Group meditation session

Taylor Campbell4 said:Look, I’m not trying to be a nitpicker here, but I just want to set the record straight.
Staying at Sai baba's followers' ashram is basically free. It costs next to nothing—just about $6.75 per week (or ten days, if I remember correctly)—which, given what flights cost us, is practically peanuts. It’s way cheaper than booking a private hotel in India. Plus, everything is super clean and well-kept.
The food is also incredibly cheap and delicious. (That is, excluding the Western-style cafeteria; they have North Indian and South Indian options too, where the food is actually *so* much better. Seriously good stuff. 🙂 For instance, in the South Indian section, you can grab all the rice and veggies you want for maybe 40 cents.)
I honestly recommend anyone who wants to experience India, or really dive deeper into who Sai baba is, save up for that plane ticket and head to Puttaparthi.
Safety-wise, both inside the ashram and in Puttaparthi itself, it's very high. I don't think anything bad has ever happened to a Westerner there (though you probably shouldn't go wandering around late at night), but occasionally thieves show up during those massive festivals when the crowds are huge, looking for an easy target. You still have to watch your wallet, though. That's true everywhere.
On a side note, if anyone is struggling with addiction—even the heavy stuff—I truly believe this is a great place to find a smooth way out of it.

Come on, "cheap" and "free" are two very different things. Sure, the ashram is more affordable than a private rental, but there are even cheaper options out there, including free ones. By the way, it all depends on whether you're sleeping in a shed or a real room. Same goes for the food.
India is generally affordable for anyone with a bit of experience and willingness (though, let's be real, they charge Americans way more than locals).
As for safety, the town itself isn't exactly a fortress; there have been several murders reported, and some estimates say the numbers are climbing toward a hundred.
Personally, I haven't felt that way, but it’s not any safer than Rishikesh, for example.
And if you want to claim nothing bad ever happens, you could hang a cat by its tail. 😉
I'm not talking about the petty theft that's just part of life there.

If I were an addict, I’d look for a more grounded ashram. Honestly, Prashanti isn't even an ashram; it's more like a semi-Westernized urban hub filled with a bunch of brainwashed idiots. I wouldn't recommend Puttaparthi to anyone who actually wants to experience the real India or has serious spiritual intentions (sadhana). But hey, if you just want to watch a crowd of empty-headed people worshiping a self-proclaimed God as a way to escape their daily struggles and frustrations, then by all means, go right ahead.

Within the Anand Marga community, we view selfless service as tangible action directed toward helping the world—not just sitting in meditation. For us, that means looking after the elderly, the sick, and the hungry; it means educating children, planting trees, protecting wildlife, and fighting against social and economic exploitation while championing the arts and culture. It all depends on which working group you choose to join based on your own inclinations. We practice meditation for ourselves because—well, if Buddha were here, he’d likely say that spiritual teachings are understood individually by the wise. We aren't big believers in the idea that meditating can somehow fix the world while real people are out there starving or being exploited, but that’s fine. Your intention is noble, so I’ll pass this information along to our mailing list—perhaps some of our folks in Washington, D.C. can swing by to offer support and get to know you all! Wishing you the very best.

I’ll try to clarify things—after first expressing my full support and sending my very best wishes to you and all the work you do.

There are all sorts of meditation techniques out there. Personally, I agree that if we just sit around meditating—visualizing the hungry and the impoverished suddenly having full stomachs—without actually making an effort to feed them or fix the social and economic systems that caused their hunger in the first place, we aren't really doing anything at all.

Transmission meditation is a unique way to work with energy—it’s quite a specialized practice.
We exist within an energetic universe. Everything surrounding us is pure energy—and honestly, we are made of it too. This isn't just some esoteric theory; modern science backs it up. It’s simply a fact.
Energy is what drives everything—every single action we take is fueled by some underlying force. Esoteric science actually goes a step further, classifying these different energies and teaching us exactly how to work with them.

