IN THE NEWS: 21 Apr 2009

Nithyananda calls for return to Vedic traditions.
Source: India Post News Service[Link]
Sunday, March 29, 2009.

MONTCLAIR, CA: On Sunday, March 29, Paramahamsa Nithyananda (Swamiji) conducted his first public event in the City of Norwalk in nearly two years.

This landmark event also marked the first time ever that the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and representatives of various temples and organizations gathered together to welcome an enlightened master and conduct a spiritual event.

At the program, organized by the Indian Community of Southern California, Swamiji was honored by city and state representatives, including Mayor of Artesia Sally Flowers, who presented Swamiji with keys to their city and commended his service around the world, Mayor Pro Tem of Cypress Prakash Narain, who shared his appreciation for Swamiji's message and mission, and CA State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, who presented him with a proclamation.

Swamiji delivered an engaging and inspiring talk on the importance of the Vedic tradition to Indian communities here in the US and around the globe. Many traditions are born from the Vedic philosophy, but the underlying goal and truth of all of them is "Living Enlightenment."

Living Enlightenment consists of four dimensions: shakti, awakening the energy inside you to change whatever needs to be changed; buddhi, the intelligence to accept what need not be changed; yukti, the clarity that the whole world is a dream; and bhakti, a strong feeling of connection to that what is unchanging (be it the divine, God or your guru).

Swamiji also spoke on the importance of internalizing the Vedic inner software and the Indian dharmic tradition. Living a happy fulfilled life based on these traditions will inspire the younger generation to follow, said Swamiji. Furthermore, temples should become educational centers, and not a place for politics or just for worship.

During the talk, Swamiji also spoke on his unique technique of "unclutching," which he defined as the state of being where you, "relax into the silence from where your thoughts are arising." The constant and intense practice of "unclutching" takes you beyond attachment and detachment. It allows you to evolve into higher consciousness.

Swamiji then explained how the technique of "unclutching" is expressed through the 12th aphorism of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. In the previous discourses, Swamiji elaborated on the five modifications of the mind, which can lead you to pain or joy. They are: right knowledge, wrong knowledge, imagination, sleep and memory. Patanjali is teaching us to continually come back to the source - to the Vedic tradition - through constant remembrance. This intensity is the ultimate technique for achieving the truth.

IN THE NEWS: 20 Apr, 2009

Yoga a spiritual science to swami .
Source: Houston Chronicle [Archives]
Reporter: Barbara Karkabi
Saturday March 28, 2009.

When Enlightened Master Paramahamsa Nithyananda - a Hindu swami - visited Houston to demonstrate his method of yoga and meditation, 310 people signed up for his workshops. He practices yoga as a spiritual science, using poses, breathing and visualization to cope with stresses of every-day life. He took time to talk to Chronicle reporter Barbara Karkabi about his methods.

Q: Tell me what you are doing on this visit to Houston?

A: Teaching yoga and meditation for physical and mental health ... bringing more peace, more emotional balance, happiness and joy to life.

Q: How is your technique different?

A: I try to work with the body, inner breathing and emotions ... the inner chatterings.

Q: What are people here seeking your counsel on?

A: The economy. They are very troubled, very stressed.

Q: What do you tell them?

A: Two things. Whatever can be changed, use your intelligence and change. Whatever can't be changed, accept it and look for the next opportunity. This is life.

Q: So, if you fear you might lose your job?

A: Start looking for the next possibility with spirit and energy. I know it's very simple to say, but it's very difficult to practice. We have to face the reality and move on.

Q: You are 31 - young for a swami. Tell me about your life.

A: I was born in the southern part of India in a place well known for an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters for the last 2,000 years. It has the largest Shiva temple in southern India, built all in granite. At 17 I left home, traveled the length and breadth of India and studied at various monasteries for nine years.

Q: With no money?

A: It's a tradition. We are supposed to do the travel. We call it the sacred pilgrimage.

Q: Can you explain your enlightenment experience?

A: I was meditating and it came over me as a very strong experience. I felt infinite love and compassion for every being.

Q: So your specialty is yoga and meditation. What do other swamis offer?

A: I share knowledge about meditation and enlightenment, but some people specialize in rituals, devotions, yoga and different fields.

