Meta Modern Era

by Nirmala Devi

"The most difficult part is to convince a human being that in the entire creation [...] he is capable of becoming a glorious personality, a beautiful,peaceful angel." -- Meta Modern Era, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi.

"Meta Modern Era" is a unique book about spirituality and the modern times written by H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, recognized worldwide as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our times. Learn about Self Realization, which is now possible effortlessly and en-masse through Sahaja Yoga, in this unique book which sets the premises for the paradigm shift of the 21st century: a tangible breakthrough in human awareness.

The book contains the following chapters:

1. Modernism and Rationality

A profound perspective on the causes of the problems of modern times, predicted and described as the "dark age" (Kali Yuga). A vivid and critical look at our times where technological development lacking the knowledge of the roots of our Being has lead to a deep and desperate quest for the absolute truth in our hearts and minds. The limits of mere rationality can lead to disastrous conclusions and theories which are justified by the ego instead of being enlightened by the Spirit. Their effects can be seen in arts, social trends, and in all the manifestations of our society.

2. Choices

The root of consumerism can be found in the traps of choices and fashions set by entrepreneurs for the modern minds. This chapter exposes the subtle causes of materialism and its implications on family life, and how a realized soul (person who has achieved Self Realization) can go beyond them.

3. Democracy

Communism is dead. Nazism is no more. Why have the modern democracies become 'demonocracies'? Money orientation versus power orientation. Where can the question "what's wrong?" lead. Real freedom is not abandonment to one's habits and instincts, but the freedom to enjoy one's Spirit which becomes a reality after Self Realization.

4. Racialism

A fresh look at this widespread conditioning of our society, and how it can be replaced by a culture of true integration, coming from the heart, in the light of one's Spirit.

5. The Culture in the West

"Culture shows the social heights in serenity, wisdom and morality". Culture directs social trends. The culture of vulgarity justified by sheer rationality is contrasted with the subtle culture of innocence which expresses the beauty and purity of the Spirit.

6. Religions

All religions were started in a pure form by great prophets and incarnations, but due to the people "in charge", deviated over time from the absolute Truth into ritualism and fundamentalism. Their common essence and integration can be found - not mentally, but by experiencing the connection with one's Spirit (Self Realization) which is beyond the mind. "The prayer said without connection (Yoga) with God is like a telephone without connection".

The true religion is within. It can be awakened and manifested in our lives through the process of Self Realization. "With Sahaja Yoga, the innate universal religion of Divine Love is enlightened within and the seeker becomes spontaneously truly religious, righteous, moral, peaceful, compassionate and a powerful, enlightened personality."

7. Peace

A humorous look at human ego and its stunning manifestations in our modern times, and how on the subtle side it ends up destroying our peace within. Peace cannot be achieved through lectures or political changes, but has to be established in the individual, and Sahaja Yoga makes this possible through Kundalini awakening. "The human mind is always bombarded with thoughts. It builds the ego and reacts with it. [...] These thoughts come from the past or from the future, but reality is in the present where we achieve peace." Self Realization leads to collective consciousness which is not a concept, but a higher state of awareness in which one becomes part of the whole and acts spontaneously to help others.

8. World Peace

All wars have caused a reversal of our value system, which is reflected in our family life. "It is not an investment in armaments which will secure a truly peaceful future. It is the investment in our children which will yield invaluable dividends in the shape of a peaceful and moral society in the near future."

A sweet but profound look at raising our children in a loving, disciplined and spiritual way, developing all the beautiful qualities which are built-in within them. How to avoid their exposure to cultural agressions that play on their curiosity and attack their innocence. How to build a culture of universal spirituality for our children, preventing them from falling into the terrible problems caused by religious fundamentalism.

9. Evolution

A breathtaking view of the evolution of life that lead in an accelerated spiral to the human stage, paralelled by the evolution o...

