The Indian press is in a frenzy over a video of a man who appears to be Paramahamsa Nithyananda of Life Bliss Foundation / Dhyanapeetam
engaging in intimate relations with a young woman who is allegedly South Indian film actress Ranjitha, jolting worldwide devotees and followers to either recoil in shock and betrayal, or flock to his support and allege a fraudulent smear campaign. Regardless of what camp people fall in, the scandal is tremendously painful for most who are involved, perhaps with the exception of the few who benefit from it. Believer or not, the scandal can also be a moment of deeper introspection.
What can all of us, regardless of faith, creed, and path learn from this situation?
I’ll attempt to distill five provocative lessons.
Lesson 1: Nobody Is Immune
Every religious and spiritual organization has had some kind of scandal. Every. Single. One. Without regard to whether these scandals are legitimate or not, they are ubiquitous and often easily discovered by anyone who cares to be persistent, inconspicuous, and objective about doing their homework. The only question is whether you care to know.
Western readers may feel that this disease is a mostly an Indian or Hindu phenomenon as a result of an open source religion that is eager to see God everywhere, including in every living and dead guru, but that would be a hypocritical and undeniably amnesic assertion.
At the risk of offending several billion people, the Abrahamic traditions are no strangers to scandals, often ones that strike to their very core. Wikipedia has an (incomplete) list of Christian evangelist scandals, and the Catholic church’s deep history of corruption, abuse, and tyranny involving many Popes, including the latest Pope is easy Googled. Long before Dan Brown’s novels, credible archaeologist had reason to believe that Jesus had a son, launching other credible archaeologists to battle the assertion as if their afterlives depended on it.
Islam’s scandals are either less prolific and public, or much more so depending on your perspective. To be honest, I am a little afraid to mention them, but I’ll say that the Prophet Mohammed is alone as the founder of a major world religion to have done things that most modern people would find disagreeable and shocking.
Those who devote their energies to secular do-gooder organizations and choose agnosticism or atheism because (or even despite) religious/spiritual scandal, they too should not feel immune. Even in the very best of organizations, you can find something disagreeable if you look hard and deep enough, or stick around long enough.
And to all those whose religious, spiritual, and secular organizations have not yet been caught in some scandal, I say that you a.) should continue to remain objective or intensive in your examination and b.) its probably only matter of time before you find something to disappoint you.
I’m not trying to be universally offensive, but rather to cut through the notion that any group should feel superior to anybody else.
What we witness in these scandals are ubiquitously human phenomena and behavior, and that is exactly why we’re all in this together and no person is immune.
Lesson 2: Scandals Reflect Our Own Nature
Most scandals have a dynamic two-fold nature: high-profile individuals and organizations generate enemies both within and outside their ranks, and everyone on both sides operates within the limitations of human traits that we all share.
In short, everyone is both a Jesus and a Judas.
There is always a grain of truth in the lies, and a grain of lie in the truth from both sides. This comes from living in a relative, dualistic world where all things are known by their opposites.
Scandals often boil down to someone doing
something that we too might have done or actually do often. And if we’re not ‘guilty’, chances are that someone very close to us–close enough to implicate us by association– is ‘guilty’.
The reality of our own behavior should be at the forefront of our minds, and serve as a buffer to our instincts of judgment and condemnation.
As Jesus said when Mary was about to be stoned, “Let he who has never sinned cast the first stone.”
Lessson 3: Know And Own Your Values
Our reactions to situations like these tend to reveal the core of our values around things like money and sex.
These values have often been programmed into our minds at a young age when we weren’t fully aware or equipped to alter the code, or blindly swallowed under the influence of a charismatic figure in our adult life.
Not being the author or at least the controller of the software that runs your conscious and subconscious mind can be troubling, especially in a crisis. Continue to ask yourself honest and difficult questions, and be prepared for unsettling answers that keep evolving for your entire life. Deepening your own awareness and integrity is what counts.
After all, what is spiritual growth besides an evolving of how you view and live in the world?
As with all growth, no pain means no gain. Be with the pain, and try to rise above the suffering.
Lesson 4: Separate Principles from Personalities
“This allegation cannot be true, because I have benefited so much from [X practice/teaching]!”
Whether guru/Lord/prophet/avatar/teacher has done X, Y, and Z with which you disagree with does not necessarily invalidate the principle, technique, or teaching they have shared.
If what you have learned from someone has added value to your life, you should not toss out the teaching with the teacher. Life is simply too short to not use every possible tool at your disposal to live the best possible life you can.
Lesson 5: Your Own Experiences Are What Count
Regardless of whether you believe you will be saved, liberated through your own efforts, or born just as confused, hopelessly flawed and selfish as everyone else, what counts most is your own experience in life.
Be true to your own direct experience with an organization, faith, individual, or practice, while also willing to dissect those experiences to their essential lessons. This is the only thing that will get you anywhere.
Without a doubt, it takes a lot of courage and hard work to keep doing this, but it makes a world of difference for the better in your life trajectory.
Conclusions
One thing is certain: after this scandal and regardless of its degree of truth, Paramahansa Nithyananda will continue to have throngs of followers and supporters. We’ve seen this with every past scandal everywhere else, despite how bad things seemed.
The key question is how to reduce the suffering people feel as a result of scandals that hit close to home.
These five lessons keep things in perspective and assure that everyone can grow in beneficial ways.
Thank you for such a well balanced and fair analysis of the entire situation. Your illustrations are cute too.
What I loved about the article most was your conclusion: Swamiji will continue to have throngs of followers…….Very true.
You might have guessed, I am a die-hard devotee. 🙂 I will gladly give up the world, but my devotion I will keep.
Atmapreeta
dear Atmapreeta
i am of same contention like yours . i understand ou live in bangalore. Me too.
Please say in touch.
kind regards
I am a devotee of Guru Paramahamsa Nithyananda. You can have any conclusion, because conclusion is come from what we believe.
