Olivia Mathis from Australia describes her experiences from attending Samskarashuddhi and Mukti 3 at The World University of Consciousness after The Oneness Festival August 2003. Olivia also received a diksha for Enlightenment from Kalki, The Founder of The Golden Age Foundation.

Read more here: » Enlightenment: Diksha for Enlightenment by Olivia Mathis

deeksha: (Sanskrit) "Initiation."

Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought.

Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata (shaktipat), "descent of grace," which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force. Central Saivite dikshas include samaya, vishesha, nirvana and abhisheka.

See: grace, shaktipata, shakipat, sound.

(See also: Deeksha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shaktipat Initiation - Awakening the Kundalini

Kundalini can be awakened by attaining perfection of certain hatha yoga postures called asanas, by certain breathing exercises aimed at controlling the breath called pranayama, by God's grace, by meditation or by intense devotion.

Another technique of great importance is Shaktipat, the transmission of energy. A powerful yogi can transmit energy to an aspirant and awaken the Kundalini. This is accomplished in one of four ways: by touch, gaze, sound or thought.

Read more here: » Kundalini Maha Yoga: Shaktipat Initiation - Awakening the Kundalini

diksha: (Sanskrit) "Initiation."

Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought.

Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata, "descent of grace," which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force. Central Saivite dikshas include samaya, vishesha, nirvana and abhisheka.

See: grace, shaktipata, sound.

(See also: Diksha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Kiara Windrider just visited the spiritual reteat where the Oneness Festival campus is located in the Golden City area and give a first hand experience from what goes on there.

Read more here: » Kiara Windrider about The Spiritual Retreats of Enlightenment

Linga Diksha: (Sanskrit) The Vira Saiva initiation ceremony in which the guru ties a small Sivalinga (Ishtalinga) around the neck of the devotee and enjoins him-her to worship it twice daily. This initiation replaces the sacred thread ceremony, upanayana.

See: Vira Saivism.

(See also: Linga Diksha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

In this fourth chapter of Kiara Windriders new book; “Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age”, Kiara is gives an explanation to what enlightenment is.

Enlightenment has nothing to do with how long you have been on a spiritual path, nor with what your religious beliefs are. You do not even need to believe in God or have any concepts about the soul. Enlightenment does not depend on knowing the right teachings or mantras. It has nothing to do with how many lifetimes you have meditated, or even with how ‘good’ a person you are. There is nothing you can ‘do’ to get enlightened. Enlightenment cannot be achieved through your own efforts any more than a drowning person can yank himself out by his own hair. The mind cannot deactivate itself. It can only happen by grace.

Read more here: » Enlightenment 2012: Kalki and the Golden Age – Chapter 4: What is Enlightenment?

sannyasa diksha: (Sanskrit) "Renunciate initiation."

This diksha is a formal rite, or less often an informal blessing, entering the devotee into renunciate monasticism, binding him for life to certain vows which include chastity, poverty and obedience, and directing him on the path to Self Realization.

Strictest tradition requires that lifetime renunciates be single men and that they enter training in their order before age 25. However, there are certain orders which accept men into sannyasa after age 25, provided they have been in college and not in the world after that time. Others will accept widowers; and a few initiate women. Such rules and qualifications apply primarily to cenobites, that is, to those who will live and serve together in an ashrama or monastery. The rules pertaining to homeless anchorites are, for obvious reasons, more lenient.

See: sannyasa dharma, videhamukti, diksha, deeksha.

(See also: Sannyasa diksha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

An in-depth article presenting enlightenment from the personal view of Anette Carlström as well as from other sources and scientific research on the brains function. The article has been published in the Swedish magazine Sökaren (The Searcher).

Read more here: » Enlightenment: When enlightenment came to Sweden…about Anette Carlström

Mitchell Rabin is a therapist, Energy-Balancing practitioner and stress management consultant in NYC. He teaches, writes and is now completing his second book. Since 1993, he is hosting and producing a cable TV show called A Better World in the US. In this article, Mitchell share his personal enlightening experience of a meeting with Kalki in India.

Read more here: » Personal experience of enlightenment: A trip to India

''Shakti'' is another word for kundalini and ''pat'' means to descend. Shaktipat is a method by which an individual's kundalini is awakened by the direct intervention of a guru. Practially speaking shaktipat is known by its results: the awakening of of the student's kundalini.

This FAQ gives an overview of Siddha Mahayoga. Part I of III.

