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Sahaja Yoga Beginners Guide Web
Sahaja Yoga Beginners Guide Web
CONTENTS
1. What is Sahaja Yoga? 1
Thoughtless awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
4. What is meditation? 29
Shri Matajis advice on meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7. Taking it further 50
Sahaja Yoga is a meditation technique developed by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi that
involves the awakening of a 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 word sacrum is derived from the word sacred, which suggests that this is not
new knowledge. Sahaja means born with you or spontaneous and Yoga means
union with the divine. The gentle awakening of this Kundalini energy and the inner
journey of Self-discovery is known as Self-realisation or Yoga. Those who have
received Realisation are known as realised souls or dweejaha 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 flows gently through the top of the head at the fontanelle
bone. Even more remarkably, once awakened, the Kundalini can be felt coming out of
the fontanelle bone as a cool breeze or cool vibrations (chaitanya). These cool
vibrations can also be felt on the fingertips and on the palms of the hands. It is very
important, at this point, to understand that we actually feel these sensations on our
central nervous system. It is for this reason, that Sahaja Yoga cannot be referred to
as a blind belief. On the contrary, it is an experience and a scientifically provable
phenomenon. In the same way that all human beings can feel the heat of the suns
rays upon their skin, all human beings can feel the cool vibrations and can experience
Sahaja Yoga in the same way, if they approach it with an open mind.
Perhaps more importantly than the experience of the cool breeze is the beautiful
change in our awareness that takes place when the Kundalini reaches the crown of
the head, for we enter a new state of consciousness called Thoughtless Awareness.
Thoughtless awareness is the state of meditation, for meditation is not something
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that we do but a joyful, liberated, profound and peaceful, state of our awareness. When there are no ripples on the water of a lake, its surface becomes almost invisible
as it reflects the beauty of the landscape around it - the trees and the sky and
In the Gospel of John, Christ makes references to both the cool breeze and the need clouds. In the same way, the still mind reflects the beauty of the creation and melts
for second birth as documented in the New Testament. Furthermore, Christ says that into the bliss and the peace of the divine.
We speak of what we know (John 3:11) which clearly indicates that spirituality is
an experience on our central nervous system and not a blind belief: Now, instruction in Yoga (Union). Union is restraining the thought-streams natural to
the mind. Then the seer dwells in his own nature. Otherwise he is of the same form as
"Truly, I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God." the thoughts. Patanjali - Yoga Sutras
Nicodemus replied, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second
time into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus answered, "Unless one is Enjoyment is only possible when you are beyond your mind. With your mind you can
born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of never enjoy. Its like a big load. It will not act, it will not help. Enjoyment comes
the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. "Do not be amazed when you are in complete silence - in a rippleless lake. The reflection of all the joy
that I say this to you. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, that is created on the shores of that lake are completely reflected, they are not
but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so it is with everyone deflected. If there were ripples it would have been a different image altogether and
who is born of the Spirit...Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify would have been something nowhere near the image of reality.
of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Italy, October 1st 1995
- New testament - John (chapter3)
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 the
Thoughtless Awareness precious moments of life thinking about times that are finished forever or yet to come.
We start to enjoy our Self, our Spirit, our own inner beauty and the beauty of creation.
Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still. We start to enjoy being. We are able to enjoy the singing of birds and the scent of
- Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching, verse 16 flowers at a much deeper level as we are no longer bombarded by the meaningless
mental chatter that assails our awareness and pollutes our attention, distracting us
The Indian scriptures describe the following four states of human awareness: from the simple joys of our existence.
Jagruti the waking state of consciousness In this state, we start to feel the vibrations of our chakras and our surroundings
Swapna the dreaming state of consciousness (and the effect of our behaviour and lifestyle) on our fingertips. Also we feel the
Shushupti the state of deep sleep in which the mind, the ego and superego are still vibrations in either the presence or absence of our inner joy and peace. As a result we
Turya the state of thoughtless awareness beyond the mind spontaneously and naturally, gradually change ourselves and our environment so that
we maximise the joy, both for ourselves and for those around us. Shri Mataji has
The first three states of awareness are commonly experienced in our daily lives. The described this as innate religion.
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. "The Self, which is in fact the Lord and which is called I because it abides in the
At first a gap begins to appear between the thoughts, this gap is known as vilamba. As body, is different from the physical and subtle bodies. I am that Spirit. I am without
this gap grows the thoughts diminish and, with the regular practice of meditation, the attributes, actionless, eternal, ever free and indestructible. I am not the body which is
mind enters readily into thoughtless awareness and becomes still like a lake without ever changing and unreal. This is called Knowledge by the wise."
any ripples on it and a deep inner peace begins to dawn upon our awareness. - Shri Adi Shankaracharya
Sahaja Yoga is not a cult movement that grows big overnight and then collapses like
communism or hippyism or any other ism that we believe in one day and then
denounce the next day, when we have seen that it is, in fact, falsehood. In the same
way that a seed sprouts, then grows from a small shoot into a mighty tree, Sahaja
Yoga grows both individually and collectively in an entirely natural way.
Sahaja Yoga is today a spiritual movement of global proportions. People from more
than 100 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.
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, known affectionately as Shri Mataji or Mother, is the first
spiritual teacher in history to give en-masse Self-realisation as described by many great
saints and prophets of the past. Today, millions of people all over the world have
experienced their spiritual ascent, described and predicted by these great prophets,
thanks to Shri Mataji, and her physical presence alone has been seen to be the
necessary catalyst for the en-masse awakening of the Kundalini. Even more remarkably,
merely holding ones hands, palm upwards, towards a photograph of Shri Mataji is
enough to grant Self-realisation, so long as there is even the slightest desire to
receive it.
Both Shri Mataji and her parents, Prasad and Cornelia Salve, played an active role
in India's fight for independence. Her father, a talented lawyer and close associate
of Mahatma Gandhi, was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and
helped write India's first constitution. He was a renowned scholar and was fluent
in 14 languages.
As a child Shri Mataji lived for a time, along with her parents, in the ashram of
Mahatma Gandhi who affectionately gave her the nickname Nepali. Even at a young
age, her deep wisdom and understanding was evident to the Mahatma.
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Shri Mataji played a courageous role as a youth leader in the fight for freedom.
In 1942 she was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for her participation in Gandhis
"Quit India Movement. She later studied medicine at the Christian Medical College
in Lahore, in what is now Pakistan.
Shortly before Indias Independence, Shri Mataji married Mr. C.P. Srivastava who
would go on to become one of India's most respected high-ranking civil servants.
Mr. Srivastava held the post of Joint Secretary to the Office of the Indian Prime
Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, between 1964-66. Later, he was unanimously
re-elected for four consecutive four-year terms, as Secretary General of the United
Nations International Maritime Organisation based in London. He was knighted by
the Queen of England in 1989 and received similar honours from many countries for
his service to the international maritime community.
Unlike the many so-called gurus of the modern era, Shri Mataji has never charged for
her lectures nor for giving Self-realisation. She has always insisted that you cannot
pay for your enlightenment and has warned of the dangers of going to the many false,
self-proclaimed gurus and cults who are only interested in making money and are not
capable of giving Self-realisation.
