Sahaja Meditation Guidelines for Programs 1

Background In 2007 Shri Mataji, in response to the slow growth of Sahaja Yoga in the US, asked us to come up with a new strategy for spreading Sahaja Yoga in America. The results of that effort - detailed in a previous slide deck - were presented to Shri Mataji and blessed by Her at Guru Puja in July of 2008. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

How it was done Sahaja growth project 3 3

Summary-internal survey 90 out of 200 US-born Yogis responded Most were introduced to SY through family members, friends, posters & ads Initially, 70% found it challenging to experience thoughtless awareness For getting established in SY, 1 out of 2 respondents required months 1 out of 3 respondents required years 4 4

Summary-third party survey 1 out of 4 Americans surveyed on meditation expresses interest in SY Meditation Over half of the respondents interested in SY Meditation prefer to meditate by themselves 54% of those interested in SY Meditation say their lives are stressful Continued >> 5 5

Summary-third party survey It should be easy to learn Prefer to learn and practice online Prefer to practice alone in sessions as short as 15 minutes Should be spiritual but not religious 6 6

Summary-focus groups Meditation is appealing Meditation and Yoga are different The meditation culture has some negative baggage No one had heard of Sahaja Yoga Meditation prior to this research Continued >> 7 7

Summary-focus groups Most don’t see the connection between the affirmations and its relationship to ‘awakening of a spiritual energy’ Reaction to the picture of Shri Mataji - Women feel: “Looks peaceful, happy, calming, serene” Men feel: “The picture is not necessary” Continued >> 8 8

Summary-focus groups Almost all feel the technique should be renamed Sahaja Meditation Many would consider going to a meditation class only after viewing a meditation video online Need a Web site of professional quality – it is the first place Americans will go for information Alleviate suspicion about free & religion 9 9

Core Strategy Sahaja Yoga will now be referred to as Sahaja Meditation for all public engagements Endorsed by Shri Mataji at Guru Puja 2008 and again in Genoa in September 2008 When possible, mainstream US yogis should be the principal interface of Sahaja Meditation with the public Sahaja Meditation should reflect modern American values while maintaining its roots in ancient Indian spiritual traditions Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

What Remains Unchanged/Intact? Shri Mataji’s message and teachings Continued use of video and audio media with references to “Sahaja Yoga” Core values of Sahaja Yoga Giving Self-Realization, practicing collective meditation, performing pujas and havans Sahaja techniques for personal growth Regular Meditation, foot soaking etc. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

What’s Changing, And Why? Sahaja Yoga to be called “Sahaja Meditation” ‘Yoga’ in the USA connotes ‘hathayoga’ and its related physical practices, not meditation To attract mainstream Americans who are interested in practicing meditation. Mainstream US yogis will be the principal public interface To help newcomers easily identify with individuals from culturally similar backgrounds Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

What is Sahaja Meditation? Sahaja Meditation is a form of meditation developed by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi to promote balance, health, harmony and well-being. The word Sahaja means spontaneous and the practice leads to union with the self or spirit. The meditation practice requires approximately 15-20 minutes and awakens a spiritual energy, residing within each individual. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Public Program Strategy Sahaja Meditation should appeal to modern Americans and avoid ‘pushing their buttons’. Seekers should be brought along gradually, in a measured and individual manner, into the full knowledge and practice of Sahaja Meditation. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Shri Mataji, Guru Puja 2008 “In the beginning you shouldn’t tell them, or they will just shun you.” Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Mystery It’s okay to keep some mystery in it People don't value things that are just given to them Reveal the knowledge like a lotus blossom unfolding Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Four Phases Four phases of development for new people Phases cannot be defined by a prescribed time frame (like an 8 week or 18 week course) Progress of seekers through the phases must be individualized – not everyone grows at the same pace Meetings need to be structured to accommodate this model of growth Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Four Phases

