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FOREST FLOWER December 2011 CONTENTS

Main Article A Love Affair with Life Sadhguru about Inspiration and the Spiritual Process 4 Musings Seven-Tiered Cities Sadhguru on the Human System and its Replicas 7 The Science of Aliveness Herbs for Vitality 9 Leela Series The path of the playful – part XXVII: What is Dharma? – 3 11 In Conversation with the Mystic A Sense of Wonder Anupam Kher in Conversation with Sadhguru 12 News & Happenings Isha Samskriti Applications open in December 14 In Gratitude to Life Dussehra Celebrations at the Ashram 14 Down Under in High Spirits Sadhguru visits Australia 15 A Symphony of Sound, Light, and Color Diwali at Isha Yoga Center 16 Indulgently Healthy Isha Life’s Mahamudra one of the Top Restaurants in Asia 17 Sadhguru Spot The Longing for the Infinite 18 Upcoming Programs and Events Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 20 Isha Recipes - For Healthy Living This Month: Pakora Kulambu 21 Zen Speaks Walking in the Rain 23

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 3 SADHGURU

A Love Affair with Life Sadhguru about Inspiration and the Spiritual Process

A few weeks ago, I was in Singapore, addressing the to wake up in the morning for sadhana. faculty of a premier management and administrative training college. Because I was hopping from When people are highly inspired, they can do great engagement to engagement, just before entering the things – or they can do absolutely stupid things. place, I asked, “What’s the talk about? What am I Inspiration does not always come with wisdom. supposed to speak?” They said, “Something about If we want to create something very purposeful leadership.” And as I was rushing into the college, I and focused, then we need more sensible, focused saw a banner with my picture which said, “A talk on people; more of those who do not need to be leadership by an inspirational speaker from India.” inspired by anybody but who clearly know, “This is So I just thought, what are the things which inspire what we want to do.” If clarity of what we really want people to do something, and when and why do to do is there in us, our ability to create what we people need inspiration? Only when you don’t really want is so much better than that of just an inspired want to do something, you need to be inspired. If lot. A group of inspired people are good for short- you really want to do something, you don’t need any term activity. Long-term activity can only be done inspiration. Do you need to be inspired to go for by those people who really want to do it anyway. dinner? No, but some of you may need inspiration The difference between a materialistic person and a spiritual person is just this: a materialistic person is

4 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 like a dog that has a bone hanging in front of it to then you are spiritual. Generally, materialistic life is make it win the race. Looking at the bone in front, not in line with that intelligence. Is it wrong? Is it the dog runs faster and faster, hoping to get the wrong to eat food, to wear clothes, to have a building bone, but this never happens. to live in? Is it wrong to do this and that? That is not the point. If you make the side dish of life into the The market economy runs like this – everybody main dish, it is a foolish way to live; that is all. We has a bone hanging in front of him. Their tongues build a home, we wear clothes, we eat food, we do are hanging out, but with some incentives, they everything because we want to live, and live totally. keep running. Of course there is always a threat We not only want to live, we want to know life in its that if you don’t run fast enough for what you are entirety. Not just the skin of life, we want to know paid for, you will be nailed. This is the fundamental the soul of life. difference between running a corporation and running a spiritual movement. In a corporation, If you are only eating the skin of life, it is an people are hired, a contraption is fixed to their collar, unintelligent way to exist. If you think your existence and a bone is hung in front of them – that keeps is exclusive, if you think you are an exclusive creation, them running. If they don’t run fast enough, they then this is what will happen: you will end up eating get nailed. Whereas a movement means, whatever only the skin of life, never the fruit. Spiritual process kinds of fools are with you, you have to take them is to eat the fruit of life, the juice of life, the core of along. You cannot fire anybody; you cannot nail life. We not only want to taste it, we want to know anybody. You want everybody moving. and experience it in its entirety, in its full depth and breadth, in its utmost profoundness. A materialistic person is constantly whipped by external situations; the market forces will whip So spiritual process is not a divorce from life; him. A spiritual person does not need any external spiritual process is an irrevocable love affair with whipping since he is doing what he really wants to life. Why is it needed? – Simply because it is a more do. The spiritual process is a far more intelligent way intelligent way to exist. No human being would to exist because it means you are in tune with the consciously want to be a fool. Even one who fools intelligence of the Creator. Whatever you can think around does it to show how smart he is. But if you up is in no way comparable to that intelligence think that you are an exclusive piece of creation, which is creating this body, to that intelligence if you think, feel, and experience life as if you are which is making a flower out of mud, which is alone in this existence, if your experience of life is making mud into food, food into human body and not of union but of divorce from the existence, then human body into mud again, which is making the your so-called intellect works against you. planets go round, and the galaxies function – that which is the very basis of creation. Whatever kind It once happened, just after the French revolution. of very smart thoughts you come up with, whatever The French had perfected the guillotine as a machine kind of equations you have produced in your head, to take off people’s heads. Because they had made whatever kind of formulas you have invented, they the machine, they had to use it as often as possible. are all just desperate attempts to understand the Wherever they saw a head, they felt like taking it off. intelligence of that which is the source of creation. So one day, three men were brought for execution – a lawyer, a priest, and an engineer. They put the What you think is science is just a desperate attempt lawyer down on the board with a hood over his to understand the intelligence of the Creator. What head and pulled up the blade – it did not fall down. you call technology is just a measly imitation of the Technology failure, you know. According to the law, technologies of life that already exist. So what you they had to kill him instantly; but now they had put think is human intelligence, the logical intelligence, him through the torture of waiting there and it did is not comparable to the intelligence which is the not happen, which meant tomorrow he might sue basis of creation. If you are willing to become one them – so they let him go. They put the priest on with that intelligence which is the source of creation, the board and pulled, again nothing happened. They

