En masse Spiritual Awakening
A Revolutionary Change Towards Global Enlightenment
Shri Mataji was born to Christian parents who had a deep respect for all religions. Her father, Prasad K. Salve, was fascinated by theology and encouraged his children to understand the tenets of all the major creeds. He could see that the eventual unity of mankind depended upon en-masse spiritual enlightenment, which would bring an end to faith-based conflicts which had plagued the world for thousands of years.
Shri Mataji’s parents were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peaceful non-cooperation, and participated actively in his ‘Quit India Movement’[1]. As a young girl living in Gandhi’s ashram, Shri Mataji was in the company of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims – all united by the common aim of national freedom and independence. Later, during the partition of India, with the country torn apart by sectarian violence, Shri Mataji and her family gave shelter to those escaping the conflict, regardless of their religion.
Having lived through these intense and difficult times, Shri Mataji saw for herself that political freedom is not the ultimate solution. She decided that her true mission in life was to make a contribution to the spiritual transformation of mankind. She bade her time, however; upon her marriage to C.P. Srivastava, Shri Mataji told him that she would embark upon her true vocation only once their children were grown up and settled.
It was thus not until 1970 that Shri Mataji finally felt that the time had come to begin her real mission on earth. She had already studied human beings and their problems and knew that the real answers lay in their spiritual awakening, a potential just waiting to be triggered. She was aware that religions although based on the teachings of true prophets were unable to deliver this spiritual triggering in human consciousness. One evening, after being disgusted by the false gurus in India who were looting money from people in promises of true spirituality, she decided not to wait any longer. While meditating on a lonely beach, in the early morning of 5th May, 1970, at the cusp of a new moon night, she felt the awaking of the primordial power of creation within her own subtle being. This deep spiritual experience gave her all the answers which she was seeking in her life as to how to trigger the awareness of the eternal Spirit in human beings seeking the truth. This historic event marked the pivotal movement in her life, the unique discovery of en masse spiritual awakening. She later on founded a technique which she termed as Sahaja Yoga, which literally translated means the union with the divine eternal power with which every human being is born but unaware of.
Sahaja Yoga is a simple and easy form of meditation, awakening the subtle yet powerful spiritual energy residing in every human being. This moment of truth is known as self-realization: the elusive goal of religious mystics the world over since time immemorial.
Shri Mataji declared that self-realization is something that can be attained here and now, as opposed to a distant goal reachable only through a lifetime of penance and sacrifice. At her public programs she always said “you are your own master”, stressing that each of us has to be our own teacher, relying on our own direct experience of the truth, and not depending on an intermediary to lead us to our enlightenment. Moreover, Shri Mataji always made it clear that what she said was a hypothesis that people should test for themselves, and that blind faith leads one nowhere.
Shri Mataji held that true religion is based not on dogma and hierarchy, but rather, upon an absolute knowledge of the self as the spirit. As she put it, “all the religions have come out of one tree of life, which is spirituality… Religion is there to give you peace, joy, happiness… There is no difference (between them) whatsoever – but (when) you don’t know yourself; how will you know anything about religion? So, it is important that first of all, you should know yourself.” When you recognize yourself as a spiritual being, “…you will understand whatever religion you’re following…(and)…the greatness of all these prophets and gurus…”.
More than a guru or a teacher, Shri Mataji could be described as a ‘spiritual mother’, driven by compassion and love and anxiously concerned for the well-being and evolution of all mankind. Due to her vision and her tireless efforts, Sahaja Yoga has been established in over hundred countries and millions of people have achieved balance and satisfaction in their lives, some overcoming serious mental and physical disabilities through the experience of self-realization and the regular practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation.