Isha Forest Flower May 2019
Isha Forest Flower May 2019
Breaking Bonds
Even the Umbilical Cord
has to be broken for life
to thrive. From then on
the nature of Human Life
makes many a bond and breaks
quite a few. Like the Seed
that sprouts has to break its
bond with the shell that
sheltered it, to make a
larger bond with the
Earth and the Sky.
Bonds of love, companionship,
nourishment and blood
all shall be broken for
one who longs to grow
and touch the Divine.
Dear Readers,
Beauty, success, fame and fortune – between the eternal and the
some seem to have it all. Kangana changeable. In our Mahabharat series,
Ranaut is undoubtedly one of them. Sadhguru throws light on the central
The consummate artist is at the characters of this epic, Krishna and
height of her career as an actress and Arjuna, and a possible connection, if
film director. Still, even the greatest not an identity, with the mythical pair
success doesn’t necessarily bring Nara–Narayana.
fulfillment – quite the opposite, as What’s more: With the second
Kangana recently revealed to us. In sharing in our On the Path of the
this issue, read her honest personal Divine series, let us introduce Maa
account about her journey as a Gambhiri to you. Be inspired by her
seeker, and learn what the key was to unconventional journey from a young
“Finding the Missing Piece.” Spoiler aspiring pilot to an Isha sanyasi. The
alert: It might have something to do noteworthy events we recap in this
with Sadhguru. issue span from Samyama, Youth and
In her upcoming movie, Mental Hai Truth in UK, to Inner Engineering in
Kya, the indomitable actress gives L.A., a Lieutenant Governor at a rural
center stage to one of the most Isha Vidhya School, and much more.
burning topics in modern life. Mental Last but not least, if you are looking
health issues, particularly anxiety, for light, healthy recipe ideas to beat
have been skyrocketing in the past the summer heat, our “Quinoa Crunch
decade. In the article “Alignment Salad” is a must-try. Enjoy!
against Anxiety,” Sadhguru offers a The Editorial Team
surprisingly simple remedy which, if
practiced consistently, can make a
veritable difference.
The way human beings live has
changed drastically in recent times,
which begs the question, “Is the
Sanatana Dharma Still Valid Today?”
It depends, Sadhguru says, and clears
any ambiguity in this month’s Lead
Article. Find out how he differentiates
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Mechanics of Mysticism 15
Influential US Rabbi in Conversation with Sadhguru
In this excerpt from an interview, Kangana Ranaut opens up on how, at the peak of her career as an actress, she
hit rock bottom as an individual. Find out how she first met Sadhguru, and how she has experienced her journey
with Isha so far, up to the recent Samyama program that she participated in.
Kangana Ranaut: My journey with Isha started a People usually think that I wanted to be an actress,
year ago, and that was the time where I was at a but mountain people1 are not very ambitious.
dead end in my life. When I stumbled upon acting, that’s when I felt
that everyone was talking about making a career or
From the Himalayas to Bollywood wanting validation. Being successful became very
When I look back now, I think I’ve had a very important to me. I became hugely successful. The
dramatic journey – as a child as well. When I was six, kind of box office success and critical acclaim I’ve
something happened. It was a disturbing incidence, seen, no one had seen so far, and that was where
which made me feel like a part of me has been things got really bad for me. I was not interested
violently pulled out of me. From that day onwards, in any relationship. I was not interested in success.
the world seemed a bit unreal to me. Something in Even today, people say, “How come you are so
me changed, and I remember doing things which fearless? Why do you always do things which are
are bizarre for any reasonable person, things which going against your career?” It’s easy to see I really do
are completely against my survival. You know like at
the age of fifteen, I left home. I was homeless. I was 1 Kangana Ranaut was born and grew up in a small town
sleeping on roads. in Himachal Pradesh
Questioner: What does the Hindu Sanatana is what happens to you – it is an experience. But the
Dharma actually mean? And is it diluted today? raga or the shruti is already set. Now it is for you
Sadhguru: There is no such thing as Hindu Sanatana to find the right rhythm for it, so that life happens
Dharma. It is simply Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana beautifully, like a wonderful music.
means eternal. Something that is eternal is always If you do not find the rhythm, the same shruti that
true. If you had come here a hundred years ago, facilitates life will crush you. Sanatana Dharma is
you would be dressed differently, and you would be the dimension of life which does not change, which
doing something else. If you had come a thousand is the basis of our existence. How you dress, what
years ago, again you would be doing something your profession is, how you deal with your family,
different. Maybe you would be a farmer or your relationships, and society, is different from
a fisherman. generation to generation, from person to person.
What we are doing, how we are dressed, how we But the laws that govern my life also govern your
speak, how we act today is a generational thing. life and every other life.
It is of the times. It keeps changing. How the next
generation will act, how they will dress, what they
will do, will be totally different from the way we do These laws are not an imposition but the
it right now. This is one dimension of life – we call foundation of existence.
it smriti. Smriti literally translates as “from memory.”
What you have learnt by memory is smriti. But there
is shruti, which can be interpreted in many different Whether it is a worm, an insect, a bird, an animal, or
ways. One dimension of it is, it is the tune of life. The a plant, all of them are ruled by Sanatana Dharma,
tune is not set by you – it is creation. the fundamental laws that govern existence. This is
Only if you understand the shruti of life, can you not a penal code imposed by human beings upon
find the rhythm. This is what Bharata means. Bha each other, for control and some semblance of
means bhava or the experience of life. Ra means sanity in society. Transactional laws have to change
raga, which is the shruti of life. Ta means tala. Bhava from generation to generation. That is a different
In response to a student’s question at Bennett University, Greater Noida, Sadhguru suggests a little
known practice to alleviate anxiety. Want to know how it works? Sadhguru explains its mechanics and
effectiveness on the level of the human system as well as the cosmos.
Questioner: Sadhguru, I suffer from anxiety. Why is created from within. If an invasion happens
does it happen, and how can I control it? from outside in the form of an infection, that is
a different matter.
Sadhguru: Mental health is a sensitive thing… When
it comes to physical health, unless you have some
kind of infection that comes from outside, the rest
of the ailments are all coming from within us. What Health is created from within.
is coming from within you, is it your responsibility?
If your body is creating an ailment from within, is it
your responsibility to fix it? When it comes to mental health, it is far more
sensitive to say this, but still – if what happens to
Is it not true that any number of people who lie in
your body is your responsibility, is what happens
bed like a potato till noon time are suffering from
to your mind not your responsibility? There may be
many ailments? They thought others are idiots who
many contributing factors. Even physical ill health
get up at 05:00 o’ clock in the morning and run,
may be caused due to many factors. The same may
swim, play, or do something else. They thought they
be true with mental health too. But we need to
were really enjoying life, just eating and sleeping.
separate sadness from psychological illnesses. You
But after some time, it takes a toll on the system.
cannot go to your doctor and fix your sadness; he
Then they think it is someone’s fortune to have
may also be sad.
good health, while they have ill health. No! Health
Mahabharat
Who Are Krishna
and Arjuna Really?
In this excerpt from the one-of-a-kind Mahabharat program, Sadhguru answers a question on parallels
between Arjuna/Krishna and Nara/Narayana – or are they one and the same? Find out about the dynamics
of these duos, and how their different responsibilities complement each other.
Questioner: Sadhguru, you have likened Arjuna and one level much more or absolutely consciously, on
Krishna’s relationship to that of Nara/Narayana. another level more compulsively. A compulsive life
Can you tell us more about that? is capable of more action; a conscious life should
not be very active. That is the symbolism.
Sadhguru: This theme of Nara/Narayana manifests
in many different ways. The significance of this is, Krishna comes as a charioteer; he does not fight; he
even if God comes down to man’s world, he needs is not in the action. When you commit the “crime”
man’s assistance. Even if God lives in your home, of being both conscious and action-bound, in many
he needs your assistance – otherwise it does not ways, you cripple yourself and limit the duration
work. You may have divine presence with you, but and scope of your life. So they acted in tandem. If
without your assistance, still it will not be fruitful. Krishna himself chose to be action, then the scope
That is the message. and duration of who he is would come down. But in
this life, the duration does not matter for him; he is
Different Names, One Concept only looking at the scope.
Nara/Narayana, in this combination, acted many
times. Are Arjuna/Krishna the same people? Arjuna,
Action – Yes, Fruit – No
we can say, is the same being. To some extent, Only the human mind and the human body are
the memory carries him and gives him a certain individual. So here, the “something more” [which
bone density which we call destiny. We will look is beyond body and mind, is universal and] comes
at Krishna later because there is no such thing as in the form of Krishna/Narayana. That “something
Krishna. Krishna is like a wisp. That which is the basis more” always travels with Arjuna/Nara. Krishna
of everything is manifesting itself in a certain way; says, “O Arjuna, I am bound to you. I will be with
it could dismantle itself anytime. In other words, you every moment of your life, in everything you do.
Nara means the same source manifested in a more Leave it to me. Don’t hesitate, just act.” You need
compulsive manner – Narayana means the same to understand the intelligence behind such words.
source manifested in a more conscious manner. The normal understanding would be, “Oh, Krishna
said, ‘Leave it to me,’ so I will leave it and sleep.” If I
Because of the burden of consciousness, [Narayana’s
tell someone, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care,” the idiots
own] action gets limited. He chooses someone
won’t do anything.
[Nara] who is a little more compulsive for action.
The same theme reflects in other cultures – God When Krishna says, “Leave it to me and act,” he is
and his Son acting in tandem. Nara/Narayana only saying, “Leave the results to me. Don’t leave
means just this – the same source manifesting on the action to me. The action is still yours. If you
Sandegoundenpalayam
(Coimbatore), 3 Apr 2019:
It was a proud moment for
the students and staff of
the Isha Vidhya School in
Sandegoundenpalayam, a
few kilometers away from
the Isha Yoga Center, when
Puducherry’s Lieutenant
Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi
visited their school. Dr. Kiran
Bedi not only showed great
interest in the Isha Vidhya
methodology, but seemed
to be visibly touched by the
interactions with students,
teachers, administrators, and
the central academic team
of Isha Vidhya. She even sat
down on the floor for lunch
with the students.
Maa Gambhiri
Absolutely Balanced and Dignified
In this series, each month, one of our Isha Brahmacharis or Sanyasis shares their individual background,
observations, and experiences of what it means for them to walk this sacred “Path of the Divine.”
Here, Maa Gambhiri candidly recounts her transformation from a young aspiring pilot to a devoted sanyasi,
Sadhguru’s metamorphosis from a yoga teacher to a Guru, how the Dhyanalinga consecration impacted
Sadhguru’s body in front of their eyes, and other landmark experiences from the early days until now.
“Sorry, this parking space is reserved for Jaggi,” the I drove in early and stole his parking spot! Feeling
volunteer told me politely. “How unfair,” I grumbled very satisfied, I sat in the class. Third day, his parking
as I drove from one lane to the next, trying to find spot was available, but I chose not to take it. That
another parking spot. I had come essentially for my day, I sat in attention, listening to every word with
sister who wanted to attend this yoga class, hoping absolute focus. To my surprise, he came up to me
it would help her asthma condition. I somehow after the class and casually talked to me about my
landed up with the responsibility of dropping flying experience. That night I did not sleep.
and picking her up, hence I also landed up in the
I had no clue about what a spiritual path is, what
class. As an active girl just out of my teens training
enlightenment is, or what a Guru is. And I didn’t
to be a pilot, the yoga class was certainly not
know who Sadhguru is, but I felt I had known him
something I fancied.
forever. There was an utter clarity within me that
So here I was, sitting grumpily in the class, expecting day that this path, whatever it was, would be my
someone like a gym trainer to walk in and show us life, but I had no idea how. From then on, I started to
some yoga poses. To my utter disappointment, a actively volunteer. Since I was so young, my parents
few minutes later, a bearded man entered the class were worried whether I really understood what it
in his white kurta and dhoti, walking very gently. meant to walk this path. So they met Sadhguru to
Though I found Sadhguru’s voice very arresting, understand what was happening.
I didn’t pay much attention. In fact, the next day,
After the meeting, Sadhguru advised me to take a
Vijji Akka
We were just five people at the ashram in the
beginning. Our beloved Patti would cook for us We were all very young, so first we decided that
over the fire wood stove. A small security shed we would not fight amongst ourselves and that we
doubled up as kitchen cum dining. I used to assist would sort our differences among ourselves instead
Patti in her work. Sadhguru would join us in cutting of bothering him. Second, we started doing the Chit
vegetables whenever he was in the ashram. Vijji Shakti meditation to wish a long life for him.
and I connected very well with each other from the Sadhguru wouldn’t give us a date for the final
very beginning. Whenever she was in the ashram, consecration as he wanted his system to be fully
we used to do our practices together. On the day ready. We were living at the edge of our lives
she left her body, actually I was with her through waiting for that day. On 23 June 1999, Sadhguru
the day. said that the consecration would happen the next
On 23 January 1997, a full moon day, Sadhguru day. He told me to invite only a few very disciplined
called and asked me to be with Vijji. She was on a volunteers who would not disturb him in the final
An Unexpected Revelation
Later in the years when lsha Yatra became my
primary responsibility, Sadhguru asked me to
explore if we could take meditators to Kailash
Manasarovar in Tibet. So in 2006, we took the first
160 meditators on this sacred yatra. I was busy with
organizing work and never once thought of Kailash
and Manasarovar in a spiritual context. It was an
activity which had to be done well.
Envy of the Gods
In the initial years, from the humble beginning on
When Sadhguru’s jeep stopped at one point and I
a small piece of land, we would dream of a time
saw him getting out, I too got out of my vehicle.
when the world would recognize Sadhguru for who
There was a large lake in the distance straight
he is. It is extremely heartwarming to finally see
ahead. Something shifted within me as I looked at
that happening. From accompanying Sadhguru in
it. My eyes welled up. I turned towards Sadhguru,
his search for this ashram land till today, it is my
and he was in tears too. Since then, organizing
privilege to be on this journey end to end. Sadhguru
Kailash Manasarovar yatra each year has become
had once said that we must create a space that
an integral part of my life. Though it means
even the Gods would envy. Well, I live with the One
insurmountable jugglery to safely send hundreds
who makes them.
of meditators from different countries to a barren
high-altitude region in China, I unreservedly feel This is an excerpt of Maa’s sharing. Read the full
fortunate and blessed to be given this responsibility. article on the Isha Blog.
20–24
Isha Yoga Center,
May 2019 Isha Yoga Summer
Velliangiri Foothills, [email protected]
21–25 Program for Children
Coimbatore – India
May 2019
Current at the time of print, however subject to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit
www.ishayoga.org/Schedule/Yoga-Programs
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