I received the below from Debra G. today.
Hi,
You have mentioned extensively about sahaja meditation and because of your writing, I am very much interested in practicing it.Due to my work schedule, I am unable to attend any of the live sahaja meetings. Could you explain step by step how to actually do the same for someone like me who is a beginner. I am willing to spend time in experimenting and doing the meditation, so please guide me through.

Dear Debra,

This is a tough one and let me try my best to address your query. For an easy answer, you can go the following link http://www.sahajameditation.com/meditation-to-go 
 Practicing Sahaja Meditation is quite easy however the initial inner energy (Kundalini) awakening that is required as a one-time exercise is a relatively tougher task.  Now many people including those that practice Sahaja Meditation will say that it's easy and anyone can get it including getting it easily online.  Unfortunately, I don't subscribe to that school of thought and don't wish to oversimplify something and be dishonest or sound incredulous because I've never had a chance to verify and confirm that this process works without live interaction.

There are 2 aspects to practicing Sahaja Meditation as I mentioned above.  The first step is for the practitioner to obtain the energy awakening through a specific technique of affirmations that he or she can perform on himself or herself.  However, I would state that this is best done  and experienced in a live demonstration from any person who already has the inner energy awakened.  When I say live demonstration, this can be in person at a Sahaja Meditation program or can even be through a live video chat or Skype session.  Perhaps over telephone, but honestly I am not sure about this.  I am quite sure though that this works well either in person or over live video.


There is a reason for why a live instructor is necessary.  Sahaja Meditation is designed in such a way that someone who already has a connection can use the same to help another person trigger or establish the connection through the power of his / her attention.  Many of my own colleagues at Sahaja Meditation may vehemently object to this, but I only advise or tell people about something that I have verifiable proof and know for sure that it will work.  Perhaps others might have had a conclusive evidence of the first time awakening happen offline by watching a video.  I am not going to say that this is wrong or won't work, just that I have never had any experience or means to verify it does.  So I will not recommend this.

Now coming to actual step of the energy awakening itself, there are the steps to be followed -

First the affirmations need to be done in complete sincerity and from the heart with surrender to the all-pervading universal power - call it God or some kind of higher power or force or the formless power that moves the universe.  When doing affirmations, one must have the sincere desire for his / her own inner energy to unite with this power.

Having said that, here are the steps for the most simple version of affirmations that I have found work for sure (when rendered by an instructor live in person or through live video) -

1. First affirmation with right hand on the left side on the heart - "Am I the spirit".  Spend a few minutes doing this and with full sincerity.

2. Second affirmation with right hand on the lower abdomen on the left side (At the level of the belt) - "Please let my inner energy rise".  Again spend a few minutes here.

3. Third - right hand on left heart again.  Affirm - "I am the spirit".

4. Fourth, right hand across the forehead, Affirm - "I forgive everyone including myself" and genuinely forgive everyone from your heart.  Do not hold any grudges against anyone.

5. Fifth step - Place your right hand with fingers and palms fully outstretched.  Rotate the scalp on the head clockwise seven times slowly and affirm "Please give me my inner energy awakening.".

Keep your eyes closed for the entire period.  If possible, sit with feet touching the floor or ground.  Sit in a comfortable position on a chair.  Then open your eyes and try and feel the following possible experiences -

A. Some kind of tingling sensation on your fingers

B. Some kind of a cool or warm breeze on your palms

C. Some kind of a flowing air or energy or breeze on your palms and fingers

D. Some kind of a tingling sensation at the top of your head.

E. No feeling or sensation of any kind.

In places where I've conducted this process live for a group of people, around 50% of the people have experiences of A through D and the rest E.  No feeling at all does not mean that the energy has not risen. it takes time for some people to feel it.  Those that do not feel it typically begin to do so in a matter of a few days to 2 weeks.

The above is a one-time exercise of energy awakening.  After this, one can start practicing meditation daily and that is quite easy and can be done individually by anyone whose energy has been awakened.  The steps to do this meditation are -

A. Raise the inner energy to the top of the head by moving it slowly and carefully by keeping the palms of the right hand facing inward towards the body a few inches away from the body and moving the hand upward from the base energy center to the top of the head.

B. Sit in a state of thoughtless awareness.  This is difficult initially but will become easier with time.  The attention must be at the top of the head and try to watch your thoughts come and pass by.  Keep your eyes closed.

You can meditate for about 15 mins on average twice a day for good results.

Attending a live session is highly recommended because meditating in a group gives a much stronger experience.

Now coming back to the first step of energy awakening, you could possibly try it on the Sahaja Meditation website www.sahajameditation.com.  And you could come back and post your experience (if anything) here on this website.  If you don't feel anything, it is even more important that you state so on this website for it will confirm what I believe as necessary for the energy awakening - the presence of a live interaction in person or over video (audio is okay but more difficult to administer).

So what if it doesn't work?  I'll be happy to conduct a Skype or Google video session with anyone interested (and comfortable) in doing this with me.  I can guarantee the energy awakening and experience for you by virtue of my years of practice and verifiable proof that it really works as so many people have reported to me.  Then you can go back and do your meditation on your own.

In other words, I'd be happy to play a part time online and distant coach for you to learn Sahaja Meditation.  Just ask!

Hope this answers what you were looking for.  If it does not, please comment or ask follow up questions on this topic  and I will post what I know and have personally verifiable proof.

