A time to go within …
“Within us lies the peace, the beauty, the glory of our being.
There is an ocean of all that.
We cannot seek it outside, we have to go within.”
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
During this period of home office and social distancing, a growing number of people are discovering a simple, yet effective meditation online, known as Sahaja Yoga meditation. Sahaja means “effortless” and “within you”.
Meditation essentially begins when the mind is still, giving an experience of genuine peace whilst facilitating a dynamic and creative flow of awareness. Research has shown that this ‘mental silence’ can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
The ease by which this experience of inner peace can be attained, was enabled by Nirmala Srivastava, known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. Shri Mataji, was an inspiring public speaker, twice Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and the recipient of numerous awards and commendations worldwide, including the UN Peace Medal and the Unity Peace Prize. She was also a great supporter of the arts, and the Nirmal Arts Academy in Nagpur, India, was one of several NGOs which she founded.
2020 is the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Shri Mataji’s undertaking to bring this state of spiritual awareness to all people regardless of ethnicity, religion or nationality. She travelled worldwide for about 40 years, giving countless public programs free of charge and enabling a deep connection to one’s inner self. Through this awareness, a heartfelt relationship with the world around us is established.
The legacy of Shri Mataji lies not in publications and organisations, but in this simple yet extraordinary experience of self-realization. Her vision was for the transformation of humanity on a collective level, and her life and work across the world have brought a new understanding of spirituality for our modern times – a “yoga of the 21st century”.