role. There is cognitive memory, existential memory, and episodic memory, but deep down our experiences remain as emotional memory. And it is emotional memory that creates our behavior patterns. We learn to protect ourselves from allowing such episodes to affect us again in the future. For example, if a person was bitten by a dog in childhood, they will stay away from dogs when they are adults, even from little puppies.<h4>How do we change patterned behavior?</h4>In the Heartfulness Cleaning practice, we use our will to make a sankalpa that “All the impurities and complexities I have gathered during the day are leaving my system,” and it has a magical impact. By doing this for fifteen minutes in the evening, after the day’s work and before being with family members, we clear the slate. We are fresh, without the baggage left over from the day.Let me give you an analogy. When you come back from a two-hour workout at the gym, do you greet your partner and say, “Come my darling, let me hug you”? Your darling will say, “Please stay away from me until you have a shower.” Cleaning is required. Similarly, your inner hygiene is spoiled by your conscious and unconscious activities, and you also need to clean that.The next level is to prevent the creation of impurities in the first place. Cleaning is an after effect – you get dirty so you clean yourself. The next level is to prevent your psyche from being soiled by external things. You immunize your mental activity and your emotions. And how can you do that? By meditating. You become so balanced from inside that nothing can shake you.Behavioral change is much easier for a person who has a goal in mind. For a basketball player in the U.S., the goal is to become an NBA player. For a cricketer in India, the goal is to join the national team. Their behavior changes because they establish what we want in life. We all adjust our lifestyle to match the goals we aspire for, and the same is true for inner goals: a God-oriented person wishes to realize the Ultimate, while a scientific person wishes their consciousness to expand so they can experience its full potential.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/make_most_of_life2_f33a4d1df9.jpg"><hr>People who become alcoholics or drug addicts are hardwired to certain habits, which means flexibility is lost. Even when they wish to change these habits, the heart and brain will not easily support that change. It requires interest and enthusiasm toward a better goal, and the aspiration to achieve that goal. If they are feeling sad, some level of enthusiasm has to be there if they are not going to self-medicate by drinking and smoking. Instead of criticizing, family members can try to give positive feedback, “Yes, you can do it. You’re brave, you’re strong.” I think it takes so many people – friends and family members – to help any of us change our habits.So, as far as good habits are concerned, parents can help by sowing the seeds in their children from the moment of conception. As the first embryonic cells divide rapidly, becoming billions of cells, they are constantly exposed to the way parents behave, the way the magnetic field changes when parents are angry, having arguments, etc. These affect the inner structure. And if the child’s structure becomes used to anger, it adapts accordingly.We can never change what is hard-coded in our genetic structure, but we can bring about epigenetic changes and slowly help the genes to mutate. For example, children who practice Brighter Minds do a beautiful exercise that enhances coordination between the right brain and the left brain. Otherwise, we gradually lose this ability around the age of fifteen, when our creative abilities are compromised because of the procreative hormones that are released into our system.If a person lives in a rough neighborhood, where they are always afraid to walk through the streets, how well would they sleep at night? They would adjust, even though they are afraid, but their brain cells would adapt to that external violent atmosphere. Per contra, a person living in a peaceful environment will have brain cells adapted to a peaceful atmosphere, where there is less effort required, and therefore less entropy. For anything to remain stable, we need energy input. To maintain balance and stable behavior, effort is required.And why do we make efforts? Because we are interested in growth. Goals, aspirations, and lifestyle changes are all connected with growth and evolution.How to go about this? Again, the answer is the Heartfulness Cleaning method that changes our behavior from the root, from the subconscious level. What it requires is practice.<h3>Other factors</h3>Designing our own destiny is one thing, but other factors also have an impact onus reaching our destination. For example, Lord Jesus Christ did not choose to be crucified. That was not his goal. Other people did that to him. And Lord Rama and Mother Sita did not aspire to go into the forest. Was it written in their destinies that they both suffered so much? No, because no less a person than the Sapta Rishi, Vashishta Muni, gave the benediction for their marriage. He said, “This is the best couple, the best horoscope combination,” and yet they suffered greatly. It was one of King Dasharatha’s queens, Kaikeyi, who caused their miseries. Was it the destiny of millions of Jewish people to be killed so mercilessly at the behest of Hitler? No. Destinies can be changed and manipulated by many factors – other human beings, circumstances, and the environment. So, while we do have an important part to play in our destiny, it’s quite complex.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/make_most_of_life3_159e88fc24.jpg"><hr><hr><h4>It requires interest and enthusiasm&nbsp; toward a better goal, and&nbsp; the aspiration to achieve that goal.</h4><hr><hr>Also, what happens when we leave our destiny to God or our karmas? While our karmas do determine our destiny, this one-sided attitude is the reason why some people, including many Hindus, are weak and impotent in this world. They leave everything to God and don’t do anything for themselves. Instead, let’s do our part toward weaving our destiny in a masterful way.<h3>Discipline</h3>There is no magic wand for discipline. Otherwise one Jesus would have been enough, one Krishna would have been enough. Even during their lifetimes, they could not change people. Discipline is an individual phenomenon because we have the freedom to choose our own way of life. And often we choose the easy path, we prefer to go downhill, whereas to climb Everest takes time, and a level of organization, discipline, and effort. Even keeping our homes organized requires discipline and effort. For example, your children’s rooms become untidy if you don’t regularly arrange their books, toys, and clothes. Someone has to keep them tidy and clean.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/make_most_of_life4_b980b44955.jpg"><hr>Discipline is also necessary in the cosmos. Planets don’t deviate from their orbits, so what provides the energy input to keep them organized? If we say that it is gravitation, then the question arises, “What creates gravitation?” This leads to deeper and deeper questions.Personal discipline also requires energy input; and energy input means using willpower. Now, will power does not need to be forceful; it does not have to mean, “I must do this.” Will power is far more effective if our hearts cry out with joy and a desperate interest to achieve our goal. Then, energy input will happen.But so many things happen in life. Our lives are governed by people and things other than ourselves alone. So what is in our control? To be disciplined, have a goal, and try to achieve it.And please cultivate enthusiasm, because God doesn’t descend into sad hearts or hearts fuming with anger. God descends into hearts that are welcoming and joyful.<hr><hr>To watch the full talk, go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXFxehPfrfc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXFxehPfrfc</a>.<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>

How to make the most of life

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h2 class="block-heading has-text-align-center">
 YES, YOU CAN DO IT!
</h2>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-daaji-shares-some-simple-practices-for-mental-and-physical-well-being"
>
 DAAJI
 shares some simple practices for mental and physical well-being.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There are times in our lives when we experience more stress, feel overwhelmed,
 and even out of touch with those around us. We may find it difficult to focus,
 and struggle to get out of our many thoughts. We may even be dealing with
 addictions of one sort or another.



 Here are a few easy and fun exercises that can help you rest your neural
 pathways and give your mind and body the opportunity to return to a more
 balanced state. This leads to better health, feels good, and improves your
 ability to cope with day-to-day situations.


<h3 class="block-heading">
 Breathing
</h3>


 Simple breathing practices help us in many ways. They oxygenate the body,
 balance the nervous system, and even provide a natural free “high.” Here are 2
 breathing exercises. Go at your own pace, and feel free to use either of them
 at any time.


<h4 class="block-heading">
 Abdominal Breathing
</h4>

<div class="block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement2_92e0df77b9.jpg"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<ul>
 <li>Sit in a comfortable position, on the floor or on a chair.</li>

 <li>Close your eyes.</li>

 <li>Observe your breathing, and inhale and exhale for 6 breaths.</li>

 <li>Keep your focus to your exhalation and slow it down each time.</li>

 <li>
 As you breathe, keep your righthand on your abdomen. As you exhale, gently
 draw your abdomen in. Repeat for 6 breaths.
 </li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h4 class="block-heading">
 Alternate Nostril Breathing
</h4>


 This exercise is especially helpful for easing anxiety and stress, to feel
 more grounded. It can improve brain function and is also very relaxing.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<figure class="block-image size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement2b_0c02cef601.jpg"
 />
</figure>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<ul>
 <li>Keep your right thumb on your right nostril.</li>

 <li>Inhale through your left nostril.</li>

 <li>
 Gently close your left nostril with the ring finger and lift the thumb to
 open the right side.
 </li>

 <li>Slowly exhale through the right nostril.</li>

 <li>Inhale through the right again.</li>

 <li>Close the right nostril, open left and exhale left.</li>

 <li>This is one round.</li>

 <li>Repeat the same for 6 rounds.</li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h3 class="block-heading">
 Touch and Movement
</h3>


 Touch and movement are great ways to get out of your head and into your body.
 These exercises will help you feel better. Go at your own pace and use them at
 any time.



 To warm up, first stand with your feet apart and facing forward, knees
 slightly bent, and slowly twist your body from one side to the other, swinging
 your arms with you from side to side. Do this 10 times on each side. It will
 loosen your body and help you feel relaxed.


<h4 class="block-heading">
 Namaste
</h4>

<div class="block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement3_b0fd42829d.jpg"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<div class="block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement4_e60e913adc.jpg"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<ul>
 <li>Eyes open.</li>

 <li>
 Bring your palms together in front of your chest in the Namaste position.
 </li>

 <li>
 Breathe in. As you inhale, take your hands up toward the ceiling and above
 your head.
 </li>

 <li>Pause here for a second.</li>

 <li>Exhale and bring your hands down in front of your chest.</li>

 <li>Repeat 6 times.</li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h4 class="block-heading">
 The Heart Connector
</h4>

<div class="block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement5_6903050b8d.jpg"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<ul>
 <li>
 Bring your hands in front of you and join the tips of your middle fingers
 together, i.e. the longest fingers.
 </li>

 <li>
 Fold the index, ring fingers and little fingers together in your hands and
 allow their knuckles to touch each other.
 </li>

 <li>
 Allow the tip of the thumbs to touch each other and bring them downwards.
 </li>

 <li>Look at your index fingers and thumbs as they make a heart.</li>

 <li>The middle fingers are pointing upwards.</li>

 <li>Make a firm intention that you choose for yourself, using the 3 Ps.</li>

 <li>
 Bring this little heart toward your heart, the tip of the thumbs resting on
 your chest, then close your eyes and rest there.
 </li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h4 class="block-heading">
 Jump!
</h4>

<figure class="block-image size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement6_1_ebd7a69773.jpg"
 />
</figure>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<ul>
 <li>Stand up, turn to face East and jump 5 times.</li>

 <li>Turn to face North and jump 5 times.</li>

 <li>Turn to face West and jump 5 times.</li>

 <li>Turn to face South and jump 5 times.</li>

 <li>Repeat this whole sequence at least 3 times.</li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h3 class="block-heading">
 Go outside and look up
</h3>

<div class="block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-full">
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/breathing_movement7_2_66f585501e.jpg"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Do something active like counting birds or chimney pots, looking at cloud
 formations, or enjoying the stars at night. Looking up squeezes the area at
 the base of your brain, and this has a balancing effect on your system.


Going outside connects you with the world and expands your horizon.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />


 From the book, Yes, You Can Do It!, published by Heartfulness
 Education Trust in 2023.


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Breathing and moving

True yoga

<h4>
 YES, YOU CAN DO IT!
</h4>

<h4>
 DAAJI shares two simple practices to remove heaviness from your system,
 become light and carefree, and reduce your thought footprint in the
 world.
</h4>

Dear friends,


 How can we live lightly in an ever more complex world? It is important we find
 answers, as unless we do, we will not reduce our human footprint enough to
 allow our planet Earth to sustain.



 To start somewhere, behind all our pollution in the environment is human
 thought pollution. And anger and stress are two of the most common emotional
 patterns and compulsive habits that contribute to thought pollution. It is
 difficult to find balance, peace, lightness, and contentment when we are
 undergoing the effects of these emotions.


<h4>Anger</h4>


 Anger need not be a negative emotional state, but very often we allow it to
 destroy peace. It can manifest as strong turbulence in the mind and body,
 physical dysfunction, an explosion of energy, aggression toward others, and
 loss of sensitivity and awareness. You will find a lot of wisdom about anger
 in the book,
 <a
 href="https://www.amazon.in/Anger-Love-Kamlesh-D-Patel/dp/9392172435/ref=sr_1_3?crid=17Q5LDT8CWXYT&amp;keywords=From+Anger+to+Love&amp;qid=1680414536&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=from+anger+to+lov%2Cstripbooks%2C907&amp;sr=1-3">From
 Anger to Love</a>.



 As a first step, whenever you are angry, take a few minutes to release the
 turbulence and free yourself from the effects with this simple Heartfulness
 method:


<h4>
 Guided Ocean of Peace Cleaning
</h4>

Sit comfortably and close your eyes.


 Imagine that you are in a gentle ocean of peace. The waves are soothing and
 blissful.



 Have the firm thought that you are immersed in this ocean of peace, and the
 waves are removing all your coverings.


Do this for as long as you can, but no more than 30 minutes.

<h4>Stress</h4>


 We all experience stress at one level or another. Our lives are a continuous
 process of facing and solving problems and challenges, and sometimes it can
 become overwhelming. Prolonged uncontrollable distress can negatively affect
 our well-being leading to wear and tear on the body. Lack of sleep, digestive
 problems, mental worry, negative thinking, loss of confidence and depression
 are all attributed to chronic stress. How to overcome such feelings of
 helplessness and constant challenge?



 Research indicates that the real issue is in how your mind perceives and
 handles situations. Here is one technique that will help you anchor your mind
 on the higher plane of freedom. Accessing this space deep within your heart
 and staying connected with it throughout the day, will help to restore
 positivity and balance.


<h4>
 Guided Meditation to Reduce Stress and Restore Positivity
</h4>

Sit in a relaxed position and gently close your eyes.


 Make a subtle thought that the Source of Light in your heart is attracting you
 from within.


Rest your attention on that Light in your heart.


 If you find your awareness drifting to other thoughts, gently come back to the
 idea of the Source of Light in your heart.


Feel immersed in the Light and try to become absorbed.


 Remain absorbed within this deep silence until you feel ready to come out.



 When you open your eyes carry on with your daily routine, continuing to stay
 connected with the heart.



 Meditation is much more effective once you have been introduced to the
 Heartfulness practices by a certified trainer. You can find and contact a
 trainer near you at
 <a href="http://www.heartspots.heartfulness.org">www.heartspots.heartfulness.org</a>.


All the best,

Daaji

Travel Light

<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h2 class="has-text-align-center">YES, YOU CAN DO
 IT!</h2>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4>
 DAAJI
 introduces a new Heartfulness practice and shows us how to set up a daily routine that will create
 balance in our lives.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4>What does a balanced life mean to
 you?</h4>



How often do you find yourself feeling pulled in different directions, juggling many things at once? How do you
 balance them all? Does a balanced life mean giving equal importance to everything? And how would you do that in a
 life full of uncertainties? Though you may start your day with a routine mapped out, it is normal to be affected by
 the unexpected, by big and small personal and work issues, by the actions of others, by stress, ill health,
 environmental issues, and so on. All these create ripples in everyday life.



<h4>How to bring about peace and
 balance?</h4>



One way to bring balance is to establish a regular meditative practice, a routine that positively nurtures your
 mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Heart-based meditative practices will bring you centeredness, deeper
 understanding, and a more grounded perspective amidst the unpredictability and dilemmas of life.



Your heart is your conscience. It is there to guide you at every moment. The roots of your emotions lie in your
 heart; and the condition of your heart determines your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states. When the
 heart is clear, so is the mind. When the heart is at peace, the mind is at rest, and you feel balanced.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">When the heart is clear,
 so is the mind. When the heart is at peace, the mind is at
 rest, and you feel balanced.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



In the first two editions this year, I introduced the Heartfulness Meditation and Cleaning practices. Morning
 Meditation relaxes the body and mind, allowing you to dive deeper into the superconscious and subconscious levels of
 your mind. You start to feel what is unfolding in your inner universe, your heart. Evening Cleaning removes the
 heaviness and complexities that accumulate during the day, clearing the way for lightness and positive change.



Another core practice is the Heartfulness Prayer, usually done just before bed at night to wind down and prepare for
 a good night’s sleep.



Prayer is communication. It can range from the superficial to the profound: a simple conversation, progressively
 deeper levels of communication, and eventually a state of communion. Prayer is a potent way to communicate with the
 divinity within yourself. Like all good communication, it brings connection. Prayer is also a way to establish a
 state of osmosis in that flow of connection.



In the quietness of the evening, before sleep, the mind is open to learning from the day’s mistakes, which are often
 unintentional, vowing not to repeat them going forward. It is a wonderful opportunity for continuous improvement, to
 compassionately let go of whatever unfortunate things you may have done to others and to yourself, consciously or
 unconsciously. As you drift off to sleep, a deep inner connection is established throughout the night, and you will
 wake feeling well-rested and fresh the next morning.



These three practices complement each other. During morning Meditation, you learn to be open and receptive, diving
 deep into your heart. The inner vacuum created during the evening Cleaning, combined with the yielding connected
 state during the Prayer, open the heart to intuition and solutions you may be seeking. This establishes balance in
 action –you can plan your way forward by resolving issues that caused the imbalance in the first place.



A meditative practice won’t always prevent turmoil and challenges from happening, but it will make you stronger from
 within and more grounded, so that you view all the issues objectively, deal with them wisely without losing focus or
 stability, learn from them, and consequently emerge as a better version of yourself. This process itself is balance.




<hr class="vertical-space1">


<div class="block-image">
 <figure><img decoding="async" width="310" height="400" alt="" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/balance_db4a360499.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-26T08:13:33.329Z">
 </figure>
</div>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Heartfulness practices
 help you to go from dealing with life, to balancing it, to
 integrating the balanced state, and finally creating peace and joy within and all around you.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



And with ongoing practice, you will strengthen this balance, until it becomes so well integrated into your life that
 you are able to weather any storm life throws at you; much like a tree drawing sustenance through its roots, which
 are so deep in the ground that no storm can fell it. Heartfulness practices help you to go from dealing with life,
 to balancing it, to integrating the balanced state, and finally creating peace and joy within and all around you.




These practices are more effective once you have had three free meditation sessions with a certified trainer. You can
 find and contact a trainer near you at <a href="http://www.heartspots.heartfulness.org" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">www.heartspots.heartfulness.org</a>.



I wish you all the best, Daaji

Daily practice creates balance

<hr><h2 style="text-align:center;">YES, YOU CAN DO IT!</h2><h4>DAAJI shares 3 simple heartful suggestions that will change your life and the lives of others. It's a good habit to cultivate and only requires that you become aware of your thoughts and feelings.</h4><hr>&nbsp;Thoughts live; they travel far. —Swami Vivekananda<hr>Humans are social beings. We are not meant to survive in isolation. When our inner growth expands to touch the hearts of others, and our material prosperity is shared with others, we all thrive. We are all connected through the heart, and deep down we are all united in the common wish to live a peaceful, love-filled, joyful, and prosperous life.You may already be contributing to society through charity or volunteer work, but not all of us can. So, I would like to share with you something we can all do for our fellow beings – 3 heartful suggestions. They bring immense benefit to us, to those around us, and to humanity at large.So, when you have a free moment, when you are quiet and there’s nothing else to do, practice these heartful suggestions. They have a ripple effect that spreads both outward and inward!<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We are all connected through the heart,&nbsp; and deep down we are all united&nbsp; in the common wish to live a peaceful,&nbsp; love-filled, joyful, and prosperous life.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Suggestion 1</h4>Everything surrounding us, the air particles, the people, the birds, the trees…&nbsp; everything around us is deeply absorbed in Godly remembrance.&nbsp; All are in osmosis with the Source, and developing increased peacefulness and moderation.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Suggestion 2</h4>Everyone is developing correct thinking, right understanding, and an honest approach to life.&nbsp; They are attaining rightness in action and perfection in character.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Suggestion 3</h4>Everyone is being filled with love and devotion and real faith is growing stronger in them.&nbsp; Truth and righteousness are getting established in the world.&nbsp; All kinds of distractions faced by our countries and our globe are going away.&nbsp; May this entire Earth be engulfed with peace, with love, with Divine Grace.<hr>Suggestions are more potent when they are offered from the heart rather than just from the intellect. So, first create a state of openheartedness within yourself, and then offer one of the suggestions. Try offering them at various times during the day, when you visit different places, and in different environments.Which one is your favorite?All the best, Daaji<hr>

Heartful suggestions

<h3 class="text-center">
 YES, YOU CAN DO
 IT!
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Though most people these days are aware of the immense benefits and feeling
 of connectedness that result from a regular meditation practice, it is also
 easy to find excuses to avoid it: I’m too tired, I can always meditate
 tomorrow, I have no time, I woke up late, etc.



 A common reason to shy away from meditation is the feeling that “I’m not
 good at it.” We may have a preconception of a “good” meditator as someone
 who plunges deep into the peacefulness of their inner being every moment,
 who lives a life of instant acceptance and harmony, and who is untroubled by
 the ups and downs of daily life. The reality is that we are all living a
 life of change and growth, striving to become better and better, and the
 inner journey itself is full of changes.



 In Heartfulness, we meditate upon the Source of Light within our hearts.
 There is no need to see the light, as it is “light without luminosity.” We
 simply make a very subtle suggestion that it is there, and it is attracting
 us from within. That thought is just the springboard to experience, as we
 allow ourselves to explore the inner universe with the expansion of our
 consciousness.



 Here are four easy micro-habits that can help you make Heartfulness
 Meditation a part of your daily routine. Build it into your day, like
 brushing your teeth, drinking water, working out, and studying, so that it
 becomes embedded in your daily rhythm.


<h4>
 1. Sit at the
 same time every day
</h4>


 Regularity makes meditation easy. Just like your body adjusts to waking up
 at the same time each morning, meditating at the same time becomes a habit.
 The stillness of early morning, at the meeting point of night and day, is
 especially conducive to meditation, but regularity is critical, no matter
 what time you choose.


<h4>
 2. Sit in the
 same place
</h4>


 Choose a special place where you can meditate without being distracted. It
 could be a special chair or a place on the floor. Sitting in that same spot
 every day creates an atmosphere of meditation, and when you sit there you
 will more easily slip into meditation.


<h4>
 3. Sit in the
 same posture
</h4>


 Find a comfortable position so your body is not disturbed. Best is with your
 back upright but not rigid, and either cross-legged on the floor or on a
 chair with your feet crossed.


<h4>
 4. No
 distractions
</h4>


 Turn off your phone and other devices so that you are not distracted. You
 have everything you need within you to meditate.



 You can listen to the guided Heartfulness Meditation at
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfAZi_g309I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfAZi_g309I</a>, find it
 on the Heartfulness app, or read and follow the instructions
 below.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="text-center">
 <img class="lazyload has-img-center" style="width: 525px !important"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/how_to_meditate2_a9aa662424.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:11:15.483Z" />
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Heartulness
 Meditation
</h4>


 Sit comfortably.
 Gently close your eyes and relax.



 If needed, take a
 couple of minutes to relax your body by doing the
 Heartfulness Relaxation.



 Turn your attention
 inward and take a moment to observe yourself.



 Then, suppose that the
 source of light is already present within your
 heart, and it is attracting you from within.



 Gently relax into that
 feeling. If you find your awareness drifting to
 other thoughts, do not fight them. Treat them like passing clouds in the
 sky. Let them be, while simply reminding yourself that you are meditating
 on the source of light in your heart.



 Allow yourself to dive
 deeper, going beyond thoughts to feelings,
 becoming more and more centered within.



 Remain in this silence
 for as long as you want, until you feel ready to
 come out of meditation.



 Meditation is much more effective once you have been introduced to the
 Heartfulness practices by a certified trainer. You can find and contact a
 trainer near you at
 <a href="http://www.heartspots.heartfulness.org">www.heartspots.heartfulness.org</a>.


All the best, Daaji

How to meditate

<h3
 class="has-text-align-center block-heading"
 id="h-yes-you-can-do-it"
 >
 YES, YOU CAN DO IT!
 </h3>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 What will help you to create new habits this New Year? The trick is to
 remove emotional burdens, stress, disturbing thoughts that linger from
 the past. These impressions have hardened into habits and tendencies
 that are obstacles to moving forward.
 

 
 Doing the Heartfulness Cleaning practice every evening will remove these
 impressions, clearing away old pathways and patterns of thinking,
 leaving you feeling lighter and more carefree within. This rejuvenating
 daily practice is most effective at the end of your workday.
 

 
 You can listen to the guided Cleaning at
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgqTUIu_Qs"
 >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgqTUIu_Qs</a
 >, find it on the Heartfulness app, or read and follow the instructions
 below.
 

 
 Sit in a comfortable position with the intention to remove all the
 impressions accumulated during the day.
 

 
 Close your eyes and relax.
 

 
 Imagine all the complexities and impurities are leaving your entire
 system.
 

 
 Let them flow out from your back in the form of smoke, from the area
 between your tailbone (at the base of your spine) and the top of your
 head.
 

 
 Remain alert during the entire process without brooding over the
 thoughts and feelings that arise. Try to remain a witness to your
 thoughts.
 

 
 Gently accelerate this process with confidence and determination. If
 your attention drifts and other thoughts come to mind, gently bring your
 focus back to the cleaning.
 

 
 As the impressions are leaving from your back you will start to feel
 lighter.
 

 
 Continue this process for up to 20 to 25 minutes.
 

 
 When you feel light within, you can start the second part of the
 process:
 

 
 Feel a current of purity coming from the Source entering your system
 from the front. This current is flowing into your heart and throughout
 your system, saturating every particle.
 

 
 You have now returned to a more balanced state.
 

 
 Every particle of your body is emanating lightness, purity, and
 simplicity.
 

 
 Finish with the conviction that the cleaning has been completed
 effectively.
 

 
 Cleaning is much more effective once you have been introduced to the
 Heartfulness practices by a certified trainer. You can find and contact
 a trainer near you at
 <a href="http://www.heartspots.heartfulness.org"
 >www.heartspots.heartfulness.org</a
 >.&nbsp;

How to let go of old habits

<h4
 id="h-daaji-explores-the-way-we-learn-and-discover-new-things-he-also-addresses-how-modern-day-research-fits-into-this-framework-and-how-scientists-can-refine-their-minds-so-that-they-are-superb-instruments-for-correct-thinking-and-right-understanding-in-the-pursuit-of-knowledge">
 DAAJI
 explores the way we learn and discover new things. He also addresses how
 modern-day research fits into this framework, and how scientists can refine
 their minds so that they are superb instruments for correct thinking and
 right understanding in the pursuit of knowledge.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There is an ever-growing body of scientific research about contemplative
 practices, neuroscience, and epigenetics that includes many studies on the
 effects of meditation on well-being, happiness, and consciousness. This
 research is bringing awareness to people around the world about the benefits
 of meditation, encouraging everyone to make it a habit in their lives. The
 idea that transcending states of consciousness can improve human performance
 is now in the mainstream, especially when it comes to integrated healthcare
 solutions.



 We are seeing a growing integration of spirituality and science, where science
 is enriching spirituality, and spirituality is part of the base of science, so
 that we can improve ourselves at all levels of existence. Scientific research
 relies on the scientists’ abilities to observe, record, and analyze data, and
 then infer outcomes from those results, and this is one very valuable aspect
 of the process. Yet when we study the great scientific discoveries throughout
 history, we learn that scientists also use other complementary methods of
 inquiry, based on inspiration and direct perception. To develop this
 heightened level of awareness, spiritual practices help in many ways.



 Think of the organic chemist, Kekulé, who dreamed of a uroboros, a snake
 eating its own tail, which inspired him to propose the structure of the
 benzene ring. Einstein played the violin and daydreamed when he needed
 inspiration, the Archimedes Principle was discovered when Archimedes was
 relaxing in the bathtub, and Ramanujan’s mathematical genius was inspired in
 the temple of the Goddess Namagiri. He received knowledge by divine insight,
 but his colleagues at the Royal Society of Mathematics insisted he provide
 supporting mathematical proof, which he did, confirming what the divine
 insight had already shown him.



 When a scientist, an artist, or a mystic becomes so immersed in their subject
 that they effectively “live” it, insight comes in many ways, including via
 direct perception. When we become one with something, we understand it through
 the heart. We don’t need to think it. A special osmosis happens, in the same
 way as we automatically feel warm when sitting next to a fire.



 Actually, a lot of everyday learning happens this way; for example, children
 learn so much from parents and teachers naturally, lovingly, without a formal
 pedagogical process. In fact, most learning happens in the subconscious and
 superconscious realms of the mind, not in the conscious realm, which makes up
 such a narrow band of the full spectrum of consciousness.



 So, how can we cultivate this capacity to learn by osmosis and through direct
 perception? It happens when we relax and open the heart to our infinite
 potential through a daily spiritual practice. Direct perception emerges from a
 deeper awareness that is associated with the heart. In fact, we can say that
 scientific research is the rigorous validation of hypotheses that are often
 first known through other means like inspiration.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The idea that transcending
 states of consciousness can improve human performance is now in the mainstream, especially when it comes to
 integrated healthcare solutions.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Knowledge is
 continuously evolving
</h4>


 There will never be an end to knowledge. Many scientific theories of the past
 are no longer valid, and new discoveries are changing our understanding of the
 universe every day. Our learning is a continuous evolution.



 Knowledge demands inquiry. In science, the inquiry is observable and
 measurable. In meditation and spirituality, the inquiry is also often
 observable and repeatable, although not always measurable, but it goes far
 beyond rational awareness. Science is limited to objective knowledge, while
 spirituality takes us further into the great unknown. As our consciousness
 expands through meditation, more and more of that unknown becomes accessible
 through experience.



 Along this continuum, there is no clear-cut separation between objective and
 subjective. For example, we know from physics that the consciousness of the
 observer has an impact on the outcome of any experiment. And where does that
 impact come from? We know from spirituality that it comes from personal bias,
 from our belief systems, from the complexities that color our consciousness.


<h4>
 The mind as an
 instrument of perception
</h4>


 Our perception becomes accurate when our consciousness is pure. Impurities and
 complexities prevent us from perceiving clearly, so the purer our
 consciousness, the less bias we will have. That is the reason why the yogis of
 ancient India set about purifying their own consciousness before they tried to
 understand the world around them. They knew that the level of awareness from
 which they perceived the world determined the accuracy of their results. The
 same is true for us; the level of insight and the accuracy of observation
 depend upon the clarity of our perception. A pure mind is a beautiful
 instrument. It captures the essence of inquiry in all dimensions, both
 scientific and spiritual.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The level of insight and
 the accuracy of observation depend upon the
 clarity of perception.
</h4>

<hr />


 When the mind is pure, and it is directed toward any topic, our awareness
 effortlessly focuses there. An unbiased non-judgmental approach arises from a
 still balanced mind. This applies to any type of knowledge, whether it is
 about space, gravity, atoms, viruses and bacteria, the arts, architecture, or
 music. It has its own beauty, and always begins with an inner question and
 some level of wonder.


<h4>
 Science as the
 dominant worldview
</h4>


 A few centuries ago, religion was the authority, and scientists had to
 convince religious leaders of their discoveries. For example, in the sixteenth
 century, the Catholic Church did not accept the findings of Copernicus and
 Galileo regarding the Earth moving around the Sun.



 Today, science is the authority, and we demand scientific proof of spiritual
 truths. For example, we want to measure the effects of prayer and meditation,
 and define the mind of God through scientific principles. While scientific
 research can show the physiological and psychological benefits of meditation,
 it cannot measure the more profound benefits.



 There is a famous statement of the physicist Stephen Hawking: “If we do
 discover a theory of everything … it would be the ultimate triumph of human
 reason – for then we would truly know the mind of God.” But how can we know
 God when God is beyond qualities, beyond matter, and beyond energy?


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 How can we know God when
 God is beyond qualities, beyond matter, and beyond energy?
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="849" alt="" class="mx-auto d-block lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_should_scientists_meditate3_f79b4594a4.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T14:25:32.037Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Think of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle where the uncertainty of the
 position of an electron and the speed of its movement remains indeterminate.
 The moment we try to see the position of the electron, the very beam that sees
 the position changes the speed. If the beam were to be lighter than the
 electron, then perhaps position and speed could be determined simultaneously.



 The question arises, why would we want to measure them at the same time? What
 purpose would it serve? Maybe Heisenberg had some purpose behind establishing
 the same. In order to understand subtle, we have to become subtler. Heavier
 cannot understand subtle. God being the subtlest, how could we ever understand
 unless we were to surpass that ultimate subtlety?



 Science deals with the measurable, the definable; spirituality takes us into
 the invisible, the undefinable. So when we only apply conventional scientific
 methods to contemplative practices, we limit the results. Research results
 help us measure things like stress levels, happiness indices, compassion
 indices, gratitude indices, sleep benefits, and brainwave frequencies, etc.
 They show us that emotional intelligence, compassion, gratitude, and empathy
 increase our levels of serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, and
 activate the ventral vagus nerve, bringing well-being. These are all important
 markers of benefits, but think about this: every mother goat or donkey has
 higher levels of oxytocin in her bloodstream when feeding her babies!


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="657" alt="" class="mx-auto d-block lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_should_scientists_meditate4_00d47b4cf3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T14:27:13.508Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The most authentic
 scientists are those who have mastered the senses
 and the mind, who perceive the world through the medium of pure
 consciousness.
</h4>

<hr />


 So while I am a big fan of research in the contemplative disciplines, it does
 not show us the full range of what spiritual practices do for us. It is just
 the beginning! For how can we describe what happens when we meditate at the
 deepest level of our consciousness and beyond, when we touch the realm of God,
 the realm of our true potential?



 Quantum physicists have shown us that science is subjective. Observation
 depends on the senses, and inference depends on the mind. So the most
 authentic scientists are those who have mastered the senses and the mind, and
 who can perceive the world through the medium of pure consciousness. And it is
 meditation that results in both depth and purity of consciousness. What can we
 learn from this? Scientists will become better scientists when they also
 meditate regularly, and their research findings will become more accurate.



 Over the years, I have learned to let spirituality and science remain in their
 own dimensions. They both have a part to play and the beauty happens when they
 complement each other, bringing correct thinking and right understanding.
 Nowhere is this more relevant than in the field of research.


<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

Why should scientists meditate?

<h4
 id="h-daaji-shares-the-yogic-practice-of-mudras-offering-a-few-examples-they-are-so-simple-and-practical-that-they-are-perfect-for-workplace-well-being-they-can-be-done-while-you-are-reading-an-email-in-a-meeting-or-listening-to-a-client-or-colleague">
 DAAJI shares
 the yogic practice of mudras, offering a few examples. They are so
 simple and practical that they are perfect for workplace well-being. They can
 be done while you are reading an email, in a meeting, or listening to a client
 or colleague.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Mudras offer a subtle but transformative healing practice. The Sanskrit word
 “mudra” means “gesture,” and mudras are gestures of the hand that can
 influence the vital energy&nbsp;known as&nbsp;prana,&nbsp;which circulates
 throughout the body. By forming a loop between the chosen fingers,&nbsp;each
 mudra influences the flow of energy in the body,
 restoring&nbsp;balance&nbsp;and&nbsp;good health.&nbsp;&nbsp;



 By folding, crossing, and stretching the fingers, and using the fingertips to
 form and hold the prescribed mudra positions, we create beneficial effects in
 different parts of the body. This is because several of our nerves terminate
 in our fingers and a significant amount of energy flows at the fingertips.
 When the fingertips touch each other, an electromagnetic circuit is created,
 and it triggers a distinct energy movement. This energy stimulates
 corresponding centers in the brain. The brain then triggers the concerned
 organs, and there is an effect felt in the body.



 When the mudras are held for some time, they can be used as a focused healing
 practice. Mudras favor the successful integration between the two sides of the
 brain, which is necessary for improving all brain processes including those
 for reading, writing, academic achievement, motor skill development, and all
 other higher-order cognitive processes.



 According to the theory, each finger corresponds to one of the five essential
 elements that make up the
 human&nbsp;system&nbsp;–&nbsp;fire,&nbsp;air,&nbsp;space,&nbsp;earth,&nbsp;and
 water.&nbsp;&nbsp;


The 5 fingers are each connected to one specific element:

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="700" height="647" alt="mudara2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mudara2_8d9045314e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:06:35.852Z" />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Mudras can be introduced into our daily lives, and are easily practiced in the
 workplace to revitalize and rejuvenate the body and mind.


<h3 class="has-text-align-center">
 Rules of
 Mudra
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="639" alt="mudra3" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mudra3_ed6eb83053.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:07:23.681Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 When the tip of the thumb joins the tip of the other fingers, the
 respective elements is balanced.
</h5>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="639" alt="mudra4" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mudra4_22e0cc2299.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:09:26.873Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 When the tip of any finger touches the base of the thumb, the strength
 of the respective elements is reduced.
</h5>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="639" alt="mudra5" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mudra5_e16629a5dc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:11:00.838Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 By touching the thumb at the base of the other fingers, the respective
 elements are increased in the body.
</h5>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="639" alt="mudra6" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/mudra6_c9dbfb24c7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:12:14.414Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Mudras with palms facing upwards will receive energy. Mudras with palms
 facing downward will keep you grounded.
</h5>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

Mudras@work

<h4
 id="h-daaji-share-some-simple-tips-on-eating-well-for-physical-mental-emotional-and-spiritual-health-these-ideas-also-can-solve-humanity-s-issues-of-food-security-the-environment-and-how-we-re-establish-our-relationship-with-planet-earth">
 DAAJI share
 some simple tips on eating well for
 physical, mental, emotional, and
 spiritual health. These ideas also can solve humanity’s issues of food
 security, the environment, and how we re-establish our relationship with
 planet Earth.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This century, we have finally woken up to the destruction of our environment
 and the inequality in the circumstances of people around the world. Nowhere
 has this been highlighted more than in our relationship with food. While many
 people suffer from malnourishment, others suffer from chronic lifestyle
 diseases associated with overeating or eating unhealthy foods. Food security
 has become a major issue, and according to the FAO, we waste roughly 1.4
 billion tons of food every year.



 The approach of yogis to food is shared by wise sages across all cultures and
 all eras. Their approach is the same for all resources. They give special
 regard to eating wisely, treading lightly on the Earth, and taking minimum
 input and giving maximum output. Morality is seen as care and conservation in
 the use of resources, including food, water, money, land, sexual energy,
 forests, the ocean etc.