Guru Paramahamsa Nithyananda spending his entire life do research and make method to teach the world on how human can enter into spiritual world by dhyanam (enter into inner space of human). The basic requirement for this is to get away from greed, ego, jealous, lust, fear and anger. I do not think Guru Paramahamsa Nithyananda has any lust and need a woman. The whole thing should be just a conspiracy to kill his teaching.
We need to educate the masses to not fall prey to such fraud and falsities. As the saying goes “Wolf in a sheep’s clothing” so he is “Fraud in saffron robe” and bringing disrepute to many revered, holy, and dedicated gurus of Vedic Philosophy. The so-called Swami’s actions clearly demonstrate that he is after lust, money, fame, and power. Till date, he not stepped in front of a camera to answer the real questions. All we get is the tape has gone to London.
It is easy to preach truth, honesty, and sanctity. To live by it every minute of your life is too damn hard…If one is enlightened, why are the discourses not deep (no command of Sanskrit or Vedic verses or Upanishads), why crave after money and lust? Even claiming to have been enlightened only shows ego, arrogance, and falsehood. These are the questions that the common man should ask before falling for such bogus Swamis. Namaste.
I do not know the truths of the matter; nor do I support any one if they chose wrong path. But this logic of yours that an enlightened person should speak in sanskrit is unheard of. Leave alone the fact that he chant sanskrit verses. Enna Swami?
Jay
UPDATE>
To add a little more depth and context to the conversation, its interesting to look at the videos released since the scandal broke. Despite the damage control from Nithyananda’s organization and supporters, it feels like they are exposing themselves to more doubt rather than successfully rising above it or fundamentally changing the conversation.
To spare everyone from having to re-watch these, I’ll also include summaries & my own opinions based on watching them.
First video released of Nithyananda after scandal
Rajiv Malhotra and Nithyananda talk about a bunch of non-essential charges against the organization, avoiding the talk about the video with Ranjitha. Nithyananda seems nervous and highly-coached, despite what is clearly a softball, friendly, staged interview controlled by Malhotra.
2nd video after scandal
Malhotra denounces the bungled crisis response of Nithyananda’s organization, while seeming to raise his own profile by casting himself as a professional in handling this situation. Nithyananda is more calm, but seems more heavily coached. Revelations: Nithyananda is “rethinking is experiments” and “rethinking his future”, in the first tangential reference to what appear to be damning tapes, suggesting that he was experimenting with Ranjitha in some way.
3rd video
Nithyananda tells us that some parts of the tapes have been sent to London for analysis, as he feels there was ‘conspiracy’, ‘manipulation’, and ‘morphing’ done to and around the images. In what appears to be prep-work for saying, in essense, “cut me some slack”, Nithyananda talks about his accomplishments: authoring 200 books in 8 years, 7000 hours of public speaking, and significant contributions in a wide number of fields. Seems to be trying to build a case that he’s being held to an unfair, or biased standard because he’s contributed ‘spiritually’ and that he should be given the benefit of the doubt instead of being branded as guilty until proven innocent. Also claims naivete about him or his organization ever attracting enemies– a naivete that seems contrary to what could be expected from a person ‘living enlightenment’.
To put ‘his accomplishments’ in perspective, 200 books in 8 years equals 25 books a year, or 1 book every 2 weeks. Having been part of publishing a book while on the IndiaGuide team, I can say that it took us dozens of people and the better part of a year to create just 1 book. So I would say that he’s massively over-representing his role in his own book creation.
As for 7000 hours of public speaking, assuming that he speaks for 8 hours at a time, that would be equivalent to 875 days of all-day talks. Spread over 8 years, this means that every third day would be a full-day talk. If he truly did this, it would mean he would speak all day, and then spend the next two days writing all day in order to author 200 books. When was he meditating? And how does he have time to watch TV, as seen in the videos? Something is being over-represented for sure.
4th video
Nithyananda admits that its him in the scandal videos but says that some parts were ‘morphed’. Says that he was ‘consciously in a deep samadhi and physically not feeling well’ when the video was taped, though the tapes appear as though he was laying around, watching TV, and flirting heavily with Ranjitha. Claims: “I do not have any lust” and “I do not have any need for the other person.”
Open questions from me: is sexual desire and lust synonymous? Does having no ‘need’ for another person still give him space to want the other person?
5th video
Aired on Jaya TV, rival network to Sun TV which first broke the Nithyananda scandal, this video is entirely in Tamil so I have no idea what he’s saying and leave it to the Tamil speakers to provide revelation. I can only say that the organization must have friends at Jaya TV, or the network must have been very interested in scooping its rival to air this piece in its entirety.
6th video
Excerpts:
“vast majority is evolved to not enjoy cheap things about others lives”
“nobody is interested in looking into the truth with a little friendliness”
“everybody started abusing, using judgment,.. etc”
“i never imagined we will have enemies”
“such a peaceful, silent, spiritual, humble, movement…”
“within one day hundreds of my ashrams and centers have been broken”
“my 20 lakh disciples in S india feel orphans”
“whatever you see, whatever you inquire, cannot be completely true”
asking people to stand for him
“my personal life being manipulated to society”
trusted everyone simply and innocently.. did not feel anyone can harm me
“i assure society i will be very careful– I will not trust anybody and everybody”
“i will not allow anybody around me to take care of me, or serve me, even if I am sick”
“she [Ranjitha] got healed of her wheezing in 1 day, she became devotee..”
“getting into personal life is such a cheap, third-rate way of damaging a person”
many maths, many swamis have supported. some swamis have sent silent support, some swamis have openly supported. still many swamis are coming up with their supports.
“everyday I am getting more and more supports from spiritual gurus, spiritual masters, and swamis, and spiritual leaders… even from other religious leaders!”
