Home is Where the Heart Is.... at Peace

Photo: oasis by mands on flickr

A yogi guest mentioned how, over the past few weeks, he feels that the meditation area in our apartment is an oasis. A place for the vibrationally weary to put down their baggage of thoughts and drink from the fountain of vibrations. Little did he realize that he was a part of the reason why the oasis developed in the first place. His frequent visits keep us on track with meditation and self-purification activities. However, being there all the time, I was unable to appreciate his observation at the time.

After returning from a couple nights out of town, I came back and sat for meditation, expecting an uphill and long period of balancing before hitting a good meditative state. Contrary to expectations I experienced his experience: The instant oasis, which swept up the spirit and washed away the fatigue in a second.

Meditation is one of the most abstract and innate experiences, which is farthest from any mechanical activity. More like an art, it depends on how well you are placed towards yourself in the moment. Meditation melds us with the elements we come from, hence a well defined meditation space is not just a marker in our homes, but provides the required connection with the elements through it's pure energy and tokens of elements. The meditation area, with it's alter and the image of the preceptor provide this divine mix that puts the heart at peace instantly. Truely, home is where the heart is... at peace.

Wisdom, Choice: Fantastic Commentary on State of Humanity

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice


And finally, on wisdom... rather the loss of it






Louis CK on Conans show, explaining why you suck when you're spoiled:
(this might dissapear soon)

How Much Should One Meditate?

"Eight minutes are sufficient. It’s the attitude that is going to help your growth, not you are sitting for eight hours on one leg or something like that. There are some sadhus who just stand up and put one leg like this and they say, “We are sitting on one leg”. That’s not going to help. It’s a living process, and the living process has to be worked out in a living way. Allow it to work out. Allow it to grow."

--1986-0906,Ganesha Puja, California-USA

Hamsa Chakra: Introduction

As we head out for a capstone seminar in Toronto, for newly established students of Sahaja Yoga, I was asked to compile a handout on Hamsa Chakra. Using Nirmala Search, here is a part of what came together:

Location: Hamsa chakra is part of vishuddhi chakra and is placed at a point between the eyes.

The Expression of Ida and Pingala is given through the Hamsa ChakraWe have never yet paid much attention to this center of Hamsa, which is, I think, very important for the Western world, rather than for the Indian or the Eastern. The reason is, at the Hamsa chakra, part of the Ida and Pingala come out and manifest - means the expression of Ida and Pingala is given through the Hamsa chakra. So this Hamsa chakra is the one that, as if has not gone up to the Agnya, but is holding on certain threads or certain parts of the Ida and Pingala. And they start flowing through your nose, expressing through your eyes, from your mouth and from your forehead. So you know that Vishuddhi chakra has got sixteen petals, which look after the eyes, nose, throat, tongue, teeth. But the expression part of it comes through the Hamsa chakra, of all these. So it’s a very, very important thing in a Western mind, to understand Hamsa chakra. There’s a beautiful couplet about this in Sanskrit, “Hansa kshveta ha, baka ha kshveta ha . ko bhedo hansa bakayo ho. Neera ksheera vivek e tu. Hansa ha hansaksh, baka ha baka ha.” Meaning ‘The crane and the swan, both are white. And what makes a difference between the two? If you mix the water and the milk together the hamsa (swan) will just suck in the milk. So it can discriminate between the water and the milk while the bakha, means the crane, cannot’. It’s a very significant thing for Sahaja Yogis to understand.

Read More: Sahaja Path Newsletter, CA

The Advent in Czech, "Incognito" Prague Launch

The launching of the Czech translation of the Advent

Two auspicious events in sahaj world took place in Prague, Czech Republic, last year. The first was the publishing of the Czech translation of Gregoire de Kalbermatten’s book The Advent in the total amount of 2000 copies. The launching of the book was held in Luxor, the biggest bookshop in Central Europe, on 6th June. Since the very morning a big poster of Shri Mataji’s photo known as the „Healer“ placed next to the main entrance was vibrating the busy pedestrian precinct in Wenceslas square. The first delivery of the books (100 pieces) was sold out during incredibly short time before the actual beginning of the presentation and the amazed publisher’s distributors had to bring a new supply…

The event started by Gregoire de Kalbermatten’ speach translated into Czech which had a great impact on all the participants and was rewarded by a long applause. The translator of the book, Marta Heinlová, read short extract of the part about the author’s first meeting Shri Mataji accompanied by the sounds of the sitar. The „baptising“ of the book by the Borbera river water brought to this special occasion from Cabella was performed by Gregoire’s wife Cathrine and the translator of the book and the cheerful, relaxed atmosphere was tinged by Indian bajans interpreted by the Czech bajan group „Vítr do dlaně“ (Wind in your hands) which attracted many passer-by readers and made them to stop and listen to something that had never happened in this bookshop before. After having answered many questions, the author started to sing the newly launched book for many people happily waiting in the long queue. About 140 copies of The Advent were sold there that memorable afternoon, the Luxor record! And some 600 books has been sold so far to both the yogis and non-sahaj readers.

May this book be found by a lot of seekers of the Truth and enlighten their heart so that they join us on our journey to “our-Selves”! Jai Shri Mataji !!!

Incognito – and yet publicly!

Incognito means secretly, discreetly, hidden. Such is the title of the new booklet of Gregoire de Kalbermatten’s aphorisms, quotations and poems in Czech and English versions published 6th December in Prague. The collection shows the versatile personality of the author in the role of a philosopher and poet presenting more than hundred aphorisms, the selection of the quotations from his so far last novel The Legend of Dagad Trikon and 13 poems. They reflect some thoughts and perceptions consigned in his diary during his many travels. Beautiful pictures taken by the photographer from the whole world increase the vibrations emitting out of these fragments of wisdom and please the eyes and hearts of all perceptive readers. The main topic around which his lines as he expressed it “merely dance” is the necessity to achieve our self-knowledge.