 Food is a form of prana, a source of energy. The physical body is associated
 with the sheath known as the annamaya kosha, translated as “the food
 sheath,” but the effect of food percolates through all three bodies of the
 human system, not just the physical body. And when food is charged by prayer,
 food becomes a potent source of goodness.



 True happiness is a quality of the soul, emanating from the Center of our
 being, which radiates outward through the layers of our system, purifying the
 physical levels of existence. The current flows out from the Center, and also
 back to the Center. So when food is received with the right understanding and
 eaten with the correct attitude, it can nourish and support us at all levels
 back to the Center.



 Food is part of our energetic relationship with the environment, and a wise
 person will not disturb even one atom of this universe unless it is necessary,
 because of their respect for all life. Nothing is wasted. This creates the
 lightest human footprint, and a sacred attitude to living every moment of
 every day in tune with Nature.



 Thus, a wise person is happy to eat whatever food is available, without the
 need for exotic foods or foods chosen for their delectable taste. They are
 content with Nature’s bounty in whatever form it is available. This is
 explained beautifully in Babuji’s Principle 8, which you can read about in
 more detail in “<a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/a-users-guide-to-living-part-9/">Happiness, Food, and
 Resources</a>.”


Principle 8 is:


 Be happy to eat in constant divine thought whatever you get, with due
 regard to honest and pious earnings.



 This attitude is lacking in most modern societies. In fact, fast food,
 processed foods, desire-based eating, and takeaway meals have taken us in the
 opposite direction.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="720" alt="celebrating-food2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/celebrating_food2_ab232ce76f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:12:49.779Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Food in daily
 life
</h4>


 Food is an important part the day for most of us. As well as contributing to
 our happiness and well-being, it provides an opportunity to share that
 happiness with others, through regular family meals, special events, and
 holidays like Christmas, Diwali, Eid, and Hannukah. Food is a way of bonding,
 and is much more than giving chemical nutrients to the body.



 Principle 8 asks us to “be happy to eat in constant divine thought.” In many
 cultures, this is done by praying or saying Grace before eating. This practice
 connects us with the Divine at the beginning of the meal, so that we will
 continue to hold that connection while we are eating. By doing so, we activate
 the divine current from the Center that is also present in every atom of the
 food we will eat. When the prana in the food comes into contact with our
 thought, the effect of those vibrations filters down into the food itself.
 When it enters our body, the vibrations spread throughout our system as the
 channels of prana open up, allowing the happiness with which the food is
 charged to enter, and the atoms of our body are purified. This benefits our
 overall well-being. Our expansion of consciousness is also accelerated, as the
 prana in the food is connected with the Center.



 It’s important to take care of where food has come from and how we pay for it.
 Even the purest food bought with dishonest earnings will carry a different
 vibration. When we consume food bought with wrong earnings, the vibrations
 become heavier and more complex, so wise people have always put a lot of value
 on honest and pious earnings.


<h4>
 Eating is
 sacred
</h4>


 This principle awakens us to the idea that even worldly activities like eating
 will either contribute to the purity of our system and expand our
 consciousness or take us in the other direction. Babuji describes it thus:



 Food should be cooked neatly and cleanly in a proper manner. That is the
 hygienic point, but if it is sattvik and is cooked in constant
 remembrance of God, its effect will be surprising. And if it is
 taken meditating all the while on God, it will cure all kinds of
 spiritual diseases and remove things which hinder our progress.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="720" alt="celebrating-food4" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/celebrating_food4_5ea839beac.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:13:42.677Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Until the middle of last century, there was a scarcity of food, which is still
 the case today in many parts of the world. With the invention of processed
 food, scarcity was removed from the prosperous nations, but the result is that
 food has now become a major cause of disease. According to the WHO, close to
 40% of people in the world are overweight. The main causes are overeating,
 poor nutritional quality, and the way we eat. In conjunction with inadequate
 exercise and high stress, the result is ill-health.



 Emotional eating leads to overeating, as we compensate for feelings of lack
 and low self-esteem. We eat because of anxiety and stress. We unconsciously
 put on weight because of childhood trauma, to protect ourselves. These
 imbalances can be addressed through Principle8 in conjunction with the
 self-awareness and transformation that develops through meditative practices.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="720" alt="celebrating-food3" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/celebrating_food3_017454dea9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:14:26.683Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Many people adopt a plant-based diet after understanding how different types
 of food impact health, and because of the way animal farming is destroying the
 environment. Yogis add another perspective: Consciousness is present in the
 energy field of food, and animals have a different level of consciousness than
 plants.
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-evolution-of-consciousness-part-1/">The yogic science of the three
 bodies</a>
 of minerals, plants, animals, and humans helps us understand why it is
 beneficial to eat lighter sattvik foods for spiritual evolution.
 Animal foods are much heavier in vibration, so spiritual practitioners often
 choose to be vegetarian so that they maintain lightness in their system.



 Principle 8 is about how we earn, how that money is utilized to buy food, how
 the food is cooked, how it is eaten, and what we do after eating. Many of us
 pray before eating, but what happens during the meal, and after the meal? How
 do we assimilate the food? Just as meditation in the morning is the beginning
 of assimilating the meditative state for the day, so eating a meal is the
 beginning of assimilating the food given in that meal.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 While eating, try to remain
 connected with your Center to bring happiness to the meal.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="600" height="720" alt="" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/celebrating_food5_8007848be9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:15:14.134Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 So here are some simple suggestions to incorporate into your daily routine:


<ol type="1">
 <li>
 Purchase your food with honest, pure earnings. If you grow your own food,
 send loving happy thoughts to the plants as they are growing.
 </li>
 <li>
 While preparing and cooking food, be conscious of the sanctity of the food,
 with loving, pure, and happy thoughts. The easiest away to do this is to
 connect with the Center of your being through your heart.
 </li>
 <li>
 While eating, try to remain connected with your Center to bring happiness to
 the meal.
 </li>
 <li>
 When you have finished eating, close your eyes for half a minute and remain
 connected with your Center. Truly be grateful from the bottom of your heart
 for the meal, and for all who served you. If you are in a restaurant be
 thankful to the chefs and the waiters. It is easy to give a tip, but it is
 rare to give such blessings from the heart. It will touch them at some
 level. It is a very powerful moment once you have finished eating in divine
 remembrance, grateful for everything that has happened.
 </li>
</ol>

With practice, you will discover that Principle 8 works on many levels.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

Celebrating food

Fragrance of food

<h4
 id="h-daaji-explores-the-5cs-of-the-heart-and-describes-how-a-meditative-practice-can-support-emotional-wisdom-and-well-being">
 DAAJI
 explores the 5Cs of the heart, and describes how a meditative practice
 can support emotional wisdom and well-being.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Wise people from the most ancient times till today have valued the
 qualities of loving kindness, compassion, resilience in times of
 hardship and suffering, peace, and wisdom. In fact, these are all
 qualities associated with the heart.&nbsp;



 Most of us wish to improve our emotional well-being, along with our
 ability to communicate with others, develop healthy relationships and
 lasting friendships, share and support others in our communities,
 contribute to society at large, and overcome prejudice and judgments.
 These basic life skills are a gauge of our emotional and social wisdom,
 and they require heart. It is the heart that brings us this level of
 happiness.



 Our mental capacities also need refining, so that we better handle
 mental challenges, but science has shown us that this will only happen
 once we have reached some level of emotional balance where the brain can
 function in creative, problem-solving ways. We reach a state of
 integrated flow in which the mental functions are guided by the wisdom
 of the heart.



 Tragedy arises when we separate the heart and mind. For example, when a
 child is taught at school to a very high academic level, but has poor
 emotional and social skills, they can then use their mental abilities
 for all the wrong reasons, such as criminal activities. This happens
 when the mental is developed without the support of the emotional and
 social. When we read about the lives of people known for their great
 minds, like Ashtavakra, Patanjali, Plato, Aristotle, da Vinci, Newton,
 Swami Vivekananda, Ramanujan, Einstein, and Bohm, we find that they have
 paid attention to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects
 of living.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 These basic life skills
 are a gauge of our emotional and social
 wisdom, and they require heart. It is the heart that
 brings us this level of happiness.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The foundation for mental, emotional, and social intelligence lies in
 the spiritual realm, and when we don’t nurture it, the other three
 cannot develop so well. Spiritual wisdom is a function of our level of
 awareness, our perception, and our responses, according to the degree of
 expansion of our consciousness. Is it closed, narrow, limited, and
 rigid, or is it open, expansive, unlimited, and flexible? The more open
 and expansive, the greater the spiritual intelligence.&nbsp;



 What determines whether it is narrow and rigid or expansive and
 flexible? Essentially there are two things:&nbsp;



 1. The first is the amount of mental and emotional baggage we are
 carrying from the past. The heaviness that accumulates creates filters
 that distort perception and limit the flexibility of our mental
 processes. We stay stuck in past repetitive patterns and associated
 emotions. When this heaviness is removed, then perception and mental
 processes are untethered from the past restrictions.&nbsp;



 2. The second is the focus of our attention. Are we only focused
 externally on material existence, or do we also give some time in our
 daily schedule to the inner world? Our emotions are inside us, our
 social skills are inside us. If we are only looking outside, how will we
 develop EQ and SoQ?&nbsp;



 The purpose of a spiritual practice is both – to remove mental and
 emotional baggage and also to take us to the Center of our being, the
 source of our spiritual intelligence, the soul. In yoga, we speak about
 the three bodies – the physical body, the subtle body, and the causal
 body or soul.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img alt="emotional-wisdom2-three-bodies2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/emotional_wisdom2_three_bodies2_ab0a68ca51.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:27:57.260Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 In a spiritual practice, we work from the inside out, from the root
 cause of both the problems and the solutions. That means we work with
 consciousness.&nbsp;



 Heartfulness practices take us on an inner journey, and that journey
 starts in the heart. Here we develop the 5 Cs of Contentment, Calm,
 Compassion, Courage, and Clarity, which are the foundation of our
 mental, emotional, and social intelligence.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<img alt="emotional-wisdom3-5cs-2-1" class="lazyload has-img-center"
src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/emotional_wisdom3_5cs_2_1_6688bb232d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:30:07.004Z" />
 
<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The first step is to awaken an inner interest, otherwise why would we do
 these practices in the first place? What stimulates this inner interest?
 Generally, it is the need for self-care and self-improvement. We are not
 satisfied with our level of well-being. We feel the need to change, so
 we look for a method to help.&nbsp;



 The second step is to take up a meditative practice, and in Heartfulness
 the journey starts at Chakra 1 of the Heart, on the lower left side of
 the chest area. As the heaviness is removed from this chakra and our
 inner focus takes us deeper, the outcome is Contentment.



 How is this possible? With the letting go of past patterns in our
 consciousness, the layers of heaviness associated with desires, wishes,
 disappointments, shame, guilt, worry, resentment, etc. are removed layer
 by layer. We become balanced and content, light and carefree. We are
 able to release our expectations and demands. We are no longer slaves to
 our desires and wishes. This is the first step.



 The second step happens when the journey moves to Chakra 2 of the Heart,
 also known as the soul chakra, which is located at the lower right side
 of the chest. Here we explore a different inner world, leading us from
 restlessness and anxiety to peace. It is here that we master the art of
 Calm, as we explore the soul’s influence on our lives. Meditation moves
 us deeper into that realm where we feel connected with everything in the
 universe. We develop a strong sense of belonging and community, and we
 feel so peaceful.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 With the letting go of
 past patterns in our consciousness, the
 layers of heaviness associated with desires, wishes,
 disappointments, shame, guilt, worry, resentment, etc. are
 removed layer by layer. We become balanced and content,
 light and carefree.&nbsp;
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 <img alt="emotional-wisdom4-chakras" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/emotional_wisdom4_chakras_ffec5d008d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:31:08.293Z" />
 
<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Then the journey moves to Chakra 3 of the Heart, also known as the fire
 chakra, which is located at the upper left side of the chest. Here the
 inner work leads us from anger and hatred to love, from self-centered
 passion to Compassion. We learn to master the fiery emotions that propel
 us forward.&nbsp;



 At the fourth step, the journey moves to Chakra 4 of the Heart, also
 known as the water chakra, which is located at the upper right side of
 the chest. Here the inner work leads us from fear to Courage and
 resilience – the ability to bounce back no matter what life throws at
 us.&nbsp;



 The next step is the integration of these four stages. Because of the
 Contentment, Calm, Compassion, and Courage that have developed at
 Chakras 1 to 4, we move from confusion to Clarity at Chakra 5 of the
 Heart, also known as the air chakra, at the throat area. Our heart
 becomes our guiding helm, and we are able to listen to its wisdom.&nbsp;



 Now the intelligence of the Heart is active, and we develop confidence
 and trust in our abilities. Our creativity blossoms with the continuing
 expansion of our consciousness through this heart journey. The result is
 emotional wisdom, which is a boon in any life.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 <img alt="emotional-wisdom5-700x466" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/emotional_wisdom5_700x466_b86b707f76.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:32:10.986Z" />
 
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Emotional wisdom

<h4
 id="h-daaji-gives-3-simple-ways-to-harness-the-power-of-water-using-examples-from-kanha-shanti-vanam-he-also-shares-a-vision-for-social-and-educational-reform-so-that-we-can-maintain-the-purity-of-water-on-our-planet-earth"
 >
 DAAJI
 gives 3 simple ways to harness the power of water, using examples from
 Kanha Shanti Vanam. He also shares a vision for social and educational
 reform, so that we can maintain the purity of water on our planet
 Earth.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4>
 Solution 1: Soak Pits, Canals, and Charcoal
 </h4>

 
 We started harvesting water and planting trees at Kanha Shanti Vanam
 toward the end of 2015. We didn’t have a lot of water, and so we weren’t
 doing very well until 2018, when we really learned how to store and
 preserve water. That’s when things got exciting.
 

 
 We started building soak pits across Kanha. At the bottom of these pits,
 we put about two feet of charcoal. Without the charcoal, the water
 rushing into the soak pits can remain dirty, and the underground water
 quality spoiled. With charcoal added, the water that percolates to the
 bottom of these pits is relatively pure.
 

 
 Charcoal is a magical thing. Most reverse osmosis (RO) filters use
 charcoal. Even the most expensive cars today – Mercedes, BMWs, Audis –
 use charcoal filters. Charcoal is also used in medicines because it
 absorbs everything, including toxins and pollutants. Ten grams of
 charcoal has the surface area of one acre of land, or 43,560 square feet
 – that’s a huge amount of exposed area that can be utilized to absorb
 pollutants.
 

 
 Once a pit is full, water flows into the next pit, and then into the
 next, and so on. All around these pits, there are plants and trees that
 absorb some of this water. Ultimately, the water end ups in ponds, and
 all of the six or seven ponds we have at Kanha are interconnected.
 

 
 You will be surprised to see some canals here filling with water from
 the outside roads, like the main road that connects us with the next
 village. The village water runs everywhere, undirected, so we have
 directed it into a canal. Across India, highways pass through villages.
 Those highways are full of water, especially during the monsoons. That
 water can benefit farmers if every farmer can build a small canal,
 starting at the highway, creating as many pits as they would like to
 have along the canal. They can then put charcoal in those pits to purify
 the water. To obtain charcoal, they need to burn their crop waste to
 10%, and leave it in those pits. The farmers can use this pure water for
 themselves and their cattle.
 

 <h4>
 Solution 2: Irrigation from Mountainsides
 </h4>

 
 Another way to harvest water is to collect it from mountainsides during
 the monsoon rains. In southern India, the monsoons comes from the West,
 and so when we compare Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Kerala is much greener. In
 Kerala, you feel you’re really in “God’s Own Country.” It rains so much
 more as the clouds dump their rains on the West side of the mountains,
 the downside being flood problems and soil erosion. Fertile soil is
 washed away and ultimately ends up in the sea. In contrast, the East
 side of the mountains receive very little rainfall.
 

 
 I might have a solution. It’s not magic, but both states could benefit
 from it. We could create a water canal, with the top on the Kerala side,
 and the bottom on the Tamil Nadu side. At the base of the canal, we can
 create ponds – as many ponds as we need.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 alt="power-of-water3a"
 width="525"
 height="324"
 
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_water3a_fb7c7aadcf.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:18:36.417Z"
 
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="700"
 height="480"
 alt="power-of-water2-1"
 
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_water2_1_e68bb099ab.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:19:35.661Z"
 
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="700"
 height="480"
 alt="power-of-water2-2"
 
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_water2_2_d5fcd99baa.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:23:51.228Z"
 
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4>
 Solution 3: Rain Guns
 </h4>

 
 We use rain guns at Kanha to help our rainforest survive during the
 hottest months of March, April, and May. These guns don’t need to be
 used a lot. Five minutes, three times a week, and they maintain our
 forests really well. The solutions are simple.
 

 <h4>
 Creating Awareness
 </h4>

 
 Until 1970, India had sufficient water. After the ’70s, the water tables
 started falling because free electricity meant people pumped water out
 of the ground indiscriminately. It hasn’t changed much since then. Now
 we need to find other ways to motivate people to get pure water for
 themselves, for their herds, and for their crops – water that is not
 from the ground.
 

 
 We need to let people know that the more they dig water from the ground,
 the more salts will come, and the more their soil will become saline and
 less productive. They will have to put more and more fertilizer. When
 the water is purer, everyone can survive well and with better crops.
 

 
 This issue is more about the role of a social and civil society, rather
 than water awareness. Take water pollution. What is the point of storing
 water if it’s going to be polluted? We are also worried about soil
 problems, but the main problem to be addressed is how to put a stop to
 the problem of water pollution.
 

 
 Why would an industrialist discharge waste into public waters? We all
 know it is greed – more money, more profit, ignorance. The same is true
 for air pollution. But what is behind this greed and ignorance? Yoga
 says all our activities are controlled by our mind. If we are not able
 to regulate our heart and mind, we are a burden on this planet.&nbsp;
 

 
 Our planet is victim to mad people who are ruling countries and have
 power in their hands in the form of money. Greed for gains has made them
 sacrifice the moral divine laws. They sacrifice all that is good. It is
 not that they don’t have a heart: they have a heart, but greed takes
 over. And all of us pay the price. By disregarding this creation, the
 nature that we see, we are disregarding the creator. And eventually, we
 will all pay the price for remaining witnesses. We have to take these
 matters into our hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="700"
 height="443"
 alt="power-of-water4"
 
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_water4_516fea6813.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:25:02.983Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Recently, I was with the Minister for Water in Jabalpur, and we were
 talking about water problems. He loves the Narmada River, and he
 said, “Daaji, the problem is created by the ashrams and temple people.
 Wherever I go, they dump their waste into the river.” I said, “You
 are a Minister, why don’t you do something?” He had no answer for
 that, because he also knows there are repercussions,&nbsp;so I offered
 him a solution.
 

 
 When I was running a chain of pharmacies in New York City, if a dog
 relieved itself on the pavement outside your store or somebody threw a
 Pepsi can, you were not responsible for it. But if a sanitation
 inspector saw that your pavement was not clean, he would give you a fine
 of a $100, no arguments. He would come with a camera, take a photo, and
 show you, saying, “This is in front of your store. It is your pavement.
 You are responsible for cleaning it.”
 

 
 So, I told the Minister, “Let’s do something like this,” but
 unfortunately, the more laws we create, the more avenues we create for
 corruption. That is the danger we are facing in our country: more laws,
 more inspectors; more inspectors earning more money from law-breaking
 citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4
 class="has-text-align-center has-text-color"
 id="h-unless-the-mind-and-the-heart-are-regulated-there-is-no-solution-the-inspiration-must-come-from-within-that-i-must-do-something-about-my-surroundings"
 style="color: #f32828"
 >
 Unless the mind and the heart are regulated, there is no solution.
 The inspiration must come from within that, “I must do
 something about my surroundings.”
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 So, unless the mind and the heart are regulated, there is no solution.
 The inspiration must come from within that, “I must do something about
 my surroundings.” We are offering solutions for every little thing: for
 air pollution, one solution; for the water problem, another solution;
 but let’s go to the root of it. If we can solve the root problem, we can
 prevent many problems, and we can also solve many problems.&nbsp;
 

 
 Education begins very early. Let children learn all these things. Teach
 them how to segregate waste, how to process waste, and how to preserve
 water. I am reminded of a video of an “aware” monkey. Some of you might
 have seen it. In a village there was a running tap and nobody turned it
 off. But the monkey did!
 

 
 Let’s see what we can do together. We can bring a lot of farmers, a lot
 of villagers, a lot of village heads, to start with in our ashrams
 across India. Many such locations can be made use of. They are not only
 for yoga and meditation, but also for many social activities that can
 uplift our nation and our planet.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

3 natural ways to harness the power of water

Open your heart

<h4
 id="h-this-article-is-an-excerpt-from-daaji-s-upcoming-book-the-wisdom-bridge-nine-principles-to-live-a-life-that-echoes-in-the-heart-of-your-loved-ones-it-is-being-published-by-penguin-india-and-will-be-released-later-this-month"
 >
 This article is an excerpt from
 DAAJI’s upcoming book,
 The Wisdom Bridge: Nine Principles to Live a Life that Echoes in
 the Heart of Your Loved Ones. It is being published by Penguin India, and will be released later
 this month.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 If we plant a seed, it cannot jump thirty years and become a
 fruit-yielding tree. It must go through the stages one by one to reach
 maturity, and that is the process of growth. So, it’s inevitable that a
 tree’s life begins with a seed, then a sapling, then a young tree, then
 a mature fruit-bearing tree.
 

 
 In our life, youth is the journey toward maturity. It is a time of great
 promise and potential. When I spend time with young people, it gives me
 a window into their buoyant hearts. When I hear their problems, which
 some time ago were my problems too, it deepens our kinship. When I
 listen to their ideas, I feel energized. When I see them drowned in
 meditation, I witness a new humanity awakening. These young adults are
 the change agents in our world.
 

 
 As parents, elders, and teachers, it’s our duty to prepare children for
 young adulthood by laying strong moral and emotional foundations. From
 an early age, if we introduce good habits, then when they grow up they
 will have a well-tuned inner GPS guiding them. Throughout history,
 whenever young people were supported by the wisdom of elders, they went
 on to change the world in amazing ways. &nbsp;&nbsp;
 

 
 But supporting them is not an easy task. Their age is a heady mix of
 promise, inquisitiveness, defiance, and energy. Saying “This is how we
 do it” won’t work, because they push back on authority. Talking down to
 them or pandering to them doesn’t work. We have to meet as equals. Of
 course, it takes patience, empathy, authenticity, and a good bit of
 humor to connect.
 

 
 Once a group of 20-year-olds came to visit me at our meditation center
 in Kanha Shanti Vanam, India. Kanha is a sanctuary of peace, chiseled
 out of the arid lands of igneous rock and quartz of the Deccan plateau.
 Today, Kanha is home to thousands of trees that line the walkways
 leading to the world’s largest meditation hall. Picture this: A hundred
 thousand people from around the world meditating for the collective
 purpose of unity and peace. Kanha is the Garden of Eden of meditation.
 

 
 At the time these20-year-oldsvisited, the meditation hall was still
 being built. Several projects were underway and two thousand people were
 working every day at the site. The youngsters were here for volunteer
 work. When you sign up as a volunteer, whether you are laying bricks,
 planting trees, pulling cables, or sweeping floors, your heart becomes
 more open, aligns with the vision, and you care for what is being done.
 The work ethic and habits that you develop also serve you well in all
 aspects of your life.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Our-Noble-Youth2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Our_Noble_Youth2_700x564_a1c94f6f11.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T07:13:43.630Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 I gave them a fact-finding mission. I asked them to observe the work and
 then report back to me. When we got together a few days later, they
 pulled out a list, almost two pages long. They had identified problems
 related to shift hours, waste management, landscaping, worker safety,
 quality of materials, and many other things.
 

 
 Next, I gave them a couple of days to brainstorm solutions and present
 their ideas to the project team at Kanha. I also told them that I
 wouldn’t be attending that meeting. I preferred that they had a
 free-range discussion, and asked one of my associates to listen in. My
 associate told me that the meeting started well but quickly went off the
 rails.
 

 
 Here’s what happened that day. When the young volunteers presented their
 findings, the project team felt that they were calling their baby ugly.
 They also felt that the suggestions were half-baked and lacked proper
 context. The project team became defensive, and the young volunteers
 became aggressive. In the heat of the moment, neither team was mindful
 of the goal, which was how to make Kanha better.
 

 
 I knew this would happen. Over the years, I have seen how clashing egos
 squash enthusiasm. I wanted the project team to learn how to process
 feedback. I wanted them to grasp the proverbial wisdom of separating the
 wheat from the chaff. But, when emotions run high, we end up collecting
 chaff from the wheat. I also wanted the youngsters to learn how to offer
 feedback in a constructive way.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Our-Noble-Youth3"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Our_Noble_Youth3_562a6da877.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T07:14:17.918Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 A few days later, when both teams had cooled off, I called them over to
 my place. I used my weapon of choice, which hasn’t failed me to date.
 Warm masala chai and some finger-licking Gujarati savories. The instant
 these weapons are fired even the mightiest meekly surrender to the
 onslaught of sips and dips. Soon the teams started chatting again. This
 time around, I asked them to keep the big picture in mind, and having
 said that, I left for a walk.
 

 
 I was later told that the conversation went well. This time, the
 youngsters understood the project team’s viewpoint. They had a better
 appreciation of the sleepless nights and grueling work involved. The
 project team, for their part, appreciated the energy of the youngsters.
 They understood that not only were they offering solutions, they would
 also work on implementing them. The meeting ended with a feeling of
 kinship and solidarity.
 

 
 There is an old engineer’s lament, “Between seeing the glass half full
 or half empty there is also the possibility of the glass being designed
 for twice the capacity.” When the energy of youth is supported by
 wisdom, new perspectives emerge. Young people are not wild horses to be
 tamed. They need to be inspired and enabled as a force for good.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Our-Noble-Youth4"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Our_Noble_Youth4_b6587a908d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T07:14:50.556Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 The biggest strength of youth is energy. Their energy is
 creative. There is no turning off the fire. There is no
 hibernating through this phase of life. When youthful
 energies are channeled in the right direction, such energy is
 creative energy.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 The biggest strength of youth is energy. Their energy is creative. There
 is no turning off the fire. There is no hibernating through this phase
 of life. When youthful energies are channeled in the right direction,
 such energy is creative energy. The energy of youth is designed for a
 period of vigorous activity with aspiration. What is the aspiration that
 drives them? Can it be how to become gentle, how to become loving, and
 how to become wise?
 

 
 As an elder, I feel a responsibility to impart wisdom and surround our
 youth with wise people. Their wisdom will help today’s young people
 achieve their full potential and bring positive change in their families
 and communities.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by PRAMITI RAMCHANDRA</h4>

 <hr />

Our noble youth

<h4
 id="h-august-15-2022-is-the-75th-anniversary-of-india-s-freedom-from-british-rule-while-india-s-freedom-fighters-are-honored-every-year-for-the-roles-they-played-in-bringing-this-about-here-daaji-shares-with-us-a-lesser-known-history-of-things-happening-behind-the-scenes-the-role-of-a-great-rishi-and-a-modern-day-spiritual-master-in-the-events-that-unfolded-from-december-1946-onward"
 >
 August 15, 2022, is the 75th anniversary of India’s
 freedom from British rule. While India’s freedom fighters are honored
 every year for the roles they played in bringing this about, here
 DAAJI shares
 with us a lesser known history of things happening behind the scenes;
 the role of a great rishi and a modern-day spiritual master in the
 events that unfolded from December 1946 onward.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 The history of the independence of India from the British is filled with
 valor, courage, and the brotherhood of freedom fighters, who were
 willing to sacrifice their lives and worked tirelessly to bring about
 freedom from oppression. None is more revered around the world than
 Mahatma Gandhiji, who is still fondly known today as the father of
 modern India.
 

 
 But what was going on behind the scenes to support these intrepid
 freedom fighters? There are many hints in the diaries of Ram Chandra of
 Shahjahanpur, known to us as Babuji, the great Indian saint and
 spiritual Master who lived from 1899 to 1983. His record points to the
 roles of the great Rishi Agastya, Swami Vivekananda, and Babuji himself.
 

 
 In these diaries, we first learn of the pending upheaval in December
 1946, when Swami Vivekananda intercommunicates with Babuji from a higher
 world and gives him instructions about the work he must do to support
 the social and political changes that are to come. This may seem
 farfetched, but it is no different from many other stories we cherish
 about the sages of yore helping humanity in their struggles. It is part
 and parcel of the spiritual land that is India.
 

 
 In fact, it was the Rishi Agastya and Babuji together who did the work
 to finally overthrow British rule in August 1947, and it was Babuji who
 kept Gandhiji alive during his fast in January 1948, and who protected
 Nehru’s life in April 1948.
 

 
 In August 1947, Swami Vivekananda intercommunicated with Babuji,
 “Political change is necessary in India. Sage Agastya is already
 working. He will communicate the result to you.”
 

 
 On 13 January 1948, Swami Vivekananda’s message to Babuji was, “Gandhiji
 is on a fast. What for? To bring the condition of India to balance. He
 is doing his business, and you should do yours. Let us see who
 succeeds.”
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 “Do the duty assigned to you. Stick to your work without
 worrying for any happenings whatsoever. Really speaking,
 you are playing the true part of Nature in the field of
 politics. No change can be made unless one or another
 great soul, coming for the purpose, is attached to it. That is
 the law, applicable not only to India but to the whole
 world.”
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 On 30 January 1948, Babuji received an order for group meditation to be
 conducted for the peace of Gandhiji’s soul after his assassination. The
 soul of Gandhiji was present at the time.
 

 
 Then, on 31 January 1948, Babuji was assigned the duty to work for India
 as a whole. Swami Vivekananda told Babuji over the coming days, “Do the
 duty assigned to you. Stick to your work without worrying for any
 happenings whatsoever. Really speaking, you are playing the true part of
 Nature in the field of politics. No change can be made unless one or
 another great soul, coming for the purpose, is attached to it. That is
 the law, applicable not only to India but to the whole world.”
 

 
 A few days later, Swamiji paid tribute to the part Gandhiji played,
 “Dear ones, are you shocked at the death of Gandhiji? Naturally you
 should be. He was a great man, a politician, whom the world will
 remember for the work. However, you need now control and end your grief.
 Nobody can stop what is to happen. That is the law of Nature. India will
 not see such a great person in the field of politics in future. He was
 good at heart and had a noble ethos. He has played his part very well.
 

 
 “Gandhiji had the public force with him, and you have the divine force
 at your command.
 

 
 “Gandhiji and everyone may work for the improvement of the lot of the
 downtrodden, and also love them, but we need never forget the principles
 laid down by the age-worn wisdom and enunciated by Lord Krishna in the
 Bhagavad Gita.”
 

 
 These records help us to understand that world events are not always
 within our hands. We may believe that we are in control of politics and
 the destiny of nations, but the great Rishis of yore are still an active
 force, working with Nature to bring about balance.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Until we create harmony and unity within our nation, we are a far cry from freedom, even politically. We still have a long way to go, and it starts with each and every one of us.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Closer to home, there are other things to ponder. While India may have
 won political freedom in 1947, does it mean that her citizens are free?
 What about inner freedom? That still eludes most of us. And the same can
 be said for other countries and cultures that have been freed from
 colonial oppression.
 

 
 In the colonial era, it was easy to identify the enemy as the British.
 Today, the enemy may look like us, dress like us, and speak like us.
 Until we create harmony and unity within our nation, we are a far cry
 from freedom, even politically. We still have a long way to go, and it
 starts with each and every one of us.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 
 The quotes and historical events in this article are taken from the
 diaries of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji), and published as
 Whispers from The Brighter World, Vol. 4, 1946-1955. Heartfulness Education Trust, Kanha Shanti Vanam, India.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="408"
 height="445"
 alt="the-role-of-great-rishi-saint2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/the_role_of_great_rishi_saint2_b4fc19d53a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:51:01.824Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by PRAMITI RAMCHANDRA</h4>

 <hr />

The role of a great rishi and a saint in the freedom of India

<h4>
 DAAJI speaks of friendship and the important
 role it plays in our lives. He also shares a practice for removing enmity and making friends of our enemies.
 Finally, he shares 4 tips for becoming a better friend.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Who Is a True Friend?



The word “friend” comes from an Indo-European root meaning “to love. ”Friendship is about a shared experience of
 life, sometimes lasting decades, and in that friendship we bear witness to each other’s struggles, happiness, and
 journeys. Friendship has a special place in our relationships because it is not romantic, and so it is uncomplicated
 by the addition of any sensual intimacy or family ties. There is a purity that is not found even in familial love.
 In fact, Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, “Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of
 the spirit.”&nbsp;



Making Friends of Enemies



The opposite of friendship is enmity, and here I will share with you a simple method for transforming enmity into
 friendship. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” Friendship is not
 intended to be exclusive, to create discrete circles of friends, based on likes and dislikes among people. Instead,
 friendship can create ever-expanding circles of connection and support that grow into a vast network across all
 existence. To grow in friendship is to cut off the heads of enmity and separation, one by one, just as Hercules cut
 of the heads of the Hydra in the second of his twelve Labors. That is also a symbol for the heads of ego that we
 must behead in our journey toward the universal consciousness.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Friendship can create
 ever-expanding circles of connection and support that grow into a vast network across all
 existence.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



So here is a method for transforming enmity into friendship. If there is a relationship that you need to mend, do the
 following:



Lalaji’s Method



Think of a person with whom you feel any disturbance, conflict,
 or fear, as your friend and well-wisher. Develop this practice diligently.



Sit alone, and meditate with the thought that, “This person is
 my friend and well-wisher.” Imagine their form in front of you and think that all evil or negative thoughts
 about you have gone out from them, and thoughts related to your welfare have been infused in them.



Whenever you have the opportunity to go near them, fix your eyes
 on their face. When you breathe, add the thought, while exhaling, that particles of your love and affection have
 entered into their heart. While inhaling, have the thought that you have pulled from their heart all the
 negative thoughts they have about you, and have thrown them aside.



Establish a cycle with the inhaling and exhaling of the breath.
 This is very beneficial, and within a few days the entire thing will take a turn like water, and you will be
 surprised what a miracle has taken place. By practicing this, your hate turns to love. Initially, it will be
 difficult and this task will look as heavy as a mountain, but for a person of courage everything is easy. There
 are no difficulties that cannot become easy.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="700" height="742" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/how_to_Be_good_friend2_700x742_8e648277df.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:47:00.805Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



How Does Friendship Ennoble Us?



True friendship is to understand and be understood; to accept and to be accepted. Friendship offers a mirror for our
 growth, letting us see ourselves through the eyes of another. During misfortune, friends are a refuge and a comfort.
 At other times, they uplift us, and keep us out of trouble. And it is in the little acts of friendship that the
 heart is renewed: in the silence of good company; in the longing of absence; in a touching card or letter; in the
 sharing of experience; and in the joy of meeting after a long time. Friendship is rekindled over and over again
 through forgiveness, understanding, and mercy. Without patience, acceptance, and mercy, all friendships would cease.




<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">We are all expressions of the
 divine, and our souls are all woven into the universal being.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



With old friends, we are able to let our guard down, and be authentic, even stupid, without worrying about the
 consequences. We are naturally humble in these circumstances. In fact, one of the qualities of good friendship is
 humility, because a humble person is looking for the best in everyone and thus invites a friendly response from the
 world. If we extend that to being friendly to all beings, it means we walk through the world in humility,
 encouraging the best in others, and accepting those faults that make them lesser. It is not that friendship doesn’t
 reveal the shadow side of ourselves and others, but we uplift and support each other rather than drag each other
 down.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="700" height="742" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/how_to_Be_good_friend3_700x742_bda8ad4319.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:48:09.891Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



Friendship is often underestimated, even in spiritual circles, where attachment to anyone other than God or the Guru
 is often undervalued. In some traditions, “The Friend” is one of the names for God. While that is a beautiful
 understanding, it is sometimes mistakenly used to infer that the only friendship that matters is God’s or the
 Guru’s.



I don’t agree with that view, because we are all expressions of the divine, and our souls are all woven into the
 universal being. As part of the whole, we are here to support, help, and love each other. True friendship enriches,
 ennobles, and endures, sometimes throughout a lifetime, sometimes after death. It is a state of belonging together,
 even when there is physical separation. Ultimately, as we become more god-like in our nature, we become a friend to
 all, just as God is a Friend to all.



Friendship means we make time for people, we value our connection with them, and we share and learn from each other.
 In fact, a person with no time for friends, because of overwork, ambition, and personal gain, leads a life of
 imbalance. The trick as we evolve is to have ever-expanding circles of friends, with the attitude, “May everything
 be my friend.” The bias of likes and dislikes becomes less and less important as those circles widen.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Friendship means we make
 time for people, we value our connection with them, and we share and learn from each other.
</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Does it mean that we must hold onto all our old friendships, come what may, even when they are not beneficial? We may
 no longer want to spend time with a particular person whose influence is negative, but what would be the purpose of
 discarding that person from our hearts and excluding them, when one day the connection may bring that person also
 toward a nobler path?



As friends, we are there to witness each other’s journeys, to accompany each other, sometimes for the briefest
 moment, and other times for life after life. It is like getting onto a bus or a train and traveling together for
 some time, then getting off at different stops. We share part of the journey.



It is not a journey we can make alone, so I would ask you to take a moment to remember and honor all those friends
 past and present who have accompanied you, as I will also honor the friends past and present who have traveled with
 me.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<figure><img decoding="async" width="700" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/how_to_Be_good_friend4_infographic_700x823_ca771a9d07.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:49:10.582Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>



<hr>

How to be a good friend

<h4
 id="h-everyone-is-looking-for-guidance-to-navigate-the-uncertainty-and-challenges-that-we-collectively-face-in-today-s-world-sometimes-the-source-of-such-guidance-has-been-right-in-front-of-us-all-along-and-all-we-need-is-a-simple-reminder-that-the-answers-to-our-deepest-problems-are-within-our-grasp">
 Everyone is looking for guidance to navigate the uncertainty and challenges that we collectively face in
 today’s world. Sometimes the source of such guidance has been right in front of us all along, and all we need is
 a simple reminder that the answers to our deepest problems are within our grasp. 
</h4>



<h4
 id="h-daaji-shares-an-ancient-source-with-us-enlightening-us-on-four-simple-attitudes-that-keep-us-safe-in-all-storms">
 DAAJI shares an ancient source with us,
 enlightening us on four simple attitudes that keep us safe in all storms.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">








<figure><img decoding="async" width="603" height="852" alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/four_attitudes_transform_life_forever2_578240f7c2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:04:35.458Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



In the 1st century BC, King Herod the Great built a palace in the Judaean desert near Jerusalem. A few
 years ago, scientists discovered 2000-year-old seeds at the ruins of the palace, and when they planted those seeds,
 seven date palms grew. During twenty centuries of excruciating desert climate, the life force within those seeds was
 preserved. There are some seeds that have survived even longer and are available to all of us, the ancient seeds
 of wisdom we find in the Yoga Sutras.



