MANDELA Man ‘O’ Man He Refused to Surrender the Human in Him Even to the Most Inhuman No Matter What You Take from Him You Could Not Make Him a Lesser Man

Volume - 2 / Issue - 1 `15 Annual Subscription `180 January 2014

MANDELA Man ‘O’ Man He refused to surrender The human in him even to the most inhuman No matter what you take from him You could not make him a lesser Man

Born of bondage and suppression of the worst kind. Unrelenting in his longing for Dignity and Freedom Lived to see demonic rule end Unfettered by bitterness or hate Celebrating freedom with laughter and joy

Not many a man were born Like him till our times Hope he spawns many Who will live like him. The future needs many like him

Man ‘O’ Man

Is rooted the eternal tree. It is in these times Three and the wisdom the past of by the intensity the present of futureThe is awoken Grace & Blessings Editorial

Dear Readers,

You have been initiated into a yogic kriya or meditation. You sit down and start the practice as instructed. But then, a steady stream of thoughts diverts your attention to all kinds of mundane matters, from snippets of conversations to what to have for dinner. Sounds familiar? Our Lead Article, “Mind Your Garbage” presents Sadhguru’s antidote to frustration in the face of this common challenge. K. SEKAR. In the article “More Than a Man,” Sadhguru describes a new avenue to make spirituality

accessible and available to humanity. These new Adiyogi spaces will be monuments to Editor: commemorate the one who first opened up the possibility of raising human consciousness. But not only that – they will also be meditative spaces where anyone, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds, can pick a simple spiritual process that can easily be integrated into their lives. Sadhguru has created the blueprint. It is up to all of us to take the initiative to establish such a space, wherever we are. S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street, Street, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd FINE DOTS, S. PRAKASH; at

We are excited to introduce our new Isha Hata Yoga series. Each month, we will bring you Sadhguru’s exceptional insights on how to enhance your sadhana. “Part 1: Getting Started – The Element of Water” examines the first step towards setting the right conditions for Hata Yoga. Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 042. Printed by: Printed This month’s Leela episode includes two questions about Krishna’s life and legacy. In the part “No Black and White in Life,” Sadhguru explains why Krishna gave his army to Duryodhana, who is often seen as the personification of evil. In “Become That,” Sadhguru guides us as to how to bring key attributes of Krishna – playfulness, inclusiveness, love and devotion – into our lives. In the fourth part of their conversation, “Room for Growth,” Sadhguru and Tarun Tahiliani discuss what distinguishes Bharat (India) as a nation and culture.

To recap recent events, the article “Women in Business” includes a synopsis of Sadhguru’s talk at the Qatar International Businesswomen Forum. “Insight – The DNA of Success” captures highlights of the second leadership program with Sadhguru and Dr. Ram Charan. In the excerpt of an interview by Bloomberg TV India Editor Vivek Law, Sadhguru expands on his “Leadership Insights.” As the temperatures chill, warm your senses and nurture your body with a hot “Drumstick Soup”!

Enjoy the read

The Editorial Team Isha Forest Flower – ONLINE!

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2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 CONTENTS Lead Article Mind Your Garbage Sadhguru on Thoughts during Spiritual Practices (and Beyond) 4

Musings More Than a Man Sadhguru on Adiyogi’s Contribution to Human Consciousness 7

Isha Hata Yoga Sadhguru on How to Enhance Your Sadhana Part 1: Getting Started – The Element of Water 9

Leela Series The path of the playful – part XLXI: No Black and White in Life / Become That 11

In Conversation with the Mystic Room for Growth Sadhguru in Conversation with Fashion Designer Tarun Tahiliani – part 4 13

Featured Interview Leadership Insights Bloomberg TV India Editor Vivek Law’s Interview Sadhguru 15

News & Happenings Insight – The DNA of Success Second Leadership Program with Dr. Ram Charan and Sadhguru 17 Women in Business Sadhguru Speaks at the Qatar International Businesswomen Forum 18 Upcoming Programs and Events

Shivanga Sadhana 19 Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 20

Isha Recipes This Month: Drumstick Soup 21 Zen Speaks: No Better Than a Clow 23

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 3 SADHGURU

Mind Your Garbage Sadhguru on Thoughts During Spiritual Practices (and Beyond)

The following is an excerpt from a darshan with Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, on 5 December 2013.

Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. During the practice of kriyas, there is always this challenge of thoughts entering my mind. I’m trying hard to keep them away and focus on the kriya, but this doesn’t really work. What to do about that?

Sadhguru: You are focusing hard and trying to banish the thoughts, and they are not going away. This is the nature of the mind, but it looks like you are very prejudiced against your mind. When you are doing your kriya or your meditation, you don’t mind if your kidneys or your lungs are functioning, or if your heart is beating. You don’t mind all the other processes in the body – only your brain should not function. The notion that if you do something spiritual, your brain should stop working is simply wrong.

