1. “Effortlessness is the only way into meditation.” -Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Side Note: When you come in each class, begin by settling down into a meditative mood. This readiness to begin meditation increases the positive vibes and decreases distractions, making your meditation experience wholly worthwhile. After meditation, remain in a peaceful mood for 5-7 minutes longer to sustain the vibes.

2. What is Sahaja Yoga Meditation? Meditation is a state when one breaches into the torsion area described by Einstein. Here one’s thoughts are stopped and the mind becomes open to divine inspiration. It is a balance between your Physical health Mental health Emotional health Spiritual health Self realization is having complete mastery over one’s self. Side Note: ‘Yoga’ means union with the all-pervading energy of divine love that surrounds us. A practitioner of Sahaja Yoga meditation is known as a Sahaja Yogi (Yogini for females). The first step to becoming a Sahaja Yogi is the self-realization process. We will look at that later in the presentation.

3. -The Kundalini Kundal means coil in Sanskrit The One Within “Formless yet complete, existing before heaven and earth. Silent and limitless, alone and unchanging. Pervading everywhere, yet untiring. It is the Mother of all things under heaven. I do not know its name so I call it ‘Tao’.” - Lao Tze- Tao Te Ching, verse 25 Side Note: The Kundalini is the energy within all of us. It lies in a three-and a half-coil at the base of the spine. It is dormant until awakened through self-realization. It was referred to by Lao Tze as the “Tao”, while the Chinese often refer to it as ‘chi’. During meditation, we refer to the Kundalini as mother because this feminine power is born with us.

4. Center of Balance Buddha, in his travels came across these two paths, as he described them, and after much experience of trying both lifestyles came to the conclusion that it wasn’t either out of the two, but both. Side Note: Within our bodies, we have a subtler body, which consists of three channels and seven chakras, along with the Kundalini. The first channel (yellow) is the right channel, which represents our actions and future. The second channel (blue) is the left channel which represents our emotions and past. Both of these are medically known as the sympathetic nervous systems. The central channel, known as the parasympathetic nervous system, is a balance between the two. It is here that the Kundalini rises through the seven chakras to the top of our head, resulting in tremendous positive energy

5. Your Hands Shall Speak 1.Mooladhara: Wisdom, Innocence 2.Swadhisthana: Creativity, Attention 3.Nabhi: Peace, Satisfaction 4.Anahat: Confidence, Compassion 5.Vishudhi: Communication, Collectivity 6.Agnya: Forgiveness, Tension free 7.Sahastrara: Integration The prophet Mohammed said at the time of Kayama, “your hands shall speak” Side Note: The seven chakras that are listed here are known as nervous plexuses. They are a reflection of various aspects of our life. When the Kundalini passes through them, their qualities are manifested within us. The chakras are also reflected in our hands and can be decoded easily. For example, if one feels a tingling, heat, or pain on the right thumb, we can decode that as a lack of focus and attention by referring to the chart. Decoding our problems on a daily basis is the first step to solving them.

6. Awaken thyself… Awaken thyself… Once the Kundalini is awakened, it rises through the central channel along our spine and opens out our chakras, thus removing them of blockages. The Kundalini pierces all six chakras and upon piercing the seventh showers a torrential rain of cool breeze and joy on the person. “This is the real baptism.” -Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Side Note: The self-realization process was attempted in Christianity through baptism. However, it never got past the sixth chakra. To experience the self-realization process please take a minute to relax, find a quiet space and follow along with the next couple of slides.

7. The Self-Realization Process During the experience keep your left hand, palm facing upwards on your lap and place your right hand on various parts of the left side of your body. Please follow images 1 to 9 as shown in the following slides and repeat each affirmation from your heart. You are referring to your Kundalini energy (Mother). “Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still.” -Lao Tze, Tao Te Ching, verse 16 “Now, the instruction in Yoga (Union). Patanjali-“Yoga Sutras”

8. The Self-Realization Process

12. Now raise your right hand 2-3 inches (3-4 cm) above your head and see if you can feel a cool or warm breeze in the palm of your right hand. Then try with the left hand. If you can feel either cool or warm in your hands, you have experienced self realization!

