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Conference hydra::dejavu

Title:Psychic Phenomena
Notice:Please read note 1.0-1.* before writing
Moderator:JARETH::PAINTER
Created:Wed Jan 22 1986
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2143
Total number of notes:41773

401.0. "Sahaja Yoga and Realization" by THE780::MANSFIELD () Tue Jul 07 1987 20:25

I would like to share with you a very profound experience that I had
recently as a result of a reply to one of the messages posted on
the HOLISTIC NOTES file (message 19.*).  Philip Ward posted an offer 
for a photo of Sri Mataji, an Indian yogi with an international
following that practice Sahaja yoga.

Partly out of curiosity and partly out of a desire to learn more about
this form of mediation, I sent a request for the photo.  In interoffice
mail a few days later arrived both the photo and a several-times-xeroxed
writing describing the practice of Sahaja yoga.  Phil had also sent the
names of several people in California that I might contact for further
information about the practice.  But I wanted to try the experience for
myself first - in part out of fear that my curiosity might get me caught
in some kind of cult.

What followed was far from fearful, but rather a very beautiful series
of experiences.  After meditating a number of times using the photo of
Sri Mataja, I did contact the center in Santa Cruz.  At my first visit
to the center, I was greeted by very warm and gracious hosts.  They
patiently answered my endless stream of questions and we did a group 
mediation in which all 3 of the newcomers experienced, to one degree
or another, the vibrations described in the above mentioned note. 

Since beginning this meditation, I have noticed several changes in my
life which are worth noting.  First, I seem to require less sleep than
before.  Second, I was previously a coffee and diet coke fiend and I have
now lost the taste for these beverages entirely and prefer herb tea or
mineral water.  Third, I seem to have a heightend intuative sence.  For
example, the other evening, I found myself hitting the breaks PRIOR to
a very close call on the freeway.  I had a sence that it wasn't me 
slowing the car - but had I not done so I would have surely had an
accident.  Also, I have woken from deep sleep just prior to earthquake
tremors in the middle of the night.  Such tremors are not uncommon 
in this part of California.

Dispite being generally skeptical or at least very analytical by nature,
I can attest that the experience is both real and quite profound.  Don't
expect gale-winds, but if you are open, the gentle breezes are certainly
present.  The relaxation following this mediation is deeper than any that
I have ever experienced.

Phil asked that I share this experience which I do not for selfish
exposure.  But had he not been open to sharing the story of Sri Mataja,
I truely feel that I would miss out on this dimention of experience.

I would sincerely encourage anyone with the same sence of curiosity to
inquire to SHIRE::PHILIP for a photo and encourage you to share the
experience as a reply to this note.  If you would like any further 
details about the self-realization I experienced, feel free to message
me directly.

Regards,
Elaine
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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401.1The Meditation With A PurposeMLCSSE::SUS. Paulo SuThu Oct 15 1987 14:42145


		This is a simple matter

	To become self-realized is such a simple thing in Sahaja Yoga.  
	It is an awaking of a power which is within everybody. It is as 
	simple as is described by the Pharises to he who knocks the door
	shall opened; whoever shall seek shall find the truth within his 
	reach.  We - human beings have been seeking for centuries without 
	much success, for we often seek outwardly instead of inwardly.  
	Saint Augustine said, "I have been looking for God all over, 
	everywhere.  And finally I found that He was inside, within me, 
	and I had been outside."

	God is manifesting within us.  Our consciousness remains outside,
	in the outer "instrument", but the true crying of the soul for
	union with God is in the meditation that brings our consciousness
	inside where God is.  With this, we know that we have to knock, 
	in a sense, and seek inwardly within ourselves.

	The true meaning of rebirth.

	To be reborn, in Christianity is a certification of becoming a 
	Christian.  One is led to believe that such certification is the 
	only ticket to enter the kingdom of God.  In Sahaja Yoga, Sri Mataji 
	says "to be reborn is a transformation, it is an evolution".  The 
	enjoyment of life is only possible if we could get connected with 
	the Spirit and that connection to the Spirit is only possible if 
	you sprout into that through self-realization you become the Spirit 
	as Christ has said in simple words that you have to be born again.
	
	Becoming self-realized is a process similar to the transformation
	that occurs when an egg becomes a bird, and the life within become 
	another form of life with wings.   To be in oneness with the Holy 
	Spirit is to be "of the Spirit".   Sri Mataji - the master of this 
	transformation technique says, "to fill with Holy Spirit is not a 
	mystery in Sahaja Yoga.  Everything can be explained."

	Speaking of Yoga, our thoughts are connected with the picture of
	Indian Guru, standing upside down, twisting his two legs like
	a wet towel, squeezing out the water...or one who pull out his own
	tongue and rolls it back like a roll.  At least, that was what
	I thought when I first heard about it.  Relax, my friends.  
	This is a meditation in which you don't even need to set in
	crossed legs.  Transcendental meditation huh?  Transcendental 
	meditation is becoming another form of university seminar which 
	you paid some amount of $300 to get a meanless mantra and work 
	at it.

	It is known that some guru masters can manipulate people's 
	conscious mind and become millionaires through their teachings
	in the Western world.  Being aware of all this, one may think that 
	the founder of Sahaja Yoga - Sri Mataji, her full name is Sri Mataji 
	Nirmala Devi, will charge you an arm and leg to teach you become 
	self-realized.  As matter of fact, in all her television interviews, 
	she has clearly stated that it is an absurd and immoral idea to take 
	a cent from people for telling them how to bring out their own 
	self-knowledged inner power.  Sahaja Yoga is always free.
	Sri Mataji does not certify you with the divine healing power of 
	Holy Spirit.  You were born with the power!  Christ does not charge 
	membership to enter the kindom of God.  Budda did not ask for 
	contribution to teach the love of God.  To understand this is very 
	important - that you can not purchase God or God's love since it is 
	rightfully yours no matter what.  This knowledge of kindling the 
	love of God was born with Sri Mataji.  She was born with this candle 
	light with the grace of God.  Her mission is to light everyone's
	candle in this critical stage of the salvation of the human race.  
	The love of God is free for everybody, therefore Sahaja Yoga is free 
	for all seeker.

	You are your own guru.

	To knock or not to knock, to seek or not to seek, it is your choice
	and absolute power.  It may sound complicated to you but to become
	self-realized is such a simple matter.  When you are self-realized 
	you can feel the cool breeze (the Holy Spirit) 	present on top of 
	your head.  You also feel the cool breeze on both of your palms with 
	tingling vibrated-sensation (a communication vehicle between your 
	physical/mind body and the Holy Spirit).  All this is just the 
	beginning.  The process of rebirth is taking place.  You are being 
	baptized by the Holy Spirit. 	The cool breeze in the hand is the 
	energy of the Spirit that flowing by which your mental and physical
	problems can be cured in a natural harmonious way.
	
	This transformation, this evolution must take place.

	You have to break the old life-shell and be reborn. Unfortunately,
	this baptization (the instant rebirth) was mistaken earlier. A 
	transformation must happen in order to be reborn again.  
	A frog must become a prince by turning into a prince.  But, by 
	thinking he is a prince will not make him become a prince.

	Through self-realization your life becomes baptized with the Holy 
	Spirit; you become a collective being.  By means of the collectivity 
	you become a more sensible and loving person knowing that all divine 
	truth (the knowledge) will be yours when you need it to do your work 
	of this life (the purpose of being in this planet).  Becoming collect-
	ive is an evolution.  You will become so compassionate, gentle, kind 
	and lovable.  You are protected by the Holy Spirit. Most of of all, 
	you become a part and parcel of the blissful domain - the kingdom of 
	God. You will be constantly fine-tunning youself all-over, physically 
	and mentally.  And, you will be rid of human impure desire/habits, 
	so that you can purfy severn chakras (the senen subtle energy centers
	that make a tiny Cool Breeze that is struggling through at the 
	begining).  This will lead to the automatic balancing of the vital 
	Sympathetic nervous systems of Pingala Nadi (right channel) and Ida 
	Nadi (left channel).  You will live in total joy.

	Ultimately the goal is that you and the Holy Spirit become oneness; 
	and thereafter you and the universe become one.  This is the vast 
	sense of the transformation.  You will become a collective being
 	- a prophet.  I should differentiate between a prophet and a psychic 
	here.  You become the first, a wiseman (but not "wise guy"). 

	In Sahaja Yoga, the person is fully aware and alert and receives 
	inner silence and experience without doing any unnatural movements.
	He sits in a completely easy pose throughout.  	The breathing is 
	normal or slightly slower than normal.  The connection with our 
	divine origin is established.  This transformation (rebirth) is a 
	slow process, because the damage of your system that you have incurred
	throughout your life must be repaired.  To reinforce and nourish
	this connection with our divine origin we must work it out individual-
	ly.  You will experience the changing of your life according to your 
	own effort and dedication.  Nevertheless, the experience is of 
	enlightened joyfulness instead of any kind of suffering.

	Our colleague Phil Ward and Chris Kyriacou have also written on 
	this topic on various Notes conference (Hydra::Holistic #19.* and
	Regent::Religion #90).  This introduction of Sahaja Yoga is to tell
	you that I have benefited from reading those notes discussion too.
	It is my turn to share my experience with you.

	Sri Mataji is coming to U.S. from Europe around November 16th-23rd  
	touring the major cities in the States.  During her public programs
	she will give a lecture about her philosophy and her understanding
	of the unity of all religions.  She will also offer the experience 
	of self-realization to anyone who desires it.  For more information
	about her Boston program or programs in other cities, please post
	inquiry here or contact Boston Sahaja Yoga Center at 617-646-7547.

	Wish you were there too.  :-). 

						
	
401.2The Science of Sahaja YogaMLCSSE::SUS. Paulo SuThu Oct 15 1987 14:48400
	There is a time for the All Mighty Father - God.
	There is a time for the Holy Son - the light of Christ.
	And now is the time for the Holy Spirit - the "Holy Mother" who 
	nourish us, guide us in this world.

	"So this is the Aquarian Age - the age of Holy Spirit; the blossom
	time has come.  The Kundalini has to rise and ignited to complete
	the evolution of human beings." - These are the words of Sri Mataji.

	When you experience something wonderful, you just feel like to
	share with someone.  The following discussion has great detail of
	the way of Sahaja Yoga.  I just re-posted from Holistic notes 
	for you.  I am sure many of you will be interested.

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Note 19.0                     Types of Meditation.                     5 replies
HYDRA::BARANSKI "Never Argue With An Idiot."        137 lines  12-FEB-1986 11:26
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                       -< What is the meaning of life? >-
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Note 66.0                    Kundalini, Meditation                       1 reply
GVA04::PHILIP                                       130 lines  23-OCT-1985 11:52
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	"Meditation" comes from roots which basically mean "to be in the
	centre". Which means being in the present, the real, not in 
	projections about the future or memories of the past, which are unreal.

	There is a connection here with the discoveries of neurologists in
	the 60's and 70's about the different functions of the hemispheres 
	of the brain; the left side of the brain is involved with rational, 
	analytical mental activity, which might include planning and 
	consideration of the future, and the right side with affective, 
	aesthetic, and "intuitive" activity. (This picture is very much 
	simplified, but I believe it is basically OK.)

	Now, what these scientists discovered only 10 to 20 years ago had
	in fact been known in the Indian and Chinese religious traditions for
	thousands of years. The Chinese talked of the "Yin" and "Yang" as two
	complementary or opposing forces which must be held in balance for 
	the good life. And the indian tradition of yoga talks of the two 
	channels in the left and right-hand sides of the body's subtle 
	nervous system, called "Ida Nadi" and "Pingala Nadi" respectively. 
	(Nadi means "river" or "channel" in sanskrit, or we might say 
	"nerve" which also gives the sense quite well.)
	These channels correspond in the body to the nerves of the sympathetic
	nervous system which pass immediately to the left and right sides of the
	spinal column. These "Nadis" are shown in yogic literature as crossing 
	at the level of the eyebrows to reach the brain, corresponding with the
	well-known fact that the activity of the left-hand side of the body is
	controlled by the right-hand hemisphere of the brain, and vice versa.

	The yogis of old discovered a lot about the workings of this subtle
	nervous system, and the contrasting properties of its left and right 
	sides.
	
	This could be summarised by a chart (not necessarily of opposites):

	Left Side				Right Side

	Ida Nadi				Pingala Nadi
	Feminine, maternal			Masculine, paternal
	Past					Future
	Emotions				Creativity
	Yin					Yang
	Cold					Hot
	Inertia					Agitation
	Heart					Reason
	Romantic				Classical

	and so forth.

	In addition to these two channels, a third subtle channel exists,
	called "Sushumna Nadi" in sanskrit, which runs up the centre 
	of the spinal column and corresponds in the gross body to the 
	vagus nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. Being in between 
	the left- and right-side channels of the past and the future 
	respectively, this is the channel of the present whose action 
	establishes a balance between the other two.

	This picture is very much simplified, of course; the Chinese who
	discovered, largely through their meditation, the meridians known in
	acupuncture, made a very much more complex map of these thousands 
	of nadis.  However the picture is very broadly accurate and suffices 
	to explain a great deal about ourselves.

	The problem is that in normal human beings only the left and right
	side channels of the subtle nervous system function, the central channel
	being dormant, awaiting a triggering. For this reason the central 
	channel remained mysterious, being referred to in the Buddhist 
	tradition as "The Middle Way" which is not only a prescription 
	for ideal conduct but also an allusion to the middle path of 
	Sushumna which is the way of our spiritual evolution and for 
	which a just, or dharmic, way of life is necessary.  (This is 
	why a good life is important not only for the well-being of
	society, but also, and more important, essential for one's own 
	spiritual progress.) Islam has the same notion in the word Sharia, 
	which means at once "law" and "way", asserting the identity of 
	the divine law or prescriptions which we have to follow for our 
	growth and the path of Sushumna. Similarly, the Chinese referred 
	to the mysterious Tao which holds in balance the Yin and the Yang.

	Now, how to be in the present? How to activate the path of
	Sushumna? How to be in meditation?

	Indian yogic teachings have for long talked about the energy of
	Kundalini, which lies dormant in the triangular bone - the coccyx 
	in the os sacrum or sacred bone - at the base of the spine. They 
	tell how this energy, once awakened, rises up the central channel 
	to reach the crown of the head, where it rises even above the head 
	and the yogi feels refreshed by a shower of the grace coming directly 
	from the unconscious. As it rises along the sushumna it cleanses 
	and activates the central nadi which, being more subtle and more 
	powerful than the side channels once awakened, brings these into 
	balance. As the kundalini rises above the level of the brain our
	mental activity dies down and we become silent although still alert 
	and aware of things taking place within or outside of us.

	The awakening of kundalini is effortless on our part, needing only
	the right circumstances; we are like a candle being lit by another 
	candle.  It is spontaneous - "sahaja" in sanskrit, meaning "inborn".

	One of the first manifestations of the kundalini awakening may be a
	sensation of tingling in the hands as the kundalini makes her way 
	up the Sushumna, which gives way to a feeling of a cool breeze 
	felt on the hands which may also be felt on the top of the head 
	and on other parts of the body. The experience is subtle, always 
	gentle and full of grace in normal healthy people, although people 
	with physical or other problems may take a little while to feel 
	anything. References to the cool breeze are not confined to yogic 
	literature; the greek word pneuma refers to the breath of God 
	which is the manifestation of the Spirit; the arabic word assas 
	and the hebrew word ruach likewise describe the sensation of a 
	zephyr felt when the link with the unconscious is established 
	through the awakening of Kundalini. Kahlil Gibran alluded to 
	it beautifully:

	"It was but yesterday
	That you were moving with
	The moving sea,
	And you were shoreless
	And without a self.
	Then the wind,
	The breath of life,
	Wove you,
	A veil of light on Her face,
	Then Her hand gathered you
	And gave you form,
	And with a head held high
	You sought the heights.
	But the sea followed after you,
	And Her song is still with you
	And though you have forgotten
	Your parentage,
	She will forever assert Her motherhood,
	And forever will She call you unto Her."

			- The Garden of the Prophet.

	Such has been the experience not only of the saints of the past in
	India and other countries, but also of many thousands of people 
	in the west in recent years.





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Note 19.2                     Types of Meditation.                        2 of 5
GVAEIS::PHILIP "Phil Ward, Geneva-Etang X248"       116 lines  16-FEB-1986 08:37
                          -< More on Kundalini Yoga >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Some more on Kundalini awakening, in particular my own experience.
	It's a vast topic but here goes... 

	Kundalini has the power to cure cancer, and a number of 
	other "incurable" diseases, including blindness, epilepsy, diabetes, 
	addiction, certain forms of paralysis, and most particularly mental
	illness. I did not have any of these when I got realization (Kundalini
	awakening), but I had been suffering from chronic diarrhea for several
	months as a result of having eaten rather indiscriminately and of having
	been to some of the unscrupulous "gurus" who are to be found in India,
	where I had spent a year on the hippy trail. I had already had 3 
	courses of medical treatment from doctors in India and Sri Lanka 
	who had failed to cure the problem, which went away inside a week 
	after realization. But this healing is a by-product; the important 
	thing is that one should desire one's spiritual ascent. After 
	realization, you are in touch with the unconscious, which in a 
	subtle way guides and looks after you, so that if you desire your 
	spiritual well-being, other aspects of your well-being such as 
	the material, the physical, and the emotional get taken care of by
	the unconscious. It's quite remarkable, and I wouldn't mention it 
	had I not experienced it. Kundalini cures such diseases as cancer 
	by re-integrating the calls of the body that have lost their 
	connection with the whole; Kundalini has this power of integration. 

	The structure of the universe as a whole resembles the creation 
	story of Genesis 1, where God creates the universe in seven stages 
	which correspond to the seven chakras or centres of energy in the 
	human body as in the cosmos. Thus the microcosm of the human body 
	mirrors faithfully the macrocosm of the universe. However this 
	correspondence cannot be seen through objective research into the 
	universe, but is experienced as one goes deep in meditation and 
	becomes gradually aware of it. After realization, one becomes linked 
	to the universal unconscious, whose guidance registers on the central 
	nervous system via the parasympathetic as cool vibrations; the 
	identification with the individual "I" gradually weakens, and one 
	spontaneously comes to feel oneself as a part of the collective being. 

	My personal experience came after just over a year spent traveling
	in the East to different ashrams and gurus that people had told me 
	about. (I also did more conventional things like trekking in the 
	Himalayas, which was great fun!) Briefly, I went first with a friend 
	to the ashram of one noted charlatan who until recently lived with 
	a few thousand disciples and sixty odd Rolls Royces in Oregon, and 
	spent a day or two there astonished at the state of the "sannyasins" 
	we were amongst. They all seemed completely hypnotized; and in fact 
	some of them looked so pale and ill that one might have thought they 
	had been put in a wash and then spun-dry, which made me realize 
	the origin of the term 'brain-washing'. There was no love among them; 
	we just saw them sitting together over cups of tea and analytically 
	knocking one another, on the basis of whatever psycho-therapy
	they had just been learning. My friend and I could not see why it was
	necessary to wear orange robes in order to make spiritual progress, 
	so we left. 

	Other stops on the journey included some ashrams in south India, 
	for instance at one ashram which was originally the seat of a very great
	saint, Ramana Maharshi, but which has now been administered for three
	decades by local brahmins and businessmen and the spirit has gone out of
	the place. (To give an example, the ashram is built on the side of 
	the holy mountain of Arunachala, which is said to be the god Shiva 
	Himself. The trustees wanted to build a concrete path to the top 
	complete with electric lighting, to attract more visitors!) Another 
	visit to the seat of another well-known fraud who materializes 
	objects and claims on this basis to be God. This just seemed like 
	cheap circus tricks, although I was impressed with the number of 
	people who hung around.

	I also spent in total about three months in monasteries with
	various Buddhist teachers, doing what is known as "Vipassana" 
	meditation. Unfortunately the use of the attention to follow 
	the activities of the body and mind, and particularly the breath, 
	place great stress on the sympathetic nervous system (the left and 
	right sides) as the parasympathetic is not active, and as I 
	learned afterwards I was not doing myself any good. Many people do 
	these sorts of retreats and come out of them feeling great, as I 
	did, but the effect is not through the parasympathetic, which 
	nourishes, and the effect goes away very quickly leaving a sort 
	of vacuum into which all manner of negativity can come. 

	(I might mention in passing that a number of friends of mine have 
	tried Transcendental Meditation, and all have come out with 
	very negative opinions about it. What happens in TM is again 
	just a sympathetic phenomenon, the stilling of the right side 
	and the activation of the left side through the repetition of 
	an allegedly meaningless mantra (the TM mantras are in fact not 
	only meaningful but quite powerful in a black magical sort of way). 
	The left side, being where the heart is, is the side of rhythm, 
	and it is stimulated in an unhealthy way by these mantras, and 
	one is taken away from the path of Sushumna. People indeed feel 
	calm, but what happens is a lowering of awareness, as the 
	attention goes into a sort of void, whereas spiritual development 
	should heighten our awareness. After a while people find that the 
	mantra goes on and on in their heads automatically and indeed 
	becomes difficult to stop, and this is sometimes followed by other 
	unpleasant experiences such as hearing voices, accidents, torpor, 
	and even physical pain; in short, spirit possession.)

	Okay, the question is now, how does one get one's Kundalini
	awakened? One cannot do it oneself; it is a act of grace. It is very 
	simple, and quite extraordinary. On the way back from India, I was 
	told by a friend in Delhi of a remarkable Indian lady called Sri 
	Mataji Nirmala Devi, who has the power to awaken the Kundalini 
	simply by her presence, or even, what is even more remarkable, in 
	the presence of a photograph of her. Of course, I could not 
	believe this at first, until my friend sat me down in front 
	of such a photograph and told me to hold my hands towards it,
	palms upward, whereupon I did feel a slight coolness in my hands, 
	and, on holding my hand above my head, I could feel Kundalini coming 
	out from the top of my head like a cushion of air. Since that time 
	I have had the good fortune to meet Sri Mataji on several further 
	occasions. ("Sri" connotes respect, and "Mataji" means "mother" or 
	"holy mother". She has lived in London since 1974 when her husband 
	was elected to his present post as Secretary-General of the United 
	Nations International Maritime Organization.) 

	I would like now to digitize a photograph of Sri Mataji so that 
	anyone reading this Notesfile with access to a VT240 or VT125 could 
	try the experience. Anybody know what hardware and software would 
	be necessary? In the meantime I would be happy to send a more 
	conventional photograph to anyone who sends me mail.

	Phil




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Note 19.3                     Types of Meditation.                        3 of 5
LASSIE::TBAKER "My Karma Ran Over My Dogma"          11 lines  17-FEB-1986 13:54
                               -< Realization? >-
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	    re:2. > within a week of realization
    
	    I'd be interested in what you mean my realization.  The definition
	    I'm most familier with is that of one who has fully recognized and
	    personally experienced (and is continuingly experiencing) complete
	    oneness with God/the absolute/infinity.
	    
	    Also, the sentence quoted above implies that you are realized, what
	    ever definition you wish to place on it.
    
	    Tom


    
    

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Note 19.4                     Types of Meditation.                        4 of 5
GVAEIS::PHILIP "Phil Ward, Geneva-Etang X248"        46 lines  25-FEB-1986 05:09
                               -< Realization! >-
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	Realization is a state in which the Kundalini energy is awakened 
	and rises the full length of the central path to flow out from 
	the top of the head and thereby make the link (_yoga_) with the Divine.

	The definition described in .3 would describe a person who is God-
	realized, who has completely gone beyond samsara, the ocean of 
	illusion and the cycle of birth and death. However there is another 
	stage, that of self-realization, in which one is on the way to 
	God-realization; the process of self-perfection through the action 
	of the Divine Grace. This is the stage in which the Atma (Self) 
	manifests through the connection with the Divine through the 
	Kundalini, and a gradual and spontaneous process of purification 
	takes place. 

	The process of purification is one of cleansing the energy centres
	(chakras) of the subtle nervous system through the action of the 
	Kundalini, which is accompanied by an improvement in every aspect 
	of one's well-being. The organs of the body are controlled by the 
	different chakras and when the chakras function properly the organs 
	themselves function properly. Hence the power of Kundalini to cure 
	different diseases.

	This process brings immediate and practical benefits. For instance,
	one friend of mine used to smoke 80 cigarettes a day before 
	realization. He got his realization one evening at a public meeting, 
	and when he went home afterwards he started to smoke a cigarette out 
	of habit, only to discover he didn't enjoy it at all; he threw 
	the pack away and hasn't smoked since. Quite simply, you enjoy being 
	the Atma, so that external sources of enjoyment on which you might 
	have been dependent previously become less important. And the Atma 
	expresses itself in life in a multitude of beautiful ways. 

	In the state of God-realization the chakras are completely cleansed
	and integrated and open and the divine qualities associated with each
	manifest completely; God acts through us completely, there is no 
	difference between us and God, we are in complete beatitude. This 
	was the state of the Buddha after his enlightenment. Self-realisation 
	is a partial stage where we still have work to do, but already the 
	peace and the bliss of the Divine make themselves felt. 

	So I am realized in the sense of self-realisation, which scarcely
	makes me unique as there are thousands of people in the world who 
	have had Kundalini awakening and who practice _sadhana_ 
	(spiritual effort, essentially meditation) to maintain this 
	contact with the Divine (including at least four of us who happen 
	to work in DEC) and the number is increasing very rapidly.

	Phil


    

        <<< HYDRA::DISK$NOTES$LIBRARY:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HOLISTIC.NOTE;1 >>>
================================================================================
Note 19.5                     Types of Meditation.                        5 of 5
VNABRW::EICHERT                                       8 lines  16-SEP-1986 01:56
                            -< Growing Realization >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
                     Growing Realization
    
                  First there was myself
                  then myself and God
                  then God and myself
                  then God and us
                  then God and God.

401.3C'mon baby, light my candle .. with a cool breezeISTG::DOLLIVERTodd O. DolliverMon Oct 19 1987 19:2176
re .1;

  I find this topic fascinating, and I appreciate your re-posting of the
information in this conference.  I, for one would be very interested in
having you also post a schedule of Sri Mataji's visit to the United States,
and Boston in particular.

  Samaja Yoga seems like a spiritual get-rich-quick scheme, which I am
slightly wary of, especially since only a few people are currently capable
of producing the effects.  However I believe that many schools have lost the
"spark" and have made the self-realization process appear to be comprised
of endless drudgery and sacrifice while it is possible to accomplish the
same things much more simply with more specifically focused efforts and
energies.  While I am sure that getting your "candle lit" is seen to be only
the beginning, it sure seems that it could provide people with an excellent
head start.

  I have been a TM meditator for about 12 years and have not experienced the
drawbacks presented by Phil Ward in .2 (and I question whether they are so
far-reaching), yet I have been lax in my meditating in recent years, and I
could envision a dedicated TM'er encountering some problems of imbalance.

  While in college ('76) I had a prolonged experience which I attributed to
the effects of Kundalini energy, and to this day I have found no better
explanation.  In this case, however, it was not a "cool breeze" but a heavy
sandstorm which literally shook my entire body for several weeks, and had
severe enough physical and psychological effects to require hospitalization.
The locus of shaking gradually moved up and down my spine several times
(taking about a week for each full cycle) until when it again moved up 'into'
my skull I suddenly felt like I was falling into an abyss.  Surprisingly, at
the nadir of the abyss I experienced an extreme feeling of centeredness and
stability.  From this point on I healed quickly, although doctors never found
anything wrong with me, and could not explain my illness or my recovery.

  I am certain that I both conciously and unconciously 'allowed' myself to be
open to this experience, which included some extreme emotional 'highs' as well
as the 'lows', and with no teacher to supply guidance I guess that I could be
considered lucky to have made it through with my nervous system intact.
In any case, my experiences and readings on Kundalini have taught me to treat
this energy with respect (but not fear), yet I have specific concerns over the
manner in which Sahaja Yoga is presented.

  It seems that once your "candle is lit" in Sahaja Yoga, you are on your own.
I have developed some confidence in my own abilities to handle some potent
energies, yet couldn't this energy overwhelm some people?  What could a person
do if they felt overwhelmed, or is this something that _couldn't_ happen with
the nature of the Sahaja Yoga energies?  In particular, shouldn't Sahaja Yoga
be accompanied by more specialized training?

  Also, in a number of my readings on Kundalini, two methods are presented
for cleansing the chakras to allow smooth passage for the Kundalini energies.
One method involves cleansing the lower four chakras and orchestrating the
operation of these 'personal' chakras with the fifth (throat) chakra, then
developing the sixth 'third eye' (pineal) chakra, and finally attempting to
open the seventh and final chakra (pituitary) to allow 'connection with the
infinite'.

  The other method involves application of potent cleansing energy directly to
the seventh chakra, and guiding high-powered energy down through to the lower
chakras essentially reaming them out.  While this second method is clearly
more direct, the first method is virtually always considered as the 'preferred'
method due to dangers with the second method involved in handling high-powered
energies of the higher chakras by incompletely cleansed lower chakras.

  It appears to me that Sahaja Yoga can be characterized by the second method
of raising Kundalini, and this raises my concern.  Is there some sense in
which most current books on Kundalini can be considered to apply only to the
sympathetic systems of the Pingala Nadi and Ida Nadi, and thus the warnings
don't apply to the methods used in Sahaja Yoga?  Since typically the rising
Kundalini energy is described as feeling warm or hot there is clearly something
different about the Sahaja "cool breeze", but is it reasonable to state that
no adverse effects are possible? (Especially when people are on their own?)

	Looking_to_get_rich_quick_but_wary_of_the_risks,

							Todd
401.4Try it you'll like it...THE780::MANSFIELDMon Oct 19 1987 22:5122
    Todd re. .3,
    
    Unlike the TM organization, the Sahaja Yogas do not charge for their
    service.  I shared your fear of getting caught in the vortex of
    a cult until I slowly ventured into the new method of practicing
    mediation.  Try it for yourself and send us a followup message.
    Surely with all you went through with TM, there could be little
    harm in trying something new.                                      
    
    When the energies in the body are in balance, I feel the cool breezes
    that we have discribed.  When I am upset or generally out of balance,
    I feel warm or hot tingling sensations.  Perhpas you are on the
    right track and could benefit from mediation using Sri Mataji's
    photo.
    
    I too was perviously a TM practitioner and had some adjustment to
    the new practices.  However, I never felt as relaxed or balanced
    with TM as with Sahaja Yoga.
    
    Try it you'll like it,
    Elaine                                                                  
    
401.5MLCSSE::SUS. Paulo SuTue Oct 20 1987 16:3671
	
	re: .3

>... post a schedule of Sri Mataji's visit to the United States, and Boston 
> in particular.

	We do not have definitely schedule for her program in the States,
	nor which cities she is going to visit yet.  When such schedule
	is in place, I will post it here for our colleagues in DEC.

>...  Samaja Yoga seems like a spiritual get-rich-quick scheme, which I am
> slightly wary of, especially since only a few people are currently capable
> of producing the effects.  

	Such "spiritual get-rich-quick" scheme still requires your own 
	dedication, your own effort.  You have to transform yourself to
	become a collective being. If you gave up your meditation work and 
	chose to pamper yourself into damaging your system, your "get-rich-
	quick" 	scheme can also become "get-poor-quick" results.  There are 
	thousands of people in India (as people over there are not as 
	materialistic) and hundreds of people in Europe become realized each 
	year.  It is not only a few as you think.  We all really should worry 
	about ourself first before we can help others.  Sahaja Yoga works best 
	on collectivity, it is not selfish work.  When you are realized soul, 
	you can help others effectivily.  In United States, Sahaja Yoga is not 
	popular yet.  People in this side of the pond are so materialistic to 
	such an extent that they ask how much do you have to pay to become 
	self-realized; they can not believe that you do not have to pay to 
	such good thing.  Therefore, they do not want to become part of it.  
	This is exactly how the human ego is separating us from our Creator.
	


>  It seems that once your "candle is lit" in Sahaja Yoga, you are on your own.

	After your candle is lit, there are new dimensions beyond that.
	You become collective being.  Gradually, you purify more and more, and
	become more perception to your surroundings.  You are your own guru.
	You are not totally by yourself for you are guided by the Holy Spirit.
	There are so much Sri Mataji can teach you after realization (Once
	Kundalini has risen and established the Yoga, or union with the
	Divine all pervading power.).  Yes, you are on your own in the sense
	of no one else is in control of you.

> Is there some sense in which most current books on Kundalini can be 
> considered to apply only to the sympathetic systems of the Pingala Nadi and 
> Ida Nadi, and thus the warnings don't apply to the methods used in Sahaja 
> Yoga?  ...warm or hot there is clearly something different about the Sahaja 
> "cool breeze", but is it reasonable to state that no adverse effects are 
> possible? (Especially when people are on their own?)

	I do not believe there is a book can cover Kundalini throughly.
	Just as in Jesus Christ, I do not think of a book can "contain" such
	a great Lord - the son of God by itself completely.

	For many people who heard about raising of the Kundalini, they 
	responded "Huh! that is very dangerous.".  Yes, as you know, little
	knowledge can be dangerous.  For you know not what is on that road
	ahead of you.  Sahaja Yoga teachs you how to protect yourself against
	negativity, how to surrender (not fight) your ego, how to cleanse 
	your chakra...etc.  Sahaja Yoga teachs balancing of left and right
	sympathetic nervous system. When a person felt warm or hot during
        awakening of Kundalini, it is caused by the blockage of each center
        chakra.  Friction creates heat.  One must learn to deal with
        cleansing those centers.

	Surely there is no adverse effects on the gentle cool breeze
        and the vibrations on your finger-tips.  It  never occurs
        that a Sahaja Yogi/Yoginis died of Cancer or heart troubles.
    	Not only that a realized soul can correct those problems if
        they have those problems before they become realized.    
401.6Lighting the candleSHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangWed Oct 28 1987 14:5782
re .3;

	In fact, we don't _do_ anything to get realization, just as a
candle being lit doesn't do anything except be ready and open to the
enlightenment. So to discuss different techniques for obtaining realization
is to miss the point a little; there aren't any techniques. (Although there
are plenty of people selling "techniques".) 

	In the past, seekers were obliged to take themselves away from the 
mass of humanity and meditate in a remote place in a forest or in the 
mountains for years on end, gradually purifying their subtle being under 
the guidance of a realized guru, and only getting realization after a 
tremendous sadhana. What is new about Sahaja Yoga, which since it is the 
Yoga for the blossom time of humanity must be a yoga capable of being 
enjoyed by ordinary householders such as ourselves, is that first comes the 
realization and then the purification. As Sri Mataji has said, the old way 
was as if we had to tidy a dark room and only then switch the light on; in 
Sahaja Yoga, first we are given the light, then we can "tidy the room" much
more easily and see for ourselves what we need to do for our spiritual
growth. 

	(Todd, the dramatic experiences you describe seem to follow quite 
closely on your starting with TM, from the dates you give; I wonder if
there is a connection.)

> only a few people are currently capable of producing the effects.

	Last Monday night, Sri Mataji was in Rome, Italy, where she gave 
realization to an audience of more than a thousand people, practically all 
of whom felt the vibrations, the cool breeze and the peace as described in 
previous notes. She was also interviewed on Italian television, and many 
people phoned in having felt the cool breeze from her image on the TV. (I 
just heard this from a friend who was there.) So many, many people are
capable, as each newly-realized person is himself capable of giving
realization. In Indian villages I have seen thousands of people at a time 
experience realization in a single programme.

>  It seems that once your "candle is lit" in Sahaja Yoga, you are on your own.

	Not so. The best thing is to practise Sahaja Yoga with others, 
following the rules and simple practices (okay, after realization there 
are some very simple "techniques" which help to keep the subtle body in a 
good state) which Sri Mataji has taught us. Your local Sahaja Yoga centre 
can tell you more. People grow much faster and much more enjoyably in a 
collective context than by themselves.

> I have developed some confidence in my own abilities to handle some potent
> energies, yet couldn't this energy overwhelm some people?  What could a
> person do if they felt overwhelmed, or is this something that _couldn't_
> happen with the nature of the Sahaja Yoga energies?  In particular,
> shouldn't Sahaja Yoga be accompanied by more specialized training? 

	It is your own spiritual energy; how could it overwhelm you? I have
never heard of anyone having such an experience. 

> Is there some sense in which most current books on Kundalini can be
> considered to apply only to the sympathetic systems of the Pingala Nadi and
> Ida Nadi, and thus the warnings don't apply to the methods used in Sahaja
> Yoga? 

	Dead right, especially all the descriptions of intense heat, etc,
that you see in some of the more nonsensical books on the subject. As Sri
Mataji has said, it as though a peasant from some remote village who has
never before seen electricity finds a power outlet and sticks his fingers
in; he receives a big shock, and concludes that electricity is something
very dangerous. But if you understand, you just plug in the lamp and
turn it on. Kundalini is a maternal energy and her manifestation is 
strong, but very gracious and gentle at the same time.

	Don't forget that the cool breeze has been described in numerous 
traditions, the "assas" of Islam, "Chaitanya" of the Hindus, "ruach" 
of the Jews, "pneuma" of the graeco-Christian tradition...

> but is it reasonable to state that no adverse effects are possible?

Well, I've been practicing Sahaja Yoga for seven years now and I've met 
hundreds of sahaja yogis, and I'm still waiting to hear of any adverse 
effects...

	Enjoy!

	Phil
401.7A Unique DiscoveryMLCSSE::SUTue Dec 01 1987 13:29401

	With the permission of the East Coast Sahaja Yoga Center, I have 
	copied the following writing of Sri Mataji for our DEJAVU noter. 
	I think the message will surely affect or be very meaningful to
	many of you deeply because you are the special kind who seek the 
	truth of God relentlessly.  Many of you are particularly endeavor 
	of the 	spirit channeling, ouija board, psychic (extra sensory), 
	crystal healing, meditation, ancient holy scripts, tarot, palm 
	reading, witchcraft, haunted stories, dreams and mind control, 
	astral projection, reincarnation, karma...all that related to the 
	supernatural.  In the pursuit of all those interests, we sometimes 
	expose ourselves without proper protection, and thus endangering
	ourselves into the mesmerizing of further darkness. It is possible
	that we can play into the hands of unthinkable and become engulfed 
	by the unthinkable evil forces.  In many discussions in DEJAVU, 
	RELIGION, PHILOSPHY Notes Conference, we often forgot what was the 
	original goal we were trying to achieve. Instead, we chase the tail 
	of the wind to egoistic satisfaction and end up in a furious argument.
  
	Most of us are intellectual engineers, computer scientists; our 
	awareness of such subjects is constantly changed as our understanding 
	goes deeper.  I am very confident that our attention here will 
	be rewarding. The following wonderful lecture will, in particular,
	explain a lot of phenomena which have been discussed by many of you 
	before.



		Sahaja Yoga - A Unique Discovery.       (by Sri Mataji)

	Man in his search of joy and happiness is running away from his self,
	which is the real source of joy.  He finds himself very ugly and
	boring because he is absolutely unknown to his self.  Human being 
	seeks joy in money or possessions, in power or human limited love
	and ultimately in religion that is also outside.  The problem is how 
	to turn one's attention inward.

	The inner being which is our awareness is an energy (I call it energy
	of Divine Love).  All the evolution and manifestation of material
	energy is guided by the supreme energy of Divine Love.  We do not 
	know how powerful and thoughtful this unknown energy is.  The silent 
	working of awareness is so automatic, minute, dynamic and expansive 
	that we take it for granted.  At first it appears as silent throbbing
	vibrations through our being after self-realization.  Because we 
	cannot fix our attention on to something that has no form (abstract 
	being), our attention is wandering outside on forms.  Now a method 
	has been found out to tap the Divine power and this is called as 
	"Sahaja Yoga".

	At the very outset, I have to say that the working of "Sahaja Yoga" 
	is very simple, although the operation within is quite complicated.  
	For example if you want to watch television it is very easy. But 
	to explain the engineering technique of a television set is very 
	difficult and complicated.  It also needs a qualified engineer to 
	understand and explain its working.  I will try to explain it in 
	the simplest way but please note that it is really complicated if 
	you want to know it in detail.  The best way to enjoy television 
	is first to switch on and watch and then to understand its 
	engineering.  As a mother I would say that I have done the cooking 
	for you.  Why should you worry as to how it is done.  If you are
	hungry you should start eating.  If you are not actually hungry 
	but only inquisitive, what can I do?  I cannot force you nor can 
	I make you hungry by discussions or lecturing.  I leave it to your
	wisdom and to your freedom to feel the longing from inside.

	The word 'Sahaja' (Saha + ja) means born with you (inborn).  
	Whatever is inborn would manifest without any effort.  Hence 
	"Sahaja Yoga" is the name given to my system, which is effortless, 
	easy and spontaneous. It is natural to Nature (you may call it 
	life's source, vitality of Divine).

	To understand life let us take a case of something that is living 
	- a germinating seed.  The seed grows by itself into a tree, blooms 
	into flowers and the flowers get transformed into fruits. Any
	human effort cannot change the process of growth of a seed into a 
	tree.  The gardner can only look after the growth of the tree.  
	In the same way the process of growth of our consciousness to 
	further the evolution takes place effortlessly.

	When the foetus is about 2/3 months old in the mother's womb, the 
	column of rays of consciousness emitted through the all-pervading 
	Divine Love, pass through the brain to enlighten it. The shape of 
	the human brain being prism-like, the column of rays falling on it 
	gets refracted into four diverse channels corresponding to the four 
	aspects of the nervous system.
	They are:
		1. Parasympathetic nervous system
		2. Sympathetic nervous system (right)
		3. Sympathetic nervous system (left)
		4. Central nervous System (This need not be discussed as 
		   it is the link with objectivity).

	(1) The set of rays that fall on the fontanale bone (apex of the 
	head known as Taloo) pierce in the centre and pass straight into 
	medulla oblongata through a channel (Sushumna).  This energy, after 
	leaving a very thread like thin line in the medulla obllongata, 
	settles down in 3 1/2 coils in the triangular bone placed at the 
	end of the spinal cord (Moolandhar).  This is known as 'Kundalini'.
	The subtle energy enters through the center of the brain (sahasrar 
	Brahmarandhra) and precipitates on its way in 6 more centers.  The 
	gross manifestation of this subtle energy in the "sushumna" channel 
	of the spinal cord is termed as Parasympathetic nervous system and 
	"chakras" are expressed as plexuses outside the spinal cord.  
	Surprisingly, we have the same number of plexuses and subplexuses 
	outside as the number of "chakras" and their petals inside the spinal
	cord.  Very little is known about this system to the medical science.  
	It is termed as the autonomous nervous system - the system which 
	works spontaineously on its own.  For example, if we want to increase 
	the rate of our heartbeat we can do it so by  exerting the  heart 
	(activity of the sympathetic nervous system) but we cannot reduce the 
	rate of the heart (activity of the parasympathetic nervous system).
	The parasympathetic nervous system is a system which is like a petrol 
	pump through which the petrol of Divine Love fills us. But as soon as 
	a human child is born and the navel cord is broken a gap is created
	in the "sushumna" (the subtle channel in the spinal cord), and also 
	outside, one can see the gap between the solar plexus and the vagus 
	nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system.  This gap is known as 
	void in the Zen system of religion and Maya (or Bhav Sagar) in the 
	Indian thought.  Later when ego and super ego bloat up like balloons 
	and cover our brain at the apex of the left and right sympathetic 
	nervous systems, the fontanale bone gets calcified and the all 
	pervading vital force of the Divine Love gets cut off completely.

	Then the human being identifies himself as a separate entity and 
	the consciousness of I (Aham) presides.  This is the reason why man 
	does not know his "universal unconscious."  He is severed therefrom 
	by his ego (I).


