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UNIVERSAL GOLDEN AGE
Mother, please give me my Self-Realization
Morning and Evening Meditation
You should meditate everyday for at least ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the evening.
You will gradually notice that beginning the day in a state of peace and silence makes the whole day go better.
Meditating in the evening has a very soothing effect and helps attain a deep and nourishing sleep.
Meditation is not merely a technique. It should be done from the heart with love and respect towards the Divine that is within each of us.
Basics You Need to Know
Space for meditation
This is recommended but don't let a lack of dedicated space be the reason you don't meditate.
Be comfortable, regularity in meditation is the most important thing.
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Obtain a photograph of Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi from any Sahaja Yoga center.
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You can also download the photograph from here.
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Place the photograph in a photo frame. Plastic blocks vibrations so use a frame which has glass in front.
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With full respect, place the photograph at a nice place suitable for meditation (e.g. a clean table or a shelf).
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Ideally, as a mark of respect, the photograph should be placed higher than your own seating.
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Before meditation, light a candle or diya (oil lamp) before the photograph. Turn it off after meditation.
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The photograph emits vibrations which make the negativity run away. We will use these vibrations to cleanse our subtle system.
Raising the Kundalini and Taking a Bandhan
(protective shield)
Raising our own Kundalini and taking a Bandhan, protects our subtle system with a covering of divine vibrations.
You should take a Bandhan at least before and after meditation, and before leaving the house.
Raise the Kundalini
The kundalini rises according to our desire, and this is best done with a humble attitude of wanting to be in meditative state.
Steps to raise the Kundalini:
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Begin with the left hand in front of your Kundalini, palm facing towards the body.
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Move the left hand upwards (towards the top of the head) with the right hand circling around the left land in a clockwise manner (move the left hand in this order around the right hand - up, front, down, back).
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When you have reached above Sahasrara, push your head back and tie one knot at the top of your head.
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You have to raise your kundalini three times - once for each energy channel.
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The first time tie one knot on the top of your head.
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The second time tie two knots on the top of your head.
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The third time tie three knots on the top of your head.
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Take a Bandhan
A Bandhan puts our subtle system with a covering of Divine vibrations. Take a bandhan after raising your Kundalini.
Steps to take a Bandhan:
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With the left hand towards the photograph, take the right hand from outside of the left hand to the top of your head, and down to the right side
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Then move the right hand back from the right side to the top of the head, down to the left side.
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Do this seven times - once for each chakra.
Identifying and Removing Imbalance from the Subtle System
All the religions came on this Earth to establish balance because balance is required for our ultimate ascent. But if we face ourself, we will understand that we are not as balanced as we should have been.
Balancing the left and right energy channel is extremely important. These channels become overactive and exhausted from our daily lives and disturb us with thoughts and images. To experience a meditative state these channels must be balanced.
Before balancing the energy channels, observe what you feel on your hands - cool breeze, heat, pain, tingling in fingers etc.
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If the left hand is warmer or heavier than the right hand, or the left hand does not feel any vibrations (but the right hand has vibrations - even if warm), clear the Left Energy Channel first to bring it into balance.
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When the left side clears out, you will feel a cool breeze on your left hand. This usually takes just a few minutes.
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If the right hand is warmer or heavier than the left hand, or the right hand does not feel any vibrations (but the left hand has vibrations - even if warm), clear the Right Energy Channel first to bring it into balance.
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When the right side clears out, you will feel a cool breeze on your right hand. This usually takes just a few minutes.
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If both hands feel equally warm or don't feel anything at all, clear the right side and then the left side.
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Sometimes you may feel imbalance in a specific finger or on an area of the palm. This means that the chakra corresponding to that finger/area of palm is not in balance. Clear the chakras using these techniques.
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When both hands feel a cool breeze (no feeling of pain or heat or tingling anywhere on the hands), your subtle system is in a balanced state.
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You will observe that as a result of the balancing of the subtle system, when the Kundalini passes the Agnya chakra, you will automatically go into the state of meditation. I.e. the state of thoughtless awareness - you are thoughtless but also completely aware of everything. This is the "present" state - not past, not future. You are completely in the present moment, and hence there are no thoughts.