13. The Crown Chakra The seventh chakra is placed on the portion of our head called the fontanel bone area. It was named thus because upon self realization a fountain of cool air and joy comes out from this bone as the Kundalini pierces the seventh chakra. This is where one reaches the torsion area or vacuum that Einstein described, where all thoughts become still. “Turning away from materialism...I’ve entered into the sky of the mind, and opened the Tenth Gate. The chakras of the coiled Kundalini energy have been opened, and I have met Sovereign Lord King without fear.” -Kabir, “Guru Granth Sahib” pg. 972 “This is the last step in the evolution of mankind.” -Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Side Note: The seventh chakra is referred to as the ‘Sahastrara’, which means ‘thousand petal lotus’ in Sanskrit. During meditation, keep your attention on Sahastrara to obtain the maximum positive energy.

14. Thoughtless Awareness The Indian Scriptures describe the following four states of human awareness: 1.Jagrutithe waking state of consciousness 2.Swapnathe dreaming state of consciousness 3.Sushuptithe state of deep sleep in which the mind, the ego and the superego are still 4.Turyathe state of thoughtless awareness beyond the mind “Empty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still.” -Lao Tze, Tao Te Ching, verse 16 “Now, the instruction in Yoga (Union). Union is restraining the thought-streams natural to the mind. Then the seer dwells in his own nature. Otherwise he is of the same form as the thoughts.” Patanjali—”Yoga Sutras” Side Note: Meditation is a state of thoughtless awareness. The torsion state that Einstein described is referred to as ‘turya’ state in ancient Indian scriptures. Lao Tze describes the still mind much like a calm lake that reflects its surroundings almost perfectly. However, each thought is like a stone dropped in the lake which creates ripples and distorts the image of reality.

15. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” -John, 14:25 Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, known affectionately as Shri Mataji, or Mother, is the first spiritual teacher in history to give large scale Self Realization as described by many great saints and prophets of the past. Shri Mataji, a descendant of India’s royal Shalivahana dynasty, was born to a Christian family at Chindwara, Maharashtra, near the geographic center of India. She was born on March 21, 1923. As a child, Shri Mataji lived for a time, along with her parents, in the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi who affectionately gave her the nickname, “Nepali”. “Behold the Mother.” John19:26 Side Note: Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi first founded Sahaja Yoga on May 5 th, 1970. In short she is known as Shri Mataji or Mother This slide and the next describe her spiritual journey.

16. Journey of Peace On May 5, 1970, Shri Mataji was meditating on the many problems of humanity on a lonely beach in India, when a blissful divine experience filled her whole being and she knew that the moment had dome for her unique spiritual gift-the ability to give en-mass self realization-to be share with the whole of humanity. In addition to her spiritual work her spiritual work, Shri Mataji has also started a number of charitable organizations in India to help the poor and the sick, including a large hostel for destitute and homeless mothers in Delhi and a hospital in Mumbai to treat people using Sahaja Yoga techniques. Twice Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Shri Mataji has been invited by the United Nations to speak about her views of peace. Shri Mataji Passed away on February 23, 2011 in Cabella Ligure Italy. Shri Mataji embarked on her spiritual mission. She traveled all over the world sharing her message of peace with millions of seekers. Sahaja Yoga is now practiced in over 150 countries worldwide

17. Bandhan Bandhan is a Sanskrit word meaning protection. We take bandhan in order to sustain the positive energy received during meditation and prevent incoming negative energy. When sitting down to meditate you should always begin and end the meditation by raising your Kundalini and giving yourself a bandhan. We raise our kundalini three times (once for each channel) and give ourselves a bandhan seven times (once for each chakra). Side Note: The positive energy felt during meditation, experienced as a coolness on the palms and above the head, is known as ‘vibrations’. These vibrations are constantly emitted during meditation and because they permeate into everything you do, one often loses them to the surroundings. It is important to daily meditate to keep this flow going so that it never depletes. With further meditation, we can even direct this flow of vibrations into plants, projects, people, places and almost anything else!

18. Daily Meditation Begin your meditation by taking bandhan. Sit with your palms upward, with your eyes closed and sit for 10-15 minutes without thinking. One should meditate daily for at least 10-15 minutes. If your attention is wandering and the thoughts are not going away, you can say “Not this thought” each time a thought arises. Also if you say “I forgive” sincerely from the heart, the thoughts will slowly give up. Keep your attention on your Sahastrara chakra, on top of your head, for a few minutes before raising your Kundalini again and giving yourself bandhan. “With respect if you do meditation it’s perfect. But first of all, your heart and your mind must have respect. In any way, when you meditate, you should do it with love, that’s all.” -Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

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