	(2)  The sympathetic nervous system is created to use this vital 
	energy.  There are two systems i.e. left and right.  These two 
	channels which carry this energy in subtle form in the medulla 
	oblongata and are known as Ida and Pingala respectively. The right 
	side system (in the right handed man) caters to the emergencies of 
	the active consciousness (extra efforts and emergencies) and the 
	left side system - (medically they say it remains dormant) - caters 
	to the subconscious mind of the psyche (libido).


	Hatha Yoga comes from words Ha and Tha, meaning the Sun and Moon.  
	Both these sympathetic nerve systems are called as the Sun and Moon 
	channels (i.e. Surya nadi and Chandra nadi).  By this yoga you can 
	control the activity of the sympathetic i.e. you can use more energy 
	that is stored or else completely stop the activity of the sympathetic 
	for a short time.  By using the stored  energy you cannot  achieve 
	eternal flow of the divine.  With control over the sympathetic you 
	can slow the heart rate or even stop the heart for a short time and 
	may achieve all physical gross symptoms of para sympathetic but you 
	cannot activate the parasympathetic which is the channel for your 
	real yoga (meeting of the divine). With Hatha yoga you may even 
	control your mind. But the mind thus governed is heavily conditioned 
	for the spiritual flight into the divine.  One may keep good health 
	and good mind to be a good citizen in a society but that is not the 
	only aim of life.


	Both sympathetic and parasympathetic act on the plexuses; but in 
	opposition to each other i.e. the parasympathetic relaxes the plexuses 
	but the sympathetic squeezes the energy by constricting them.  one 
	fills in the vitality and the other consumes it .  There is a gap 
	in the parasympathetic nervous system (sushumna) but no gap in the 
	sympathetic nervous system at the navel point.  This is the hurdle 
	that has rendered all our search and entry into the parasympathetic 
	fruitless so far.  It is like three ladders, two of them touching 
	the ground while the central one is hanging in the air.  So whenever 
	we try to rise in our consciousness, we move on to the sympathetic 
	system.  If we pass towards the right side we enter onto the activity 
	which goes on bloating in the balloon of ego. Thus we feel responsible 
	and active. When this activity increases beyond limits, like a growing 
	tree whose roots are not equally grown, the being falls to the ground.  
	Over activity of sympathetic nervous system causes tension, 
	sleeplessness and ultimately all deadly diseases like cancer which 
	are caused by the constricted plexuses which are drained out of their 
	energy. If you make parasympathetic dominate the right side, then we 
	can antidote the effects of over activity and all the diseases and the 
	effect caused by this side get cured automatically.


	The left side sympathetic nervous system (libido) has the power to 
	store all that is dead in us. It connects you with store houses of 
	the subconscious mind and also with the collective subconscious 
	(Bhootlok or Paralok).  At the backside of the brain at the apex of 
	this channel the super ego exists like a balloon.  It becomes heavy 
	by storing, the conditioning of the mind through libido.  So if the 
	tension is heavy it breaks the super ego into many fragment. If you 
	still overexert by conditioning, a partial vacuum is created and this 
	sucks another dead personality from the collective subsconscious 
	(Paralok) in your super ego. So in your pursuit of truth, if you 
	take to futher efforts and indulge in concentration in training of 
	mind or forced abstinence or forced meditation or complete slavery 
	to emotional attachment of the mind, the libido with the aid of the 
	affected super ego may connect you to the collective subconscious 
	(Paralok) where all dead souls, bad, good or saintly, exist. These 
	souls start manifesting through you and you get siddhis or extra 
	sensory perceptions. Actually these are the different subtle (dead) 
	personalities dominating us through super ego.

	There is another method which may be effortlessly employed by many 
	so called teachers by which they turn the "chakra" in the direction 
	of the libido and this can put you into your subconscious.  This
	method either makes this aspirant go into a trance or accept the 
	complete domination of the dead spirits introduced by the teacher 
	through the plexuses.

	In the first case, the Sadhaka feels relaxed, his mind is switched 
	off, but after a few years of practice, he realizes his weakness 
	that he cannot face reality and he takes to heavy use of drugs.
	In the second case, the aspirant becomes a complete slave of the 
	teacher and starts giving away all the material possessions to the 
	teacher without understanding the logic behind it. These teachers 
	never explain the technique they have employed, nor do they give 
	their powers to anybody else.  In short, all efforts that you put 
	in the name of religion or mishandling of Kundalini by so called 
	realized people, can only activate sympathetic nervous system 
	(Ida and Pingla) that cannot make any progress to bring about the
	play of parasympathetic (Sushumna).

	All mesmeric powers such as materialization power (enslaving masses 
	for money power or fame), visionary powers (Drishti siddha), speech 
	powers (Vani Siddha), curing powers, transcendental feeling (power 
	of switching off the mind), separation of body and many other powers 
	are very ordinarily found among those who practice the control of 
	spirits (Pretsiddhi or Smashan Vidya). All such powers can be proved 
	as powers of the dead in any one of our experimental Centers.

	These are no Divine powers because the Divine has no interest in 
	these gross subjects.  It is only interested in the miracle of the 
	inner being and its further manifestation to bring about human
	evolution.  Thus those who indulge and use their attention 
	(i.e. chitta) on such "siddhis" and those who run after such gross 
	miracles find it difficult to follow "Sahaja Yoga."

	We have noted that when such people confront "Sahaja Yoga", they 
	start trembling and shaking like lunatics who also behave in the 
	same way. If with very great difficulty such a person reaches the 
	state of self-realization, he completely loses all interest in such 
	powers and in their exhibition.  Actually then he is freed of all 
	extra dead personalities who dominated him.  There is no need to 
	pass through the subconscious strata to jump the unconscious.
	The subconscious is an end by itself and one gets lost who enters 
	into its realms. These strata are placed vertically and the only
	direct way is through prarsympathetic through Sushumna, the central 
	path which takes you to the Divine, the universal unconscious through 
	"Sahaja Yoga".

	It is very dangerous to use the powers of the subconscious which may 
	become uncontrollable and torture the practitioner and Sadhaka.
	Those who are temporarily benefited may suffer irreparable loss to 
	body, mind or grace.

	All religions have promised inner silence when you reach the state 
	of self-realization, the inner miracle of the subtle awareness and
	not gross jugglery. the Gita says that you become the witness 
	(Sakshi Swarup) of the play of Divine. Many modern thinkers are 
	also talking about the new awareness. This has been described as 
	"thoughtless awareness" which results in collective consciousness.
	We hear of many prophesies made by ancient and modern writers about 
	the evolution of a new race of super human beings of unique awareness.
	These are no longer empty words.  Through the discovery of "Sahaja 
	Yoga" it is possible to achieve the transformation of the human 
	consciousness to higher planes promised by the various seers.

	The subject of Kundalini is no longer a book knowledge. You can 
	see with naked eyes the breathing of the Kundalini at the Mooladhar 
	and also can feel the different "chakras" existing in the spinal 
	cord with your fingers.  Formerly, bridging the gap in the "sushumna" 
	was the insurmountable problem but it is being discovered that if 
	this gap could be filled with the vibrating power of Divine Love, 
	the Kundalini rises like a majestic mother and breaks the apex of 
	the brain (Brahmarandhra) without giving the slightest trouble to 
	child (Sadhaka). It happens in a split second in the short-spell 
	between two successive thoughts. Of course, if the aspirant (Sadhaka) 
	is diseased or his "chakras" are constricted by overactivity of the 
	sympathetic nervous system, the Kundalini being the mother of every 
	individulal and embodiment of love, knowledge and beauty knows how 
	to reveal her love beautifully and to give rebirth to her child 
	without causing any hurt.

	There are many descriptions about Kundalini warning us against the 
	dangers and perils of the "taming" of Kundalini. Also many books 
	describe various gross or frightful experiences of the Kundalini 
	awakening. Actually this is caused because Kundalini cannot rise 
	without the "Sahaja Yoga" i.e. if it is tried to be awakened by 
	someone who is not self-realized, the Kundalini does not leave her 
	seat or else without the proper invitation the Kundalini becomes 
	adamant and angry.  Thus the sympathetic gets into activity. When 
	she is accused of sex, She sends heat waves over the sympathetic 
	nervous system which causes the constriction or blockage of the 
	plexuses and the path of the Kundalini is completely broken down.
	Sometimes one gets into funny gesticulations or loses complete 
	awareness of the outside. Moreover with mishandling of "Chakras" 
	and Kundalini due to the ignorance or greed of the teacher, the 
	chances of realization of the aspirant can become very poor and 
	sometimes impossible.

	The mind that is very much conditioned or the mind which is the 
	slave of self-indulgence or of egoistic actions and thoughts is 
	also a very slow conveyance for "Sahaja Yoga." Even if you read 
	too much about the deconditioning of the mind, you may get only 
	conditioned; if you try to decondition by efforts, you can become 
	conditioned much worse than what you were.  Deconditioning is only 
	possible through Divine Love.  The main condition of the "Sahaja 
	Yoga" is that your will and freedom are all the time respected.

	In "Sahaja Yoga" the person is fully aware and alert and receives 
	inner silence and experience without doing any unnatural movements.
	He sits in a completely easy pose throughout or he may also lie 
	down (Sahajasana or Shavasana). The breathing is normal or less 
	than normal.


	Religions are also the expressions and experiments of the realized 
	souls, the seers. They also talk about the inner being, second birth 
	and about self-realization.  In the beginning in India they tried 
	to take the attention inside by introducing symbols that they saw 
	of this unconscious universal being within.  This gave rise to 
	pantheism and aspirant's attention got stuck to the symbols (Sakar) 
	and to rituals which killed the main objective.


	So the other type of experiments of talking only about the abstract 
	(Nirakar) gave rise to many other religions which ended up as dogmas 
	or isms.  The reason is obvious that talking about the flower or the 
	honey cannot take you to the honey but can only create dogmatic isms 
	in the mind. You have to be a bee to reach there i.e. you have to be 
	reborn. This has to happen within, to take you inside.

	It is too great an achievement and unbelievable but I feel the 
	search of ages has brought great results.

	
	The mind, with a child-like innocence achieves very quick results.  
	Whatever may be the loads of the mind, if the longing is honest and 
	earnest, sooner or later, the aspirant can get self-realization.  
	After reaching this state the vibration start emitting from the 
	extremities.  They are described by Adi Sankaracharya in his work 
	Ananda Lahari.

	These vibrations are the waves of Divine Love which can fill also 
	other persons' inner-being and give him same experience of 
	self-realization.  This how the chain reaction starts.  One light 
	enlightens another.


	The physical manifestations are as follows:

	The pupils of the eyes get dilated. (Parasympathetic action);
	The face becomes radiant; the body becomes light; the tension is
	completely removed; rising of the Kundalini can be seen by others 
	and felt by the aspirant; first the throbbing is clearly felt at 
	Sahasrar (apex of the brain) and when it stops the complete silence 
	is felt within and in all awareness; the flow of the grace is felt 
	coming down, cooling the whole being; as the attention moves to the 
	subtle the gross attachments drop out.  A person gradually loses 
	identification with falsehood and artificiality.  In the matter he 
	sees beauty and not its posssession value.   In knowledge he 
	identifies himself the truth and he is not afraid to profess, nor 
	does he indulge in the double standards of life.  His flow of love 
	becomes spontaneous, generous, without any tinge of attachment, 
	possession or any return and, the person becomes ageless, a hollow 
	personality.


	Now let us see what happens inside.

	The attention of the consciousness moves to the inner being 
	(Kundalini).  As the thread (sootra) of a necklace is passing 
	through every bead of the necklace, the inner consciousness 
	(Kundalini) is also passing through every human being.
	
	As soon as our attention moves to our inner consciousness we can 
	move on to everybody's Kundalini.  One starts feeling the Kundalini, 
	its nature, its position in other persons. Collective consciousness 
	is thus established. Now you become a universal being. After some 
	days you cannot say who is the other person? The power of love is 
	so great and dynamic that with the movement of your fingers you can 
	move the Kundalini of thousands. It becomes child's play.

	This is how the en-masse evolution of human beings will take place.  
	These are the signs of advent of Golden age of Truth (Satya Yuga).  
	Let us forget whatever hardships we have suffered in our search in 
	the past.  It does not matter if some could not find it before this.  
	You have to open your mind and understand that though the discovery 
	is unprecedented it does not make any seeker or predecessor small.
	If some experiemnts are made it does not matter if ultimately we 
	have found out the way.  It is a collective achievement. Perhaps 
	in the chaos of Kaliyuga it was to happen and many of us, who have
	been earnestly searching in many lives, are reborn to have their 
	promises fulfilled by the Divine.  May be we were our predecessors.


	On the tree of life there might have been very few flowers but 
	now the blossom time has come.  Their fragrance of longing has 
	collectively materialized the manifestation of "Sahaja Yoga."
	Many are going to jump into the realm of thoughtless awareness 
	where you get introduced to yourself and start identifying with 
	your universal nature. Those who deserve will get the throne of 
	their inner being which rules the skies of peace and the oceans 
	of divine love and supreme knowledge whithin, which is limitless 
	(Anant).
401.8For All in Boston AreaPCCSSE::SUFri Mar 04 1988 15:0115
		
	
		"You cannot know the meaning of your life
			until you are connected to the power
				that created you."

						-Sri Mataji

	
	There will be introductory meditation on Thursday March 10th
	and 24th at 7:30 pm at Gutman Library, Harvard Square.
	(at the corner of Brattle Street and Appian Way, across from
	American Repertory Theatre.)

	No money taken.  All are welcomed.
401.9So_how_was Sahaja?ISTG::DOLLIVERTodd O. DolliverFri Mar 25 1988 14:169
    I hoped very much to attend one of the Sahaja Yoga meetings on March
    10th or 24th but since I am moving into a new house _and_ moving into
    a new life (getting married :-)) I was unable to make it.
    
    Could someone who did attend either of these meetings please post
    a reply describing what these meetings were like?

       				Thanks,
    						Todd
401.10Introductory WorkshopsMOSAIC::SUTue Apr 12 1988 16:3034

		Your Self-realization is possible now. 	Awaken 
		the joyous nature of the spirit within you,
		spontaneously.  Sahaja Yoga integrates all 
		aspects of life : Spiritual, emotional, mental
		and physical.


		Another introductory workshop meeting will be at:

		Cambridge Friends School
		5 Cadbury Road, Cambridge, Ma.

		On Monday,  April 25, 1988
		7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

		Direction : Five minutes from Harvard Square:  
		Go West on Mass Avenue, past Porter Square, left at Kentucky
		Fried Chicken onto Walden Street, right on Sherman, left on
		Cadbury.  All welcome !  Free Admission.   Please come and
		experience for yourself.  You may ask any question you may 
		have.



		For the New Yorker, the same introductory workshop is offered
		at :
			United Methodist Church
			1200 North Avenue
			New Rochelle

		Every Thursday at 7:30 p.m., For more info call (914)-636-4406
		Free Admission.
401.11The Knowledge WithinMOSAIC::SUTue Apr 19 1988 16:48677






			The Knowledge Within

			H.H.Mataji's address given @Kingston UK 6/11/80





		Today we have gathered here to know something about 
		our Self.  If the knowledge is from the books or from
		some person who says that he knows about Self, how far
		will it reach us?  It can only go up to mental level 
		and we can only understand it through our mental
		understanding.  The mental understanding comes to us 
		through our rationality, through our intellect which 
		in itself is a limited thing.



		So we enter into another understanding which is still
		very limited.  If I tell you that there is a Self which
		resides in our heart and that there is a power within 
		us which is all the time waiting for an occasion to give
		you your second birth,  it tell you that, then you will 
		only understand me mentally.  This has all been said
		already, what is so new about it?  At the most I can
		give it in a very modern fashion, something quite
		intellectual which will make you have more mental feats 
		to go round and round.  You will sit down and analyse and
		reach nowhere.



		I say there is a power, no doubt, which is called 
		"Kundalini" within us.  So many say that because it 
		is written long time back.  Thousands of years back.  
		Christ has said it that you are to be born again, that 
		you are to be baptised, not by theological college people, 
	 	but by somebody like John, the baptist, who had the 
		authority from the Divine.  This power does lie dormant 
		within you but everybody writes differently about it.  
		Very few really agree.  This is another confusion one 
		faces.  That there is a power lying within us and some 
		say that it gives you electric shock, some say that you 
		start jumping like a frog and some say that you start 
		flying in the air.  Such confusion, while you are seekers, 
		seekers of ages you have been seeking. 	You are genuine 
		seekers and then while seeking you don't know where to go 
		and what to expect; you jump into problems.



		The other day when I went to Switzerland, one of my 
		children, who had arranged the programme, he told me 
		"Mother, here people are very sceptical about Indian 
		Gurus."  I am very happy about it, really very very 
		happy that they have started thinking about it because 
		they have been deluded and deceived and now they are 
		disillusioned completely.  And they find it impossible 
		to believe anyone who talks of God.  So the first topic 
		that he wanted me to discuss during my stay there was 
		"Demystification of Gurus".  Quite a challenging topic.  
		But this I said in 1970 in India, in 1973 in America, 
		but no one would like me for that.  They say, 'Why should 
		you criticise others".



		Falsehood is falsehood and reality is reality.  You 
		will now know through some of those people who are here
		that how you have been misled, how you have been deceived
		for money which you cannot understand because you have 
		gone beyond it now.  You are seeking beyond money.  
		You know that money is not going to give you joy.
		You know that very well.  But those who have not 
		yet known that still they are climbing up the cusp,
		they have not seen the ditch below.  Such people try
		to give you some sort of a jargon and receive lot
		of money from you.  It is a very shameful affair, I
		feel myself.



		But that does not mean that there is no reality.  If
		there is no reality, how can we have copies of that?
		If there are no flowers, how will you create plastic 
		folwers?  So, if you find somebody so unreal, you must
		know that you have to  find out the Real.  And when
		you are finding the real, you must know that you must
		keep yourself absolutely alert about it that you are
		not going to accept anything but real.  But you can be
		hypnotised, you can be brain-washed, because you do
		not know all these things.  Somebody says some words
		in Sanskrit language, you get so enamoured by that as
		if Sanskrit language is something out of the blue, e.g.
		some of the disciples, who went to certain Gurus, got
		"Mantras" which if you tell an Indian, he will laugh
		out his stomach; like a Mantra given "AINGA".  Now
		tell any Indian and he will laugh and people had paid
		three hundred pounds for such a nonsense like that 
		which means nothing, which cannot be a Mantra.  Why
		do you need a Guru for Mantra?  There is a science about 
		it.  Because we do not go into the understanding of it 
		and we just jump on to it, because they want you to, 
		because they want money.  Simple thing.  It is an 
		enterprise.

	

		You have given up everything for the sake of your 
		seeking.  You have seen that the value of these material 
		things will not take you anywhere, you have seen beyond.  
		Your value system is different but if the value system of 
		some people is different from you they can exploit you.
		So the natural reaction, I can understand very well, 
		should be such.


		But there it reality and that it exists within you 
		and that there is Self within you and once discovered,
		you find your Absolute.  To tell you that you should 
		become a very quiet and serene person would be absurd.
		To tell you that you should be such a master over your 
		passions and your lust and your greed that nothing should 
		sort of dominate you, this is like giving a big lecture 
		to you.  It has no meaning.



		You have gripped it yourself these things and how will 
		you leave it, when your grip is so strong.  You have 
		to grip something else.  It is simple common sense.
		If you find something, much more valueable, much more
		dynamic, much more joy giving, establishing your sense
		of security, you will give up all these nonsensical 
		things.



		But see how it works out.  A gentleman, who came from 
		a horrible Guru to me, who was absolutely pestered and 
		finished by that Guru.  He used to deliver only 
		introductory lectures.  And he said, "I used to get
		300 people for introductory lectures in the same hall 
		in which you are giving lecture, Mother".  What do you
		say to people there, isn't it queer?  He is a well
		known person who charges you money, who gives you 
		courses; he has ruined so many people.  It is like,
		just as I was watching people going into a pub and
		coming out of it all drunk.  Others are attracted much 
		more, seeing them drunk like that.  Sometimes it is 
		impossible to understand human nature and when the 
		Reality stands before you, you crucify that.  How do 
		you explain all this?  And the acceptance of reality is 
		your glorification.  Are you going to add anything to
		Reality?  Supposing I wear a diamond necklace, it is 
		going to adorn me not to the diamond necklace. This 
		is billions and billions of times more brilliant than
		all these things which adorn us.  If you accept that,
		you will be glorious, you will be lusturous.  Isn't it?
		Think about it.  Because we are charmed about these 
		outside things, their deceptive ways, their cunning
		ways and that we are hypnotised.  That is the only 
		explanation.  That's how they have managed so far.
		One after another this hypnosis spreads like fire.
		You ask them what did you find.  "Don't ask us, we
		are very happy people".  After 3 days you find that
		person has committed suicide.  We are not aware still 
		that this is the most important, the most and vital 
		time in the history of human beings.



		The last judgement has started.  We are facing the 
		last judgement today.  We are not aware of it.  And 
		all the Satanic Forces have come out like the wolves
		in sheeps' clothes.  And they are trying to attract 
		you and you do not judge them.  You only sit down and
		judge the Reality.  It has started, it is a fact.  It
		has started.


		Now, let us see from God's point of view how He is 
		going to judge you.  It is quite easy to say that we 
		do not believe in God.  Very easy to say taht we don't 
		believe in this Government.  But if you do anything
		wrong, then you know there is a government acting.  In
		the same way it is very easy to say that we do not
		believe in God.  He is so compassionate, He is so loving,
		He is so kind, that He has given us our freedom to know 
		ourselves.  And we rely on Him, we take Him for granted.  
		He has made us human beings from Amoeba to this stage.  
		He has spread out such a beautiful world around us.  
		He has done all that.  But there is a judgement which we
		have to face now and the judgement that is going to come
		from God.  It is not going to be the way that we 
		understand that He sits like a magistrate and calls you 
		one by one "come along" and then you have a pleader there, 
		sitting.



		But in a subtler way, He has already put the judging 
		forces within you.  See in the evolution he has worked
		it out.  In the evolution, how beautifully He has worked
		it out.  From amoeba to this stage, how have we come?
		Many animals were discarded.  He saved some animals e.g.
		from Mammoth family He saved Elephant.  He saved many and
		so many were discarded one by one all these years.  In
		the same way, human beings who have been very much on 
		the extremes have been discarded.  You see the history.
		Now you won't find anyone killing his seven wives these 
		days.  I mean impossible, you cannot do it.  Person like
		Hitler came up. Finished.  Anybody who came up with any
		extreme ideas of domination or anything, was finished.
		Those ideas die out.  People are ashamed of them and new
		ideas come up into human beings -  accepting balance, 
		tranquality, peace.



		We are talking about it.  People talk about peace, but are
		we really wanting peace within ourselves?  And if we
		are really wanting it, what are we doing about it?  
		Actually the judgement has started and to judge you God 
		has already placed the whole magistracy within you.
		All the magistrates are already sitting down there.
		Christ has said, "Those who are not against me are with me".
		These are the magistrates.  And these magistrates have 
		settled down within you on different Centres in your
		spinal chord and in your brain.



		It is very interesting and all these seats are like
		a panel sitting in your brain and when the light of 
		Kundalini rises through these centres, when these 
		centres are enlightened within you, you start 
		enlightenment being manifested on your fingers.
		The end of your fingers get enlightened, the sensitivity
		of your fingers tell you what centres are there
		affected within you.  This Kundalini rises and comes up
		to this point, the fontanel bone area or the Talloo as
		they call it, the soft bone  here in your childhood,
		and it breaks it.  Actually it breaks it.  You can see
		in a person, who does not have much hair here, the thing
		just going down a little. First it pulsates.  You can
		even see the pulsation of the Kundalini in the trianglar
		bone which is sacrum and when this Kundalini rises, you
		can see even the movement of this Kundalini.  Not in all
		but in some.  Because if the person is first class or 
		you can say if the aeroplane is first class the landing 
		is first class, its shooting off is first class.  In 
		such a person, there is no obstruction, you can not see
		the Kundalini pushing up.  For example, when I came to
		this place there was no problem on on the traffic, so
		we just smoothly came away, nobody noticed us.  But if
		there was a traffic problem, there would be jamming here 
		and jamming there. In the same way when this Kundalini
		rises in a person who has a problem on its Centres, 
		it shows.  You can see with your naked eyes.



		This is what is Kundalini awakening.  Not that some 
		people say that they started jumping like a frog.  Now, 
		we must use our brains.  Brains have to be intact in
		modern times.  Are we going to become frogs now after
		becoming human beings?  Are we to become birds, after
		becoming human beings?  Your sciences, like psychology
		itself, I mean many of them, believe that you have to
		jump into your unconscious - achieving your collective
		consciousness.  Very clearly it has been said by these 
		people.  Then we must expect something of that nature 
		where we jump into our collective conscionsness.  It 
		is not that because I am saying it or anybody else is
		saying it but it has to happen to you.



		The other day I was in Hamstead, I know what is happening
		with some one.  Some people did get their vibrations, 
		they did feel the cool breeze coming from their hands 
		but some did not.  They said that they have got it and 
		they just disappeared.  This is not the way you are 
		going to treat yourself, you are to love yourself and
		you have to adore your seeking and you have to get your
		fulfilment.  As your mother I must tell you this is a
		very serious matter.  There is no Guru shopping going
		on here, you have to get your realization. You have to
		get it.  It is so fortunate that the time has come, when
		you are living and that you can have it because of that 
		you took your birth during this time because you are
		Seekers of very ancient times as I told you.


		
		It is written in one of our scriptures in India - called
		as "Nala-Akhyan".  When Nala, one of the tortured souls 
		by Kali, caught hold of the Kali.  It is said that now is
		the rule of Kali.  Kali is the sinister fellow, the one
		who brings all confusion and confuses people.  He confused 
		Nala.  By that he got separated from his wife.  So when
		Nala got hold of this Kali, he said, "Now, I am going to 
		kill you.  I am going to kill you once for all, so that
		you do not create confusion into people anymore".  So
		Kali said, "Alright, you can kill me, I will accept it
		but first of all you should know my MAHATMYA (importance)
		I do have some MAHATMYA (importance)".  Nala said, "What
		importance can you have?  You create confusion in the
		minds of people, what importance can you have?" He said
		that, "When I will be ruling i.e. when he will as in 
		these modern times ruling means creating confusion in our
		minds.  Everything has become relative now.  We talk like
		that,  "Yes it may be alright, may not be alright, may
		be good, may not be good".  That is the time when the 
		confusion will be reigning on this earth that is Kali
		Yuga (the modern times).  Then those great saints and
		those great people the Seekers, the Sadhakas who have
		been searching God in the hills and dales and in the 
		caves will come back as ordinary householders and they 
		will get the REALITY.  In this confusion only, they are
		going to get the vision of REALITY, they are going to
		become the REALITY.  They are going to get their self-
		realization".  And Nala forgot all his vindictiveness 
		and his anger and what Kali had done to him. He said,
		"On this point I forgive you because I respect them so 
		much.  For that collective good I give up all my personal 
		problems. Let this happen."



		That only in Kali-Yuga, the sun of Sat-Yuga, the World
		of Truth, the age of enlightenment is going to come and
		those Saints who were seeking the reality in the forests 
		are born today in this World.  You can see them, they
		are saintly.  They can see the joke of artificial life so
		clearly.  They know it is all absurd but then they do not 
		know what is the Real.  But the time has come and it has 
		to be worked out and it will be worked out.



		It has worked out in your great country and now, say, 
		a thousand people are there very much in it who have
		understood it.  There must be about at least 300 people
		who are actively working it out at different places and
		I am very happy to come to this old city of Kingston,
		where the stone for the enthroning of the king was put.
		Must be something special about it.



		But the people have lost their sensitivity to Reality, 
		not only in this country but every where, much more in 
		India, you will be surprised.  They are all getting 
		sophisticated.  They are getting developed.  They do
		not know what you have found by your development.  If
		anybody tells them, they think, "You want to enjoy all 
		fruits of development and you are just telling us lies".



		So it is very necessary for you to understand for definite 
		purposes that the Judgement has started.  And for that 
		Kundalini is placed within you.  But I must say She is
		a great Judge, you will not find such a Judge anywhere 
		in the whole universe, because She is your own mother.
		And, She is Nirvyaj She is just giving.  She does not 
		want anything from you, nothing whatsoever.  She wants 
		that you must get your property.  You must get your Self.  
		You must get all your powers.  She doesn't want anything 
		from you.  That you should know your Self.  That you 
		should become your Absolute.  That is what She wants.  
		She is your Mother born again and again with you.  She
		has recorded all your problems you have created for
		yourself for Her ascent.  She knows everything about 
		you and She judges you on this point,  "How much you 
		are sincerely wishing your ascent".  That's all.



		She knows you out and out.  When She rises, She shows 
		those symptoms, She shows what is wrong with you. But 
		She is your own, absolutely your own.  There is no one 
		greater your own than She.  She is your friend and She 
		judges you because you must get the Best; because She 
		knows what is the Best for you.  For, a child may like 
		to put his hands in the electric socket but the Mother
		says, "Don't do it, Don't do it".  But the child does 
		not listen, he gets angry. Still She says, "No, No, you
		cannot do it."  Because She loves you.  Loves in the 
		purest form; where you do not expect anything from the 
		other person.  And such a power lies dormant within you, 
		which is just waiting for an occasion that when she rises,
		when She sprouts like the germinating power in a seed, 
		when She comes up, then there should be some one who 
		should look after you.  There should be some one who 
		should guide, there should be someone who should docode 
		and tell you what you feel on the fingers mean, and what 
		is happening to you.  Otherwise you will not know your 
		moorings, you will not know where you are going and you 
		will fall into a trap of ignorance or may be you may be 
		still there not knowing much.



		So She wants to use somebody there as the mouthpiece.  
		It is that the Unconscious has to speak through someone.
		And that someone has to be a person of the same nature 
		as the Kundalini is.  Those who make money from you and 
		extort you and leave you in the lurch, how can they be 
		called as Gurus?  They are the thieves standing outside
		the door.  They are just waiting for an opportunity to 
		catch hold of you because they have already been judged, 
		discarded and they are going to the Jail and they want
		more people to go with them.



		This Kundalini when She rises, She first soothes you 
		physically.  That is you can say as a by product you get
		your Health, e.g. Cancer can not be cured without the
		Kundalini awakening.  This I have been saying.  When 
		doctors get cancer, they come to me and they get cured.  
		But I am not sitting down here to cure Cancer, not at 
		all nor any Sahaja Yogi is interested in Cancer patients.  
		But if you want to have your Realization you Cancer will 
		be cured, troubles will be cured, your health will be
		alright.  I mean those who have realization, are sitting 
		here, had been suffering physically or mentally, some
		of them were even epileptic and had very bad physical
		problems, there were some who had blood-cancer, some of
		them had other type of physical problems.



		With all these things you are faced with the Divine -
		Love of God - His desire.  Kundalini is the representative
		of His Desire.  Desire of the ocean, of the Compassion 
		and of Love.  That He wants to bestow His kingdom upon
		you - That He wants to make you the prince of His kingdom.
		This is a very very serious thing and we have to concentrate 
		upon this point.



		The judgement has to be done and there is a power within 
		us which is to judge.  This power is the desire of God, 
		of that God who is Almighty, who has given us our freedom.  
		He is not going to challenge it.  His might, His strength, 
		His powers are not going to stand against our freedom.  
		But his desire is within you existing on the Kundalini and 
		this desire rises within you, enlightens you but it does 
		not force you, it does not take away your freedom.  It 
		enlightens you to see.  You have freedom to be in this room.  
		It is not forced that you sit here or there or walk away.  
		Nothing is forced upon you.   But you are given a room  
		which is enlightened.  	So you use your freedom in a better 
		way with more understanding, because you are enlightened, 
		you can see and then you know what to accept and what not 
		to accept.



		First thing is to enlighten you.  Unless and until you are 
		enlightened you are in confusion, you cannot see through.
		Then it is left to your freedom to decide.  So She cures 
		you, She improves you, She bestows all the blissful things 
		upon you.  She takes you away from the worries of grosser 
		level like after realization, many people have solved their
		material problems.  Not that they have become Mr. Ford or
		someone like that but the attitude changes and the material
		problems get solved.  Because there is a  Centre for that
		also within us.  Your family problems get solved.  Husband
		wife problems get solved, so that you are freed.  Your
		grip over these things that worry you, is released and that 
		now you can see with greater freedom what you have to choose,
		what course to take.  After giving all these concessions and 
		all these advantages and all the possible help, then you are
		judged.  Can you think of any magistrate that generous ?



		And such a thing exists within us.  We have to be very 
		thankful to God for what He has done for us.  We have 
		no idea.  We have taken Him for granted.  We have not 
		been able to thank Him for what He has done for us and 
		how kind He has been to us.  For a small thing we try 
		to get rid of Him from our hearts.  Still He exists, 
		the Kundalini exists within us.  Try anything against it,  
		She exists.  I have seen some people having Kundalini 
		which is beaten up, there has been horrible marks of 
		pain and anguish and She is just turning Her sides in 
		anguish but still She exists for that moment when She 
		will give you what She is there for.  What a blessing! 
		Where can you find all this?  It is all within you which 
		has to work out.
  


		But even when they get their realization, I find, they 
		just disappear, even after realization.  Can you imagine?  
		Progress in the West has been like that.  You move 3 steps 
		forwards and 4 steps backwards.  Really you will be amazed.  
		I don't know what has gone wrong with the Western mind 
		which is disillusioned by the material gains.  But when 
		it comes to Sahaja Yoga, their calibre is just of the 
		lowest type, sometimes, one cannot understand.  Now can 
		these people have no self-esteem, while in the villages 
		of India people	get it and have it just like that no 
		rumblings, nothing.  They are just there.  Complications 
		are there, I agree. But you must have self-esteem.  It 
		sometimes, really makes you feel sick.



		Perhaps you do not know that in this country I have worked 
		on seven or eight people for four years.  For four years,
		can you believe it?  Not that there is something wrong with 
		you.  You are seekers, you are saints born in this country.  
		What has happened to your saintiness?  Why so flippant, why
		so superficial?  Why don't yu touch it deeply?  Why don't 
		you understand your Self?  I just fail to understand why 
		don't you respect your Self.  I respect you and I love you
		very much because I know you, I know you from ages.  You are 
		the lost children, I know that but I don't know how to 
		establiish that within you.  Sometimes my condition is the 
		same as that of your Kundalini.



		You have to be in a great haste to get it. You have to 
		become absolutely dynamic and blow it out and talk to 
		the people that this is the situation and emergency.  
		Can't you see what is happening in the World?  Can't 
		you see the confusion?  But the situation is taken for 
		granted.  Even if it is faced, it is faced in a very 
		intellectual way that you feel guilty about say, Vietnam.  
		Very good idea, sitdown here.  Easychair politicians, 
		thinking about Vietnam or file it up.



		You are the chosen ones who have to receive it and it 
		has to happen.  But to take Reality you think hundred 
		times and to get into dirty, filthy circle - it just 
		clicks. Whom should I blame for this?  These horrible 
		Gurus or these horrible people, who have put up a show 
		for you or it is your knave attitude towards the morality.  
		I shudder to see the way the things are sometimes and 
		the way the people are taking things for granted also.  
		It is your responsibility today, the ones who are 
		supposed to be the Seekers to see that you bring forth 
		the Reality to the people and tell them that please see 
		and get it.  Because you are their fellow beings.  You 
		are their kith and kin.  How can you leave them even if 
		you get your own realization?  Even if you enter into 
		the kingdom of Heavens, you will not forget them, you 
		will think of them and you cannot be happy.  Even when 
		you get your realization also, unless and until all 
		those saints who, out of their ignorance, are lost, you 
		will think of them.  I have to work out through you.  I 
		cannot work it out alone.  If I could then there would 
		have been no difficulty.  If God could work out just like 
		this, give them realization, just finished.  Establish
		them alright.  But it will not.  Because you have the 
		freedom.  Why you have the freedom?  Because without your 
		freedom you cannot come to that calibre by which you are 
		raised.  We do not realize where we are today, we do not 
		realize.  Sometimes I feel, I am talking to walls, e.g.,
		you will find that some people are slaves of watches.  
		They have no time.  "I have no time, I am so very busy".   
		Why are you saving time?  For what?  You are saving time 
		for the "becoming" not for wasting it in the parks or in 
		horrible places like races etc.



		You are saving time for "becoming" because you are a 
		diamond.   You are to be chiselled out yourself.  You 
		are not saving it for wasting.  I mean the best 
		advertisement will be " Save fifty pounds to spend three 
		thousand".  Something like that.   You are saving your 
		time not to waste it.  Saving it for something extremely 
		precious, extremely vital and important, something that 
		you have been seeking.  But I do not know how some times 
		to keep you on that level of depth.  Of course some of 
		the people are such high calibre even in this country 
		that they are very satisfied.  You do not know how much 
		has been done in this country also by God.  For example, 
		I went to see Stonehenge, Stonehenge is the creation of 
		Mother earth. You can see the vibrations.  You can feel 
		it.  There are so many things done in this country. 
		Kingston itself is so vibrating.  I was amazed.  What did
		you find?  At least 100 people went into that carriage 
		and some came in here walking, going up and down.  Some 
		walked in, some got out.  They aren't decided still.  
		Still no proximity to sensitivity.  No sensitivity towards 
		the Reality.  They cannot feel.  May be - may be, it will 
		work out.  I am sure it will work out.  I am the most 
		optimistic person you can ever see.  See, optimism is
		my nature, I believe.  It is going to become.  Only thing
		your so called "freedom" comes in the way.  So try to 
		understand that this freedom is given to you so that you 
		can become your Self and not that you should become an 
		animal.  An animal; what is the use of giving realization 
		to, say, a chicken?  Can I give also?  That is the point.


		Many people say,  "Mother, I have done lots of good things".
		I ask, "What good things have yu done",  "I don't eat
		chicken".  Now, I say, "Why are you saving chickens for me, 
		you better save yourself ".  All sorts of funny ideas they 
		have.


		It is you, the Seekers, the buds on this beautiful Tree
		of Life, they are the ones for whom this creation is 
		created.  They are the ones who have to get it.  They are 
		the ones who have to have it.  The whole universe has
		blossomed into them and they want to become what - worms?
		Just think about it.



		By God's grace we start the programme of realization, 
		which may take perhaps a split of a second, it might 
		have already worked it out because today I was little 
		going too much, I think.  Kingston is a good place.  
		May be one day it will become a very great place, I 
		feel.  But let us see how much you use the power that
		is flowing in the area.  I hope something will work out.



		Now after realization you have to take it up seriously,  
		You have to work it out because after finding it also,  
		it is not that you suddenly jump on the sun or the moon.  
		Even going to moon what did you get?  You could not 
		understand anything.   So you have to go into all the 
		areas of your being because the movement will start inside.
		You have to take your attention to all the areas within you.
		You have to settle down your attention and now attention 
		will lose the grip over non-sensical things.  All the 
		priorities will change.  The greatest thing is that when 
		It pierces the Sahastrara, the joy starts pouring and you 
		start feeling that cool breeze of the Holy Ghost and you 
		start feeling every where.  You can find out.  Now you can 
		judge others and yourself.  You can help others automatically.  
		You have not to go out for that, you have not to get 
		medicines, you don't have to get anything.  Just you being 
		there, you help others in their Salvation as if the whole 
		mechanism starts working.  The whole technique starts 
		working and you start seeing the whole thing.  You will 
		be amazed.



		You have to know how to work it out on your own self and
		others.  It is a great fun.  We are all in the Great Fun 
		mood and you should also enjoy with us.  And it is wonderful.  
		No time for misery.  Only thing one feels is that why these 
		people are doing like this.  Like grown ups and mature 
		people we look at little children why are they putting 
		their hands in the fire.



							May God Bless You.
401.12Meditation WorkshopMOSAIC::SUFri May 20 1988 16:3013

	There is another Boston Introductory Meditation Workshop tonight
	at The Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Place, Cambridge, Ma.

	May 20th, Friday from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.

	It is only five blocks from Harvard Square, off Brattle,
	in Longfellow Park.

						All Welcome!
						No money taken.

401.13Sri Mataji in Person, San DiegoSHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangMon Jul 18 1988 10:38115
        *** SRI MATAJI IN PERSON !!! ***
    
    Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi will be speaking and giving Self-realisation
    at a public meeting in San Diego this Friday evening. Admission
    is free. Not to be missed should any of you be in the area.
    
    Where: The Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park
    When:  Friday July 22, 7:30 p.m.
    
    Feel free to bring your children (unless they're going to make a
    noise...) and your friends who may be interested.
    
    Phil
    
    --------
    
    A little biographical sketch of Sri Mataji for newcomers:

    
    ------- Born in the heart of India

    Sri Mataji was born at Chhindwara, north of Nagpur in central India, on
    the 21st of March 1923, at midday. She took birth in the ancient
    patrimony of the Shalivahan kings, an ancient imperial dynasty from
    which her family, the Salves, is descended. 

    Her father, K. R. Salve, was a politician, active in the struggle
    against British colonialism. After independence he became the only
    Christian member of the Indian federal legislature. Apart from his
    political concerns, he was a man of immense culture, knowing several
    languages and having translated the Koran into Hindi. 

    Sri Mataji's mother was the first lady in India to obtain a university
    degree, in mathematics, but decided to consecrate herself to her family
    and the upbringing of her eleven children. 

    When the family's property was sequestered by the British, Nirmala,
    eleven years old, was sent to Gandhi's ashram in nearby Wardha during
    the school holidays. She shared the life and the tasks of the children
    of the place and the meditation at which the Mahatma presided at 4
    o'clock each morning. 

    ------- Studies and Prison

    Nirmala Salve chose to study medicine, in order to discover the links
    between spirituality, the subtle body, anatomy, and the individual
    evolution of the human being through the several stages of his
    existence. 

    At this period, her material means were very much reduced, and when she
    was 18 years old her father was arrested. She was obliged to leave the
    university and go into hiding for several months. Subsequently
    imprisoned herself, she was molested during her interrogation by the
    British. 

    When she recalls this part of her life, she underlines its importance.
    "...Liberty is necessary, political liberty, in order to be able to
    speak freely, especially about God." ... "because my life, my mission,
    my existence, everything for me only exists for the emancipation of
    humanity." 

    ------- Family Life

    After independence, Nirmala Salve married Chandrika Prasad Srivastava,
    who was later to become the head of the Shipping Corporation of India.
    They had two daughters, to whose upbringing Sri Mataji devoted most of
    this part of her life. The years of struggle were succeeded by a happy
    family life. 

    At the end of the sixties, the marriage of her two daughters brought
    this third period of her life to an end. The ceremonies, complex to
    organize as Indian ritual demands, ended her immediate maternal
    responsibilities to her daughters, and she was thus able to devote her
    attention to her spiritual calling. 

    ------- The Mission

    The sixties were the years in which numerous westerners, hippies and
    seekers, started to appear in India. Their passage was accompanied by a
    proliferation of all sorts of "gurus", and to her sadness Sri Mataji
    could see that the true teachers hid themselves from the public,
    leaving only the power-, popularity-, and money-hungry in the
    market-place of the seekers. 

    In 1970 she resolved to publicly denounce all the false gurus, and to
    call all the misguided westerners to be reconciled with themselves, and
    to find the original source within themselves which permits this
    integration. 

    At this period, her husband, Mr. Srivastava, was appointed
    Secretary-General of a United Nations Agency in London, the
    International Maritime Organization. (He had since been re-elected
    three times by a handsome majority of the U.N.'s member states to this
    post, which he holds to this day.) In 1974, Sri Mataji and Mr.
    Srivastava moved to London. 

