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| ==Criticisms== | ==Criticisms== | ||
| As of 2001, according to the author David V. Barrett, the movement had been criticized because of encouragment of its members to make donations to pay for Mataji's trips and "expensive properties."<ref name=barrett>Barrett, David V. ''The New Believers'' (Cassell 2001) ISBN 0-304-35592-5 pages 297-298</ref> Barrett further wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives."<ref name=barrett/> According to Barrett, Mataji's degree of control over members' lives has given raise to concerns.<ref name=barrett/> | As of 2001, according to the author David V. Barrett, the movement had been criticized because of encouragment of its members to make donations to pay for Mataji's trips and "expensive properties."<ref name=barrett>Barrett, David V. ''The New Believers'' (Cassell 2001) ISBN 0-304-35592-5 pages 297-298</ref> Barrett further wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives."<ref name=barrett/> According to Barrett, Mataji's degree of control over members' lives has given raise to concerns.<ref name=barrett/> | ||
| What is a real YOGA | |||
| Yoga is an union with whatever one does. It might be a painters` paintings or helpers` help. | |||
| And furthermore,according to Sri Patanjali, yoga has 8 steps... And all the real yogas have their guru lineage... | |||
| Now lets see if SAHAJA YOGA is a real one or not! Its`only guru is NIRMALA DEVI, or MATAJI.no other gurus at all. And only meditation is being presented...No other steps... | |||
| Nirmala Devi says she is ADI-SHAKTI, an incarnation of God within the human form... She is pretending to give ENLIGHTENMENTS just like that...Even on the internet media she delivers it easily. Then what the receivers get is a question!!! What is ENLIGHTENMENT? If she new it, she would not try to give enlightenment as if she were giving an object! Enlightenment can not be given...It can be gained thru ones his/her own effort... | |||
| Nirmala Devi is distorting things,yoga is not a religion at all...But she pretends as if SAHAJA YOGA was a religion...By just referring some holy books,she thinks she is doing something good...Actually she is also trying to distort all the religions that she is referring to...Because what she says has no meaning in that particular religions, As she does not know deep meaning of that particular religions she is just lying...This is not fair for a yogi. A yogi has to have yamas and niyamas...And a yogi must not lie...Because SATYA does not permit to lie...If Nirmala Devi knows too much about medicine, why can`t she recover herself first? | |||
| People from Sahaj schools explain everything, how they were brain washed...About KUNDALINI affair, she does not know anything about KUNDALINI...By looking her picture KUNDALINI will rise ...SELF REALISATION, again she is cheating...First of all a self relised person would not lie..But she does...She says she is ADI-SHAKTI, she says SHE IS THE RUH OF ALLAH...what ruh! | |||
| what ruh means? She does not know,,,She is talking about things that she has no idea what so ever...If she new she would not say this nonsense,,,RUH OF ALLAH...what is ALLAH and what is The ruh? What is KUNDALINI...What means for a yogi to lie!!! If a yogi is away from SATYA, then how his/her followers will follow him/her? The followers should also lie...Because their guru is lying... | |||
| There is a UNIVERSAL LAW that Mataji should learn,,,"""Whatever you do, you will get the same""" if one does good things he/she gets good life....If one does nasty things and if one lies then he/she will get the same...Only ill people think themselves as GOD...As she pretended being God,,, she became sick, she became syzofrenia... | |||
| In these days, all over , almost verywhere,in order to make money illegally people are trying to do everything, some false gurus are also working, without having any idea about what yoga is,,, they are trying to CHEAT,even they pretend being God, Adi-shakti, ruh of Allah,,, | |||
| Where is YOGA? Where is Satya? Where is ASANA, where is PRANAYAMA? where is PRATYAHARA, any person who is master of pratyahara, wlill not give any damn to money this much!!! | |||
| Nirmala devi is not talking right. Actually enlightenment is dependent upon ones`own effort. No one can deliver enlightenment to the others...SATYA is very important in YOGA If yama and niyama are not applied, then there is no yoga We have to talk right... | |||
| Nirmala Devi is lying, because she even can not heal her own sicknesses. Her husband and her doctors and some of her members clearly have stated that she has several illnes. But the worst one is SCHIZOPHRENIA Now after all how one can be sure that this is a real yoga? | |||
| In these days, almost everywhere we see many yogas and many gurus...But it is very hard to separate milk from the water... | |||
| Lets all be mindfull and we should be at the side of SATYA... | |||
| 15 January 2007 Bothi 22:28, 15 January 2007 (UTC)BothiBothi 22:28, 15 January 2007 (UTC) | |||
| 18 January 2007 Bothi] 00:47, 19 January 2007 (UTC) | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 00:47, 19 January 2007
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| Sahaja Yoga | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Nirmala Srivastava |
| Practice emphases | |
| Kundalini | |
| Related schools | |
| Vishwa Nirmala Dharma | |
Sahaja Yoga (Sahaja meaning born with and Yoga meaning union) is a form of meditation, created by Nirmala Srivastava, more widely known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, in 1970. The term Sahaja Yoga is also used to refer to the Sahaja Yoga International (Vishwa Nirmala Dharma) organization which she founded.
