Nirmala Srivastava founded Sahaja Yoga meditation in the 1970s. She is more commonly known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, or mother. the philosophical term “self-realization is the basis o her teachings.” Self-realization is about understanding the true authentic self.

From a religious point of view the Jains, a sect of Hinduism, recognize separatism. That is it regards the body as matter, and the soul as consciousness.  Both are entirely separate. The process of self-realization is required before one can reach enlightenment or “Moksha.”

This process is rather like peeling an onion. Each layer comes apart until you reveal your true self which is the very basis of reality.

Karma is invisible particles which attach themselves to a living organism. Eventually, they built up to form a film of negativity around the soul. Once this happens, the new lose touch with your soul. The second step of this process is the development of the ego, anger, jealousy other negative emotions.

Both Buddhism and Hinduism accept karma loosely described as what you sow you reap. Or another way of looking at it is what you do in this life will affect what happens to you in future lives.

Interestingly enough while both religions agree to accept the term karma, Buddhism does not recognize the concept of a separate self.

Nirmala Srivastava believes that self-realization is everybody’s birthright. The awakening of your spiritual self is achieved through this process of Sahaja yoga.

You may not realize this but yoga has nothing to do with a series of exercises. In Sanskrit the word comes from the word “yug”. “Yoga” means to unite, balance or to join.

Sahaja Yoga is the uniting yourself with your soul. It is a powerful means to an end your self-realization.

The basis of this practice is that you are your own teacher. You cannot learn this process from other people. You can only achieve it by understanding yourself.

Self-realization is not all that different from Moksha, which is being freedom from all desires. In the long term, it is freedom from limitations. It is a state which sets you free because you have achieved a sense of inner peace and harmony.

Sahaja Yoga differs from other forms of yoga in the sense it doesn’t involve physical exercises. It doesn’t need any special equipment. It can be done sitting in an armchair, lying in bed, or on the bus to work! Compared to other forms of yoga which are quite extensive physical workouts the process of
Sahaja Yoga is very subtle.

Sahaja Yoga is the union between the divine self-unlimited self.

The Bhagwad Gita is a classical Hindu text, and it gives several definitions of yoga.

Yoga is equanimity of mind in success and failure.
Yoga is discretion in work.
Yoga is the remover of misery and destroyer of pain. Yoga is the supreme secret of life.
Yoga is serenity.
Yoga is the giver of infinite happiness. Patañjali, the author of the classical Yoga text, The Yoga Sutras, defines Yoga as, “complete control over patterns or modifications of the mind.”

Sahaja Yoga encourages you to keep your mind still. It is a form of mindfulness. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, our collection of texts about yoga. Basically, it outlines the techniques to keep the mind and body healthy.

Sahaja Yoga focuses on something we are born with. The subtle energy system is our birthright. The theory is the subtle energy is a form of primordial energy residing in our bodies.

The kundalini is at the very bottom of our spine. When we practice Sahaja Yoga this primordial energy travels upwards through our body to the Brahmarandhra. The “Brahmarandhra” is a Sanskrit word meaning the hole of Brahman. This is the baby soft spot of the top of the head also known as the anterior fontanelle.

The “Brahmarandhra” is the place where life enters and exits the body. Once the kundalini breaks through this spot on the head which becomes harder as a baby’s skull develops and connects with the more profound cosmic energy.

As the kundalini energy rises as a circular energy system, it also drives through the chakras and opens them. We will talk more about the chakra system later. Once the kundalini has risen, you can experience a state of complete thoughtlessness.

This sense of thoughtlessness is not a sense of stupidity but a sense where you are free of all your thoughts. Thinking is an integral part of our humanity. Being thoughtless for a short period helps us to achieve inner peace.

Sahaja Yoga differs from all other forms of yoga because it starts with this self-realization. Once we have reached that state, we are more integrated and balanced with the universe. Many people feel a cool breeze when they achieve the state.

Shri Gnyaneshwara an Indian guru who lived nearly thousand years ago was the first person to speak about the kundalini. He described it us feeling a cooling sensation internally and externally.

