My spiritual journey

My Spiritual Journey

I grew up deeply rooted in Jainism. From childhood, I absorbed its discipline, its clarity, and its emphasis on self-effort. Our home was filled with an atmosphere of faith and simplicity. I would often hear my elders speak of the soul as eternal and pure, and karmas as dust particles that cover it. The message was clear: no guru, no god, no Tirthankara can remove my karmas. Only I, through my awareness, restraint, and discipline, can cleanse my soul.

This teaching sank deep into my heart. It gave me a strong foundation for life. I learned early the importance of ahimsa — to be mindful in action, in words, and even in thought. I practiced truthfulness, self-restraint, i believed fully that the soul’s liberation rested only on my own effort. This clarity gave me inner strength, and for many years I felt content in it.

Yet life, in its mysterious way, opened another door for me when Heartfulness (Sahaj Marg) entered my world. At first, I resisted the pull. I asked myself: Why am I being drawn here when I already have the complete path of Jainism? This question returned to me again and again, and for a long time I could not answer it.

When I explored Heartfulness, I discovered something simple yet powerful. The practice of meditating on the heart, the evening cleaning, and the nightly prayer were not complicated philosophies, but living methods. They fit naturally into daily life. But what moved me most was pranahuti — yogic transmission.

The idea that the guide could offer help at a subtle level was new for me. From my Jain background, I was trained to rely only on self-effort. Yet when I experienced transmission, I felt its reality instantly. My meditation became deeper, calmer, and more effortless. Something within me lightened. I could not explain it logically, but I knew that something genuine had touched my heart.

My association with Heartfulness began in 2017, but in those years family duties held me back from practicing regularly. Then came Covid, when everything in life seemed to pause. In 2022, a new phase opened unexpectedly when my granddaughter shifted to Bangalore with her parents. Suddenly, I had more time and space for myself. Looking back now, it feels as though something higher had arranged this change, gently guiding me toward my next step.

Around this time, I met a senior preceptor couple. Their presence itself felt like a blessing. My husband had been experiencing unusual current-like sensations in his body, though doctors found nothing wrong. The preceptor immediately understood that deep cleaning was needed. He gave sittings regularly, and my husband slowly began to feel relief. This touched me deeply — here was a spiritual method that could reach dimensions where medical science could not.

Even more inspiring than the sittings was the couple’s way of being. Their humility, patience, and steadiness left a lasting impression on me. They encouraged me gently to practice every day, never with pressure, but always with warmth. I often brought my questions to them — sometimes I even argued from my Jain background, testing their answers. But they never grew annoyed. Instead, they listened quietly, explained lovingly, and guided me through dialogue and example.

Their calmness became my teacher. I saw the Ten Maxims of Sahaj Marg not as theory but as something alive, shining naturally in their lives. Slowly, I too became regular in my practice. For this, my heart feels deep gratitude.

Along with this came another experience that I cannot put into words fully — Daaji’s presence. Whenever I listened to his talks or watched his lectures, something stirred within me. His serenity, his silence, his gentle words reached beyond my mind. Many times, my eyes filled with tears without reason. It felt as though some heaviness inside me was melting away, as if invisible knots were being untied one by one.

I realized that Daaji’s presence itself is transmission. It transforms without effort, without logic, without explanation. Just his divine serenity is enough to bring change within me.

This raised a deep question in me:

• Jainism says: I alone must remove my karmas through self-effort.

• Heartfulness says: With the guide’s transmission, samskaras can be removed more quickly.

At first, these seemed like opposites. But as I lived with both, I began to see them differently. In Jainism, the guru is like a mirror — reflecting my true self but leaving the work to me. In Heartfulness, the guru is like a gentle breeze — loosening the dust from my heart, making my effort lighter.

Both are true. Both meet in me. My readiness and sincerity are the keys in both. Without my willingness, nothing can move forward.

Today, I no longer feel torn. I honor Jainism for giving me discipline, clarity, and roots. I love Heartfulness for giving me direct experience, softness, and grace.

When I see them together, I no longer see contradiction — I see complementarity. They are like two streams flowing into the same ocean. One teaches discipline and effort; the other opens me to grace and love. And when both flow together, I feel whole.

✨ This is my journey — from questioning, to experiencing, to reconciling.

What I have learned is simple: Truth is one. The destination is one.Whether I call it the pure soul or the Source, whether I walk with effort or with grace, the heart recognizes the light and follows it.

My journey is still unfolding.

When Deepak Chopra says, “You are the universe,” I agree.

When Babuji says, “You are the power which was in the form of Bhuma,” I agree.

When the Tirthankaras say, “You are a pure soul, shed your vibhav and return to your svabhav, your true self,” I agree.

All these truths resonate with me. They may use different words, but they point to the same reality within.

Whether my destination is merging with the Source, as Heartfulness describes, or reaching the Siddhashila of liberated souls, as Jainism teaches, I know that my role is to continue my practice with sincerity. The rest will unfold in its own time.

So, I walk on — with openness, with patience, and with faith — waiting to see where this journey finally leads me.

After a span of three years, my heart finally feels lighter, doubts are cleared, and life looks sorted. With a clear vision and renewed will, I am ready to walk firmly on the path ahead.”