LIVING ENLIGHTENMENT🔗

My message for you

I welcome you all with my love and respect.

It's a beautiful day - 17ᵗʰ anniversary of my first experience! Maybe I will take a few minutes to express exactly what happened on that day.

Around the age of ten, I used to go and see this great Master, Annamalai Swamigal. He's one of the direct disciples of Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi. He is the person who used to give Bhagavan his bath! He was such a close disciple.

One day, when he was giving Bhagavan his bath, he writes in his memoirs, I thought, after all, I am touching just a normal body. How come everybody is worshiping this body? Everyone is feeling He is God.

You see, when you are too intimate with a living God, you may forget that he is God sometimes! Sometime, there is difficulty in remembering. You may take it for granted. Then, he says, 'Suddenly something happened. I don't know what happened. Bhagavan touched me. Either he read my mind or what I don't know. He touched me and I went into Samadhi, that's all.'

After that, he completely stopped working; not only stopped working, stopped leading a normal way of life also. He just was relaxing, settled down near the

Young Paramahamsa is seen with Mataji Kuppammal in Tiruvannamalai. The sacred Arunachala hillock can be seen in the background. Mataji Kuppammal was like a caretaker to Paramahamsa for a brief period of time during his meditative years in Tiruvannamalai. She was one of the few who recognized the greatness hidden in him, and shared with him her knowledge on Vedanta and Tantra.

Naturally, I was not able to understand. How can we be beyond suffering? If my mother beats me, I have pain. If my teacher shouts at me, I have suffering. How can he say we are beyond pain and suffering? Anyhow, I did not leave it at that. I went home, took a knife and cut my right thigh to see if I really experienced pain or not.

See, when Krishna said, 'The soul cannot be cut by a sword, nor burnt by fire, nor destroyed by anything, Arjuna tested that philosophy on others! But I tested it unfortunately on myself. Of course, there was pain and I was taken to the

Children from the Nithyananda Gurukul of the Bangalore ashram, visit Tiruvannamalai, Paramahamsa's hometown, as part of their travel study program. Here, they are sitting opposite the sacred Pavazha kundru rock on which Paramahamsa had his first deep spiritual experience at the age of 12.

hospital. The doctor gave me first aid. After a few days, I went back to him and asked him, 'What is this? What have you taught me? You said we have no pain and suffering. I cut myself and now I have pain. I have suffering.' It was a very deep cut. They made 13 stitches. 13 stitches is a big thing for a 10 year old boy! He was smiling at me and said, 'My son, just try to find the source from where you are feeling the pain, the point where you are feeling this pain. Try to find the source. Do this meditation.'

Even after he taught the meditation, I was not completely convinced. I told him, 'It's alright. You have given me blessing or an initiation or some meditation. That's ok, but you could have done this before I cut my thigh! You could have done this earlier. Why did you make me cut my thigh and then talk all these things?' He said, 'Don't bother my son. Don't bother about this pain. You had courage to experiment with the truth. That will liberate you. Don't bother.'

Then, the incident was a big inspiration for me. I said, 'Alright, let me at least now do the meditation.' I used to play with the technique he gave me actually. I would just sit and see from where that pain was coming or where I am feeling that I, I, I.' Whenever I found time, I would just sit and play with that technique; not very seriously, just very casually - trying to find the source of the Self, not even as a meditation... just casually. I won't even know what will be the end of the meditation etc. I would do just because he said to do. Sometimes I used to think that at the end of the meditation, God would appear and say, 'You will not have pain!' At that time, I did not have a clear idea about what will happen as a result of the meditation. And I know for sure is, if I do this I will not have any suffering or pain in the future. It was ultimately this meditation that led to my first deep spiritual experience.

I had my first spiritual experience at the age of twelve. Let me describe the incident to you. I was sitting on a rock called Pavazha Kundru - the Holy Rock - on the Arunachala hill, and meditating. I was meditating for a long time that day. I was looking into myself to see where thoughts were coming from. I was actually playing with this technique, when a strange experience happened. It was on Buddha Purnima day - full moon day - in the month of Vaikasi - May-June - as per the Tamil calendar, and evening sunset period.

In the midst of this meditation, I felt something opening up within me, something was getting crushed, something else was getting created. It was like a vessel inside getting broken and a door opening, both together at the same time. It was a feeling of creation and destruction at the same time; and a very pleasurable feeling.

Even with my eyes closed, I could see all around. I did not need my eyes to be open to see. Not just that, I had a 360-degree vision with my eyes closed. With equal clarity, I could see the hill in front, the temple behind, the rock below, the stars above, the trees to the left, part of the hill to the right, all these were in my visionary field, without having to open my eyes!

At that moment, I awakened to the realization that I was one with the whole of Existence and everything was I! It was like this tree in front of me became my bone and this thatch above became my nerves!

How did this happen? What made me have such a strong experience of samadhi? There are many others who are also doing the same meditation, of seeing where the thoughts arise from, but why don't they have such experiences? The reason is, I was so inspired by the Masters that I was living like them! Because of that, my consciousness was ripe and ready for such an experience.

My inner space was so pure from young age. Masters were my only hero; there were no other heroes. Every step I would think, 'How would Annamalai Swamigal behave? Let me behave like that.' I used to circumambulate (go around) the hill late in the night. When I would feel some fear I would think, how would Annamalai Swamigal behave? He won't have any fear, let me also not have fear then.

Let me tell you an incident which really happened. Around the time I had my first experience, I was doing circumambulation of the Arunachala hill one night. It was raining heavily with lightning and thunder. I felt a fear in me. Immediately I thought, 'How would Annamalai Swamigal be? He won't bother, he would just walk, so let me also walk!' During the circumambulation, the path around Arunachala goes through cremation grounds. I was passing through a traditional crematorium, the city's cremation ground. In India, burial and cremation both are done in the same place. Suddenly I saw a dog biting something and eating. When I went nearer, the dog started barking. First thing when the fear came, I thought: how would Annamalai Swamigal be? He won't bother, so I continued walking! Then the dog got scared and ran away. When I went closer I saw that it was a dead body which was not fully buried. It had come up in the rain! Just imagine: a 12 year old boy on a stormy night in heavy rain, at midnight seeing a dead body without a head, because the head was in the dog's mouth! The moment the fear started, it did not even reach my being completely; the shock and fear stroke did not even happen completely. The awareness was so intense, as the fear started I thought: How would Annamalai Swamigal behave now? He would just walk around and go. So I just walked around the dead body and continued! That's all! I just took a bypass, a detour. I walked on and didn't even bother to turn back and see. The fear stroke which started or was about to start did not even open up and reach my body. The heat or

shivering or shaking was not there in my body. Intensely, the whole conscious inner space was ready.

That is the reason; just a small cut, a small inspiration was able to put me in that experience. That's what I call Living Enlightenment. When you live the enlightened Masters' body language, you live enlightenment. Whenever any thought came into my space, whether it was related to food or clothes or anything else, the first thing I would think was: how would that Master behave? Naturally this reaction would not be there, then forget about it. If I feel a little lazy to meditate or to walk, I would think how Annamalai Swamigal would do it? Naturally he won't bother about laziness. He would get up and meditate, so do that, that's all! So I would just get up, sit and do it.

So Annamalai Swamigal became the scale. These Masters became the scale in my inner space constantly. I asked him once, 'Swamiji, I see Arunachaleshwara in my dream, do you also see him in your dream?' He said, 'No, I don't have dreams.' Immediately I asked, 'You don't have dreams? Then how can I have dreams? No dreams!' That night when a dream started happening, I clearly told in my

dream: No! I cannot dream. Annamalai Swamigal doesn't have dreams, then how can I have dreams? The dream disappeared! Even if I felt cold, I would remember how he would behave - he won't bother, then I will decide not to bother. Over!

There was no further question or argument inside me. The biggest problem for a seeker is this inner dialogue: I know you are right, but I am struggling. If this happens in you, over! You are dead. Nothing can be done by you, you will be stuck with this one idea for janmas (many births). This is what we call kaarana shareera - giving reasons. You will never be able to get

Ravana knows very clearly that Sita is his daughter, but he's not able to control himself. Ravana is nothing but schizophrenic, that's why he is shown with 10 heads. One side or one part of him is very devoted to Shiva. Another part of him is filled with lust for Sita. Another part is filled with arrogance and violence. He is schizophrenic, that's all! If you say, 'I know what Swamiji says is right, but I can't do it', you are Ravana! Even if you worship Shiva, Shiva cannot save you! Ravana was a great Shiva bhakta - Shiva devotee. He built a huge temple for Shiva in Trikonamalai, in

Seen here are Ma Nithya Sadananda and Sri Nithya Sadananda, the first two disciples of Paramahamsa. Today, they are senior Swamini and Swami of the Nithyananda Order. Popularly called amma and ayyah, they are a great source of inspiration to the young spiritual aspirants who walk into the ashram.

Sri Lanka. Integrated devotion is real devotion. Schizophrenic devotion is not devotion, it is Ravana bhakti.

The reason for my first experience is, I never had such thoughts in my inner space. If Annamalai Swamigal does it, I'll do it, that's all. For any thought that came up inside, I asked myself: how would Annamalai Swamigal respond? He will not have this thought? Then it is not mine either. Over! Take this as my message today. In any situation just remember, 'How would Swamiji respond? How will He react, how will He face this situation?' This is what I call Living Enlightenment. You don't need anything else, just this is enough.

This is what I call relationship with the Master. Relationship with the Master is not puja worship - or offering flowers at his feet or worshipping him once in a while. It is being thoroughly impressed by him. Whenever anything comes up, whether it is fear or greed or anger or anything else, just think how He would respond, and it will simply disappear! A simple understanding is enough. Many times I tell people, being strongly connected with Master is enough, you don't need anything else - this is what I mean by that. Otherwise you will be Ravana, schizophrenic, sometimes behaving nicely, sometimes rudely, sometimes with lust, sometimes with anger. Integrate, no more being Ravana. Let the whole body and mind imbibe the energy, spirit and inspiration of the master. That's all is the message.

Why doesn't this happen in us? Because of so many other relationships. Your inner space is occupied by so many other persons. So many other people have inspired you, impressed on to the Master for disciple B. Only for those moments the disciple-disciple relation is allowed, because for those few moments the disciple is not working, the Master's energy is working through the disciple. So he is not a disciple for those few moments, at other times he is himself. After those few moments forget about them, your relationship is only with Master.

Just take with you today these two messages: disciple-disciple relationship is hell; and for any situation, think how the Master will respond, how he will behave. This technique is a very simple technique using which, any problem in the internal world can be solved. If you follow these two messages, the next Buddha Purnima, you will be celebrating your first experience! That should be the goal! Carry just these two ideas in your mind. Whenever anything comes up, think how Swamiji will behave. Understand very clearly: if you behave as I behave, you will have what I have! It's a promise from Existence!

This is the essence of my message this purnima - live enlightenment... for anything, think how the Master will be and live like that. By next year, you will be celebrating your anniversary of first experience. My blessings: let you all live enlightenment and achieve and radiate Eternal Bliss - nithyananda! Thank you.

ANANDA NANDI

This calf is Nandi itself, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. It has taken a conscious birth with perfect timing, on my own Jayanti day at exactly pradosha time, and in front of my own quarters! It has come to be with me! Henceforth it will be called Ananda Nandi. Please offer puja to it everyday. You will see many miracles happening as it grows!

Ashramites celebrate Pradosha - a function auspicious to Lord Shiva, at Sri Anandeshwar temple in the Bidadi ashram. The sacred bull of Lord Shiva is the deity seen here. Special offerings are made to it on this occasion.

A calf from the Goshala (cow shelter). Paramahamsa declared of the calf: this calf is Nandi itself, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. It has taken a conscious birth with perfect timing, on my own Jayanti day at exactly pradosha time, and in front of my own quarters as per my prediction! It has come to be with me! It will be called Ananda Nandi. Worship it everyday. You will see many miracles happening as it grows!

Over 4700 hours of speech have been recorded with Paramahamsa. The ever growing challenge of Nithyananda Publishers is to reach the spoken words to humanity, within reasonable time of delivery. Listed here are a few of the published titles in book form and audio/video form. The categories included here are books, discourse ACDs, DVDs, cassettes as well as kirtans (music). Compilation and design of all publications are done in house by ashramites by the grace of the Master.

On 30th December 2007, this very book Songs of Eternity was released in its draft form at the public function of Paramahamsa's 31st Jayanti celebrations at the Bangalore ashram. Seen here is Dr. Shanthaveera Swamiji of Kolada Mutt releasing the book on stage.

The first print run of the book happened four months later in April 2008. Before taking it to print, a few pictures from events that happened post Jayanti were also included inevitably.

TAMIL

TELUGU

KANNADA

HINDI

GUJARATI

'HIS NAME IS NITHYANANDA' has also been published in

ORIYA

FRENCH

MALAY

PORTUGUESE

CHINESE

ENGLISH DISCOURSES

Bhagavad Gita series of eighteen discourses was delivered at the Malibu Temple in Los Angeles, USA soon after inauguration of the Los Angeles ashram in Sep 2005.

Ashtavakra Gita series of three discourses was delivered in Bangalore city, India in Nov 2005.

The Jain Sutras was delivered through a series of six discourses in Los Angeles in March 2007

Shiva Sutras series of discourses was delivered during several world tours and in India in 2006 and 2007.

Key discourses delivered during the Angkor Wat trip in July 2007

A few titles categorized from talks delivered from 2003 to end of 2007 (titles not listed under other sections only are listed here)

Win over your Emotions! • From Worrying to Wondering • From Lust to Love - the ultimate alchemy • From distress to distress • Love to survive • Guilt - the sure killer of intelligence

Religion and Spirituality...

The 'Mind Game'!

Deeper Truths...

Understand your Potential...

The Truth - simplified...

TAMIL DISCOURSES

Discourses delivered during Ananda Ula 2004 – tour of Tamilnadu, South India under the banner Kadavai tira kaatru varattum

Discourses delivered during Ananda Ula 2005 – tour of Tamilnadu, South India under the banner Kadavai tira kaatru varattum

MUSIC

A marathon achievement of Nithyananda Kirtanalaya (the music wing) was, producing 108 music CDs in just 2 months' time, as instructed by Paramahamsa. The CDs were released during Jayanti 2007 celebrations. A few of the published CDs thus far are listed here.