5 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 thought this must be divine intervention and let him hand of the Creator. “Within this, can I live my life? go. The engineer chose to go to the execution without Can I do what I want to do?” You can do everything a hood. Lying down, he looked up and said, “Hey, let that you wish to do and still not distort the hand me tell you what’s wrong with this.” [Laughter] of the Creator – if only you are in tune with it. If you are not in tune with it, you become an exclusive This is how human intellect is working right now. intelligence. The creation does not make room for We are doing so-called brilliant things which are that. Then you have to create your own creation like going to destroy our life. How can you call these Vishwamitra1 did. Viswamitra was an angry man, things brilliant when they are taking away the very so he was exclusive intelligence. With a little bit of earth on which we stand? You have heard of the affection and love, you are a little inclusive; when famous Panchatantra story where a woodcutter you are angry, you are exclusive. So he created his is sitting on the other end of the branch, sawing it own creation – and you know what happened to off, not understanding that when he is successful, him. He and his party got stuck halfway, neither he will fall. This is how our intelligence works right here nor there, in Trishanku Swarg2. now. In 2008, when I was at the World Economic Forum, the recession had just hit the western part of So the purpose of yoga, the purpose of the spiritual the world and people were in a depressed condition. process, the purpose of everything that we are They asked me to conduct a session which was titled, doing is to ensure that we reduce the number of ‘Recession and Depression.’ I saw all these people Vishwamitras on the planet because they will get who are worth billions of dollars looking very sad stuck; they will neither be here nor there. If you because they were worth a few billions less than are here it is okay; if you are there it is okay; if you what they were three months ago. I told them, “See, are neither here nor there, that is a bad state; it is recession is bad enough, why depression?” a limbo. Initiation into a spiritual process means to stir up that intelligence within you which is the I am not going to philosophize with you but I source of creation – you allow it to function. Don’t want you to understand this: we have created an use your own stupid brain. This does not mean I am economic structure on the planet which is such that, against the intellect. I am not. Today, there is a lot if it does not work, you will be depressed. If it works, of artificial intelligence in the world. The computers we will be damned because of the way we have are getting really smart, but no computer can ever structured it. Right now, the Living Planet Report, equal a human being. At some point in future, a which is supposed to be reliable information, says, computer may be built to do just about everything “If everyone on Earth consumed as much as the that a human being is doing right now – but the average American, global society would need 4.5 computer can never compete with human stupidity. Earths to achieve sustainability.” But we have only So we will always be incomparable. [Laughter] one planet. Intellect is not the problem; the problem is that you So this is the way our intelligence is working. This become an exclusive intelligence, not an inclusive is a distortion from the intelligence of that which is intelligence. The word yoga means ‘union;’ union the source of creation within us and in everything. means inclusiveness, to become an inclusive Just in everything that you touch – the food that you intelligence so that your intelligence does not in any eat, the air that you breathe, the earth that you walk way distort the intelligence which is the source of upon, and the very space in which we exist – the creation within you and in everything. hand of the Creator is obvious for someone who pays enough attention to it. So the biggest thing – Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru that a human being can do is to be in tune with that intelligence and ensure that he does not distort the

1 A rishi of ancient times who performed a ritual to get the Devas to allow Trishanku, a king who wanted to ascend to heaven in his mortal body, . entry into heaven. When the Devas refused, Vishwamitra got angry and used his yogic powers to create a new heaven for Trishanku, who got . suspended upside down in his heaven. 2 A parallel heaven created by Vishwamitra for Trishanku; figurative for a state where one is stuck in the middle, neither here nor there

6 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 Seven-tiered Cities Sadhguru on the Human System and its Replicas