Thousands of years ago, the great spiritual scientist Patanjali taught his students about a way of life that could
 transform human existence. He showed them the path to infinity. Unfortunately, very little is known about who
 Patanjali was and what he did to achieve this knowledge. However, the 196 seeds of wisdom, the sutras he shared with
 his students, are with us today.



What is a sutra? It’s not a verse or hymn. Neither is it advice nor a mantra. A sutra is a coded word. Like a seed,
 it’s an open secret of nature that encapsulates immense wisdom and actionable guidance. One can spend an entire
 lifetime decoding and demystifying just one sutra. And here, Patanjali gave the world 196 of them! From his Yoga
 Sutras, I would like to share with you the transformative wisdom of one Sutra – number 33.



Why is Sutra 33 important? By cultivating the four attitudes recommended in this Sutra, we create an inner
 environment that calms the turbulence in our consciousness. By leading our lives by these attitudes, we cultivate
 correct thinking, right understanding, and an honest approach to our life. When such is
 the case, life is enlivened with authenticity.




Authenticity opens the doors to transformation. It gives us the capacity to accept more and more change. This change
 is no longer lukewarm and tepid. Instead, it’s a burning fire of transformation that creates the gleaming gold of a
 life well-led.



So here it goes, Sutra 33 from Patanjali for a transformative life:



<a>Maitr</a>ī-karuṇā-mudito-pekṣāṇāṁsukha-dukkha-puṇyapuṇyaviṣayāṇāṁbhāvanātaḥcitta-prasādanam




“The right inner environment is created by cultivating these four
 attitudes: friendliness toward the happy ones, compassion toward victims of misery, joy toward the
 virtuous, and indifference toward the non-virtuous.”



To understand the wisdom of these four attitudes, let’s start with a contrarian approach:



Attitude 1: Friendliness toward the happy
 ones



What happens when your friend is happy? Imagine that your friend buys a dazzling silver Mercedes and invites you over
 for a party. Or another friend throws an early retirement bash thanks to a successful business sale. How do you
 feel? Are you happy for them? Are you also a bit envious: “Why them and not me?”



So your friend buys a new car and you are envious. The other friend makes money and your sleep is ruined. Because of
 social etiquette, you might not express these feelings openly, but they do cross your heart and sometimes they
 linger for some time.



Now, what happens when you are genuinely friendly toward those who are happy? What happens when you share in the joys
 of others? Try it and see for yourself. You will find that you genuinely partake in their happiness in some magical
 way. Your heart will expand, and you will grow as a human being. This is a matter of experience.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="848" alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/four_attitudes_transform_life_forever3_0f2e33c4bf.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:05:45.627Z">
</figure>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Authenticity opens the
 doors to transformation. It gives us the capacity to accept more and more change.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



When the attitude of friendliness toward the happy ones becomes permanent, you may not be wealthy, but the wealthy
 enjoy your company; you may not be powerful, but the powerful are there for you; you may not be an emperor, but the
 entourage supports you. Most importantly, even if none of this happens, the seeds of happiness sown in the heart
 blossom into a forest of contentment.



<h4>Attitude 2: Compassion toward victims of
 misery</h4>



When a co-worker shares their health issues related to diabetes and hypertension, how do you react? Externally you
 may share your sympathy, but inside do you judge their lifestyle? “Oh, he eats unhealthy food,” “She never
 exercises,” “All that smoking, what else can you expect?” When someone is miserable, do you judge, or does their
 pain prick your heart? Does your heart miss a beat and ooze with compassion seeing the misery of others? When you
 judge others, you will regret it afterward. In your quiet time, perhaps when you reflect at bedtime or write a
 journal, you will berate yourself, “Why did I do such a thing?” Your inner poise is gone.



People going through problems don’t need much in terms of help. They need someone to listen and acknowledge that what
 they are going through must feel terrible. Listening with compassion and acknowledging their misery gives people the
 strength to work on a solution.



We do this with children all the time. A little girl falls while running, and grandparents lift the child, caressing
 her and applying the first aid of love and attention. In a few moments, she is running again. We may have grown up
 physically, but our emotional needs are the same. Compassion, attention, and care go a long way to heal the hurt of
 misery. So be generous with your compassion.&nbsp;



<h4>Attitude 3: Joy toward the virtuous
</h4>



How do you react when you see virtue in action? When you see someone efface themselves with humility, do you think of
 it as noble behavior or do you see it as weak? When you see acts of generosity, do you appreciate them or look for
 an ulterior motive? There is a general tendency to regard virtue with suspicion. Why is this so? It’s because a suspicious nature deceives us into that
 there must be something darker lurking beneath.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="400" height="317" alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/four_attitudes_transform_life_forever4_e096583834.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:07:21.500Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">The seeds of
 happiness sown in the heart
 blossom into a forest of contentment.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



When we express joy toward the virtuous, we create a vacuum that is devoid of suspicion, comparison, and
 competitiveness. Into such a heart, grace descends naturally. It’s like building a low-pressure area where clouds
 collect and pour down rain. Through such downpours of grace, we cultivate such virtues ourselves, even without our
 making efforts to do so. So celebrate the virtuous around you with a heart full of joy.



<h4>Attitude 4: Indifference toward the
 non-virtuous</h4>



Energy flows where attention goes. Patanjali’s prescription for cultivating indifference might sound like he is
 asking us to look the other way in the face of evil, but what he is urging us to do is not to spend time and energy
 focusing on the evil in a person’s behavior, because what you pay attention to will grow. If you are a soldier
 fighting an enemy, let duty be your driving force, not hatred for the enemy. Once the seeds of hate land in your
 heart they will keep growing long after the enemy is gone.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">When we express joy toward the
 virtuous, we create a vacuum that is devoid of suspicion, comparison, and competitiveness. Into such a
 heart, grace descends naturally.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="654" alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/four_attitudes_transform_life_forever5_8da7203a1d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T06:08:52.300Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



It’s the same message Lord Jesus gave from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. ”It’s
 the same message Lord Rama gave when Ravana was breathing his last; he sent Lakshmana to gather words of wisdom from
 the learned Ravana. In all these examples, we learn that in the battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, right
 versus wrong, we do not become virtuous by condemning the other to judgment. Instead, we grow by nurturing goodness
 in the heart.



These attitudes have inspired me personally to act and transform. A simple way to start implementing them is to pick
 one. Then, before going to bed, offer a prayer, seeking help, guidance, and strength to implement that attitude in
 life. Do this for a few days, and please let me know about your experience.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>



<hr>

Four attitudes that will transform your life forever

<h4
 id="h-daaji-challenges-us-to-think-about-how-we-make-decisions-and-shows-us-how-a-regular-meditation-practice-can-lead-us-to-knowing-right-from-wrong-naturally-and-easily-by-listening-to-the-heart-and-allowing-it-to-guide-our-choices">
 DAAJI
 challenges us to think about how we make decisions, and shows us how a
 regular meditation practice can lead us to knowing right from wrong,
 naturally and easily, by listening to the heart and allowing it to guide
 our choices.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it
 earns it, he who doesn’t, pays it.” Sometimes, I think about this quote
 (often attributed to Einstein) in a different content: making good
 decisions.



 On average, we make hundreds of decisions every day. What to wear? What to
 eat? How to put aside half an hour to help a loved one in need? What to say
 to a disgruntled customer? Which stock to buy? When we make good decisions,
 they have a compounding positive effect on our lives, and when we don’t, we
 suffer the consequences.



 Often, we think it’s the big decisions that matter most. For example, whom
 to marry? Which career to choose? And so on. But decision-making is not a
 one-and-done deal. Decisions form a continuum, where many smaller decisions
 come before and after the bigger ones. When we steadily improve our batting
 average in making good decisions, the better we will be in achieving our
 goals.



 Meditation will help you improve your batting average. The more meditative
 your mind becomes, the better the decisions you will make. In 2011,
 researchers from Virginia Tech asked people to play the
 Ultimatum Game, which assessed the quality of
 decision-making1. They found that meditators consistently made
 better decisions and ended up with better outcomes than those in the control
 group. The meditators were more rational and reflective than those in the
 control group.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="500" height="707" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/making_great_decisions2_f8d502bd0f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:17:31.051Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 So, why does meditation make us better decision makers? There are
 many reasons and here are three big ones you can validate yourself: 



 A Meditative Mind Escapes The Gravitational Pull
 of Desires



 To enjoy a panoramic view of the New York City skyline,would you prefer the
 first floor or the roof top of the Empire State Building? The rooftop offers
 you a 360-degree view. Rising above improves visibility. The same
 goes for decision-making. To make a good decision, you first need to rise
 above the noise of your likes and dislikes to get a clear view. Rising above
 helps you have a better perspective. But what generally happens? The pulls
 and pushes of desires and emotions create gravity that prevents you from
 rising, so you see things from a lower perspective, without the whole
 picture.



 Desire precedes any decision-making so it’s important to acknowledge it. We
 are all familiar with it. For example, one moment we want to realize God,
 and the next moment an alert from WhatsApp catches our attention. Before we
 know it, we are busy watching another kitten video and scavenging the
 kitchen for a snack, while God patiently waits. See how small decisions sway
 us away from grand goals?



 Meditation helps us rise above the noise and tap into the impulses of the
 heart that come from the deepest core of our being. But those impulses, no
 matter how pure, encounter many layers of consciousness as they surface. If
 those layers are filled with imprints of desires, then the heart’s impulse
 loses potency. Think of the gushing up of the mineral kimberlite from the
 core of the Earth. As it rises, cutting across layers of the Earth, if it’s
 blocked and loses speed it becomes graphite. If it moves unhindered, the
 same mineral becomes a diamond.



 Meditation clears the way for the impulses of the heart to surface
 unobstructed. When we listen to those impulses and act, the decisions we
 make are good for us.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="500" height="707" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/making_great_decisions3_bcf46efd89.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:18:50.329Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 A Meditative Mind Looks Beyond
 Bias



 In addition to desire, another factor in decision-making is bias. Our
 understanding and appreciation are based on our conditioning. Brain
 scientists like David Eagleman and others have done studies that demonstrate
 bias in people’s empathetic responses according to their group allegiance,
 such as their religion2. When bias colors our thinking, we don’t
 see things as they are. We see them as we wish them to be. Like the
 story of the blindfolded men trying to describe an elephant, we are all
 blinded by the many veils of our biases.



 Meditation removes the veils. It moves us from pre-judging to seeing things
 as they truly are, so that we can decide based on clear perception.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Meditation clears the way for the impulses
 of the heart to surface unobstructed.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 A Meditative Mind Is a Discerning
 Mind



 It is well-known that when a person cannot make decisions and hesitates they
 feel restless. Sometimes you will see people who keep on postponing
 decisions, even with all the information at their fingertips. What happens?
 Peace eludes their mind. This inability to make decisions is due to alack of
 clarity and discernment (known in Yoga as Viveka). Once a person
 has lost that discernment, it is hard for them to maintain their humanity,
 because the mind is always confused or turbulent.



 One very important gift of a meditation practice is discernment. A
 meditative mind can quickly discern, “What is good for me? What is
 evolutionary for me? What is ennobling for me?” When such clarity exists,
 decisions are made faster, even with less information.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="500" height="707" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/making_great_decisions4_7aa343c97b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T12:19:47.688Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The Guidance of Wisdom



 While all meditative practices can improve decision making, Heartfulness
 offers something more. It helps you leapfrog to the correct decision without
 all the intermediary steps. As if moving at warp speed, you can look beyond
 desires, break through biases, and immediately tap into the intuitive
 guidance of the heart. The reason why the contemplative practices of
 Heartfulness equip you with decision-making superpower goes back to
 Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra:


Hridaya chitta samvit


 Hridaya means heart, chitta means consciousness, and
 samvit means wisdom and understanding. When we meditate on the
 heart, it results in the understanding of the mind and consciousness. It is
 also a bridge that connects consciousness with the Source.



 When you meditate on the heart, it creates a hyperloop, a guidance system
 from within, so that decisions can come to you very fast. Early on, you may
 not feel confident in following these insights, but overtime, as you listen
 to the inner guidance, you will develop more confidence in the inner radar.
 Through meditation, you will be guided from within, especially about what
 not to do.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 When you meditate on the heart, it creates a
 hyperloop, a guidance
 system from within, so that decisions can come to you very
 fast.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Here is a simple exercise:


 First, think of a decision you made in your life that you
 felt was wrong
 or that you regret.



 Now, think of a decision that felt good and right.



 Reflect upon them. What do you discover?



 Are you able to see that when the heart guides you, and when your mind
 agrees with your heart, your decisions are correct? I hope you experience
 this for yourself.



 Coming back to the quote at the beginning of the article, one of my
 meditation trainers also used an example from finance. He would say, “In
 finance, we invest principal and we get interest. In meditation, we invest
 interest and become principled.” I pray that you will meditate with ever
 growing interest and make decisions that are ennobling and evolutionary.


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 id="h-references">References</h4>


 1 Kirk, U. et al., 2011. Interoception Drives Increased Rational
 Decision-Making in Meditators Playing the Ultimatum Game,
 Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol. 5, 49. Frontiers.



 2 Vaughn, D.A. et al., 2018. Empathic Neural Responses Predict Group
 Allegiance, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Vol. 12, 302.
 Frontiers.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Develop the habit of making great decisions

<h4>
 DAAJI explains how caring for
 Mother Earth begins with eliminating thought
 pollution from the mind and nurturing the attitudes of love and reverence.
 When love and reverence are there, will we intentionally hurt anyone or
 anything, especially our Mother Earth?
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Here is a sobering fact: Homo sapiens (modern-day human beings) appeared on
 Earth around 130,000 years ago, whereas our planet is around 4.5 billion
 years old. This means we’ve been here for about 0.000028% of the Earth’s
 existence.



 Yet, in this remarkably short period, we’ve contributed to global warming
 that has heated the oceans by the equivalent of dropping one atomic bomb
 into the ocean every second for the past 150 years.1 Each second,
 one Hiroshima bomb dropped in the oceans.


How long will nature tolerate our transgressions?


 Cataclysms like tsunamis, wildfires, and hurricanes, don’t judge individuals
 and selectively punish. They are blunt and brutal. Reversing climate change
 is not an act of altruism towards the planet. It’s our only option
 for survival.



 You may have heard of the example of a frog in a bowl of heating water. The
 frog enjoys the warmth but doesn’t realize the water is getting warmer.
 Eventually, the water gets hot enough to kill the frog.



 But it’s not entirely true. In real life, when the water becomes too hot,
 the frog realizes the danger and jumps out of the bowl. The frog is wise
 enough and knows when to jump. We may not have the time to jump, and we have
 nowhere to jump.



 The story of Easter Island, famous for its monolithic stone sculptures, is a
 cautionary tale. Most ethnologists believe that Easter Island was once rich
 in vegetation and resources, but the tribes on the island plundered them.
 They cut down all the trees and fought over resources. The soil eroded into
 the seas, the birds left the island, and the fish moved to new waters.
 People kept fighting and most of them died of starvation. Easter Island is
 still there, but the human societies disappeared.


If my tone sounds alarmist, it is an alarming time.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="567" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_Planet_before_after2_3e4f2382d0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:01:14.947Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Not too long ago, I was reading an industry report that said that there are
 100 companies (including state-owned enterprises) that contribute to 70% of
 all the emissions globally. The simple solution, one would say, is to shut
 them down. But a simplistic solution to a complicated problem is usually
 wrong or idealistic.



 The economy, jobs, national security, and human rights are a web of knots
 woven into the climate challenge. You pull at one and others get squeezed
 too. So, we need comprehensive policymaking, cleaner technologies, reduced
 consumption, equitable allocation of resources, and a unified effort amongst
 nations. But all these steps take time. So, in the meanwhile, what can
 we do to help?



 As individuals, families, and communities, we play an important role in
 caring for Mother Earth. Society changes not because of policies or bills.
 Change happens because people change, behaviors change. When I say,
 enough, I will do something, then change begins.


<h4 id="h-start-with-the-self-the-principles-of-yama-and-mother-earth">
 Start with the Self: the Principles of Yama
 and Mother
 Earth
</h4>


 The problems of the environment underscore a much deeper problem facing
 humanity – that of thought pollution. When conflicting thoughts and
 emotions muddle our thinking, our minds become imbalanced, and confusion
 sets in. An unbalanced mind finds it hard to make wise decisions. For
 example, a doctor without balance may misdiagnose; an industrialist without
 balance may put short-term profit over the highest good. When our inner
 climate is polluted, we destroy the source that nourishes us.



 I grew up in a village near Surat in Gujarat, India. I have seen how the
 chemical industries in the region spewed effluents to a point where the
 groundwater became brown and fizzy like Soda. The smog from the factories
 was so persistent that wearing masks was the norm for most workers. Can you
 imagine a mindful, conscious industrialist allowing toxic effluents to be
 released into the water?



 Yoga offers us some solutions to fixing thought pollution. Maharishi
 Patanjali’s eightfold yoga system is a path to human perfection. On this
 path, we develop attitudes that ennoble us and benefit those around us,
 especially the planet.



 The beginning step of Yoga is Yama.
 The practice of Yama blesses us with four key attitudes.
 These
 are honesty, truthfulness, moderation, and
 non-possessiveness. Let’s look at these attitudes in pairs, starting with “honesty and
 truthfulness.”



<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Society changes not because of policies or
 bills. Change
 happens because people change, behaviors change. When I say,
 enough, I will do something, then change begins.
</h4>


<hr />
 


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="354" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_Planet_before_after3_a23e719ee3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:02:51.564Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When we are honest and truthful, will our conscience allow us to act
 irresponsibly? A company with honest and truthful leadership will not take
 shortcuts like fudging environmental tests or cutting corners with effluent
 treatment. The purity inside will not allow the hypocrisy of saying
 something and doing something else.



 Now, let’s look at the second pair of values, “moderation and
 non-possessiveness.”



 Moderation means balance of all senses and faculties; nothing more or less
 than needed for the purpose. Today, moderation is generally disturbed, and
 rampant over-consumption is the result. In a consumption-driven economy, the
 consumer decides what, how much, and when. Cultivating moderation will rein
 in over-consumption, conserve the planet’s resources, and help families save
 more money.



<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 Moderation means balance of all senses and
 faculties; nothing
 more or less than needed for the purpose.
</h4>


<hr />
 


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Lack of moderation also leads to hoarding, for example, when the wealthiest
 countries in the world hoard stockpiles of food and vaccines while entire
 continents go without. Individuals, communities, nations hoarding resources
 and monopolizing the gifts of Mother Earth will reduce only when
 non-possessiveness develops in hearts.



 A regular practice of meditation reins in thought pollution and creates an
 inner environment conducive to following Yama. We realize that the
 trees, the birds, and the fishes all have the same life force flowing
 through them, all droplets of the same ocean of life. The
 interconnectedness of existence helps us to develop love and
 reverence toward all creation. How can we hurt something we love? How can we
 disrespect something we revere? As a result, we imbibe non-violence, which
 is the fifth attitude of Yama. But the non-violence is of a higher
 order because now it’s not just about not hurting creation. Its about caring
 and nurturing it.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="500" height="564" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_Planet_before_after4_d29250b906.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:04:30.956Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 We realize that the trees, the birds, and
 the fishes all have
 the same life force flowing through them, 
 all droplets of the same ocean of life. The interconnectedness of
 existence helps us of develop love and reverence toward all
 creation.
</h4>


<hr />
 


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Our circle of conscience grows, and we care more and more. We mold our
 lifestyle to walk the Earth with a loving kindness. We consume less; the
 packaging waste from online orders pricks us; drinking from plastic water
 bottles pinches us. When such hearts assume leadership roles in companies,
 governments, and civic agencies, their decisions will reflect how much they
 care for the planet.


<h4>
 Green shoots of change
</h4>


 It takes only a generation to witness such a shift. Some of you may think
 this to be a pipedream, the optimistic musings of an old man. But consider
 what we have achieved in Kanha Shanti Vanam in a handful of years. We took
 an arid landscape chiseled out of the granite of the Deccan Plateau and
 transformed it into a lush ecological paradise. At Kanha, we preserve
 indigenous plants, offer workshops to upskill farmers, and operate cottage
 industries of oils, honey, and seeds. Our goal is to build a sustainable
 economy, offer jobs, and create a community that lives in harmony with
 nature.



 The project started with meditative minds coming together. When there was
 nothing on these lands, we first built a temporary structure so
 people could meditate. And from this inner activism came environmental
 change. Today, nestled in the leafy foliage of Kanha, is the world’s largest
 meditation hall. So, if the example of Easter Island scares you, let the
 example of Kanha inspire you.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="500" height="670" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_Planet_before_after5_a7ca7561ec.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:05:58.525Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Similar to Kanha, across the world conscious communities are bringing
 together Indigenous knowledge, grass roots action, and the latest
 technologies to transform how we care for the Earth. Take the case of the
 Yugal Mangi Forest rangers in Outback Australia. For millennia, the
 Indigenous tribes have practiced patch burning, traditional “control
 burning” that creates greener pastures, diverse wildlife, and prevents
 large-scale wildfires. The rangers teamed up with Indigenous elders to
 develop a fire calendar that includes the latest maps, weather data, and
 traditional knowledge of the seasons. Similar initiatives are underway in
 the US, where the Indigenous tribes are training firefighters in the art of
 preventive fires.


<h4 id="h-where-to-begin">
 Where to begin?
</h4>


 As you think of your role in taking care of Mother Earth, begin from the
 heart. Let the goodness you create within become dynamic in your actions
 outside. Don’t underestimate the impact of your actions because big change
 comes from small steps.



<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 


<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">
 As you think of your role in taking care of
 Mother Earth,
 begin from the heart. Let the goodness you create within
 become dynamic 
 in your actions outside. Don’t underestimate the impact of
 your actions because big change comes from small steps.
</h4>


<hr />
 


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="462" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/The_Planet_before_after6_49e41a43d4.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:07:48.391Z" />


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 I remember a few years ago in India, the monsoons arrived much later than
 expected. That summer was brutal, and we had thousands of small trees all
 over Kanha precariously hanging in the balance. There wasn’t enough water to
 go around, and it was only a matter of weeks before the saplings would die.
 So, visitors who came to meditate brought cans and bottles of water with
 them in their vehicles. They would drive to the farthest corners and water
 the saplings. Hundreds of visitors each day started bringing water with
 them. You may wonder, what can a few bottles of water do? Each small effort
 gave the plants the extra week or two they needed before the rains arrived.



 Keep taking small steps to become a better child of Mother Earth. She takes
 care of us, and we can do our bit in caring for her.



 Small Changes You Can Make


<ol type="1">
 <li>
 Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, recover – the 5
 Rs.
 For example,
 <ul>
 <li>
 Avoid impulse online buying. Keep adding items to your cart and order
 once or twice a month. You will save on packaging materials and
 emissions from the delivery.
 </li>
 <li>
 When you travel, invest in a good water bottle to carry with you. Try
 to reduce buying bottled water.
 </li>
 </ul>
 <ul>
 <li>
 Stick to short showers and turn off the lights when not needed. 
 </li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>
 Teach children the idea of Yama early in
 life. 
 </li>
 <li>
 Meditate to free your mind of thought
 pollution.
 </li>
</ol>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />


 1
 The Guardian, Damian Carrington Environment
 Editor: “Global
 warming of oceans equivalent to an atomic bomb per second.”
 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/07/global-warming-of-oceans-equivalent-to-an-atomic-bomb-per-second.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

The planet was there before us and will be there after us

Seek within

<h4>
 This month,
 DAAJI recommends three happiness habits. He also
 shares wisdom from the Bhagavad
 Gita, and from modern writers, to inspire us with confidence and help us on
 our way toward lasting happiness.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="218" height="218" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_happiness_now1b_d41a43741e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:55:51.959Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Santiago the shepherd boy is the main character in Paulo Coelho’s bestseller,
 The Alchemist. Santiago has a recurring dream of treasure, and when a
 gypsy fortune teller interprets this dream for him, he sets out for Egypt to
 find the treasure. On the way, he is robbed, does petty jobs, befriends an
 Englishman, loves an Arab girl, fails in love, finds a master, and finally
 reaches the pyramids and starts digging. That’s when Santiago realizes that
 the treasure he was seeking all along was not in Egypt, but back home in the
 ruined village church where he first had the dream.



 Santiago’s story strikes a chord in our hearts. Often, in the pursuit of our
 goals, we jump through hoops and lunge at mirages. Sometimes, along the way,
 we realize that what we truly seek is in fact within us.



 I had my Santiago moment in the summer of April 1981. Babuji, my guru, visited
 Ahmedabad for a few days. Hundreds of people from nearby towns and villages
 joined Babuji in meditation, and on the last day of his visit he shared a
 parting message, a couplet written in Urdu:



 “Raahein talab mein aise bekhabar ho gaye, manzil pe aake manzil ko
 dhoondhete hain.”



 “We are so preoccupied with the journey that, even after reaching the
 destination, unaware, we continue searching for it.”



 In those simple lines, Babuji reminded us that what we seek is already within
 us. Those words were so reassuring, and I was in such bliss, that if it had
 been my last day I would have gone dancing all the way up.



 But tell me, if my heart wasn’t craving, if I hadn’t struggled, would I have
 realized this wisdom? Would Santiago have realized his destiny without going
 on his quest? The quest is necessary. Struggles open the portals of
 understanding. Problems arise only when we get stuck with the journey and lose
 sight of the goal.



 Such deviations are known as curvature or whirlpools in spirituality. Social
 scientists also have a name for them:
 medium maximization. Becoming engrossed in the path and losing sight
 of the goal is medium maximization, and most of us experience it when we
 pursue happiness.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 id="h-happiness-and-medium-maximization">
 Happiness and medium maximization
</h4>


 We all seek happiness, and there is a good reason why. Happiness does a world
 of good for us. At work, happy employees do better and earn more. At home,
 happy parents make for happy children. In a community, happy people volunteer
 more often. In sports, happy athletes perform better. And in spirituality,
 seekers fare better when they are happy and joyful, not miserable and
 groveling in guilt.



 Yet, happiness is so darned difficult to find. And that’s because we forget
 what we are seeking. Let me explain.



 Professor Raj Ranganath, author of
 If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy?, asks something called the
 genie question. It goes like this. Imagine a genie offers you three wishes,
 anything you want. What would you ask for? Take some time to think about it.
 Over the years, thousands of people have answered this question and most
 answers boil down to three things: A great deal of money, fame, and amazing
 relationships.



 “If I have more money, I’ll be happy,” “If I am famous, I’ll be happy,” “If I
 find love, I’ll be happy.” Money, status, and relationships are all mediums
 for happiness, paths to happiness, but they are not the goal. Prof. Ranganath
 writes that rarely does anyone ask for happiness. Rarely does anyone say,
 “Genie, I need only one wish. Please give me happiness.”



 It is difficult to find happiness because we are busy pursuing other things,
 hoping they will bring happiness. A child seeks happiness in toys, a youth
 seeks happiness in friendships, a businessman seeks happiness in money, and a
 yogi seeks happiness in consciousness. In all cases, they are engrossed in the
 journey and missing the destination.



 Happiness is a quality of the soul. It’s a pure vibration that emanates from
 near the center of our being and radiates outwards. We find eternal happiness
 when we seek the mother tincture, the source itself, not by chasing the
 mediums to happiness. As human beings, we have the opportunity to seek that
 which ends all seeking.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="534" height="576" alt="create-happiness-now2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_happiness_now2_e6e5932035.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:56:33.047Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Happiness is a quality of the soul. It’s a pure
 vibration that
 emanates from near the center of our being and radiates outwards.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Babuji once asked a young Danish meditator, “If you met God, what would you
 ask?” The Dane gave her answer and then flipped the question back to
 Babuji: “What would you ask for, Babuji?” He replied, “I would ask for
 the peace-giver himself, not for peace.” Peace-giver is the goal, peace
 is the medium.



 If happiness is your goal, seek happiness and not the mediums that you think
 will get you there. Happiness is the heir of peace and rest. What we call
 worry is the mind’s itch, which is a result of the ever-changing and
 never-ending nature of desire. So long as any desire is not fulfilled, it will
 keep disturbing the mind.



 Lord Krishna explained the same idea to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. He showed
 Arjuna the domino effect of desire, and I would like to share those verses
 with you here.



 While contemplating the pleasures of the senses, one is attracted to them.



 From attraction arises desire, and from desire arises anger. (2.62)



 Anger leads to confusion of the mind, which results in loss of memory. When
 the memory is lost, the intellect is destroyed; and ruin of the
 intellect leads us to destruction. (2.63)



 But one who controls the mind, and is free from likes and dislikes, even
 while using the objects of the senses, attains the Grace of God. (2.64)



 There is no wisdom without harmony, and without harmony, there is no
 contemplation. Without contemplation there cannot be peace. How
 can there be happiness if one lacks peace of mind? (2.66)



 The mystery of all happiness lies in steadying and settling the activity of
 the mind.
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/you-deserve-bold-new-beginnings/">Contentment steadies the mind</a>,
 as we discovered last month. The foundation of inner peace is contentment.
 So, I am sharing three practices that help to cultivate deeper contentment and
 create happiness. These three practices can become your happiness habits.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="534" height="576" alt="create_happiness_now3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_happiness_now3_e757da2e41.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:57:25.087Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 id="h-three-happiness-habits-for-life">
 Three happiness habits for life
</h4>

<h5 id="h-give-to-be-happy">
 Give to be happy
</h5>


 I grew up in a village. One day, one of my uncles came to visit and stayed
 with us for a few days. The day he left, he slipped a hundred-rupee note into
 my shirt pocket. He didn’t say a word about it. A few days later, I discovered
 the money when I wore the shirt. In those days, getting a hundred rupees was
 like getting five thousand rupees today. I was a king overnight! I knew this
 was a silent act of kindness from my uncle. When I think about the incident, I
 see the power of giving anonymously. Many relatives gave me money while I was
 growing up, but even after fifty years, I still remember the money my uncle
 gave me.


Giving makes us happy. Giving anonymously has its own grace.


 Give your money. Give your time. Most importantly, give your love. Just as
 the muscles of the body need to be exercised, the qualities of the heart
 also need to be exercised. And you know what they say about exercise – it
 makes us happy.


<h5 id="h-cultivate-gratitude">
 Cultivate gratitude
</h5>


 A grateful heart is a happy heart. Gratitude is the moral memory of mankind,
 according to sociologist Georg Simmel. Feeling grateful helps us build better
 bonds with people. It makes us generous and increases overall satisfaction in
 life.



 In your journal, once or twice a week, write down what you are grateful
 for. If a work colleague helped you, write it down. If the barista made your
 coffee as you walked in, to save you time, write it down. 



 In the morning, right after you wake up, sit for a couple of minutes and
 send waves of love to God and to all those who surround you.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="534" height="576" alt="create-happiness-now4" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_happiness_now4_d6429440af.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:58:11.781Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h5 id="h-live-in-the-present">
 Live in the present
</h5>


 I once saw a picture where little kids were performing on stage. The parents
 all had their phones out trying to record the show, not realizing they were
 missing the action. The caption on the picture said, “Don’t miss the moment.”



 We struggle to live in the present. The moment we try to live in the present,
 that moment is already gone. It has become the past. Even before we finish
 saying the word, the “present” has become the “past.” So, what does living in
 the present mean?



 The Gita inspires us to be like the tree that witnesses the ever-flowing water
 of the river in front of it, while it is eternally in the present moment. Lord
 Krishna reminds Arjuna that one who is in a
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/you-deserve-bold-new-beginnings/">Stithapragya</a>
 state lives in this state.



 Live in the present that always was, always is, and always will be with
 you. Live with the original Source that came with you, that is present with
 you.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="534" height="576" alt="create-happiness-now5" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_happiness_now5_f1859d2f1e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:59:00.703Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4 id="h-before-you-go">
 Before you go
</h4>


 Nathaniel&nbsp;Hawthorne once famously said, “Happiness is a butterfly, which,
 when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit
 down quietly, may alight upon you.”



 When you sit down quietly, with a humble heart yielding in love, a vacuum is
 created within and Mother Nature rushes to fill it. I pray that your practice
 allows you to experience such moments of grace, where peace and happiness
 become mile markers on the journey to a much grander destination.



 The Heartfulness way of meditation will grant you the gift of the nectar of
 Transmission from the heart of the Great Master to the meditative heart. Like
 a fine fragrance, it will make your life fulfilling.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">lllustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

Create happiness now

<h4
 id="h-do-you-dream-of-becoming-a-positive-force-and-a-beacon-of-hope-in-your-community-what-does-it-take-to-become-that-person-the-key-lies-within-you-the-first-step-is-to-prepare-yourself-to-create-an-inner-state-of-contentment-and-steadiness-and-this-month-daaji-offers-a-very-practical-approach-to-doing-just-that">
 Do you dream of becoming a positive force and a beacon of hope in your
 community? What does it take to become that person? The key lies within you.
 The first step is to prepare yourself – to create an inner state of
 contentment and steadiness – and this month
 DAAJI offers a
 very practical approach to doing just that.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 The value of steadiness
</h4>


 Consider this: A sick man is cared for by two nurses, who serve him food and
 medicine and take care of all his comforts. One of them is anxious and upset
 about his illness while the other is composed and steady. Who do you think is
 able to serve him better?



 Many of you may agree that it is the steady, composed nurse. She may feel just
 as much for her patient, but those feelings are uncomplicated, without
 turbulent emotions. She radiates a calmness that is just what is needed under
 pressure in challenging situations, and this calmness helps others to also
 stay calm. Her inner steadiness and centeredness allow her to be clear about
 her duties and responsibilities.



 Whether you are a teacher, a homemaker, a musician, a parent, a soldier, or an
 activist, you will have certain responsibilities and duties that require you
 to make decisions and take action. When your mind is conflicted or confused,
 there is inner tension about what to do or say in any situation, whereas when
 your mind is centered in the heart and steady, you will be guided from within
 to choose the right way forward.



 A good example of this inner tension is the dilemma Arjuna faced five thousand
 years ago on the battlefield of Kurukshetra just before the Mahabharata war
 began. He was conflicted. On the one hand he felt a strong sense of
 responsibility toward his guru, his grandparents, and other family members and
 friends, who were his enemies on the battlefield. He didn’t want to fight
 them, and I think we can all relate to that sentiment. On the other hand, Lord
 Krishna was urging Arjuna to act according to a higher sense of duty – that of
 good over evil. He was there to encourage Arjuna to honor this higher duty to
 the universal laws.



 Because Arjuna’s mind was unsteady, his hand could not lift the bow. Lord
 Krishna supported him, not by talking about bravery and courage, but by
 revealing the secret of a steady mind anchored in the Self. In a classic
 one-two punch (Gita 2:55), he said, “Arjuna, transcend desires and be content
 in the Self. This will help you become one whose insight is steady.”



 It is not often that we are faced with an ethical dilemma of the magnitude
 Arjuna faced in the Bhagavad Gita, but in day-to-day life we are constantly
 making choices that require us to think about our duties and responsibilities.
 In fact, this sense of moral responsibility is at the fore of many people’s
 consciousness right now, as we adjust our lifestyle from “me to we” in order
 to solve far-reaching issues like loneliness, an international mental health
 pandemic, environmental destruction, climate change, and dwindling resources,
 social inequality and prejudice, the social crisis brought on by Covid, fake
 news and social polarization.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="450" height="593" alt="Prepare_to_make_difference2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Prepare_to_make_difference2_3dadb19df6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T05:59:45.153Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Develop contentment and transcend desire.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 How can we as individuals contribute to solutions? Well, every choice we make
 in our day-to-day lives contributes. Do we have a clear understanding of the
 consequences of our thoughts and actions? If we are to effectively honor both
 our social responsibilities and the higher sense of duty, we need access to
 that calm inner steadiness, which is known in Yoga as Sthitapragya.
 So, in the coming sections, I wish to share a practical approach to finding
 steadiness. But first, a deeper dive into what creates conflict and turmoil in
 the first place.


<h4>
 Desires lead to dilemmas
</h4>


 In the village of my childhood, we had many buffalos. Each buffalo was
 tethered to a particular pole overnight. At the end of the day, when the
 animals came back from grazing, each buffalo would go straight to its own
 pole. The minds of buffaloes know where to anchor themselves. In contrast,
 human minds are swayed by so many likes and dislikes that we sometimes miss
 the anchor. The chocolate gateau, the Swiss watch, those romantic getaways,
 the diamond necklace … the list of wants never ends. Within reason, it’s okay
 to cater to wishes, but when they get the better of us, things soon get out of
 hand.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="450" height="593" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Prepare_to_make_difference3_a76c76b90a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T06:01:11.534Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Years ago, during my business days, a young man worked for me as a Pharmacy
 Intern. He had the unique ability to fill prescriptions with speed and
 competence, while also being adept at running the regular retail sales in the
 store. And he was hard working. These skills are the lifeline of a boutique
 pharmacy. So when an opportunity came to buy a new store, I invited him to
 become my partner.



 He was keen, but he didn’t have the money to invest, so I financed his share
 and got him started as an entrepreneur. I let him run the show, and over the
 next few years he generated a decent profit. But then something changed. The
 business started losing money. One day, I spoke to him, offering assistance.
 He said, “We don’t make money because insurance rules gouge us,” but the rules
 were the same for my other stores and they all made a profit. Something didn’t
 add up, but I didn’t push the matter.



