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Meditation

"Freedom and Liberation" at Newcastle theatre

"Freedom and Liberation" at Newcastle theatre

It was our first warm day.

We waited for the audience of “Mama Mia” to exit the theatre in Newcastle, Australia, where we were to present Shri Mataji’s film, “Freedom and Liberation”. Only four people filed out. For a moment we felt doubtful whether anyone would come to see “Freedom and Liberation” given that it was election day, a good beach day and even “Mama Mia” faired badly!

Within a few minutes a slow trickle of people began to steadily enter the theatre. This theatre was one of three in the complex and so some people came to see any old film, but opted for Shri Mataji’s.

When the lights dimmed we had sixty-five new seekers in the audience. Our kundalini shot up in a shower of joy as we saw Shri Mataji’s image on the big screen. As I had grown up around this area, this was something that I had dreamt of but never considered possible in Newcastle.

As the film came to an end the audience applauded! Again, something unimaginable. Through Shri Mataji’s grace, the sixty-five people were given their realisation. The silence was awesome. No one left. Everyone stayed and enjoyed a short meditation.

Afterwards, some members of the Sydney Sahaja Yoga music group played bhajans in the foyer. Many people stayed to listen to the music. Some filled out feedback forms with comments describing tingles up the spine and in the hands, an enlightening experience. One read “in lightning” and I couldn’t help but wonder whether this newly-realised person knew that their inner light had been turned on!

Shri Mataji’s humour was subtly at work, as the musicians had unwittingly set up next to a poster advertising a film showing a girl sitting in meditation, with thought bubbles showing a clutter of all the objects associated with the materialistic, hectic Western lifestyle. The teenage girl’s expression was one of rejection. We all had a chuckle when we realised!

As we were leaving I noticed another poster showing words to the effect: “He always knew what he had been built for. Now he knew what he was meant for.” Shri Mataji was truly letting us know that she was with us. After all, doesn’t this describe in very basic terms the revelation of truth that we all receive through Self-realisation? It was a great summary of the whole event!

Lisa Barron, on behalf of the Newcastle Sahaja Yoga collective

When was the last time you had a day you could describe like this:

“A most enlightening and enriching experience.” Sushil
 “Wonderful, positive…and truly was attuned to the individual spirit.”  Katrina
I experienced calmness and tranquillity.” Murali
Lovely atmosphere and a beautiful place to be.” Alan
I felt very peaceful of mind, which was hard lately…having very kind and warm people around was a good feeling too.”  Indiana

Sahaja Yoga Meditation workshop, Sydney

Sahaja Yoga Meditation workshop, Sydney

These are just some of the glowing comments received from people who attended Sahaja Yoga’s free one-day meditation workshops in Sydney.  If a day like this appeals to you, please read on to learn how you can participate.

Seeking truth and peace
Most people at some time have felt stressed or out of balance or found themselves seeking an indefinable something “more” in their lives.  As a result, many people have now discovered the benefits of true meditation with Sahaja Yoga, and enjoy the peace and enlightenment they find when attending our free weekly classes in locations across Australia.  The meditation is very easy and no prior experience is needed.

Here in Sydney, over some time we had requests for more in-depth sessions, more than we could possibly fit into our local weekly meetings of an hour or two.  So one bright Sunday morning, some years ago, we held our first half-day meditation workshop, which proved to be very popular with both absolute beginners and regulars alike.  Demand simply kept growing.  So we now hold free one-day meditation Sunday workshops in Sydney, about three or four times a year.

A beautiful experience – what a lovely day we had!”  Anita
This was a touch of love in my life.” Carlos
It is one of the most amazing and wonderful experiences, coming to the meditation workshop.  Enjoyed each minute of it.”  Nandini
Thanks for helping me to see how much power and energy I have in myself.  It was really an amazing experience – I enjoyed it very much.” Manpreet
Brilliant workshop!  Theory is clear and the meditation makes it a very rewarding day.” Sandra

Sahaja Yoga Meditation workshop session

Sahaja Yoga Meditation workshop session

Workshops
Our most recent workshop included presentations by guest speakers on a range of topics: an introduction to meditation for newcomers; a separate in-depth session with mantras, for more established meditators; music in meditation and how it affects mood; collective meditations; and scientific findings of medical research into Sahaja Yoga meditation.  Practical sessions covered clearing techniques, including a Mother Earth session; the soothing effect of footsoaking; guided meditations; and the use of affirmations.  The day was further enhanced with the playing of live world music and several recorded talks by Shri Mataji, the founder of Sahaja Yoga. 

Though the topics and presenters may vary with each workshop, by request the workshops have an emphasis on blending lots of practical sessions and meditations along with the theory. 

Sahaja Yoga meditation workshops are provided free, as a non-profit community service, with very experienced meditators there to help with any queries.

In this age of commercialisation and business orientated activities, I am delighted to see such activities being done on a volunteer basis at no cost to the participants.  This speaks a lot of the true intentions of the organisers, who are there to really help the community.  Keep it up!”  Yan

Meal breaks
Lunch and morning tea are provided ($5 by donation on entry).

When is the next workshop?
Please note, the next Sydney workshop date has not yet been decided.  Once the date is set, we notify people in our database by email, about two weeks before the event.  If you’d like to be notified, see how to subscribe below.

To be notified by email of our next workshop, subscribe to our database here

For further workshop details and frequently asked questions, follow this link.

We look forward to meeting you.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to experience the peace of true meditation, and would like to join us at a workshop, you are welcome to come along.  Who knows?  Maybe next time it will be you writing to give us your feedback! 

Kind regards
Sahaja Yoga collective in Sydney, Australia

The film about Shri Mataji’s life, “Freedom and Liberation”, will be screened in Bowral, south-west of Sydney.

Date:  Sunday 31 August 2008

Time:  2.00pm

Venue: Empire Theatre, Bowral

Everyone is welcome to attend and see this wonderful film about Shri Mataji who is the founder of Sahaja Yoga.  Admission is free.

PathwayI 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)

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