ff may 2011

January 2011FOREST FLOWER

CONTENTSMain Article

Zen Speaks

Time to Break the Shell 4

23Zen Speaks: The Road Begins Here

Musings7

May 2011FOREST FLOWER 3

Sadhguru on the Illusion of Individuality

This Month: Granola Crunch 22Isha Recipes - For Healthy Living

Stop Standing in Your Own Way

The End of the Path

Limitless Ignorance

10

13

Upcoming Programs and Events

Kailash Manasarovar Sojourn

Bring the Devi’s Grace into Your Home!

Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 21

9

8

Sadhguru on Breaking the Pattern of Self-Sabotage

Shekhar Kapur in Conversation with Sadhguru

Krishna Embarks to Retrieve His Guru’s Son – 2

Leela Series

The path of the playful – Part XXI:

16

17

15

A Touch of Humanity

News & Happenings

The Wave Hits Mysore

The First Tribute

New Isha Blog Online Now

18

Sadhguru Offers First Inner Engineering in His Home Town

Bhumi Pooja for the Aadhi Yogi Aalayam

Next Yantra Ceremony with Sadhguru in July

20

Baba Ramdev Visits Isha Yoga Center /Sadhguru Speaks at Baba Ramdev’s Yoga Camp

SADHGURU

When Shiva is asked, “Who is a yogi? How can you recognize him?” He says, “The one who, when he opens his eyes, sees nothing, and when he closes his eyes, sees everything, is a yogi.” “Does it mean to say I am supposed to lose my vision and just become hyper-imaginative?” – No. It simply means that whether these windows are open or closed, it is the same thing for a yogi. If when you open your eyes,

you see something, you are missing everything. If you see something when you open your eyes, you take in the impressions of this ‘something’ – and that will inhabit your consciousness. Once these impressions inhabit your consciousness, it becomes incapable of seeing the many dimensions of creation.

So when you open your eyes and you see nothing – or ‘no-thing’ – then, when you close your eyes, you see everything. If when you open your eyes, you see some things, then when you close your eyes, these same things will haunt you from inside.

The nature of the existence is such, whether it is the elements, chemicals, worms, insects, birds, animals, the plant life, and humans – who think too much of

4 May 2011FOREST FLOWER

Time to Break the ShellSadhguru on the Illusion of Individuality

“If you do not get out of your shell, you are just a nut.”

– Sadhguru

themselves, rightfully – [laughs] they all grow one out of the other. They all exist out of each other and through each other; they just exist together.

Each creature, however small it may be, even a little ant, is as egoistic as you are. Step on his kingdom and see – they all come and bite you because they don’t have any lesser ego than you. The size of the body does not determine the size of the ego – you know that. [Laughter] Because the moment the false idea of individuality has been created, the rest of the rubbish will grow according to how inattentively or how unconsciously one is living.

All other creatures [other than humans] just have a uniform consciousness; they don’t have a choice. You will see a certain uniformity in their behavior. All red ants are at one level of consciousness, black ants are at another level of consciousness; the bees are at another level of consciousness, wasps at another level of consciousness – you cannot make it more or less. It is only human beings who are capable of being more or less conscious. This is a possibility of great things and this is also a possibility of a disastrous life. All possibilities are like this. An airplane can fly; an airplane can crash. Anything that has a possibility has a flipside to it if you do not handle it right.

Just about everything in your life which seems like a possibility is also a possible disaster. Right now, though you have a carpet and a little bit of concrete between you and the earth, Mother Earth sees you as just an outcrop of herself. When she decides, she will suck you back; don’t have any illusions about it. Whatever you may think of yourself, she will suck you back because she experiences you as a part of herself.

Even now, if you lose connection with everything that she is, she is just water, air, earth, fire, and space. This is what she is, and this is what you are; but you think you are different. You need to understand this – thought is not unique to you either. If you could build a body, it is because the earth has a body. If you can have blood circulation, the earth has its own circulations. If you have thoughts, so do the planet, the universe, and the creation. It is just that when you are too full of your own stuff,

you don’t get to perceive the larger thought of the creation and the Creator. If there was no thought in the creation, how would you get it? You are just a small manifestation in this creation. It is this thought which, when used compulsively or recklessly, separates you from the existence. It is this thought, when employed irresponsibly, that makes you think you are a separate creation by yourself.

Today morning, the sun came up wonderfully. The planet is spinning on time. And not just this planet – every planet and satellite in this solar system is actually spinning on time. Everything happens on time and wonderfully well; not just in this solar system – everywhere in the universe. In the whole cosmos of these billions of galaxies, everything has been in order – it is a successful day. [Laughter] But just one lousy little thought is worming through your mind right now and you say, “This is a bad day.” Nothing bad has happened except your lousy thought, [laughs] and this lousy thought has become bigger than the whole cosmic exuberance of creation. This means you are too full of yourself, isn’t it so?