In addition to her spiritual work, Shri Mataji has also started a number of charitable
organisations in India to help the poor and the sick. Among these are a large hostel
for destitute and homeless mothers in Delhi and a hospital in Mumbai to treat people
using Sahaja Yoga techniques.
through the chakras and reach the Sahastrara chakra at the crown of the head.
However, with twice daily meditation, gradually more strands of the Kundalini connect
THE SUBTLE SYSTEM us to the divine power and the experience of meditation becomes more profound and
blissful. The Kundalini, and the experience of its awakening, have been described by
The Subtle System, which has been documented in India various Indian saints such as Adi Shankaracharya (c 600 a.d.), Kabir (c 1500 a.d.) and
for thousands of years, consists of 7 energy centres Jnanadeva (c 1200 a.d.) amongst others.
(chakras), 3 energy channels (nadis) and the Kundalini.
The chakras correspond on the physical level to the Shri Matajis advice on Kundalini
plexuses of our central nervous system and
the energy channels to the Sympathetic and Now how do you remove the thought from your mind is the problem. Thoughts are
Parasympathetic nervous systems within the all the time in your mind... but when the Kundalini rises, then what happens is
4
spinal column. that these thoughts become elongated... and there is a gap in between the
thoughts and this gap is the place of our peace. If you achieve that peace, the
Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit, because world peace can be achieved. By just taking placards, by shouting for peace, you
the chakras rotate, clockwise, like wheels. cannot establish peace. Peace has to come from the hearts of human beings. In the
Chakras are also likened to lotus flowers, hearts of human beings peace can be only established when you establish the Spirit
each chakra having a different number of within it's core, where it manifests the bliss of peace. When you start enjoying the
petals, which corresponds to the number of bliss of peace you don't want wars, you don't think of a war and that is the state
sub-plexuses within the physical plexus. where now the human beings have to rise and go to.
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Chiswick Town Hall, London, 10 July 1984
The Kundalini
The Three Channels (Nadis)
Formless yet complete, existing before heaven and earth. Silent and limitless, alone
and unchanging. Pervading everywhere, yet untiring. It is the Mother of all things under
heaven. I do not know its name so I call it Tao." - Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching, verse 25 Left side (Ida nadi)
Turning away from materialism...I have entered into the sky of the mind, and opened Also known as Tamo guna and the Moon channel, this channel looks after our left
the Tenth Gate. The chakras of the coiled Kundalini energy have been opened, and I sympathetic nervous system and is the channel of our emotions, our desires and the
have met my Sovereign Lord King without fear - Kabir - Guru Granth Sahib p972 record of our past experiences. In its pure state it takes the qualities of deep joy,
pure love and compassion. As human beings we can be prone to left side problems
The Kundalini is a subtle, feminine energy that resides in the sacrum bone at the such as emotional attachments, depression, low self-esteem and feelings of guilt,
base of the spinal column, in three and a half coils. It lies dormant but, like a tiny lethargy/inertia, ritualistic behaviour and habits. These problems can be cured in
seed when the conditions are right, can awaken and grow into a mighty tree. In the Sahaja Yoga using cleansing techniques such as the three candle treatment.
same way that an electrical cable connects a computer to the mains, the awakened
Kundalini connects the human awareness to the Paramchaitanya, the all-pervading Right side (Pingala nadi)
power of divine love. The Kundalini can be thought of as a rope with a thousand
strands; when we first get Self-realisation, only one or two strands find their way Also known as Rajo guna, or the sun channel, this channel looks after our right
sympathetic nervous system and provides energy for our creativity, our rational mind, The devotees of the Lord dwell forever in peace. With a child-like, innocent
futuristic thoughts, and our physical energy and dynamism. As human beings we can nature, they remain detached, turning away from the world
be prone to right side problems such as egotistical and dominating behaviour, arrogance, - Guru Nanak - Guru Granth Sahib
pride, anger, hatred, lust and stress. A simple solution to an overheated right side is to
put ice on the liver and do cold footsoaking. See the cleansing section. ..unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. - Jesus Christ - Matthew 18: 2
Central channel (Sushumna nadi)
The True Person is detached and humble and to the world appears confusing.
Also known as Sattva guna this is the nadi of our evolution and equilibrium. It looks The people all strain their eyes and ears, yet the True Person remains childlike
after our autonomous nervous system which deals with automatic actions such as - Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching verse 49
the beating of the heart and our digestion things which our body does for us even
though we are not aware of how it is done. As our attention moves to the
Sushumna, our human awareness evolves and our attention gradually stops swinging Situated below the sacrum bone, the awakened Mooladhara chakra gives us innocence
like a pendulum from the past to the future, from the Ida nadi to the Pingala nadi, and wisdom. Innocence gives us joy without the limitations of conditionings and
from sadness to happiness, from lethargy to over-activity, and remains always in the prejudice, a quality that can be found in small children. This quality diminishes as we
centre, in the present moment. Our awareness becomes peaceful and our nerves grow up and develop a sense of ego and selfish desires. Fortunately this innate
bubble with joy. innocence is never destroyed and can return to us by practicing Sahaja Yoga. It is like
the sun which is obscured by the clouds of our ego but which shines again after the
clouds pass. In India the elephant headed God, Shri Ganesha, is worshipped as the
The Seven Chakras essence of innocence and wisdom. He has the body of a child, symbolising innocence,
and the head of an elephant, symbolising wisdom.
There are seven major chakras within our subtle system which are known as
Mooladhara, Swadisthan, Nabhi, Anahat, Vishuddhi, Agnya and Sahastrara. Each Shri Matajis advice on Innocence
chakra has different qualities and, by awakening these chakras, we can awaken and
enhance these qualities within us, making us more balanced and integrated personali- There have been stories that children who have fallen from a very great height were
ties. Perhaps more importantly, our awakened chakras give us joy and peace. completely saved, nothing happened to them. Their innocence is such a powerful
thing that it doesnt harm anyone who is not to be harmed. It has all the wisdom of
the world, all the understanding of the world; and anybody who tries to harm the
Mooladhara chakra innocence, the world, the whole world which may not have cared so much for
innocence, might not have worshipped innocence so much but they all stand, stand
Physical Manifestation: Pelvic Plexus up against anybody who tries to harm the innocence.
Number of petals/sub-plexuses: 4
Element: Earth
1 You can see in your own lives around you, when anybody tries to trouble children
Controls: Excretion and Reproductive organs all of the them, whoever they are, whatever maybe their nationality, they all jump, all
Quality: Innocence and Wisdom jump to safeguard that child. What is it? What is it within us that makes us so very
conscious to protect the innocence?
A person who is filled with Virtue is like a newborn child.
- Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching verse 55 Its really a shame, a great shame for us, when we find in this world that innocence is
under attack. Anything else can be tolerated. Innocent people who have done noth- She laughs, plays, and talks with her friends, but keeps her attention on the pitcher of
ing wrong, those who have no malice, who are living like little children, I should say, water. - Namadeva - Guru Granth Sahib (pg972)
if they are attacked by anyone - not that the whole world reacts to that - but
everyone of them cannot bear any innocent person or innocent being, being harmed. Causes of problems with the Right Swadhisthan chakra: Excessive thinking and
planning, dominating others, materialism, greed, drinking alcohol, drug abuse
We dont realise that, within us, there is the ocean of love and ocean of understanding
for children. Why? Why should it be? Why should we feel like that, especially for Treatment: Cold footsoak, ice-pack on liver (right Swadhisthan and right Nabhi).
children? Especially for innocence? There are people who are always attacking See section on clearing right side
innocent people, innocent children - there are, but no-one wants to support them.
