“You cannot know the meaning of your life until you are connected to the power that created you.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
It is early summer 1991, I am walking into a local church to attend a free meditation class.
I’m nervous, yet excited about the introduction to this new meditation called “Sahaja Yoga.”
A week earlier I’d been shopping for my dad’s Father’s Day gift and found the flyer for this meditation neatly tucked under the windshield wiper of my car at the mall.
I’d been about to crumple up the leaflet when the photo of the Eastern Indian woman with the beaming smile upon it caught my attention.
Synchronicity
I clutched the leaflet in disbelief as I read that this meditation was completely free – forever.
I was already meditating, using another method that I wasn’t completely satisfied with, and had been considering taking TM (Transcendental Meditation) for some time. The cost of the TM course had put me off though. Not believing in coincidence, I knew happening upon a “free meditation” was not a random coincidence, but the answer to a prayer.
The woman with beaming smile on the flyer was Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi the founder of this meditation. She believed that you could not pay for something that was already innate within you such as your connection to the Divine. I decided then and there that I would attend the meditation the following week.
The Miracle
I enter through the back door of the church and go down a few stairs to the community room where the meditation is to be held. As I near the room I detect the smell of frankincense, which is an incense I love and am accustomed to smelling having grown up in the Greek Orthodox church. It already feels right.
I enter the room and immediately become aware of a change in the energy around me – not something I am normally aware of. I am greeted very warmly by two Eastern Indian men who will be running the session. I sense such kindness from these two individuals and feel an instantaneous rapport with them. What is happening here, I think?
In the front of the room I see a table draped with a gorgeous cloth that has a vase with fresh flowers, a large framed photograph of Shri Mataji and a lit candle upon it.
As I walk toward en empty seat, I notice that my palms, forehead and the top of my head are pulsing very strongly. I do not recall ever having had this reaction to anything before.
I hear a loud voice in my head that says: Something extraordinary is happening here.
The two gentleman begin the session by explaining that “sahaj” is a Sanskrit word meaning “spontaneous.” The meditation, they explain, spontaneously fosters “self-realization” by immediately raising the Kundalini energy that is laying dormant at the base of the spine in the sacrum bone.
They explain about the chakra system and Kundalini energy pointing to various things on the chakra chart they’ve set up in the front. I am aware of these subjects through the books I’ve read and my practice of Hatha yoga for many years.
What I am not prepared for is what happens during the meditation.
The pulsing in my hands and head continues and gets stronger. As I settle into the guided meditation led by the men I begin to feel a “coolness” all around me. At first I think the air conditioning is on but then I realize the “coolness” is coming from within my body. It’s quite a strange sensation to feel this coolness being exuded from my body. The men explain that I am feeling the “cool breeze” of the Holy Spirit.
I suddenly became aware of how “alert” I am and at the same moment aware that I have no thoughts running through my head – which I find astounding. I realize I’ve never experienced such peace before in my life.
Thinking about the fact that I have no thoughts snaps me out of this aware state, but only momentarily. As I focus on my breathing again I find myself effortlessly back in that state of “thoughtless awareness.” It is heaven.
The class lasts for about an hour and a half, but I could swear it had been just 5 minutes. I really didn’t want it to end. I’d never felt such a palpable connection to the Spirit before even though I’d been meditating for many years.
I promise the two I’ll be back the following week and leave still “high” from the experience and feeling the pulsing and coolness. I continue to meditate on my own during the week and to experience the pulsing and “cool breeze.”
I notice how calm and centered I feel during that week. Everything has a new vibrancy about it – even colors seem brighter. My consciousness has been altered in a way I am still too fresh to understand. And yet, it is only the beginning of what I am going to learn.
The week couldn’t go fast enough. When I return I have the same experience again, and then the week after….
As the weeks turned into months and then years I continued to practice the miracle that is Sahaja Yoga meditation. It has been one of the most life changing gifts I’ve ever been given.
If you have the chance to attend this free meditation – don’t pass it up. You can try it online, but it’s much more powerful when done in a group. There’s much more than I have described here, but I’ll leave it for you to discover on your own.
*******
I was profoundly saddened to learn that Shri Mataji passed away on February 23rd. I had the honor of meeting her on a number of occasions and the supreme joy of assisting her, along with several other yoginis, on one of her visits to the US. (read her obituary)
I will be forever grateful to her for the gift she gave me and the world.
Have you ever heard of Sahaja Yoga meditation? If so, what was your experience? Do you believe we can experience a connection with the Divine power that created us?
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Comments
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IS meditation not for everyone? Please let me know
Hi Siri,
I think meditation is for everyone. I wish we taught it in public schools.
Nice to meet you.
Thank you for your question.
Angela Artemis meet me on Facebook ‘Sanjay Sahaji’ hundreds of Sahaji friends worldwide. It’s beautiful. Jai Shri Mataji
Thank you Sanjay. I’ll check out the Facebook page.
Beautiful conversations. Been following it for last 22 yrs. Has transformed not just my life but dozens of people around me 😀 Jai Shri Mataji
Hi Sanjay,
Welcome to PbI!
So glad you enjoyed this post. I loved the years I spent with the NY/NY collective. I made some wonderful friends too. I attended the funeral of a friend today at a Greek Orthodox Cathedral and experienced the cool breeze very strongly. It’s always such a wonderfully affirming experience to feel the connection to Spirit. Jai Shri Mataji.
Hi Angela,
I am a sahaja yogini from India and I got my realisation in 1984 but now in this time of turbulation spreading Sahaj Yoga on mass level is necessary. There is unrest everywhere . We sahaja yogis from all over the world have to unite and bring it on mass level.
Jai Shri Mataji
Hi Daya,
It’s so nice meeting you. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I agree with you that it’s vital right now for many more individuals to get their realization.
Jai Shri Mataji.
Oh, that’s a good one! Yes, please let me know how you liked it.
It took me two visits to feel some of the things you were talking about. And I was able to sustain the thoughtless state for about a minute, which is a great start for a neurotic New Yorker like me. 🙂 I think I will keep at it. I really liked the atmosphere and the people, conducting the practice. Thank you, Angela. x
Hi Natalia,
I’m so glad you went! It’s hard to sustain the thoughtless awareness state – but it will get easier I’m sure the more you practice. The people are very sincere. It’s my pleasure! Who was running the meeting? I wonder if I might know them? Thanks for coming back to to tell me!
What a fascinating account of your experience, Angela! Achieving the state of “thoughtless awareness” seemed especially amazing to me. I know that it takes a lot of inner work (at least for me it is so). I haven’t heard about Sahaja Yoga before, but now I am excited to learn more. I even found a class in NY and am seriously considering attending it. Possibly even this week. And who knows, maybe I’ll discover that I was lead to this post for a reason. 😉 Thanks again! x
Hi Natalia,
Thoughtless awareness is amazing. Until you’ve experienced it you can’t even imagine! The miracle of Sahaja Yoga is that this is spontaneous – it doesn’t take years and years of inner work. Glad to hear you’re going to try it. Let me know how your experience is. Where in NY is the class?
I’m planning go to the one at The Center for Arts Education, 225 West 34th St, between 7th and 8th Ave. Will duly report back! 🙂
Angela,
Wonderful story! Sounds like a truly amazing spiritual experience. I have never gleaned such a powerful experience for meditation myself but it does always offer an enhanced awareness of oneness and spiritual connection. Thanks for the refernce here ill look into this!
Hi Joe,
I’m glad you enjoyed this article. It was a truly life altering experience.
Let me know of your experience if you do go to a Sahaja Yoga session.
Hi Angela,
I’m very happy with my forms of meditation but was still pulled in by your wonderful story telling and beautiful description of your experience. Ahhh!
Thanks so much for always sharing such helpful info.
Hi Patti,
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I’m also happy to hear that you’re happy with your own meditation – that’s great.
I was inspired to share this only because Shri Mataji passed away.
Thanks so much for coming by and sharing your thoughts with me Patti. It’s always such a pleasure to chat with you!
Hi Angela,
I’ve just started to meditate on my own, and a class would be great. I’ve just found out there’s a Sahaja Yoga class close to my place, and I want to check it out. Thanks!
Hi Fran,
It’s so nice meeting you.
Yes, it’s very helpful to meditate in a group. It helps you go deeper and into a “thoughtless state” much more easily when you’re in a group setting. Let me know how your experience went after you go. I’d love to hear about it.
I actually tried Sahaja yoga in a free class, and didn’t find it for me. I really didn’t get the energizing, spiritual feeling you described. It was also too long for me… way too long, although I’m known to not be able to stand still for even 10 minutes. Yeah, I guess meditation and yoga is just not for me =(
Hi Henway
Thanks for letting me know. It’s not for everyone – that’s for sure.
This sounds amazing! Thanks Angela for sharing. I sent a note to the Sahaja Meditation class contact in my area to see when and where they hold the classes.
Hi Jenny,
Yes, it is really amazing! Great. Let me know about your experience after you attend Jenny~!
I do believe in connection with the Divine, and I think that teachers like Shri Mataji are really angels who come down to help us move forward on our path.
I have been involved in a number of meditations, including TM (many years ago). The thing I loved about TM was that it was always there for me. I just had to silently repeat my little mantra, and the calm would enfold me.
This meditation interests me as well. I’ll sure take a look. Thanks, Angela.
Hi Gail,
Yes, I do believe Shri Mataji was an angel for me anyway. She appeared at the right time in my life and her meditation has helped me immensely. If you’re a TM meditator – you’ll find this very easy. You already know how to go to a deep level – but you’ll no longer need a mantra. I’d love to know about your experience if you attend.
Oh, no- what a loss. I had no idea that she’d passed recently, either.
There’s a yoga and meditation group that meets about 30 minutes south of me based on her teachings. I’d dragged my feet about going because I’ve never been a fan of guided mediation.
