Book Review: ‘Heartfulness’ is about seeking the essence beyond form and reality behind ritual

The Heartfulness Way: Heart-Based Meditations for Spiritual Transformation

By Kamlesh D. Patel & Joshua Pollock

Publisher: Westland

Pages:221

Price: Rs 299

As we manoeuvre through the many demands of relationships, career, property and health, we often sense a void, a feeling of alienation from our true selves. Is it possible for one planet to orbit so many suns? We have many centres in our lives, which makes it all quite complicated. Everyone is in search of infinite happiness and pleasure and he tries to find it in worldly things. But he fails to get them. He needs to find the true centre, which can give him ultimate peace and happiness. According to this book, entitled The Heartfulness Way, the true centre is the deepest centre, which lies at the core of every heart.

Ensconced in India’s age-old traditions, Kamlesh D. Patel, widely known as Daaji, the fourth guru in the Heartfulness lineage, traces a seeker’s journey as he examines the nature of spiritual search. Through a series of illuminating conversations between a teacher and a student, Daaji reveals in the book the core principles and techniques of the “Heartfulness” practice and philosophy to Joshua Pollock, a practitioner and trainer. The book was unveiled by President Ram Nath Kovind recently in the national capital.

From reflecting on the essence of prayer and yogic transmission, to demystifying the act of meditation through practical tips, the book enables us to live beyond the filters of our sensory limitations and discover unity within ourselves. To practise Heartfulness is to seek the essence beyond the form, the reality behind the ritual. It is to centre oneself at the core of one’s heart and find true meaning and contentment there.

The book is a treat for those who are curious about what Heartfulness is and how it can change our day to day lives. With over a million practitioners worldwide, Heartfulness meditation is a set of practices for self-development which help us find inner calm and stillness in our extremely fast-paced world. The easily adopted practices are suitable for people from all walks of life, cultures, religious beliefs and socio-economic rungs. It is an approach to the Raja Yoga system of meditation called Sahaj Marg or the “Natural Path”, founded at the turn of the 20th century and formalised into the Shri Ram Chandra Mission in 1945 in India.

Kamlesh D. Patel is a voice in an ancient tradition. His teachings arise from his personal experience on the path of Heartfulness, while reflecting his deep spirit of enquiry and respect for the world’s great spiritual traditions and scientific advancements.

Kamlesh D. Patel is a voice in an ancient tradition. His teachings arise from his personal experience on the path of Heartfulness, while reflecting his deep spirit of enquiry and respect for the world’s great spiritual traditions and scientific advancements. He practiced pharmacy in New York for over three decades before being named as the successor in a century-old lineage of spiritual masters. Fulfilling the many duties of a modern-day guru, he travels widely, extending his support to spiritual seekers everywhere.

Joshua Pollock, on the other hand, is a Heartfulness trainer and practitioner from the United States. An accomplished Western classical violinist, he has performed and taught throughout the world, and his violin solos can be heard in numerous compositions of A.R. Rahman.