No one thinks that its proper to ill treat children. And those who have done this have Left Swadhisthan: The qualities of the left Swadhisthan are pure knowledge and
to suffer. They all suffer as a reaction. - Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Cabella 2001 pure desire. Our pure desire is the desire for Self-realisation, for the inner bliss and
peace that is the next step in our evolution. If we do not have a pure desire to get
Causes of problems with the Mooladhara chakra: Promiscuity, sexual perversion, our Self-realisation then our experience of meditation is weakened. This chakra can
lack of contact with nature and Mother Earth. be very badly damaged by going to false gurus. Clinging on to concepts or dogmas
that you have read in books can also be a cause of a catch on this chakra.
Treatment: Sitting on the earth, spending time in nature/gardening, stop looking at
others with adulterous eyes, put attention to innocent things (small children, nature) Causes of problems with the Left Swadhisthan chakra: False knowledge, false
desires, drug abuse, following false gurus, black magic
The Swadhisthan chakra Treatment: Work on the chakra with candle flame or even better using the flame
of camphor
Physical Manifestation: Aortic Plexus
Number of petals/sub-plexuses: 6
2 Shri Matajis advice on the Swadhisthan chakra
Element: Fire
Controls: Kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, uterus, intestines "As you see in the map here, the balloon that is yellow is the Ego. You see down
Qualities: Creativity, pure attention, pure desire, pure knowledge below it starts from the Swadhisthana. This is the colour of the bile within us. This
Swadhisthana chakra which is, for our creativity, is directly connected to the Ego. It
The Swadhisthan chakra moves like a satellite around the Nabhi chakra and the Void starts rotating round the Void, and going to the various parts of the Void. The Void is
and provides us with our sense of aesthetics, art, music and our appreciation and the green circle within us (in the diagram on the back page) where physically we
connection with nature. It looks after our digestive organs and provides us with the have the uterus and the kidneys. It's a complete viscera, all the intestines, ascending,
dynamic energy to do physical, mental and creative work. transverse and descending colon, the liver - more the upper part of liver - then also
the pancreas and the spleen. So all the problems of these organs are collected by this
Right Swadhisthan: The quality of the right Swadhisthan is pure attention. Without chakra which comes out of the Nabhi chakra, and moves round and round and round,
a good attention our mind moves from one thing to another uncontrollably and we and collects all the problems.
find it hard to enter thoughtless awareness easily and for sustained periods.
It nourishes and gives power, the vital power, to these organs and also it generates
My mind has been pierced by the Name of the Lord, like the goldsmith, whose attention the necessary power for our creative action. It also collects the fat cells of the Void
is held by his work. Like the young girl who carries a water-filled pitcher on her head. and converts them into the power cells for the brain for its use - for the grey matter.
All this work it has to do - one chakra. It manifests the Aortic Plexus outside - on the The Nabhi chakra
physical level. We call it as Aortic Plexus and it has got six sub-plexuses which look
after all these organs. Physical manifestation: Navel/Solar Plexus
This chakra is meant for our action. When we go into action this chakra starts working.
Number of petals/sub-plexuses: 10
Element: Water
3
By the first power which is on the left hand side, we desire, but by the second one, Controls: Stomach, intestines, liver, spleen
we go into action and it's called as Kriya Shakti. Now when this action starts within Qualities: Seeking, Peace, generosity, satisfaction,
us it produces the bi-products or we can say all the problems of these organs, which pure attention, looking after others
are to be deposited somewhere and they are all deposited in the brain as ego. All the
problems that we have out of this, this creativity, and the action of all these organs When enlightened by the Kundalini, the Nabhi chakra gives us unconditional generosity,
are to be counter balanced and as a counter balance the ego develops." complete contentment and profound inner peace. On the right side, it looks after the
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 22nd October 1979 upper part of our liver which is the organ of our attention. The Nabhi is the centre of
our seeking. We seek food, shelter and comfort and, ultimately, even though we may
Especially in England I have seen, also in the west I would say, everywhere, people get not be aware of it, we seek to evolve into a new state of spiritual awareness and to
very easily tired. On the television also you find people will come (and say), haaaah- receive our Self-realisation.
hh. Young people!! They'll walk ten yards then they'll say, haaahhh. Why are we so
tired? Because we think too much! All energy is wasted in thinking, so no energy left Causes of problems with the Right Nabhi chakra: Excessive thinking and planning,
to enjoy anything whatsoever! For example, you have to have people for dinner, so you dominating others, materialism, greed, fanaticism, drinking alcohol, drug abuse.
think what to bring?, how to make it formal? what to do?. So agitated, so nervous
about the whole thing that, when the guests come they feel like running away because Treatment: Cold footsoak, ice-pack on liver (right Swadhisthan and right Nabhi).
so much of tension. See section on clearing right side
Thinking, thinking, thinking, planning, planning, planning, planning, running. Causes of problems with the Left Nabhi chakra: Excessive worrying, lack of
Ultimately the whole joy has disappeared. So the second centre (Swadhisthana) does generosity, lack of care for others/selfishness
a very miraculous thing is to provide the grey cells in our brain, when we are using it
for thinking, and also it looks after your liver, your pancreas, your spleen, your kidneys Treatment: Work on the chakra with a candle flame or, even better, a camphor flame.
and part of your abdomen. Instead of doing that, poor thing is busy only sending grey
cells to your brain, because of thinking, thinking, thinking, like mad. So you develop all Shri Matajis advice on the Nabhi chakra
other diseases like liver trouble, which is very common. Then you develop diabetes -
very common, yesterday at least, there were ten people who said, we have diabetes. So at the Nabhi chakra one has to know that one should not hanker after money too
Now, diabetes you do not develop by taking too much sugar - take it from me. much. Now, those who hanker too much after money, may develop their right side
better. They may have money, no doubt, but they miss their left side. Left side is
In India if you go to a village you will see that he takes sugar in such manner that in Gruha Lakshmi. They have no Gruha Lakshmi in their house. They are very hectic
the cup the spoon must stand at a right angle! Otherwise he wont drink it, and he people, they run about. They run the rat-race, they get heart attacks. If not heart
never gets diabetes! The reason is - he doesn't think of tomorrow. He just works hard, attacks they will get leukemia, they will get diabetes, liver problems - all such diseases.
eats his food and sleeps off nicely. He doesn't take sleeping pills either. So this Because their attention is on money and not on God.
