Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Prisons

Sahaja yoga meditation in the jail of JALGAON

2012-01-28T10:54:00.000+01:00

Having attention on one's Energy, an help to face a trial

We were already performing sahaja yoga meditation programmes in the jail of JALGAON (north of the state of Mumbai) in INDIA.
While discussing with prisoners about their problems, we told them to keep their attention on SAHASRARA, on their Energy on top of their head, as SHRI MATAJI taught us. This when they face a trial. They then told us they got good results doing this.

Bhagwat Patil

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Human Rights about Sahaja Yoga programs in jail

2012-01-27T10:50:00.000+01:00

Sahaja Yoga has been taught in Tihar since 1997.
A report from the Commonwealth Human Rights studied the effects of the intervention of 129 NGO in Indian jails. About Sahaja Yoga, it notices the help given by this method to the prisoners.
We have to notice that one hundred prisoners from Tihar wrote a testimony to explain the help Sahaja Yoga brought them...

Extracts p 93 from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative report from 2008 about NGO interventions in Indian jails

Sahaja Yoga Organisation

Key Prison Activities:
Facilitating moral and spiritual growth of prisoners.

Mission & Aims:
The organisation aims to unite every human being with his Self. It wants to bring
about human reformation through the practice of yoga.

The Organisation & its Work:

Sahaja Yoga was initiated in Tihar Jail on the invitation of the Director General (DG) of
Prisons in 1997. The volunteers of Sahaja Yoga visit the jail three times in a week. Their
interventions have transformed prisoners into mentally and physically fit individuals.

Areas Identified for Reform in Prisons:
Sahaja Yoga interventions should be made mandatory in every prison for the welfare
and rehabilitation of the prisoners.

Difficulties at Work:
The interventions and activities of the organisation have been restricted only to Jail
n°5 at Tihar (Delhi). It would like to be involved with prisoners in other jails as well.
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Feeling peace

2012-01-26T18:42:00.000+01:00

The first positive effect of Sahaja Yoga Meditation for beginners, is their feeling of peace. It is the main subject of 90% of the testimonies of prisoners from Tihar (Delhi) in India.

Sachin

After doing Sahaja Yoga meditation, my internal thoughts calmed down. I have gained an insight to identify my enemies inside. I have asked that my divorce should come through. I received a lot of power inside myself.

Devendra

I felt that if one wants to live with peace and happiness Sahaja Yoga is the way. It will not only bring peace but also improve my life. Will start from today.

Ravinder

Felt peace of mind and felt very good. Whatever I wanted I have go it.

Vinod

I not only felt happy and peaceful, but a part of my mind was swinging with Joy. Is there anything left to ask for?

Gajendra

I felt very good. I would like to continue doing Sahaja Yoga daily after going out from here. Felt also a strange kind of peace in my heart. And whatsoever wish one has gets fulfilled.

Pawan

The day I go for Sahaja Yoga, I get peace of mind and happiness. I would like to do Sahaja Yoga daily. After going out from here I will go to Sahaja Yoga Centre. Today I felt cool breeze coming out of my hands and also peace of mind.

Nawab

Felt peace of mind and love towards others. Want to get rid of my bad habits and organise my personal life.

Molla

I find peace and calm during Sahaja Yoga and hope that even after going out from here, will continue to get blessings through this kind of meditation.

Vikas

Today was my third time in Sahaja Yoga. I felt cool breeze coming out of my hands. Also felt warm air coming out of my head. Will continue this after going out.

Om

Feel very good after going to SahajaYoga. Don’t feel good when I am not doing Sahaja Yoga.

Dharampal

I felt for the first time today during Sahaja Yoga that it is energy. Want to devote more time to this this subject and would like to put it into practice.

Rajeshwar

Felt good after going to SahajaYoga. Got this wonderful chance. SahajaYogis are teaching good things. I thank them from my heart..

Gulab

I found a lot of peace while practicing Sahaja Yoga. My mind became peaceful and I felt some sensations on the palms of my hands, sometimes cool and sometimes warm. I want to practice daily and I want to continue even after going from here.

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Feeling peace (second part)

2012-01-25T18:51:00.000+01:00

Here are extracts from letters of inmates who have started Sahaja Yoga Meditation in their prison in India.

Pavan
I felt very good after doing Sahaja Yoga meditation. Today I felt the cool breeze flowing through my hands.

Yogindra
During Sahaja Yoga, I felt a small jolt in my spine and I felt some trembling and strong vibrations in my hands. All the stress vanished from my mind.

Jawahar
I felt a cool sensation in my hands and body during Sahaja Yoga. My mind became calm and peaceful and I felt my soul was satisfied.

Rajiv
During Sahaja Yoga I felt heat coming out of my head. I felt cool in one hand and warm in the other. I felt peace in my heart.

Vikas
I felt cool in my hands during Sahaja Yoga. I got peace of mind. I will like to request everyone to practice Sahaja Yoga. One gets rid of physical ailments by doing it.

Bijendra
I have been doing Sahaja Yoga for the last two days. I felt my right hand was hurt. As I went into meditation, I felt a pulsation in my right palm just like a heart beat. Soon after that I started feeling coolness in both my palms.
I felt that something special is there.

Vikas B.
During Sahaj Yoga today I felt cool breeze in my hands and warm breeze above my head. This was my second day and am feeling that I will go to this meditation daily and hope I will be successful in my endeavour.

Pappu
Felt good during Sahaja Yoga. Felt cool breeze in my hands and head.

Wasim
It was my first day in Sahaja Yoga meditation. I did it with complete faith. I felt sometimes cool and sometimes warm in both the hands. I had a similar experience on the upper portion of the head (cool-warm). I felt the balance I asked for. I felt very nice. I want to do it continuously

Sanjeet
I felt heat on my hands and some warm steam-like feeling in my head. I definitely got peace through Sahaja Yoga meditation.

Sohan
I felt countless flames on top of my head during Sahaja Yoga meditation. And I felt the peace in my inner being.

Aslam
During Sahaja Yoga meditation, when I kept my left hand over my head I felt as if there is a warm air flowing from my head. Sweat came out from my right hand. Then, my left hand became lighter and I felt better.

Lakhan
I have been inspired by today’s session of yoga and will follow the practices daily. I have given up the commotion I had and I feel much better.

Ishwardayal
The thoughts of my household were worrying me for the past 3 years .But after my Kundalini be awakenen, my worries all vanished . I am now so calm.

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Program in prison for young criminals in Moscow

2012-01-24T11:09:00.000+01:00

October 2010

Music and meditation in a jail for young ones

Last Friday we went to a prison for young criminals with medium and heavy crime degrees. We were 15 yogis from Moscow and neighbouring cities.
We were met by very pleasant staff member who was very positive about the program.

Before we had an agreement with the prison staff that we will not speak and we will only sing. But when we came there the staff members asked us to tell everything what we know about spirituality.

We had 30-40 prisoners on the program.
The atmosphere was not tense at all; on the contrary the atmosphere was very kind and almost homely.

We wanted to start our program with Russian songs but we changed our plans and started to sing Indian devotional song called bhajans. We felt that eyes of prisoners and staff members started to sparkle. Some prisoners wanted even to start dancing but they were not allowed of course.

After second bhajan we started to speak about kundalini and Sahaja Yoga meditation.
We conducted self-realization protocol and we had a feeling that many of the prisoners accepted Sahaja Yoga meditation in their hearts.

The program was scheduled to take one and a half hours but when we asked how much time is left the staff told us to continue program ignoring time limits.

Then we stopped the program. When they were going out of the hall many of them were thanking us from their hearts ; it was very pleasant.

The prison staff members invited us to come back to conduct meditations.

Alexander, Moscow

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To forgive

2011-02-22T12:00:00.000+01:00

Here are some testimonies of inmates who started Sahaja Yoga Meditation in India's jails.

Tejpal
I got a lot of peace of heart. Whomsoever has wronged me I have forgiven everyone, I have forgiven myself also. I will never make a mistake again. Many thanks to you Shri Mataji!

Om Dutt
Sahaja Yoga is a Miracle. Sahaja Yoga meditation taught us that we should forgive our enemies so I forgave my enemy with whom I had a fight and because of whom I was sent to jail. And after doing Sahaja Yoga and forgiving my enemy from the bottom of my heart, I was given immediate a result.

The same person who was responsible for sending me to jail, came to jail asking me to pardon him for his mistake and also offered to give bail for me. If this is not a miracle what is it? I had forgiven him truly. I am in a hurry since I can be released any time now…

Tuhiram
By taking to Sahaja Yoga meditation, I felt really nice. I pray God to settle in my Heart and shower me with Love. I forgive all those who have erred against me. My heart knows only the love of God.

Pawan
I felt wonderful in Sahaja Yoga when I was meditating today. And when I said, “I forgive everyone”, then I felt God said, “Son, I forgive you too”. I felt as if something is coming through my hands and I got peace in my heart.

Pradeep
Prior to my entry into Sahaja Yoga meditation, I had a thought that when I get out of Jail I will take revenge with my enemies. However, after doing Sahaja Yoga today, I took a decision that I will forgive forever and lead a good life when I shall go out of jail.

Rakesh
Today’s Sahaja Yoga experience impressed me a lot and feeling of revenge left me. I felt peace of mind and joy and desire in me arose to leave the act of punishment unto God.

Tej
I felt great peace here in SahajaYoga. I have forgiven all those who have been bad to me.

Pawan
I felt great peace in my heart here in SahajaYoga meditation. I have forgiven everyone and myself also. When I went for SahajaYoga today, I felt cool breeze coming out of both my hands. My desire is that where ever I may go, I should go for Sahaja Yoga daily.

Satya
I felt great peace in SahajaYoga meditation. I have forgiven all those who have been bad to me.

Shankar
Since I have been going to SahajaYoga , I have been feeling more and more peace daily. I have forgiven all those who have been bad to me. And I have forgiven myself also. I have even found a good friend in SahajaYoga.

Anil
My mind was disturbed before coming to Sahaja Yoga. But when I requested for forgiving everyone, feelings of jealousy and revenge in me were dissolved.

Lakha
I was very uneasy in my heart since the day I came to police custody and I started fearing a heart attack. But I felt a lot of relief in my mind on coming to Sahaja Yoga. When everyone was meditating with closed eyes, my eyes opened and I felt so cold in my right hand as if there was an ice-cube.

This happened when I said : “I have forgiven everyone”. I felt very happy after that ; and I am feeling as if I have got something. The feeling of revenge has also left my heart.

Ved
When I started meditating during Sahaja Yoga, my head was heavy. As we were asked to forgive everyone, I said ‘God, please forgive those people who have harmed me’. As soon as I said this, my head became lighter and warm air blew out of my left hand. I want to continue doing this Sahaja Yoga.

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P. meditating in the jail of Helsinki

2011-02-17T17:24:00.000+01:00

This is my testimony about the efficiency of the Sahaja yoga meditation for me to be more balanced.

I am thirty years old. I am inmate in a Finnish jail called Helsingin Vankila. My sentence is : all life in prison .
I went to jail in 2001 and the first years were really hard for me. I was in emotional roller coaster. I tried not to show it outside but inside I was feeling terrible. But then in January 2004 when I had lost almost all hope, Sahaja Yoga was introduced in our prison.

I immediately felt something wonderful that I never felt before. Something I couldn’t explain in words. I knew that was something that I had been looking for all my life. I stopped smoking immediately, something I couldn’t do before.

After that, I started to meditate every day and my lost smile returned inside of me. I am in peace now and want first of all to follow this path the rest of my life.
I want also to help as much as possible : other inmates were taught also. I could see they were as much helped as me.
So I really wish that every prisoner in the world could have this life changing experience.