4 ISHA FOREST FLOWER Your thoughts are just the smells – either fragrance think you are your thoughts. When you think, you or stink – of the stuff that you carry within you. don’t see it as “my thoughts” – you say, “I think so.” Nothing new arises. If you don’t let the stuff that Because you are deeply identified with your thought you have gathered go into your brain, your brain process, it is bothering you. You are not identified will work in phenomenal ways. It can do things that with your kidneys unless you have a kidney you have not imagined possible. But it is full of your problem. If they function normally, most people do own rubbish right now – that is the struggle; that is not even feel if they have kidneys or not. Kidneys why you want it to stop. Instead of the brain being are a device – they are functioning so efficiently we the crown of your life, it has become the garbage can forget about them. bin of your life. Physically, it is the crown. In the 1 You are always conscious of that which does not symbolism of yoga, Sahasrar is a lotus with one thousand petals – “one thousand” not as a literal function efficiently. You know, I am making a number, but as something innumerable. If your brain statement about your brain. If it was functioning was rooted in the existential process, innumerable smoothly, you would not notice your brain, like possibilities would open up. But right now, your you do not notice your kidneys or liver. If you brain is only rooted in the mental process. were not identified with it, you would not notice it. If you are identified with it, it is a big deal. Now you may say, “Sadhguru, that’s exactly what You are not your thought. You are identified I am saying – how to get rid of the thoughts?” No, with something that you are not. Once you are that is not what you are saying. You don’t want identified with something that you are not, you your thoughts to interfere with your illusory idea cannot stop the mental process – it will just go on of enlightenment. Illusory because enlightenment endlessly. It is like when you have eaten bad food, is not something that you cause. You don’t cause gas will develop. You cannot stop it with as wine light, but you see light. When the sun rises in the cork. You just have to stop eating bad food. morning, you do not cause the light, but you are able to see it if your eyes are open. If you cause The bad food for you is right now, you believe light – let’s say with a torch or by any other means – yourself to be things that you are not. The moment you always have to keep it up, and there will always you identify yourself with your body, your thoughts, be the fear that it will go out. your emotions, and many other things around you, the thought process will be endless. People think The difference between education and that is how the mind is. That is not how mind is, or enlightenment is just this – you can educate rather, that it is not how it is supposed to be. If you yourself with 1, 10, or 1000 books, but still you will constantly had a stomach ache, you would think run out of material at some point. Enlightenment that is how the stomach is. Right from my infancy, means you did not educate yourself with books – I always saw mountain peaks in the background of you are simply there; it is an endless process. Is my eyes – both in wakefulness and sleep. I thought there something particular that an enlightened there are mountains in everyone’s eyes. Only when person knows that you do not know? No. Is there I was 16, I found out that this is not so. But these something particular that an enlightened person mountains were real. Since I could not talk about it does not know? No. I am not playing with words. to anyone, I went searching these mountains [and This is the nature of existence. Sadhguru finally found Velliangiri, where he was to establish Dhyanalinga]. Whatever is constantly What is happening in your liver and kidneys is a lot there, you consider as the natural state. more complex than the thoughts that you generate. If the activity of your organs does not disturb you, The brain is much more sensitive than other organs. why do your thoughts disturb you? Because you All other organs have specific functions, but the

1 Energy center on the top of the head; also known as “crown chakra”

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 5 brain has a few specific functions, and the rest is There is no need to establish Truth. It is in the lap of left open. This is the problem of being human. Any Truth that all of us exist. other creature has specific goals, nothing more. They must eat well, grow well, reproduce well, and die I will not ask you to confess what thoughts you are one day – everything is set. Only a human being is getting while doing your kriya. Do not be concerned wondering, “Why am I here? What is the nature of about your thoughts. Above all, do not try to stop my life? Where do I come from? Where do I go?” All them. Let them happen like the activity of your these questions only come up when you are human. kidneys is happening. Not everything in your The difference between a human being and any kidneys is clean. Not everything in your brain is other creature is that in human beings, the cerebral clean either – what is your problem? cortex and other parts of the brain have flowered. Do not discriminate between good and bad thoughts. There are no good and bad thoughts – You complain about a new possibility that has arisen there are just thoughts. Your thoughts depend upon within you, a possibility that an ape, a monkey, what kind of garbage you have – that kind of smell or any other creature does not have. Do not treat will emanate. Today’s smell depends on yesterday’s a possibility as a problem. It is not a problem – it garbage. It depends on what you threw into the bin. is a possibility that you can sit here and think of If you watched a movie yesterday or something else something that is 1000 miles away, 1000 years ago, happened, today, that will come back to you again. 1000 years later, or whatever else. It has become a Do not judge your thoughts – it is just rubbish. problem for a lot of people because they have never First of all, they are not even real. A thought means looked at the user manual. It is a man’s problem to that it is not real. The largest part of who you are think somehow, if they scratch their head, it will is unconscious right now. You are making things work. That is not the way it works. up all the time. If you want to know the nature of creation and the Creator, it is important that you do First stop giving the brain bad food – feed it with not make things up, which is what you are trying to Truth, not untruth. We are in the hands of Truth. We do right now. Trying to make things up is a hopeless don’t have Truth in our hands. We have a complex method. bunch of lies in our hands. If you keep down all the things that you believe, all the things that you have If you try to maintain a continuous stream of made up, you will see, if you sit here, your mind thoughts while doing your kriya, suddenly, they could be simply empty. If it is empty, what is the will not come. Suddenly, you will get constipated use? The use is it can reflect the whole cosmos. in the head. Do not bother about your thoughts. Otherwise, it is quite comic. This is the choice – you Depending upon what is there inside today, thoughts can make your mind into a comical place or a cosmic will flow. There is no significance or consequence to space. For it to become a cosmic space, you must this. You just need to do the kriya – do not do the keep all the lies down – then Truth will flourish by thoughts. Whether you try to remove them or to its own nature. The absence of falsehood is Truth. have continuous thoughts or 108 sacred thoughts, you are still trying to do the thoughts. The kidneys Only a fool will talk about what Truth is. One who will do their own thing; the liver will do its own knows will only talk around it, because you cannot thing; the brain will do its own thing; you do the talk about it. You can only define and describe that kriya – that is all. which has some kind of substance, that which has measurable parameters, or boundaries. If something has no boundaries and no parameters, you cannot talk about it. The whole work is about clearing the mess you have created, not about establishing Truth.

