Heartfulness Vocabulary

Heartfulness Vocabulary

When you start on any new subject, the first thing that hits you is the jargon and vocabulary specific to that subject. If you start using the same vocabulary, you already start feeling comfortable with the subject. The vocabulary listed below are given in the order most people come across them in Sahaj Marg.

Sahaj Marg - Natural Path – is a 100-year-old system, consisting of a set of simple practices, principles, and concepts. These also form the basis of Shri Rama Chandra Mission, also known across the world as Heartfulness. Heartfulness is practiced in over 160 countries today by over 4 million Abhyasis and is supported by over 13000 Preceptors in over 132 countries. This is the beginning of a silent revolution that is set to transform the world, one heart at a time, using love as its only credo.

Sitting - A meditation session is called a sitting. Abhyasis can sit by themselves and follow the prescribed method of meditation. Abhyasis are also quite often “given sittings” by Preceptors. Sittings can last anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Daaji Giving Sitting at Kanha

Abhyasi - A practitioner of the Sahaj Marg method of meditation, also called Heartfulness Meditation is known as an Abhyasi. By the way, we all know it is a Sanskrit word that just means “a practitioner”.

Preceptor - An adept Abhyasi, who has been trained specially by the Global Guide, to “give Pranahuti” is called a Preceptor. Preceptors are also Abhyasis. Any Abhyasi can volunteer to be a Preceptor. There is a proven and prescribed process to become a Preceptor.

Pranahuti - The act of concentrating the Universal and Ultimate Love or Power and directing it towards an Abhyasi or a group of Abhyasis for their spiritual evolution and transformation is called Pranahuti. This is merely a technical description. Language would fail miserably in trying to explain Pranahuti in the real sense and to explain it’s benefits and impact. It is like feeling the aroma of an exquisite flower or tasting a particularly delicious dish. The aroma or the taste can never be explained to one’s satisfaction. It has to be experienced. That is all.

Master - In Heartfulness, the word Master means God in some contexts. In certain other contexts, it also means the Guru or the Guide. The tenacious and persistent Abhyasi develops a deep connection with this word over time and finds the true meaning. Every Abhyasi is invited to develop a personal relationship with what this word may represent for themselves. Yes, it is a bit enigmatic.

Mission - The Shri Rama Chandra Mission is called the Mission. The Mission was established on the 21^st of July 1945 in Shahjahanpur by Babuji Maharaj.

Method - The set of practices developed by Babuji Maharaj under the tutelage Shri Lalaji Maharaj and other Greater Beings of the Brighter World, is together called Method. Babuji Maharaj was a Spiritual Scientist of the highest order, probably beyond the imagination and understanding of the ordinary mind. The method is very scientific, we assure you.

Cleaning - The Heartfulness Practice of removing samskaras from our system is called cleaning. In practice, it may seem a childishly simple process, but the impact and benefits of this process are immeasurable. It can be effectively carried out only by Abhyasis who have been initiated into the system by a trained Preceptor.

Satsang – A group Meditation is called a Satsang. It is conducted by one of the Preceptors of Heartfulness or by the Global Guide himself. The session may be remote or in person.

One-To-One Sitting – To make speedy progress, Abhyasis need regular individual sittings with Preceptors. In this, only one Preceptor or the Global Guide and one Abhyasi participate and the focus of the Preceptor or the Global Guide is completely on the Abhyasi present. Compare this with Satsang, in which one Preceptor or the Global Guide gives sitting to many people at a time.

A one to one Sitting

Lalaji – Shri Rama Chandra of Shahjahanpur (2 Feb 1873 - 14 Aug 1931), the Adi-Guru of Sahaj Marg and Guru of Babuji.

Babuji – Shri Rama Chandra of Fatehgarh, (30 Apr 1899 - 19th Apr 1983), the founder and first President of SRCM.

Chariji – Shri Parthasarathy Rajagopalachari (24 July 1927 – 20 Dec 2014) was the third Global Guide of the Mission.

Daaji – Shri Kamlesh Patel (b 28 Sept 1958) is the current and Fourth Global Guide of the mission.

Heartfulness is completely free of charge. The Masters in this system truly believe that Spirituality is not for sale.