To decode our inner Being which incognito travels with us through our worldly existence and achieve a complete transformation of our awareness is considered by the author the most important task for the human race and an essential condition of our surviving on this planet. The collection isn’t a translation of an already existing book but a completely new publication collected, arranged and edited in the Czech Republic by the translator with its absolute premiere in Prague. A lot of people came to participate in that blissful event when the book was presented to the public and the author had to satisfy a long queue and sign some 187 books. During the author’s reading Gregoire commented on single aphorisms and poems to clarify their meaning in a very interesting way. The three „godmothers“ of different nationalities and the very way of baptising the newborn baby-book by vibrated water sprinkled on it with the twigs of mistletoe, a magical plant of old Celtic Druids who once used to inhabit European territory, gave the ceremony a cosmopolitan character. We believe that the sign „Love that can be lost isn’t the love I seek“ placed on a photo of the Ganga river that was “flowing” on the screen above the stage together with Gregoire’s wise words will remain deep in the hearts of all who came to join in.
The book will be available in Cabella.
More info at: martah@sky.cz

Mentoring Comes Full Circle

Seven long years since the awakening of Kundalini energy, and now it was finally time for a fruitful mentoring relationship to come full circle.

As college age kids, we had very weak foot holding in the realm of spirituality, easily outweighed by the skepticism of a seeking rational mind. But we were fortunate to find a mentor, not too elderly, but wise enough for us to springboard to real spirituality. He is an un-assuming personality, with his own struggles through life - but manages to maintain a cool head and a sensitive heart. We were drawn to him like younger brothers. He dispensed advice, he calmed our doubts, he answered pointed questions and offered the occasional unsolicited suggestion. He came up with simple ways to enjoy the divinity of meditation and when the night wore on, simply slept off in any given position.


Well, seven years past that wonderful mentor ship and we find ourselves at the other end of the world. He is still the wandering mystic, under the guise of an engineer and I am still the wide eyed co-journer looking up to the old soul behind his quiet persona. I was more than eager to invite him home, provide comfort and conversation. But it took months for him to convince himself to get a ride and make the 2 hour trip.

Finally, the day was here. We did the usual coaxing to lead a meditation here, a clearing session there and it was like old times. Living in the occident, we forget the depth of the orient. Young yogis in their 20s would easily surpass the depths of their counterparts when it comes to guiding the attention through the journey of charkas and into the bliss of meditation. That was it, the moment of togetherness in Sahasrara. After the meditation, he made remarks about the vibrational state of America - tremendous vibrations, easy to get into deep meditation - yet difficult to sustain that state. True dat.

Then we say our good-byes and hope that the paths intersect in the future, once more.

Photo: "The Path" (cc) by Steffe

Nepali Bhajan: Maharagi Maharagi

This post has been moved here.

Sir CP Honored

Emails announcing the news that Sir CP Shriwastava, Shri Mataji's husband, has been honored with the second highest civilian honor in India, the Padma Vibhushan. This blog took a minute to introspect to put the news into perspective.

Sir CP has been a silent and benevolent aide to the work of Sahaja Yoga. Firstly through the sacrifice of personal time in the 70s which would only increase. But personal time is not the only thing that Sir Chandrika Prasad put into the nascent years of Sahaja. Sir CP gave money generously for the rehabilitation of damaged seekers, often reminiscing the day he came home to find a homeless British gentleman dressed in Indian clothes from his own wardrobe, sipping tea.


In the early 90s, while talking to yogis in Australia, Shri Mataji presented Sir CP as an example of blemishless service to the nation and lessons in monetory honesty that can be learnt from him.

I recall an experience that a fellow yuva had with him in 2001 at their home in Pune. There was a sudden infestation of snakes in the house at the time and someone had just spotted one climbing the leg of a sofa. On the sofa they sat, aware, dignified and composed. Both of them witnessing another snake being captured, inches from them with the temperament of watching a silly drama unfold.

Sir CP is the distinguished author of the book "Corruption" which I have not read, and will refrain from commenting. But I do know, being an Indian myself, that it takes a lot of courage, poise and strength to survive as an honest civil servant in the corrupted Indian beauraucracy. Not only he demonstrates survival in a hostile environment through idealism, but inspires young Indians like me to have hope in honesty and idealism.

Sir CP shares his birthday with Shri Mataji, but never steps up to the occasion. Downplaying it's significance to let the true force shine through. Often silently but surely he affirms the benevolence and good luck, which has come his way since his auspicious marriage.

There are excellent biographical write-ups & articles of interest on Sahaja Websites that one can refer to for further reading:

Shri Mataji's Husband - Sir C. P. Srivastava

Sahaj A-Z: Padma Vibhusan

Sahaja Destination: Ganapatiphule

Ganapatipuhle, the land where the legend says, two of our lowermost chakras open up & clear out. Almost a year ago while traveling through Maharashtra looking for vibrationally charged places, I discovered GP once again! Now Sahaja Yoga has a few humble but permanent structures to accomodate yogis who might be wishing to stay there. To our surprise, we found that 200+ yogis were staying there between pujas. It was a pleasant surprise. Today, someone posted a few clips from GP and these illustrate the two most important things about the village: the new Sahaja Yoga land development and the Ganesha swayambhu:

Some are born great, the rest of us try to get there

Becoming our own master is a recurring theme within Sahaja Yoga. However, like a small bird unable to spread it's wings until pushed out of the nest, I have always felt that guruship should be left to the guru. However the Guru now implores the inner guru to not only awaken within the limited context of giving realization, but also tending to the world.

In the last five years, the emphasis was given on giving realizations. It was the need of the time, to open up our Vishuddhi to announce the new age and be able to raise Kundalinis of anyone and everyone. In streets, in noisy fairs, in trains or planes. This important skill was developing in the collective unconcious. Like the ability of a new-born bird to tweet and let it's presence known. To spread the wings in the safety of the Mother's nest and just feel the wind as a breeze beneath it's wings, but not actually flying. That time is now past and we are at the edge of the foretold times when the earth would be home to walking trees that bear the fruit of life. 

