Chapter 7: Mission during Year 2006🔗

Swamiji left for the US in February 2006. Ma Sachitananda and I accompanied Swamiji back to USA. By this time we were also having new crew members joining us on tour. It was time for new disciples to serve the master and experience the fantastic journey we have taken. These days, it is quite amazing to see we can always feel him wherever we are. He has given us the clarity and experience to be intense, to live in the present moment with intensity. Ma Sachitananda, Sri Bhaktananda, Ma Dayamayi and Ma Medhananda Mayi were now part of the crew. Ma Sachitananda started training the latest crew members during this first tour in 2006. Swamiji told us in Oklahoma in February 2004, that His mission will be like a concentric ring and he said – allow me to burn through you (i.e., through your ego) and then step out. Let new people come around me and experience this. This is how I will be able to reach out. We feel so blessed that he has spent so much time with all of us. Especially during the early days in the mission, the wonderful time we had spending around Him is something we will cherish all our lives. Now there is no more yearning to be around Him (but don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy being in His presence, but it is also OK if I am not physically around Him). He would always say, “Do not reduce me to this six foot Nithyananda. I am also in this six foot form. Go beyond my physical form and experience me everywhere and in every action”. He beautifully describes this in his discourse on “Living Enlightenment” that we posted on you tube at www.youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation. In addition, as of writing this book in May 2008, thanks to You Tube and information technology, over 375 You Tube clippings have been posted and people from every corner of the world are now able to learn from the Master’s teachings.

In 2006, I started traveling on my corporate rendezvous off and on. A friend of mine who I worked with me in the corporate world approached me and requested me to help out his company. The company was growing and needed someone to come and serve on the board and help challenge the senior management with executing the business strategy. So I travel on business and come back and join Swamiji’s tour wherever I can. This I know was a new opportunity Swamiji was giving me to experience and grow from. It has been a great adventure for me to live all dimensions; it was directly and experientially helping me live Quantum Spirituality – living intensely in the material and spiritual worlds, all at once. Initially there were times when I would think, “Why am I doing this? I do not want to run after corporate earnings and all the pursuits of economic gain.” It felt like de ja vu all over again. But I trusted the Master was stretching me for my own growth. Now I am able to play this role so effortlessly and without any attachment to the goal. Swamiji knows what every being is made of and the experiences every being needs to go through to grow spiritually. Since 2006 my journey has been incredible. There were times I would go on a corporate strategy session to the US, Europe or the Middle East, or on a yacht in Greece or at a retreat in Swiss Alps. Right after such a session, I would immediately go to my hotel room at night to work on a You Tube clip, or work on shipping temple items or statues. Initially it was difficult to juggle all this, but luckily He has given me the opportunity and confidence that I can do it. Juggling so many balls has now become effortless.

In our spiritual path there is always a phase when He is trying to stretch us to expand to the next level. In his discourses Swamiji gives the example of hunters in North India who tie a rope to a stick and hang it on tree branches. Birds come and sit on one side of the stick and turn upside down due to its own weight. The poor bird hangs on to the stick and stays that way for hours together. The hunter then comes and simply takes the bird in his hand and places it in the cage; now the bird is really in bondage. Little does the bird know that she could have simply let go the stick and flown away. Maybe when she let go of the stick, she would flutter a little while, but would surely not fall. Swamiji asks us "How many birds do we know who have fallen down because they could not fly?" In a similar manner Swamiji tells us that we are stuck to our old habits and samskaras and do not let go. He has given me this opportunity to let go of my conditionings that life can only be uni-directional, that I could only live in the material world or the spiritual world. Luckily when I lived both the dimensions at once, his arms were always there beneath me to protect me, to hold me from falling. Initially I fluttered a little in that I felt as to why I need to get back to the corporate world. Little did I realize at that time, this is a technique Swamiji is giving me to explode in all directions. I was lucky I totally believed and trusted whatever Swamiji had for me was the best thing for my being. I am thankful for this intelligence He showered on me. A lot of times, when the Master is trying to give a solution for our own growth and expansion, people do not understand. They think the Master is giving them a hard time, that the Master is doing this for his own benefit, and simply miss Him. Missing the master is one of the worst things that can happen to a disciple. I hope those of you reading this book will have patience and let this process happen to you. If I can now glide effortlessly between material and spiritual worlds, so can you. Living and experiencing this quantum spirituality is truly spectacular.