 A few months later, in a very matter-of-fact way, he asked me to give him my
 share of the business. Perplexed, I asked him how he would manage a losing
 business after buying me out. He went silent on me. Later, I came to know that
 he had done a deal with the landlord to transfer the lease into his name. I
 was now in a fix. I sold him my share for cents on the dollar and cut my ties
 with him.



 The festering desire to own the store led my associate to a place where greed
 overshadowed all his decisions. When desire overwhelms the mind, the moral
 fabric is reduced to tatters. He had lost all sense of responsibility, even to
 himself.



 It is for this reason that cultures across the world espouse some form of
 restraint to vaccinate us against overwhelming desire. Fasting during Ramadan,
 Lent, and Ekadashi are just some examples of traditions that are designed to
 strengthen our moral fabric, and intermittent fasting and digital detoxing are
 modern-day scientific equivalents. But they are all only temporary fixes
 unless they lead to permanent habits of restraint. A better permanent solution
 is the one-two punch offered by Lord Krishna in the Gita: Develop contentment
 and transcend desire. We’ll explore both these ideas, starting with
 contentment.


<h4>
 Contentment illuminates the way
 forward
</h4>


 According to the dictionary, the word “contentment” means “a peaceful state of
 happiness and satisfaction.” So, ask yourself: “What makes me peaceful, happy,
 and satisfied?” Are you dependent on external things, and having your
 expectations met, or do you find contentment from within? An inner state of
 contentment in its true sense results from accepting the reality of what
 is over what we wish to happen; and when there are no
 wishes, the situation is very easy!



 In contentment we are centered; the mind does not wander here and there. We
 are anchored in the self. Contentment is a signature of a steady mind. When
 you shake a glass of water, the movement creates waves, but try shaking the
 water in the ocean. No matter how hard you try, the ocean stays its rhythm. A
 steady person is like that, clear and unwavering from the path of duty, and
 the conviction that arises within that steady state gives us the courage to do
 what is right.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="450" height="593" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Prepare_to_make_difference4_270cb0a324.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T06:02:23.888Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 If you reflect on your own life, you will probably find
 that the
 times you are most content are also the times you are happiest. In
 contentment lies the potential for calmness, compassion, courage, and
 clarity.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Positive social change comes from contented hearts and clear steady minds.



 Contentment also creates more contentment within. Seeds of contentment
 germinate and grow into a majestic forest of contentment. The nectar, the
 fragrance, and the flowers that blossom in this forest are peace, happiness,
 and tranquility. When we are contented, we make no demands. We impose upon no
 one. Wherever we are, we are happy. And science confirms that happiness leads
 to success, not the other way round. When we are contented, we spread joy
 wherever we go. We are givers rather than takers.



 If you reflect on your own life, you will probably find that the times you are
 most content are also the times you are happiest. In contentment lies the
 potential for calmness, compassion, courage, and clarity – the 5 Cs of the
 heart chakra – and it all starts with contentment.



 Contentment, combined with inner purity, allows us to let go of desires. And
 when we let go, our minds naturally focus on what is needed in any situation
 rather than being pulled by likes and dislikes. We no longer struggle with
 ethical dilemmas, as the heart guides and everything falls into place; we
 remain both dutiful and responsible in the right measure. Everything we need
 is within us. The inner lamp glows, illuminating the path ahead.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 When we are contented, we make no demands. We impose upon
 no one.
 Wherever we are, we are happy. And science confirms that happiness
 leads to success, not the other way round. When we are contented, we
 spread joy wherever we go.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="450" height="593" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Prepare_to_make_difference5_0afb402504.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T06:03:41.518Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Getting there
</h4>


 During his lifetime, Lord Krishna shared this knowledge many times, but he was
 often rebuked or insulted. On the battlefield, Arjuna’s honest plea for help
 meant he was receptive to the Lord’s message. An honest heart pleading for
 help always receives a response from the Divine, and the Heartfulness
 practices prepare our hearts to be receptive. Try them for yourself and you
 will discover the lightness and freedom that is possible within.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Everything we need is within us. The inner lamp
 glows, illuminating
 the path ahead.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="450" height="593" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Prepare_to_make_difference6_222c82b02c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T06:04:40.657Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

Prepare to make a difference

Positive social change

<h4
 id="h-most-resolutions-fail-because-they-aren-t-compelling-enough-this-year-choose-goals-that-keep-inspiring-you-one-treasure-trove-of-inspiration-is-the-bhagavad-gita-so-daaji-will-be-sharing-this-timeless-wisdom-and-offering-us-practical-tools-for-new-beginnings-to-move-forward">
 Most resolutions fail because they aren’t compelling enough. This year,
 choose goals that keep inspiring you. One treasure trove of inspiration is
 the Bhagavad Gita, so
 DAAJI will be
 sharing this timeless wisdom and offering us practical tools for new
 beginnings to move forward.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Life is a continuum of new beginnings strung together in time. The birth of a
 child, coming of age, and marriage are some examples of new beginnings that
 cultures across the world celebrate with joy. One new beginning that started
 during the time of the Romans and continues to be celebrated across the world
 is the New Year. The Romans celebrated the New Year by honoring Janus – he
 gives us the month’s name, January. Janus was the God of transitions. He
 represented the bridge between what was and what will be, the old and the new.
 For this reason, Janus is represented as the God with two faces, one facing
 the past and the other facing the future. While the traditions honoring Janus
 have ended, what endures is our enthusiasm for new beginnings.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="566" height="800" alt="deserve-bold-beginings2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deserve_bold_beginings2_434039cd30.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-09T04:08:16.854Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Each year, come January, new memberships at the gym hit the roof. Losing
 weight, saving money, and quitting smoking are among the most popular
 resolutions. We hope the new year will give us the extra boost we need to
 become better. But by January 19, we hit what is called Quitter’s Day, the day
 when most people choose the face of Janus looking into the past. They quit.



 This January let’s change that. A world healing from a pandemic needs more
 resolve and less quitting. Our victories, no matter how small, spread hope and
 positivity.


<h4>
 How can you ensure success this time?
 
</h4>


 When researchers studied why people struggle to keep their resolutions, they
 found that most people either forget their resolutions or simply lose track of
 them. Test this for yourself. What was your resolution last year? And the year
 before? The chances are you have forgotten. Usually, you will forget something
 because it isn’t important enough. It doesn’t warrant your interest. So, this
 year, make resolutions that
 interest you deeply.



 Interest fuels resolve. Interest gives the impetus to act. When you are
 interested, you will set positive intentions and prioritize better. Take a
 moment to revisit your successes. You will find that interest ignites your
 efforts. And what happens when you lack interest? Do you try to make up for
 lost interest with willpower? Well, it doesn’t work. When there is no
 interest, the joy is gone, and self-improvement becomes a sandpapery affair.
 So, the key is to create interest.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Interest fuels resolve. Interest gives the impetus to act.
 When you
 are interested, you will set positive intentions and prioritize
 better. Take a moment to revisit your successes. You will find that
 interest ignites your efforts.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Choose something compelling. Choose something that captures your imagination.
 To lose weight or to save money, don’t wait for the New Year. You can start
 here and now. Save the New Year for something momentous, something vital. This
 New Year, think big and bold. Choose eternal over ephemeral.



 Often, I hear people chide themselves for being weak. They lack confidence and
 drown themselves in puddles of doubt. To them, I say, never forget that we are
 all powered from the same infinite Source. The life force that runs in our
 veins is the current of the Divine. We are all spiritual beings in biological
 garb. Interiorize this truth and shed your inhibitions. Take one step forward
 and see how the universe takes ten steps towards you.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="566" height="800" alt="deserve-bold-beginings3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deserve_bold_beginings3_88629cfa92.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-09T04:09:09.184Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it,
 dream
 of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part
 of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea
 alone. This is the way to success.” -Swami Vivekananda
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 To make a new beginning
 
</h4>


 Take inspiration from the charged words of Vivekananda: “Take up one idea.
 Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.
 Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea,
 and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”


<h4>
 For inspiration, look to the Gita
</h4>


 To succeed in new beginnings, visualize new goals for yourself. If you are
 looking for inspiration, one tried and tested source – rather a treasure trove
 of bold and thrilling goals – is the Bhagavad Gita, one of the world’s
 greatest spiritual texts. Gandhi, Emerson, Thoreau, Hermann Hesse, Aldous
 Huxley, Sri Aurobindo, and many others have found inspiration in the Gita.
 Written around five thousand years ago, its wisdom is no less relevant for us
 today than it was back then.



 The Bhagavad Gita is a record of the conversation between Arjuna and Lord
 Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Arjuna is facing his enemies,
 including his grandfather, his guru, his relatives, and his associates. The
 Gita is a tale of the triumph of good over evil. It offers clarity in the face
 of dilemmas. It provides the wisdom needed to live a life of virtue.



 My rendezvous with the Gita started during my childhood. I grew up in a
 village in Gujarat, India. This was in the ’50s, and back then we did not have
 electricity. My chore at home was to help my mother with the lamps and get
 them ready by sundown. I remember one monsoon when I was nine years old, we
 would get together with our neighbors in the evening. After dinner, everyone
 would assemble in our courtyard. There, under the glow of the lamps, I would
 read aloud chapters from the Ramayana. For a few weeks we did this, and after
 the Ramayana we started with the Mahabharata. It was during this time that I
 was first introduced to the Gita.



 Since then, in school, college, and during adult life, the Gita has been
 present in my life as a source of meaning, inspiration, and clarity. I vividly
 remember striking gold when one of my associates recommended the talks of
 Vinoba Bhave on the Gita. I was moved by the profound depth, simplicity, and
 oozing devotion that his speeches carried. For anyone who wants to read the
 Gita, I recommend they start with Vinoba.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Just like a seedling, a young plant, and a grown-up tree
 need the
 same water for nourishment, new beginnings always start with the mind,
 no matter what your goal is. The method for mastering the mind is
 meditation.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="566" height="800" alt="deserve_bold_beginings4" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deserve_bold_beginings4_374f4d244b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-09T04:10:10.129Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

And for your new beginnings, here are some goals inspired by the Gita:

<h4>
 Develop a growth mindset
</h4>


 A few years ago, Carol Dweck wrote an excellent book called
 Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential. In
 short, a growth mindset is a belief that a person’s capacities and talents can
 be improved over time. Unlike a fixed mindset, which says you are born with a
 fixed capacity, the growth mindset says you can grow.



 In this light, in the Gita I see Lord Krishna sharing with Arjuna, “Look to
 your efforts. Focus on your efforts. Don’t worry about the fruit.” Isn’t this
 the essence of having a growth mindset? Isn’t this an excellent way to keep on
 improving and becoming better? When you focus on your efforts, you will
 compete with yourself and become a better version of yourself.



 Like this, there are many other bold goals in the Gita that you can take up as
 new beginnings. Some of them are contentment, humility, equanimity, and
 desire-free action. Each one of them is big enough and audacious enough to be
 worthy of a lifetime’s pursuit, and we will explore them during the year.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 This New Year, think big and bold. Choose eternal over ephemeral.
 
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 How to bring about change?
</h4>


 New beginnings start with the mind. Just like a seedling, a young plant, and a
 grown-up tree need the same water for nourishment, new beginnings always start
 with the mind, no matter what your goal is. The method for mastering the mind
 is meditation.



 In meditation, you will find answers to “How to develop contentment?”, “How to
 grow in humility?” and so on. The Heartfulness way is a very effective “how
 to” way, offering everyone access to the highest levels of consciousness.
 Having such a method, no goal is out of sight, and no new beginning is out of
 reach.



 There is no need to believe my words. Belief is the enemy of realization.
 Instead, inquire boldly and see the results of these simple practices for
 yourself. When Mother Nature is doling out diamonds, why settle for pennies?
 Why bring a teacup to drink the ocean? Be bold and humbly approach the Lord
 for what he has always said is your true inheritance, your rightful place in
 his heart.


Make this new beginning a journey of becoming.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="566" height="800" alt="deserve_bold_beginings5" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deserve_bold_beginings5_90f116fe47.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-09T04:11:24.560Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 A simple Heartfulness practice for new beginnings
</h4>

Before and during conversations with others:

Relax, bring your attention to your heart, and center yourself there.

Stay connected with your center as you speak.


 Observe the tone of your voice and let it flow evenly. Remove any rise and
 fall in pitch, sharpness, or roughness.


Attune your speech to the balanced condition of your heart.


 See if you can feel a relationship establishing with the original current
 within you.



 Over time, your speech will become soft and cultured, with a harmonious flow.
 It will naturally touch the hearts of others. If you practice this regularly,
 it will become a permanent habit.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by JAMSEE MUDGAL</h4>

<hr />

You deserve bold new beginnings

Creating a daily routine

<h4>
 DAAJI continues his series on refining habits,
 this month sharing his insights on
 the final Niyama known as Ishwar Pranidhan, which is often
 translated as “surrender to God.” What does it mean? How can we understand
 both God and surrender? And why is surrender to God the ultimate
 habit?
</h4>

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<h3 class="has-text-align-center">
 The Art of Removing and Creating Habits – Part
 11
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Yoga in action



 Let’s start by reminding ourselves of the three Niyamas that make up
 Kriya Yoga, the Yoga of action – tapas, swadhyaya and the third and
 final one, Ishwar pranidhan, the most mysterious and puzzling of all.
 Ishwar pranidhan is generally translated into English as “surrender
 to God,” or sometimes “God-awareness.” It is puzzling, not the least because
 God is such an elusive principle to most of us, and also because the idea of
 surrender often suggests the removal of personal freedom.



 Only in this last of the ten Yamas and Niyamas does
 Patanjali speaks of God – Ishwar. Up till now, the focus has been on
 self-awareness, self-improvement, behavior, and purifying consciousness. That
 has all been a preparation. Throughout this preparation, we have moved from
 self-centeredness and selfishness to selflessness, from “me to we.” Now we
 take the next step, from “we to Thou.” This is a significant shift in
 consciousness, a quantum leap into the realm of God where even “we” no longer
 exists.



 God is the great unknown



 You may be wondering what God we are talking about here, because God has as
 many meanings as there are people. In Yoga, God is the great unknown, beyond
 qualities, beyond comprehension. Everything that is describable or definable
 has qualities, and while God is also present within the world of qualities,
 the quality-less state that is beyond definition is really the realm of God.
 There are other words that are also used for the same divine principle – the
 Source, the Ultimate, the Absolute.



 Remember the state of nirodha or complete stillness we spoke about
 earlier in this series? That cessation of mental activity in the mind, the
 ultimate state of Yoga, is also the key to God-awareness. Nirodha and
 Ishwar pranidhan are intertwined. The next question is: How to get
 there? The approach needed is the “surrender” part.



 The purpose of surrender



 When we look at the idea of surrender from a worldly perspective, it can be
 quite distasteful, because it means to “submit to an authority,” or “to give
 in,” often with a sense of being forced to do so. The ego generally doesn’t
 respond well to that. We see this even in the best of relationships when we
 are asked to give in to the wishes of the other person. Who does this easily,
 willingly, and cheerfully? People who have fallen madly in love. They are very
 capable of surrender – they will do anything for the happiness of the other
 person. Generally it doesn’t last, however, as the ego eventually starts to
 make itself heard and the lover becomes aware of their own wishes. Most of us
 have to learn how to let go and give in, which is why family life is such a
 wonderful training ground for spirituality! It is through our relationships
 that we learn to accept and submit to the other.


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<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Most of us have to learn how to let go and give in, which
 is why
 family life is such a wonderful training ground for spirituality! It is
 through our relationships that we learn to accept and submit to
 the other.
</h5>

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 <figure>
 <img width="379" alt="into-the-great-unknown-2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_2_529576ae2e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:02:59.462Z" />
 </figure>
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 From the spiritual viewpoint, surrender has a very positive significance, just
 as it does when we are madly in love. Love is a powerful flame. When love is
 there, surrender does not require any force or coercion. It is something that
 happens to us; it is not a thought or an action in itself.
 “Surrender” in this context is not a verb, as it is in the English language.
 “I” cannot surrender. It happens to us without our active participation and
 knowledge. In fact, if a person thinks they have surrendered, it is a sure
 sign they haven’t!



 This beautiful state of acceptance, of being held, protected, and supported,
 is known as saranagati in Yoga. With it comes a carefree willingness
 to hand over the reins to that infinite “something” that is bigger than all of
 us. We belong to the whole, and we acknowledge that we are a small part of it.
 We choose to cooperate and go with the flow rather than seeing ourselves as
 separate, or needing to control and dictate terms.


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<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="391" alt="into-the-great-unknown-3" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_3_7febe54d91.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:04:04.419Z" />
 </figure>
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 Saranagati is positive. It means to willingly search out those things
 that are favorable for our evolution, and to feel God in our hearts. Utmost
 faith is the foundation, and all our actions are done in the spirit of service
 to the greater good. We naturally feel insignificant (there is no need for
 false humility), we approach life with an attitude of continuous improvement,
 and we experience the sacred in all existence. It is liberating!



 When we offer all the fruits of our work to God, we are at peace. We take
 neither credit nor blame unto ourselves, because both credit and blame are
 surrendered to God.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="400" alt="into-the-great-unknown-4" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_4_c5bc66880e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:04:59.172Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Ishwar pranidhan is the ultimate habit. It
 requires us to
 rest in God-awareness in everything we feel, think, and do, in
 constant osmosis with God. The easiest way is through acceptance and
 surrender. Whether we are awake or asleep, aware or unaware,
 active or passive, we try to remain in this state, and this
 practice is known as constant remembrance in Heartfulness.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This state can only be experienced when the ego is refined to such an extent
 that all that is left of it is a sense of identity without coloring, energy,
 or charge. How do we reach this stage? On our spiritual journey, when we
 journey through the Heart Region, we learn to master our emotions and desires.
 After this, we journey through the Mind Region, and it is here that the
 process of ego refinement really accelerates. As we move from one chakra to
 the next with the help of our Guide, gradually there is less and less of “me,”
 then less and less of “we,” until eventually only God is left. God’s presence
 is felt only in our absence. This is what the word pranidhan is all
 about. Nidhan means “an empty space,” or “annihilation,” and
 pra means “with intensity.” Pranidhan signifies “the void
 filled with intensity.” This is the realm of God.



 Ishwar pranidhan is the ultimate habit. It requires us to rest in
 God-awarenessin everything we feel, think, and do, in constant osmosis with
 God. The easiest way is through acceptance and surrender. Whether we are awake
 or asleep, aware or unaware, active or passive, we try to remain in this
 state, and this practice is known as constant remembrance in Heartfulness.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="400" alt="into-the-great-unknown-5" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_5_7aabc8fb4d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:05:47.525Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 We meditate so that we learn to experience this state – meditation is the
 mother of constant remembrance. Once we learn to hold it, we are then free of
 the entanglements caused by all the mental and emotional complexities and
 impurities that otherwise distort our existence. We are free.



 How to engage with the great unknown?



 As P.Y. Deshpande points out in his book, The Authentic Yoga, there
 are two fundamental psychological urges in human beings. The first is a sense
 of wonder, which gives rise to the spirit of inquiry underpinning the sciences
 and philosophy. The second is a sense of worship or awe for that which lies
 beyond knowledge and comprehension, which is denoted by the word “God.” This
 sense leads to mystical experiences that are similar across all cultures and
 eras.



 The sense of wonder is more mental while the sense of worship is more
 feeling-based. They are not completely distinct, but they are certainly
 distinguishable. Together they make up our human psychology – mind and heart –
 and when they become polarized it results in a split. You could say that our
 modern societies, having separated science and religion, have developed split
 personalities, and this is known as polarization. The two are meant to be
 complementary and integrated.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="594" alt="into-the-great-unknown-6" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_6_421d3c62d9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:06:43.016Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

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<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center" id="block-2e7b80df-f9f2-4d14-86c2-7112918c7b88">
 Both wonder and worship are involved in Ishwar
 pranidhan. How is it
 possible to combine them? By meditating on the heart, so that we experience God directly within us.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Both wonder and worship are involved in Ishwar pranidhan. How is it
 possible to combine them? By meditating on the heart, so that we experience
 God directly within us. God remains the great unknown, undefinable,
 quality-less, yet at the same time God is within our experience. Both inquiry
 and worship are unified in this act of meditation on the Divinity in the
 heart, where we experience the state of nirodha, the void of
 Samadhi, with the support of Transmission. We are in osmosis with
 God, and the result is perfect Samadhi.



 Surrender to God is the habit to eclipse all other
 habits



 When we have studied ourselves, purified ourselves, and refined ourselves,
 surrender is very simple. In fact, true surrender is possible
 only when we have done all these things. It is the ultimate habit,
 the culmination of the other habits. At the same time, when we make an effort
 to cultivate this habit, all the others naturally start to fall into
 place. This is where Transmission has such an impact – it is the essence of
 pure love. It takes us directly to a state of surrendered awareness of God,
 even when we have not yet mastered all the other habits. The catch? It is then
 up to us to mold our behavior so that we are capable of holding that
 experience for longer and longer periods until eventually it becomes constant.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="594" alt="into-the-great-unknown-7" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/into_the_great_unknown_7_be519f634e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T06:08:36.005Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Like Jedi knights, we need to become worthy of surrendering to
 God.
 We cannot surrender by the will and effort of the ego. Instead,
 when we immerse ourselves in God through meditation with Transmission,
 and study ourselves so that we let go of unwanted habits and cultivate
 noble habits, eventually the ego dissolves into purity, its essence.
 We become that vast emptiness of the Ultimate. God-Realization
 and Self-Realization are one and the same thing.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Like Jedi knights, we need to become worthy of surrendering to God. We cannot
 surrender by the will and effort of the ego. Instead, when we immerse
 ourselves in God through meditation with Transmission, and study ourselves so
 that we let go of unwanted habits and cultivate noble habits, eventually the
 ego dissolves into purity, its essence. We become that vast emptiness of the
 Ultimate. God-Realization and Self-Realization are one and the same thing.



 The great saint Kabir wrote beautiful poetry about this. In one poem he says,



 Narrow is the lane of love. Two will never
 fit. When I was, the
 Beloved was not. Now He is; I am not.


Rumi also wrote about it, for example,


 If in thirst you drink water from a cup, you see God in
 it. Those
 who are not in love with God will see only their own faces in it.



 Both poets are describing the state of surrender where the “I” has
 disappeared. It seems so far away from our world that is in crisis because
 human beings are still so I-focused, where many have not even reached the
 state of we-consciousness of human brotherhood. Yet beyond the “we” is “Thou,”
 the beginning of the realm of God. This is where we embark upon the journey
 into the great unknown – before that, everything is preparation.



 There is a story about the Buddha that illustrates this very well. For many
 years he struggled to attain enlightenment through self-effort. He tried
 everything. He once said, “Who knows what sorts of austerity and penance were
 undergone by me in expectation of even a trace of the fragrance of the state
 of Nirvana. At long last, the state I had long cherished was
 achieved. How much time it took, and after how many days the desired goal was
 acquired! I practiced a lot, underwent so many troubles, fought against the
 rush of irrelevant thoughts, and cleaned off shrubs and bushes.”



 Ultimately, it was when he relaxed his efforts, when he surrendered, that he
 experienced enlightenment. His efforts were the preparation; he became the
 Buddha when he let go and surrendered: “It was then that the light of
 Realization came to my fortune. On arriving at it, all obstructions dropped
 off. Calmness then prevailed in the mind, and there was immense peace all
 over. To tell the truth, that is the fragrance of pure Nirvana.”



 If you explore the inner world of enlightened beings like the Buddha, you will
 find the void – infinite space and stillness. Babuji describes it as “more and
 more of less and less.” The roots of enlightenment arise from absolute
 surrender. Through letting go, through surrender, comes the realization of
 God. But that is not the end. Ultimately, when there is oneness, unity, and
 mergence, all the above simply dissolves.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Into the great unknown

<h4
 
 id="h-daaji-continues-his-series-on-refining-habits-in-the-light-of-patanjali-s-ashtanga-yoga-and-current-scientific-and-yogic-principles-and-practices-this-month-he-shares-his-insights-on-the-fourth-niyama-swadhyaya-which-means-self-study-and-self-awareness-it-is-one-of-the-fundamental-pillars-of-emotional-intelligence"
>
 DAAJI continues his series on refining habits, in the light of Patanjali’s Ashtanga
 Yoga and current scientific and yogic principles and practices. This month he
 shares his insights on the fourth Niyama, swadhyaya, which
 means self-study and self-awareness. It is one of the fundamental pillars of
 emotional intelligence.
</h4>

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<h3
 class="has-text-align-center"
 id="h-the-art-of-removing-and-creating-habits-part-11"
>
 THE ART OF REMOVING AND CREATING HABITS – PART 10
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing toward being
 a champion. —Billie Jean King



 Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. —Carl Jung


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h3>
 Yoga in action
</h3>


 Last month we explored the three Niyamas that make up Kriya Yoga,
 which means Yoga in action. In other words, how inner changes in our thoughts
 and feelings are expressed in our outer behavior. At the beginning of Part 2
 of his Yoga Sutras, in the section on “practice,” Patanjali reminds us that:



 2.1: Tapah svādhyāyesvarapranidhānāni kriyā yogah



 Austerity, self-study, and God-awareness together constitute Yoga in
 action (Kriya Yoga).



 The second of the three Niyamas of Kriya Yoga is swadhyaya,
 meaning “self-study.”



 But Kriya Yoga is actually more about the inner awareness and choices that
 define our action in every moment. This awareness purifies our activities of
 any negative effects of ego, removing selfishness. It propels us away from a
 habitual way of living, driven by the past, to a life lived in the present.


<h3>
 Swadhyaya
</h3>


 Self-study requires us to turn out attention inward so that we can learn about
 ourselves. Now, that can be a daunting business when we don’t feel comfortable
 with what we see, but every culture has recognized the value of self-study so
 here we will try to solve the problem of how to face ourselves. Self-study has
 been the cornerstone of psychology from ancient times to the present day, in
 the East and the West, in mysticism, astrology, psychiatry, psychotherapy,
 yogic psychology, Mindfulness cognitive therapy, and many other fields. Modern
 scientific research also tells us that self-study and self-awareness go hand
 in hand with meditative practices. The two are synergistic. In Daniel
 Goleman’s book, Emotional Intelligence, he highlights the research
 showing us that meditation fosters emotional intelligence, of which
 selfawareness is one of the key pillars.


<h3>
 How can you learn about yourself?
</h3>


 Why do you need to look within to learn about yourself? Knowledge from
 external sources, for example, observing the world around you, reading books,
 watching and listening to digital media, and talking with other people like
 counselors and psychologists, will no doubt give you some selfinsight, but at
 best it is a mirror and a catalyst for self-awareness.


The most direct ways to learn about yourself are:


 1. Meditation: Meditation with awareness = self-study.



 In meditation you will be able to notice the play of your
 vrittis, the movements and vibrations within the subtle body. You may
 know them as your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. As you witness them,
 gradually you will learn how they arise, what motivates them, where they lead,
 and many other things. When this is done without attachment or desire, you
 discover that these vrittis no longer generate turbulence or
 entanglement. They simply pass, and you are free from their hooks.



 Through meditation, you will dive into deeper dimensions of yourself, from the
 level of thinking to the level of feeling, and beyond. Self-study does not
 just stay at the surface level of your thoughts and emotions. You journey into
 layers of your being that you cannot access through conversation or a more
 analytic approach to self-discovery.



 After meditation, when you take the time to acquire, enliven, imbibe, and
 become one with the condition you have received, you will become unified with
 that state (AEIOU) and develop your abilities of self-study at all levels, not
 just the mental level. The condition will permeate every atom of your being so
 that you embody the effects of meditation fully, then it will be absorbed at
 subtler and subtler levels of your being.



 After this, when you write your experience in a journal, you will develop
 self-awareness to an even greater extent. Writing and expressing your
 experience in other ways like music, art, or dance, allow you to explore it
 and study it in different ways. You can revisit it and see patterns over time,
 which is difficult to do otherwise, because the mind is always adapting and
 changing. Your memories are not static; they evolve with new and added
 experience.



 2. Cleaning: When you practice Heartfulness Cleaning to purify your mind of all the
 turbulence, impurities, and complexities that distort your perception, your
 self-study will develop clarity.



 3. Continuous improvement: At bedtime, take a few minutes to go into your heart, with a prayerful
 attitude, and feel sincere regret for any wrongdoings, even if they were
 unintentional. Ask for forgiveness and resolve not to repeat them. Done
 sincerely, this simple practice clears your heart of any heaviness and removes
 guilt. The heart is the key to self-study! It allows you to observe yourself
 with self-compassion and self-acceptance.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Discovering-the-Self"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Discovering_the_Self2_adbab74c2d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T04:49:03.904Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 After meditation, when you take the time to acquire, enliven, imbibe,
 and become one with the condition you have received, you will become
 unified with that state and develop your abilities of self-study
 at all levels, not just the mental level. The condition will permeate
 every atom of your being so that you embody the effects of
 meditation fully, then it will be absorbed at subtler and
 subtler levels of your being.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h3>
 What are the benefits of self-study?
</h3>

Patanjali tells us that


 2.44 Svāhyayādiṣṭadevatāsamprayogah



 Self-study brings about an inner atm[osphere that is conducive to the
 divine presence, which is beneficial to our being.



 He is inferring that self-study creates the field in which we can experience
 the Divine. Going to church, to a mosque, or to a temple, performing rituals
 and hanging images of saints in our houses may all be great reminders, but
 without self-study we will not have the experience of the divine presence.



 Self-study is implied in the act of meditation, but many people meditate
 without self-study. They close their eyes and enjoy the experience, sometimes
 enjoying blissful states, and sometimes losing awareness altogether. Others
 are aware of their thoughts and feelings, but they remain entangled in them
 rather than letting them go and diving deeper. In fact, the art of meditation
 is not well understood by most meditators. Luckily for all of us, the simple
 awareness of how you feel before meditation and after meditation is a game
 changer. Study the difference arising out of your practice. Even to study the
 difference created by your practice, you will have to study yourself.



 Patanjali is saying that self-study is the way to reach the Divine, which
 implies that the Divine is within us. It is our innermost Center. As Babuji
 says, “God has hidden himself inside your hearts and exposed you. Hide
 yourselves and expose God! This is the real practice.” So, we go within and
 study ourselves from our most external states to the Center of our being. This
 involves layer upon layer of uncovering. In the process, everything external
 is a mirror of what we find within: How we relate to other people is a mirror;
 how we relate to Nature around us is a mirror. They are reflections of what is
 within us. In fact, as we journey deeper through the layers, every layer
 becomes a mirror for deeper layers. It is like those funfair mirrors loved by
 children, where two mirrors face each other, and they can see an infinite
 number of images of themselves disappearing into the distance.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Discovering-the-Self"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Discovering_the_Self3_1c2ebeecaf.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T04:51:47.029Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When we meditate, we have the most exquisite opportunity for self-study,
 because we dive beneath the surface. We start by turning our attention inward,
 watching our thoughts, letting them go, and then centering ourselves on one
 thought, through the processes of
 Pratyahara and Dharana. Then we meditate – Dhyana –
 and we go beyond the thinking realm to the feeling realm. We go behind our
 thoughts. Then we go deeper still, beyond feeling and experience, exploring
 the states of becoming – refining and transforming ourselves. Then we go still
 deeper, to where self-study takes us into the realm of pure existence and
 eventually non-existence, where we are no longer in the picture.



 The beauty of Patanjali’s sutra is that he simply tells us to study ourselves,
 nothing more. He doesn’t say, “You must change!” Coming face to face with
 yourself through self-study itself is enough to catalyze the process of
 transformation.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 We go within and study ourselves from our most external
 states to the Center of our being. This involves layer upon
 layer of uncovering.
</h5>

<hr />


 Become aware of yourself: What happens when you are sad? What happens when you
 happy? All your moods are like different colors of the rainbow, different
 windows through which to look within. Maintaining that awareness is just like
 retaining the meditative state after meditation – one eye is always within
 even when the other is focused on the outside world. How do you behave when
 you are alone? With other people? At work? With your family? When you are
 going to sleep at night?


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When you witness all these dimensions of your being, the work of the
 Yamas and Niyamas will become effortless, because you will
 see what needs to be removed (Yamas) and what needs to be cultivated
 (Niyamas). Your habits are gradually exposed, even those that are
 programmed deep within the subconscious.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 In self-study, you are shining 
 the Light from the Center outward, illuminating every aspect of your
 character. Darkness disappears. All the qualities needed for
 evolution are contained within that Light, just as all the colors of
 the rainbow are contained within a beam of colorless light.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 In self-study, you are shining the Light from the Center outward, illuminating
 every aspect of your character. Darkness disappears. All the qualities needed
 for evolution are contained within that Light, just as all the colors of the
 rainbow are contained within a beam of colorless light. You no longer need to
 recite mantras like:



 ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्यो तिर ्गमय । मतृ ्योर्मा अमतृ ं गमय
 । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥



 Om. Keep me not in Unreality, but make me go towards the Reality. Keep
 me not in Darkness, but make me go towards the Light. Keep me not in
 Mortality, but make me go towards the World. of Immortality, Om. Peace,
 Peace, Peace.


Instead, what you seek becomes a reality.


 Self-study is based on wonder. The wonder of exploring the inner universe.
 Like a small child exploring a garden filled with flowers and butterflies,
 everything is inspiring and joyful. Selfstudy is not judgmental, but it is
 discerning – in fact it is dependent on
 Viveka, our capacity for discernment.



 Self-study naturally propels us toward continuous improvement. And while we
 may be journeying closer and closer to the Center, we still need to be aware
 of every aspect of our day-to-day behavior in the outside world and with other
 people. The gift of spiritual evolution does not mean we can forget about the
 very human aspects of living in the world.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="Discovering-the-Self"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Discovering_the_Self4_d98e06d885.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T04:54:04.666Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 All aspects of our being – the physical, mental, emotional, social,
 and spiritual – are enhanced through self-study. It is up to us to use
 the practices we have been given for that purpose. And remember,
 the heart is central to self-study! Authentic self-inquiry is a
 magnificent tool once we have mastered the art of staying within the
 heart.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 So, what is critical here? While we are on the journey, it is important to be
 aware, and this comes from expanding our consciousness in both directions
 along the spectrum into the subconscious and the superconscious. Our capacity
 for self-study expands as our awareness in the field of consciousness expands.
 This is the spiritual journey, and it is why spirituality is not just about
 God, but also about human transformation. God- Realization is no different
 from Self-Realization at the highest levels.



 As Patanjali says, we reach God through self-study. All aspects of our being –
 the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual – are enhanced through
 self-study. It is up to us to use the practices we have been given for that
 purpose. And remember, the heart is central to self-study! Authentic
 self-inquiry is a magnificent tool once we have mastered the art of staying
 within the heart.


<h3>
 Self-study eventually takes us beyond the self
</h3>


 I have observed that whenever I am deeply connected with the Master everything
 happens naturally. For example, the heart becomes lighter, kinder, and
 melting. While I am aware of his presence within, mundane and unnecessary
 things simply wither away.



 Can you face yourself when there is cunningness in your heart and selfish
 intentions? When you lack purity and contentment? I believe with all my heart
 that unless you become simple and pure, your peep into yourself will remain
 colored.



 Self-study requires you to turn your attention inward so that you can learn
 about yourself with complete honesty. To me it means honestly feeling
 yourself, looking at your inner panorama. Honest self-study is the key. Can
 you look at yourself with all sincerity while craving certain desires? Can you
 make a rational decision when riding high on an uncontrollable ego?



 Some of you approach me and say, “Sir, please accept us, we surrender to you.”
 There are multiple problems here. First, you cannot make others surrender
 along with you; you can only speak for yourself. Second, have you looked at
 yourself, have you practiced swadhyaya before expressing yourself
 with such a prayer? When you look at yourself thoroughly, from all angles, and
 consciously unload whatever you want to be rid of, later you will realize that
 the very “self ” is the stumbling block. You realize the need to unload the
 burden of your ego. Rather, as you study yourself with love, the unloading of
 the ego and your desires will happen naturally.

Discovering the self

<h4
 id="h-daaji-continues-his-series-on-refining-habits-in-the-light-of-patanjali-s-ashtanga-yoga-and-current-scientific-and-yogic-principles-and-practices-last-month-he-explored-the-second-niyama-of-contentment-santosh-this-month-he-shares-his-insights-on-the-next-niyama-known-as-tapas-which-is-often-translated-as-austerity-but-which-has-a-much-more-interesting-and-exhilarating-meaning"
>
 DAAJI continues his series on refining habits, in the light of Patanjali’s
 Ashtanga Yoga and current scientific and yogic principles and practices.
 Last month, he explored the second Niyama of contentment,
 santosh. This month he shares his insights on the next
 Niyama, known as tapas, which is often translated as
 austerity, but which has a much more interesting and exhilarating
 meaning.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 Shining Simplicity
</h2>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Simplicity is the final achievement. —Frédéric Chopin



 Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. —Leonardo da Vinci


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Kriya Yoga – externalization
</h4>


 Let’s do a brief review of where we have traveled so far in refining our
 habits in the light of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. First, we explored the five
 Yamas – the giving up of unhelpful habits, including violence and
 aggression, falsity, hypocrisy and multiple personas, dishonesty, the pull of
 the senses toward unregulated desires, possessiveness, and greed. Next, we
 have explored the first two Niyamas – the filling of helpful
 qualities in the heart – purity and contentment. We have also seen how each
 successive habit has followed naturally from the previous one. They build upon
 each other in a cyclical way, like a positive feedback loop, creating a web of
 character changes that forms a firm foundation for our evolution.



 Patanjali considers the remaining three Niyamas to be even more
 closely interrelated. They are tapas (austerity),
 swadhyaya (self-study), and Ishwar pranidhan (awareness of
 and surrender to God), and he defines them together as Kriya Yoga – Yoga in
 action. Having worked to change our thought patterns, the results must now
 express in our outer behavior, in action. Up until now, it has all been about
 inner change, mental and emotional well-being, but now Patanjali turns to
 action. At the beginning of Part 2 of his Yoga Sutras, the section on
 “practice,” Patanjali says:


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 2.1: Tapah svādhyāyesvarapranidhānāni kriyā yogah



 Austerity, self-study, and God-awareness together constitute Kriya Yoga
 (Yoga in action).