The practice is internationally popular, having lead to the creation of meditation centers in almost 100 countries, and its own television show. It has also notably been taught to prisoners in Italy and the United States, such as at Rikers Island The organisation has been criticised by some ex-members and writer Sudhir Kakar who describes the organization as a cult.
Sahaja Yoga meditation
Beliefs
Main articles: Kundalini and Self-realizationSahaja Yoga teaches that there are seven main energy points, or chakras, on the subtle body that can be balanced by awakening the Kundalini, a normally dormant energy which exists in every human being. When self-realization is achieved, a person will feel a cool breeze on top of their head. If there is a feeling of warmth or heat, then the body has not achieved such balance. Sahaja Yoga claims to provide an easier method, even described as "instant", of attaining this state than other traditional methods such as Hatha Yoga, which rely on physical postures and breathing exercises to attain Self-realisation.
Chakras
| Chakra | Color | Qualities | Associated Element | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown (just above the head) sahasrāra, सहस्रार |
White or Multicolored | Self Realization, Meditation, Yoga, Joy, Collective Consciousness, Integration, Recognition, Knowledge | - | 
|
ājñā, आज्ञा (or Agnya) |
White | Thoughtless Awareness, Forgiveness of others and self, Morality | Light | 
|
| Throat viśuddha, विशुद्ध (Vishuddhi) |
azure blue | Collectivity, Collective Communication, Self Respect/Confidence, Responsability, Diplomacy, Witness Power, Freedom | Ether | File:Vishuddhisimple.png |
| Heart anāhata, अनाहत |
Red | Security, Confidence, Immunity, Mariyadas, Love, Joy, Benevolance, Father/Husband/Brother Relationships, Sankoch, Sincerity, Protection, Respect | Air | 
|
| Solar plexus maṇipūra, मणिपूर (Nabhi) |
yellow | Center of our seeking, Satisfaction, Grace, Balance, Dignity, Generosity, Justice, Peace, Wealth, Household qualities, Respect for others. | Water | 
|
| Sacrum svādhiṣṭhāna, स्वाधिष्ठान |
orange | Pure Knowledge, Creativity, Aesthetics, Intellectual Perception, Pure Attention | Fire | 
|
| Root mūlādhāra, मूलाधार (Also Mooladhara) |
red (indian red or coral red) | Innocence, Purity, Wisdom, Auspiciousness, Magnetism, Spontaneity (Sahaj), Power to raise the Kundalini | Earth, Carbon | 
|
Practices
Some Sahaja Yogis meditate on the photo of the founder, as this is believed to help in focusing the attention needed to aid in the rise of the Kundalini. Soaking the feet in a bath of warm salt water, or walking in the sea, one of several techniques utilising nature, is said to help balance the meditator.
Water is spiritually vibrated to increase its benefical qualities and to purify it.
Sahaja Yoga in medicine
Sahaja Yoga meditation has proven effective in addressing various medical ailments, including asthma, epilepsy, and ADHD. Some of these claims have been scientifically confirmed. For example, some case studies have shown that test subjects who were practising Sahaja Yoga meditation had "significant improvement in VCS (Visual Contrast Sensitivity)", and that meditation appeared to bring about changes in some of the electrophysiological responses studied in epileptic patients. Other studies showed that Sahaja Yoga meditation results in fewer and less acute epileptic seizures According to the Medical Observer Weekly, Sahaja Yoga was found to be more effective than other generic forms of meditation in the reduction of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Short-term effects on asthma have also been noticed, by both objective and subjective measures.
Sahaja Yoga claims that it has cured patients of "high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, etc." SY's commentary on a study by Mishra , et al., 1993, suggests that an observed increase in beta-endorphins for meditating males could explain "so-called miraculous cures". Mishra reported that Sahaja Yoga meditation resulted in a "significant increase" in beta-endorphins between control and meditating subjects.