7th video
In a final, apparently highly-coached interview, Malhotra seems to be setting the stage for what will come next: a period of silence from Nithyananda as he allegedly goes into meditation to heal all those hurt. Also, direct interviews of people connected to the tangential scandal-like issues that his organization faces. Nithyananda appears to be reading a statement placed somewhere off camera early on, adding to the feeling that Malhotra is choreographing the crisis response. Malhotra asks whether the meditations and teachings are valid, and Nithyananda assures everyone they are and they should continue without being bothered by “small small things” like scandals.
Conclusions and Open Questions
Judging by the organization’s response to the crisis and the amount of traffic my post has gotten, I would guess that they’ve been reading my blog! Rather than using this crisis for deeper introspection or a deeper conversation about the nature of sexuality in spirituality, human nature, and the scandal itself, Nithyananda seems to shoring up for plausible deniability and framing his potential culpability in the context of [overblown] accomplishments in case the denial doesn’t turn out to be plausible. I suppose that when you claim ‘enlightenment’, at least in the version that Nithyananda claims for himself, there is no room to be human or sexual. Unlike others caught in sex scandals, I guess the ‘enlightened’ block themselves out from simply apologizing, self-correcting, and moving on and instead must defend and dodge in the face of hard-to-deny evidence.
Its also clear that there is a lot at stake (including money) that prevents the organization from being as transparent as they claim to be with all of this.
Open questions: is a little bit of sex and bad judgment incompatible with ‘enlightenment’? Is the apparent fear and partial facts we see from Nithyananda and his org incompatible with ‘enlightenment’? If the videos were taken back in December, why did it take so long to release them publicly? This creates the room for the ‘morphing’ and ‘manipulation’ that Nithyananda claims.
I neither support nor condemn Nithyananda, but I think this scandal raises interesting questions and should be cause for all spiritual aspirants to never abandon common sense and rationality, nor become mindless blind followers. However, what is certain is that in most religions and sects, the blind followers outnumber the rational, critical thinkers many times over. Nithyananda, and most gurus, will continue to have many disciples who simply refuse to think their master did anything ‘wrong’ even if they saw it with their own eyes.
That, to me, seems the opposite of spiritual growth.
execellant analysis. but to some there is justification that Sri Swami Nithyananda has really done good their life. Naturally royalty is there irrespctbve whatever is reported amidst shock.
“the scandal is tremendously painful for most who are involved, perhaps with the exception of the few who benefit from it.”
I’m not sure if anyone *could* benefit from this debacle, except maybe adjacent gurus who might absorb some of the devotee flight.
jody:
I think that Nithyananda’s enemies, including those who taped him in the first place, benefit from the revenge factor. I also read reports about ashram neighbors wanting that land, and a scandal of this type makes the land grab easier.
As for adjacent gurus who benefit from devotee flight, I think there are probably 2 kinds of devotees: those who will refuse to abandon Nithyananda despite anything, and those who get permanently put off gurus as a result of shattered faith in Nithyananda. I think very few devotees are in the category that would ‘guru-hop’.
Rahul: you are absolutely right about ashram neighbors wanting the land. In Tiruvannamalai, his ashram is on the Girivalam path and the inner path winds behind his property.
Check out http://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/birthday-celebration-for-m-k-stalin/
The first video of Nityananda was released just days after this birthday visit and Nityananda’s ashram property damaged in an organized crime. Indian ‘devotees’ do NOT behave in this manner. Political party workers do for adequate remuneration.
UPDATE
The latest report on the scandal is that there is allegedly a graphic sex tape of Nithyananda and Tamil actress Yuvarani floating around on the internet.
While the alleged video is hard to find on the internet, third rate Indian news outlets are dignifying the rumor by reporting on it.
This stinks of a major smear campaign.
First of all, nobody has seen this tape for the simple fact that it can’t be shown on TV or YouTube. Secondly, the press is clearly frenzied in its appetite for more salacious tidbits that fit with this story, reporting on unsubstantiated rumor in a way that would land any news organization in the US with a slander or libel lawsuit. Third, exactly how many hidden cameras are in Nithyananda’s quarters, and who has placed them there? Finally, why did it take this long for this latest video to surface?
Should a video actually surface, the timing feels as though someone is learning how to master After Effects and releasing new videos just as interest in the Nithyananda scandal begins to fade from the news cycle.
Does anyone have a more reliable source of information?
To find out how Indian Media has been manipulating coverage, mis-representing and is a part of a big conspiracy against Paramahamsa Nithyananda, please check out:
http://realfacts-Indianmedia.blogspot.com
The truth about Indian media is shocking and matter of deep concern!
All of us lets stand tall and make an intelligent decision for our future!
Prithvi Raj:
While I agree that media ownership plays a huge role in press bias (as evidenced by corporate-controlled media in the US), I’m wary of the idea that its central driving ethos is a big anti-Hindu conspiracy. Indian press is usually third-rate without any need for conspiracies, but the rhetoric of the besieged Hindu is much a political weapon as any of the skewed media coverage coming from it (if not moreso).
I should add that the proponents of these grand anti-Hindu conspiracy theories are even shoddier in their research than the Indian press, and often feed many other damaging and unsubstantiated rumors more vigorously than the reporters they demonize. They go further and often incite radical, sometimes violent retribution. I think the movement boils down to a bunch of angry Hindus that would rather blame everyone else for India’s woes rather than taking small, practical, universally beneficial steps of their own to be part of a solution.
The lack of integrity we see in the world is a reflection of the fragmented integrity inside of all of us. We all need to be changing our micro-behaviors to allow better macro-systems to emerge, rather than visa-versa. I’d urge you to get involved at an exclusively personal level i.e. sit down to meditate for 15 minutes, and let your efforts radiate from that stillness.
Rahul,
This is as good an analysis as any I have read, and I broadly concur.
I just read a nice piece by Krishnamurthi that urges constant and unyielding self-analysis. He says that in confusion we follow others and the problem is that at some level, they too are confused. At the very least there must be the recognition that any leader/guru/avatar is (by their very presence upon this earth, and not in an etheral plan) flawed. As with most things in life where expectations lead to dissapointment, so it is here as well.
Thank you Rahul for this really important writing.