 2.2: Samādhi-bhāvanārthah, Kleśa-tanūkaranārthaśca



 It promotes meditation flowering into Samadhi and minimizes
 tensions.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 We are now externalizing our thinking and feeling into action. Kriya Yoga is
 the action that arises out of Yoga, and it is made up of these three
 Niyamas. Just as Yoga is defined as citta-vritti-nirodha,
 the state in which “the ideational choice-making movement of the mind slows
 down and comes to a stop,” Kriya Yoga arises out of that inner still state,
 free of any turbulence.



 But Kriya Yoga is actually more about the inner awareness and choices that
 define our action in every moment. This awareness purifies our activities of
 any negative effects of ego, removing selfishness. It propels us away from a
 habitual way of living, driven by the past, to a life lived in the present.



 The second sutra above explains the results of Kriya Yoga: Through meditation
 (bhavana) we experience Samadhi, and at the same time the
 complexities of our tensions (klesas) are removed.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img
 width="679"
 height="562"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Shining_Simplicity2_674b71f986.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T04:59:23.613Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Kriya Yoga is the action that arises out of Yoga, and it arises out
 of that still inner state, free of any turbulence.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The advances in Heartfulness during the last 150 years have made this whole
 process much easier, because of yogic Transmission, also known as
 pranahuti, and because of the Cleaning process that removes the
 complexities from our system. With pranahuti, we experience the inner
 stillness of Samadhi during meditation, and this transforms us from
 the inside out. The three Niyamas of Kriya Yoga then arise naturally
 as external expressions of that inner state. In fact, all the
 Yamas and Niyamas are expressions of the inner state of
 stillness. All the habits and qualities are contained in seed form in
 pranahuti.



 At the time when Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras, however, the method was more
 laborious: Yogis practiced Kriya Yoga in order to promote Samadhi.
 Now, is one approach better than the other? The reality is that both must go
 on in parallel. Pranahuti makes it faster and simpler, because we
 start by experiencing the inner state of Samadhi in Heartfulness
 Meditation.



 Cleaning also makes it faster and simpler, because the complexities that block
 our awareness of the inner stillness are removed in an almost effortless way.
 But then, the onus is on us to make sure we absorb that inner state and let it
 radiate from every atom of our being, so that our actions are in sync.
 Otherwise, we lose the inner condition. Nature dictates that outer and inner
 must match, otherwise there is tension, and we slip back to the lower state
 due to entropy.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Kriya Yoga is more about the inner awareness and choices that define
 our action in every moment. This awareness purifies our activities
 of any negative effects of ego, removing selfishness. It propels
 us away from a habitual way of living, driven by the past, to a life
 lived in the present.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There is one very simple way to prevent this slipping or falling, and it is
 the most vital aspect of Yoga, love. Our feeling level of connection binds us
 and holds us to the Center, or more commonly to the Master who is connected
 with the Center. This is known as bhakti, the inner gravity that
 connects our orbit to him. While he is cradling us in this weak force of love,
 which can expand over vast distances like gravity, we have the possibility of
 working upon our character so that the Yamas and
 Niyamas become an integral part of our personality. This is one of
 the many reasons why a spiritual Master is so vital in the process of inner
 change. Without his support, our pre-programmed, subconscious, unwanted habits
 will keep pulling us back to lower levels time and time again. With his
 support, there is vitality, as inner gravity holds us to the Center.


<h4>
 Tapas
</h4>


 The first quality of Kriya Yoga is tapas, which is generally translated as
 “austerity,” so it is not the most popular of Niyamas! People much
 prefer “contentment.” The word austerity evokes images of tightening the belt
 when times are tough, downsizing and counting pennies, no indulgence, no fun,
 and even torture. But this is a very extreme and distorted view of tapas.



 Actually, rather than being anything to do with enforced hardship, tapas is a
 direct result of the previous Niyama, contentment. It is the process
 of simplifying and purifying our being into a shining state, radiating love
 and light. Instead of “austerity,” we can use the words “plainness” and
 “simplicity,” where “plain” means unembellished and original. The outcome of
 all yogic practice is this ultimate simplicity, and my teacher, Babuji,
 describes the approach in the following
 <a
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/a-users-guide-to-living-part-5/"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >principle</a
 >, “Simplify your life so as to be identical with Nature.”



 Simplification and plainness are one aspect of tapas. The Sanskrit
 word tapas comes from the root, tap, meaning “to shine,” also meaning
 “heat” and “intensity.” Tapas is to be intensely, super-sensitively
 aware of everything, internally and externally, with the self-mastery to
 respond from a state of centeredness. Normally, when people perceive things in
 the outside world, their consciousness is enlivened and pulled outward. This
 creates vibrations in the subtle body, which hook onto similar vibrational
 patterns or cognates of memories from past experiences. As a result, they
 perceive the present situation in the light of those past experiences. It is
 like retrieving data from storage and using it to predict the present moment,
 which is done all the time in data modeling.



 Yogis do something very different. While resting in a state of inner
 stillness, drawing the senses inward through the yogic process of
 Pratyahara, they are not pulled outward by the movement of thought
 energies through the vrittis. Instead, they hold their energies
 within and remain in stillness, creating an intensity, a potential, and that
 intensity is also another aspect of tapas. It purifies consciousness in much
 the same way that fire purifies the dross from gold ore. It is associated with
 the fire element, and it is also associated with Pratyahara. And it
 is this centeredness that allows us to continuously maintain a beginner’s
 mind.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div >
 <figure>
 <img
 width="679"
 height="562"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Shining_Simplicity3_744eeb65b6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:00:58.626Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Tapas is about self-purification and simplification. It is
 the process of continuously refining ourselves to become the best we
 can be. It is something sublime, something worth aspiring for as
 the greatest expression of human potential.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 So, tapas is not about austerity in the sense of self-harm or
 suffering imposed from outside forces, as many people have wrongly assumed
 throughout the centuries. It is about self-purification and simplification.
 The attitudinal shift, from something imposed and negative to something that
 evolves from within and is positive, comes with expanding consciousness
 through meditation. Tapas is the process of continuously refining ourselves to
 become the best we can be. As Chopin said, “Simplicity is the final
 achievement,” and da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
 It is something sublime, something worth aspiring for as the greatest
 expression of human potential.



 Tapas is our trajectory toward a simple life, an uncomplicated life,
 an austere life, with great awareness, great sensitivity, and great
 flexibility, constantly refined by purification and simplification. It is
 wrapped in love, starting with self-love, self-compassion, and self-awareness,
 and culminating in becoming love itself. In Heartfulness, it is not something
 to be practiced; it is the natural result of our meditative inner practices.
 We can say that these practices are our tapas, and the more intensity
 we bring to them, the more transformative they become. We shine, and the
 fragrance of Divinity radiates from every atom of our being, just as the wind
 is the conduit for the fragrance of sandalwood trees in the forest. I have
 spoken about this in the series
 <a
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-march-to-freedom-part-3/"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >March to Freedom</a
 >, describing the state we arrive at when we reach chakra 10 of our inner
 journey. This is where the inner intensity of tapas really starts to manifest,
 once we have arrived at the realm of God, expressed so beautifully in the
 mystical love poetry of Radha, Rumi, Kabir, Rabi’a Basri and Meerabai. I wish
 that all of you will have the opportunity to experience this sublime state.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Tapas is our trajectory toward a simple life, an
 uncomplicated life, an austere life, with great awareness, great
 sensitivity, and great flexibility, constantly refined by purification
 and simplification. It is wrapped in love, starting with self-love,
 self-compassion, and self-awareness, and culminating in becoming love
 itself.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 How do we attain this state?
</h4>


 Along the way, what helps us to keep going until we reach this state?
 Awareness and attitude; essentially the awareness of the difference between
 needs and desires.



 What happens when we are forever complaining about the challenges we face in
 daily life – with family members, worldly worries, colleagues at work, and
 friends? Will we see the Divinity and the potential for growth in the problems
 life throws at us? Unlikely. And when we are busy judging others for their
 faults and mistakes, will we see the Divinity in them? Also unlikely. The
 attitudinal shift we are looking for is not to be pulled down into the
 entanglements of the worst of our shared humanity, but instead to rise up to
 the highest awareness of beauty, love and light. We are looking for an inner
 state of acceptance, without expectation, with a carefree, cheerful
 contentment.



 In ancient times, tapas was often thought to be hard, the result of arduous
 penance, both physical and mental, renouncing daily life and living in a
 forest, on top of a mountain, or in a remote ashram away from human society.
 When we look back throughout history, however, we can easily see that the most
 evolved mystics and yogis were often not those who ran away from everyday
 life. Many were immersed in the day-to-day dramas of family, work, and normal
 society. They refined themselves through these everyday lives. This holds true
 for both ancient and modern-day mystics alike. What is required is attitudinal
 shift. Today, we acknowledge this fact – that a more effective approach to
 purifying and potentializing the human system is to live within the structure
 of society, solving the challenges of family life, work, and social issues,
 with equanimity and poise.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img
 width="679"
 height="562"
 alt=""
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Shining_Simplicity4_87653e94c5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:02:01.171Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Imagine now that your intensity is so heightened that you have
 360-degree awareness of everything that is happening both inside and
 outside you: The flows of energy throughout your system, the
 blockages in that flow, the tensions that accumulate with stress, the
 effect of circadian rhythms on your physiology, behavior, thoughts and
 feelings, the vibrations in the atmosphere around you, what is
 happening in others, etc.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This is our training ground, and every day we are given ample opportunity to
 refine ourselves, rise higher, and let go of negative thoughts and emotions.
 Does it mean we are not discerning, unable to distinguish between what is
 right for us and what is wrong? Not at all! But it means we approach each
 situation and each person with the generosity of an awakened heart –
 contentment, calmness, compassion, courage, and clarity.


<h4>
 The effect of tapas
</h4>


 The effect of tapas has also been described by Patanjali in the Yoga
 Sutras when he says:


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 2:43 Kayehdriyasiddhiraśuddhiksayāttapasah



 Austerity brings about mastery over the body and the senses through
 the elimination of impurities.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This adds another dimension to our experience. Mastery over the body and the
 senses is another outcome of tapas. Remember the “intensity” that we explored
 earlier in the article? Imagine now that your intensity is so heightened that
 you have 360-degree awareness of everything that is happening both inside and
 outside you: The flows of energy throughout your system, the blockages in that
 flow, the tensions that accumulate with stress, the effect of circadian
 rhythms on your physiology, behavior, thoughts and feelings, the vibrations in
 the atmosphere around you, what is happening in others, etc. In reality, we
 know so little about the physiology and psychology of the human system, the
 three bodies – physical, subtle and causal – and the interplay among them, and
 the interplay with the outside world. Science may be discovering new
 information every day, but there is still so much to be uncovered by the great
 scientists.



 With the awareness that comes as a result of our tapas, with the
 removal of all the mental modifications that Patanjali describes, we are then
 able to perceive these directly. Also, as we journey through the chakras, from
 the Heart Region to the Mind Region to the Central Region, our human potential
 expands in ways we cannot possibly envision. This real purpose is the promise
 of Heartfulness, and of the shining simplicity of tapas we achieve
 through the practices, which results in the purity that Patanjali describes.
 It is an awe-inspiring journey and I wish that you will all experience it for
 yourselves.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

The art of removing and creating habits - part 9

The art of removing and creating habits - part 8

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 DAAJI continues his series on refining habits, in
 the light of Patanjali’s
 Ashtanga Yoga and current scientific and yogic principles and practices.
 Last month, he explored the final Yama, the virtue of
 aparigraha, which means the removal of possessiveness, greed, and
 focus on material gain. This month he moves to the Niyamas – those
 positive habits that are worth cultivating in order to live a contented
 life, starting with the first Niyama of purity or
 shaucha.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 Purity
</h2>

<h4>
 Good and bad habits
</h4>


 By now, if you have been following this series and the practices that promote
 Yama, you may have already let go of many negative habits and
 tendencies, and cleared complexities from your system. Yama is the
 removal of all the “don’ts,” such as violence and dishonesty, and that is one
 aspect of working with habits. The other aspect is to cultivate the “dos,” the
 Niyamas, those positive habits that will take our lifestyle to
 another level.



 The Niyamas help us to intensify life itself and radiate goodness and
 beauty into the world around us – the fragrance of purity, simplicity,
 compassion and universal love. The Niyamas fill our hearts with noble
 qualities. They help us to refine ourselves toward subtler and subtler states,
 both inner and outer. They lead to a lifestyle that is in tune with Nature,
 and thus they are regenerative. And that is exactly what humanity and our
 planet need right now.



 In essence, Niyama is about cultivating positive habits so that both
 our minds and bodies are in sync with the highest universal principles. In
 Nature we see tremendous order, and the higher the goal the greater the order
 required.


What are those five positive habits that propel us forward?

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Niyama_700x329_a1ff7775a3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:52:49.824Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 The Niyamas fill our hearts with noble qualities.
 They help us to refine ourselves toward subtler
 and subtler states, both inner and outer.
 They lead to a lifestyle that is in tune with
 Nature, and thus they are regenerative.
 And that is exactly what humanity
 and our planet need right now.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Purity of body and mind
</h4>


 The first Niyama is shaucha, purity of body and mind, and it
 is a natural outcome of perfecting the Yamas. In fact, the
 Niyamas follow on naturally from the Yamas, as the removal
 of unwanted complexities and impurities leads to simplicity and purity. The
 instant you start thinking of any negative habit, like an angry reaction or
 hurting another person, you move to impurity; the instant you start thinking
 of coveting someone or something, you move to impurity.



 Many people today have a negative reaction to the idea of purity, probably due
 to its association with puritanism linked with rigidity, or perhaps because of
 other religious overtones, but in Yoga purity is not a moral concept, it is a
 science. It is the science of maintaining both the body and the mind in
 pristine condition, as you would do with your clothes, your car, and your
 home. We like our homes to be clean, just as we like to drink clean water and
 breathe clean air. We want purity in the outer environment, and yet we often
 allow garbage to accumulate in our inner environment. We happily accept the
 need to wash our hands or take a shower after returning home under the current
 Covid-19 pandemic. Leaving our shoes at the doorstep is another visionary move
 of the elders in India, as is not allowing sick people or strangers into our
 kitchens. Of course, it can go too far; even when another person is healthy,
 some orthodox religious people do not allow them to touch food if they are of
 a lower status.



 To my heart, purity is the essence of inner transformation. My own teacher,
 Babuji, gave a very important message in 1982, toward the end of his life, and
 in it he said that purity weaves our destiny with the Ultimate. That is a very
 profound statement, and highlights the importance of purity.



 Swami Vivekananda once said, “The sages have said that there are two sorts of
 purification – external and internal. The purification of the body by water,
 earth or other materials is the external purification, as bathing etc.
 Purification of the mind by truth, and by all the other virtues, is what is
 called internal purification. Both are necessary. It is not sufficient that a
 man should be internally pure and externally dirty. When both are not
 attainable the internal purity is the better, but no one will be a Yogi until
 he has both.1“


<h4>
 Happiness and mental well-being
</h4>


 What are the qualities that develop as a result of mental purity? In his Yoga
 Sutras, Patanjali defines four of them. The first is happiness – inner purity
 leads to happiness. How? When our consciousness is pure we can easily connect
 with the center of our being, the soul, where we find true inner happiness.
 The first Heartfulness Guide, Lalaji, wrote, “The causal body or the soul is
 the instrument of joy. Nay! It is joy itself, and cannot exist without bliss
 and happiness.”



 It is important to understand this: Happiness does not come from the body or
 the mind. It comes from the soul.



 When we meditate every morning, we connect with the center of our being
 through the heart, and this is aided by Transmission. Transmission nourishes
 the soul, just as food nourishes the physical body and problem-solving
 nourishes the mind. By nourishing the soul, Transmission promotes joy and
 happiness in our lives. And as we awaken to progressively deeper spiritual
 dimensions of existence, we experience subtler and subtler levels of joy and
 happiness. It is not that we stop caring for the body and mind, but we simply
 lose interest in their charms. Both body and mind are vehicles for our life
 here and for our evolution, but they no longer limit our existence.



 Our understanding of beauty also changes. Beauty becomes an outer expression
 of inner purity, not of skin color, the shape of a face or body, or the level
 of intelligence or thinking capacity. All prejudice drops off as a result. The
 soul is our common connection with the Divine. Everyone is beautiful when we
 look into their hearts, beyond the qualities and characteristics of their
 bodies and minds. When we view ourselves and others from this inner
 perspective, there can be no prejudice and no hatred. In fact, all the
 Yamas become automatic.



 Think about what this means: It is only through purity that we will attain
 real peace and harmony in this world. Until that time, people will continue to
 define themselves by their bodily characteristics, like skin color, sexual
 preference, and outer appearance, or by their mental and emotional
 characteristics, like mental health, intelligence, problem-solving ability,
 emotional maturity, belief systems, etc. They will remain boxed within their
 compartments and only see the differences between themselves and others.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/purity2_781a5964e3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:54:53.952Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When people went to visit my Guide, Babuji, he didn’t look at their faces or
 their clothes, or anything external. He wasn’t interested in their level of
 education or their religion or their status. Instead, he looked into their
 hearts, and knew everything about them by the signature of their inner world.
 In the early ’70s, the first seekers from the West traveled to meet him in
 northern India, and many of them said that in his company they felt pure love.
 They were accepted for themselves, and it was such a liberating experience.
 His innocent lack of judgment, and his capacity to love and accept
 universally, were natural outcomes of his purity. Such a refreshing state of
 openness and love was untainted by pre-conditioned beliefs and thinking
 patterns. Of course, that does not mean we dress without consideration for the
 people with whom we interact. What we wear reflects our attitude toward
 others.


<h4>
 Concentration
</h4>


 Second, inner purity leads to concentration. This is a simple one to
 understand. When we are primarily focused on the body and/or the mind, all the
 processes of the body and mind draw our attention. The senses are active,
 thoughts distract us, and emotions control our moods and behavior. We may have
 a deluge of thoughts and feelings every time we close our eyes to meditate.
 When the field of our consciousness is not purified, we are burdened with all
 sorts of complexities, for example, worry, anxiety, restlessness, anger, fear,
 confusion, guilt, shame and grief, depression, excitement, and passion, just
 to name a few. When that same field of consciousness is purified, there is
 stillness, peace and contentment. We can then concentrate our attention
 easily, because nothing deviates us from what is in front of us. There is
 clarity instead of confusion.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Inner purity leads to concentration. This is a simple one to understand. When we are primarily focused on the body and/or the mind, all the processes of the body and mind draw our attention.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There is a story about Swami Vivekananda that demonstrates this very well. He
 once visited a famous Sanskrit scholar in the West, Professor Paul Deussen,
 who was famous for translating the ancient Vedic texts. A book arrived one
 day, and Vivekananda asked if he could read it. After a short time he returned
 it, and Deussen wondered how Vivekananda could have possibly read it given how
 long it was and how detailed were the contents. It took Deussen days to go
 through the book before he could ask Vivekananda questions about the contents,
 and every question he asked was answered perfectly. Deussen was
 dumbfounded, and asked Vivekananda, “How is it possible?” Vivekananda
 explained that when you study through the body, concentration is not possible.
 In contrast, when you are not bound by the body, your consciousness can soar,
 and it can be directly in contact with the book. Then, even half an hour is
 enough to imbibe the meaning. There are so many other stories about
 Vivekananda’s ability to “read” books in no time at all, including stories of
 him sleeping with a book under his pillow and being able to relay all the
 contents of the book the next morning.



 Here is another story about concentration, this time involving Babuji. In 1972
 he traveled to the West to meet the growing number of seekers from Europe and
 North America who were coming to him for guidance. In London, his hosts
 organized a meeting with a famous physicist of the day, who at first was a
 little dismissive of Babuji. How could such a simple uneducated person from
 India understand the world of physics?



 At one point they were discussing atoms, and after a silence Babuji described
 the structure of an atom in detail, including some of the smallest particles
 that scientists had not yet discovered. The physicist was astounded. How could
 Babuji know all this? Babuji’s answer was very simple: “I penetrated into
 matter and this is what I found.” Such a level of concentration and direct
 perception is only possible with a pure consciousness.


<h4>
 Mastery of the senses
</h4>


 Third, inner purity leads to mastery of the senses or Pratyahara, the
 fifth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Every time we meditate, we prepare ourselves
 beforehand by turning our attention inward, away from the outer pull of the
 senses and into the heart. This process will only really be successful,
 however, when our hearts are pure. Otherwise we will remain distracted by the
 complexities and impurities arising in our field of consciousness as thoughts,
 feelings and outer distractions. When our focus is truly on the center of our
 being, the senses lose their potency. This mastery of the senses is the result
 of mental purity.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/purity3_0be661d48a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:56:20.571Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 Every time we meditate, we prepare ourselves beforehand by turning our attention inward, away from the outer pull of the senses and into the heart. This process will only really be successful, however, when our hearts are pure.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 Fitness for Self-Realization
</h4>


 Finally, Patanjali tells us that inner purity gives us the mental fitness for
 Self-Realization. The contentment, concentration, calmness, compassion,
 courage, clarity of purpose, and mastery of the senses that are awakened in
 our hearts through purity, prepare us for Self-Realization. Realization is not
 possible without such a preparation, which requires discipline and intense
 interest, as well as the support of a capable Guide.


<h4>
 How do we purify our consciousness?
</h4>


 The answer to this question is so simple: We remove all the impurities that
 have accumulated in our inner environment – in our consciousness. In earlier
 times, mystics and yogis attempted to do this through very difficult practices
 and penances. Thankfully, in the modern era, there has been astounding
 progress in the science of Yoga, and in the practices that are available to
 remove impurities from the field of consciousness. These impurities are known
 as samskaras. The simplest and most effective of these is the
 Heartfulness Cleaning practice. Cleaning is done every evening so as to remove
 the “mental and emotional dirt” that accumulates during the day, just as
 taking a bath removes dirt from the physical body. It is a practical method,
 so its effects can only be known through experience. I suggest you try it and
 see how it purifies and simplifies your state of mind. You will feel light,
 contented and carefree at the end of the day.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
 As we become progressively purer and lighter as a result of our spiritual practices, we start to see changes in our outer lifestyle also.
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
 The result: a better destiny
</h4>


 As we become progressively purer and lighter as a result of our spiritual
 practices, we start to see changes in our outer lifestyle also. The food we
 eat, the clothes we wear, and the habits we have will slowly adjust to our
 level of lightness. We do need to be aware of this process, however, and allow
 the changes to happen rather than staying stuck in outdated obsolete patterns
 of behavior. It is all about letting go of anything that no longer serves us.
 As a result of this inner purification, our character and lifestyle change,
 and thus our destiny changes. There is a complete transformation when purity
 permeates every level of our being from the inside out.


<h6>
 1 Swami Vivekananda, Raja Yoga, Chapter 8, “Raja Yoga in
 Brief.”
</h6>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

The art of removing and creating habits - part 7

The art of removing and creating habits - part 6

The art of removing and creating habits - part 5

The art of removing and creating habits - part 4

The art of removing and creating habits - part 3

The art of removing and creating habits - part 2

The art of removing and creating habits - part 1

<hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DEEPAK CHOPRA speaks with DAAJI about the role Yoga has to play in bringing about world peace. This is an excerpt from their conversation broadcast on International Day of Peace, September 21, 2020. That documentary is available at: <a href="https://heartfulness.org/en/international-day-of-peace/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://heartfulness.org/en/international-day-of-peace/</a>.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Daaji: Namaste, Sir.DC: Daaji, it is a great honour to be with you and celebrate World Peace Day. I was thinking, as I was getting online to speak with you, of the basic Yamas and Niyamas that are the basis of all of our yogic tradition. And if you look at the Yamas in order, it all starts with ahimsa. Ahimsa is the first Yama, which means to be established in non-violence.&nbsp;The great sage Patanjali says that when we are firmly established in peace-consciousness ourselves, then all beings around us cease to feel hostility. So you are actually to do nothing but be peaceful yourself, and bring the presence of peace wherever you go. If you do that, then people around you will feel peaceful, not by what you say, not even by what you do, but just by your presence.&nbsp;That is the great gift of Patanjali, when he says the first lesson of Yoga is to start with ahimsa. Then you start with satya. Satya is truth. When you have satya added to ahimsa, you automatically have asteya. Asteya means you don’t covet anything, because you are totally fulfilled within yourself. And from that experience of asteya, non-stealing, non-covetousness, non-jealousy, comes what Patanjali calls aparigraha, which means detachment from the fruits of action, which ultimately leads to the best use of your energy, your vital energy, your vital force.&nbsp;And so, on World Peace Day, I think it is very appropriate for us to celebrate the great yogic traditions of India that also talk about the Niyamas – cleanliness, shaucha; fulfilment that comes from self-study or swadhyaya; and the effulgence that comes from the radiation of peace and ultimately results in what we call the oneness with our Source.So Yoga is that tradition, and everything that we are doing in this world is the opposite of Yoga. We are coming from the fragmented mind, from the ego mind, which makes us look at ourselves as separate beings, and looks at the world also as separate, when we are one with it. As you know, one of the greatest Mahavakyas is “Tattvamasi” – whatever I see, I see pure consciousness; whatever I see, I see the Divine; whatever I see, I see the Infinite. It doesn’t matter what it is; it could be a cup of coffee that is the modified expression of the Infinite.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>Bring the presence of peace wherever you go. If you do that, then people around you will feel peaceful, not by what you say, not even by what you do, but just by your presence.&nbsp;<hr><hr>So, on World Peace Day, I think we should just be peace, we should speak peace, we should create peace, we should express peace, and we should celebrate peace. If enough of us do this, then we will have a peaceful world, because I have seen enough peace activists, even Nobel Prize winners in peace, and they are not peaceful. So peace can only by created by those who are peaceful, just like love can only be expressed by those who have received or given love. So, we have to be the change we want to see in the world, as Mahatma Gandhi is supposed to have said. And if there is a critical mass of that, and that’s why we are having this conversation, then hopefully we can reach a more peaceful, just, sustainable, healthier, and joyful world.Right now, the world is very divisive, very quarrelsome, all within ideological conflicts. All the conflicts, whether it is communism, socialism, capitalism … these are good ideas meant for humanity, but human beings corrupt them, because they come from “self,” selfishness, basically. Me, mine. Everything is me and mine.&nbsp;Now that we are celebrating World Peace Day with this great heritage that you represent, of India, then it is possible, by changing these conversations and having a critical mass participating in these conversations, that we can be the change we want to see in the world.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_peace2_08540fd31b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:13:31.006Z" alt="yoga-peace"><hr>So, that is why I am so happy to speak to you. As you rightly said, meditation is the key to cut the veil of ignorance. Having gone through some of your material, I realize that you are very focused on what you call heart meditation, and recently there is a lot of research showing that your heart is actually also like your brain, except your heart is more contextual, more relational, more holistic. It doesn’t have a win-lose orientation, it is intuitive, it is eavesdropping on a larger non-local mind, you might say.&nbsp;You know, the heart sets the coherence for the whole body. If one puts attention on the heart, meditates from the heart, even reads into the heart, or just has awareness of the heart as the seat of love, compassion, joy and equanimity, just that experience immediately changes heart wave coherence. It changes what we call heart rate variability. It creates a coherent electromagnetic – what some people would call an aura – but it is actually an energy field that extends about six feet, which can be detected. But actually, it extends indefinitely into space-time, we just can’t detect with our instruments beyond six to seven feet.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>If one puts attention on the heart, meditates from the heart, even reads into the heart, or just has awareness of the heart as the seat of love, compassion, joy and equanimity, just that experience immediately changes heart wave coherence.&nbsp;<hr><hr>Everything that you experience and emanates from the heart is pervading all of space-time. This is the master oxylator of the body. We have a pacemaker here, a hundred cells that work together to make the heartbeat, and then that pacemaker sets pace-making everywhere – the brain, all the cells, ultimately the total body, which is the electromagnetic activity of the universe, which is the universal electromagnetic activity.&nbsp;So, in today’s science, they identify four basic forces: electromagnetism, which is what we are using right now to have this communication, then the strong and weak nuclear interactions at the subatomic level, which are actually the same as the electromagnetic emanations of your body. They are the same, there is no difference. And finally gravity, which people don’t fully understand – how to correlate gravity with these forces and elements of the universe. Right now, people are thinking gravity is just the curvature of space-time, and is not actually a fundamental force, in the same way as quantum forces.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_peace3_aefd64a4ed.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T05:13:30.996Z" alt="yoga-peace"><hr>Even with all that, and leaving all the science aside, Patanjali, you, and the great Indian heritage are teaching the world: Even without knowing the science, as science is just a mapping of experience, we know that we actually feel through the heart. Even if you translate the four Yogas – Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga – it begins with Raja Yoga, which is meditation. And then Bhakti Yoga comes second, because out of that meditation comes the feeling that we call love and compassion and joy and equanimity. And then the third thing that happens automatically is the shift in identity, so Jnana Yoga also comes afterwards – identity. “Who am I?” “What am I?” Am I just this skin-encapsulated ego dragging a bag of flesh and bones, or am I the source of all experience? Jnana Yoga comes third. And finally comes Karma Yoga. You know, Karma Yoga is not a forced action. It is spontaneous. If we are established in ahimsa, then everything is spontaneous. We don’t have to do anything. Being is enough.<hr>&nbsp;<hr>The heart is the seat not only of consciousness, but of intelligence. And the heart’s intelligence is superior to the brain’s intelligence, and to any other intelligence.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><hr>So this is where the great contribution of luminaries like yourself helps us, because we can understand that the heart is the seat not only of consciousness, but of intelligence. And the heart’s intelligence is superior to the brain’s intelligence, and to any other intelligence. Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher, said, “The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know.” The heart is the seat of ultimate, infinite computing, that is being downloaded from Brahman itself.So, for that reason, I think what you are doing, contributing with heart meditation, and bringing peace to the world, is such a great thing that I am very honored and privileged to support this event.Daaji: Thank you.DC: Thank you.<hr>&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Conversation with DEEPAK CHOPRA Illustrations by GAYATRI PACHPANDE &nbsp;</h4>&nbsp;<hr>

Yoga & peace

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h3 style="text-align: center">
 The Evolution of Consciousness Series
</h3>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4>
 In DAAJI’s&nbsp;series on the evolution of consciousness, he shared this
 article on the paradox of stillness that manifests with an expanding and
 evolving consciousness.
</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, 
 is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.


 —Albert Einstein

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 The above quote of Einstein resonates with some ideas I have been thinking
 about lately on consciousness. Imagine a beautiful flower blooming in the
 garden. If you run past it you will not be able to appreciate its beauty,
 whereas if you are walking by you can enjoy it more, and if you stand still
 in front of it you will appreciate its beauty even more. If you are flying,
 then you will not even see the flower below you on the earth. So when we are
 moving rapidly, we miss out on many things.


 The mind is even faster than any physical movement. When the mind is moving
 rapidly from one object to another, one subject to another, one venture to
 another, what you miss is the blooming of the flower that is inside you. You
 are not merely missing out on the details, you miss out completely on the
 existence of the flower itself.
 


 Now what is that flower? It is your soul. 


 Let’s explore this idea further and ask a question: is it possible to move
 at speed and still be present in each moment?


 Can we reach a critical speed where we stand still in movement? 


 To understand this better, let’s revisit the diagram we have of the various
 bodies of a human being.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 alt="stillness-paradox2"
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/stillness_paradox2_73896148f2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:30:39.518Z"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 The soul is the center of our being, around which we have the four main
 subtle bodies that we know as the mind. The first is consciousness, the
 canvas that is the field or fabric of the subtle body. Then there is the
 ego, which is our identity, so it is also deeply entwined with the
 individual soul. Then comes intellect, which allows us to discern and make
 choices, and then at the surface level of the mind we have the thinking
 function. And then there is the physical body, which is the outermost layer.
 If noticed keenly, it is always the ‘subtle’ that supports the ‘less subtle’
 in its wake. The soul is the subtlest, followed by consciousness, ego,
 intellect, mind and finally the physical body, and hence the origin of the sequence in the order mentioned above.


 Think of a wheel. The very centre of the wheel is quite steady, without
 movement, whereas the circumference of the wheel experiences maximum
 movement. Similarly, the center of a tornado, the eye, is in utter
 stillness. If you want to be calm, position yourself in the center of the
 tornado and keep moving along with it, and then nothing will affect
 you.


 
 And what is your center, around which the vortex of life exists? It is your
 soul.
 Let’s explore the physical end of the spectrum. The five senses are given
 to us for a noble purpose, but we are so busy using them for our pleasures
 at the physical level that we misuse them. For example, we have eyes so that
 we can look around and protect ourselves and see things better; that is
 their main purpose. But we use the eyes for a different purpose that is
 desire-based, drawing us outwards, creating a vacillating mind and
 disturbance. Then we are unable to focus on our center. If we focus on the
 steadiness of the soul, we will stay centered.
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 alt="stillness-paradox3"
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/stillness_paradox3_fe00698490.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:30:39.867Z"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 Consider it from another angle: the earth is revolving around the sun while
 spinning on its own axis at a very high speed. If you are seated at the
 Equator you will have maximum exposure to that movement at almost 1000 miles
 per hour, whereas if you are at the North Pole you will feel as if you are
 stationary, as you are on the top of the axis. So the key is to find that
 axis within yourself.
 


 How is this possible? It is possible only when you match your movements
 with those of your axis. And what are those movements all about? The ability
 of your mind to settle down.


 The great yogi, Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh, said that it is the settledness
 of the mind on a subject that brings happiness. If that settledness is not
 there, then you will be jumping from one thing to another without any
 resolution. You will not have any closure, you will not have any
 satisfaction, and you will not have any peace. You will still be vacillating
 and dissatisfied all your life, and you will not have learned anything from
 all your activities.
 


 So settledness is the key. When you meditate you must feel settled. Or
 putting it another way: if the meditation is done correctly you will
 automatically feel settled.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 Settledness is the key. 
 
 When you meditate you must feel settled. 
 Or putting it another way: if the meditation is done correctly 
 you will automatically feel settled.
 
</h5>

<hr />
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 Now settledness does not mean inactivity; in fact it is activity at a
 dimension we have never conceived of before. When you have a subject to
 study, a business venture to work upon and a conversation with your child,
 your mind should be steady on them. At the same time your mind should also
 be steady on any other thing that you need to attend to. The steadiness
 should be there. It is not that when you are fully attentive to one thing
 you are less attentive to another. One does not rob your mind of capacity
 for the other.
 


 It depends on how you develop your capacity to expand your consciousness.
 As you progress, you will not feel that you are thinking or contemplating,
 as it just becomes a part of your nature. It is like developing any other
 capacity. For example, when little children have to add 2+2 a lot of
 thinking is involved, but as a teenager you can have a complex equation in
 your mind and work on it, no longer needing to think. You are able to
 contemplate. When you advance a little more, you are neither thinking nor
 contemplating, as the answer comes just like that.
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 alt="stillness-paradox4"
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/stillness_paradox4_e17f193d02.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T13:30:39.606Z"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 The nature of the soul is movement and thinking, and in the early stages of
 a spiritual practice, you learn to focus and think clearly. Later on comes
 expansion, which means you develop 360-degree consciousness. Still later,
 when you reach higher realms of human consciousness, it is ‘as if ’ you are
 everywhere at the same time. Consciousness is of a nature where you have
 gone beyond expansion, and that is why there is stillness, which happens
 when things are moving extremely fast.
 


 So let’s look at it from the perspective of infinite movement versus
 perfect stillness. What is infinite movement? We can understand this by
 considering the physics of movement. If you go from Detroit to New York by
 car, you will go at a certain speed; let us say you take 8 or 9 hours. If
 you take a flight, you will arrive there in an hour and fifteen minutes. If
 you take one of those old supersonic flights, by the time they announce you
 are taking off you are already landing. If you fly at the speed of tachyon
 particles1, you can be in New York and Detroit at the same time. Now why is this
 relevant to infinite movement?
 


 When we go beyond certain frequencies in Nature, it seems as if there is
 nothing happening because of the enormity of the speed with which things are
 moving. You can think of it like a child’s spinning top. When it is spinning
 the fastest, and is perfectly balanced, it looks as if it is not moving at
 all.


 As we move inwards towards our center, something similar happens; we become
 subtler. As we become subtler and subtler, the frequency within also
 changes. The transformation follows the progression from matter to energy to
 Absolute. In such a profound state of being, it appears as if nothing is
 happening inside. But actually so much is happening at the same time! The
 360-degree awareness is so rapid that it is almost real time.
 


 For example, even before another person speaks, you have felt what they are
 going to say, understood and responded. Nothing is holding your mind, or you
 can say that your mind is able to settle on everything simultaneously. You
 can be absolutely settled on your spirituality, and you are also settled on
 your business decisions without becoming either disturbed or elated about
 them. There may be a hundred things that you are planning in your life, but
 if you have the ability to move from one to another at lightning speed, why
 worry?
 


 The idea of all yogic practices is to make the mind still and steady so
 that it can resonate with the stillness of the soul. So all our efforts
 towards the eight steps of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga –
 Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and
 Samadhi – are for the single purpose of creating stillness in the
 mind. The outer stillness of the mind is then able to match the inner stillness
 of the soul. Everything is integrated.


 This is the state known as Sahaj Samadhi, and to achieve this
 state is why we meditate.
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 1 Purported to travel faster than the speed of light


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />
<h4 style="text-align: center">Article by DAAJI</h4>

<hr />

The stillness paradox

A user’s guide to living - part 11

A user’s guide to living - part 10

A user’s guide to living - part 9

A user’s guide to living - part 8

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4>
 DAAJI continues his series on everyday
 living, introducing the sixth universal principle of the User’s Guide, which
 is to know everyone as our brethren and treat them as such. As a starting
 point, this sixth principle helps us to overcome prejudice, and develop
 mutual love and respect with all beings. As we take it further, it unfolds
 into a state of unity and oneness that is a reflection of the original
 Source.
</h4>
<h3 style="text-align: center">
 commUnity
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 <img
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity2b_ead019b716.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:37:24.323Z"
 alt="comm_Unity2"
 />

<h5 style="text-align: center">
 Principle 6:
</h5>
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 Know all people as thy brethren 
 and treat them as such.
</h5>

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity3_d2c33c6471.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:38:20.288Z"
 alt="comm_Unity3"
 />

&nbsp;
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 The principle of universal brotherhood is fundamental to all religions and
 spiritual traditions of the world. In practice, however, what do we see?
 Sectarianism, prejudice and even outright hatred, a world torn apart by
 violence, and a deep mistrust between nations and various factions within
 nations. We are faced with a human race fractured by deep divisions, based
 on religion and race, even in the so-called civilized countries. You only
 have to read the news about what is currently happening with the “Black
 Lives Matter” and “Me Too” movements, or what happens in the name of the
 caste system in India, to know that we are far from universal brotherhood
 after thousands of years of religious teachings.