Clear the Left Energy Channel
The left energy channel (Ida Nadi) starts at the Mooladhara Chakra, which has the qualities of the Earth element.
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Sit with the left hand open, palm upwards, towards Shri Mataji's photograph.
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If you are sitting on the ground, place the right hand on the Mother Earth.
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If you are sitting on a chair, put the right hand palm toward the Mother Earth.
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Request Mother Earth to clear the left energy channel (Ida Nadi), the power of desire.
Clear the Right Energy Channel
The right energy channel (Pingala Nadi) starts at the Swadishthana Chakra and we use the Ether element to clear this channel.
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Sit with the right hand open, palm upwards, towards Shri Mataji's photograph.
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Bend the left arm at the elbow and direct the hand to face towards the back, as shown in the picture.
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Request Shri Mataji to clear the right energy channel (Pingala Nadi), the power of action.
Foot Soaking
Should be done everyday, ideally before going to bed to remove all the imbalance accumulated in the subtle system during the day.
Foot soaking should be followed by 10 minutes of meditation to provide nourishment and strength to the subtle system.
Footsoak is a treatment for removing right-side problems.
Left-sided people should not do foot soak, or use ice for cooling down the liver.
Foot soaking is a way of removing negativities, particularly of the lower chakras. It involves use of five elements (of nature) with which our body is made. It should be preferably done in the evening (before going to bed) and followed by a few minutes of meditation.
Steps:
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Take a small tub or bucket and fill it up with ankle-deep water.
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Put a handful of sea salt (e.g. table salt) in the water.
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Keep a mug or glass of water and a towel next to you to rinse and wipe your feet after foot soak.
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Light a candle or diya (oil lamp) in front of the photograph of Shri Mataji.
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Sit on a chair, facing the photograph.
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Put the bucket of salt water in front of you, on the ground.
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Take a bandhan.
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Put your feet in the water. Both feet should be separate from each other.
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Resting your hands on your lap, palms upwards, your hands should be open and stretched towards the photograph of Shri Mataji.
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Observe what you feel on your hands - cool breeze, heat, pain, tingling in fingers etc.
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If you feel imbalance in the left hand or the right hand, use these instructions to bring energy channels into balance.
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If you keep having thoughts, look at the photograph of Shri Mataji. Say in your heart "Mother, I forgive everyone and I forgive myself". Even if somebody has harmed you, has troubled you, you please forgive them. The Agnya chakra, which is in the Optic Chiasma, gets completely closed if you don’t forgive and the Kundalini cannot cross over. So please forgive everyone in general and the Agnya chakra will open. To remember whom you have to forgive is also a headache (they don’t deserve that attention). So just forgive altogether and you will feel lighter immediately if you just forgive everyone.
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Open: add about clearing chakras
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When both hands feel a cool breeze, rinse your feet with clean water and wipe them with the towel.
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Throw away the foot soak water in the toilet. Do not use this water for any other purpose.
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Reserve the foot soak bucket for foot soak only.
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After foot soak, sit in meditation for a few minutes to absorb vibrations and nourish your subtle system.
Note: while doing the footsoak, look at the photograph of Shri Mataji. Don't close your eyes.
Note: There is no time limit or specific duration of foot soaking. Normally you can clear out in about 10 minutes. Sitting in the foot soak for a long time is superfluous.
Foot soaking in nature is also very relaxing!
Photo credit: Sahaja Yogini Lili Yang :-)
Morning Meditation
Morning Meditation
Morning meditation is a must. If you are unable to meditate in the morning then you should understand that somehow, impurity has come within you. Some problem is there inside which we have to know, understand, and cleanse. We have to turn towards ourselves and introspect. This is for your own well being, not for anybody else.
Don't skip morning meditation.
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The recommended time for morning meditation is at 4am. That is the special time when the sun is rising and bestowing its rays of divinity on earth. Make every effort to meditate at 4am (remember that you are doing this for your own good, not for anybody else).
