Research on health benefits of Sahaja Yoga

To verify some of the claims of Sahaj Yoga, a systematic research study was organised in the physiology and medecine department of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals in New Delhi.

The research projects studied were psychological effects of Kundalini awakening by Sahaj Yoga and the effect of Sahaj practise on psychosomatic diseases like hypertension and bronchial asthma.

Read more here: » Sahaja Yoga: Health Benefits of Sahaja Yoga

This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part II of III.

In Part II: 1) Can I just use kundalini yoga simply to improve my health?, 2)

Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras?, 3) Do I really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?, 4) Is Chinese qi gong a kind of kundalini yoga?, 5) What about Tibetan Buddhism - has kundalini been known in Tibet?, 6) Are there any other traditions that show awareness of kundalini?, 7)So how do I awaken kundalini?, 8) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using effort to awaken kundalini?

Read more here: » KundaliniFAQ: What is Kundalini? (part II of III) -

Enlightenment by means of yoga is said by some of its adherents to include the following elements: 1. A shift into Samadhi meditation consciousness, where the thought-narrative is not perceived as the self but rather as a mental tool. In this state the self is perceived as the awareness that experiences the thoughts. This is described in depth in the #1 NY Times bestseller "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. 2. An emotional equilibrium or "positi ...

Read more here: » Yogic Enlightenment: Encyclopedia - Yogic Enlightenment

Sahaja Yoga: The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg

The Raja Yoga system known as "Sahaj Marg" is still relatively obscure in the West, even among Yoga aficionados. This is largely due to the fact that Sahaj Marg has been a low-key, word-of-mouth practice. Works by the lineage of Sahaj Marg Masters, published under the auspices of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM), are difficult to locate, and beyond the abhyasis or practitioners of Sahaj Marg, few are aware that SRCM centers have been established worldwide since the Mission was founded in India fifty years ago.

Read more here: » Sahaja Yoga: The Living Tradition of Sahaj Marg

In my work with in-person and distant healing, I've noticed a huge distinction between ordinary chi, ki, or prana, and that which is governed by the soul and kundalini energies. The universe isn't simply composed of a roiling ocean of prana-there are differing frequencies. From the relative prana to that prana which exists nearest the absolute, the energy is more refined on evolved levels of existence.

Read more here: » Healing: Distant Healing

The mysterious Tradition of Tantra

This article attempts to outline, in an extremely general way, some basic ideas of the Tantric tradition. Even though the author has a rich personal experience in some of the practical aspects of TANTRISM, the intention here is not to expose a personal view, but to present the Tradition in its most pure form, without any kind of "western interpretations" that most of the time kill and destroy the authentic meaning. This is done with the sincere intention to revive, mostly from the practical point of view, this lost Tradition and to reveal the true face of TANTRA Science.

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: The Left Hand Path of Love - Tantra

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, which are popular as fitness exercises. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and has influenced other religious and spiritual pr ...

Including:

• Yoga - Yoga practice and intention
• Yoga - The word yoga
• Yoga - Diversity of yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and religion
• Yoga - Common themes
• Yoga - Origins
• Yoga - Hindu yoga
• Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga - Patanjali
• Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy
• Yoga - Hatha yoga
• Yoga - Natya yoga
• Yoga - Buddhist yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and tantra
• Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia - Yoga

Main articles: Yoga, and List of yoga schools, and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]]Including:

• Yogi - Modern Yogis

Read more here: » Yogi: Encyclopedia - Yogi

Aum Shinrikyo (also spelled Om Shin Rikyo) was a religious group which mixed Buddhist and Hindu beliefs and was based in Japan. It gained international notoriety in 1995, when a group of followers carried out a poison gas attack on the Tokyo subways. Since 2000, it has been called Aleph. The name "Aum Shinrikyo" (Japanese: オウム真理教 Oumu Shinrikyō) derives from the Hindu syllable Aum (which represents the universe), followed by the three kanji characters shin ("truth," "reality," "Buddhist ...

Including:

• Aum Shinrikyo - Doctrine
• Aum Shinrikyo - Activities
• Aum Shinrikyo - Sarin gas attacks and aftermaths
• Aum Shinrikyo - 'Aum Surveillance Law': Under Pressure
• Aum Shinrikyo - Overseas presence

Read more here: » Aum Shinrikyo: Encyclopedia - Aum Shinrikyo

Qi, also commonly spelled ch'i, chi or ki, is a fundamental concept of everyday Chinese culture, most often defined as "air" or "breath" (for example, the colloquial Mandarin Chinese term for "weather" is tiān qi, or the "breath of heaven") and, by extension, "life force" or "spiritual energy" that is part of everything that exists. References to qi or similar philosophical concepts as a type of metaphysical energy that sustains living beings are used in ...

Including:

• Qi - Qi in traditional Chinese medicine
• Qi - Views and opinions of qi

Read more here: » Qi: Encyclopedia - Qi

Reiki is claimed by its adherents to be a technique for healing physical or mental disease. Reiki was formulated during the early 20th century by Mikao Usui (usui mikao 臼井甕男) in Japan. Practitioners use a technique similar to the laying on of hands in which they claim that they act as channels for Reiki energy — which they say flows through their palms to specific parts of the body in order to facilitate healing. Scientific studies have not confirmed the existence of this specific Reiki energy. Most of the e ...

Including:

• Reiki - Theories and practices
• Reiki - History
• Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki
• Reiki - Celtic Reiki
• Reiki - Reiki Tummo
• Reiki - Courses
• Reiki - Reiki community
• Reiki - Controversies
• Reiki - Opposition from religious groups
• Reiki - Internal controversies
• Reiki - Secret teachings
• Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster
• Reiki - Reiki's origin
• Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia - Reiki

Meditation like yoga originated in Vedic Hinduism many centuries ago, it was much later adopted into a wide variety of practices of religious and non-religious formats which emphasize mental activity or quiesscence. The English word comes from the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, but which later could perhaps be better translated as "contemplation." This usage is found in Christian spirituality, for example, when one "meditates" on the sufferings of Christ; as w ...

Including:

• Meditation - Overview
• Meditation - Types of meditation
• Meditation - Meditation in context
• Meditation - Physical postures
• Meditation - Frequency and duration
• Meditation - Purposes and effects of meditation
• Meditation - Metta meditation: the practice of loving-kindness
• Meditation - Health applications and clinical studies of meditation
• Meditation - Meditation and the brain
• Meditation - Meditation and EEG's
• Meditation - Adverse effects
• Meditation - Meditation and drugs

Read more here: » Meditation: Encyclopedia - Meditation

The term New Age describes a broad movement of late twentieth century and contemporary Western culture, characterised by an individual eclectic approach to spiritual exploration. Collectively, New Age has some attributes of an emergent religion, but is currently a loose network of spiritual teachers, healers, and seekers. The movement is most visible where its ideas are traded—for example in specialist bookshops, music stores, and New Age fairs. The name "New Age" also refers to the market segment in which its goods and servi ...

Including:

• New Age - Definitions
• New Age - History
• New Age - Beliefs
• New Age - Quotations
• New Age - Lifestyle
• New Age - Underlying assumptions
• New Age - Language
• New Age - Critiques of the New Age
• New Age - Medicine
• New Age - Music
• New Age - New Age communities

Read more here: » New Age: Encyclopedia - New Age

Sathya Sai Baba (born Sathya Narayana Raju with the family name Ratnakaram [1], November 23, 1926 or October 4, 1929 is a popular, controversial Indian guru who has millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Baba groups in many countries. In the 1940s he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and subsequently took the fakir's name. He says that he is an avatar (incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti and an embodiment of love w ...