diabetes comes by over-thinking, and can be easily cured if you can take to
Sahaja Yoga. Shri Mataji - Porchester Hall, London Aug 1989 Attachment to money, attachment to people, attachment to this, is nothing but a
hook which hooks you to baser levels. You have to rise above and then you really The Void
enjoy the beauty of richness. As I told you the other day, I see all beautiful things,
its nice that I dont possess them. See now these carpets are spread here. If they were Physical Manifestation: Aortic & Solar plexus 3
mine I should worry, oh god, I hope they are not going to be spoiled, I hope nobody Element: Water
sits on them, I hope they are insured and nobody runs away with them. But when they Controls: Stomach, intestines, liver, spleen
2
dont belong to me I am enjoying them better - other peoples things, is a better idea. Qualities: Guru Principle. Self discipline and dedication,
This myth carries us to such an extent of stupidity that sometimes I wonder whether Mastery over Self, will power, knowledge of divine, teaching of divine knowledge
these human beings are human beings or they are their possessions. Their Spirit is Prophets: Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Lao Tzu, Confucius, Socrates, Raja Janak,
lost, everything is lost - they are not bothered. But if their little possession is lost Mohammed, Guru Nanak, Sai Nath of Shirdi
they weep and weep, as if they are dead. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Delhi 1983
The void is the part of the subtle system that is created by the movement of the
The third centre which we call as the Nahbi chakra, this centre is on one side is Swadhisthan around the Nabhi and gives us self discipline and mastery over our
made of water, another side with fire, around it are our ten valencies which we can self. Without mastery over our baser desires and our minds, we cannot become one
call as our innate religion within ourselves. with our Spirit. False knowledge and false gurus damage this centre very much. It
is for this reason that we suggest that you dont mix Sahaja Yoga with other
Now this Nahbi itself, or we can call it the Solar Plexus, or we can say the Navel so-called spiritual knowledge.
chakra, as soon as the Kundalini rises, she awakens this. And the light, when it
spreads, you become religious. I dont have to tell you anything - you just become. Shri Matajis advice on the Void
I dont have to say that you dont take drugs - you just dont take it!
Any time a realised soul will come he will say the same thing. Thats why there is
Overnight I have seen people have given up drugs, alcoholism, everything! And they so much similarity, I should say the unity. In all these people, whether it is Lao
enjoy their virtues, that's the best part of it. Some people think oh then what is the Tse, whether it is Mohammed Sahib or whether it is Raja Janaka or Nanaka - they
fun? What is this that you take something in the pub and next day you have a said the same thing. Now where is the difference that comes in? Also we see...
hangover? Here you take something and next day youre much better off. It never that these incarnations came for a different type of a job. Like Moses came to
comes down. It never gives you a reaction. Its not artificial, its not intoxicating, it is establish the void, as we say, here in the centre. All these Primordial masters
from your nerves it's bubbling out. So this is the centre which is very important in us came to do that... All these people who were Primordial masters came on this
because most of us have a problem with this centre. And here we have a capacity, by Earth to establish the balance and thats why whatever they have said, all have
this centre, that we enjoy our generosity. said the same thing.
Now we are materialistic. Its a good idea, to be materialistic. But the aesthetics of Then came RamaHe came here to establish the benevolent king principle. The idea
matter are that you can give it to others suggesting your love. I think that's the only of a benevolent king. So he talks differently. Then came Krishna. Krishna came to
thing matter can do. And in a very special way you can express that love. For example establish the truth - that you have to ascend first and secondly he came to show that
somebody likes a particular thing and you go all the way to get it and give that small the world is just a play of God. Then came Christ. Now Christ came on this earth to
thing, very small thing to the person and the joy, not out of the money that you create a full awareness within us that we are the Spirit. So the accent of their
have spent, but the feelings you have expressed, of knowing what that person would preaching has been for the purpose they have come for. For example I have to give
love; and this kind of a depth develops within you. Such a loveable beautiful society realisation to people, I have to raise the Kundalini and I have to explain all of them
you enter into, and you dont need anything because everybody is looking after your and integrate them so I have to talk about all of them.
needs. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Porchester Hall, London, August 1989
But my task is easier because there are sensible people in these days, but when Christ to share with them its joy, then this is the essence of love. The Heart chakra also
lived what sort of people lived there? Absolutely cruel, violent, nonsensical. manifests in the head at the fontanelle bone (the Brahmarandhra pitha, of the
Mohammed Sahib had a very bad time. Guru Nanak had a very bad time. None of them Sahastrara chakra) so its important to keep our heart chakra clean, as this is the
had such a nice time that I am having. None of you are going to crucify me! So you entry point to the super consciousness, where the Kundalini escapes from the subtle
must understand that - the truth when it comes to a person like that - not only that system and unites us with the Paramchaitanya - the All Pervading Power of divine
he knows but he can make others also know. This is what William Blake has said At love.
this time, men of God thats you people will become Prophets and they will have
powers to make others Prophets. So people sometimes say why didn't it happen earlier? Causes of problems with the Heart chakra: Left side: Problems with relationship
No, That was not the time. Now the blossom time has come, so it is happening. with mother, neglect of the Spirit, excessive physical and/or mental activity. Right
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Chiswick Town Hall, London 10th July 1984 side: problems in relationship with father/son. Problems with fathers health. Centre:
Insecurity, fear
The Heart chakra (Anahat chakra) Treatment: Maintaining respectful relations with wife/husband, mother and father,
and your children. Deep breathing during meditation
Physical Manifestation: Cardiac Plexus
Number of petals/sub-plexuses: 12 4 Shri Matajis advice on the Heart chakra
Element: Air
Controls: Heart, lungs, sternum bone This Spirit in the heart is the Witness, which witnesses us, which looks after us. But
Qualities: Joy, compassion, sense of security, love, responsibility we are not concious of it. That means the Spirit is not flowing, is not radiating in our
central nervous system. That we are not conscious of it. We know there is someone,
One should identify oneself with the Atma (Spirit), the witness, who does not take we know someone inside is there, we are aware of it, in a way, but it is not flowing
part in any kind of activity, by thinking, 'I am the witness of these likes and dislikes'. through our concious mind, through our central nervous system. And this is what the
It is in this way that one comes to identify oneself with the witnessing consciousness. seeking is for. We are seeking our Spirit. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Brighton 1980
One knows oneself thus: I am neither the body, nor the sense organs, nor the ego, nor
the mind, nor the intellect, for I am within all these; I am the eternal inmost witness- The enjoyment of life is only possible when we get connected to the Spirit and that
ing consciousness, the witness of these changing phenomena.. connection to the Spirit is only possible if you sprout into that. You become the
Shri Adi Shankaracharya Sarva vedanta siddhanta Spirit, as Christ has said in simple words, you have to be born again. It looks very
simple, but how? You are to be baptised. But how? Say I go to a theosophical college
Within the Heart chakra resides the Self, the Spirit, the Atma. The Spirit manifests or some sort of a college, theyll say: Now you have got the right to baptise. Now to
when our heart is open, at which point we feel the pure joy of creation and the any intelligent man, it doesnt appeal. Can it be possible?
meaning and purpose of our place in it. The quality of the Heart chakra is pure,
unconditional love. Before our realisation we rarely love unconditionally, but expect Baptism, if it is a living process in which you have to get connected, connected with
something in return. We mistake feelings of love for physical attraction, infatuation the Spirit and then what do you do about it? That means you have to achieve a state
and selfishness. We love our children because they are ours but do not love other of mind where you become the Spirit. That connection has to be established. If that
children in the same way. Often we expect something back from them later in life as connection is not established then you cannot be twice born by certifying yourself.
a repayment for our love. Love that expects is emotional attachment. Pure love has Ive seen many people they said: Mother, Im twice born. I said: How do you say you
no motive, it emanates from the Spirit and not from the body or mind. If you see a are twice-born? What is the certificate you have got of being twice born? You cannot
small puppy how it runs to every person it sees in a park, just to give them its love, certify yourself. This is not a self-certification. Supposing a dog says: Im a human
being. Will you accept it? No! I mean, it can go about and say that, I am a human are we upset by aggression or criticism. The vishuddhi is also the chakra that
being. But it doesnt become one. Its a state. Its an evolutionary quality. A fish manifests the power of witnessing. By daily practice of Sahaja Yoga meditation,
which has to become a tortoise has to become a tortoise. She cant just say oh, I am we become identified with our Spirit. In this state of union with our Spirit, we
tortoise, I am a tortoise. become the witness of our body, our mind, our thoughts, our emotions, and
ultimately the drama of our lives.
