Spiritual Awakening

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The topic is huge but the basics are few and they are broadly unique to the tradition established by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. People do not become Buddhas at a stroke but there is abundant progress and clarity easily available.

A subtle consciousness, already built in, needs to awaken in a person. For most people it is dormant when they are born. It might already be active to a degree, without being sensed by the conscious mind. This awakening is often achieved by some simple hand movements of one of Shri Mataji's followers, near to the spinal chord and brain of a person.

Even these hand movements of another person are not essential but then the awakening is less sure to take place and the result might be much less deep or, for want of a more explicit description, less powerful.

"But actually in Sahaja Yoga, the practice of Sahaja Yoga is very different from any kind of meditation, of concentration or anything." Shri Mataji. Public Programme, Porchester Hall, London, 16th November 1987.

"Under your hand itself, the Kundalini will rise. You get the powers. You get your own powers to raise the Kundalini, give realisation. I mean, now I cannot go all over the places. Sahaja Yogis are doing this work." Shri Mataji. Public Programme, Hammersmith, London, 14th September 1990. 

The initial awakening can take place just with support from a photograph of Shri Mataji. Or a video recording of one of Shri Mataji's speeches might be used.

Collectivity

When your energy system, which is a system of subtle consciousness, has been awakened you can expect to have the ability to awaken others, using just your hands. If you form a small group to achieve an awakening, it is likely that some people will be successful. And they could help another member of the group who was experiencing any difficulty.

The first desire should be to achieve your individual evolution, in the sense of attempting to overcome some individual problems of behaviour, psychology, lifestyle, health, etc. Then you should try to assist others to do the same.

It is a form of self-delusion to believe that, as humans, we are all separate individuals. Our true nature is something far more subtle and permanent than our physical body or our mind. If we remain insular in attitudes or activity, we are unlikely to make much progress.

"Perhaps you might have noticed it, that once you receive your realisation it starts transforming you, firstly. Then it starts transforming other people. By your presence, you start transforming other people. By your existence, you start transforming other people. You start transforming the atmosphere, the subtler problems of negativity. They all work out, like a tree. When it is blossoming, the fragrance of the blossom creates a different type of aura around itself, that it attracts all the bees around to gather the honey. In the same way, when a person is realised, is enlightened, the aura spreads and you start getting people attracted towards you." Shri Mataji. UK Seminar, 1980.

Subtle Body Overview

It is not necessary to study or to understand the following diagram before a spiritual awakening but it may help intellectually and is certainly useful later on.