Sahaja Worldwide Announcements and News (SWAN) - Yoga News

Navrartri Public Programs - Australia

A total of 75,000 leaflets and 6000 posters were produced to cater for all the programs. The main focus was to centre upon the desire and activity of the Yogis. Each program group was provided with 12,500 leaflets and 1000 posters to promote each of the programs. The general strategy was to use each of the program Venues as the central point and to poster and distribute leaflets within the letterboxes of homes within the immediate vicinity of the program.

Advertisements were placed mainly in the local papers for that area, large distribution daily papers were avoided, although they have huge areas of coverage, and wide distribution channels, advertisements placed tend to get lost amongst a sea of other material, and perhaps are not as effective in reaching the targeted audience. The theme for promotion was to think along regional lines promoting the program within the local neighbourhood.

Considerable effort was extended by many of the groups to promote the programs by means of local community services: libraries, community health establishments, community service organisation, information was also disseminated through the networks of the local Councils. Some Yogis were able to secure the publication of associated articles promoting the health benefits Sahaja Yoga meditation can deliver. Some groups set-up information stands, and stalls at local community fairs that were held in the community prior to the programs.

During each of the programs an informal poll was conducted where we asked those attending how they had come to learn about the program, about 50% of those attending had gained knowledge of the program via the letterbox leaflet distribution. The remaining portion were evenly distributed between the newspaper advertisements, posters, directly via Email, and through the Internet via the homepage www.freemeditation.com

The success of the programs helped established that as the vibrations flow through us, and through the majority of the collective, this is one means Shri Mataji can work to attract seekers : as we assume our roles as Yogis.

Over the last year a concerted effort has also been made to collect the Email contact details from everyone making inquiries about Sahaja Yoga. Yogis receiving phone inquiries via the 1300 number, Yellow pages , community fairs, and programs have been making an effort to collect contact Email information..

Experience has shown the majority of people are very keen to provide this information, after we assure them their privacy will be respected. Our contact database has been steadily expanding over the last twelve months and very few people have written back to request to be taken off the list. Email details have been shown to be one of the better means of encouraging people to attend Sahaja Yoga programs.

Campbelltown Program - Tuesday October 8th .

The first of the seven programs was held at western extremity of Sydney within the town of Campbelltown. Sahaja Yoga arrived in Campbelltown with its biggest and most successful program with around 50 new people attending. A great achievement for the area. The manner with which the event was supported, and promoted by the local Yogis, and those had adopted the program was magnificent. It was a great beginning and an indication that there were to be many great things in store for Sahaja Yoga in the area.

The program began with Music, one could sense the dullness and dryness lifting as the audience engaged with the music and began to respond to the vibrations. There were a number of speaker who spoke about Sahaja Yoga, its benefits, historical significance and Shri Mataji's unique gift to the world after which the self realisation segment was conducted. This was followed by Shri Mataji's Video presentation, then further meditation before handing back to the musicians, the program concluded with the essential tea and cake .

During the program there was felt that positive divine joyfulness, it is that very special feeling that you feel at Public Programs, when we have come together for the selfless work of Sahaja Yoga. There is so much to be individually and collectively gained from involvement with spreading Sahaja Yoga .

Penrith Program Thursday October 10th.

For the next program we travelled to the city of Penrith, located on the Cumberland Plain, on the western fringe of Sydney : the area covers a large area of 400 square kilometers that makes Penrith one of the largest local areas. Sydney lies 40 kilometers to the East; the Blue Mountains rise at the western border.

The venue was the Joan Sutherland Performing Art Centre. Leading into the programs a sophisticated Sahaja Yoga exhibition had been developed which presented basic information about the charkas, subtle system, and some of the achievements of the medical research. The information was presented on large free standing displays that could be positioned at any designated location throughout the venue. The exhibition ably presented key information, and helped present Sahaja Yoga in a proficient and competent manner.