When some disastrous event happens in this cosmos, I will let you know, so that you will have enough reason to be miserable; till then, you have no reason, you know? If there is any great disaster happening in the cosmic space, I will let you know; then you can call it a lousy day. Right now, it is just one lousy thought worming through your brain because you are so horribly identified with your own nonsense that you can miss a limitless cosmic space and be entangled in this one lousy thought.

All thoughts are lousy. If you perceived something fantastic1, there wouldn’t be a thought in your head in that moment. So there is some good news for you and some bad news for you. Let me tell you a little joke. A patient went to a surgeon, for a surgery. The doctor said “I have some good news for you and some bad news for you.” So the patient asked, “What’s the bad news?” He said, “See, this is a very complex surgery. Even the medical text says only one out of hundred survive this surgery.” The patient just wilted away in fear. “So what is the good news?” The doctor said, “Well, the last 99 surgeries that I did, all of them died.” [Laughter]

5

1 Refers to perceiving something beyond the normal sense perception

May 2011FOREST FLOWER

Now, I will put it the other way round. The bad news is, not many people have broken this shell. The good news is that if you are willing, we will break it. I said “we.” For sure we will break it because usually, those who broke the shell left; very few stayed back for a lifetime; very few ever came back. I didn’t come back to break your shells2.

For some reason, somebody fixed me in such a way that I had to come back. This is the third time around3; so I have seen every kind of nut. There is a phenomenal experience behind this. [Laughs] The Inner Engineering promotion in New Delhi happened like this: we just had a walnut with a string attached to it with a quote which says, “If you do not get out of your shell, you are just a nut.” [Laughter] I think this is coming elsewhere also. Our British meditators protested, “This is very insulting; Sadhguru cannot say such things.” If you don’t get the humor, you’ll get a tumor. [Laughter]

When you laugh, your shell breaks to some extent, isn’t it so? It again forms but at least at that moment it breaks. If it doesn’t open up at all, your brain is as good as a tumor. It causes more trouble than tumors, believe me. Tumors can be fixed with a surgery sometimes. Your brain is more cancerous than any cancer; [laughs] more trouble than any cancer; it will torment you through your life if you don’t keep it well.

Shell breaking is very simple if the nut is willing. Actually, right now as you sit here, everything in you is in interaction with everything else. It is only the shell of your thoughts and emotions which is making you think and believe that you are a separate entity. If you don’t understand this, just hold your breath for two minutes – you will know. Without interaction with this planet and its atmosphere, you cannot exist for a moment. And it is not just about this planet.

Every subatomic particle in your system is in constant transaction with the whole existence, with the whole cosmos, with things that are and things that are not. There are dimensions of the atoms – the basic building blocks in your body – that are constantly transacting with the empty space; otherwise you

cannot exist. So the shell is easy to break because it doesn’t really exist. The shell is an illusion that you have created. You are the working of this magnificent creation and the source of creation – but you build a shell and think you are a nut. [Laughs] So mysticism – we invent all these words because we have enshrined ignorance – mysticism exists only because ignorance is. I have become a mystic because you are a mistake. [Laughter] Otherwise, I am just a normal guy. [Laughs] Because you have made a mistake with your perception, the one who perceives everything as it is looks like a mystic. It is as good as calling him a freako – someone different; not normal. Well, you wouldn’t say “abnormal,” you would say “paranormal”– that’s bad enough. [Laughter]

Now, you are inebriated with your own thought and emotion – this is the biggest problem. So all the sadhana, all the spiritual process, is essentially to give you a distance between these worms of thoughts, which make you believe you are a nut, and yourself. If you are out of this inebriation, you will see, there is only one way to be – to be here and to throb with the process of life. If you throb with this process of life, you will throb with the whole cosmic pulse – there is no other way. There is nothing mystical about it because life happens in many different dimensions. It is everybody’s right to know it, to have access to it, but you are too inebriated with thought and emotion.

Never before, survival on this planet was so organized, so simple and easy. You can just go to a store and buy everything that you need. If for example a cougar in the jungle tells his family, “Let’s have dinner,” it doesn’t mean, “go and sit at the table; food will come from the refrigerator; sit and eat.” – No. You have to go, smell around for something, plan a whole deal, and act; you may get it, you may not get it. For every other creature, it is like this. It was so for us also for a long time. Only now, survival is so organized and so simple.

Once survival has been taken care of, this is the time to break the shell and know life in its larger possibility. If after having all these comforts and

6

2 Sadhguru refers to his coming back for another two lifetimes after his enlightenment (to establish the Dhyanalinga)3 Refers to coming back for three lifetimes after his enlightenment to fulfill his Guru’s will, the consecration of the Dhyanalinga


Q: I have a tendency to sabotage myself when things are going really well. Can the Shambhavi Maha Mudra help me break this pattern?

