SAHAJA YOGA

TURYA COURSE
SESSION ONE

Sahaja Yoga: the gentle answer

In the midst of todays hectic, non-stop timetable, people are increasingly stopping to ask themselves two fundamental questions: 1. 2. Why cant I feel better? less tired and stressed mentally, physically and emotionally stronger more able to cope and enjoy life healthier How can I evolve as a person? become a more spiritual and compassionate person understand more about my place in this Universe establish a relationship with God that is based on Truth not ritual and hypocrisy.

Over time the practice of this meditation produces profound emotional, physical and spiritual changes which give each of us the ability to maintain a remarkable degree of control over the progress of our lives in every way. Practitioners often talk of a feeling of oneness with God and Nature as the most evident manifestation of their regular meditation. The meditation. The meditation is a deceptively simple process and takes the form of sitting quietly to allow the Kundalini to rise from its seat at the base of the spine to the top of the head - along the central spiritual channel inside all of us, the Sushumna Nadi. Again many literary works dealing with Yoga describe this subtle road map; this is knowledge which has been available for thousands of years, not merely a few centuries! This Kundalini energy cleanses the individuals Chakras or spiritual centres and leaves the person in a profoundly peaceful and relaxed state. Various additional techniques of Sahaja Yoga, designed to make it easier for the practitioner to attain this state of thoughtless awareness, are taught as part of the classes. These include simple mantras and hand movements which encourage the cleansing activity in the spiritual centres.

If you recognise any combination of these needs in you, then you are part of a growing community of people who are becoming uneasy with the direction and quality of their life. Sahaja Yoga can help to answer these needs through the ancient, gentle and yet powerful process of Self Realisation and meditation. What is Self Realisation? In the sacrum bone at the base of the spine in every individual there exists a subtle and dormant coil of spiritual energy known as the Kundalini. This energy has been well documented through the ages, and has become a core part of many of the most authoratitive Yoga and spiritual practices. In AD1290, for instance, the renowned Indian saint and mystic Jnanadeva documented in detail the existence of this energy in his seminal treatise on Yoga and the spiritual universe, Jnaneshwari. The process of Self Realisation involves the gentle awakening of this living and conscious energy, so that it pervades the individuals subtle (i.e. spiritual) being. Once this event occurs, the person is no longer isolated from the universe around them i.e. trapped inside their own head but becomes a connected part of the greater cosmos. The benefits of this awakening are many, including a realisation of our sense of purpose, a feeling of completeness and the sort of self-knowledge which is commonly missing from our day to day lives and activities. Once the Self Realisation has occurred, it is up to the individual to decide whether they wish to explore the new world that opens up to them, by continuing with a program of meditation to enhance and encourage the cleansing power of this energy on the subtle system.

The teaching
The meditation is called Sahaja Yoga, taken from the Sanskrit meaning of the words. Sahaj means spontaneous or born with you and yoga translates as union (with the Divine or All Pervading Spirit). The phrase then translates as the method of Divine union through yoga which everyone is born with. Sahaja Yoga classes are held in 80 countries around the world and are always provided free of charge. Right from the earliest days Shri Mataji, the founder of this type of Yoga practice, made it clear that this knowledge and the process of union effected by our self realisation is the birthright of every human being and therefore cannot be charged for. Classes are organised and run by volunteers who have been impelled by the positive changes in their own lives to pass the gift on to others. These individuals come from all walks of life and occupations including doctors, lawyers, caretakers, taxi drivers, housewives and mothers. The single link between them all, no matter from which country or profession, is their open hearted warmth and genuine desire to help others benefit as they have done. The hire of rooms and payment for materials is also all done through the generosity of these people and their fund raising efforts.

Impact on the individual Hundreds of thousands of people world-wide have discovered that health problems, addictions and many forms of mental and emotional imbalance disappear after they begin to practice Sahaja Yoga meditation. This process of cleansing, even if done for only 10 or 20 minutes a day, helps the individual to achieve a greater sense of overall well being, enabling them to become more productive, confident and creative. It also restores their natural equilibrium and dynamism which helps them to become more responsible members of their family and society at large. Impact on society Shri Mataji has explained that this increased balance and integration within the individual leads naturally to a spontaneous reduction in the tension and dissatisfaction that drives people to drugs, crime and violence. In this way Sahaja Yoga addresses many of the root causes of our worlds social problems by alleviating such imbalances at a uniquely personal level.