Q: Sadhguru, you said that the city of Kashi1 was happened during invasions. The first thing they hit built in seven layers. What are these seven layers and is what is most precious to you. how can one use them for one’s spiritual growth? So there is not much left of the seven-tiered city – Sadhguru: A seven-tiered city is a very ambitious only the story. Rituals are still going on, but the real project. One aspect of the challenge is to create thing is gone. If you wanted to create a seven-tiered it; another aspect of the challenge is to maintain city today, it would take a lot. Not that it cannot be it in such a way that it stays alive. Kashi is not the done – it is easier than creating a Dhyanalinga, but only seven-tiered city. This [the human system] is it would take much more funding. And to later on also a seven-tiered2 ‘city.’ Structures of a certain manage that city so that it would be like an energy reverberation [such as Kashi] were built as a kind force, would take a lot of work. I don’t think people of replica of an evolved ‘city’ [refers to the human are willing to do that today. If we just loosen the grip system]. In that sense, the Dhyanalinga is also a on the Dhyanalinga Temple, the next generation of seven-tiered ‘city.’ So Kashi as a seven-tiered city was people will come and turn it into a market place. created as a replication of this [the human system]. Some of the best temples in the country have been But that was a long, long time ago. Since then, all turned not just into market places – many even kinds of absolutely rudimentary modifications have smell like toilets. been done to the city and people who are living there are not conscious. To maintain such a space, Building the necessary awareness, commitment, and you need thousands of people who are conscious of seeking within yourself, that when you see something this process and able to manage it. That is long gone. precious, you will preserve it, is not possible if your own life is the most important thing. Only when you There was a time when people in this country hold something above your own life, only then you believed that if you just enter this city, you would can create something of that kind; otherwise, you be liberated, because it was such a powerful space. can only build a house and live in it, that’s all. For But the very fundamentals of this city have been most people, building a house is already the biggest disturbed. You cannot even recognize anymore what dream in their lives. They have no dream to build was there earlier; it is just gone, wiped out. Just a few something larger than themselves. remnants of what was originally built are left. Above 3 All these great temples, for example Ajanta, or all, the very heart of the city, Vishwanath , has been 4 5 desecrated. The temple was destroyed a long time Ellora with the three-storied Kailash temple , ago and we do not even know if today’s linga is took a minimum of 135 years to complete. At least the original one which was supposed to have been four generations of people worked on them. Four consecrated by the Adi Yogi himself. If Shiva himself generations of people worked to the same plan, not consecrated it, we could definitely recognize that. I changing the plan, striving to create that. But today, just did not spend enough time there to ascertain in the name of being modern, we have just become whether this is the original linga or not. But it is not frivolous; the profoundness is gone. The more I in its original place – that is for sure. These things look at the education system, the more I see it as the 1 City at the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, also known as Benares or Varanasi 2 Refers to the seven chakras or energy centers within the human system 3 Temple dedicated to Shiva; one of the twelve Jyotirlingas; commonly considered as one of the most sacred of Hindu temples 4 Ajanta and Ellora: Monumental cave temples in Maharashtra 5 Carved out of a single rock 7 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 city of your own. You will not get along in anybody else’s city, nor will you allow anybody else to enter yours, so better you have your own city. [Laughter] Modern education has trained us to become exclusive, not inclusive. Changing all this in the world is a faraway thing. We have to work with the current social structure. If you try to change everything, you will end up with a world inside a world. Too many spiritual leaders have committed that blunder of trying to create a world of their own. If you create a world of your own, you will breed megalomania; you will start acting god-like and funny things will happen; you won’t even dress normal. Because God is such an ancient idea, you cannot dress contemporary, you know? [Laughter] So Kashi is still a beautiful place for you to visit but for sure not a place to seek a spiritual process. One thing I like are the ghats [cremation grounds] – at least they will remind you that you will die. If you go to Manikarnika Ghat or any other ghat, generally, you will see at least five, ten bodies burning, and it main culprit. A kind of education that would bring a is done very businesslike, without any ceremony – sense of profoundness into a human being is simply which puts you in the right perspective of who you absent on the planet. The way we are educating are. If you have grand ideas about yourself, it kind people naturally moves them from profoundness to of levels you down. You know, we have taken over profanity. This is a worldwide phenomenon because a crematorium in Coimbatore. Approximately five we have chosen education as a way of earning a living. bodies a day are being cremated there. Instead of If you want to eat, you should learn agriculture, not you going all the way to Kashi, we could create a education. Wouldn’t that be a natural way to do it? place at the crematorium to do sadhana. You could But today, education has become the tool to eat, do sadhana in a place where the ultimate process for which we cannot suddenly reverse. We can take a your body is happening. You largely live as a body, so few people off of that, but not the whole mass. the ultimate process for the body [cremation], is in many ways for most people the ultimate process of Kashi was built for a common purpose, when their lives. So a crematorium is a good place to spend people had a certain level of inclusiveness. They ate some time because if that one thing [your mortality] together, they lived together; a certain togetherness is put in the right perspective, suddenly sense will was possible. As people get more and more blossom within you. Right now, the spiritual thirst is educated, they cannot live with anybody; they not deep enough in most people because somehow cannot get along with anybody. Isn’t this happening? they think their life is assured forever. In a way, you But if you come and sit in the Dhyanalinga Temple know you will die, but from your experience, only for fifteen minutes, you can experience a seven- others die. Your name has never appeared in the tiered structure, so that hopefully, you will begin to obituary column, so you think you don’t die. So a experience the seven-tiered structure here [within crematorium is a good place to do sadhana. You will your own system]. The idea of building all that is so understand you are mortal. Then you will learn to that the experience happens here [within yourself]. seek something which is beyond physical existence. When we are teaching you this simple process of yoga, it is to build a seven-tiered city of your own. – Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru Daily practice is a way of constructing a seven-tiered

8 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 The Science of Aliveness Herbs for Vitality

