Nityananda

[Guest guest]

>Message: 21

> Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:31:05 -0600

> Dharma <fisher1

>Your guru

>

>Hello Marcus,

>

>Would you tell us about Bhagawan Nityananda, your guru?

>

>My impression from Swami Muktananda's book is that he did not speak much,

>but mostly sat in meditation, smiling, in a state of intoxicated bliss. It

>sounds like when he did speak, he had difficulty coming down into the

>intellect enough to utter sentences. And yet in his pictures he has a

>serious look. In the close-up he seems to have a little frown and an

>almost sad expression.

>

>It seems that, in Kashmiri Shaivism, to be always in this sort of blissful

>state must not be the goal for everyone, since Muktananda's later life was

>quite different - he travelled widely and taught a lot, I think.

>

>I know you have had an immeasurable gift in being close to such a man. I'd

>be grateful for anything you care to tell about him.

>

 

 

Nityananda was an Avadhut. Avadhuts teach through their actions, rather

than through words.

 

As a boy, Nityananda was quite a prankster. There are a couple books

available regarding his life.

 

'In Divine Presence' is a biography with some great pictures of the young

Nityananda, plus some amazing stories.

 

Muktananda also wrote a biography of Nityananda, which also has amazing stories.

 

There is a book of aphorisms by Nityananda called "The Sky of Heart". This

ia a 'must have' book for everyone.

 

I was going to pick up a copy this weekend for someone. I'll post a couple

of them for you next week when I return.

 

In Nityananda's later years, when he did speak, he would talk in dialogue,

usually a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. That's where the aphorisms

come from.

 

He would start speaking, "Arjuna, Arjuna, quick! Come here! It is Krishna.

I have something to tell you!".

 

Devotees would grab pencil and paper and start writing feverishly.

 

Nityananda wandered for many years, never staying anywhere for any length

of time in any specific place.

 

Eventually he settled in Ganeshpuri, in the jungle, in an old cave temple.

A large ashram grew up around him.

 

People would travel for days and walk into the jungle to stand in line 4-5

hours just to walk by him while he lay on the ground facing the wall.

 

At this point in his life he rarely spoke. He usually sat with his back to

the crowd.

 

Everyone who marched by his form went away content that they had received

something.

 

Some received mukti (moksha, liberation) just coming into his presence.

 

I was told a story by a woman who was a child during that time. She said

that some people would walk out into the courtyard after passing in front

of him and freeze into statues (from the Shakti) for several hours.

 

The children would run around the people, laughing at them, pointing, and

daring each other to touch them.

 

The woman who told me the story said she touched one of the statue people

on a dare and received a shock (like electricity) which threw her

backwards.

 

After that, the children gave the statue people a wide berth.

 

Everyone comes expecting to get the 'touch', or the 'look', or something

solid. The Bhagwan just faced the wall, seemingly ignoring the thousands of

people that marched by him.

 

Yet, everyone received and left happy. That was the teaching.

 

One can receive without something dramatic having to happen.

 

Nityananda is definitely still around. I have had some very unusual

experiences meditating on a life size statue of him. Very unusual.

 

 

Warmest regards,

 

Martin

 

 

PS- here is a picture of the young Nityananda. At this age you can see

that he is definitely out there, but not nearly as detached to the world as

he appears when he an old man.

[Guest guest]

Martin, thanks for the information about Swami Nityananda. Perhaps you can

tell the list members where they can order these books as some might be

interested in doing that. Thanks. Always good to hear from you. Hope all is

well. We will be in touch.

 

Harsha

 

 

Martin wrote:

Nityananda was an Avadhut. Avadhuts teach through their actions, rather

than through words.

 

As a boy, Nityananda was quite a prankster. There are a couple books

available regarding his life.

 

'In Divine Presence' is a biography with some great pictures of the young

Nityananda, plus some amazing stories.

 

Muktananda also wrote a biography of Nityananda, which also has amazing

stories.

 

There is a book of aphorisms by Nityananda called "The Sky of Heart". This

ia a 'must have' book for everyone.

 

I was going to pick up a copy this weekend for someone. I'll post a couple

of them for you next week when I return.

 

In Nityananda's later years, when he did speak, he would talk in dialogue,

usually a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. That's where the aphorisms

come from.

 

He would start speaking, "Arjuna, Arjuna, quick! Come here! It is Krishna.

I have something to tell you!".

 

Devotees would grab pencil and paper and start writing feverishly.

 

Nityananda wandered for many years, never staying anywhere for any length

of time in any specific place.

 

Eventually he settled in Ganeshpuri, in the jungle, in an old cave temple.

A large ashram grew up around him.

 

People would travel for days and walk into the jungle to stand in line 4-5

hours just to walk by him while he lay on the ground facing the wall.

 

At this point in his life he rarely spoke. He usually sat with his back to

the crowd.

 

Everyone who marched by his form went away content that they had received

something.

 

Some received mukti (moksha, liberation) just coming into his presence.

 

I was told a story by a woman who was a child during that time. She said

that some people would walk out into the courtyard after passing in front

of him and freeze into statues (from the Shakti) for several hours.

 

The children would run around the people, laughing at them, pointing, and

daring each other to touch them.

 

The woman who told me the story said she touched one of the statue people

on a dare and received a shock (like electricity) which threw her

backwards.

 

After that, the children gave the statue people a wide berth.

 

Everyone comes expecting to get the 'touch', or the 'look', or something

solid. The Bhagwan just faced the wall, seemingly ignoring the thousands of

people that marched by him.

 

Yet, everyone received and left happy. That was the teaching.

 

One can receive without something dramatic having to happen.

 

Nityananda is definitely still around. I have had some very unusual

experiences meditating on a life size statue of him. Very unusual.

 

 

Warmest regards,

 

Martin

 

 

PS- here is a picture of the young Nityananda. At this age you can see

that he is definitely out there, but not nearly as detached to the world as

he appears when he an old man.