Genres: Philosophy

Hardcover

First published July 26, 2012

Reviews

[Krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innocent, straight forward and loving - A clear depiction of the pitfalls of the so-called modern cultures and of the path for ascent :)

[Greta More · Rating 5 out of 5]

I opened the book and began reading at page 139 and couldn't put it down. I have read it before and felt like being spontaneous. Just upon reading that page and the following two pages I felt that more people should become aware of the message in this book because the insights offered gives us the opportunity to have a good look at ourselves and a chance to change and save ourselves.
Meta Modern Era by Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi is a scathing looking at humanity by its Creator on just how far off the path we have gone in this Modern Era - of how we have crushed each other at level of gender and morality at level of society. Only a Divine personality can have such a clear picture of the multilayered nature of the human personality and how we have gone wrong at every one of the layers.
Her Holiness Shri Mataji travelled the world and interacted with people from all walks of life, from villagers to the Queen. Her Holiness gave Self Realisation to hundreds of thousands of people during Her forty years of spreading Her message of Sahaja Yoga. For example, in a single year of 1992, the urgency to save humanity propelled Her Holiness to crisscross all continents, accumulating close to 200,000 air miles.
Her Holiness was born with the sole purpose to save humanity from this worst of Kali Yugas and got a very good picture of what had happened to humanity over the centuries and, how far off the evolutionary path we had come in this Modern Era. Calling this age the worst of the Kali Yugas is putting it mildly.
Born of a noble family, Her Holiness led a normal householder life to show that the saints of the Modern Era have to be normal people, leading normal lives because that is where the maximum manifestation of the creativity and beauty of the Spirit is possible.
Insight into the nature of the faults that we have been accumulating over generations and solutions to remedy these faults are offered in this must read book if we are to cure ourselves and come onto the central path.

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reviewing the book Meta Modern Era by Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi which is an excellent book which I bought from kindle. Sri Mataji who died in 2011 was the leader of the Sahaja Yoga movement and this wasn't what we might think of yoga which means union in Sanskrit but is a form of meditation. When Sahaja Yoga it is not charged for as she says you can't put a price on enlightenment. Instead people who have been helped in the past make donations that fund it. I did some Sahaja Yoga some years ago but have probably learnt more from reading books about it than I ever learnt in the group and there don't seem to be that many books about it but I would like to read as many as possible. This is a book Sri Mataji wrote for a Western audience in English and despite her saying she speaks English but has no academic training in it, I think she has done a good job. Sahaja Yoga has had the occasional scandal like someone started a Sahaja Yoga Centre in Switzerland and it was just a means to make money but then almost any organisation has had problems. Apparently the Catholic Church regards it as a cult which as she says and I agree must mean it is just different to the Catholic Church and any organisation not affiliated they regard as a cult. She lived in Surrey, England for many years but did spend much time in India because her husband was President of the UN Maritime Organisation based in London. She spent much time herself teaching Sahaja Yoga. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which looks at a lot of different cultures and religions both Western & Eastern and strips away all the tosh and tells you quite frankly what really matters. Apparently as a child she spent many hours talking to Mahatma Gandhi who could see there was something special about her. She was arrested for being part of the peaceful protests for the Free India Movement. One thing she does say is if a yogi or religion is charging you for being a member or for their help they are stealing. Because India is quite poor many so called yogis have left there and gone to Western countries because they know there is easy money. I think this is a great book.

[Rajeev Hatwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing !!
Must read .

[Alex Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a kind of a strange book. Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi writes from the heart, to state what she thinks is the inherent dignity of human beings as abused / not-recognized by the West, especially in the United States.

She embraces an order of being human that should be upheld in order to allow each individual's inner self to emerge. To that end, she denotes a "meta" to the modern era. Recognition of this meta means a coming to terms for each of us of our sacred nature, in terms of peace, body, mind, product, philosophy and so on.

Sometimes her views seem quaint, and other times it seems anti-political correct. But always interesting. Towards the end of she describes the change in energy of awareness as one approaches enlightenment. Shes doesn't go so far into that subject matter though, seeking only for us to become aware that there is a problem and a possible solution.

[Neeru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful. The book is like an eye opener that takes you closer to reality

[Maddelline · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte foarte bună care prezintă viața așa cum este, trecând dincolo de iluzia vieții cotidiene, a statuturilor sociale și a societății în care trăim.

[Yeetesh Kaushik · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words. Only love and truth.