Ayurveda is the science of aliveness. Ayur means science of aliveness is created out of it. So, [for the aliveness, being alive, to bring vitality to life – not Isha Herbal products] we have identified those herbs to invite disease and then try to banish it from the which will bring you aliveness. Mind you, aliveness, system. After all, this body is an accumulation of not stretching your life. If you do things to just this planet; it is a piece of this planet. But how you stretch your life, it will be torturous. If you try to gather it makes all the difference. Everything that drag yourself forcefully through any situation, it is grows upon the planet is made from the same soil, always going to be a tortuous experience for you. So but different things that have come out of the earth especially if you try to stretch the whole life process have different kinds of impacts. as such, it will be miserable. Unfortunately, this is what is happening today: We are stretching people’s For example, in India, goat’s milk is considered very lives to ninety, ninety-five, hundred, but they do not healthy and medicinal in quality because a goat eats know why they are here. If you go into a geriatric various plants of medicinal value and you may get clinic, it is pathetic – they don’t know why they something out of it. So when people lack vitality, even exist. If you stretch life, this is what happens. they switch to goat’s milk because there are many If you generate aliveness, life will last as long as it herbal medicines in it. A goat selectively eats what can last. When it has to go, it will go well. Stretching it needs on a particular day in a particular quantum. life makes a human being lose all his dignity, all his So even a goat knows – then why is it such an issue humanity; everything that he ever valued in his life, for human beings to know what they should eat and he will lose towards the end of his life. People who what they should not eat? Because they are not using lived well are made to go in a most undignified way, their senses to eat what they should eat – they are simply because somebody is interested in stretching trying to think it up. Once you start thinking things their lives. I don’t know the exact statistics, but up, you do not know what is true and what is not I think I read something that about 80% of the true. This is the nature of your thought. If you start pharmaceutical sales go to people who are over 65 thinking something about a particular person, after years of age. We want to stretch their lives because it some time, you do not know what is true about this is good for the business. What is good for business is and what is not true about it because your mind will good for the economy; what is good for the economy make you believe all kinds of things. is good for the ruling party – they all benefit from it; So Ayurveda means having the necessary sense to but it does not benefit the value of human life. recognize, out of the millions of things that come So Ayurveda is not about stretching your life; it is out of this earth, that which has the right kind of the science of aliveness. This body is like a chemical impact on you. Traditionally, an ayurvedic doctor soup. Only when the ingredients are right, the soup would always be located next to a forest or a place is good. Ayurveda is about getting this chemical like that. Looking at you, with your vibes within soup right so that it pulsates with life; this is not him, he would go into the forest and choose what is about stretching life. So these [first five Isha Herbal needed for you, bring these fresh herbs, prepare and products] are not really medicines. Earlier, people give them to you, and like a miracle, your problem who were cooking were aware what kind of food is would be gone. This is not about the chemistry needed in a particular situation. If one of us children of the plant – it is about trying to match the life was running a temperature or had a stomachache process of the plant and yours in such a way that a or something else, my mother knew what to cook

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 9 on that day. Today’s mothers have no clue what to for the sick. These are for those who want to be cook in such a situation – they can only run to the alive. If you lived in nature, many of these things doctor. When the child has a stomachache, they will would have naturally been part of your diet – and get an MRI done. So because there is nobody around it would have worked very well. But now that we get you who is aware enough to add the necessary our food from a superstore, not out of nature, these ingredients to your food, these [Isha Herbal] herbs things have to be added – genuine herbs, which can are brought to you in the form of a capsule that you make a difference in one’s aliveness. What you need can pop. It is a natural product; its fundamental is aliveness – if the body is alive enough, health will quality is maintained; it is not chemically treated, be a natural manifestation. Isha Herbal is one step just desiccated, no other modifications or additives. towards this. These are not medicines. These are not necessarily – Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru

Isha Herbal, a range of natural products, was recently launched by Sadhguru and H. Ramesh (chairman of the TSS Group of Companies) at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, Tennessee.

The first five products launched are Turmeric, Licorice, Ashwagandha, Flax Seed, and Panax Ginseng – herbs that were specially selected to enhance one’s aliveness, a prerequisite to enjoy health and wellbeing.

Isha Herbal is now available at the Isha Rejuvenation Center, the Isha Arogya Hospitals and Isha Arogya Pharmacies (the first of which has recently opened in Salem, Tamil Nadu), as well as online at IshaShoppe.com.

10 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 Leela Series The path of the playful – Part XXVII

What is Dharma? – 3

Q: Sadhguru, what does Krishna consider as dharma is a judgment at that moment. Nobody can dharma? And when can killing be considered as fix what is right, what is wrong. When it comes to one’s dharma? action, only a fool or a fanatic is 100% clear. All the others are constantly weighing. There is no other Sadhguru: What is dharma? Many people brought way; the very nature of creation is such. Now you this question up in Krishna’s life. When Draupadi are talking about killing. If you eat, you kill. If you was supposed to get married, Krishna did breathe, you kill. If you walk, you kill. So if you everything to see that she got married to the five don’t want to do all that and you kill yourself, still [Pandava] brothers, and Draupadi questioned him, you kill. So what dharma will you follow? It is just “Do you know what dharma is?” Or when Krishna about how you are within yourself. If you are in a told Bhima, “Leave Hastinapur to Duryodhana. Let’s state of all-inclusiveness, you will act according to build a new city,” Bhima said, “You are a traitor. I your intelligence, according to the situation. If you want to kill Duryodhana. You are telling me to are not in a state of inclusion, if you are in a state leave this kingdom to him and go and build another of ‘you versus me,’ then everything that you do is kingdom somewhere else, from scratch? What do wrong. You cannot do anything right because your you know about dharma?” Similar questions came very existence is wrong, because you have made it from Arjuna and many others. People questioned ‘you and me.’ Krishna, “Do you really know what dharma is?” I will not go into the individual, detailed answers that Krishna’s whole life was a demonstration of just this. he gave, but in general, Krishna admitted, “Even I There was no ‘you and me,’ it was ‘me and me’ or ‘you do not know what dharma is in terms of action right and you.’ Whether he was with the gopis, or he was now, because action is subject to situations. However acting as a statesman, or he was teaching the Gita, we judge it, we could be slightly off the mark when the message was always the same, of inclusion. Once it comes to the exterior. But when it comes to my there is only ‘me and me,’ action is just a question swadharma [one’s own duty (in life)], how I should of situation and judgment. No action can be 100% be within me, I am 100% clear about that.” No right or 100% wrong. But as Krishna always insisted, intelligent human being is ever 100% clear about and as I have been insisting all the time, about the how to act; he always weighs it. Whatever we do, our swadharma, how to be within yourself, you can have very existence, our eating, living, and breathing here 100% clarity. is an injustice to some other life form, if you look at it from their point of view. – Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru So no action in the world is 100% right or 100% wrong. You just have to consider the larger good that you create with your actions and perform them accordingly. So when it comes to external activity,