6 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 More Than a Man Sadhguru on Adiyogi’s Contribution to Human Consciousness The following is an excerpt from a meditators’ only thing in the history of humanity that has lived sathsang with Sadhguru in Mumbai on for so long without ever being forced upon people. 15 November 2013. No one ever put a sword to anyone’s throat and Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. I heard you said “Do yoga! Otherwise, we will behead you.” No are planning to create 21-feet Adiyogi statues across force has ever been exerted to impose it, but still the globe. What is the significance of this? I saw one yoga has lived for over 15,000 to 20,000 years, and coming up in front of the Adiyogi Alayam at the there has been no single authority to propagate it – Isha Yoga Center. Are you planning to have one in simply because the process is so effective. It has had Mumbai too? its highs and lows, but it is once again coming back in a big way. However, there are sources today that Sadhguru: It is up to you to plan what should question the origin of yoga. Some even claim that happen in Mumbai. If you have a plan for Mumbai, the yoga that is being taught today was extracted I will tell you how to make it happen. About from a European exercise system. There are attempts manifesting Adiyogi in many parts of the world – to deny the acknowledgement of a certain culture I have already spoken to some extent about how and of the one who has made the most significant 1 the sapta rishis went around the world. We have contribution to human consciousness ever. compiled a huge amount of research information on how 8000 to 12,000 years ago, there was linga Before I fall dead, I want to see that Adiyogi is worship in South America, Turkey, and North sufficiently acknowledged. These 21-foot-tall statues Africa, and snake worship all over the world – there of Adiyogi are part of this effort. After working on it is archeological proof for that. Only over the last for over 2 1/2 years, we arrived at an image that we maybe 20 centuries, this has been demolished and lost are generally happy with. Now we are in the process in most parts of the world, but originally, the sapta of manifesting that image. Each of these Adiyogi rishis’ influence spread across the planet. There is no statues will come with a structure of 111 feet by culture that did not benefit from Adiyogi’s science 111 feet and a 2 ½-feet tall consecrated linga. These of yoga. Yoga went everywhere – not as a religion, will be powerful energy spaces for meditation. The belief system, or philosophy, but as methods. Over first ones are coming up in North America –one a period of time, there have been distortions, but near the US Tennessee ashram [the Isha Institute of still, unknowingly, over 2.5 billion people across Inner-sciences in McMinnville], one near San Jose, the planet are doing some yogic practice. This is the one in Seattle, one in Toronto. Many other cities are

1 “Seven Sages” – Adiyogi’s first disciples

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 7 examining this possibility too. Our idea is to set up when I was young, they had imposed a restriction – 50 in the United States – one for each state. let’s say “If you want to do yoga, you must do Guru Pooja” – I would have gotten up and left. If they In India, such spaces will come up wherever had told me to bow down or light a lamp, I would someone takes the initiative to make it happen. A have left. There were no such restrictions. There few people are also working towards establishing were just instructions on what to do, and it worked. 112-feet-tall Adiyogi statues in four corners of I would not be who I am without the science that India. The government of Arunachal Pradesh has Adiyogi has offered, which is 100% irreligious. He invited us to establish one in their state, which is predates all religion. Yoga is something so precious the first part of the country to be touched bythe for the modern world, because we are stuck with rising sun. It is my desire that the first sunlight in the intellect. The problem I had in my youth – India should fall on his face. Irrespective of caste, that I couldn’t light a lamp, I couldn’t bow down, I religion, and gender, people should celebrate him couldn’t enter a temple; if someone said one mantra, for the contribution that he has made to humanity – I would go away – is a problem of the intellect. not as a god but as a man who rose beyond all limitations – he was everything that a man can be The more the intellect is emphasized, the more and everything that a man cannot be. He was the people will have this problem. When this problem one who opened up this possibility for humanity arises, yoga as a scientific approach is the only way. for the first time. He not only spoke about it – he Everything else will only divide people. And that gave specific methods as to how to do it. No one time is not far away for humanity. Before that time else before him or after him has made a greater comes, I want to see that Adiyogi’s name is uttered contribution to human consciousness. everywhere and everyone knows that this science of yoga is available. These statues will be 112 feet tall Out of the other three 112-feet-tall Adiyogi statues, because Adiyogi gave 112 ways a human being can we want one to come up in Uttarakhand, on the attain to the Ultimate. We want to simplify this and way to Haridwar; one near Kanyakumari, and offer you 112 things that you can do. Out of this, another one in Rajasthan, near the border. In four you just have to do one thing. This will transform corners of the country, there will be large, iconic your life in the simplest possible way. Adiyogi statues that people cannot ignore. We are also coming up with a book on Adiyogi. It is very Everyone who comes to an Adiyogi space can pick important to see him as a man – only then, there from these 112 options the one thing they want to will be a possibility of you striving to be like him. do and start with a three-minute sadhana. Everyone Whether it is Krishna, Rama, Jesus, or someone can invest three minutes. If it works for them, they else – the moment you look at them as gods, you can gradually increase the duration to 6, 12, or 24 don’t strive to be like them – that is the problem. minutes. We want to establish this within the next I want to constantly remind everyone that Adiyogi decade that irrespective of caste, religion, gender, was more than a man, but still very much a man. or physical condition – everyone will have a simple Every human being is capable of this irrespective of spiritual process in their lives. the backgrounds they come from, what they know, and what they do not know. If they are willing to Whoever wants to stand up and make this do certain things, transcendence is a possibility happen, please stand with us, because bringing in everyone’s life. To make this a big statement a spiritual process into people’s lives is one of and acknowledge him as the one who offered the the most important contributions that we can science of yoga, we are thinking of setting up four make to humanity. big statues in the country and in between as many 21-foot statues as we can.

Everything that I am is only because of this particular science being available to us freely. If,

8 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Isha Hata Yoga Sadhguru on How to Enhance Your Sadhana

This new series examines various aspects through which you can to take your hata yoga practice to a whole new level. Part 1: Getting Started – The Element of Water

Hata yoga is about creating a body that will not be yoga is a way to do that. In South India, tap water is a hurdle in your life but a stepping stone towards generally just a little cooler than room temperature. blossoming into your ultimate possibility. One simple If you are in a temperate climate, the regular thing you can do to prepare your body before you tap water may be too cold. Three to five degrees start your practice is to take a shower or a bath using centigrade below room temperature would be ideal. water that is a little cooler than room temperature. A maximum of ten degrees centigrade below room If a certain volume of water flows over your body or temperature would be acceptable – the water should your body is immersed in water that is cooler than not be colder than that. room temperature, the epithelial cells will contract, and the intercellular spaces will expand. If you use Whether you practice Asanas, Surya Namaskar, or warm or hot water, the pores of the cells will open Surya Kriya – if you start sweating, do not wipe up and absorb water – that is not what we want. off the sweat with a towel – always rub it back, For the practice of yoga, it is important that the at least into the exposed parts of your skin. If you cells contract and the intercellular spaces open up, wipe off the sweat, you drain the energy that you because we want the cellular structure of the body have generated with the practice. Water has the to be charged with a different dimension of energy. capability to carry memory and energy. That is If the cells contract and allow space in between, why you should not wipe off sweat with a towel, practicing yoga will charge the cellular structure. drink water, or go to the bathroom during practice time, unless there is a special situation that makes it Why some people seem to be far more alive than absolutely necessary. If the bladder is full, you will others is essentially because their cellular structure work harder and get the fluid out through the rest is more charged. When it is charged with energy, of the body. Then, learning to consume the right it will remain youthful for a very long time. Hata amount of water will come naturally.

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 9 You will just drink as much as the body needs. and losing water rapidly, you need to drink more – Unless you are in a desert or you have habits not when you are doing yoga under a roof. that dehydrate you – such as the excessive consumption of caffeine and nicotine – there is As I already said, rub back the sweat as much as no need to constantly sip water. About 70% of the possible, but you need not do that all the time. It body is water. The body knows how to manage can drip a bit – just don’t use a towel. Push it back itself. If you drink according to your thirst plus because we don’t want to drain energy – we want to an additional 10%, it will be enough. To give an build it up. After practicing yoga, wait a minimum example – if your thirst is gone after two sips of of 1 ½ hours before taking a shower – three hours water, drink 10% more. That will take care of your would be even better. Sweating and not showering body’s need for water. Only if you are out in the for two to three hours could be a bit of an olfactory sun or trekking in the mountains, sweating heavily challenge – just stay away from others. [Laughter] For more information on Isha Hata Yoga, please visit www.ishahatayoga.org

10 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Leela Series The path of the playful – Part XLXI No Black and White in Life The following are excerpts from Leela, the path of the playful, a unique exploration with Sadhguru into the mystical realm of Krishna, which took place at the Isha Yoga Center in September 2005

Questioner: If Krishna came to establish dharma, started thinking only in terms of what is good why did he offer himself or his army to for them and their dharma without considering all Dhuryodhana? the others and their dharmas, which disturbed the harmony in the society. Krishna and Vyasamuni Sadhguru: The situation around the Kurukshetra strived to bring Kshatra Tej and Brahma Tej closer war was such that no one could remain neutral. together so they could function as a cohesive force You had to choose one side. Being the chief of for the benefit of all. the Yadavas, Krishna also had to put his lot either with the Pandavas or the Kauravas. Personally, he Since according to the Kshatra Tej, when a relative did not want this war and would have preferred comes and asks for something, you cannot say “no,” to remain neutral, but that was not possible. He Krishna gave them the choice between himself and had no hatred against Hastinapur. He did not his army. From a military standpoint, an army is just choose Dhuryodhana; Bhisma, Dronacharya, definitely the better choice. Dhuryodhana believed Kripacharya – many venerable leaders were on the that taking the army was sensible, though he did not other side. He was not against them, and they had get the first choice and was perturbed about that. huge respect for him too. Both with Dhuryodhana When given the choice, the Pandavas had said to and with the Pandavas, there was a distant blood Krishna, “Whether we live or die – if we live, we relationship. When a relative comes and asks your want to live with you. If we die, we want to die with help, a “no” would be difficult according to the you. Without you, what will we do?” And that is Kshatriya dharma. what made the difference for them.

There was Kshatra Tej, the dharma for the warrior Now, your question is, “If Krishna is standing for class, and Brahma Tej for the spiritual class. Krishna dharma, how can he put his armed might on the side tried to bring about some kind of alliance between of adharma?” He was not a moralistic person who the Kshatriyas and the Brahmins. These guidelines made black-and-white judgments about anyone. He and rules were created for the society to function neither believed the Pandavas were absolutely pure smoothly. They said, a Brahmin must sit and study beings, nor that the Kauravas were absolute evil. the Vedas for a certain number of hours a day. This is not the way he looked at life. He constantly If the same dharma was enforced on a Kshatriya, maintained a good relationship with the Kauravas. he may not be competent to do it, and if he did Dhuryodhana’s wife Banumathi was a devotee this, he would not be a good administrator and of his. He did not see the Kauravas as out and out definitely not a good warrior. The same goes for evil – he just saw that they were causing much evil all the other classes. That is why they established at that time and he would have liked to put an end to different types of dharmas for different categories that. This does not mean he held any kind of hatred of people who had different duties to perform or anger against them, nor did he judge them as evil. in the society. But at some point, the Kshatriyas He saw that human beings are always a combination

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 11 of everything. That is why you have to strive to over-activeness or judgment hampers love and establish dharma within yourself; otherwise, you devotion. So how can these three aspects be applied will become adharma. Any human being is capable in day-to-day life? of becoming adharma any moment of his life. There is no insurance that you will never fall into adharma. Sadhguru: They cannot be applied – they can be You have to strive to be aware; you have to strive attained. They are not some kind of policies or tricks to be on the righteous path, or else you will easily that you apply in your life. You have to become that. slip off. This goes for every human being, until you You have to become inclusion. You have to become attain to such a level of consciousness where you love. This is not something that you can do or make cannot fall anymore. use of. It is something that you surrender to. It is something that you allow to burn you up. You are In many ways, Krishna tried to encourage no more important. Dhuryodhana to strive for dharma. Even at that point when he gave this choice between him and It is because you are still on the application level, his army, he still tried to avoid the war. In a since you want to use something, that we gave you way, it was a very intelligent move to give the practices. I wish we could abolish the practices in army to Dhuryodhana. That way, Dhuryodhana the program. They are beautiful; they are definitely felt that Krishna is on my side, thinking the sustaining forces for a human being, but people Pandavas were fools to take one person instead evaluating the program and being there with me in of a 100,000-men-strong army. This could have terms of a takeaway is stupid. That way, they will been something for Dhuryodhana to latch on to not get anywhere. Maybe their health will improve, and bring peace, but it failed. but they will not know anything beyond that in their lives.

Become That There is nothing to apply. There is no take away. Don’t try to be devout; don’t try to be loving; don’t Questioner: Sadhguru, you have been talking about try to be inclusive. You cannot do that. You have three aspects – one is Krishna’s playfulness, the to become that. You cannot do love. Love is much, second is inclusiveness, and the third is love and much bigger than you. You can become a part of it. devotion. I have three questions in this context. There is no method to fall in love. When you don’t First, how can one be playful without losing the make yourself important anymore, love will happen. intensity that the practices have ignited? Second, If you are too full of yourself, there is no possibility I increasingly tend to do the minimum for friends of love in your life. You may know relationships; and family. I just want to be on my own, or watch you may know give-and-take, but you will not my breath. I’m not sure what is meant by including know how to burn. If you don’t know how to burn, everyone. And third, I think the mind’s constant you will have no light of your own.

THREE TRUTHS OF WELL BEING

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12 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Room for Growth Sadhguru in Conversation with Fashion Designer Tarun Tahiliani

In a recent edition of the “In Conversation with work better. The sages of the past who consciously the Mystic” series, Sadhguru met with noted crafted this culture saw that human ingenuity and fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani on 5 August 2013 human intelligence will always be perky and sharp in Delhi. Here is the fourth part of their only if you are a seeker. If you become a believer, it conversation. will get blunted. This is something the world could never Tarun Tahiliani: What is this essence that has kept understand, that these people say “yes” and “no” us together as Hindustan or Bharat? What has made to the same thing. it special? Tarun Tahiliani: That’s what we do. We are not sure Sadhguru: Let’s say you are alone in this room. if it’s “yes” or “no.” Would your intelligence work better if I told you everything about this room, how it is, how it should Sadhguru: It is not that we are not sure. We know it be, how it can never be because it’s all God ordained, is “yes” and “no.” Right now, I will ask you a simple or would it work better if I don’t tell you anything question. You must tell me the answer. about the room, I just leave you here for three days Tarun Tahiliani: Oh my god! I am on the spot. so you can explore everything and find out for yourself? Which way would your intelligence work Sadhguru: You are. Are you a man or a woman? better? Tarun Tahiliani: I have to think about it. I think I Tarun Tahiliani: The second. am a man. I am conditioned as a man.

Sadhguru: Definitely. If you are in a state of Sadhguru: No. I am asking you a direct question. Are exploration and seeking, your intelligence would you a man?

