Atlanta, GA, April 7, 2023: “On behalf of Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Heartfulness Institute, I am deeply grateful to the Government of India for this most honorable Padma Bhushan Award. This is a recognition of the services and teaching of the great gurus of the Sahaj Marg tradition, and the remarkable innovations they have made to bring the benefits of Heartfulness meditation to one and all,” Kamlesh Patel, fondly called Daaji by his followers, said in response to being conferred with Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award of the country The award was presented to Daaji by Hon. President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan on the 22nd of March 2023 for distinguished service in Spiritualism.
Dignitaries including Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, Union Minister for Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, and more joined the felicitation.
A renowned meditation guide and a best-selling author, Kamlesh Patel is the Founder of Heartfulness and the current President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. He is a also a trained pharmacist.
“This Padma Bhushan is also a recognition of the enormous efforts, and love from the generous hearts of the volunteers of this great organization of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. This award recognises the many aspects of Heartfulness’s vision and is dedicated to every human being in this world, who aspires to uplift consciousness and work to improve the attitudes of human beings so that we can coexist, and form a united humanity who heartfully dwells together, and evolves together.” Daaji said.
The reinvention of Pranahuti or yogic transmission of spiritual energy in meditation has made meditation very simple and easy for all age groups, professionals, students, and the general public. Enormous successes are already visible in de-addiction, stress management, student performance, and improvement in health and happiness, Heartfulness officials said in a press release.
“We have never charged money to teach meditation. We cannot put a price tag on peace, calmness, contentment, and joy. It defies the very meaning of these qualities. Since 1873, when this meditation system started and volunteers started serving humanity along with the teachers, we have always been driven by our inspiration to reach every household on the planet. So, with this award today, Heartfulness will be known to more and more people, of all states of India and countries of the world, and they will all be benefitted,” Daaji said.
Daaji hails from Bharuch in Gujarat. Having graduated in pharmacy, he built a successful pharmaceutical business in New York. His interest in personal, spiritual fulfilment have been inspired by his father, a monk on the banks of River Narmada and his spiritual Guru, the founder of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur. Daaji is the author of several bestsellers including The Heartfulness Way, Designing Destiny, and Wisdom Bridge. His publications based on his research and findings have appeared in scientific journals. His Udemy Online course on Meditation and the Evolution of Consciousness is quite popular.
The Heartfulness Learning Centre in Kanha, is an attempt for students to learn from nature. His publication for kids, Tales from the Vedas and Upanishads is a bestseller. He has also pioneered numerous other initiatives for kids, such as “Brighter Minds” that are aimed to improve cognitive learning and help unleash their hidden potential. His bestseller, The Wisdom Bridge guides young couples in the preparation of their marriage and parenting.
Daaji’s team has also worked towards conservation of rare and endangered species of medicinal and aromatic herbs, plants, and trees at Kanha Shanti Vanam. He has implemented many dynamic ideas in agriculture, saving endangered species, and profitability for the small farmer. The ‘Tree Conservation Center’ houses a tissue culture lab to help propagate endangered plant and tree species. Kanha named, “The Pride of Telangana” has been awarded the “Haritha Mitra” award for its green initiatives.
Heartfulness Institute launched the Heartfulness App, allowing anyone with a phone to
meditate with Yogic Transmission, anytime, anywhere.
Today Heartfulness has a presence in over 160 countries with millions of practitioners and 16,000 certified trainers. It houses the world’s largest meditation center with adjunct facilities that can seat almost 100,000 meditators at a time.
