whence it had originated, He rested now in that complete Peace beyond all experiences, from which he would no longer go out." Shivabalayogi defined tapas as continuously meditating for at least twelve hours each day until one attains God realization, Sahaja Samadhi. Shivabalayogi has clarified that it is the same Atman that manifests either as pure Atman, or appears in the form of the 'Ishta Deva' [God]. Shivabalayogi emerged from his tapas on August 7, 1961, before a crowd of tens of thousands. Using a microphone, he spoke to the crowd and that first public message was broadcast over radio, then printed and circulated on flyers. In his message, he emphasized the importance of proceeding directly to the goal of spirituality, the supreme peace of Self-realization, and eschewing the temptations and intermediate visions along the way which create more ego and may be nothing but hallucinations of the mind. Meditation: silent teaching From 1963 to 1987, Shivabalayogi traveled extensively throughout India, then Sri Lanka. From 1987 to 1991, he traveled to the U.K., U.S.A., and Italy. Everywhere he gave public programs consisting of initiation into meditation (dhyana diksha), giving darshan in samadhi, evoking bhava samadhi (sometimes referred to as spiritual ecstasy), particularly during bhajans (kirtan, spiritual music), and distributing vibhuti and prasad as a form of blessing. He taught in silence through the power of his mere presence. He valued knowledge through direct experience far more than words. On one occasion, Shivabalayogi encapsulated his entire teaching in a simple phrase, "Do sadhana." Shivabalayogi Maharaj encouraged people to meditate for one hour each day. His message was often summarized with the following words: "Know truth through meditation, then you yourself will know who you are, your religion, your purpose in life, and your nature. Do not believe what others say and become a slave to religious prejudices. Meditation is your religion. Meditation is your purpose. Meditation is your path." Swamiji emphasized that it is not simply by closing one's eyes that one meditates – the mind has to become quiet. On one occasion, he advised Srinivasa Dikshitar "If you surrender mentally to your Guru through service, then automatically your mind gets controlled." Later when the same disciple translated to another devotee the word "sadhana" (spiritual practice) as meditation, Shri Shivabalayogi corrected him: "When I said 'sadhana', why are you using the word 'meditation'? "Meditation means that a person will be sitting