Sadhguru: [Laughs] So you like to play solitaire; you want to be your own opponent. There is sufficient life happening around to play with, you don’t have to play with yourself. When you are by yourself, it is time to tend to this one [refers to oneself] to grow, to evolve – not to create competition inside. If you play a double game inside of you and it manifests itself well, you will become sick; you will become schizophrenic. The sadhana that has been given to you has been given to you only after a certain fundamental preparation that makes you see that this [yourself] is an individual. An individual means, it is not further divisible. This is just one, you cannot make two out of it; but people are always busy trying to make two out of it. You said, “I sabotage myself.” But usually, people will say, “I’m doing great, but my ego comes in.” Where is that ego? Their ego comes in, their soul comes in, their consciousness comes in, their super-consciousness comes in – they have become many characters in one, which is not safe. There is only one here – just you.

The first and foremost thing is to establish that there is no other factor, “Everything that is being generated as an experience within me is my

doing.” We have sufficiently established this in the programs that you have gone through. When we say, “It is my karma,” it means “It is my doing. My life is my making; it is not somebody else’s making. It is not something else influencing me; it is me.” This is very important. If you do not establish this one factor, you will go on playing these games for the rest of your life with yourself. Life will pass very quickly. Only if one is miserable, it is a long life. If you are blissful, it is a very short life, you know?

The sadhana is designed to establish the individual, to strengthen and stabilize the individual, so that there are no two inside; there is only one. Once this happens, these games will recede. Initially, you have to start with a commitment. No matter what, the next one year, you are going to do it. No matter if it doesn’t give anything to you, no benefit – just do it. Don’t everyday look at “What’s happening? Did this happen, did that happen?”’ – No, just do it. Just do it, okay? I’m not advertising for any product… [Laughter]

–Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru

wellbeing, you don’t make it, there doesn’t seem to be a hope anywhere in the future, isn’t it so? Everything has been taken care of; this is the time. “No, I can’t pay my bills; I can’t do this, I can’t do that.” That rubbish is always there because even if I give you a million dollars, tomorrow you will still have more bills; you are capable of that, aren’t you? [Laughter] So this is the time to do it. When filling the belly is not such a big issue, this is the time to do it. This time in our life should not pass without

knowing life in its profoundness. Once survival is taken care of for you, you cannot go on without knowing life in its full depth and dimension.

– Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru

Stop Standing in Your Own WaySadhguru on Breaking the Pattern of Self-Sabotage


8

Shekhar Kapur: Sadhguru, let’s go into madness, the ‘promised land,’ you know… [Laughs] If I was to convince my friends to follow this path, what do I tell them – what’s there at the end of the path? [Sadhguru laughs]

Sadhguru: In the present context, it could be scary.

Shekhar Kapur: Okay, even if it’s scary.

Sadhguru: See, for example, everybody can relate to Shiva the way they want; that is why these many forms. Shiva is Bholenath1, an innocent child; you can play with him whichever way you want. He is a fiery god. He is Neelakantha2. He is Sadashiva3. And he is a million other things. But

essentially, the word ‘Shiva’ means ‘that which is not.’ So, what is ‘that which is not?’ Why are we looking at that which is not? That which is not is the basis of creation. It is the empty space of the existence which is the womb of creation. So, we say Shiva is the basis of everything. This is the highest level of physical sciences expressed in a beautiful, dialectical format. So, Shiva is that which is still, and that which is not. Out of that pops creation because he came in touch with a certain energy which we refer to as Shakti. Whenever Shakti just passes by, he roars. Some call it ‘Big Bang.’ We call it, ‘He rises as Rudra.’ He roars and creates his first form, which is an ellipsoid. From that springs all creation. The physical sciences are 100% in agreement with this today.

The End of the PathShekhar Kapur in Conversation with Sadhguru

8

1 An aspect of Shiva as easily pleased, credulous, innocent Lord

2 ‘One with a blue throat’

3 Literally ‘Pure Shiva,’ an aspect of Shiva that reflects absolute stillness


9

They [modern scientists] say it is a dark energy. Shiva has always been referred to as the ‘Dark One.’ So, what we refer to as Shiva is just that which is not. We are not talking about a god who is sitting up there. “But why the form?” The form is because the first yogi is also called Shiva, because he realized Shiva [or that which is not]. We don’t see any difference between what is perceived and the one who perceives it. So, when we say ‘Shiva,’ one moment we will refer to the first yogi, the aadhi yogi, whom we worship for all the knowledge he has given us and the next moment, we refer to that aspect of Shiva which is limitless, boundless nothingness. We seamlessly move from this to that because this is a dialectical culture. This is how life is. Life is constantly flowing from logic to illogic, illogic to logic, masculine to feminine, feminine

to masculine. People who think their lives out are always in conflict. They are not able to figure out the nature of life. They are not able to experience life, because they are trying to stick onto one thing. This is like standing on the right bank of the river and thinking the left bank is wrong. If you try to eliminate the left bank, you will eliminate the river and the right bank too.