    Sri Mataji pursued her spiritual work in London, returning every winter
    to India to be with her children in the main cities of India and in the
    hinterland of Maharashtra. Her audience in India tends to come from all
    classes of society, with the simple village people being particularly
    receptive to her message. 

    For Sri Mataji, human evolution is not yet complete. The present time,
    with its possibilities of communication, allows humanity to open its
    awareness to a new collective dimension of being. This new dimension
    exists already in the Unconscious, as Jung had remarked earlier in the
    century, but it now had to enter the field of human consciousness. 

    How is this new awareness to come about? - to this question Sri Mataji
    brings an answer. Her teaching reconciles and integrates all the
    different facets of the human being, as well as on a larger scale
    integrating and transcending all the races, castes, nationalities,
    religions, and fields of knowledge. 
    
401.14An Open InvitationMOSAIC::SUThu Mar 09 1989 20:3322


			You are cordially invited
		       by Sahaja Yoga International
		       to an Evening Presentation on

		    "Personal and World Transformation"

		      Saturday, April 8th at 7:30 P.M.
			Boylston Hall, Harvard Yard
		       (Adjacent to Widener Library)
			 Harvard Square, Cambridge
			   Boston, Massachusetts

			  For more information call:
				(617-646-7547)
		
		Note:
		Thou shall never be asked for donation or any 
		admission for Sahaja Yoga Presentation. 
		
401.15Know the infinite and you will become the infiniteVIDEO::SUThu Apr 06 1989 18:3694
This base note #1023 (We're part of the fire that is burning...) touch off 
our main objective of this entire Dejavu notesfile again - the pursuit of 
the root knowledge, the Truth.

The concept of God's image does not mean human race can think outwardly that
we are to think we can do anything we want and lead to our own destruction -
the resolution of the earth planet.

The entire human race is a part and parcel of the whole, as this base note
span off.  We have to understand the meaning of this and come to union with 
the Spirit (the awakening, the reborn process).  I am not talking about the 
Christian baptize process, but the real transformation has to happen within 
ourself (each individual).  Until than, until that self-realization process 
take place within us, whatever we do we are doing from the level of ego and
superego (the movement of past and future subconscious; the Yin and Yan; the
emotion and action process).

The message of the millennial tradition - Know the infinite and you will 
become the infinite. For William Blake and several others, to know God is to 
become God.  The absolute knowledge, or entry into the living truth, implies 
an absolute transformation.

The message from Infinite Voyage - the knowledge of West, the advance of 
human knowledge is leading us to what may be the predictable disaster.
Let's use the analogy of a tree of life to explain this knowledge. 
In the West, the knowledge we have is the knowledge from outside as branches,
leaves, the barks, the flower and the fruit...etc., but none of the roots that 
beneath the surface of the Mother earth.  But, one must know the roots on which 
the tree is standing.  Unless and until we know the roots, we cannot progress 
in proper way.

In the nature, all kind of trees grow in its particular height but it does
not cross over each other. Not only we see they grow, we also see its own
limitations, includes the beauty of seasonal cycle.  The water go up the
tree, nourish the leaves and evaporated by the sun. But the water rises up
to the leaves again.  Then the tree leaves forms as a catalyst for the rain
to come in and then it rains.  During the Winter season, there is no sunshine, 
and so the leaves drop out because of the shortage of water.  Because of this
falling leaves action, it also work as a reconstruction as a nourishment of 
nitrogen to the roots.  This is the nature spontaneous integrated control
of cycling of the seasons. In the animal world, this also happen among the
different wild animals - we can say that they are under the bondage of God.
A frog will behave like a frog.  A lion behave like a lion, so does a tiger
behave as a tiger and everyone in the jungle knows the difference. No one
minds a tiger eat another small animal our from hungry.  Nature has its own 
understanding and sharing until the human being has enter the place and 
started to project our own ideal outwardly.  We loose our contact with the 
roots, the nature part, the spirit within us.

The difference of knowledge of roots and branches is exactly the difference
of East and West.  The West knows the sciences of branches, leaves but not
the knowledge of East (the study of the roots, the Spirits).  Being an image of 
God but moving away from God is making us to be lost in distress further and
further.

Two years ago, I have come to study all religions of the world.  I have come
to understand that all great religions are merely a branch or fruit of the
same tree of life.  It was all because of the followers of the Great Masters, 
we saw the difference of religions organization as today.  By the teaching 
of Sahaja Yoga from the great Indian spiritual master Shri Mataji, we can 
learn the real transformation of Spirit awakening take place.  We come to 
experience that indeed the roots knowledge is what we have been seeking for 
the whole entire human history.  By understanding this root knowledge, we can 
attain the epitome of human evolution - to be union with our Creator again.

This also touch off Jung's discovery (he was a realized soul) that we can 
achieve the state of collective subconscious.  Jung's statement is a great 
achievement for Psychology Science to depart from miserable mis-informed 
Freud theory. 

Better yet, today we have arrived the new age of Collective Consciousness -
one more giant steps from Collective Subconsciousness.   

Through Sahaja Yoga, we achieve the nature spontaneous awakening of the pure 
desire of all primordial power within us (the Spirit).  Our physical body 
become part and parcel of the whole.  We become a drop of the ocean of Divine
love and joy. This is not an empty statement like many noter has put in this
Dejavu notesfile as to prove that he can create a word-jungle. Sahaja Yoga,
develop by Shri Mataji, is the greatest meditation technique unveil to 
human race.

Many people has asked me what is the difference of Sahaja Yoga and all other 
Yoga in this world?  I can tell you this honestly that Sahaja Yoga begins 
at where all other Yoga stop.  Sahaja Yoga go beyond all mystical point.
It is one technique you can prove it to yourself by feeling the cool breeze 
(pneuma, the zephyr, the breath of life) in your own hands.  Sahaja Yoga
is not a blind faith.  After you receive this lights of Divine, you can
also give it to the other person as you have become a drop of the ocean.

By attaining the roots knowledge, whatever you are endeavor in this tree 
of life, you will be rewarded with blossom of Divine love.

Best regards,
Sarvesh
401.16Let them eat airUSAT05::KASPERIn the eye of a storm hope is bornThu Apr 06 1989 20:1110
re: .15 (Sarvesh)

I like your tree analogy.  Imagine what would happen if all the branches
of the greatest oak on earth suddenly possesed ego consciousness and
could manipulate the trees roots to it's own ends.  How much longer do
you think it would last?  Not very long, I would guess.

Where does one find out more about Sahaja Yoga?

Terry
401.17Other recommendationsSCOPE::PAINTERWage PeaceThu Apr 06 1989 22:5821
          
    From another source:  "The Gnostic Gospels" by Elaine Pagels
                           
    The last chapter of this book is entitled "Self-Knowledge as Knowledge
    of God".  I'm recalling this from memory, however from the "Book
    of Truth" (one of the Gospels), it is written (paraphrased here):
    
    "What you bring forth from you will save you.  What you do not bring
    forth from you will destroy you."
         
    The answers are to be found from within.  When you are able to
    consciously recognize the destructive patterns in your life, only
    then will you have a chance of turning them around.  This is the
    task we are faced with, both at an individual level and at a planetary
    level.
    
    For those interested in Jung, his last work entitled "The Unexplored 
    Self" is highly recommended.  It is relatively short and easily
    understood.
    
    Cindy
401.18How do you know?OSLLAV::SVEINNTruth is a pathless land...Fri Apr 07 1989 08:5318
re: .15 (Sarvesh)

I agree with most of what you wrote in your entry,especially
that all great religions are merely a branch or fruit of the
same tree of life.This is a very tolerant statement,but reading
a little more of your entry,you write this incredible line;

>Sahaja Yoga,developed by Shri Mataji,is the greatest meditation
>technique unveil to human race..

How can you utter such a statement?It's sounds like cheap
advertisement.What you really say is that you (think you) know absolutely
every known meditation method known to the people on this earth,and
that you know what is "the real thing".I think this is arrogance,
perhaps the statement is the truth for you.But you know...there is a big
world outside....

Svein Nordrum
401.19oopsUSAT05::KASPERIn the eye of a storm hope is bornFri Apr 07 1989 12:538
    > For those interested in Jung, his last work entitled "The Unexplored 
    > Self" is highly recommended.  It is relatively short and easily
    > understood.
    
    I believe it's _The Undiscovered Self_ ...  Good book, I recommend it
    too.

    Terry
401.20double oops!CLUE::PAINTERWage PeaceFri Apr 07 1989 15:574
    
    Thanks Terry - you're right.
    
    Cindy
401.21If you are in Boston or ...GWEN::SUFri Apr 07 1989 21:17100
  Re: -.18 (Svein)

|...,but reading a little more of your entry,you write this incredible line;

|>Sahaja Yoga,developed by Shri Mataji,is the greatest meditation
|>technique unveil to human race..

|How can you utter such a statement?It's sounds like cheap
|advertisement.What you really say is that you (think you) know absolutely
|every known meditation method known to the people on this earth,and
|that you know what is "the real thing".I think this is arrogance,
|perhaps the statement is the truth for you.But you know...there is a big
|world outside....


At least, I must agree with you that it was an incredible line I put there.
I admit that I am fully aware of what I said objectively. 
The very same words are uttered by thousands of people who got their 
incredible Kundalini awakening. These words are not coming from thin air
without a convincing reason. 

A cheap advertisement is a wicked charlatan who have your money in mind and 
out to plot it away from you.  What I really said is that I know from my
personal experience that Sahaja Yoga is the only Yoga today that raise your
Kundalini (the pure desire of God in you) majestically like scripts has
described.  There were others in the past may have done so, but not
in en-mass scale as today Shri Mataji has carried out all over the world.

In fact, just yesterday I received a letter from India saying that Shri 
Mataji gave two public programs back in Delhi, India four weeks ago.  The 
first one was attended by approximately 3000 people. The second one was 
attended by about 2000 people in a beautiful auditorium; many of them were 
educated intellectuals, so Shri Mataji spoke in English. Those en-mass 
self-realization were tremendous.  No one else has done that in the world 
for nearly two thousand years.

Allow me to tell you a true story here: Jaganath Baba, came down from the 
Himalayas for one of Shri Mataji's programs.  Somewhat skeptical, he was 
arguing with the disciples while waiting for Shri Mataji to make Her 
appearance.  As soon as Shri Mataji entered the hall, he prostrated 
completely (ashtango namaskar) at Her feet, calling her "Adi Maya, Adi 
Maya".  Later on he told the disciples that as soon as Shri Mataji had 
entered the hall, suddenly he saw everybody's Kundalini rise, like the 
children in class standing up for the teacher. It was an unpreceded 
happening. This is the true power Shri Mataji  and She is giving us
that spirits awakening (the reborn transformation) in the compassion of
a Mother would give the best to her own children. 

Now a true story like that, if I want to tell you one by one, I will be 
here writing a book.  My objective is to tell you that Sahaja Yoga indeed
is a unique Yoga, the next to the best if not the best thing that could happen 
to human being.  (In case some one also will bring up the subject of how
can you say such thing!)  I am not here to challenge you ego, but I'll do
my best to help your seeking, if you decide to seek the truth through 
your heart(!) and not through your head.  No doubt, I have seen many DECie
in this notesfile they are seekers of the Truth.  But, seeking without 
discrete (discrimination of true and false) is just a waste of your time
and some instance do more damage to your physical harm.


 re: -.16 (Terry)

Shri Mataji first started to teach Sahaja Yoga in 1970 - a promise she has
kept to her husband that She will devote her full attention to their 
children until they grow up to twenty years of age.  She first came to U.S.
and specifically warned the public of the Charlatans (some are criminals from
India) who came to the West to make personal fortune by making a tomfoolery
out of innocent (somewhat naive) seeker.  Unfortunately, the American is
basically an excitement gatherer at that time still.  The materialistic
and egoistic life style make you think that if it does not cost you a penny 
to get it, then it does not have any value in it. 

Some opportunist even offered a business proposition to Shri Mataji that
they can advertise for Her by charging a fee for every Cool Breeze She 
brought up the seeker.  Imagining if She agrees to that she can have as
many Rose Royce as Oregon Charlatan besides the fame as "rich and famous".
Certainly, the Truth can not be changed - you can not purchase God.

So, you ask : "Where can I find more about Sahaja Yoga?"

There are only a dozen of Sahaja Centres in the whole big North America. 
They are located in Boston, New York, Cincinnati, Fort Worth Texas, 
Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Tronto, Vancouver etc.
The so called Centres are just happened that some Sahaja Yogis live in 
that city.  There is really no organisation exist.  I know you live in
Atlanta, Georgia, and there is no centre around that vicinity.

I knew many yogis they get their realisation through all different cities.
Some people travelled as far as to Nepal and got their self-realization.  
As time comes and if you really desire the awaken of your Holy Spirit, it will
work out for you.

For now, you can find a lot of information about Sahaja Yoga through this
notesfile #401.nn.  When you have a chance to go to one of those cities,
please do not hesitate to contact me or other yogis who also contribute to 
this file for more information in that vicinity.

Best Regards,
    Sarvesh    
401.22The blind ones and the matter of the ElephantOSLLAV::SVEINNTruth is a pathless land...Tue Apr 11 1989 11:3947
Re: -21 (Sarvesh)

I respect your Sahaja Yoga,and I don't doubt that it is of greate value
for you and many others,let there be no doubt about that.
But what I really can't understand is your exaltation of this yoga,saying
that this is the greatest thing which could happen to the human beings.
Of course it is so for you and the other followers.Other people who follow
different spiritual paths would probably say the same thing about their way.
It is just this situation that often plants the seed for potential conflicts
and even wars..
In your entry -.17 you mentioned the *humble* analogy about that each religion,
spiritual way,etc.. was a branch or a flower of the same tree.What about your
yoga? Is'nt that also a flower of this tree,and not *the tree*?
Well,at last I would like to quote an old Sufi tale from the book "Tales of
the Dervishes" by Idries Shah,which really says it all,I think... :-)

   	   ~ The blind ones and the matter of the Elephant ~
	
	Beyond Ghor there was a city.All its inhabitants were blind.A king
with his entourage arrived nearby;he brought his army and camped in the
desert.He had a mighty elephant,which he used in attack and to increase the
people's awe.
	The populace became anxious to see the elephant,and some sightless
from among this blind community ran like fools to find it.As they did not even
know the form or shape of the elephant they groped sightlessly,gathering
information by touching some part of it.
	Each thought that he knew something,because he could feel a part.
When they returned to their fellow-citizens eager groups clustered around them.
Each of these was anxious,misguidedly,to learn the truth from those who were
themselves astray.
	They asked about the form,the shape of the Elephant;and listened to all
that they were told.The man whose hand had reached the ear was asked about the
elephant's nature.He said:"It is a large,rough thing,wide and broad,like a
rug".
	And the one who had felt the trunk said:"I have the real facts about
it.It is like a straight and hollow pipe.awful and destructive."
	The one who had felt its feet and legs said:"It is mighty and firm,
like a pillar."
	Each had felt one part out of many.Each had perceived it wrongly.No
mind knew all:knowledge is not the companion of the blind.All imagined
something,something incorrect.
	The created is not informed about divinity,There is no way in this
science by means of the ordinary intellect.


regards
Svein Nordrum
401.23Introduction to Sahaja Yoga VIDEO::SUWed Apr 12 1989 13:5231
	re: -.22 (Sveinn). I will response to your comment when there is more
	time for me to enter the notes again. Thank you.

	Friends, a three week course begins Friday, April 14th, at 7:00 PM
	in the Weare Room at the Blacksmith House, Cambridge Center for Adult 
	Education, Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
	This course covers the following topics:

	1. Daily Problems and Their Solutions.

	   - Addressing good and evil.
	   - Meditation: What is beyond? How problems get solved.

	2. Chakras and the Subtle Body.

	   - Chakras and Nadis: the basis of the Psyche.
	   - Reality: awareness beyond thought and how to achieve it.
	   - Collective Consciousness: awareess of the Self.


	3. Health and the Subtle body

	   - The causes of disease.
	   - Techniques for cleansing the Chakras.


	
These classes will be followed by a three week intermediate course.  Details
to be announced.  This course is being sponsored by Sahaja Yoga International.
There will be no charge for the admission, except some materials, handout at 
cost.
401.24I ate the Whole Thing?DNEAST::CHRISTENSENLWed Apr 12 1989 20:1519
    
    re: .22
    
    Seems to me that one eats his dinner one bite at a time.  A bite is
not the whole dinner.  Could it be said that we never realize dinner 
as it really is; but rather an accumulation of morsels?

There may be One True Way.  I don't know.  I have engaged in several minor
ways and at the time thought I had the whole meal.  Time and experience
proved a feast larger than I had imagined.  Was I wrong or in error
in my youthful years.  I think not.

Looking back now I see that I was engaged with something.  I feel it is 
the engagement itself we should herald.

Larry
 
    
401.25Water,give me water...OSLLAV::SVEINNTruth is a pathless land...Thu Apr 13 1989 12:5317
re. -24;

>There may be One True Way.  I don't know.  I have engaged in several minor
>ways and at the time thought I had the whole meal.  Time and experience
>proved a feast larger than I had imagined.  Was I wrong or in error
>in my youthful years.  I think not.

Agree,Larry.I think at each stage during lifetime we are given just as much
as we can perceive at that moment.When water are being poured into a cup,
the cup can of course not hold any more water than its own volume.Water
always finds its own level.
It is to be hoped that this cup,which we all carry,will have the chance to
grow in volume as we go through life...

Svein
 
    
401.26ATSE::FLAHERTYEvolving, not revolvingThu Apr 13 1989 14:458
    In agreement with Larry (.24) and Svein (.25) or to put it another
    way with one of my favorite quotes:
    
    	The years teach us much the days never knew.
    
    
    Ro
    
401.27The knowledge of the Root is what we are missingVIDEO::SUThu Apr 13 1989 21:3561
Re: -.22 (Svein) -The blind ones and the matter of the Elephant 

I always love the story of the blinds trying to describe the fact about
elephant, only I didn't know the origin of the source. It is one of the
beautiful parables I have told my children many times.  On circumstance, those
blind people are quite brave. In a way, they are all correct in part and wrong
in the whole.

The fruits or blossoms of the tree of life, they are all real and true.
However, when we talk about the world religions, we are talking about the 
original master incarnations, prophets or saints but not the ritualistic 
and dogmatism "organized" religions.  The dogma and ism ideals was not 
intended by those origin masters in mind when they were still alive.  So, 
when you become self-realized, you know all religion are the true but part 
of the whole. At this state, you understand the integral aspect of all 
religions - the all Truth.  There is no need to fight over God is on which
side - all men are brothers.

Mohammed himself had to defend himself so hard in his time and that does not 
mean all Muslims can kill people as today in the name of Jihad.  Budda came
in a time of Hindu ritual craziness so he did it the other way.  Moses brought 
out the ten commandments to straight out the Jew went out of his hands and 
that does not mean the Jewish can only live by the rules also.  Hindu Bramins 
set the law of birth right to protect their own welfare.  In real life, their 
children are not all born realized as Bhramin.  We knew Christianity very well, 
so I don't need to elaborate on the reborn process.  There are other religions 
I don't know about but that is not excluded from this human errors.

The purpose of this introduction of Sahaja Yoga is not to convince you to 
believe it.  I knew from my heart that it is impossible to do so.  The 
purpose of this notes is to bring up your curiosity and so that you can look
into it and verify it yourself.  

Seeking without an open mind is impossible.  Seeking with an open mind but
without your own discrimination (discrete) is dangerous.  Dangerous according
to loss of the money matter, false teaching from false guru could make you
loss you health by damaging your subtle nerves system (Chakras).  We already
knew certain Yogas in the spiritual market (you buy?) today cause cancer and 
leprosy if not psychosomatic problems. Indeed, there are many good valid
Yoga also available, as saying of "there are many roads to Rome...", the
matter is which one you want to take. It is our freedom to choose.

Sahaja Yoga sounds very simple. As you have noticed that Shri Mataji has
developed a system of getting your "self-realisation" first. Then, after
that you take your sweet time to do your house cleaning work - purify your
inner Chakras one by one.  The method is a reverse order of Budda which took
him many life time to cleans his Chakras one by one and at the same time
maintain its purity until he achieved his God-realisation.  

To say you have no doubt on what I am telling you is cheating yourself also.   
I had doubt two years ago.  Now that two years has past and not only I 
have not lost anything of my own (perhaps my ego is diminishing a little), I
have gained some thing we all want very much - the inner joy, the love of 
divine within us.

I have to write about this as a token of being a part and parcel of the whole.

Best regards,
Sarvesh

401.2825532::STANLEYWhat a long, strange trip its beenThu Apr 27 1989 20:204
    Is there any chance that Shri Mataji will come to this country this
    year?  I hope so.
    
    Mary
401.29SRI MATAJI in USA 1989VIDEO::SUMon May 01 1989 19:1920
    rep: .28 (mary)
    
    Shri Mataji will visit US this year. Tentative schedule is June
    12 till June 30.
    
    She will probably speak in NEW YORK, MIAMI, SAN DIEGO, CINCINNATI,
    HOUSTON and maybe BOSTON.
    
    I dont know how much you know about Sahaja yoga, please read also
    notes 1041.0 .
    
    If you are impatient to get it, you can go and meet any Sahaja Yogi,
    he or she can give realisation to you. 
    
    Let us know the area where you live, we can pass you a phone number.
    There are a few Sahaja Yogis in BOSTON, NEW YORK, SAN DIEGO,
    CINCINNATTI and HOUSTON.
    
    See You.
401.30Come to see the Elephant!MUNTRA::LUZIFri May 12 1989 08:0227
re: Larry, Sveinn


I think noone of us (Sahaja-Yogis) would already dare to think that we ate
the whole dinner - but we all got the wonderful chance to see the
whole elephant - to see the whole beauty of the tree of life.
Imagine one of the blind ones suddenly got his eyesight. 
Wouldn't that mean he is able to tell everyone how the elephant looks like?
 
Everyday I learn something else about me and we all still go through a lot
of mistakes and painful learning-processes - but we know exactly where we
go and how we can work our problems out - it does not mean we don't have
problems anymore.  
I always desired to know where I have to go and what I have to find and
after coming to Sahaja-Yoga I suddenly knew it exactly and I still do.
But I'm sure we are all far from saying that we are the perfect enlightened
beings.  - Why don't you just try it yourself?    

If Sahaja-Yoga integrates all the World-Religions (branches) - why can it
not be the tree?
Please forgive us if something sounds a bit arrogant and give
yourself a chance to make your own experience with Sahaja-Yoga.
Nobody asks you to come - it is up to to feel the joy with us or not.

regards,
Eva 
401.31Problems? "what me worry?"REGENT::WAGNERFri May 12 1989 13:4719
    
    
    .30   Eva,
    
    If a person could vibrate fully in the sixth or seventh chakra, he or
    she would find that there would be no more problems for him or her
    Excepting for the challenge(not problem) of maintaining spiritual
    devotion in the sixth chakra and being vigilantly on guard for the
    ever so subtle seduction of Egotism in the seventh chakra.        
    
    Pehaps Sahaja yoga is not the entire tree because it is not the
    only philosophy/discipline that integrates all the world religions.
    There are at least several that I know of.  besides what does the
    process of becoming fulfilled have to do with established religions?
    I would guess that the philosophy of Tantra and Tantric Yoga would
    be more effective for the Western Mind.
    
    Ernie
    
401.32No.CADSYS::COOPERTopher CooperFri May 12 1989 14:2911
RE .30 (Eva):
    
    > Imagine one of the blind ones suddenly got his eyesight.
    > Wouldn't that mean he is able to tell everyone how the elephant looks
    > like?
    
    If you believe that, than you have missed at least half of what I see
    as the point of the allegory -- of course I'm just one blind
    philosopher among many.
    
    					Topher
401.33"Blind men cop feel from elephant"17736::BEST_GGhost of the AragonFri May 12 1989 15:2110
    
    Well Topher, I'm also blind, but after having checked out this
    "eliophant" I've come to the same conclusion concerning such claims
    made by the sighted. (Couldn't we have picked a less smelly, dirty
    creature; I can't seem to find a washrag around here. :-) )
    
    grope....curse....
    
    
    Guy
401.34One man's ...whateverDNEAST::CHRISTENSENLFri May 12 1989 16:0018
Oh I dunno, reading some replies in DEJAVU seems like everyone is now
starting their own "club of enlightenment": 'come to me and I'll
fix you up.'

A story I often tell is about myself walking down Sunset Blvd,
Hollywood Ca. with tambourine in hand and passing out literature
about a group I was studying with.  As I passed a narrow alley-way
a small black shoe-shine boy shouted: "Shoe Shine Mister, It'll change your
life".  Well, I just ust started to laugh and realize he was probably
right and a shoe shine was just about as effective as anything else
provided the recipient was in  the appropriate frame.  I tossed the papers in
the nearest trash can and headed home.  I was asked to leave this particular
group a short while later.  (another story)



Larry
_still all inputs are welcome_
401.35May be ... when you become a drop of the oceanVIDEO::SUFri May 12 1989 20:4651
Ooops, we got into a word-jungle again! 

blind	adj. 1.without the power of sight; unable to see; sightless.
	     2.of or for sight-less persons.
	     3.not able or willing to notice, understand, or judge.
	     4.done without adequate directions or knowledge [a blind search]
	     5.disregarding evidence, sound logic, etc. [blind love, blind 
	       faith]
	     6.reckless; unreasonable
	     7.out of sight; hard to see; hidden
	     8.dense; impenetrable [a blind hedge]
	     9.closed at one end [a blind duct]
	    10.not controlled by intelligence [blind destiny]
	    11.a)insensible b)drunk
	    12.illegible; indistinct [a blind letter]
	    13.not bearing flowers or fruit, as imperfect plants
	    14. Aeron. by the use of instruments only [flind flying]
	    15. Archit. a)having no opening [a blind wall]
	    
	vt.
	     1.to make sightless
	     2.to make temporarily unable to see; dazzle
	     3.to deprive of the power of insight or judgment
	     4.to make dim; obscure
	     5.to outshine or eclipse
	     6.to hide or conceal

This kind of reminding me of the Bible studies I attended in the past; some 
people like to interpret the parables word by word and miss the point at end.

I agree with you that a little notesfile information will not convince
you or make you believe something you never experience it yourself.
            
No one is trying to sale you something or deny you something but share 
with you of some unique experience.  In India villages, thousand's people
get their own unique (the very same) self-realisation experience in 
the open field program.  In Europe, people also amazed at the soothing 
sensation of rising Kundalini in their own body and realizing the whole
new dimension of meaningful life leading ahead.  In U.S., the recognition
of Sahaja Yoga is very slow, perhaps because people are so up 
to materialism and outside excitement of psychic interference.
    
However, Truth is not to be judged by the salesmanship. And perhaps
you can read with an open mind because I am very sincerely as your fellow
DECie. 
    
    Still, with my best regards to you all.
    Sarvesh
    
        
401.36KUNDALINI RISING in the WestDNEAST::CHRISTENSENLSat May 13 1989 02:471
    .... and most fully human MR. SU
401.37YogaCSOA1::ROARKSun May 14 1989 01:51134
Hi,

Here are some comments on Guru, other paths, and finally on Yoga in 
general.  Most of this comes from notes I've made or remembered from what 
reading and some from experience.  There are many paths for yoga and religions.
Each leads to the same goal according to many masters.

Guru:     'gu' is the symbol of darkest night, 'ru' is the symbol of radiant
          light.  So a Guru is one who dispels the dark or shows the light
          of truth.  A Guru could be that one who is destined to initiate
          in yoga.  Also the Guru could be your best friend or enemy.  Anyone
          (or maybe your pet) who reflects where there is a need to grow is
          really a Guru.  Eg.  If I don't like a person, the dislike comes
          from within me, the other person is only providing for the reflection
          of this thought or feeling.  This shows me where I need to work.  So 
          the person I don't like is my guru in this growth situation.

          My thoughts are that a Guru (spiritual teacher) practices, 
	  teaches what is practiced and provides an environment where seekers 
	  can come together to further deepen the contact and growth.  Some
	  may not elect the third item.


Other Paths:

No one wants to be following a path that is not the Supreme path, so each
seeker may claim their path to be the one and only sometimes.
I've known TM'ers that have benefited greatly from the program and others
that have been disenchanted.  I've no issue with TM.  Mantra works.
All meditation is transcendental in nature from my viewpoint anyway.
I also know disciples of Bhagwan Rajneesh.  They also benefited.
It's unfortunate that events took the turn that they did.  I've friends
that follow paths of Sufi, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, Christianity and
others.  I don't see one path as better than another.  I see each valuable
for growth.  I was attracted to a particular path because of my karma (attitudes
and behavior) and there is something for me to learn in that particular way.
I look at other's choices in the same way.

Regarding money:

In the first yoga class I took, the instructor shared that at first he didn't 
think anyone should have to pay a fee to learn yoga.  The instructor thought 
about it and decided to charge.  It was explained by an example from the story 
of Snow White.  The witch asked Snow White for a glass of water before she
gave Snow White the apple.  This set up Snow White to receive.  So the water
is money and the poison apple is yoga ;^).

Yoga, general comments:

There is some confusion of terms in what I've read about Yoga.  Some
say Yoga starts whenever one begins to practice, some say it begins when
the prana is released or kundalini awakened, and others say yoga begins
with the attainment of samadhi.  Also some consider prana and kundalini to
be the same, others do not.

The following considers prana to be apart from kundalini, prana and kundalini
as a different manifestation of the same energy.

When the prana is released through shaktipat the seeker automatically 
experiences what had to be attempted by means of will before.
Yoga does not have to be learned from anyone after this point.  It
has been acutalized and will continue to grow with proper attention.
Automatically will the asanas, mudras, yamas, niyamas, pranayama, and so
on occur to purify the body and mind and finally come to the point where
the kundalini is awakened and the remaining purification takes place.

There are quite a number of shaktipat gurus around.  It does not take
a master to give shaktipat to thousands of people at once.  A master can give 
this grace to give shaktipat to one or more of his disciples and that disciple
can even pass it on.  One of the shaktipat gurus I know of in the West
used to give out shakti rather freely and strongly.  After the first
couple of years he saw that people had psychological difficulties with the 
experiences and now the shaktipat experiences seems to occur very much
more subtly.  The grace falls equally on everyone.

Yoga paths:

Yoga is one.  There are three main and many secondary
yogas.  This is only because of difference in attitude and so on among
seekers.  Basically, the one with a rational bent of mind practices
jnana yoga, emotional nature practices bhakti yoga, and of active nature
practices karma yoga.  Each of the main types incorporates the attributes of 
the others as well.

Sanatana (Eternal) Yoga is one, there are two orientations: reason and action.  
The third, love, is included in the two.  Due to differences in age, attitude,
condition, seekers choose different techniques, and the techniques have
different labels given to the same yoga.

Bhakti Yoga is also called Mantra Yoga, Nada Yoga, Laya Yoga, Japa Yoga
etc.

Jnana Yoga is also called Raja Yoga, Astanga Yoga, Nirbija Yoga, Sabda Yoga,
etc.

Karma Yoga is also called Siddha Yoga, Sahaja Yoga, Bindu Yoga, Kundalini Yoga,
Maha Yoga etc.

There also traditions named as Tantra, Vedanta, Bhakti, Yoga etc.

Each of the paths has it own techniques. Control and discipline of prana
is directly or indirectly involved in all of them.  The sense-organs and
mind are controlled and disciplined only through the control of prana.

In the not so recent past yogis would only arouse the kundalini shakti
in a seeker of worth by initiating with shaktipat(transmission of spiritual
energy).  This situation seems to have changed with masters granting
the grace to disciples, and transmission to many at once.
A person who has the grace to give shaktipat can do so to thousands at 
once.  Shaktipat or grace of God can also come through the thought of God or
Guru, touch, or look by picture or presence.  A competent guru can release
the prana energy of the disciple through shaktipat.  This starts the
practice of yoga automatically, after this the seeker need not learn yoga
from anyone.  Guidance of a guru could probably be useful through some of 
the stages like kechari mudra, if kundalini takes that particular path.
The release of prana is also called God's or Guru's grace. The release gained 
through systematic practice without a Guru is called by God's grace.  The 
release of prana is not the awakening of kundalini, it does help in awakening 
kundalini.  The first important result of shakitpat is the release of prana 
which can bring about the awakening of kundalini.  Some people call kundalini 
and prana the same thing.  Prana can neither penetrate the chakras and granthis 
(plexus of nerves) or fully purify body and mind, for this it needs kundalini.
Sometimes shaktipat results in the immediate awakening of kundalini. Shaktipat 
is of two kinds, light and heavy.  A seeker receiving heavy shaktipat will 
probably be so consumed with the practice of yoga that life in the external 
world with job etc. would be very difficult.  It takes commitment to establish 
practice and continue.

Yoga gives one the opportunity to start with body, mind or spirit.  So there
is something, I think, for anyone.  More important for me is that the
heart of a path is to grow in love, regardless of other experiences offered.

Regards,
timmo
401.38"Whom Atman chooses, by him is he attained."17736::BEST_GGhost of the AragonMon May 15 1989 17:009
    
    re: -.1
    
    I agree with what you said about the heart of the path was to grow in
    love.  Enlightenment takes many forms and has many names, but for me
    the deciding factor in "getting there" is the desire to do so.  
    
    
    Guy
401.39VIDEO::SUMon May 15 1989 18:2634
		*******	To My Flower Children *******



			You are angry with Life
		   	 Like small children
		    Whose Mother is lost in Darkness
		      Your sulk expressing despair
		  At the fruitless end of your journey
	 	  You wear ugliness to discover Beauty
	     You name everything false in the name of truth
	     You drain out emotions to fill the cup of Love
		      My sweet children, my darling
		   How can you get peace by waging war
	     With yourself, with your being, with joy itself
	         Enough are your efforts of renunciation
	            The artificial mask of consolation
	        Now rest in the petals of the lotus flower
		    In the lap of your gracious Mother
	      I will adorn your life with beautiful blossoms
	        And fill your moments with joyful fragrance
	 	 I will anoint your head with divine love
		   For I cannot bear your torture anymore
		    Let me engulf you in the ocean of joy
		  So you lose your being in the Greater one
		    Who is smiling in your calyx of self
		 Secretly hidden to tease you all the while
			Be aware and you will find Him
		  Vibrating your every fibre with blissful joy
		     Covering the whole universe with light.


					-Mother Nirmala
401.40That's a lot of infoREDWOD::GRAFTONThu May 18 1989 18:478
    Tim,
    
    I'm glad you entered that.  I'm slowly learning all the new words and
    phrases and what they mean, and this helps.
                                                
    Jill
    
    
401.41you have to get it, not just analyse!!VIDEO::SUSat May 20 1989 03:0140
re .37 and other chacra theorethics.

it is good to "know" so many things about chacras and all that Yoga stuff.

But, please look at it this way:

If a newborn baby is thirsty, it just drinks the milk.

Should you first teach him all about human anatomy before you will allow it to 
drink? Nature has everything beautifully planned. You just give it the milk 
and if the baby is ready it will drink. Simple as that.

Other analogy: 

Would you first read a book to learn how to breathe?

When watching television, do you first want to know all about electronics, or 
do you just switch it on and watch it?

Do you see the point?

Same with self-realisation.

When the time is such that you can get it naturally, then you better get it 
first. Later you can learn all about it if you like.

What more can one say.

Please make sensible replies only. If you think we are exagerating, or that we 
do not know what we are talking about, please forget us. No reason to get upset.
We do not take anything from you, we just want you to know this:

    
" The time is such that you CAN get it. If you don't want it, it's your 
business"

Sri Mataji is visting US in June. Please read 1041.? note for detail.
    
All the best, 
Johan
401.42I know how to drink...BTOVT::BEST_GGhost of the AragonMon May 22 1989 13:147
    
    Even you, as evidenced by the analogies of your reply, must reason and
    analyze.  Doesn't all written communication occur on this level?  You
    can no more see if we are enlightened by our words than we can see by 
    yours.
    
    Guy
401.44Your Opportunity Strike AgainVIDEO::SUWed Jun 07 1989 19:51144
The following is the schedule of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, giving 
self-realisation to the North America and South America in person.

Mo 12 Jun	Program in New York
		Auditorium of Public School
		6, 45 East 81th St. (between Park and Madison Ave.)
		New York City.  7:30pm

Tu 13 Jun	Program in New York
		Warwick Hotel, 65, W.64 St. New York City at 7:30pm

We 14 Jun	Program in Cincinnati, Ohio
Th 15 Jun	Program in Tronto, Canada
Sa 17 Jun 	Program in Vancouver, Canada
Tu 20 Jun	Program in San Diego, California
Tu 22 Jun 	Program in Miami, Florida.
		(First time in Miami, since Miami was called the Gate of
	 	 Hell by the DDA)
Th 24 Jun	Program in Bogota, Colombia.
Su 27 Jun	Program in Rio, Brazil
Tu 29 Jun	program in Salvador, Brazil

Those cities listed above without detail program location can be contacted at
the nearest center list below for more information.

  West Coast:

  Dr. Vinod Worlikar
  17031 South Maria Ave.
  Cerritos, Los Angeles  CA   95071
  t. 213/926-4070

  David Dunphy (San Diego Centre)
  6276 Lakewood St.
  San Diego,  CA   92122
  t. 619/546-9379

  Ursula Doring    (San Francisco Centre)
  191 Canal St. #23
  San Rafael, CA   94901
  t. 415/459-0123

  East Coast:
  
  Christine de Kalbermatten (New York Centre)
  96 Shadow Lane
  New Rochelle, NY 10801
  t. 914/636-4406

  Bhaskar & Linda Kharde
  869 Washington Ave.
  Pleasantville, NY 10570
  t. 914/769-3991

  Mark Sutherland (Boston Centre)
  27 Ashland St.
  Arlington Heights, MA   02174
  t. 617/646-7547
 
  Craig Williamson (Maine Centre)
  436 Preble St.
  South Portland, ME 04106
  t. 207/799-5749

  Florida: (Miami)

  Patrick Hughes
  6700 Landings Dr., #105
  Lauderhill, Fl. 33319
  t. 305/485-7739

  Ohio:
  
  Bala Kanayson (Ohio Centre)
  10351 Arbor Hill Lane
  Evendale, Ohio   45241
  t. 513/563-6438

  Jay Harris
  717 Broadliegh Rd.
  Colombus, Ohio   43209
  t. 614/237-1297

  Kansas:
  
  Nancy Craig
  226 Fillmore
  Topeka, Kansas   66606
  t. 913/351-6440
 
  Texas:

  Betty Hubbell
  715 Crossroads
  Houston, Texas   77079
  t. 713/531-7458

  Mangal Singh Dhillon
  1800 Hemphill
  FT Worth, Texas   76110
  t. 817/924-2191

  CANADA:

  Lori Wills     (Vancouver Centre)
  1261 Keith Road
  West Vancouver,  BC     V7T1N1
  t. 604-922-3382

  William Brigden  (Toronto Centre)
  Ap. 708
  11 Gulliver Road  
  Toronto, Ontario   M6M2M3
  t. 416/247-5749

  Mona Lacroix   (Calgary Centre)
  523 Maidstone Drive N.E.
  Calgary, Alberta   T2A4B6
  t. 403/248-3196 

  Colombia:
    
  Claude &Brigitte Begle
  Calle 110A-4-48
  Sta Ana
  Bogota
  t. 571/213-3515
    
  Brazil:
    
  Duilio Cartocci
  Nirmala House
  Alameda das Cajazeiras 35
  Caminho das Arvores
  40000 Salvador - BA
  t. 55 21 541-6473                        
    
	You can buy a airplane ticket to the city where Shri Mataji is
	visiting, but you cannot buy your self-realisation.

	
  Best regards,
  Sarvesh

401.45Self-realization in CincinnatiCHFS32::LTAYLORWed Jun 28 1989 19:06180
Several months ago I began to follow the discussion about
Sahaja Yoga in this NOTES file. While some of the claims
made for this method seemed rather exaggerated, I was none
the less intrigued by what I read. Several signature charac-
teristics emerged which lead me to travel to Cincinnati and
receive self-realization from Mother Nirmala.

First, the Sahaja yogis such as Philip, Johan and Paulo
write with a confidence that comes from their enthusiasm
with the experience of the "cool breeze." This confidence
may come across to some as cocksure, even arrogant, but it
has been my experience that such enthusiastic declarations
are far more nourishing than dry theological proofs, no mat-
ter how logical.

Another positive characteristic is the group's disdain of
money. The simple phrase, "You can't pay for it," is often
used. Surely the Sahaja Yoga organization must have some
sort of cash I/O, but never is the inquirer told that the
experience of self-realization carries with it a financial
obligation.

Sahaja Yoga also appears to me to skillfully balance person-
ality with Divine abstraction. Mother Nirmala admits that
she is a means to focus your attention and desire on the
mother within. The kundalini energy is associated with the
feminine and comes very close, in my opinion, to Jung's an-
ima. It is one thing to read and speculate about the female
nature of the soul and quite another to encounter a flesh-
and-blood woman who acts as a surrogate for that soul to
manifest.

For these reasons and others, I thought it would be worth my
time and effort to drive from North Carolina to Cincinnati
and meet Mother Nirmala. Two friends accompanied me. One is
a long-time male friend who has many years of experience in
the spiritual realm. The other is a woman who is a more re-
cent acquaintance. All together we have probably more than
sixty years of experience with everything from New Age
avatars to Zen roshis. The collective question on our minds
as we rolled nearly 500 miles was whether Mother Nirmala is
for real.

We arrived in Cincinnati a couple of hours before the pro-
gram was to start at an outdoor pavilion located in Eden
Park. Checking into the hotel, we freshened up and got a
bite to eat. Soon we were making our way to the park and ar-
rived at the site of "An Evening of Enlightenment" about an
half hour before the program was to begin. The pavilion was
a modernistic concrete structure designed for theatrical
performances. The audience sat on benches arranged in con-
centric arcs in a later day version of a Greek amphitheater.
The sky was as uncertain as a baby's bottom. Only a little
more than a hundred people braved the threatening clouds.

On our way to our seats we spotted a man dressed in a suit
who had a large button on his lapel. The button was about
four inches in diameter and contained a color photograph of
Mother Nirmala. My friend, Fritz, admired the button and
struck up a conversation with the first Sahaja yogi we were
to meet that evening. Fritz wanted to know where he could
get such a button fully expecting to be directed to a table
where Mataji memorabilia could be purchased. We were po-
litely told that the buttons were not for sale, and I saw no
evidence of any money changing hands the entire evening.
They didn't even pass the hat once or comment on expenses
that they incurred putting the program together.

As we sat down we observed that the stage was largely bare
except for a chair with microphone and a large chart of the
chakras to one side, a somewhat smaller black-and-white pho-
tograph of Mother Nirmala on the other side. There were a
couple of floral arrangements but nothing ostentatious.

Everyone's concern became a reality when it started to driz-
zle. Umbrellas began to pop up like mushrooms and I wondered
if the people behind us could see. Promptly at 19:30 a tall,
balding, bearded man about thirtysomething began to speak at
a microphone that had been set up at the extreme side of the
stage. He introduced himself as Johan, and I knew immedi-
ately that this must be the same Johan who posts articles
about Sahaja Yoga in the DEJAVU and HOLISTIC NOTES files.
Fortunately, just as Johan began to speak the rain stopped.
It did not rain again the rest of the evening.

Johan is originally from Brussels, Belgium and delivered a
clear, albeit accented (very chic), exposition about the
chakras, kundalini energy and the channels this energy trav-
els. Most of this information can be found in DEJAVU NOTES
401 and 1041 or HOLISTIC NOTES 19. He spoke with confidence
and enthusiasm even though he seemed to know that what he
was saying sounded fantastic. When Mother Nirmala walked on
the stage Johan stopped in mid-sentence, not so much from
deference but from an evident joy in seeing her.