Gyaneshwara was the instrument through which the Sahaja path was transferred into general society. had described these times, the blossom times, as when realized souls, saints, Sahaja Yogis will roam the earth as fruit bearing trees. Unshaken by the hurricane like change on account of their roots, eager to bear and share fruits of wisdom, through the blessings of the Almighty.

The divine end of the prophesy kept itself. The advent of the primordial energy to enlighten the brains of those who ardently sought Truth, Knowledge and Joy. Thus hundreds of thousands of Buddhas were created who must now face the future, which rapidly seeps into the present. Rise to the destiny of being masters of the spirit, herald a new age of true love into the society.

Unlike incarnations who are born great, these kalpavrikshas (fruit granting trees), the Sahaja Yogis have achieved greatness through the mercy of the primordial power who incarnates as the World Mother; and the next level of consciousness quite literally thrust upon them. This reminds me of Shakespeare's line from twelfth night:

 Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. 

Cool Subtle System Kindergarten Image

Found this cool image on a German SY blog:


... apparently its the cover of a Audio CD full of Sahaja Children songs

Meditation: How-To & Importance

In this video, recently posted, one can know the importance of meditation. Shri Mataji elaborates on meditation, achieving the meditative state and benefiting from the process. What is the role of meditation? At what point are we in meditation? What happens to us in that stage? These questions are answered in this brilliantly selected extract:

Lifestyle Changes to Become Centered

Welcome to another edition of the Learn Sahaja Yoga blog! Today's quote teaches us how to deal with our ego and superego, the two sides of our brain. Ego is the left brain, the terminal end of the right side and the superego resides in the right brain, the terminal end of the left side. (Refer to chakra chart in the sidebar).

Now we have to see that we have problems for superego and ego. Now superego is the left side, is darkness, tamo guna and our past. Those who have left side problems should think of the future - gives them balance, if they think of the future. For example, a person who is lethargic should take to working. Put your mind into working for the future planning: what to do, where to go, how to do. That will keep you away from drag of the left side, and gradually then you can balance yourself also.

Now the right side of a person, when it is activated very much, he has to balance it, not with the left side but with the center. That is, a person who is very hard-working must develop a witness state. You try to do a work, any work, indulge into work in thoughtless awareness, as a witness. Whatever work you are doing you just say that “I am not doing it.” This you can do it after Realization, become thoughtlessly aware and start doing your work.

So the compensation of the left side is done by movement to the right; and of the right side, movement in the center. Left side is the tamo guna, right side is the rajo guna, the center is the sattwa guna. But still these are three gunas. That’s not the state which we have to achieve.

Star Wars & Sahaja Yoga

It is a cheesy, yet endearing thing to compare pop culture with spirituality. But in the case of Star Wars it comes even closer because Goerge Lucas consulted with various eastern scholars in formulating the story and characters of the original Star Wars.

I was introduced to Star Wars quite late into my life, by my wife, of all the people. I was a trekkie, and the trekkie fire had been dwindling because it is actively atheist and Greeko-Roman in it's search for truth. Star Wars came as a breath of fresh air. It was a lot like Mahabharata, where evil burgeons into an empire and the good is sent into exile, but eventually good prevails. And there is no confusion between good and bad. The bad are ugly, black and distinct... well mostly. Here are the top 10 quotes from the Sahaja point of view, IMO. Share your favourite moments in the comments:

You underestimate the power of the Dark Side! -Darth Vader

You know, sometimes I amaze even myself. -Han Solo

Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him? -Obi Wan Kenobi

Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them. -Obi Wan Kenobi

The Force is strong with this one. -Darth Vader

Oh, great warrior, hmm? War does not make one great. -Yoda

My ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Its energy surrounds us. -Yoda

Your father was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true-from a certain point of view. -Obi Wan Kenobi

-- (Original compilation: Associated Content)

Incognito: New Book by Kalbermatten

"Love that can be lost isn’t the love I seek"


(Press Release) A new book by Gregoire de Kalbermatten , "Incognito", in Czech and English, published in Prague, Czech Republic, soon!



This eternally valid quotation from Gregoire de Kalbermatten’s Legend of Dagad Trikon is to be seen on the posters in the streets of Prague, introducing two auspicious events that take place there on 6th December – public presentation of the tiny collection of Gregoire se Kalbermatten’s Aphorisms, quotations and poems, both in Czech and English, under a symbolic title „Incognito“, and the public programme with his lecture, meditation and music by the bajan group „Vítr do dlaně“ (Wind in your Hands).

The booklet is illustrated by the photos taken by sahaj photographers in Cabella, India and New Zealand and its graphic design has the souvenirlike character. We hope the content will please both intellectually and poeticly-oriented readers. The very intention to collect these fragments of wisdom was motivated by the desire to share their message with other soul mates and spread dharmic sahaj culture throughout the world. The book will be available at our Borotin stand in Cabella at Sahasrara puja.

Everybody is warmly invited to join the launch in Prague (more info at martah AT sky.cz).

Thank you for supporting us with your enlightened attention and for spreading the news to other sisters and brothers!


Jai Shri Mataji!!!

On behalf of the author’s team
Marta Heinlová, the translator

Guided meditation: Video

Today's meditation lesson comes from the fantastic Canadian website: freemeditation.ca

There are all possible permutations and combinations of the basic self-realization exercise available, my preference of media (video/text/images) and time constraints! Isn't that just great?

Check it out: http://freemeditation.ca/workshop/

Sahaj vs. Mental Solutions

Often we forget our nature as spirit and run around like headless chicken, looking for solutions in the old human way: legal, mental, financial, medical and material solutions to problems of life.