We don’t refer to the basis of the existence and the one who knows the union of being with existence as separate identities, though they are two. Life is not happening separately. Everything is intermingled with everything.

9

Q: Why is Shiva, the Mahadeva, known as Bholenath, the Ignorant One?

Sadhguru: Shiva is the height of ignorance because knowledge is always a limited thing. How much ever we know, it is still limited knowledge. But ignorance is limitless. That is why we called him Bholenath – he is the Ignorant One; he knows nothing. And you too know nothing, just bits and pieces of assumption that keep the drama going. If you truly see, ‘I know nothing,’ the drama will close. If you simply see, ‘I do not know anything at all,’ you will naturally become meditative.

You know, my father says about me, “He was such a dull boy. I don’t know what happened; suddenly, he has become a genius.” [Laughter] Why he thought that I was a dull boy is, when I was four years of age, I realized one thing – that I know nothing! Nothing means absolutely nothing. Because I knew nothing, I had to pay attention. If you know nothing, whatever you see, engages you. If they gave me a glass of water, I don’t know what water is, so I would sit here, staring at this water for hours. I remember a

certain day when I was looking at a dried-out eucalyptus leaf with incredible attention and my father thought that I have gone crazy because I was just paying attention. When you know nothing and you look at something, how can you shift your attention? Only because you assume a lot of things, you go around in the world without paying attention.

So Bholenath means he is childlike. Shiva is always seen as a very powerful being; at the same time as not so crafty with the world. Not that he is stupid but he does not care to use intelligence in petty ways. You will always find that the most intelligent people are very easy to take for a ride – because they cannot subject their intelligence to petty things. People of a very low level of intelligence which is crafty and shrewd can easily outsmart an intelligent person. In terms of money, in terms of society this kind of intelligence means something. But it doesn’t mean anything in terms of life.

– Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru

Limitless Ignorance


10

1 Traditional offering to the Guru

A Touch of HumanityKrishna Embarks to Retrieve His Guru’s Son – 2What happened so far: Towards the end of his time as a brahmachari, Krishna offers his Guru Sandipani as a guru dakshina1 to bring back his son who had been captured by pirates. Krishna and his brother Balarama manage to get onto the pirate ship. Krishna makes friends with the navigator. The chief pirate sees the two boys as good human merchandise and orders that they should be treated well.

They were given good food and were taken good care of. Krishna went about freely in the ship, trying to make friends with everybody. Panchajanya watched this – he didn’t like friendship. Friendship was a danger to him. He wanted the whole ship to be constantly on alert and in fear of him. When he saw that people started talking to Krishna and laughing with him, he said, “This is too much. You come

into my cabin. You must sit in this hold; don’t go out.” Krishna sat with Panchajanya and started long conversations with him. Unwittingly, Panchajanya couldn’t help answering the boy’s questions. He got involved in conversations and arguments with him. Two bodyguards were constantly with Panchajanya, Hukku and Hullu, real giants of men who always carried cattle whips. If anybody was off the way, he was punished by this whipping.

Krishna made inquiries about the next destination. Bikru, the navigator, told him it was Kushasthali, which is now called Dvaraka, which happened to be an island at one time. “Our master would like to sell you there. But if you don’t fetch a good price there, we will take you to the next port which is a much longer journey, to Puri. There definitely you

Leela Series The path of the playful


11

will fetch a good price. And that is where we sold Punardatta, Sandipani’s son.” Krishna said, “That’s fine. I would like to be sold there too.”

In the meantime, a young carpenter named Raddhi who was working as a crew member on the ship happened to sleep off on his job because he was not well. The report went to Panchajana, who did not take such things kindly. Raddhi was dragged on deck. Panchajana wanted to make an example of this, so he asked Hukku to take the cattle whip and give Raddhi six lashes. Six lashes from this giant of a man left bleeding wounds on the boy’s back who just passed out and was dragged away. Krishna saw this; he did not like the situation. When the night set in, Krishna and Balarama went to the carpenter boy. Krishna took Raddhi’s head into his lap, and with some of the little quota of drinking water that was given to them and a piece of cloth, he cleaned his wounds and applied some medicine that was available on the ship. Both of them sat there with him till he fell asleep.