How shall I describe Mother Nirmala? Physically, she is of
medium height and a bit overweight by American standards.
She has a youthful appearance, her 66 years having added
only a few gray hairs and wrinkles. She was dressed in a
white muslin sari and wore a rather large red dot on her
forehead. Her movements were fluid, and she did not show any
ill effects from the exhaustive schedule she was following.

Psychologically, she seemed, to me at least, the personifi-
cation of MOTHER. Her voice was warm yet authoritative. Her
ample flesh with its lack of sharp angles was inviting and
safe. Central casting could not have chosen better :-).

She spoke briefly about the nature of truth, the need for
seekers to experience the "cool breeze," and how this is the
"blossom time" when self-realization is available for any
sincere seeker. Her agenda was clearly to impart the experi-
ence rather than explain it. After a brief question and an-
swer period she asked that everyone leave their seats and
sit on the concrete apron directly in front of the stage.

The self-realization ceremony was a sort of guided medita-
tion. Mother Nirmala first instructed us in how to place the
hands on various parts of the body that correspond to chakra
locations. When everyone had these hand placements correct,
she began the meditation to raise the kundalini and initiate
the "cool breeze." We were told to place our right hand on
the appropriate spot and to repeat a question or affirmation
a certain number of times. It began at the heart and ended
at the top of the head. I won't go into all the details
since that might spoil the experience for others. Suffice it
to say that the statements affirm the seekers freedom of
choice and deal with the issues of identity, guilt, forgive-
ness and truth.

The ceremony was simple, yet moving and allowed me to deal
with some core issues in a non-threatening way. In less than
fifteen minutes it was over. I felt good but did not feel
the "earth move" spiritually speaking. Mother Nirmala asked
us to place our right hand over our heads to feel the "cool
breeze." I tentatively moved my hand to the top of my head
not knowing what this "cool breeze" was supposed to feel
like or even knowing that I would feel anything different.

Nothing is my prior experience prepared me for what my fin-
gers perceived. There was a very distinct "breeze" blowing
out of the top of my head! A 3 inch column of what felt like
cool moving air was located over the former site of the
fontanel(baby's soft spot). The air in the pavilion was ab-
solutely still. I could not feel this breeze anywhere else
except the top of my head. I had to admit to myself that
Mother Nirmala delivered the goods. She also said that a
cool vortex of energy could be felt in the palm of each
hand. As the evening progressed I increasingly felt this
phenomenon as well. I thought at first that my hands were
simply cold, but even if I folded them under my armpits the
cool vortex could still be easily perceived.

Mother Nirmala invited everyone up on the stage to shake
hands with her and exchange some personal words. During this
time she worked with some of the people who were having dif-
ficulty feeling the "cool breeze." She could identify which
chakra was blocked and used her hands to clear the obstruc-
tion. After each person had his audience with Mataji one of
her "staff" gave him two sheets of information. The primary
purpose of this material was to publicize the local weekly
meeting of Sahaja Yogis.

It has been a couple of weeks since my pilgrimage to Cincin-
nati. Even though the experience of the "cool breeze" was
convincing to me, working with this energy has been frus-
trated due to a lack of follow-up. The Sahaja yogis sent me
a package of material a week later, but this just seemed to
emphasize how little the experience depended on written text
of any kind. I use a photograph of Mother Nirmala that was
included in the package and have practiced the morning and
evening meditation techniques outlined in the material. The
meditations are profoundly peaceful but not qualitatively
different from my normal practice of more than twenty years.

I would recommend that others receive self-realization from
Mother Nirmala. She is a dear, sweet soul who can touch you
very deeply. Men especially may find that the mother image
Mataji personifies speaks to their soul in a surprisingly
direct way.
401.46Cool breezes don't signify self-realization.MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerThu Jun 29 1989 14:4920
    re: .45
    
         Aligning the chakras does feel good...I don't do it myself very
    often, although I attempt to do it for massage clients; this past 
    weekend, however, during a 2-day Lazaris workshop, we all got the
    opportunity to do it during a meditation (as only a small part of the
    meditation) and it was definitely noticable and stimulating.
         I think your experience is great for you...the only thing I wish
    to mention, that I think has been mentioned here before, is that
    someone does not "give" you realization.  Self-realization is not
    a small process whereby one practices it a couple of times a year
    at the foot of some "master."  Self-realization is a state of being
    which is exercised with elegance and excellence.  I would hardly
    call going to a workshop of any kind a means to be given
    self-realization, not that it is impossible, just unlikely.  Simply
    experiencing an orgasm is not being self-realized.  To feel it 
    all the time, might be, however.
    
    Frederick
    
401.47Yes it is, you can feel itSHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangFri Jun 30 1989 09:1139
	Re: .46, to clear up some misconceptions.

   > ...Someone does not "give" you realization.

	Hundreds of thousands of people the world over (including
   about 1500 last week in San Diego and 1800 a day or two ago in
   Bogota, Colombia) can refute that statement, having received Self-
   realisation from Shri Mataji in the way the author of .45 so
   beautifully described. 

   > Self-realization is not a small process whereby one practices
   > it a couple of times a year at the foot of some "master."

	Of course not. It's the most tremendous thing that can happen
   to you, bar none. It's what all seekers are seeking, even if they
   sometimes get lost on the way. You enter a state of collective
   awareness, peace and mental stillness, and bliss. Physical and
   psychological problems are gently washed away. Shri Mataji has
   given these blessings freely to thousands and thousands of people.
   Who else can say the same?

   > I would hardly call going to a workshop of any kind a means
   > to be given self-realization, not that it is impossible,
   > just unlikely.

	One's Self-realisation (in the sense of the awakening of
   Kundalini) is a happening which has to take place at some time. It
   can take place in the presence of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, or of
   her photograph, for anyone who has the sincere desire for it.

   > Simply experiencing an orgasm is not being self-realized. To feel
   > it all the time, might be, however. 

	This is utter rubbish; self-realisation has nothing whatever
   to do with orgasm. (And one's spiritual evolution has nothing to do
   with sex at all.) Small children in their innocence can feel and
   enjoy vibrations as well as, or better than, adults. 

	Phil
401.48IMHOUSACSB::CBROWNHuggiebooFri Jun 30 1989 10:2035
	Re: .47 (Phil)
             
>	Of course not. It's the most tremendous thing that can happen
>   to you, bar none. It's what all seekers are seeking, even if they
>   sometimes get lost on the way. You enter a state of collective
>   awareness, peace and mental stillness, and bliss. Physical and
>   psychological problems are gently washed away. Shri Mataji has
>   given these blessings freely to thousands and thousands of people.
>   Who else can say the same?
 
    Craig, Karl Marx, Adolph Hittler, Jesus, Lazaris, Mohammed, various
    popular religious REVIVAL preachers, (B.G.) ect..ect..
    but ultimately... you give it to yourself on conditions of your
    own choosing. The only common factors are desire and innocence.
    
  > > Simply experiencing an orgasm is not being self-realized. To feel
  > > it all the time, might be, however. 
   
    Why does the word "orgasm" appear in so many of Fredericks notes? ;-)
                                     
>	This is utter rubbish; self-realisation has nothing whatever
>   to do with orgasm. (And one's spiritual evolution has nothing to do
>   with sex at all.) Small children in their innocence can feel and
>   enjoy vibrations as well as, or better than, adults. 
                                   
    Well.... we only have our body in the "material world". Emotions
    and thoughts can be wrong or misleading.... isn't it then somewhat
    rational to say that the one truth of this world "in the material"
    mimics the truths of the other worlds (like spiritual?)?          
    And if we can have physical orgasms... why not spiritual ones??
    
    Anyone experiancing anything in innocence can enjoy anything better
    than a programed adult/person. 
	
	Craig
401.49Buddhist philosophies deal with the unconscious mindMISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerFri Jun 30 1989 15:2749
    re: .47 (Phil Ward---not related)
    
         I understand your good feelings.  I do not refute them in
    the slightest.  In fact, I wish we all had more opportunity to
    "be" in that state (actually, we do, but most of us don't do it.)
    The "argument" here is over your term "self-realization."  Self-
    realization is not some throwaway term to be bantied about 
    stretched to the limits by someone who feels good.  I don't care
    if 970 million people experience what your're talking about, that
    is *not* self-realization.  The clue is especially evident when
    you describe children with it.  Children are *not* self-realized.
    They can be very beautiful, aware, loving, etc. and can feel the
    full gamut of emotions, cleanly and honestly...but they are not
    self-realized.  Self-realization is a massive synergy combining
    not only self-love (in the fullest sense of that word) and self-
    awareness (a term you use to describe your experience) but especially
    (where we exponentially separate in our definitions) it is an
    awareness of impact.  Children have a very limited perception of
    impact.  Many, if not most, adults have a very limited perception
    of impact, as well.  As a person grows into self-realization,
    as they progress past self-esteem and self-respect and self-love,
    they begin to take on more and more responsibility.  As the function
    of responsibility increases, so does the awareness of not only self,
    but awareness of others.  That entails tremendous impact.  The more
    evolved one becomes, the more aware they become of their impact...
    and the more responsible they become.  Now, maybe I'm seeing things
    differently from everyone else here, but if you've said anything like
    this, I've missed it.  As far as I can tell, all you have described
    is an awareness of one's own unconscious mind, perhaps...along
    with feelings of self, physically and ethereally.  This is hardly
    what I would call self-realization, and I think it's a shame that
    any group of people would delude themselves enough to call it as
    such.  You know, you could attend a human potential movement seminar
    any weekend (as primitive as they are) and leave feeling "bliss" as
    you described it.  Without awakening any Kundalini, to boot.
    Using the chakras to tune and align oneself is overwhelmingly valuable,
    but it, again, is not self-realization.
         I may mention orgasms a lot because I like them.  :-)  Seriously,
    I think that it is humanity's physical "freebie" into sensing the
    bliss that exists beyond what we usually are.  I work towards feeling
    orgasmic all the time...not necessarily physically (especially since
    my body wouldn't last very long if I did) but emotionally, especially.
    [Don't worry, I'm not that close...yet.]  A self-realized person
    may not feel orgasmic and yet a self-realized person probably could
    with much greater ease than one who isn't.
    
    
    Frederick
    
401.50DNEAST::CHRISTENSENLFri Jun 30 1989 20:507
    There is an old Zen saying:
    
    "It takes a year for the stink of enlightment to wear off."
    
    
    L
    who-heard-it-somewhere
401.51Even if misunderstood, truth is what it is!VIDEO::SUSat Jul 01 1989 17:4691
re.45, 49

sir, 

You have certain concepts and you make it so clear that it has little in
common with what we are talking about, so can I ask you politely to find the 
notesfile where your concepts match the subject.

We have no intentions of forcing this knowledge on anyone, but we do want
to make it available to many people.   

Not as an answer to you, sir, but for those who may read these notes and 
eventually be influenced by your suggestions, I write following.

Many scriptures have tried to communicate to human beings what they have to 
seek. These truths have been interpreted, conceptualised and finally come to 
us in forms that are not near truth any more. Some of these teachings have 
conditioned some so deeply, that if truth comes before them, they cannot 
recognise it. Such persons will consequently run away from truth  and will
go on following the concepts they have about truth.
-----
CHILDREN:

Children are not necessarily realised, but if they are not born realised, they
can become realised more easily than some some "hard nut" adults.
For realisation one has not to "understand" anything, it is a natural
evolutionary state in human awareness. All is built-in since our creation;
as the seed knows in which circumstances it has to sprout and become a
tree, so does Kundalini know how to rise when the circumstances are right.
Shri Mataji has that coefficient within Her that starts this NATURAL
process.
    
    Christ gave us a clue when He said we should become like children.

--------------
COOL BREEZE

Another clue one can find in Bible, where it describes the moment where the 12 
receive the Holy Ghost (or self realisation). It says that there was a
wind, though doors and windows were closed. The flame depicted on their
heads shows the open sahasrara chacra and the flowing Kundalini.

There are many other Bible passages, where the presense of 
God is related to the perception of a "wind".

-Koran says that at the moment of resurrection (self-realisation), your hands 
will speak. This is exactly what is happening when the cool breeze flows 
through your hands after genuine Kundalini awakening.

- The word "Spirit" comes from Latin SPIRARE, which means "blowing".

_ In Hindu mystiscism it is called as Chaitanya, flowing through the being 
after liberation.

-Jews call it the Ruach.

So many other clues were given. The clues could not be deciphered, but once 
one experiences it, it becomes evident what all these scriptures really meant. 
It becomes then obvious that ALL of them talked about the same thing, but
we are finding ourseves in a situation that I could describe as follows:

Suppose I discover a flower that you have never seen or smelled. How can I 
describe to you how this flower smells? Talking about it can give you ideas, 
but you will only know clearly after you have smelled it. And now we are
facing people who have heard about this flower and they are arguing about
its smell without ever smelling it. Please see the point.

    
I also want to ask for your tolerance if all this sounds arrogant to you. If 
there would be a better way to tell people about it, please let us now, but if
truth would be so easily understandable by the brain, people would have 
respected the great incarnations when they were here to talk about it.

The message of Shri Mataji is simple and clear: "These modern times are
special. It has never been so easy to get self-realisation. Tell it to the
world that I am here NOW to give it and that NOW is the time to get what
all have been seeking many lifetimes."

We are using these notesfiles to talk about it. For anyone who wants to
find out more about it, information is freely available and we will gladly
answer all your genuine questions about it.  But please save us from
arguing about the smell of the flower if you never smelled it. 
    
    
Mataji also says: "This time I will not be crucified."

johan.



401.52Sahaja in the UKLEG::GURRANYour reality or mine...Tue Jul 04 1989 15:3310
    Hi,
    	Is there in the UK that has had contact with Sahaja Yoga, either
    successful or not? 
    
    Also does anyone have a list on dates that Sri Mataji (sp) will be
    holding seminars here in the UK ?
    
    Regards,
    	Martin
    
401.53Can we ask for tolerance without also offering it?SHALOT::LACKEYService rendered is wisdom gainedWed Jul 05 1989 14:3438
Re: .51 (Johan)

>You have certain concepts and you make it so clear that it has little in
>common with what we are talking about, so can I ask you politely to find the 
>notesfile where your concepts match the subject.

To the contrary, "Self-realisation" has been a significant sub-topic in 
your discussion of Sahaja Yoga.  In fact, the name of the topic includes 
the word "realisation."  Frederick's response was directed specifically 
to the idea of Self-realisation.  Consequently, his reply was not 
inappropriate.  Perhaps Frederick is as confident in his understanding of 
the topic as you are with yours.

It sounds as though you are suggesting that any disagreeable replies 
should be directed elsewhere.  If, as individuals, we find it difficult 
to _value_ differences, we should at least _tolerate_ them out of respect 
to this open forum.

If you simply don't want the topic of Sahaja Yoga to be diluted by a 
discussion of Self-realisation, then perhaps we should create a topic 
for that purpose.  Note 912 (The Characteristics of Enlightenment) may 
suffice for this purpose.  However, if Self-realisation continues to be 
a primary topic within this note, then Frederick's replies should be 
just as welcome any others.

The capacity to experience belongs to everyone.  Many, for whatever 
reasons, seek to label their experience with words.  None of us should 
judge anothers experience based on their label, and none of us should 
judge the label without the corresponding experience.  

Self-realisation is a term which is wielded by many a teacher and group.
It is also a term which many use to define either their own experience 
or the experience of others.  I would recommend that this discussion be 
carried further in another topic, but not criticized for having been 
pursued here.

Jeff
                   
401.54Feeling and thinking required.MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerWed Jul 05 1989 15:1246
    re: .53 (Jeff)
    
          Thanks for the hand.  I agree with what you say.
    
    re: .54 (Johan)
    
          I smell my own flowers, Johan.  You can talk about the flowers
    you are smelling until they exude through your skin, but unless I am
    interested in smelling them, it won't make any difference.  I have
    no interest at this time to go to see Mataji (sp?) or to be
    "enlightened" by her.  I would be cautious (as in "shields up!")
    in anyone who announces that they are the reincarnation of Jesus
    or someone similar and who further states that my only hope is via
    their message.  Chalk it up to a rebellious attitude if you want.  :-)
    [See, gang, I really am more of a skeptic than most of you imagine!
    ;-)]  Based on what you have written, I would define your experience
    as awakening the Kundalini and if I were to label this topic it
    would be as "Sahaja Yoga...Kundalini awakening" or something similar.
         The concept of self-realization is, like Jeff states, definable
    in many different ways.  Perhaps the closest thing to it's definition
    in the Western world is Abraham Maslow's steps to self-actualization.
    Actually, Maslow was working on expanding his list near the time of
    his death and never quite "got" it all.  Self-realization as I
    described it has nothing to do with the Kundalini...or, at least,
    very little to do with the Kundalini.  Please understand (I'm not
    the only one here who has to understand, am I?) that I am not
    invalidating your experience nor the experience of others surrounding
    this woman's work or the *concept* of "Sahaja yoga."  I encourage
    others to try it if it appeals to them to do so.  I would not go
    out of my way to do so, but I would probably not avoid it if it
    were offered to me in an appropriate manner/time/set/setting.  My
    big "beef" is with your term "realization."  Quoting from ancient
    novels (i.e., the Bible, Koran, etc.) doesn't impress me, either.
    And, as you suggested, perhaps they were all referring to the 
    Kundalini, and *not* "self-realization" as you would like to suggest.
         Some people like the smell of roses, others of jasmine, yet
    others of gardenia.  If I am content with the smell of my orange
    blossom, I just might not be interested in the smell of your hibiscus.
    If I can't stand it, on the other hand, then maybe I'll come sniffing
    your way.  Thank you for telling us how it smells over in your patch,
    your "duty" has been done.  Whenever (if you do) you want to smell the
    flowers in mine, let me know.
    
    
    Frederick
    
401.55Shri Mataji in EuropeSHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangThu Jul 06 1989 06:5135
   	For those of us in Europe, there will be opportunities to meet
   Shri Mataji and get the experience of Self-realisation as follows.
   She will be speaking in English with translation into the local
   language. I'll just mention the dates and cities where Shri Mataji
   will be speaking, with a phone number or email address you can
   contact to get details of where and when (or look out for posters): 

	Mo 10 July	Paris		tel 1 43 81 16 12
	Tu 11 July	Paris

   	We 12 July	Brussels	tel (02) 346 00 64

   	Th 13 July	Amsterdam	tel (020) 600 13 53

   	Fr 14 July	Frankfurt	tel (069) 59 07 70

	We 19 July	Munich		tel (089) 17 36 37
	Th 20 July	Munich		or Eva Luzi MUNLEG::Luzi 

	Mo 24 July	Vienna		tel (0222) 38 15 59
	Tu 25 July	Vienna		or Helmut VNABRW::Eichert 

	Mo 31 July	London		tel (01) 622 16 34
	Tu  1 August	London

	Fr  4 August	Milano		tel (02) 832 00 57

   	We  9 August	Geneva		tel (022) 61 23 92
	Th 10 August	Geneva		or Phil Ward, SHIRE::Philip 

	14th-20th August	Helsinki, tel (080) 753 46 15;
				Leningrad, Moscow

	Shri Mataji will be going to Australia in September.
401.56another opinionPACKER::HANDYThu Sep 07 1989 19:5716
    Hi,
      I would like a few words on this topic.
    Having been a seeker of truth for many years i can relate well to every
    mans opinions.Not till I decided to be a Finder did i come to my
    present state of awareness.I recieved my self-realisation about six 
    weeks ago.thanks to these notes files.No two people will see the same
    reality unless viewed from the same summit,or vantage point.There is
    no way for a micro-person to understand macro-reality untill they
    experience it.As i tune into (accept) the fact that i am an energy
    being i am able to relate to the concept of sahaja.Personally
    it is the only worthwhile thing i have found in the entire New-
    Age movement,to give my time.You can lead a horse to water......
    
    
                                        Blue Skies,
                                                  Howard
401.57Thousands Attend Russian ProgramsROXIE::SUMon Sep 11 1989 20:1015
    Shri Mataji has just returned from an historic visit to Russia which
    marks a turning point for Sahaja Yoga in the West.
    
    In Leningrad, 2,000 people attended the public program, and another
    2,000 waited outside, unable to get into the crowded hall.  The hall in
    Moscow accommodated 1,000 which left 5,000 waiting outside.  Forty
    Sahaja yogis from different countries were also there.  An official
    news team accompanied Shri Mataji everywhere so that the Russian public
    has also become aware of Mother's visit.  
    
    Sahaja Yoga has been officially recognized by the Soviet Government,
    which sponsored and paid for Her entire trip.  Shri Mataji has
    commented that the Russians are simple people who respect and worship
    the Mother.  She was very pleased with the "miraculous" response.
    
401.58Meditation Workshop in Worcester, Mass.VIDEO::SUMon Sep 18 1989 19:2625
	Weekly meetings will be held in Worcester, Mass. every Thursday
	evening from 7:30 to 9:00pm at St. Vincent Hospital School
	of Nursing, Child Care Center (in the rear of the building).

	Direction from Rt. 495:
		Rt. 290 West, take Exit 13 - Kelly Sq. - go left 
		onto Vernon St. (Rt. 122A South) and through lights,
		Bear right at fork (Monahan Pharmacy) staying on Vernon
		St. Take first road on left - Spurr St. - go left into 
		parking lot.  Entrance is on right.

	Direction from Mass. Pike:
		Rt. 290 East, take Exit 13 - Kelly Sq. - go left 
		onto Vernon St. (Rt. 122A South) and through lights,
		Bear right at fork (Monahan Pharmacy) staying on Vernon
		St. Take first road on left - Spurr St. - go left into 
		parking lot.  Entrance is on right.

	No money is ever charged for Sahaja Yoga Program.

	For more information, please call:

			(508)-829-6433 - Worcester
			(617)-646-7547 - Boston
401.59Choosing The Right PathVIDEO::SUMon Sep 18 1989 20:0040
	There are many people seeking spiritual enlightenment.  Some of 
	them come to the conclusion that they need a teacher or master.  
	So where do you start?  There are hundreds to choose from, not 
	all of them sincere or authentic, so what do you look for?

	To begin with, you should not have to pay any money: none of the 
	great prophets charged money for what is man's natural birthright.

	Altering your appearance to extremes is another pointless idea: 
	wanting to be different is usually a manifestation of ego, and 
	has nothing to do with spiritual growth.

	It is generally accepted that, in order to lead a spiritual existence 
	one's material desires and immoral activities should be curbed, as 
	true freedom necessitates being free from such desires - all 
	established scriptures tell us this.

	Extreme physical and mental practices are also unnecessary and may 
	even be harmful.  What we are seeking is beyond thought and beyond 
	physical effort.  Enlightenment cannot be achieved through the 
	intellect or through tying your body in knots.

	Don't be fooled by trickery - many guru techniques are very low grade 
	and are done to impress those of us who are spiritually naive.  Many 
	people become obsessed with guru and cannot stay away from him.  This 
	is mesmerism, an unhealthy state - we should not be dependant on 
	anyone, everyone must become his or her own master.

	Look at the way the teacher lives his life: he should be the 
	embodiment of purity, humility and compassion.  There should be no 
	secrecy involved, as the truth belongs to everyone and cannot be made 
	into an organization or business enterprise.

	Finally, there are various inner experiences to be felt, many of 
	which can come from the subconscious or supraconscious regions of 
	our psyche, e.g. flashing light, strange noises, fear, ghosts, etc.  
	These are not beneficial and have no bearing on reality.  So please 
	be sceptical and discriminating before you put your spiritual welfare 
	into someone else's hands.  Many people have suffered mentally and 
	physically as well as financially.
401.60The other "catches" seem honorable, however.MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerTue Sep 19 1989 16:2424
    re: .59 (::SU)
    
    "in order to lead a spiritual existence all materialistic desires 
    and immoral behaviors should be curbed..."
    This is definitely one of the religious tenets I hate.  That all
    religions spout this garbage without any sense of responsibility
    for it is horrible.  In the first place, what is immoral behavior?
    What you say, what the government says, what the "holy fathers" say,
    what your society says?  Where does this end?...  In the second
    place, to say that all materialistic desires are "wrong" is an
    insult and a contradiction to our own physicality.  Don't tell me
    to deny my physicality and then guilt-trip me for having physical
    desires. 
         Next, who says enlightenment is free?  If humanity rests in
    physicality and money is also within physicality, is it no less
    a part or teacher to us?  Who says we cannot find enlightenment
    in physicality?  If we can't, then we're doomed.  
         Anyway, I could go on and on, but the point has been made.
    I really have problems with this program as somehow being righteous
    and true and somehow beyond the plebian, mundane nothingness of
    the undeserving humans.
    
    Frederick
    
401.61It does sound religious, but it's true!BTOVT::BEST_Gstuck on the ECK mailing listTue Sep 19 1989 17:2518
    
    Frederick,
    
    Who says that morality is only imposed by the (insert church or state
    of your choice here)?  Can't morality also be an internal ideal?  That
    would make morality a very individualistic idea indeed.
    
    By what you write shall we assume that we should go out and buy a dozen
    Mercedes and run around with half a dozen beautiful women on each arm?
    Will we find happiness in that?  I suppose we might eventually, but I
    believe that there is a shorter or more direct path....
    
    (Hmmmm....I can do without the Mercedes....)
    
    
    :-)
    
    Guy
401.62It's not up to others to judge one's morality...MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerTue Sep 19 1989 17:4624
    re: .61
      
         Guy, with those thoughts, maybe we should buy a half-dozen
    women and run around in Mercedes...(all right, I'm only being
    facetious.)  That was my point exactly...that morality is an
    issue that must come from within, not to be dictated by/from
    without.  (This is called judgement.)  But then it gets more
    responsible than this.  As one realizes that what they do to
    others is what also happens to themselves, then these convenient
    attitudes don't look so good (if you can't have a Mercedes or
    if you can't buy women or, and more importantly, if you are at
    the whims of a society that allows you to be bought/sold/used.)
    No, if it doesn't backfire in this lifetime, then it probably
    will in another.  So once again one needs to look at impact, not
    only on self (which is usually easier to see) but on the reality
    around.  Is the attitude (opinion, etc.) helpful or harmful to
    others, not only self?  Is this the most helpful way to grow or
    just the most expedient?  What do all the voices inside say (the
    child within, the adolescent within, the negative ego...?)  
    So, where is this morality coming from?  From "innocence" or
    "guilt"?  From a sorrowful past or from an abundant future?
    
    Frederick
    
401.63That's why it's individualistic...BTOVT::BEST_Gstuck on the ECK mailing listTue Sep 19 1989 18:1011
    re:.62 (Frederick)
    
    It looks like we are mostly in agreement.
    
    >Where does this morality come from....?
    
    Good question.  Mine seems like it's always been there, just more
    clouded at some times than others.  I guess it's pretty subjective
    though, and could be debated ad infinitum...
    
    Guy
401.64CSC32::MORGANCelebrating the Cybernetic Age.Tue Sep 19 1989 18:2172
    Reply to the last -.few,
    
    I was just reading this am an interview of Israel Regardie by
    Christpher Hyatt published in UNDOING YOURSELF TOO (Falcon Press 1988).
    Both Reagrdie and Hyatt state that what gets them both in the most
    trouble, including their major influence, Crowley, was insisting that
    spirituality and sexuality were extremely beneficial to a spiritual
    lifestyle.
    
    None of the major teachers or teachign systems allowed for this. Here's
    an interesting quote...
    
    Hyatt
    [Thanks, but I prefer religious and theraputic orientations which are
    more experiential than theoretical. Too much theory always disturbs me.
    I know we've talked about this before. The lack of life in many people
    who have gotten into the occult. Many of them have become sort of dead.
    They lost their sex life, the lose their party life, and a lot of them
    lose all spontaneity. In face, I doubt if many of them have any life at
    all.
    
    Regardie
    You're right. They probably never had much real life to them. This
    picture however extends more or less over the whole occult field, a
    sort of moral miasma.
    
    ....
    
    Hyatt
    However we have people like Waite (who are librarians of the most
    dogmatic kind) who have had or attract the kind of audience that we're
    talking about, a very moralistic, staid, old-fashioned, non-expressive,
    non-orgasmic...
    
    Regardie
    Yes, non-orgasmic in nature. It's the old Christian morality again. He
    was steeped in that. And he attracted those few people  who were
    already steeped in it like him. Anybody else, would have loathed him.
    
    ....
    Hyatt
    Waite sure wouldn't fit in well with a guy like you or Crowley or
    Rajneesh or anyone who was pro-life. I imagine that some people who
    have read your works can't imagine you having lots of fun driving
    around in a sports car at age 77.
    
    Regardie
    We're getting into trouble again, but what you said is sad but true.
    This is one reason why I generally avoid people in this field. They
    can't integrate the fact that someone like me can have a lot of
    fun--and be simply ordinary in so many ways. they expect of me a
    certain role and become dissapointed when they find me so different
    from their expectations.
    
    Hyatt
    Isn't that always a problem in the occult...that a wierd separation is
    made bewteen the spiritual and the material. I find that very annoying.
    
    Regardie
    You're lucky. You haven't had that early orientation which separates
    them.
    
    Hyatt
    No, I never had.
    
    ------------------------------------
    
    Me
    I objected some time ago to the separation between spirit and flesh.
    They are inseparable. One without the other is dissolution. And we
    still don't have a sufficient definition of spirit.
    
401.65CSC32::MORGANCelebrating the Cybernetic Age.Tue Sep 19 1989 18:2511
    RE: <<< Note 401.63 by BTOVT::BEST_G "stuck on the ECK mailing list" >>>
        
    
    >>Where does this morality come from....?
    
   > Good question.  Mine seems like it's always been there, just more
   > clouded at some times than others.  I guess it's pretty subjective
   > though, and could be debated ad infinitum...
    
    The explaniation I like best is that morality is someone else's ethics.
                  
401.66An InvitationVIDEO::SUTue Sep 19 1989 19:1365

SUBJECT: Lecture on YOGA


Speaker: Johan De Cocker  - Belgium
When:    Monday September 25     7.30 pm
Where:   Boylston Auditorium - Harvard Yard


Topics:

	Actual "yoga":  

	  - ancient teachings now degraded to a sort of sophisticated 
	    gymnastics for relaxation.

	  - the reality of entering into subconscious and supra-conscious
	    areas of awareness and the dangers of meditation techniques.

	Health: 

	  - emotional, mental, physical and social well-being. Only an 
	    integrated approach is the answer.

 	  - can we be physically aware of the triggering of a disease, 
	    before the symptoms manifest?

          - the Parasympathetic nervous system and the forces that are 
	    controlling it.

	  - influence of culture, education, media, materialism. Why are 
	    we the slaves of our habits, likes and dislikes?  How can a 
	    human retain his balance in a society of extremes?

	
	The unique discovery:

	  - Sahaja Yoga and other yoga, the difference. It cannot be 
	    studied, but consists of simple practices of recognizing 
	    internal imbalances and correcting them, before disease 
	    manifests. Thus a person cures himself.

			----------------

This lecture is based on the teachings of the contemporary philosopher 
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (born in 1923). She was known by Mahatma Gandhi. 
She is the wife of the Secretary General of the UN Maritime Organization. 
She is a mother and grandmother. Her unique system of integrated well-being 
(Sahaja Yoga) was first introduced in 1970 and now daily practiced by many.

Earlier this year she drew the headlines because of her remarked tour 
through the Soviet Union where she introduced this system to the high 
officials of the Ministry of Health and also to the public by several
public programs.


        Admission free.		More information please contact:

				Johan De Cocker
				27, Ashland street
				Arlington Heights, MA. 02174 
				617-646-7547


401.67'enlightenment'--an asideSA1794::CLAYRTue Sep 19 1989 22:4234
    
    
    
       This is a little aside, but the question of 'enlightenment' and
    what it does and does not consist of etc. seems to get debated quite
    a bit. Now we even talk about whether it has a price associated
    with it. The whole problem with any discussions about enlightenment
    is that they all 'inherently' miss the point. It's the same thing
    as when people talk about God. There's a human tendancy to put limita-
    tions on things by describing them from our own distorted perspectives.
       'Enlightenment' (realize that this is just my own perspective)
    is not a condition. It isn't dependent upon any space/time events
    or actions or ideas. One can never state "I will be enlightened
    by this time next year" or "I was enlightened for a while back in
    '66" any more than one could state "what a drag--I don't exist
    anymore!". All I'm really trying to say is that enlightenment is
    actually our true condition, for all past/present/future. One quote
    that always stood out in my mind is "Before Abraham was, I AM",
    from somewhere in the New Testament. That sounds more or less like
    an 'enlightened' statement. In Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, merely
    vocally affirming devotion to the timeless eternal truth is said
    to be enlightenment. Obviously, I'm still caught in the trap here
    of trying to use words to describe a 'condition' associated with
    enlightenment, but verbally it is not possible get out of this rut.
       Anyway my whole point in a roundabout way is that to understand
    enlightenment (like that's possible) we must step completely away
    from all concepts and into the eternal heart of our own unlimited
    existence. 
    
    
    
    
    
    roy
401.68CSC32::BLAZEKever and always body and soulWed Sep 20 1989 01:1419
.67>	'Enlightenment' (realize that this is just my own perspective)
.67>	is not a condition. It isn't dependent upon any space/time events
.67>	or actions or ideas. 

	My intention isn't to debate you, but I would like to say that
	there are times when, internally, I feel more enlightened than
	others.  Times I feel more focused and sure of certain things.

	I have not felt enlightened nor overly spiritual the last year
	or so.  I almost feel as if I lost something and I'm not ready
	nor sure of where to find it.

	So I think it is dependent on ideas, or at least a state of
	mind/soul/consciousness/being.  For me, it is not consciously 
	controllable.  As one who feels like a floatie in a glass of
	water (or the ocean), I just needed to express that feeling.

							   Carla
401.69Where's the Ocean?USAT05::KASPERLife's a gift, learn to accept itMon Sep 25 1989 16:0516
re: .68 (Carla)

	> For me, it is not consciously controllable.  As one who feels 
        > like a floatie in a glass of water (or the ocean), I just needed 
        > to express that feeling.

        Like sometimes you feel as if you're on top of a great wave, can 
        see what's ahead, what you've left behind and where you're going 
        and can feel the breeze against your face.  Then, at times, in the 
        "valley" between the waves where you can't seem to see the top of the 
        wave that last swept under you or the one that is coming up behind.   

        I know the feeling...

        Terry

401.70CSC32::BLAZEKdream wars and a ticket to seemTue Sep 26 1989 20:415
	Terry, that is a very apt analogy.  Thank you for relating!

							   Carla

401.71"Irelate to you all,only know better,different"PACKER::HANDYWed Sep 27 1989 15:2730
    re:fred and others,
    
             Hi, I dont want to blow up any bridges,just explain my
       own experience.
             on morality,we all have within ourselves our onw true state
       of being,from which we know right from wrong.Nobody really needs
       anybody else to tell them.[this is truely judgement,if you judge
    others you are judging yourself.]
             This enlightened state of being that people try to
    conceptualise and intelectualize can only be experienced,to really
    know within the truth.The statement" undeserving lowly humans" may
    very well be true,but it is available to us here today by the grace
    of god.The only question is will i take advantage of this grace for
    my own spiritual accent.This is truly the food that the seeker seeks.
    The finding my way back home.to actually FEEL the conciousness of your
    own very soul...to know the peace that exist just above your sixth
    chakra.No spirit and Most Gurus cannot or will not give it.
            The churches will denounce this because they loose controll.
    What enlightened being needs a priest? or a church for that matter.
    God is everywhere!!So i say to you all,put down your words,fears,
    confusions,everything outside of yourselves.The answers are to be found
    within...Only through sahaja can you have realisation in these days.
    Unless you have 20 years or so to sit on top of some mountain.
    Be brave,courageus,dont knock what you cannot know.I am nobody,but I
    Know.......H.H.
    
    
    
    
    
401.72Burning BridgesUSAT05::KASPERLife's a gift, learn to accept itWed Sep 27 1989 15:4719
RE: .-1 (HH)

       > Hi, I dont want to blow up any bridges...

       Don't worry, you didn't (mine, for one)

       > Only through sahaja can you have realisation in these days.

       I tend to disagree with you.  I think "the church" that you mentioned
       says the same thing about salvation, don't they?  That they're the
       only way?  Why shouldn't I look at sahaja as just another institution?
       How do you *know* it's the only way for me?  Maybe for you, probably
       not for me.  All that I've read in this note about sahaja being "the
       only way" to me is very limiting.  The possibilities are infinite,
       sahaja is only one of them and it isn't necessarily "the way" for
       everyone.  So, as I said, you didn't blow up any of my bridges but
       you may be burning the ones behind you.

       Terry
401.73One can be a fool anywhere...MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerWed Sep 27 1989 15:4715
    re: .71 (H.H.)
    
        I don't have much argument against most of what you wrote.
    I think it's quite valid, in fact, for me, too.  What I would
    disagree with in what you wrote, however, is the part that
    says that there is no other way.  
        I have also disagreed from the beginning of these discussions
    as to what the terms and concepts are.  Your definition of 
    self-realisation is not the same as my term for self-realization.
    I don't think we need to restate these definitions...all I wish
    to do is to make that clear.
        
    Frederick
    (who is not more important than anybody, but is *not* nobody.)
    
401.74"something about compassion"PACKER::HANDYWed Sep 27 1989 19:1920
    re:72
    
        The church is only interested in controlling.In my mind.All the
    worlds religions are taking a piece of the whole and calling it the
    original,or the truth.The possibilities are only infinite after you
    realize what you are.{experience}.What sahaja means is" spontaneous"
    or what you are born with.What could be simpler and not for everyone???
    This is the thing that Budda had and all the great prophets experienced
    as the ultimate reality.Why when something like this is presented to
    people as in the past they crusified{sp} them.that is just a reflection
    of ignorance.nothing personal.its just the human condition i guess.
     I did also mention another way to become enlightened.Sit in an
    isolated area mountains are good for this.Purify your chakras one
    by one and you to can do this.it took budda 40 some years.I personally
    dont have that kind of commitment.I personally know a whole lot of
    enlightened realised souls who are there own gurus and not one of them
    got it outside of sahaja.let me know if you do!!!the only thing to fear
    is fear itself.ive heard that before.good vibrations.
                                                H.H.
    
401.75The blossom time has comeVIDEO::SUWed Sep 27 1989 21:0648
    
re: Fred et al.

I like to quote something from Christ not even church can understand today:

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see 
the kingdom of God."
 
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the 
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the 
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not 
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it 
listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Now, please don't accuse me that I copied this from the "Christianity".
Really, I want to say that Truth does not have copyright. It does not 
belong to any body in this world or any organization or institution in this 
world.  We people in Dejavu notes know that Budda, Christ, other incarnations
from Hindu, Mohammed...all have similiar parable.

Human race is very privileged race. Unless you were born in human in the 
first place, you cannot reach the Consciousness State.  We can say we human
being were made of water and Spirit.   So it Meaning that you have to enter 
the Kingdom of God through narrow gate (the Angya Chakra in the middle way 
which were ruled by Christ, the quality of purity and forgiveness has to be 
sustained).  Even those being (half man, half god) like Indra, Asura...
has to be born again in human physical being and giving a chance to ascend
through the middle way. Fred has mentioned the physical world and all that;
this is where I am getting at - the flesh level.  In this flesh being, there
is an energy within you that it has to be awakening so that you transform
into different state of being. You become the Spirit.

Christ did not believe Synogogue (church,temple) has control over the 
Consciousness State where the great joy of yoga exists, just as you believe
today. It was someone else came after him mess it up. So, you still try
to sale God in different form? 

I only wish you were in the Harvard Uninversity last monday (the 25th) that
you should see those young students look at their hand with wide open eyes,
wide open mouth with the look of amazement when they got their Kundalini
energy awakening (self-realisation) and feeling the cool breeze in their
hands as well as on top of their head. With an open mind you can experience
that also and you become the Spirit.
    
    Christ did not give self-realisation then.  He came to achieve another
    state of human evolution and he did it by being crucified.  I say it
    again that he has nothing to do with today's church.
401.76Cool breezes from ear to ear...MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerThu Sep 28 1989 13:5713
    re: .75 (::SU)
    
         I sayeth unto thee that mine state of wind floweth 
    away beyond the kingdom of confusion.  Verily, verily, I
    sayeth, to thee I abandon discourse, for the rings of fire
    circulate round yonder temple of birth.  For mine is the
    kingdom of mine own, and thine is of thine own, and thus
    they be parted.  Go and hold thy peace, and share it with
    them who eateth with thee.  
    
       
    Frederick
     
401.77Member of the SRC (Sahaja Realization Club)REGENT::WAGNERThu Sep 28 1989 14:1059
    .75
    
    SO you guys say all you have to do is move some thing called
    "kundalini" up and out through your head and all of a sudden you
    become "realized?"

"..and the feeling of cool breeze in their hands as well as on the top of their 
head."  

This could be duplicated by auto suggestion and hypnosis.  And I maintain that 
it probably was experienced in this way.  I say this because Guatama buddha 
never placed any emphasis on any kind of feelings.  Buddha did not start by 
teaching the beauty of realization.  Does feeling this cool breeze give one
insight to everyday situations so they can be handled effectively?  Does this 
technique allow one to work easily and fluidly with their Dharma?  Buddhism 
promises nothing.  It teaches us to be what we are, to relate to where we are, 
constantly, and it teaches us to relate to our living situation accordingly.  
This is what realization is about-living day-to-day effectively and joyously.

.74 (Handy)

"I personally know  a whole lot of enlightened realized souls who are their 
own gurus and not one of them got it outside of sahaja.  Let me know if you 
do!!!"

How do you know?  Do they carry credentials?  Is there a union?  Is there a 
certificate or examination or review board for realized persons?  Again, I 
propose that if any of those "realized persons" do not maintain the joy and 
openness to **ANY** situation that comes along, then their enlightenment was 
perhaps only momentary and they are living on past feelings.
	I probably have met one or two persons throughout my 41+ years of 
living who could be described as enlightened.  Not because they told me so, 
but because of how they act in day to day situations with contentment and 
accepting of whatever comes along.  I myself do not profess to be enlightened 
and will continue to question those who profess very loudly that they are.  In 
fact I will "proudly" claim i am nobody, which reminds me of a story...

One day a Rabbi in a moment of enlightenment threw himself on the floor of the 
synagogue and proclaimed "I am nobody! I am nobody!"  A moment later the 
Assistant (forgot his title) does the same thing; "I am  nobody! I am nobody!"
Just at that moment, the janitor comes by and gets caught up in the moment and 
throws himself down and shouts "I am nobody, also."   The Rabbi looks at his 
his assistant and says "Look who thinks he is a nobody!"

  This shows how easy it is to get caught up in the *idea* of enlightenment, 
or salvation, or even suffering and totally miss the point. The point of 
getting past the dualistic barrier and into openness and compassion.  As long 
as one thinks that someone else (religion, or people, or governments) is trying
to control, there is a duality.  "Me" or "them."  There cannot be total 
compassion for one and all (even our enemies) if there are boundaries between 
"me" and "them."  If you only get good feelings by giving compassion to only a 
select few, and reject the rest(certain religions, certain governments,certain 
types of spirituality), Then are those good feelings you get really a sign of 
enlightenment or a symptom of ego satisfaction?  I'll leave this for you to 
answer.  


Ernie                                 

401.78OK, now that you're enlightened...CGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Thu Sep 28 1989 14:2210
    
    To condense somewhat some of the earlier replies...
    
    So you are enlightened and you felt a cool breeze.  Great.  Wonderful.
    I'm happy for you.     
    