This is where human ego comes in. By saying something you do not become. And this
is one of the basic things we must know - that we have to become, in actuality, in Causes of problems with the Vishuddhi chakra: Left Side: Guilt, immorality, lack of
reality. We have to face it and not believe in something just because it is said. self respect. Right Side: Disrespect for others, talking aggresively, foul speech, sarcasm.
Anybody can say anything - what does it matter? Say what you like. What does it Centre: Lack of detachment or collectivity, smoking.
take to write a book? You take a printer, you give him something to write, you can
write any trash, any so-called truth. He can write about God, this, that, and talk big Treatment: Meditate with attention in Vishuddhi chakra in throat. Say I am part
sermons, have big organisations but its nothing of the kind. Even supposing you and parcel of the whole.
have some animals, like dogs especially, and now, you make them dress up like little
babies, and make them dance and in a circus you might find them theyve become a Shri Matajis advice on the Vishuddhi chakra
little bit like human beings. They might carry letters or may bring your children from
the school. I mean they can do lots of such things but will you call them human So then we come to this centre which we call as the Vishuddhi. These sixteen petals,
beings by any chance? Im not saying the difference is so much but one has to look after the cervical plexus. Now this is a very, very important centre and this is the
understand one thing - that we have not yet become the Spirit. centre is for communication. For example when you talk you communicate. Through
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Hampstead, 22nd April 1980 your hands, you shake hands, you touch somebody and you can communicate, even if
you cannot talk, with your hands you can communicate also. When we think we are
very responsible this centre goes out. Like some people they were travelling by plane.
Vishuddhi chakra They were from villages, they did not know what was a plane. They were told to take
less luggage because it should not be a weight for the plane. So they got into the
Physical Manifestation: Cervical Plexus (thyroid)
Number of petals/sub-plexuses: 16
5 plane and put all the luggage on their heads and they said that We are trying to
reduce the weight of the plane. In the same way we are also behaving, when actually
Element: Sky/Space/Ether the all-pervading power which has created us, created this universe, and has brought us
Controls: Neck, arms, face, tongue, mouth, nose, teeth to this level of human beings is doing everything, but we think we are responsible - that
Qualities: Sweetness of communication, diplomacy, collectivity, detachment, self- we have to do it. But once you become a Sahaja Yogi you just do it but you dont think
respect and respect for others, brother/sister relationship, responsibility. that you are doing it. You just say it's happening, and what a beautiful feeling it is.
Then you dont have blood pressures, you dont have headaches, you dont have tensions
Controlling the thoughts, speech and actions, ever absorbed in the yoga of meditation, - no. Because we are not doing it, it's just done and you find it's all done.
and taking shelter in detachment; Relinquishing egoism, violence, pride, lust, anger, and Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Porchester Hall, London, 1st August 89
desires for possession; free from the notion of my and peaceful; one becomes fit for
attaining oneness with Brahman Shri Krishna - Bhagavad Gita (18:51) Now when you meditate, try to meditate in a sustained way, first of all sustain it.
Then you find that you are getting into the state of Samadhi, means at a state
The Vishuddhi embodies those qualities which govern our communication with where you start feeling the joy and the bliss of Gods blessings, and then you start
others. As it awakens we discover greater self respect (left Vishuddhi) and saying O God, what a blessing, what a blessing, and what a blessing. Once you
greater respect for others (right Vishuddhi). Our ego is not bloated by praise nor have reached that state then you have to realise Who am I. Who are you? What
are you? You are the Spirit. After establishing your sustained attention on the meditate with the eyes open, looking at the photograph for 5-10 minutes before
Spirit youll develop a state where youll be in a complete state of witnessing closing your eyes to meditate. Say I forgive everyone. Put your eyes towards the sky,
with joy. Shri Mataji 23 July 1983 earth, nature or on innocent children, rather than looking at others with lust.
hallucinations. - Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Delhi 1983 we enter a new dimension of consciousness. We go beyond the relative to the
absolute. We rise above the three channels of the subtle system - beyond the past,
Now on this centre (Agnya chakra) when we come, as I told you, your thinking is present and future and into a timeless state and experience the inner bliss and
controlled by you. You can control. If you want, you can think or you dont think. peace of the Spirit. Losing our ego and conditionings, we enjoy the bliss of the
But in that silence you feel your peace, if there's too much of crowds, too much of divine. This is a heavenly place, far beyond our wildest imagination.
problems suddenly you become the witness. You start seeing everything, seeing the
problem - what it is. Unless and until you can see the problem you cannot solve it. When the Kundalini reaches the Sahastrara, the one thousand petals of this chakra
Because you are in the problem you just get upset, but if you are out of the problem begin to open and enlightenment begins to manifest. We may experience a pulsation
you can see it and that's what happens to you when you become thoughtlessly aware. at the fontanelle bone, followed by a subtle flow of cool vibrations. The Kundalini
unites our individual consciousness to the universal consciousness. Our individual
What happens, as I told you, there is Christ. Christ is awakened and he sucks in Atma, our soul, is connected to the Paramatma, the Supreme Spirit. We are suddenly
these two institutions which you see there (see the head of the chakra chart), the tuned in to the universal wavelength of vibrations, to the subtle joy that is present
yellow and the blue. One is our conditioning, and one is our ego. So both these are in nature. These vibrations pervade the universe but before Realisation we are
sucked in like that. These are sucked in because it is said that He died for our sins. unaware of them.
Didn't He? He suffered for us, nowso that's what is said. Are we going to suffer
more than Him? We dont have to suffer, only awaken Him at Agnya and you are The opening of this chakra is known as second birth. Our human birth can be
alright! This is the process, it opens outalright? That's why it is said you must likened to the birth of an egg and Self-realisation to the breaking of the egg and
forgive. That's what He said, you have to forgive. And when you forgive, you can ask the birth of the bird. This is why an egg is given at Easter, to symbolise the
for forgiveness, that's why we do both the things, one in front, one in the back. unawakened state of man.
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Porchester Hall, London, 1 August 1989
Shri Matajis advice on the Sahastrara
Sahastrara chakra Last but not least, is the centre of limbic area which is very important. Now I do
not know if it has been discovered or not, but will be very soon discovered, that
Physical manifestation: Limbic area of brain 7 very strong things like crack (cocaine) and all that have got sulphuric acid in it and
Number of petals: 1000 that doesn't go anywhere in the body but just rushes into limbic area. Now this
Quality: deep joy, thoughtless awareness, union with divine limbic area is a hollow place which has got cells which are very sensitive to joy but
they become numb, so numb that you cannot enjoy ordinary music. Somebody has to
Do not go to the garden of flowers! O Friend! go not there; scream at you, has to shout at you, has to jump on it, otherwise you cannot enjoy.