Q: You also feed people back in your village in India, correct?

A: Yes, we feed people and we have a school. And we give them one year free program. Whoever comes from all over the world, we give them free food, free stay, clothing and medical care, and give them spiritual knowledge for one year. Then they can go back and live their life happily.

Q: Do people have to call?

A: Yes, they have to call up and fix their entry date, and they need to have a valid visa.

Q: How many people do that?

A: Now, I think more than 400 people are doing it.

Q: Why do they come?

A: They come mainly for physical health and mental well being.

They want to try it out. And people who are really adventurous about spiritual seeking, they also come.

IN THE NEWS: 19 Apr 2009

Yoga master aims to unite mind and body.
Source: king5.com
Video: Link
Reporter: Lori Matsukawa
Wednesday April 8, 2009.

An enlightened master of yoga and meditation says yoga is much more than postures on a floor mat.

"The word yoga means 'uniting' – uniting us with the whole cosmos, uniting us with nature," says Paramahamsa Nithyananda. "One part of it is physical postures, helping us to keep our health and mental wellness. Somehow in many countries, yoga is understood just as postures. It is much more than that."

Nithyananda is just 31, but has two million followers around the world. He’s written several books, but most know him through his talks on YouTube.

He teaches meditation to achieve what he calls "no mind" – a super-conscious state where all the world’s most creative thought, including scientific discoveries, come from.

"All the great scientists who invented new things, who created breakthroughs who experienced new openings, experienced that state of consciousness knowingly or unknowingly," he says. "Only from that space are all new things delivered to planet Earth."

Nithyananda says most people don't even know this consciousness is possible.

"From a young age, we are taught how to develop the mind, but we are never taught how to relax or unclutch from it -- even for a few moments. So if we know how to relax from it, we'll know how to use it to its peak potential."

In these stressful times, Nithyananda says the mind must be freed. "If you are stuck, if you're constantly saying, 'Why me?' then we will not have the freedom, we will not have the courage, we will not have the intelligence to think further. So the first thing we need to do to change this situation is to accept it."

IN THE NEWS: 24 Jul 2008

Vedic Life Expo attracts devotees, holds informative classes
-- Over 250 newcomers and returning enthusiasts enjoyed the many programs, rituals and entertainment that went on throughout the day.

News-site: News Asia [link]

MONTCLAIR, CA: Humans are unique. So are their paths to inner transformation. The Vedic Masters created various scientific methods and have given us the freedom to choose what’s most inspiring and blissful for our growth. Paramahamsa Nithyananda has gifted us with the Vedic Temple so that we have many options to explore, enjoy and transform. The Vedic Life Expo event on Sunday was filled with these blissful and informative classes and rituals.

‘Amazing and powerful.’ ‘This is the first time I did any meditation and it was a divine experience.’ ‘The Vedic Temple is bliss!’ ‘Thanks for sharing the truths of the Vedic culture. I learned a lot that will help me day-to-day.’ These were just a few of the comments from visitors to the Temple and Vedic Life Expo. Over 250 newcomers and returning enthusiasts enjoyed the many programs, rituals and entertainment that went on throughout the day.

Swamis of the Nithyananda Order presented a panel presentation on Vedic wisdom and held a lively and informative Question and Answer session. They shared practical life solutions based upon the deeper truths on the science of enlightenment. Some of the other discussions during the day were Workplace Effectiveness, Blissful Relationships and Creating Wealth.

Brahmacharis trained directly by Paramahamsa explained and guided groups through the significance of puja(offering gratitude) and how puja can become a meditation with Nithya Dhyaan (Life Bliss Meditation) gifted to the world by Paramahamsa. (lifeblissmeditation.org)

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the individualized Vedic Astrology and Ayurvedic consultations, Henna Body Art applications and Sattvic Cooking class. Participants in the Nithya Yoga sessions were very surprised at what they were able to do when they brought blissful intention to every movement. (www.nithyayoga.org)

Knowledge is a gift from Existence and Dakshinamurti is the Lord of Knowledge and Enlightenment. In gratitude, a special Dakshinamurti Puja for graduation was sponsored in the temple for a recent master’s degree graduate. The pujacharya’s deep clarity and explanations truly made this puja and unforgettable experience for all present. You are welcome to visit the temple website at www.nithyanandavedictemple.org to learn more about ongoing events and all puja opportunities.

A wonderful group of 55 Jain devotees came to offer puja to Mahavir and the 24 enlightened Thirthankaras. Volunteer pujacharyas performed Abhishekam and Alankar for the presiding deities. Mantra initiates enjoyed an inspiring session of chanting and blissful instruction on living enlightenment.

The energy in the temple shifted from the sacred to the sublime as celebrated Tabla artists Pt. Abhijit Banerjee and his students entertained the visitors with a musical performance. Inspired by Paramahamsa and the Nithyananda Mission, Pt Banerjee and his disciple Jyoti Prakas will begin Tabla Classes here beginning Monday, June 9th at 6:00 pm.

Nithya Spiritual Healing prayers were offered in the temple for all who requested the Master’s blessings for better health and life.

The events of the day were a fitting backdrop for the conclusion of the Life Bliss Teachers Training. This intensive course is not just about learning how to teach the Vedic Sciences but a powerful transformation tool for anyone who wants to become a hollow flute for Divine energy to express. The course was filled with dynamic trainings, visits, dancing, celebrations, and intense meditations. The next Life Bliss Program, dealing with the seven energy centers, will be held at the Vedic Temple on June 28 and 29th. Please call the temple to register for the workshop.

On June 15th, the Nithyananda Cultural Center offers a dynamic Kathak performance by a prominent disciple of Pt. Chitresh Das, Rina Mehta and Rachna Nivas, members of the Chitresh Das Dance Company. Enjoy learning the mystical designs of Henna (Mehendhi) at workshops next Saturday and Sunday. No need for any prior experience in this beautiful art! More information for both of these events is available by calling the Vedic Temple at (909) 625-1400.

Everyone celebrated and danced for Lord Venkateshwara, offering gratitude during His procession. Maha Aarthi brought a devotional conclusion to this amazing weekend of teaching and transformation. The temple complex and all who gathered were energized with bliss as they enjoyed Maha Prasad, watched Paramahamsa’s DVD discourses and shared their experiences from this blessed day!

By Swamiji's Grace many exciting and transformative events are happening at the Vedic Temple each day and we look forward to sharing them with you. Don’t miss the bliss!

IN THE NEWS: 09 Jan 2008

Paramahamsa Nithyananda's Message for 2008: Celebrate the Existence of Jeeva (Self), Eshwara (God), and Jagat (World).
Source: News Asia [link]
MONTCLAIR, CA.

My message this year is to celebrate the existence of Jeeva, Eshwara, and Jagat - Self, God and the World. When you celebrate their existence all three will reveal their mysteries to you. Please understand that this is not a moral advice. It is a spiritual technique.

You will never be able to realize your self, understand yourself, until you accept yourself and celebrate what you are. As long as you are fighting with what you are, you will never be able to realize yourself. Usually we carry two identities, one is ahamkar the other is mamakar. Ahamkar means the identity which we present to the world, project to the world. How we want the world to see us. The next is mamakar. The identity you believe is you.

Jayanti Celebrations.

Our whole life is nothing but the fight between this ahamkar and mamakar. The struggle between you and you eats the whole life. Stop. Just accept and celebrate whatever you are. You will see that you are realizing the self. The self-realization is postponed again and again and again just because of the fight between you and you. The moment you stop the fighting suddenly you see both the identities disappear into the realization that ahamkar and mamakar exist just because of the tension between them. Whatever you are accept and say a deep Yes to you as you are. Suddenly you will see that ahamkar and mamakar just disappear. Accept and celebrate the existence of your self as it is. Neither you need to develop the self in the outer world, nor do you need to develop in the inner world. Accept and celebrate, suddenly you will see the self will be realized.

Next let us look at Jagat - the world. Understand all the difficulties, problems between you and the world is just because you do not look at the world as a mystery. Continuously you are trying to overrule the world with your logic. You are trying to understand the jagat with your intellect; instead of celebrating, instead of accepting, instead of enjoying. You are just analyzing, segregating and trying to bring it under your control. If you are continuously using your logic, analyzing and judging - trying to bring things under your control you will miss it. Just accept and celebrate the existence, nature, the world with all its different dimensions and paradoxes.

Do not judge. Continuously we judge something is right, something is wrong. Something is supposed to happen. Something is not supposed to happen. Whatever happens is auspicious. In Sanskrit, the word Shiva means causeless auspiciousness. For no reason, the mangalatwa, the auspiciousness is overflowing. Everything that is happening in your life is increasing your frequency, raising your intelligence. Causeless expansion is happening.

In the whole world there are only two kinds of people living. One, the person who feels whatever is happening in the world is against his will and has to be changed by constantly trying to alter, trying to judge, trying to criticize things happening in the world. There is another group, a rare group, who feels whatever is happening, is causeless auspiciousness, Mangalatwa, Shiva. Whoever feels whatever is happening is auspicious inside and outside, lives like Shiva. They live in Shiva consciousness. They live in eternal bliss. They live in celebration.

Understand every happening including disease and death has a message for us. They have something to teach us. Even they raise our intelligence, raise the frequency of consciousness. In the whole drama of the cosmos, everything that happens in your life brings auspiciousness to you. Brings mangalatwa to you, adds to you. Look at the world as a mystery, as an intelligent mystery. When you understand it is an independent intelligence, a mystery; everything happening in your life will open itself and tell you the lesson it has brought. When a suffering comes to you, if you approach it with a non-acceptance, a resistance, it'll create only pain in you. It will only add suffering to you. If you approach the same incident, same suffering with a deep respect and acceptance, suddenly you will see the same suffering reveals its mysteries to you. It'll show you the cause, why it happened in your life and the lesson it brought to your life. Everything happening in the world is auspiciousness including what you call natural calamities. There's no such thing as inauspicious. One group lives like Shiva. The other lives like Shava – dead body. Whether you want to live like Shiva or Shava you decide. Understand the cosmos is causeless auspiciousness. The Prapanja is the reasonless, causeless Shiva . Accept and celebrate the very existence of the world – the Jagat.

The third, Eshwara is the source for Jeeva and Jagat – the self and the world. As long as you carry doubt or faith about the existence of God, you don't experience God. Understand, just like doubt, faith is also an obstruction. I have seen people who believe but never try to experience. They continue to believe, believe, and believe but do not do anything to experience. So now, drop both your doubt and your faith. The moment you see an object in front of you, you know the Creator exists. If the creation exists the Creator also exists. The very presence of the creation in front of you proves the existence of the Creator.
He is just creativity overflowing for no reason. He is just constant creativity which is expanding, expanding, and expanding, a constant Big Bang. Creation, created, and Creator all three expresses as creativity. Celebrate the existence of creativity. The very existence of creation is the solid proof that the Creator or the creativity exists. Just celebrate the existence of the independent intelligence. Celebrate the existence of God as creativity.

When you celebrate the existence of these three- Jeeva, Eshwara, and Jagat; Self, God and the World, suddenly you will see these three barriers are created by your unconscious mind. There is no barrier, it is just pure existence, pure consciousness, pure celebration what we call as Sat, Chit and Ananda. Understanding that Jeeva, Jagat and Eshwara are not three different entities and then celebrating the existence of this ONE core is what I call Living Enlightenment. Understand and celebrate the existence of all three.

Suddenly you will see only celebration will exist, all three will disappear into the celebration. When that happens; that is what I call Nithyananda, the Eternal Bliss. Live Enlightenment, Live Eternal Bliss, Live Nithyananda.

Let you all achieve, radiate, celebrate the eternal bliss,
Nithyananda.

_________________
Video of 2008 Jayanthi Celebrations is available on youtube.

IN THE NEWS: 21 Dec 2007

Nithya Dhyaan begins in B'lore.
Source: Deccan Herald
Thursday December 20, 2007.

More details of the event: About, Photos.

IN THE NEWS: 7 Dec 2007

Hindu temple offers sanctuary, peace.
Source: claremont-courier.com
Reporter: Tony Krickl
Photo: Gabriel Fenoy
Wednesday December 5, 2007.

From the pioneers at Pilgrim Place to the Imams at the Islamic Center of Claremont, the city has a rich history of religious diversity. And with the addition of a new Hindu temple on its borders, the variety of cultural and religious influences that make up the unique population of Claremont will continue to grow.