P. Helsinki April 2006
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Beyond hatred and revenge

2010-08-19T20:00:00.000+02:00

Prisoners got many reasons for feeling revenge or hatred : parents who were violent or alcoholic, “friends” who betrayed them…
Theirs testimonies show that Sahaja Yoga Meditation helps them to go beyond these feelings.

Rakesh
Today, from the meditation at Sahaja Yoga centre I got a lot of peace and my heart became joyous. I got rid of my mental problem and bad feelings. The hatred I had in my heart towards someone changed into love. After going out I will practise Sahaja Yoga daily.

Sundarji
I felt very good doing Mother’s Sahaja Yoga. I felt cool in both my hands and felt as if all the weight on my spirit was released. I have given up hatred and realised that greatness lies in loving only.

Raj
I got a lot of peace of mind since I listened to Shri Mataji’s lecture. Whatever malice is there in my heart and whatever bad habits I had I surrender them to God. I will keep on meditating with full heart and sincerity daily. I have forgiven everyone, there is no foe of mine in this world.

Mukesh
I realised after listening to today’s discourse that it is best to leave everything on the divine power. All anger and arrogance finished in my mind and all the malice in my heart was cleared.

Ram
Feeling of revenge and anger were increasing day by day in me. I was becoming aggressive and rash , because of which I had to come to jail. But after doing Sahaja Yoga meditation, all these qualities subsided and I became peaceful. I have no more feeling of revenge in me.

Shatru
The past three days since I joined Sahaja Yoga meditation, I have felt all my hatred being nullified into compassion. I just don’t understand but its so wonderful.

Omprakash
Due to today's discourse of Shri Mataji, I have removed the hatred from my heart. Have compassion for others and get compassion from others. To live and to let live is how I feel now.

Param
My thoughts have transformed and I will practice Sahaja Yoga and uproot hatred completely from my soul.

Arif
When I sat for Sahaja Yoga meditation, I had a lot of anger in me. But after listening to the talks of Shri Mataji, my anger got cooled down and there was no feeling of revenge left in me.
When I think of the person because of whom I was sent to jail, anger rises in me. But when I meditate, my mind becomes peaceful.
Thank you

Rajeshwar
After coming to Sahaja Yoga meditation, whatever revengeful feeling I had in me, left me and my agitated mind became peaceful. Just sitting for one hour has given me so much peace. If I do SahajaYoga for one month, I will become absolutely peaceful. Within a few days we will start emanating sparks of Humanity and Kindness from our hearts.
I will go again and again to Sahaja Yoga meditation. Thank you.

Amin
I experienced joy and peace of mind during Sahaja Yoga. Joy is springing now in me. Feeling of revenge left my heart…

Ramkishan
During Sahaja Yoga courses, I got peace of mind and my restlessness finished off. The feeling of revenge which was flaring in my heart also calmed down. I left to God the problem of the ill-treatment and torture done to me. I want to continue practicing Sahaja Yoga even after going out of this jail.

Pawan K.
I felt very good with Sahaja Yoga and I want to do Sahaja Yoga Meditation daily. Today, when I was meditating, I felt that I am not in jail but in my home. I said, “I forgive everyone and I also forgive myself” then I felt my heart was at peace. The feeling of revenge left my heart. I feel as if my coming to jail was a coincidence because if I hadn’t come to jail, I wouldn’t have got such a feeling…

Sujeet
Today during Sahaja Yoga I experienced the effect of this meditation and felt peace of mind and happiness. I gained knowledge about Sahaja Yoga meditation. During the practice, mental tension, feeling of jealousy and revenge underwent a sudden change.

Santosh
I felt good after sitting in Sahaja Yoga room. My heart became full of peace. The feeling of revenge left my mind. We should be peaceful and loving towards everyone. I felt cool in my hands and in my mind.

Sunil
Earlier, I was confused and mind was not at peace. After listening to Shri Mataji’s talk, my mind became peaceful and I understood what was being said. I will try to wake up my common sense and will not fight with anyone.

Karan
Today, discourses of Shri Mataji have completely transformed my mind. I don’t feel any hatred anymore .It is such a nice feeling. I am now onwards going to be well wisher to everyone.

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No stress with meditation

2010-08-18T20:18:00.000+02:00

One of the benefices of Sahaja Yoga meditaiton is to get rid of stress.

Yogindra
During Sahaja Yoga courses, I felt a small jolt in my spine and I felt some trembling and strong vibrations in my hands. All the stress vanished from my mind.

Rajkumar
My mind became peaceful and stress-free. I got a lot of bliss and I liked Sahaja Yoga a lot. I felt a sweet itching-like sensation in my hands and I got some knowledge. I felt very peaceful. Thanks!

Mukesh
I felt very good after coming to Sahaja Yoga. First I felt the circulation of blood in my hands and then I felt a little warm. I got peace in my heart and relief from stress.

Sanjeet A.
I got peace from Sahaja Yoga Meditation. My entire mental disturbance has vanished. I’ve got rid of stress. My mind and heart have got peace.

Samhit
I got a lot of peace from Sahaja Yoga. I will do Sahaja Yoga after returning home also and will tell my friends about it also. I have got relaxation in my thoughts on doing Sahaja Yoga.

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Positive changes

2010-04-18T20:11:00.006+02:00

Sahaja Yoga meditation gave some positive changes to the prisoners from Delhi

Santosh
I go daily to the sahaja Yoga meditation and daily there is some change happening in my mind.

Jagdish
I felt peaceful in my heart. A lot of changes occurred in my body.

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Joy and happiness

2010-04-17T20:21:00.005+02:00

For some prisoners meditating in Delhi, joy is what they discovered out of Sahaja Yoga Meditation

Ashok
After knowing about self-knowledge at the Sahaja Yoga course, I became very happy and my heart became light and I am very happy.

Manish
I enjoyed meditating and I will definitely take time out and meditate. I felt as if the entire burden on my spirit was lifted and I felt very light and relieved.

Laxman
One should listen to such discourses. I felt very good in my heart and all the arrogance and malice in my heart was cleansed and I am very happy now.

Deneshkumar
In the Sahaja Yoga course, I felt so elated.

Dhanram
I have felt so much happiness from the bottom of my heart.

Anish
By Shri Mataji’s discourse I have realized a new meaning for being alive. I feel so happy and pleasant. My thoughts have completely cleansed . I am so thankful to the responsible of Sahaja Yoga course for this great gift of love.

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Less pain

2010-04-16T20:31:00.003+02:00

Some prisoners meditating in Delhi felt relieved from physical pain with Sahaja Yoga Meditation.

Ravinder
Pain in my hand is gone. What else can I ask for?

Mohan
I felt energy during Sahaja Yoga Meditation and in my body many things got cured.

Pappu
I feel very cool after coming to Sahaja Yoga and my heart finds solace. I have also got relief from the wound on my right hand. The thumb which was earlier painful to move is now quite better ; and I am able to eat food without any problem.

Darshan
I had gone to Sahaja Yoga for the first time today and I felt the circulation of blood in my body. I used to have a problem in my spine. Today I had a sensation in it and felt a lot of relief. I also got a lot of relief in my eyes. My age is 52 years.

Rajendra
I felt good going to Sahaja Yoga Meditation. I got relief from pain which I used to have in one of my hands.

Dhusam
I want to do Sahaja Yoga Meditation daily, even after going out from here. I used to suffer a lot from headache and body-ache, now everything is gone. I felt very peaceful and joyous from meditation.

Sundar
Today I went to Sahaja Yoga and found peace. The headache etc. disappeared and my heart became light. I want to practise meditation daily and will do so.

Om P.
I felt very happy on going to the course of meditation. I got rid of whatever wrong thoughts were there in my mind. I used to feel a lot of headache and heat, now everything is so cool and I feel as if the entire burden is lifted from my mind.

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Less stress

2010-04-15T18:56:00.002+02:00

Some prisoners meditating in Delhi wrote how they learnt to get beyond stress, waiting for their trial.

Gali
I have got a lot of bliss during Sahaja Yoga and my mind became very peaceful without stress. I and my friend Bhoodev were experiencing it since a few days. Today my friend got released. This has increased my faith and devotion towards this yoga and I hope I shall be released soon. I am very impressed by Sahaja Yoga and want to continue doing it always after returning home.

Vijay
I brought my compatriot Ranbir to Sahaja Yoga Meditation and he was released on bail a few days later.
And another experience concerns one of my friends Jaikishen. I also requested him with my true heart to experiment this meditation as it was his first day of jail and as he was very stressed concerning his release. I don’t know if he had any feelings of devotion in his heart or not.

In meditation courses, he said in a funny way : “I’ll accept this yoga if I can get out of here ; otherwise I haven’t felt anything.” He had mopped the floor once or twice at the place of worship ; and he got bailed out soon after despite very low chances !

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No stress after meditation

2010-04-13T19:30:00.001+02:00

"…Today by lunch time my restlessness increased quite a lot and I started feeling anxious. Neither I could sleep nor even could sit. Every moment I felt like an eternity. And to top it all the electricity got cut and the fans stopped so the heat also increased.

Time passed away with great difficulty. When the barracks were opened, I started feeling eager to go for Sahaja Yoga meditation. But a fellow meditating also informed me that there would be no electricity for 3-4 hours and hence there would be no Sahaja Yoga today. Then I could not bear the restlessness as today I wasn’t finding the restrictions of jail at all bearable and the memory of my mother was plaguing my mind.

But in some time only the electricity came and Sahaja Yoga was conducted in a timely fashion as on other days. This was a blessing… My patience had been tested and all this play was staged to give me my realization only.

Today I realized that I fall to hurry and restlessness to achieve a good result. Thanks to Sahaja Yoga Meditation for this course which made me feeling much better…"

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To forgive

2010-04-12T19:19:00.002+02:00

This is the testimony of Kumar, who has done one step towards his father.

People quarreled with my friend ; contrary to his expectations, then they came to meet him. And they also apologized to him. Today the same people have got my friend bailed out. I also had a similar experience. I had never expected that my family would come to meet me because I only had stubbornly got myself sent to jail.

My family members were quite upset and didn’t want to discuss about me with anyone. Being in custody, I too was unable to contact anyone. But one day, my uncle and my father themselves came to meet me and they also seemed anxious to get me released.

I only advised them not to get my bail done as the date of my hearing was around the corner and I was hopeful of an early resolution of the case. Anyhow, it didn’t happen so but at least my father met me once again on the day of my hearing.

Many times I have seen intense hatred in my father’s heart for myself ; but after seeing his harshness melt I realized that the purpose of my coming here was that : “Father, if you hate me then please test my ability of forbearance as well. One day your heart will melt and you will realize yourself that you cannot arouse respect in my heart towards yourself through force or material temptations.”

Some similar differences are the cause of the ongoing struggle between us father and son duo. And when nobody had come to meet me, hatred had started flourishing in my heart as well. Then, I started experiencing a change of heart in me. Now I feel that it’s a blessing if my father’s behavior of enmity towards me since many years starts changing.

Similar blessings will keep on giving hope to the inmates here and keep transforming this supposedly bad environment into a virtuous, peaceful, blissful and stress-free environment. It will keep kindling hope amongst the despondent prisoners. It will keep transforming the negative thinking to positive thinking.

I am very moved by the sudden transformation of my feelings of anger and revenge. Shri Mataji, I thank you again and again.
Kumar

Repentance

2010-04-11T19:11:00.002+02:00

Delhi prisoners founnd help in Sahaja Yoga Meditation for repentance.

Vedram
I realized my mistake during Sahaja Yoga meditation. I felt good in my heart. I will not repeat such mistake in the future. Thanks!

Abdul
Today I went to Sahaja Yoga programme for the first time. I felt that it is a Yoga not associated with any caste or religion. Still it gives us a hand on experience of our self. I will start doing Sahaja Yoga daily with discipline. Will leave all my bad deeds, will do 3 to 4 good deeds everyday. I will use Sahaja Yoga against violence also. I thank all the SahajaYogis because of whom I feel peace of mind. Thank you.