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 11 A Sense of Wonder Sadhguru in Conversation with Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher: As a child, I had a great sense of Sadhguru: I used to sit down on the terrace, trying wonder about everything. I don’t see that in today’s to make segments of the sky and meticulously children. counting. I went up to seventeen hundred, and then you get all mixed up. What was there is not there Sadhguru: Because they replaced the wonder with anymore, what was not there had come. That ‘www.’ [Laughter & applause] They know the whole itself was a wonder – seventeen hundred just universe before they are six. blew my mind. Today scientists are telling you there Anupam Kher: Exactly – they know everything. are over a hundred billion galaxies – not stars, a They just have to search Google and all the hundred billion galaxies. So as you explore, as you information comes up. But information does not know, the wonder will increase because you realize necessarily translate into knowledge. And they the nature of the existence. Scientists are so freaked always say, “That’s the way I am!” or “I’m bored.” out now; they don’t know which direction to go And to be bad is being cool. If you say, “I am a good because wherever they look, it all looks deeper than man,” you are a boring man. it ever was. Just on your facial skin, there are billions of organisms right now. Do you know this? Don’t Sadhguru: Usually they are. [Laughter & applause] imagine them – they are actually there. [Laughter] People who claim that they are good people usually But you can’t see them – that’s good. As we look are boring. closer at life, it just explodes into wonder. Anupam Kher: That is why the breaking news is never about good things. It’s only about disaster, rape, swindling of money. We are marketing fear; we are constantly made to feel that we are living in a dangerous world. But back to my question – how does one in these times retain a certain amount of innocence, a certain sense of wonder?

Sadhguru: See, wonder and innocence are two different things. Wonder does not necessarily come from innocence. For example, modern science has done a phenomenal amount of exploration. They have gone into all kinds of things that we would have never thought possible. When you were a child, you definitely looked up at the sky, didn’t you? Anupam Kher: Absolutely. Sadhguru: Did you ever count the stars? Anupam Kher: I used to do that in Shimla. Sadhguru: How far did you go?

Anupam Kher: Oh, I could not go beyond hundred or two hundred.

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 12 A sense of wonder is gone not because of innocence is talking to them, it will not be effective. It is the or lack of innocence, but because what we call attention which is making the difference; not what is knowledge are stupid conclusions about life. Today, playing on the screen. What is playing on the screen people are carrying their attention deficit like a is instrumental in grabbing their attention, but it is qualification. Existence will yield to you only if the continuous attention that makes the experience you pay attention to something. Anything in this what it is. This is a rudimentary form of meditation existence will yield to you only if you pay substantial which is called dharana. attention to it. But now, people have become such that they can’t pay attention to anything. In this Anupam Kher: So how, in today’s time, does one retain that attention span? Sadhguru: If I say yoga, it will be like I am promoting it – no. But everybody must do something about himself. Every school should bring in a dimension that requires a child to pay attention to something continuously. It could be music; it could be dance. You cannot do music or dance unless you pay attention to it. But you can pass an examination without attention. You know, we have an Isha Home School, which is run in a very different way. One day I went to their Assembly Hall, and these six, six- and-a-half year old kids just kept moving around. So I brought in this simple thing: every day in the morning, everybody must do fifteen minutes of “Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa” singing. After just two months, they were all sitting still. That’s all it takes. If you make them walk in the forest in the darkness, you will see that their ability to pay attention and their sense of wonder will explode. If you just take them into the jungle, make them walk for a night, without torches, without cell phones, without anything, in a protected atmosphere, you will see, within one night, there will be a tremendous transformation in their condition, there will be no wonder, only conclusions sense of wonder. But we are making them physically in your head. There are only monologues going incapable of these things. Just sitting in front of on in your head; there is no perception. If there is the computer is making them physically incapable. perception, all the noise in your head will just stop. When something hurts physically, they will protest; If you are looking at something absolutely beautiful they will not do anything. This is something that and engaging, everything stops. Why people enjoy parents must take care off. Bringing up your child the cinema is just this: you switch off the lights and does not mean just sending him to school so that they are focused on the film for those ninety minutes he gets marks and grades and all that nonsense. In or whatever; their usual monologues are gone – body and mind, your child should develop his full something else is happening. They don’t know what capabilities. That is when success will manifest in his is going to happen next, and that is what keeps their life. Just marks will not manifest as success. attention. The important thing is, their attention is engaged continuously, which makes them feel something has happened to them on that day, going to the cinema hall. If you just keep the lights on, you will see, cinema will not be effective. Or if somebody

13 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 “Today, the most important work on the planet is to raise Isha Samskriti human consciousness. Isha Samskriti is an endeavor to Preparing Children not for allow children to flower into their ultimate possibility of consciousness and capability.” the University but for the Universe – Sadhguru

At a time when modern education is merely geared towards inculcating information, Isha Samskriti is an education system dedicated to a child’s overall development, enabling them to realize their full potential – physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Under the guidance of Sadhguru, each aspect of the children’s lifestyle is carefully chosen to orient them towards their inner nature. A unique blend of yogic practices, classical Indian arts such as Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, and martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, bring balance and stability to the child’s body and mind. The children also study English and Sanskrit.