Then the moment of zen arrives when we would introspect and dispel the darkness under the lamp itself through introspections. I was happy to cure myself overnight of the flu by the elegant power of self-realization, introspection and dropping false emotional ideas clogging up the left side. 

The Flowers

There are places troubled and poor in the whole wide world
People cry for our help but nobody would like to go
And only suddenly fair like a message of God
Among those poor grounds beautiful flowers grow:

Flowers don’t know the bad and good
Comforts and prestige they don’t know
They grow in every country, in every neighborhood
On stones and on sands the Flowers grow.

People like to create and compare brands
And according to taste they make divisions
And so they turned the earth into separate lands
And so they turned the truth into separate religions

But Flowers don’t know the bad and good,
Comforts and prestige they don’t know,
They grow in every country, in every neighborhood
On stones and on sands the Flowers grow.

And if we go all out and listen to our hearts
We’ll see that each person around is our sister or brother
We will feel that the earth is the whole and we’re only a part
And so we will not judge, but we will love each other

For Flowers don’t know the bad and good,
Comforts and prestige they don’t know,
They grow in every country, in every neighborhood
And lets wish that in our hearts these Flowers grow.

-- Alla Levitan

---

Poem (c) 2008 All Rights to the poetic words reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Images CC licensed by Martin_Helgan 

Music of Joy: Joie de vivre in Argentina

Music of Joy concerts celebrate the arts and culture in Sahaja Yoga. These musical presentations are filled with world music, not just Indian classical and folk. They are increasingly popular in Argentina and Brazil, apart of a few other countries in Europe. Videos from the most recent one in Argentina:







Update! New Bharatanatyam Video out:

Achieving Self Mastery

Being our own master sounds too good to be true, however when you consider it is based on the living work of the true masters (Lao Tse, Confucious etc.), it starts being plausible. Vedic commentary does mention that the work of powerful saints, yogis and siddhas permeates into society via the ether through ideas that travel in the sub-concious. The ten most important masters of knowledge of this world have achieved the distinction of not only doing living work during their lifetimes, but the work remains within all humanity as the ten petals of the "void" region within us. The void region is the region surrounding the third chakra of peace & generosity below:



Religions followed the true masters, but the essence of their teachings stays within us as it is born with us (sahaja).


Toni, a yogi, recently came up with a mnemonic to remember the 10 primordial gurus, which was the inspiration behind this blog post:

R espected
A nd
M ighty
Z eus
L eads
C ourageous
S ouls and
M any
G ood
S aints

R aja Janaka
A braham
M oses
Z oraster
L ao Tse
C onfusius
S ocrates
M uhammed
G uru Nanak
S ai Baba

On Rails Of Fire

Inspired by the Life of Lal Bahadur Shastri

The Train of Life

Is rushing through

The country side

Through silent lands you go deep

Where joys and worries are asleep

And then in evening’s humble verse

You’ll hear the pulse of the Universe

The pulse of Love inside your being

The flow of Love the heart would bring

Across the night,

Across the day,

Beyond the Time

That flies away,

And all the wars and troubles you cross

To pour Love on the Universe. . .

The night is dark

When only Star

Of hatred

Lies on its Altar

But if you simply open your heart,

It’ll bring the world Another Light,so

Let your Spirit shine across

The battlefields of the Universe:

There is no force that is stronger than Love

All the weapons melt in the Fire of Love . . .

Across the night,

Across the day,

Beyond the Time

That flies away,

And all the wars and troubles you cross

To bring Peace to the Universe.

The winds of hatred, the snow and rain

They cannot stop or slow your Train

The life might want to hit you hard

But There Is God inside your heart!

And if you want to help the world

Become a flute in the hands of God

And let the melody of Grace

Just flow freely through the space

Across the night,

Across the day,

Beyond the Time

That flies away,

Beyond empires that fall and rise

TO TURN THE EARTH INTO PARADISE . . .

-- Alla Levitan

(c) 2008 All Rights to the words & image reserved by the poet. No part of the poem can be reproduced, performed or published without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Mountain

(CC) licensed photo by philipbouchard

I see a mountain from my window
Standing like an ancient sage
Desireless, full of love.
So many trees and so many flowers
They plunder the mountain all the time.
Its attention is not disturbed
And when the rain pours like
Many pitchers of clouds bursting
And it fills the mountain with greenery.
The storms may come soaring,
Filling the lake with compassion
And the rivers flow running down
Towards the calling sea.
The sun will create clouds and
Wind carries on its feathery wings
The rain on to the mountain.
This is the eternal play
The mountain sees
without desires.

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

Crossing Roads: Beautiful Reggae Song on Borotin

Self Realization in a New York School

A yogini from Yonkers had the opportunity to give realization to 25 graders, at her son's school in Yonkers. Here is her recollection:

I briefly talked about the mothering quality of mother earth and how it nourishes us and that we also have mother earth inside of us called mother kundalini and we can feel it in the form of cool breeze. These children became very attentive. They simply placed their hands on their hearts and closed their eyes. You could imagine a class room in silence. I asked them to say quietly, "Mother kundalini, please come in my heart”.

A few minutes, as they opened their eyes, they placed their hands over their heads and you could hear them, "wow, so cool!” They all felt the cool breeze and commented that they felt "peaceful", "calm" and "calmer" inside. So was Nishad's teacher who had previously invited me to do the meditation with her class. Then, at the end of the session, they asked many interested questions about Who is "Shri Mataji”, "Could I do it at home?" "What does the colors mean on the hands and feet?" and "what are the colorful flowers (chakra) for?". The teacher even suggested that I do it for the other classes also because of the beautiful results. Yesterday, I met with the school's principal who apparently knows about kundalini and are now planning a date to give realization to the entire staff.

