(07th -09th May- 2010)
Seminar overview
The three days duration Sahasrara seminar at Siliguri, Bengal marking the Sahasrara weekend was an outstanding experience for all yogis who attended it. The vibrations were phenomenal at the end of the day symbolizing the inner peace and love that yogis extended for all. The large gathering of around 500 Sahaja yogis seemed to be inspired by the flow of Divine love and that could tangibly be felt as sparkling in their eyes and brightness on their faces.
Programme schedule
The Seminar was scheduled from Friday 7th morning to Sunday 9th May 2010. at Uttarbanga Marwari Bhavan besides PC Mittal bus terminus, Sevoke Road, Siliguri
07th May, Friday- 2010
First day opened up with “Havan” that was attended mostly by the Sahaja Yogis of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnal, NE States like Assam, Shillong, Sikkim and also Bhutan. The Havan was performed with the holy 108 names of Shri Mataji. This was followed by the break with delicious lunch.
The afternoon session started with a very light bhajans on Shri Ganesha Vandana by Deepak Verma. This was immediately followed by initiation of an ‘effortless meditation’ conducted by Retd Lt. Gen. VK Kapoor (National Trust representative and coordinator for Advancement of Sahaja Yoga in India). As the milieu was tuned with a very absorbing and meditative mood the session continued with a brief introduction on need for meditation in Sahaja Yoga and subtle essence of Sahaja Yoga. This was followed by an hour long presentation on the ‘Advancement of Sahaja Yoga by Lt. Gen. VK Kapoor. This session covered many of the vital factors that were focused with direct action that was identified. The basic point of discussion was pivotal on what our Shri Mataji’s Divine vision was for the Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga Trust (referred to as the National Trust). Later Mr. Suresh Kapoor, Executive Trustee Member in his very short and crisp but clear diction apprised the collective on the role of yogis in the current set up of the organizational structure of Sahaja Yoga in India and world. He also emphasized on the need of the yogis in maintaining proper protocol and discharging individual duties and collective responsibilities as dedicated children of Shri Mataji to uphold the highest value of our Mother’s holy teachings and ethics.
Later in the evening a pre announced public programme was organized and around 50 seekers took their Self Realization from around the city. They were so overwhelmed that some of them were very eager to have follow ups even through attending this 3 days seminar.
The evening continued through a spectrum of variety cultural programme. There were several beautifully choreographed dance drama based on Rabindra Nath Tagores’ works. Also very profound songs that were rendered by various artist from different North Eastern States and Bengal. Siliguri local artist had a very different flavor to present that won the hearts of the collective. It was accentuated by late night continuation of a number of popular bhajans by Deepak Verma with his artistic and modulated blessed voice.
08th May, Saturday-2010
The day’s event took off with a very absorbing morning meditation. Subsequently after the breakfast the session commenced with Shri Ganesha Vandana and then followed by an hour long presentation on the medical aspect vis- a vis subtle system that we recognize in Sahaja Yoga by Dr Pranabesh Mukherjee, Coordinator of West Bengal. The presentation mainly focused on the various distinctions drawn on the subtle and gross aspects in our body system. Also various diseases and remedies were discussed in brief outlining various Sahaja techniques adopted for combating the common physical ailments and diseases. The presentation was very engrossing and had a deep impact on the audience that was greatly appreciated by the Yogis. This was followed by a short meditation session conducted by Retd. Lt. Gen. VK Kapoor while addressing the Question-Answer session. It was again emphasized how to attain an effortless meditation state and that it was very essential for our spiritual growth besides any rituals or protocol that we often practice. The flow of vibrations was joyful and phenomenal after the meditation was initiated as Gen Kapoor initiated it based on the teachings of Shri Mataji. Later Mr. Suresh Kapoor, Executive Trustee Member briefly attended to several important queries from yogis in the flowing question-answer session. The yogis were asked to write their personal queries on piece of paper without mentioning their names and submit it so that the panel could attend to various types of queries without any biased attitude. Many subtle answers thus emerged to the queries sought by the yogis on paper. In one of the queries the most coveted query was on marriages in Sahaja Yoga. Mr. Suresh Kapoor emphasized that marriage protocol should strictly be adhered to as per Sahaja protocol. The same centers or centers of the same states are prohibited in making any personal matches for marriage that is against the Sahaja protocol as taught to us by Shri Mataji. In such events it was also advised that violation of such cases should immediately be reported to the National Trust so that action is taken against those who try to practice such non Sahaja practices. Gen. Kapoor added that such un protocolish marriages really spoil our Mooladhara Chakra by perpetrating such acts with or without knowledge. Quoting Shri Mataji it was emphasized that centres are not meant for marriage fixing or we should avoid this attitude of living in collectivity and then using Sahaja Yoga as a marriage searching society.