Next day morning, this news spread around among the crew. All the crew very stealthily came and watched this strange event. Such a thing had never happened on this ship that one human being reached out to another, expressing love and care. ‘Everyman for himself’ – that was how they had always lived. But these two boys, not caring what punishment would invariably come, were nursing this young carpenter till he fell asleep. The next day, another boy of 17 happened to steal something, so he got the same kind of punishment – 12 lashes. His whole back was ripped off. Again, Krishna and Balarama cleaned the boy’s wounds with their small quota of drinking water. He was in such pain, so they sat with him through the night.

Then, this huge hulk of a man appeared – Hullu. He saw this and couldn’t believe that these young boys dared to sit with this boy who had been punished and nursed him. He said, “What are you doing?” Krishna said, “We’re just putting him to sleep.” He said, “You cannot do such things.” Krishna said, “Who says so?” “Our master, Panchajana, says so.” Krishna said, “But this is what I do – if somebody is in pain, I reach out. Your master cannot stop this.” Hullu, even though he was a great hulk of a man,

didn’t have answers for something like this. He was used to people being terrorized the moment they saw him. But here, there was a young boy who looked up at him, smiled and talked to him, and asked him questions about the fundamentals of his job. Hullu didn’t know what to do. He said, “Come with me. Let me take you to the boss. Talk all this with him; it’s beyond me.” So he took both of them, Krishna and Balarama, to Panchajana. Panchajana was furious, “What were you doing?” he asked. Krishna said, “We were just helping him to sleep. Is there any problem about that?” “You don’t do such things on my ship,” said Panchajana. Krishna replied, “If I see suffering, I reach out. This is my dharma. Nobody can stop me from doing that.” Panchajana looked at this boy and said, “What is this ‘dharma’ nonsense? I am the law on this ship. I say no. No.” Krishna said, “That doesn’t go with me. Wherever I am, I follow my dharma. I reach out to people no matter what the law is.” Panchajana said, “It looks like you need some treatment.” But then he looked at the boys; they were such good merchandise. If he whipped them and stripped off their skin, they would not sell well. So he said, “Hullu, just lock them up in the hold. Give them food. Don’t let them out. There is no point using the whip on them. We will lose the price.” You don’t destroy your own merchandise. So they were taken and locked up in a wooden cage at the bottom of the ship.

The crew didn’t know what to make out of these two strange people who were so puny and small compared to them but went about doing things in their own way. Never before had another man dared to stand up and speak in front of Panchajana, not follow his orders and survived to see the next wink of the eye. But somehow, these two boys had survived this. So slowly, among this illiterate crew, stories started spreading that there is something about them. It looked like they were not real human beings; they were spirits. Especially for Hullu, one of the whip men who was brought up in desert lands with all this spirit business, it really put the fear of evil spirits in him. He sat down and prayed that these evil spirits who had come on the ship should not touch him.

Later in the night, Bikru, the navigator, came down to the hold and told Krishna, “We are


12

1 Refers to Sadhguru’s previous incarnation as Sadhguru Shri Brahma 1 Sadhguru Shri Brahma

changing direction; we are not going to our original destination. We are going much further away.” Krishna wanted to go to Puri because Punardatta, his Guru’s son, was there. But now, Panchajana had decided to change course and go somewhere else. So he told Bikru, “I want to get out of this cage. I will break it and come out.” Bikru said, “Don’t do such a thing. If you break the cage and come out, it will mean death penalty.” But Krishna said, “Find some way to open this lock and let me out by morning. If you don’t, I’m going to break the cage and come out anyway; death penalty or otherwise. Because if you’re going to take me to some other port, what will I do there? I want to go to Puri.”

By morning, Krishna had broken out of the cage and the carpenter whom he had nursed slipped in and fixed the cage as it was. Krishna and Balarama freely walked about the deck. Panchajana came to know that these two boys were out and asked, “Who let them out?” People said, “Nobody let them out.” “So they broke the cage? That means death penalty. Money or no money – it’s enough. Let’s put an end to these two fools. Did they break the cage?” Hullu went to inspect the cage and saw it was not broken. The cage was intact. The lock was right there as it had been, but the boys had just come out. He got totally terrified. “These are definitely some evil spirits,” he thought. In total terror, he went

to Panchajana and told him, “The boys have not broken the cage. The lock is still intact. They have just come out.” Panchajana also felt a little tremor within himself.

