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* [http://www.sahajayoga.org.in/NGOProj.asp NGO project description] |
* [http://www.sahajayoga.org.in/NGOProj.asp NGO project description] |
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* [http://aktivitaeten.blogspot.com/2005/10/center-for-destitute-women-nirmal-prem.html Photos of the Vishwa Nirmal Prem project] |
* [http://aktivitaeten.blogspot.com/2005/10/center-for-destitute-women-nirmal-prem.html Photos of the Vishwa Nirmal Prem project] |
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* [http://www.adishakti.org/ Shri Adi Shakti: The Kingdom Of God] |
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===Sahaja Yoga Meditation=== |
===Sahaja Yoga Meditation=== |
Revision as of 00:46, 2 December 2006
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 type of meditation, created by Nirmala Srivastava, also 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[1], and its own television show. It has also notably been taught to prisoners in Italy and the United States, such as at Rikers Island[2][3] The organization has been criticised by some ex-members who claim the organization as a cult.[4]
Sahaja Yoga meditation
Beliefs
Sahaja Yogis believe that there are seven energy points, or chakras, on the subtle body [5] 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.[6] If there is a feeling of burning, then the body has not achieved such balance.[7] Sahaja Yoga claims to provide an easier method of attaining this state than other traditional methods such as Hatha Yoga, which rely on physical postures and breathing exercises to attain Self-realisation.[8]
Practices
Many, though not all [citation needed], 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.[9] 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.[5]
Water, rice, salt and other foodstuffs are spiritually vibrated to increase their benefical qualities and to purify them.[6]
Sahaja Yoga in medicine
Sahaja Yoga meditation has proven effective in addressing various medical ailments, including asthma[7][8], epilepsy[9], and ADHD[10]. 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.[11] Other studies showed that Sahaja Yoga meditation results in fewer and less acute epileptic seizures [12] 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.[13]
Short-term effects on asthma have also been noticed, by both objective and subjective measures.[8]
Sahaja Yoga claims that it has cured many patients of "high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, etc."[14][15] Studies[16] have shown that Sahaja Yoga meditation results in a "70% rise in beta-endorphins" after meditations, which could explain "So-called miraculous cures". [17]. They further state that "cancer can only be cured through Sahaja Yoga".[18]
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 high blood pressure, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.[13][19]
Sahaja Yoga culture
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[10] and Indialucia[11] including Rock and roll, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Qawwali and Indian classical music.[12]
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 almost 100 centers all over the world[20][21].
Sahaja Yoga/Vishwa Nirmala Dharma is a registered Organisation in many countries such as Columbia[13](Excel spreadsheet), the United States of America[14], France[15] (has an "asso.fr" website domain reserved for organisations)[16], and Austria[17].
The organization runs meditation, cultural, and charity-related facilities and activities, including
- Radio programs[22][23]
- 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"[24].
- 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[25].
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.[18]
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 Conference[19]and 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"[26] in which Yuvashakti were "instrumental in reaching out to women from the poor communities and providing them with work".
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.
- ^ 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: [1]
- ^ a b 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: [2]
- ^ 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: [3]
- ^ 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.[ISI][Medline]
- ^ a b "Making sense of meditation", August 13, 2004, Medical Observer Weekly
- ^ http://www.sahajayoga.org.in/Benefits.asp
- ^ http://www.apsahaj.org/benefits.html
- ^ Mishra et al. 1993
- ^ [4]
- ^ http://www.sahajayoga.com.au/literature/SAHAJA%20YOGA%20Book%20One%20-%20Sahaja%20Yoga%203.html
- ^ Medical research literature on Sahaja Yoga meditation
- ^ "A message for one and all", April 7, 2003, The Hindu
- ^ List of Sahaja Yoga centers
- ^ 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
Further reading
- Pullar, Philippa (1984) The Shortest Journey, ISBN 0042910188
- Kakar, Sudhir (1984) Shamans, Mystics and Doctors: A Psychological Inquiry into India and Its Healing Traditions, ISBN 0226422798
- Rai, Umesh (1993) Medical science enlightened: new insight into vibratory awareness for holistic health care (New Delhi: Life Eternal Trust) ISBN 819003250X
- 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 0700710612
- de Kalbermatten, Gregoire (2003) The Third Advent (New York: Daisy America, 2003; Melbourne: Penguin Australia, 2004; Delhi: Penguin India, 2004) ISBN 1932406077
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
- Photos of the Vishwa Nirmal Prem project
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
- Fusion of Flamenco and Indian classical music by Sahaja Yogis.
- Sahaja Yoga Musical group from Switzerland
- Theater of Eternal Values -Sahaja Yoga Theatre troupe
- Shri P.K. Salve Kala Music academy
- Finnish Bhangra Band.