Children begin between the ages of six to eight and receive a life-oriented education until the age of 18. The children develop into dynamic, capable and dedicated human beings – human beings whose presence will be a blessing to the world. Applications are open from 1 to 31 December 2011. Contact: +91-94426 16138, [email protected]

With close to eight months of experience behind them, In Gratitude to Life the Isha Kalachaara committee which organizes the many celebrations at Isha Yoga Center, has made yet Dussehra celebrations at the ashram another splendid attempt to revive the beauty of the traditional Indian festival culture. While an unusually hot post-monsoon sun blazed down on the ashram on 6 October 2011, preparations were underway for the culmination ceremony of the nine-day Navaratri celebration, better known as Dussehra.

Not unlike many other traditional festivals and celebrations of India, Dussehra is punctuated by pooja, performing arts and prasadam. As volunteers were inaugurating the event with Ayudha pooja, one might have wondered why laptops, vehicles, cooking vessels, tools, and other implements were placed on white cloth, garlanded, kumkum1 clad, and surrounded by fruit and sweet khichri (a rice and dal dish). Traditionally, worshipping implements is both an acknowledgement that the Divine is in everything, even in inanimate things, and an expression of gratitude because these items facilitate our work in the world. Promptly following Ayudha pooja, the Isha Samskriti children captivated us with chants and songs. Sounds of Isha is known to exhibit different types of genres and soundscapes depending upon the team members and situation at hand. For this occasion, the band along with a guest drummer from Chennai wooed the audience with songs about the Devi, Linga Bhairavi.

As the sun finally began to set over the hills, the main performance was about to begin. On the occasion, the dance teachers of Isha Samskriti had prepared three pieces of Bharatnatiyam, a classical form of Indian dance that features vibrant story lines, evocative expressions, and undeniable agility.

As the evening merged into night, the darshan brought everyone together on a different level. After dinner, the residents and guests gathered to participate in a traditional dance known as garbha. The word garbha literally means ‘womb.’ This dance is an expression of devotion towards the feminine aspect of the Divine. It is symbolically performed in a large circle, accompanied by lively music in six beats. This night’s dance in devotion towards the Devi surely left an impression that merged with the countless memories that this sacred space holds.

1 Red powder traditionally made of saffron or dried turmeric and slaked lime, used in India in ritual ceremonies and for making marks on the . forehead.

14 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 Down Under in High Spirits Sadhguru visits Australia

‘An Evening with the Mystic’ brought together the vivacious spirit of Australia and the boundless energy of Sadhguru’s presence, making it a surreal and insightful experience. A traditional, esoteric Aussie didgeridoo performance, reflecting the age- old spiritual connection of the indigenous, set the tone for the profound talk that followed.

However, whoever had come with the idea that it would be a low-key, serious session was in for a surprise. Sadhguru’s cracking wit and humorous disposition kept the audience in peals of laughter with such aesthetic and clockwork precision. while he provided strikingly logical insights into the workings of life. Sadhguru shared some interesting observations of his visit to Australia (excerpted from Sadhguru Spot Questions that followed the talk covered a gamut of 12 Oct 2011): of subjects including karma, rebirth, empathy, and love. Though some of them were rather complex, “Here I am, down under in Melbourne, equal measure Sadhguru ensured the answers were delivered in of work and play – I like it. […] My engagements did such a concise and comprehensible manner that not allow me to do much of a walkabout, but the everyone got the take-home message. terrain, people, culture, and language as it is spoken here give the place a very different feel from the rest A guided Isha Kriya meditation gave the audience a of the world. glimpse of the profundity that being human implies. “The talks were well attended and a small group of volunteers did great in organizing the events that definitely had impact in this southern city of the state of Victoria. […]

“South Indian culture and aborigines may have been from the same stock; this thought is in circulation. It is time to do some DNA or genetic studies to either establish or dispel this. The aborigine medicine and spirituality definitely seem to echo Southern India, but this deserves a proper study.

“This trip has been path-breaking for Isha in this The packed auditorium and the thunderous applause part of the world. […]” that followed the session spoke for itself – Isha is – Sadhguru picking up big time in Australia. The energy of the volunteers was infectious, and a number of guests wondered how an event of this scale was pulled off

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 15 A Symphony of Sound, Light, and Color Diwali at Isha Yoga Center