(names hidden to protect identity)

East Meets West

I am just beginning to recognize the face in the mirror, though I have seen her endless times. Know Thyself. It is in the Bible, in the Koran, in all the religious scriptures of the world. Why this should be at the heart of spiritual ascent is a mystery. As we move into the global awareness of the twenty-first century, where multi-culturalism is an everyday occurrence, and Anglo-European rationality meets eastern mysticism, what happens to this journey of self-knowledge?

The subtle realm is no longer the exclusive domain of eastern philosophy. Physicists all over the world are now doing research into unseen dimensions, illusive quarks and vibrating strings of energy. Yoga classes are as American as apple pie. My own personal story of cultural and self-integration began twenty years ago, when, as fate would have it, I found myself in the Himalayas, a Jewish girl a long way from home, learning to meditate.


I was on assignment for the Jaipuri Times of India. My husband, one-year-old daughter and I were staying on the family estate of an Indian lawyer in the foothills of the Himalayas. I find India to be a deep and aesthetically beautiful culture, albeit with social problems we are lucky enough not to have.

What it lacks in material comfort is made up for in the generosity of the people, and the general feeling of glee inspired by walking down a street in the company of two camels, three cows, an elephant and a wall mural that is probably a thousand years old. Once you start gaining altitude, the terraced slopes are dotted with wild goats and stone huts, and ringed with dense jungle. The mountains tower up all around, surreal; misty-peaked and sharply etched against the sky. Our friend had just met an extraordinary woman, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.

(Mahatma Gandhi had sought her advice as a child; now, as the founder of Sahaja Yoga meditation, she has become Spiritual Mother to millions.) In 1981, Sahaja Yoga was slowly growing in India, attracting the attention of restless westerners like us, searching for a spiritual place to call home.

I took to it right away. One unusual aspect that struck me was that Sahaja Yoga starts with the awakening of the spiritual energy Kundalini and self-realization, instead of ending with that. Traditionally, first one's chakras are completely cleansed, which takes ages, and then the Kundalini rises. Maybe. Old-style gurus used to pass on this experience to one or two disciples at most, after years of arduous lessons and privation. Offering this experience right away is pretty outrageous; it implies a bunch of normal people walking around in an awakened state, not just saints living in caves who have practiced severe austerities for lifetimes. The premise is that once you have the light inside yourself, you can see your own problems clearly, and are then better able to work them out. You get in touch with yourself. More than that, the process is expedited, so what used to take people five or ten years to figure out, can be seen much more quickly through meditation and introspection. After learning about Shri Mataji's meditation, I was lucky enough to go to her house in Delhi.

I was standing in the doorway, holding my infant daughter in my arms. Putting her hand lightly on my shoulder, Shri Mataji's eyes sparkled as she said, "Kundalini has risen. They've both got it." It was a fabulousfeeling, like a cool breeze blowing gently over the top of my head.

The basics of Sahaja Yoga are simple. There is Kundalini, a spiritual energy. There is the subtle system of energy, chakras (a Sanskrit word meaning "spinning wheel") and the three channels of the autonomous nervous system. It's not hard to understand. The truth of the matter is that all of our quirks and problems and all of physical reality can be addressed at the level of energy.

Reality is what it is; energy once created is never destroyed…so once you have an understanding of how you are put together in this way, you can really get down to the business of self-knowledge. For example, let's say you suffer from chronic guilt syndrome. Jewish? Catholic? Whatever. That particular problem involves the chakra located on the left side of the neck. By working on that spot, you can really alleviate the problem. Moreover, you start having insights into the inner workings of the situation, and as things start to become clear, you become more and more the master of the situation. Most importantly, you start to transform yourself
from the inside out. You can begin right now. Close your eyes, and imagine a coiled up twist of silken energy threads at the base of your spine. (The Greeks called this the sacrum, the sacred bone: they knew what they were talking about.) Now ask yourself, do you want this energy to waken? Ask yourself the question, "Am I the pure Spirit?" Now hold your hand over your head. Do you feel a cool breeze coming out at the top? This is the Kundalini, newly risen. Now, you've got it.

After my meeting with Shri Mataji in India, I had another serendipitous moment. I was in Jaipur, riding in a horse-drawn wagon with my daughter on my lap. On the sidewalk market, among the red and purple turbans, the richly hued saris, the shining brass plates hanging mirror-like behind pyramids of oranges and mangoes, there appeared a young Muslim woman covered from head to toe in swaths of cloth. A black cotton scarf covered her mouth. Only her eyes were revealed to the world. These eyes caught mine, and my breath as well. We were from completely and utterly different worlds. Her life was unfathomable to me, and mine to her. Yet here we were, on the same side of the world, the same street, the same square hundred feet of red Indian earth between us. Somehow for a fraction of an instant, we made a connection. Everything, the barefoot children laughing behind the long silken braids of their mothers, the cows and camels sauntering insolently among the chaos of India, the fragrance
of earth and incense and spice, everything blurred into formless color, leaving the two of us alone in sharp relief. I could barely breathe. Then she did the outrageously unexpected, an act of
courage: she undid her scarf so that I could look directly into her face.


Her face was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, by any standard of beauty. What could I do? Wave, or yell out? I could only stare back at her, and it seemed as though she looked triumphant. I felt her femininity, her strength. Her look said, "I may be bound in cloth and fierce tradition. But inside, I am intelligent and present. I want you to see, that, to see me." In one blinding moment our cultures collided, and then it was over. The horses clopped on, we turned a corner, and she was gone. I ponder that moment sometimes. In one way its meaning has remained a mystery, like an archetype, as pure and necessary as a prime number, too deep to plumb. It is evocative, however. As we two made a connection, so a bridge needs to be built, and then crossed, between borders and boundaries, linking us all together. The spiritual path finally is not about eastern mystical paradigms meeting western rational thought. It is about self meeting Self, across all cultural values and interpretations. In today's world, we must bind our hearts to a new pattern, an integration of east and west, giving birth to a modern world free from fear. It will take intelligence, and great courage, to gain possession of our collective ascent. Yes, it is time to drop the veils that blind us to our essential self, that place where we are one beyond individuality, beyond cultural definition. Change is possible. The intelligent beauty of that young woman's face comes back to me clearly now. Her challenge to me is one I put to the mirror, to the face I am coming to recognize, to my daughter grown so quick and fine, to get to work, connect to life, and hurry up! For time waits for no man, or woman, no matter what color earth lies under their feet.