Later in post lunch session a brief on Sahaja Yoga and subtle system was touched and subsequently there was a very powerful session that was conducted by Mrs Madhumita Mukherjee along with Mrs. Luba Dutta on the role of women in Sahaja Yoga. Certain key factors along with meditation techniques were discussed with correct way of chanting mantras against each chakra to invoke the deities - presented through a PowerPoint presentation. Yoginis who were much greater in number than the yogis attending the seminar occupied the main hall while the yogis were asked to shift to the lobby for a brief session on Yuva Shakti and SITA activities. Various projects and protocols and ethics in Sahaja Yoga were apprised to the collective by Rabi Ghosh. The basic essence was brought out on the importance of role of Yuva in Sahaja Yoga that were discussed at length along with an interesting interactive session. This was followed with the evening tea and the post lunch session switched over to yet another meditative ambience through projection of a creative compilation work by an active yuva Annirudh Mukherjee who had artistically compiled the history of creation and evolution from Shri Sadashiva and Shri Adi Shakti stage to opening of the Sahasrara of the Universe as Shri Mataji had enlightened us from time to time with Her speeches. It was a wonderful breathtaking video – It was indeed an extraordinary example of creativity by yogi on the compilation and video mixing work to reflect the narrative event one after the other. It simply drives you to a meditative state and everyone must see it. It has been submitted to NITL and hopefully will shortly be released for all of us to enjoy.
This programme smoothly passed on to the next session of a beautifully presented cultural variety programme in the evening. A series of breathtaking dance drama by children artist were presented. It was then followed by un interrupted session on bhajans by Deepak Verma who kept the entire audience tuned with vibrations. The session continued through late night.
09th Jan, Sunday- 2010 (Sahasrara Puja day)
There was a very innovative technique initiated to conduct the morning meditation and all yogis seemed to be charged with vibrations before the Sahasarara Puja today .The Sahasrara Puja commenced right at 10:30 in the morning just after the breakfast.. The entire collectivity was seen with deep experience after the Puja. It was followed by Lunch.
The collectivity again re-assembled in the seminar hall for further continuation of the session after the lunch. Several yogis had plans to leave by evening conveyance so they hurriedly attended the programme and each and every member of a family were extended a token of remembrance who had come to join the seminar and a warm vote of thanks was extended to all those yogis who worked in forefront and also who were not visible at the spot but for whom the entire event was possible to be conducted with such success by the holy blessings of Mother.
However, the second half of the afternoon session commenced with a very effective meditative process on vibration exchange as conducted by Ms. Madhumita Mukherjee and Ms. Luba Dutta over PowerPoint projection. Later another session was conducted where the collectively the yogis experienced their own vibratory awareness and also the effects of others and collective effects on their palms and over fontanel area. It was a very profound experience as the collective still reminisces to have experienced for the first time in their Sahaja life. They were candid enough to confess that many of the yogis felt their vibration on their palms for the first time. It was just Mother’s holy grace that each and every one who attended the session not only felt and recognized the collective catches but also recognized their own catches and also the catches of the person sitting next to them. It was all like’ Meri Mata ka karam hain. It was all working of our most holy Mother, Who was showering Her all compassion and blessings to them who desired from their core of heart to receive them. It was all paramchaitanya over pouring effortlessly. All the yogis expressed their deep gratitude to Mother for this wonderful meditation in Siliguri. It was like a unique gift to all who attended it.
Later in the evening Deepak Verma took over the session with a continuous rendering of his soulful bhajans and the collective were just in bliss to enjoy each and every moment of the grace.
Attendance and Event Management
The programme was attended by around 500 Sahaja Yogis (registered). There were about 25-40 yogis from Bhutan and another 20-30 from Sikkim and several others came from North of India like Karnal, Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, Mumbai, Kolkata and other parts of Bengal and North Eastern States.