Transmission meditation is essentially how we work together with the Masters of Wisdom—those figures that every major religion on Earth talks about and waits to see return again. In fact, almost every spiritual teaching out there draws its inspiration from them.
One of the master's primary responsibilities involves channeling various cosmic energies as they descend toward Earth—energies that arrive from a multitude of different sources. We’re talking about spiritual energies, each possessing its own unique quality and vibration.
The reality is that we're dealing with energies of an incredibly high frequency—intense spiritual energy, really. Under normal circumstances, this kind of power would simply bounce right off humanity; people just aren't vibrating at a level high enough to actually receive or harness it.

Teachers initiated transmission meditation once humanity finally reached a level of readiness for this kind of synergy. Groups—and I say "groups" because channeling much more energy through a collective is far more efficient than working with individuals alone—essentially serve as positive conduits for these spiritual energies. The Teachers handle all the heavy lifting.
When energy flows through a group—specifically by moving through the individual chakras of its members—it becomes much more usable. That’s really the core of it; it makes us far more effective for the benefit of humanity.
The masters handle everything—directing energy through us and placing it exactly where it’s needed most in the world, in perfect balance and intensity. Since we don't have a bird's-eye view of global affairs, trying to micromanage where that energy goes would honestly just be counterproductive. For now, it's best to trust that the energy is being used exactly where it can do the most good.

Most of that channeled energy flows into one massive reservoir—it’s almost like a spiritual battery pack—from which people all over the world draw to fuel their work. These individuals serve selflessly, tapping into that source to manifest specific changes here in the physical world.
Think of it as a group of about 100,000 people—not formally organized, mind you, but united by a shared sense of selfless service rather than any secret society or conspiracy. These individuals operate within their own spheres—politics, economics, education, and so on—all working toward the greater good, which exists in every country. The shifts they drive through their actions are absolutely essential, and much of the momentum and energy they draw upon comes from this collective "reservoir" of spiritual power.
It seems this group was actually founded by Maitreya back at the turn of the 20th century.

Just to reiterate—energy—all those different forms of energy—is what drives everything; they are as much a reality as anything else we see in the world around us.

So, when it comes to transmission meditation, you aren't just sitting there thinking "nice thoughts"—instead, you are performing a very specific task, carrying out a precisely defined piece of work.

There is a clear understanding of exactly what is being done, how to execute it, and ultimately, the reason behind it all.

Because of all that, it’s arguably the most effective way for an "average person" to serve, especially when you consider the return on the time and energy invested.

Technical Details:
The meditation process itself is quite straightforward—which actually makes it a bit challenging—but let me start with this:

You don't need any prior meditation experience or some fancy introductory course to practice transmission meditation.

All you really need is the desire—and the intention or will—to serve, to help, and to truly want to be of service.
(And just so we’re clear, participation is never charged for. It makes sense: this is service, and since the Masters handle all the actual work, charging for a gift meant for all of humanity would essentially be theft.)
Even though no personal experience is required, they say that anyone who meditates has already practiced transmission in some way during a previous lifetime.

At the start of the session, the mantra or invocation (the Great Invocation) is recited aloud together. As I see it, this acts as a signal to the Masters that the transmission is beginning. It is an invocation; within that specific text, universally accepted concepts like light, love, will, or power are called upon. It is a translation of an ancient formula that Maitreya gave to the world back in 1945.

After that, there is only one single thing to do, and that is the core of the entire technique.
Since energy descends from the level of the soul (Teachers and Masters operate exclusively at the soul level), we have to be aligned or tuned in with our own souls to allow that energy to flow through us.

Because of that, we must maintain our focus on the point between the eyebrows—that well-known energy center, the command center, known as the Ajna or brow chakra.
Once our attention is fixed there, our physical selves become aligned with our souls, and only then can the energies flow. In that state, thoughts should cease.

However, the average person can't hold their focus on that spot indefinitely; it tends to drift away.
The moment you realize your mind has wandered, you simply need to think the mantra OM. (Just think it—just like you might think of any name, say, 'Anne')
Your attention will automatically snap back to the intended spot, and the energy will flow again for a while—whether it's a few seconds or several minutes—before the focus slips again and the cycle repeats.