    My question then is "So what?"  What do you plan on doing with this
    enlightenment?  What are you going to do next?
    
    Cindy
401.79HYDRA::LARUgoin' to gracelandThu Sep 28 1989 14:3915
    I suggest that those of us who are not "enlightened" have no way
    of determining whether anyone else is enlightened, either.
    and that loudly (or softly) proclaiming the invalidity of
    someone else's path only serves to enlarge the boundaries
    between us.  
    
    I also suspect that any of us who are "truly" enlightened have no
    need nor desire to question another's path...
    
    
    Why do so many of us feel the need to prove that another's path
    is inferior????
    
    
    /bruce
401.80I may have been wrong...BTOVT::BEST_GWalking this dream everlastingThu Sep 28 1989 14:5622
    
    re: .79 (Bruce)
    
    At the risk of sounding like a spiritual schmuck - I feel that
    sometimes we're "on" and sometimes we lose it.  When we reach one
    of those temporary highs we feel like we know it all and should
    therefore spread the word so we can help others.  But we can't do
    that.  The closest we can come is to be completely passive in
    presenting our ideas.  If others choose to listen to them or happen
    to resonate with them, then so be it.  We should not expect others
    to listen.  But life is really contradictory when it comes to this
    stuff - just look at me - I'm trying to be objective, but I'm still
    preaching....;-)
    
    
        "Don't'cha follow me now..."   
    
                            Todd Rundgren
    
    
    
    Guy
401.81"nobetter,but it works for me"PACKER::HANDYThu Sep 28 1989 15:239
    
      re:78
    
              The cool breezes are felt as a sign that there is a conection
      with the divine in each of us.The more important aspect is that there
      is a profound {for me}change in consciousness.A peace,silence in
      the mind,no anzieties.Extreme emotional attachments drop away.We
      become our spirit,more dynamic human beings.Living in the light...
    
401.82The subtle working of realizationVIDEO::SUThu Sep 28 1989 15:5578
	Self-Realisation is a subtle process:

	Kundalini is a dormant energy lying coiled in the triangular bone
	(coccyx) at the base of the spine until the time of its awakening.
	When Kundalini is awakened the subtle centers of our being (chakras)
	are enlightened as the Kundalini rises within our spine, culminating 
	in the experience of spiritual enlightenment.

	There are seven major chakras, which are experienced as seven 
	locations in the spinal column.  Their gross expressions are the 
	plexuses of the autonomic nervous system.

	The chakras are the landmarks of our inner geography and of man's 
	spiritual evolution through time.  Each of the seven main chakras 
	is governed by a power of Divine Almighty, an aspect of the divine 
	nature, which helped us to evolve through the different evolutionary 
	stages of the tree of life. The first to be created was the quality 
	of innocence, and this chakra lies below the Kundalini, protecting
	Her.  This chakra, many of you following the tantric form, has been
	mistaken to be awaken by the act of sex!  In self-realisation the 
	chakras, representing our seven selves, become threaded together by 
	our Kundalini to achieve perfect integration.

	By acknowledging the qualities of these divine aspects in ourselves
	we allow the deities to become awakened (so we were made as image
	of God!). They enlighten the chakras and expand the inner space, 
	allowing the chakra to open  so that the Kundalini can rise within
	us.

	When Kundalini crosses Agnya chakra in the forehead we become 
	thoughtlessly aware, and when it pierces the fontanel bone at the top 
	of the head we feel a cool breeze on the hands (self-realisation).
	We have become connected with that all-prevailing power which loves,
	thinks, organizes and understands, and we feel the joy of divine love 
	flowing over us like a refreshing stream.

	Kundalini is our Mother, we are her only child, and she has been with 
	us through all our lives just waiting for this moment of fulfillment.

	When Kundalini pierces the top of the head it reaches the seat of the 
	Spirit (Atma) which resides in the heart.  The Spirit is the innermost 
	part of our being (Self) and is the reflection of God Almighty within  
	us. We now come to know the true nature of our Self.

	The nature of Spirit (Atma) is to be a witness to everything we do. 
	After the metamorphosis of self-realisation we gradually become one 
	with the witness, which we feel consciously as vibrations. Wisdom 
	dawns on us as we now have the guidance of the Absolute.  Balancing 
	and harmony become simple and spontaneous.

	We can also feel this universal nature in another human being 
	(collective consciousness).  By putting our hands towards them we can 
	find out the state of their Kundalini, and give them awakening and
	then enlightenment - like one enlightened candle which enlightens 
	another.  Collective consciousness is an actuality that can be 
	empirically tested by any realized person.

	If one chakra is blocked the Kundalini will go to that part and
	nurture it. This may be seen as a pulsation on the spine, or felt 
	as a pricking or burning on one of the fingers.  Each finger or part 
	of the hand has a precise correlation with one of the chakras.
	This was described in Koran - "That day shall we set a seal on their
	mouths but their hands will speak."

	The block may be due to various causes, for instance physical damage,
	toxic substances, negative attitude, or psychic invasion by a dead
	spirit.

	By the grace of Kundalini, when a realized soul gives vibrations or
	puts a bond of love (bandhan) to the block, the obstruction can be 
	dissolved. The pulsating stops, the Kundalini rises, and a lightening
	of the spirit results. 

	The term of "enlightenment soul" by no means to be arrogant. It is
	just to described that a person is in the state of awakening.  The
	enlightenment and self-realization also has depth in its own to be
	developed by oneself.  There is no club to join, or you cannot buy
        it any where.
401.83Would like some clarificationBOOKIE::ENGLANDI'm a part of It's a part of meThu Sep 28 1989 16:0728
Re: .71  (H.H.)

I have a few questions regarding your message (noted above).

  > -< "I relate to you all,only know better,different" >-

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you mean here.  Please tell me,
how do you know you know better and what is your purpose in stating it?

  >    Only through sahaja can you have realisation in these days.
  >    Unless you have 20 years or so to sit on top of some mountain.

Wow...this is really narrowing it down.  But as you said at the 
beginning of your message, this is *your* experience.  

For your reference, I (and probably many others in this file) have 
experienced things that have been discussed in this note...and I have 
never used Sahaja Yoga.  This is not meant to discount your
experiences, but rather to suggest that there are many ways to get to 
the same point.  I'm glad for that, or we'd all be in worse trouble
than we're already in!  It is my experience that there are lights 
coming from many directions.
    
  >    Be brave,courageus,dont knock what you cannot know.I am nobody,but I

This is an interesting line.  Exactly what is it that I cannot know?

Jerri
401.84My limited experienceHYDRA::LARUgoin' to gracelandThu Sep 28 1989 16:5642
    I attended an introductory session to Sahaja Yoga in      
    Cambridge about a year and a half ago...
    
    There were about 25 people there, some of whom had obviously
    been there before (they did things before they were told).
    We sat in chairs, facing a picture of [whatever-her-name-is],
    a map of the body showing the chakras and path of the
    kundalini, while waiting for latecomers and to set up the tape recorder
    that would play [her] introduction to SY.  I remember that
    there were some "technical difficulties."  I fell asleep
    during the introductory remarks, which were cut short because
    we were running late.
    
    We then listened to a tape that led us through what to me was 
    a relaxation/meditation exercise.  We were also led through
    some recitations/affirmations (as I recall).  We were then
    to place our hands over our head to "feel the cool breeze of
    the kundalini."   I like to think of myself as a skeptic
    at these things;  I've always been afraid of placing myself
    in the hands of any group that "knows what's best for me,"
    whether it's EST or Scientology,  but part of me certainly 
    *wanted* to feel it.  During the meditation, the leaders
    walked behind us, checking our kundalini for themselves
    (we were supposed to have our eyes shut, but my paranoia
    sometimes gets the better of me).
    
    I'm still not sure whether I "really" felt something, but
    part of me thought that *maybe* there was "something"
    out-of-the-ordinary happening, even though I was still 
    very much afraid of "being had." 
    
    However, I was told told by some off the leaders that the
    stuff was really *pouring* out, suggesting to me a torrent
    (maybe my brains falling out, Arthur? :-)...   All
    participants were welcomed to attend further sessions
    iin a private home at another time.
    
    It seemed to me at the time just a little too much like
    hype, and I didn't follow up.
    
    
    /bruce
401.85Feelings, nothing more than feelings, whoa, whoa, woooo...USAT05::KASPERLife's a gift, learn to accept itThu Sep 28 1989 17:0143
        Of those who support the idea that sahaja is "the only way", how
        do you know that I am not a realized soul or fully enlightened?
        Because I don't practice what you do?  From this notes file, or by 
        passing me on the street, would you know?  Am I to think that if I 
        feel a cool breeze on my hands or my toes tingle or my ears ring 
        that I am enlightened?  I don't think so.  Enlightenment (or whatever
        you want to call it) is much more than all that has been said around 
        this subject.  Ernie (I think) put it well when he said it's learning 
        to live day-to-day and learning to do it with love.  Cool breezes on 
        my hand won't necessarily facilitate this behavior.  I have to do it
        *consciously* - much easier said than done.  And, there are many 
        ways to accomplish it.  If one looks, one can see this love in the 
        others they meet and in themselves - they all have their own ways.
        Does Mother Theresa practice sahaja?  How about Nelson Mandella?
        Or the student who stood in front of the Chinese tank?  Obiwan or
        Luke Skywalker? ;-)

        I know it has been said that sahaja isn't the only way, that one could
        sit on a mountain for 40 years, but are there really any short cuts?
        Do you really think it's that easy to fool the all-mighty ego?  A
        cool breeze on the hand and 'poof' the ego is gone?  If what I've 
        learned about kundalini (and maybe some others can help here), this
        is energy not to be taken lightly, that a pre-muture awakening could
        be physically dangerous.  And the alternative, to spend my whole life 
        working and waiting for such an awakening, would be a waste of my time 
        anyway.  There's to much life to live, too many people to meet and 
        love, too many things to do to sit and wait. If it comes, it comes...

        Is there such a thing as "fully enlightened" anyway?  If so, isn't 
        that what we refer to as God/Goddess/All-that-is?  Even to speculate 
        that G/G/ATI is a static state doesn't seem right to me.  All this 
        physical feeling stuff as a baramoter to self-realization is fine and 
        well for some, I suppose, but one can really get caught up in seeking 
        the effects of something rather than focusing on the real stuff.  A 
        short story I heard could be applied here:

           A student met his/her teacher one day and with joy, exclaimed
           "Master I have been meditating for twenty years and I can
           finally levitate across the river!", to which his/her master 
           replied, "For ten cents you could have taken the boat."

        Terry
401.86CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Thu Sep 28 1989 17:154
    I'd like to echo Cindy's question to our participants...
    
    So some of us got realization (something like gettin' religion).
    Whatcha' goona' do with it? Trade enlightenments like baseball cards??
401.87USWAV1::JOLLIMOREThu Sep 28 1989 17:206
    Whatca' gonna do with it?
    Everything!
    Once you get it, you do nothing without it.
    I charged mine to my Visa.
    
    Jay
401.88Make checks payable to Public Enlightenment Co.AOXOA::STANLEYIt takes dynamite to get me up...Thu Sep 28 1989 17:344
I *knew* I should've gotten a Visa card!  Jay, just how much did it cost?  
Maybe I can put it on lay away. :-)

		Dave
401.89CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Thu Sep 28 1989 17:4715
    I do not wish to denigrate our Eastern counterparts. Realization(s) and
    enlightenment(s) are very important. They are life changing alterations
    in our neural-programming.
    
    But perhaps our Western minds have discerned a certain 'finality' to
    realization(s) and enlightenment(s) which remind us of our previous
    experiences of 'getting it.' And for some strange reason humans seem to
    be always 'getting it' somewhere, from someone. Why there are so many
    'getting its' that we can't keep up with them all now.
    
    'Getting it' seems to lead tp a place of peace, but I suggest that it
    leads only to a place of rest, from which we can venture onward into
    new realms and back again.
    
    My appologies if I've offended our Eastern counterparts.
401.90A practical answer for a practical question.VIDEO::SUThu Sep 28 1989 18:2231
	Life after self-realisation is like you turn on the light and
	you can see well whatever you are doing and you can not go wrong.
	The self-realisation has many stages just like moon has many phases.
	The ultimate goal is God-realization as Buddha has achieved, but
	it is not possible in one life time.  The very first thing you 
	will notice is you become younger, your eyes shining. Your health
	is a by-product of self-realisation. Your personality emit joy and
        peace.

	For us, the cleanse of the chakras become practical chores.
	Your brain become dynamic, your creativity expand. If you are
	an artist, everything you created has vibrations. Your solution
	to problem become effortless. There is no stress since you have
	no worry for tomorrow. Life become spontaneous nature.

	Since you are connected with the unconsciousness, you are protected
	out and out. No tree will fall on you. No accident will happen to
	you when you take a plane. If you are on a bus and it rolls down 
	the side of the mountain, nobody will get killed because of you.
	If you watch an misshape is happening, your attention will divert
	it from unavoidable. You become your own witness.

	Your prayer will be granted if it is not on a gross level. "Thy will
	be done on earth as it is in heaven."

	The karma will have no effect on you any more.
	
	As you establish your own guru principle, you will discover your
	own power. You become an angel, a saint. And, you can trade all the
	baseball cards you want IN YOUR WAY.
	
401.91USWAV1::JOLLIMOREThu Sep 28 1989 18:469
    .88 Dave:  How much ya got??? heh heh ;')
    
    .89 Mikie? I think you answered your own question. Whatca gonna
    do with it? Rest in it, then venture onward to new realms and back
    again. And, I was serious in my reply (except the last line ;')
    Once you reach any stage of enlightenment it changes what you do
    and how you do it from then on, or so I'm told ;')
    
    Jay
401.92Our game of quest is at end.VIDEO::SUThu Sep 28 1989 19:1042
    The famous German philosopher Schelling remarked once: "If God would
    appear to me with the truth in the right hand and the quest of the
    truth in the left, asking me to choose between the two, I would rush
    towards his left hand telling him : "Oh Father, keep the Truth for
    yourself alone."
    
    Does this slightly straight forward statement correspond to a wide
    spread attitude of the modern seeker?  Are we more interested in the
    game of "truth seeking" than in the Truth itself?  Today this
    hypothesis is put to test by the message of Shri Mataji.
    
    Shri Mataji's message is very simple. She says: "Do you want the truth?
    come and get it."
    
    What happens to those who come?
    
    They arrive at a program of Sahaja Yoga, sit quitely, eventually listen
    to Mataji's exposure of mysteries of Kundalini Tantra... and they
    stretch their hands toward Her.  After sometime, the pupils start
    dilating.  They may feel a bit sleepy.  A gentle breeze, like a cool
    wind, comes in the hands.  The breeze has been described in the sacred
    Christian scriptures as the breath of the Holy Spirit, the Power of God
    the Almighty. It is the Chaitanya Lehari of Adi Shankaracharya.  But
    they do not know it.  They just sit peacefully in front of Shri Mataji,
    absolutely serene, extremly happy, watching inside the bubbling of a
    new joy.  They are the newly born children of the Truth shining with
    God's own beauty.  Their eyes are full of wonder. They smile or may be
    they laugh.  A great silence has taken place inside.  In this silence
    they know they are pure, they are noble, they are free.  It is like
    waking up after a long dream.  I know it because it has happened to me.
    
    "Come and get it."  Some seekers cannot take it.  "How is it possible?"
    they argue.  They hide themselve, they escape...without having the 
    courage to come.  Because after all, "the seeking" is such a nice role,
    identified with so many engrossing emotional and mental tunes,  "Get
    it" would put an end to all this.
    
    In the play of the Quest, in the game of hide and seek, we used to like
    the salty taste of tears.  But everything human has it beginning and
    its end.  Such is also the case for the play in which we were calling
    our Divine Mother and Father.
     
401.93>no need to read between lines<PACKER::HANDYThu Sep 28 1989 19:205
    
    
    re:Jerry,
    
            .92 and all other statements by great yogi says it all.
401.94Transcendental TerminologyCIMAMT::TOLAAThu Sep 28 1989 20:1361

I went to a Sahaja Yoga meeting in New York where I supposedly
received realization. I think there's a big gap in terminology here.
Maybe what Mataji, the head of Sahaja Yoga means by "realization"
is more "realization of potential" than the ultimate event that most
people understand it to be. I thought I did experience something of
this "cool breeze" phenomenon but it was very faint and didn't seem
very significant to me. However, I'm sure it must deepen and grow
stronger in those who give it their regular attention.

Kundalini is something very real and yet it's easy to dismiss it as 
hypnosis, autohypnosis, or wishful thinking. Then again, you could
dimiss orgasm on the same grounds, if you were a virgin.

On the other hand, I have to strongly disagree that with the 
statement that Kundalini awakening = realization! 
Kundalini itself is a vehicle, not a goal. And it is probably 
not the only vehicle to the goal. It's a route to realization through 
purification of the nervous system and its subtle correspondent -- 
the chakra system. 

There are classic descriptions of Kundalini phenomenon in old traditional 
texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipka. No mention there is made of this 
"cool breeze" stuff. The Kundalini can feel soothing and 
"cool" at times, but it can also create a literal fever or burning sensation. 
Its most often likened to a fire because it consumes, transforms, and 
always reaches upward.

In the vast majority of cases Kundalini awakening just doesn't make 
Joe or Jane Average an instant Jesus Christ. It may not even make one 
a visibly better person immediately, though it does set in motion a 
process which makes the ultimate event possible. It's said that the Kundalini 
can take several hundred years to do its work (belief in reincarnation assumed).
One thing the Kundalini does do immediately for many if not most people
is open an inner sense that makes real spiritual feelings and perceptions,
not fantasies and concepts, possible for the first time in their lives
and shows them the often-missed difference between the two. It also gives 
the conviction that there IS a state of being to strive for and sometimes
a sense of "presence" and even protection and guidance. This is great,
but to say that its Realization is to demean the word.

A Kundalini awakening, according to my teachers, is a one-time, permanent 
affair, not something you have again and again. But its only the
beginning, the moment of rebirth. There's a tremendous amount of
growth to be accomplished by the Kundalini itself and by YOU before 
realization is anything but a fanciful word.

In my own case, I received, "Shaktipat," the transmission that awakens
this energy about seven years ago from a teacher. I have to admit
that I'm still a jerky person with a lot of deficiencies. But I do
find that when it happened I was able to sit for meditation with ease
and go very deep like never before and this has persisted over the years,
though there are dry periods sometimes. Also, my yearning for growth has 
increased. I attribute this to the working of this awakening force.
Though I'd say realization is probably still a long, long way down
the pike. "Realization" implies being "realistic."

 


401.95I'll have another TOLAA-COLAA, please.MISERY::WARD_FRGoing HOME--as an AdventurerFri Sep 29 1989 13:377
    re: .94 (::TOLAA)
    
         Thanks for that.  You put nicely into words what several
    have "sensed."
    
    Frederick
    
401.96Understanding and experienceCHFS32::LTAYLORNothing unreal exists.Fri Sep 29 1989 13:4629
A very basic, though difficult, spiritual principle is being
overlooked in this discussion of Sahaja yoga. Mother Nirmala
offers a direct experience, and it has been my experience
that my understanding is not only unnecessary to receive
that experience but often gets in the way.

I put so much reliance on the rational mind (especially in
this business) that it becomes almost personally insulting
when someone says my understanding doesn't matter. I
approach a raving lunatic come out of the desert who doesn't
care a bit about my well honed and polished theological
systems. He dunks me in the river and, viola, I experience
something ineffable.

The Zen roshi listens patiently while I pour over my
spiritual angst. Instead of engaging my ideas he hits me
with a stick. I can either get mad and mutter to myself what
an asshole this guy is or receive his gift and experience
him directly.

My own experience with Mother Nirmala touched me on many
different levels. She is a dear, sweet woman, and I am
grateful she extended herself to me in such a sublime way.
Like everyone else, she has her own understanding of the
world. It may not be very compatible with my own, but I know
that fact does not diminish the power or the glory of the
experience we shared.

Larry
401.97Realization can happen anywhere..if I can go thereBOOKIE::ENGLANDI'm a part of It's a part of meFri Sep 29 1989 14:1557
Re: .93 (H.H.)

    > re:Jerry,  (Jerri)

    >        .92 and all other statements by great yogi says it all.

Not to me.  It doesn't answer the questions I was asking you about what
you said.

    >       -< >no need to read between lines< >-

Then why are you directing me to another response? :-)

I was curious about your statements that said you were better and that 
there were things I could not know.  If you don't want to answer, that's
fine with me.


Re: .92  (SU)

I felt good feelings from a few of the feelings you described because 
they are feelings that I feel too...and something that I appreciate very 
much.  Although many people might not believe me, I don't care.  As I
said, I have never taken Sahaja Yoga, but seeing as how I think truth
and realization and love and awareness are everywhere (because they are
part of US)...then I can celebrate these shared feelings with others, 
regardless of how they might think they've gotten those things, or how 
they define it.

>    They just sit peacefully...
>    absolutely serene, extremly happy, watching inside the bubbling of a
>    new joy. .... Their eyes are full of wonder. They smile or may be
>    they laugh.  A great silence has taken place inside.  In this silence
>    they know they are pure, they are noble, they are free.  It is like
>    waking up after a long dream.  I know it because it has happened to me.

Yes, I feel these things a great deal...it feels quite natural to me
in my day-to-day living, and not something I look at as an unexpected 
experience.  It varies in degrees but it is not dependent on my surroundings;
it fluctuates with my own state of mind and what *I* am doing with it.  
During many, many steps I take, I look at the things around me, the beauty, 
the love, the feeling of oneness; I am part of it -- it is not a movie I'm 
walking through.  It is not a quest I am on.  It is not a goal I must reach.  
It is a PART of ME!  So yes, I believe I can understand many of the feelings 
you are referring to -- it just appears that we are arriving at these places, 
through different means.

>    Are we more interested in the
>    game of "truth seeking" than in the Truth itself?  

I think so (for many of us).  I think that is why people try to define
specific paths, and rules about those paths.  I believe that if you're 
reveling in the glory of it all, there is little interest in defining paths.  
At that point, it just doesn't matter how anyone gets there.  I think it
matters more that we share what we discover; not the path we took.
    
Jerri
401.98PACKER::HANDYFri Sep 29 1989 15:2915
    re:97(Jerri)
    
               I dont recall saying I was better,I said thatI know better.
         Alot of people develope defense mechanisms in their atitudes
         and personality that blocks the possibility of real growth and
         change.What the truth is.is.
               The only reason I said "cant know" is from the responses.
         Obviously if someone acts like they dont know how can they
         ever understand.Its like describing colors to a blind person.
         You have to have some insight,or you cant relate...
    
    
    
    
    
401.99ResponseCGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Fri Sep 29 1989 17:1736
                                    
    Re.98 + a few (Handy) and (VIDEO::SU)
    
    It's interesting that the experience you are describing (sans the cool
    breeze, of course), is about the same as what happens in Christian
    revival meetings, or even at Billy Graham gatherings.  All of these
    people become 'enlightened' and believe the path to salvation is to
    'Get Jesus and get saved'.  The wonderful thing about this is that a
    major difference has been made in their life - they realize that they
    really are connected to the Divine as opposed to being barnacles upon
    the earth not good enough to be loved by God/Goddess/ATI.  And if they
    call upon Jesus' name, He will indeed be there for them.  There are
    also a lot of pictures, crucifixes and other sorts of objects around so
    that they remind themselves on a regular basis about the experience
    they first had.
    
    From my own personal vantage point (or IMO), more mature Christians
    realize that, as St. Paul wrote in one of those books in the New
    Testament that we are to all walk the paths of our own salvations in
    fear and trembling.  This translates into the fact that it is not by
    faith that we are 'saved', but by deeds as well...in fact by the very
    way we live moment by moment.  "Traveler there is no road...the road is
    made by walking." - Mesaros (I believe).
    
    Who are these 'changed' people and how can you tell?  As written in the 
    Bible, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."  To me this applies not 
    only to Christians but to all people who profess to be a part of the 
    Divine, whether they receive their 'enlightenment' via a Holy Book, an 
    audience with a religious person, or by looking at a blade of grass 
    growing in a dried mud flat and recognize the miracle that life can exist 
    where it does not appear to be possible.
    
    This is the point behind my question - now that you're enlightened,
    what are you going to do next?  
    
    Cindy
401.100"Really love your peaches..."BTOVT::BEST_GWalking this dream everlastingFri Sep 29 1989 17:328
    
    re: .99 (Cindy)
    
    > "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
    
        Anyone who eats bananas is enlightened in my book. ;-)
    
    Guy
401.101Shake my tree and I'll.........CGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Fri Sep 29 1989 19:107
    
    Oh dear, did I misquote again?  (;^)  Gotta read that book again
    someday.
    
    "Ye shall know them by their WORKS."
                                 -----
    Cindy
401.102...I'll...have lots of bananas...yeah, that's it!...BTOVT::BEST_GWalking this dream everlastingFri Sep 29 1989 19:168
    
    re:  Cindy
    
    I think I'm in big trouble....
    
    ;-)
    
    Guy       
401.103buy a big, bright, green, pleasure machineULTRA::G_REILLYFri Sep 29 1989 19:5829
re: .99 (Cindy)
    
>    Who are these 'changed' people and how can you tell?  As written in the 
>    Bible, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."  To me this applies not 
>    only to Christians but to all people who profess to be a part of the 
>    Divine, whether they receive their 'enlightenment' via a Holy Book, an 
>    audience with a religious person, or by looking at a blade of grass 
>    growing in a dried mud flat and recognize the miracle that life can exist 
>    where it does not appear to be possible.
    
For me, I don't think that works alone can indicate enlightment.  Primarily,
'good works' are culturally and contextually dependent.  Secondly, it's
very easy to perform 'good works' without any hint of enlightment.  (Take
Jim and Tammy Baker, for example, providing of course that one admits that
what they sold to people could be construed as 'good works'.)

For me, I tend to recognize those who are seeking enlightment by the
feeling I receive from them (a telepathic sort of experience.)  

>    This is the point behind my question - now that you're enlightened,
>    what are you going to do next?  
    
That's EASY!  Go and try to enlighten others, of course!   :-) (joke, just
a joke.)


alison

401.104After Self-Realisation.VIDEO::SUFri Sep 29 1989 20:2130
    re: -.99
    What do you do after self-realisation?
    
    Now that you feel the tiny bitty winny cool breeze on top of your head,
    you are into a new state of awareness.  You can prove that there is a 
    subtle system of chakras in your body and you continue meditate in
    silence.  You develop your vibration awareness and all the quality of
    chakras within you.  Sahaja Yoga has many techniques to cleanse your 
    subtle system.  The more you are in the center (the middle way of
    Sushuma), the deeper experience you gain.  You become your own witness.
    For many Yoga, self-realisation is the end but in Sahaja Yoga this is
    just a beginning.
    
    You have to establish your position in the Kingdom of God...
    Again, the meditation is a state, is not what you do.  You have to be there
    by yourself to experience it.  As Larry have pointed it out - analyze
    will not get you anywhere.     
    
    I hope I have answered your question.
    
    This also answer a few question in the previous entry, that if you are
    a realized soul, immediately you will recognize the Truth, the reality
    in front of you.  And only in Sahaja Yoga, you will understand the
    meaning of vibration in yourself.  You will know how to help yourself
    and others - the application of it in life.  All this become possible
    because of Mother Nirmala.
    
    After you become enlightened, you can enlighten other human being.
    Sahaja Yoga begins at where all other Yoga stop. You become one with
    reality.  Sahaja Yoga goes beyond all mystical point.	
401.105Reality?VIDEO::SUFri Sep 29 1989 20:4014
    re: -.103
    
    It was not possible before 1970, before Mother Nirmala started to give
    self-realization en-mass that one enlightened soul can enlighten
    another soul in this nature, spontaneous way as one lighted candle can
    lit another candle.
    
    We have talked about reality so much in this notes conference. What is
    reality?  At least, we can say when American astronauts went to the
    moon, at the time when they re-entered the earth all human being forgot
    their difference in race, politics, nationality and everyone prayed for
    their safe landing.  In that instance, we have touched the reality - we
    become one collective human being.  And, this is all Sahaja Yoga is
    about - to be oneness within God.
401.106InterestingCGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Fri Sep 29 1989 21:389
    
    Re.105 (SU)
    
    The word 'missionary' comes to mind here.  I've only ever heard of
    Christian ones...but...
    
    In any case, go forth and enlight!  And have fun.
    
    Cindy
401.107Just another viewBOOKIE::ENGLANDI'm a part of It's a part of meFri Sep 29 1989 22:1110
    Re: 103 (Alison)
    
    Interesting, there are so many interpretations of a concept.  
    When I read Cindy's reply, I didn't think of "fruits" meaning
    "good works".  To me, fruits are something naturally produced...
    not something you go and do.  In that context, fruits might be
    things like the kind of "vibes" or "waves" a person sends out,
    their energy, and the kind of mental attitude they might have.
    
    Jerri
401.108do we fail in communicating, or are you not ready?VIDEO::SUSun Oct 01 1989 13:28136
    
    
Dear Terry, Cindy and others who critiscise Sahaja Yoga:

It's Sunday morning and I am reviewing what has been written in these notes in 
the last months. Some mixed emotions of sadness and dissapointment  come up and
I cannot avoid this reflection: 

Since 1970 Shri Mataji travels the world and must have talked to more then a 
milljon people, hundreds of thousends have felt it. Of those only a few had the 
courage to go on with it and to develop it. Why is it such a difficult matter 
to comunicate? Is it fear? May be some are ready, some are not? But all are 
seeking !!!!!

Somehow or another you are all disturbed by some aspect of us presenting this 
Sahaja yoga to you. Either you feel we are too arrogant in our statements and 
your ego reacts a little: "what do these wise guys think they are??"

Else you compare what we are saying to what you already know about yoga, 
kundalini, enlightenment, love etc. When what we are saying doesnt't fit in 
the concept that is already there(in your brain), also you react : "it is 
impossible , can't be that simple, etc. "This is your own conditioning 
reacting.

So whatever we try, we seem not being able to get around either your ego or 
your conditioning and this makes us really feel helpless. Is it for you all 
really impossible to even consider that it could be true what we are saying 
about Sahaja Yoga.?

We are talking to you about something that is free, that is within yourself 
and that "you" have to find. (or to be shown). Once you found it "you" have to 
develop it if you are courageous enough.

What do we find as reactions? You people think we are fools, that we are been 
befooled or that we are to unintelligent to understand what seeking is all 
about. From the many that are testifying you have seen that we all have been 
seeking and trying all kinds of things, just like you. Who of you can say that 
he found what he is seeking for? If so, please tell us about it. But all we 
hear is concepts and concepts and concepts.

If we claim with such a confidence that we found it, there must be something 
isn't it. Why don't you give us a chance? Because it's free? Because it is to 
simple for you to believe? May be you feel we are preaching?

Would you rather listen to us if we say: pay us 10.000$ and we tell you 
about the great secrets of enlightenment?

-------------------
Now if you haven't switched to another channel, let me give it another shot.

First of all, enlightenment comes in different stages. It has nothing to do 
with what you KNOW. One can read books and books and books and may know all 
about all the scriptures, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ENLIGHTENMENT.

Enlightenment is a natural state of being. Once it starts manifesting, it has 
to be developed. Eventually it grows and can lead to full enlightenment.
But it has to START. This is the minimuum of minimuum. One has to press the 
button. Just as a seed will not sprout as long as one is not putting it in the 
earth.
And when this process of human natural evolution starts, the individual that 
it happens to IS AWARE OF IT , AND HE KNOWS THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO HIM. 
Ego and concepts are still there, but some light is also there. 
Before was ONLY ego and concepts.

No Sahaja yogi will ever claim to be a great enlightened soul, but what he can 
claim is that it has started within  him and that he is aware of that.
But at the same time he is more aware than ever (much more than you even can 
imagine) how low he is in this enlightened state. Actually we could talk about 
endarkened state, because one realises HOW DARK IT REALLY WAS (and still is)

But this awakened Kundalini, very, very slight but distinguishable, shows him 
clearly where his problems are, where he is wrong in ego, in habits and in 
conditiongs. And he can correct himself if he wants to. At the same time 
however, it brings relativity to the problems in life and everything becomes 
easier.

If you are still on line, consider this.

In nature all is working according to some unwritten laws. We know that if we
pollute too much, trees can die.
Same in human beings. There are inner laws, same for all of us. If we pollute 
to much our brain, our emotions the system starts to fail. Medicine has 
discovered only a few obvious things, but the gross of it is unknown. The 
point I'm trying to make is that: When Kundalini is up, YOU FEEL IN YOUR 
SYMPATHETIC WHEN YOU ARE CROSSING THESE LAWS, long before the system will fail.
Suppose it is like that, then if you really know what and 
where is wrong, then only you can do something about it.

This has to do with the famous cool breeze. (or cool vibrations)

Another way of saying the same thing is the laws in nature define the 
universality of GOOD and BAD in an absolute way. (from natures point of view 
and not by mental analysis).

Any action (thougt,emotion etc.) in tune with evolution will increase the flow
of this cool breeze. Any action against will be felt as a diminishing or even 
loozing the breeze. (this irrelevant of what the person thinks about that 
action). You have to try it to believ

Before you react and say that its too simple or arrogant or whatever, please 
consider. If there is the slightest chance that there is some truth in what I 
say, then you better find out instaed of critisizing. 

Now please instead of knocking us down, please ask us about it. How it is 
done? What good it does. How does it work in children. What about education? 
What about society?  Morality? How does it acts in the nature? 
How many try to do Sahaja Yoga?  Why so many give it up?. What are the problems
one is facing when one CHOOSES TO BE A REALISED SOUL. What motivates us to 
keep telling you about it, dispite you ridiculising it?  
In a scientific, common sense approach, so many wise things you can ask about
it.

There is no money nor membership. (maybe the most difficult part to believe)

We are ancious to tell anybody who asks all about it. But you do not allow us 
to go beyond chapter one. This knowledge is secret, not because it is not 
available, but simple because nobody wants to hear about it, everybody seems 
to know better. So it remains secret(=know to a few). Sad isn't it?

One last thing, even if you accept to consider what we are saying. Reading or 
knowledge doesn't do it. IT HAS TO HAPPEN. The breeze has to flow, then you 
know you are on-line with yourself (with nature)

Sahaja Yoga is not a concept, it is an awareness. You feel nature and its laws
(the truth) acting on your nervous system.

If you want to argue it out by putting your actual concepts against awareness, 
may be this yoga is not (yet) for you.  
Even one cannnot understand or believe that a flower will turn into fruit, 
it will happen anyway. Nature does what it has to do. If you are are seeker 
and I did not convince you now, one day you will get it anyway.

more sincerely than you can imagine,
johan


401.110the thin end of a big wedge?GVAADG::DONALDSONthe green frog leaps...Mon Oct 02 1989 07:3539
Perhaps some of us ought to retract our claws and
cut out the bitchiness? This conference has a high
'coefficient of tolerance', I think we should extend
the same tolerance to fundamentalist Sahaja yogins as
we would to fundamentalist Christans. No? Anyway...

I once read a book called 'The One Quest' by Claudio Naranjo.
Quite good. It tries to discriminate between the various
approaches to 'knowledge of god'/enlightenment. By the
standards of that book Sahaja followers are 'devotional'.
The path they follow *demands* no questioning of The
Mother and Her words. But, this has no bearing on whether
the path leads somewhere or not. Try to separate your
reaction to their devotion from your assessment of their
claims.

As far as the semantic problems with enlightenment, perhaps
we could see the 'cool breeze' experience as the thin end
of a very big wedge. As I read the Sahaja Yoga (SY) replies
they clearly say this state is the start of a process - it's
Mother pointing her children in the right direction.

I have tasted SY and I found my rationalistic mind could
not walk fully the devotional path. From the very beginning
I questioned the cool breeze (are my palms sweaty etc).
But for six months I gave it my best shot. They are very
sincere people and SY seems to be (at the very least)
benign. I would echo some previous replies, try it, it
won't hurt and it just might... (Do you remember Blaise
Pascal's reasoning about God?).

The SY group (when I knew them well) felt that logical
argument was damaging to their relationship to Sri Mataji
and enlightenment. If they still do, then I applaud the
authors in this conference who are replying.

DEJAVU would be less without them.

John D.
401.111to arieVIDEO::SUMon Oct 02 1989 11:3151
    re. .109  ARIE
    
    thanks for this straightforward reply, arie. 
    
    "sahaja yoga the only way?"
    
    any path that leads to self-realisation can be a valid path. The point
    we are making is "In Sahaja Yoga you get your self-realisation NOW !!!,
    and not in the distant future. " In this way it is the only path in
    moder times.
    
    
    "you seem to deny the existence of truth outside the path you are on
    now"
    
    truth is everywhere, allways and unchanging. Like when the sun is
    shining, the light spreads everywhere, BUT one needs Eyes to see it.
    In the same way, truth is everywhere, but truth cannot be percieved
    without self-realisation. And for that Kundalini HAS TO BE UP.
    As you may know, what we are percieving with the senses is only an
    aspect of truth. There is a nice tale of people who saw only part of an
    elephant and from that limited view they pictured the whole as
    something totally different from the elephant. Same thing. All paths
    have something, but the picture of the whole is not correct. Sorry if
    this sounds arrogant.
    
    "where to me enlightenment is a state where all barriers are gone."
    
    Try to see our point. Sahaja Yoga can give you self realisation even
    with the barriers that exist. After realisation the real nature of the
    barriers can be seen and thus it becomes easier to remove them. 
    
    If people try to remove the barriers with  mental
    process it can take many lifetimes, provided that they are on the right
    path to begin with. Sahaja Yoga suggest you only take without any
    comittment or obligation. 
    
    "ego"
    
    Sorry to say, ego even being an illusion, it is a reality if we are
    slave of it, and it can ONLY be removed by Kundalini.
    
    Sorry again for our weakness to communicate in words. But we are good
    in one thing: giving self-realisation. One day the strenght of your
    desire may allow you to jump over our and your "barriers" to see if you
    too can get selfrealisation.
    
    johan
    
    
     
401.112What's under the hood of this vehicle?CIMAMT::TOLAAMon Oct 02 1989 12:5522
John in .110 brought up some good points. The statements that
Sahaja yogis feeling that logical argument is harmful to their relationship
with their teacher and the "fundamentalist" nature of their approach
reminds me of something an Indian meditation teacher named Dr. Rao 
(who lives in Chelmsford, Mass) once said.
Some of us were talking to him about different saints he had met and
someone brought up the founder of the Hari Krishna order -- Pradupada (?).
Dr. Rao stated that he had met Pradupada and felt that he was definitely
a realized soul. Some us were surprised, knowing the dogma and
cultural baggage of the Hari Krishna teachings (though the singing 
and food are great).

We asked how a realized soul could be so rigid and seemingly narrow-minded.
He replied that without that kind of focused intensity of belief, many
would not have the strength to reach the goal. 

Maybe for a fundamentally devotional teaching (though it may have an 
esoteric side), the attitude of "this and no other" is as essential as it
is between two lovers.



401.113Get your Realization now...REGENT::WAGNERMon Oct 02 1989 13:2974
 .111 SU (i think)
    
    "It can 'only' be removed by Kundalini."

There you go again implying that S.Y. is the only way. 
Kundalini is only a concept and this concept too must eventually be shed
because it is a subtle form of dualism.  Something seperate from ourself 
exists and must be manipulated for us to reach our goal of "Spiritual 
enlightenment."  Again, the concept of Kundalini is primarily a yogic concept.
It is not even mentioned in other eastern Philosophies.

"What motivates us to keep telling you about it (Sahaja yoga, EW)?"

Your Ego.
	It has been said that a master teaches effortlessly by letting the 
lessons unfold before him.  When the lessons are over the only thing he
says is "very well done."  

"Sahaja yoga is not a concept, it is an awareness.  You can feel nature and 
it's laws acting on your nervous system."

This is awareness in its most limited sense because it is focused down to 
feelings one perceives from the external world.  When we are focused down to 
one or two "feelings" we are oblivious to the rest of the universe.  This is 
the process of not seeing the forest for the trees.  The objective is to 
expand our awareness not narrow it down, to see the entire forest (and every 
nuance of a situation) so we can find our way out.

"You get your realization NOW!"

I got my "realization" NOW, also-Not from Sahaja Yoga-but I examined it, stuck
it in my back pocket for later use, forgot about it, sat down and smashed it.
Do I still have it or don't I?  Would have it been better to wear it as a 
badge on my chest?  To show everybody that i have been enlightened?  
"Enlightenment" has no intrinsic(sp?) value. In and of itself it is 
worthless.  
   
As Cindy said, the proof is in the "fruit" of your actions.  Fruit meaning end 
result.  I know it is difficult to show that you have realization "NOW" 
through this media.  But the fruits of your action sort of indicate to me that 
you are dwelling too much on the "cool Breeze" feelings you get which is a 
sort of hedonism.  There are at least several masters who proport that through 
compassion (openness) a "warmness" overtakes one, but this is more of an 
attitude than actual warm fuzzy feelings we all hope to get. And they go on to 
say that this (ruthless) compassion is part and parcel to the experience of 
insight (realization).  Since you place importance on Technique as opposed to 
openness, and have made no mention of compassion as it relates to Sahaja Yoga,
It is very difficult not to believe that you are on a very subtle ego trip.

	Again, I maintain that one can experience insight (realization) in 
direct proportion to one's desire to be completely open. or inversely to ones 
fear of being open to any situation.    Whether it be through meditation, 
yoga, prayer or whatever, one's ability to have "enlightenment" NOW, depends 
upon one's ability to use these different paths to become fearlessly open to 
anything.  That is the intent behind every method;  to drop all concepts and 
preconcepts (including that of Kundalini) and being totally receptive to the 
situation of the moment.  It is not to hang onto the path, because to hang on 
to a given path is to feed our ego.  And we don't wear our paths like a badge 
either.  WE MUST BECOME THE PATH.  Not just have the path become part of us 
because that implies duality.    If one can drop all preconcepts, concepts 
here and now, and act appropriately for the situation, then we  will 
be "enlightened" NOW.

    Even Jesus said " Who callest thou me good? There is none good but one,
    That is, God." Mark 10:18
    
    It wasn't in the name of humility or modesty that Jesus said these
    words. Jesus understood that the labels of "enlightenment, goodness, 
    compassion, etc. are not badges to be worn but a process undergone on
    the path of becoming open.
    
      
Ernie

401.114CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Mon Oct 02 1989 14:466
    Reply to .113, Wagner,
    
    ...and I have come to associate Duality with Duelity. When good/bad or
    realized/unrealized forces come into conflict there is Duelity.
    
    What every happened to maya?? B^)
401.115Probably a failure in communication.CGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Mon Oct 02 1989 14:5346
                                                         
    RE.108 (SU)
    
    I am not criticizing SY.  If it works for you, and if it works for
    others, then great.
    
    My own awareness of my connection of the divine came from a different
    source, and that happened 2.5 years ago.  It is no more or less valid
    than yours.  It was then that I became aware of the concept of
    spiritual growth.  
    
    There are many 'gifts' written about in Christianity, and one of those
    is the 'gift of tongues'.  Many people at 'revival' meetings who have
    'received the Spirit' are all of a sudden speaking in tongues (a
    language that they believe connects them with the divine.)  I suspect
    (but do not draw a hard and fast conclusion) that this 'gift' which
    seemingly comes from within is yet another variation of the 'cool
    breeze' you feel.  Granted, Christians do not talk about kundalini, and
    probably SJ'ers don't talk about Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the
    Father, however it is one observation of a parallel that I cannot help 
    but see.
    
