Heartfulness Meditation- Evolution of Consciousness w/ Daaji

"Meditation is a transformative exercise to settle the mind in a very relaxed way", says Daaji. In fact, meditation is as natural to us as breathing! People often confuse meditation with concentration. In this class, Daaji offers some important clarifications and commentary on meditation. The concept of yogic transmission is also explained further in this lesson. 

Daaji takes us through another practical session of guided relaxation and meditation. Have your journal handy for this session. Before starting the class, make a note of how you feel. At the end of the session observe the difference in your awareness and update your journal. This session will take about 35 minutes, so free up your schedule. 

Tip: Try to find a quiet spot, away from the distractions of phones and other noises.  

This is perhaps one of the most important classes in this course. Daaji shares an interesting thought experiment in this lesson. Next time you are on a flight or a bus observe your thoughts. Lets say you are seated and you see your passengers streaming in. Observe your thoughts..."Oh! he looks angry", "That's a nice bag", "Grumpy face" and the list of judging others goes on...

Can we get rid of the spectrum of likes and dislikes that imprison us? 

Can we see things as they are free from the burden of our past? 

Can we re-program our existence to live each moment with purity and simplicity? 

The answer lies in the most vital element of the practice "Cleaning". 

Go ahead and explore this amazing class to learn how to create purity and simplicity within. 

An excellent practical guided session on how to clean the system. In this class Daaji will teach you how to create purity and simplicity in the system. At the end of a long day, Cleaning will help you revitalize the system. For those of you who have demanding lifestyles and challenging work environments, this guided exercise will be an invaluable resource to refresh and rejuvenate. 

After the cleaning, you will be guided to meditate. At the end of the session, you will be able to clearly establish the potent effects of cleaning. 

Tip: Have your journal handy and stay away from the phone and other distractions. 

"Active meditation makes you meditatively active" says Daaji. Every act of meditation creates a new state of consciousness within. 

How to preserve and expand this inner state? 

How to ensure that this beautiful state created within does not wither away in the daily routine? 

The first step is the awareness that my meditation creates something within that is valuable to me. It is something to that I must nurture, enliven and imbibe within. Daaji explains in with great simplicity how our habits and desires hinder our progress. Even when we are aware of the challenges we have we are often helpless in accelerating change. This is where prayer helps in invoking the higher source within us. 

We have the infinite source of consciousness within. Through prayer, I am able to invoke this source to transform my inner journey. 

Is prayer just a few words or is it a state of being? 

Explore this class with Daaji and find out for yourself. 

Daaji starts with a review of the practices to date, and describes the active meditative state that emerges out of meditation and continues throughout the day. He then introduces the need to connect with something higher in order to evolve – to aspire for a higher state than the current one.

He explains the three main concepts that are included in the Heartfulness prayer – the goal we aspire for in a spiritual practice, what is blocking me from achieving that goal, and the need to submit to a higher consciousness in order to reach there. Then he walks us through the prayer, and reminds us that this is a universal prayer for all humanity that attracts Grace. He explains to us when to practice the prayer, so that we make most use of our time, including during our sleeping hours, so that we continue to access higher and higher levels of consciousness.

Daaji addresses the questions: What is yogic transmission? How it is transmitted? By whom? He defines the fact that “To receive transmission is to receive the essence of the Source itself,” and explains how it is directed into the heart of a seeker. 

The main effect of transmission is to illuminate consciousness. Daaji defines consciousness as the canvas on which the mind, intellect and ego have an interplay. Expansion of consciousness is a result of the evolution of mind, intellect and the ego. 

What is the role of Transmission in this evolution? 

Let us leave you with a thought: "We know speech, heat, radio waves can all be transmitted. Can consciousness be transmitted too?" 

Enjoy this thought provoking conversation with Daaji! 

After the in depth commentary on Yogic Transmission, Daaji conducts a guided meditation session. Now, with the knowledge of the key elements of the practice, we hope this meditation session helps you foster a deeper experience. 

Tip: Set aside 30 minutes. Keep your journal handy. Stay away from the distractions of your phone and any other disturbances. 

Do we walk on freshly laid concrete? 

Do we sit on wet paint benches? 

After meditation, we create a fragile and subtle state within. Let this inner state settle. Create a balance within and outside. Use your journal to develop observation. 