Let me tell you a story. About 70–75 years ago, in the present town of Coonoor, a hill station, Sadhguru2 had a little ashram; it is still intact. The British established a cordite factory there – that means explosives – so Coonoor was a high security area. There was a little railway station. Because of all these revolutionaries and freedom fighters, there was a general ban on any Indian walking in that area. But Sadhguru3, who didn’t know such rules and boundaries, just crossed the railway station because it was a shorter way for him. One day, they arrested him because repeatedly, he was breaking the rule, and they put him behind bars. He just walked through the bars and went away. They didn’t know what to do with him. Never again they touched him. Nor was he interested in the cordite factory. He just walked through the bars, simply like that. But Krishna used the carpenter. He doesn’t mind these things…

To be continued…


13

Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev made his second visit to Isha Yoga Center on 30 March 2011. He was welcomed with a pada pooja (a traditional way of washing the Guru’s feet), chanting by the Samskriti children, and an intense display of Kalaripayattu in the Veerabhadra Akhada (the recently opened Kalari).

A resident of Isha Yoga Center shares: “Baba Ramdev started the sathsang with a shloka about Isha. He quoted many texts to explain the meaning of ‘Isha’ – the formless divine which pervades the universe. He also shared his dream and vision of a self-reliant, corruption free and prosperous India. He spoke of his initiative Bharat Swabhiman Andolan, an anti-corruption campaign to re-establish the lost glory of India and to present it as the spiritual capital of the world. Though he was not speaking the native language of the audience, his humorous yet serene way of expression and frequent quotes from the scriptures captivated us for that one hour.”

Early the next morning, Baba Ramdev and Sadhguru addressed the people of Coimbatore at the VOC Ground during a yoga camp conducted by Baba

Ramdev from 5 to 7:30 a.m.

Baba Ramdev spoke of the need for ‘social spirituality’ and the necessity to introduce spirituality into the mainstream of society. On the invitation of Baba Ramdev, Sadhguru was present at the closing of the program. He spoke of the wonderful work that Baba Ramdev was doing in introducing yoga to people and added jokingly that thanks to Baba Ramdev, people who had never seen the sun rise were now waking up well before the sun.

Sadhguru also stressed the importance of introducing at least ‘one drop of spirituality’ into the life of every individual, saying that spirituality was an absolute necessity in today’s world of technology and expansion. The discourse was punctuated with frequent applause from a crowd of over 1000 people. Of course, Sounds of Isha closed the program with their signature tunes. The event was telecast live on Aastha Channel.

Baba Ramdev Visits Isha Yoga Center /

Sadhguru Speaks at Baba Ramdev’s Yoga Camp in Coimbatore


14

Immediately after the spirited closing of the Chennai Isha Yoga program on 27 March, Sadhguru jetted off in his typical nomadic way traversing the country from south to north.

While Sunday night saw him amidst over 16,000 effervescent Tamil people, Monday saw him in Jalandhar, Punjab, addressing a public crowd of over 5000. There, the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation, an initiative of MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, organized the ‘Divine Confluence’ where spiritual leaders spoke about the tragedy of female feticide. In Sadhguru’s words, “Rather than enshrining the feminine, the people are resorting to shameful brutalities against her. It is time that we value her as an essential ingredient in our lives.” Also present at the event were Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th Shankaracharya1 of Kanchi Math2, Akal Takht3 Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, and Jain representative Dr. Lokesh Muni of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati4.

On 29 March, Sadhguru visited the Vasant Valley School, a co-educational private

high school in Delhi, to engage the 12th standard students, teachers and parents in a lively Q & A session. The day ended with an intimate dinner get-together with some of the most influential members of the Delhi community.

On the following day, on the invitation of the Government of Punjab, Sadhguru headed to Mohali for the high voltage cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan. However, on the

From Chennai to Punjab to Delhi to...Cricket!Sadhguru Militates against Female Feticide

1 Head of a monastery in the Advaita tradition2 Hindu monastic institution in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, allegedly established by the Adi Shankaracharya in the fifth century BCE 3 Literally ‘The Seat of the Timeless One;’ one of the five temporal physical religious authorities of the Sikhs4 An NGO with the goal to promote non-violence, peace and spirituality


15

The official blog of Isha Foundation was launched recently at blog.ishafoundation.org. A blog (or web log) is a personal website or a shared online journal where one records happenings, opinions and links to other sites. From happenings in Isha centers across the world to Sadhguru’s latest events and talks, this blog gives you the latest updates with videos, photos,

and sharings. It also features Sadhguru’s weekly blog known as ‘Sadhguru Spot.’

The blog is an interactive medium. You can contribute too, by sharing the beautiful moments happening through Isha. Send your sharing/photo/video to [email protected].

New Isha Blog Online Now

way, endearingly persistent Isha volunteers in Chandigarh insisted that he stopped and conducted a sathsang for them. Sadhguru spoke about the ‘Ananda Alai – Wave of Bliss’ in Tamil Nadu, and his vision of a spiritual revolution by bringing ‘one drop of spirituality’ into every person’s life. After inviting them to the ashram, Sadhguru continued his journey to the Mohali Cricket Stadium.