Rajkumar
During Sahaja Yoga,. I felt as if a flower had blossomed on my head. The feeling of repentance also took birth in my mind. My worries reduced and I felt good coming to the meditation because of the reduction in mental stress.

It was my desire to see my brother who is kept in the other ward. While returning from Sahaja Yoga room, I did catch a glimpse of him on the way and we also met. All this is the fruit of blessings only…

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An help against addiction

2010-04-10T10:34:00.007+02:00

Some prisoners from Tihar (Delhi) wrote that Sahaja Yoga Meditation helped them to get rid of their alcohol addiction.

Mohan
During Sahaja Yoga I got the inspiration to quit my addiction of alcohol forever and I started getting good thoughts towards everyone. My mind became happy after coming here. I want to adopt Sahaja Yoga meditation and want to continue it with full heart even after going out of jail.

Shyam
After going to Sahaja Yoga meditation today I experienced a feeling of not to touch Liquor or any other type of intoxication again and I will do meditation. I felt a peace of mind which I had not felt before.

Arun
After listen to the cassette of Shri Mataji my confidence was revived. Hereafter I will not drink liquor and will do meditation. Will look after my wife and children very well, send my children to school for education.

Lakshman
When I went to Sahaja Yoga, I had feelings of revenge in my heart, but after listening Sahaja Yoga courses, I liked them and felt peace of mind. I used to drink occasionally. But after hearing these thoughts, I will never drink again and not fight with my children. I felt cool breeze in my hands and brain. I will leave bad company and keep myself away from bad people.
Thankyou

Avtar
I have gained a lot of knowledge by coming to Sahaja Yoga. Through the things told in Sahaja Yoga, our heart became light and we experienced joy and happiness. Bad habits like drinking alcohol have been totally removed from my heart. Thanks !

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Good meditation in group for K.

2010-03-23T14:20:00.002+01:00

The Sahaja Yoga Meditation is taking place 3 times a week in the jail of Tihar in Delhi. One hundred inmates wrote a testimony, describing how this method helped them.
Here is the testimony of K. who writes he can only meditate in group. He is feeling so much the negative waves of some members of his family he deceived, he can’t concentrate alone.

"Today not only did I feel relieved from the previously escalating anxiety but also felt an immense joy and my body suddenly became so balanced and my mind started to blossom in this balance. And I desire to be balanced in this way forever.

On the day before we were not able to do Sahaja Yoga like everyday. And so I felt anxious all day long and whenever I tried to meditate alone, I felt like some dark shadows. And I was scared as if some demonic aura was trying to stop me from meditating. My mind so became restless and I felt the need for someone to support me to meditate. My attention, over and over again, was going to my household, so negative towards me.

Most of the members of my family and my in-laws are followers of some guru. I did not agree to this guru of theirs. Before becoming his followers, they were respecting me and were accepting my suggestions and comments in all their actions and so we were happy like this.

But all of them after following this guru suddenly changed. And eventually the conflict between us increased so much that they ganged up on me and crushed my honesty by sending me to jail. I can very well understand the cunningness and unfairness in their mind. Thing which is fundamentally unacceptable to me.

However today, while meditating with the group, my attention became concentrated and merged in my Sahasrara, I felt very different from before. I felt so elated with joy that I would not be able to compare it right now. And physically it is like if my body is balanced as a tree. Also the coolness on the palms of both my hands is steadily increasing. I am realizing that my self is awakening within me. And then I will not be affected by any dark shadows any more.

The unpleasant desire for revenge which breeds in me is eliminated little by little."

K. , Delhi 24/03/ 2005
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Reduction of sentences for courses of yoga in Indian jails

2010-02-25T13:00:00.001+01:00

Summary of an article published in various national newspapers on January 25, 2010.

In India, several kinds of yoga have been taught since more than 10 years and their positive effect is widely recognised. The authorities decided to encourage prisoners to follow this kind of courses, giving them summaries. A pilot program is just starting in the center of India.

“For three months of courses of yoga, prisoners may get 2 weeks of remission” declared last Thursday the General Inspector of jails from Madhya Pradesh State, Sanjay Mane. “The yoga is good to control the anger and to reduce the stress” added him. When a prisoner has been following courses of yoga and is going to be released, he will get a remission. This, like for having made a success of the examinations. "

About 400 prisoners signed already for this program tested in the jail of Gwalior.

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A portrait

2010-01-26T11:00:00.002+01:00

A prisoner, Jean-Luc, saw the photo of Shri Mataji, he felt so touched by her that he drew this portrait. He did not follow the cursus of Sahaja Yoga Méditation in jails, but he felt a certain peacefull atmosphere with his art.

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Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Mexico

2010-01-26T10:14:00.002+01:00

Testimony of the organizer of the courses of Sahaja Yoga

In a small city, we have organized a meditation program in jail. There is a group of 8 men that regularly follow the meditation course; 4 persons do it since 2 years and half.
We used to be much more, but some of them are free now.

Last friday, the ladies told us that they alos wanted to start a Sahaja Yoga Méditation course. These are good news.

Maria Teresa
Mexico 2009
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Fiore, prisoner in Italy

2010-01-17T17:20:00.002+01:00

Sahaja Yoga has been taught since October 2005 in 2 prisons in Italy. In the prison of Velletri, Sahaja Yoga began thanks to the support of the “guarantor of the rights of prisoners ", a service of the Ministry of Justice which exists in some countries among which Italy and Spain. Fiore tells us here his first sessions of Sahaja Yoga and the impact which it had on him.

This testimony is describing well what is done during a Sahaja Yoga course.

“It was the 15 September of 2005, when I was transferred to the section of high safety in the jail of Velletri near Rome, for my last year of jail. I have a very stormy past with more than twenty years all together spent in jail.

It was in the middle of October, when one afternoon I returned from walking together with Giorgio in the yard. We saw new posted notices. One course of Sahaja Yoga was proposed. The interested persons had to write a special demand to the educator.

At once we decided to write our demand, because it would bring us certainly advantages : those to go out more often of the cell and to live a new experience.
We wondered if there would be a selection : we could foresee a big number of persons.
One week later, the agent of the section called us in our cell for the course of Sahaja Yoga.

We entered a bit curious and we noticed three new faces with the educator and the Guarantor of the prisoners. As usually we introduced ourselves (we were about twenty ), while the educator marked the presences. These three new faces were Daniela, Lucio and Papik.

My attention then fell on an illustration ; at first sight it could be a Buddha, with words written in an oriental language. Lucio, a person of beautiful imposing presence, with grey hair and about 58 years old, presented this new experience, the first one in the Italian prisons, and authorized by the Ministry.
This thanks to the intervention of the Guarantor of the prisoners to whom we made a sign of thanking.

After this explanation, Lucio had suddenly a knot in his throat. He couldn’t speak anymore.
I had the idea to ask him if it was the first time he was visiting a prison and he was in front of people like us. Then, we said that some of us were Neapolitan ; at once he smiled and he talled us that he was also of Neapolitan origin ; he presented us the origin of Daniela and of Papik. Their eyes then were shining with enjoyment to feel accepted.

And so we bound friendly links by speaking about our origin : the Neapolitan, the Calabran, the Sicilians and the Albanian.
The atmosphere became then more relaxed.
Lucio began to explain the illustration which represents the canals of our subtle system. All this was a part of unknown things for Giorgio and me.

They decided to get to the heart of the subject at once and they invited us to follow them in the meditation.
Lucio asked us to close our eyes, to relax and to think of nothing ; if the thoughts came, to let them slide and if they were bad thoughts, to say to them "no" and to ask to the Mother Kundalini to eliminate them.

While that, we looked at them with half closed eyes ; we also looked at each other and the most difficult thing was to prevent us from laughing.

We managed not to laugh and I began to observe them. Their faces were relaxed ; they were without shoes ; they seemed light and so quiet . I thought of the impact that they could have on the prison.
Lucio asked us to follow Papik to raise our Kundalini and to put our attention on our sensations.

After the exercise, sceptical we looked at each other by comparing our sensations. Daniela, Lucio and Papik asked us to stay in meditation.

At the exit, we stayed in the corridor to exchange our impressions.
Someones laughed at the lesson openly while the others were interested. Nevertheless something had just happened to us.

My companion of cell had the habit of going out in the morning in the yard ; I took advantage of it to meditate, what was for me a kind of psycho-therapy.

At the 2nd session, one week later, we realized that only one had given up and that more prisoners came ; like Janson from Niger, a very religious boy.

We noticed besides the photo of a lady with deep eyes and smile up to ears. In the centre of her forehead, a circle of some centimetres, covered of red.
Papik adjusted the volume of the sweet oriental music. Lucio talled us about the value of the fire, the water, the earth and the air, the 4 essential elements of the life ; they compose our body and the footsoack with salt water brings us a lot of welfare.

.
Then he spoke about Shri Mataja Nirmala Devi. And after we started the meditation. At the end of meditation, gone into raptures, we opened our eyes ; and we looked surprised because on all the faces we read a certain serenity. Some felt the heat on their palms; others a light breeze on their fontanel ; others their fingers tingling ; and somebody felt penetrated by a light sensation of internal welfare. At the end of the session, Daniela handed us a small photo of Shri Mataji.

The next days, I added the foot-bath to the meditation and I tried to raise my kundalini.

I went to the 3rd session. When we had greeted each other, Lucio, smiling, asked us which evolution we had felt during these first meetings. Auguste and Maurizio began to speak about their internal welfare.
Several ones explained that it became for us impossible to meditate in cell, because people was laughing at us. Papik explained he met the same problem.

Lorenzo came to visit us one day, to replace Papik. I observed him : as Daniela, Lucio and Papik he was radiant, proud, and transparent. It was clear he was happy to be with us.

It took some weeks and we began to practise the introspection. I did not notice any more anxiety in me. I felt serene, better with myself and with the others. I began to face the difficulties in a positive way ; and days became for me more and more coloured.
I thought that I had improved my mood and reached some internal balance thanks to the meditation.
It is even thanks to it I was able one day to help my fellow of cell to write a letter of demand of conditional liberation. I spent several hours for that, but I made it with enjoyment. Some weeks later, he had a positive answer and thanked me, crying of joy. It was for us a very beautiful moment.

My testimony wants to be also a thanking for Daniela, Lucio, Papik and Lorenzo ; and for the Guarantor of the prisoners and the educator who allowed this initiative.

And I end with two Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi's sentences that I made mine when Daniela gave them us with the hope they take root in all our hearts :
IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES UNIT AND WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD MADE OF PEACE, LOVE AND JOY. TIME OF INNER REBIRTH HAS COME.”

Fiore, Italy, December 2005
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Testimony of A, a Finnish prisoner

2010-01-10T17:22:00.000+01:00

I am from Finland. Once I was doing time in Helsinki prison and my life was all messed up. Then one day, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to meditate and I went to a sahaja yoga meeting with him.
Suddenly my life started to change. I was filled with love, joy and happiness. It was very nice to meditate collectively and learn new things every day.

I realized that I had no more trouble to sleep and that my stress was gone.

Now I have been out for one year and I am still meditating. When I went out, things worked out nicely. I got my own flat. I made different kinds of jobs as a workman in Construction. And I was also working in the technical team of a film.
Right now I have not a job but I am sure something will come in my way.

I play drums in a band. I am going to India for an International seminar of sahaja yoga.

The prisoners who speak English can write me. You will get my address. I shall write you back.

A. N.
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Sahaja Yoga meditation in France

2010-01-10T11:48:00.001+01:00

Testimony of the organizer of the courses.

As far as I know, no one has continued the practice of Sahaja Yoga after incarceration. Prisoners have learned to relax, calm down and develop a positive approach towards their situation.

I'd like to share one of these experiences, revealing the impact of these meditations.