Rish,
Do share a link to the Krishnamurti piece, if its available online!
Illuminating the concept of whom or what to follow, and why or why not is a hugely relevant idea to explore, that I think would be very beneficial to a lot of the readers gravitating to this post.
Regardless of how you view the Indian media’s handling of this scandal, Nithyananda got caught with his pants down. It has been reported to me by an insider that most of his top people are leaving him. His career as a guru is finished, at least until he comes upon another crop of rubes.
Jody:
What stops the vacuum you’ve heard about in the top of Nithyananda’s organization from being filled by opportunistic fresh blood? Judging by the comments on this blog and elsewhere on the net, there are still legions of die-hard followers who are quite energized about sticking with Nithyananda.
After Osho was caught on charges in the States, he still had a huge following in India. His drug use too is now more widely acknowledged, yet the ashram resort and its merchandising continue to attract customers. Why is Nithyananda’s case any different?
As I said, he’s going to need a whole new crop of rubes. The current crop has been spoiled. How quickly this pool gets replenished will be a function of how many desperate people he can contact and flatter into following him.
Also, the “legions of die-hard followers” are likely just a few very active defenders who are posting under different aliases.
To my mind, there is a significant difference between Osho and Nithyananda. As far as I know, Osho wasn’t denying anything, there was no subterfuge. He just got too far out there and hired a really bad manager.
Nithyananda was playing the perfect Godman-boy, which means he was expected to be innocent and stainless—when he knew he wasn’t. That drops the affair into the category of flimflamming, IMO.
Jody:
Good point.
I’m still not apt to judge either Nithyananda or Osho with any finality. A lot of what I see in the press, and especially on blog comments is rumor– the type that is pretty hurtful to a lot of people. The real insanity to me is how ready so many are to magnify and multiply all the pain & suffering, instead of thoughtfully reducing it.
Even if allegations and charges turn out to be substantiated, I’d say that the only person’s spiritual stature I am qualified to measure is my own. And I’m not even good at being fair about that! 🙂
If falls from grace can be abrupt, then so can the ascension to grace, IMO. Given that ever-changing and dynamic reality, even if I could take a snapshot of someone’s spiritual state, it seems like it would be an irrelevant exercise because of how quickly everything can change.
What is more interesting to me are thoughtful discussions about sex & spirituality, or insights into the function, purpose, nature, and measure of a ‘guru’. I think you might have a lot of thoughts about that, and would love to hear them 🙂
The fact that Nithyananda was having sex is not the main feature of his fall, it’s the fact he was a sannyassi while doing so, essentially advertising his chastity while getting hummers on the side.
I find no conflict whatsoever between sex and spirituality, as long as nobody is getting hurt. Whatever floats your boat is my motto. We are always the Atman no matter what we are doing. But it’s got to be honest sex. Clandestine meetings under cover of brahmacharya do not qualify, IMO. There’s also the power-balance issue, a reason psychotherapists are not allowed to date their patients in the States.
I think sex can be a critical component of sadhana for some, and the ruin of the sadhana of others, so to each his/her own in the matter.
Clearly, Nithyananda functioned well-enough as a guru for many, but that success was likely much more a function of his being able to wear the space-daddy mantle rather than his being some kind of avatar. I can accept that Nithyananda is nondual realized, but he’s clearly underdeveloped or hobbled in terms of his character.
I think gurus come in all shapes and sizes. Some gurus are good by the virtue of their being bad. It’s like a gauntlet or spiritual obstacle course God sets up for you to run. If it doesn’t kill you, it’s likely to have made you stronger. Eventually, one might hope that the disappointment will one day condense into wisdom, making it all worthwhile in the end.
Jody:
Great thoughts! Thanks for sharing!!
I would like to share that Nithyananda has mentioned innumerable times in his public talks that he is NOT a brahmachari or sannyasi but a paramahamsa, who is not bound by the laws of sannyas like wearing safforn, observing celibacy, not possessing personal belongings, etc. He has mentioned that he wears saffron only because he likes the color, and is often seen in public in other colors. So I would sincerely request those who are pounding Nithyananda on this issue to be please get their facts straight first.
UPDATE
In a blog post allegedly written by Rajiv Malhotra (I say allegedly because I can’t find a copy on his website or any other authorized source), he makes a number of reasonable claims, addressing issues like his role in investigating/defending against the scandal, the relationship between spiritual power, sex, and morality, the role of Tantra and sexuality in Hindu spirituality, the highly organized and orchestrated nature of the scandal, impressions of the Nithyananda organization, and the nature of targeted attacks on Indian gurus.
The article is quite long, so I’ll summarize his points.
-spiritual power and morality are independent of each other
-Indian spiritual tradition has been unnaturally separated from Tantra
-Tantra practices are part of the Vedic tradition
-Swami Nithyananda was probably practicing tantra
-tapes still seem to be altered to misrepresent
-his personal experiences with Nithyananda
-his approach to the investigation
-he did another interview with Nithyananda that was never released by the organization
-there is an organized and well-funded conspiracy by Christian groups to defame Indian gurus, Nithyananda in particular
For those interested, the full piece is well-written and compelling, and can be found in its entirety here.
Your analysis is really very nice and hats off to a balanced minded write-up.
And Yes .I have personally benefited the amazing level of
‘ transfering spiritual capacities ‘ By swami Nityananda , to the person who just spends some small amount to attend a program he conducts. As a healer master myself for 13 years
it was the 14th year ( 2009) that i simply attend swami nityananda’s program and my healing powers multily in infinite geometric progression .
There for all i want to say here is i have no time in my own life to waste on these scandal news because ,to me Be Selfish To Progress is the most sensible way of life. I need Nityananda for myself and for this world people , so i will radiate back His own gift i received permanently , to get Him
back to His seat to do even more of the same service before His life time . Lets be sensible and not sensitive.
Lets not bother about what has nothing to do with our lives . Lets Be Selfish To Progress
lovely Yogiakshmi, that is exactly i too feel about.