    As for your comment about my possibly being 'not ready', well, there is 
    a whole conference full of well-meaning Christians over on IOSG:: who 
    also tell me that I'm 'not ready' for what they are talking about...(;^)
    ...so if by your definition I appear to be 'not ready' for what you have 
    to say (or the Mother of SJ), well, OK, that's fine.  My sister recently 
    'converted' to Jehovah Witness and went through her spiel because this 
    was precisely what made her aware of her connection with the divine. 
    
    Your relationship with the divine is something I cannot measure by my own 
    experiences because of the fact that we are each walking our own paths. 
    Given my observations that all paths with Love do eventually lead to
    the same place anyway, there is really no sense in debating it or
    trying to pull each other off our respective paths thinking that my way
    is a shorter one than yours.  You've done your job in presenting yet
    another alternative for people who are as yet not aware of their
    connection to the divine.  Hopefully you will put some lost souls who
    are searching, in touch with that which will help them to realize their
    own connection to the divine.  If you do, then great.
    
    Just waving at you from my own path.......  
    
    In Peace,
    
    Cindy
401.116smile...we're halfway home!BLKWDO::KELLOGGEast Coast BeachesMon Oct 02 1989 15:056
    great reply Cindy!!!!!
    
    can you guys get your ego's outta the way and let us (set user/nowrite)
    readers get past chapter 1 ?
    
    and we thank you for your support...... 
401.117Maya became too real.REGENT::WAGNERMon Oct 02 1989 15:2526
    
    .114 (Morgan)
    
    I agree with the intent of your last statement but can there be
    conflict with realization?
     
    	"realized/unrealized forces come into conflict there is duelity."

    My definition of "Realized" is one who has insight into the entirety
    of all situations. A realized person has insight into the entire
    situation and would see the actions required to circumvent any
    conflict.  I can see unrealized/unrealized as having conflict, but
    perhaps I am nitpicking. (;'>
    
    "what ever happened to maya??"
    
    It became too real, too solid and passed as a temporary fad. (:'{}
    
    It seems that the self will go so far as to agree that everything
    is illusion but the self.  Any concept or idea that impinges on
    the realness of the self, is done away with by the ego.  To even
    begin to think that even the self is illusion, seems nonsensical
    if not down right "self destructive."
                      
    Ernie   
                 
401.118Convincing is for egosBOOKIE::ENGLANDI'm a part of It's a part of meMon Oct 02 1989 17:5455
Re: .108 (Johan)

I mean this with respect and love...

I think the problem may be that you are approaching this as if no one in
this notesfile already knows awareness and truth -- and that you may know 
more than the rest of us.  You may know more about Sahaja Yoga...of which
we might be willing to learn, if you didn't make it sound like we can't
know anything without it (because maybe you feel like *you* didn't know 
anything without it.)

You may not be getting the responses you hope for if you are not accepting 
of the truth and awareness that already exists in others.  

 >Either you feel we are too arrogant in our statements and your ego reacts 

No, it is the projection of limitations on others -- simply because you
might not be aware of how else it could be.

 >No Sahaja yogi will ever claim to be a great enlightened soul, but what he can 
 >claim is that it has started within  him and that he is aware of that.

I have shared my own experiences about this with you -- but I'm not sure
it mattered to you.  Could it be that you're more interested in your 
"position" of being the one to tell people about these things, than in 
seeing them realize it or in discovering and delighting that they already 
have?

 >But at the same time he is more aware than ever (much more than you even can 
 >imagine) 

I find it somewhat insulting that you assume how much *I* can imagine.  I do
not think it is truthful, the way you put a blanket of limitations over 
everyone else, ignoring the truth and light in them because they do not act 
in the exact ways that you are familiar with.

Perhaps you are very excited and happy about the realizations you have had,
and perhaps hearing that some other people have realized truth and awareness
in other ways from themselves, is a bit threatening because you then judge 
that your own realizations are invalidated.  But they're not.  

 >In a scientific, common sense approach, so many wise things you can ask about
 >it.

Why should I explore truth with someone if they haven't even seemed to
realize the truth about me?

 >more sincerely than you can imagine,

Johan, I can imagine a great deal.  I suggest that you are projecting your
own limitations on what you think other's are capable of.  As long as you
do that, you may offend people who you would otherwise want to share
discussions with.

Jerri
401.119CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Mon Oct 02 1989 18:0513
    Re: <<< Note 401.117 by REGENT::WAGNER >>>
    
    > "realized/unrealized forces come into conflict there is duelity."

   > My definition of "Realized" is one who has insight into the entirety of
   > all situations. A realized person has insight into the entire situation
   > and would see the actions required to circumvent any conflict.  I can
   > see unrealized/unrealized as having conflict, but perhaps I am
   > nitpicking. (;'>
    
    Picking nits is fun! B^) Ok define "all" and "insight". You see where
    the short-sightedness of "realiztion" occurs?
    
401.120wanne be friendsVIDEO::SUMon Oct 02 1989 23:2345
    re: .115  cindy
    
    "SJ'ers don't talk about Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father"
    
    So far we may not have, but let me summarize what Shri Mataji says
    about that:
    
    Kundalini IS the Holy Spirit within man. Holy Spirit (God the Mother) is 
    the power of the Spirit (Atman) residing in the heart and which is the 
    reflection of God the Father within man.
    
    Christ said that we have to be born of the Spirit. The awakening of
    Kundalini is that moment of being born from the Spirit or real baptism.
    
    Spirit from Spirare (wind or whirling or blowing)
    
    Bible: when the 12 were together and the Holy Spirit descended "there
    was like a wind although doors and windows were closed" (cool breeze)
    
    Christ: " I will send you the Holy Ghost and he will tell you all
    things". 
    
    Shri Mataji spoke in now more than 2000 lectures on many subjects.
    Christ, Krishna, Mohammed, Moses, Socrates, Guru Nanak and so many
    others. She has announced AIDS before it was known, She announced all
    the details of a new disease that will also be incurable and spread all 
    over the world. If you are interested in her statements, just name the 
    subject and we will try to summarize Shri Matajis commentaries.
    
    re .118 Jerri
    
    thanks
    
    re. all of you who feel insulted. 
    
    I read my .108 again and agree there was a little too much steam blowing  
    off. Wanne be friends, not ennemies. After all we are in the same
    seeking boat. But please let us try to keep this note on subjects and their 
    relation to Sahaja Yoga. 
    Most of the existing spiritual teachings and experiences one can have, have
    been adressed and evaluated by Shri Mataji. Some of them are coming from 
    Subconscious or Supra-conscious areas of awareness. In that case they are 
    not less real, but may carry some dangers for the one practicing it.
    
    Johan
401.121ResponseCGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Tue Oct 03 1989 13:5520
    Re.120 (SU)   
    
    >Kundalini is the Holy Spirit within (wo)man.
    
    Yes - precisely.  This is why Christianity is also a valid path as
    well, as are many paths.  Only the language and the path is different.
    You felt it as a cool breeze.  The Apostles had flames on their heads
    when they received the Spirit (from my very early remembrances of what 
    was taught to me in Sunday School well over 20 years ago).  Who knows - 
    I might have had a cool breeze on my head when it happened to me a few
    years ago, but I didn't bother to check. (;^)
    
    Even Christ said about miracles - "These things and greater ye shall
    do."  The power comes from within, and we all have it.  We only need
    to realize it.  For you, your catalyst was the Mother.  For me it was 
    a close friend.  For Joseph Campbell, it was primarily books.
    
    In Peace and mutual understanding,
    
    Cindy
401.122cool breeze not a one time experience- it growsVIDEO::SUWed Oct 04 1989 10:419
    re.121 cindy
    
    maybe you are overlooking one detail, that is that the cool breeze has
    to be there(on the head and in the hands) all the time wherever one is.
    It is not a one time experience. 
    It is there when you work, when you speak, when you sleep. It only 
    disapperears when the subject steps off the path.
    
    regards, johan
401.123CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Wed Oct 04 1989 12:2618
    Reply to .122, Johan,
    
    Sure it's there all the time. Everyone once in a while I acheive it
    through breath control and relaxation.
    
    To me it's not only a cool breeze, it's also a clearing of stuff out of
    the mind. It's a nice sensation but nothing permenant. It could be
    permenant but why should anyone lived a life that is similar to those
    that are druged?
    
    For me real work can happen in a psycho-environment but putting food on
    the table requires a different sort of mind.
    
    I can guarentee you one thing, in a little while, perhaps a few years
    your interest will wane. Then it's time to move on to a newer
    "realization."
    
    It's a never ending, open ended process.
401.124"With a little help"PACKER::HANDYWed Oct 04 1989 14:1112
    re:morgan
    
            To you it is nothing permanent,the drugged feeling you mention
    is caused by catches or alot of garbage in your chakras.This is not my 
    opinion,Ive experienced it myself,only someone helped me clear away
    the negativity and the feeling dropped off.Kundalini awareness is a
    very Dynamic state.It can allow you to do everything you do to your
    very highest potential.Can put more food on the table than you could 
    eat.So to me it is better to maintain connection with my spirit
    allways,then i can determine the truth.
    
    
401.125CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Wed Oct 04 1989 14:243
    Reply to .124, Handy,
    
    Ok, then what if the "connection with spirit" is an illusion?
401.126"The Truth Just Is"PACKER::HANDYWed Oct 04 1989 15:3427
    
    re:Cindy
    
           Are you talking about the illusion of seeing mirages or strange
     lights when you close your eyes?? Or perhaps its the illusion of
    getting your hand burned when it is put into the fire.This is of what i
    speak.The feeling of cool breezes is on my hand! Same as heat from
    fire.
           There was a strong word which i used in my last reply,that is
    garbage. Really none of us has this.bad choice of words.These things
    are problems that we carry around with us,or just negative vibrations
    from our past.Alsoeveryday stress that the sympathetic nervous system
    developes in reaction to these situations.
           I have some material from the" Journal of International Medical
    Sciences Academy" on a report from Dept. of Physiology,Sucheta
    Kripalani Hospital, New Delhi.
    Titled Some Effects of Sahaja Yoga and its Role in the Prevention of
    Stess Disorders.
           I dont believe that something which is illusion could have such
    an effect on peoples para-sympathetic nervous systems.As recorded by
    scientists and doctors,using Machines and modern blood analysis.
    Let me know if you are interested,or anyone else on this conference.
    
    
    
    
          
401.127CSC32::MORGANCybernetic Society Arrives Today!Wed Oct 04 1989 16:2041
    RE: <<< Note 401.126 by PACKER::HANDY >>>
        
   >  re:Cindy
    
    I think I asked about the illusion question. So I'll go from there.
    
   > Are you talking about the illusion of seeing mirages or strange lights
   > when you close your eyes?? Or perhaps its the illusion of getting your
   > hand burned when it is put into the fire.This is of what i speak.The
   > feeling of cool breezes is on my hand! Same as heat from fire. 
    
    There are different levels of illusion here. The first is the
    neurological illusion that creates both the stange lights with eyes
    closed and the illusion that a particular path is suited for most, if
    not all, people. These are simple neurological illusions which seem to
    be real but aren't consensual realities. They are perceived, ie.
    presumed realities which maynot be shared by all in a consensual
    setting.
            
   > I have some material from the" Journal of International Medical
   > Sciences Academy" on a report from Dept. of Physiology,Sucheta
   > Kripalani Hospital, New Delhi. Titled Some Effects of Sahaja Yoga and
   > its Role in the Prevention of Stess Disorders. I dont believe that
   > something which is illusion could have such an effect on peoples
   > para-sympathetic nervous systems.
    
    Sure. Some forms of discipline helps many people. That can't be argued
    against. And I don't thnk anyone really wants to agrue with that
    conclusion. (Except me on days I wanna' ask lotsa' pressing questions.
    B^) And I'm sure SY helps many people live fuller, better lives. But
    SY, like others, is a neurological program. it can be changed and/or
    superceeded.
    
    The prevention of stress is acheived by relaxing. It matters not one
    bit which neurological program teaches it as long as the individual can
    use the teaching.
    
    Enjoy!
    
    
    
401.128will come back laterVIDEO::SUThu Oct 05 1989 08:338
    re. harry
    
    let's take it easy harry. 
    seems no on ethere really interested for more about this.
    Lets get off the lines for a while. will call you tonight.
    
    johan
    
401.129don't go away...HYDRA::LARUgoin' to gracelandThu Oct 05 1989 12:1918
    Johan & Hank...
    
    I request that you contine to enter here whatever information you
    have and choose to share...   there are many here who are interested
    but do not speak up.   I suspect that, as always, *some* hackles here
    have been raised because of communication style, *some* because 
    cherished belief systems have been threatened, and for who-knows-what
    other reasons.
    
    I do not think you should let yourselves be shouted down.
    
    
    BTW, there have been many western studies that have shown
    correlations between various meditative techniques and
    enhanced health.
    
    
    /bruce
401.130Where men of all races have come togetherVNABRW::EICHERTHelmut Eichert, ViennaThu Oct 05 1989 13:0770
	ON THE SHORES OF BHARAT 

	On the shores of Bharat [India]
	Where men of all races have come together,
	Awake, O my mind!
	Standing here with outstretched arms,
	I send my salutations to the God of Humanity,
	And in solemn chant sing His praises.
	At whose call no one knows,
	Came floating streams of men
	And merged into the sea of Bharat.
	The Aryan, the Non-Aryan, the Dravidian,
	The Huns, the Pathans and the Moghuls -
	They all have merged here into one body.
	Today the West has opened its doors,
	And from thence come gifts.
	Giving and taking,
	All will be welcome on the shores of Bharat,
	Where men of all races have come together.

	In mad exultation, singing songs of victory,
	Have they come, crossing deserts and mountains;
	They all dwell within me
	And in my blood echo their varied melodies.
	O Terrible One!
	Let the heavens resound with Your music;
	Even those, whom in disdain we kept apart,
	Will gather around thee, O Bharat,
	Where men of all races have come together.

	Here one day in the hearts of men
	The message of the One resounded.
	In the fire of "Tapasya" all differences were forgotten,
	And the many forged into One.
	Round that fire of sacrifice
	We all have to meet with bowed heads
	And unite,
	On the shores of Bharat
	Where men of all races have come together.

	In that fire,
	The blood-shot flame of suffering is aglow.
	On mind, bear this suffering
	And hear the call of the One.
	Conquer all shame, all fear,
	And let vanish all humiliations.
	What great life will emerge
	At the end of the days of suffering.
	The night ends,
	The great Mother is awake
	On the shores of Bharat
	Where men of all races have come together.

	Come, O Aryan and Non-Aryan,
	Hindu and Muslim,
	Come, O English and you Christian,
	Come, O Brahmin, 
	Purify your mind and clasp the hand of all;
	Come, O downtrodden,
	And let vanish all burdens of your humiliation.
	Tarry not but come you all
	To anoint the Mother
	On the shores of Bharat
	Where men of all races have come together.


	Rabindranath Tagore, from "Gitanjali"

       
401.131Are they not the seas of God? - WhitmanCGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Thu Oct 05 1989 14:417
    Re.130 (Eichert)
    
    >Where men of all races have come together
    
    And women too.
    
    Cindy
401.132Come and purify your subtle system within you.VIDEO::SUThu Oct 05 1989 15:057
    Of course he is talking about the gathering of Sahaja yogis and yoginis
    in the shore line of Ganapatipuri in Maharasthra every year!
    
    Tagore talked about "men" as well as "women".
    "O Terrible One", "the fire", "the great Mother" are all the same one
    as the Water Carrier (the age of Aquaius), the Kundalini or the Holy
    Spirit.
401.133please stay, johanIJSAPL::ELSENAARFractal of the universeThu Oct 05 1989 20:5621
RE .128 (johan)

>    Lets get off the lines for a while. will call you tonight.

johan,

I would like to join bruce and ask you to stay "on-line". As you (and I) have
read, DEJAVU is the notesfile where paths like the Sahaja Yoga are discussed,
and where all kinds of disagreements are fought out. errrr discussed :-)

I think we have, by stressing too much the differences in opinion, not done
right to your attitude towards Sahaja Yoga. While there also are a lot of
commonalities.

By entering my first reply in this topic, I most certainly have added to some
feelings of hostility. And that's not the right "spirit of DEJAVU". :-) So I've
deleted that one.

We still may disagree, but let's at least keep disagreeing in harmony ;-)

Arie
401.134A Puja talk to share with the seekers of the TruthVIDEO::SUFri Oct 06 1989 20:32140
re .129  .133  Bruce, Arie and others that may be there sharing same opinion


Self realisation is a natural and spontaneous evolution process. It takes its 
own course, related to the desire (free will) of the individual. But it has to
be started first. We like to tell you about some other things yogi do.
Maybe instead of hearing the yogis opinions, its a better idea to let the words
of Shri Mataji speak.

Shri Mataji gives basically two types of speeches. There are the public 
programs where anybody can be present, where she speaks to seekers about the 
basics of self-realisation and after which she gives the experience of 
Kundalini awakening to all present. For that she has to open in a minimum way
all the chakras of all present. 

The other type of sessions are what is called "puja". These sessions 
concentrate on one particular chakra and all its qualities. In puja Shri 
Mataji tries to open that particular chakra in a deeper way, by absorbing 
whatever impurities are there and then filling the chakra with cool 
vibrations. Again, the Mother does it for all present at the same time. 
Because of this deeper level, puja is only attended by Sahaja yogis who are 
able to keep their chakras open by their own effort. 

Puja is celebrated on particular auspicious days, where time, position of 
planets, place etc. are very important. There are usually about 16 pujas every 
year, spread over the year, place and time and type of chakra treated, always 
determined by Shri Mataji. The Yogis try to prepare for this event as to be 
able to absorb as much as possible of the particular vibrations that Shri 
Mataji generates at that event.

Again here it is not to be taken for granted. Whatever one gets in Puja it is 
up to the yogi's  desire if he (she) can maintain the level of awareness that 
he may temporary reach during the puja-meditation.

It is typical that before every puja, Shri Mataji speaks to the yogis. Of 
course, these talks are all recorded and available to anyone. It is our 
experience that listening to the tape afterwards generates the same effect as 
being physically present at that time, but in a much reduced intensity.

We like to share a Puja talk of February 29, 1984, where the attention was on 
the Heart Chakra. Because of the length, we will "broadcast" it in episodes.


				-------------

Maha Shivatri Puja, 29th February 1984 at Pandharpur, Neera River, India.

				Address by Mataji Nirmala Devi

In these modern times a place which is supposed to be a holy place becomes a 
most unholy place.  It's such a topsy turvey condition these days, and when we 
are trying to establish something very fundamental that's like a little 
seedling, that has to come out of the stones, you see it has to fight lots of 
things so we have to keep our brains intact and be sensible about everything 
and try to see what we can achieve through our patience and understanding.  
It's very important.

I think that today is a very great day for all of us because this place is the 
place of Virata - of Shri Vittala.  It is the place where Shri Vittala 
appeared to a devoted son and when he asked Him that: "You'd better stand on a 
brick", He stood there, and they say that He stood there waiting.  Some people 
say that the statue that we see came out of the Mother Earth on this stand and 
that's what Punda carried saying: "These are the ones who came to see me and 
my parents.  I was busy with them. So they are standing on the same brick 
which I threw".

Now the whole story has to be taken in a very sensible way with common sense in 
it.  That God Himself is capable of all kinds of miracles.  We who are created 
by God are doing some things which look miraculous, say if you take about 100 
year old situation of this world.  We can say that today we are seeing many 
things which could be miraculous.  100 years back no one could have thought 
that we could have all these elements down here in such far fetched places.  
But, all these miracles come from the Power of God.  So, we are the creator of 
that wee bit - very wee bit of that miracle.  So, all the miracles of God 
cannot be explained and should not be explained.  They are beyond our minds ad 
to make people feel the presence of God.  God can do anything.

He can move into all the three dimensions and also in the fourth dimension and 
can do whatever He feels like.  That's  what you have seen now in your every 
day to day life - how many miracles take place - to all of you.  And you can't 
understand how it works out even, it works out things that are not living and 
people are quite amazed at how these things happen.

So we have to believe now, after seeing all this ourselves, that He is God.  
And He can do anything that He feels like, and we are nothing - we are 
nothing. There should be no rationality about it, of understanding God's 
miracles.  How can it be?  How could it be? You can't explain it.  Only when 
you achieve that state of mind where you believe through your experiences that 
God is all powerful.  It's very difficult, this concept.  It's very difficult 
because we are limited people. We have limited powers.  We cannot understand 
how God could be all powerful because we haven't got the capacity.  So this 
God who is our Creator, Who is our Preserver, the One Who desired that we 
should exist, Who is our Existence itself, is an all powerful God. 
All-powerful. He can do whatever He likes with you, He can create another 
world.  He can destroy this world.  It's only if He has to desire.

My idea of coming to Pandharpur for Shiva Puja was this: That Shiva represents 
the Spirit.  And the Spirit is residing in all of you in your hearts.  The 
seat of SadaShiva is on top of your head, but is reflected in your heart.  
Now, your brain is the Vittala. So, to bring Spirit to your brain means 
enlightenment of your brain. "Enlightenment of your brain" means the limited 
capacity of your brain has to become unlimited in its capacity, to realize God 
- I will not use the word "understand" but to realize God. How powerful He is. 
How miraculous He is.  How great He is.  Another is that the brain of man can 
create - of course, out of the dead, but when the Spirit comes into the brain, 
then you create living things -  living work of Kundalini.  Even the dead 
start behaving like the living, because you touch the Spirit in the dead. Like 
the nucleus inside every atom or molecule has the spirit of that molecule. And 
if you become your Spirit, we can say the "brain"of a molecule and an atom is 
like the nucleus body of the nucleus, but the one that controls the nucleus is 
the Spirit, that resides within the nucleus.  So now you have got the 
attention of the body - the whole body of the atom, then the nucleus, and 
inside the nucleus is the Spirit.  In the same way, we have this body, the 
attention of the body and then we have the nucleus that is the brain and the 
Spirit is in the heart.  So, the brain is controlled through the Spirit.  How? 
That around the heart there are seven auras, which can be multiplied into any 
number - seven raised to power 16 hundred - which are the ones which watch the 
seven chakras - raised to power 16 hundred - 16 thousand.

Now this Spirit is watching through this aura - watching, I am again saying, 
watching through this aura.  This aura is watching the behavior of your seven 
centers in your brain.  Is also watching all the nerves that are working in 
the brain, "watching" again.  But when you bring the Spirit into your brain 
then you go two steps ahead because when your Kundalini rises She touches your 
SadaShiva and SadaShiva informs the Spirit. Informs in the sense it reflects 
in the Spirit. So that's the first state where the watching auras start 
communication to your different chakras in the brain and integrating it.  But 
when you bring your Spirit to your brain - this is the second state -then you 
really become self-realised in the full way, in the full way. Because then 
your Self that is the Spirit becomes your brain. 

				(to be continue?)

--------------

I hope you enjoyed it, and to be continued if you are interested.

regards, johan

401.135ObservationCGVAX2::PAINTEROne small step...Fri Oct 06 1989 21:5222
    Re.134 (SU)
    
    johan,
    
    Please continue.
    
    There is only one statement which I take issue with, and perhaps it is
    a communication gap again, however it is the statement which says that
    'we are nothing'. 
    
    I believe we are everything.  Every person, each and every one of us,
    is known to God, and loved by God.  And we all matter to God a great
    deal.  This is the message which the holy ones (Jesus, Mohammed, etc.) 
    have continued to bring to us over the centuries, in fact this is
    precisely *why* the holy ones keep coming to us - to remind us of this.  
    It is said quite succinctly in the book of John in the Bible that 
    "God is Love".
    
    Perhaps you mean to say that we, as separated from God, have no power
    unto ourselves, as opposed to "we are nothing"?
    
    Cindy
401.136nothing = everythingDNEAST::CHRISTENSENLKeeper of the MythSat Oct 07 1989 16:1510
    
    
    How about: who we are is no-thing.  Being is.  Being is unsubject
    to the physical laws of the Universe.  We are not these bodies,
    yet in practice, the fulfillment of our Beingness chooses a body
    and a life time to suit its own purposes.
    
    etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
    
    l
401.137NOPROB::JOLLIMOREMon Oct 09 1989 11:105
.134 johan

Please continue.

Jay
401.138Part II of Maha Shivatri Puja Talk by Mother NirmalaVIDEO::SUMon Oct 09 1989 14:24126
...	(continue from .134)

This action is very dynamic.  It opens, then, the fifth dimension in the human 
being.  First when you become realized, collectively, you cross the fourth 
dimension but when your Spirit comes into your brain then you become the fifth 
dimension - means you become the Doer.

Our brain, now , for example, says "all right - lift this thing up", so you 
touch it with your hand, you lift it up. You are the doer.  But when the brain 
becomes the Spirit the Spirit is the doer.  And when Spirit is the doer then 
you become a complete Shiva: self-realised.  In that state if you get angry 
you are not attached. You are not an attached person to anything whatsoever.  
If you posses anything you are not attached.  You cannot attach because Spirit 
is detachment - complete detachment.  You don't bother about any attachments 
whatsoever.  Even for a second you are not attached.  Now I would say to 
understand the detachment of Spirit we should study ourselves very well, 
clearly: "How are we attached?" We are attached firstly by our brain.  Mostly 
by our brain.  Because all our conditionings are in our brain and all of our 
ego is also in our brain.  So, emotional attachments are through our our brain 
and all our egoistical attachments also are through our brain.  That's why it 
is said that after realisation one must try to practice the Shiva Tattwa 
(principle) by practicing detachment.

Now, how do you practice this detachment? Because we get attached to something 
- of course, through our brain but through our attention.  So, we try to do 
what we call "Chitta Nirod" - it is to control your attention.  Where is it 
going?  In the practice of Sahaja Yoga, if you have to rise higher, you have 
to prove your own instrument and not the instrument of others.  This is one 
thing one should know for definite.  Now, you just watch your attention.  
Where is it going? Watch yourself.  As soon as you starting watching yourself, 
your attention, you become identified with your Spirit.  Because if you have 
to watch your attention you will have to be  your Spirit.  Otherwise, how will 
you watch it? So now see where is your attention going? First, the attachment 
is, in all gross ways, to your body.  So we see Shiva doesn't know attachment 
to His body.  He sleeps anywhere.  He goes to the cemeteries and sleeps there. 
 Because, not attached, he can never be caught up by any bhoots or anything.  
Nothing of the kind.  He is detached.  The detachment is to be watched and 
seen through your own attachments.

Now because you are realized souls, not yet the Spirit, it has not yet come 
into your brain, of course, but still you are realized souls.

So what you can do is at least to watch your attention.  You can do that.  You 
can watch your attention, very clearly.  By seeing where your attention is 
going.  And then, controlling your attention also you can do. Very simply. To 
control your attention you have just to remove your attention from this to 
that.  Try to change your priorities.  All this has to be done now.  After 
realisation a complete detachment.  So the body demands comfort.  Try to make 
body uncomfortable a little bit.  Try.  What you think to be comfortable, try 
to make it a little uncomfortable.   That's why people went to the Himalayas.  
You see coming to this place itself has got a lot of problems.  So going to 
the Himalayas - you can imagine so after realisation they used to take body to 
Himalayas.  "Alright, go through all this.  Let's see how you act."  So what 
you call a penance side starts now.  In a way, it's a penance which you can do 
very easily because now you are realized souls - with enjoyment.  A little try 
to make this body - For Shiva, it doesn't matter whether He's in a cemetery or 
His own Kailaisa, or anywhere.  Where is your attention.  You see that your 
human attention is hopelessly bad.  Very entangled nonsense it is.  "We did 
this because of this" - is an explanation; or others have to give an 
explanation.  No explanation is needed - to be given or to be accepted. Or to 
be asked for.  No explanation.  To exist without explanation is the best way.  
In a simple Hindi language, "Je se raku je se hiro." - whichever way you keep 
me I'll remain in that state, and I'll enjoy.  Further in this poem Kabir 
says: "If you make me go on an elephant (the royal conveyance) I'll go.  If 
you want me to walk, I'll walk."  "Je se raku je se hiro." So no reaction on 
that one, no reaction, no explanation, no reaction.

Now, second is about food.  That's the first seeking human beings had as 
animals.  No attention on food.  Whether you have salt or not, whether you 
have this or that.  No attention on food.  Actually, you should not remember 
what you ate this morning.  But we think as to what we are going to eat 
tomorrow.  We consume food not for running this body but for a sort of more 
satisfaction of tongue pleasures.  Once you start understanding that  
pleasure is a sign of gross attention, any kind of pleasure is a very gross 
sensation.  Very gross it is.  But, when I say no pleasure it doesn't mean 
that you should become serious people and people of sort of as if somebody is 
dead in your family.  But you should be like Shiva, so detached.

He came on a bull (which was running very fast) to get married. Sitting on a 
bull with His two feet like this, you see.  And the bull is running fast and 
He is holding the bull, the feel like this.  And He's coming for His wedding.  
And with Him are coming people with one eye, without noses, all kinds of funny 
people coming with Him.  And His wife feeling quite embarrassed at the 
nonsensical things people are talking about Shiva.  He's not bothered what His 
reputation would be.  But that doesn't mean that you become the hippies.  You 
see the problem is that once you start thinking like that you become hippies.  
Many people believe that if you try to behave like Shiva you become Shiva.  
Many believe that way that if you take "ganga" you become Shiva because Shiva 
used to take "ganga", because He was consuming all that to finish it off from 
this world.  So, if it's ganga what does it matter - give Him everything. 
He'll never get drunk.  No question.  He's consuming all that.  Or they think, 
if they live like Shiva - the way He was detached about things, He was least 
bothered about His appearance.  What appearance Shiva needs?  It is that 
whatever He appears as is beauty.   He doesn't need anything to be that .  So 
attachment to anything is ugliness.  It is ugliness. It is nonsense.  But you 
can dress up whatever way you like. Or, even if you are in the most ordinary 
dress you look the most magnificent person/  But it's not that if you say that 
- alright, in these circumstances, let us go about with one sheet wrapped 
around.  The beauty that has evolved within you through Spirit gives you that 
power that you can wear whatever you feel like.   Makes no difference to your 
beauty.  The beauty is there all the time.

But have you achieved that state? And that state only you achieve when your 
Spirit enters into your brain.  With ego oriented people it is more difficult.  
And that is why they cannot enjoy things. At the slightest pretest they topple 
down.  And Spirit, which is the source of joy, just doesn't come, doesn't 
show.  The joy is beauty.  The joy itself is beauty.  But that is a state one 
has to achieve. The Joy itself is beauty. But that is a state one has to 
achieve. Attachments come by various methods.  You go a little ahead with it 
then you have attachments of your family.  What will happen to my child?  What 
will happen to my husband? What will happen to my mother? What will happen to 
my wife; this, that... Nonsense.  Who is your father and who is your mother? 
Who is your husband and who is your wife? For Shiva, He doesn't know all these 
things. To Him, He and His power are inseparable things.  So He stands as a 
singular personality.  There is no duality.  When there is duality then you 
can say "my wife".  You don't say "my nose, my ears, my hands, my, my, my, my, 
my..." Go deep down. Till you say my, there is some duality.  Then I say "I 
the nose" -there is no duality.  Shiva the Shakti; Shakti the Shiva.  There is 
no duality. But we live throughout on duality.  And because of that there is 
an attachment.  If there is no duality what is the attachment? If you are the 
light and you are the lamp, then where is the duality? If you are the moon and 
you are the moonlight, then where is the duality? If you are the sun and you 
are the sunlight, you are the word and you are the meaning, then where is the 
duality?

		( To Be Continue )
401.139The conclusion of Maha Shivatri Puja TalkROYALT::SUWed Nov 15 1989 17:5884
(continue from .138)

But when there is this separation there is duality.  And because of this 
separation you feel attached, because if you are that how will you be 
attached?  Do you see that point? Because there is a difference and a distance 
between you and yours, that's why you get attached to it.  That's me; who is 
the other? This whole universe is me; who is the other? Everything is me; who 
is the other?


It's not that it's a brain wave or an ego brain wave. So who is the other? 
Nobody. That's only possible when your Spirit comes into your brain and you 
become part and parcel of the Virata itself. Without it is the brain, as I 
told you, then everything you do - when you show your temper, when you show 
your affection, when you show your compassion, anything, it is the Spirit that 
is expressing because the brain has lost its identity.  The so called 
"limited" brain, it has become the unlimited Spirit.   


If a color is dropped in an ocean, the ocean becomes colorful - is not 
possible.  But, try to understand - if a little color, limited color, 
is dropped into the ocean, the color loses its identity completely. 
Think of the other way around.  If the ocean is colored and is poured into 
atmosphere, or onto any part, a little, wee bit, or onto any spot, onto any 
atom or anything: it all becomes colorful.  So the Spirit is like the ocean 
which has the light in it.  And when this ocean pours into the little cup 
of your brain, the cup loses its identity and everything becomes spiritual.  
Everything! You can make everything spiritual.  You touch anything - it is 
spiritual.  This sand becomes spiritual.  The land becomes spiritual. The 
Atmosphere becomes spiritual.  Everything becomes spiritual.  So it is the 
ocean that is the Spirit while your brain is limited. So the detachment 
from your limited brain has to be brought in.  All limitations of brain 
should be broken so that when this ocean fills that brain it should break 
that little cup and every bit of that cup should become colorful.  The whole 
atmosphere, everything, whatever you look at should be colorful.  The color 
of the Spirit is the light of the Spirit and this light of the Spirit acts, 
works, thinks, coordinates, does everything.


The first procedure is to take your brain towards Spirit principle by telling 
it: "See - where are you going Mr. Brain? You are putting attention to this.  
You are putting attention to that.  Getting involved. Now detach! Become the 
brain yourself. Only the brain. Detach. Detach."


And then, take this detached brain, completely filled with the color of the 
Spirit. It will automatically happen.  As long as you have these limitations 
to your attention it will not happen.  So one has to really deliberately do 
this Tapasya.  Every individual.  I hope so many of you will become the 
Spirit Principle in my lifetime. But don't think I'm asking you to suffer.  
There is no suffering in this kind of an ascent.  If you understand that this 
is the complete joy state. That is the time when you become "nirananda".  


I hope that whatever we do in an outward way, in a gross way, happens also 
in a subtler way.  But I find it rather, sometimes, difficult because your 
attention is still involved in temper, lust, greed, everything.  Try to 
detach yourself. Try to redeem it. Try to control your speech.  Whether you 
express temper in your speech or you express your compassion, or you are 
artificially compassionate, try to control.  Detachment must start expressing 
itself in your realisation - detachment!  


What is surrendering?  It is nothing because when you are detached you are 
surrendered, automatically. When you are holding on to other things you 
are not surrendered, that's all.  What is there to surrender? 


Today I hope we all pray that: "Oh Lord, give us strength and that source of 
attraction by which we give up all other attractions, of all the pleasures, 
of joy, of ego, of everything that we think of."  But that we should fall 
into the pure joy form of the Spirit Principle absolutely.


I hope I've been able to explain to you why I am here today and why today is a 
very big day.  You all who are here are especially very lucky people.  Once 
you get detached you'll start feeling responsible. Responsibility not giving 
ego, but responsibility which is executing by itself, which is expressing by 
itself, manifesting by itself.


May God Bless you.

(This entire speech has been extracted and shorten for Dejavu notesfile.)
401.140Sahaja Yoga and politics scienceROYALT::SUMon Nov 20 1989 16:50188
The following speech explain the political movement of today's world.
The openning of East Berlin Wall opens the flood gate of right movement, 
a sign of failure of extreme human selfish power (another form
of Nazi power). Our question is when we reach a point in the self-
destructive left movement of self-indulgence democracy, do we have
a gate, a chance like Communist world to open?  The left movement is
manifest lethargic into every corner of the modern society. 


American must come out of this hiding shell to greet the people of East 
Communist bloc's movement and solve and reform this problem all together 
and be a world leader again instead of being label as "decaying American 
democracy".


The award-winning documentaries about American government and politics
producer Sherry Jones eye-witness the two influential deputies of the 
Supreme Soviet debated the wording of free press legislation commented that 
it was like watching a latter-day Jefferson and Madison at work.


Shri Mataji said you can only go to the center through right side. Which
also means only through collective-desire you can make human salvation 
happen.   


    
 












                     Sahaja Yoga - the solution to all problems




                             by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi


          All political, economic, social and religious problems can be
          solved through Sahaja Yoga. Sahaja means 'born with' you and
          Yoga means the union with Divine. Firstly, one should keep an
          open mind like a scientist to see whether whatever hypothesis
          is put forward can be proved or not. Then, if it is proved, one
          should be honest enough to accept it as law, I mean the law of
          the Divine. Before we start proving it let us witness the basic
          defects in our understanding of the problem.



          We forget that we have made all ideologies. All isms like democ-
          racy or communism are man-made. These isms can not rule us but
          we have to govern them for our benevolence. The way people get
          identified with them they lose complete sight of the vision for
          which they were created. Now it is the time to look back and to
          look forward.


          After seeing the failure of our political ideologies, logically
          one can see clearly that both these isms have reached their
          extreme ends. It is very evident that both of them are suffering
          the pangs of blindfolded movement towards the left or right
          side. The root cause of their sickness is that they are made
          in the light of human awareness which can only move in a linear
          direction till it recoils upon itself.


          Democracy is the movement towards the left. It is accepted that
          individual freedom is his birthright. No one wants to know that
          human beings are imperfect and that they may not use their so
          called birthright for the collective benevolence. Thus democracy
          means the least control, least discipline and least collective
          morality. Thus an individual can become malignant and overpower
          the whole nation with his money. A few rich can control the
          Parliament elections and the collective freedom. Now the time
          has come to get the dividend of this trauma of democracy.


          Communism is the other movement towards the right side. It
          started for the benevolence of the collective and not for the
          rights of the individual. There is no individual freedom for po-
          litical rights or ownerships. Stern administration discipline is
          enforced creating a frightful existence. In the extreme cases it
          is a complete regimentation of the country as Stalin manifested.
          There are strict limitations on earnings and throttling curbs on
          free thinking. The human awareness is completely brain washed.
          This forced goodness for the collective makes the nations weak
          because the individuals who make the collective are like pup-
          pets. They lose the sensitivity to feel the collective joy and
          if they visit a democratic country they become terrible self-
          indulgent. This shows that this artificial training has done no
          good to the character.


          One can see the change in the attitude of the leaders in these
          nations. Those in the left are trying to go towards the right
          and those in the right side are moving towards the left. Perhaps
          in their ignorance they think that the grass is greener on the
          other side. In their respective movement they have to stop in
          the center if they want to have balance. This is what Sahaja
          Yoga is doing that it gives balance to an individual as it is an
          en-masse movement, it also gives balance to the collective.


          To ascend to the Divine is the only pure desire and is the only
          solution for saving the nations from the doomsday. This is said
          by many saints and seers of our country. We Indians are still
          under the darkness of slavery and do not want to know the wealth
          of Indian Wisdom. We are so much enamoured by the superficial
          glitter of the West that we close our eyes to the fact that West
          is moving towards its destruction very fast.


          The economic wants are also described as satiable in particular
          but not in general. That means the so called desire we have,
          are never going to be fulfilled in their totality. Today we very
          much want one thing and when we achieve it we want something
          else. In the democratic countries there is a wild race for
          creating new wants and new problem for making the machines work
          for twenty four hours a day. The household is filled with junk
          showing the relics of the dead desires. To counter balance this
          we have the anti-culture movements who take to the other extreme
          of drugs etc. On the other side in the Communist countries the
          desires are controlled by force and regimentation. But once
          these bounded people get to the so called free countries they
          become wild like primitive people worse than the free people.


          So what is pure desire? What is the want that satisfies fully? I
          may say this desire is to become one with the Divine.


          The Divine is the Love of God Almighty, 'Chaitanya' as described
          by Adi Shankaracharya - the cool breeze. That is the cool breeze
          of the Holy Ghost (Adishakti). This is the 'Ruh' described in
          the Holy Koran.


          The movements of human awareness are very swift and shaky. They
          create uneasiness, tensions and diseases. Once the balance is
          established through Sahaja Yoga and the relation with the vital
          power of Divine is established, it transforms human personality.
          He becomes a super man, free from temptations, completely inte-
          grated, peaceful, compassionate, joyful and above all he gets
          all the powers of his Spirit.


          Similarly the man made religions are coming in their ugly mani-
          festation. They have defiled the Divine, denied the reality and
          their fake grounds are shaking. In their extreme cases one can
          see the movement towards the left or right. The left movement is
          money oriented, and the right movement is power oriented; they
          are in no way spirit oriented. But one should not in any way
          disregard the evolutionary living power which has made us human
          beings. The introspection should make us inquire and question :
          "What is wrong with us?" etc.


          Firstly, we discover that we do not have the means to have ab-
          solute direction of right and wrong. Every opinion is relative.
          Secondly, we don not have a personality that can sensibly use
          power or money. Thirdly, we lack the strength to withstand temp-
          tation of evil and falsehood. Whatever ism we follow we are
          dissatisfied, frustrated, unhappy, sickly and aggressive human
          beings at par with each other.


          There are many ways suggested but the living process of a seed
          to become the tree is the same. The living force of evolution
          has to work through Sahaja Yoga. In all human ventures we end
          up in a pond of worms who are eating everything or of sinking
          shifting mire which overpowers. To emerge victoriously out of
          these two dangerous jaws of destruction is only possible if the
          leaders of the nations get self realization through Sahaja Yoga
          and are enlightened by self-knowledge of the collective (this
          would manifest on their central nervous system). Thus appearing
          on the stage of reality as "Lotuses of Divinity spreading the
          fragrance of human ascent into its glorious destination."

401.141Cool Breeze...ZGOV05::JAMESLIAWTue Jan 09 1990 05:2117
    I feel the cool sensations sometimes too in front of the 
    photo and also sometimes when it is not around.  
    
    Been doing it for some months now.
    
    Still waiting to see other effects like a better life
    ,etc,(side effects of linking with the Spirit).  Anyway,
    the bad effects are caused by oneself anyway. 
    
    
    Anybody else anything to add to liven up this file?
    
    
    Regards  James - A Buddhist
    
    James
    
401.142News from down-under.ROYALT::SUFri Mar 16 1990 18:4149
    	Here some news just arrived from downunder...
    
	 Shri Mataji was visiting in New Zealand from March 12 till 15th.

	 Later during Her stay Brian had arranged for Shri Mother to be
	 interviewed live by New Zealand most renowned, cynical radio 
         broadcaster, what we call here a 'hard case'. He has a reputation 
    	 for giving the people he interviews a bad time.

	 The interview commenced and he started asking Shri Mataji some
	 very penetrating questions about Sahaja Yoga, the world situations,
	 help, money in Sahaja Yoga and as the interview progress he got
	 more and more positive. Then he asked her :

		"Are you a Messiah a prophet ?"

	To which Shri Mataji did not reply, but suddenly he started 
	feeling cool breeze in his hand. Then he forgot he was live on
	radio and started saying "Hey I can feel this cool breeze in my
	hands when I bring my hands together I feel like I am holding
	a cool ball of wind. Me the greatest sceptic, when I started
	interviewing Shri Mataji I did not believe a word of what she
	was saying, now I can feel it."


	As this was being broadcast all the office workers in the building
	could not believe what he was saying as it was so out of character,
	they started coming from their desks and looking through the
	studio window in disbelief. The interviewer then said that he could
	not feel it in his head, Shri Mataji then worked on him, and
	he could then feel it in his head. He asked what about everyone
	else and Shri Mataji replied they can get it too just tell them
	to put their hands out to radio and they will get it.

	Apparently it was an incredible scene as the interviewer, and 
	all the office workers peering into the studio had one hand
	directed to Shri Mataji and one hand above their head feeling
	the cool breeze.

	Later Shri Mataji said that although the interviewer had a bad
	reputation underneath he was quite humble, and really ready
	for it, that is why he felt it so strong.

