A portrait

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.

Published by Sahaja Yoga in jail

Sahaja Yoga meditation in France

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.

Published by Sahaja Yoga meditation in jail

Meditation in France

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 !"
Published by Sahaja Yoga Meditation in jail