By the grace of Sri Mataji, over 31 August - 8 September Indonesian and Australian Sahaja Yogis travelled through Java and Bali giving realisation and holding
follow-up programs. The highlights of the programs and visit were:
- realisation was given to around 1800 people
- around nine new Sahaja Yoga groups each in Jakarta and Yogyakarta and around
five new groups in Semarang were set up
- four public programs and three follow-up programs were held
- advertisements were placed in five major Indonesian daily newspapers with
total circulation of perhaps 10 million people and two significant articles
on Sahaja Yoga appeared in major newspapers (Shri Mataji's face will now have
been seen by millions of Indonesians)
- around 500 people came to follow-up programs with many more to come in Jakarta
- which is holding its follow-up programs in the next few days
- we visited the major historical/religious/cultural sites of Borobudur (one
of the largest Buddhist structures in the world with more than 1500 panels
carved in stone), Prambanan (an immense Hindu temple complex centring around
temples to Shri Vishnu, Shri Brahma and Shri Shiva and featuring the Mahabharata
in stone carving) and Ubud (Balinese arts and craft - including attendance
at a dance drama depicting Shiva)
The following gives a brief account of the programs and our travels. The Australian
Yogis (Phillip Frankcombe, Alin and Anna Chicos plus me) arrived in Indonesia's
capital, Jakarta - a city of 12 million, on 30 and 31 August. We stayed at Robert
Felix, Indonesia's SY Coordinator's, house and his lovely wife Jeanne made us
most welcome.
The Jakarta Yogis had organised a program at the Department of Forestry the
following morning (31 August). The venue catered to around 250 people sitting
in chairs. Approximately 750 new people came to the program (to get a seat you
had to arrive half an hour early!) so we had to hold two consecutive programs
with a hundred or more people standing or sitting on the floor during each session.
The second session was held directly after the first but the keen seekers were
more than happy to wait. Some nine local groups for the suburbs of Jakarta were
then set up as Jakarta is as spread out as Sydney and travelling times are at
least twice as long. The crowd was very enthusiastic to learn about Sahaja and
to take the next steps in their spiritual journey. That night we had a small
havan to remove any obstacles for the success of the rest of the programs and
to neutralise the activities of false gurus in Indonesia - Reiki, for instance,
has a strong presence.
At 6am the next morning we (seven Indonesian Yogis led by Robert and the four
Australians) left by comfortable bus (24 seats - 11 yogis!) for Semarang, the
capital of Central Java - a nine hour drive. Semarang is a largish city and
that night we held a public program at a local hotel - organised by the new
local leader Mr Purnomo. The room had 108 seats - yes, I did count them - but
over 300 people came. So again we had to hold two sessions. Having given realisation
in four large sessions over 36 hours we were all pretty tired but very pleased
with the results.
The next morning, a work day, we held a follow-up in Semarang and around 130
people came. We explained meditation, giving vibrations to charkas and clearing
left and right channels and the importance of collective meditation and meetings
- which were the themes of the all the programs in the tour.
That afternoon we went sight-seeing on the way to Yogyakarta - visiting first
a Chinese temple commemorating a Ming Dynasty Chinese admiral who assisted in
spreading Islam in Indonesia - an interesting theme given a majority of the
Indonesian yogis are of Chinese origin (but have been in Indonesia for hundreds
of years). Some of the candles in the temple were two feet in diameterand eight
feet high! We then went to the 8th century Borobudur complex which has 5 kilometres
(six terraces) of stone carvings of the Buddha's life and 72 stupas enclosing
larger-than-life size Buddha statues around a central stupa.
In Yogyakarta the following morning we visited the 8th century Prambanan temple
complex of six major temples (housing statues of Sri Shiva, Shri Vishnu, Shri
Brahma, Shri Ganesha, Garuda and Nandi and depicting the Mahabharata in stone.
It was as awe inspiring as Prambanan. (At that time Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms
lived side by side and the royal families intermarried.)
After that we stopped for breath.
Not for long, as that evening we held another public program in Yogyakarta.