I’ll put that on my to do list to actually attend a session soon.
HI Laura,
Yes, her health had been declining for some time. It is a great loss but her meditation will survive thank goodness.
30 minutes – that’s nice and close. Yes, please go and let me know how your experience is.
It is a great meditation. But you know I believe in very personal meditation. Meaning, whatever meditation connects you to the divine is miraculous.
Hi Rosemarie,
I don’t disagree with you on this point. It is personal and you have to be drawn toward it.
Hi Angela,
This is the meditation you mentioned to me recently, right? I would love to hear more about it and what makes it different from “regular” meditation, especially for you personally! I hope you’ll post on this topic again soon. It sounds really interesting. As I mentioned I have also felt this coolness, but from objects rather than people. I don’t really know what it means, though.
HI Anna,
Yes, this is the meditation I mentioned to you. It spontaneously raises the Kundalini energy which is why you’re able to feel the coolness.
When you feel “coolness” in this manner you’re connecting to the Spirit, or our “Source” – which is why many people detect temperature drops when they believe they’ve encountered a ghost. It’s along the same lines, but not the same magnitude.
You can detect “coolness” from objects as well. If you want to know if something is “good for you” put your hand over it and you’ll feel the “coolness” if it is. If it isn’t you’ll feel warmth, or a buzzing or itching in your hands. You’re a natural. You should check out Sahaja Yoga Anna.
Wow, Angela. You have me jazzed up checking out Sahaja yoga meditation! Love the way told the story of how you discovered and fell in love with it! Wonderful, emotional writing! My little town doesn’t have classes like that, but I’ll for sure take the online course. Thanks so much for sharing this!!!
Hi Ande,
Sahaja yoga and Silva were the two life-changing meditations methods I discovered. I also found Silva from a flyer, believe it or not!
Check the site I added for free courses in your state – just in case.
I think you’ll really take to it!
I do believe it–we’re led to things in the most casual ways sometimes. 🙂
Hi Ande,
Yes, I know you totally get how the Universe aligns with our intentions and brings forth those synchronous events for us.
I just started implementing meditation into my daily routine. I am doing the 21-day challenge at the Chopra Center.
I’ll have to put this on my List of things to loo into…
Thanks!
Hi Carolee,
I’m so glad you’re meditating. Nothing can change us from the inside-out like meditation.
Cool! Is there a Chopra center near your home, or is it online?
Can you come down to Haverstraw? There’s a meeting at the library there on Tuesday nights and it’s free.
Hi Angela, I loved reading this story about your experience on discovering meditation. I hadn’t heard of Shri Mataji or Sahaja meditation before…I will definitely investigate it as it sounds exactly like Transcendental Meditation.I paid for TM many years ago and although it was very expensive I have never regretted it because I found it life changing and of course it is with you forever. But over the years when I’ve recommended it to others who are struggling with problems in life, they’ve usually found it too expensive to learn. So I’m thrilled that this is another form of a very similar style of meditation that can be availed of free of charge. And the people sound so welcoming and warm as well! Wonderful post Angela…thank you so much for sharing. It’s so sad that Shri Mataji has passed away…she looked so young in that picture.
Hi Rosemary,
I”m so glad you’re open to Sahaja yoga. Sahaja Yoga is “spontaneous.” You don’t need to be given mantra or practice – you experience the connection with the Divine and the “thoughtless awareness” immediately. Let me know if you find a free meeting near you and attend. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I loved reading this story… is true “when the student is ready the teacher will appear.” I love the miracle of how this showed up at the right and perfect time for you. Indeed, there are no coincidences. I’m not privy to Sahaja Yoga Meditation but you have piqued my interest. I am reading up on the links you provided.
Hi Rob,
If you’re interested in Sahaja Yoga there are free meetings you can attend in MA. If you do go I’d love to hear about your experience.
And, yes it’s true that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.
I hadn’t heard of Sahaja Yoga meditation before. What a truly wonderful choice to honor Shri Mataji and her form of yoga mediation in this post. You make me want to know more about this form of mediation 🙂
I love hearing about divine moments of synchronicity – when the universe just lines up and connects person with person – or person with event. I typically don’t look at the flyers left on my car windshield, but maybe I should 🙂
Hi Aileen,
This was one of those synchronous events that changed my life! I had another one before that – also from a flyer I found. I’ll write about that another time. (I found this flyer in the garbage can in an office I was working in!)
There are a number of free classes around the LA area. If you get a chance to go – let me know about your experience. I stayed in a Sahaj ashram outside LA for long weekend many years ago. It was awesome.
Angela, I wasn’t aware that Shri Mataji passed away last week.
I have had the benefit of the gift of her sessions a few times at Mind Body Spirit events – and like you I have found them to be very peaceful.
And the people giving the meditation and healing are always so gentle and calm.
Thanks Angela for this reminder of what gifts are available to us all around us.
Hi Arvind,
Yes, the world had lost a great emissary for peace.
I’m glad you’ve experienced Sahaja Yoga Arvind!