P. meditating in the jail of Helsinki

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
Published by Sahaja Yoga Meditation in jail

Testimony of A, a Finnish prisoner

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.
Published by Sahaja Yoga Meditation in jail

Collective poem of the Helsinki inmates

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
Published by sahaja Yoga Meditation in jails

Courses in Finland

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


Published by sahaja Yoga meditation in jails

TV documentary about sahaja yoga as help for the prisoners

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.”

Published by sahaja Yoga meditation in jails