The room held about 250 people - but it soon became obvious that the walls would
not stretch to cater to the around 550 who turned up. So we opened the room
into another - doubling its size. Still many people were left standing or sitting
on the ground. Thankfully we did not have to hold two realisation sessions,
which would have been very tiring. Yogyakarta has a long spiritual tradition
and the response reflected this. We even had people coming from Bandung (on
the overnight train) and Solo (two hours by bus) to attend the program. One
lady said that Sahaja Yogis were acting like Jesus - giving spirituality for
free (many spiritual charlatans are in operation in Indonesia charging up to
a month's average local salary for a program). Everywhere we stressed that our
guru, Shri Mataji, was uniquely placed to give realisation en masse through
Her disciples and that it was Her principle that we could never charge.
The next morning (Wednesday) we had a follow-up program proceeded by live Gamelan
music (Java and Java's traditional gong-orchestra music which is very meditative)
to which 300 people turned up. Fifty had yet to receive their realisation so
Robert did another small realisation program. And again we set up local groups
with coordinators so that the newly realised souls could be catered for. In
the afternoon we let for the sister city of Solo where we stopped for the night.
We left at 7.30 am the next morning and after a 20 hour bus journey we reached
our hotel in Seminyak, Bali - right on the beach - at 4.30am and most of us
collapsed. After a day of recuperation beside the pool (sigh) and a bit of shopping
we went to Bali's Arts Centre, where we held the last public program - organised
jointly by Australia and the Balinese coordinator Mrs Etty. Mrs Etty organised
fabulous newspaper advertisements - at very low prices. Unfortunately we learned
that the next day was the celebration of Bali's Shri Saraswati Puja and most
of the population had gone back to their villages that night to prepare. A good
number (130 people) still came to the program.
The next day the Indonesian Yogis returned to Yogyakarta where they met the
new local coordinators for some additional instruction before returning to Jakarta.
One of the Jakarta yogis comes from a place near Yogyakarta and was very excited
at the prospect of being able to help out there.
The Australians remained in Bali and had the fortune to have the day free.
We spent it visiting the art museum at Ubud, wood and stone carving galleries/shops
and eating in the "best restaurant in the world". As well the textiles
were superb. That night we saw a performance of Balinese traditional dancing
- which is something of a cross between Thai and Indian dancing. It was superb.
There was just too much to see and do. Truly Bali has the blessings of Sri Sita
(who, Sri Mataji has said, dropped her jewels there as she was being abducted)
and of Sri Saraswati.
On Sunday morning the Australian and Bali yogis had a follow-up program in
at the Bali Arts Centre to which 110 people came - including 15-20 new people.
We were then treated to lunch by Mrs Etty and visited her home - where she has
a large meditation room and where we stayed last year. That night the Australian
yogis completed the gastronomic part of their tour of Java and Bali by feasting
on fresh fish and squid at a restaurant on the sand dune overlooking the sea
at Jimbaran Bay - the now scene of many Sahaj farewells to Bali.
Truly Sri Mataji's work is now beginning in earnest in Indonesia. There are
committed yogis in Jakarta, Semarang and Bali and newcomers in Yogyakarta and
other cities who are ready to learn and spread Sahaja Yoga. We were blessed
by Our Holy Mother to be part of Her tremendous work in Indonesia this year
and to spend time enjoying the company of our brothers and sisters in Indonesia.
They have come of age and are dynamic and committed.
Great thanks must go to Robert Felix for organising much of the tour, to the
other Indonesian yogis (Alex, Adriana, Teguh, Purnomo, Mr Lie, Purnomo, Aciap,
Atung, Menke and Arief) who organised, helped fund and attended the programs,
the Australians who attended and benefactors from both countries who provided
funds to make the tour happen.
Although Indonesia has quality yogis it is not yet a mature collective and
our assistance will continue to be needed to help them spread Sahaja Yoga. The
international programs/tours in Indonesia have now been held for three years
running and realisation has been given to over four thousand people. With Her
blessings and guidance we intend to continue this initiative next year and every
year while it is needed. If you are interested in going on this tour it is likely
to be for about 10 days in August/September next year - let me know of your
interest so that I can keep you informed. If you are able to help support it
financially (the costs of halls and advertising) please
contact me for details.
Jai Sri Mataji
John Fisher, Canberra | 