I am in a fairly large room; the inmates are free to come if they will. The guard leaves the door open 5 to 10 minutes then shut it up and went away. Often, new people are curious to experience this condition.

One day, when an inmate who looked very hard and physically sturdy entered the room, suddenly, all prisoners became silent. He was very angry and soliloquy, telling twists and through "I'll kill them, trashing the ..." A malaise could be felt and in a moment, I must confess that I started to doubt on the meaning of my presence there.

Wondering what would happen, because I was alone in the midst of all, I thought I had to let it calm down. Several minutes later, while no change intervened, I said: "I do not know what happened to you in your life, but since you came, I will speak to others like you and begin the meeting. At the end of the presentation, asking if some wanted to experience the realization he replied "yes, but I know it's bogus, it does not do anything.”

I asked him to put his hands towards me and tell me what he felt. Initially he said "nothing, it sucks." Then, suddenly, he felt the coolness over his head and his face was completely lit up. Rising of a sudden, he said to the assembly "You see guys, in life, we must be positive. Since that day, he went to another prison.

I lead these sessions of meditation for over three years. Emotions are strong, the discoveries are always amazing and the prisoners take an obvious benefit of these sessions. Not that these people will change completely overnight, but they have discovered an aspect of their personality they did not know: they could feel peace and calm in the silence, whenever it persisted only in meditation.

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Russia 2007

2010-01-01T17:43:00.002+01:00

Testimony of the organizers of the courses who were also playing music.

On December 16-17 2006, Sahaja Yogis conducted several Self-Realization programs in the prisons of Ryazan Region.
The yogis of the City of Ryazan invited Moscow and Colomna Yogis to help them organizing the programs.

We joyfully reacted to the invitation and on Saturday we were 15 yogis.
This jail is a Men’s Correctional Colony more than 100 km from the Region Center ; it ‘s not very often visited by musicians. That is why we were received quite warmly by the responsibles.

The program was held in the hall where there were a bit more than 400 convicts (and it was only half of all the prisoners). We told them about Sahaja Yoga and altogether we went through the protocol of Self-realization. Then there was a small concert of Indian music and an Indian dance.

The next day, on Sunday, we were waited for in two more colonies: in a Women’s Correction Colony and in a Men’s Correction Colony. In the Women’s Correction Colony we met with young ladies of 14-18 (300-400 people) who greeted us with much warmth and reacted very actively to everything happening during the program.

In the Men’s Colony, where there also were 400 convicts, it was much harder for us than in the previous two colonies. But the high wall of alienation was a little bit softened by an Indian dance and music.
Not many ventured to check the stream above their heads : the conditionings
of the others’ opinion were very strong. Nevertheless, there were the eyes in this hall which followed everything that was happening on the stage with real interest.

We were glad when after the program three prisoners, young guys, approached us. They originally were from Caucasian Republics, Muslims. They wished us in their language “much success in our work”.

Vadim

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Less aggressive after meditating

2009-12-17T17:16:00.002+01:00

Testimony of a prisoner meditating in a jail near Roma

My name is Claudio, I am a 44 year-old and I am free lance. Up to March 29 th 2006 when I was arrested.

It was then a time of discouragement, of pain. I was closed in isolation without any contact . And alone with my thoughts : the souvenir of the death of my mother, a lot of strong emotions.

Then I was transferred in the jail of Velletri. I found new companions, all available, very strong, but it was however the loneliness. In the night I was thinking that the things don't happen by chance but for making us understanding what we are doing in our life.

I am not yet judged ; therefore I am an innocent potential that has not lost the hope to return as a free man. For this motive as soon as I have known that a course of yoga meditation was organised, I have not hesitated.

The impact has been embarrassing but positive. I have found Lucio and Daniela that explained to me, last arrival, the preceding lessons making me understanding the positive effects of this yoga on my companions.

Lucio and Daniela are two beautiful people who through meditation try to communicate with us to be solider with people far from their world. I have followed the lessons with attention and curiosity, trying to understand every of their gesture with sincerity.
I must affirm that at the end, I have felt a sense of comfort , an internal calm that has allowed me to face the following days in harmony with myself.

I hope following with constancy and discipline to acquire values that will allow me to live the detention period in a constructive way.

And after almost one month of this adventure, I can affirm with all sincerity that this has made me happier, cheerful and less aggressive.

Thanks to all the people who had this initiative. It got a large consent from all of us.
Thank you to Lucio, thank you to Daniela.

Claudio from Italy
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Meditation in Australian jails

2009-12-04T20:12:00.002+01:00

In the year 2000, programs were given in the jail for juvenile of Canberra.
Here is the testimony of the organizers of the courses.

8 inmates, 2 guards and a social worker were participating. The prisoners were very opened, asked many questions. The planning was spontaneous . We were watching a video about Sahaja Yoga, or discussing, or meditating…

We had to stop after 3 months because it was holydays and every program was stopping. There were also only 2 inmates left. The others were gone after their trial.

The following year, there were not enough yogis available to start again the programs.
Other programs are organised in Australia: in a jail for foreigners in irregular situation ; in a jail for adults near by Sydney ; in centers of rehabilitation for people taking drug or alcohol.
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In Colombia

2009-11-04T19:51:00.002+01:00

Courses of Sahaja Yoga were proposed in 2004 for people under addiction, in a center of rehabilitation.
There were also Sahaja Yoga Méditation courses in the jail of Medellin in September 2006.
Testimony of the men who tought this meditation there.

The program we made in Medellin was in a maximun security jail and you can imagine the cases of the prisoners. And despite their past they can get the realization very easily.

We taught some techniques during 8 weeks. Then,we made an evaluation with them, how things have been improving, answer questions, how to improve more the meditation and connection with Kundalini.

In every week we had 2 or 3 meditations moments and a little bit talk about the subject ; they enjoyed to understand how we are built inside.
In Medellin, Colombia
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Meditation in France

2009-10-04T11:22:00.001+02:00

In France, Sahaja Yoga programs in jail started like this : the director of an association had followed some courses of Sahaja Yoga Meditation 4 years ago, said one day, to the responsible of the Sahja Yoga courses : "this Sahaja Yoga Meditation is very efficient. I am sure it can help inmates. Do you agree to do something in jail ? I shall recommend you to the director."

The yogi called the director who told him : " we don't need any recommendation, any documentation about your association. We give you 3 months to prove how Sahaja Yoga Meditation can help prisonners."

So the organizer started the courses. After 3 times, he had to stop one month. When he started again, 12 inmates came back even after this one month break.

One man said that he felt so well, that he was meditating whenver he had the time to do it. He said he stopped taking drugs. Another one said he stopped smoking.

A lady, member of the direction came several times and meditated as well with the group.
The first time, at the end, she said : "what you are doing is extraordinary ! You have to know taht these 5 inmates who were at the program, are always very nervous. And they were silent for 2 hours. I never saw them like that !"
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Julien from Holland

2009-09-17T17:11:00.000+02:00

Julien, 24 years old in 2005, learned Sahaja Yoga meditation in a Dutch jail. He says it was an opportunity to know better himself.

I am a young boy 24 years old . I am now in jail in Holland. I am not going to tell you here for which reason I was brought between these walls, that’s not the point.

It’s happening to everybody in our life to look for deeper things than the modern Society can afford us ; to have questions on our place in the World ; on the meaning of our life ; on the mysteries of the Creation ...etc.
During a long time, I unconsciously pushed back these questions , repressed my sensations, I was neither listening myself , and nor the others too.
In a time of my life full of doubts and incertitude, I was like sucked up as far as this kind of very particular residence which is the prison.

At the beginning and during many months, it was like if the Sky had fallen down on my head.
Then, I crossed on my way a guard and his wife who are responsible of a group of meditation inside the jail. I interested myself to this course.
It was then an upheaval in my life : from that point, I was born a second time.
Also, I started to learn to know myself, to become myself, to undertake an inside travel.

The faith which was sleeping in me since ever awake itself , my convictions became bigger. Every day, I was becoming more sure of what I was believing in.
In fact, I understood that the jail had been for me a gift from God ; and then an opportunity to meet the whole compassion of Shri Mataji through Sahaja Yoga.

To-day, being still inexperienced , I am trying to grow up , to build myself . I am moving forward on the way of the Life.
Also, the pain of having lost freedom made way for a great joy in me because even if this place of meditation is narrow, it contains the Unlimited.

Julien, June 2005
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After 10 years of drug

2009-09-05T16:58:00.001+02:00

This man got rid of his addictions through Sahaja Yoga Meditation but did not start it in jail.

I am a forty-one year old artist who lives and works in Austria. My wife and I have a successful art work-shop in Vienna. We have a very strong, healthy son in his seventh year who also keeps us very busy. We have dear and gracious friends in many countries all over the world.

Since experiencing this essential transformation seventeen years ago, I have been living a completely new life filled with the dignity, compassion and fulfillment which could only manifest through actual enlightenment.

I was born into a large family in a city in Canada. My parents were then chronic alcoholics and most of my memories, which reach back as far as my third year, are dark and fearful. Myself and two younger brothers were raised mostly by our older sisters. Our parents often fought. When my father left the family he was replaced by a man who I deeply feared as he treated us harshly and sometimes beat my mother. Twice, as a small child, I badly broke my right elbow. The second break was so severe that I almost lost my arm. My mother was not there that time to comfort me as she was being kept in a mental hospital, withdrawing from alcohol addiction.

Throughout my early school years I used to pray from my heart that I could live without fearing people. I was always drawn into the company of trouble-makers and began stealing at the age of seven. When I was fourteen, my father, who had returned to us for five joyful and prosperous years, began drinking again and divorced my mother. This is when my indulgence into alcohol and drugs, including cocaine and LSD, began.

I was just fifteen years old when I took a massive over-dose of LSD and went temporarily insane; I would say, became possessed. For two weeks after this hellish experience I was in a dream-like depression. My personality changed and I often went out on weekends with bizzare clothes and painted face. Eight months after this fall I stumbled into another self-destructive trap: I was seduced into a cunning organisation that brain-washes its members, taking their money and destroying their mental and physical health. It was called Transcendental Meditation.

In the following eight years I became more and more tangled in selfdoubt and antisocial sentiments. I lacked all normal motivation for pursuing a productive life. I sought escape from my numbness and frustration in drugs, alcohol and parties. I was always watched carefully by the police because of my illegal activities, and lived in fear of them. I could not relate to normal, productive adults and saw them as strange and frivolous.

I would spent my time with younger people who admired my wild lifestyle. I reached the age of twenty four with no professional qualifications; no position in society; no confidence; and little hope of fulfilling the countless desires which haunted me. I desperately wanted to know myself; to feel the joy and love of nature which sometimes overwhelmed me in my child-hood. But I found only noise and heaviness within.

One morning a friend of mine came over. I thought he wanted to buy some drugs but he said he had found something important. I knew him as a dull and lethargic person but now his eyes were shining with enthusiasm and delight. He asked if I would come to meet some special people. I insisted that Sunday is the best day to party and that I wanted to get drunk and go to the beach. At his insistence I agreed to attend a meeting on the following Tuesday. I was then completely unaware that it would become the single most precious day of my life.

The experience which I had during that first real meditation was quite vague. I had just begun to become aware of just how much I had ruined my delicate nervoussystem. Gradually, as the days and weeks passed, I was realising that my fears and habits were fading away. The urge for intoxication was loosing its hold on me. A definite peace and clarity was growing inside of me. I moved away from my circle of crazy friends and a lifestyle which felt like deadweight over me. Small changes in my health came to my attention. After many years of suffering from painful hemmorhoids, this problem disappeared. My hair suddenly stopped falling out and later grew in again. Psycologically I became more secure. Nightmares about losing my eyesight and being possessed by demons did not come anymore. I slept deeply and awoke fresh. Even my eyesight improved, to a level above normal ( 105% ).