Four Phases 1. Experience 3. Integration 2. Knowledge 4. Recognition Deeper knowledge of subtle system Focus on experience More clearing techniques Get people to feel it As few concepts as possible 3. Integration Religious aspects Simple knowledge of subtle system Deities Simple clearing techniques Mantras Havan 2. Knowledge 4. Recognition Tie experience to the concepts Recognize Shri Mataji Puja Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 – Experience Very experience oriented – very little information. They need to begin to feel the peace before going further The goal is to get them to the point where they feel it, they are confident they have it, they meditate at home, and know how to identify catches and clear them with bandhans, giving vibrations and foot soaking, balancing of the channels Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 – Experience (cont) They should reach the point where they know how to do basic meditations and basic clearing at home They will not know very much about the qualities of chakras or how the subtle system works yet, but will have learned how to identify which chakra or nadi needs clearing, and what to do Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 – Experience (cont) Engage with new people Allot time to be in a listening mode and allow the new people to talk briefly about why they have come to Sahaja Meditation and what they expect to get out of it; and, as time goes on, to talk about their experience with the meditation Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 2 – Knowledge Knowledge of the subtle system Slowly but methodically introduce qualities of chakras, more clearing techniques, causes of catches - similar to earlier beginner’s courses More information – the Beginner’s Guide and some existing course materials may be fine until new materials are created Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 2 – Knowledge (cont) Possibly play public program talks of Shri Mataji, allowing them to hear more of Her message If people are really enjoying meditation and have established it, this information will inform and expand their experience and they will find it very relevant! Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 3 - Integration Introduction of mantras, brief introduction of deities as aspects of the divine, as universal qualities Sahaja Meditation and how it is related to religion Havan Possibly reinforce feeling that vibrations come from Shri Mataji’s photo/video Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 4 - Recognition Recognition of Shri Mataji Puja Sahaja Yoga Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Shri Mataji, Guru Puja 2008 “You can use my photograph, but the realization should not be from the photograph, but from you, then only you can be a guru. There can be ladies or men both, can become gurus, and spread Sahaja Yoga all over.” Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Picture A picture is essential, but not at the center of attention and not in an altar context Do not put flowers, candle, or incense around the photo Avoid the impression that the photo is absolutely central to the meditation experience – it can make Americans very uncomfortable. The program instructor should be the focus. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Chakra Chart Have a chakra chart at the front of the room, ideally with an inset picture of Mother e.g., something like pictured Use a chart which has no text or easy understandable descriptions of the subtle energy centers (no Sanskrit terms) Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Take-home Photograph Have it available on a table for people to take Explain: we keep it out of respect for the teacher, as is common in Eastern tradition Explain: we personally find that it has a strong energy and helps our meditation, invite them to try it, to experiment with it, if they would like Never force it or insist they cannot meditate without it Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Talking Points Relate personal experience Discuss how Sahaja Yoga links to traditional American values ‘For example, notions of liberty, freedom, equality, independence, inclusiveness, empowerment, innovation and pioneering spirit, opportunism, and justice See prior Growth Team slide deck for more details Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Talking Points (cont) Good for stress reduction, productivity, peace, balance, health, harmony, and happiness Empowers you to use awareness to guide yourself in right direction Easy to do Make your own choices Be in control You don't need to become an expert or a yogi to gain benefit Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Address Why It’s Free This is a major issue People are very suspicious of free Think there must be a catch Address it proactively, according to your discretion We are experts that volunteer our time to teach meditation to the public There is dignity and respect if we frame it this way It is our way of doing community service Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Videos Don’t introduce videos right away Connection should be established with teacher before introducing video Consider waiting 3-6 weeks or more before showing video Keep video portion of the program short 10-15 minutes maximum Maybe every other week Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 Activities Work on them Homework Explaining clearly what you are going to do Help them relax From the beginning, show them how to work on themselves and on each other (as Shri Mataji recommended to us in the summer of 2007) Homework Set expectation that there is homework Have to go home and do what we do in class Won't get much out of it unless meditate everyday Check up on them; ask if they are meditating at home Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 Activities (cont) Teach to take bandhan and meditate at home Focus on experience Teach to focus on attention inside On hands On top of head (Sahasrara) On subtle system Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Phase 1 Activities (cont) Gradually over some weeks, introduce: Clearing left and right channels Foot soaking Ice treatment How to use info from subtle system to change how you feel Avoid esoteric/advanced clearing techniques (e.g. shoe beating, 3-candle treatment) Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Minimal Information Let people pull it Experience based Don't push or volunteer too much Wait until they are ready Use intuition Experience based No handouts on chakras Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Materials New Materials will be created to support this approach For now, if we selectively use what we have, it can work. They don’t need much in Phase 1. Give out something on how to meditate. After a few weeks something on foot soaking and or balancing. Very little else is really needed for Phase 1. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Please Remember These are guidelines, based on research and feedback from yogis and the American public. They are extremely valuable, but are not a new set of rules, to be followed strictly. They are an expression of a new approach, which we all need to adapt to the situations we face, using our own wisdom and discretion! Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council 40

Shri Mataji, Guru Puja 2008 “Whatever you teach, you must practice.” Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council