Our ancient heritage is the repository of several techniques which come to our rescue in today's stressful world.
Sahaj Yoga is one of them. It finds mention in the discourses of Guru Nanak, Sankaracharya, Kabir and Sant Dyaneshwar. It is invaluable for one's mental, physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. Mata Nirmala Devi has popularised the technique in over 90 countries and has helped weary souls come to terms with stress and suffering.
Sahaj yoga is the kundalini, the divine energy, which lies below the sacrum at the bottom of the vertebral column, which when stimulated ascends through the sushumna nadi, the spine, and corresponds to the parasympathetic nervous system. There is a spontaneous awakening and the union of our primordial energy with the all-pervading power of the divine. The awakening of the kundalini allows divine energy to pass through the six chakras or energy centres which take care of the physical, mental, psychosomatic and spiritual aspects of the body.
In today's fast moving world we often overstretch ourselves to achieve our goals. Stress is its side effect and it adversely affects our body system. But Sahaj Yoga is an easy way to distress ourselves. It makes us experience love and compassion.
What does Sahaj Yoga mean? Saha means with us, ja means born and yoga is union. Sahaj Yoga is therefore spontaneous. Through it the residual divine energy, which resides in sacrum bone is awakened and energised. There are three nadis in our body, namely ida, the sympathetic nervous system on the left which controls our temperament; pingala, the sympathetic nervous system on the right which controls our physical and mental well-being; and sushumna nadi, the parasympathetic nervous system at the centre which has chakras to give us our qualitative attributes. If a person activates the chakras in this nadi, he would attain spiritual ascent and enjoy life to the fullest.
Sahaj Yoga considers six chakras, namely mooladhar chakra, swadhi sthan chakra, nabhi chakra, anahat chakra, shuddhi chakra, agnya (not a chakra) and sahasrura chakra. All these correspond to a particular place on hand and to a particular element of the universe. Each is attributed with special qualities.
The first chakra — Mooladhar Chakra — depicts the element earth and attributes qualities of innocence and wisdom. The swadhi sthan chakra represents the element fire and is responsible for creativity and divine knowledge. Nabhi chakra, representing water, gives us sustenance and dharma. Anahat chakra represents air and attributes the qualities of love, maryada, and fearlessness. It awakens the atma or soul. The shuddhi chakra representing the element ether is associated with divine diplomacy. It maintains integration between mind and speech. Speech is important and a proper coordination between thought and speech assures better communication. Agnya is for forgiveness and resurrection, representing the element light.
If we are tense we cannot utilise the full potential of mind. Tension and anger have to be controlled. If this area of the spine is awakened, one can control one's anger. The last chakra is the sahasrura chakra and represents all the five elements of the universe. Its place is the centre of the palm. This chakra attributes the qualities of collective consciousness and integration.
Sahaj yoga is a master key to solving the problems of the mind and the body. One has to learn to awaken one's kundalini to experience happiness and enjoy the fruits of Sahaj yoga.