-- By Nancy Partridge


Creative Commons Licensed Photos by Nagesh Kamath, Soqotra (Yemen)

Children with ADHD Benefit from Sahaja Meditation

The ADHD Blog Reports on the benefits of Sahaja Yoga meditation on children:

A Sahaja Yoga practitioner shares her vision of the country, with reference to the specific problem of unemployment on http://www.change.gov/

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(cc licensed picture from gadl on flickr)

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"I wanted to share my vision on how to solve/ease the problem of unemployment.Many people in US nowdays are required to work overtime and cannot take vacation days which they have. This means that the companies don't want to create new workplaces and hire more people. This also violates human rights. Previously we had 8 hour day and 40 hour week, no more. However in the last 9-10 years I noticed a change that companies require people to work overtime. Many people work 50-80 hours week, especially in IT. Also people cannot take vacation days that are accumulated as employer doesn't give leave. People cannot defend their right of working just 40 hours. They fear to lose the workplace. As a result of that some people work more hours and some people don't have employment at all because complanies don't create new work places. Also this creates disbalance in the society,people cannot do their family duties, children are neglected without enough of parents attention.So I suggest to change working policies - the government needs to control how many hours people work and they need to take their vacation days.The companies need to create new workplaces. The people working 80 hours - means 2 workplaces working 40 hours instead of one.Also in Europe vacation time is 45 days/year and there is nothing wrong with that. Balance between work and family time is good for everyone in the society and more work places will be created, more people will be employed. For ladies - many would like to work part time - 20 hours or so.We need this time for families and children. But employers are not creating part time work opportunities. For people with BS and MS very hard to find part time jobs in their field. So always we, ladies, have to either sacrifice a career or family commitments. It would be nice if government enforces companies to hold part-time job opportunities for every field of work.This will mean that more people will be employed and balance of family life will be maintained. The future generation will thank the government for that. And rate of unemployment will reduce dramatically."

-- A.L.

A Prince & A Promise

The Crown Prince wrote this beautiful letter to the people of America:

"I am writing to congratulate Senator Barack Obama for his histoiric election as the 44th President of the United States. He is a dynamic and unifying leader who will reach across geographic and political divides and forge new partnership to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
I also want to congratulate the people of the USA - one of the world's oldest democracies - for participating in this election in unprecedented numbers, for making their voices heard and for truly "being the change they want to see in the world".
History will record this election as having enormous long-term positive consequences for America's most valuable export: democracy.The 2008 Election will hold a place
alongside the election of 1796 when George Washington's decision not to run for a third term assured American democracy; the election of 1828 when Andrew Jackson's victory led to greater public participation in the country's democratic process; Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 leading to the emancipation of African-americans; and the 1960's election of John F. Kennedy, which cast a backlight on America's religious tolerance. Each and everyone of these elcetions sent a message to the world.
The 2008 election of Barack Obama makes clear that America embraces diversity as its greatest strength and that its people are committed to elcting the best person capable of leading the country and the world forward and upward by, in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, appealing "to the better angels of our nature."In light of its historical importance, the 2008 election results are a mandate for change - not
just for the United States but for our entire global community.For this very reason, the election was followed closely around the world - from London to Lima, from Manila to Mexico City, from Nairobi to New Delhi, from Ryadh to Ras al Khaimah, my homeland. Ras Al Khaimah, a member of the UAE, strategically
located along the Straits of Hormuz, a small emirate with big plans for the future. We have long supported the UAE's effort to promote a strong relationship with the United States in the spirit of peace and prosperity to the benefit of all.
In the coming weeks, I will be proposing to the people of Ras Al Khaimah A Pledge For Progress that calls for 1) Building an economy that serves the people and not just the powerful, 2) Pursuing clean and renewable energy indepenence, 3) Preserving our soverignty as a proud member of the UAE, 4) Increasing educational opportunities for the next generations, 5) Promotong the rule of law, including respect for intellectual property and 6) Encouraging greater participation in government. I look forward to working with President-elect Obama, just as I worked with President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, to the mutual benefit of the people of the USA and Ras Al Khaimah."

Windsor Enlightened

Free Meditation Classes featuring Sahaja method of meditation are now being offered at the Windsor, ON College Ave. Community Center. Citizens of Windsor who attended the meetings have expressed great satisfaction at the content of the classes and enjoyed the collective learning, which features stress management, learning about the subtle being (chakras & channels) and balancing techniques.

For meeting directions, click here.

Udrang: The All Pervading, Living Force

There is a subtle power which is described as the all-pervading Power of God’s love, as Paramachaitanya, as Udrang, as, so many other words have been used for this power, which does all the living work. Like we see the flowers so beautiful as they are but we take them for granted. We don’t see how they have come from a little seed, how they are blossoming in these different colors. All this living work we take for granted. We have also taken our evolution for granted and everything that autonomous nervous system does we have taken for granted, it’s a good thing in a way because it’s too much of a worry and botheration if you start thinking why of everything. But there is a power, which does all these things.

-- Shri Mataji, Miami, 1990

On Forgiveness "It just doesn't matter"

Dave, a Sahaja Yoga practitioner shares views on forgiveness and its aspects in this beautiful message:

In my experience, there is always a good reason why people do (bad) things. If someone hurts you deliberately, try looking for why they did it. If you dig deep enough, you'll find there is always a good reason. It is the necessary action for them. If you were in their exact place (including their spiritual development), you would do the same thing.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't protect yourself. Or that it is OK for them to hurt you. They will incur their own Karma, which they will have to work off in full. You can feel free to prosecute them legally, or other naturally occurring consequences for their actions. But this must be done, not at all out of revenge, but because this is a nature consequence.

