1. Innocence - Lessons 1 to 3

V o l u M e 1

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

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All meditation techniques, practices and procedures described or recommended in this book, are suitable for practice only under the direct supervision of an instructor, trained and ordained by THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM. Further, you should consult your personal physician to determine whether those techniques, practices are suitable for you in relation to your own health and ability. This publication is not intended to be a substitute for any personal medical attention, examination or treatment. Should any person engage in any of the techniques, practices described or recommended in this book, he/she would be doing so at his/her own risk. The authors and publisher advise readers to take full responsibility for their health and know their limits.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism ("SPH") THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM, is recognized as the 1008th living manifestation of Paramashiva, Paramavatar of Paramaśiva as per Sanatana Hindu Dharma ("Hinduism") and by His predecessors of enlightened masters and adepts. The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism ("SPH") THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM, is reviving Hinduism as the 1008th Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (the head for all spiritual leaders) of Atal Akhada (ancient apex body of Hinduism).

The SPH was coronated as Mahamandaleshwar (Supreme Spiritual Head) of Maha Nirvani Akhada (largest apex monastic order) and the youngest Mahamandaleshwar, ordained as the 233rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of Thondai Mandala Aadheenam, ordained as the 293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of Shyamalapeeta Sarvajnapeetam, ordained as the 23rd Guru Mahasannidhanam of Dharmamukthi Swargapuram Aadheenam, and coronated as the 203rd Emperor of Suryavamsa Surangi The SPH THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM is the reigning spiritual emperor of 20 ancient traditional Hindu kingdoms and the reviver of the most ancient, most peaceful, still-living and long-lasting demonstrable system that shows the possibility of peaceful co-existence amongst people.

Over the last 50 years, the effects of meditation and its significant impact on stress, crime rates, violence, political decision making and even war in local and global consciousness is well established. Hinduism was once practiced freely in over 56 nations across the continent from Afghanistan, Bharat, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka, all the way to Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia and Indonesia, and in 200 states, 1700

samasthanas (provinces) and 10,000 sampradayas (traditions).

The KAILASA with de facto spiritual embassies operating across over 100 countries and having presence across the globe as the largest spiritual knowledge source on Hinduism is spiritually governed with the life positive, all-inclusive, universal policies sourced from Hinduism revived by The SPH THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM.

Having enriched and enreached more than one billion individuals over the past 27 years the KAILASA raises the voice to protect Hindus, defend Hindus and preserve the Hindu narrative for the world.

THE SILVER LINING BETWEEN CUNNINGNESS AND INNOCENCE

If you are aware about your innocence, you are cunning. You are not innocent, you are boasting. A Paramahamsa will not even be aware of his own innocence. He is innocent about his own innocence. That space is what is called Paramahamsa.

Innocence means you will not even be aware that you are

Satyakama was a boy who lived in the dense forests of Bharat with his mother Jabala. He had an intense desire to learn meditation and know the nature of the brahman. His search for a Guru took him to the sage Gautama. The sage asked him, "Of what family are you, my boy?" Satyakama fearlessly answered, "My mother said that I should tell you that her name is Jabala and my name is Satyakama – and I know nothing more about my family. So I am Satyakama Jabala." Appreciating his honesty and courage to speak the truth, the sage accepted him as a student.

The next day, sage Gautama initiatedSatyakamaintoameditation to quiet his mind. This was thefirststeptothe knowledge of the Brahman, brahmavidya–knowing the self. After teaching Satyakamatomeditate,Gautama did something that was veryunusual.Hetook Satyakama to the pasture wherehundredsofcowswere grazing. To Satyakama's surprise, Gautamaseparated out four hundred thin, weakcows.Hethentold Satyakama that he was about toenteradiferenttype of journey. He instructed Satyakamatotakethecows to another part of the forest andtotendtothemcarefully. He was to return after thecowshadmultiplied to a thousand. Satyakamahadmanydoubtsin his heart, but in deference totheGuruvaak(HisGuru's words), he left the gurukul withthecowsforthe deepest part of the forest.

