Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is spirit an energy within us?

While the spirit is indeed within us, it is a misconception that spirit is the energy (Talk on Futuristic Tendencies, Burwood, Australia, March 19th, 1983). Spirit is the reflection of the source of all creation. It's light is the energy. Spirit is a constant, unlike energy that undergoes transformation between static, dynamic, latent, manifest etc. 

Q: What is a good posture for meditation?

"Please sit very comfortably that's very important. There should be no strain on a particular part of the body, for example when you are sitting sometimes your feet might feel little bit numbed down you can change the posture you need not carry on with any extreme effort or any discomfort to yourself, that's first thing you must remember. Moreover some of the people go into tense postures also by stretching their hands too straight or sometimes going very straight or pushing their head behind, sometimes they bend their heads also bit too much also, sit very comfortably with both the hands on your lap in a very comfortable way, there should be nothing extreme to be done from outside."

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 7 February 1981, extract from Introduction to Nabhi Chakra, Delhi, India.

Q: Why do I need to practice Sahaja Yoga in a group setting? Can't I just learn it and practice it at home all my life?

A: "I'm here to tell you that you have to be honest about yourself, that's all. And it will all work out. I know you all have questions, doesn't matter, whatever questions you have you can write to Me and we'll answer you. Only thing about Sahaja Yoga is that it is not an individual growth. You cannot grow in your house, you have to come to the collective, you have to be in the collective. Like if my one nail is cut out, it won't grow. Whatever is the place, whatever is the area where you have to go, you have to go there, all of you and you have to grow. It would be something like sprouting the seed but the seed has to grow and it should not be that a sprouted seed is wasted. You must have respect of yourself, of self-realization, of yourself, and you must grow into it. Then you will understand whatever religion you're following, then you will understand the greatness of all these prophets, gurus, satgurus and the incarnations. Without that you cannot understand the unity that exists within them. Like, to understand histology you have to use microscope. In the same way to understand all these great people who have created beautiful religions for us we have to use Sahaja Yoga."

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 26 April 1994, extract from public programme, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Q: What is the organizational hierarchy of Sahaja Yoga? Is there an org chart?

A: Sahaja Yoga has no religious or administrative hierarchy of authority. There are no "successors" appointed as Sahaja Yoga was envisioned as a un-organization. Within the self-organizing global tribe of Sahaja Yoga no one is assigned special proximity or status, as explained below:

"We have to of course be careful when we are spreading the Sahaja Yoga, that there might be some people who are quite negative, and may try to pose that they are some special type of Sahaja Yogis; I have known such people throughout: to tell people that I have given them some mantras, special mantras and that I'm, they're very close to Me or sort of, all this kind of nonsense. And people do get impressed by such people who say that: 'I'm something special', and that: 'Something special has been done to me'. It's a very dangerous thing. Whatever is there is all open and for everyone. I have no favorites at all, I cannot have favorites. So anyone who talks like this, you must know that person must be mad and negative, and just shun such a company. Don't go near anyone like that."

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - 23 December 1991, extract from opening talk at Christmas seminar, Ganapatipule, India.