In your body is the garden of flowers. Take your seat on the thousand petals of the Then it has to be worse and worse and worse and worse. I dont know now with
lotus, and there gaze on the Infinite Beauty. Kabir crack, later they might develop something more poisonous, because it has to excite
this limbic area which is such an important thing. But as soon as the Kundalini
Give up your identification with the ego which is harmful and causes misery and medi- enters into that area, limbic area, she soothes it and it opens and then the
tate upon the Self which is the Absolute Bliss and the source of liberation. Kundalini emerges out of your fontanelle bone area and gets connected to the
- Shri Adi Shankaracharya Vivekachudamani all-pervading power.
Our complete subtle instrument is integrated in the Sahastrara chakra, each chakra Then you start feeling the cool breeze in your hand. You can feel it all over. Some
has its seat here. As our attention and our Kundalini rise to the Sahastrara chakra people, who in the beginning felt the cool breeze, could not believe it so they closed
doors, everything, and then they sat down to see. Still they were feeling it! But it out fully. Fully means complete oneness with the divine. That is not difficult. Only
works, works in the sense that you get empowered. You become peaceful, you become you have to meditate a little bit and then it will work out. It has worked out in many
the witness. You become empowered that you can give realisation to others. You can people. I am very happy to see and meet such people in Sahaja Yoga, who have
raise their Kundalini like this and you can establish that connection. You can do it achieved such a lot of collectivity and also the awareness of a realised soul. Ego is
and this is what is your right to have it, this is what will give you meaning. the greatest hurdle for your ascent. You see that ego is at a place where you have to
Otherwise, so far, whatever we have been doing is very frustrating. just cross to go to Sahastrara, and to break Sahastrara is very easy otherwise. But if
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - London 1st August 1989 there is ego, you are already lost in that ego.
Today is a very great day, I must say, to celebrate Sahastrara the Puja of So against all this one has to understand that watch yourself. Am I egoistical? Ego is
Sahastrara. Its a very unique thing that has happened that your Sahastraras were very limited. It makes you limited and you dont see the purpose of your life. Why
opened out. There were some very few people in this whole world there were some have you become a realised soul? You dont understand, you just are involved in your
Sufis, there were some saints, some other people also in China I know, but very few. own affairs, in your family, in your children, in your something like that. Very low.
Very few got their Sahastrara opened. So whatever they said or was written was never But if you have an ego-less temperament then you are very effective the whole
understood by the people. They actually tortured them, they crucified them and did power works. - Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Italy, 5th May 2002
all kinds of horrible things because they couldnt bear somebody getting this realisa-
tion.
So its a very great day because collectively this Sahastrara has been opened. Every
one of you have got it. Also all over the world you have many people who have
got their Sahastraras open. Of course we need many more for them to understand
what is this great event of such a collective opening of Sahastrara. Some have
grown very much after getting their realisation, very much. They have understood
Sahaja Yoga very well and they have developed their depth and their consciousness
is really a great awareness of oneness with the divine.
To be one with the divine is the greatest blessing for human beings. So far, they were
human beings at a lower level of existence. They had all the problems of that level is
that of jealousies, hatred. All kinds of problems that are today, of fighting, of troubling
others, destroying others and not loving others. All these problems existed because
their Sahastrara was not opened. So our main problem is to open the Sahastrara of
the people all over the world, which is very simple, which you can all do it, and it
will work better if you do it collectively. If you are collective, you can work it out very
well. Like that in Sahaja Yoga so many people have come whose Sahastrara was com-
pletely opened and they felt their depth. Firstly you must feel your depth. If you dont
feel your depth, and you are not one with your personality which is so deep, then you
cannot enjoy the Self-realisation.
First of all you should understand yourself. If you dont understand yourself, how can
you understand other people? You cannot. So first this Sahastrara should be opened
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Controlling the thoughts and the activities of the senses, let the yogi practice
meditation for self-purification. Shri Krishna - Bhagavad Gita (6:12)
Union with the Essence of our Lord comes about quickly...provided suspension of
thought has been practiced long enoughfrom this I understood the prophetic
saying better an hour of meditation than seventy years of religious practice, since
by this meditation a man is transported from the created world into the world of
purity; and one could also say, from the presence of the created into the presence of
the Creator. And God is our Warrant for what we say.
- Shaikh al-Arabi ad-Darqawi - Letters of a Sufi Master.
Thoughtless awareness or Nirvichara samadhi is the first step on the path of Sahaja
Yoga. Without achieving this awareness we are not practicing Sahaja Yoga properly.
Try to be honest to yourself about how thoughtless you are becoming in meditation.
Watch your mind and your attention and try to detach your attention from all the
thoughts that come into your mind.
Try to meditate. Meditate more, so that you reach that inner being. And this inner
being is the vast ocean of bliss which exists in every one of us, the vast flood of
light that floods everybody's inner beauty. So to approach it, you have to go within
yourself by denying things which are against it, against your movement.
Sometimes the wind can be very, very strong for you to not understand that the glory
of God is within, but turn back. Every moment remember that your movement has to
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be inward. When you move inward you forget the ideas of your outer glories. It is an Shri Matajis advice on effortless meditation
individual journey towards God. When you meditate and when you reach there, then
you become collective. Before that it's an absolutely individual journey within. It's an In the same way vibrations are coming, they are radiated. What you have to do is to
absolutely individual journey. expose yourself to it. The best way is not to put in any effort. Dont worry at what
point you have a problem. Say, many people during meditation, I have seen, if they
You should be able to see this; that in this journey nobody is your relation, nobody is catch somewhere they go on looking after it. You just dont have to worry. You just
your friend. You are absolutely alone, absolutely alone. You have to move alone within let it go and it will work by itself. So you dont have to put in any effort. This is
yourself. Don't hate anyone, don't be irresponsible, but in a meditative mood you are what meditation is.
alone. No one exists there, you alone, and once you enter into that ocean then the
whole world becomes your family, the whole world is your own manifestation. All the Meditation means exposing yourself to Gods grace. Now the grace itself knows how to
children become your children and you treat all people with equal understanding. cure you. It knows how to mend you, how to settle down itself into your own being,
how to keep your Spirit kindled. It knows everything. So you dont have to worry as
The whole expansion takes place when you enter inside your Spirit and start seeing to what you have to do or what name you have to take, what mantras you have to
through the eyes of the Spirit. There's such calm, such peace, such bliss within you. do. In meditation you have to be absolutely effortless, expose yourself fully and you
You have to be ready for that journey. In that journey you are alone in your meditative have to be absolutely thoughtless at that time.
state, and the more you find something in your meditation, the more you want to go
and distribute it to others. That has to be. If that does not come into you then it has Supposing, possibly, you might not be thoughtless. At that time you have to just
not worked out, there is no purity, there is some sort of a bias. watch your thoughts, but do not get involved into them. You will find gradually as
the sun rises, darkness goes away and the suns rays go into every part and makes the
In that individual pursuit, whatever you find, you want to enjoy it with others, you whole place enlightened. In the same way your being will be completely enlightened
want to give it to others. This is the sign of the person who has been really but if you put in an effort at that time or try to stop something within you or try to
meditative. The one who has been meditative and has not been able to distribute give it a bandhan it will not.
what he has found is cheating himself and cheating others as well. Because that joy
that you receive in your meditation has to be distributed, has to be given, has to be Effortlessness is the only way into meditation, but you should not be lethargic about
shown. It should flow in your being as the light radiates from every illumined lamp. it - should be alert and watch it . The other side could be that people just dose off.