Hello All Nithyananda Followers ,
Please Don’t encourage this Nithyananda , he is a best example of M(FKR), he will have sex with all and explain some stupid things, and u all want to believe this idiot again, no one can save Our India and Ladies..
Girls feel bad to say sorry to her own Husband then y the Hell u r touching the Legs of a fraud…….
Believe GOD not the FAKE god men or whoever earning money by the divine name.
The lady or the strong believer am expecting ur CD with Nithyananda soon!
Please save our culture by stopping this IDIOTS..
BYE!!!
Yes, I am not interested in Nithyananda’s affairs, except the people’s life he is affecting in negative ways. All the families who have been broken due to someone choosing “The Spiritual Path” and leaving a spouse/childeren. I pray that this will ‘enlighten’ some and of course there are others who will choose to not care and continue in ignorance, which I believe is the only bliss Nithyananda has been sharing. God is Love and Truth, and I know Nithyananda too have said conflicting truths to different people of which is the easy indicator of lack of knowledge of God, or evil intent and I believe the former. He may have much knowledge of the world, but the world is not God and as was stated here is not a perfect place as we humans have corrupted it with sin. I just pray all can find the peace I find in Jesus Christ daily as I sin daily and need his forgiveness, but I and all those Christians mentioned as being in scandals above know I/we am/are not God just because God is with me and in me. We are still sinful beings in need of forgiveness, which we have through repentance and faith in Christ. – God’s Blessings
Dear Brown, I read your analysis with interest. One of the lessons you have learned from the incident is “Nobody body is immune.” In this heading, you have also covered God “Jesus christ” based on a novel/story book or archeologist information. Do you think “Is it correct to make such a comment on “Jesus” based on one or two says about him”. The character of Jesus is well documented by different scholar/historian apart from authors of Bible. His holiness is even endorsed in Quran. He is a God who challenged to the people at that time “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46). I think you are incorrect in your assessment and have to get back the statement about Jesus based on what brown or black say. Please read the bible , Quran , even Rig Veda personally and make your own judgment on Jesus Christ instead of listening what others bluff about Jesus. I don’t mind even if you not taken back the statement about Jesus. Because all the lies of the man may come to light one day as you have seen how evidently this guy (nithayanandha) got into sin and plenty of proof keep coming to the light/public everyday.. . Hope one day you will know about Jesus. Bible say “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed “ God bless you.
Kesavan:
I’m making no judgment whatsoever on Jesus’ character. My point is that every religious and spiritual figure at some point will go through some trial wherein enemies attempt to defame them. Buddha also went through this experience.
I also think that whether or not Jesus had a child has nothing to do with his character.
However, its a little silly to urge me to make my own judgment about Christ after 1.) assuming I’ve already judged him 2.) telling me my judgment is wrong 3.) having never met him yourself.
If you read my whole post, you would have seen that one of my other lessons was “Your Own Experiences Are What Count”. What is written in some book, or reported to you from a second hand story should be placed in the category of “other peoples experiences subject to their own biases, agendas, and imperfections”.
The only things you know for sure are the things you have directly experienced, and even your those are subject to the coloring of your own lens and may not reflect the essential nature of reality.
Understanding this truth is a remedy to both blind faith and spurious hearsay.
The question to ask yourself is whether you are interested in using your religion as a comforting sleeping pill, or a tool to wake up to truth and live a life based on that awakening. I don’t judge a person regardless of their choice, but I might be inclined to call it a “sin” to be ignorant of what they’ve chosen.
Dear Sir,
You made a comment that “The only things you know for sure are the things you have directly experienced, and even your those are subject to the coloring of your own lens and may not reflect the essential nature of reality.Understanding this truth is a remedy to both blind faith and spurious hearsay.”
I wish to ask you something regarding this.
1. Do you mean to say that the only way to find reality or truth is by directly experiencing it? How do you make a conclusion on something that is an historical event? You obviously cannot rewind the clock to experience that!
2. I agree with you that there is a possibility of errors in making interpretations of the data. In that situation what we need to do is to analyze the various options to come to a conclusion on which is the more plausible and likely event that took place.
3. I would also like to know the name of the credible archaeologist you mentioned in your first premise and why you consider him credible regarding their theories of Jesus having a son. Why do you think that these people(including Dan Brown) are an exception to your rule that all experiences are inherently biased and is subject to the coloring of your own lens.
UPDATE
Nithyananda resigns from heading all his organizations.
While I can understand the personal motivations for doing so, I caught myself wondering about what kind of pressure he was receiving from top people in his organization.
Rather cynically, I imagined that many are interested in profiting from current organizations, and could not do so with Nithyananda at the top.
At the same time, its very possible that he’s doing this for the welfare of his devotees, to prevent this from being more disruptive and painful to their spiritual lives.
The full resignation video, which has a visible edit in it, is viewable here.
rahulbrown ,
what you want to prove out of it.
You should be ashamed of youself. you are not open minded the accepts the facts.
Just because you blame other don’t mean that what ever you say become correct.
This is weakest state of your mind.
I feel pity on you.Instead blaming other.just understand Hindu religion has this draw back and live with what you have.
I wish you to use your brain with better understanding and board mind.
God Bless
Sathya
I don’t deny that the Hindu religion has drawbacks, as does the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and every other religion.
But I do deny not being open-minded and accepting facts. That’s exactly what I attempt, while helping other people deal with the pain and confusion of this situation.
Go back and read my comments, and if you still pity my weak and ‘board’ mind, I’m willing to listen to you and let you improve my brain with your better understanding.
UPDATE
Nithyananda Biographer Writes An Open Letter
The letter expresses a sense of pain an betrayal by someone purportedly just outside Nithyananda’s inner-circle.
