S ASTRARA
Step 5: Extracting general themes from all the interviews and making a composite summary
4. Recording experiences Sheila’s experiences
Not long after receiving my Self-realisation, I went on a month-long SY meditation pilgrimage to be in the presence of my Guru (1). The first time I saw Shri Mataji, my body literally froze (2). While tears of joy rolled uncontrolably down my cheek, I experienced such intense inner peace as my body continuously filled and re-filled itself with torrents of cool vibrations (3).
Hundreds of Sahaja Yogis from all over the world, complete stranger, some of whom could not speak English, converged in India for the SY India tour (4). We bonded as a family as we travelled together by bus and rail to over ten different destinations in India, staying overnight for several days in each destination (5). Sharing facilities, meditating together, having meals together, sharing experiences, singing, travelling together, and bonding with Sahaja yogis from around the world, was a unique and extremely joyous occurrence for me (6). Everybody was so helpful, loving and caring (7). The Indian Sahaja yogis whom we met at the different destinations in India treated us as family and made our stay comfortable and enjoyable (8).
At each destination, a public Sahaja Yoga programme was arranged by the tour organizers (9). At these destinations, most of the streets were bedecked with posters, banners and handbills inviting the public to receive their Self-realisation (10). The public programmes were held in large halls and conference centres and busloads of Sahaja yogis converged at these venues (11). The local people came out in droves to listen to Shri Mataji and to receive their Self-realisation from Her (12).
The highlight of the India tour was that at every public programme, Shri Mataji was present to address the congregation and to give Self-realisation to those who wished to receive it (13). For the yogis on tour, it was sheer bliss being in the presence of
Shri Mataji at all the different venues (14). It also meant that we received our Self- realisation several times from Shri Mataji (15).
Paula’s experiences
A handbill on Sahaja Yoga meditation in my postbox aroused my attention (1). It spoke about enjoying a stress free life! (2) That evening I received Self-realisation at the local library (3). I didn‟t feel anything different, but I began attending the
beginner‟s classes (4). After meditating for seven weeks, with the generous loving help of the local Sahaja yogis working on my subtle system there was dramatic improvement in my over-all health (5). I cannot remember when last I was in such a blissful state (6). My face softened, my skin glowed and my eyes sparkled and there was a whole new different me! (7) At times I dwelt on my past and when this
happened I spoke to other yogis about it (8). Collective prayer chakra clearing and meditation took care of my healing (9).
Attending Sahaja Yoga meditation collectives became a natural and blissful part of my life (10). I found that my vibrations became stronger and my meditation much deeper when I was in the company of other Sahaja yogis (11). When in the company of other yogis, I also felt a sense of oneness (12). The more I immersed myself in Sahaja Yoga activities, the more blissful and peaceful I became (13).
I found myself talking about Sahaja Yoga meditation and giving Self-realisation to others spontaneously at Sahaja Yoga meditation stalls at various venues through South Africa (14). An unforgettable experience was spending a week in Australia in the company of Sahaja yogis from all over the world (15). Although we were
strangers, there was instant bonding and love simply flowed (16). I cannot explain the state of blissfulness that is experienced when one engages in collective meditation (17). Life simply becomes meditation and one knows what to do instinctively (18).
By taking Sahaja Yoga, I dropped all kinds of bad habits; smoking, drinking, thieving, lying, infidelity, jealousy, loose morals – the whole lot progressively disappeared! (19) I became more empowered and self-confident and I became a brand new me (20).
Recording recurrence of themes from interviews Sheila’s experiences
Not long after receiving my Self-realisation (SR 1), I went on a month-long SY meditation (M 1) pilgrimage (C 1) to be in the presence of my Guru (C 2). The first time I saw Shri Mataji (C 3), my body literally froze (KH 1). While tears of joy rolled uncontrolably down my cheeks (KH 2), I experienced such intense inner peace as my body continuously filled and re-filled itself with torrents of cool vibrations (KH 3).
Hundreds of Sahaja Yogis from all over the world (C 4), complete strangers (C 5), some of whom could not speak English (C 6), converged in India for the SY India tour (C 7). We bonded as a family (C 8) as we travelled together by bus and rail to over ten different destinations in India, staying overnight for several days in each
destination (C 9). Sharing facilities (C 10), meditating together (C 11), having meals together (C 12), sharing experiences (C 13), singing (C 14), travelling together (C 15), and bonding with Sahaja yogis from around the world (C 16), was a unique and extremely joyous occurrence for me (T 3). Everybody was so helpful, loving and caring (C 17). The Indian Sahaja yogis (C 18) whom we met at the different
destinations in India treated us as family (C 19) and made our stay comfortable and enjoyable (T 4).
At each destination, a public Sahaja Yoga programme was arranged by the tour organizers (C 20). At these destinations, most of the streets were bedecked with posters, banners and handbills inviting the public (C 21) to receive their Self- realisation (SR 2). The public programmes (C 22) were held in large halls and
conference centres and busloads of Sahaja yogis converged at these venues (C 23).
The local people (C 24) came out in droves to listen to Shri Mataji (C 25) and to receive their Self-realisation (SR 3) from Her (C 26).
The highlight of the India tour was that at every public programme (C 27), Shri Mataji (C 28) was present to address the congregation (C 29) and to give Self-realisation (SR 4) to those who wished to receive it. For the yogis on tour (C 30), it was sheer bliss (KH 4) being in the presence of Shri Mataji (C 31) at all the different venues. It
also meant that we (C 32) received our Self-realisation (SR 5) several times from Shri Mataji (C 33).
Paula’s experiences
A handbill on Sahaja Yoga meditation (M 1) in my postbox aroused my attention. It spoke about enjoying a stress free life! (T 1) That evening I received Self-realisation (SR 1) at the local library. I didn‟t feel anything different, but I began attending the beginner‟s classes (C 1). After meditating (M 2) for seven weeks, with the generous loving help of the local Sahaja yogis (C 2) working on my subtle system (KH 1) there was dramatic improvement in my over-all health (KH 2). I cannot remember when last I was in such a blissful state (KH 3). My face softened (KH 4), my skin glowed (KH 5) and my eyes sparkled (KH 6) and there was a whole new different me! (T 2) At times I dwelt on my past and when this happened I spoke to other yogis about it (C 3).
Collective prayer (C 4) chakra clearing (KH 7) and meditation (M 3) took care of my healing (KH 8).
Attending Sahaja Yoga meditation (M 4) collectives (C 5) became a natural and blissful part of my life (T 3). I found that my vibrations (KH 9) became stronger and my meditation (M 5) much deeper when I was in the company of other Sahaja yogis (C 6). When in the company of other yogis (C 7), I also felt a sense of oneness (KH 10). The more I immersed myself in Sahaja Yoga activities (C 8), the more blissful and peaceful (T 4) I became. I became more empowered (KH 11) and self-confident (T 5) and I became a brand new me (T 6).
I found myself talking about Sahaja Yoga meditation (C 9) and giving Self-realisation (SR 2) to others spontaneously at Sahaja Yoga meditation (M 6) stalls at various venues through South Africa (C 10). An unforgettable experience was spending a week in Australia in the company of Sahaja yogis from all over the world (C 11).
Although we were strangers, there was instant bonding (C 12) and love (T 7) simply flowed. I cannot explain the state of blissfulness (KH 12) that is experienced when one engages in collective (C 13) meditation (M 9). Life simply becomes meditation (KH 13) and one knows what to do instinctively (KH 14).