Chris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist – Ep. 84 – Kamlesh Patel (Daaji)

Chris Grosso - The Indie Spiritualist - Ep. 84 - Kamlesh Patel (Daaji)

Kamlesh Patel (Daaji) visits the Indie Spiritualist Podcast to talk about going within naturally and shifting our consciousness with heart-based meditative practices.

After graduating with honors in 1980, Kamlesh Patel moved to the US and practiced pharmacy in New York City. While also continuing the Raja Yoga system of Sahaj Marg, with great devotion. Kamlesh continued to follow Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chariji), the second President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. After Babuji’s passing, and has held a number of increasingly responsible roles. As well as, offering his support to the growth of the Mission worldwide. In October 2011 he was proclaimed as Chariji’s successor. In August 2012 was appointed Vice-President of SRCM with the full powers of the President. Due to Chariji’s failing physical health. Following Chariji’s passing on the 20th of December 2014. He became the Spiritual Guide of the Sahaj Marg System and the third President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. He is often endearingly referred to as Daaji. Learn more at daaji.org.

Show Notes

More Than A Temporary Fix (Opening)

Kamlesh shares a little bit about his early life as a pharmacist and addresses the issue of overprescription in the pharmaceutical industry. He and Chris discuss drug addiction and the alternative that the path of yoga offers to those looking to shift their consciousness. Kamlesh talks about the transformative potential of heart-based meditative practices for those who wish to affect the patterns of their own mind.

“Deep down, with any form of drug addiction. There is a desire to change their level of consciousness. They want to forget things, pain and anxiety. They would like to go within in such a way that their inner state doesn’t question their conscience. Whether you are a yogi or a drug addict. Both have the same goal. Both want a change in consciousness. Only thing is that a yogi uses internal ways of going within and expanding consciousness.” – Kamlesh Patel (Daaji)

Connecting with the Heart (18:35)

Chris and Kamlesh talk about the slow but steady road of a regular meditative practice. They offer suggestions for sustaining a successful long-term practice.

The Heartfulness Way (31:05)

Kamlesh speaks about the inward path of the heart. He and Chris talk about experiencing oneness through spiritual practice. And the possibility of waking up to the same realization spontaneously.

“The goal is always to realize who you are.” –  Kamlesh Patel (Daaji)

Dropping Our Crutches (41:15)

We look at different contemplative practices. Why certain practices can quiet the mind. But might not allow us to connect fully and naturally.

“For a person who is not able to rest his mind on very subtle things, they may have to use mantra. But, those mantras can become a crutch or a cane for a person who is not able to regulate the mind. What happens when you are able to allow the mind to jump straight into the essence of the thing, which is divinity.” –  Kamlesh Patel (Daaji) 

Explore heart-based meditation with Joseph Goldstein on Ep. 51 of the Insight Hour Podcast

Chris Grosso - The Indie Spiritualist - Ep. 84 - Kamlesh Patel (Daaji)

          
Images via Shri Ram Chandra Mission