Assertions made in the letter:
-privately, Nithyananda admitted to being in the tapes early on, while his ashram was still in denial mode
-Nithyananda broke the first qualification of guru: truthfulness
-his sexual life wasn’t the problem, it was the dishonesty
-tantric practices were never permitted for sanyasis
-Nithyananda had siddhis, but so do thousands of others
-he spent 4 years at the Ramakrishna ashram
-author doesn’t think Nithyananda was/is enlightened
The full letter is here, and worth a read for those interested in this thing.
i am aware that the individual you mention had a personal grouse with several of the ashramites & is now using this opportunity to settle a few scores.
as nithyananda’s erstwhile biographer, he is partially responsible for the many blunders and inconsistencies committed in that book which are now being questioned by others.
in the days after he moved out of the organization, he has spared no effort in trying to win others over to his side through anonymous emails and phone calls.
wanting to move on is perfectly alright, but to poison a well from which thousands of others are drinking is a crime.
Hi Rahul:
I didn’t know Nityananda until recently… I read most of your blog… Good job on your balanced views… I know Rajiv Malhotra lives in the US… How is he connected with Nityananda affair and its resolution?
Anyway, a questions about broader issues…
What is the basis of ‘faith and belief’ – some man-made misconception called ‘god’ and his ‘word’ (as in the case of Koran, Bible and Geeta)? What has eons of god and religion, gurus and godmen given us?
Religions (all of them) have done more damage than good to humanity. As Nobel prize winning professor. Weinberg correctly points out:
“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion”.
Just look at the misery and violence Islam perpetrates… Look at the slick and subtle sales-pitch of Christianity… Look at Hinduism’s tantra and mantra aberrations…
I would much rather agree with Prof. Feynman, rather than believe in, ahem, an intelligent designer…
Like Russel said ‘Religion is born out of fear’…
What are your thoughts on such?
Simha
I largely agree with Feynman’s ideas in the video. I would add that the true spiritual seeker investigates the nature of body, mind, and whatever may be beyond with the same precision and rigor as the scientist. Both have an invaluable role to play.
Religion should be understood for what it is. It often boils down to cultural practices and beliefs coalesced around the discoveries of some genuine spiritual scientist.
While any spiritual truth must be universal because we all have the same basic physical and mental equipment, religions can never be universal as they always relate to a certain clime and time and pre-existing set of unique circumstances. Thus, imposing one’s religion is a criminal act of ignorance usually aimed at enslaving others physically or mentally– an act never perpetrated a the true spiritual person.
Just as all do not have the discipline and stamina to be scientists, so too do all not have the discipline and stamina to be spiritual scientists. In some ways, religion is a simplification and codification of spiritual principles for the less serious masses.
The only thing that does damage to humanity is ignorance, and action based on ignorance. In this sense measuring the good or harm of religion is equivalent to measuring the good or harm of science.
Both can be doorways to eradicating ignorance, just as both can be mechanisms for entrenching and perpetuating it. Human propensity for seeking comfort means both religion and science will continue to be abused in ways that ultimately propagate suffering.
Yet humanity’s collective consciousness appears to be evolving, and that will lead to a gradual purification of how people engage with both religion and science. Increased connectivity in the world at the apparent level means that more people will distill various religions to arrive at the universal principles in the core, and this means greater peace and harmony among people and nations.
Its a good time to be alive!
Guys…how many of you r prepared to second me if i say ‘let’s forgive this guy Rajasekharan’….i feel sorry for this chap…i am no follower of Nithy, but have followed the story of his downfall…from paramahamsa to pornananda…i feel the humiliation he has suffered is punishment enough…having fallen from the high perch in the hearts of millions….from being celebrated as a beloved ‘god’ to being hunted down like a rabid ‘dog’ almost overnight…is a far worse punishment than any amount of economic or legal sanctions he is likely to get.
Has Rajasekharan not taught himself and the world a few timely lessons?..the world has once again learnt that a truly spiritual being works in silence and with silence; does not ‘sell’ enlightenment via expensive workshops & DVDs; does not hoarde material wealth; does not run organisations that are primarily recruiting schools for decerebrate slaves; does not float in delusions of grandeur and above all does not add titles to his name …the glaring signs were all there…we didn’t want to see them!….these violations are far more dangerous to the society and the spirit of spirituality than him sleeping around! we tripped him and are now crying foul that he is fallen!
Lastly, I don’t feel that society should assume a moral high ground and judge someone based on what happens between two consenting adults privately…As for Nithy, his sleeping around is a sad confession of his limitations…he now knows how difficult it is to obtain mastery over the senses…sex is the final frontier that maya had in store and poor Nithy who was already weakened by the double intoxications of wealth and power, couldn’t put up much of a resistance…and fell head long into the ‘booby’ trap!…so guys…have mercy on Rajasekharan!
What does having sex or not having sex have anything to do with enlightenment? Energy flows everywhere; One who is enlightened will see the ONE SELF (God) behind all pains and pleasures, actions or inactions. This whole so called scandal about a swami having sexual affairs and the energy put into it is a distraction, diversion and dissipation of the what limited spiritual energy is given to man in the vessel (Kunda) Those who know how to control this energy, withdraw it within and raise above duality shall stop wasting this life-force away through the faculties of speech, body and mind. The energy is both male and female, in this dual world we live in male form (the Shiva) and a female form (the Shakti). Shiva or Shakti will just sit in a dormant state throughout eternity; but when Shakti meets Shiva sparks will fly. So those who are on the path of enlightenment and cosmic awareness perfect the process of union of Shiva-Shakti and penetrate the star-gate.
“One who is enlightened will see the ONE SELF (God) behind all pains and pleasures, actions or inactions.”
The habit of holding on to these kinds of folk theories about nondual awareness is likely to be doing more to prevent jnana than all the brothels in the world put together.