Isha Yoga Center was in a festive and colorful mood on Diwali (26 October 2011), with a deluge of volunteers, families, and guests who came to the foothills of Velliangiri for this ‘festival of lights.’ Diwali is celebrated with great exuberance across India and takes its name from the tradition of lamp lighting in the evening, a symbol of inner awakening. There were plenty of activities to choose from as the day progressed. The festivities started at 8 a.m. with the distribution of sweets to local villages. This was accompanied by a mobile version of Sounds of Isha, gathered at the Nandi to adorn the Dhyanalinga which brought their thumping drum beats from and Linga Bhairavi temples with hundreds of small village to village on an open lorry loaded with half a oil lamps. The rain gave way to tranquil clouds that dozen percussion enthusiasts and their instruments. reflected the rays of the setting sun, a foretaste of the glow that would soon surround the temple. The Tarana auditorium in Isha Home School was chosen as the venue to house the evening darshan, which concluded with Sadhguru’s Diwali message on video. The stage then lit up with performances from Isha Samskriti children, Kalari masters, as well as a skit from ashram residents. Sounds of Isha topped the evening off with an encore of drumming that ignited the audience into exuberance and dance! Visitors made their way to the Biksha Hall, which was decorated for the occasion with beautiful rangolis1 at the entrance, and delicate strands of coconut and mango leaves strung from the ceiling. After brunch, ladies queued up at the Spanda Hall pavilion to have their hands beautified with Mehendi (intricate patterns drawn with Henna paste). Joyful shouts and cheers, music and songs filled the ashram grounds during the afternoon games, in defiance of the rain. Towards the evening, volunteers and residents 1 Artful patterns, usually drawn on the ground with white and colored powder Sadhguru’s Diwali Message: “In the world around us, darkness is just absence of light. But in the inner dimension of the human being, darkness is absence of clarity. Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights. It is also a celebration of clarity and enlightenment. May this Diwali be not just a Festival of Lights, but also a celebration of taking a step towards enlightenment. It is my wish and my blessing that you must have a cracker of a Diwali!”

16 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 Indulgently Healthy Isha Life’s Mahamudra one of the Top Restaurants in Asia

Following the motto ‘fitness for life,’ Isha Life in (a broken wheat dish with yoghurt) – and based on Chennai offers a fitness studio, angamardhana (a this idea, we developed wheat-based variations of set of energetic, traditional exercises), yoga, the other traditional rice dishes. Initially, we were a little Shambhavi spa, a boutique, and the Mahamudra skeptical if our guests would accept these healthy restaurant – all under one roof. Earlier this year, alternatives, but we need not have worried – our NDTV Hindu acknowledged Isha Life as the Best preparations have not only been well received by Wellness Center in Chennai. Now, Miele Guide, our guests, they have created such a stir that several a Singapore-based restaurant guide, has selected newspapers picked up the story. Mahamudra as one of the top restaurants in Asia. “Generally, the less nutritious white rice is predominant What distinguishes Mahamudra from other in Indian cuisine today. We have brought in some restaurants is its unparalleled cuisine and ambience. twists to the common ways of preparation, with an The inspiration behind the concept of offering light emphasis on fresh herbs and spices, local vegetables, and healthy food gourmet-style was none other than healthy grains such as ragi (finger millet) and kambu Sadhguru, who provided the entire basic menu. (pearl millet), wheat, red rice, wild rice, and protein- Many others contributed their ideas and experience rich dal (pulses). With health being the ruling mantra, to translate this vision into reality. salads are an essential part of our menu. Our salads are rich and different, catering to the taste buds while using only the freshest ingredients. For those who like to sample a wide variety of dishes all at once, we offer the Wheat Thali @ Mahamudra.

“What people really like about Mahamudra apart from the food is its warm, friendly, and earthy ambience – it is a relaxing oasis in this busy city. And it seems we are able to satisfy all age groups – regularly, families of three generations come here to celebrate together. It is indeed fulfilling to serve wholesome food and very rewarding when appreciation flows in from all quarters.”

Meena Thennaapan, who was instrumental in developing and refining many of the Mahamudra recipes, explains what makes them so deliciously unique:

“A very important part of any fitness initiative is ‘fitness through food.’ An attempt to make and serve food that helps in keeping our body and mind healthy and fit has resulted in this unique offering, following the broad guidelines set by Sadhguru. For example, he had asked us to make Godhumai Thair Sadham

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 17 Sadhguru Spot Musings from the Master The Longing for the Infinite 9 November 2011

CHUK. Yes, just one more step away from being a through meditator-run companies. Now, anyone or licensed pilot. With FAA test behind me, the only a group of people can form a company to promote thing that could not be fulfilled is the 5-hour solo Inner Engineering Online and it is a lucrative cross-country due to time and weather constraints. proposition for them, over and above the joy of The test, with only 4 days preparation time, I was making it happen for a lot of people. forced to do 18–20 hour slog in trying to understand technicalities of aerodynamics, heli-engineering, In New York for three days with a few talks and navigation, aviation regulations, aviation mostly business meetings. If these meetings bear conventions and the lingo. Did well in spite of the fruit, the business end of Isha is ready to go big time. math involved. Something that I had not done even These are being created as a sustainable solution in my school time. A record of sorts for the numbers for the education projects in rural India. Unless we I got. Reaching toward 100 is a bit embarrassing as educate rural masses in India, the nation cannot all my life I have been closer to 0. Well, it is only this really move ahead. There is a serious lapse in this time around that my life truly depends on what I area. The numbers that are being projected do not had to study and grasp. paint the real picture.

The Shambhavi initiation in New Jersey went off My brush with the art crowd in New York has been very well with over 350 participants (big number interesting. In the next hour, I am spending some for USA). The online Inner Engineering program time with one of the foremost artists in America. If is a wonder; it is a better preparatory tool than the time allows, may paint a picture or two in the near future. live program. The participants were a mixed and Love and Blessings, a wonderful bunch. There are steps being taken to pitch up the Inner Engineering Online program

18 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 Shivapadam A rare opportunity to live under the Grace of the Velliangiri Mountains

To live in the nourishing atmosphere of a consecrated space and focus on their sadhana. You can either space is the dream of any spiritual seeker. We are apply for lifetime use of a Shivapadam cottage and delighted to offer this possibility for Isha meditators, stay throughout the year or whenever you wish, or to reside in the sacred space of the Isha Yoga opt for time-share. The time-share option will allow Center and imbibe the Grace of Dhyanalinga. Our you and your immediate family members to stay upcoming residential facility, ‘Shivapadam,’ will in a Shivapadam cottage for 21 days in a year, for a provide comfortable individual cottages set against period of 12 years. the lush backdrop of the Velliangiri Mountains, also known as the Kailash of the South. If you wish to make use of this opportunity, please apply for accommodation in the category of your Shivapadam is designed for those who wish to choice. Available categories: spend a substantial amount of time in this powerful

COTTAGE AREA

Single room with attached bathroom 425 sq. ft.