My parents were deeply impressed, especially when I had my beard and long hair cut and started wearing attractive clothes. The subtle, cool, pure vibrations which I began to feel and direct for my own better-ment and that of others, had a noticiable effect on many. My mother suffered from emotional depression and even relapsed into alcohol and drug use. For nine months I did not see her, but often applied myself to directing these purifying vibrations to her. When I contacted her again she was like a new person. For the first time in about ten years she was rising early from bed each day, and even had a job caring for small children.

Another person who was astonished to see this change in me was a police detective who had watched me for many years in my home municipality. I happened to meet him one day, and he just congratulated me again and again. I think it gave him great hope. I got a job, then I married and moved to Vienna where my dreams to become a successful artist have been fulfilled.

In these few years I have met countless individuals from all walks of life from London to Calcutta and from Moscow to Los Angeles who have lived this miraculous metamorphisis and are using this natural power to transform others. It is my sincerest desire that anyone who reads these words will not judge the message mentally but will make an honest, scientific investigation into the historic subject which now faces them. If their desire is pure and their determination for revealing the truth is undaunted, I have no doubt that they will also achieve this magnificent inner-awakening which is dawning to the human-race.
E. S.
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Meditation in New York

2009-08-01T17:26:00.002+02:00

Tree members of Sahaja Yoga wrote their impression after having made a course of meditation in the widdest jay of New York

Herbert R. In the center of rehabilitation, there were 7 huge dormitories with 60 inmates in each. We were teaching them yoga there among the beds. Those who were not interested were staying behind.
The first day, I saw many rock faces arriving. But during the meditation, these faces became like children faces !

Maryanne B: “ In the room for drugged people where I was, I could hear a pin drop. Even the men who did not participate were respectable and whispered not to disturb those meditating. It was as though something special was taking place. "

Jerry M.: “The very first program was held in an area with prisoners who had medical problems. The guys were all lined up. Some also came in wheelchairs.

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Out of addiction

2009-07-05T17:04:00.002+02:00

This is not a testimony from a prisonner, but of how some one could get of addiction with the help of Sahaja Yoga Meditation.

Before Sahaja Yoga, my life was darkened by mental illness. Day by day, I plodded through college work with a sense of dread. I spent time with marijuana smokers as well as heavier drug users at times. I felt like a social misfit. I fit in nowhere and would go through psychotic episodes and mood swings that would go on endlessly. I was destructive to the property of others and would test my parents at home to see who could scream louder.

For the past three and a half years, I've been using the techniques of Sahaja Yoga to cleanse my inner vision. I now have a genuine interest in learning and participating in society and bettering American culture. The turning point for me was about six months after I began practicing Sahaja Yoga and started to see the minute changes that were occurring. I saw Shri Mataji speak at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan in the summer of '96. From then on, I gradually and spontaneously gave up on drug abuse and many other issues which have attacked my life.

The older people in Sahaja Yoga have seen the changes in me too. When I walk into a room full of yogis, I feel welcomed, not paranoid. When I spend time with other Yogis, I feel like belonging to the same family, not as a stranger. I look forward to spending time with my parents, not dreading it. I feel enlightened now and remain proud of that knowledge. I feel like a vital part of the human race. I wake up in the morning and am ready to enjoy another day and am finally a pleasant person to spend time with!
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Albino, meditating in Holland

2009-06-20T17:18:00.001+02:00

Albino wrote this letter after having meditating some months in a jail from Holland.

Holland, 27th of May 2005

I thank so much the group of Sahaja Yoga Meditation of Holland, who taught me the techniques which were for me compulsory, in order to become a man of Truth .

At the end, it will be possible for the Light to illuminate the whole Mankind.

Thank you so much to the Creator and to Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.

Albino
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Augusto in the prison of Velletri

2009-06-17T17:17:00.000+02:00

Perhaps it seems strange, but for sure that was what I felt during these Yoga courses.

It helped me to control my state of mind, and I succeed to stop my problems of thinking too much. I stoped falling in disastrous emotional involvements.

For me, I have learned a great thing; and sure I will teach it to my sons and to my wife.

Thanks to have given us this possibility to see "this place" where we are living nearly with eyes of spectators.

Augusto from Italy
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Letter from Montse

2009-06-07T17:10:00.001+02:00

Letter from a lady meditating in a jail from Madrid

For my friends teachers of yoga
Hello mes beautiful ladies !
You will stay always with me, and I shall keep you always in my heart. With your help, I could change. I changed directly of frequency. You made me discovering that inside myself there is peace and quietness.

I could transmit this frequency, this experience to others. I could realize that my life is between my hands, this because of my Energy ; this to help others and myself.
What I learned too, is to enjoy the benefits of the Mother, my Energy, Hapiness…
It’s very important to practise everyday, without any constraint. The most important is to feel good in the yoga. It makes happy and brings Harmony and enthusiasm.

THE SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE FROM WHICH COMES ALL THE SPIRITUAL RICHNESS, NEVER FINISHES. IT’S ALWAYS WITH OURSELVES AND ANSWERS TO OUR FAITH IN HER ; ANSWERS TO ALL OUR DEMANDS.

Thank you to Shri Mataji and thank you to you to exist. I shall never forget you.

Montse Madrid 2009
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Carmen

2009-05-15T17:08:00.001+02:00

Carmenwas a prisoner meditating in Madrid. She wrote a letter before being releaded, to thank her teacher of meditation.

Hello, I am Carmen.

As you know may be, I am going to be released. I am writing you to thank you to have helped me so much in these so difficult times for me.
You are marvellous and I shall remind you ever. You taught me many things and most of everything to control better my feelings. Since I started the courses, I have seen the life and everything on a better way.

Sahaja Yoga helped me very much in this time of lonelyness and of sadness. Now, I am more peaceful, a kind of peace I never felt before.
My feelings and my preoccupations are the same, but I look at them with more distance.
Yoga means for me peace and balance.

Thank you for you and thank you for your teachings. I promise you to follow your advice. I shall remind from everything you taught me about the Energy. I am sending a lot of kisses to both of you.

Carmen Madrid 2009
The husband and the son of Carmen inmates in the same jail in the male section followed the courses of Sahaja Yoga, on her advice.

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Musical programs in a Russian jail

2009-05-14T21:00:00.008+02:00

Testimony of an organizer of Sahaja Yoga meditation courses also singing and playing music.

I personally visits jails, sang and said to prisoners about Sahaja
Yoga.

The programs are held in the following way:
First our compere says some words to the prisoners then the
Music band sings a song. After that the compere continues saying.

After 2-3 songs the compere makes selfrealisation protocol. Then, again a song.
In general we sing 5-6 songs per program. Sahaj Music makes our
programs very effective.

It is the greatest joy to see how all these people change
after such programs. I adore visit prisons with selfrealisation
program.

Some of us noticed that when we came to a prison the weather was nasty but when we left it was joyfullysunny outside !

Dmitry from Togliatti, Russia

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Shanti's testimony

2009-05-10T17:07:00.000+02:00

My name is Shanti, I am from Malaysia. I heard about the Sahaja Yoga Meditation, 11 years ago by my brother.
He was following the courses and informed me regularly about something not important for me at that time.
Now that I have been here in jail, I wanted to see what this Sahaja Yoga could give me. Quitness and relaxation ?
Yes, I could relax and my soul is a little bit more quiet.
I thank my teachers who have taken care of all the inmates of our jail.

Shanti, Madrid 2009
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Collective poem of the Helsinki inmates

2009-05-07T16:46:00.002+02:00

Here is s collective poem written by the inmates who, with this Sahaja Yoga Meditation, have found peace and strength inside them.

Lost children coming back home : poem dedicated to Shri Mataji

"We fight to become able

to show your victory in us.

This, to see your joy

when these lost children

we were

came back home. "

The Sahaja Yoga collective of Helsinki's jail, August 2007
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In Ouagadougou

2009-05-04T20:17:00.000+02:00

Courses started in June 2004, after a visit to the director and to the one responsible for the Penitenciar Administration.

There were programs of 2 hours, twice a week in the jail of Ouagadougou, the main town of the country.

35 inmates were participating regularly.
The cells being opened in the corridor during the day-time, the inmates were speaking about Sahaja Yoga to
their friends. And every evening, they met each other in the same cell to meditate together.
It took 3 months for the teaching team to become quite popular among the inmates.
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In Johannesburg

2009-05-04T20:15:00.000+02:00

Courses were done for women in the jail of Johannesburg. The social worker received the authorisation from the director.

The ladies were very interested but became quite unsatisfied as the programs had to stop because the social worker went to another jail.
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Native American ladies in Canada

2009-05-04T19:48:00.000+02:00

Courses were done in jail for Native American ladies of Kitchener. This jail is for inmates who will be free quite soon.
8 ladies were participating to the first program of Sahaja Yoga Meditation.
They were more for the other programs.
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Sahaja Yoga in Istanbul

2009-05-04T19:45:00.000+02:00

Sahaja Yoga was taught in 2 sections of the jail in 1999: for the adults and for the juvenile.
At the beginning, courses took place in 3 different rooms because there were 3 gangs fighting against each other in the jail.

One day, 2 rooms were not available, so everybody had to be together : no problem occured between the 3 gangs.
The guards were very impressed by such results. This experience was even reported in the newspapers.

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In the jail of Budapest

2009-05-04T19:43:00.001+02:00

In 2006,15 inmates were following courses of Sahaja Yoga Meditation twice a week in the jail of Budapest.
These courses started in May 2002. In March 2003, 60 inmates had received an introduction to Sahaja Yoga Meditation.

Many prisoners went to other jails for different reasons. Several of them gave news, saying taht they still meditated on their own.
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Near by Vienna

2009-05-04T19:40:00.001+02:00

The jail of Krems is a jail for inmates having at least 10 years of jail to do.
Programs started there in the year 2000. Here are the impressions of the man who made the courses of Sahaja Yoga meditation.

At the beginning, they were 7 inmates. But several changed of jail. After some months, they were only 3.
At the beginning of the programs, one inmate was very depressed. Being 27, he was just condemned to jail for life.

After the awakening of his kundalini, and some meditations, he could emerge from that state. He was helping afterwards in the library of the jail.
Another inmate was transferred in another jail. He wrote a letter asking that Sahaja Yoga be taught in his new jail. He sent a letter to the yogis saying he was following to meditate and: “ thank you. Now I am much more relaxed. I integrate Sahaja Yoga completely in my life now. This yoga became indispensable for me.”
The last 3 inmates after some months of yoga were more quiet. They could go in a jail with a less hard rule.

The psychologist of the jail noticed the big change of these inmates but there is no report stating her remarks.

Even the priest said he saw a big amelioration and asked to be introduced to Sahaja Yoga Meditation himself.
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Sahaja Yoga in Timisoara

2009-05-04T19:37:00.001+02:00

Short testimony of the organizer of the courses of Sahaja Yoga meditation in a jail from Romania.

The administration was giving the permit for 4 months to teach Sahaja Yoga for the men part of the jail.
There also, some prisoners were crying after the awakening of their kundalini.

Mihael

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A song called Kundalini

2009-05-02T16:05:00.005+02:00

Here is the rap song of Temba, ex inmate who started Sahaja Yoga Meditation in the jail of New York. He wrote this song after having left jail in March 2004.
He created this song to speak about his spiritual experience to the people coming like him from a ghetto.

FIRST VERSE

IMAGINE CATS THAT MEDITATE WHILE TAKING A TRIP.PLEASE BREATHE WITH ME. ITS’ TIME FOR YOUR KUNDALINIS TO RISE.

HOMIES IN THE HOOD OPEN YOUR EARS AND LISTEN. PLEASE LET ME BREAK IT DOWN SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOUR KUNDALINI IS POSITIONED.