Before the match, in an interview on the golf course to the Hindustan Times, he said of the cricket players, “They shouldn’t play for India. They shouldn’t play for the nation. They shouldn’t play for diplomacy. They must just whack the ball to the boundary.” The Indian Team and especially Virender Sehwag who got India off to a blazing start must have taken

this advice to heart. No wonder India won by 29 runs against Pakistan and a few days later with 6 wickets against Sri Lanka the Cricket World Cup!


The Wave Hits MysoreSadhguru Offers First Inner Engineering in His Home Town

The 15th of April dawned bright and pleasant for the city of Mysore with the promise of wonderful possibilities to come. Sadhguru was in Mysore, a town which had seen him through his youth, and his first Inner Engineering program in the city would begin that evening.

The Sri Suttur Veerashimhasana Math, or in short Suttur Math, which was hosting the event, was abuzz with anticipation as the program arrangements were revved up to a feverish pitch. The whole atmosphere turned electric with Sadhguru’s arrival at the program hall. Right on Day One, Sadhguru initiated the participants into the Isha Kriya – a very simple, but highly potent practice which can be taught by anyone.

On the second day of the program, the metaphorical roller-coaster ride the participants were taken on picked up speed. Infused with Sadhguru’s unerring mix of humor and deep insights, the meditators-to-be could not help but being lifted out of their preconceptions about life.

The participants were surprised with an extensive games session which, as many of them shared, made them feel like kids again. Later in the day, during Sadhguru’s talk, time seemed to cease for the participants, immersed as they were in his words. Before long, the most momentous moment for them had come – the initiation into the Shambhavi Maha Mudra. As Sadhguru led them through the process, an explosive silence permeated the entire venue. After the session, one of the participants, Krishnamurthy, shared, “It was a wonderful

experience being with Sadhguru and the energies pouring out of him. It was really fortunate that we were initiated by Sadhguru on a pournami [full-moon] day. Simply observing the changes in myself from being involved in the sessions is phenomenal.”

The program came to an end with Sadhguru thanking the Suttur Math residents, volunteers and staff who had gone out of their way to make this program possible. The last act of the night was by Sounds of Isha who stepped up the voltage of the already electric atmosphere in the hall with ‘Alai, Alai, Alai’ – the Ananda Alai song. Participants and volunteers cheered, danced, clapped and jumped with the joy of receiving what could mark a new beginning in their lives.

A participant, Rinku Naren, summed his program experience up in the following words, “The last 3 days were a blessed time for me and am sure for every person present there. To be in Sadhguru’s presence, to breathe the same air as him... I am blessed is all that I can say! It’s up to me now to use the knowledge imparted by him... Not an easy task but I know that he is with me and available to me at all times. The Isha Yoga - Inner Engineering program has touched me in more ways than I can comprehend at this moment... I only know that it will unravel in the coming days. Thank you, Sadhguru!” The rest of the participants obviously agreed. Given the enthusiasm and intensity with which they had gone through the program, they are on the best way to allow the seed sown into them to unfold in all its color and fragrance.

21 April 2011, a seemingly ordinary day, marked a milestone for humanity, with the commencement of the construction of the Aadhi Yogi Aalayam. When finished, this 50,000 sq. ft. meditation hall and 28,000 sq. ft. mandapam will be an offering and a promise to the world, a space where one can receive powerful initiations into a spiritual process.

Traditionally, in India, before constructing a new building, a bhumi pooja is performed upon the earth on which the building will constructed.

Under the scalding rays of the mid-morning sun, hundreds of people were welcomed onto the site with Aadhi Yogi chants sung by the Samskriti children. The bustle of excitement surrounded one massive stone, which was engraved with a conjoined sun and moon, symbolizing the ultimate union of the

dualities. Soon, Sadhguru entered the scene, striding briskly to the stone. Amid gestures and signals, the foundation stone was properly positioned.

After washing the rock, Sadhguru playfully hopped atop a table to smear the carved sun with vibhuti, and the half-moon with kumkum before adorning the stone with a mala.

Everybody then sat down for the Guru Pooja, which was followed by a short address by Sadhguru. As brahmacharies subsequently distributed the prasadam that Sadhguru had blessed, Samskriti children chanted ‘Yogeshwarya, Mahadevaya’ – a perfect tribute to the Aadhi Yogi.

Sadhguru’s message on the Bhumi Pooja of Aadhi Yogi Alayam (translated from Tamil):

“Within myself, I have always been bothered that the great Aadhi Yogi is not being held on the right kind of pedestal that He deserves in this world. With this in mind, we are creating suitable tools – not just as a sign of gratitude, but also to make the knowledge and technology He has given to the world available to more and more people. We want to start this in many other places in the world, but the first step is happening at the foothills of these mountains.

“This is only the first step. We stand here today with a promise within us that we will make His footprint happen all over the world.”