Including:

• Sathya Sai Baba - History and origins
• Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles claims and ashrams
• Sathya Sai Baba - Teachings
• Sathya Sai Baba - Organizations
• Sathya Sai Baba - Opposition controversy and allegations
• Sathya Sai Baba - Stances by devotees and proponents
• Sathya Sai Baba - Parliamentary governmental and political issues and responses
• Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba's Presence in Popular Culture
• Sathya Sai Baba - Bibliography
• Sathya Sai Baba - Books by Sai Baba
• Sathya Sai Baba - Selected books by his followers
• Sathya Sai Baba - Books by sceptics and critics
• Sathya Sai Baba - Other books

Read more here: » Sathya Sai Baba: Encyclopedia - Sathya Sai Baba

In the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain traditions, the spiritual goals of yoga are seen as inseparable from the religions of which yoga forms a part. Some yogis make a subtle distinction between religion and yoga, seeing religion as more concerned with culture, values, beliefs and rituals; and yoga as more concerned with Self-Realization, i.e., direct perception of the ultimate truth. In this sense, religion and yoga are complementary. Sri Ramakrishna likened religion to the husk, and direct experience to the kernel. Both are needed, "but if one wants to get at the kernel itse ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Yoga and religion

Modern yoga practice often includes traditional elements inherited from Hinduism, such as moral and ethical principles, postures designed to keep the body fit, spiritual philosophy, instruction by a guru, chanting of mantras (sacred syllables), quietening the breath, and stilling the mind through meditation. These elements are sometimes adapted to meet the needs of non-Hindu practitioners. Proponents of yoga see daily practice as beneficial in itself, leading to improved health, emotional well-being, mental clarity, and joy in living. ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Yoga practice and intention

History is replete with Yogis that have inspired people for many generations. Yogini Meera from the Bhakti tradition, Shankaracharya from the Jnana Yoga tradition, Patanjali, who formalized the system of Raja Yoga, are just a few examples. Among modern Yogis, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a Bhakti Yogi, stands tall. A devotee of Mother Kali and a teacher of Advaita Vedanta, he preached that "all religions lead to the same goal." His student, Swami Vivekananda, a follower of Adva ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Notable Yogis

Main article: Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway In 1995, following a Tokyo subway sarin gas attack in which 12 commuters died and thousands were injured, Shoko Asahara and a number of senior Aum Shinrikyo officials were arrested and accused of planning the attack. The trial, called "the trial of the century" by the Japanese press, ruled Asahara guilty of masterminding the attack and sentenced him to death. The indictment is currently in the process of appeal at the High Court. Some senior members accused of part ...

See also:

Aum Shinrikyo, Aum Shinrikyo - Doctrine, Aum Shinrikyo - Activities, Aum Shinrikyo - Sarin gas attacks and aftermaths, Aum Shinrikyo - 'Aum Surveillance Law': Under Pressure, Aum Shinrikyo - Overseas presence

Read more here: » Aum Shinrikyo: Encyclopedia II - Aum Shinrikyo - Sarin gas attacks and aftermaths

The nature of qi is highly controversial, and the old controversy in Chinese philosophy as to the nature of qi still exists. Among some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, qi is merely a metaphor for biological processes similar to the Western concept of the soul, and there is no need to invoke new biology, much less new physics, to account for its effects. Others argue that qi involves some new physics or biology. Attempts to directly connect qi with some scientific phenonomena have been attempted since the mid-nineteenth cent ...

See also:

Qi, Qi - Qi in traditional Chinese medicine, Qi - Views and opinions of qi

Read more here: » Qi: Encyclopedia II - Qi - Views and opinions of qi

The word 'reiki' is a generic term which can be and is used for many techniques. The information below may or may not apply to anything called 'reiki.' Some schools teach that Reiki energy enters the practitioner through the 7th (crown or Shasrara) chakra, fills the practitioner's aura and flows through her or his hands into the body of the recipient. It is also taught that Reiki energy enters through the 1st (root or Muladhara) chakra at the base of the spine, fills the aura, becomes centered in the 4th (heart or ...

See also:

Reiki, Reiki - Theories and practices, Reiki - History, Reiki - Non-traditional Reiki, Reiki - Celtic Reiki, Reiki - Reiki Tummo, Reiki - Courses, Reiki - Reiki community, Reiki - Controversies, Reiki - Opposition from religious groups, Reiki - Internal controversies, Reiki - Secret teachings, Reiki - The Reiki Grandmaster, Reiki - Reiki's origin, Reiki - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Reiki: Encyclopedia II - Reiki - Theories and practices