You continue this as long as you can or as long as the energy flows. Groups around the world meditate for anything from thirty minutes (which is honestly a short time) up to the first group founded in '76, which meets three times a week for four to seven hours. In Washington, D.C., people usually meditate for about two hours, currently once a week.
That is practically everything you need to know to get started. You only need at least three people to form a group, and that's it.

There is a bit more information available on the website, so feel free to check it out if you're interested.

Peter Flores67 said:This is absolutely spot on. 👍

Our thoughts are pure energy—when directed correctly, they produce tangible results. It’s a bit difficult to explain the mechanics of how it all manifests, but transmission meditation sends an immense amount of positive energy into our atmosphere, which ultimately benefits the entire world.
It’s much like praying for others.

So, as was made clear in my previous two posts, that isn't quite the point. I’ve explained what transmission actually is. It isn't visualization—well, unless you're visualizing something briefly at the start to help recite the Great Invocation.

I neglected to mention that since all this energy flows through the chakras of everyone in the group, an individual gains massive personal benefits in terms of spiritual growth—often moving several steps faster than if they were just practicing some solo meditation.
That said, personal development isn't the primary goal of this meditation; it's simply a byproduct. (It's similar to other forms of service—you grow through serving others—but here, there's that unique aspect of the energy passing through the chakras).

Taylor Campbell4 said:We’re talking about transmission meditation here, where the whole point is basically just being of service. If you feel called to serve,

Honestly, I’m feeling more of a drive to lead... to rule, if you will. Is there some kind of meditation for people like that? ☕

Jack Harris3 said:I feel this intense urge to lead and take control. Is there some kind of meditation specifically designed for people like me?☕

Maybe I should just jump into politics.😁

As for myself, I might actually attend one of those lectures of theirs, provided my schedule allows for it.

Taylor Campbell4 said:Look, if you actually read the last two posts, you'll see that's not even what we're talking about. I already broke down what transmission actually is—it isn't just some visualization trick. (I mean, sure, you might visualize something right at the start when you're chanting the big invocation, but that's it.)

I totally forgot to mention that since all those energies are flowing through the group members' chakras during the process, an individual gets a massive boost in spiritual growth—like, way faster than if they were just grinding away at some solo meditation practice on their own.
And honestly, personal growth isn't even the main goal here. It’s just a byproduct. (It's kind of like other forms of service; you grow by serving others, but here there's this extra layer because of how those energies move through the chakras).

Wait, where did I even mention visualization?
I was strictly talking about the energy clouds that exist in our atmosphere.

Peter Flores67 said:Where exactly did I mention visualization?
I was thinking exclusively about those energy clouds that drift through our atmosphere.

My apologies if I came on a bit too strong there.

Our thoughts are pure energy—and when they're directed with intention, they actually get results.

I was simply recounting this based on what I had learned—there’s no guesswork involved here.
One of the most effective ways to direct your thoughts—if you ask me—is through visualization. Some people prefer to call it imagination, or even specific imagery techniques, but it all leads back to that same core practice.
What I was actually trying to get at isn't that specific point—it’s about an entirely different, much more efficient process (which I detailed above) for channeling spiritual energies from the highest possible sources.
When we talk about visualization, we’re really just dealing with mental energy—essentially working at lower mental levels. Transmission, however, is on an entirely different plane; it operates at the level of the soul. That’s where the real distinction lies.

Look, I’m a believer that this method actually works—even if I haven't personally given it a shot yet. Honestly though, hitting that state of total mental stillness? It’s a massive uphill battle, especially for people who have never even dipped their toes into meditation before.

Jack Harris3 said:I’m feeling this intense urge to take charge of things. Is there some kind of meditation for people like me? ☕

Oh, there is, Jack, believe me. I mean, what else is there?!

Every time you drink coffee THAT strong, you start wondering what exactly you're looking to rule over!