- Sadhguru

The First Tribute Bhumi Pooja for the Aadhi Yogi Aalayam

17May 2011FOREST FLOWER

18

Just one visit of her temple near Isha Yoga Center, one taste of her Presence and Grace can be enough to have us spellbound. For all those who are longing to invite this whimsical and compassionate Devi into their own private living and office spaces and make her part of their lives, Sadhguru has created Linga Bhairavi yantras.

These very special yantras offer the immense benediction of creating a consecrated space in your home.

The Linga Bhairavi Yantra and the Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra are unique and powerful energy forms, especially and specifically designed and consecrated by Sadhguru.

While the Linga Bhairavi Yantra is geared to create a situation of inner and outer wellbeing in your home, the Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra is designed to create a situation of personal and material wellbeing in larger spaces, especially business locations, offices, hospitals, or any other commercial, public or private building, as well as residential estates of more than 3000 sq. ft.

“One who earns the Grace of Bhairavi neither has to live in concern or fear of life or death, of poverty, or of failure. All that a human being considers as wellbeing will be his if only he earns the Grace of Bhairavi.”

- Sadhguru

Bring the Devi’s Grace into Your Home!

Linga Bhairavi Yantra / Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra

Linga Bhairavi Yantra


19

“Since we got the Yantra, we have experienced tremendous wellbeing on all levels: our physical health, emotional stability, spiritual growth as well as material growth. The Yantra works in miraculous ways to enhance your life as you become more and more devoted to the Devi.”

– Purnima Rathod, Director, Endoscopy Asia, Mumbai

“After the Avighna Yantra has come to us, lots of opportunities have come our way. Whatever I wished for, the Devi kept granting it. Every little thing is happening in our favor.”

– Shanthini Suresh, Acupuncture Physician, Erode

The next opportunity to receive a consecrated Linga Bhairavi Yantra or Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra in a special ceremony with

Sadhguru is on 14 July 2011 at Isha Yoga Center.

For more information on the Yantras and on how to receive one, please contact us:Tel.: +91-094438 35000, +91-094432 51234 Email: [email protected]

Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra


21

Program Highlights

These programs are conducted in English, unless indicated otherwise. Current at the time of print, however subject to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our website www.ishafoundation.org.

Date Program Place Contact

2 - 5 June 2011Inner Engineering

RetreatResidential Program

Isha Yoga Center,Coimbatore, India

0422-2515421 [email protected]

6 - 26 June 2011 3-Week SadhanaResidential Program

IIIS, USA+1-931-668-1900

[email protected]

9 - 12 June 2011Shoonya Intensive

Residential ProgramIIIS, USA

+1-931-668-1900 [email protected]

11 - 15 June 2011The Inner Way

Residential Program con-ducted by Sadhguru


For general program-related inquiries (excluding registration, confirmation or

payment): 99449 31964

15 Jun - 3 Jul 2011 (Two travel plans)

Himalayan Dhyan Yatra Indian Himalayas9488 111 777

[email protected]

23 - 26 June 2011Inner Engineering




26 - 29 June 2011Bhava Spandana

(English / Hindi - Ladies)Residential Program



7 - 10 July 2011Inner Engineering




8 - 10 July 2011Inner Engineering

conducted by SadhguruBangalore, India

94808 36603, 94808 36604 [email protected]

15 Sep - 3 Oct 2011 (Two travel plans)

Himalayan Dhyan Yatra Indian Himalayas 9488 111 777

[email protected]

6 Jul - 21 Aug 2011 (In ten 15-day

batches)

Kailash Manasarovar Sojourn

Nepal, Tibet 9488 111 777

[email protected]

15 - 22 Dec 2011Mahabharat

Residential Programconducted by Sadhguru


94449 02058 [email protected]


22

Isha RecipesFor Healthy Living

Ingredients:½ kg Cashew nuts½ kg Dried grapes½ kg Oats½ kg Sweetened condensed milk (e.g. Milkmaid)½ kg Ash gourd seeds or pumpkin seeds (dried)½ kg Dates (cut into small pieces)4 Coconuts (grated)¼ l Sunflower oil50 g Cinnamon (powdered)

GRANOLA CRUNCH

Method:

Put all ingredients, apart from the condensed milk, in a large bowl and mix well.

Spread the mixture evenly on an oiled tray.

Pour the condensed milk over it.

Place the tray in the oven and bake at 100 °C for approx. 15 – 20 min. Stir mixture regularly with a spatula until it is evenly golden brown.

Allow to cool, break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Note:Granola makes for a nutritious breakfast, especially for children. Stored dry and airtight, it keeps for three months.

Tasty Tip: Add coconut milk and serve!


January 2011FO

RE

ST FLOW

ER

ff may 2011

Documents