A glimpse of how it could be, and how it was for a weekend:
NBC Health Expo, Boston, June 23-24.
'Hey, I heard there was a cool meditation thing going on somewhere around here. Any idea where it is?'
The hall was full of exhibitor stalls, from health food to medical tests to a pool for scuba diving. Looking past the health insurance tables, the soy pasta, and the demonstration stage, a crowd gathered in front of another kind of stall; the banners said 'Connect Yourself.'
Despite the buzzing activity of the hundreds of people milling about the hall, gathering information about how to live a more balanced life, many seekers found it possible to find the quiet within themselves. As their kundalinis rose, their faces glowed. Some sat in meditation on their own; others exclaimed about their experience; while still others waited in line – “Excuse me, but I think I was next in line to try this; "I came by yesterday but you were too busy so I'm back today."
18-year old highschool jock: 'Hey man, this is great! Whadyu call this again?'
As soon as we arrived at the hall to open the stall on both Saturday and Sunday, people started trickling over to see what we were about, and in about 15 minutes, all chairs were filled, and a line had formed. It stayed this way for literally 8 hours! People were cutting in front of each other in line to get into the stall.
Some people sat on chairs up close to Mother’s picture, while others couldn’t wait and got their realization standing up. Some watched for a while and then decided to try it themselves. And then when they moved on, some people passed the word on – 'You have to try this, it's amazing! I don't know how it works but it does!'
Elderly woman with graying hair, having come over with neck and back complaints, no initial explanations were given: “I felt this incredible fountain go up my back and out my head!”
Yogis from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut were kept on their toes –answering questions, giving realization. Time flew by. Some people said affirmations while others just held out their hands and felt the cool breeze. There were smiles as well as tears, as people felt themselves melt into an ocean of peace and tranquility.
All kinds of people came to see us. There were college boys, young mothers, fathers with their children, women and men of all ages. And, best of all, so many were mainstream Americans! People you might never think would be interested in meditation were holding out their hands, eager to get their realization.
Some people had heard of meditation, some had practiced yoga, while others had never done anything of the sort. Some asked questions, while others just listened. Their hearts were open, and it was so easy to explain clearly what we were doing. It was like – a miracle. Something we had been waiting for for such a long time. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing and hearing. Seekers were coming to us.
Over the course of the weekend, we must have given realization to perhaps 1000 people, and many more walked away having heard of Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. As the Expo ended on Sunday evening, seekers were still trickling through. As the security guard asked us to please finish up, we were raising a few more kundalinis and giving directions to local meetings.
The guard kept telling us that only exhibitors could be in the hall. We must have looked too refreshed and blissful to have been there all weekend. As we gathered outside and said our good byes, we all felt that we had shared a very special time together.
We were left feeling more open-hearted and optimistic about the American seekers, and hopeful that this experience was a sign of times to come.
Jai Shri Mataji |