Jnana-Yog (Path of knowledge) that begets wisdom… using the restless mind to attain wisdom. When the mind is full the ego is strong until the the mind realizes this is a hopeless case (wisdom) or keeps on going until last breath is drawn. That will be the final shock to the ego. I am a Jnany as long as the mind keeps on thinking reading and writing opinions, just like the 99.999% of humanity. No-mind state when will that happen, is death (loss of the Ego) the state or Nirva-Kalp Samadhi while still in the body? Opinions are abound experience rare…
Rahul, I must respectfully disagree with pretty much all your analysis. First I believe it is ignorance that would lead someone to state that human consciousness is evolving and will converge into some common universal principles. As pretty much the only law of nature relavent to such claim is the law of entropy that states the order of the collective universe moves from a state of order to disorder. Also find it facinating that you state the only truth is that what one experiences. This also seems to just be ignorance as a color blind person will perceive/experience a red shirt and blue shirt possible both looking similar or the same shade of purple or gray for example. That doesn’t make the red shirt purple or the blue shirt purple, there is still an absolute truth. So, how does the color blind person experience/learn that one shirt was red and one blue and not both purple? A trusted outside source or multiple outside sources testifying to such and now the person knows they see color incorrectly. I believe it is the same with many things in life/nature/spirituality/God whatever. I believe there is an absolute truth and a God that is such. Research the simple chicken egg and see how complex all it’s parts are and what phases it must precisely go through to produce a chick and then think about the much more complex human body or even more complex the universe. Then ask your self if that all happened by chance or there exists an intelligent designer. Just because some don’t want/care to look in depth or even want to answer to or be held accountable to a God, doesn’t make God not exist, there is stilil an absolute truth. Also to believe that you will become “enlightened” or always one with God, is ignorance as we do not have the capacity to even know the universe fully not to mention God who is much more. As for religion doing more damage then good, I do’t agree, only ignorant people who take pieces and then spawn their own “entropy at work”, causes damage. I believe there can only be one true religion and believe Christianity is it, but all truth will be revealed in the last days. And those who claim to be spiritual and not religious is just ignorantly playing with words as everyone is spiritual as it just means containing a spirit/soul. People just try to talk smooth and smart to gain self honor and popularity instead of giving the honor to God. To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen. God’s Blessings.
TIL
The difficultly in addressing your respectful disagreement comes from the difference between advocacy and analysis.
Advocacies rarely align, while genuine analysis can at least agree upon the metrics under consideration.
While my post is aimed at advocating for the idea that there are healthy lessons to pick up from this experience that can minimize suffering, most of my comments are aimed at analyzing new developments around the scandal from my personal perspective. Personal perspectives differ by their very nature.
If you’re the kind of Christian that would make Christ proud, we have nothing of note to disagree upon. If you’re the kind that would make your Church proud, nothing we verbally exchange right now will be of much value in either of our journeys.
So good luck to you, friend!
I am an unashamed Nithyananda follower. The reason being is based upon Rahul’s lesson #5 “Your experiences are what count.” What saddens me the most is not a sense of letdown or betrayal by Swamiji in regards to the controversy of sexual morality of an enlightened individual. Instead it is the fact that society’s Victorian based ideology prevents us from looking at Nithyananda’s message/teachings based on Vedic ideology.
I would suggest to anyone who strongly feels Nithyananda to be a corrupt individual to understand why Nithyananda will continue to have throngs of believers. It lies within his message; pick up a copy of his Gospel or read excerpts on line. In very simple terms, he teaches us how to be at peace with ourselves. That path to peace is not singular as taught by so many various religions, denominations, or sects. His craft was identifying the multitudes of paths to awareness and repackaging it for modern society. The path to the divine is based on each individual. One may argue that his teachings are not genuine that they are borrowed from others before him. So what? As a guru, he found the means to bring the message to the masses through text and YouTube.
Like many outside observers, my wife included, they would like me to put Swamiji behind me. I can’t and I won’t. With my high stress career, Nithyananda has guided me to find the clarity and even auspiciousness in all situations presented to me. I do my job with the sense that I am serving a high power. He has physically and mentally changed me and for that I am grateful to him.
My greatest sadness is that my family won’t be able to experience what I have and therefore we will lack that shared feeling of grace. If I am an idiot for being in bliss then so be it.
dera hiren,i so also like yours understand your feelings. i am in same groove.
Thats a good piece of analysis…. Did anyone get any updates on what’s the latest news about Nithy? Does any private channels come front to give any updates? where are they now? I could see only comments and blogs are blowing ups and down only bcos of their interest on this news. But one thing I understood, no one can do service to this society, and those who try to do will be destroyed by other leaders like other fake swami, politicians, industrialist etc., (whose motives are not services). People who are really good at heart will never claim their success when they are alive. And being a public we dont respect the people who are alive. May be if Swami Nithyanandha has gone samadhi before the sex scandal, his books and DVD’s and healing therapy would have been accepted by all of us stating he has the power of enlightenment and he is my guru/god. This is just becos many of us have this instinct of search on self realisation.
I am not a disciple of Swami Nithyanandha, but after the sex scandal issues, I read some of his articles and books, i swear it is amazing. I am now least bothered about his personal life and not dare to see that. But he have provided some valuable information on my search in regard to self realisation. its just up to you guys now. If you guys are really wanted to peep in his sexual life. Go and watch out and you only deserve to do that. If your search is something else take the good things and move on to your next level keeping this valuable information.
UPDATE
Nithyananda’s organization has released several new videos on the LifeBliss Youtube channel, first addressing issues related to the scandal and later continuing with discourses as if there was no scandal.
In my opinion, the videos related to the scandal are insulting to the intelligence of his followers. They’re loaded with such absurd ideas as this scandal presenting an opportunity to ‘jump into enlightenment’.
Nithyananda seems to be trying to manipulate his remaining followers, or possibly win back some of the lost flock. The videos aren’t even worth watching.
I’m going to stop posting updates on this post, as I don’t find it to be serving any real value.
Great thing that you did
Rahul,
you are in your own world and in your own stupid intellect.When u wish to analise such a deadly cheap Nithyananda, u do that,nevermind…….but dont touch unnecessary topics which u never know for a bit of it too…be carefull…..you dont think as u r a genius…..
