11 Sahaja Meditation Guidelines for Programs. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use...

11

Sahaja MeditationSahaja Meditation

Guidelines for ProgramsGuidelines for Programs

Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

Background

In 2007 Shri Mataji, in response to the slow growth of Sahaja Yoga in the US, asked us to come up with a new strategy for spreading Sahaja Yoga in America.

The results of that effort - detailed in a previous slide deck - were presented to Shri Mataji and blessed by Her at Guru Puja in July of 2008.

Sahaja growth project

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How it was done

90 out of 200 US-born Yogis responded Most were introduced to SY through family

members, friends, posters & ads

Initially, 70% found it challenging to experience thoughtless awareness

For getting established in SY,• 1 out of 2 respondents required months• 1 out of 3 respondents required years

Summary-internal survey

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1 out of 4 Americans surveyed on meditation expresses interest in SY Meditation

Over half of the respondents interested in SY Meditation prefer to meditate by themselves

54% of those interested in SY Meditation say their lives are stressful

Continued >>

Summary-third party survey

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It should be easy to learn Prefer to learn and practice online Prefer to practice alone in sessions as short as

15 minutes Should be spiritual but not religious

Summary-third party survey

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Meditation is appealing Meditation and Yoga are different The meditation culture has some negative

baggage No one had heard of Sahaja Yoga Meditation

prior to this research

Continued >>

Summary-focus groups

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Most don’t see the connection between the affirmations and its relationship to ‘awakening of a spiritual energy’

Reaction to the picture of Shri Mataji -

• Women feel: “Looks peaceful, happy, calming, serene”

• Men feel: “The picture is not necessary”

Continued >>


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Almost all feel the technique should be renamed Sahaja Meditation

Many would consider going to a meditation class only after viewing a meditation video online

Need a Web site of professional quality – it is the first place Americans will go for information

Alleviate suspicion about free & religion


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Core Strategy

Sahaja Yoga will now be referred to as Sahaja Meditation for all public engagements

•Endorsed by Shri Mataji at Guru Puja 2008 and again in Genoa in September 2008

When possible, mainstream US yogisshould be the principal interface ofSahaja Meditation with the public

Sahaja Meditation should reflect modern American values while maintaining its roots in ancient Indian spiritual traditions


Unchanged & Intact

Shri Mataji’s message and teachings

•Continued use of video and audio media with references to “Sahaja Yoga”

Core values of Sahaja Yoga

•Giving Self-Realization, practicing collective meditation, performing pujas and havans

Sahaja techniques for personal growth

•Regular Meditation, foot soaking etc.

What Remains Unchanged/Intact?


What’s Changing, And Why?

What’s Changing?

And Why?

Sahaja Yoga to be called “Sahaja Meditation”

•‘Yoga’ in the USA connotes ‘hathayoga’ and its related physical practices, not meditation•To attract mainstream Americans who are interested in practicing meditation.

Mainstream US yogis will be the principal public interface

•To help newcomers easily identify with individuals from culturally similar backgrounds

13Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use only. Please do not

distribute further without prior consent of National Sahaja Meditation Council

What is Sahaja Meditation?

Sahaja Meditation is a form of meditation developed by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi to promote balance, health, harmony and well-being.

The word Sahaja means spontaneous and the practice leads to union with the self or spirit.

The meditation practice requires approximately 15-20 minutes and awakens a spiritual energy, residing within each individual.


Public Program Strategy

Sahaja Meditation should appeal to modern Americans and avoid ‘pushing their buttons’.

Seekers should be brought along gradually, in a measured and individual manner, into the full knowledge and practice of Sahaja Meditation.


Shri Mataji, Guru Puja 2008

“In the beginning you shouldn’t tell them, or they will just shun you.”



Mystery

It’s okay to keep some mystery in it

People don't value things that are just given to them

Reveal the knowledge like a lotus blossom unfolding


Four Phases

Four phases of development for new people

Phases cannot be defined by a prescribed time frame (like an 8 week or 18 week course)

Progress of seekers through the phases must be individualized – not everyone grows at the same pace

Meetings need to be structured to accommodate this model of growth

Four Phases



Phase 1 – Experience

Very experience oriented – very little information. They need to begin to feel the peace before going further

The goal is to get them to the point where they feel it, they are confident they have it, they meditate at home, and know how to identify catches and clear them with bandhans, giving vibrations and foot soaking, balancing of the channels



Phase 1 – Experience (cont)

They should reach the point where they know how to do basic meditations and basic clearing at home

They will not know very much about the qualities of chakras or how the subtle system works yet, but will have learned how to identify which chakra or nadi needs clearing, and what to do