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 13 Tarun Tahiliani: A man, yes. [Laughter] This idea that there is one god, looking like one big human being – of course a man, not a woman – Sadhguru: Yes. Now, the fact of the matter is you [laughter] sitting up there and controlling the are a man, but the truth of the matter is you exist whole universe, came up because they thought here because a man and a woman came together. existence is human-centric. We have never seen You being a man does not mean your mother is it that way. We know we are just a small speck absent in you. She is very much present. Similarly, in the universe, and tomorrow morning, if we just because somebody is a woman, the father is not disappear, everything will be just as fine. absent; he is very much present. In India, we said “yes” to both. People may think we are confused, Tarun Tahiliani: Absolutely. but actually, we are looking at it more profoundly. If you only look at the surface, you may see someone Sadhguru: We always said the planet is some billion as a good guy or a bad guy. We never saw it that years old, and today scientists are proving it to you. way. We know no human being is 100%, 24 hours This is not a land that was based on morality. This good, or 24 hours bad. People vary. is the most beautiful way to live because morality means persecution; morality means right and Your focus should be how to get the best out of wrong. Once we think in terms of right and wrong, everyone who is with you. If you create the wrong it is always who is right and you who is wrong. With situations, the best people will turn out to be the right and wrong, you create a prejudiced world. We worst. If you create the right situations, the so-called never looked at life in terms of right and wrong. We worst will turn out to be fantastic human beings. If always saw it in terms of every life having to find full you say this guy is a good guy or a bad guy, you are expression. That needs nurture. Like every plant, like looking at life as if it is a commodity. That is not every animal, a human being also needs nurture – how life is. When we say “yes” and “yes,” it is not both external nurture and also self-nurture. out of confusion – it is out of a certain profoundness. This goes for every life on the planet – how great or Tarun Tahiliani: I can see that. To go back to what how puny it becomes does not depend upon whether I was asking you about – what defines the spiritual it is good or bad. It depends upon how much nurture space that people recognize as Hindustan? it finds from outside and from within. Because we recognized this, no good and bad, no right and Sadhguru: This is a godless country. Tell me, who is wrong, no high and low were fixed. Everything was the god in this country? left open. This is spirituality.

Tarun Tahiliani: There are millions of gods. Through the Mystic Eye – Sadhguru: Yeah. Those millions of gods happened upcoming episodes on Headlines Today: when our population was that much. 4 Jan 2014 Tarun Tahiliani Tarun Tahiliani: Each one had their own. So it is up 11 Jan 2014 Siddharth to 1.3 billion gods now? Every Saturday 7 a.m. Sadhguru: No, we lost our imagination somewhere (re-telecast Sunday 7:30 a.m.) on the way. We became shy of creating gods because other people laughed at us for having so many gods. This is again an inferiority complex. We should have been proud. “Yes, we have 33 million. What’s the problem? We are very rich.” [Laughter] I am one of the few who is continuing to create gods.

14 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Leadership Insights Bloomberg TV India Editor Vivek Law’s Interview with Sadhguru During the recent Insight – The DNA of Success China managed to do so, but only with enormous program with Sadhguru and Dr. Ram Charan, force. It would be phenomenal if we could achieve Bloomberg TV India Editor Vivek Law spoke with this without employing force. Never before, 500 Sadhguru on 24 November 2013 about his views million people have moved forward economically on business leadership and political leadership in in one generation, just like that. India today. The following is an excerpt of the We are on the right track in many ways, but interview. especially when you are on the right track, if you Interviewer: Let’s talk about leadership. You told sit there for too long without moving ahead, you me once that the true test of a leader comes when will get run over. I have said this before – “Do not the chips are down. How do you see the leadership underestimate our ability to goof things. We have a of this country at this point of time – do you think history of that.” they are steering the country in the right direction? Interviewer: And we goofed up again. Sadhguru: No, I don’t think anyone is steering the Sadhguru: As Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi used to say, country in any particular direction. We are a free “We have a talent to snatch defeat from the jaws of nation – free to go to our doom. This happened in victory.” 2008, when the global recession was just setting in. At the World Economic Forum, the business leaders Interviewer: And you are saying we have succeeded of the developed nations were all in a depressive in doing that? mood, and the Indian team was campaigning “India Everywhere.” Lots of great things were being said Sadhguru: We have not yet succeeded – we are about India by Indian officials, while the business heading there. Unless we take the necessary leaders were quiet. corrective steps right now, we could unfortunately go there. I said, “It is really great that we are sitting at the threshold of a possibility. Do not think of the Interviewer: Sadhguru, in the last one year, most possibility in terms of monetary figures. The business leaders have had to grapple with enormous important thing is, if we handle things right, in the cost-cuts because of our falling economy. They next 5 to 10 years, we can bring 500 to 600 million have had to let go a lot of people. Many jobs were people from one level of living to another. Hardly lost – some documented, a lot undocumented. I any other nation has done this in 5 to 10 years’ time. am sure this time around at Insight, you found far

