Sahaja Yoga



Sahaja Yoga (Sahaja in this case meaning born with and Yoga meaning union) is a form of meditation, created by Nirmala Srivastava, more widely known as "Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi" or "Mother" by followers, who believe she is an incarnation of the Adi Shakti, the primordial divine power. The term Sahaja Yoga is also used to refer to the Sahaja Yoga International (Vishwa Nirmala Dharma) organization, a 'new religious movement' which she founded in 1970 in Nargol, India.

The practice and associated organization grew from India and spread internationally, and there are now meditation centers around the world. The methods for practicing Sahaja Yoga are made available free of charge to those interested, and the organization claims the practice of Sahaja Yoga results in rapid, even instant Self-realization and Kundalini awakening.

The practice has also notably been taught to prisoners in Italy and the United States, such as at Rikers Island to "help the prisoners' social, psychological and spiritual recovery"

The organization has been criticized by writer Sudhir Kakar who describes the organization as a cult. .

Beliefs
Sahaja 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, (Kakar describes it 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
Sahaja Yoga teaches that in addition to our physical body there is a spiritual one, a 'Subtle system' comprised of channels (Nadis) and energy centers or plexuses (chakras), which affect our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

Each chakra possesses different qualities, some of which may remain hidden. Once the Kundalini is awoken and rises through these centres, the qualities begin manifesting spontaneously.

Nadhis

 * Ida Nadi or the Left Sympathetic Nervous System
 * Pingala Nadi or Right Sympathetic Nervous System
 * Sushumna Nadi or the Parasympathetic Nervous System

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 utilizing nature in conjunction with Sahaj methods, is said to help balance the meditator.

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 practicing 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 [RK], 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, yogurt, 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.

Water vibrated spiritually can, according to the organization, change the characteristics of water, reulting in purification.

Organization
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 organizational 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 Realize 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".

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 and Indialucia including Rock and roll, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Qawwali and Indian classical music.

Other projects
The World Council supports the creation of an 108-room Ashram complex in Chhindwara, near the birthplace of its founder. Another 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 encouragement 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.

"Cult" allegations
Author Sudhir Kakar describes the organization as a cult in his 1982 book: Shamans, Mystics and Doctors.

Some sources in the press have reported on "cult" allegations surrounding the movement. In, 2001, The Independent reported that certain ex-members allege: "Sahaja Yoga is a cult which aims to control the minds of its members". The Evening Standard reported that Sahaja Yoga has been "described as a dangerous cult", and "has a dissident website created by former members listing alleged abuses".

Also in 2001, Australia's AAP reported that a general practitioner had been fined after grabbing a Sahaja Yoga critic "round the head and dragged him over a backyard fence" - the AAP referred to Sahaja Yoga in their report as an "Indian cult". The physician had been part of a group delivering a letter to the critic from Nirmala Srivastava.

In 2005, The Record reported that some critics who feel that the group is a cult "have started Internet sites to detail their accusations..".