Yoga, as Indians understand, is an ancient and the greatest spiritual knowledge of golden age India. Yoga is an integration of practice that which imparts the physical, mental and spiritual with an aim to attain a state of permanent peace of mind in order to experience one’s true Self.
And like many other discoveries and inventions that which have been an indigenous part of Indian civilization that which India has generously shared with the world, the knowledge of Yoga, similarly, does not claim any patent, a copyright or ownership. This is a heritage, a knowledge and knowledge as per Indian Constitution is rendered free, not to be commercialized.
But then, how did a highly revered and respected spiritual practice of our Yoga got converted into a billion-dollar global industry?
A global industry statistic conducted in 2016 had forecasted the market size of Yoga industry to reach $66.2 billions by the year 2027. However, new statistics rerun early this year, now estimates the same Yoga industry to reach $200 billions by 2028: quite inflammatory spike must say.
While it gives us Indian a certain pride in finally watching something from India getting it’s overdue recognition and a good feel global following, how validated is our pride to the fact that a virtuous treasure that has been passed on to us gently by our ancient saints, for a purpose to solely enhance our human state and mankind, is now put out on a global yard sale, as a mere money making commodity ?
Where is our dignity, when something very precious, a deep-rooted heritage of our country is raped of it’s true spiritual essence and modified into a health and fitness product?
Yes, it is heartwarming to watch the growing glory and the global integration of the International Yoga Day, nonetheless, it is also a fact that a true experience of achieving a Yoga is not completely realized until and unless we rise to an individual state of seeking to experience our Self Realization: a state where the individual experiences one’s true Self.
Whereas the Hatha yoga, the physical asanas or the celebrity populated exercises refer to a certain aspect of the Yoga and maybe satisfy the overzealous and health-conscious individuals, it lags far behind in representing the fundaments of Yoga: meaning ‘the union with oneself’. But in today’s world of instant gratification, we feel continuously compelled to become competitive with the societal stigma, also gullible to follow the herd; either consciously or out of ignorance.
Fortunately for the rest of us, amidst the existing exploitation of pure Yoga and the manipulation the self-acclaimed false gurus and half-baked spiritual teachers in the market, there is a new, authentic and a genuinely transformative meditation of Sahaja Yoga.
Sahaja Yoga was discovered by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in the Year 1970. Born with unique qualities and a vision to trigger global transformation, she studied, and self-learned the general onset of human beings and finally discovered a method of en mass Realizations with Sahaja Yoga.
Now, in earlier days in India the gurus used to first cleanse their students in a gurukul kind of environment and only the handful, who were exceptional, were chosen for the purpose of self-Realization. Self-Realization is an initial exercise, where a self-realized Guru would awaken the dormant sleeping innate Kundalini energy of the disciple, thus granting the individual an access to the highest state of a human evolution. It was not meant for everybody.
However, Shri Mataji, felt severely concerned with the modern deteriorating state of human beings, also their innocence being exploited by so called Godmen. She, therefore, in her infinite compassionate state discovered Sahaja Yoga, a Yoga where a genuine seeker of truth could spontaneously experience an instant state of self-realization upon awakening the Kundalini within. And unlike our ancient times, the cleansing and working towards sustaining this state of Self Realization is left to the individual’s own free will and freedom post this initial experience.
How is then Sahaja Yoga unique, authentic and exclusive in its process and proclamation?
🔹Firstly, Sahaja Yoga is free of cost. Since 1970, Sahaja Yoga has grown rather gently and gradually into more than 108 countries worldwide now and the Sahaja Yoga Meditation is offered free everywhere. It was Shri Mataji’s both generous and strict condition as one cannot pay for God’s Love or one’s own salvation. Besides, human beings are the most valuable part of the God’s creation or call it a universal power existing beyond us, then how can one pay for something that which is innate and inborn?
🔹Sahaja Yoga is available to all. Anyone from anywhere with whichsoever ethnic, cultural or religious background can experience their Self Realization. Although the intensity of an individual’s experience can vary due to his/her own seeking level or certain subtle factors, the experience itself is, instant, natural, and spontaneous.
🔹The knowledge of Sahaja Yoga is a unique blend of all previous world religions, incorporated into a deeply transformative spiritual practice at a ‘thoughtless awareness’ state. This is an innate state of being in the present moment, devoid of the past and future cycle. It is only through a disciplinary practice of regular meditations and expanding the length of this thoughtless state, that the individuals automatically experience their own inner transformation to an evolved human ‘detached’ state. Thus, an individual evolves beyond the societal dogmas and starts shedding off the unnecessary subtleties that which hinder his true identity of reflecting his Spirit: the true Self. This might sound as an impossible possibility in our crazy times but there are many living this life already, thousands and growing each day now.
Needless to say, where there is light, there is always a opposite force attempting to disrupt the path of a absolute truth. The biggest hurdle that which makes Sahaja Yoga perhaps less glamourous, challenging or even unpopular to few is maybe due to one precondition without which one cannot sustain or preserve this inner transmigration to a purer lifestyle: that is one cannot become a Sahaja yogi unless one dissolves their own false ego and conditionings. This, but is the pivotal prerequisite to enter or experience Sahaja Yoga and allow the evolution of a living process within you. This is also perhaps, why Sahaja Yoga is both spontaneous in it’s nature but still not easily palatable for everyone.
As human beings, we are perfectly made and equipped to experience our Self Realization. This is our right, especially being born in these unprecedented times. Yet, our inability to dissolve our human ego and mandmade illusions, hinders us from the impeccable spiritual experience and transformation of our meta modern era. A positive change in the world does begin within, with each of us.
But then, to believe it, you must first experience it! Just go to any Sahaja Yoga Meditation center close to you or experience it virtually on www.wemeditate.com
Author
Lavanya Rao Nicola©
Lavanya Rao Nicola is a freelance Writer and studied Psychology for profession. She is a cultural coach, poet and an Epigrammatist. She advocates truth and simplicity, and currently lives in Germany with her husband and two sons