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 15 more people with drooping shoulders than last year. that. This is not to console yourself when things What would you tell business leaders who are going are bad. Things will not remain bad for too long – through this process right now where things are not things will change. But when things change to really very good? the positive, it should not take you another two years to catch up. If you make use of this time to Sadhguru: Particularly about dropping people – I reinvent yourself in different ways, you are ready know this may sound like an ashram-like solution, to go when the train picks up speed again, and you but I don’t see why industries and businesses should will be the first one to latch on. not function like this. If you have 1000 people working for you and things are not going well, Interviewer: Let me ask you about the role of instead of laying off 100 people to keep the company political leaders. There is so much public discourse going, you cut everyone’s salaries by 10%, and keep right now. What is your message to the political these 100people. This is the time when, instead leaders of this country? of retrenching people, you could re-orient and train your human resources to take on a different Sadhguru: The political leaders need to understand challenge, but we are too bound by all kinds of laws. that the people of India are not interested in your grandmothers and grandfathers. What the people I am sure if someone communicates this properly, of India are interested in is, “In what way are you the workforce, out of sheer solidarity with their going to empower me as an individual citizen? In colleagues, would agree to a 10% salary cut rather what way is my life and that of the people around than axing 10% of the workforce. These10% may me going to change? In what way will our children’s not be productive right now, but you can reinvent lives be better tomorrow?” I have barely heard your business if you train them to a different level of anything like that in the political discourse. The capability, which is very much possible. campaign is going on as if the elections were day after tomorrow, but we don’t even know the date Whatever happens to you, you can either come yet. I think they should get back to work. A month out stronger and wiser, or you can come out or a month and a half before election, theycan start depressed and broken. I wish the Indian business their campaign. sector reinvents itself. These times when business is slowing down are an opportunity to sit back, look at things, and innovate. When business is in full swing, you neitherhave the time nor the energy to do Insight – The DNA of Success Second Leadership Program with Dr. Ram Charan and Sadhguru “Insight – The DNA of Success” is a leadership Executive Vice Chairman of Naukri.com, whose program offered by Isha Foundation’s Isha operational methods and corporate success were Education initiative, which provides business analyzed during his discussion with Dr. Ram leaders with practical takeaways that multiply the Charan, shared with the participants that he was capability to manage both external situations and truly honored to be a part of the program. Dr. inner growth. The second Insight program was held Prathap Reddy, Founding Chairman of the Apollo from 23 to 26 November at the Isha Yoga Center, Group of Hospitals reflected on the need to merge with the participation of over 140 business leaders modern healthcare with ancient knowledge such as and entrepreneurs. yoga to offer holistic and effective health solutions. He urged the media to act as a unified voice to bring The three-day practitioner-oriented program drew this need to the government’s attention. upon the experience of several highly successful business leaders who have built, grown, and led Other key leaders who shared their experience large-scale enterprises. Along with Sadhguru, and facilitated group sessions during the program Dr. Ram Charan, one of the world’s leading included: Harsh Mariwala, Chairman and Managing business advisors, was conducting the program. Director of Marico Ltd.; Ravi Venkatesan, Former Dr. Ram Charan helped bring clarity to the art of Chairman of Microsoft India; Dilip Cherian, management and leadership, and lead several in- Co-founder of Perfect Relations; Jeby Cherian, depth sessions on topics such as decision-making, Managing Partner, IBM Global Business Services, absorbing ideas from others, finding the right India & South Asia; Dipak Jain, Former Dean of talent, and scaling up a business. INSEAD France and Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, US; Prasoon Joshi, The external management aspects of the program National Award winning lyricist, screenwriter, were balanced by the “inner management” and advertising copywriter; Vellayan Subbiah, technologies that Sadhguru offers. The participants Managing Director of Cholamandalam Investment were initiated into several yogic techniques that & Finance; Sachin Nigam, CRISIL’s SME ratings bring health, vibrancy, and a sense of wholeness business; Satish Pradhan, Advisor to Tata Sons Ltd.; to the body, mind, emotions, and energies. Several Rama Bijapurkar, Management & Market Research resource leaders and participants noted this unique Consultant; G. Ravindran, Co-founder, Leadership feature of the program. Next, and Krishna Giri, Management Consulting and Technology services. K.V. Kamath, Chairman of ICICI Bank, put it in a nutshell: “What happens in this program is, we all share our experiences in the business context and Sadhguru shares his experience in the spiritual context.” Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 17 Women in Business Sadhguru Speaks at the Qatar International Businesswomen Forum

Sadhguru was invited as a speaker at the Fourth will get rid of you the day I can get rid of you. If you Annual Qatar International Businesswomen come and make me your partner, get involved in my Forum, in Doha, Qatar, on 11 November 2013. life, I will never want you to go. He spoke on “Inner Engineering – Technologies for Wellbeing” to an audience of more than 800 The economy has to re-engineer itself to fit into participants, including the Minister of Energy people’s lives. But right now, our idea of success and Industry of Qatar, Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al- is being one step ahead of somebody else who has Sada; Qatari Businessmen Association chairman already made a mistake. The economic model that Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani; Qatari Business is being used in the world today has to be re-crafted Women Association vice-chairperson Aisha to serve humanity. This is the time to understand Alfardan; other senior government officials, the and regulate commerce in such a way that it serves business community, experts in many fields, social human wellbeing and does not work against us. activists, representatives of the civil society, and In business or elsewhere – a leader can see what women business leaders. The conference, held at others cannot. If you don’t see anything new, if you the St. Regis Hotel, hosted speakers, panelists, and don’t see anything fresh that others cannot see, for delegates from the Gulf and the Arab world as well sure you will become a subject of ridicule. The role of as from Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia, women as business and economic leaders or partners Malaysia, and Australia. is a very important one. A woman has developed a The following are highlights of the talk (excerpted capability in herself to see what other eyes cannot from Sadhguru Spot of 13 November 2013): see. Vision is a very important part of being a leader. And, because of technological advancement, the In many economic conferences I have attended, physical strength of an individual does not matter there are those who refer to India as an emerging anymore. You can sit in your home and access the market and think of how to exploit it. If you see it as world – everybody has the same access. We have all 1.2 billion people, you would see how to serve them. the necessary resources and technology to address If you serve them, they will be your market, they every human problem. will be your resource, they will be your partners – this is a more inclusive way of doing things and it will be long-lasting. If you come and exploit me, I