The organization runs an international hospital in Mumbai, India, the Sahaja Yoga International Health and Research Centre, which uses Sahaja Yoga methods. This hospital claims to have been successful in curing incurable diseases such as (refractory) high blood pressure, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
Shri Nirmala Srivastava has developed a liver diet to promote better health. White cane sugar, white rice, yoghurt, ginger, fruits and vegetables promote the "cooling" of the liver. Alcohol, fried foods, red meat, fish, cream and chocolate are among the foods that are "heating" and thus may be harmful if taken in excess.
Sahaja Yoga culture
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (January 2007) |
Because of the diversity of cultures practicing Sahaja Yoga, a range of different projects focusing on the similarities and differences between cultures was born, including the formation of musical groups playing fusion of different genres, such as Nirmal Bhakti and Indialucia including Rock and roll, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Qawwali and Indian classical music.
Organisation
The Sahaja Yoga organisation is overseen by the 31-member World Council for the Advancement of Sahaja Yoga (WCASY) (also known as the "Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga World Foundation") that was proposed December 2003 and formed the following year. In July 2005 the role of the WCASY was affirmed by Sir C. P. Srivastava speaking on behalf of Shri Mataji.
Sahaja Yoga International (Vishwa Nirmala Dharma)
Sahaja Yoga International (also known as Vishwa Nirmala Dharma) is the organisational part of the movement. Founded in 1970 it has centers in almost 100 countries worldwide.
Sahaja Yoga/Vishwa Nirmala Dharma is a registered Organisation in many countries such as Columbia, the United States of America, France (has an "asso.fr" website domain reserved for organisations), and Austria. It is registered as a religion in Spain.
The organization runs meditation, cultural, and charity-related facilities and activities, including
- Radio programs
- A hospital (described in the above section)
- As of 2003, the Vishwa Nirmal Prem Ashram, Delhi, a project for the rehabilitation of "destitute women and orphaned children".
- The "Shri P. K. Salve Kala Pratishthan," an academy of Indian Classical Music and Fine Arts, in the Vaitarna region, in the state of Maharashtra near Bombay.
Vishwa Nirmal Prem ashram
The Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram is a not-for profit project by the NGO Vishwa Nirmala Dharma (Sahaja Yoga International) located in Noida, Delhi, India, opened on December 27, 2003.
It aims at:
- Providing for basic needs and facilities of the destitute women and children
- Giving them training and enable them to attain economic independence
- Assist them in getting appropriate jobs
- The members of the ashram would also be given spiritual guidance so that after going from the ashram, they would be able to face the difficulties of life in a better way and get appropriate livelihoods to gain self-reliance
Yuvashakti
The organization's youth movement is called "Yuvashakti" (also "Nirmal Shakti Yuva Sangha"), from the Sanskrit words Yuva (Youth) and Shakti (Power).
As well as helping organize Sahaja Yoga events such as Realise America tour, The European realization tour, and Realize Australia, Yuvashakti is active in forums such as the World Youth Conferenceand TakingITGlobal which aim at discussing global issues, and ways of solving them.
An example of this is the participation in the 2000 "Civil Society & Governance Project" in which Yuvashakti were "instrumental in reaching out to women from the poor communities and providing them with work".
Other projects
The World Council supports the creation of an 108-room Ashram complex in Chhindwara, near the birthplace of its founder. Another urgent project is the transfer of her audio and video tapes, many in delicate condition, to digital media. The founder has given her intellectual property and several of her homes to the trust run by the World Council to be used in future projects by the organization.
Criticisms
As of 2001, according to the author David V. Barrett, the movement had been criticized because of encouragment of its members to make donations to pay for Mataji's trips and "expensive properties." Barrett further wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives." According to Barrett, Mataji's degree of control over members' lives has given raise to concerns.
What is a real YOGA
Yoga is an union with whatever one does. It might be a painters` paintings or helpers` help.
And furthermore,according to Sri Patanjali, yoga has 8 steps... And all the real yogas have their guru lineage...
Now lets see if SAHAJA YOGA is a real one or not! Its`only guru is NIRMALA DEVI, or MATAJI.no other gurus at all. And only meditation is being presented...No other steps...
Nirmala Devi says she is ADI-SHAKTI, an incarnation of God within the human form... She is pretending to give ENLIGHTENMENTS just like that...Even on the internet media she delivers it easily. Then what the receivers get is a question!!! What is ENLIGHTENMENT? If she new it, she would not try to give enlightenment as if she were giving an object! Enlightenment can not be given...It can be gained thru ones his/her own effort...
