The Comforter (Holy Spirit) would be like a breath, like a wind, something they couldn't see

Judith Coney

"This book is my attempt, as a sociologist of religion, to answer the question raised by my friend that day. It is about Sahaja Yoga, the new religious movement (NRM) whose member was responsible for the 'cool breezes' which he felt.”- Judith Coney

"One spring afternoon in 1992, a Norwegian friend who was living in my village for a year whilst he completed a Master of Business Administration at Bath University dropped over for coffee. After exchanging the usual set of pleasantries about the weather and a few comments about the local primary school, he introduced a new topic into the conversation. Knowing my interest in new religions, he said, was I aware that some people in the next village were 'giving cool breezes'? I confessed my ignorance and pressed him for details. One, a woman called Jane, he continued, had given him a sort of massage and as a result he had felt a cool breeze on the top of his head.”I really did, you know!"he went on, looking slightly uncomfortable, as he did not quite believe it himself.”What's it all about?”

This book is my attempt, as a sociologist of religion, to answer the question raised by my friend that day. It is about Sahaja Yoga, the new religious movement (NRM) whose member was responsible for the 'cool breezes' which he felt.”

Judith Coney, Sahaja Yoga (Introduction page)
Hardcover: 269 pages
Publisher: RoutledgeCurzon; 1 edition (May 24 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0700710612
ISBN-13: 978-0700710614

About the Author (www.amazon.com)
Judith Coney is a lecturer in the Department of Study of Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Book Description
The first full-length examination of Sahaja Yoga, a new religious movement led by Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which claims up to one hundred thousand members from around the world.

Synopsis
This is the first full-length examination of Sahaja Yoga, a new religious movement led by Sri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which claims up to one hundred thousand members from around the world. The study on which it is founded began as a result of the author's curiosity being aroused when she heard followers of the guru claiming to feel 'cool breezes' on the tops of their heads and on the palms of their hands. Basing her account largely on participant observation with devotees, Judith Coney sets out the experiences of western members of the movement, from the point of first contact to departure. She examines how newcomers adopt new practices and allegiances on becoming full-time members, and how most develop a radically new awareness of 'spiritual vibrations' as a result of the regular meditation suggested by Sri Mataji. To do so, she reflects upon current theories of socialisation, in particular building up understandings about new social worlds than has so far been appreciated. This accessible and informative account is of particular value to scholars working in the study of religions and new religious movements, and of interest to those working on theories of socialisation. However, the book is required reading for anyone who wants to know more about the contemporary religious landscape.

The Holy Spirit: God's Power at Work

"Four words—two Hebrew and two Greek—are translated"spirit"In the Bible. Of these four, two are used only twice: the Hebrew word neshamah, which means"breath," and the Greek word phantasma, which means"phantom"or"Apparition.”The other two words are the Hebrew ruach and the Greek pneuma, each used several hundred times. Understanding these words is crucial to understanding the Holy Spirit.

Ruach means"breath, air; strength; wind; breeze; spirit; courage; temper; Spirit" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1985, p. 240). Of the 378 times it is used in the King James Version, it is translated"Spirit"or"spirit"272 times," wind"92 times," breath" 27 times and in other ways 27 times. Ruach is used similarly in most other Bible versions....

'Spirit' in Greek

What is the meaning of pneuma? This word"primarily denotes athe wind' (akin to pneo, ato breathe, blow'); also 'breath'; then, especially 'the spirit,' which, like the wind, is invisible, immaterial and powerful" (ibid., p. 593). It is used 385 times in the King James Version and is usually translated"Spirit"or"spirit.”...

Pneuma is the equivalent of the Hebrew ruach. In Luke 4:18, where Christ read from Isaiah 61:1, the account substitutes pneuma for the Hebrew ruach in referring to"The Spirit [ruach/pneuma] of the Lord.” The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (known commonly as the Old Testament) prepared in the third and second century B.C. and used in the time of the early Church, translated ruach as pneuma (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, 1992, p. 1185).

Connected concepts

We see the same connection between spirit, breath and wind continued in the New Testament. Although the Greek (unlike the Hebrew) has a different word for wind (anemos), pneuma and its related verb pneo are translated"breath" (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 11:11)," wind" (John 3:8; Acts 27:40) and"blow" (Luke 12:55).

Jesus Christ made this connection Himself. Without the understanding of this background, details of the incident in which Jesus appeared to His followers after His resurrection are puzzling. After Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands and side, verifying that He had indeed been raised from the dead, John records that Jesus said: "'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit [pneuma]'" (John 20:21-22).

Earlier He had told them He would send them a"helper"And a"comforter," the Holy Spirit. Here He repeats that promise. He also demonstrates the nature of the Spirit that He would send: It would be like a breath, like a wind, something they couldn't see, but they would be influenced by its power.”

Scott Ashley, The Holy Spirit: God's Power at Work

Cool breeze is the sign of the Holy Ghost.

“The Kundalini rises through a very thin line of Brahmanadi. In the beginning only a hair like thing rises, it pierces through. In some people, of course, in a big way it rises also. And then it pierces this fontanel bone area which is a real baptism, real. Today only people felt the cool breeze coming out of their heads. Can you do that by jumping, or by paying money? They felt the cool breeze in the hand. It's written in the Bible, even in the Bible very clearly, that it's the cool breeze. Cool breeze is the sign of the Holy Ghost. You start feeling the cool breeze in your hands and you start feeling the cool breeze on your head. This is the actualization.

Of course, you people don't read other books which are very good, like Adi Shankaracharya. People don't even like the mention of his name who has really and clearly said that it is the cool breeze, the chaitanya, is to be felt like cool breeze in the hands. They do not want that you should know the truth. And this is the truth that when you get your realization, you have to feel the cool breeze in your hands yourself. You have to judge yourself. I'm not going to tell you. It is you who has to see, it is you who has to feel. And then you have to grow and you have to know all and everything - all the secrets of Divine Science. You become the master then, you are the guru.

You are the Spirit, and you should get it. It's your own which is given to you. I have nothing to do about it. I'm just a catalyst.”

The Messiah-Paraclete-Ruh-Devi
Maccabean Hall, Australia on March 22, 1981

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