This formed the basis of the program build, which was stored and transported to all the program venues. The Yuva Shakti acted as a most capable build team, marshals and all-purpose aides.

Once established the format of the programs were fairly similar commencing with live music provide by the Bhajan group, which always made easier the lifting of the vibrations and settling of the audience. A number of speakers presented the introduction, followed by self-realisation, Shri Mataji's video presentation, and meditation.

The venue was again full, another good crowd of around 60 new people. Before the program Avinash asked each of the people attending the reasons they had come? what was it about Sahaja Yoga meditation that had attracted them? and what had they wanted to achieve from the evening? This proved to be extremely interesting in helping us to appreciate the variety of reasons people had come.

Many reported they were looking for peace of mind, meditation, better ways of dealing with life, coping with stress, some came out of curiosity, some admitting their wives or girlfriends had made them come. As the program unfolded the different speakers attempted to direct the program to address some of the issues that had raised.

Liverpool Program Friday October 11th.

The next program was in the City of Liverpool which is the 4th oldest town in Australia founded in 1810. It is an hour's drive west from the centre of Sydney and has been determined that it is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia of a great cultural diversity with over 45 major cultural groups represented.
Aside from the major program in Sydney this was to be the largest of the regional program with over 100 new people in attendance. Large numbers of Sahaja Yogis were also on hand to create a significant and major program.
As we did with all the programs we passed a number of clipboards around the assembly with forms designed to collect Email and contact information. This seems to work far better than an information desk, where people forget, or are too busy to take the time out to attend.

The program unfolded in an effortless manner as we had settled into a groove about what we needed to do, trying to surrender as much as we could to Shri Mataji.

As with all the programs everything came together, the state of meditation acheived was as deep, and profoundly silent as any achieved in our collective meetings. It facilitated a greater appreciation that Sahaja Yoga is not a lecture, nor mere words upon a page, but an experience, an awakening, a phenomenon.

There was nothing further that needed to be said, or done; all that had to be communicated had been experienced during those moments of silent contemplation and introspection.

Erina Central Coast - Saturday October 12th

The City of Gosford covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers stretching east to the Pacific Ocean, south to the Hawkesbury River and Sydney, west to the mountain ranges of the Great Divide, and north to meet Newcastle. Situated between the major centres of Sydney and Newcastle, each about one hour away, the region has an attractive natural environment of ocean beaches, extensive lakes, waterways, mountain forests, and lush valleys.

Unlike some of the locations for the other regional programs Sahaja Yoga has been well established on the Central Coast for a number of years, with a relatively large dedicated collective who wished to take advantage of the new momentum to host a major program.

As many drove north from Sydney to the Erina program the dominant impression of the region is one of towns and villages separated by extensive areas of beautiful natural vegetation, waterway and bush covered hills. It retains a semirural atmosphere and sense of community, far removed from the anonymity and impersonality of Sydney. These characteristics combine to provide a quality of life for residents that is very relaxed and comfortable but allows people to remain within their comfort zone, seeking is not so driven by the pressures of the city . The local Yogis had worked hard for its promotion and gave their full support to the program.

The public program was attended by around 40 seekers and aided with the usual lift provided by the Bhajan group. There was the introduction talk about Sahaja Yoga meditation; video presentation by Shri Mataji, and some simple left and right-sided clearing techniques employed to help people clear out and enjoy a deeper meditation. The evening ended with a collective meditation and the new people encouraged to attend the followup programs and use the techniques learned to meditate at home.

Canberra Program Saturday October 12th.

A program was also held on the same night as the program on the Central Coast within our nations capital on Saturday October 12th .This was mainly supported by Yogis from the ACT, and attended by 35 new people. The program flowed freely and was favorably received. On Sunday a collective Puja was hosted by the Canberra Yogis within the main ashram of the city and was to mark the commencement of the National celebration of the Navrartri festival.

