Hindu Spiritual Master to visit the United States

Guru, whose name means "The Bliss of the Universe" will be in California and Nevada from December 9th through the 20th.

Swami Vishwananda an enlightened master working for the unification of peoples of many faiths by bringing to us the simple message of love and peace. He transmits pure, divine love during his darshan, with the knowing that a simple memory of one's sacred origin is enough in catalyzing one's own awakening. Swami Vishwananda works all over the world to assist people in deepening their own path of spirituality and will be visiting the United States in December 2007.

Swami Vishwananda is a spiritual teacher who was born on June 13th, 1978 into a Hindu family on the island of Mauritius. From earliest childhood his sole interest was in spirituality and religious practices. At the age of 14, Sri Swami Vishwananda experienced the state of Samadhi, literally meaning intense union and direct communion with God. He soon realized that he was gifted with Yogic powers. His unique persona and charisma attracted many people to hear him. Many were led to him for healing and spiritual counseling.

Swami Vishwananda, whose name means "The Bliss of the Universe," is here to uplift, inspire, and help people realize the Divine Light that resides within them. Many people have welcomed the young Swami Vishwananda in each city he visited on previous trips to the States. "He is love beyond words," said Craig Robinson, who has sponsored Vishwananda's tour of North America through the U.S. Bhakti Marga Foundation.

To become a Hindu swami, a monk must devote himself wholly to spiritual realization and service. This path is usually taken in a later stage of life. Swami Vishwananda, 29, said he found his path at 14 when he experienced Samadhi or direct communion with God. He started his mission by building a temple and teaching others in his hometown. He later created the Bhakti Marga Foundation to coordinate humanitarian and spiritual activities, such as building temples and helping tsunami victims.

"I have given my life to serving people," Swami Vishwananda said. Although his teachings and rituals have a strong Hindu influence, Vishwananda teaches acceptance of all faiths, races and cultures. "It does not matter what you call the divine - God, Jesus, Allah," Vishwananda said. "God is within. Man was not manifested to realize the body but to realize the soul. We have one goal - to realize divinity."

Sri Swami Vishwananda leads groups in meditation, satsang (spiritual talks) and kirtan (devotional singing). He bestows individual blessings, or darshan, (a transmission of divine energy) to each attendee. He says that people should look within themselves and not outside: for God is within each one of us as Love. He is not looking for people to depend on him. Rather, depend on the God/Guru within you.

"I am bringing a message of love," Vishwananda has said. "A person should first love oneself, then others can be loved more. All love should be unconditional," he said.

From the great sages and wisdom-teachers it is known that man has an immortal and divine Soul. Swami Vishwananda has 'realized' this and is able to connect with his 'Inner Self' at will. It is Swami's main wish to support others in finding the way to their own inner spark of Divinity. He is someone who loves God with all his heart and has a very 'natural' relationship to the Divine. He doesn't teach a specific technique but instead emphasizes that if one reduces the daily worries, prejudices and fears, the heart will open and one will learn to love unconditionally. By giving Darshan (Blessing) he helps people open their hearts to the Divine.

Swami Vishwananda has a great affinity to the Christian tradition. In his free time he enjoys painting icons and studying the lives of saints. Music means a lot to him and he has already recorded a number of CD's on which he sings devotional songs. Swami is a private person and best described as "down to earth" and straightforward. For many He is not only a teacher, but also a brother and a friend.

Swami's language is simple, yet very profound. According to him there's no need to read a lot of books for theoretical knowledge or travel here and there to find God, "God lives in your heart right now, but to realize that you have to make a first move, and you really have to want Him with all your heart and soul and put Him in first place in your life."

For more information on Swami Vishwananda's upcoming visit to North America, December 9th through the 20th, please visit www.vishwananda.us. All public programs are free.

Sponsored by the Bhakti Marga Foundation USA, a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization with personal development programs and service projects through out the world. For more info call: 1.877-Swamiji (792-6454) or visit www.bhaktimarga.org.

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