Foundation for International Spiritual Unfoldment
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- This article is about FISU, the International Organization for teaching Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment. For other uses, see FISU (disambiguation)
FISU (Foundation for International Spiritual Unfoldment) is an international organization that provides free courses of Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment. It is a non-denominational, non-sectarian organization, registered as a UK Educational Non Profit Making Charity (No: 1061185) [1] where its headquarters are based in London. After Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (citing, among others, the UK's involvement in the war in Iraq) has ordered his followers to stop teaching his Transcendental Meditation in Britain [2], FISU claims to be now the most widespread meditation organisation in the UK [3].
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[edit] Overview
FISU was established in 1988 as a continuation of IFSU (International Foundation of Spiritual Unfoldment, founded by Gururaj Ananda Yogi) by Gururaj’s prime disciples Rajesh Ananda (b. 1959, Barking, Essex, England) and Jasmini Ananda (native of Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago) whom are the leaders of the Foundation ever since. It aims to "advance the education of the public in spirituality and related subjects with particular reference to the teachings of Gururaj Ananda Yogi", providing care and counseling [4].
The proposed benefits of FISU include overcoming stress [5] [6] [7] [8], depression [9], anger [10], neutralizing mood swings [11], increase creativity [12], peace of mind [13], inner strength [14], increase happiness [15], improvement in health [16] [17] [18] [19] and generally improving the quality of life [20], [21], [22], [23], [24].
[edit] Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment
FISU (Foundation for International Spiritual Unfoldment) uses Spiritual Unfoldment as the method for its meditation philosophy. This is realized by the lectures made by Gururaj Ananda Yogi and Rajesh Ananda on many different subjects ranging from practical to philosophical, metaphysical to mystical, sublime to divine.
Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment focuses on the regular practice of meditation and conscious effort in the daily living. By this, as questions will arise from within, the meditator as a spiritual aspirant will continuously seek answers towards further knowledge.
The practice of Spiritual Unfoldment meditation then goes further on and the gained knowledge (as a "spiritual" / "mind" food) is digested and assimilated by the meditator. The cycle then continues and restarts as knowledge is acquired, forming the basis for further enquiry. When this information is fully digested and assimilated it becomes wisdom.
The Spiritual Unfoldment meditation school of thought holds as principle that since all humans are individuals spiritually, mentally and physically, they must therefore be treated individually when it comes to the Path of Spiritual Unfoldment and the way they should practice meditation on that path. In practice, since each individual person / meditator is tuned in a distinct "vibration" (known as mantra), the meditation practices to be used by the individual must be unique. A personal mantra is attributed to each individual which is used in the Spiritual Unfoldment meditation, reflecting one’s personal vibration, one’s individuality. The mantra is usually prescribed by a Spiritual Master (Guru) who has the ability to "hear" that vibration into each person.
[edit] The Path
The principles of the Path that are pillaring, lead to and from the Spiritual Unfoldment meditation are:
- the Unfoldment of the Heart,
- the finding of Greater happiness,
- a life of Philosophy -that is a living philosophy- under a non-denominational / non-sectarian spectrum.
[edit] Courses and International Training Centers
Whilst primarily located in the UK, FISU currently provides meditation courses through more than 60 Teaching Centres worldwide in seven different countries: Australia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Spain and the UK [25].
Qualified FISU meditation teachers provide courses (individually or in small groups) of prescribed personalized meditation techniques. Courses may be residential[26], non-residential[27], corporate [28] and for children [29].
There was a fee for the meditation course, but as of September 2007 FISU announced that the courses provided are for free and it only accepts donations in order to be able to continue its work [30].
[edit] Notable FISU Meditators
- Kevin Jolly - Former badminton European and Commonwealth Games gold medalist and National champion for England [31], known for his quick temper [32] used FISU meditation to decrease stress, after having a heart attack [33] [34].
[edit] See also
- Unfoldment - Implicate and Explicate Order according to David Bohm
- Meditation
- Integral psychotherapy
- Transpersonal psychology
- Lotus Flower - is traditionally regarded in India as a symbol of purity and spiritual unfoldment
- Kriya Yoga
- People
- Gururaj Ananda Yogi
- Rajesh Ananda
- Jasmini Ananda
[edit] External links and References
- From FISU Official Website
- Official website (in English; multilingual)
- About Meditation - overview on Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment
- Profiles of FISU founders and leaders Gururaj Ananda Yogi, Rajesh Ananda and Jasmini Ananda.
- Forum
- In the Media
- on bbc.co.uk - FISU meditator [35] stating using meditation to overcome stress.
- article in Cyprus Mail about FISU and Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment, published Sunday, July 4, 2004.
- ukpwire.com article on FISU and meditation techniques
- Could meditation bring us together? article in Cyprus Mail about whether Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment could be helpful for the reconciliation of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, published Wednesday, October 19, 2005.
- Overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD - article about using Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment for overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder. StudentStyle [36] Magazine, October 2006, pg.: 40-43.
- Working out your balance - Women should look within for answers - article about and Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment from a feminine point of view. Sunday Mail (Cypurs), 3rd July 2005, pg.: 8.
- article about FISU and Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment. Seven Magazine (Cyprus), 27th February 2005, pg.: 44.
- Love Hurts - How to Heal Emotional Pain - article about using Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment for healing emotional pain. StudentStyle [37] Magazine, December 2005, pg.: 46-47.
- article about FISU and Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment. Cyprus Mail, 16th February 2005.
- Participation in a live television show 'Kalimera Nicosia' on the topic 'About meditation / FISU meditation' which was broadcasted on FredTV, Nicosia. The participation was monthly and it took place from November 2005 until July 2006 producing eight episodes.
- Others
- An Introductory Video of FISU Meditation on Google Video.
[edit] Bibliography and References on Spiritual Unfoldment and Meditation for Spiritual Unfoldment
- Anderson, V (editor) and Morosani R (editor). (1993). From Darkness to Light : A Selection of Talks by Gururaj Ananda Yogi. American Meditation Society. ISBN 1-8837-9700-4
- Taylor, S (editor). (1980). The Path of Unfoldment, An Introduction to the Teachings of Gururaj Ananda Yogi. London: VSM. ISBN 0-9506-7810-4
- Bohm, D. (1980). Wholeness and the Implicate Order. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-7100-0971-2
- Bohm, D., & Hiley, B. J. (1993). The Undivided Universe. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-06588-7
- Anderson, V (editor) and Morosani R (editor). (2002). The Master Reflects. American Meditation Society. ISBN 1-883797-01-2
- Gururaj Ananda Yogi. (1998). Glimmer of Love. Cape Town: Esquire. ISBN 0-620-12856-9
- Trine, R.W. (1995). In Tune with the Infinite. Thorsons. ISBN 1-85538-364-0
- Vivekananda S. (2005). Bhakti-Yoga. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1425322352
- Vivekananda S. (2003). Karma Yoga. Kolkata: Trio Process. ISBN 81-85301-89-1
- Vivekananda S. (1982). Jnana-Yoga. New York: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center. ISBN 0-911206-21-3
- Vivekananda S. (2003). Raja Yoga. Kolkata: Trio Process. ISBN 81-85301-16-6
- Wright P.C., Wright R.D. (1994). The Divining Heart: Dowsing and Spiritual Unfoldment. Inner Traditions Bear and Company. ISBN 0892814233, ISBN 978-0892814237
- Bennett J.G. (1995). Masters of Wisdom - An Esoteric History of the Spiritual Unfolding of Life on This Planet. Bennett Books. ISBN 1881408019
- Eagle W. (2000). Spiritual Unfoldment: How to Discover the Inner Worlds and Find the Source of Healing v. 1. White Eagle Publishing Trust. ISBN 085487125X, ISBN 978-0854871254
- Eagle W. (1994). Spiritual Unfoldment: The Ministry of Angels and the Invisible Worlds of Nature: v. 2. Inner Traditions Bear and Company. ISBN 0892814233, ISBN 978-0892814237
- Eagle W. (1987). Spiritual Unfoldment: The Way to the Inner Mysteries v. 3. White Eagle Publishing Trust. ISBN 085487075X, ISBN 978-0854870752
- Eagle W. (2006). Spiritual Unfoldment: The Path of the Light: v. 4. White Eagle Publishing Trust. ISBN 0854871519, ISBN 978-0854871513
- Tigunait P.R. (2000). Inner Quest: The Path of Spiritual Unfoldment. Himalayan Institute Press, U.S. ISBN 1887645004, ISBN 978-1887645003
- Benson D. (2004). Yoga and Spiritual Unfoldment. Kessinger Publishing Co. ISBN 1417976357, ISBN 978-1417976355
- Fraser R. (2005). I Am The Father's Son: A Journey of Spiritual Unfoldment iUniverse.com. ISBN 0595343724, ISBN 978-0595343720
- Goldsmith J.S. (1993). Living by Grace: The Path to Inner Unfoldment. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0062505386, ISBN 978-0062505385
- Chinmayananda S. (1993). Self-Unfoldment. Chinmaya Pubns West. ISBN 1880687046, ISBN 978-1880687048
- Abhedananda S. (1969). Spiritual Unfoldment. Ramakrishna Vedanta Math. ASIN B000GOZ7NK
- Blighton E.W. (2001). The middle path: A guide for spiritual unfoldment. Science of Man. ISBN 096726331X, ISBN 978-0967263311
- Sinkler L. (1991). A Spiritual Odyssey: The Unfoldment of a Soul. Valor Foundation. ISBN 0962911909 , ISBN 978-0962911903
- Grof, Stanislav & Grof, Christina (eds) (1989) Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis (New Consciousness Reader) Los Angeles: J.P Tarcher