	Shri Mataji held two public programs in Auckland, both quite
	successful and attended by around 300 people. 
    
    	(Currently she is in Sydney, Australia.)
    
401.143Freeing The World 'For Free'ROYALT::SUFri Apr 27 1990 14:0859
          <<< HYDRA::DISK$USERPACK02:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HOLISTIC.NOTE;2 >>>
                              -< Holistic Forum >-
================================================================================
Note 19.11                    Types of Meditation.                      11 of 11
ROYALT::SU                                           52 lines  27-APR-1990 09:59
                       -< Freeing The World 'For Free' >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    Here is an article that was published in the "Australian" on the 16th
    of March 1990 during Shri Mataji Australian tour.

    FREEING THE WORLD 'FOR FREE'

    False prophets are easy to identify because they are all
    money-oriented, says Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, 67, commonly known as
    The Mother and regarded by many Indians and Westerners as the greatest
    living saint.

    Shri Mataji believes people are attracted to gurus who charge money
    because they think something that is free is not worth anything.

    It is, She says, a symptom of the philosophy that is destroying the
    world.

    "But Mother Earth is not for sale. And self-realisation is invaluable.
    You cannot pay for it," She said.

    Shri Mataji, on Her fifth visit to Australia, offers "self-realisation"
    through the practice of Sahaja Yoga, an ancient system of meditation
    that uses signals and sensations felt in the central nervous system to
    achieve  greater awareness and intuition.

    She has brought Her message to people in 40 countries over the past 20
    years and is being rewarded with a global explosion in the practice of
    Sahaja Yoga.

    To Her surprise, when She visited Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev last
    August, thousands of people had to be turned away when She spoke.

    Sahaja Yoga is now being given a three-month trial in an orphanage and
    school in Moscow with a view to introducing it throughout the Soviet 
    education system.

    She believes "self-realisation" among thousands of Soviets and Eastern
    Europeans last year was responsible for the series of revolutions that
    overthrew Communism.

    She also believes the Soviet President, Mr. Gorbachev, is a "very
    powerful saint" who has the capacity to change the world.

    "That transformation gives a great chance for humanity to be saved,"
    She said.

    Shri Mataji will speak at the Sydney Hilton today and tomorrow and the
    Canberra Convention Centre on Monday.

    							-Anne Jamieson

401.144Sahaja Yoga in AustriaVNABRW::EICHERTHelmut Eichert, LinzTue May 08 1990 07:3811
401.145Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi is coming.ROYALT::SUTue May 22 1990 21:4442
    To all the seekers of the Truth,
    
    
    Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi   will be here in North America in person from
    May 25th till June 8th.   During this period of time, there will be few
    public programs available to all.
    
    June 7 (Thursday) at 7:00pm 
    					at "Terrace on the Park"
    					52-11 Flushing Meadow Park
    					Queens, New York
    
    Intersection of the Grand Center Parkway and the Long Island
    Expressway:
    
    By car: From the Grand Central Parkway, take the exit for the Long
    Island Expressway.  Do not get on L.I. Expressway.  Follow signs to
    108th Street. Follow signs to Terrace on the Park.
    
    From the Long Island Expressway, exit at 108th St. Follow signs to
    Terrace on the Park.
    
    By subway:  Take the #7 train to 111 St. station.  Walk 10 blocks.
    Or, take the #7 train to 103rd St. station.  Take the Q23 bus to 52nd
    Avenue.  Walk 1 block to 111th St.
    
    Also, The UNSRC Cultural Society will present Shri Mataji on a program
    "The Awareness Breakthrough" at Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on
    Wednesday, June 6th at 5:00pm.   You will need an invitation to get in.
    Please send mail to me for invitation.  The entrance to the Auditorium
    at the UN is located at First Avenue and 42nd Street.
    
    
    "As a mother I would say that I have done the cooking for you.  If you
    are hungry you should start eating.  I leave it to your wisdom and to
    your freedom to feel the longing from inside."
    						- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
    	
    
    
     For more information: (718)-520-0175
     
401.146Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in AustriaVNABRW::EICHERTHelmut Eichert, LinzFri Jun 15 1990 06:367
401.147Couldn't resistELMST::VERMAVirendra, MRO4-3/H10, DTN 297-5913Fri Jun 15 1990 19:572
After reading some of the earlier replies, no wonder Christ suffered so
much.
401.148Only Your Own Experience Count.ROYALT::SUMon Jul 09 1990 16:17198
    
    Base on Sahaja Yoga's Viswa Nirmala Dharma - the Universal True
    Knowledge, we have discussed quite a bit of Lord Christ (even in
    VAXWRK::INDIA #140.* Jesus in India).  In Sahaja Yoga, you can prove
    the existence of God (The supreme unconscious, the power which create
    human being), and further you can even prove Christ is the son of God!
    Now perhaps I should clarify it a bit.  When we say prove, we don't
    mean proof in the epistemological sense, or in the sense whereby you
    can demonstrate the existence of God for all to see.  Rather, Sahaja
    Yoga will convince anyone who approaches it with an open mind - neither
    accepting like a blind faith or rejecting the tenets put forth.
    
    
    The ideal student is the person committed to find out what the truth
    is, what the actual state of affairs is.  He or she approaches Sahaja
    Yoga as an experiment to test a set of hypotheses.
    
    
    We cannot prove the existence of God with a dialectic! Sahaja Yoga is
    very simple yet very difficult big subject.  Furthermore, reading about
    it, or discussing it, won't prove my point.  You have to make the
    choice to find Truth.  Sahaja Yoga helps you do that. It provides a
    direct teleological experience, gives you direct, lucid, and complete
    contact with the living Base of existence itself.

    
    So, what is Sahaja Yoga?   I know many of you probably wondering about
    and you are afraid to get into something really cannot understand at
    this point.
    
    
    Yoga is Sanskrit for union.  To achieve yoga is to achieve union
    with the Divine.  Tragically, the word has come to mean something
    else in the West  Here yoga labels everything from stretching
    exercises to self-hypnosis.


    Real yoga takes you beyond the limitations of mind and emotion.
    Its practice is exceedingly rare and difficult to find.  The state
    of yoga is an experience described by many seers, saints and
    incarnations.  Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lao-Tze, and Muhammad, all
    spoke of it.  Lesser known seers have written about it, including
    Kahlil Gibran, William Blake, C.S. Lewis, Henry David Thoreau and
    Kabir.  But, again, from your perspective, such assertions are
    conjecture.  They have to be. Sahaja Yoga is not a dogma.  In
    fact, we say it's wrong to believe in God without firm, expirical
    evidence. On the other hand, it's equally wrong to reject our
    experiment, out of hand.


    The experiment of Sahaja Yoga is simple.  You don't need to take
    drugs. You don't need to sit and chant a repetitive mantra until
    your brain turns to jelly.  You don't need to concentrate.  You
    don't need to do anything immoral or illegal.  You don't have to do
    any stretching or exercises.  You don't need to wear a saffron
    robe or any other such nonsense. You don't need to change your
    diet.  You don't have to pay any money for your Self-realization.  
    You don't have to read any propaganda.  You don't need to sit in a 
    funny position. And you don't need to believe.  It only takes fifteen 
    minutes of your time each day.  And, it works.


    Suppose you were to start practicing Sahaja Yoga.  Let me tell you what
    you could expect.  I can cite scriptural and literary quotes which
    recount every experience I am about to describe.  These come from many
    of the world's scriptures and from other literary works.  Each
    substantiates the experiences of Sahaja Yoga.  But these citations are
    more interesting after you've experienced what they describe, and they
    really do nothing to further my challenge.  If you explore Sahaja Yoga,
    ...Well, I don't really have to do this, because all of the Dejavu noter 
    are avid reader.

    
    To start the experiment you need to meet with some Sahaja yogis.
    
    
    You will almost certainly achieve what we call Self-realization during
    your first meditation.  This is the same experience as the Buddhist
    enlightenment and the Christian second birth or baptism (real).  For
    some people this experience is quite dramatic, for others it is subtle.
    But none will suffer any bit as the biginning of this 401 earlier notes
    discussed.
    
    
    Whether or not you feel anything during your initial meditation is
    inconsequential.  Eventually, you will begin to feel the manifestation
    of your own spirit (Sanskrit: Atma ).  Of course, you don't need to
    believe that.  You'll just note that you are feeling unusual sensations
    on your hands, on your scalp, and in your body. These sensatins are not
    painful whatsoever.
    
    
    You may feel a slight warmth or tingling which gradually gives way to
    the feeling of a cool breeze.  This is the cool breeze of the Holy
    Ghost (Hebrew: Ruach, Sanskrit: Chaitanya).  You don't need to believe
    that - just note the experience when it happens.
    
    
    You will feel the cool breeze blowing across the palms of your hands
    and out the top of your head, above the fontanelle membrane.  We call
    this part of the head the Brahmarandra or the Sahasrara Chakra.
    
    
    As your sensitivity increases, you will be able to feel the Sahasrara
    Chakra open.  This is a very enjoyable experience, you are in total joy
    of silence.
    
    This openning of Sahasrara is a manifestation of your enlightenment.
    
    
    Hindu mythology describes the Sahasrara as a thousand petalled lotus. 
    In Christian terms, it is the tongues of flames.  Christian artists
    unwittingly depict it as a halo, or a white pigeon!  May be Christians
    derived their concept of heaven above from the fact that the Sahasrara
    Chakra opens just above the head.
    
    
    Thoreau called the Sahasrara the fruit on top of your head and
    metaphorically refers to the experience of Self-realization throughout
    his journals.  
    
    
    Again, you don't need to believe this. You should just take note when
    you feel something happening.
    
    
    You will find these sensations interesting and enjoyable, but they
    don't prove my hypothesis.  You will find that proof in the state of
    consciousness that accompanies these physical manifestations.  This
    state is something that you have to experience because I cannot
    describe it.  I will say that Self-realization is a good poetic
    description.
    
    
    Everything gradually becomes so clear.  Some said it was like waking
    from a hazy sleep.
    
    
    I sincerely believe that Sahaja Yoga will change humanity. The
    experience is undeniable.  The problem is that you can't just read about
    it or watch it on television.  You have to try it.
    
    
    Unfortunately, few people have ever even heard of Sahaja Yoga.  But the
    word is spreading gradually.  I try to tell anyone who will listen.  So
    far, very few people have been willing to lend me an ear.
    
    
    The words from Russia last week, I heard 5000 people in Moscow got
    their self-realization and 10'000 in Leningrad where an Olympic Stadium
    had been used for Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi's public program.
    
    
    Nick, I hope you don't mind I took the words right from your mouth.
    
    
    No discussion of Sahaja Yoga is complete without mention Shri Mataji
    Nirmala Devi.
    
    
    She was born in Chindwara, India, on March 21st in 1923.  Her father
    was a noted language scholar and was the only Christian member of
    independent India's Central Legislative Assembly.  Her mother was a
    mathematician.
    
    
    Mahatma Gandhi invited her to work with him at his ashram.  She became
    his child-guru.
    
    
    As a young woman, Shri Mataji played an active role in India's struggle
    for independence.  Later she studied medicine and psychology.
    
    
    She married, raised a family, and is how a grandmother.  Her husband is
    C.P. Shrivastava, the Secretary General of the United Nations
    International Maritime Organization of 16 years. Last December he
    retired from U.N..
    
    
    In 1970, after the marriage of her daughters, she began teaching Sahaja
    Yoga. She now spend most of her time travelling worldwide, giving
    public programs and lectures.
    
    
    I hope this notes will satisfy your curiosity and provoke you to
    investigate further.
    
    
    Some of you may be think that Sahaja Yoga looks like a crazy Eastern
    cult.  On the surface it may resemble a New Age racket, but let me 
    assure you that the similarities end there.  Yes, there are other forms 
    of meditation, but they are not the same.  They do not achieve the same 
    results and can cost you a fortune.  
    
    [ End of note ]


401.149Heaven forbid! (;^)SCARGO::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Mon Jul 09 1990 20:4010
    
    Re.148 
    
    >Christian artists unwittingly depict it as a halo...
    
    Oh dear, now you've gone and let the cat out of the bag. 
    
    0(;^)  0(;^)  0(;^)
    
    Cindy
401.150FYI - Send mail if you are interested.ROYALT::SUThu Sep 20 1990 17:0440
    Dear Noters,
    
    
    Currently we are running a 7 weeks (once a week) after work continuous
    cost free Sahaja Yoga Meditation class at Lotus 1-2-3 Corporation in
    Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The responses were overwhelmed and we are 
    surprised to see so many seekers in that small company.
    
    
    At the end of second session, the attendents (almost all of them) were
    expressing their experience of cool breeze coming directly on top of
    their fontanelle bones and the vibrations (both cool and hot) they were
    perceiving on their very palms.  The proof were just phenomenal.  Among 
    them, many admitted that they are atheist but now they have proved that 
    there is an energy (the image of all pervading power exists within their 
    subtle system - the physical body.  This courses will continue to teach 
    them the techniques of Sahaja Yoga on how to interpret this vibration and 
    how to use it to cleanse various center exist in our nervous system; how 
    this Sahaja Yoga meditation can apply to our daily living etc.
    
    
    Now, we are considering to run the same course in Digital along the
    stretch of highway 495, which is convenient for the employee of Shrewsbury,
    Marlboro, Hudson, greater Maynard area (Stow, Parker Street, and the
    Mill), Littleton, Westford, Chelmsford or even for the folks across the 
    boarder of New Hampshire.  If we can round up 20 serious seekers, we can 
    sign up a corporate conference room such as White Mist Hall of Fame at 
    Hudson plant as meeting place after the working hour (say, from 6:00
    to 8:00pm).  
    
    
    If you are interested with above purposal or you have suggestion to this, 
    please send E-mail to ROYALT::SU.  Talking about artificial organization, 
    this is the most you will see of Sahaja Yoga.  After such event, you are 
    on your on.  This meditation course definitely will help you to manage
    the stress level in our state of the company.
    
    
    Best regards,
    Paulo
401.151A few questionsCGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Sun Sep 30 1990 02:5631
    
    Hi Paulo,
    
    It is interesting to compare my experiences at Kripalu with Sahaja
    Yoga, having gone back to .0 and read the first few initial notes.
    
    One thing that became very clear to me was the lack of integration of
    the mind, spirit *and* body in many or most spiritual-type disciplines,
    whether they be traditional Western and Eastern religions or (I
    hesitate to use this term, but...) new age-type beliefs and practices.
    
    You mentioned a couple of notes back that no exercises or postures were
    necessary for the realization to occur.  That's fine, however how does 
    one practicing Sahaja Yoga go about integrating the physical body into 
    the picture, given that Yoga means union?
    
    To explain further, based on my recent experience, at the Kripalu
    Center, what is taught is Kripalu Yoga, or "Meditation in Motion".  I
    had the deepest meditation state ever just after dance aerobics - it was
    as if my mind, body and spirit were truly united and I was tapping into
    high voltage.  It was more than post-exercise cooldown since the
    experience has stayed with me, provided I continue to exercise, stay
    close to my vegie diet and generally listen to my body wisdom.  The
    whole experience was far deeper than this since it has led to some very
    transforming experiences recently, however it is difficult to convey
    the totality of these experiences in a short note.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Cindy
                                           
401.152ROYALT::SUWed Oct 03 1990 16:5067
    Hi Cindy,


    You may be able to compare this notes to that notes, but I don't think
    you can compare Kripalu with Sahaja Yoga because you have not
    experience Sahaja Yoga yet.


    The unique of Sahaja Yoga is you first experience the state of become
    self-realization.  After this self-realization, your subtle physical
    system is awakening and you start your own real work...as nothing comes
    easy goes.  You become your own master.


    As you already know, the objective of meditation is to achieve full
    integration with the inner self, or Spirit.  In Sahaja Yoga, this is
    accomplished through thoughtless awareness.  With this integration
    comes an awareness of vibration, the cool breeze of the Kundalini while
    she moves through the seven subtle centers called Chakra.


    It is the "only" way through the awakening of the Kundalini from the
    dormant state, this true meditation in thoughtless awareness is
    possible.


    I knew many noters immediately will jump on me for saying "this is the
    only way".  This also is happening in India many guru came out and
    complaint to Shri Mataji: "How can you give such precious gift to any
    one else so easily."  I must admit that I did not do any of the penance
    in order to receive such "jagrut" (awakened).  But, nevertheless, you
    and I have the same opportunity to receive this as long as you have a
    desire same as mine,  for such time has come indeed.  Many also will
    argue with you till the end of the world saying "How dare you said you
    got it and I don't".  Doesn't matter!  Read on and you will know.


    To continue your question: "How does one practicing Sahaja Yoga go about 
    integrating the physical body into the picture, given that Yoga means 
    union?"


    After you have gotten your self-realization, you can achieve the union
    of Spirit, mind and body.  This means you know where you are off
    balance in your own subtle mind and physical body.  By that you learn
    to compensate it and bring yourself into the middle way - the balance.
    The vibration in your own hand and each part of your body will guide
    you and you use the techniques in Sahaja Yoga to purify your chakras.
    Since you become your own master, you experiment and you will know it
    is all absolutely true as it is not just mental believing.  In
    practice, this is the state that you are not only healing yourself but
    you can also know and heal other person's subtle system.  You become
    microcosmic.


    To continue, you can achieve the state of "Nirvikalpa", in which the
    collective consciousness state you are even more subtler and subtler.
    You will be in the state of doubtlessness.  I think I already have gone 
    beyond your question.


    To sum it up, the self-realization is a new beginning for everyone.  I
    only regret that I started my own in such a late time of my life.  It
    certainly is going to be a "short note" for me.


    								-Paulo
401.153Continuing on...CGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Wed Oct 03 1990 17:4411
    
    Yes, Paolo, however you cannot compare Kripalu to Sahaja either since
    you have not had that experience.
    
    So for the moment the best we can do is compare notes.
    
    To continue - I received what is called by Yogi Desai as Shaktipat
    (Shakti) energy from my spiritual teacher this lifetime, about three
    years ago.  From what you write, this sounds similar.
    
    Cindy
401.154?ROYALT::SUWed Oct 17 1990 19:2016
    Perhaps, you can tell us what is the Shaktipat energy you received
    three years ago?
    
    What can you do with this Shaktipat energy to help your individual
    spirit ascend?
    
    How much do you have to paid in order to receive that?
    
    Carl Jung stated the existence of collective consciousness in this
    Universe, and he further said we human race can only achieve there
    through collective ascension.   All the yogis in Sahaja Yoga would 
    like to explain and share what they have learn and gain, with a good
    reason of course.
    
    - Paulo
    
401.156Reference to C. G. JungROYALT::SUThu Oct 18 1990 15:5223
    re: .-1
    
    
    "An archetype", Jung tell us, "is a great 'original image transmitted
    by the collective Unconscious to our own individual unconscious. The
    original images constitute the most general and the most ancient and
    distant representative forms known to humanity.  They are as much
    feeling as thought, and they have a sort of life of their own,
    independent and autonomous."  When our libido outgrows its infantile
    and personal form, plunged into the unconscious, it discovers "the
    hidden treasure which has served humanity for all its history, whence
    have come the gods and the demons and all those thoughts of a greater
    force and power without which man ceases to be man."
     
    Please reference to the following book of C.G. Jung.
    
    Psychology of the Unconscious, Collected Works, Princeton 1960
    Metamorphoses of the Soul and its Symbol, Princeton
    Psychology and the Unconscious, Geneva 1973
    
    
    							- Paulo
    
401.157collective ascension ?DWOVAX::STARKthe world is about to changeThu Oct 18 1990 17:3410
    Paulo,
    
>    through collective ascension.   
    
    	I can't find references to this particular term anywhere, what does it
    	mean ?   Is it a Jungian term or a Yogic one ?
    
    	thanks,
    
    	>Todd>
401.158Does a yogi fly?ROYALT::SUThu Oct 18 1990 18:4615
    Sorry to confuse you.  I don't mean to quote word for word.  You just
    have to read the book and find it out for yourself.
    
    Human being will never agree on term or word.  Ascension is very difficult 
    to grasp or to understand.  Through meditation, in the state of thoughtless
    awareness, when one achieve the yoga - the union with the spirit
    (Atma), the brain thinking become dynamic.  You will be able to
    understand the Scripts which you do not understand before. 
    
    In that state of yoga, we become one collective Being.  you and I are the 
    same.  "...through collective ascension" is one being, one great power
    with the all pervading energy.
    
    So, is it a Jungian term or a Yogic term?  The true answer will be none
    of those.
401.160ReplyCGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Fri Oct 19 1990 15:490
401.161First installmentSCARGO::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Mon Oct 22 1990 02:5836
    Re.154
    
    Hi Paolo,
    
    I will add details later on, however I did not pay anything for
    Shaktipat - it is not for sale.  Though our terms may be different, I
    believe that what you experienced and what I experienced are parts of
    the same.  
    
    My first encounter with this energy (I will call it) came through a
    friend three + years ago.  At the time, neither of us knew of any of
    these things.  I was at Kripalu in the bookshop a few weeks ago, and 
    began reading some books written by Yogi Amrit Desai where he explained 
    the Shaktipat process and then realized that what he was describing in 
    the book was indeed what happened between my friend and me.  However in 
    our case it was not a conscious act vs. your experience with the Sahaja 
    woman.  As it turns out, this friend is my Gurudev (beloved spiritual 
    teacher) in this lifetime.  At some level I've always known this - it's 
    just that the book and the description put words around it.  I'm composing
    that letter to him now, along with sending him a copy of the book...is he 
    ever going to be surprised!  (;^)
    
    Now, I don't know if there was a cool breeze at the top of my head or
    not, since I didn't check.  In the days following that though, life
    suddenly made sense, including the holy texts - their meanings were
    revealed to me in a deeper direct personal way.  I also *found* (was 
    guided) to this notes conference (see note 358.* for my first entry).  
    On that day I consciously began my spiritual growth path.  It's been an 
    intense 3+ years.
    
    I will begin a note on the Kripalu Yoga and Center in the near future.
    I also encountered the same energy out there and had some further
    revelations take place as a result...the most profound being a direct
    experience with just how the mind, body and spirit are related. 
    
    Cindy
401.162Any plans for Ireland?ESSB::BROCKLEBANKWed Nov 07 1990 12:547
Hi Paulo,
Having read through this entire topic I'm sceptical but still open
minded about Sahaja Yoga.  As the emphasis seems to be on experiencing
it, can you tell me whether Shri Mataji has plans to give a workshop
here in Ireland.
Regards,
Dave
401.163Truth is what it is !SNOC02::KYRIACOUCSun Jan 13 1991 23:5498
    Dear All.
    
    	I have been following this note with great interest and all seems a
    	bit quiet of late so I thought I would add a note.
    
    	The discussions with regards Sahaja Yoga and the things said about
    	it have been quite interesting and stimulating. When I say this
    	it is in reference to the rational mind, because in many instances
    	issues have arisen because of the insuffiencies of the written
    	word to convey the vitality of experience. As a global mode of
    	communication it is the best mode available to us. Many discussions
    	have arisen by what each of us mean when we use words like;
    	'self-relisation', 'meditation', 'Holy-Spirit'. After discussion
    	we may come to a position where we agree upon what we means by	
    	our use of these words, but do we have the same understanding 
    	of the truth of those words.  I have just used another word
    	"truth" which you may say is  subjective. Each of us has
    	our own truths. What is true for me based on my expreince may
    	not be true for you, so what is truth ?
    
    
         However the great souls of the ages have said that "Truth is what
    	it is". This I suppose takes a deal of faith to accept that
    	underlying this existence there are  fundamental truths. Such as
    	the existence  of God.
    
    
    	Fundamental is a word used in derision by many  in this topic
    	because it implies "one and only", and "absolute".  The
    	traditions of western science with which many of us have been
    	educated teach that absolutes are unattainable. And readily 
    	admit that all our ideas desribing nature are theortical.
    	Every day our theories change. Some say that it is not possible
    	for the creation to come to an understanding of the power which
    	created it.
    
    
    	There is a truism which I feel is reflected in many of the
    	repsonses  to this topic which is "that all paths though they
    	go in different directions will lead to God". Appealing as this
    	is, all truism are not true, for this one gives the Ego the 	
    	necessay space and freedom to do what it wishes without
    	uncomforable constraints. The path to God exists, all the
    	great Avatars have said so. According to the place and time
    	they could only reveal a small part of this path . There are	
    	many appealing side streets and turns along the way. How
     	do we know if we are travelling this path or along  many 
    	of its diversions?
    
    
    	If there is truth who do we get to it? If evil is the master
    	of deception who do know truth from falsehood. Now comes my
    	admission, as you have probably guessed by now I am a 
    	practicing Sahaja Yogi. Through the awakening of the
    	Kundalini each of us has the ability to determine 
    	truth  for ourselves. Self-Realisation as described in this
    	notes file is the beginning of a process whereby a new 
        new dimension of awareness is available to the individual.
    	It is like you  have the use of a new sense to add to the other
    	five senses. This new sense is what is called 'vibratory
    	awareness', after the Kundalini (Holy Spirit) is awakened 
    	you start to feel its  cool vibrations using this new sense.
    	You perceive these cool vibrations both in yourself
    	and throughout the creation for the Holy Spirit is the power
        of the Creator which pervades the entire existence.
    
    
    	By its nature the truth of which I earlier spoke is in harmony
        with the Creator, the co-efficient of its existence is the
        Holy Spirit or Kundalini. If you accept the possibility that
    	Sahaja Yoga can awaken the Kundalini and allow you to to begin
    	to perceive its workings on your central nervous system. Then
    	the possibility exists for you to determine truth for yourself.
    	If something is in harmony with the universe you can perceive 
    	its the cool vibrations. This is not a physical wind which you
    	feel, such as from a draft, but a subtle spiritual energy.
    
    	
        How can this happen ? By attending one of the lectures given
    	by Shri Mataji or attending  a Sahaja Yoga Centre.
        This happening for you is the achievement of Shri Mataji, before
    	Her advent this process could only be achieved on an indivual
    	basis between an person with this awakening passing it on to
    	seeker desiring it. As far as recorded history there has never
    	before being a person who could awaken the kundalini for an
    	entire audience, this possibility is unprecedented. This answers
    	the How? we ask Why Not?
    	
    
                                	Chris
    	
                                        
    
    
    
    
    
    
401.164Welcome from upoverCGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Mon Jan 14 1991 19:3132
    Re.163                         
    
    Hi Chris,
    
    Indeed, there is no adequate substitute for direct experience.
    
    I practice Kripalu Yoga, and as you may have noted, I've been
    participating in this topic every once in a while.  A few months ago I
    sent a note offline to Paolo Su asking him if he would like to share
    experiences, however he never replied, so if you would like to do so,
    I'd welcome that.
    
    Contrary to your claim in your last paragraph about nobody else being
    able to awaken Kundalini in an audience, there indeed have been, and
    the Yogi who founded Kripalu Yoga (really a blend of more traditional
    yogas with an intuitive addition) is also able to do this.  He stopped
    for several reasons though - the primary reason is that he felt it more
    beneficial for people to (I'm paraphrasing here) begin the process with
    hatha yoga postures and more conscious living in general, then the
    benefits of shaktipat energy would be of more use.  Thus, those around
    him benefit from his presense in that he still is a channel for the
    energy nonetheless (like Christ was) and those who are ready to receive
    the energy can draw it from him - it's more of passive role he has
    taken in making this energy available to the world.  The shaktipat
    energy, by the way, is a common Sanskrit term and appears in the 1990
    Yoga Dictionary by Georg Feuerstein (it's an excellent book no matter
    what form of yoga you practice, and sahaja is mentioned as well).
    
    If you would like to, contact me offline and perhaps we can have a
    positive discussion and sharing.
    
    Cindy
401.165The Sky is blue, The Kundalini Cool.SNOC02::KYRIACOUCMon Jan 21 1991 22:15129
    
    
   Hello Cindy,
    
    Surely as you said there is no adequate substitute for direct 
    experience, and how much more valid is an experience if it is
    a shared collective experience. What I mean is an experience
    where each person feels the same thing, and the experience can
    be verified by the individual and an impartial observer. This is
    what the beginnings of self-realization are in Sahaja Yoga.
    Everyone feels the same thing as has been written in the major
    treatises on this topic in the past. Also others can feel the
    awakening of the kundalini even though they themselves may
    not have this awakening.


    Self-realization is not a subjective experience open to the personnel
    interpretation of the individual. Anything which is fundamental has
    be the same in everyone. For instance our central nervous system
    tells us that the sky is blue, it cannot be red to one, black
    to someone else, then green to someone else again. Then we all don't
    agree to believe in our own individual experience, and that each of us
    is right about the sky. Some of us are wrong, the sky really is blue.
    There is something wrong in those who report it otherwise, maybe 
    they have their eyes closed, or they think they are looking to the 
    sky but are really looking at the grass, or the flowers. We might 
    say no the sky is above us and it is blue, and the others say no, 
    it is down here. Yes within their own experience their perceptions 
    are true, yet they are missing the point.


    The point is self-realisation through the Kundalini is a verifiable
    experience within a person, as has been written throughout the ages,
    and has been experienced today. People may confuse it with other powers
    and sensations it cannot be that which it is not.



     This I feel is the position of your Yoga, and as you may have noted
     it is not the cool vibration passing out of the top of head as
     has been recorded throughout the ages, it is another experience.
     The word shaktipat is a general Sanskrit word meaning power, not
     necessarily the power with the ability to achieve self-realization.
     In our last analogy it equates to color, it is the perception of
     color it is not blue. Because if this energy was the kundalini the
     experience of it would be the same, as the perception of blue is
     the same for all.



     One might say how can we be so sure about the manifestation of  the
     kundalini and the experiences of self-realisation. The answer to
     this is that the process of self-realisation and the awakening of
     the kundalini is well documented in the traditional Indian Scriptures.
     Within the Vedas, Shasstras, the Puranas of Markadenya and the writings
     of Adi Shankaracharya and Ganeshwara especially, all write about self-
     realisation  in a logical and related way. Their is no controversy
     among them about kundalini it is only in modern times with our
     rational mind that we doubt that which has been discovered through
     countless ages of spirituality. Put the modern Yoga Dictionary down
     for a moment and read Ganeshwara if you want to know of the kundalini,
     or even better come and hear Shri Mataji for She is the master of
     Kundalini.


>   The shaktipat energy, by the way, is a common Sanskrit term and appears 
>    in the 1990 Yoga Dictionary.


     Sri Mataji has said that She cannot understand what has happened
     to logic when it comes to spirituality. That people can discard
     all that was discovered and discussed in all the Scriptures about
     yoga, self-realisation and the kundalini and take to new fades is
     nonsensical. She has classed the 'shaktipat' system in this group.
     This is a new fade it is not discussed in any of the traditional
     Scriptures. It was not talked about by any of the enlightened souls
     of the past, who discussed in depth the kundalini and the process
     of self-realisation. She said she has had to correct the imbalances 
     within the subtle systems of the followers of this path in order to 
     awaken the kundalini.
     
     
>    Contrary to your claim in your last paragraph about nobody else being
>    able to awaken Kundalini in an audience, there indeed have been, and
>    the Yogi who founded Kripalu Yoga (really a blend of more traditional
>    yogas with an intuitive addition) is also able to do this.  He stopped
>    for several reasons though - the primary reason is that he felt it more
>    beneficial for people to (I'm paraphrasing here) begin the process with
>    hatha yoga postures and more conscious living in general, then the
 

     The claim that the advent of Shri Mataji is unprecedented in history
     in that She has can awaken the kundalini en masse is not made 
     lightly and stands. 

     Within all the Scriptures of the past there is no mention
     of an individual who has done this task before. Those who could
     awaken the kundalini did so on an individual basis, so for
     this reason it is unprecedented. You say your guru can do this
     but for the most altruistic of reasons has stopped. As mentioned
     previously the kundalini has specific qualities, if the energy your
     guru is dealing with does not meet these, then it is not the
     Kundalini. Also it is very convenient for someone to claim an
     ability then to refrain from proving it, it is a common trick
     among all the money making false gurus from India. It is like
     the people who claim to teach people to fly. First drop them
     from a bridge and see how well they fly, if so them maybe they
     can teach. Why you would want to fly is another question,
     Qantas does me fine.


     I have seen Shri Mataji awaken the kundalini in tens of thousands
     of people. How do I know? Because I was there. Chinese, Indian,
     Greek people when they put their hands above their heads they all 
     feel the cool breeze of the Kundalini. Many of these people could
     not speak English and could not understand a word of what Shri
     Mataji said, but afterwards reported the cool breeze.


     It is very easy to tell if what I say is the truth, attend one
     of Shri Mataji's public program, or visit one of the centers.
     Within one evening you can tell for yourself because you will
     or will not experience this for yourself.
          
					Chris.



 
401.166The Divine FireATSE::FLAHERTYPeacing it togetherTue Jan 22 1991 00:5869
    I have reservations about 'mass kundalini awakenings', in fact 
    wonder if it may not be dangerous.  The following excerpt referencing
    kundalini is reprinted without permission from a book entitled
    Meditation by Grace Cooke.  I feel it addresses the concerns I have
    regarding the subject:

    Some people may not understand how any problems can arise in spiritual 
    development.  Others are well aware of the dangers involved in 
    tampering with what is called "kundalini" and for this reason would 
    not attempt to awaken the 'sleeping princess' (as kundalini is 
    sometimes called).  It should therefore be made very clear to the 
    reader what kundalini is, because forewarned is forearmed.  If a man 
    [this book was written before gender language was considered, therefore
    man refers to both men and women) knows what dangers lie in his path he
    can, with this knowledge, avoid them.

    It has, we hope, been made clear that we are working with the higher 
    chakra - the heart, the throat and the head-centers, which are 
    sometimes referred to as the higher, or the golden, triangle in man.  
    These centers are animated by the creative power which lies like a 
    sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine - kundalini.  
    Normally this power remains dormant and in that state is harmless; and 
    many students, knowing this, prefer to leave well alone.  In the 
    natural course of deep meditation however there comes a time when this 
    sleeping power awakens and becomes active.  Herein lies the danger, if 
    the student is ignorant of the significance of kundalini; but with 
    knowledge of how to control the uprush of this creative force all  will
    be well.  To the ignorant there is most surely danger.

    It must be borne in mind that this creative power is closely allied to 
    the sex force, which can be the mightiest foe as well as the greatest 
    friend to man.  In this it is like other natural forces, such as 
    electricity for example; which when understood and harnessed to man's 
    use has become a tremendous asset and blessing in this present age, 
    whereas if the laws governing its use are broken disaster can ensue.

    During the practice of meditation, the kundalini force of creation 
    might be released, but even then there is nothing to fear, for all 
    will be well if the student has obeyed the golden rule - that is, if 
    he has surrendered his heart to the Christ-Light and has learnt to 
    discipline his emotions, his thoughts and his physical body.  This 
    means that his whole being must be centered on God so that, in every 
    aspect of life, he seeks constantly the good, the true, the beautiful, 
    and abstains from habits which are the enemies of spiritual man, such 
    as indulgence in selfishness, cruelty in all its forms, violent 
    emotions, negative or impure thoughts and gross forms of living, 
    eating and drinking.

    For it should be made plain that whatever is gross and evil in man's 
    composition will be stimulated (possibly beyond his control) if 
    kundalini is awakened. (footnote: Much of this applies mainly to the 
    East, where methods of unfoldment are widely different.  In the West, 
    these dangers seldom arise, provided the student is wise and careful.)
    On the other hand, all the best, all his divine qualities will equally 
    be stimulated and strengthened.  It therefore opens up magnificent 
    opportunities for the growth and development of the Christ in man when 
    the lower nature has been disciplined and brought under control.  This 
    is why so much stress has been laid on the need for purity of living 
    and thinking, and for the strict following of the Christ-Spirit in the 
    heart.  

    ***************

    The chapter then goes on in depth to describe what White Eagle has to 
    say about kundalini.  Since I find his teachings ring true and are 
    personal for me, I won't share them here.  
    
    Ro
    
401.167Don't worry, it's quite safe!SHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangTue Jan 22 1991 06:4059
	As to the "danger" of Kundalini, Shri Mataji used the
   following analogy, also hinted at in .166: Suppose a man comes in
   from a remote Indian village with no electricity, and comes across
   an electrical socket for the first time in his life. To find out
   what this strange object does, he pokes around inside it and
   finishes up getting a strong electric shock. Of course, he
   concludes that electricity is something very dangerous and
   unpleasant and it's best to have nothing to do with it. 

	But if you know what you're doing then you just plug in a
   light and you find electricity is very useful and helpful. It's the
   same with Sahaja Yoga. I've seen thousands of people receive Self-
   realisation (one evening last July in a sports stadium in Sofia,
   around ten thousand people) and never come across anyone who felt
   ill effects. On the contrary, those who pursue the experience
   further find it helps them with all sorts of physical and
   psychological problems. 

>    It must be borne in mind that this creative power is closely allied to 
>    the sex force...

	This is utter nonsense. Kundalini has nothing to do with sex.
   This misunderstanding, and others like it, have given rise to all
   sorts of false practices and consequent problems, just as the
   peasant, with a wrong understanding of electricity, sticks his
   fingers in the socket and gets hurt. 

>    It has, we hope, been made clear that we are working with the higher 
>    chakra - the heart, the throat and the head-centers, which are 
>    sometimes referred to as the higher, or the golden, triangle in man.  
>    These centers are animated by the creative power which lies like a 
>    sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine - kundalini.  

       The Kundalini passes through and acts upon all the chakras, not
   just the three mentioned here. (Except that - just a detail -
   Kundalini doesn't pass through the first centre, Mooladhara chakra,
   because the Kundalini rises from the sacrum and this chakra is
   placed beneath the sacrum.) 

>    For it should be made plain that whatever is gross and evil in man's 
>    composition will be stimulated (possibly beyond his control) if 
>    kundalini is awakened.

	Not true at all, in the experience of the thousands of people
   who practise Sahaja Yoga. As you discover yourself to be the
   Spirit, the gross and evil sides of human nature come under control
   and become less important, in a gentle, natural and spontaneous
   evolution. 

>    On the other hand, all the best, all his divine qualities will equally 
>    be stimulated and strengthened.

	Now, this is true! But Kundalini awakening must come first,
   and _then_ the divine qualities such as purity of living and
   thinking will develop. (No harm in having them beforehand, but they
   develop anyway after Self-realisation.)
   
	Phil    
401.168DSSDEV::GRIFFINThrow the gnome at itTue Jan 22 1991 18:1118
Re: .165

I have a problem with you definition of a fundamental reality of color 
perceptions, and perceptions in general.

In your example using colors, not all people can truly see blue.  But they learn
to say the sky is blue, because that is what they have been told.  To them it
may be more green or grey, in a measurable way, because the eyes do not receive
all color wavelengths equally (I am obviously referring to colorblind people).

These same people may actually experience kundalini, but because of some 
difference in their neurological or nervous system, it is perceived differently.

What you describe may be the norm, but not what everyone experiences.  I'm not 
claiming to know for myself, but experience has taught me that such rigid 
requirements can be incomplete when referring to personal internal sensations.

Beth
401.169The Mother within preserves us all.SNOC02::KYRIACOUCThu Jan 24 1991 03:32113
	Dear All.

	With RE. 166 reservations about the awakening of the kundalini.

>    I have reservations about 'mass kundalini awakenings', in fact 
>    wonder if it may not be dangerous.  

	Such reservations are indeed quite normal especially since
	many of us have no experience or knowledge of this energy. Some
	say this energy is dangerous, some say not, how are we to know,
	it is natural to be a bit wary. We who have experienced its
	awakening in a small way, say it is one of the best things
	that can happen to you in your life ! 

	My impression about what Grace Cooke write about the kundalini
	is that she dancing at the edge of the bushes a bit in her descriptions
	of the kundalini, but has not experienced its  awakening for
	herself (based on her explanations. As Phil said in .167 the
	kundalini is:
	

>>     all the best, all his divine qualities will equally 
>>    be stimulated and strengthened.

>	Now, this is true! But Kundalini awakening must come first,
>   and _then_ the divine qualities such as purity of living and
>   thinking will develop. (No harm in having them beforehand, but they
>   develop anyway after Self-realisation.)


	The kundalini is the also known as "the Mother within", or the 
	feminine power within us, reflected as the desire within us
	to be reunited with God. As Shri Mataji as said each of us
	has this individual Mother within us, and once awakened how
	can She be harmful or injurious to you. Once awakened the
	kundalini flows to all the charkras soothing and nourishing
	the damage of the charkras  incurred through the misuse human
	beings have made of their free will.


	The kundalini is the life force in Nature, and the means by which
	we achieve communion with the power which created us. To describe
	it as dangerous in any way is misplaced. As Phil said re. 167 the
	aspects of the kundalini are diametrically apposed to the stimulation
	of the gross within people. Reports to the contrary have come from 
	people who have not the ability, or authority, and have attempted
	to raise the kundalini.
				|	 Sushumna Nadi
				|	(or the Path of the Kundalini)
				.	
			       . .        Sacrum Bone (Residual Home of
			      .   .			the Kundalini)
			     .......
			      -----
			     |     |
			     |     |	Mooladhara Chakra the 1st Chakra
			     _______
		
	The problems reported with regards the kundalini can be better 
	understood with a basic understanding of its position within the
	subtle system. As shown the kundalini resides within the sacrum bone
	awaiting awakening by the vibrations of an authorized soul. Below the
	kundalini is the Mooladhara Chakra which is the centre controlling
	our sex. This centre also prevents access to the kundalini to all
	those people who are unauthorized, who do not have their kundalinis
	awakened. If such attempts are made, then the Mooladhara centre prevents
	this unauthorized access and may produce the heat, or sensations of
	danger reported. However this has nothing to do with the Kundalini,
	this energy is still dormant. It is the qualities of the Mooladhara
	protecting the kundalini which may have resulted in these experiences.


	The kundalini has some prescience and once awakened will rise to the
	degree with which the subtle system of the seeker can sustain. So it
	is never overpowering. As mentioned, the fact that it has happened in
	'mass' situations is nothing to be fearful of. More to contrary it
	is a testimony to the 'normalness' of the experience. All these 
	people have control over their faculties at all times and are in
	no way distressed. You are always in control of the situation, 
	if at any time you choose not have the energy awakened you can
	quite easily walk away.


> In your example using colors, not all people can truly see blue.  

	With RE. 168 the difficulty of explaining about the kundalini is
	that is a spiritual energy, not a physical one. When the kundalini
	awakens one of the ways it manifests on the physical system is 
	the sensation of coolness. This is recorded in history and reported by
	tens of thousands around the world. Your analogy with people
	who are color blind is as applicable to experiences of the kundalini
	as of color. People can pursue spiritual paths which rather than
	preparing the ground for the awakening of the kundalini, actually
	damage this system preventing the kundalini from awakening. Much
	like being color blind. They may have lost the innate ability to
	perceive the kundalini.

>These same people may actually experience kundalini, but because of some 
>difference in their neurological or nervous system, it is perceived differently.

	The point being they are unable to perceive the kundalini, or it
	may not be able to awaken. As has been said there are other 
	energies present within the body which they are perceiving which
	have nothing to do with the kundalini.


	How will you know? find out for yourself as many have said it is
	the most natural and easiest of tasks when conducted by an
	realized soul. Shri Mataji has been proclaimed within Her own
	country as the Master of the Kundalini. Believe me She can do the
	job.
    
    				Regards  Chris.
401.170AppreciatedCGVAX2::PAINTERPray for Peace, people everywhere...Thu Jan 24 1991 20:5211
    Re.169 and a few back
    
    Hi Chris,
    
    Unfortunately I have only a moment at this time to respond...I shall do
    so at greater length in the near future - thank you for your response.
    
