Every year in Australia, on the second Sunday in the month of May, a special day is set aside to recognise Mothers. In families across the nation on Mother’s Day, amongst the cards, flowers and breakfast-in-bed toast offerings, there is one thing in common. Children express love for their Mums.
It’s a celebration with widespread appeal. People love the qualities that Mothers display. Where would the world be without the loving protection, wisdom, nourishment, unconditional hugs, or even the correction they must sometimes give?
And on a subtle level, as seekers of truth, we look forward to a time when all humankind reflects the wonderful attributes of a Mother. When everyone in society acts from a place of benevolence and patient guidance – widening the focus of these traits from ones own children, to the whole of humanity.
We’d like to pay tribute to the vital role of motherhood.
And in honour of Mother’s Day, we asked Mums to share their perspective on how Sahaja Yoga meditation has helped their families. As we each travel on our own journey, everyone’s experience is different – here are some for you to enjoy.
Amanda:
Our family has been doing Sahaja Yoga meditation for 11 years and I cannot begin to do justice to the pure joy it has given our family. I have two children (21 and 15) who are fun loving and because of Sahaja Yoga they feel safe and comfortable in sharing their daily life experiences and challenges with us. Daily SY meditation has helped our family get safely through the potentially difficult times of final high school exams, university exams and rugby union grand finals with much success. The children feel anchored and self confident as they approach their own life challenges. As we approach Mothers Day this Sunday, with deep respect I have to thank Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi for the great joy Sahaja Yoga has bought to our lives.
Pushpa:
My kids are 15 and 12 and we have been practising Sahaja Yoga for 8 years. For us, doing this meditation has helped to balance out in all sorts of subtle ways. While they had disturbed sleep before, they sleep very well now and their health really improved. Their school and home work is much smoother now, more harmonious. We do have the odd days of teenage stress as they confront life, but being in SY helps them cope very well.
We are very grateful to Shri Mataji for this meditation. The children enjoy meditating and use the clearing and protecting techniques with great respect. They notice that it helps things work out so they have a good day. They enjoy mixing with other children of their own age group for dancing and singing and picnics with the kids. Since Shri Mataji visited Australia last year, I noticed they really enjoy going to weekly collective meetings even more. Our family is more at peace and things seem to flow so much better. We get along with people and there is this peace.
Kay:
Mother’s Day to me is a time for quiet contemplation about my children. Their birthdays are far too busy with presents and parties, cakes and candles. Mother’s Day is a time of reception and reflection. As my children now reach their twenties I look back with gratitude to Shri Mataji and the unique gift of Sahaja Yoga and what significance it has had in the formation of the adults they are today. The advantage they had of the great family that is Sahaj. They grew up with the love of such a variety of aunties and uncles around them, with so many other children and the unique experience of the Sahaj school in Daramsala.
I watched with trepidation as they negotiated the minefield that was western high schools and the teenage years, and now as they venture into the wider world I see deep inside them a moral bench mark that cannot be put there by outside rules and regulations. It is innate and spontaneous, a living thing, as is Sahaj. I know with or without their parents, in or out of the Sahaja community, it will never leave them. No gift could be more pleasurable to a mother. So this Mother’s Day, with or without present, flowers or a card, will be a day of quiet, joyful satisfaction for me.
Sarah:
Our children were born into a family that practised Sahaja Yoga meditation every day. They would wake up in the morning and come and sit with us whilst we meditated. Through their school years the teachers at school would make comments such as “wherever he sits in the class there is a centre of peace around him, or “she has a different attention to the other children.”
At the moment they are in their twenties and although they do not all meditate regularly now, they are very much part of the world. They seem to have an inner wisdom and discrimination that has protected them from some of the problems that their friends have experienced.
Happy Mother’s Day to Mums everywhere. We salute you!
With best wishes from Sahaja Yoga Australia.