You don't have to take a vow to say that this is an enlightened light; in the same No, you have to be alert. If you dose off, nothing will work out. Thats another side
way a saint should not have to be certified that he is a saint. The depth you achieve of it. If you are lazy about it nothing will work out. You have to be alert and open,
within yourself spreads all over. It is such an action and reaction. The deeper you absolutely aware, completely effortless, absolutely effortless. If you are absolutely
become, the radiation is much more. effortless, meditation will work the best.
A simple, very ordinary person, uneducated person, can be like that. We have one Dont think about your problems at all, whatever chakras you have, anything, just
gentleman called Varick in Bombay. Hes an old man, and is so deep. He radiates love. expose yourself to the vibrations. See when the sun shines all the nature exposes
He's so meditative. You don't have to spend too much time on meditation. itself to the sun and receives the blessings of the sun effortlessly. It does not put in
But whatever time you spend, whatever you gain, has to be visible outside - how any effort, it just receives the sun - the suns rays start acting. In the same way the
you radiate and how you give it to others. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 1988 all-pervading power starts working. You are not to manoeuvre it, you are not to do
anything about it. Just be effortless, absolutely effortless. Do not take any names
(mantras). Do not bother if your Agnya is catching, this is catching, that is catching.
It is working out.
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It will go on working as long as it can and it will do the miracle that it has to do.
You dont have to worry about it, it knows its job. But when you put an effort you
actually create a barrier for it. So no effort is needed, be absolutely effortless and say
let it go, let it go - thats all.
No mantras are to be chanted. In case you find its impossible then you can take my
name, but there is no need even. When you put your hands toward me that is the
mantra, it is sufficient, this gesture itself is the mantra. You see there is no need to
say it more, but the thought in the mind, the emotions, is what we spread our hands
to that and it should work. When this emotion is absolutely complete, there is no
need to say any mantra - you go beyond it. So one has to be absolutely effortless,
absolutely effortless. That is what it is.
Meditation is for your own ascent, is for your own capital gains that you have to have.
But once you get to it, you also achieve your powers. Like if you become the governor,
you get the powers of the governor. At this time you dont have to think about
anybody else. You are not to put your attention towards anybody else but just receive,
just receive it . Do not think about any other problem, but that you have to be
absolutely effortless. It would work the best on the people who are just receiving it.
You have problems, thats why you are here, but you cannot solve them, they are to
be solved by the divine power. This must be understood fully, that we cannot solve
our problems. It is beyond us to solve our problems. So leave it in the hands of
divine power and expose yourself effortlessly, absolutely effortlessly.
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - London 1 Jan 1980
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Place the photograph of Shri Mataji respectfully, on a clean table or shelf and light a
candle in front of the photo. It is preferable to put a cloth under the photo and to
place the photo in a frame. The candle flame (light element) helps to clear the Agnya
chakra and hence reduce the thoughts. It is preferable to place the photo
approximately at eye level, so that you can see the picture clearly.
Raise the left hand from the base of the spine to the top of the head and rotate the
right hand, clockwise, around the left hand whilst doing this. Start by putting the left
hand in front of the right hand (with both palms facing your body), then take the right
hand over the left hand and back under the left hand. Watch your hands whilst raising
them and tilt the head back as the hands move above eye level. Tie a knot above the
head as shown in the diagram on the next page. Repeat this procedure 3 times. The
second time, tie two knots above the head, and the third time, tie three knots.
Take a Bandhan
Next we do what we call Bandhan (protection). We describe an arc with our right
hand from the left hip, over the top of the head to the right hip and back again.
This should be done calmly and rhythmically to feel the benefit. The eyes can be
closed or open whilst taking a bandhan. Repeat this 7 times. Keep the left hand
palm upwards on the lap.
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d. Finally, try to put your attention onto the Sahastrara chakra, on top of the head,
for a few minutes before raising your Kundalini again and take a bandhan.
So the thought that starts moving in our mind all the time, which creates tensions,
is not the thought of the Spirit. So what you should say is Not this thought. Not
this thought, not this thought, not this thought, not this thought - and see how you
relax. Now you are relaxed. Not this thought, not this thought... Just go on refusing Mother, please give me Mother, I am my Mother, I am Mother, I am not
accepting any thought. So you go into Nirvichara. In that state you feel the Spirit. the pure knowledge(6) own Guru (10) the Spirit (12) guilty (16)
Christ has done the greatest work on this, I should say, but we do not understand
because His life was like a micro thing you see, 33 years. So we have to open it out a
little bit and see what he did. He has given us the greatest weapon, of forgiveness.
When you forgive a person, what do you do? You accept the situation, to begin with,
and secondly you forgive what you think has been done wrong to you. But because
nothing can be done wrong to your Spirit, you just forgive, because you are the
Spirit. And when you forgive, you have found that your tension goes away. So even to
your thoughts if you say, Alright, forgive this thought, forgive this thought, -
because the thought is also not to be punished. Forgive this thought, forgive this Mother, if I have made Mother, I forgive Mother, please give me
thought, forgive everything. Not forget forgive. Because then you will even forget any mistakes please everyone (2) Self-realisation(7)
that you are the Spirit. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Easter 1984, Hampstead forgive me (2) (bend head forwards) (bend head forwards)
(lean head backwards)
Use this technique when your left hand feels cooler or lighter than the right hand. b. Now bring your hand back to the right hip across your stomach. Repeat this 7
times or until you feel the temperature of vibrations on both hands to be equal
Even now if you find that ego is still there, then you have to raise your left side to (i.e. both cool or both warm).
push it back to the right hand side with your [right] hand, one hand towards the
photograph. Push the left side higher and right side lower, so the ego and superego
get the balance. Do it seven times. Try to feel how you are feeling inside.
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - London, 18 Nov 1979
a. Keep the left hand palm upwards towards the photograph. Raise the left side and
lower the right side by using the right hand to describe an arc from the left hip,
up to the top of the head, then down to the right hip as shown.
b. Bring your hand back to the left hip across your stomach. Repeat this 7 times
or until you feel the temperature of vibrations on both hands to be equal
(i.e. both cool or both warm).
There are many techniques for clearing any catches that we might feel in our subtle
system. No two people are alike but most of us need to clear both the left and right
sides regularly. It is important to feel the vibrations on our hands clearly so that we
know which chakras to work on.
If you feel a cool breeze equally on the fingers and palms of both hands, this is good
and a sign that your subtle system is in balance. If you feel heat or heaviness on any
finger or on either hand, you need to use some clearing techniques to improve the
chakras or nadis.