    One question - when you say you practice Sahaja Yoga, what does this
    practice entail?
    
    Cindy
401.171It only takes a spark to get a fire going.SNOC02::KYRIACOUCThu Jan 24 1991 22:3157
	Dear Cindy.


> How do you practice Sahaja Yoga.

	When we receive self-realisation the kundalini rises and
	pierces through the last Chakra at the top of the head. As
	many have said this is a natural evolutionary process, much
	like the sprouting of a seed, the whole system is built with
	this intended purpose. Many people feel it as a cool breeze
	or vibration coming from the head or on the palms of the hands,
	and a feeling of peace and well-being is experienced. It is a
	living process for which you cannot pay, and for which you 
	cannot put in any effort, however it does require a humble
	attitude, a pure desire, and an open mind. This is the best
	approach.

	The first experience of self-realisation is only the beginning
	as only a small thread of the kundalini has risen within us. 
	If you could imagine, the kundalini is like a large rope, so
	more is needed to be done to further awaken it. It is then up
	to us nurture the experience, like a newly sprouted seed, we
	must water it, remove the weed which may stop its growth. This
	is the 'practice of Sahaja Yoga' where we begin to manifest more
	fully this initial awakening. For this there are simple techniques
	we learn to us.

	We learn about the chakras in the subtle body, which are part of
	mechanism which works out our realisation. These chakras 
	correspond to the plexuses of the nervous system in the physical
	body. the chakras express the state of our physical, mental,
	emotional and spiritual being. As we nurture our self-realisation
	we start to become integrated in all four of these areas. Once
	the realisation process is begun we gain the ability to give
	realisation to others.

	After realisation we begin to experience the Truth on our central
	nervous system. If something is true, or on the evolutionary path,
	then we feel cool vibrations on the palms of our hands. If something
	is against the evolutionary path of man we feel no vibrations or maybe
	even heat or pain. Once the kundalini is raised a tingling or hot
	sensation is also felt on the hands to indicate which of our
	chakras is in an unbalanced state and requires attention. Each of
	the fingers of each of the hands corresponds to a specific Chakra.
	The ability to feel the vibration of the kundalini on the hands allows
	one to specifically pin point the problems in the chakras and using
	the kundalini one is able to clear these problems.

	So the practices of Sahaja Yoga are simple techniques using the
	kundalini to cleanse and heal the subtle system, to bring the
	energies within us into balance, and to strengthen the power of
	the attention. These techniques are applied to correct the problems
	within the subtle system so that the kundalini can be further awakened.
	As this process continues, so the degree and depth of self-realisation
	and the peace with us increases.

			      			Chris
401.172And once the fire is burning, it can't help but burn brighterCGVAX2::PAINTERPray for Peace, people everywhere...Sat Jan 26 1991 02:3160
            
    Hi Chris,
    
    Thank you.  
    
    I have had the experiences you speak of.  My palms vibrate with cool
    energy, and when energy is not flowing properly, the vibration goes
    away.  There are participants in this conference who can verify this.
    ...and who vibrate similar energy as well.  I have had two fairly 
    major and recognizable kundalini awakening experiences (though I did 
    not know at the time what they were).  During the first one, suddenly 
    2000 years of Judeo-Christianity made sense, and during the second one, 
    the links between East and West were revealed to me...intuitively.  
    My first experience was 3.5 years ago, and the person who transferred 
    the energy to me was a good friend who, interestingly enough, lives in
    Australia.  Neither of us were conscious of what was going on at the
    time.  I recognized what had happened while reading a book 3 years
    later. The second experience was at Kripalu Center last September where, 
    during a meditation, my body filled with light and there was no
    division - all was One.  Later I was to read of this experience in one 
    of the books in the bookstore, and indeed it is a common one.  As my 
    education has been along the spiritual path, my experiences come first, 
    then the books to explain them appear in my path when the time is right.  
    (;^)  Such was the case with the dictionary, and so forth.
    
    As for your comment about an objective reality, yes, I agree...however
    it is not to be found on the physical plane itself.  Somehow the analogy 
    of blue sky pales in comparison of what it really is though.
    
    I do not doubt what you write, nor do I doubt the Mother's ability. 
    This is not where I'm coming from.  It is through my own personal
    experiences though that I know of others who can, or have, performed
    this same thing.  Each person chooses their own path - the yogi who
    founded Kripalu Center has chosen to focus his energy into creating a
    place for people to go to heal themselves.  The Mother has chosen a
    slightly different path.  Yogananda chose the path of Kriya Yoga back
    in the early 1900's.  All are valid (not to say that all
    self-proclaimed gurus are valid, certainly not, as we all know), but
    the paths of others who are legitimate do indeed lead to the same
    place.  Having been in Gurudev's presense at Christmastime, I am
    certain he is legitimate.  When I had the first experience at
    Kripalu though, he was not there physically...but the energy was.
    
    Kripalu Center is a non-profit organization, and the cost to stay there,
    including meals, lodging, yoga classes, aerobic dancing, sauna and
    whirlpool and special programs (yoga, etc) is around $70.00/night.  The 
    cost is offset by people who work there (serving, or seva).  One would 
    be hard-pressed to find this reasonable rate with all that is offered, 
    in any hotel.  I'll send along a catalog if you'd like - contact me
    offline.
    
    The kundalini energy has been called many things throughout the
    centuries of religious history, including the Holy Spirit, Chi, Cosmic
    Mind, Bio-energy, Soul, Shakti, Orgone and Elan-Vital.  It is the
    energy of the Goddess - the true Mother of all.
    
    Hopefully this will give you a better idea of where I'm coming from.
    Looking forward to further exchanges.
    
    Cindy
401.173Just an asideYARD::GURRANMy reality or yours ?Mon Jan 28 1991 07:298
Cindy,
	Thanks for sharing that. I have been reading Dejavu for sometime now, 
and can't help wondering about the "major participants". Your entry has not 
only helped me to understand you a little more, but also the issues around the 
various kundalini enhancing methods.


Thankyou.
401.174You're welcome, Martin.CGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Mon Jan 28 1991 14:261
    
401.175The Powers of the Self-Realised.SNOC02::KYRIACOUCThu Jan 31 1991 03:0993
Hi Cindy.


>I have had the experience you speak of.

	
	Since we are talking about treading the same path of
	self-realisation. To clarify the matter I would like to relate
	the powers and abilities that a Yogi who treads this path
	should possess. Again this description of the abilities of
	the Yogi who possess self-realization are described within
	the traditional Holy Scriptures described in .165 . Traditionally
	one who has the experience of self-realisation is able to
	do the following:
	
	. Raise the kundalini within themselves at will to the seventh
	  Chakra and beyond.

	. Perceive at which Chakra the kundalini is at present working.

	. To determine the spiritual condition of each of the seven chakras.

	. To use the kundalini to correct any imbalances within the chakras.

	. Determine the balance within the three Nadis, and to balance
	  the energies therein.

	. The ability to do the above mentioned tasks for yourself
	  and for others who so desire self-realisation

	. To achieve 'thoughtless awareness' through the maintenance of
	  the kundalini at the seventh charkra.

	. The beginnings of collective conscious.
	
	It is not enough to feel some cool vibrations but all of the above
	mentioned spiritual powers are the signs of the self-realised. For
	now you have the ability to become your own Guru or teacher, because
	you no longer need a guru to tell you what is wrong with you and 
	what is needed to correct that problem. You can do this for
	yourself ? as discussed in .171, we can and do.

	This is also one of the test for any individual who claims to be a
	'guru' , minimum of minimums they should demonstrated all of the above 
	mentioned abilities. Also for someone claiming to be a guru

	. There should not be any relationship of any kind between the 
	  guru and the disciples for the gratification of any desire
	  beyond the innocent guru/disciple relationship.

	. There should be no relationship between money, the guru and
	  disciple. Through the ages any guru who takes money from the 
	  disciples under any circumstances were classed as devils, 
	  or false gurus.

	. The guru should be the shinning example of what he preaches.
	
	. The guru should have the utmost purity and innocence and be beyond
	  the shackles of desire.
	

	These are the means for determining the self-realised ,and the
	genuiness of a guru.


>    It is through my own personal experiences though that I know of others 
>    who can, or have, performed this same thing.  

	
	As my reply in .165 the advent of Shri Mataji is unprecedented,
	She is much more than a Yogi or a guru.


	She can grant the above mentioned spiritual powers to tens
	of thousands of seekers in a split of a second. First do you
	posses the above mentioned powers after your years of seeking?
	Have you seen, with your own eyes, some else who can grant these 
	powers to the seekers, en masse ? If they claim to then I suggest 
	you put them to the
	   'First drop them from the Bridge' test mentioned in .165 
	
	 
>    The kundalini energy has been called many things throughout the
>    centuries of religious history, including the Holy Spirit, Chi, Cosmic
>    Mind, Bio-energy, Soul, Shakti, Orgone and Elan-Vital.  It is the
>    energy of the Goddess - the true Mother of all.
 
      Shri Mataji is recognized within Her own country as India's greatest
      living saint, and acclaimed by them as the true 'The Mother' of all.
      

				Chris.
    
401.176QuestionCGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, peace...Tue Feb 05 1991 00:2012
    
    Hi Chris,
    
    I'm preparing a response to .175, and had one question - the knowledge
    of the chakras and diagnosis - was this information somehow
    telepathically/intuitively transmitted to you by your Mother, or was
    this information you heard/read/learned about after your cool breeze
    experience?
    
    Thank you.
    
    Cindy
401.177There is God ! I know.SNOC02::KYRIACOUCWed Feb 06 1991 00:4761
    Cindy.
    
    
    	A quick response. The knowledge of the Chakras can be found in many
    	of the scriptures mentioned. Today there is a range of information
    	some of it half-baked. The question is how do you know which information
    	is correct, and which is conjecture (more of that later).
    
    
    	The diagnosis of the Charkras is one of the powers I mentioned in
       .175  and it is one of the abilities gained after the Kundalini is
    	awakend. As mentioned previously after self-realisation a new	
    	awareness is opened up for the individual whereby the condition
    	of the chakras is felt through an afferent expereince on the
    	fingers and toes. Basically each chakra has a reflection on each
    	of the fingers or toes.  When we raise our Kundalini and move it
    	beyond the seventh charkra we feel the cool vibrations in our
        hands and fingers and passing from the seventh centre at the top
    	of the head.  Particular sensations such as pain, heat, or
    	tingling in one of the fingers can be decoded to a specific problem
    	with its representative Charkra. Specific techniques using the 
    	Kundalini are used to work and balance the Charkra needing
        attention.
    
        Whereas in the past a 'Guru' was required to tell the seeker where
    	the Kundalini was, the condition of the Charkras, and what is
        needed to correct the problem. After Self-Realisation you become
    	your own 'Guru' and do this for yourself. It is something quite
    	normal and balacing ones charkras becomes part of ones normal
        routine. The meditation experienced after this is more likely
    	to be in the realm beyond the seventh centre, and not tied to
    	a problem with one of the charkras.
    
        As referred to at the beginning of this note this ability allows
    	you to descriminate between 'pure' or true knowledge, about the
    	charkras for instance, and untruth. A coefficient of truth is the
    	Kundalini if one puts ones attention on something, or read some
    	information, if it is truth the cool vibration increase and a
        feeling of wellbeing is experienced. If it is untruth the cool
    	vibration stop and you may feel heat, or pain in the hands.
    	This has been verified amoung many Sahaja Yogis.
    
    
    	For instance take two sheets of paper and write on one
    	 "There is God" and on the other "There is not God". Blindfold
    	the participants, placing their hands towards each sheet of paper
    	the Sahaja Yogi can feel the cool vibration emitting from the
    	statement of truth, and no vibrations from the other. I know I
    	was involved in an experiment like this when I first visited a
    	Sahaja Yoga Centre. We learn to trust this all pervading power and
    	not so much the vagrancies of the conditioned, rational mind.
    
                                                      Chris.
    
    
    	
    
    
    
      
    
401.178Shri Mataji to visit the U.S.SHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangWed Apr 03 1991 09:3733
	Shri Mataji will be visiting the U.S. at the end of April this
   year. Don't miss this opportunity to see her and meet her in person!

   ===================================================================

   Shri Mataji believes that world peace and collective consciousness
   can be acheived only through the inner transformation of human
   beings. Her system of meditation, Sahaja Yoga, manifests a subtle
   energy. This is experienced as vibrations which are felt on the
   central nervous system and lead to greater awareness and deeper
   intuition. Rather than requiring a "leap of faith", it is an actual
   experience of the integration of our physical, mental, emotional,
   and spiritual being. It thus brings about complete balance and
   inner peace. By bringing together people of all religious, ethnic,
   and social backgrounds, she has proven that the human bond is more
   than skin deep and that all ideologies are encompassed by the same
   universal values and truths.

   ====================================================================
   
   Shri Mataji will be speaking at a public programmein Honolulu,
   Hawaii, on Monday April 22. For more information please contact
   Dave Dunphy at (808) 235 46 71

   On Wednesday, April 24th at 7:30 p.m., Shri Mataji will speak in
   Los Angeles at the Ebell of Los Angeles Theatre, 743 South Lucerne
   Blvd. (at Wilshire). for more information please contact Philip
   Trumbo at (818) 989 07 94.

   Then on Friday, April 26th, Shri Mataji will have a public
   program in New York at The Theater in the Park, Flushing Meadow
   Park, in Queens. More details from Carolyn Vance at (914) 636 44 06.
401.179Her sched.CGVAX2::PAINTERAnd on Earth, cooperation...Thu Apr 04 1991 19:306
    
    Hi Phil,
    
    Any chance she'll make it to Boston?
    
    Cindy
401.180Interview with Shri MatajiSHIRE::PHILIPPhil Ward Mgmt. Sci. Geneva-EtangWed Apr 10 1991 06:36208
   (Re. .-1; Cindy, no, not this year. However, there are plenty of
   Sahaja activities in Boston; contact Howard PACKER::Handy for more
   info.)
 
   The following interview was conducted with Shri Mataji in 1983
   before her visit to the US, and published in Zirius magazine in May
   that year. During the interview the writer gets his
   self-realization...
 
	SHRI MATAJI NIRMALA DEVI
	 "AND THE COOL BREEZE"
 
	    by Stan Bostock
 
   The aim was to talk to Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi about her
   forthcoming  North American tour. What happened was something that
   is only now, a  week later, starting to make sense.
 
   I telephoned the number Shri Mataji's followers in New York had
   given  me, and found myself, an hour later, knocking on the carved
   door of a five storied terraced house in London's classy
   Knightsbridge district.
 
   The door was opened by a young Indian who ushered me into a
   reception room as ornate and rich as a jewel box. Furniture covered
   with rose silk, tables inlaid with ivory, carved and gilded wooden
   screens, pale pink crystal chandeliers.
 
   I heard Shri Mataji before I saw her. "How are you? How is
   America?" Then the lady appeared, short, plump, with long dark hair
   falling free,  and a smile that chips away all defences.
 
   Tea was ordered and I was asked to sit down.
 
   Before I could get the first question into gear Shri Mataji asked, 
   "Do you know what the chakras are?"
 
   I mumbled something about subtle energy centers along the spine.
   "Thats right," she said, and tapped the base of her neck with her
   index finger. "This one is called the vishuddhi. In the universe
   the vishuddhi is North America. Australia is the lowest chakra, the 
   mooladhara. India is the kundalini, which can link all the chakras
   together," she traced a line from the base of the spine to the top
   of her head, "but America is the vishuddhi, isn't it? Such an
   important chakra."
 
   Shri Mataji then touched the red spot in her forehead. "This
   chakra," she said, "is the agnya. It is presided over by Lord Jesus
   Christ, isn't it? The agnya is forgiveness. It shows that the
   spirit cannot  be destroyed, just as Christ could not be destroyed,
   but rose again, didn't he?"
 
   Shri Mataji quietly contemplated the risen Christ for a moment,
   then jabbed her fingers towards the base of her neck again.
 
   "The vishuddhi, its presiding deity, you could say, is Lord
   Krishna. The vishuddhi stands for diplomacy and sweetness and
   self-esteem and communication and collectivity - like your Abraham
   Lincoln, he stood for collectivity. Abraham Lincoln was a saint -
   did you know that? - a realized soul. You have had many great men.
   Roosevelt now, he said, `poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity
   everywhere'. So clear. America is so great. It is protected by Lord
   Krishna's discus."
 
   Shri Mataji held up the index finger of her right hand and twirled
   it, and I swear I could see a bright glittering disc whirling
   round.
 
   "As long as that discus is there," she said, "America can never be 
   invaded."
 
   "Could that protection ever be withdrawn?" I asked.
 
   Shri Mataji shrugged expressively, and raised her eyebrows high. 
   "Perhaps," she said. "If the land of diplomacy stopped being
   diplomatic, the land of communications communicated bad things, the
   land of sweetness turned bitter, then yes, perhaps Lord  Krishna
   might withdraw the protection." Suddenly she laughed. "on my tour I
   shall tell everybody how to stop that from happening."
 
   I asked Shri Mataji if she was visiting North America just to sound 
   such a warning.
 
   "There are seekers of money, seekers after power, seekers of
   physical gratification," she replied, "and then there are people
   who have done all those things, and are now seeking the truth,
   seeking their spirit, seeking God. There are many, many seekers of
   truth in America. Great, great seekers. Oh so great. I want to meet
   them. Show them how they can get what they have been looking for
   for probably ages. Lifetimes even. Their self realization"
 
   "What is that exactly?" I hadn't yet asked one question from my
   carefully prepared list.
 
   Tea arrived. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the spellbinding visionary, 
   turned into Mrs. C.P. Srivastava, the attentive hostess. Did I have 
   the right amount of sugar and milk? Would I have a biscuit? (Which 
   turned out to be a cookie.)
 
   "Self realization," said Shri Mataji, "is the yoga, the union. The
   joining of the microcosm to the macrocosm, you could say. The 
   raising of the energy in each of us called kundalini. (There is no
   English word for it. You should invent one. There is a good job for
   you, invent a good English word for kundalini.) The linking of 
   that energy with the all-pervading energy of God, that is what 
   self realization is."
 
   "What exactly does it do?" I felt a fool at the naivety of the
   question.
 
   "It brings about a change in awareness. You feel it as a cool
   breeze, cool vibrations, you could say, on the top of the head and
   on the hands.  It is an actual happening! Not self-certification.
   Not saying `I am born again!' or `I am this or that!' You actually
   become! If you desire  self realization, and you get it, then you
   become collectively conscious, truly sweet and truly diplomatic. A
   true blue American, you could say." And the joyous laughter flowed
   into every corner of the room.
 
   I asked Shri Mataji if she was the only one who could grant this
   self realization.
 
   "Oh no," came the reply, "once you have it you can pass it on to 
   others."
 
   "But it all seems to start from you," I said, "Why you?"
 
   Shri Mataji's face became serious. "As far as I know," she said, "I
   am the only one who can do it en masse. Once, in India, 6000
   villagers got it at the same time. But if there is someone else who
   can do it, then I am only too happy to retire. I am sixty [68 now]
   years old." (At times she looks half that.) "I am  happily married.
   I have a beautiful house as you can see. It would be good to settle
   down and stop all this travelling round all the time. But until I
   find someone else who can do it, then it is up to me, isn't it, to
   meet the seekers and let them know how to gain this gift that is
   their own, their right, this Union with God."
 
   "Could I receive this gift?" I asked.
 
   Shri Mataji's eyes danced, "Put your hand above your head," she 
   said.
 
   I did as I was told. There was a faint, oh so faint coolness on my
   hand. I looked round to see if there could be a draft coming from
   anywhere, but there was no air conditioning and the windows were
   closed.
 
   "You feel it?"
 
   I nodded, tentatively.
 
   "That is the beginning. Perhaps while you were drinking your tea
   you said to yourself `I'd like that experience,' and..." Shri
   Mataji snapped her fingers,"...you got it. It can only happen if
   you desire it. Give me your hand."
 
   She took my hand and started tracing a cross over the palm.
 
   "You think too much," she said. "Your mind is busy, busy, busy,
   thinking away."
 
   From that moment on it wasn't. It was hardly thinking at all.
 
   "Too much thinking can give people diabetes. It is not sugar that
   causes diabetes, it's thinking. We can cure diabetes. After
   realization. And this new thing AIDS. After realization we can cure
   that too. With realization you become your own guru. You can
   diagnose your own problems and those of others, and you can cure
   them. Anybody with their realization and the desire to develop
   their spirit, can cure and be cured."
 
   At this point a wave of most pleasant well-being swept over me. It
   wasn't a trance or a hypnotic state (I've experienced those) - it
   was a feeling of deep peace.
 
   I regretted my next question. It caused the smile to fade from Shri
   Mataji's face. "How much are you going to charge Americans for this
   experience?"
 
   "It is part of evolution," she replied. "It is a gift of love from
   God, who is the ocean of love, the ocean of compassion. How can you
   pay for that? God does not understand money. How can you pay for
   your evolution? Did you pay to stand up on two legs? Anyway, why
   would I want money? I come from a wealthy family. My husband is
   Secretary General of the United Nations International Maritime
   Organization here in London. I do not need money. I do not accept
   money."
 
   Shri Mataji let go of my hand and smiled.
 
   "Better now?" she asked.
 
   I nodded.
 
   "That is because your brain is not so active. You are more
   balanced,  more centered, more relaxed. Have some more tea?"
 
   I put my hand above my head again. The coolness was still there.
   Perhaps even stronger.
 
   "There are so many great seekers in North America," she said. "I so
   want to meet them."
 
 
   Now, almost a week later, when I sit down quietly, that sense of
   peace and relaxed happiness returns. I am hoping it won't go away.
 
401.181Meditation Course OfferedPACKER::HANDYMon Jun 03 1991 15:0822
      
    
         Sahaja Yoga invites you to free lecture and meditation sessions:
    
    
         For a seed to sprout, you cannot pay. Simply put it in the earth
        and it happens. Same with the Yoga state. In the proper environment
        Yoga triggers itself effortlesly and flows as a joyful cool breeze
        through your nervous system.
    
    
                        Nothing to buy, nothing to read,
    
                     Just get it, enjoy it, and master your life.
    
           Find out at our next Sahaja Yoga meditation course.
          Begins Monday June 3 and seven consecutive Mondays at
          the Hunt Recreation Center: 90 Stow Street, Concord, Ma.
          at 8:30 pm. For more information call 508-369-7790.
    
          ( You cannot pay for what is your birthright.)
    
401.182Europe 1991 ?GENIE::MORRISTue Jul 23 1991 12:095
    Are there any plans for a program in Europe this year. I would be
    interested in going along.
    
    Chris..
    
401.183Workshop coming to HudsonPACKER::HANDYTue Jan 28 1992 13:5213
    
    Hello All,
    
         I would like to announce an introductory workshop for 
      Sahaja Yoga.
         It will be held WED. FEB. 5th at 7:30pm
         At the Alchemist Health Food Store on Rt# 85 in Hudson, Ma.
      If there is interest it is possible to schedual follow up meetings
      there as long as people are interested.
         The meeting is down stairs in the new room.
    
                                          Peace,
                                                Howard
401.184Sahaja Yoga - excellent!TNPUBS::PAINTERlet there be musicFri Feb 07 1992 20:0736
                                                           
    RE: the Sahaja Yoga workshop in .183
    
    I attended the workshop, and would like to thank Howard and the 
    other Sahaja practitioners VERY much for their time and their efforts!
    
    Sahaja Yoga is what it says it is.  I recommend it to everyone here.  
    
    The techniques are very simple, and I've begun using a few of them
    already with good success.
    
    I plan on writing up a trip report to provide additional details about
    the workshop and my own experience.  Stay tuned!          
    
    Did I feel the 'cool breeze'?  No.  In the room itself, I could not
    distinguish between the room temp. which kept fluxuating due to space
    heaters, the thermal temperature of my hand, and the presense of the 
    'cool breeze', so if there was a cool breeze above my head, I couldn't 
    detect it...that, and I had some major energy blocks which didn't help
    either. I did experience some profound energy shifts though, and the
    migraine I walked in with was totally gone by the time I left, thanks
    to one very kind Sahaja woman who took the time and worked on my 6th 
    chakra and helped to balance my right side.  I also slept better than I
    have in a very long time...probably since my last trip to Kripalu. (;^)
    
    Instant realization?  For me, no.  I've had shakti-kundalini experiences 
    before, and have also experienced the same energy while at Kripalu, 
    particularly in the presense of Gurudev, so this wasn't new to me
    either.  So it is from this perspective that I'll write up the trip
    report.                        
    
    However, I'm very impressed with the simplicity of the techniques, 
    and I believe that Sri Mataji is who she says she is.  The Sahaja 
    people are doing some great work! 
      
    Cindy
401.185Ready to look furtherESMAIL::ESOMSTrusting in the UniverseWed Feb 26 1992 18:5513
        
    Cindy,
    
    Thank you for writing about your experience.  I have been
    intersted in Sahaja Yoga since reading about it in here and 
    would like to attend a session, but was a bit nervous because 
    of the enthusiasm exhibited in this note.
    
    If there's another session, please let me know.  I would
    like to explore it a bit more.
    
    Thanks,                  
    Joanne
401.186Sahaja Workshop Trip ReportTNPUBS::PAINTERlet there be musicWed Feb 26 1992 21:45172
                                                           
Re.-1

Thanks for the reminder to write a full report, Joanne!

Continuing on...

Many thanks go to Howard and the other Sahaja yogis who presented the
workshop!  I really appreciated their time and efforts.

The Sahaja workshop was held in the downstairs of The Alchemist in
Hudson, Mass.  There were 8 of us total - half being Sahaja yogis, 
and the rest of us being novices.  

Side note: I went in with somewhat of a nagging migraine headache 
           with the pain focused primarily at the 3rd eye/6th chakra.
           I've suffered from common migraines most of my life, and
           take preventative medicine with good success, however 
           eventually I'd like to stop taking the medicine and find 
           a natural way of alleviating/preventing them. 
    
Back to the workshop...

Howard presented a full-size diagram model of how the kundalini
flow works in the body.  He talked about it for about 15-20 minutes,
and did a very nice job.  It was similar to other models I've read 
about, particularly in "The Body Of Light", by Lar and Short.

There was a picture of Sri Mataji with a candle present - very 
traditional - there are pictures present of the various gurus and 
their gurus at both the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), the group 
that Yogananda founded, and also at Kripalu Center.  

We watched a videotape of Sri Mataji herself holding a workshop for
some people at the United Nations.  While watching, we also followed
her instructions for unblocking our chakras and getting the kundalini 
to flow.  It was quite simple.

To summarize the exercise...we sat with shoes off, left hand palm up
on the left knee toward her picture, and used the right hand to focus 
in on 7 (or so) different centers - lower left abdomen, upper left 
abdomen, heart, left neck/shoulder, forehead, back of neck/head, and 
crown chakra.  While at each center, we also said the equivalent of
affirmations focused in on alleviating guilt and offering forgiveness).

Then we checked for the 'cool breeze' at the tops of our heads.  One
fellow had success.  I didn't, but also knew that my centers were
fairly well blocked, especially the 6th one (migraine pain).  I did
feel the shakti energy present - it feels to me like when you're in
a situation where the hair on you stands on end...except in this case
the environment didn't change.  I experienced this same sensation 
back in September while Yogi Amrit Desai was doing his yogic posture
flow.  While at Kripalu, it was primarily on my arms and heart area.
During the Sahaja workshop, it was up the back of my spine.

Then the other Sahaja yogis worked on us individually to alleviate
some of the blocks and raise the kundalini.  The person who assisted me
first worked from the back on those chakras.  I really felt her mani-
pulating the energy, and the subsequent flow.  While she was working on
each 'side (left and right), suddenly when she worked on the right, my
right hand became bright red...and according to their model this meant
a block on the right side.  Using a sweeping technique, she unblocked
that, and my hand color went back to normal.

Then she focused on my 6th front and back ones, using a technique similar 
to one that I'd once read about while looking through Ro Flaherty's 
library (;^).  This took about 10-15 minutes or so.  

One problem with the room was that the temperature was fluxuating due
to electric space heaters.  So even after the yogi completed their work
on us, I still couldn't be sure if the 'cool breeze' I was feeling was
the thermal temperature of the room, my own hands (which tend to get 
cold anyway), or the 'cool breeze' of kundalini flowing properly.

However, I was *extremely* aware of my surroundings in a way that I hadn't
been since doing the Vivation technique last (first done at Kripalu last
July).  Also, my migraine was completely gone, and I had all SORTS of
energy!  (;^)  I slept extremely well that night too...and sleep is 
difficult for me most of the time.

The next day I woke up at 7am and bounced out of bed.  For anyone who
knows me here, this is a miracle in and of itself!  The tech. writing
class I was in for 8 months last year gave me a button which read, 
"Not a morning person doesn't even begin to cover it!"  And I was voted
"most likely to be the last one to arrive at class" on any given day.

This state lasted for about 2 days, but then the blocks started to come
back.  I've since met with Howard, and with his assistance have begun
doing Sahaja Yoga meditation for 30 minutes every night.  It's been almost
a week now, and I'm beginning to notice definite results.  The meditation,
briefly, consists of sitting in front of a picture of Sri Mataji with a
candle, some energy-sweeping and kundalini-raising movements, along with
soaking my feet in salt water (draw off negative energy) and a few other
things which are on my info. sheets at home at the moment.

When one works on one's blocks and manages to get them cleared over time,
one can use the Sahaja hand model to determine which chakra is blocked,
and then use the various techniques to unblock them.  This information 
about the techniques comes from one of the pamphlets...it isn't 
automatically 'transferred' to the person by 'realization' (I wasn't quite 
sure about how one got the knowledge back earlier in this note string as 
it wasn't clear...and now I know that it is actually taught/presented at 
the Sahaja workshops).  I'm not that sensitive yet, however I'm progressing.

I plan on attending one of the Sahaja local group meditations on a semi-
regular basis, time permitting, and will keep you posted.

Parting thoughts...

What I really am impressed with is that Sahaja Yoga is free.  The literature
and a few pictures of Sri Mataji, along with the time that the yogis gave
to assist the rest of us, was provided all without charge.

What I'm not impressed with is the rather fundamentalistic approach that the
yogis both in this note string and even at the session have...that this is
the One True Way, and that all other paths (even yogic paths) are probably
wrong.  Because of this approach, I feel that those who are Sahaja yogis
are doing a disservice to those who are not, simply by turning others off
due to this approach.  I know I have been less than willing to try this
path until now, even having been exposed to several other yogic paths over
this last year and a half.

A while back in this note string, I mentioned that I was practicing Kripalu
Yoga, and one of the Sahaja yogis replied that I couldn't really compare
Kripalu with Sahaja until I'd tried it myself.  He was correct.

But now I have.  (;^)  And I still believe that they lead to the same place,
just the methods are different.

Unlike Sahaja, Yogi Amrit Desai (founder of Kripalu Yoga), when asked which
meditation technique is the best one, he replied that it is the technique
you practice with dedication and consistancy.  Therefore, I can practice
Sahaja meditation at Kripalu, chant japa with the Kripalu mantra at the 
Self-Realization Fellowship meditations in W.Newton that I attend on occasion, 
and practice Kripalu Yoga before doing Sahaja meditation at home.

There is no conflict.  True Gurus are not jealous of one another.  0(;^)

The word 'guru', in Sanskrit, means "dispellar of darkness".

This isn't to say there aren't fake gurus running around in the world, 
because there certainly are, however Yogi Desai and Yogananda, like Sri
Mataji, are not among them.

I can understand the response that one might have to a Guru who has assisted
them in awakening their own inner awareness.  This happened to me during
my first shakti experience just over 4 years ago, and it transformed my life.
It was a mind-blowing experience in the literal sense.  

The shakti transfer, however, happened while in the presense of a dear friend
and not an 'official' guru, so I could not attribute it to anything organized
and go off proclaiming that it was the "One True Way" (this also happens in
the organized religions and even channeled entity circles). So in this way, 
I can be more objective when it comes to the various paths.  I've since had
similar shakti experiences while at Kripalu, while reading some of Yogananda's 
works, and most recently at the Sahaja workshop.  At the same time though,
I respect the gratitude that all show toward their guru, as I feel similarly 
about my friend.  However, all legitimate paths have things to offer, and it 
is important not to become closed to the other legit ways in the process.

To those who are considering it, I encourage you to give Sahaja yoga a try. 
There may be a meditation group or a workshop in the area you are living in.  
If you're interested, post a note here and perhaps Howard can supply further 
information for us.  

To those unfamilar with some of the yoga-specific practices and terms and
would like to understand more before considering attending a workshop, I'm 
happy to go into greater detail here.

Jai Bhagwan,  {Sanskrit for "I honor the Light within you."}

Cindy
401.187I'd like to find out moreESMAIL::ESOMSTrusting in the UniverseWed Feb 26 1992 22:4215
    Howard,
    
    I would like to know more about the workshops and if any are
    coming up.  Maybe we can get a few people from here to attend
    too.  
    
    Cindy,
    
    I was reluctant to consider this because of some the the things
    you mentioned.  Only because you took the first step and because
    of the wonderful experiences you've been having, was I even 
    confortable with thinking of checking it out further.  Thank you
    for your reports.
    
    Joanne 
401.188The local group meets in WorcesterSUBPAC::HANDYThu Feb 27 1992 10:5855
   Dear Friends,
     

               There is a free Sahaja Yoga Meditation Workshop Weekly.

           This meditation I have personally found to be very deep and
         dynamic. Absolutely a beautiful experience. Open to all and free.
                                       
                                            Peace,
                                                   Howard

The Worcester meeting  is at :

	An Apple A Day Care Center
	18 Oxford Street
	Worcester, Mass	

	Tel: (508)-755-0030  or  (508)-829-6433

	Every Tuesday from 7:30pm to 9:30

	Direction: From 290 High Way West bound, take exit 18 at light turn
		   right into Lincoln St. bear right into Concord St. At light,
		   continue straight into Salisbury St. Pass Worcester Art 
	  	   Museum turn left into Lancaster St. About 1 mile at Chatham
		   St. turn right. Turn right into Oxford St.
		   #18 will be on your right with parking lot available.

	

  I feel one note about Cindy's reference to our/my repudiation of false
    Gurus. This is not something that anyone Says. The Kundalini itself
    being a living intelligent energy, Can and will show anyone who can
    feel it, the truth about anything. So there is noone standing around
    telling anyone what to think, It is through each individual seeker
    asking the kundalini about different things, then it is up to the
    individual to decide. The one thing we say about guru's is according
    to Shankariacharia three things point out the real one.
         1. No money whatsoever.
         2. That they are of highest spiritual nature and can uplift
            the seeker.
         3. That they give one their OWN power. Make the individual their
            own Master. Not just in their presence, but to have Absolute
            freedom and peace all the time. This is through
            Self-Realisation.
    
     So to me our talking sometimes doesnt help people, It is all for one 
    to discover for oneself. 
    
                                  Hope to see all the seekers here,
                                                       Someday,
                                                               Howard



401.189add'lTNPUBS::PAINTERlet there be musicThu Feb 27 1992 14:3552
                              
    Re.188
    
    Hi Howard,
    
    Thanks for posting the information about the Worcester group!  I hope
    to join them when my choral rehearsals are over with in May.
    
    About various gurus, given your list of criteria to judge who is a true
    guru and who is not - the two other lineages I write of fulfill what is
    on the list, except for money.  However, both groups are non-profit,
    and have been around for several decades each now without scandal or
    even a hint of scandal when it comes to where the money goes.
     
    The 'realization'/shakti is free.  As you say, you cannot buy that.  
    And in both organizations, provisions are made for those who cannot 
    afford either the SRF home study lessons.  You can also attend the SRF
    meditation group meetings without charge, and all of the books that the
    SRF sells are priced far below the going rates for paperback and
    hardcover editions.  There is also one difference between Sahaja and
    the SRF in that the founder Yogananda is no longer in the body. 
    
    At Kripalu, scholarships are granted for people to attend Kripalu 
    programs that otherwise would not be able to do so.  Kripalu also has 
    a seva/service exchange program where you can stay for free in return 
    for volunteering to assist at the ashram doing things like grounds 
    maintenance, kitchen duties, and so on.   This includes being in
    Gurudev's presense if he is in residence as opposed to being on tour. 
    
    The purposes of the SRF and of Kripalu are different from Sahaja. Sri
    Mataji is not establishing ashrams - places where people can go to
    benefit directly from the spiritual lifestyle.  Ashrams cost a lot more
    to maintain (building, heat, food, etc.) than someone who is only
    on tour holding seminars.  Kripalu accomodates approximately 12,000
    guests per year.
    
    Granted, this intellectual comparison between the three groups, however 
    behind this I am speaking from my own very positive shakti experiences 
    with both groups as well.  If, after practicing Sahaja yoga for a time, 
    I find a conflict with what I've written here about the organizations, 
    I will post it here as well.
    
    Howard, in my earlier note, I wasn't referring to anything you had said 
    about other gurus, but rather other Sahaja yogis here and at the workshop 
    who had made passing comments that I didn't feel were based on their own 
    inner experience. For example, one fellow mentioned that he heard *from 
    a friend* that Kripalu was something to steer clear of...and that to me 
    did not feel like he had checked it out himself directly via kundalini,
    much less applied the criteria you listed.  Nor was he interested in
    even talking about Kripalu with me.  However, I could be wrong.
    
    Cindy
401.190Next Sahaja Yoga ProgramSUBPAC::HANDYFri Feb 28 1992 15:0321
    
     Dear All,
    
         There is a public program being offered presenting Sahaja Yoga.
    
       March 8th at 3:pm. Cambridge, Ma. In Harvard Yard at the Boyleston
     Hall. When you enter the yard from cambridge square if you proceed to
     the interior of the yard Boyleston Hall is on the right. Facing the
    yard. There is an Auditorium inside. 
       There will be an introductory talk about Sahaja Yoga given by
    Gregoire DeCalbermarten. He is a UN diplomat and has travelled
    extensively with Shri Mataji for over 15 years. His knowledge of
    Yoga and the depth of his personality are to be enjoyed.
    As allways this program is free and open to all. After the intro.
    the experience of Self-Realisation is offered to all. It is not
    something you can study for or practise, you must be there to have
    the Kundalini awakened. Then one can practise Meditation.
    
                             Hope to see you all there,
                                   Peace
                                   Howard                             
401.191Also in EuropeVNABRW::EICHERTHelmut Eichert, LinzMon Mar 02 1992 15:288
    Anyone from Europe around ?
    
    There is also programs in various countries here in Europe. If you are
    interested please send me a mail. A complete list would be too long to
    type.
    
    Love to all seekers,
    Helmut
401.192More on SahajaTNPUBS::PAINTERlet there be musicThu Mar 05 1992 15:4927
                               
    Update on my Sahaja practices...
    
    Last week I attended the regular gathering in Concord, and two of the
    people from the Alchemist gathering in Hudson were there.  We watched a
    video on Sri Mataji going into detail on the 6th chakra, and from my
    own experiences, readings, etc., she was right on.  I gained a lot of 
    additional insights from it as well.
    
    Then we went through the unblocking of the chakras exercise (though
    there is probably a better word for it).  Just after the exercise,
    which takes about 10-15 minutes, the more experienced yogis again 
    worked on those of us who are less experienced, and they assisted
    each other as well.  
    
    I still can't say I feel the 'cool breeze' on the outside of my body,
    however from the sessions and my own practicing some of the basic
    techniques at home, I feel a definite cool sensation in my 6th and 7th
    chakras.  It is like someone breaks a bubble filled with slow-moving
    cool liquid at the top of my head, and it pours slowly down just on the
    outside and also on the inside.   It feels wonderful, as the migraines 
    I've had most of my life have always been accompanied by a lot of heat, 
    and they're very uncomfortable.  I've used ice packs for many years to 
    alleviate the pain, and now the Sahaja techniques are doing a great job.  
    Can't wait to tell my neurologist about this one!  (;^)
    
    Cindy
401.193Shri Mataji visiting North America in OctoberGVPROD::PHILIPPhil Ward, Mgmt. Sci. @GEOTue Sep 28 1993 10:3082
	SHRI MATAJI TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA
	---------------------------------

       	Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, founder of Sahaja Yoga, will be
   touring the U.S. and Canada during October. She will be offering
   free lectures on self-realization and the "Sahaja Yoga experience."
   Her itinerary includes visits to New York,  Toronto, Vancouver,
   Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.

       	Shri Mataji believes that world peace and collective
   consciousness can be achieved only through the inner transformation
   of human beings. Her system of meditation, Sahaja Yoga, manifests a
   subtle energy. This is experienced as vibrations which are felt on
   the central nervous system and lead to greater awareness and deeper
   intuition. Rather than requiring a "leap of faith," it is an actual
   experience of the integration of our physical, mental, emotional,
   and spiritual being. It thus brings about complete balance and
   inner peace. By bringing together people of all religious, ethnic,
   and social backgrounds, she has proven that the human bond is more
   than skin deep and that all ideologies are encompassed by the same
   universal values and truths.


	PUBLIC PROGRAM SCHEDULE
	-----------------------
	
	(For information on the location and
	time, please call the information numbers)
	
	New York:
	
	Monday, October 4th
	United Nations
	U.N. Personnel only

	Saturday, October 16th
	Public Program in New York

	Info: (914) 636-4406

	Toronto:

	Tuesday, October 5th.
	Info: (416) 614-9521 or (416) 614-7338

	Vancouver:
	
	Thursday, October 7th, 7:30 pm.
	Robson Square Media Center
	Info: (604) 850-7475 or (604) 261-0203

	Los Angeles:

	Monday, October 11th.
	Info: (818) 344-9642

	Washington DC:

	Thursday, OCtober 14th.
	Info: (301) 656-0675

	Philadelphia:

   	Friday, October 15th
	Harrison Auditorium,
	Museum of the University of Pennsylvania,
	33rd & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia.
	Info: (215) 622-7985



	A l l   P r o g r a m s   A r e  F r e e
	_ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _  _ _ _ _




       	For more information about these upcoming programs or Sahaja
   Yoga in general, call the local information numbers given above or
   1-800-745-YOGA.

401.194for the next tour...TNPUBS::PAINTERremembering AmberTue Sep 28 1993 16:277
                         
    Phil,
    
    If you have any way of making this request known, it would be wonderful 
    if Shri Mataji could visit the Boston area at some point.
    
    Cindy
401.195SAHAJA YOGA leads wanted..COPCLU::PEHANSENFri Oct 15 1993 11:2113
     Hi.....

     I am interested in an address here in Denmark that teaches Sahaja Yoga,
     and I would also be very interested in a description of the practice as
     mentioned i .0.....

     I hope there are still someone listening out there, even if this note is
     several years old.

                                                               Regards,

                                                                Paul-Erik
401.196responseTNPUBS::PAINTERremembering AmberFri Oct 15 1993 17:028
    
    Hi Paul-Erik,
    
    If you don't get a response from a Sahaja yogi offline or online here, 
    send me mail and I can make contact for you via some of the yogis I 
    know outside of Digital.
    
    Cindy
401.197Moving OnGVPROD::PHILIPPhil Ward, Mgmt. Sci. @GEOFri Jan 28 1994 12:3622
	Dear everyone,

	As I shall be leaving Digital at the end of this month, please
   send any requests for information about Sahaja Yoga to any of the
   following:

	Chris Kyriacou	@SNO
	Laurent Dumonet	@RTO
	Howard Handy	@HLO
	Manfred Ringhofer @AUI

	(I'll be back on Internet via CompuServe shortly, all being
   well.)

	I should take this opportunity to thank everyone in this
   Conference for their friendly participation, and of course urge
   everyone to try the divine gift of Sahaja Yoga for themselves!

	All the best

	Phil