 From time to time, great teachers and leaders have appeared in different
 parts of the world in order to bring the message of peace and love. More
 often than not, their pleas for universal peace and brotherhood have fallen
 on deaf ears. Many of them have been rejected, persecuted, and even
 crucified. How many deaths have there been due to COVID-19, which has shut
 down the globe? As of 12 June 2020, there have been 423,000 deaths around
 the world. Now, ask yourself, how many Jews were killed by the Nazis? How
 many people were killed by Stalin, Idi Amin, Mussolini, and during the
 border migration on the eve of 15 August 1947 between India and Pakistan?
 Then there are the ethnic wars in Rwanda, the Congo etc. When you add up the
 deaths resulting from calamities due to hatred, the statistics surpass the
 meager deaths due to an invisible virus. This pandemic is drawing so much of
 our attention, but the hatred-based calamities? Perhaps we all have some
 level of this deeply-buried hatred for something or the other which prevents
 an all-out removal of hatred.


 It is against this backdrop that we need a fresh perspective on universal
 brotherhood, and in Heartfulness it emanates from the authority of a deeply
 experiential understanding of Reality.


 The principle is actually very simple. Babuji writes, “All things
 descending from the origin should be treated as coming from the same
 source.” To bring home this point, he uses the analogy of a mother and her
 children: “Just as children born of the same mother are related to each
 other in one and the same way, so also are all bound together by the same
 common ties of brotherliness and are related to each other in the same way.”
 So simple!

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 “Just as children born of the same mother 
 are related to each other in one and the same way, 
 so also are all bound together by the same common ties of brotherliness 
 and are related to each other in the same way.” 
 – Babuji
</h5>

<hr />
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity4b_759986c47a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:39:35.558Z"
 alt="comm_Unity4"
 />
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 When you try to hurt someone who has the same Godly soul in him – your soul
 and his are actually the same – now ask yourself, who is hurting whom? The
 same souls only look different because they have different personas arising
 out of karma. This awareness dawns upon us when we remain imbued in
 the deeper pools of the atma chakra, the second point within the
 Heart Region. Unfortunately, many of those who pass through this chakra miss
 out on the awareness of universal brotherhood due to a lack of acquiring the
 condition, enlivening it, imbibing it, becoming one with it, and uniting
 with it (<a
 href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIUximmK62c"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 >AEIOU</a
 >).


 When we do experience and adopt this universal principle of unity, we get
 to first base. We cannot be devotees of God without embracing it, because it
 is fundamental to existence – in fact it is pure science.

<h4>
 We are all connected 
</h4>

 The Heartfulness vision of universal brotherhood comes from this science –
 from the repeatable experience that at the center of our being we are all
 connected with the same Reality. This is the common Source from which
 everything was set in motion at the time of creation. At this level, there
 is no separation, and that center exists in every cell and every atom in the
 universe.
 


 This is also recognized by modern western science. Scientists claim that
 some 13.7 billion years ago, just before the Big Bang occurred, there
 existed an infinitesimal point called a singularity. It was so small that it
 had no dimensions. The universe as we know it today came into being from
 that Big Bang.
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity5_a31923bc92.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:40:36.779Z"
 alt="comm_Unity5"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 Eventually, the first atoms were formed. The atom is the building block of
 everything animate and inanimate.
 


 It takes one hundred trillion atoms to form a single cell in our body, and
 there are some 37 trillion cells in the human body, all originating from the
 same Source.


 Further, genome studies have concluded that there is hardly any difference
 between one person and the other in terms of their DNA. In fact, the entire
 human ancestry can genetically be traced back to a common origin in
 Africa.


 If this is true, then why is it that we feel so hopelessly separate?
 


 Babuji explains it: “It is our thoughts and actions that created the
 separation. It is our feelings of selfishness that alienate us from other
 human beings. The separative feeling is the root cause of our
 alienation.”

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h3>
 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity6_a4aecb0d2a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:41:49.846Z"
 alt="comm_Unity6"
 />
 
</h3>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>Separation is an illusion</h4>

 Most psychologists agree that when a baby is born she does not know she is
 separate from the mother. Gradually, over the first few months of her life,
 she develops a separate sense of self, and starts identifying with beings
 and objects in her surroundings. This phenomenon of separation and
 identification is a part of the process of ego formation.As the child grows
 into an adult, sibling rivalry occurs, creating separation laced with
 competition, and even an element of enmity. Remoteness is another factor
 that increases separation, and most of us experience it in our own lives. As
 we become adults, we leave our families and sometimes settle down far away.
 This remoteness further increases separation – initially we feel a strong
 connection, but it wears away over time.The feeling of separation seems to
 be part of our conditioning. It is a veil of Maya that impacts every facet
 of our being. Once this veil is peeled away, we recognize the reality that
 we are all from the same Source. We must accept and embody this if we are to
 become human. 
 

<h4>From me to we</h4>

 How can we peel away this veil of illusion? It is only through heart-based
 meditative practices. We need to experience the oneness – knowing
 about it is not enough. While our ego’s sense of individual identity is all
 about “I,” the heart is all about “we.” The heart is where we are all
 connected, where we naturally feel oneness, especially when our field of
 consciousness has been purified. When heart-based meditation is supported by
 yogic Transmission, we are naturally infused with love. As our capacity for
 love expands, so does our feeling of brotherhood.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity7_a49845c17a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:44:02.367Z"
 alt="comm_Unity7"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 As we grow in our practice, we are able to identify and break up the
 individual network formed by our thoughts and actions, which leads to an
 expansion of consciousness. When this expanded state of consciousness
 percolates into our lives, in our day-to-day dealings with others, we
 eventually rest in that connection constantly. Connection is nurtured
 through constant practice, and can be applied in our lives with awareness.
 It comes from within, not from any external authority. It transforms all our
 relationships, with our family and with all humanity. We feel love
 for everyone, as a first step – a true paradigm shift that enriches our
 lives. Later on, we go beyond the level of feeling, as love radiates from
 us, naturally. We no longer need to love, we become love itself.


 And in Babuji’s words, “It will naturally lead to mutual association and
 greater attachment, and our dealing with one another will be molded
 accordingly, ensuring greater peace and contentment to everyone. How nice it
 would be to have it thus.”

<h4>
 Our success here leads to our success there
</h4>

 Yet it doesn’t end there. There is a great truth about worldly life that
 many of us don’t grasp. We mistakenly believe that our life in this world is
 transient and hence not important. But that could not be further from the
 truth. Whatever we do here also determines our destiny and success,
 instantly, though the results of our actions may not always be seen now, but
 in some distant future.
 


 What is meant by that? In Babuji’s words, “This world is in fact a
 reflection of the other world. When this one is molded properly, its effect
 extends on to the other world whose reflection it is and that too will begin
 to be purified.”

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity8_8873b091d2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:45:06.925Z"
 alt="comm_Unity8"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This world is a projection of the astral or cosmic world, the
 Brahmand Mandal, where everything happens in astral form before it
 manifests here. There are several such higher regions, each more subtle than
 the other. When we refine our worldly existence on Earth, the effect is
 carried to each of the higher regions, all the way to the highest. We are
 multidimensional beings, and what we do in this layer affects all other
 layers. This life is a precious opportunity for us to change all levels of
 our being. When we act in alignment with these universal principles, it
 transforms all the dimensions of our being. This is yogic science.

<h4>Universal brotherhood in action</h4>

 Now, imagine that a single act of compassion welling up from the bottom of
 our hearts has the power to transform all levels of our being. Principle 6
 states, “Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such,” so we can
 look at this principle as having two aspects – knowing and doing.


 The first aspect is knowing: “Know all people as thy brethren …”. Knowing
 is a realization that comes from a state of being, and creates a perceptual
 shift that helps us make the choice between separation and unity. Knowing
 removes ignorance and resistance, and brings enlightenment, clarity, and
 purity. It acts as a bridge between being and doing.


 The second aspect is doing: “… and treat them as such.” Once you know from
 the depths of your being that we are all brethren, then how will you treat
 others?
 


 Knowing is the embodiment of being. Doing is the embodiment of
 knowing.


 The third aspect, being, is something we often miss out on. The tastes of
 spiritual conditions are not to be taken as a buffet dinner, like children
 storming at a counter to be fed. “Taste and forget” should not become our
 tragic culture. That is why the practice of AEIOU is so important. It allows
 us to savor the experience, and let it be imbibed and enlivened within us,
 so that we become one with it.


 And what about the fourth aspect, non-being? Let us not venture into this
 philosophically but prepare ourselves for the true encounter and merger in
 that state.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/comm_Unity9_cce227fba2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T09:46:15.254Z"
 alt="comm_Unity9"
 />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>Embodying universal brotherhood</h4>

 What does it mean to embody universal brotherhood in our lives? Before I
 address that question, I would like to clarify the confusion and common
 misunderstandings associated with this principle.
 


 Embodying universal brotherhood does not mean that we go about hugging
 everybody in the street. It does not mean that we agree with everything that
 others say, and avoid confrontation at any cost. It does not mean we are
 always trying to please others and appease them. It does not mean that we
 believe everything we hear. It does not mean that we force ourselves to stay
 in an abusive relationship. It does not mean that we allow ourselves to be
 intimidated, taken advantage of, and manipulated.


 We cannot have true compassion for others unless we have compassion for
 ourselves, nor can we love others unless we love ourselves. We are here to
 learn from one another. We are here to help and be helped. We grow only when
 we are fully engaged with others in healthy relationships, with a mutuality
 of love and respect.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />
<h5 style="text-align: center">
 We cannot have true compassion for others 
 unless we have compassion for ourselves, 
 nor can we love others unless we love ourselves. 
 We are here to learn from one another. 
 We are here to help and be helped. 
 We grow only when we are fully engaged 
 with others in healthy relationships, 
 with a mutuality of love and respect.
 
</h5>

<hr />
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 As we grow in our practice, our awareness expands. We uncover a deeper
 understanding of the belief systems that color our perception of reality,
 which include the feeling of separation. Over time, this feeling of
 separation gives way to a feeling of oneness. When this knowing leads us to
 change our behavior in a natural way, we start treating others as our
 brethren. When this becomes our natural habit, we can say that we have
 embodied the principle of universal brotherhood.


 When we embody this principle, our lives transform in a fundamental way. We
 build meaningful and fulfilling relationships with our family members,
 friends, and colleagues, as well as members of our community, humanity as a
 whole, and then all lifeforms. We develop genuine love and compassion for
 others, even when the feelings are not reciprocated, because we are all
 connected to the same reality. We are all one.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Article by KAMLESH PATEL (DAAJI) 
 Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD
</h4>

<hr />

A user’s guide to living - part 7

A user’s guide to living - part 6

<h4>DAAJI shares some thoughts and practical tips on how we can do our very best
 during the current coronavirus pandemic, in order to move from a state of emergency to a state of emergence.</h4>
Our societies are undergoing rapid change right now, and despite the hardships and
 suffering all around, we are seeing many hopeful signs: The wealthy donating to the poor, governments supporting
 their citizens, families and neighbors sharing food and time with each other. We are finding time for humanness and
 for reevaluating priorities. Most of us are slowing down, remembering what it is like to appreciate the little
 things in life and value the sacred. Today, people are praying for the world who have never prayed in their lives
 before. It is a rare opportunity to pause, to slow down, and to witness ourselves. This pause also gives us the
 chance to ask: What do we need to change in our behavior, right now, in order to move forward?
It is a rare opportunity to pause, to slow down, and to witness ourselves. This pause
 also gives us the chance to ask: What do we need to change in our behavior, right now, in order to move forward?
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">Creating connection</h4>
Because of corona, we are having to practice physical distancing, so how can we enrich
 our sense of connection without physical contact? Our basic instinct is to touch, so the lack of physical contact,
 or being separated from loved ones, can be very upsetting at first. But the best way to compensate for this lack is
 to develop a heart-toheart connection with others. The beauty of this heart-to-heart connection is that it works
 across any distance; we can send love to anyone anywhere anytime. And it can be so subtle, so intimate, and so
 tender, as it is a communion at the level of the subtle body, the level of vibration and resonance. Here is a simple
 way to connect:
Sit comfortably and gently close your eyes. Bring the person you
 wish to send love to in front of you. Feel your heart connecting to their heart. Gently send love and care to
 the person from your heart to their heart. Feel connected. Do this for a few minutes. Stay connected at this
 deep level as often as you like, for as long as you like.
<h4><img decoding="async" alt="" width="508" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Emergency_emergence1_52a813417c.jpg"></h4>
<h4>Emotional intelligence and resilience</h4>
Another phenomenon we are hearing about at the moment is the opposite of distancing:
 Conflicts among family members who are confined at home together. No doubt there will be some friction when we are
 all living in close quarters, but why is it so difficult for us to tolerate each other? Why are we unable to accept
 each other the way we are? Now that we are spending time together, maybe this is the opportunity to accept one
 another’s imperfections and taunts, and develop greater emotional intelligence and resilience – to rise to the
 challenge. Although today our human community is globally connected, many of us are lonelier than ever, so why not
 remove loneliness by strengthening those family ties which we so often take for granted?
<img decoding="async" alt="Emergency-emergence2" width="282" class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Emergency_emergence2_a75d3fbce2.jpg">
We can spend precious time with loved ones and share knowledge with our children and
 grandchildren. In earlier times, families would tell stories in the evenings, read books together, and share skills.
 This is a time to work on our lifestyle choices: Internet-based technologies may be great, but our health will also
 benefit if we take breaks from screen time and the associated radiation. Reach out to others in simple ways. Enjoy a
 song together, meditate together, watch a movie, prepare and eat meals together, and tell each other jokes. The
 togetherness, joy and humor we feel will dissolve many stresses.
<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><img decoding="async" alt="Emergency-emergence" width="282"
 class="mw-100"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Emergency_emergence3_f267573272.jpg"></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">Emergence</h4>
And when we stay connected within our hearts, prayerfully, our prayers join with the
 echoes of the prayers of others, and we create a higher vibration of love all around us, soothing the sadness that
 many are feeling right now. When our consciousness remains pure through a meditative practice, it dissolves the
 negative thought pollution that is prevalent everywhere.
There are so many simple habits that will help sustain us, such as conserving food and
 groceries, fasting, and being careful about finances. We can help the elderly, and those who are less fortunate. We
 can be kind to others, and volunteer in our communities. We can do the many forgotten household tasks, like spring
 cleaning, fixing and mending things etc. We can explore our creativity and develop healthier lifestyle habits, cook
 meals at home, practice breathing exercises to build immunity, meditate and exercise. We can learn new skills. We
 can create a new daily routine, that will be so beneficial and reassuring.
<img decoding="async" alt="" width="508" height="744" class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Emergency_emergence4_f699daeb1f.jpg">
Most importantly, if we are going to emerge from the corona crisis with a nobler, more
 sustainable way of living, we can use this time to reflect, accept and adapt to new ways. That requires a focused
 mind and a peaceful heart. And how can we experience such focus and peace? Through meditation.
Take refuge from the external turbulence. Dive deep within your heart into stillness.
 Doing this will protect your energetic structure, and give you a sense of well-being and balance, even if it is not
 a remedy for everything. The new era in human history that is emerging right now is the era of the heart, so let’s
 enjoy the ride!
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL (DAAJI) 
 Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4>
<hr>

From emergency to emergence

A user’s guide to living - part 5

A user’s guide to living - part 4

Prayer

A user’s guide to living – part 3

A user’s guide to living - part 2

<h4>DAAJI introduces us to a user’s guide to daily living and
 human transformation. This series is based on a book written more than 75 years ago, by RAM CHANDRA, called Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg, which is
 entirely relevant for anyone wishing to evolve to their highest potential in today’s world.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Origins</h4>
<img decoding="async" alt="Babuji" 
 class="img-float-left has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Babuji_c8a65686d7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-17T11:37:39.149Z">Some 75 years ago, a holy man in a
 remote town in Uttar Pradesh in the north of India decided to put into words some amazing truths that he had
 received through direct perception in a superconscious state. As a result, he came up with a method by which people
 could completely transform themselves and reach the highest level of consciousness possible, and go beyond. This
 method was based on taking the essence of the ancient practices of Raja Yoga, and modifying them for the present era
 of humanity. His name was Ram Chandra, and he was known to many as Babuji. Here is the preface to his first book,
 Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg, which was originally written in the Urdu language, and has now
 been translated into over 30 languages worldwide:
<hr class="vertical-space1">
A Word
In this book I have endeavored to put
 up in words those spiritual secrets which have up till now come down from heart to heart. But since they relate
 to direct perception, which depends upon the study of Nature and can be revealed by means of vibrations, it is
 not only difficult, but almost impossible to express them adequately in words. “True love cannot be expressed by
 words. This is the very reality which is inexplicable in any way.” In this respect, I may therefore say that it
 is proper for the readers to try to reach up to the real spirit, ignoring the defects of expression and
 language, and be profited, and help others to be profited by it.
Ram Chandra 
 8 December 1946

<hr class="vertical-space1">
He was eager to share his knowledge with everyone, to help us all experience those
 elevated states of consciousness that he had experienced. Being a householder he knew that spirituality and
 materiality are like the two wings of a bird, and no one can soar on one wing alone. He was a humble man of simple
 means, but in the spiritual field he was a giant, the like of whom no one had seen before. His concern was not for
 himself, or just for humanity, but for the whole universe. In order to bring positive change, peace and growth to
 suffering humanity, he knew that inner transformation was needed. He had developed a simple method that was easy to
 practice, and that was available to everyone, irrespective of culture, race, age, class, religious belief, education
 and sex.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Direct perception
 through 
 superconsciousness</h4>
The discoveries Babuji made were simple but revolutionary in the field of consciousness,
 much like the discoveries that Einstein made a few years earlier in the field of physics. In some ways these two men
 were alike. Their greatest ideas came to them through direct perception in superconscious states. More importantly,
 unknown to each other, they were both exploring similar phenomena – one from the perspective of spirituality and the
 other from the perspective of science. Through his now famous equation E=mc2, Einstein proposed the
 interchangeable nature of mass and energy, creating tremors in the world of science. But Einstein was limited to the
 manifested world of physics. Babuji was able to express the inexpressible, and he shared his views. He gave us an
 understanding that transcends the aspect of interchangeability of mass and energy, writing in a letter to one of his
 associates:
The energy itself in the long run
 returns to the Absolute – the cause of the power. The whole of matter, every particle of the body, becomes
 energy and then goes to its absolute. 
Einstein only knew the method to
 convert mass into energy, and not beyond it. In short, I can say that energy can also be converted into mass and
 this is a very easy job.
Having only studied up to high school level in rural India, Babuji would not have been
 taken seriously by those scientists in the evolving field of quantum physics, yet the discoveries he made through
 direct perception were literally mind-blowing. He not only saw directly that matter and energy were different
 vibrational states of the same manifestation, but that consciousness was the basic stuff of creation: Everything
 created since the Big Bang has emanated from consciousness.
There is a sweet story of a meeting between Babuji and a physicist in London in 1972,
 through a mutual friend. The physicist did not consider Babuji worth listening to, as an uneducated simple man from
 rural India, until Babuji proceeded to describe to him in detail the intricate structure and movement of the
 particles in an atom. The physicist was astounded and asked Babuji how he knew this, to which Babuji replied, “I
 penetrated matter and I have described to you what I observed.”
During this same period, quantum scientists were spooked by the observer effect – the
 fact that an observer can affect the experiment. Some held the view that it could be because everything is
 fundamentally made up of consciousness, so the consciousness of the observer will influence the consciousness of the
 object of the experiment. This idea did not initially go down well with the scientific community. Even today
 scientists are divided on this issue. The entire confusion of the observer effect is easily solved, however, when we
 understand that a grosser observer can affect a subtler experiment, but a subtler observer does not affect a grosser
 experiment.
The subject of consciousness is now being researched and debated not only by scientists,
 but also by people in all fields and walks of life. We have come full circle, in fact, as this was also the case in
 ancient times in many cultures.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Discovery of the Center and 
 the mapping of consciousness
</h4>
In the meantime, back in the 1940s, Babuji not only demonstrated that we can change our
 consciousness by a special method of meditation on the heart, utilizing pranahuti or yogic Transmission, he
 also went on to discover and map the various incremental levels of consciousness, and what lies beyond
 consciousness.
Spiritual scientists from ancient India were familiar with the seven chakra system of
 energy consciousness, and most believed that the crown chakra was the pinnacle of spiritual achievement. Babuji was
 to change all that. Along with his teacher, another great sage of the 19th and 20th centuries,
 Lalaji, they together discovered a more complete chakra system, culminating in the 16th chakra (3 lower
 chakras plus 13 chakras from the Heart onwards), which Babuji called the Central Region, the source of everything.
 They had opened human awareness to an entirely different dimension of existence.
Lalaji transmitted the knowledge of the Central Region to Babuji, and also taught him
 the techniques to master that Region. Based on his own personal research and experience, Babuji then mapped the
 stages of consciousness, from the most solid levels of matter to the very source, which he called the Center. This
 was the first time in the history of humankind that anyone was able to accomplish such a task.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img decoding="async" alt="Human body with points" 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/users_guide_to_living2_ef8130cec0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T12:41:38.736Z"> 
 <img decoding="async" alt="Human body with points" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/users_guide_to_living3_768x503_1_4db37ff5e5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-17T11:37:39.292Z"
 class="lazyload has-img-center">

<img decoding="async" alt="23 rings of Heartfulness Yoga" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Babuji_rings_768x925_1_3864580ad1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-17T11:37:39.472Z" class="lazyload has-img-center">

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Meditation is a 
 quantum experiment
</h4>
Babuji taught a simple method of meditation on the heart, rooted in the ancient
 traditions of Raja Yoga, yet simplified and modified to meet the needs of modern life. He explained why meditation
 is the best way to change and expand consciousness. And unlike traditional methods of Yoga that took many years of
 austere practice to bring the mind to balance, Heartfulness was able to give instantaneous results, because of the
 revolutionary use of pranahuti.
What happens in meditation? In the last fifty years, scientists have made impressive
 strides in understanding how meditation impacts our physiology, especially the brain. This has been made possible by
 advancements in measuring technology, like brain scanning and its ability to pinpoint what function of the brain is
 improved with meditation. Some of the conclusions are that meditation reduces stress, improves sleep, reduces blood
 pressure, improves learning and memory, and increases happiness. The human brain is an amazingly complex system and
 science has only taken baby steps in understanding it.
In contrast, yogic scientists have known the value of meditation since ancient times.
 They knew about the observer effect long before science figured it out. In fact ancient texts like the Vedas and
 Upanishads could describe the various stages of consciousness in meditation that correlate with the brain waves now
 identified by EEG machines at each stage. For example, the ultimate depth of meditation, a stage called
 Samadhi in Yoga, correlates with the very slow delta waves produced by the brain during deep sleep.
 Typically it takes many years of meditation to achieve a deep delta state, but Babuji enabled his students to
 experience Samadhi when they first started meditating, through the utilization of pranahuti.
Each one of us transmits his or her vibration to the Universe, and an evolved Master of
 caliber, who is in osmosis with the Center, can transmit the essence of that Center, pranahuti, into the
 heart of a student, thus enabling the student to advance faster and more effectively. This is what happens in the
 Heartfulness tradition.
Yogic scientists have also recognized the role of the Central Nervous System in a much
 wider context than just the brain. The heart, the spinal cord, the connection between heart and brain as two aspects
 of the spectrum of consciousness, and the consciousness at the cellular and atomic levels, have all been vital
 components of physiology in yogic science, which modern scientists are now starting to understand.

<hr>

<h5 style="text-align: center;">Each one of us transmits his or her vibration to the
 Universe, 
 and an evolved Master of caliber, who is in osmosis with the Center, 
 can transmit the essence of that Center, pranahuti, into the heart of a
 student, 
 thus enabling the student to advance faster and more effectively. 
 This is what happens in the Heartfulness tradition.
</h5>

<hr>

Babuji perfected the method of Heartfulness and the science of yogic Transmission as a
 means to help human beings evolve and master the various incremental stages of consciousness. But he was equally
 clear that this was not enough. Without working on personal development and character, this would lead nowhere, as
 there would be no integration or wholeness of the physical, mental and spiritual bodies of the human being.
 Spiritual transformation is an internal transformation of the vibrational field of consciousness, whereas
 personality transformation is equally important for the process to be complete.
As a result, his first book, Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg, is a
 practical guide for both – how to live our lives in harmony with Nature on a daily basis. The maxims follow the
 24-hour daily cycle, starting with waking in the morning, and finishing with going to sleep at night, guiding us in
 all areas of life. For that reason, I am calling this series “A User’s Guide to Living.”
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

A user’s guide to living - part 1

<div class="row">
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/solutions/"><img alt="yogic-psychology-introduction"
 class="lazyload has-img-center mb-4"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/solutions_b39d73b1db.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T09:42:21.542Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 3, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/solutions/"
 style="color: #313131 ">Solutions</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Our journey in Yoga is to return to the purity and simplicity of consciousness at
 the center</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/vighnas/"><img class="lazyload has-img-center mb-4"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/viganas_cb4f14493f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T09:43:14.253Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 3, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/vighnas/"
 style="color: #313131 ">Vighnas</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Remember for a moment that the base of your consciousness is pure and still. When
 you have</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/vikshepas/"><img class="lazyload has-img-center mb-4"
 alt="yogic-psychology-introduction"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/vikshepas_8f76cccb16.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T09:44:17.466Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 3, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/vikshepas/"
 style="color: #313131 ">Vikshepas</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">In this series so far, we have seen how complexities and impurities start to
 accumulate, by</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/kleshas/"><img class="lazyload has-img-center mb-4"
 alt="yogic-psychology-introduction"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kleshas_e04bfa5cbd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T09:45:21.758Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 3, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/kleshas/"
 style="color: #313131 ">Kleshas</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Let’s first recap and remind ourselves of the fundamental principle of yogic
 psychology:</div>
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 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/vrittis/"
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 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/yogic-psychology-introduction/"
 style="color: #313131 ">Yogic
 psychology – introduction</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Have you ever thought to understand psychology through Yoga? Yoga is a vast science
 of the</div>
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&nbsp;
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever thought to understand psychology through Yoga? Yoga is a vast science of
 the physical body, subtle bodies and the soul, exploring the origin of consciousness, and what causes changes in the
 field of consciousness. In this series of articles, DAAJI explains the
 fundamental basis of yogic psychology, which is the ancient science of Raja Yoga, discussed in texts like the
 Ashtavakra Gita, the Sangeetha Vashista, and which was first codified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. DAAJI
 enlightens us on this understanding of the human mind and the various common mental tendencies and imbalances, and
 he also gives us solutions to create mental well-being through Heartfulness practices.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
Patanjali is famous today for giving us Ashtanga Yoga, the eight limbs that define the
 path of Yoga, and these are beautifully expounded in chapters 2 and 3 of his Yoga Sutras. But Yoga offers so much
 more that is of great benefit to the world, and this is especially true in the field of psychology.
Today many people are plagued by depression, mental disturbance, anxiety and distress,
 as a result of our complex societies, urban lifestyles, breakdown of relationships, and unnatural way of living that
 is out of sync with the circadian rhythms that are hardwired in our physiology. Circadian rhythms determine our
 optimal sleep and feeding patterns. Even the metabolism of our cellular energy follows the rhythm of the circadian
 clock. If we don’t follow natural rhythms, our cellular energy levels decline, as the mitochondrial network is
 impaired. As a result, lifestyles with irregular daily rhythms have been linked with various chronic health
 conditions, such as sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective
 disorder. When we are swimming upstream against the current, when we choose a lifestyle that is out of sync with
 natural cycles, our system suffers.
Yoga offers us so much help to find balance. If we start at the very beginning of
 chapter 1 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali starts by explaining what Yoga is:
1.1 Atha yoga anushasanam 
 Now, after prior preparation, 
 comes the discipline of Yoga.

1.2 Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah 
 Yoga is the cessation of all the modifications 
 of the mind in the field of consciousness.

What does Patanjali mean by prior preparation? Generally we enter the path of Yoga only
 when we are totally frustrated with our minds as they are. We reach a point where perhaps we have had some major
 failures in life, when someone says, “Do Yoga to regain your health,” or when we are tired of being addicted to two
 things – the hopes and expectations we have for the future and the entanglements that bind us to our past. We no
 longer want to be slaves of the weight of the past.
This very human need to divest the burdens of the mind is the base of many forms of
 self-improvement, including western psychology. This instinct to free the mind and heart of burdens has been at the
 foundation of religion, philosophy, ethics, psychology, and also creative art forms like dance, music and painting.

And, actually, for those of you who still want to develop and hone your mental skills
 and knowledge, perhaps you need more preparation before coming to the path of Yoga. Why? Because Yoga is not a
 pastime. It is not a hobby or a fitness regime at the local Yoga Studio once or twice a week. True Yoga is for those
 adventurous souls who are ready to embark on a journey beyond the mind to the spiritual center of being. Along the
 way, the mind and heart are purified, they are ennobled, and they become supreme, and it is one of the amazing
 benefits that Yoga brings, but that is not its purpose.
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Patanjali tells us that when we are really ready for Yoga, discipline is required, and
 what is discipline? Discipline means to be a disciple, and for that the most important pre-requisite is an attitude
 of willingness and openness to learn, to be a student, to accept that “I don’t know,” and I need help. It requires
 craving to know the truth, receptivity, humility and a sense of wonder. A disciple remains a restless seeker,
 seeking to understand the mysteries of the Universe. Without this attitude of discipleship, there is no discipline
 of Yoga.
This is one of the reasons why all the great sages and saints have praised humility,
 insignificance and innocence. Without these noble qualities, there is no discipline of Yoga, whereas with these
 qualities our consciousness is flexible and remains open. Like little children, we return to purity, letting go of
 all the modifications of the mind.
And what are these modifications of the mind? Patanjali’s descriptions and scientific
 codification of our mental processes are broader in nature than modern behavioral sciences and psychology, for one
 very important reason: because Yoga starts with the baseline of mental wellbeing, the balanced mental state, the
 original condition. There is no need for interpretation or analysis of this mental state, as it can be perceived by
 direct experience, scientifically, as a vibration-less state. It is the pure state of no-vibration that lies at the
 center of our existence,&nbsp; beyond consciousness. This pure state is Patanjali’s definition of Yoga, the ultimate
 state of stillness we aspire to experience. It was the starting point of our whole existence, before creation, and
 it can be our end point.
Patanjali then goes on to explore the reasons why modifications and related vibrations
 arise in our field of consciousness; anything that takes us away from that state of mental balance and stillness.

These mental modifications exist in all of us. While the details vary from one
 individual to another, the types of variations are part of the human condition. We can call them psychological
 deviations because they pull us away from that state of stillness at our spiritual center, the soul. The process of
 refining and transcending these modifications is what Yoga is all about, as we gradually elevate the mind and go
 beyond the mind.
A pure field of consciousness is still – well, almost still – with just the baseline
 activity of existence, and the soul is happy when we regain that balanced state, as we do in deep sleep. In
 contrast, the interplay of senses, thoughts, feelings and tendencies draw us into the world of outer experience and
 activity, creating various energetic patterns in the field of consciousness. The soul is also happy with movement,
 provided there is purity and lightness, and constant fluidity between underlying stillness and activity in the
 field. So in Yoga we do two things:
Turn the attention inwards to stillness, and 
 Refine the focus and type of outward activity so that our thoughts and activities are conducive to &nbsp;evolution,
 happiness and balance.
We cannot stay in total stillness all the time or we would be dead, and Yoga is also all
 about skill in action. So how to bring stillness into activity? I have written about this in an earlier article on
 “<a style="color: #333333;"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-stillness-paradox/" target="_blank"
 rel="noopener noreferrer">The Stillness Paradox</a>.”
This combination of stillness and activity brings peace and joy, which is the quality of
 the soul. When the waves of the vrittis settle and we are calm, as happens during meditation, we see our
 true nature, and then we can externalize this reality in all our activities.
The modifications start out as natural, normal functions of the human mind, the
 vrittis. They are the whirlpools or vibrational patterns that are created in the field of consciousness as
 a result of living, feeling and thinking. Patanjali describes 5 of them: right thinking, wrong thinking,
 imagination, sleep and memory.

As a result of these patterns in the subtle field of consciousness, our neural pathways
 develop cognates or patterns that are hardwired into the nervous system, and repeatedly over time they result in
 behavioral habits and tendencies. What starts out as vibrational patterns in the subtle body’s field of
 consciousness, goes on to affect the mind, our behavior, our nervous system, and eventually all our other physical
 functions.
The next step in this process is when the vrittis develop colorings, altering
 our perception and leading to confused thinking and a ‘colored’ or distorted view of reality. We no longer refer
 back to the center of our being, our soul, as the guiding light, and instead start using the mental faculties on
 their own without the heart’s superior guidance. We are now one dimension removed from the source of wisdom, and
 this is accompanied by a tendency to think things through, rather than feel what is right in any situation. These
 colorings or mental impurities are known as kleshas, and Patanjali also describes 5 of them: ignorance as a
 result of veiling reality, mineness and egotism, attachment and addiction, aversion and repulsion, and clinging to
 life through fear of death.
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As these mental patterns become hardened over time, they eventually become obstacles to
 our overall wellbeing and distract us from succeeding in both worldly and spiritual pursuits. Patanjali describes 9
 such obstacles, which are known as the vikshepas: illness and disease, mental laziness and dullness,
 dilemma and indecision, carelessness and haste, laziness and sloth, inability to abstain, false perception, failure
 to attain the next stage on the journey, and failure to maintain that stage. I would like to add a few more to
 Patanjali’s list of vikshepas, which are relevant in the modern context: guilt and shame, fear of missing
 out (FOMO), and digital distraction.
Accompanying these obstacles are symptoms that are the expressions of the perturbed
 mental state we have created by moving so far away from our balanced center of still consciousness. These symptoms
 are the 5 vighnas: physical and mental pain, despair and depression, trembling and nervousness, and
 irregular breathing – both inhalation and exhalation.
In this series of articles, we will explore all of these mental modifications that
 Patanjali describes, as well as some of the practices that help us transcend them. Yoga is actually the pure science
 of the inner being, and Patanjali was a scientist of the highest caliber. Unlike most spiritual teachers, he was not
 mystical. Instead his legacy is based on practical experience. His description of the mental modifications in the
 Yoga Sutras is really the first written codified treatise on psychology, and as such deserves its due recognition.

While Patanjali beautifully described and codified the process of developing mental
 complexity and illness, and the need to return to a simple pure state of consciousness, he did not offer us a set of
 simple practical methods to remove the complexities and return to simplicity. Neither did anyone else, until the
 1940s, when Ram Chandra offered the world a set of simple, effective practices to reach the pinnacle of human
 existence, available to everyone, everywhere, free of charge. This has revolutionized Yoga to an incredible extent:
 first as a means to become balanced and happy, and second as a means to fulfill a human potential that goes far
 beyond this physical realm of existence. The expansion of the practical, experiential base of inner awakening to
 consciousness has been the important evolution of Yoga during the last 150 years.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Yogic psychology - introduction

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 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/the-dualities-of-existence/"
 style="color: #313131">The
 dualities of existence</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">The first of the kleshas, avidya, which we explored in the last article, is the
 basis of the</div>
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 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/lack-of-awareness/" style="color: #313131">Lack
 of
 awareness</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">In Yoga, avidya is crucial to understanding mental well-being. It is considered to
 be the core</div>
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Let’s first recap and remind ourselves of the fundamental principle of yogic psychology:
 that our original inner mental state is one of purity, stillness and Samadhi, which is also the ultimate
 goal of Yoga. It is the pure state of no-vibration that lies at the center of our existence. It is the healthy state
 of balance and contentment, from which all the heart-based qualities like love, compassion and generosity emanate,
 because it is a state of oneness. Yogic psychology has never been based on pathology, but on attaining that pure
 state, which is the baseline for mental well-being.
This state of no-vibration, no-thing-ness, or the original void, is present in every
 fiber of our being. Physicists describe it as being present at the center of every atom. In Yoga, that baseline is
 our reference point, the eye at the center of the tornado, the ultimate state of the vibration-free stillness. It
 was our starting point and will eventually also be the ending point of our existence. If we are able to master that
 state while we are alive, we transcend the need for the cycle of birth and death known as reincarnation, as we go
 beyond consciousness itself, to what is beyond consciousness.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">This state of no-vibration, 
 no-thing-ness, or the original void, 
 is present in every fiber of our being.
</h5>
<hr>
In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali has codified the various modifications and vibrations that
 arise in our field of consciousness; all those things that take us away from the balance and stillness at our
 center, the soul. The process of refining these modifications is what Yoga is all about. Up till now, we have
 explored the basic types of thought patterns or tendencies known as the 5 vrittis, which can either be
 colored or uncolored, i.e. impure or pure. The process of coloring becomes cumulative, however, and leads to
 negative mental states that eventually become afflictions or obstacles to well-being and further evolution.
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 <img alt="Kleshas1" class="lazyload has-img-center"
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These 5 basic afflictions are known as the kleshas in both Hinduism and
 Buddhism, those negative mental states that cloud the mind and cause suffering and the conditions for suffering to
 arise. They lead to mental complications and imbalance, preventing us from being centered and contented.
Here is what Patanjali has to say about the kleshas:
2.2: Samadhi bhavana arthah klesha 
 tanu karana arthash cha
If your practice is aligned with your goal
 (Samadhi), 
 the obstacles along your path (kleshas) will disappear and 
 ultimately you will reach your goal.

2.3: Avidya asmita raga dvesha 
 abhiniveshah kleshah
These obstacles are 
 Avidya – ignorance, lack of awareness, 
 Asmita – egotism, identification with the impermanent body, 
 Raga – likes, pleasure, 
 Advesha – dislikes, pain, and 
 Abinivesha – clinging to life, fear of death.

