Sahaja Yoga

The first full-length examination of Sahaja Yoga, a new religious movement led by Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which claims up to one hundred thousand members from around the world.This is the first full-length examination of Sahaja Yoga, a new religious movement led by Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which claims up to one hundred thousand members from around the world. The author examines how newcomers adopt new practices and allegiances on becoming full-time members, and how most develop a radically new awareness of 'spiritual vibrations' as a result of the regular meditation suggested by Sri Mataji. To do so, she reflects upon current theories of socialisation, in particular building up understandings about new social worlds than has so far been appreciated. This accessible and informative account is of particular value to scholars working in the study of religions and new religious movements, and of interest to those working on theories of socialisation. However, the book is required reading for anyone who wants to know more about the contemporary religious landscape.

Shri Mataji writes that “India is a very ancient country and it has been blessed by many seers and saints who wrote treatises about reality and guidelines on how to achieve it.” This is just such a book. This book is both an introduction to Sahaja Yoga, describing the nature of the subtle reality within each of us, and a step-by-step handbook on how to be a good Sahaja Yogi, the nature of Sahaj culture, how to be a leader and how to raise children. “The knowledge of Sahaja Yoga cannot be described in a few sentences or one small book, but one should understand that all this great work of creation and evolution is done by some great subtle organization, which is in the great divine form.”

The book Sahaja Yoga- An Experiential Treatise is a translation of the original Marathi work titled Sahaja Yoga- Anubhavache Bol written by Mr. V. N. Phadke which was written by him at the request of our Holy mother, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. The book is based on his own experiments with application of Sahaja Yoga for treatment of various ailments, to find intuitively solutions to some common problems faced by man and also to find the truth as to certain beliefs of his community for which the encouragement came from Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi herself. Saraswati Ramans interest and dedication to Sahaja Yoga and its meditation led her to explore a course in medicine leading to an MD in Alternative Medicine from the Indian Board for Alternative Sciences, Kolkata and started off on her journey in Music too by learning,just to discover the treatments of various diseases through Music and Sahaja Yoga meditation. A lady full of positive vibes and approach, towards every aspect of life; ever smiling, her journey to explore the Culture of our country and its tradition has taken this form of a beautiful compilation of this literature. We are proud to have her as one of the gems of Sahaja Yogis that are blooming on this Earth. Jai Shri Mataji. With lots of love, Pramila Rao, Krez Kreations, Real Estate, Ad-films & Media.

Many of the foundations of Sahaja Yoga can be found in the early talks of the 1970s and early 80s. This book looks back at ten days in India between 1972 and 1977 when Shri Mataji spoke to us: unique moments, gems of wisdom, insights said only once. As one Sahaja Yogi at the time put it, "Shri Mataji, first you make the summit, then you make the foundations." Shri Mataji later explained: "The human mind is used to doing things in a ritual way. To raise this house, you have to first dig the foundation, then the piling up and then you have those pillars and the roof. That is how they plan out things. But in God's own kingdom there is no planning. You just sit down and you just enjoy." Consider now some of the foundations of Sahaja Yoga.

The book Sahaja Yoga: Healing and Integration of Your Subtle Energy System, written by Saraswati Raman, describes at length the process of activating the dormant Kundalini energy lying within the sacrum bone in each one of us and raising it upward through the chakras along the spinal column through the Sushumna Nadi until it reaches the Sahasrar, or the fontanel bone area, where it unites with the cosmic energy. She speaks of the various healing benefits of Sahaja Yoga: stress management and its utility in attaining an emotional balance. The second part of the book deals with the use of sound, musical notes, and ragas in the activation and energizing of chakras. Music also has been widely used as therapy through its impact on the energy vortices and, thereby, its influence on the various glands and systems within the body. The third part speaks about incarnations and how the various Avataras incarnated to give an impetus to evolution on earth more particularly toward helping the momentum in the evolution of humanity. The work is the outcome of her own application of Sahaja Yoga and its impact in bringing about an all-around integration of the personality—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

"Sahaja Yoga is not so simple as you think," Shri Mataji told us in 1998. "It is full of temptations." Over twelve pages, in a collection of short quotes, Shri Mataji clearly tells us what Sahaja Yoga is not. The magazine also includes several other articles created from her words. She speaks of collectivity, beauty, fear and incarnations. She speaks at a 1982 Shri Durga Puja, calling it "the Day of the Goddess" and she assures us that there is no problem because there is a special grace.

This special issue contains a forty year history of Sahaja Yoga, primarily told through the words of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. From the opening of the Sahasrara in 1970, each year is a stepping stone in our collective story. Each of us is a thread in the fabric that is Sahaja Yoga, all those years in the making. Of Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji is the author. Of our ascent, She is the artist.

The events of 1994: Shri Mataji's travels, talks, pujas and advice. From Bangalore to Bucharest, Brisbane to Buenos Aires, this year can be described as a vision of beauty. "Many people who really have achieved a very great height in their spiritual life did not need a birthday, but every day they felt it is a birthday to start, to go ahead, to understand, to learn. Every day is a new year for them."