Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda Back in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, March 24, 2009
Dilip Butani
On Wednesday, March 19, 2009, Paramahamsa Nithyananda was enthusiastically
welcomed back to the Vedic Temple, Montclair by more than 700 visitors
and devotees.
With less than 24-hours notice, word of the Swamiji’s public
appearance in Los Angeles was spread rapidly though phone calls
and email. Devotees and visitors began arriving at the temple early
in the afternoon to await the arrival of Nithyananda. “It
was wonderful to be here to see Swamiji. I wouldn’t have missed
this opportunity,” said one devotee who made a six hour drive
from Phoenix.
At his first public event in the United States in more than a year,
Swamiji announced the US release of Living Enlightenment, a comprehensive
volume of his teachings that covers a wide variety of topics, including
yoga and meditation and provides practical life solutions for blissful
living. The book is available in both hardcover and an abridged
softcover edition.
Speaking to a packed auditorium in a beautifully decorated hall,
Nithyananda engaged the audience with his authenticity and his humor
as he delivered the keynote message of the YOGAM tour: “Living
Enlightenment”.
“Dedicate this year to radiate and live enlightenment”
said Nithyananda. “Living Enlightenment”, said Nithyananda,
“is living an integrated and conflict-free life”.
Swamiji explained, “Living Enlightenment” is defined
by four elements: shakti (energy), buddhi (wisdom), yukti (clarity),
and bhakti (devotion). Shakti is the ability to change what needs
be changed, buddhi is the wisdom to accept what need not be changed,
yukti is clarity that everything is part of a constant, continuously
changing dream, and bhakti is devotion to the unchanging Energy,
Existence or Master. Expression of all these dimensions is “’living
enlightenment”.
Following the talk at the Vedic Temple, leaders from the Indian
Community of Southern California came forward to receive blessings
from Swamiji. Leaders of this diverse community worked together
for the first time ever, in order to organize an event for Swamiji.
A special public discourse by Swamiji on March 29 at Excelsior High
School Auditorium (15711 S. Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650) is
the result of this collaborative effort.
After the event, visitors and devotees had the opportunity to
meet individually with Swamiji, to receive blessings and guidance.
Maha Prasad was served to all guests after the event. Visitors lingered
late into the evening to watch discourses, enjoy dinner and visit
the two temple stores, Life Bliss Galleria and Nithyananda Sacred
Arts. Volunteers at the temple were kept busy answering questions
about upcoming events, completing temple tours, and assisting with
program registrations.
Swamiji will continue his message of “Living Enlightenment”
as he conducts two unique meditation workshops, Kalpataru Program
and Yoga Spurana Program (YSP). These workshops are specifically
designed to enable participants to experience “Living Enlightenment”
and to carry this experience with them into their daily lives
The Kalpataru Program is being offered for the first time in the
USA during the YOGAM tour and will be held on Friday, Åpril
3. Through meditation techniques, one learns how to live a fulfilled
life with more love, happiness and compassion.
Following the Kalpataru Program is the weekend-long Yoga Spurana
Program in which participants can apply these teachings, experiencing
greater fitness and health, increasing productivity, bringing clarity,
and leading to success in all walks of life. Yoga Spurana Program
will be held on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, from 8:00am-
midnight both days.
Swamiji will also be offering free, public discourses on the Yoga
Sutras at the Vedic Temple, Montclair (9720 Central Ave, Montclair,
CA 91763) on Mar 24, 25, 26 and April 1 and 2 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm
in addition to public discourse and dinner being sponsored by the
Indian Community of So California, will be held on March 29 at 5:00pm
at Excelsior High School.
Swamiji began The YOGAM tour began on March 7 in Toronto, Canada
and has been received with an overwhelming response, with up to
2000 people attending discourses and more than 600 attending the
workshops. “It was really beautiful and amazing. We see many
people being lit up and feeling connected to all aspects: his presence,
his message and his meditations“ said one local organizer
of the visit to Vancouver.
Swamiji was born in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu,
which boasts a rich Vedic Tradition and is home to a succession
of enlightened masters, including Ramana Maharishi and Annamalai
Swamigal. He began his spiritual quest at a young age, studying
yoga, meditation and Vedic rituals.
His teachings offer guaranteed and practical solutions for all
situations and all individuals. He is identified by his unique ability
to share this practical experience and to recreate the experience
of “Nithyananda”, in every individual, from top executives
to rural farmers.
The simple, dynamic meditation techniques offered during his meditation
programs and his lucid understanding of practical issues enable
individuals to blossom at physical, emotional and spiritual levels.
Swamiji has ordained meditation and yoga teachers around the world.
Under the guiding mission statement, "Transformation of humanity
through transformation of the individual", with hundreds of
centers worldwide, Swamiji’s spiritual mission continues to
grow, touching millions of lives around the world.
YOGAM will continue until May with Swamiji delivering discourses
and conducting meditation workshops in 11 North American cities
and reaching out to thousands of individuals to provide guidance
and blessings. For more information call 909-625-1400.
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