The sense of peace also brings joy into one’s life. It works not only on individual consciousness but also the collective consciousness. Once you have achieved self realization, you have become aware of the connection of all things.

In the past, this knowledge was only available to a privileged few. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi’s core philosophy is self-realization. The second philosophy is that you cannot pay for this liberation. Everyone was born with this, and everyone can achieve it.

A fundamental principle of Sahaja Yoga is all of the lessons are free. The teachers are all volunteers, and while they are there to show you the basics, everyone is encouraged to find their own truth.

Absolute truths reside in our central nervous system. Once is achieved we can rise above our ego, intellect and conditioning and inner peace.

“It is important for everyone to have that knowledge of the roots within ourselves. Sahaja Yoga allows the individual to become his own Spiritual Guide.”
— Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

Do You Change Your Mind Too Much? and think this is the destructive habit? There are times when a change of mind is appropriate, but… do you do it too much?

There might be something in that.

Generally, the decision-making process is to review the information at hand and ensure that you are prepared and informed. This allows you to make the right decision, right? That’s the idea. Not all decisions are entirely as cut and dry as that.

When you make a decision, you may find yourself doubting your decision. You second guess yourself, you feel like an unprepared flake, and you worry that people view you as undependable.

We all go through periods of indecisiveness. It’s something that we all do in shades. As in, you may cancel plans because you changed your mind about meeting someone. You could change your mind about your chosen career. Then, you beat yourself up about the change of heart. You did so much work and then went wildly in the opposite direction.

There is no shame in changing your mind. However, the habit of second-guessing yourself is the real problem. So, it is less about indecisiveness and more about your inability to trust your decisions.

You may have heard, about the lizard brain. The reptilian brain that hasn’t changed much in evolution. The amygdala or hypothalamus is the part of the brain that detects in response to threats. It’s the part that reacts fast when you decide whether to fight or flight.

This may have been very handy when faced with a wild animal when hunting when you only had a club in your hand. If this area of your brain is oversensitive, it feels somewhat like being a rabbit in headlights.

Changing your mind is not always negative. If you have the ability to reassess a situation, knowing that circumstances have changed and changed your decision, that’s a positive. There is a significant difference between being flexible and being indecisive.

Most of us fall somewhere in between flexibility and indecisiveness.

The Differences
You may look at your habit to change your mind a lot as a frustration. However, it may indicate that you are curious and more aware than others. You aren’t afraid to admit that you made a poor decision and changed course.

What you can’t do is control your impulse to change your mind. It might be a relationship, your career or a course at college. Sticking with it… might be wasting your time and leaving you discontent with life. The ability to admit you were wrong suggests that your character is one of strength. It might just lead you to a place of contentment. You may go back and forth, but aren’t you making more progress than if you were to have stayed standing still?

Worrying about what other people think is often a major reason for people changing their mind. For example, your parents may have an expectation for your life. You might feel as though you’re on the wrong track, but you keep at it because you don’t want to disappoint them.

Sure, they may be disappointed if you were to halt your course and change directions. That will only be temporary, though, at their core, they just want you to be happy. You may worry about letting others down if you chase your dream or skip out on a job.

Your happiness is your own, though. So, you shouldn’t concern yourself with what everyone else will think about your decisions. Only you can make you happy. Everything else is an external influence. If you pay attention to these external influences you will eventually make yourself ill. Happiness is always an internal force

You can’t live your life through others. Sure, they may be disappointed if you were to halt your course and change directions. That will only be temporary, though, at their core, they just want you to be happy. You may worry about letting others down if you chase your dream or skip out on a job.

Your happiness is your own, though. it can only come from within. So, you shouldn’t concern yourself with what everyone else will think about your decisions. They are external and expecting other people to make you happy is futile.

The truth is, not many people have it all worked out and that is okay. Moreover, people probably don’t think as much about your decisions as you’ve convinced yourself they do. Don’t ignore your gut. If you have a nagging feeling about a decision, it’s not too late to make a change even if you are already made the decision.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind, even if you believe you do so too often. Changing your mind is a strength of your character, not a stain on it.

There have been many studies which support the benefits of meditation. Tomorrow I will begin to write about the specifics of meditation.