How to meditate
Going deeper in meditation is not something that we can force along. It is simply a matter of allocating a few minutes every day when we can sit quietly, do nothing and experience the power of pure introspection. By doing this, over time we will notice that our meditation becomes more effective and the benefits more tangible. To start: Find a place in your home where you can sit comfortably without being disturbed, preferably somewhere that you can use regularly. It is not necessary to sit on the ground, you can use a chair or sit anywhere as long as you are comfortable. Try and ensure that you minimise the potential for distractions by e.g. turning on the answering machine before you start off. It helps to have a lighted candle in place in front of your position, alongside a small photograph of Shri Mataji or chart of the Subtle system. If you are meditating for the first time you may find it difficult to sit still or take your Attention inside as you close your eyes, but do not worry, this will improve with practice. Settling Down: Once you have settled down, raise your Kundalini and put yourself in bandhan as per the illustration, and with eyes closed try and take the Attention slowly to the top of the head. At this point we can use the Affirmations we used in the public meeting to help us focus our Attention inside, or we can simply say to ourselves silently please may I go deeper into meditation a few times. After a few moments we may feel tingling, cool or heat on our fingers or a slow ripple of movement along the spine as the Kundalini starts to rise from the base of the spine to the top of the head. It helps if we try and ignore these sensations to start with, since we are trying to achieve a state of thoughtlessness, where we are not dragged along with our thoughts but simply watch them float into and out of our consciousness. Going deeper: After a few minutes we may notice that while we are sitting more peacefully, thoughts are still flowing through our minds. This is quite natural and we shouldnt think that the meditation isnt working simply because of this continued thinking. Just bring our Attention slowly back to the top of the head and try to keep it there. In fact it will take quite a bit of practice before we are likely to notice a significant slowing of the flow of thoughts, but we will experience the benefits of our meditations long before that time. Finishing up: Once we have been sitting for 10 to 15 minutes or so, we can slowly finish the session. The meditation is completed by our raising our Kundalini again and putting on a bandhan exactly as we did when starting off. We should really try and meditate AT LEAST once a day and preferably twice once in the morning to set us up for the day and once in the evening to help us sleep more soundly.

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi was born to a Christian family of noble descent at noon on the 21st March 1923 - the Spring Equinox - at Chindwara in the centre of India. Mahatma Ghandi recognised her deep and special qualities when she stayed at his ashram as a young girl. Later she studied medicine and took an active roll in the movement for the independence of India. In 1947 Sri Mataji married Mr. C. P. Shrivastava, who was later appointed to the post of Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation of the United Nations, based in London. He was later knighted by the Queen for his outstanding service in international affairs. They have two married daughters, four grandchildren and recently Shri Mataji became a great grand-mother for the first time. Through her own efforts and experiences during the early 1970's Sri Mataji evolved a system of Yoga whereby the subtle energy called Kundalini could spontaneously be awakened, and most importantly, the same process could be passed on from person to person around the world. This was the birth of Sahaja Yoga. Sri Mataji's life is devoted to spreading the benefits of this wonderful process as widely as possible. She travels the world tirelessly teaching and promoting Spirituality, a schedule that has resulted in the growing practise of Sahaja Yoga in many countries, including Europe, North and South America, Australasia and her native India. Rather than a teacher or guru, Sri Mataji is best likened to a mother. The compassion, patience and love that motivate all her work - done without financial reward - is evidence of the compassion that she has for those who come to her for help. Her only desire is that, through Sahaja Yoga, this marvellous happening can be made available to all.

Sahaja Yoga Techniques

Session 1

The practice of raising our Kundalini and putting ourselves in Bandhan is an important step in readying ourselves for meditation or workshop. We use these simple techniques to help bring our system into balance and to cover ourselves with a protective aura both before and after meditation. The key thing to remember is that although we may not feel anything whilst we are completing the procedure, it has a real effect on our subtle body.

Raising the Kundalini Figs 1 4 It is our Kundalini energy, rising up the spine, which takes our Attention higher into the state of thoughtless awareness. This exercise helps to strengthen, steady and establish the Attention in the highest energy centre, the Sahasrara Chakra. Raising our own Kundalini, at the beginning and end of every meditation, helps to settle our subtle system into a more balanced state. Begin with the left hand at the front at the level of the abdomen, palm facing towards the body. While rotating the right hand around the left hand, move the left hand up the front of the body and over the head and tie a knot at the top to symbolically keep our Attention up there. Use this movement three times and on the third time tie three knots over the top of your head. Putting on a Bandhan Figs. 5 6 A simple exercise to protect our subtle body, and preserve our state of meditation, is to put on a bandhan. This exercise should be done before and after meditation, just after raising the Kundalini (as above). Hold the left hand out (palm upwards) at the level of the waist, with the fingers pointing towards the photograph of Shri Mataji. Using the right hand, describe an arc over the head, starting at the level of the left hip, over the top to the right hip and then back again to the left hip. This movement should be done seven times (once for every Chakra in the subtle system).

Sahaja Yoga Techniques

Session 1

Affirmations to help raise the Kundalini In the early days it can help to go through this exercise at the beginning of our meditation to help us settle down. It is important to be comfortable, so feel free to use a chair if this is easier. You can say Mother - addressing the Mother Kundalini - before each affirmation if you wish. Note that the affirmations are said silently and that the number of repetitions is for guidance only.

1. With right hand on heart we ask: Am I the Spirit? Repeat 3 times

2. With hand on left upper stomach: Am I my own Master? Repeat 3 times

3. With hand on lower stomach: Please may I have the pure knowledge? Repeat 6 times

4. With the hand back on the upper stomach we say: I am my own Master! Repeat 10 times

5. With the hand on the right heart: I am the Spirit! Repeat 12 times

6. Place the right hand on the left side of the neck, turn head to the right and say: I am NOT guilty! Repeat 16 times

7. With the hand on the forehead: I forgive everyone! Say this from the heart as many times as you feel necessary.

8. With the hand on the back of the head, lean back slightly and say: Please forgive me if I have made any mistakes! Again say this from the heart.

9. Place the palm on top of the head, press down & slowly rotate in a clockwise direction whilst saying 7 times: Please may I have my Self Realisation?