Occasionally, someone wronged me strongly. I took my best judgement of appropiate action. But I recognized that the anger I felt inside was MY problem. It took time for me to let go of this anger (in one case, two years -- now I have a better method with bandhans), but I did not put the anger on them. Actually, I felt sorry for them, that they did such a foolish action.

Finally, it may be that what seems hurtful to you may end up being for your benifit (if only learning to let go of the anger). I believe we are not qualified to judge others, or ourself. "Let he who is without sin...". But also, we are just not in a position to determine what is bad, simply because we don't like it.

It just doesn't matter.
Dave

One

Poetry on Forgiveness by Walter L., USA

One

I am one

One with myself

One with the child inside of me

One with joy bubbling in my heart

One with the spirit of eternity

I am one

One with the Mother in my heart

One with the Mother nurturing me from the earth

One with the Mother in the space of the universe

One with the Mother silently protecting me

I am one

One with the here and now

{{Download PDF}}

The Borotin Song

Aunties and Uncles from Borotin Jam Session, enjoy!

From Light Headed to Strong Hearted

Chronic fainting and me, went hand in hand. Sight or mention of blood would mysteriously induce blackouts which was a lost frontier. However, the unthinkable happened today as I went in for a blood test, anticipating the mandatory dizzy spell.

The last time it happened was about seven years ago, when I went in for a mandatory health check with my friend IP who introduced me to Sahaja Meditation. At the time we were just room-mates and landed jobs at the same company after graduation. After my test, I passed out in the waiting area. IP was back from his blood exam as I was coming around and put attention on my chakras and felt weakness and blockage in the heart chakra quite strongly.

So today, walking into the pathological clinic, the question was - how far has the heart healed? Without thinking much, I focussed on the experience: ready or not here I come.

I disclosed to the medical practitioner my fantastic ability to slide off, laid down and waited for the anxiety to set in. It triggers with the 'hosital smells' and increases to the point where the ears are ringing and I slip into blissful black. So I waited, and I waited.

Nothing happened, the heart was beating steady. The mind was still functioning. Apparently the heart chakra had healed a long time ago. Enough water had flowed under the bridge and enough love of the divine had marinated the heart chakra over the years. Many devotional divine moments, years of affirmations over the heart in meditation and brought about a transformation which was evident in the small victory today. Thank you Sahaja Yoga.

Photo: dizzy heights (CC) by by stuant63 on flickr

Festival of Lights in Romania

There is no better way to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, than meditating itself. Shri Mataji has encouraged practitioners of Sahaja Yoga to consider lighting the light within and celebrate the spirit of the festival which marks the victory of good over evil. I personally love Diwali in Sahaja yoga because no longer we are mindlessly blowing up crackers and creating noise & air pollution. Rather growing deep and let our lights spread into the world.

Learn & Fun Videos: Footsoaking

Footsoaking is a wonderful exercise to clear out our lower chakras. The benefits are direct: at the first chakra you get grounded, at the second, reduce thoughts and at the third, reduce worries.

The first item here is a youtube video explaining footsoaking. The second one is a fun video showing two Canadian yoginis beating the odds to do a successful and fun footsoak: Enjoy!

Self-Realization Through Kundalini Awakening

In the last two blog posts we got introduced to the concept of Sahaja and the inner being, our sublte system. Here we will follow a short guided meditation by founder of Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.

Fun Frolick Footsoaking Video

Do you feel the need to clear out, but just dont know if getting a footsoak is too challenging? Two brave women in Canada risk everything to perform this amazing miracle of getting a little tub and enjoying a refreshing footsoak.

Kingdom Come & Gone?

by flickr user: WTL Photos (CC)

(What If) The Kingdom of Heaven
Might have come and gone
What if you didn't see it come,
blinded by the siren song.

Ages and centuries,
It took to finally come
it wasn't a moment or a flash
but it stuck around quite long

When angels from heaven
made earth their second home
When the merciful God
Sent His power all alone

(What If) The Kingdom of Heavan
Might have come and gone
What if you didn't see it come,
blinded by the siren song.

There was distinct laughter,
of children and grown-ups,
There was a new smile, everlasting
Like a sun beyond the dust

There was much rejoicement,
And celebration of Truth
There was no written word,
There was no silly book

(What If) The Kingdom of Heaven
Might have come and gone
What if you didn't see it come,
blinded by the siren song.

There was an open door, And everyone came in
Tasted the bread, giving up on their sins
The door remained open, free to come and go
But now there's a shining light, beyond the closing door

Be careful of the company, you may choose to keep
Be careful of the leading voice, that tends to weep
Be aware of the boat, your feet are standing in
Don't drift too far, as you wanna be on the inside, yes within

(What If) The Kingdom of Heaven
Might have come and gone
What if you didn't see it come,
blinded by the siren song.

Now the play is almost over, the curtain callers rise
The doors of the theaters will close at some time tonight
In your happiness you want to see, that you don't exit
That lie as trap for fools and tools, on the left and right

The lights turn off,
the blind scamper, To find a solid shore
The drifters who drifted too far,
They find themselves in heaven no more.

(What If) The Kingdom of Heavan
Might have come and gone
What if you didn't see it come,
blinded by the siren song.

Knowing Your Inner Being

Before getting to inner peace and balance, it is important to know the inner being. This animation introduces you to the system of chakras and channels within us. To know more about chakras and channels you can read on Sahaja Yoga Intro Book website.