Just down the road in neighboring Montclair, the new religious community has taken root. A Vedic temple recently opened its doors along Central Avenue, and practitioners are welcoming the community with open arms.

The temple sits on a two-acre plot of land that previously hosted a Baptist church. The non-descript exterior could be mistaken for a bowling alley until one enters to see the unique interior and colorful decor.

Among its many features, the temple has a gift shop, a library, activity rooms and a large prayer room full of handcrafted deities shipped directly from India. There is also a kitchen where traditional vegetarian meals are cooked everyday and shared with visitors.

In just two weeks of operation, the temple already has gained a large following. Roughly 300 practitioners visit the center each day, said Sahajananda, the temple’s director. On the weekend, that number can jump up to 1000.

The Vedic tradition predates the rise of Hinduism and other religions of southern Asia. Today’s resurrection in the Vedic movement has been spurred on by the popularity of the temple’s spiritual leader and guide, a man whom disciples warmly refer to as Swamiji.

At just 29 years old, Swamiji exudes an energy and spirit that captures the attention of audiences. His skills as an orator have landed him speaking engagements at major firms such as Microsoft, Qualcomm and AT&T, and made him the second-highest watched guru on YouTube.com.

“I saw him speaking for the first time when he was invited to our company to talk about leadership,” said Sri Jyotir, an employee of Microsoft Corp. “He has a presence and spirit about him that just draws you in.”

The spiritual leader began his movement just 5 years ago and has quickly gained more than a million followers worldwide. He travels constantly; visiting pockets of disciples, or ashrams, but makes his permanent home in India.

After a 12-year journey throughout India on foot and years of meditation, his followers say he has reached nirvana, the highest level of consciousness. When his travels were completed, Swamiji decided it was time to share what he had learned with others.

The Montclair temple will be the first of its kind in California, with several more to follow across the country in the coming year. It has been designated as the following’s headquarters for the world outside of India.

Temple members plan to organize several events and activities to give back to the community and allow anyone interested to become involved. Free Yoga and meditation classes, health fairs and other activities will be open to the public. The temple also offers scholarships to young people to travel to India and study with spiritual leaders.

“We do a lot of social work in India because they need that,” Swamiji said with a smile. “And we do a lot of spiritual work in the West. India needs medication, and the West needs meditation, so we give them what they need.”

IN THE NEWS: 20 Nov 2007

Hindu University in US expands Vedic base.
Source: rediff.com, November 20, 2007 22:41 IST

The Florida-based Hindu University of America will henceforth 'do business as' the International Vedic Hindu University. It has announced plans to expand the Vedic base of its programme offerings.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda, founder of the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, who was elected chairman of the University recently, will be the "guiding force in the university's future growth and evolution".

Nithyananda's 1,200 meditation centers and 120 meditation academies around the world will offer extended campus services for students. The university would like to reach the goal of 10,000 enrolled students by 2008.

A $2.5 million construction plan will be launched soon as the first phase of the expansion of the current campus.

Florida's department of education has approved the university's request for the DBA (doing business as) status for IVHU, according to Sri Nithya Medhananda, vice president of the university.

At a recent press conference, Braham Aggarwal, founder of the University and a disciple of Paramahamsa Nithyananda, said the aim of the institution had been "to bring the gifts of Hindu culture to people around the world through the Web-based curriculum so that they may excel in all aspects of their personal and professional lives".

Aggarwal became convinced that only Nithyananda could lead the university in its next phase of growth and beyond, with his enlightened insights into Vedic sciences. The 12-acre campus with its existing infrastructure was entrusted to Nithyananda on August 25.

"With his vision and energy, along with the vast infrastructure of centers he has all over the world, there is no doubt the university is under the right leadership. The teachings from Vedic sciences that the university can now offer will enrich people's lives to follow their path more beautifully," Aggarwal said.

Nithyananda praised the university's efforts to present Vedic thought and tradition in an unbiased manner.

"The university has launched an educational temple at the campus that will impart practical and theoretical Vedic knowledge," he said.

