Bangalore, Jul 12 (TOI): Breaking 80 days of public silence, Swami Nityananda delivered a talk on Sunday at Nityananda Dhyanapeetam, Bidadi. Significantly, the topic was 'freedom'.

Nityananda said: "Freedom is the truth for which the whole world gives its life. The very flow of human consciousness is towards freedom. Whatever you think of as freedom, you follow that. If you think money gives freedom, you try to follow that. If it is political freedom, you start travelling towards that, and so on."

Nithyananda also made humorous references to several names (Sahasranama) that the media had coined for him, including 'self-styled', 'controversial godman', 'Nithy' and so on. When speaking about his recent experiences in prison, the swami joked that when in prison enlightenment is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

Dwelling on his experience and insights in the four months since the controversy broke out, he said that the one truth which saw him through the whole harrowing experience was the truth of ahimsa, non-violence.

Brushing off the abuse he had gone through, Nityananda nevertheless expressed his shock and sorrow at the violent social and psychological attacks on his followers that had followed the outbreak of the controversy.

However, he congratulated his sanga (spiritual community of his followers) on their gracious silence and non-violent response to the whole situation.