Loving the Weather

How does your mind react to weather and changes in weather? I was 21, and in my infancy of self-realization. I had just come across a wonderful friend, Rupesh, who was practicing Sahaja Yoga for a few years and carried a genuine calm demeanor that would disarm the most aggressive people.

creative commons licensed pic by tamaki on flickr

His sage advice that one must not indulge in cursing the weather went deep into the heart and built reverance for nature like never before. Self-realization had once again transformed the inner being in a Sahaja (spontaneous) manner. The natural urge to curse extreme weather has dissolved into reverance for the elements of nature: sun, wind and yes, even Michigan snow.

Yesterday there was snow in mid-Michigan, and I was picking up two friends from MSU - one Indian and one from Togo, Africa. They saw snow for the first time and were mesmerised. I am sure, being yogis, they will cherish snow for its beauty rather than hardship for a long time to come.

How Does Sahaja Work?

Welcome to the Learn Sahaja Yoga blog! This is the place to get some info on Sahaja Yoga form of meditation through videos, text and informative links to other educational websites. To start off, lets answer the question: What is Sahaja? Amongst other things, Sahaja means simple, spontaneous and easy. It is a way of doing things the smooth and easy way. Sahaja Yoga means getting union or awakening in a spontaneous way. The following video demonstrates the method aptly:

Kuchipudi Dancer's Website & Blog from Brazil

Stumbled across a blog of Ana Paiva, showcasing an upcoming dance presentation in Brasilia. Check it out, and turn on your portuguese-to-english translator. Ana is a talented kuchipudi dancer trained in India at the PK Salve Academy of Arts, where many practioners of Sahaja Yoga go to learn music and dance, with a spiritual focus. Meditation and ascent play a far greater role in the development of students as compared to other schools of indian performing arts.

Ana's Website & Blog

Do you feel sleepy while meditating?

We are at a fair and I just worked on a person who has tried meditation but would always fall asleep.

She was describing a problem which I experienced in my first months of sahaja yoga meditation.

The problem comes from the right side being overworked. Right side, or pingala nadi, is the sun channel. It gets exhausted when we are overworked and under rested.

When the kindalini rises and finds over stressed chakras, she does not force herself. But out of concern for the meditating subject, she induces action of the left side to balance out the right. Sleep is a blessing of the left side, and a cure for many right side issues like hypertension.

At the end, our dear subject, flora, revealed she indeed suffer from high blood pressure. This confirmed the relationship between meditation, hypertension and sleeping off.

It took me about four months before I was able to meditate without dozing off... But that was seven years ago and well into the past.

Looking for Links to Mother's Visits?

Here is the place:
http://sahaj-az.blogspot.com/2008/11/visits.html

Audio Podcast 1.1 from GLM

The audio podcast for the new programs has begun with the first 10 minute installment of music and mother's words here:

Kingdom of God in the Gospels

I am reading Tolstoy's The Gospels in Brief. The description of the kingdom of God is so amazingly true. Especially the part where the filtering of chosen ones is described by two parables: the farmer and the fisherman. And also the clear warning by Jesus that the parables might eventually be twisted by knaves for selfish purposes.

Programs in USA, Australia - Weekend of Diwali

AUSTRALIA November 7, 2008
9:00 am	to	4:00 pm

Sahaja Yoga is again holding a Self-realisation Stall in Chatswood Shopping Mall, Chatswood in Sydney, on Friday 7th November, from 9.00 am till 4.00 pm.

This will be held as part of the twice-yearly Charities Day held in Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, just down from Chatswood station.

USA (Michigan)

Catch us in the bodyworker area of the Phenomenews BMS festival!

The Body Mind Spirit Festival Fall 2008: November 8!

MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE - SOUTH CAMPUS
SPORTS & EXPO CENTER

Directions: TAKE I-75 FROM EITHER NORTH OR SOUTH TO I-696 EAST TO THE HOOVER/SCHOENHERR EXIT (24)
GOING UP THE THE RAMP TO THE LIGHT AT HOOVER.
TAKE A LEFT TURN ON HOOVER GOING NORTH TO 12 MILE ROAD
TURN RIGHT ON 12 MILE GOING EAST TWO MILES TO HAYES
AND FOLLOW THE YELLOW SIGNS THAT WILL SAY
BODY MIND SPIRIT FESTIVAL.

JSM!!

A Prayer and A Reason for Creation

Two beautiful posts coming from Australia offering a prayer and answering the eternal question of why the world was created?

The prayer is beutiful as it builds surrender and gives strength in the process. Such a blessing of Sahaja. The reason for creation explores the need for reflection of beauty. Without reflection of God's own glory in creation, God would not be able to enjoy that reflection.

“Why has God created this beautiful universe?” has been a question asked for thousands of years. The reason is very simple to understand. This beauty that is created cannot see itself. In the same way, God who is the source of beauty, cannot see His own beauty. Like a pearl cannot enter into itself to see its beauty, like the sky cannot understand its own beauty, the stars cannot see their own beauty, the sun cannot behold its brilliance. In the same way, God Almighty cannot behold His own being. He needs a mirror. And that’s how He has created this beautiful universe as His mirror. MORE

“Forgive me for what I’ve done, and forgive those who have done harm to me.” More

Labels Dissapear

And in the beginning, we were handed a kite,
That would soar high, bring day to the night,
We took it high in the sky,
Now it comes down, but it's spirit is high.

We took a name, but whats in a name?
We took an identity, now its lost the same.
We took in everyone, and they stole the gates.
We took in thieves and thugs, now the plunder us on.

Now why will anyone trust another vagabond?
Now why should anyone keep faith in time?
Now why should anyone expect any better?
Now why shouldn't anyone become a go-getter?

We have been taken care of,
by a Soul much greater than ours.
A Soul that encompasses, the expanse
of this earth.

This Soul has taught us, how to
live a life of sacrifice
How to give away your last pennies
Without putting up a fight

We have been made stronger,
Cause our faith runs much deeper
Our beliefs may now and then suffer
but we shall always be in surrender.

O! This Sahaja life...