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Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
The following extracts are from various talks by Shri Mataji, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, where she discusses the meaning of the Guru Principle.
“The word Guru comes from the one that is magnetic, the person who is magnetic, the one who attracts the attention of the seekers, is the Guru.”
“This gravity has to be in a Guru. Gravity means a kind of a serious understanding of oneself and one’s own responsibilities.”
“So you get a magnetic temperament, magnetic character, magnetic personality. And this magnetic personality that you develop, immediately shows that it is manifesting its power. Try to understand. Like the light now is coming on Me. It is just giving light, but it is not manifesting anything. We can see the Sun’s rays, is the best example. Sun’s rays, when they fall onto the leaves, the rays, which look simple, manifest their power of making it into chlorophyll. In the same way when you are at that height or at that state, then without saying anything, without doing anything, even a glance, you manifest; but not only that, you record everything.”
“Manifest our gravity to reach the depth within – through witness state. Introspect to achieve the self-esteem of a Guru.”
“But we are much above all these ordinary instruments, even the most complicated, even the most advanced and developed by science. Because we reach a state where we ourselves become the science, science of truth, an absolute truth.
So what is needed for a Guru is self-esteem. This is a very important point people don’t realize, the self-esteem. To achieve the self-esteem we have to introspect and know that, ‘Today I am not what I was before. I am a realized soul; I have got powers. Of course I have powers. Powers of love, powers of compassion, powers of grasping things, powers of creativity, powers of giving realization to others.’
Nobody had these powers, but somehow or other in Sahaja Yoga you are not self-conscious, and we should not be self-conscious because that can give you ego, but we should have self-esteem.”
This movie is based on the true story of the greatest Mughal emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar, who ruled Hindustan (now India) in the sixteenth century.
As soon as the movie starts, cool vibrations are pouring out of both hands. This great realised soul is showing what real strength is, to really forgive and love. One of his noble and high desires was to unite Hindustan with respect and acceptance of all religions. His understanding of God and his attraction and absorption of whatever has got Divine Vibrations makes him such a Maha [Great] Yogi. His relationships not only with his Hindu wife but also with all the women of his family are full of respect and sensitivity.
I found this movie to be very nourishing to the Soul and also to be a great teaching for us.
Meenakshi
(Photograph: bollywoodmusicradio.com)
Below are some reactions to the news that the Canadian Parliament has apologised to the aboriginal peoples of Canada for past wrongs done to them.
“By Shri Mataji’s grace and compassion the ripple effect of Love and forgiveness is blessing all nations.
This is so important for everyone to witness the divine words of forgiveness from the heart of hearts and spirit of these people. This is another chapter in Canadian history that is worth knowing about.”
Merenia
“The Natives would likely have performed a pipe ceremony before the Parliament session opened, in which their prayers to the sacred directions would have been that only truth and wisdom be spoken there, and that the healing may now occur in totalilty so all things will return to proper balance. Whomsoever is holding an Eagle feather while speaking is compelled to speak wisely, speak only truth, and speak from the heart. Their truth is for the collective good of the present moment, with consideration given to all, not selectively, and for seven generations following.
Shri Mataji says that Love will change the world. Love is not selective; it is absolute – we either love, or we don’t love, all or nothing.
Thank you, Shri Mataji, for orchestrating this change, for these momentous steps taken openly and humbly by national leaders to heal the wrongs of the past and so better establish firm foundations for the future, for the well-being of all, now, and for the generations following.”
Liallyn
News extract: National Post
I had tried a few of the New Age therapies around in the early ’90s, including affirmations, re-birthing, kinesiology and counselling, among others, but none of them seemed to fill the void, or answer my questions, or explain the mysteries of life, or even help me to feel better.
I wanted to learn to meditate so I could find peace of mind and equanimity, to improve my health, to become a better person and to satisfy a longing for knowledge of the truth about life, about the world. As Sahaja Yoga was free, I felt like I had nothing to lose.
I went to a program at the local Arts Centre. The people at the program were friendly and helpful, and I could see that some of them were very impressive in that they were very nice, kind, sincere, balanced, and strong within themselves without being egotistical or aggressive. I liked the fact that there were no rules to follow, and that you find the truth within yourself in Sahaja Yoga. It was different and interesting and I really enjoyed the Indian classical music. I was keen to find out more about the chakras and how to meditate.