IT'S A SCIENTIFIC FACT IT'S A LIGHNED AT THE BASE OF YOUR SPINE,COILED ENERGY READY TO CLIMB. IN EVERY REAL GEE READY TO SHINE AGAIN.YO

I'M BEGGING YOU HOMIE : BECOME DIVINE AGAIN.IT'S AN INHERITED TALENT THAT EVERY THUG HAS.TRANSFORM YOURSELF MY BROTHERS DON'T LET THIS LOVE PASS.

FACE YOURSELF AND EMBRACE IT. ONLY REAL GEES WILL GET.EVEN EASTSIDE GEES, THE BLOOD BROTHERS (A STREET GANG) WERE WITH IT.

IN THE MORNING ON RIKERS ISLAND (PRISON OF NEW YORK) MEDITATING WITH BLOOD BROTHERS IN SILENCE,I REALLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TRY THIS.

HOMIE TEMBA USED TO BE VIOLENT. NOW HE'S SATISFIED. HE SAW A PICTURE OF SHRI MATAJI, LOOKED INTO HER EYES…

WHEN SHE LOOKS INTO YOU, SHE IS SENDING HER ENERGY THROUGH YOU.

IT'S A RAP HOMIE ,NOW YOUR BACK HOMIE ,CHANTING OM HOMIE.
NOT ALONE HOMIE, READY TO SAVE EVERY LITTLE KID IN THE HOOD....

CHORUS

JUST LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE AT THE BASE OF YOUR SPINE. IT'S A COILED ENERGY? THE KUNDALINI. READY TO CLIMB,READY TO OPEN YOUR MIND. DESIGNED TO ENLIGHTEN YOUR DIVINITY..

CLOSE YOUR EYES THIS IS MEDITATION,FEELED WITH PURE LOVE OF VIBRATIONS...MEDITATION IN, MEDITATION OUT, MEDITATION ,PLEASE, MEDITATION,THANK YOU.

SECOND VERSE

EVERY CHILD IN THE HOOD IS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY THERE.

I KNOW RELIGION GOT YOU FOOLED WITH TRICKS. CAUCASIAN JESUS BUT THEIR FOOLS COULDN'T FOOL WITH THIS BLACK-ONE LIKE KRISHNA ;
BETTER GET USE TO THIS...

“YOU'LL NEVER TRICK ME.I'M THE SPIRIT THAT LIVES IN EVERY KID(CHILD)YOU'LL SEE. YOU CAN FEEL IT ON YOUR FINGER TIPS.YOUR KUNDALINI WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR SPIRIT, EVERYTIME THAT YOUR EGO TRIPS…”

SO STOP THE TRIPPIN AND START LIVING FOR REAL. TAKE JESUS OF THE CHAIN ON YOUR NECK, AND PUT HIM IN BETWEEN YOUR EYES. FORGIVE YOURSELF AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOU FEEL .

AND GOT A DIME BEEN A BROKE BROTHER.COME AND MEDITATE WITH ME. IT'S GARANTEED YOU'LL FLOAT, BROTHER.

BACK TO CHORUS

THIRD VERSE

THE BOTTOM LINE YOU DIVINE,NO NEED TO STRUGGLE WITH IT. I KNOW YOU SHARED IT WITH YOUR HOMIES (FRIENDS)AND THEY WERE NOT WITH IT.
MANY WERE CALLED . A FEW WERE CHOSEN ,BUT FEWER WILL CHOOSE.

COME,TAKE A JOURNEY WITH ME, HOMIE YO ! TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES..YOU SEE THAT WOMAN ON THE C.D COVER?

SHE CAME TO ME WHEN I WAS IN PRISON. SHE TAUGHT ME TO MEDITATE WHEN THERE WAS NO OTHER.

I PUT HER PICTURE ON MY LOCKER. SHE PUT HER HAND ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD ; THEN OTHER HOMIES STARTED WATCHING.

THAT'S WHEN MY MAN BUCKS WALKED BY THE BED,I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES AND GAVE HIM LOVE.

THIS WHAT I SAID : « KENNY, I FEEL THE ENERGY RISING UP THROUGH MY HANDS.
I AM NOT PLAYING ; IT'S REALER THEN ANYTHING I EVER HAD. THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD TEMBA YO! WAS BORN AS A MAN .

BUT NOW I'M TEMBA SPIRIT.THAT'S ALL ; I AM NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET IN THE PLAN. YO! MY MAN CAN YOU GET WITH THAT.

TAUGHT BY THE BEST THOUGHT.

CLOSE YOUR EYES OPEN YOUR EARS AND HEAR THE WORDS OF SHRI MATAJI FLOW..JAI....

-a gee : a person (slang word)
-in the hood : in the ghetto
-Caucasian Christ : White Christ (but black Krishna . Temba wants to say God can have all the colours)
-homie : friend

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Concert in a Czech jail

2009-05-01T17:47:00.003+02:00

Testimonies of 3 members of Sahaja Yoga meditation

In November 2003, we organized a concert with our music band “Wind in Hands”. Nathalie was inspired by the experience of SY from Holland with their programs in Prison. There were also 2 men coming regularly for almost one year to the programs outside in Opava who were working in the prison.

Behind 10 security locks, at the place of former chapel, were our musicians playing vibratory whirlwind for 50 sentenced women. From the total number 200, were chosen only 50 even though the interest from the side of women was much higher.

And really the vibrations were almost touchable through the voices of our musical group “Wind in Hands”. Women were reacting without restraints, were doing self-realisation exercise with great joy and telling each other their impressions. At the end of the program the group was playing song “Good Bye” and after adding songs we were giving them leaflets about Sahaja Yoga.

I have gained very valuable experience from understanding, that in the darkest place is the light most visible.

The worst were only our hidden fears and often unnecessary worries.
Kamila

In prison in Opava

Our first meeting with the involuntary dwellers of this tightly guarded fort has occurred when we came out from the stair’s shaft to a wide corridor bordered by cells.

We were not in the department of the heaviest cases so the cells were opened and the dwellers were freely rooming in the corridor. We were immediately attracting their attention. The security guards brought us to a room where the concert was supposed to take place. The hall was slowly getting full. The preceptor had introduced us and explained that our name is not “wind it to the pocket” as they thought at first but “wind into hands”.

And we could start. It was puzzled, nobody knew what to expect, they from us and we from them. How to say that we are happy they came for concert when they have nowhere to come…..they are here and nothing else is left….

The first song was Ganesha Ganesha…Before we started to play, we heard from the crowd: “And what is it about…?”Ondra explained who Ganesha is. Atmosphere was amazing after the first song….

The eyes of women started shining like stars on early evening sky, joy and spontaneity started to come. It is a dream of all musicians to have audience with such an opened heart….

Almost all felt vibrations during meditation led by Ondra. Some ladies were enthusiastically describing the column of energy rising from their heads…
It was amazing…. We were collectively singing … and then Lenka was singing raga. All women were listening with attention and were meditating…. Ondra was then singing very nicely the beginning for the song Vishva Vandita and ovation was not ending…

There was a big interest for leaflets with description of meditation so that one supervisor had to take care of them and distribute them one after another, otherwise the ladies would fight for them.

When we came out from the gate of the prison, we were all exhausted but happy that we could give something to those who need it most…
Marek

Remarks of another singer

I was surprised that most of them were so young… It was taking me by surprise little bit ; and with tight throat I was talking to myself : "girls, what have you done that you are here..?"
One girl confided to Ondra she was sentenced for 5 years…

Then something unbelievable happened – Lenka managed all the audience to sit with palms up on their knees even before realisation exercise. The young ones were sitting on the ground with crossed legs and with closed eyes. And believe it or not, when I heard all the prisoners to sing the mantra OM so beautifully like one (it is something that we did not manage with any audience till now!!!) I felt like weeping and I was little worried that when my solo comes I will not be able to sing.

I had feeling that we only very seldom sing so nicely, uniformly and with full speed like in this strange environment. Perhaps it was caused even by our wish to give them as much light as possible… I would say they were our most grateful audience. Some of them were able to feel their Kundalini even before Ondra led them through realisation. Many of them were having questions like seekers usually have…

The Sun looked out of clouds in whiles and moved over our heads. I have not felt since long so much full and absolute security.

Marta

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In Holland

2009-05-01T17:45:00.002+02:00

Here is the mail sent by a guard who organised courses of Sahaja Yoga meditation in his jail. This after having experimented the efficiency of this method on himself.

After reading the story of Temba who got his realization in prison in New York, the desire arose to spread Sahaja Yoga at my work in a prison from the Netherlands.
The unit-department that I work at consists of 12 prisoners.

Having this desire of giving realization to the boys but not knowing how or where to start, I just waited for an opportunity. Two days later, in the first week of June 2003, I was giving Sahaja Yoga leaflets to two boys: Andre and Nico. They both experimented their realization. The following day, there was already a big change in them.

• Andre who could never sleep and always took medicine several times at night had now fallen asleep and did not once ask for medicine. Not even the wake-up call could awake him and the guards had to shake his bed in the morning. And yes he felt vibrations. He started having dreams and even stopped smoking within one month.
These positive changes of Andre made the other boys curious, but as you know prisoners are mostly tough guys who think that they have a reputation to keep up, so they pretended not to be interested. However, one Saturday evening while I was having a little chat with the boys suddenly they changed the subject from football into Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality.

But still they were very careful in choosing their words. After this chat as I was about to put the boys into their cells, Gregory whispered in a very discrete way: "Ward, can I have one of those things?" meaning a leaflet.

In the third week of July 2003, on a sunny Sunday morning, the boys asked me if we could do a special outdoor-activity like football or just taking more fresh air. "Yes" I said, "Today we will do something special in the yard : Yoga & Meditation". For a minute there was a complete silence since none of these tough guys had expected such a proposal. Then Andre, Gregrory and Hank agreed and within a few more minutes Jay, Pete and Ron also joined in.

While sitting in the yard, Jay said: "Ward, it's a bit scary, but I will still stay". So, on July 20th 2003, right there in the yard of the jail, realization was given to 6 people. They all felt the vibrations and at night when going to sleep they thanked me.

In the following days the realized souls asked me: "So, now we have come to Yoga, but how to go on? What should we do now? How to meditate? Can you show us how to meditate?". Hank had even gone to the library in search for Yoga lecture. But I told him that he didn't need those books and gave him a stencil "Sahaja Yoga Week 1" in which the self realization exercise is described.

As it was lunch time Hank took the stencil to the lunchroom and after lunch said: "Ward, I have already read the whole stencil, now I know how to do the 9 steps myself" meaning the Self realization exercise. Then they asked me to collectively do the Self realization exercise again since they enjoyed it so much.

The joy of the realized inmates drew Achmed's attention and in that same week he said: "Ward, every time you come here I feel something and it makes me so peaceful inside". Obviously Achmed's Kundalini was ready to be awakened and no wonder that he joined the next collective meeting. Achmed got his realization very easily.

After the meditation he got his own leaflet and while walking to his cell, he kept on staring at Shri Mataji's picture. After almost one hour Achmed ran out of his cell with his eyes wide opened, saying: "Shri Mataji laughed at me, telling me she knows what crime I committed. She even knows how I committed the crime, but she smiled at me ".

After that we got collective meetings every week. The director gave permission to use the silence room, sometimes we might use the video room and as long as the sun keeps shining we may also meditate in the yard. Some of the boys take foot soaks every night and hopefully the others will follow. They enjoy the video "Experiments with truth" so much, especially Part 3 with the exercise of the self realization.
In fact, on their request, we have done this exercise three times collectively. One day prisoners from other departments saw us sitting in the yard and asked my colleagues what we were doing.

My colleagues responded: "They are meditating and if you are interested we will see if we can arrange something for you". Some colleagues suggested that it would be nice to have Sahaja Yoga spred in their units as well and they asked their unit directors for permission.
It became possible to spread Sahaja Yoga not only to the boys but to the colleagues as well.