One bedroom, hall, attached bathroom and kitchenette 637 sq. ft.

Two bedrooms, hall, two attached bathrooms and kitchenette 1183 sq. ft.

Time-share of single room with attached bathroom 425 sq. ft.

“A human being deserves to live in a consecrated space, a space that is charged with a certain energy which will naturally push him upward – not something that traps him into the ways of life but something that constantly helps him to transcend.” – Sadhguru

For further information, contact us: Email: [email protected] Phone: 09487895088, 09487895865, 0422-2515345

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 19 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

DATE PROGRAM PLACE CONTACT 4 Dec 2011 Mumbai 9820040609 10 Dec 2011 Pune 9823055703 11 Dec 2011 Singapore +65 97960992 11 Dec 2011 Pre-Samyama Meet Delhi 9818646666 18 Dec 2011 Isha Yoga Center 0422-2515300 18 Dec 2011 Bangalore 9845425305 18 Dec 2011 Hyderabad 9553030111

Inner Engineering 8080345000, [email protected] / 16 - 18 Dec 2011 Mumbai, India Conducted by Sadhguru 9881408561, [email protected]

Hata Yoga Isha Yoga Center 0422-2515300 20 - 22 Dec 2011 Residential program Coimbatore, India [email protected]

Dhyanalinga Temple Pancha Bhuta Aradhana 0422-2515426, 94878 95878 23 Feb 2011 Isha Yoga Center Residential Program [email protected] Coimbatore, India Tamil Nadu: 94425 04620; North India: 98106 55004; Aadhi Yogi Aalayam Isha Yoga Center Central India: 98201 35722; 23 - 24 Dec 2011 Consecration Coimbatore, India Karnataka: 99160 42295; Conducted by Sadhguru Andhra Pradesh: 94417 79681; [email protected]

Inner Engineering Retreat Isha Yoga Center 0422-2515421 29 Dec - 1 Jan 2012 Residential Program Coimbatore, India [email protected]

Mahabharat Isha Yoga Center 94449 02058 11 - 18 Feb 2012 Residential Program Coimbatore, India [email protected] conducted by Sadhguru

Yaksha Isha Yoga Center 0422-2515345 13-19 Feb 2012 A Celestial Feast of Music Coimbatore, India [email protected] and Dance

Mahashivarathri Isha Yoga Center 0422-2515345 20 Feb 2012 Event with Sadhguru Coimbatore, India [email protected]

Samyama Isha Yoga Center 94425 04681 23 Feb - 1 Mar 2012 Residential Program Coimbatore, India [email protected] conducted by 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 FOREST FLOWER December 2011 ISHA RECIPES For Healthy Living PAKORA KULAMBU

Quantity Ingredients 1 cup Split Bengal gram (chana dal – split black chickpeas without seed coat) 1 ½ inch piece Ginger 1 small Carrot 7-8 sprigs Fresh coriander leaves 3 Red chilies 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds To taste Salt 1 tablespoon Ghee 7-8 Curry leaves 3 tablespoons Vegetable oil (Plus extra for frying) 8 medium Tomatoes 1 inch stick Cinnamon 1 Bay leaf 3-4 Cloves 2 cups Coconut milk 2 teaspoons Coriander powder ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder 1 tablespoon Red chili powder 3 tablespoons Cashew nut paste

Method of Preparation The Pakoras:

Soak the Bengal gram in 3 cups of water for 2 hours; drain in a colander. Peel and chop the ginger. Scrape and grate the carrot. Chop the fresh coriander fine. Place the Bengal gram in a blender along with the ginger, red chilies and fennel seeds and grind to a coarse paste. Add salt to taste, grated carrot, melted ghee, half of the chopped fresh coriander and curry leaves; mix well. Divide into small portions and shape into balls for the pakoras (fritters). Heat sufficient oil in a kadai (traditional cooking bowl), wok, or deep pan and fry the pakoras till golden brown in color. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep aside. The Gravy: Place the tomatoes in a pan with just enough water to cover them. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes and remove pan from heat. Drain water. Cool tomatoes and remove the skin. Chop the tomatoes roughly and grind to a paste. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan and add the cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves. Sauté for ½ a minute and add the tomato paste. Sauté till the raw smell disappears. Add the coconut milk, coriander powder, turmeric powder and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Do not allow it to come to a boil. Add the cashew nut paste, mix well and cook for 5 minutes more. Add salt to taste and mix. Add the pakoras and boil for 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle the remaining chopped fresh coriander on the dish. Serve with chapati or fried rice.

FOREST FLOWER December 2011 21 FOREST FLOWER Insightful – Inspiring – Informative Subscribe Now!I would like to Subscribe for myself Renew my subscription Change the mailing address Subscribe as a gift

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FOREST FLOWER December 2011