Sahaja Yoga is a meditation technique developed in 1970 by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi which enables us to go beyond our mental, emotional and physical activity to experience our true self within.
SAHAJA means ‘BORN WITH YOU’ or ‘SPONTANEOUS’ and YOGA means ‘UNION WITH THE DIVINE’. It involves the awakening of the subtle spiritual energy known as the KUNDALINI which lies dormant in the SACRUM BONE at the base of the spine in three and a half coils.
The gentle awakening of this Kundalini energy and the inner journey of self-dis covery is known as SELF REALISATION or YOGA. Those who have received Realisation are known as REALISED SOULS or DWEEJAH in Sanskrit, meaning ‘THE TWICE
BORN’
The awakened Kundalini rises up the spinal column until it reaches the limbic region of the brain from where it can be felt flowing out of the fontanelle (FROM OLD FRENCH FONTANELE, MEANING ‘A LITTLE SPRING’) as a cool breeze or vibrations (CHAITANYA). These vibrations can
also be felt on the fingertips and on the palms of the hands. In the same way we can feel the heat of the sun’s rays upon our skin, we can feel vibrations and the experience of Sahaja Yoga.
The immediate effects of raising the Kundalini and going into a state of thoughtless awareness can be felt as a gentle release from our mind and a spontaneous state of bliss, as one merely witnesses and enjoys the present moment. However, the effects of reaching this state go far beyond those few incredible moments of bliss.
When the Kundalini rises, she removes tensions occurring on our central nervous system which cause negative mental, emotional or physical sensations, and brings our system into balance. Thus we are spontaneously relieved from any stress, weight or pain we may be experiencing. As Sahaja Yoga meditation works directly on our central nervous system which controls all of our mental, physical and emotional activity – it has the potential to dramatically improve our well-being in all of these areas by going directly to the source of any problem.
Another defining characteristic of Sahaja Yoga is that it empowers us to become the master of our own personal growth, connecting us with our innate qualities and giving us the tools to overcome most obstacles in life. It is free from levels, qualifications or hierarchies. All individuals who run
meditation classes do so on a completely voluntary basis because they want to share their experience and because it strengthens their own connection to themselves. The knowledge and experience of Sahaja Yoga meditation is always and unconditionally 100% free
That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
Do not be amazed that I say this to you.
The wind blows where it wishes
and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where
it comes from and where it is going;
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit…
Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know
and testify of what we have seen.
NEW TESTAMENT JOHN
THOUGHTLESS AWARENESS
The four states of human awareness from the Indian scriptures:
JAGRUTI
THE WAKING STATE
OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
SWAPNA
THE DREAMING STATE
OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
SHUSHUPTI
THE STATE OF DEEP SLEEP
IN WHICH THE MIND, THE EGO,
AND SUPEREGO ARE STILL.
TURYA
THE STATE OF THOUGHTLESS AWARENESS
BEYOND THE MIND.
The first three states of awareness are commonly experienced in our daily lives. The fourth state is the state of THOUGHTLESS AWARENESS or NIRVICHARA SAMADHI. This is the state in which the constant rising and falling of thoughts in the mind comes to an end. At first a gap begins to appear between the thoughts, this gap is known as VILAMBA. As this gap grows, thoughts diminish.
Through the daily practice of Sahaja Yoga meditation, the mind enters into a state of THOUGHTLESS AWARENESS, becoming still – like a lake devoid of ripples – and a deep inner peace begins to dawn within our awareness.
When there are no ripples on the water of a lake, its surface becomes nearly invisible as it reflects the beauty of the landscape around it – the trees, the sky, the clouds. In the same way, a still mind reflects the beauty of creation, and melts into the bliss and the peace of the Divine
Enjoyment is only possible when you are beyond your mind.
With your mind you can never enjoy. It’s like a big load.
It will not act, it will not help. Enjoyment comes
when you are in complete silence – in a rippleless lake.
The reflection of all the joy that is created on the shores
of that lake are completely reflected, they are not deflected.
If there were ripples it would have been
a different image altogether and would have been
something nowhere near the image of reality.
SHRI MATAJI NIRMALA DEVI
ITALY –1. OCTOBER 1995
In the state of thoughtless awareness we think neither of the past nor of the future. We are entirely in the present moment, in the state of ‘BEING’ and do not waste precious moments dwelling on times that are finished forever or thinking about what is yet to come. We start to enjoy our SELF, our SPIRIT, our own inner beauty and the beauty of creation. We begin to enjoy simply ‘BEING’
In this state, we start to feel the vibrations of our chakras and our surroundings on our fingertips. We also begin to feel the effect our behaviour and lifestyle has on our selves and our surroundings – we feel the vibrations in either the presence or absence of our inner joy and peace. As a result we spontaneously and naturally change ourselves and our environment – shifting our attention so that we maximise the joy, both for ourselves and for those around us. Shri Mataji has described this as ‘INNATE RELIGION’
The Self, which is in fact the Lord and which is called ‘I’ because
it abides in the body, is different from the physical and subtle bod
ies. ‘I am that Spirit. I am without attributes, actionless, eternal,
ever free and indestructible. I am not the body which is ever
changing and unreal.’ This is called Knowledge by the wise.
SHRI ADI SHANKARACHARYA
Our growth in Sahaja Yoga raises us to a higher level of consciousness. It is a natural and spontaneous process that gently transforms us from within, enabling us to manifest and express positive human qualities and to enjoy the peace and the bliss of life as described in the ancient scriptures. Sahaja Yoga is an inner revolution that brings about the transformation of human beings into spiritual beings who gradually manifest sublime qualities of compassion, generosity and detached, unselfish love – who live in a progressively profound state of inner peace
Sahaja Yoga is a spiritual movement of global proportions. People from most countries around the world, from all age groups, and diverse religious and social backgrounds are united by their experience of the same inner joy and peace.
The benefits of Sahaja Yoga can be experienced by absolutely anyone! Hundreds of thousands of people have experienced the blissful state of thoughtless awareness from Sahaja Yoga classes all around the world, which have also been offered in schools, prisons, orphanages and refugee camps with huge success. All that is required is an open mind and the desire to discover the truth about yourself.