Phase 1 – Experience (cont)

Engage with new people

Allot time to be in a listening mode and allow the new people to talk briefly about why they have come to Sahaja Meditation and what they expect to get out of it; and, as time goes on, to talk about their experience with the meditation



Phase 2 – Knowledge

Knowledge of the subtle system

Slowly but methodically introduce qualities of chakras, more clearing techniques, causes of catches - similar to earlier beginner’s courses

More information – the Beginner’s Guide and some existing course materials may be fine until new materials are created



Phase 2 – Knowledge (cont)

Possibly play public program talks of Shri Mataji, allowing them to hear more of Her message

If people are really enjoying meditation and have established it, this information will inform and expand their experience and they will find it very relevant!



Phase 3 - Integration

Introduction of mantras, brief introduction of deities as aspects of the divine, as universal qualities

Sahaja Meditation and how it is related to religion

Havan

Possibly reinforce feeling that vibrations come from Shri Mataji’s photo/video



Phase 4 - Recognition

Recognition of Shri Mataji

Puja

Sahaja Yoga



“You can use my photograph, but the realization should not be from the photograph, but from you, then only you can be a guru. There can be ladies or men both, can become gurus, and spread Sahaja Yoga all over.”



Picture

A picture is essential, but not at the center of attention and not in an altar context

•Do not put flowers, candle, or incense around the photo

Avoid the impression that the photo is absolutely central to the meditation experience – it can make Americans very uncomfortable.

•The program instructor should be the focus.


Have a chakra chart at the front of the room, ideally with an inset picture of Mother

e.g., something like pictured

Use a chart which has no text or easy understandable descriptions of the subtle energy centers (no Sanskrit terms)

Chakra Chart



Take-home Photograph

Have it available on a table for people to take

Explain: we keep it out of respect for the teacher, as is common in Eastern tradition

Explain: we personally find that it has a strong energy and helps our meditation, invite them to try it, to experiment with it, if they would like

Never force it or insist they cannot meditate without it


Talking Points

Relate personal experience

Discuss how Sahaja Yoga links to traditional American values

• ‘For example, notions of liberty, freedom, equality, independence, inclusiveness, empowerment, innovation and pioneering spirit, opportunism, and justice

See prior Growth Team slide deck for more details



Talking Points (cont)

Good for stress reduction, productivity, peace, balance, health, harmony, and happiness

Empowers you to use awareness to guide yourself in right direction

Easy to doMake your own choicesBe in control You don't need to become an expert or a yogi to gain benefit



Address Why It’s Free

This is a major issue

•People are very suspicious of free

•Think there must be a catch

•Address it proactively, according to your discretion

We are experts that volunteer our time to teach meditation to the public

•There is dignity and respect if we frame it this way

It is our way of doing community service


Videos

Don’t introduce videos right away

Connection should be established with teacher before introducing video

Consider waiting 3-6 weeks or more before showing video

Keep video portion of the program short

•10-15 minutes maximum

•Maybe every other week



Phase 1 Activities

Work on them•Explaining clearly what you are going to do• Help them relax

• From the beginning, show them how to work on themselves and on each other (as Shri Mataji recommended to us in the summer of 2007)

Homework•Set expectation that there is homework• Have to go home and do what we do in class

• Won't get much out of it unless meditate everyday

• Check up on them; ask if they are meditating at home



Phase 1 Activities (cont)

Teach to take bandhan and meditate at home

Focus on experience

Teach to focus on attention inside

•On hands

•On top of head (Sahasrara)

•On subtle system



Phase 1 Activities (cont)

Gradually over some weeks, introduce:

Clearing left and right channels

Foot soaking

Ice treatment

How to use info from subtle system to change how you feel

Avoid esoteric/advanced clearing techniques (e.g. shoe beating, 3-candle treatment)



Minimal Information

Let people pull it

•Don't push or volunteer too much

•Wait until they are ready

•Use intuition

Experience based

No handouts on chakras



Materials

New Materials will be created to support this approach

For now, if we selectively use what we have, it can work. They don’t need much in Phase 1.

Give out something on how to meditate. After a few weeks something on foot soaking and or balancing. Very little else is really needed for Phase 1.



These are guidelines, based on research and feedback from yogis and the American public.

They are extremely valuable, but are not a new set of rules, to be followed strictly.

They are an expression of a new approach, which we all need to adapt to the situations we face, using our own wisdom and discretion!

Please Remember

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“Whatever you teach, you must practice.”


11 Sahaja Meditation Guidelines for Programs. Sahaja Meditation - Confidential and for internal use...

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