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If however, despite your best efforts meditation at 4am is not possible, meditate at whatever time is possible in the morning. But do meditate. Don't skip morning meditation.
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Instructions about setting up a place for meditation can be found here.
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For meditation:
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Light a candle or a diya (oil lamp) in front of Shri Mataji's photograph.
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Sit comfortably with both hands open (palm facing upwards) in front of Shri Mataji's photograph.
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It is better to sit on the ground for meditation.
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If you cannot sit on the ground, sit on a chair with both feet on the ground and remove your shoes.
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Raise you Kundalini and take a Bandhan.
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If you feel imbalance in the subtle system, bring it into balance.
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If thoughtless awareness is established by looking at the photograph, you can close your eyes.
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If you keep having thoughts, look at the photograph of Shri Mataji and say in your heart "Mother, I forgive everyone and I forgive myself".
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When the Kundalini is able to pass through the Agnya chakra, you will automatically go into the state of meditation.
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Enjoy this state of meditation (thoughtless awareness) for as long as you like. 10 to 15 minutes is usually enough. Sitting for a very long time in meditation is superfluous.
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Evening Meditation
Evening Meditation
Footsoak followed by evening meditation is a must.
Don't skip evening meditation.
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There is no specific recommended time for evening meditation.
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Generally, footsoak and meditation before going to bed are extremely beneficial.
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For meditation:
- First do a footsoak.
- After footsoak, light a candle or a diya (oil lamp) in front of Shri Mataji's photograph.
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Sit comfortably with both hands open (palm facing upwards) in front of Shri Mataji's photograph.
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It is better to sit on the ground for meditation. If you cannot sit on the ground, sit on a chair.
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Raise you Kundalini and take a Bandhan.
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If you feel imbalance in the subtle system, bring it into balance.
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If thoughtless awareness is established by looking at the photograph, you can close your eyes.
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If you keep having thoughts, look at the photograph of Shri Mataji and say in your heart "Mother, I forgive everyone and I forgive myself".
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When the Kundalini is able to pass through the Agnya chakra, you will automatically go into the state of meditation.
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Enjoy this state of meditation (thoughtless awareness) for as long as you like. 10 to 15 minutes is usually enough. Sitting for a very long time in meditation is superfluous.
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Don't skip evening meditation.
After Meditation
After Meditation
- Pay your respects to Shri Mataji for the vibrations and strengthening of your subtle system and vibratory awareness.
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Raise your Kundalini and take a Bandhan.
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Turn the candle or diya (oil lamp) off.
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Have a great day or a restful sleep ahead :-)
Notes:
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Don’t talk too much about things, specially before meditation and after meditation. Try to keep quiet for a while. To be quiet itself is very great. If there are thoughts, then you have to say “Not this, not this, not this,....".
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When you see somebody whom you don’t like or who has been harsh to you, who has been cruel to you, you get annoyed and then again you get disturbed. At that time you should say, “I forgive. I forgive. I forgive.”.
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The main thing is that you have to be peaceful. A peaceful personality comes when you say “Not this, not this, not this,....".
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You may have your food first and then meditate, if you think that is proper. If you are hungry, your attention will keep going towards that and will not be able to meditate :-)
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After meditation, try to keep your attention in the centre. When you see something, you should be able to go in thoughtless awareness. There should be no thoughts. Watch everything without thinking. It is extremely joy-giving to be in thoughtless awareness. So try to establish that thoughtless awareness within yourself. As a result, you will become very dynamic, very compassionate and you can all achieve such a great manifestation of Sahaja Yoga.
Music and Videos
Shri Mataji's talks - Audio and Video
Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi has given thousands of talks in various languages, explaining all aspects of the Subtle System and of spiritual life. Her love and wisdom, expressed in these talks is absolutely crucial to our growth. Some of the talks are included below for convenience. But this is just a drop from the ocean of talks given by Shri Mataji.
For links to websites with a more comprehensive list of talks please visit the Resources page.
A quick search on Youtube will also provide you with plenty of talks.