E. C.

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Previous programs in Russia

2009-05-01T17:41:00.001+02:00

Musical programs started in 1993. The yogis could be trust by the inmates ; the life in jail in Russia was really hard at that time.

The first program started with a Russian song “Tender Golden Wind”. By that time the hall was filled already: there were the “leaders” sitting in the first rows and then followed the rows with ordinary prisoners. Administrative personnel were walking along the hall on the left and right (2-3 people were keeping order). So, after the first song, as usual, silence settled in the hall and only eyes glittering like sparks were seen in the dark, eyes filled with tears… An amazing scene! Then we usely sang Indian music and between the songs we told them about Sahaja Yoga. At some point asked everybody to follow the protocol but not everybody did it!

They all, of course, looked at the “first” rows and the reaction of the “authorities” and other “leaders”. If they approved, many sincerely tried to awaken their Kundalini!.. Once there was a very interesting situation: there were “authorities” sitting in the first rows who expressed with their look that “they did not mind”. Then, all the prisoners made the process of realization. Very quickly, it could be seen on their face that a stone had been removed from their hearts…

When the program ended some guys came up to us and invited us for meeting their friends. We looked at each other and agreed! How surprised we were when we turned out in some room where there were no guards at all, only the prisoners and not the ordinary ones but the “leaders”… We were given the best seats. We were treated as dear guests. And many questions followed ; but first we were asked what places we had visited; being “experienced prisoners” we answered: “We have been to colonies number 3, 6, 19, etc.”; the guys exchanged glances, some of them nodded imperceptibly and by their looks we understood that we were their people.

The idea of the questions was to learn more about Sahaja Yoga and, finally, we heard the request: “Give us Self-realization!”

Once after the program the prisoners held a half an hour concert for us: they sang songs, we talked about Sahaja Yoga… It was felt that Kundalini had awakened very well…

In one colony in the City of Novokujbishevsk Russia, we became so dear to the administration that we were asked to bring video talks of Shri Mataji to the colony. And we did bring the talks. They promised to show them on the colony TV for the prisoners… We were there twice and both the times after the program they came up to us, took booklets, asked questions.
And simply talked to us sincerely and asked where they could come when they were at liberty! They really did come… though not many of them.

In Togliatti, the programs started in 1995. Our music group, five-seven musicians, and another three yogis (who conducted the programs, told the audience about Sahaja Yoga.

Of course, the reaction was not as open as at liberty. All the prisoners looked at each other and if the local “leader” (“authority”) started going through the protocol (put his hand on his heart, etc.) the others also did the same thing, as the local “leader” had approved of it. We sang both Russian and Indian songs. Indian songs were interesting for them and Russian songs touched their hearts.

Usually after the program, the administration did not forbid us to communicate to the prisoners and after the “official” part, during some more 30-40 minutes, we talked about Sahaja Yoga to the ones who had come up to us.
Somewhere the prisoners arranged some kind of “tea drinking” treating us to tea made in prison ( 100g of tea for 1 litre of water). It was impossible to drink it but we tried to be respectful.

We also visited high security colonies and adolescent colonies in the City of Zhigulevsk ; woman’s colonies ; colonies for the people with AIDS ; and once we even were in the colony of very high security, visiting the barracks where there were prisoners who had tuberculosis.

Of course, the impressions were not so pleasant concerning this one. In this colony even the yard where the prisoners walk and the territories between the barracks were separated with iron bars. The doors were locked behind us and we were left completely alone among the prisoners who were condemned to prison for the most severe crimes. There was not a single guard in the hall, only the bars around !
I remember that when we found ourselves beyond the borders of the colony, “at liberty”, we had a feeling that we had visited hell! And I had never been so glad to feel fresh air as that day.

Anyway, we came back with joy to that colony after the program in some other prison.

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Courses in Finland

2009-05-01T17:39:00.001+02:00

Jari made Sahaja Yoga meditation courses in a jail from Helsinki during several years.

Today 21.9.2005, Helsinki prison program took place again after Summer interruption. The prisoners have in same time all kinds of other hobbies and practises. The authorities of the prison suggested a couple of weeks ago that we would come there every other week but we insisted that the need for meditations in weekly. They approved our desire. So today it started.

There were three persons present. So in the library's tv-room there was Pepe who started to arrange twice a week meditations for the prisoners. Then there was a new man with beard and a guard. I asked the guard if he was also going to attend? It was clear to him so he also got his Realisation! So now also those boundaries are broken in Helsinki prison.

Already on the way to the prison my Kundalini rose and I entered in meditation.

I had taken with me a bag full of gifts given by yogis to our brothers in prison. When I went in through the metal detector and inspection coincidently it was looked after by an old friend of mine who allowed me to take in all the material after a brief investigation.

After the meditation when everybody had tried what they can feel on the top of their heads, I told that this is yoga and we can stay in this thoughtless awareness meditation. So we did. I was in very deep meditation maybe 10-20 minutes or more. Sometimes a thought entered my mind if this was too heavy stuff for the guard and for the other new man. Finally I said that we can open our eyes and I stepped in front to answer some questions. But the two men just kept meditating. I stood in meditation myself maybe 10-20 minutes still until the guard "woke up" and started to look at his watch. I told that the time was about to end. We had been there all together about two hours.

And then THE THANK YOU!!!!! I gave all the gifts. I told it's a present from the Finnish collectivity and a indication that they are our brothers and in our attention.

Jari

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Organisers of the courses in Belgium

2009-05-01T17:37:00.000+02:00

Sahaja Yoga was contacted by 2 responsible of the jail. Then, we were invited there to explain them this method. They experimented the realization and said it was ok to start.

We made our first presentation of Sahaja Yoga on the 20th of March 2009. 25 inmates had given their name, 15 came, 11 staid and got realization. They were showing a big interest and then were very friendly. I asked myself what they could have done to be there.
An Iranian was really peaceful. There were also people from North Africa and from Eastern countries. A Romanian had to translate French into German for his Croate friend.

Before leaving, the inmates shaked our hands to say good bye. One said : “and, please, come back!”

Next meeting is on the 10th of April 2009.

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A responsible of the course in Madrid

2009-05-01T17:35:00.001+02:00

Since we started again the courses in the jail of Madrid, 50 ladies got realization. We meet every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. 20 ladies finished their sentence and are released.
That’s for me a tremendous gift to participate to the transformation of these persons. These inmates are really motivate to change their life.
3 of the released ladies wrote us a letter to the address of other inmates. They had to say good bye on this way because they knew one day before the date they would go.

A.M. Madrid 2009

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Nuria leading the program in Tenerife

2009-05-01T17:34:00.002+02:00

When we started, women were insulting each other and I asked myself what I was doing here.
But after the awakening of their kundalini, I saw some inmates crying of joy.
The “chief“ of the prisoners told me at the second course that she left the hard drugs.
She left the other drugs after 2 months. She gave the advice to the inmates to go to the program.
Another lady who had a problem of drug and of prostitution left the drug also quickly and started to change deeply. She had her friend in the men part of the jail. She could see him every week. She helped him to awaken his kundalini and they started to meditate together.

Other prisoners who had their husband in the jail were doing the same.
Women sent documentation about Sahaja Yoga to their family, telling this kind of meditation was really efficient and they had to try it.

An inmate had to be isolated because she insulted a guard. After 9 days, she came back with a shining face. She had meditated most of the time!

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Anna leading the course in USA

2009-05-01T17:32:00.001+02:00

From 1999 till 2001, SAHAJA YOGA MEDITATION programs were held at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in Queens, New York City.

There are various testimonial letters which describe the manner in which these programs were conducted and the incredible positive effect of this type meditation on the prisoners. Having conducted these programs for over two years, along with many other New York Sahaja Yogis, I must say that the changes noted in the prisoners were tremendous. I truly believe that if meditation is used as one of the means to rehabilitate and reform those in prisons, there would be a lot less of these unfortunate people coming back to jail.

For two years I have seen prisoners sitting peacefully and gently putting their attention inward on their SPIRIT ; and not on the negative aspects of their personalities. In meditation, with their eyes closed and their attention away from the events that put them in prison, the prisoners are allowed to place their attention on what is positive within them.

SAHAJA YOGA MEDITATION allows the seeker to go within, face reality of what is within, allows the seeker to see all the goodness within and gives the strength to face what is not good. What is not good or negative is cleansed away by the energy of the KUNDALINI, which cleanses, purifies, and balances the human being. It allows the seeker to see that all the answers are within him or her self.

Love is the thing that we all are looking for and need so badly in this uncertain world. Prisoners are all looking for love and SAHAJA YOGA gives them this unconditional love that does not seek anything in return. This is what happens when the KUNDALINI is awakened and the prisoner begins to meditate. The prisoners that I have been fortunate enough to teach about SAHAJA YOGA always responded in the same way after meditation and awakening of their own individual KUNDALINI, “I feel so much peace and love. I feel so good and relaxed. Thank you!”

There are many miracle stories that the Sahaja Yogis experienced in the prison and there are just too many to mention.

A story involved a man who had committed a double murder. He was awaiting trial, expecting to get the death penalty. He came to the meditation quite a few times and would also bring along his footsoaking bowl. Footsoaking is one of the cleansing techniques used in SAHAJA YOGA . We learned from him that he was able to save the life of a prisoner who tried to commit suicide. He also was amazed that he did not receive the death penalty. He was spared his life and given a sentence that he did not expect at all. He was grateful to God that he could live and prayed that he could help many other prisoners. He was also very grateful for SHRI MATAJI’s teachings and for having given him the opportunity to forgive himself and forgive his past.

A young man also came to many of our programs. He was a former member of the “Bloods,” one of the most notorious gangs in the United States. He continued to tell us that he was innocent and we would encourage him to meditate and allow the KUNDALINI to balance and cleanse his charkas. He was incarcerated for over 22 months. We encouraged him to have faith in himself. This very spiritual young man went to trial and in one hour he was found innocent and released! The story of his trial and his verdict was even written reported in ‘The Daily News,” a major newspaper in New York City.

Probably the most dramatic story is the transformation of Temba , a prisoner who became then an humanitarian singer of hip-hop, once released.

The meditation programs were held for the prisoners, but many times the staff would participate because they would feel the peace and silence emanating from those meditating.

The enthusiasm and joy that these prisoners felt during these programs was incredible. We were in this area for 5 months. The captain of this area received her self-realization in the presence of SHRI MATAJI.
In her own words, “I want to give these prisoners whatever is good for them and whatever will keep them from returning to Rikers Island. I know that SAHAJA YOGA is very good for them.”

One area we held programs was in the SAID PROGRAM, the prison drug rehabilitation center that held and treated all those indicted with drug violations.

Then we held programs in the women’s area and this lasted for two months. These women had violated drug laws. One expectant mother came to our programs several times and received her self-realization and KUNDALINI awakening. She admitted that she had been on drugs all her life and was worried about the child about to be born. When she returned to the program after giving birth, she was ecstatic. She told us that her baby boy, “Baby Richard,” was born without a trace of any drug in him and the doctors were amazed as to how this could happen. The mother also stated that from the baby’s body emanated so many cool vibrations! These are the cool vibrations one experiences when the KUNDALINI is awakened.

Then we held programs at the juvenile detention center, where teenagers from the ages of fifteen-sixteen to nineteen years of age. This also lasted for about 2 months. In the first juvenile center program the head of that department allowed a program that included the teenagers and the prison staff together.

We also held programs for the staff for about a month with an average of 2-3 staff members attending. Conflicts with their work schedule did not permit to attend as often as they wanted.

Before meditation, the prisoners were loud and very nervous. Tension and aggression permeated the halls. After sitting quietly putting their attention inward, they were becoming transformed. They would all become peaceful and relaxed.
Inner turmoil was replaced by smiling faces and shining eyes.

