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.

In Australia, today is the last day of National Youth Week – an initiative co-ordinated  by the Australian Government. It is now officially listed as the nation’s biggest youth event, celebrating young people between 12-25 years old. So, what better time to recognise the youth in our meditation community here in Australia! 

We are fortunate to have the company of many young people who are actively participating in Sahaja Yoga meditation. They come from wide-ranging backgrounds and cultures and we would like to acknowledge the significant role they play: with their commitment to personal growth, contribution to helping others and generous community spirit when volunteering to share pure meditation and enlightened music with the general public.

So, we took this opportunity to ask them to share their perspective, to express their feelings about being part of our diverse community. National Youth Week celebrates what is great about being a young person in today’s world. This prompted us to ask, “What is great about being a young person in Sahaja Yoga? How has it helped you?”. 

Within hours, we had many responses. The replies give great insight into how our young people are helped to deal with and overcome challenges in their daily life. 

James (21):  It helps and allows me to be the person that I strive to be, where my complacency is able to be lost and my morality is not forgone.

SV (16):  I get through my day more easily and it makes me feel strong enough to confront any situations that come up in my day, compared with some friends from school who tend to stress out a lot about simple things.

Avi (20):  Even if you are not practising it, it still plays a major role in your decision making, helps you see the right way to lead your life, even if you aren’t necessarily seeking. You are able to tell what is true and pure from false and misleading influences.

Madhavi (15): Sahaja Yoga makes me feel more joyful, positive and in a state of peace. I have experiences where Sahaja Yoga was the only thing that helped me get through bad days. I am very grateful to have it. I don’t know what I would do without it. I have met so many beautiful people through Sahaja Yoga.

Kabir (20):  Sahaja Yoga has given me many important things. It has given me meaningful relationships that are defined and fulfilling. I feel close to the people I’ve met here; we are honest with each other, and I feel a great sense of security in knowing they help me to realise the truth about myself. Sahaja Yoga is a continuously evolving personal experience. It’s not a doctrine set in stone; we are constantly growing through introspecting and meditating. Growth, not stagnation. Sahaj gives me this, and I feel blessed.

Shridevi (15): Sahaja Yoga to me is not like any other everyday experience. It is being happy every day, feeling joy within and peace in my surroundings. I feel calm and satisfaction with what I have and what I’m doing, every minute of every day. This is only the beginning of how I could express my feelings…

Michael (13):  Sahaja Yoga is a very nice and peaceful meditation and it’s very good if you are studying for exams or playing a sport etc…

Sadhana (16):  For me, Sahaja Yoga meditation is a form of stress relief from school, home or anything else causing tensions in my life. I find that when I’m with the Sahaja community I tend to be more positive and carefree. Also, Sahaja Yoga has introduced me to many people from all over the world which has helped me form new friendships.

Ash  (14):  I like Sahaj because of the collectivity. Being together and enjoying the moment brings out the best in people and in me. I love how Sahaj is so spontaneous, it makes it a lot of fun. It  has helped me to become a better person, more open and more relaxed.

Anastasia (15):  Sahaja Yoga is a way for me to find quiet and peace within myself, where nothing negative can interfere with my joy.

SD ( 24 ):  My experience of Sahaja Yoga meditation: I feel complete on the inside. The emptiness I felt inside my stomach seemed to fade away.

Nira S. (15):  Of all the things that I love about Sahaj Yoga, it is the calm peace I experience each time I meditate that makes me feel completely connected with my inner self.

Madhu (14):  Sahaja Yoga isn’t like any other yoga… it’s the real experience! One of the many things I like about this unique way of life, is that Sahaja Yoga helps you to become the best person that you can be. It’s like one big family spreading across the world, and sharing it so that everyone else in the world can experience it too.

Jasmin H (12):  I think Sahaj has helped me enormously and I don’t see how I could have coped with life without it. It has kept me calm through life’s obstacles; mentally, physically and spiritually. The people are so kind and caring and everyone is free to be themselves and not have to worry about anything. Support is always there for you and you can’t be in Sahaj without having heaps and heaps of friends. Everyone is one big family.

 We hope you enjoyed their answers as much as we did.

If you would like to enjoy the peace that true meditation can offer, please come along.   

• List of our free weekly meetings (Australia and international)

Kind regards from Sahaja Yoga Australia.