Our body has a natural rhythm. Aligning the biological clock with your meditation practice helps the body, mind and spirit. There is immense wisdom behind fixing the time and place for your meditation. Similarly doing your evening cleaning right after getting back home from work will ensure that you interact with your loved ones joyfully. 

In this class Daaji shares some very important tips and techniques to get your practice rhythm going. 

Daaji describes the nature of thoughts and what to do about them during meditation. “We need to regulate the mind,” not suppress thoughts. “In true meditation we transcend beyond thoughts to feelings. Let thoughts come, without repressing them, and gently come back to attending to the light in the heart.”

He shares stories with us, and explains why thoughts come during meditation: “When we meditate, we are face to face with our consciousness.” And what about the rest of the day when we are not meditating? How do we manage our mind then? He also talks about the way our attitude affects our meditation. How open-minded are we?

Daaji then walks us through the process of cleaning before meditating again with yogic transmission.

Daaji describes the nature of thoughts and what to do about them during meditation. “We need to regulate the mind,” not suppress thoughts. “In true meditation we transcend beyond thoughts to feelings. Let thoughts come, without repressing them, and gently come back to attending to the light in the heart.”

He shares stories with us, and explains why thoughts come during meditation: “When we meditate, we are face to face with our consciousness.” And what about the rest of the day when we are not meditating? How do we manage our mind then? He also talks about the way our attitude affects our meditation. How open-minded are we?

Daaji then walks us through the process of cleaning before meditating again with yogic transmission.

Daaji describes the natural rhythms and cycles that are part of our human existence, including our breathing patterns, radiating and receiving energy, solar patterns, etc. He shares with us how to monitor our health using the natural cycles of breathing, and how to improve our health by managing our sleep patterns, including information about the physiology of sleep.

He also explains how these natural cycles determine the best times of the day to meditate and clean your system, when to be active physically and when to take rest.

Daaji shares how anger and fear activate the sympathetic nervous system, and shows us a simple pranayama breathing technique to calm our mind and body by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

Daaji shares some of the universal principles governing happiness, how to develop emotional intelligence, and how to cultivate harmonious relationships. He relates our degree of happiness to the fulfillment of desires. He questions a life where we try to create happiness by satisfying outer desires.

Emotional intelligence depends on the maturity of our own inner emotional landscape. Are our emotions desire-based? Are we seeking happiness outside? Or are we more accepting in nature, not expecting anything from others? When we are angry, our inner emotional balance and emotional intelligence dissipates. This happens when situations are against our desires. This way we lose our humanness, which arises from the heart. 

How do we change our inner nature so we remain in a position to accept things rather than expect things? How do expectations affect our relationships? How does entropy lead to disintegration of our relationships, and what input is required to maintain loving healthy relationships? How to create that loving happiness we all crave? Daaji explains.

Daaji summarises what we have done so far during the course, and then looks at how we take this Heartfulness practice forward. He explains how the support offered throughout the journey in Heartfulness is so helpful, in coping with the ups and downs that change and growth create in our psyche. He describes the lifestyle changes that happen as a result of the removal of past impressions. Old habits disappear and lightness and a carefree feeling come in their place.

With self-acceptance and the willingness to change, we move forward. Our consciousness expands, and we go deeper and deeper in meditation. He explains the important role of the Guide in our spiritual journey – how someone who has already trodden the path can guide us to our destination. He describes the human qualities that flower as we continue on the journey, the main flower being love.

Daaji explains that there is much more to share, but that for now it is enough to realize that the change in lifestyle brought about by the Heartfulness practices leads to a change in destiny – a better future. He then leads us for one final time in Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation.

Daaji summarises what we have done so far during the course, and then looks at how we take this Heartfulness practice forward. He explains how the support offered throughout the journey in Heartfulness is so helpful, in coping with the ups and downs that change and growth create in our psyche. He describes the lifestyle changes that happen as a result of the removal of past impressions. Old habits disappear and lightness and a carefree feeling come in their place.

With self-acceptance and the willingness to change, we move forward. Our consciousness expands, and we go deeper and deeper in meditation. He explains the important role of the Guide in our spiritual journey – how someone who has already trodden the path can guide us to our destination. He describes the human qualities that flower as we continue on the journey, the main flower being love.

Daaji explains that there is much more to share, but that for now it is enough to realize that the change in lifestyle brought about by the Heartfulness practices leads to a change in destiny – a better future. He then leads us for one final time in Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation.