Tapas to overcome death
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Death is a mystery - but more importantly, it is man's greatest fear. That is why a In some Catholic nunneries, the nuns lie down in open coffins every morning and meditate that they are dead. In Vedanta, this is one of the most used techniques for enlightenment. In Buddhism, anyone initiated into sannyas has to spend three months in the cremation grounds, continuously observing the bodies being burnt, while visualizing oneself being burnt. The logical mind finds it difficult to understand how one simple experience can give such courage.
I myself had this particular experience in Varanasi, India.
When I went to Varanasi, I saw that about three hundred dead bodies were being cremated every day in a place called Manikarnika Ghat.
Traditionally, it is believed that if somebody leaves the body in that area, or if their body is burnt in that area, they will be liberated. Ramakrishna confirms thism and says that he saw Mahadeva (Shiva) himself going to every pyre and unclutching every soul from its body and liberating it.
The men working there would carry the bodies to the Ganga river, reaching there by evening. As they walk, they keep chanting 'Ram Naam Satya Hai,' which means, 'The name of the Lord is the ultimate truth.'
There is no special ritual involved. the bodies are dipped into the Ganga three times as they say 'Raam Naam Satya Hai.'
I sat at that particular ghat to observe what was going on, and an hour later, death was no more a strange incident that happens to a distant relative.
Bodies of all sizes, genders, ages, colors, communities and religions were burnt in that hour. When one sees so many bodies, it feels like there is nothing to it. Death means that the breath that goes into them does not come out, that is all. Everyone has to leave their body someday, and they will have company as well!
Knowing that death is inevitable will bring down the respect that one has for the ego. Whatever one thinks should not leave them is their ego. When one knows for sure that everything is going to leave them, the respect for the ego goes down immensely.
Being a very straightforward person, I immediately dropped my ego and decided that if I am going to die after all, I should have a death experience now itself, and live without the fear or die and see for myself.
I sat down in a small Shiva temple nearby and started watching the dead bodies being burnt. The big 'click' that I remember even to this day, happened when an old lady's body was being burnt, and I could see the fat from her stomach melting. This fat made the fire burn brighter!
Seeing this made me think that the very same thing is going to happen to me..! This opened up a deep, terrible fear of death in me, but I decided to face it consciously.
The fear was spreading all over my body, and when it met my awareness, it became a death experience. I saw clearly that the body was dead. For two and a half days, I did not sleep, eat, drink or think. Suddenly the 'click' happened to me that this body is dead, but I am still existing! This was such an intense ecstasy that the fear of death just left. Slowly I opened my eyes, and the first thing I felt was a deep gratitude.
I performed a small puja for Vishwanatha (Shiva) at the temple, and I could see clearly that Vishwanatha was alive. When I died, Vishwanatha became alive to me. Till the previous day, because I was alive, Vishwanatha was a dead stone.
When a fear is suppressed, it stays inside the person. When one does not consciously face the fear, it shakes one's whole nervous system. However, when it is faced consciously, it becomes a death experience.
Facing the fear of death consciously and coming out is the ultimate tapas.


About His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda
His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda is recognized today as a clear, legitimate, apolitical voice of Sanatana Hindu Dharma, and revered as a living incarnation of superconsciousness by millions worldwide. He is a Mahamandaleshwar (spiritual head) of Mahanirvani Peeth, the world's most ancient apex body of Hinduism. He is the most watched spiritual teacher on YouTube.com with over 21 million views, and the author of more than 300 books published in over 20 languages. His lectures are watched live every day on http://www.nithyananda.tv, as well as on multiple international television channels and via video conferencing.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda is considered the foremost authority in the world today in the field of Consciousness and Kundalini awakening. He has successfully demystified yogic sciences like Third Eye Awakening℠, spiritual healing, levitation, teleportation, materialization, anti-ageing and going beyond the need for food.
A spiritual genius with an enlightened insight into everything from management to meditation, relationships to religion, success to spirituality, Paramahamsa Nithyananda brings to us a wealth of practical wisdom and techniques for lasting inner change.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda is the spiritual head of several non-profit organizations worldwide which enrich lives through personal transformation programs and courses, publications, spreading Vedic sciences and wisdom, spiritual healing and humanitarian services.
As a global humanitarian, Paramahamsa Nithyananda is working to promote global peace through the transformation of the individual. His spiritual mission includes ashrams and centres worldwide, which serve as spiritual laboratories where inner growth is profound and outer growth is a natural consequence.
Service activities include conducting meditation and de-addiction camps, free medical camps and artificial limb donation for the needy, support for education and vocational training, support for children in rural areas, conducting meditation camps for prisoners and disaster relief activities.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda is also deeply committed to creating international awareness about Indian culture and the ancient Vedic tradition. As an enlightened mystic, a spiritual evolutionary, a trained yogi, a powerful healer and a siddha, Paramahamsa Nithyananda is an inspiring personality for millions of people worldwide. His authenticity, depth of experience and his rare gift for making spirituality both practical and enjoyable have allowed His teachings to reach far and wide.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda has healed thousands of people of a wide range of diseases, often with a single touch. Working and sharing with over 10 million people worldwide every year, Paramahamsa Nithyananda and His mission are committed to help humanity make the next big breakthrough: into Superconsciousness.

Kalpataru Kshetra - Bidadi
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF NITHYANANDA DHYANAPEETAM located near Bangalore, Asia's fastest growing city

ANCIENT BANYAN TREE
- A kalpa vriksha (boon giving tree) that has manifested millions of sincere prayers till date
- Body and mind are calmed and refreshed by the powerful positive vibrations here
- Thousands experience miraculous healing of diseases by meditating under this tree
- Lord Dakshinamurti graces the space and radiates blessings to all

NITHYANANDESHWARA-NITHYANANDESHWARI TEMPLE
- Deities of Shiva & Devi measuring 7 1/2 feet in height and weighing 2 1/2 tons
- Deities are made out of panchaloha (combination of five metals)
- A rare ancient swayambhu lingam found under the banyan tree is consecrated here
- Thousands gather for worship here on special occasions

NITHYANANDA LINGAM & VAIDYA SAROVAR
- Majestic 21-foot shivalingam which has been made using Nava Pashana (a strong natural medicine made of healing herbs) and 1008 sacred herbs.
- Water from six fountains bathes the lingam and falls into Vaidya Sarovar, the healing pool below
- Even a single dip in this medicinal water can heal many diseases
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Reaching Out to Serve the World
ANNADAAN : FREE FOOD FOR ALL
- More than 10,000 free meals served each day in Nithyananda ashrams and centers worldwide.
- Nutritious vegetarian meals cooked using authentic sattvic methods in a hygienic environment
- Chanting of vedic mantras or keertans while cooking infuse high-energy vibrations into the food.
- Free meal schemes are also offered in schools, prisons and temples.

FREE MEDICAL SERVICES : HEALTH WITH CARE
- Fortnightly and monthly multispecialty medical camps offering all services
- Weekly mobile medical services including free consultation and medicines in rural areas
- A 100% free dialysis clinic with 47 dialysis machines catering to 250 patients per day in the pipeline
- Free 100-bed hospital with all amenities planned for the needy

DISASTER RELIEF : HELPING TO HEAL
- Emergency relief to victims of natural calamities such as tsunami, earthquake, floods etc
- Distribution of free through various relief measures, by offering clothes, food, water and most importantly, psychological support and trauma counseling.

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10 Years
of NITHYANANDA MISSION 2003-2013
- Over 300 books of Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s teachings published in 27 languages
- Over 2000 free talks by Nithyananda on www.YouTube.com/lifeblissfoundation crossing 16 million views
- Over 250 e-books and 600 meditation techniques and solutions available free online
- Nithyananda University offering courses in meditation, spiritual sciences and life skills being established across the world
- Breakthrough research on mystical yogic sciences like kundalini awakening, levitation, teleportation and yogic age-reversal
- The Nithyananda Order - Hundreds of aspirants from various religions and walks of life receiving intensive spiritual training and sannyas
- Ananda Yogam - free one-year residential program for youth aged 18-35 years, offering vocational and spiritual training for excellence and personal growth
- A dynamic volunteer force, including over 1000 full-time resident volunteers, offering services such as disaster relief, counseling, initiatives for youth and women’s empowerment
- Nithya Kriyas and Sammyamas - 108 authentic yogic solutions for physical and mental ailments
- Holistic-lifestyle aids including devotional music, energized jewelry, sacred arts and sculpture, and natural siddha medicines

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Scientific Research
on Mystical Yogic Sciences
PARAMAHAMSA NITHYANANDA WORKS WITH DOCTORS & RESEARCHERS to understand and revive yogic sciences like kundalini awakening, levitation, teleportation, materialization, living on prana, etc.
KUNDALINI AWAKENING & LEVITATION
- Awakening and activating the highest potential energy hidden in the body
- Safe and natural kundalini awakening for more than 100,000 people through personal initiation
- Leads to recovery from chronic illnesses and improves health
- Boosts memory, intelligence, decision-making, creativity
- Rapid dissolving of karmas and intense spiritual growth

TELEPORTATION & MATERIALIZATION
- Yogic science of inter-converting energy and matter — impossible to duplicate in modern science
- Vibhooti, kumkum, honey etc. materializing on sacred objects and deities worldwide by a blessing from Paramahamsa Nithyananda
- People worldwide are experiencing these miracles from thousands of miles away
- Materialized objects have strong positive vibrations and healing properties

LIVING WITHOUT EATING —
NIRAAHAARA SAMMYAMA
- Hundreds worldwide are successfully living without food since August 2012!
- Personal initiation by Paramahamsa Nithyananda into hunger-free sammyama
- Awakens the body's ability to live on prana like trees and plants
- Breaks deep-rooted food patterns without the need for fasting
- An effortless weight loss technique & powerful spiritual practice


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TAKING Vedic Hindu Tradition INTO HOMES ACROSS THE WORLD
- Protecting, preserving and promoting Vedic Hindu tradition through Vedic Temples in India, USA, Canada, Malaysia and other countries
- Inspiring families to live the Vedic tradition through over 400 Paduka Mandirs housing 3720 energized deities where daily worship is performed in the authentic Vedic tradition
- Thousands of people worldwide simultaneously perform Vedic rituals during the daily morning satsang, creating powerful positive vibrations


- Reviving India's pilgrimage culture by regularly leading yatras to spiritual energy fields like Kailash-Manasarovar, Char-Dhaam, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Angkor Wat, Kumbh Mela, etc.

- Nithyananda Sacred Arts to promote, support and preserve ancient temple arts and sculpture as the largest producer of metal, wood and stone deities in India


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INSPIRING A GLOBAL
Vedic Renaissance


- Daily morning live satsang by Paramahamsa Nithyananda viewed online in over 40 countries through two-way video conferencing and Nithyananda TV.
- Daily spiritual talks by Paramahamsa Nithyananda viewed on various TV channels
- Over 20 different types of meditation programs at various levels offered in corporates, schools, prisons, etc.
- Nithya Yoga & Nithya Kriya - authentic yogic solutions for 108 physical & mental disorders
- Scientific & safe initiation into mystical yogic sciences like kundalini awakening, levitation, hunger-free Sammyama etc.
- The Nithyananda Sannyas Order for spreading and continuing the sannyas parampara (tradition)
- Nithyananda Gurukuls and eN-Vidyalayas offering holistic traditional and modern education in a healthy environment
- Inspiring the youth to be the ambassadors of Vedic tradition by enriching them through scripture study, rituals and kriyas





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The seed has to break and give way; only then can the tree happen. Any process of transition will be both painful and joyful - a ‘sweet pain’. Having the courage to go through it and break free is is what I call TAPAS! ~ HIS HOLINESS PARAMAHAMSA NITHYANANDA
NITHYANANDA UNIVERSITY PRESS Ebook ISBN: 979-8-88572-190-5