For me, the most powerful meditations I have experienced were in prison.

Anna M. New York
Published by Sahaja Yoga Meditation in jails

Sahaja Yoga in a Young Offenders Prison

2009-05-01T14:28:00.005+02:00

All inmates aged between 15 – 17 yrs old. Testimony of Rosalyn, leading the course in a jail of Staffordshire (UK) in 2006.
To begin with I really didn’t know how to approach these boys with Sahaja Yoga. It became obvious that the boy’s attention was not going to be sustainable for very long and also the language used would have to be very simple and open so they could not only understand, but also take on board the knowledge I wished to share with them.

On arriving at the entrance of the prison the candles brought along would not be allowed inside, nor the incense or anything to light it with. So although resources were very few, I was amazed and heartened that these boys had such a good experience.
Finally 7 boys came along to this first meditation, and their drama teacher came with them to experience her realisation also.

These 7 boys were rowdy and boisterous but not aggressive and really quite polite. Some were very self-conscious and kept their heads down in the beginning, but fortunately there was one boy who was bold, outspoken and was the ‘spokesman’ for the group. He asked many questions. Honest questions and he wanted honest, straightforward answers. This was very helpful as the others didn’t have as much confidence to speak out.

Beginning with a simple relaxation session, with music, some deep breathing and carried out a relaxation session with them first. (They would not take their shoes off). To begin with just basic relaxation always aiming their attention at the fontanelle area, at the top of their head.

On finishing this initial part I asked for their experiences. Half of the group had very strong feelings of relaxation and enjoying the session - they felt different things such as heaviness and one felt a lot of heat.

On talking to the boys, they asked a lot of questions:-
“What can it do for me”?, “Why did I feel heat”?, “How can I say to myself ‘I am not guilty’, when I am, that’s why I’m in here”? (in prison).

The boys became quite animated again and the quieter ones were now talking much more and exchanging their ideas with each other. Some did say that they couldn’t relax well but in all the boys could clearly be seen that their eyes had changed, their demeanor was more open, relaxed and cheerful.

We then had a talk about freedom and how things could change for them, particularly when they leave the prison. The confident spokesman ‘Wesley’ was very open and talked about his aims and what he felt he wanted from life, this helped some of the others to talk more about themselves too.

Then they were quietened down again in preparation for Realisation session.
Gradually as their attention was taken more ‘inside’ they became more relaxed and you could see the meditation beginning to work. They all moved their hands on the chakras and concentrated on the inner affirmations lifting their hands to Sahasrara.

I felt Vibrations suddenly blow across both my hands, and cool vibrations were gushing out above my own head. I opened my eyes to look at the boys. No matter what these boys had done in the past, no matter what their background or history was, I could see the pure innocence on their faces whilst they experienced the deep meditation. I could feel nothing but love at that moment, and a big smile came to me and tears in my eyes at the same time.

As we ended the session they all opened their eyes, and ALL, were bubbling with their own experience and the one boy who had felt nothing earlier and was hunched over with crossed arms, his face was clear and open and his eyes shining. Wesley told us that whilst he was meditating he felt an old anger welling up in him, he described how this happened to him at school where he used to throw chairs around in his anger, but he said it subsided naturally during the meditation.

As they began to leave us, the warden ‘searched’ them and took them all back to their rooms, they turned back to me and asked me to please come back again for more meditation.

Rosalyn
UK

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Sahaja Yoga in Indian jails in 1998

2009-04-28T11:36:00.003+02:00

The first programs in jail in India started in Mumbai in 1998. They are still following. There are also courses in the jail of Delhi.

Courses were done first to the Police of Bombay.
Then authorisation was asked to go to the jail of Nasik (near by Bombay).
The first program started with 300 inmates!

There were meditations every day and after 6 months, the prisoners were very satisfied to find a big amelioration in them. An inmate took the responsibility for the new programs.

A newspaper wrote an article:
The yoga is changing the life of inmates
Integrated in an action of rehabilitation, various programs of Sahaja Yoga took place in the jail 2 hours per day. An inmate who is following the courses told us " I couldn't sleep any more. During nights and nights, the desire of revenge was burning me. But now, I am no more intoxicated by anger. The Yoga helped me to
go beyond my problems. I could forgive. I can sleep and I feel more peaceful. I learned a new art of living."
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TV documentary about sahaja yoga as help for the prisoners

2009-04-26T16:43:00.002+02:00

European forum : the rehabilitation of the inmates in Europe on Arte, French-German channel , November 19 2005.

The recurrence, which solutions ?

Arte broadcasted a documentary on the rehabilitation of inmates in 3 European countries. The journalists just went to a jail where Sahaja Yoga is taught : in Helsinki .
And they filmed P. , an inmate who has been practising Sahaja Yoga since January 2004 . P. arrived in this jail in 2001. He was feeling very bad before meeting Sahaja Yoga.

The introducer of the documentary :
“As every Saturday evening, we present you our European Forum. To put somebody in jail is one thing. To prevent his recurrence is another thing.”

After the documentary in Czech Republic and the one in France, now, we go to Finland..........

The introducer:
“.If there is is a Paradise for rehabilitation of prisoners, no doubt that’s Finland. The way of Scandinavian people is simple : to bring closer step by step inmates to normal life.”

Commentaries :
“In this jail we are going to visit, there are 340 inmates. This jail of Helsinki is the second one from Finland for the number of prisoners. Tree quarters of the inmates were already condemned. But the jail is doing a lot for rehabilitation.
The surroundings of this jail seem to be peaceful. In some parts of the jail, the inmates have a little freedom.
P. is living in a cell which is staying opened the whole day. Studies and meditation, that’s how he is spending his time.
P. was recommended to us by the Administration as a model. A model because the jail permetted him to make a discovery : yoga. Yoga changed completely the life of P. “

P. :
“We are several inmates practising yoga together. We are meditating together once a week, on Sundays morning. And every Wednesday, somebody is coming from outside to teach us.”

Commentaries :
“P. is condemned for life. With the laws of Finland, he may be released after 14 years of jail. And even before with a presidential pardon.”

P. :
“That’s quite well here. We can choose among many activities.”

Commentaries :
“P. prepared his bachelor in jail. He is following University courses with teachers coming in the jail.
There is also the possibility to work in the jail. The work is furnished by factories.”

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Article : The feminine section of a jail in Roma

2009-04-25T17:16:00.001+02:00

Courses of Sahaja Yoga in the feminine section of the prison of Latina near Roma.

The initiative is supported by the regional Guarantor of the rights of the prisoners Angiolo Marroni.
Mr Marroni said : " This initiative can help the prisoners to go beyond the difficulties of the prison world while facilitating their social reintegration.
On one side, we try to help the prisoners to overcome the difficult effects of the prison world and on the other hand to contribute to their civil, psychological and spiritual reconstruction.”

It is the objective of the course of meditation Sahaja Yoga that will begin in the next days in the feminine district of the prison of Latina.
.
The experience of Latina is the second after that begun successfully last December in the prison of Velletri. In Latina, in particular, the course of yoga will last approximately one year and will be managed by volunteers of the national association Sahaja Yoga. They are recognized by the ministry of employment and the social policies, registered on the national register of the associations of social advancement. They developed for years activities of social voluntary service on the national territory.

Ufficio Stampa.

Article : Prison looks to yoga for redemption

2009-04-25T16:40:00.001+02:00

By Web Editor. December 6th, 2005

(ANSA) - The power of yoga could stretch to the reform of criminal personalities, or so a prison in Velletri near Rome is hoping.
The Velletri jail will soon be offering yoga classes to its inmates in a year-long experiment aimed at helping the prisoners find inner peace and aiding their social rehabilitation.
“We think these classes will help the prisoners for their social, psychological and spiritual recovery,” a local government official responsible for prisoners’ rights, Angiolo Marroni, told ANSA.

“If the prisoner can attain a sense of inner harmony, serenity and peace, as well as greater self-knowledge, then social reintegration after jail can only be easier,” he said.

The courses will be given by experts in a popular method of meditation known as Sahaja Yoga, which was founded in India 35 years ago.The prisoners will be taught by volunteers belonging to the worldwide non-profit organisation Sahaja Yoga International.

Marroni stressed that the inmates would not be forced to attend the classes but he said he was confident that many would be interested in the offer.
Yoga, which originated in India more than 5,000 years ago, is taught in many prisons around the world. According to yoga associations, some 100,000 prisoners in 15 countries currently take part in such classes.

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Article : yoga will transform prisoners life

2009-04-25T16:37:00.002+02:00

YOGA WILL TRANSFORM PRISONERS LIFE IN JAIL
Indian article published in a newspaper from mumbai.

Nashik reporter: "In one of the critical moments in life which made you to do crime & you are in jail. But it will not last longer. After you will be free from jail, you will be labelled as prisoners in the world. But what will be surely helpful in changing the view of the people"...

...So this were the quotes of a newspaper editor, who came for the ceremony where the prisoners practising Sahajayoga gave realisation to the new coming prisoners.

As a part of rehabilitation & transformation different programs are conducted in jail, for example poetry and yoga classes. Now sahaja yoga has entered the jail. Nashik district Sahaja yogis taught the process of Sahaja yoga to prisoners for 2 hours everyday.

"We learned an art of living. We understood the process of cleansing of our mind & body. We were sleepless whole night. Desire of revenge was burning within, but now, we became peaceful, we can sleep well, anger is no more...And we are freed from addictions"...this is the heartfelt agreements made by some of the prisoners.

By catching the same string, the chief editor said ...you're very lucky that you got your realisation through sahaja yoga even though you are in jail.

The balance in life is achieved by the process like sahaja yoga. Jails will be no more there if the community understands this yoga. And it will prosper the lives definitely.

Furthermore, he said that there are many people with obstructive mind & criticism in their tendency. But when they pass through such process of mind...peace... & experience realisation, then complete transformation is seen in their lives.

The jail superintendent said that all prisoners are under stress all the time in jail...are always burning with revenge in their mind. To make their life easy & sahaj such process is carried out, which made peace in prisoners...gave them self-discipline & productivity in jail is increased.

Sahaja yoga is practised by millions of peoples in about 80 countries all over the world. The person ascends with the cleansing of his mind and body.

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Article : Yoga for Police and Prisoners

2009-04-25T16:21:00.002+02:00

Indian article published in Mumbia in 1998.

A yoga camp was held for the Western Railway police constables recently, teaching them simple yet effective techniques for dealing with day-to-day stress. Also, a session of Sahaja Yoga was conducted in the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office.

In fact, one such session was arranged in the Nasik jail in Maharashtra with the permission of the Chief Jail Superintendent. He readily agreed to the idea of a Sahaja Yoga program for inmates. The technique of Sahaja Yoga was taught to prisoners for two hours, everyday, during these sessions.

"Yoga techniques are equally effective for police and inmates, alike. These help clear distractions from the mind, and help them pass through a process of self-realisation, resulting in a complete transformation in their lives.
According to jail superintendents, all prisoners often harbour revengeful feelings in their mind. On several occasions, they vent their anger on fellow inmates, following which violent clashes take place. Sahaja Yoga can give them a new perspective, give them self-discipline, and also increases productivity in jails.

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Sahaja Yoga in a jail of Taiwan

2009-04-14T20:10:00.000+02:00

Courses were taking place in the jail of Green Island. The Direction choose to send us the most difficult prisoners, those who were less cooperative with the guardians.
16 inmates participated.

They seemed to be very interested.
The yogi who was presenting the first program said: " May be people are thinking you are wrong. But you have a light above your head which can help you to find your way." Applause.

The guardians were participating. The director wanted to extend the programs to the 200 inmates of thr jail.

But this prison was really far away. Not many yogis could go and after a while, they had to stop the programs:the price of the plane to go there was becoming too expensive.
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