In Part II: 1) What is shaktipat?, 2) How does shaktipat work?, 3) Who can give shaktipat?, 4) Who can receive shaktipat?, 4) Are all shaktipat initiations the same?, 5) Can one receive shaktipat just by being in the presence of those with awakened shakti?, 6) So what happens after shaktipat?, 7) What is the practice of Siddha Mahayoga?

Read more here: » Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: What is shaktipat? (part I of III) -

Kiara got enlightened finally! This is his letter from him less than two weeks after the process. Read it and you will get an almost first hand insight into what enlightenment is all about, or at least how it is perceived by one human that actually reached the state.

Read more here: » Spiritual Enlightenment: Journey of Enlightenment

Like a fairy tale princess she sits on a white throne and lets her loving gaze wander over everyone. Anette Carlstrom is an unusual mother of two children from Skane who travels around the country to spread the message of peace, joy and love.

This is an article from the Swedish magazine Hälsa (Health) about Anette Carlström, who just in time for her birthday in August last year went to the Oneness Festival and the World University.

Read more here: » Spiritual enlightenment: The enlightened mom - Anette Carlström

Samskara Shuddhi is the Art of cleansing past impressions. experiences or relationships. The following article is a summary of the speach about Samskara Shuddhi that was delievered by RadhaKrishna Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.

Read more here: » Samskara Shuddhi - the Art of cleansing past impressions

The following article is a summary of the speach about Enlightenment that was delievered by Krishnaraj Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.

Read more here: » Enlightenment Enlightenment: Krishnaraj Dasaji about Enlightenment

In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into the worship of some deity by a guru (diksha guru) who bestows mantra(s) and takes the karma of the initiate - at least in case of Vaishnava diksha, as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1.70: raji catmatyaja dosah patni-papam sva-bhartari tatha sisyartjitam papam guruh prapnoti niscita "The faults of the counselor fall on the king, and the sins of a wife fall on her husband. In the same way a spiritual master attains the sins of his disciple. That is certain." Diksha primarily means a transfer of spir ...

Read more here: » Diksha: Encyclopedia - Diksha

Kriyas, literally ''activities'', are spontaneous movements that occur after kundalini awakening. These include bodily activities such as trembling, shaking and spontaneous yoga postures; vocal activities such as yelling, or spontaneous chanting and mental activities such as visions. These kriyas eliminate the blocks to kundalini rising within the spine or central channel.

This FAQ gives an overview of Siddha Mahayoga. Part I of III.

In Part III: 1) What are kriyas?, 2) So how do kriyas purify my consciousness?, 3) Are these kriyas some sort of self-hypnosis or some sort New Age phenomenon?, 4) Haven't a number of well-known teachers criticized kriyas?, 5) Don't they say that kundalini is a force that needs control?, What is the philosophy of siddha mahayoga?, 6) What is the precise role of the guru in siddha mahayoga?, 7) What teachers give shaktipat initiation?, 8) Where can I learn more?

Read more here: » Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: What are kriyas? (part III of III) -

There are numerous ways to awaken kundalini but generally these approaches may divided into two groups. In the first group are paths such as Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga or Raja Yoga. In these paths the kundalini is awakened through the effort of the individual. In the second group is the path that is variously called Sahaja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga or Siddha Mahayoga. In this path the kundalini is spontaneously awakened by the grace of the Siddha guru in a process that is called shaktipat.

Read more here: » Siddha Mahayoga: The Lineage of Swami Shivom Tirth

Lal Ded's Vaakhs and Kashmir Shaivism

Kashmir, often described as the abode of saints, has produced a number of spiritually evolved persons. Among them Lal Ded, better known as Lalla Yogeshwari, ranks as a great mystic poetess of the 14th century.

She was an ardent practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism which is also known as Trika Shastra founded by Vasu Gupta. Lal Ded took Shaktipat Diksha from her guru, Sri Neel Kanth.

Read more here: » Kashmir Shaivism: Lal Ded's Vaakhs and Kashmir Shaivism

In this article, Kiara Windrider, author of “A doorway to Eternity” share his experiences with the teachings of Golden Age Foundation headed by Kalki in India. Kiara Windrider was one of the teachers at the first Oneness Festival that took place August 2-8 2003. The Oneness Festival is a collaboration between the Golden Age Foundation in India and the Experience Foundation in Sweden.

Read more here: » Kiara Windrider on Enlightenment, Kalki and the Golden Age Movement - I