Nirmala Devi is distorting things,yoga is not a religion at all...But she pretends as if SAHAJA YOGA was a religion...By just referring some holy books,she thinks she is doing something good...Actually she is also trying to distort all the religions that she is referring to...Because what she says has no meaning in that particular religions, As she does not know deep meaning of that particular religions she is just lying...This is not fair for a yogi. A yogi has to have yamas and niyamas...And a yogi must not lie...Because SATYA does not permit to lie...If Nirmala Devi knows too much about medicine, why can`t she recover herself first?
People from Sahaj schools explain everything, how they were brain washed...About KUNDALINI affair, she does not know anything about KUNDALINI...By looking her picture KUNDALINI will rise ...SELF REALISATION, again she is cheating...First of all a self relised person would not lie..But she does...She says she is ADI-SHAKTI, she says SHE IS THE RUH OF ALLAH...what ruh! what ruh means? She does not know,,,She is talking about things that she has no idea what so ever...If she new she would not say this nonsense,,,RUH OF ALLAH...what is ALLAH and what is The ruh? What is KUNDALINI...What means for a yogi to lie!!! If a yogi is away from SATYA, then how his/her followers will follow him/her? The followers should also lie...Because their guru is lying...
There is a UNIVERSAL LAW that Mataji should learn,,,"""Whatever you do, you will get the same""" if one does good things he/she gets good life....If one does nasty things and if one lies then he/she will get the same...Only ill people think themselves as GOD...As she pretended being God,,, she became sick, she became syzofrenia...
In these days, all over , almost verywhere,in order to make money illegally people are trying to do everything, some false gurus are also working, without having any idea about what yoga is,,, they are trying to CHEAT,even they pretend being God, Adi-shakti, ruh of Allah,,, Where is YOGA? Where is Satya? Where is ASANA, where is PRANAYAMA? where is PRATYAHARA, any person who is master of pratyahara, wlill not give any damn to money this much!!!
Nirmala devi is not talking right. Actually enlightenment is dependent upon ones`own effort. No one can deliver enlightenment to the others...SATYA is very important in YOGA If yama and niyama are not applied, then there is no yoga We have to talk right...
Nirmala Devi is lying, because she even can not heal her own sicknesses. Her husband and her doctors and some of her members clearly have stated that she has several illnes. But the worst one is SCHIZOPHRENIA Now after all how one can be sure that this is a real yoga?
In these days, almost everywhere we see many yogas and many gurus...But it is very hard to separate milk from the water...
Lets all be mindfull and we should be at the side of SATYA...
15 January 2007 Bothi 22:28, 15 January 2007 (UTC)BothiBothi 22:28, 15 January 2007 (UTC) 18 January 2007 BothiBothi 00:47, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
See also
References
- The Hindu Monday, Apr 07, 2003 viewed 6 November 2006
- An Unlikely Source for Meditative Study - Queen's tribune online
- Rome prison (Italy) will begin offering meditation and yoga to inmates Mirror of an article appearing in Ansa
- "Shri Who Must Be Obeyed" Article from The Independent, July 13, 2001.
- ^ Sudhir Kakar, Shamans, Mystics and Doctors: A Psychological Inquiry into India and its Healing Traditions, 1982 University of Chicago Press
- http://www.sahajayoga.ca/Meditation/foot_soaking.htm
- http://www.sahajayoga.org/researchandbenefits/water_research.asp
- Manocha, R. "Sahaja yoga in asthma", Thorax 2003;58:825-826. URL:
- ^ Manocha R, Marks G.B., Kenchington P., Peters D., Salome C.M. "Sahaja yoga in the management of moderate to severe asthma: a randomized controlled trial", Thorax 2003;57:110-115. URL:
- Ramaratnam S., Sridharan K. "Yoga for epilepsy", Cochrane Database Syst Review 2000;(3):CD001524
- Harrison, L.J., Manocha R., Rubia, K. "Sahaja Yoga Meditation as a Family Treatment Programme for Children with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder", Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2004;9(4):479-497. URL:
- Panjwani U., Selvamurthy W., Singh S.H., Gupta H.L., Mukhopadhyay S., Thakur L. "Effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) in epileptics", Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2000;25(1):1-12
- Panjwani U, Selvamurthy W, Singh SH, Gupta HL, Thakur L, Rai UC. "Effect of sahaja yoga practice on seizure control & EEG changes in patients of epilepsy." Indian J Med Res 1996;103: 165-72.