In 2006 Swamiji had a hectic tour of the United States. He started a new discourse series on Shiva Sutras and started his commentary on Vignana Bhairava Tantra (they are 112 techniques given by Shiva to His consort Devi for her to experience enlightenment). Swamiji first spoke on Shiva Sutras for a month in January 2005. I will describe this event in detail in the next chapter. From February 2006 until November 2007, Swamiji delivered all the Shiva Sutras to the world.

20 Feb 2006 - Swamiji is being received by ashramites and devotees amidst much excitement

20 Feb 2006 – Springing to action immediately! Swamiji supervises the ashramites who assembled the newly arrived lamps.

Swamiji started the Shiva Sutra discourse series in Los Angeles, followed by tour of St Louis, Oklahoma City, Houston, Columbus, New Jersey, Vancouver and Seattle. This was followed by teachers training in Seattle area. Swamiji completed this tour by May and left for Bangalore for Himalayas Yatra and Gurupoornima. During this tour, as usual, Ma Sachitananda was catering to Swamiji’s needs while Bhaktananda was taking care of registrations audio/video work and I was taking care of e-Mails, videotaping and processing of DVDs. The mission was growing rapidly all over USA. Houston was becoming a very active center. We have seen a large turnout of devotees and a strong base forming there. During this tour, Swamiji conducted Dhyana Spurana Program (DSP or Life Bliss Program Level 3). DSP program was designed to deliver the science of un-clutching experientially to participants. DSP program was followed by healer’s initiation program which was conducted on the Monday following the DSP program in all cities.

Halfway through the program, after Swamiji delivered the first discourse in New Jersey, we received a call from India that His grandfather from mother’s side was critically ill. His grandfather played a very important role during the early years of Swamiji’s life. In fact it was He who would carry Swamiji to the Thiruvannamalai Temple everyday. He would talk about various puranas and tell him stories. He would teach him pujas and rituals. Swamiji tells us that his great passion for rituals came from the interest His grandfather nurtured during Swamiji’s early childhood. Swamiji’s grandfather, Raja Mudaliar was a well known businessman in Thiruvannamalai. Swamiji grandfather took promise from Swamiji that He would be by his side during his last days. When the news came, Swamiji immediately wanted to stand by his grandfather. Arrangements were made for a short trip to India. On the way to the airport, Swamiji told Bhaktananda, “You will conduct Shiva Sutras discourses and DSP”. He took a little honey and placed it in Bhakta’s mouth and said, “Go ahead and do the discourses and conduct the DSP. You will simply feel my presence and everything will turn out beautifully” He also initiated him into being a medium to transmit the spiritual energy through energy darshan. With the power of this vak (vak is the power of speech or spoken word that is bestowed by the blessing of an enlightened master) and the initiation, Swamiji gave blessings and left for India.

This is again the magic of the master. By giving this power of the vak, I was quite amazed to see how beautifully Bhaktananda delivered Shiva Sutras discourses and also conducted the DSP program. We then went on to Vancouver where Bhaktananda also delivered two of the three Shiva Sutra discourses. He also gave meditation techniques based n the Shiva Sutras. This was as if the master was holding the strings in the puppet show and delivering the discourse. This was again His great lila! By Friday the following week, Swamiji returned to Vancouver and went straight from the airport to the discourse venue. After Vancouver, the program moved to Seattle.

After Seattle program, the third teachers training was conducted in Seattle and Swamiji left for India for the Himalayas Yatra. There was a large group who came for this Himalayas Yatra. There were almost 250 participants and Swamiji’s theme during this tour of Himalayas was master-disciple relationship. We visited char dham (four holy places - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath) as well as many holy places along the way. We had unforgettable experience of visiting these places with the Master.

Right after Himalaya’s yatra, Swamiji went to Guadeloupe for a short tour. In this Island in the French Caribbean a strong group of devotees was forming and He promised to visit them in their home country. We first landed in Paris and travelled to Nantes, a city near west coast of France, a couple of hours away by train from Paris. Nithyananda Mission was spreading rapidly in French speaking regions. We had a group of devotees from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) who started spreading Swamiji’s message to France and other French speaking territories. Swamiji was warmly received by the people of France. Hundreds came to His discourses which were translated live by one of our devotees. He conducted three satsangs and the Dhyana Spurana Program (DSP or Life Bliss Program Level 3) in Nantes, followed by healers’ initiation the Monday after the DSP program.

8 Jun 2006, Paris - Swami is seen standing against the Eiffel Tower, one of the official wonders of the world.

11 Jun 2006 - The participants sharing their experiences at the end of DSP.

We then went to Guadeloupe in French Caribbean. Swamiji was welcomed by hundreds of devotees in this small Island. Ma Sachitananda, Sri Bhaktananda, Ma Dayamayi and me accompanied Swamiji on this trip. There were actually thousands of people who attended Swamiji's discourse in this small island. What was most touching was the openness and warmth with which the people of this island welcomed Swamiji.

Discourse in progress in Guadeloupe where more than a thousand people gathered. Swamiji conducted the DSP program in Guadeloupe and then we returned back to Los Angeles Ashram.

It was July 2, 2006, a beautiful clear morning. Swamiji said this was the day he was initiating the first batch of ashramites into Sanyas. They were being initiated into Vanaprastha Sanyas order. It is where both wife and husbands take the vows that they will help each other in their spiritual journey. Swamiji initiated the following eight Swamis into the Nithyananda Order: Sri Nithya Bhaktananda, Ma Nithya Dayananda Mayi, Sri Nithya Medhananda, Ma Nithya Medhananda Mayi, Sri Nithya Sahajananda, Ma Nithya Mitraananda, Sri Nithya Vimalananda, Sri Nithya Sevakananda, Ma Nithyananda Gopika.

Swamiji walks with the ashramites towards the Ananda Sabha to commence the Sanyas initiation ceremony.

That morning the Los Angeles Ashram was beautifully decorated with flags of Dhyanapeetam. All the ashramites that were taking this initiation fasted the previous day. They dressed up in traditional clothes. After a ceremonial arthi at the Anandeshwara temple in Duarte Ashram, we proceeded to Ananda Sabha, where the kavi (saffron cloth) is ceremoniously taken from the feet of the master in accordance with the Vedic tradition. After the ceremony Swamiji broke the fast and fed all the new vanaprastha sanyasis an offering of sweet that was offered to the Lord.

After this ceremony all the Swamis and Swaminis of Nithyananda Order took blessings from Swamiji. Thus the first batch of Swamis from the Nithyananda Order outside India that was ordained.

Swamiji is seen along with Swamis and Swaminis of the Nithyananda Order of Los Angeles. Seated from left to right are Ma Nithya Sachitananda, Ma Nithyananda Gopika, Ma Nithya Dayananda Mayi, Ma Nithya Mitraananda. Kneeling from left to right are Sri Nithya Sachitananda, Sri Nithya Sahajananda, Sri Nithya Bhaktananda, Swamiji, Ma Nithya Medhananda Mayi and Sri Nithya Sevakananda

After the Sanyas diksha, we went back to India for Gurupoornima celebrations. Swamiji always makes it a point to be in Bidadi for Gurupoornima. He spent the month of July and part of August in India. Ma Sachitananda and I accompanied Swamiji back to Los Angeles for a short trip for the teachers training program at Camp Buckhorn and the first ever USA Kumbh Mela in Los Angeles. Swamiji was quite keen to symbolically respect all the victims of September 11, by dedicating a march of peace which he called as Kumbh Mela. Swamiji announced that every year, the closest weekend to September 11 will be dedicated to Kumbh Mela.

Swamiji beautifully described the significance of Kumbh Mela to us using the recent scientific confirmations from research done by leading Japanese scientist Imoto. In his book, “Messages from Water” through advanced microscopic techniques, Imoto demonstrated the crystal structure of water was highly influenced by the types of thoughts one had. When he subjected water to thoughts that were peaceful, meditative and prayerful, the frozen water crystals amazingly exhibited beautiful structures that represented peace and harmonious look. On the other hand when water was subject to anger or troubled emotions, the crystals formed had a frightening and ghostly appearance. For thousands of years Indian rishis gathered every 12 years and took bath in Ganga with a deep prayerful mood to infuse collective positiveness to people. This was especially important during the anniversary of Spetember 11 events where so many innocent people lost their lives. This is why Swamiji was very keen on making the Kumbh Mela an annual event for peace and collective positivity in USA.

The first Kumbh Mela in USA was very successful. We had several organizations participate in this peaceful march of fun and festivities. Spiritual leaders from various traditions came together. Swamiji personally supervised all of the arrangements as Nithyananda Mission took on the responsibility for organizing Kumbh Mela in USA every year. Swamiji brought water from 21 holy rivers in India. Deities from each spiritual organization were immersed into the holy water from the 21 holy rivers in India. The event was followed by cultural events and concerts. Over 5,000 people gathered for the Kumbh Mela celebrations at the University of California, Irvine campus. The event was widely covered by press from Los Angeles and all over the world.

After Kumbh Mela celebrations we had the fourth teachers training program in Camp Buckhorn, a beautiful facility near Los Angeles. Over 80 people were selected for the teachers training program. By now all manuals and pre-qualification process is completed ahead of the teachers training program. It was picturesque surroundings – we were surrounded by mountains and Swamiji said the surrounding area was vibrant with spiritual energy. Camp Buckhorn was near Idyllwild. Those of you who know southern California will know the area I am referring to – beautiful mountains, tall pine trees and serene picturesque surroundings.

Swamiji spent a lot of time outdoors with the group. In this teachers training program we also had a special training for organizers. As the mission was now growing in all corners of USA, those who had taken up the responsibility for spreading the mission in their cities/regions were given specific training to spread the mission. The mission was now active in Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver, Phoenix, Houston, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Columbus, Toronto, New York and New Jersey.

On the day before the last session, Swamiji did not come out of his room for most of the day. He was in a deep Samadhi state and knew something big was going to be delivered. He came out of the room towards the late evening and talked to us about a meditation technique that was revealed to him. He told us that this meditation will transform humanity and that it incorporates the essence of all his teachings. He called this technique, Nithya Dhyaan. He said this technique if done regularly is all what one needs for their physical, mental health and spiritual growth. He then went on to describe this technique where he beautifully blends the science of Chakras, the Koshas, the unclutched state and finally ends it in Bhakti through chanting of Guru Pooja mantra. It was a day filled with so much excitement and energy. Whenever he is in the expanded state Swamiji always tries to give blessings. We had energy darshan that night and Swamiji blessed all the participants.

Ma Sachitananda and I headed back to Duarte Ashram a day before teachers training ended to pack up for the trip back to India. We later heard the final day of the teachers training was an emotionally charged day. During this session a 90+ year old famous Jazz singer from Hollywood who lived in the area visited us. He was a devotee of Paramahamsa Yogananda (name of the celebrity is not being disclosed for privacy reasons). He spent a few hours with Swamiji. He was so touched and filled with energy that he was able to take away the crutches and walk by himself during energy darshan. He said maybe the reason for his living all these years was to meet this enlightened master Paramahamsa Nithyananda. During energy darshan I was told by ashramites that Swamiji talked about some past life attachment/connection of some of us and this became a very emotionally charged event.

We headed back to India on September 10, 2006. The year 2006 was quite a hectic year with three trips to USA and other countries. This was the year the mission was being solidified. It was the time that seeds for various ashrams that are now happening all over the United States were sowed. We feel blessed to be part of this exciting time in Nithyananda Mission.

After reaching India, the devotees in India had a hectic program organized for Swamiji. There were NSP programs where thousands of participants attended his programs. We also had the inauguration of the Nithyananda Gurukul in October. Nithyananda Gurukul is now a school that effortlessly balances conventional education in mathematics, sciences, and languages with the ancient Vedic system of spiritual knowledge. We restrict enrollment in Gurukul to children of ashramites at this point. Swamiji spends a lot of time with the children of the Gurukul these days. The Gurukul inauguration day coincided with Vijayadasami, the day of worship of Saraswathi, Goddess of learning. He declared: I enjoyed a wonderful spiritual incubator in Arunachala, my birthplace, during my childhood. I experienced galloping intelligence in the inner and outer worlds in the wonderful ambience created by it. My goal now is to offer the same ambience to children through Nithyananda Gurukul, the same intense atmosphere, so they may experience what I experienced.

Swamiji performed Vidyaarti homa, a fire ritual before start of education and initiated each child with yajno bavitha (sacred white thread symbolizing the connection between man and Existence) and the Gayatri chant (chant to invoke the Existential Energy to bless one with the Supreme intelligence which is the Energy itself).

A group photo of the first batch of the Gurukul students with Swamiji and the Principal

Swamiji delivered a beautiful message on the inauguration of Nithyananda Gurukul which is summarized below:

Children are born inherently blissful and close to Existence. As they grow, they are conditioned by society and they are exposed to the needs that arise in everyday living. They need money to live. To earn the money, they need education. As long as they understand these things as basic needs and not as the goal of life itself, things are alright. But in no time, these needs become the goal of life itself and in the process they lose the ability to live life.

When you take birth, you take birth with a reason. That first reason with which you take birth determines the course of your entire life. The position of the planets and the state of your mind at the time of taking birth determines your whole life. In the same way, every day too you take a new life. Every day, you go through life and death. And the first thought that comes to you when you wake up in the morning determines the course of your whole day.

Children, who go to school, invariably wake up with fear every morning, from the Swadhistana chakra (the energy center in the navel area that is responsible for fear emotion). They wake up thinking of the teacher and the beating stick! Diseases like cancer have their roots in this type of disturbed consciousness at a young age. Most teachers lack basic intelligence. They themselves suffer from not knowing how to balance themselves emotionally. When children spend 8 hours a day with them, they too grow up without knowing how to balance themselves.

It is important that children learn to internalize and understand social needs without getting corrupted or internalizing society’s value system. They need to learn how to maintain social protocols without internalizing society’s so called value system. Once they obtain clarity in this, they will no more wake up from the swadhishtana chakra. They will wake up from the anahata chakra, the heart center for love emotion. When this happens, concentration and memory power will increase tremendously.

Children of Nithyananda Gurukul will flourish in the inner and outer worlds. I am from Arunachala, a spiritual nerve in South India. Arunachala is like a spiritual incubator for anybody who is receptive to it. I had a beautiful ambience there. Between the age of 7 and 14, I was able to learn the inner Science along with the outer Science in a natural fashion in the ambience offered by Arunachala. That was the reason for the intelligence I gained in both the inner and outer worlds. This is what I am trying to give to these kids through the Gurukul. I am creating an ambience for the children, the same ambience that I enjoyed for intelligence to flower.

I want the children to wake up like a flower, with deep love, and live with people who are meditators. All our teachers are meditators who know how to balance themselves. Here, they will not absorb the negativity of the outer world and will maintain the purity of the inner world radiating Nithyananda – Eternal bliss!

There have been many traditions of the past. Some have died without teaching anything effective. Some have sustained only causing misery for people. The ancient tradition of Gurukul learning has sustained over thousands of years, teaching life engineering to people.

A child, whichever hero he idolizes from young age, imbibes that hero’s mental set up and body language. The children at Nithyananda Gurukul are lucky to be with a Master. They will be continuously watching me. Their mental setup and body language will be influenced by a very intense spiritual atmosphere that is created here. This is like the center of a spiritual cyclone. These children will grow up learning and imbibing highest spiritual values.

I hereby declare Nithyananda Gurukul open! May the children be in and radiate Nithyananda – Eternal Bliss!

Swamiji has started creating deities for various upcoming temples that were going to happen all over the world. Those of you who know Swamiji know that he does not do anything in a sequential manner. He expects and makes explonential growth to happen – all at once! Preparations started on a grand scale to start carving various deities for temples across the world. Swamiji went and personally inspected the wax mold of the 8 ft Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari. Pouring molten five-metal for a deity this size in a single step was never done before. Stapathis (metal statue artisans) were quite concerned about how a single five metal piece would form in one step. With the master's grace this happened effortlessly. Once the deity was completed, a tour of the deity all across South Indian states commenced. Swamiji called it koti kannu yatra indicating 1 crore (10 million) people would have the darshan of Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari before the idol is installed in the Bidadi temples. In order to meet the deities Swamiji wanted to be carved immediately we had also to lease carving centers in Mahabalipuram, started our own centers in Bidadi and Rasipuram and leased a hill famous for granite specifically used for making deities. Swamiji does everything in a grand scale!