The weekend spent with the Canberra collective was a most joyous occasion : whenever one travels with Sahaja Yogis, especially when there is an aspect of Sahaja Yoga at the center of the endeavor, there is always such vibrations, joy, and blessings involved. This is at the very core and heart of collectivity and what it can bring to our life.

It is a shame that so many Yogis let pass opportunities such as these , and leave aside the potential of what Shri Mataji can add to our lives.

In fact someone commented that the two-week period involving much traveling, attendance and support of a variety of public programs, and Puja, had been somewhat like a mini Tour ; it certainly felt like one.

Hornsby Program - Monday October 14th

Hornsby Shire lies on the northern extremity of Sydney and has a unique combination of rural, urban and bushland environments, and a diverse population with a strong commitment to community living. Sahaja Yoga has been established on the North Shore from the very early days of Sahaja Yoga's establishment in Sydney. It has a relatively large and committed collective who also wanted to host a major program.

The collective worked as a committed, dedicated and enthusiastic group of Yogis. The Yogis of this region have had to overcome a number of obstacles placed in their path over the years as they have sought to promote Sahaja Yoga. On this occasion no quarter was asked or given as they took Shri Mataji's message into their community.

Around 80 new people were in attendance, and in keeping with the elevated results already seen the vibrations and meditation experienced conveyed all that we desired to communicate.

Menzies Hotel - Sydney October 19th

The programs ended with Sydney's biggest free annual all-day Meditation seminar event held within the Ballroom of the Menzies Hotel located in the centre of Sydney.

The Seminar was promoted to the public whereby they could experience the enjoyment of the peace of collective meditation, key points used in the campaign to promote the Workshop were : medical aspects of Sahaja Yoga , how to go deeper into meditation , balancing and clearing the subtle system and energy centers, how one could learn to meditate at home , and easy techniques to help reduce stress suitable for absolute beginners and regular attendees .

Over 350 new people attended that day. The morning segment of the seminar included an introduction to meditation hosted by a variety of speakers, video talk by Shri Mataji , guided meditations, and a presentation of the medical research into Sahaja Yoga.

Following the luncheon break and an in-depth practical session into clearing the left and right side during which time established Yogis ensured that everyone could leave the day having felt the cool breeze of realization . The day ended with a deep collective meditation.

During the hosting of the seven programs Shri Mataji blessed the collective with great success: the tremendous results could only be achieved through a dedicated effort. Success is not measured only in terms of numbers but in the depth of experience conveyed to seekers and the enthusiasm and keenness expressed by the majority of those attending.

There was much to commend the unity of purpose, collective effort and unbridled enthusiasm, but there could be no greater reward than venue after venue that were overflowing with seekers.
Self-realization means we have the capacity to utilise our spiritual freedom in a meaningful manner, it depends upon the choices that we make, the work we choose to undertaken, the path we desire to walk upon, but we need to act as instruments in the this great work of the Divine unfolding before us.

Postscript

It seemed strange that during a period when so much activity was being conducted to help spread the message and work of the Divine, that our country, its people, and all that it stands for should at this time be attacked in Bali by representatives of the forces of evil.

The Divine has never been represented by the powers of hatred and brutality as articulated in the violence that took so many young innocent lives from all quarters of the world, each and every one so cruelly destroyed far from their homes : while our nation is not without its faults, it is by and large dedicated in its goodness, its rejection of evil, and its commitment to social justice, generosity, the miracle of racial multiculturalism, and peace : best expressed by the Australian adage 'a fair go for all' .

What happened in Bali was the work of individuals from a race of beings of no humanity, who are influenced and driven by the motive to impose their own will and hatred, by force and violence, upon others, and who seek to put out of sight the light of Divine from the world : but that great light is far too absolute, far too powerful and all-pervading to ever be so diminished from this Earth, and each of us has been chosen to play a role, but we must do our part to ensure that the Love of Our Divine Mother will surely reign supreme.

Chris Kyriacou.
Sydney, Australia