If that doesn't do the trick—just let it go, keep going, or try to get practical about it. Try mastering your own heart instead. 😢 If you can manage to skip even a single beat of it, I'll officially declare you a total legend of the heart. 🙂

Peter Flores67 said:I believe the method works, even though I’ve never actually tried it myself. Achieving a thoughtless state is incredibly difficult—especially for people who haven't practiced meditation before.

Yeah, it isn't easy for most folks. But if you put in a decent amount of effort, it's not impossible; you just have to be persistent, and eventually, it starts to feel a bit more natural.
B. Cremea provided an average for all transmission meditation groups worldwide regarding how long people stay synchronized—meaning that thoughtless state where the actual transmission work happens—and the figure he gave was only about 5 to 6 minutes. That's just an average, so nobody expects anyone to stay perfectly aligned for a full hour. Still, we should all strive toward that ideal, because that’s the only time the effective work of transmitting those energies actually takes place.

The average person will find themselves chanting "Om" mentally quite often during meditation. You chant "Om" when you notice your mind wandering or your focus slipping. Then, your attention returns to the *ajna* chakra for a few seconds or perhaps a minute, and then you chant "Om" again once focus drops—and so it goes.

Despite all that, the benefits for the individual are massive. Development happens several times faster here than with any other type of personal meditation, simply because of the nature of these specific energies.

In standard personal meditation—assuming it's being done correctly, which is rare—one receives energy from their own soul.

Here, however, the energy comes from the Master Teacher, and it is a far more powerful spiritual force, which in turn energizes our chakras much more effectively.

There are also personal benefits like clearing one's karma. Transmission meditation is a form of service (and a highly efficient one at that). Negative karma is essentially "burned away" exclusively through service.

That said, no one should be doing this primarily for selfish reasons; there has to be a genuine desire to help through service—which is why I included this poll. Without that intention, people almost always end up quitting sooner or later.

That desire—the one that stems from the soul—emerges at a certain stage of evolutionary development, once a person reaches a point where they are somewhat in contact with their soul.

Service is the very nature of the soul.
Service is love manifested on a physical level.

Hello everyone!
I wanted to let you know that, in addition to our sessions in Washington, D.C., we are now holding weekly transmission meditations in Cleveland, Otrovanac near Pitomaca, and even starting up a small group in Indianapolis—though that one is still in its early stages.

So, if you’re interested and happen to live near any of these areas, please reach out. Everyone is welcome.
INFO: check my signature and http://share-international.net/hrv/d...a/america.htm

This is an incredibly effective group meditation where the primary focus is on service. Because of that, you experience personal growth at an intensity that you just can't achieve through solo meditation. There aren't any lectures or teachers involved—it’s just serious, very practical work. It is quite simple and doesn't require any special prior knowledge or courses. Participation is free of charge.

PS: Just a heads-up that the location in Washington, D.C. has changed; we are no longer at 22 Preradović Street, but have moved to 20 Šubićeva Street. The group now meets twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:00 PM.

Here is the notice regarding... Chicagoans (but also... Osijekers There’s a whole variety of people joining in lately, especially since a Transmissions Meditation group finally opened up here in Chicago. You’ll find all sorts of folks there—no one is going to lecture you or tell you how to live your life; just come by and give it a shot. You really just have to stick to the basic rules of the practice and be a bit patient—I wouldn't recommend walking out after just 15 or 20 minutes, because you won't really feel the full effect if you don't stick with it.

It’s been a while since I last checked in here, but it looks like Transmissions Meditation has officially kicked off—well, everywhere except for... Chicago. I'm not quite sure what you meant by that. Could you clarify? A guy from Scranton., Indianapolis.It looks like you might have cut off mid-sentence there—what was it you were going to say? Words.I might have missed a few cities along the way. If you need to track down specific contact details for any particular group, you can find everything listed right on the website. Transmissions Meditation in America..

There is no charge for participating in this Transmissions Meditation.

If you decide to give Transmissions Meditation a shot, feel free to share your experiences here—or if you have any questions before or after your session, just ask away.

P.S. They haven't updated the contact info for the Chicago office on the website just yet—Sinclair is our point person there if you need to reach him at 555-0199.