18 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Sadhana “If you look up in the sky, the biggest presence out there is a vast emptiness. This nothingness is referred to as ‘Shiva,’ or ‘that which is not.’ This huge body of ‘that which is not’ has a few limbs – a galaxy, a star, a solar system, a planet, an atom, or maybe you. All these are limbs of Shiva, because everything has come from nothing. Without being connected to the nothingness in the Universe, you cannot exist. You are a limb of Shiva. The Shivanga sadhana is designed to bring this into your awareness.” - Sadhguru

Shivanga is an intense 42-day vrata (period of cities in India and abroad. This period of sadhana sadhana) for men, which was devised by Sadhguru culminates on Mahashivarathri (27 February) to explore deeper levels of experience in body, at the Isha Yoga Center, with an offering to mind, and energy. Dhyanalinga and a yatra to the peaks of Velliangiri – also known as the “Kailash of the South” – a space The next Shivanga vrata begins on 15 January, a of tremendous power and energy. pournami (full moon day), with an initiation into Shiva Namaskar, which will be offered in various

For inquiries about the initiation, please contact your nearest center: India Tamil Nadu United Kingdom Chennai: 89399 54562 +44-7884253438 Trichy: 90809 62297 [email protected] Madurai: 94426 08738 Erode: 93619 33033 United States +1-505-217-6225 Metros [email protected] Delhi: 88605 31110 Mumbai: 98200 58361 Bangalore: 74061 10110 Goa: 98221 00305

For general inquiries about the sadhana, please contact: +91-83000 15111 [email protected] Program Highlights

Date Program Place Contact

Inner Engineering Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515421 2–5 Jan 2014 Retreat Coimbatore – India [email protected] Residential Program Noida, 88268 91638 8–14 Jan 2014 Inner Engineering Delhi – India [email protected] Mystic Eye – Meditation, +65-61004064 12 Jan 2014 Wisdom and Bliss Singapore [email protected] Conducted by Sadhguru Guruvin Madiyil North Zone: 83000 11000 (Tamil) Isha Yoga Center, West Zone: 83000 52000 18–19 Jan 2014 Residential Program Coimbatore – India East Zone: 94425 04687 conducted by Sadhguru South Zone: 83000 66000 Inner Engineering Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515421 23–26 Jan 2014 Retreat Coimbatore – India [email protected] Residential Program Shoonya Intensive Isha Yoga Center, 5–8 Feb 2014 0422-2515300 Residential Program Coimbatore – India Inner Engineering Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515421 6–9 Feb 2014 Retreat Coimbatore – India [email protected] Residential Program

Samyama Isha Yoga Center, 12–19 Feb 2014 Residential Program 0422-2515300 Coimbatore – India conducted by Sadhguru

The Inner Way Isha Yoga Center, 90040 57169 20–24 Feb 2014 Residential Program Coimbatore – India [email protected] conducted by Sadhguru

Yaksha Isha Yoga Center, 83000 83000 20–26 Feb 2014 A Celestial Feast Coimbatore – India [email protected] of Music and Dance

Pancha Bhuta Aradhana Isha Yoga Center, 94878 95878 27 Feb 2014 In the Presence of Coimbatore – India [email protected] Sadhguru

Mahashivarathri Isha Yoga Center, 83000 83000 27 Feb 2014 In the Presence of Coimbatore – India [email protected] Sadhguru

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.

20 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2014 Isha Recipes For Healthy Living Drumstick Soup

Ingredients

2 Drumsticks 1 handful Drumstick blossoms (optional) 1 handful Drumstick leaves 1 small Tomato 1 teaspoon Butter ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds 1 cup Dal stock (preferably split mung dal, boiled with water until soft) Salt to taste Black pepper to taste

Preparation Method 1. Wash the drumsticks; trim and chop them into finger-long pieces. Place in a pan with 2 cups of water and boil until soft. Squeeze out the pulp or scoop it out with a spoon. Keep the pulp aside. Discard the woody parts. Put the pulp in a mixer and blend until smooth.

2. Chop the tomato into small pieces. 3. Heat the butter in a pan and add the cumin seeds. When they splutter, add the drumstick blossoms, drumstick leaves, and tomato. 4. Add the dal stock and allow it to boil. 5. Cook until the mixture is homogenous, stirring continuously. 6. Add the drumstick pulp and mix well. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

“Drumsticks” as a vegetable are the immature seed pods of Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing, medium-sized, drought-resistant tree that is native to the Himalayan foothills and today widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas from Asia to Africa and Latin America. Drumsticks are high in vitamin C, and a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Drumstick leaves are highly nutritious not only for their protein content – they are also packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and iron. Make sure to chew the leaves well to assimilate the maximum amount of nutrients.

January 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 21 Insightful – Inspiring – Informative I would like to Subscribe for myself Renew my subscription Subscribe Now! Change the mailing address Subscribe as a gift

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