- ^ "Making sense of meditation", August 13, 2004, Medical Observer Weekly
- http://www.sahajayoga.org.in/Benefits.asp
- http://www.apsahaj.org/benefits.html
- "Alterations in physiological parameters during Sahaja Yoga meditation", reference-commentary (9)
- Ram Mishra, (a.k.a., Prof. Ram K. Mishra), Cia Barlas, A. Pradhan), "Effect of meditation on plasma beta-endorphins in humans", 1993, (publication details unknown). Mishra's study abstract no. 257 was web-posted at U. of Arizona Center for Consciousness Studies, Department of Psychology, abstracts page, for speakers on Friday, April 7, (2006?) (server page last modified 2006-03-29). Quote: "The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the meditative practice of Sahaja yoga on plasma ß-endorphin levels. .... There was a significant increase (p<0.01) between control and meditating subjects when controlled for age and gender. Female subjects, however, displayed less increase in the ß-endorphins as compared to male subjects. ...."
- Medical research literature on Sahaja Yoga meditation
- Sahaja Yoga: Liver Diet
- Message to all the Sahaja Yogis of the world from Arneau de Kalbermatten, Coordinator of the World Council
- [http://www.sahajayoga.org/swan/view/swan_369_2005.asp A productive second session of the WCASY at Guru Puja in New Jersey
- http://www.sahajayoga.org/worldcouncil/default.asp
- http://www.sahajayoga.org/swan/view/swan_512_2006.asp Historic video affirming the role of The World Council Of Sahaja Yoga
- "A message for one and all", April 7, 2003, The Hindu
- List of Sahaja Yoga centers
- Vishwa Nirmala Dharma - Religion in Spain
- Sahaja Yoga Radio Programs
- http://www.2ser.com/programs/shows/sahajayoga/?searchterm=sahaja
- Project description
- http://www.pksacademy.com/
- Case Study Civil Society & Governance Project, February 2000 Vinita Tatke Viewed 6 November 2006
- Shri Mataji’s Holy Birthplace: Chhindwara Project
- Safeguarding the Original Audio and Video Tapes of Shri Mataji
- An Appeal: Safeguarding The Orignal Audio and Video Tapes Of Shri Mataji
- ^ Barrett, David V. The New Believers (Cassell 2001) ISBN 0-304-35592-5 pages 297-298
Further reading
- Pullar, Philippa (1984) The Shortest Journey, ISBN 0-04-291018-8
- Kakar, Sudhir (1984) Shamans, Mystics and Doctors: A Psychological Inquiry into India and Its Healing Traditions, ISBN 0-226-42279-8
- Rai, Umesh (1993) Medical science enlightened: new insight into vibratory awareness for holistic health care (New Delhi: Life Eternal Trust) ISBN 81-900325-0-X
- Descieux, Flore (1995) The Light of the Koran: Knowledge through Sahaja Yoga (Paris: La Pensee Universelle, 1995; English translation: New Delhi: Ritana Books, 1998) ISBN 81852500026
- Apte, Arun (1997) Music and Sahaja Yoga (Pune: NITL)
- Coney, Judith (1999) Sahaja Yoga: Socializing Processes in a South Asian New Religious Movement, (London: Curzon Press) ISBN 0-7007-1061-2
- de Kalbermatten, Gregoire (2003) The Third Advent (New York: Daisy America, 2003; Melbourne: Penguin Australia, 2004; Delhi: Penguin India, 2004) ISBN 1-932406-07-7
External links
Sahaja Yoga International
- Sahaja Yoga - official website
- The Light of Sahaja Yoga, online newspaper
- Woman's Hour September 12, 2001 BBC radio program, with questions and answers by Nirmala Srivastava and two ex-members.
- Official Response from Sahaja Yoga International to False Allegations
- NGO project description
Sahaja Yoga meditation
- The Beginning of Sahaja Yoga video
- INFORM pamphlet about Sahaja Yoga
- Say 'No' to Drugs, Turn To Sahaja Yoga for Help September 10, 2006 editorial from Times of India
Yuvashakti
- Yuvashakti Universal - design, animation, and film showcase of Yuvashakti artists
- Yuvashakti International website
Sahaja Yoga in art and music
- Indialucia - Fusion of Flamenco and Indian classical music by Sahaja Yogis.
- Nirmal Bhakti Sahaja Yoga musical group from Switzerland
- Theater of Eternal Values - Sahaja Yoga Theatre troupe
- Shri P.K. Salve Kala Pratishthan Music and Arts academy
- Suomi Bhangra - Finnish Bhangra band.
Other sites
- Shri Adi Shakti: The Kingdom Of God
- Sahaja Yoga at the Religious Movements Homepage at the University of Virginia. Not updated since 2001.
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