Hi Rahul,
Don’t try to fool your self and others. Issue is this guy went with that girl r not and no one ask for your polls/opinion about other religious. It shows that your are worst than this guy. Remind one thing, from your entire blog, I can read that you are fooling yourself. Try to change……..
Vishal:
Thank you. I’ll work on trying to change. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on which areas I am fooling myself, and how/what I need change.
One gets a master one deserves!
If you were followers and now in shock, you probably deserve it.
We have all kinds of people in this world. These people need different kinds of Gurus as well. Idiots need Gurus who are utterly idiots. Greedy followers need a Guru who is masters greed.
Hey come on guys! Leave this guy Nithya.
Never Follow! Be a light unto yourself!!!
Dear Mr. Rahul Brown and all readers of this blog!
Seems to me there is a real immediate need right now in our Mother Earth and in ourselves for clarity around the issues of Spirituality and Sexuality and that – therefore – this entire socalled ‘scandal’ of Swami Nithyanandas – can be seen in a positive light as the work of Existence – God – Brahman or whatever name we prefer to give to ‘the One without a second’ – to try and focus some conscious light on this whole issue thereby forcing people – all of us who somehow or other are moved by this ‘scandal’ this story or drama – to look into this matter and decide for ourselves just how we feel about ‘spirituality versus sexuality’ – and then for each one of us to stand by and live our own conclusion.
Some people might conclude that this guy Nithyananda cannot possibly be a true Guru and enlightened Master because it seems he is not ‘above’ ordinary lustful behaviour – others would believe that the video might be morphed or that anyhow Swami Nithyananda must have been in a somehow altered state of consciousness and therefore still is ‘pure’ and above lust and duality – stating Krishnas example of having been involved with so many beautiful cowherdwomen yet when He asked the river Yamuna “Yamuna if I am a perfect brahmachari who never even kissed a woman please part” – the river actually parted and he could walk – together with his devotees and cross the ocean – as the proof that a Master can be sexually involved with so many women yet be completely ‘pure and virginlike’.
Still others may feel that it is about time we accept that man can be god and god can be man – that the fusion of God the Spirit and God the Man – the transformation of our own innate human nature with our own innate divine nature should take place NOW – the first step being letting go of all guilt around the issue of sex and all concepts around the issue of how a socalled True Master should or should not behave…
Thank you for this blog and the possibility to express ourselves…
Love and Light
Jeeva Jyoti – Tiruvannamalai
Jeeva Jyoti
Thanks for this wonderful comment.
You might enjoy this video by another householder yogi about the compatibility of spirituality and sexuality:
Rahul, I just came across this blog and found it to be one of the more balanced ones. The blog written on March 10 assumes the telecasted visuals are true; the truth of it will surface in its own time. The only thing I would disagree are your comments to his videos (interviews with R.Malhotra and some television channels). My take would be that along the lines of what Osho says in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nSMi0whFEA&playnext_from=TL&videos=-fLjJSlZWGM&feature=grec_index
Thought I have not read all of J.Krishnamurthi’s works, the little that I do know would suggest that your response is from the logical mind which as you may be aware is not always right.
So what have all the great people who defend the Swami have to say now? Now that the Swami has admitted to having affairs with a dozen girls?
This guy is disgusting. He makes people mentally ill.
Thank you Rahul – wonderfully even-handed and fair analysis.
I have watched helplessly for the last almost 8 years as my family got destroyed by my own husband, who willingly trapped himself in this web of hypocrisy spun by this self-proclaimed “avatar”. As much as I have total disdain for this saffron-clothed, VERY savvy businessman (he has quite a terrifyingly powerful empire!), I blame the millions of idiots who are so eager to spend thousand of $ and time that should have been spent on their family, and growing children. Nithyananda merely adroitly re-packages (and charges heavily for) the ancient truths repeated over the millennia – which by itself is not wrong. It is the thick coating of grimy lies, deceit, extortions, and half-truths that are the problem. The true basis of religion – uncorrupted by Man’s translations- is re-ligating with the God/goodness within oneself. Tattvamasi, Aham Brahmasmi etc etc are truths proclaimed thousands of years ago. A simple and honest look into the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, or holy books of most religions would reveal the same truth – meditate, look within and recognize that God exists within…and without…all around you, including other people. Yet Nithya Anandam ferociously derides his “enemies”. Sanathana Dharma tells us to detach (this guy uses “unclutching”)…and yet Nithyananda exhorts his followers to attach …to him. And he…is so attached to power, which of course, corrupts completely. I do not personally care about his sexual exploits – that’s his problem/choice. But again, the issues are dishonesty, deceit, corruption, massive ego, cover-ups, etc.
People must realize that one cannot reach God through loud prayers/chanting, giving alms, being pious, doing pada-puja to Nithyananda, etc.- one needs merely to be a Child – innocent, without guile, completely free of these hang-ups. My husband actually believes that Avatar Nithyananda was going to “carry him to heaven”. Does any one of us truly know what constitutes an avatar? I seriously doubt it. We are all full of different levels and types of “crap” , apparently from previous births – and so is Nithyananda. Rather than helping them, he appears to prey on the weak-minded. He might have attained some higher state at some time to be a Guru of sorts, but that does not stop him from exulting in arrogance, pomp, greed, avarice, and many other worldly afflictions, which spirituality SHOULD have cured. If the “path of spirituality” should have led to peace, why are the families of so many “Nithya-followers” in total despair, why are innocent families bearing the cross, and not the people languidly being “carried to heaven”? Krishna Avatar in the Bhagavad Gita clearly tells us to excel in our given “roles”, to work happily, untiringly and without expectations, in whatever roles (or religions) we are in, that we are responsible for, not to conveniently run away from responsibility. Odd that this Avatar has such a different message.
Earlier, Yogialakshmi and DrSundaram loftily declared “Be Selfish to Progress”. Indeed! Many progress to selfishness….at serious cost to others. Apparently, being Selfish is the first step to Spirituality. Funny, never read that in the Bhagavad Gita.