My apologies to other experts in Sahaja Meditation that can vouch that the inner energy awakening also works offline through a website.

Best Regards,
Shankar

Stephanie - 
I've been practicing Reiki for a while.  Can I practice this meditation as well, what's the difference?

Dear Stephanie,


This is a great question and I think I've heard this question being asked at Sahaja Meditation centers on several occasions.  I am not an expert on Reiki so bear with me on this one (I am not really an expert on Sahaja meditation either, but significantly more experienced I should say!).


To my knowledge, some things that ring similar - Reiki uses the spiritual energy, seemingly like Sahaja Meditation does.  It has some mention and reference to chakras as well.  However, it is not clear to me that it uses the Kundalini energy that resides at the base of the spine.  


Sahaja Meditation on the other hand is very clear about what this energy is, where it is located, how it moves up and so on.  Secondly, vibrations are the sensory perceptions of our body detecting the flow of this energy.  Every practitioner can feel the energy and the vibrations and work on himself / herself.   I've not been able to figure out yet whether Reiki really uses the Kundalini energy or not.  I've also heard people practice it tell me that some kind of an aura is used and so on.  Does Reiki really awaken the Kundalini?  I am not sure.  Or does it allow the practitioner to feel and manipulate the energy?  In Sahaja Meditation, every practitioner becomes an expert over time without the need for a "healer" or "teacher" or "expert" to work on him / her.


Still more important, a big difference is that Reiki is heavily centered and focused around therapy and healing, where as the goal of Sahaja Meditation is very different - it is do with enlightenment or Self-Realization, personality improvement and spiritual emancipation.  Cure is only a coincidental benefit.


Lastly, there seems to be some focus on breathing in Reiki whereas there is little or no focus in Sahaja Meditation on breathing techniques.


Coming to the question on whether the two can be practiced at the same time, I'd say No.  You would probably confuse yourself, your physical and subtle system by doing both.


You will need to be clear about what your goal is, where you are likely to get maximum benefits and do the one thing that helps you meet your goals.  If your goal is Spirituality, enlightenment and overall self-improvement, Sahaja Meditation is the way to go, if your focus is healing, then you are probably looking at Reiki - but with either, I'd suggest that you be clear about what you are really doing and why.


-Shankar

Michelle Yu 
- You say Sahaja Meditation is not like other meditation.  More difficult.  How long it takes to do this meditation daily?

Answer - 


Dear Michelle,


I didn't mean to imply that Sahaja Meditation is difficult or longer by way of time or effort needed to practice it - just that it is much deeper than other usual forms of meditation in what it offers and also that it is better practiced as a long term commitment.


To your specific question, you will need to practice it for around 15 mins.. sessions, optimally twice a day, once in the morning and evening.  However, there are no set rules and you could do more on some days and less on others - this is flexible and it depends on  how much of meditation you really need.  As you practice Sahaja Meditation, you will become the best judge of how much you need and at what times - that is the best approach.


There are also additional techniques for clearing out the energy centers such as footsoaking and so on that you can learn - these also can be performed as needed.


So, Sahaja Meditation is not difficult or time-consuming when compared to other types of meditation, it's just that you've got to stick with it long enough to see benefits.  Also, if you are one of the lucky ones, you could start feeling the cool energy very quickly, in a matter of days...it varies from individual to individual.


Best Regards,
Shankar

Reader - You've spoken about spirituality so many times and also that Sahaja Meditation is 100% spiritual.  What, in very simple terms, is spirituality?  Can you give a common man's definition?

Answer -
Dear Reader,


Thanks for pointing out that I haven't really explained what Spirituality really is.  Spirituality simply means getting to know our spiritual being, experiencing it and then focusing our lives to improve it on multiple qualitative dimensions.  Our spiritual being comprises of the Spirit or soul that resides in our heart, the subtle energy centers, energy channels and the primordial energy at the base of the spine (Kundalini).  These 4 parts comprise our spiritual being and this being is created by God and indestructible unlike the physical body.


So, if someone were to ask you "Who are you?  Are you this physical body?  Or the mind? Or something else?"  - The real answer is that "I am the spirit or spiritual being".


Now, how does one find one's spiritual being?  That happens by the Inner energy awakening process.  This one-time process helps us detect and feel our spiritual being through the vibrations on the hands and on the top of the head as well as feel the actual energy centers in our body.


Any imperfections or imbalances in our energy centers represent areas for improvement overall in our spiritual being.  Once your inner energy has been awakened, you will be able to feel your energy centers, the imbalances and work on correcting these - this cannot happen overnight - it is a life time process.  


If you've watched the popular sitcom "Everybody loves Raymond", there's one episode dedicated to Ally's question to Ray - "Why did God create us or put us on this earth - why didn't we just stay in Heaven?"  The real answer to this question is a great way to understand what spirituality is.


So our main goal of life - the purpose behind God creating us - was for us to improve our spiritual beings.  And this journey of self-improvement can only happen in our human awareness and only when the spiritual being takes birth as human beings.  Each of our lives is an opportunity to improve our spiritual being and become better persons.


Thus knowing and realizing ourselves as the Spirit and working towards improving ourselves on the spiritual front is exactly what Spirituality is.  Sahaja Meditation is one such means to this overall goal of spirituality.


Hope this helps.


Best,
Shankar