2.10: Te prati-prasava heyah sukshmah
When samskaras are removed, 
 these afflictions can be resolved back to their origin.

2.11: Dhyana heyah tad vrittayah
Through meditation, the outer expression 
 of the afflictions disappear.

2.12: Klesha mulah karma ashayo 
 drishta adrishta janma vedaniyah
Whether they are fulfilled in the present or the
 future, 
 karmic experiences have their roots in these five afflictions.

2.13: Sati mule tad vipako jaty ayur bhogah

While the roots, the samskaras, remain, 
 karma manifests in rebirth in the form of station in life, 
 lifespan, and types of experiences.

2.14: Te hlada paritapa phalah 
 punya apunya hetutvat
Virtue brings pleasure; 
 vice brings pain.

Patanjali starts his discussion on kleshas with the importance of having a
 goal, but not everyone starts a meditation practice with the goal of Samadhi, or complete oneness with the
 original balanced state. So another way of looking at this is: in which direction are we traveling? Along the way to
 the ultimate goal there may be many other goals, like peace of mind, liberation, development of love and compassion,
 self-confidence and clarity of mind. The important thing is to be traveling in the right direction – centripetally
 towards simplicity rather than centrifugally towards complexity.
Patanjali goes on to define the 5 kleshas or mental afflictions, and then
 establish their relationship with the formation of samskaras. Samskara theory is a critical aspect
 of yogic science: that impressions or modifications in the field of consciousness result in complex energy patterns
 being formed, which harden and create samskaras over time and through repetition. It is like the process of
 a track being formed through a forest. First one or two people walk along a particular path, flattening the grass or
 undergrowth. Others follow the same path until eventually there is a clearly marked track, which is regularly used
 and may eventually become a thoroughfare and even a road. What started as temporarily flattened grass over time
 becomes a hardened road.
Similarly, an initial behavior or response, for example fear of the dark, can be
 reinforced over and over again in a person, until it eventually becomes a mental tendency or even a phobia. It has
 hardened into a samskara. Fear of the dark relates to a few of the kleshas – first, the fear of
 death and clinging to life; second, dislike or pain; third, egotism, because of identification with the body and
 concern for the body; and finally, the ignorance or lack of awareness at the base of the fear. The mind has become
 colored because of past experience, so that the default response in that person is that being in the dark is
 inherently dangerous.
It is very difficult to completely get rid of kleshas, as many of the
 samskaras behind them are formed subconsciously through emotional responses, in this particular example
 fear. The associated pathways in the nervous system for such responses are not through the cortex of the brain, but
 directly from the heart to the mammalian brain or amygdala. They are not responses that involve cognitive thinking,
 but instead subconscious processes that affect us without our conscious control. They can potentially surface at any
 time. As a result, our need for vigilance is never-ending. It is also why the first two limbs of Ashtanga Yoga,
 Yama and Niyama, are so important for our self-development.

Heartfulness Cleaning is an effective method for removing samskaras that is
 independent of the neural pathways and parts of the brain involved in their formation. As it was developed in the
 1940s by Ram Chandra (Babuji) as a way to purify the field of consciousness of samskaras, it was not
 available as a technique when Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras. Cleaning is one of the most potent tools that yogic
 psychology offers the world, because it works by cleaning the complexities and impurities in the field of
 consciousness at the vibrational level, rather than trying to change behavioural patterns, thought processes or the
 nervous system.
When we look at how the human system works, generally everything starts from the causal
 body or soul (the cause of our existence), which then affects the subtle bodies, at the level of the heart-mind, and
 then this permeates outwards to affect the systems of the physical body, e.g. the hormonal, nervous and circulatory
 systems. Our human system is actually like a series of layers from the center outwards, defined in Heartfulness by
 the 5 koshas, the 3 bodies and the 23 rings. By working at the subtlest vibrational level of the subtle
 bodies, Cleaning does not rely on thinking and analysis to remove the roots of afflictions.
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Some spiritual teachers, like Osho, have spoken of removing kleshas through
 prati-prasav as a process of reabsorbing the behavioral effect back to the cause, by reliving those past
 experiences that caused the afflictions. He also called this process involution. The reliving involves letting the
 past surface without judgment, without liking or disliking, being a witness to the process without getting entangled
 or affected by anything that surfaces. But it can take forever to reabsorb samskaric tendencies back to
 their source, as the roots may have started many lifetimes ago and be buried very deep in the subconscious mind.
 And, if we are not careful, sometimes reliving the experience may cause a reaction in us, so it can actually
 intensify the samskara rather than removing it.

<a
 href="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kleshas2_0a75ac66cc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:23:46.197Z"><img
 alt="Kleshas2" class=" img-float-left has-img-center-in-mobile "
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Kleshas2_0a75ac66cc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:23:46.197Z"></a>Heartfulness
 Cleaning is much simpler. It does not require reliving. It is the next generation of yogic practices. In fact, all
 the samskaras of one lifetime can easily be removed in one session with a Heartfulness trainer, without the
 person even being aware.
Once the root cause – the samskara – is removed, then it is definitely up to us
 to refine the associated outer behavioral patterns. That is why all great spiritual teachers have given guidelines
 for living, for example, the Vedas, Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali’s Yama and Niyama,
 Buddha’s Eightfold Path, the Ten Commandments of Jesus, the golden rules found in the Quran and the Talmud, and the
 Ten Maxims of Ram Chandra. For this we need self-study and self-awareness, as discussed below.
Psychologists and psychiatrists also work to change mental and behavioral patterns
 resulting from the past, in order to cure their patients of mental afflictions and bring about well-being. They do
 so through behavioral modification therapies like Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Integral Therapy, Primal Therapy,
 psychoanalysis, hypnosis etc. But again, without the removal of the root samskaras, it will always be a
 longer and more tedious process.
Patanjali tells us that the outer expression of the kleshas will disappear
 through meditation. In meditation, we learn to identify with the source of our existence, the soul, rather than with
 the body or the mind, so in that sense meditation does help to remove some of these afflictions because we do not
 give our afflictions the power of our attention. The more we ignore them and focus on a higher purpose, the more
 chance they will have to dissolve.
Also, in Patanjali’s time, yogis meditated for hours and hours every day, and so it may
 have been possible to remove afflictions through meditation alone, although I doubt it would have worked for most
 people. Maybe for someone like the Buddha, but how many people had his determination and fortitude for self-study
 and tapasya? In any case, how many of us have time for hours and hours of meditation every day? Thankfully
 the practices of Yoga have evolved in modern times, and Heartfulness Cleaning can remove the root cause, so there is
 less need to sit in meditation for hours and hours every day.
For all of us, the mind is affected by the accumulation of the past, of
 samskaric patterns and responses that are hardwired into our central nervous system, creating channels that
 define our thoughts and actions, creating the blueprint for our destiny. Neuroscience also recognizes this. Whatever
 we have done in the past has formed the habits that determine what we do today and what we do today determines the
 future. Every thought and every action is self-perpetuating until we remove the root cause.

The seeds of our karma are our samskaras, and they carry over from one life to
 the next by impressing upon the subtle body around the soul. They create vibrational patterns, and so, at the time
 of conception for the next birth, these vibrational patterns draws us to certain parents, culture, life experiences
 etc. I have written about this at length in Designing Destiny.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Whatever we have done in the past has formed 
 the habits that determine what we do today 
 and what we do today determines the future. 
 Every thought and every action is 
 selfperpetuating until we remove the root cause.
</h5>
<hr>
And as Patanjali says, virtue brings pleasure and vice brings pain. This is natural
 cause and effect.
To evolve, however, we don’t want to be attached to either pleasure or pain, virtue or
 vice, or any of the other dualities of earthly existence, as they are always two sides of the one coin. Ultimately,
 where there is pleasure there is pain, just as where there is the brightest light there is the darkest shadow.
 Duality is part of the physical world, and in Yoga we are transcending our temporal physical nature towards our
 eternal nature. And while we remain rooted in the emotional baggage from the past, this is not possible. Our mind
 remains an accumulation of the past.
It is worth reflecting on the relationship between samskaras and
 kleshas. Here is something to think about: The kleshas are an outer expression of the
 samskaras that accumulate in our field of consciousness, and yet kleshas also lead to the
 formation of samskaras. So what is needed from our side to cut this cyclical loop?

<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Kleshas

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 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 2, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/true-knowledge-and-inaccurate-knowledge/"
 style="color: #313131">True
 knowledge and inaccurate knowledge</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Here we will explore the first two of the vrittis – pramana and viparyaya. The
 definitions</div>
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 <div class="date">December 2, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/memory/" style="color: #313131">Memory</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">Try to imagine life without memory. How would you learn from your mistakes? You
 would not</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/sleep-2/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vrittis"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep2_e57548fe87.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:42:21.886Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 2, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/sleep-2/" style="color: #313131">Sleep</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">All manifest life seems to require a period of sleep, of calm, in which to gain
 added</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/imagination/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vrittis"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/imagination_img_2b251b133a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:43:19.420Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 2, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/imagination/"
 style="color: #313131">Imagination</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Now let’s explore the third vritti, vikalpa, which means “imagination” or
 “fantasy.”</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>
&nbsp;
The five vrittis are the types of thought patterns or tendencies that are the
 energy patterns we create in the field of our consciousness or chit. ‘Whirlpool’ is a literal translation
 of the word vritti, so the vrittis are whirlpools – the waves and ripples that form in the field
 of our consciousness as a result of energy and movement. Our mind is either still and calm, or it is active with a
 certain level of turbulence and ups and downs. How still or active our field of consciousness is, and the nature of
 that activity, determine how we perceive the universe.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<img alt="vrittis" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/vrittis1_e418bb2820.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:44:59.815Z">

Imagine your field of consciousness as being like an ocean, and the waves and currents
 are the vrittis. The more turbulent the ocean, the harder it is to see the ocean floor, which can be
 equated with the inner Self or soul. The field of consciousness is happy to return to its original state of
 stillness and calm, but the interplay of senses and tendencies draw us out into experience and emotional reactions,
 sometimes bringing mental turbulence. So the first step in Yoga is to turn the attention inwards and return to
 stillness. This is also what brings peace and, ultimately,&nbsp; joy, which is the quality of the soul. Without this
 stillness, lasting peace and happiness are not possible.
Patanjali explains that:
1.3 Tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam
At that time [of meditation], 
 the Witness abides in itself, 
 resting in its own essence, 
 its true nature.

1.4 Vritti sarupyam itaratra
At other times, we instead identify 
 with the modifications of the mind, 
 taking on the identity of 
 those thought patterns.

When the waves of the vrittis settle and we are calm, as happens during
 Meditation with Transmission, we see our true nature. At other times we identify with the modifications, e.g. sorrow
 or fear or excitement. For example, if you are angry with your boss, because he has accused you unjustly of doing
 something wrong, will your consciousness be calm and still? Will you be able to think clearly during the day and
 make wise decisions? And what happens when a child is scared of the teacher in the classroom at school? Will they
 learn effectively and grasp concepts well? No, it is not possible, because fear blocks the electrical impulses from
 passing through to the cognitive centers in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, making learning very difficult. The
 thinking process of the child is not able to function freely.
With the daily practices of Heartfulness, we are able to remove these emotionally
 reactive states from our system and remain connected with the inner center of stillness throughout the day, even
 when we are not meditating. We do this by using the method of Cleaning to remove the emotional charge that arises
 with reactiveness, and by cultivating the state of Constant Remembrance that follows from Meditation, so that our
 consciousness remains centered even while we go about normal daily activities and interact with others.
Patanjali then goes on to classify the vrittis as being either colored
 (klishta) or uncolored (aklishta):
1.5 Vrittayah pangchatayyah klishta
 aklishtah
There are five types of thought patterns, 
 and they are either colored or uncolored.

Colored versus uncolored refers to impure versus pure, leading to bondage versus leading
 to freedom, and leading to turbulence versus stillness. So the mind can either become a source of bondage or a
 source of freedom, depending on how we cultivate and train it. Yoga is really only concerned with this one thing:
 how do we use the mind? Mastery of the mind, cessation of the turbulence in the mind, is Yoga.
Patanjali then describes the five vrittis:
1.6 Pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smritayah
The five varieties of thought patterns are 
 Pramana – right knowledge, 
 Viparyaya – wrong knowledge, 
 Vikalpa – fantasy or imagination, 
 Nidra – deep sleep, and 
 Smriti – memory.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Vrittis

<div class="row">
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/guilt-and-shame/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/guilt_and_shame_img_939915efd0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:54:04.322Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131" href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/guilt-and-shame/">Guilt
 and shame</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">There is one more vikshepa&nbsp;that I have added to Patanjali’s list, as it is
 often a</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/fear-of-missing-out-fomo-digital-distraction/"><img alt="vikshepas"
 class="lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fear_of_missing_out_fomo_digital_distraction_img_71e4060a79.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:55:01.541Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/fear-of-missing-out-fomo-digital-distraction/">Fear
 of missing out (FOMO) &amp; digital distraction</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">I have added these two vikshepas to Patanjali’s list, as they have only surfaced as
 serious</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/failure-to-attain-the-next-stage-failure-to-retain-a-stage/"><img
 alt="vikshepas" class="lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/failure_to_attain_the_next_stage_failure_to_retain_a_stage_img_1636b8e8bf.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:56:18.130Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/failure-to-attain-the-next-stage-failure-to-retain-a-stage/">Failure
 to attain the next stage &amp; failure to retain a stage</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">Alabdha-bhumikatva is the vikshepa where we are not able to attain the next stage
 or level in</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/false-perception/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/false_perception_img_119c2f0484.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:57:55.529Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131" href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/false-perception/">False
 perception</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">The seventh vikshepa is bhrantidarsana, meaning false perception, delusion or
 blindness. It is</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/absence-of-non-attachment/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/absence_of_non_attachment_img_99999a76b9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T10:59:26.044Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/absence-of-non-attachment/">Absence of
 non-attachment</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">The sixth vikshepa is avirati, which translates as “absence of renunciation,” or
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/laziness/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/laziness_img_f75ba065c2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T11:00:45.441Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131" href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/laziness/">Laziness</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">The fifth vikshepa is alasya, which translates as laziness and sloth. There are
 different</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/carelessness-haste-and-indifference/"><img alt="vikshepas"
 class="lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/carelessness_haste_and_indifference_img_abbc007cec.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T11:01:37.015Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/carelessness-haste-and-indifference/">Carelessness,
 haste and indifference</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">The fourth vikshepa is pramada, which translates as carelessness, haste and
 indifference. When</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/dilemma-and-indecision/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dilemma_and_indecision_img_c3fb36dee6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T11:02:26.897Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/dilemma-and-indecision/">Dilemma and
 indecision</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">The third vikshepa is samsaya, which is usually translated as “doubt,” but there
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/apathy-and-mental-dullness/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/apathy_and_mental_dullness_img_cc52cc2082.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T11:03:22.844Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131"
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/apathy-and-mental-dullness/">Apathy and
 mental dullness</a></div>
 <div class="excerpt">The second of the vikshepas is styana, meaning languor, apathy and mental dullness.
 Apathy is</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 <div class="col-md-6">
 <div class="magazine-category-loop">
 <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/disease/"><img class="lazyload" alt="vikshepas"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/disease_img_998c54599e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T11:04:06.294Z"></a>
 <div class="magazine-category-content">
 <div class="date">December 1, 2019</div>
 <div class="title"><a style="color: #313131" href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/disease/">Disease</a>
 </div>
 <div class="excerpt">The first of the vikshepas is vyadhi or disease. Here Patanjali means physical
 disease, where</div>
 </div>
 <div class="category-content-blk">
 <div class="magazine-category-comment">
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>
&nbsp;
In this series so far, we have seen how complexities and impurities start to accumulate,
 by exploring the normal everyday workings of the human mind – how the 5 vrittis work in the field of
 consciousness. Some of the vrittis are pure and in sync with mental balance, while others are colored and
 take us away from that pure, balanced state. Then we explored the next layer of complexity – the 5 kleshas
 or mental afflictions that take us further away from our center of balance, and result in suffering.
Now we continue further away from that center, into the realm of entropy, complexity and
 instability, as we become more and more entangled in the afflictions that play out in our daily lives. We create
 behavioral patterns and habits through the accumulation of samskaras, and these lead to all sorts of
 ailments. Yoga calls these ailments or obstacles vikshepas. Patanjali described 9 of them in his Yoga
 Sutras, a few thousand years ago. In this day and age we can add a few more to the list.
<img decoding="async" alt="vikshepas" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/vikshepas1_cd7bd15620.jpg">
We have already discussed the need to spend some time every day focused inward on the
 core of our being, of our existence, in order to counteract the entropy that would otherwise take us outward into
 entanglements, suffering and afflictions. That is what we do in Heartfulness Meditation – we turn inward through the
 heart. It is very simple: when we direct the attention of the mind towards the heart, we move towards balance,
 peace, stillness and harmony; when we direct the attention of the mind outward into the external world, without a
 strong connection to the heart, we encounter more and more entropy and instability.
Daily life is the interplay of the two currents – the outward and inward flow of energy
 and attention. Once we are well established in our inward connection with the heart, it permeates our being and
 oozes out into every other aspect of life, so that we are able to avoid the pull of outward entropy. This is the
 most preventative approach to mental health we could possibly take. Imagine if every young person knew how to do
 this before embarking on the journey of life, how different the world would be.
Now, what happens when that inward attention or connection is not developed, when we are
 not centered in the core of our heart? We become like leaves tossed about in the wind. Whatever colorings or
 afflictions are there in our system become more complex and manifest as the vikshepas, the obstacles and
 distractions to our further progress.
Patanjali described these obstacles as follows:
1.30: Vyadhi styana samsaya pramada-alasyaavirati
 
 bhrantidarsana-alabdha-bhumikatvaanavasthitatvani 
 citta-vikshepah te antarayah

Vyadhi – disease, 
 Styana – languor, mental dullness, apathy, 
 Samsaya – dilemma, indecision, 
 Pramada – carelessness, haste, indifference, 
 Alasya – laziness, sloth, 
 Avirati – absence of non-attachment, sensuality, 
 Bhrantidarsana – false perception, blindness, 
 Alabdha-bhumikatva – not attaining the condition or stage, lack of
 determination, and 
 Anavasthitatvani – instability, not retaining the condition are the obstacles
 that distract the mind.

In the modern context, we can add a few more to the list:
Fear of missing out (FOMO), 
 Digital distraction, and 
 Guilt and Shame.

<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Vikshepas

Remember for a moment that the base of your consciousness is pure and still. When you
 have some time, perhaps this evening when you have wound down from the day, or very early in the morning when the
 outside world is also still, take a few minutes to dive deep within your heart and find that stillness. And then,
 during the day, witness for yourself what prevents you from being in that peaceful state all the time. Once we
 remove all the complexities, our inner nature returns to peace and stillness.
Meditation propels our consciousness towards the core of our being, the center of our
 existence, and that center is also present at the center of every atom in our body. Yoga is a journey back home to
 that state of mental well-being, by removing all the patterning, conditioning, complexities and impurities in our
 field of consciousness. In short, meditation stills our mind.
In this series, we first explored the normal everyday workings of the human mind within
 the field of consciousness – the 5 vrittis or tendencies – and how they create patterns and conditioning.
 The vrittis can either be pure, fostering well-being, health and spiritual growth, or colored, creating
 entanglement, pulling us towards complexity and impurity. From there we explored the next layer of complexity – the
 5 kleshas, the colorings or mental afflictions that take us further away from our center of poise, thus
 leading to imbalance and suffering.
Then we explored how we move even further away from our still center, into the realm of
 entropy, complexity and instability, as we become more and more entangled in those patterns and afflictions that
 play out in our life. At this stage, these patterns and habits become obstacles and distractions to our ongoing
 spiritual journey; they are known as the vikshepas. And accompanying these vikshepas are the 5
 vighnas, the outer symptoms of un-wellness that are presented to health practitioners, psychiatrists and
 healing centers wordwide.

<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Meditation propels our consciousness towards 
 the core of our being, the center of our existence, 
 and that center is also present at the center of every atom in our body. 
 Yoga is a journey back home to that state of mental well-being, 
 by removing all the patterning, conditioning, complexities 
 and impurities in our field of consciousness.
</h5>
<hr>
These 5 vighnas are the chronic diseases of our world! Stress, worry, emotional
 pain, anxiety and depression are a normal part of life for many people. The statistics on people taking
 antidepressants, painkillers, sleep medication, as well as self-medicating with illegal drugs and alcohol; the
 number of suicides; the incidence of chronic lifestyle related diseases, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
 strokes and cancer, are all overwhelming. They are so common that we no longer see them as abnormal. Nor do we
 realize how much our lifestyles are out of sync with the circadian (daily) rhythms that are hardwired into our
 physiology.
<img alt="vighnas" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/vighnas1_85eb8c1724.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:20:17.035Z">

These daily rhythms determine our optimal sleep and eating patterns. Even the metabolism
 of our cellular energy follows the rhythm of the circadian clock. When we don’t sync with natural rhythms, the
 mitochondrial network is compromised and our cellular energy levels decline. Lifestyles with irregular daily rhythms
 have been linked with sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective
 disorder. Basically, we are swimming upstream against the current in a lifestyle that is out of sync with nature.

This list of modern symptoms is no different from Patanjali’s description thousands of
 years ago of the 5 vighnas that accompany the vikshepas. Patanjali’s Sutra says:
1.31: Dukha daurmanasya angam-ejayatva 
 svasa prasvasa vikshepasahabhuvah.

Mental and physical pain, anguish and grief, 
 despair and depression, trembling of the body and nervousness, 
 and irregular inhalation and exhalation, 
 are the conditions that accompany 
 the distractions of the mind.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
Back in Patanjali’s time, these symptoms were not so commonplace, although ancient tales
 like the Odyssey and the Mahabharata show us that they were certainly present back then. Today, however, the
 vighnas along with the vikshepas are the health concern of our era. In a sense, we have reached an
 overburdened level of mental complexity and heaviness that requires something radical to bring us back to health and
 balance.

Difficulties, traumas and suffering are nothing new. In fact, many people today are more
 comfortable than humans have ever been in the past, but as a consequence our resilience to cope with difficulties
 seems to be lower than ever. A good analogy is a pair of scissors: we are so saturated with pleasure that we have
 become numb, like scissors that have become blunt through overuse, whereas our intolerance of pain is like super
 sharp scissors that cut our emotional heart, because we do everything possible to avoid pain.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">When we don’t sync with natural rhythms, 
 the mitochondrial network is compromised 
 and our cellular energy levels decline. 
 Lifestyles with irregular daily rhythms have been linked 
 with sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, 
 bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder. 
 Basically, we are swimming upstream against 
 the current in a lifestyle that is out of sync with nature.
</h5>
<hr>
<h4>HOW DO COMPLEXITIES &amp; IMPURITIES FORM &amp; HOW DO THEY AFFECT US?</h4>
In earlier editions of Heartfulness magazine, I described the spiritual anatomy of a
 human being, with its physical, subtle and causal bodies, its chakra system, and its sheaths known as the
 koshas. I have also described how we create complexities and impurities that accumulate at various points
 in this spiritual anatomy, in the field of consciousness, through conditioning. They accumulate as a result of
 repeated patterns of feeling, emotion and thought, and these in turn lead to repetitive actions. Actions become
 habits, creating patterns of behavior that become more and more fixed over time, forming impressions in the subtle
 body. These impressions are known as samskaras.

<img alt="vighnas" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/vighnas2_0b1bcd8e00.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:21:56.712Z">

Swami Vivekananda describes this process in his book, Jnana Yoga: “Suppose I go
 into the street and see a dog. How do I know it is a dog? I refer it to my mind, and in my mind are groups of all my
 past experiences, arranged and pigeon-holed, as it were. As soon as a new impression comes, I take it up and refer
 it to some of the old pigeon-holes, and as soon as I find a group of the same impressions already existing, I place
 it in that group, and I am satisfied. I know it is a dog, because it coincides with the impressions already there.

“When I do not find the cognates of this new experience inside, I become dissatisfied.
 When, not finding the cognates of an impression, we become dissatisfied, this state of the mind is called
 ‘ignorance’; but, when, finding the cognates of an impression already existing, we become satisfied, this is called
 ‘knowledge’. When one apple fell, men became dissatisfied. Then gradually they found out the group. What was the
 group they found? That all apples fall, so they called it ‘gravitation’. Now we see that without a fund of already
 existing experiences, any new experience would be impossible, for there would be nothing to which to refer the new
 impression.”1
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">What leads to an anxious mind or a depressed
 mind? 
 An anxious mind is one without peace, without stillness, 
 always turbulent with disturbances and emotional entropy. 
 It is symptomatic of turmoil in the field of consciousness, 
 like an ocean in a storm, always churning, always reacting, 
 addicted to the highs and lows.
</h5>
<hr>
Any thought, emotion or action can lead to a vibrational impression in the field of
 consciousness, and when those impressions are repeated, habits form, creating fixed patterns, which become more
 rigid and solid over time as samskaras. The forces of soul can bend under the burden of samskaras.
 These samskaras are the roots of the karmic blueprint of our conditioning. Unless we remove them,
 we stay trapped in their patterns and we cannot break free, no matter how much we may want to change.
When we combine this understanding with Patanjali’s descriptions of vrittis,
 kleshas, vikshepas and vighnas, we see how the layers of samskaras form over
 time, creating emotional heaviness and dysfunction.

How to free ourselves from such a burden? Heartfulness offers a simple, highly effective
 set of methods to remove these layers and thus reduce the lifestyle maladies that characterize our modern societies.
 What leads to an anxious mind or a depressed mind? An anxious mind is one without peace, without stillness, always
 turbulent with disturbances and emotional entropy. It is symptomatic of turmoil in the field of consciousness, like
 an ocean in a storm, always churning, always reacting, addicted to the highs and lows.
Other symptoms include nervousness, trembling and shaking of the body, and shallow and
 irregular breathing, sometimes manifesting as panic attacks.
There are many simple Heartfulness techniques that can reverse these symptoms. Even
 something as simple as keeping your breathing calm and deep when you are feeling stressed and emotional is a great
 start. Left nostril breathing is even better. Relaxation and Meditation are even better still. There are so many
 lines of defense, and even more of prevention. It is worth learning some simple techniques your own mental
 well-being.
1 Vivekananda, Swami, 1899. Jnana Yoga, chapter 12, ‘The Cosmos,
 The Microcosm’. Vedanta Press, USA.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Vighnas

Our journey in Yoga is to return to the purity and simplicity of consciousness at the
 center of our being. As we divest more and more layers, our mental and emotional state lightens progressively. It is
 not a linear progression but a spiral progression. Mental well-being is not the purpose of Yoga, but it is certainly
 a very beneficial side effect.
The Heartfulness practices each have an important role to play in this, and most vital
 to the removal of impressions is the practice of de-conditioning we know as Cleaning. When we sit for Cleaning in
 the evening, we unload the impressions of the day and create a vacuum in the heart, similar to the way taking a bath
 washes away dirt from the physical body.
What is being purified? Consciousness, and this has a ripple effect on our perception,
 bringing clarity, understanding and wisdom. A pure consciousness can more easily make wise choices. In fact, Ram
 Chandra of Fatehgarh once said, “The soul of a human being will be clean in proportion to the power of
 discrimination they possess.” The purer the heart, the more wisdom flourishes.
Cleaning is complemented by Heartfulness Meditation. Over time, as a result of
 meditating in the morning with Transmission, we learn to absorb and carry the depths and fragrance of the meditative
 state with us throughout our daily activities. In a sense, we are meditating with eyes open, and this creates a
 field of protection, preventing emotional reactions and judgments, preventing the formation of samskaras.
 And so the need for Cleaning gradually diminishes and becomes more need-based, as we master the art of remaining
 meditative during all our activities.
Heartfulness Prayer at bedtime connects us with universal love, helping us to sleep in a
 deeply profound state, and also allowing us to go deeper in meditation the next morning. When we are flooded with so
 much love, we naturally have more resilience, and we also prefer to stay connected rather than being pulled to the
 periphery of our being by the highs and lows of a reactive consciousness.
And so, as we interweave these three practices of Meditation, Cleaning and Prayer every
 day, our consciousness is always being recalibrated to remember its pure state, which is our constant reference
 point for mental well-being. This we call constant remembrance.
<img alt="meditation" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditaion_11ab43bd79.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:47:46.920Z">

In the older yogic texts, the vikshepas and vighnas were mostly seen
 as temporary obstacles to spiritual progress, rather than maladies in the general sense as they are often viewed
 today. Here we will explore both worldviews, to shed more light on how we can work with them going forward.
Patanjali offers the following solutions to all these mental imbalances in his Sutras:

1.32: Tat pratisedhartham eka tattva
 abhyasah
To remedy this, practice meditation on one
 principle.

<hr class="vertical-space1">

Bringing the mind to one object for some time will dismantle all these obstacles. As the
 purpose of Yoga is oneness with the Ultimate or Absolute state, the object taken up for meditation is complete
 oneness with the Ultimate, so that all distractions are removed. Any other object than the Ultimate is itself in
 flux, and so would not be helpful in this endeavor.
In this context, in Yoga it has always been considered very normal for
 vikshepas and vighnas to come to most people from time to time along the journey. The guidance of
 teachers has been not to mind them when they come, just to keep on practicing, as they will eventually pass. This is
 true for both mental and physical symptoms, including nervous shaking. It is not that we bury our heads in the sand
 in an attempt to avoid the presence of obstacles, but rather that we do not indulge in giving too much focus and
 attention to them.
When Patanjali was alive, there was no yogic process of Transmission or Cleaning, which
 are both practices introduced by Heartfulness in the last 100 years. Both Transmission and Cleaning facilitate and
 accelerate the process of transformation: Transmission gently draws our attention inward to the object of
 meditation, taking us deeper and deeper through the dimensions of consciousness to the center itself; Cleaning
 removes the afflictions and obstacles, the kleshas, vikshepas and vighnas, along the way. Both
 these practices help to reduce the effects of these mental modifications significantly.
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="cleaning" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/cleaning_5f5645140f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:48:32.371Z">
</div>
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Imagine what will happen when our collective
 worldview 
 starts perceiving a higher human purpose. 
 Everything will change. 
 All the obstacles will take a back seat 
 and remain simply that – obstacles along the way.
</h5>
<hr>
In current mainstream society, however, both in the East and the West, the
 kleshas, vikshepas and vighnas are not just seen as temporary obstacles to be dissolved
 and transcended; they have themselves become the focus of our attention. Pick up any newspaper, popular magazine or
 scientific journal and you will find articles on stress, depression, anxiety, suicide, addiction, pain management,
 anger management or panic attacks. Culturally, we are focusing our attention on these modern maladies with such
 intensity that we are going deeper and deeper into them, and it doesn’t seem to be helping. It is like watering the
 weeds that are choking a garden instead of just letting them die and only watering the plants you want to thrive. It
 is our choice where we focus our attention – energy flows where attention goes.
So, what if we shift our focus to the real goal of human life, the soul at the center of
 our existence, instead of towards the obstacles? Would we have the mental health epidemic we have today? Our focus
 has moved to the periphery and our energies are directed towards the obstacles themselves. As a result, they are
 magnifying rather than disappearing.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Consciousness is pacified by cultivating 
 attitudes of friendship towards everyone, 
 mercy and compassion towards those who are suffering, 
 joy towards those who are virtuous, 
 and indifference towards those who are evil.
</h5>
<hr>
This is not to dismiss the suffering of all those people who are unwell, whose lives are
 painful, who feel hopeless, and who may see their life as not worth living. Their pain is real. It is only to say
 that with a shift in perception, with a shift in purpose, with a shift in consciousness, with a different education
 and training, we can start to heal these problems and bring some relief.
Imagine what will happen when our collective worldview starts perceiving a higher human
 purpose. Everything will change. All the obstacles will take a back seat and remain simply that – obstacles along
 the way. They may still need to be overcome, but they will no longer be center stage in our existence. Perhaps that
 is why Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur famously said, “No country or nation will survive without spirituality as its
 base, and every nation must sooner or later adopt the same course if she wants to maintain her very existence.” All
 it takes is a shift of focus towards the higher purpose of human existence once a day in meditation. Such a shift is
 life changing.
Another piece of guidance from Patanjali is also life changing:
1.33: Maitri karuna upeksanam sukha dukha punya 
 apunya visayanam bhavanatah chitta prasadanam
Consciousness is pacified by cultivating attitudes of
 friendship 
 towards everyone, mercy and compassion towards those 
 who are suffering, joy towards those who are virtuous, 
 and indifference towards those who are evil.

Most of our difficulties in daily life come from not following the simple guidance found
 in this sutra. It is a vast topic on human relationships in seed form, which we cannot cover here. As a hint,
 however, I would like to share this much:
A meditative mind is always compassionate.
A compassionate heart gives birth to finer qualities, like
 cheerfulness and friendliness.
And such a heart avoids making judgments and remains indifferent
 toward wickedness, evil and badness.
The underlying divine laws of Nature associated with this sutra are very well described
 in Ram Chandra’s book, Commentary on the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg.
Following this, Patanjali then offers various additional ways to pacify consciousness,
 given that one practice may not suit everyone, but he does not offer any guidance or methods on how to do them.
 Actually, it is very difficult to find specific methods in any of the yogic literature, as they were generally
 handed down by word of mouth from Guru to disciple.
It is only in the most recent yogic era, since the middle of the 20th century, when Ram
 Chandra distilled the Heartfulness practices from all the yogic methods available from ancient times onwards, and
 made these available to everyone, that we now have a set of practices that can solve our problem of consciousness.
 It is for this reason that Heartfulness is able to heal humanity, by removing the obstacles to mental well-being
 that plague our modern world.
Before the current era, Yoga gave us the philosophy to know what was needed to reach the
 highest states of consciousness, and express the full divine potential of a human being. But now, in this current
 era, a set of simple practices has been gifted to humanity, for one and all to reach those same states. That is the
 promise of Heartfulness.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Solutions

Here we will explore the first two of the vrittis – pramana and
 viparyaya. The definitions “right or accurate knowledge” and “wrong or inaccurate knowledge” do not really
 do justice to the words pramana and viparyaya, but there is no equivalent in English. Patanjali
 elaborates on these definitions in the Yoga Sutras.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>PRAMANA</h4>
1.7 Pratyaksha anumana agamah pramanani
There are three ways of gaining true knowledge: 
 by direct perception, by deduction and inference, 
 and by the words of those awakened ones who have knowledge.

True knowledge, pramana, emanates from purity and stillness, and is one of the
 uncolored vrittis. It leads to freedom. And according to Patanjali, true knowledge comes in three ways:
The first way is through direct
 perception – the absolute knowing that comes in an illuminated mind with an awakened faculty of superconsciousness.
 This may happen spontaneously in anyone, but it can be developed and cultivated through spiritual practice. It is
 the purest, most unadulterated source of knowledge that we have.
The capacities of the mind are like rays of light; when they are concentrated they
 illuminate, resulting in direct perception. In most people, however, the faculty of direct perception remains
 unused, lying dormant, waiting to be switched on. This knowing through higher wisdom and revelation comes very
 naturally in the state of inner balance, or Samadhi, as a result of meditation.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">The capacities of the mind are like rays of light;
 
 when they are concentrated they illuminate, 
 resulting in direct perception. 
</h5>
<hr>
In Heartfulness Meditation, this is aided by Pranahuti or Transmission, which
 brings us to that balanced state. The direct perception of a person with a pure and expanded consciousness is the
 most infallible source of knowledge and wisdom we have, and is generally attributed to great beings like Buddha,
 Christ, Krishna and Mohammed. But the possibility is there for all of us to utilize the same capacity of direct
 perception if we are willing to practice. We can call this capacity inner perception.
The second way to gain true
 knowledge is through outer perception, what we normally call “observation,” and the related process of
 experimentation – what we know as the scientific method. This form of pramana is not as pure as direct
 perception, as it depends on mental processes, but it is still very valid. As explained by Swami Vivekananda, “In
 acquiring knowledge we make use of generalizations, and generalization is based upon observation. We first observe
 facts, then generalize, and then draw conclusions or principles.”
How do mental processes interfere? Perfect observation requires the observer to be
 subtler than what is being observed. Otherwise, the observer may obscure the object under observation. That is why
 Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle has baffled the scientific world, since what is being deployed to measure the
 speed or the position of an electron is not as subtle as the electron! The observer must be subtler than the
 observed. In the field of quantum science, the observer effect is well known. An observer is never a mere presence.
 Observation is an act, and so an observer acts, interferes, and changes things. The state of observation is often
 goal-oriented; the observing mind seeks an outcome. In other words, it is often an imposition. The observational
 mind is rarely passive or disinterested.
Per contra, witnessing is passive. It is neither participatory nor involved. When we are
 in a very subtle state and we witness things, we do not interfere with them. Humility at its pinnacle creates this
 neutrality, this subtlety within – a pure non-interfering state where we do not expect or impose anything. To a
 witness, thoughts are like clouds passing in the sky.
Who is this witness? It is not the mind. The mind is incapable of pure witnessing. The
 mystery is revealed by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:
The Supreme Purusha in this body 
 is also called the Witness, 
 the One who permits, 
 the Supporter, 
 the One who experiences, 
 the Great Lord and the Supreme Self.
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="true-knowledge-and-inaccurate-knowledge" class="has-img-center lazyload "
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/TRUE_KNOWLEDGE_2_f23f5367f0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:29:03.063Z">
</div>
It is our inner dweller, the soul, who witnesses. Mindconsciousness creates the
 observer, whereas consciousness of the soul creates the witness. So outer perception is also refined, developed and
 cultivated through spiritual practice. As our being becomes subtler and subtler we become better scientists! And
 this second method eventually becomes identical with the first method – inner and outer perception are no longer
 separate processes. Ram Chandra explains it the following way in his book Sahaj Marg Philosophy:
Sages in India have generally attempted philosophy by first going
 into the life of practicality. They have opened the secrets of existing things as far as they could do at their
 level of advancement. … We should always attempt the expression of things when our practice or abhyas is over. This
 is the key point for the philosopher to note in order to achieve the accuracy of things.
The third way to gain true
 knowledge is through absorbing the teachings of enlightened beings who themselves have the capacity of direct
 perception. We are then able to make this knowledge our own by verifying it through our own experience (methods 1
 and 2). It saves us time, like passing through a forest on a well-worn path rather than forging our own path. This
 is why we search for enlightened teachers, read books by them, read the great scriptures of the past and, finally,
 based on the heart’s signals, we conclude for ourselves.
In fact, all three methods are intertwined and part of a spectrum of perception. We can
 use the three in a complementary way so as to arrive at our own understanding of right knowledge. The common factor
 in the success of all three methods is in having a pure field of consciousness, so that we can make the best use of
 the knowledge given to us.
<h4>VIPARYAYA</h4>
Patanjali writes:
1.8 Viparyayah mithya jnanam atad rupa
 pratistham
Wrong knowledge or illusion 
 is the false understanding 
 that results from perceiving things 
 as other than what they really are.