Shri Mataji came to Canberra and gave a public lecture shortly after I went to my first meditation class. I was very impressed and thought she was an amazing person – strong, compassionate, wise, intelligent, funny, witty, passionate, knowledgeable, kind, refreshingly honest and direct, and I was surprised by her independent and original thinking. I felt inspired to give Sahaja Yoga a serious trial.
My curiosity was aroused and I was intrigued by Shri Mataji’s lecture at the public program, as well as by her talks on the videos we saw at the local programs. I was particularly interested in what she said about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and about Lao Tse, Confucius, Abraham, Moses, Zarathustra and Socrates, and about realised souls like Mozart, Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Einstein and Gorbachev.
I was amazed to find that the techniques I learned at the meditation classes really worked! I was very motivated and in the beginning I used to meditate for five minutes every morning when I woke up, and at night I would footsoak, use candles to clear the left side for five minutes and then meditate for five minutes. I found that I felt better! I felt better physically. Emotionally I felt stronger. I was worrying less, sleeping better, felt happier.
And it was fun! Sahaja Yoga is fresh, alive, always different, never boring, never the same. It is always interesting and full of variety. I found small miracles started happening, making my life flow more easily. If I needed to speak to someone, they’d phone me, and if I became aware that I needed to buy something, it would be on special.
After doing Sahaj meditation for thirteen years, I spent seven weeks at the Sahaja Yoga International Research and Medical Centre at Mumbai in India. Here I learned more clearing techniques and had the opportunity to spend each day in clearing, meditation and introspection. I learned a lot from the teachers or doctors at the Centre and admired their dedication and selfless work in helping the people who went there. Since that time I feel I have gone through another deepening in my meditation and in my understanding.
I continue to be inspired more and more by Shri Mataji, by her selfless and tireless work for the spiritual evolution of all people, to help them find love and truth and genuine happiness, to help them become better people and to relieve their suffering. I have been helped so much myself that I want to help others find the same peace and joy that I have found. I enjoy listening to her lectures and am always finding new things I hadn’t heard before.
I continue to feel better, emotionally stronger and to have better self-esteem and more peace of mind. I sleep well, worry less and cope better with stress, I’m not buffeted around by my emotions and I’m less affected by others’ opinions of me. I am more optimistic and hopeful.
I enjoy meditating more and more and find it more and more helpful in my life. I find the clearing techniques helpful and have got to know myself much better through clearing and through meditating: why I react as I do, how I can act differently and more constructively.
I have better judgement, I feel more certain about the right thing to do, have better judgement about people and situations, and am not swayed so easily by other people. I find meditation helpful in finding the right solution to any problems that arise.
I feel satisfied and content with my life. Material things are not so important and minor inconveniences don’t worry me so much. I feel like the emptiness inside has been filled by the knowledge of the whole. I feel like the mysteries of life have been answered.
I am still fascinated by learning more about Sahaja Yoga and about how it fits into the scheme of things, the way it is an integral part of the intricate web of life, how it permeates into everything, how it is the basis of life itself – science, nature, the absolute, the ultimate truth.
It’s continually heart-warming to see the wonderful qualities in the realised souls, the Sahaja yogis – the love, the kindness, the integrity, the truthfulness, the simplicity, and each one’s particular talents and abilities. I enjoy seeing the variety of their different life journeys, all leading to the same destination but travelling there by many different roads.
The love, kindness and blessings showered on me, the love I feel for others, the nice feeling of being able to forgive, and the warm feeling of seeing others express their love towards me and towards others never cease to amaze me.
I enjoy seeing the myriad ways beauty is expressed by realised souls in music, dance, literature, art, craft and architecture.
In a world where there is so much cynicism, so much dishonesty and trickery, so much cruelty and hatred, Sahaja Yoga gives me the strength to continue to behave with integrity and honesty and kindness. It also gives me the strength to cope with adversity and to maintain my equanimity in the face of so many threats – natural disasters, climate change, wars, disease, terrorism.
Sahaja Yoga gives me hope for the future. If many people take to Sahaja Yoga all the world’s problems can be solved. Just as Sahaja Yoga has transformed my life it can transform the lives of others. Sahaja yogis don’t add to the problems of the world; they help to solve the problems. They are also able to help and support others.
I heartily recommend Sahaja Yoga. Try it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Kay Alford
(Photograph: Vishnu Bonneau)