"A 6,000 square-foot temple, where all traditions of Hinduism will be represented, is already erected in a temporary structure at the campus," he added. Nithyananda's vision of the university is the one that radiates intelligent knowledge of Vedic traditions through online and campus-based programs like yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, vaastu, Vedic astrology, Hinduism, Vedanta, music, dance and languages.

IVHU plans to establish chairs in the name of enlightened Hindu masters. One in the name of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa has been created and will be held by a representative of that lineage.

The university has also initiated efforts to create a Global Accreditation Board for Vedic traditions. Three hundred well-versed scholars and renowned masters will comprise this group, 70 of whom are in place. In addition to the numerous accreditations, alliances with various universities will be increased to help transfer this knowledge to students around the world.

Some long-term plans, include providing grants for research in the Vedic sciences, a television channel with study programming, an e-newsletter highlighting the university and Vedic events and a library expansion.

Nithyananda reminded the audience of the very first book of Hindus, the Rig Veda, which declares, `Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudha Vadanti' (there is only one truth; enlightened beings describe it in different ways).

"India has been the land of intense research in the inner world for over 10,000 years. This research has been published by the mystics in the form of scriptures called the Vedas, which form the backbone of the Hindu religion. IVHU is committed to preserve this wisdom of the Vedas and deliver it to the world in its original nascent form," he said.

FLASH NEWS: 9 Nov 2007

Montclair, CA, USA. 3:14 p.m.: Hindu Temple holds opening ceremonies in Montclair
Neil Nisperos
Courtesy: Inland Valley, Daily Bulletin.


MONTCLAIR - The first Hindu Temple in Montclair history opened today in ceremony steeped in symbolic ritual and centuries-old tradition.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda, a noted Hindu swami, led the ceremony at the new 24,000-square-foot Nithyananda Vedic Temple and Vedic Sciences University from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday at 9720 N. Central Ave.

With a hand bell, a flaming lamp and a vase filled with sacred water, the spiritual leader consecrated a meditation numerous deity statues made of marble and black granite that adorned a large, colorful meditation hall.

One large statue, of the Hindu deity Venkateshwara, stood 12-feet-tall, while several others, including the familiar multi-armed, dancing Hindu statue of Nataraja towered over about 500 people who came to celebrate and worship at the grand opening at the former church.

The deity statues included the 24 Tirthankaras, or enlightened masters of Jainism, and one of Buddha.

The music of Indian flutes and drums filled the hall as a smiling Nithyananda motioned the lamp around each deity and then toward devotees who raised their hands toward the light.

"Everything in the universe is made up of the five elements of fire, water, air, ether and earth," said Ma Ananda Vibhooti, a Nithyananda devotee. "When we are worshiping, we are worshiping through these five elements."

Umesh Hari, of Houston, Texas, traveled to the opening in Montclair with his wife and two children.

"We're very blissful because the cosmic energy here is omnipresent," Hari said of the temple.

The Montclair temple will provide free vegetarian food to the public every day, free medical advice once a month, as well as courses in everything from yoga and meditation to traditional Indian architecture.

Nithyananda's goal is to spread Indian religious culture - the Vedic tradition - throughout the world. The swami has missions in 34 countries and counts 1.2 million initiated disciples worldwide, said Nithyananda devotee Sevakananda Nithya.

The Montclair temple is Nithyananda's flagship mission in California, he said.

FLASH NEWS: 02 Nov 2007

The Myth (Movie DVD). Nithyananda speaks on "Levitation, is it possible?", a special feature in the DVD of Jackie Chan movie - The Myth. Watch it today! DVD available in stores all over USA.

A photo from the movie premiere. (Original source: lasplash.com article)



Some other photos from the premiere available at this site.

FLASH NEWS: 21 Oct 2007(2)

On The Web. As per "What is Enlightenment?" magazine survey, Enlightened Master Paramahamsa Nithyananda is now ranked second amongst the spiritual gurus who are watched most on YouTube. This is within a span of five months since His videos have been posted on YouTube! (http://www.youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation)

FLASH NEWS: 21 Oct 2007

Orlando. News Paper Coverage of IVHU events. East Orlando Sun, Oct 18-24, 2007 Edition. Pages A1,A2.



Note: The "East Orlando Sun" newspaper pages have been resized and adjusted for easy read. We would prefer if the readers go to the newspaper's website to read further.