The concept of inaccurate knowledge needs very little explanation; there are so many
 scientific studies that show that our perception can be distorted by so many things – drugs and alcohol, lack of
 sleep, stress, fear, anger, prejudice, other strong emotions, and also by addiction to things like food or sex.
What happens, for example, when we are stressed? We go into “fight or flight response”
 mode. The stress hormones are active, the sympathetic nervous system is primed, and blood shifts to our limbs and to
 the back part of the brain, in order to heighten our instincts for survival. We are prepared to attack or defend. It
 is an automatic physiological response. All our energy is directed towards survival, and the mind is not able to be
 contemplative but in a strongly reactive mode. What will be our perception of another person in that state? We are
 much more likely to project our own state onto them.
Also, anything that blurs the clarity and purity of the chakras in the region of the
 heart will lead us towards false knowledge, and may result in consciousness being colored by emotional reactions
 like guilt, shame, worry, anxiety, fear, fearless arrogance, anger, sensual desire, greed, jealousy, resentment,
 envy and hatred. When the heart is burdened by the impressions from the past, known as samskaras in Yoga,
 it is like putting lenses of colored glass in front of a candle flame – when one lens is placed in front of the
 flame, it clouds the image of the flame to some extent, but as we add more and more lenses of different colors,
 eventually we don’t see the flame at all. The lenses are a good analogy for the layers of impressions we accumulate
 through life’s experiences, each one covering more of the light of the atman or soul. In fact, our ability
 to perceive with clarity is directly proportional to the purity of our field of consciousness.
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="true-knowledge-and-inaccurate-knowledge" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/candle_layers_676b423d30.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:29:58.863Z">
</div>
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">When the heart is burdened by the impressions 
 from the past, known as samskaras in Yoga, 
 it is like putting lenses of colored glass 
 in front of a candle flame – when one lens is placed 
 in front of the flame, it clouds the image of the flame to some extent, 
 but as we add more and more lenses of different colors, 
 eventually we don’t see the flame at all.
</h5>
<hr>
That is why we have the practice of Cleaning in Heartfulness, to remove all these impressions that accumulate in our
 system from past experiences, and also the ones we are creating in the present. Otherwise we will always perceive
 ourselves and the world with a colored consciousness, and as a result we remain prey to illusion or
 viparyaya.
In summary, the comparison of these first two vrittis, pramana and
 viparyaya, highlights the importance of maintaining a pure field of consciousness. With this comes the
 clarity and discernment known as Viveka in Yoga. It is the first of the four Sadhanas of Yoga, the
 Sadhana Chatushtaya. We become capable of receiving knowledge through direct superconscious perception,
 through unbiased observation, and through the wise teachings of enlightened beings. That is the way of
 pramana.
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="sadhana chatushtaya" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sadhana_chatushtaya_ae7b71939d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:30:51.708Z">
</div>
<img alt="true-knowledge-and-inaccurate-knowledge" class="img-float-right has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/TRUE_KNOWLEDGE_3_522f2f2df1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:31:55.779Z">In
 today’s world, most of us are doing just the opposite – we are carrying such a heavy burden of impressions in the
 subconscious mind that we struggle to follow the way of right knowledge, despite our best efforts, and we easily get
 confused. There is a distortion of truth and knowledge, and it creates an unstable base. Take the example of a
 mighty elephant. He is conditioned little by little; first he is tied to a tree with a rope, and each time he is
 tied he feels helpless and stands in one place. Eventually he becomes so conditioned that he no longer believes in
 his own ability to act, and this mighty elephant can then be tied to a light plastic chair in the circus, when he
 could tear the whole tent down if he wished to do so. With this sort of conditioning, we lose the right perspective,
 unable to witness our own strength.
It is very difficult to be happy, peaceful and make wise decisions when the foundation
 of perception is shaky. So many of us are frustrated, because no matter how hard we try to do the right thing, often
 things go wrong.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Our heart becomes our guiding compass, 
 and we learn to listen to the heart 
 with ever-increasing confidence and joy. 
 Then life takes on a different dimension – 
 psychologically we experience true well-being.
</h5>
<hr>
<h4>PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING</h4>
The first step in this journey is to acknowledge our current state, to accept that we
 need to be centered in stillness, and that our perception is colored by the tendencies or vrittis that we
 have created in our field of consciousness, leading to viparyaya. When we start to experience the
 discipline of Yoga, through glimpses of inner stillness, we are able to journey towards our center of being and
 experience pramana directly. As we further develop this ability, our heart becomes our guiding compass, and
 we learn to listen to the heart with ever-increasing confidence and joy. Then life takes on a different dimension –
 psychologically we experience true well-being.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

True knowledge and inaccurate knowledge

Now let’s explore the third vritti, vikalpa, which means “imagination”
 or “fantasy.” Imagination is a very important mental faculty with which we form and create new ideas, images and
 concepts that cannot always be verified by pramana. It is necessary for creativity, innovation and
 discovery, but it can also lead us into a spiral of delusion.
Patanjali writes:
1.9: Shabda jnana anupati vastu shunyah
 vikalpah
Fantasy or imagination is a thought pattern 
 that has verbal expression and knowledge, 
 but for which there is no such object or reality in existence.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
Vikalpa is not the general term used for all types of imagination. There are
 four Sanskrit words that can loosely be translated as imagination: vikalpa, kalpana,
 pratibha and bhavana. Vikalpa is, in a sense, the lowest form of imagination. It
 describes the apparently random fantasies that continuously surface in the mind like mental static.
Vikalpas are imaginary stories, thoughts and images that play out in our minds,
 for example, a fantasy that plays out during a daydream in class at school, or seeing a shadow in the dark and
 fearing it is a ghost. Most of the ongoing chitchat in our minds belongs to the category of vikalpa: “What
 will happen if I …?” “What if she doesn’t like me?” etc. Such chitchat is composed of all sorts of illusory beliefs
 and mental constructs. We preempt reality with our fantasies and expectations.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Vikalpa is, in a sense, the lowest form of
 imagination. 
 It describes the apparently random fantasies 
 that continuously surface in the mind like mental static.
</h5>
<hr>
There is a wonderful story about vikalpa. One night, a young man decided he
 wanted to cross the river on the outskirts of town to visit his beloved. There was a storm and the river was
 dangerous, but he was determined to cross to see her. So he looked around for a boat to carry him and eventually saw
 a log floating by. He grabbed onto it, and let the log carry him downstream across the river. When he arrived at the
 home of his beloved, all the lights were off, but he saw a rope hanging down from her balcony. So he climbed the
 rope and went to her.
She was delighted but surprised to see him, asking, “How were you able to visit me on
 such a terrible night?” He thanked her: “Because you left the rope hanging for me, I was able to climb up to your
 balcony.” “But I left no rope hanging,” she said. When they went to the balcony to look, they were shocked to
 discover it was a snake hanging down.
The next day, after the storm had passed, he returned home. On reaching the river, he
 discovered that he had held on to a human corpse to cross the river, not a log. Love had blinded him to reality and
 given him the courage to reach his beloved, no matter what.
Love can give us one perception of reality, but what happens to a lover who falls out of
 love because of a series of events? Do they still perceive their beloved in the same way? No. We are preconditioned
 by our own expectations, and when disillusionment sets in everything changes.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Through imagination we can be creative 
 and embrace other perspectives, 
 because the mind follows imagination. 
 It is a very powerful projective capacity of the human mind 
 that leads to transformation and evolution. 
 It is the basis of aspiration and vision, 
 one of the most important aspects of human consciousness.
</h5>
<hr>
The other three forms of imagination have a higher, nobler purpose. Kalpana is
 intentional mental creation. For example, a prayerful suggestion that all people are becoming peace-loving is an
 example of kalpana. We are creating something through the power of thought, something that does not yet
 exist in the physical dimension. Kalpana helps us to aspire towards a goal or vision, and reminds us to
 work to achieve that goal. Pratibha is the spontaneous visionary insight that comes from expanding
 consciousness into higher realms of superconsciousness, and bhavana is the ability to call something into
 existence as a result of yogic contemplation and visioning.
In fact, to imagine is one of the distinguishing human qualities, representing new
 possibilities, allowing us to create a vision for the future. Through imagination we can be creative and embrace
 other perspectives, because the mind follows imagination. It is a very powerful projective capacity of the human
 mind that leads to transformation and evolution. It is the basis of aspiration and vision, one of the most important
 aspects of human consciousness. In its highest form it is visionary and inspiring.
<img decoding="async" alt="imagination2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/imagination2_9a5546c18e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:54:45.772Z">

This visionary quality of imagination has been described by philosophers of all cultures
 for thousands of years, and is encapsulated by Einstein in his statement, “Imagination is more important than
 knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving
 birth to evolution.” Yet this sort of imagination is very far from the ordinary imaginary static or noise in our
 field of consciousness that we know as vikalpa.
So is it the same fundamental aspect of the human being that leads to both magnificent
 visions and delusional fantasy? What allows us to imagine something that does not exist? The four mental functions
 of chit, manas, buddhi and ahankar may allow us to think of new concepts,
 project our existing experience into new dimensions, and use our willpower to bring about change, but these four
 subtle bodies cannot create something new out of nothing without the atman, the combination of thinking
 (man) and movement (ath) that is the soul. It is this divine aspect of our being that is able to
 create. So it is the combination of the subtle bodies and the soul that gives us our faculties of imagination and
 creativity.
In fact, the concept of imagination raises many questions, including:
Can we create something completely new that has never existed before, or do we ‘catch’
 something that already exists in the ether that cannot yet be verified by the senses? Perhaps it exists in higher
 dimensions already. I will leave you to ponder over these questions about imagination in general, but let’s now turn
 our attention to the lowest type of imagination, vikalpa. Why do these random imaginary thoughts come into
 our minds, and where do they come from?
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">“Imagination is more important than knowledge. 
 For knowledge is limited, 
 whereas imagination embraces the entire world, 
 stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” 
 —Albert Einstein
</h5>
<hr>
<h4>VIKALPA</h4>
Vikalpa is the background fantasy in our field of consciousness. It creates
 constant noise in the system. It exists because there are accumulated complexities and impurities in our field of
 consciousness, which are also known as samskaras or impressions. In an attempt to purify consciousness, the
 mind is always trying to throw them out, and so they surface as thoughts. The more complex the impressions, the more
 complex the vikalpas. They may bubble up from our subconscious, in the same way that dreams do when we are
 sleeping.
In fact, the psychotherapist, Carl Jung, developed “active imagination” as a meditation
 technique so that the contents of the subconscious mind could surface as images, narratives or separate entities. He
 used this technique to serve as a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious, and worked with dreams as well
 as imagination and fantasy. Jung’s aim was to bring about harmony and integration from fragmented and dissociated
 parts of the human mind.
Jung thought that “active imagination,” a way of bringing vikalpa into
 awareness, springs from the desires and fantasies of the unconscious mind, which ultimately wants to become
 conscious. He showed that once such fantasies surface, they become weaker and less frequent. This technique was one
 of several that would define Jung’s distinctive contribution to the practice of psychotherapy. This technique not
 only has the potential to allow communication between the conscious and unconscious aspects of an individual’s
 personal psyche, but also between the personal and collective unconscious.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Cleaning removes their root cause in the
 subconscious, 
 by directly removing the underlying impressions that have formed. 
 There is no need to analyze,&nbsp;to
 understand 
 or to experience the effects of the impressions.
</h5>
<hr>
Anything that colors the purity of the field of consciousness can lead to
 vikalpa, whether that distortion has come from the subconscious within or from the external environment
 around. For example, vikalpa may be the result of the atmosphere in a certain place: if you happen to pass
 through an area of a foreign city where there have been many crimes, you may suddenly be gripped with fear for no
 apparent reason. You are sensing the thoughts and feelings of the victims of those crimes. Whether the distortion
 has come from your inner environment or from the external environment, it is because of complexities that the mind
 wants to throw out in order to purify consciousness.
<img decoding="async" alt="imagination" 
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/imagination3_9f645ea55a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T12:55:39.500Z">

That is why we have the practice of Cleaning in Heartfulness, to remove all these
 impressions that have accumulated in our system from past experiences, and also the ones we are creating in the
 present. Cleaning is a much more direct practice than Jung’s “active imagination,” as it bypasses the need to
 observe thoughts and emotions that surface into the conscious mind. Cleaning removes their root cause in the
 subconscious, by directly removing the underlying impressions that have formed. There is no need to analyze, to
 understand or to experience the effects of the impressions.
They are simply removed, like dirt is removed from the body when taking a bath. With
 Cleaning, gradually the background noise of vikalpa reduces, until eventually the field of consciousness is
 clear and pure. Otherwise we will always perceive ourselves and the world through a distorted consciousness, and
 remain at the mercy of vikalpa.
Until we arrive at a stage of purity of consciousness, how can we make use of these
 fragmentary fantasies that arise in our thoughts, these vikalpas? As Jung observed, they show us our
 subconscious desires and tendencies. By simply witnessing them arise and leave, without judgment. It is like looking
 in an inner mirror, so we become aware of many aspects of our psyche, and we can then see how to refine our
 personalities and tendencies. This awareness can then be used to refine our character. In Yoga, this is the practice
 of swadhyaya or self-study, one of the five Niyamas, the second limb of Ashtanga Yoga.
It is easily done by letting the mind drift, witnessing it, and seeing what it thinks
 and feels. “Mind is not soul or spirit. It is only matter in a finer form, and we own it and can learn to manipulate
 it through the nerve energies,” in the words of Swami Vivekananda. This is the first step of Pratyahara,
 the fifth limb of Ashtanga Yoga.
Consider the following:
You sit to meditate first thing in the morning, and your mind is
 flooded with fantasies of a sensual nature. What can you do? As soon as you become aware of this distraction, stop
 meditating and clean point B, one of the satellite points of the heart chakra, for 5 minutes, so as to regulate and
 calm the tendency. You will then be able to meditate without being distracted by sensuality.
You sit with your family after dinner in the evening, enjoying their
 company, but very soon your imagination starts to run all over the place thinking of ways to get back at a colleague
 who blamed you for something you didn’t do, leading to his promotion and your sidelining. What can you do? As soon
 as you become aware of the distraction, meditate on point A, another one of the satellite points of the heart
 chakra, for 5 minutes, so as to regulate and calm the tendency. Then you will be able to find a productive solution
 to the problem, accept what has happened, and let go of the resentment.
When consciousness is not pure, our perception remains colored and the faculty of
 imagination is easily diverted into these complex and unproductive fantasies of vikalpa. In contrast, what
 happens when we have a pure consciousness, and we are able instead to project a vision for humanity into this
 purity, without any distortions? Perhaps we visualize everyone at peace, or in osmosis with the Source, or that we
 are all developing correct thinking and right understanding. How the soul will then shine forth and its faculty of
 creation and imagination become potentized! We would then be eligible for Samuel Coleridge’s statement that
 “Imagination is the condition for cognitive participation in a sacramental universe.”
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by Kamlesh Patel</h4>
<hr>

Imagination

<hr class="vertical-space1">
All manifest life seems to require 
 a period of sleep, of calm, in which to gain added strength, 
 renewed vigor, for the next manifestation, or awakening to activity. 
 Thus is the march of all progress, 
 of all manifest life – in waves, successive waves, of activity and repose. 
 Waves succeed each other in an endless chain of progression. 
 —Swami Vivekananda

The fourth vritti is sleep, defining yet another state of mind, for a completely different purpose.
 Patanjali says:
1.10: Abhava pratyaya alambana vritti nidra

Deep sleep is the subtle thought pattern 
 that embraces nothingness – the negation of other thought patterns. 
 It is defined by the absence of content.

Deep sleep is an unconscious state with no content. In deep sleep, our brainwave
 frequencies slow down almost to zero, and these are known as Delta waves between the frequencies of 0.5 to 3 Hertz.
 There is minimal activity. At all other times, except during Samadhi, we have thoughts; but not during deep
 sleep. Samadhi and deep sleep are not all that different, except that in Samadhi we can be aware.

Why do we need to sleep? Delta wave sleep is rejuvenating and refreshing, because when
 we rest the body and mind other healing processes are able to purify and restore our system. Freshness comes as a
 result of deep sleep – we are mentally inactive, so our brainwave frequencies are almost zero, reflecting the
 stillness in our mental process.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">In deep sleep we are absorbed 
 in the soul in a state of oneness. 
 This is a deeply spiritual state, close to God, 
 but we are generally not aware of it. 
 Because we are close to God, resting in the soul, 
 we experience joy and bliss, also without knowing it.
</h5>
<hr>
<img alt="sleep2" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep2_1_71d3dd2690.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T13:02:07.378Z">

There are very few waves in the mind – the lake of consciousness is almost still.
More importantly, when the body and mind are not creating waves, demanding attention, we
 withdraw into the soul. In Yoga, this deep sleep state is known as sushupti. The knowledge of the physical
 body comes in the waking or jagratha state. The knowledge of the mind comes in the dream or swapna
 state, and the knowledge of the soul comes in the deep sleep or sushupti state. In fact, it is the soul
 itself.
In deep sleep we are absorbed in the soul in a state of oneness. This is a deeply
 spiritual state, close to God, but we are generally not aware of it. Because we are close to God, resting in the
 soul, we experience joy and bliss, also without knowing it.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">With the help of Transmission, it becomes quite 
 easy to experience the Turiya state. 
 While our body is fully relaxed, our mind perceives things. 
 We are not sleeping, but we are in such a relaxed state. 
 And then we learn how to take this condition out 
 into daily life with eyes open.
</h5>
<hr>
Some yogis speak about retaining consciousness in the deep sleep state of
 sushupti, but is it really conscious? Not as we generally think of it. We can say it is consciousness
 without familiar awareness. Consciousness is a function of the mind, whereas in sushupti we are at the very
 center of our existence, beyond the mind, in the realm of the soul. In Heartfulness it is beautifully described as
 the state of higher ignorance or perfect ignorance, beyond the conscious mind, beyond the thinking mind, and beyond
 the observing mind. The early Christian mystics called it “the cloud of unknowing.” It is a state so much subtler
 than consciousness, on the verge of absolute nothingness. As the measured brainwave frequencies show us, it is not
 completely zero, but these very low Delta wave frequencies reflect the minimal autonomic activity necessary for
 rejuvenation. It is baseline existence.
Adepts of meditation are able to attain a similar state to sushupti while
 meditating, in deep Samadhi. What is the difference between sushupti and Samadhi?
 Samadhi can be with full awareness and consciousness. But it is not always so – there are various stages of
 Samadhi, starting with the deep sleep like state of unconscious stone-like pashantulya, and ending
 with full conscious awareness. It depends on how we meditate, how we expand our consciousness, and how we connect
 with the soul.
The fully aware state of Samadhi is known as Sahaj Samadhi or the
 Turiya state – awareness in nothingness. In this Turiya state, very low frequency Delta brainwaves
 are measured just as they are in deep sleep, and in Heartfulness this can happen even in the very first meditation
 due to the effects of Yogic Transmission. We touch the soul, we nourish the soul, and we feel as rejuvenated by
 meditation as we do by deep sleep.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Sleep is the vritti that takes us deepest and 
 closest to our Center, our soul, 
 and we do this every night of our lives, 
 from the time we are in the womb 
 until the time of our death. 
 If we can discipline our sleep cycles, 
 it will enhance our lives and 
 contribute to our spiritual evolution.
</h5>
<hr>
With the help of Transmission, it becomes quite easy to experience the Turiya
 state. While our body is fully relaxed, our mind perceives things. We are not sleeping, but we are in such a relaxed
 state. And then we learn how to take this condition out into daily life with eyes open. We transcend the
 Turiya state to the Turiyatit state, which happens when we carry that deep meditative state within
 us all the time. This will only happen when the mind is so pure and elastic that there are no complexities or
 heaviness blocking our ability to traverse all these states of being. It is the result of two things: our ability to
 let go of all the colorings (the state known as Vairagya) and our practice (known as abhyas).
Patanjali says:
1.12: Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tat nirodhah

The vrittis are stilled through spiritual
 practice 
 and the letting go of all the mental colorings.

Through practice and arriving at the state of Vairagya, we start to resonate
 with the Absolute state, the original state of stillness. We not only touch the soul during deep sleep but also
 during Samadhi, with more and more awareness. That connection then continues on through all our daily
 activities. Restlessness disappears. Our waking and deep sleep states are no longer so different.
To simplify, we can say that:
Consciousness + thinking = waking state, jagratha 
 Unconsciousness + thinking = dreaming state, swapna 
 Unconsciousness – thinking = deep sleep, sushupti, death 
 Consciousness – thinking = Sahaj Samadhi, Turiya
Witnessing can exist in any of these four states. Whether it does or not depends on how
 evolved our consciousness is, and the potentiality behind that consciousness. The most difficult state for
 witnessing is sushupti. How many of us can be a witness to what happens in deep sleep or death? Practice is
 the key. It allows us to make use of these deep states of sushupti and Samadhi for spiritual
 growth.
There is an interesting question we can ask here: Why is it that we believe we are
 ignorant in sushupti?
One perspective is that our conscious mind is not active in this deeper state of sleep
 and hence no information is possible from that state.
Another perspective is that there is nothing to be known there! What can we know about
 the soul, about nothingness? Why would we want to know about something that is beyond knowledge? On entering that
 state, the elements of the waking and dream states withdraw and merge into seed form. From that point of view there
 is usually no awareness. So we call it ignorance, without understanding the real thing.
So sleep is the vritti that takes us deepest and closest to our Center, our
 soul, and we do this every night of our lives, from the time we are in the womb until the time of our death. If we
 can discipline our sleep cycles, it will enhance our lives and contribute to our spiritual evolution. How well we
 sleep, and how deeply we sleep, also determine our state of mind throughout the day.
<img alt="sleep-2" 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep3_18c0b2fbb3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T13:03:03.980Z">

Generally, it is better to sleep early to be in tune with natural cycles. On the night
 you miss a good night’s sleep, observe how you carry out your activities the next day.
Then compare that with a night when you go to bed early, before you are exhausted, and
 see how you carry out your activities the following day. Sleeping well allows you to be creative. You can observe
 the difference for yourself.
There is a very interesting TED talk by Jeff Illif called “One More Reason to Have a
 Good Night’s Sleep,” in which he describes how our neurological system detoxifies itself during sleep. Our central
 nervous system does not have any lymphatic drainage, so the cerebrospinal fluid flows through the space between the
 cells removing toxins from the brain during sleep. In sleep-deprived people, the toxin removal is reduced greatly.
 These toxins then affect us, so we become vulnerable to bad moods. What happens the next day? We are more irritable
 and less resilient, and we are less creative. At best we will create more enemies! It is not surprising that
 sleep-deprived individuals are responsible for a large number of road accidents. They also cannot engage in creative
 discussions and fruitful conversations, because they are annoyed with every little difference of opinion.
When we sleep well, our morning meditation also improves drastically. When we meditate
 with a rested mind we will have a better grip over consciousness. And when we meditate well, we will be able to dive
 into deep states with awareness, into Sahaj Samadhi, so that we nourish the soul and let its joy radiate
 into every aspect of our lives.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Sleep

Memory

The first of the kleshas, avidya, which we explored in the last
 article, is the basis of the other four afflictions – ashmita, raga, dvesha and
 abivinesha.
It is the ignorance resulting from a limited consciousness that creates lack of
 awareness. And the two things that are largely responsible for restricting consciousness and leading to mental
 affliction are desire and ego.
It is by becoming conscious of desires and ego, and the role they play in creating
 mental afflictions, that we start to understand mental well-being. In a simplistic way, we can say that during our
 spiritual journey, the yatra, we learn to master desires in the Heart Region, and master the ego associated
 with the Mind Region. In fact the play of desires can create drama even if you are traversing through the Mind
 Region and likewise the ego can display many of its thorny sides while we are in the Heart Region.
The process of going from avidya to vidya is the process of divesting
 all the likes and dislikes related to desire, as well as the various identifications of the ego, in order to return
 back to simplicity.
In Heartfulness, this process of moving from mental complexity and affliction to mental
 purity and health, is done through the journey of the 13 chakras from the outer periphery of being to the Center of
 Being.
We receive so much help in this process from our spiritual Guide and his yogic
 Transmission that keeps our attention focused towards the Center. Even still, we have to be vigilant to refine our
 outer behaviour. We bring those habits and tendencies to light that limit our personalities and work on consciously
 removing them. The remaining four kleshas are manifested through these tendencies that are the result of
 desire and ego, and are best considered together.
<h4>EGOISM</h4>
The second klesha is asmita, egoism or “mine-ness.” Patanjali says,
2.6: Drig darsana saktyor ekatmata iva
 asmita
Egoism is the identification of the seer 
 with the instrument of seeing.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
In Patanjali’s view, egoism stems from identification with the wrong thing. What is the
 seer? The seer is the highest Self, the soul, the eternal infinite aspect of our being, our Center. What is the
 instrument of seeing? The subtle body or heart-mind. So our mental problems arise when our ego starts identifying
 with the instruments of seeing – consciousness, the intellect, the thinking mind, and the sense organs. They are
 only instruments, and when we identify with these instruments it results in a misdirected ego. It is because of this
 that we start developing likes and dislikes, attractions and aversions, and the whole process of forming
 samskaras begins.
In a sense we can say that when we do not acknowledge the soul and its central role in
 our lives, we are doomed to mental affliction and ill-health. Per contra, when we constantly refer to the soul
 throughout our daily activities, we remain in connection with our Center, and that is the recipe for holistic,
 integrated mental health.
In Heartfulness this ability to interiorize is called Constant Remembrance, also known
 as retaining the meditative state, or meditating with open eyes. Constant Remembrance emerges out of meditation,
 once we learn to retain and enhance the meditative state we experienced in morning meditation throughout the rest of
 the day. In other words, meditation is the mother of Constant Remembrance – hence the importance of meditating every
 morning.
As an aside, there is something relevant to say about the effect of identification on
 the divergence of science and spirituality, at least by the 1600s. Remember the famous pronouncement of René
 Descartes, “Ego cogito, ergo sum,” meaning, “I think, therefore I am”? The reality is the opposite:
 Thinking is due to my existence. What is it that grants the ability of the mind to think?
Descartes reasoned that he could be certain he existed because he thought, whereas he
 perceived his body through the use of the senses, which were often unreliable. He concluded that the only true
 knowledge came from thinking. He also concluded that thinking power came from his essence. Descartes defined thought
 as “what happens in me such that I am immediately conscious of it, insofar as I am conscious of it.” Thinking, for
 Descartes, was every activity of which he was immediately conscious.
As a result, Descartes discarded perception as unreliable and accepted only deduction as
 the true method. This became the basis of the scientific method, which still underpins science today, and does not
 accept direct perception as a way of obtaining true knowledge.
Why were the senses unreliable for Descartes? Because of the colorings in the field of
 consciousness due to the formation of samskaras – effectively the kleshas. But is it really
 possible for thinking to be correct when the field of consciousness is impure? It becomes difficult for intellect to
 arrive at the correct inference with impurities spoiling consciousness.
As scientists have found during the 20th century, the outcome of any scientific
 experiment is dependent on the mind of the observer. The importance of purity of consciousness is as important in
 the field of science as in the field of direct perception! When we identify our very existence with thinking, it is
 identified only with the instrument of seeing instead of the seer, and that becomes a source of egoism. This is the
 current plight of humanity.
Per contra, true yogis first purify their consciousness through practice before even
 attempting to understand the world. They identify with the soul. That way, the true witness, the soul, can use the
 instruments of consciousness, intellect, thinking and the senses, as well as superconscious perception, to arrive at
 the best possible answer. The answer can then also be verified by the scientific method whenever there are
 measurable variables. But not everything can be measured by science!
Coming back to asmita, our mental health and wellbeing is dependent on what we
 identify with. The soul is unchangeable, so when we identify with the soul, can we become angry or sad? No. But when
 we like or dislike, when we have attachment and aversion, then we can react, positively or negatively, and then it
 is possible to become angry or sad. We are identifying with the instruments of seeing, not the seer, and so we feel
 pleasure and pain. And, on top of that, we identify still more externally with family members, friends, office
 colleagues, and associate ourselves with them with an emotional bond. So, we move farther and farther from our
 individual center.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="duality-existence2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/duality_existence2_068edc52fe.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T07:38:55.015Z">
</div>
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">When we constantly refer to the soul 
 throughout our daily activities, 
 we remain in connection with our Center, 
 and that is the recipe for holistic, integrated mental health.
</h5>
<hr>
<h4>ATTACHMENT AND AVERSION</h4>
The third and fourth kleshas are raga and dvesha, which Patanjali defines as:
2.7: Sukha anushayi ragah
Attachment is that which follows from 
 identification with pleasurable experiences.

2.8: Dukha anushayi dveshah
Aversion is that which follows from 
 identification with painful experiences.

We become attached wherever we find pleasure, and we feel aversion wherever we find
 pain. If we observe our thinking process, we will find that this happens all the time, with people, food, clothing,
 places and principles. It can apply to anyone, anything and any concept. “I like her hairstyle,” “I don’t like the
 way he speaks to me,” “That house is beautiful – I want one like it,” etc. The current of the mind flows towards
 those thing we like, and recoils from those things we dislike. The effect of the “like” and “dislike” vibrations
 settles down at point C of the heart, and eventually forms samskaras.
Everything starts at point C, the strategic point or landing point for
 samskaras into our system. It is our reactions of likes and dislikes that create the first vibration or
 stir in the field of consciousness. This affects point C, and from there the energy forms an impression.
<div class="text-center">
 <img alt="duality-existence3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/duality_existence3_e32b2d8f8f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T07:40:38.424Z">
</div>
<hr class="vertical-space1">

To prevent point C from being affected by likes and dislikes, try to maintain a
 meditative state throughout the day, so that the mind is unaffected. The beautiful lotus flower floating in muddy
 water is a wonderful analogy: it grows in the dirtiest water, maintaining its pristine purity and beauty. When this
 is done, impressions will not affect the field of consciousness. This is one of the most important things we can do
 for our mental and spiritual health, and it highlights the importance of maintaining a meditative state throughout
 the day.
<h4>CLINGING TO LIFE</h4>
The fifth of the kleshas is abivinesha, which Patanjali defines as,
2.9: Sravasa vahi vidushopi tatharoodho
 bhiniveshah
Clinging to life, flowing through its own
 nature, 
 can be found even among the wise.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
Clinging to life, the instinct for survival, is found in all living beings. It is an
 evolutionary imperative that defines the ecology of all species. But where does this instinct come from? In the
 language of Yoga, these instincts are based on samskaric patterns from the past. Instinct is the result of
 past experience, often from previous lives, that is stored in our field of consciousness. So clinging to life is the
 instinctive result of an aversion to death that has come from the experience of many past lives. We have known the
 pain of dying so well. This klesha is also based on the ignorance of identifying with the body instead of
 the soul, which is eternal and infinite in nature.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">So the key is to have a regular 
 daily practice that removes samskaras. 
 If we are able to remove the root cause of afflictions, 
 we can hope to reach our potential of 
 mental well-being, balance and purity.
</h5>
<hr>
<h4>RESOLVING THESE AFFLICTIONS</h4>
Patanjali tells us:
2.10: Te prati-prasava heyah sukshmah
When samskaras are removed, these
 afflictions 
 can be resolved back to their origin.

2.11: Dhyana heyah tad vrittayah
Through meditation, the outer expression 
 of the afflictions disappears.

2.12: Klesha mulah karma ashayo drishta 
 adrishta janma vedaniyah
Whether they are fulfilled in the present or the
 future, 
 karmic experiences have their roots in these five afflictions.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
So the key is to have a regular daily practice that removes samskaras. If we
 are able to remove the root cause of afflictions, we can hope to reach our potential of mental well-being, balance
 and purity. If not, we are stuck with mental complexities, patterns and tendencies, life after life. It is a simple
 step to do the daily practice of Heartfulness Cleaning to remove them – just as simple as taking a shower to clean
 your body. It takes but 15 to 20 minutes every evening.
This practice of Cleaning is one of the greatest contributions Heartfulness has given to
 the modern world, as it is so effective in removing the root cause of desires. But it is not enough on its own: The
 identification of the ego cannot be cleaned and has to be refined through another process. That we will take up
 another time.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>

The dualities of existence

In Yoga, avidya is crucial to understanding mental well-being. It is considered
 to be the core affliction that is the foundation for all other afflictions. It is the mental defect where one is
 unaware of what is most vital and essential. Patanjali says:
2.4: Avidya kshetram uttaresham 
 prasupta tanu vichchhinn odaranam

Only through avidya are the other afflictions
 
 able to operate, whether they are latent, budding, 
 fully expressed or overwhelming.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
What is avidya? It is usually translated into English as ignorance or lack of
 knowledge, but here Patanjali is not writing about the knowledge acquired by learning facts or even through past
 experience. Actually, accumulating knowledge is only going to complicate rather than purify consciousness. Real
 vidya comes with purity, with the removal of beliefs, prejudices and clutter in the mind. A better
 translation of avidya is lack of awareness, as vidya is possible when there is a pure canvas of
 consciousness upon which awareness and perception can work as a witness. In essence, anything that takes us away
 from centeredness is avidya and anything that aids us in moving towards our center is vidya.
Avidya is the lack of awareness resulting from a limited consciousness. So the
 next question is: What limits consciousness? The coverings of samskaras that cloud the purity of our
 consciousness. And there are two things that are largely responsible for this process of accumulating
 samskaras: desire and ego.
Desire comes from our mental process of judging things according to
 what we like and want, or dislike and don’t want. Desire also arises due to a feeling of lack of things
 (abhav), and due to the overwhelming impressions (prabhav) that things create in us. Desire
 de-centers us from our main nature (swabhav).
Ego is the function of our mind that identifies with and attaches to
 “possession.” When the ego is desireless, i.e. it has no likes and dislikes, when it is only identified with the
 higher Self, then its purpose is to take us to our ultimate destination, and it is one of our greatest instrument in
 fulfilling our duty or dharma. But most of us identify with other things – our body, mind, work, children,
 spouse, culture, country, religion, reputation, and even with material things like our house and car.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">In essence, anything that takes us away from 
 centeredness is avidya&nbsp;and anything that 
 aids us in moving towards our center is vidya.
</h5>
<hr>
It is by becoming conscious of desires and ego, and the role they play in creating
 mental afflictions, that we start to understand mental well-being. In a simplistic way, we can say that during our
 spiritual journey, the yatra, we learn to master desires in the Heart Region, and master the ego associated
 with the Mind Region. In fact the play of desires can create drama even if you are traversing through the Mind
 Region and likewise the ego can display many of its thorny sides while we are in the Heart Region.
So the process of going from avidya to vidya is the process of
 divesting all identifications, likes and dislikes, in order to return back to simplicity.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Self-study makes us aware of our intentions and
 actions, 
 shining a light on our thoughts and feelings. 
 We refine our character by bringing those habits 
 and tendencies to light that limit our personalities. 
 Rather than being judgmental, swadhyaya is done 
 with self-compassion and is used for continuous improvement.
</h5>
<hr>
Avidya can manifest at any time, even in experienced yogis, because of cultural
 beliefs and lifestyle. For example, even the wisest and most open-minded of us may still hold beliefs because of our
 backgrounds and cultural experiences at an early age. So it helps to be vigilant about Patanjali’s first two limbs
 of Ashtanga Yoga, Yama and Niyama, especially the fourth Niyama of swadhyaya or
 self-study. Self-study makes us aware of our intentions and actions, shining a light on our thoughts and feelings.
 We refine our character by bringing those habits and tendencies to light that limit our personalities. Rather than
 being judgmental, swadhyaya is done with self-compassion and is used for continuous improvement.
<img alt="LACK OF AWARENESS2" 
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/lack_of_awareness_b3e8e2368f.jpg"
 class="lazyload w-100">
Heartfulness facilitates self-study in a number of ways:
Through Meditation we learn to become the witness to our inner
 universe. A few minutes of daily Meditation makes us more and more meditative, the effect of which percolates into
 our mundane day-to-day activities. 
Whenever any inner stir arises, we are quickly aware and can do what
 is necessary to remove it through the process of Cleaning. We don’t need to be entangled in the emotions of what we
 see in ourselves. 
We are encouraged to write a journal, so as to sensitize ourselves
 to our inner world. Through this practice we become a better and better witness, with self-acceptance and
 self-compassion, and we are able to change more easily. 
Through Prayerful Connection with our higher Self, we listen to our
 heart and honor its higher wisdom. 
Through the practice of Constant Remembrance, we remain constantly
 connected with the wisdom of the higher Self. This provides an inner canvas of consciousness that remains immune to
 samskara formation.
2.5: Anitya ashuchi duhkha anatmasu 
 nitya shuchi sukha atmakhyatir avidya

Avidya is mistaking the temporal 
 to be eternal, the impure to be pure, 
 the painful to be pleasurable, and the lower self 
 to be the higher Self, the soul or Atman.

<hr class="vertical-space1">
Rather than identifying so heavily with the peripheral transitory aspects of life – the
 body, other ego identifications, behavioral patterns and emotional afflictions – we learn to identify with the inner
 aspect of our existence, the eternal soul, the source of all joy and pure consciousness. Awareness allows us to see
 Reality.
The practices of Heartfulness are designed to do exactly that – to uncover our original
 state of purity and balance. This is why Yoga has never looked at psychology from the perspective of pathology,
 because it has always focused on the positive approach of attaining the healthiest mental state possible for human
 beings, that of Samadhi. That is our focus in Yoga.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by KAMLESH PATEL</h4>
<hr>