Mr. Subrato Mondal , convener of the seminar along with a very competent team of yogis like Mr. Gautam Pal, Mrs Mili Sinha, Mr. Siben Sarkar and many others collectively shouldered an extraordinary job of arranging the entire event with full dedication. Not to forget the quality of meals and the cooking with love behind the preparation of each selective meals in the kitchen that was extraordinary and was a magic. Everyone appreciated the light non-spicy diet that was just an optimum for all yogis. The yogi forces behind the kitchen indeed need a special mention. While the spacious hall at at Uttarbanga Marwari Bhavan with all luxury for accommodating more than 400 yogis were simply unforgettable. Especially in Sahaja Yoga seminar such arrangement can rarely be seen anywhere. The toilets and bathrooms that were sufficient numbers with respect to the rooms and halls and really were just beyond imagination in a place like Siliguri or anywhere. It was a massive town hall which had all facilities. All arrangements were done up with great precision and the yogis enjoyed within the hall while it rained heavily for two days continuously and thus cooled off the outer temperature of the area. It indeed was Divine driven work that not only reflected a praiseworthy effort but quite challenging too which could only be possible by the blessings and attention of Shri Mataji throughout. It could tangibly be felt in the love that overflowed all over since day one of the seminar.
Issues discussed with National Trustees and require attention
It was impressed upon that we all must dedicate our endeavor to promote Advancement of Sahaja Yoga by all means. And in case of any resource crunches the matter should immediately be put up to Trustee so that all progressive works towards the work of promoting Self Realization far wide within and in neighboring countries should not be impeded. Emphasizing on the recent Divine message of Shri Mataji for the 2010 New Year in the beginning of the year “... do your best to spread the loving and caring message of Sahaja Yoga not only in your own respective countries but, most importantly, in the neighboring countries ...” several the issues were discussed along with many other important internal issues that required attention of Trust office. Special emphases were given on Advancement of Sahaja Yoga in Bhutan and Bangladesh and Sikkim by one to one discussion with the representatives. The following issues were deliberated during the Seminar.
- Land acquisition in Siliguri for construction of new Sahaja Yoga Centre (issues discussed and requires action by Siliguri and Bengal Trust)
- Administrative and coordination issues in West Bengal
- Administrative and management issues in Advancement of Sahaja Yoga in Sikkim (issues were discussed and Trustee has already taken note of current situation and soon action will be initiated)
- Advancement of Sahaja Yoga in Bangladesh(apprised regarding current position)
- Advancement of Sahaja Yoga in Bhutan (Bhutan collective discussed their constraints and merits in the Advancement programme and requested Trust to take action at the earliest as Sahaja Yoga can best be spread through Medical colleges to start with) Individual centre collective in Bhutan apprised as on date:
- Thimpu Collective : Around 80 yogis
- Phuentsholing collective: Around 50 Yogis
- Chengmari Collective : Around 25 Yogis
- Wanddue Collective : Around 25 Yogis
- Another scattered collective: Around 20-25 Yogis across the country.
- Total approximate count of Yogis : Around 205 Yogis as Bhutan Collective
- Postering/sticking ads and campaigning for open Sahaja Public programme are prohibited till date by the Bhutan administration within the country until recognized by the Ministry which promotes the policy of ‘Gross National Happiness’.
- Constitution does not allow preaching of any religion as per their constitutional laws set up. While organizing Public programme are considered as preaching in Bhutan
- Proper Sahaja Yoga meditation Centre has not been able to be established so far openly in the country due to restrictions in the Government policy and curriculum.
- The collective of Bhutan has applied for possible registration of Sahaja Yoga in their National curriculum with the Ministry of Cultural affairs. But till date neither any positive signal nor any encouraging signs have been passed on to the collective as their gesture for their acceptance.
- Bhutan has adopted Raja –Yoga style of meditation and also promoting the same in the country in line with adoption of the Gross National Happiness.
- Therefore, it is anticipated that if Sahaja Yoga National Council/Trust in India especially can push or apply appropriate thrust upon the Ministry putting forth officially a request to the Ministry of Health, Education and Home / Cultural Affairs for introducing programme in line to enhance the policy of GNH it may prove to be effective.
- This will go a long way and help in spread of Sahaja Yoga across Bhutan especially if Sahaja Yoga National Trust in India can officially send request to Royal Govt. of Bhutan with regards to promotion of Sahaja Yoga meditation to enhance the popular’ Gross National Happiness’ programme. Because the Govt of Bhutan seems to be quite progressive in approach and is going ahead with promotion/enhancement programme of its National policy of ‘Gross National Happiness’. Therefore any such request from official establishment blended with Shri Mataji’s blessings can create miracle and be a part of future milestone in the reality.
- Therefore Realization drive for Bhutan from India can prove to be very effective if the central coordinator ship from India approaches The Govt. Official and explain the merits and benefits of Sahaja Yoga meditation to enhance the policy of the Gross National Happiness’.
- Since it is difficult to get our direct entry with organizing Public Programme openly in the country, it could be a good idea if Medical institutions are taken up as softer target first and they be made aware of the technique who in turn could help spread the message of divine love amongst other.