Satyakama traveled backtotheGurukulwiththe cows, and uponseeingthemall,theMaster exclaimed that nowonethousandand one cows had returned. Inotherwords,Satyakama himself hadlost all senseofhisformer identity, and hadsimplybecomeoneof the cows. The Master simplypronouncedthe Vedic declarationfor enlightenment–'Tat TvamAsi' , or 'Thouart that'.Satyakamawas so empty of identity, andinastateofsuch pure listening, that theMaster'swordsjust penetrated his beingandbecameareality in him. In that moment, Satyakamagot enlightened.

The guru has the power to create the right situation in which a disciple can flower. It is through the guidance and instruction of an enlightened master that a seeker can reach the state of the ultimate bliss. Satyakama also had doubts, like any spiritual seeker, but he had the intelligence to listen to his guru's words and the courage to practice the Guru's instruction. In this way, Satyakama was able to transcend the plane of the mundane and reach a higher level of consciousness. The Master is a vessel for our own transformation, but the disciple must take the first step. Once that step is taken, then the possibility towards enlightenment, eternal bliss, becomes a reality.

Logic does not allow you to be simple and innocent. It does not allow the transformation to happen easily. Logic has to be overcome for the transformation to happen. Only when there is no logic there can be innocence. Innocence is the space for transformation to happen. In the case of Satyakama, fortunately he was not bitten by logic.

The disciple goes to the guru for enlightenment and the guru tells him, 'Alright, take these cows, go to the forest and stay there till they become one thousand cows. Then come back!' If today 's seeker was in that disciple's place he would have said, 'I think the master is trying to exploit me. He wants a thousand cows, which is why he is telling me to do this work. He is using me to get his work done.' Innocence is lost to logic! That is why no modern day seeker receives such amazing techniques.

This is not a mere story. It has got a great truth behind it. With innocence, Satyakama simply followed what the master said. Further, he lost his logic of counting. He was completely lost in ecstasy and joy. The mind stopped functioning. He didn't care about one thousand or two thousand. Just the innocence and acceptance caused the greatest happening of enlightenment in him!

When you completely accept, you don't need the mind. The mind is necessary only when you live with struggles, only when you are fighting. Just this moment accept yourself in the outer world and the inner world. You will go out enlightened.

For so many years, completely accepting what the master said, Satyakama just was. What else can happen to him but enlightenment?

You may think, 'How can simple acceptance do such a big job?' The problem is that even spiritual knowledge is approached by us with the space of an intellectual mind. It is from that intellectual space that we ask the 'how '. Intellect always questions. Innocence straightaway starts practicing what the master says. That is the difference.

Paramashiva says in the Shiva Sutras, 'Absorb the ultimate truth, senses shut down, and be liberated.' Why is he using the words 'senses shut down'? How do you find out if you are completely lost in something? Your senses will not work! You will not see or hear! That is the way to find out. If your senses still work, you are still not lost. Paramashiva says, 'Absorb the ultimate truth, senses shut down, and be liberated. '

When your senses are working you may think you are hearing, but you may not be actually listening. The sense organ may work, but not the energy that activates the sense organ. Hearing is different from listening. If you are only hearing then the intellect is still at play. If you are listening then you are lost. Then the intellect is no more. The click happens. You sit completely melting. You exclude everything except you and the master. You are utterly innocent and open like Satyakama. Then just one word from the master is enough and you become enlightened!

He means that in that utterly innocent and open state, initiation is enlightenment. Just a word is enough to enlighten. Shiva is giving initiation itself as a technique. He says, 'Just listen while the master is expressing the truth, and become enlightened!'

Constantly, we are asked to be good, to be pure, and to be innocent the idea of innocence is forced upon us, constantly we are taught society, by moralists, that something is right, something is wrong constantly we are taught the idea of good & bad, something innocent & something is corrupted, we are forced to practice something that is good or what society thinks is good.

Life is totally different, what society believes is different from what is Innocence means purity of the inner space not being affected thoughts or engraved memories then if you are not expressing emotions like anger greed & lust, if they are present in your inner space you are not as yet a total & innocent person. On the other hand if you express your anger lust & greed but nothing touches your inner space & you live like an innocent child then be very clear, you are pure being. Innocence is directly related to the inner space it way related to the outer world. Unless you are without logic or tired logic you cannot be ready for transformation. Logic cannot help understand even your own life. Logic does not allow you to be simple innocent .only when there is no logic there can be innocence.

Innocence is the space for transformation to happen. There is so much freshness behind innocence. Life becomes an unfolding mystery every moment with it. That is the truth. Life is an ever unfolding mystery. It is the mind that typecasts it. The mind always wants life on its own specific terms. Innocence embraces life with life's own terms. With the mind, life does not find a gate to enter with its mysteries. With innocence, life is welcomed to share its mysteries. Innocence trusts.

Innocence does not worry about being exploited. There are three ways to ask a question. You can ask out of innocence, or you can ask out of knowledge to show that you too know, and third, you can ask to confirm that what you know is correct. When you ask out of innocence, you are completely ready to receive the answer. When you ask out of knowledge, you can completely miss the answer. When you ask for confirmation, you simply resist the answer.

To make the children understand about the concept of innocence

• 1. How does our society condition us?
• 2. Does our life is the same way as the society tell us?
• 3. What is innocence?
• 4. Innocence is related to outer space or inner space?
• 5. When there will be innocence?
• 6. Can innocence so with logic?
• 7. Can a logical person be innocent?

Plain Sheet Pencil Sketch Pen

Encourage the children to draw their ideas of past, present and future in pictorial format. Ask children to explain to their friends what they have drawn.

Innocence is keeping the consciousness at the level of the heart, not allowing it to settle in the head.

Make the children into groups of four or five. Give each group a name or they can wear same color dress. Place few newspapers on the ground. Now play the music or do clapping when clapping sound or music is stopped. They have to stand with their group in the corresponding newspaper. Whoever not standing in the group or standing with other group or not standing on the newspaper will be out of the game.

This activity needs lots of co-ordination and focus and ability to respond immediately. When we drop our cunningness we can become more spontaneous.

Openness is emptiness. Let not knowledge fill you. Knowledge is but a mere tool, not your substance. Reject all knowledge as not this, reject means don't settle for any intermediate knowledge except the ultimate truth. We may know many things, but the knowing should not dull us in any way. We should remain empty in spirit always. If you just look at life without any opinions, without any words or description, without any fixed ideas, then you can receive everything because you hold nothing, because you are empty. Present is an unfolding miracle and mystery of Existence. We try to grasp it, with the net of knowledge.

That is the motivation for knowledge. But it can never happen! The unknown can never be trapped with the known. The unknown can be known only by surrendering to it. That surrender is what is called intelligence! Intelligence recognizes the mystery of the present moment and surrenders to it joyfully. That joy is the joy of innocence. Knowledge on the other hand denies the mystery of the present moment. It tries to ascertain it every minute and the present can never be ascertained. So you continuously remain with what is called 'fear of the unknown'. Through knowledge, you somehow try to escape from the 'not knowing' of the moment. To the ego, not- knowing means being nothing.

It cannot handle being nothing. But innocence is being nothing and enjoying the present! The present is an unopened gift. But knowledge robs it of its suspense. Belief is nothing but an individual and independent interpretation of something. There is no need to instill any belief into a child.

It is fresh every minute. So it is not possible to know anything. The mind is constantly looking for activity you go behind belief. We base our whole life on beliefs. Because of this we are immersed in activity, but not action. Activity needs constant fuelling through beliefs. Activity cannot afford to stop. It if stops, the mind fall into depression. Action happens as and when required and stops. Activity happens out of belief. Action happens out of understanding. Activity causes fatigue while action creates energy and inspiration.

What you need is action, not activity. Just understand that belief is nothing but your own understanding of something and not the truth. In any given situation, four different people can conclude differently with four different beliefs. There is no absolute reality in belief. It is merely an individual perception. But innocence keeps the perception open. That is the beauty of it. It doesn't conclude and close the doors on anything. There are innumerable interpretations to anything. Not holding onto any one interpretation is the essence of innocence. Then the spirit is kept alive.

To make the children understand about remaining empty

• 1. What is openness?
• 2. What is meant by rejecting knowledge?
• 3. How we behave as a child?
• 4. Knowledge makes us dull or fresh?
• 5. What happens when we are devotee?
• 6. When you will note cross your enthusiasm?
• 7. When you will follow your heart?
• 8. What is life?
• 9. Relate interpretation to innocence?

When you ask out of innocence, you are complete up ready to receive the answer.

Plain sheet Poster colors Plate for mixing paint

Ask the children to paint their palm with different colors and print the impression on the paper. Now they can use their creativity to create various pictures out of the hand printing. For example, they can create like peacock, swan, giraffe etc.

We can make anything out of anything when we are open. Life has no boundary, no limit. We may know many things but the knowing should not restrict us in any way. We must always be open to receive be so creative.

Materials needed: Strong hula hoop

Encourage children to form groups. Give each child in the group to hold the hula hoop and all the children must sit holding the hoop at the same time and stand up similarly holding the hoop, they can also hold the loop with one hands and do this activity.

This activity needs co-ordination and co-operation among the team.

silence is the space of unlearning & learning.

In silence there is innocence. In words there is intellect. Intellect can never receive the truth, only innocence can just be with innocence that is enough. Silence bridges the gap that words create. Silence is the space of transformation into fresh learning. In silence you are open and in those moments you are innocent. The inner silence is the treasure zone. In silence there is no geed or fear. Innocence is a delicate fragrance while knowledge is a strong filter. That is the difference. The fragrance of innocence draws the whole world to you, prevents many things from coming to you. The filter of knowledge prevents many things from coming to you.

We are in a great hurry all the time, because there is too much knowledge to gather When you are with innocence you simply enjoy the moment.

Innocence grasps the moment while knowledge misses it. Knowledge knows only purpose while innocence knows the beauty of purposelessness. Children lose their innocence to the conditioning that they receive in the name of "how to be clever". Knowledge is a tool. It doesn't directly lead to intelligence. It is just a tool. As long as we use it as a powerful tool where needed, it is good. On the other hand, innocence leads directly to pure intelligence. Innocence grasps dimensions that cleverness misses.

Innocence may miss the facts but it catches the truths, when cleverness combines with innocence, it becomes a rare combination of intelligence. Knowledge that is not yet experience is not your own. It is borrowed. Knowing is different from knowledge. Knowing is innocence. It is an understanding that has become your own experience. Work so that everything becomes a deep experience in you. You will then be a simple person. Simplicity is weightless. It will never weigh you down and hinder further learning. It is just aid in the flowering of innocence, that's all. What innocence grasps one may not ever be able to express, because it is an understanding beyond words.

To make the children understand about silence is the space of unlearning & learning.

• 1. What is intellect?
• 2. What is innocence?
• 3. What is there is silence -innocence or intellect?
• 4. What bridges the gap that words create?
• 5. What is the difference between innocence & intelligence?
• 6. What happens when you are in innocence?
• 7. Which knows the purpose and which knows the beauty of purposelessness?
• 8. Whether knowing is different from knowledge?

Uncolored art sheet Various color crayons Poster colors (different), brush

Ask the children to first color the picture with crayon and then paint on it with poster colors, ask them to observe how the painting looks like. Ask them whether the paint is mixing with poster color or standing alone.

Innocence grasps dimensions that cleverness misses. Innocence may miss facts but it catches the truth.

In this game of hide and seek, one child counts to a certain numbers while all the other children hide. As the end of the count, the child who counts says, "Ready or not" , here I come and seeks out the hiders.

Cunningness is a pure hide and seeks game, you play with yourself. Societal conditioning causes the innocence in the intelligence to take the turn in to cunningness.