If the right hand feels warmer or heavier than the left, follow the section on
clearing the right side. If the left hand feels warmer, follow the section on clearing
the left side. Alternatively see page 40 - balancing the left and right sides.
For individual chakras, identify which chakras are catching, by feeling which fingers
on your hands feel warm or tingling whilst you are meditating. If you cannot feel
clearly on your hands try to feel the chakras inside the body. If the left Vishuddhi is
catching (left index finger is hot), work on the left Vishuddhi. If the right Vishuddhi
is catching (right index finger is hot), work on the right Vishuddhi. If both index
fingers are hot then work on the centre Vishuddhi, or all three.
You may find the Chakra Chart at the back of this booklet useful to interpret which
chakras are catching.
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Techniques for clearing any chakra Techniques for Clearing the left side
1. Giving a bandhan to a chakra Manifestations of overactive left side: Lethargy, low self-esteem, guilt, living in the
past, laziness, fear.
You can easily clear any chakra by simply giving a bandhan to the chakra. This is
done by rotating the hand clockwise 7 times in front of the chakra, or until the 1. Using the Earth element
chakra feels cool. Use the right hand when working on the chakras of the left and
centre channels and the left hand when working on chakras of the right side. Keep Whilst meditating, place the right hand on the ground (or towards the ground if you
the other hand palm upwards towards Shri Matajis photo to receive vibrations. are on a chair) and the left hand palm upwards to the photograph of Shri Mataji. It is
preferable, but not essential, to place a candle just in front of you so that the flame
is just in front of the fingers of the left hand. Continue for several minutes or until
you feel the left hand become cool.
Similarly you can simply place the palm of the hand on any chakra that is catching. 2. Using the Fire Element The Three Candle Treatment
Use the right hand for chakras of the left channel or centre channel and the left
hand for the right channel. In each case keep the other hand palm upwards. Do this Light three candles and, preferably, sit on the floor cross legged. The candles should
until you feel that chakra become cooler. You can also say - Shri Mataji, please be big enough to give a good sized flame as this will work better. Place the candles
cleanse my heart, Mother please come into my Nabhi. in a suitable candle holder.
a. Place one candle just in front of you so that whilst holding the left hand palm
upwards, the flame is just in front of the fingers of the left hand. Then place the Technique for Clearing the right side
second candle just behind you on the left side. Making sure the candle is far
enough from your body to avoid setting fire to your clothes. Manifestations of overactive right side: Materialism, futuristic planning,
aggressiveness, insomnia, impatience, hot temper, talking excessively, thinking
c. The third candle should preferably be shorter than the other two and is held in the excessively
right hand. First, move the candle up and down the left side of your body for a few
minutes, at a suitable distance so that you do not burn your hair or clothes. If the right side is catching or you recognise the above defects in yourself, or others
do, you should make an effort to clear the right side regularly.
d. Next work on each chakra of the left side by rotating the candle 7 times clockwise,
in front of the chakra (see diagram). Start with the Mooladhara and Swadhisthan 1. Using the Ether Element (Sky)
and finish with the superego on the right side of the head. Pay particular attention
to any chakras that you feel are catching. Before finishing, move the candle up Whilst meditating, hold the left hand in the air with the fingers pointing upward and
and down the left side of the body once again. the palm of the hand facing behind you. Keep the right hand palm upwards towards
the photograph of Shri Mataji to receive vibrations.
Hold an ice pack on the liver (right Swadhisthan and right Nabhi upper and lower
abdomen on the right side) whilst meditating or even whilst simply relaxing at home.
Doing this regularly will significantly reduce the excessive heat in the liver and make
it easier to enter thoughtless awareness.
The right Swadisthan and right Nabhi look after our liver. Meditate with the left hand
on the right Swadisthan for 5 minutes then put the left hand on the right Nabhi.
Footsoaking is very beneficial to the right side, particularly with colder water.
5. Dietary Advice
Another way to improve the right side is to eat less red meat (particularly beef and
pork), fish and fried food and to eat more vegetables and carbohydrates such as cane
sugar, pasta and rice. Cut out alcohol and recreational drugs and cut down on
caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate and caffeinated soft drinks).
It is vital, for those who want to enjoy the peace and bliss of their own Spirit, to
establish their Self-realisation by cleansing the chakras and allowing more strands of Be collective
the Kundalini to rise to the Sahastrara. With this in mind, Shri Mataji has recommend-
ed practicing Sahaja Yoga meditation at home on a twice daily basis a meditation in Sahaja Yoga only works in collectivity Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 14 Jan 1983
the morning and a footsoaking meditation in the evening. These sessions can be as
short as 10 minutes or as long as 1 hour or even more if you like. You will probably It is important that you should go to the centres [Sahaja Yoga meetings], master it,
find that, as you progress, you will enjoy it more and thus set aside more time for become a fully fledged sahaja yogi, and give realisation to others. Youre duty bound,
this blissful experience. If, at any other time of the day, you feel under stress or you have to do it! Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - Holland Park, London 2001
depressed, you will find it beneficial to raise the Kundalini and take a bandhan and,
if possible, to be thoughtless for a minute or two. After a few weeks or months of regularly attending an introductory Sahaja Yoga meeting,
and practicing twice daily meditation at home, it is important to make a conscious effort
The purpose of Sahaja Yoga is not to sit in meditation all day but to meditate at least to attend more advanced collective gatherings of experienced yogis.
twice every day, so that we gradually experience deeper meditations and progressively
improve the condition of our chakras. A profound and peaceful morning meditation You may already have noticed that collective meditation brings us the best meditation
will enable us to stay meditative and peaceful throughout the working day. experiences with the least effort. This collective meditation, combined with collective
interaction with Sahaja Yogis, is essential for the deepening of the experience of
Self-realisation and the acceleration of the inner growth towards a harmonious, peaceful
Shri Matajis Lectures on Audio and Video and blissful life.
Shri Mataji has given thousands of more advanced lectures (in addition to public
programme talks) about the Kundalini and the subtle system, with simple and practical Dont get mixed up
advice on how to improve the chakras and experience the inner joy and peace of the
Spirit every moment of our lives not just whilst sitting down to meditate. Equally Please dont make the mistake of thinking that, by mixing Sahaja Yoga with any
importantly, we have found that listening to Shri Matajis lectures is a very quick way other kind of knowledge or techniques that we feel like, we can make progress in
to get into a deep state of meditation. We have found these lectures very helpful for Sahaja Yoga. Many have tried this approach and failed. If we take the wrong turning
establishing thoughtless awareness effortlessly and improving the quality of our daily we will waste many years, damage our chakras and ultimately become unhappy and
lives and would recommend listening to as many as possible. Please contact your frustrated. We have listed many books from different prophets and saints of varied
local meeting organiser for more details. cultural backgrounds that have good vibrations, but as Christ has warned Beware of
false prophets which are like wolves in sheep's clothing.
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Further Reading
For those interested in reading more about Sahaja Yoga, and spirituality in general,
there are several books and ancient scriptures that should help us to see the link
between the essences of all the religions and to have some meaningful insights into
the nature of the Self and the Divine. There are also some links to online scriptures at
www.sahajayoga.net/texts
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www.sahajayoga.org
You can cut-out this photograph to use for meditation
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www.sahajayoga.org
Copyright Vishwa Nirmala Dharma 2012