Jun 2019

“Birth and death are just passages, not of life but of time.” A Being so gentle you hardly noticed him, but passed... Notes from a few on “Know Our Brahmacharis” anytime. “In the 18 years I have Brahmacharis... board in Isha Yoga Center. known him, I have never once As we finished the invocation seen him angry, irritated or Our Unfathomable Loss! and were to begin our frustrated,” another shared. conversation, Swami became The first time I interacted speechless, and was not able “Sadhguru often remarked with Swami Nischala was in to articulate anything. For the how wonderful he is,” shared 2004. He was helping me to first fifteen minutes of that another volunteer who worked translate Tamil sharings of conversation, he was just with him. villagers about the Action for profusely crying – not out of Rural Rejuvenation initiative any pain or sorrow – but out An All Round Brillance into English. His voice and of sheer ecstasy. “Whenever expressions were making I visualize Sadhguru’s image A brilliant gold medalist those sharings come alive within me, I become empty, engineer, Swami was one for me more than his words. and this emptiness leaves me of seven siblings born in “Surrender is the ultimate in mad ecstasy,” he said the an economically poor but logic,” he said at one point few words he could to explain truly pious farmer’s family. while we were debating his state to me. He was the first person to between the paths of logic and go to school, and after his devotion – somehow, we got “How can I share in this state?” engineering he even cleared into discussing that. Later in he said, looking helpless after Tamil Nadu’s Public Service the years, I, too, realized the a while. “You have already Examination to join them as immense clarity behind his shared, Swami. Let’s now an Assistant Engineer. This simple statement – and, also, gossip,” I said. He laughed is when he decided to take that he was a living example of and opened his life journey up Brahmacharya in 1997. it. to me. To have been witness His sage-like parents equally to his sharing has been one rooted in Indian culture, Ultimate Logic of my highest privileges as saw his decision to walk the a brahmachari. Many others path as another expression In the first Brahmacharis’ have also seen Swami in a of his brilliance. After his Meet after his initiation, similar state of empty bliss Brahmacharya initiation, his Sadhguru started the session during a Satsang in front of parents came to see him, and by saying, “Welcome new Dhyanalinga about 10 years they touched his feet saying, brahmacharis.” Hearing this, ago, when Sadhguru invited “As a brahmachari you are not Swami immediately stood with him to share his experience in our son but worthy of worship.” folded hands. Sadhguru smiled front of hundreds of people. Such was his pedigree. and said, “When you are in the ashram you don’t possess Life at Ease The Irony anything, but you should be possessed. He is possessed.” He confided one time to me If you have ever wondered that he hardly has any thoughts about how fabulous the I later got an opportunity to other than of activity, and that architecture of Isha Yoga take his sharing to be posted if he wanted he could stop Center is, it is something to know that except for two or simply fit,” said Swami. In One man, who was working three of our buildings, every meetings, he rarely ever looked with Swami in his department one of Isha’s buildings has at Sadhguru directly, he would for the past two years, shared passed through his hands. look only at his feet. with tears in his eyes, “I am suffering from a mental A brahmachari shares, The irony is that he was also disorder, but Swami kept me “Towards the end of working on building the first under his personal care like the Dhyanalinga dome six of the proposed twelve he would take care of a child. construction, there was some crematoriums that are to come He gave me the space and confusion about the levels of up at the ashram - and he had confidence to manage my work different layers of bricks, and to be cremated open-air. in many ways on my own.” it could have meant having to undo the entire structure. At Work With Others Thousands of people turned Swami was in my room at the up from nearby villages to pay time. I saw him sitting for a Swami held a very special their last respects to Swami. continuous two nights and place in my heart. Very often Villagers have put up banners days without any sleep, in when I was low, or confused as a tribute to Swami, all the more or less the same posture, I would go to Swami. And he way to Alandurai. He was so scribbling many complex always addressed me without inclusive, and available to equations, before he came any prejudice or bias. Once, I all – though he himself was a up with a novel mathematical was facing some issues in my reserved person, who wouldn’t solution to the problem.” activity and losing trust of ever initiate a conversation until you coming out of it. He assured approached him. Every time I tried to praise me that all of it was transient, Swami for his engineering giving an example of what No Academic Spirituality savvy, he would say, “What, had happened around him. He Maa! I am unskilled. All I do is said he once had to take some Swami Hanumesha who a little arithmetic, draw lines, strict action against someone was recently initiated into circles and curves.” Swami for her own well-being and Brahmacharya shares: explained that the buildings in for the well-being of others. Isha come up by Sadhguru’s That person got so angry with Although I didn't know Swami grace: “What we do in the him that she was even ready very well, and we had only name of construction in Isha to slap him. “I just took this maybe talked a few times, is conceived and designed by as her immaturity and left it there's one incident I will Sadhguru. And, in so many at that. This didn’t stop me always remember. ways, it is also executed from supporting her, either,” he through his grace. When shared. I knew the volunteer in Swami was interviewing me Sadhguru explains something Swami’s story, and she shared once when I was a Brahmachari to us in a construction meeting, with me later that “Swami is the applicant. After the interview a 3D image of that forms in best person one could imagine was over, he asked if I had any my mind. When we put it working with.” Many would questions. I asked him two and on a drawing board, all the agree to this. his responses will always be dimensions and proportions etched in my mind.

I asked him what was his experience of being a brahmachari. He said so casually and with a gentle smile, ‘It's like falling into a bottomless pit.’

I pressed on - ‘How does one become a good brahmachari?’ His response was instant, un-conceited, simple yet profound.

‘Just follow instructions,’ he said. Nischalam!

In three words, Swami Restless action simply diffused my academic Burning devotion approach to spirituality.” Humbly, he walks Swami’s clarity about Simple when he talks Brahmacharya was so deep thoughts arise within me,” he and practical that for many added equally joyfully. The To the pillarless structures of us he remains a huge naturalness of how he said this, As a single pillar, he stands inspiration. “Swami, this I wanted to touch his feet seeing place is so powerful that that this person doesn’t even The beauty of our buildings many times whatever I wish know how great a being he is. -magic of his tireless to eat, is brought to me by hands! someone,” I shared, almost Once Sadhguru told Swami relishing the thought. “True Nandikesha that if circumstances Unwavering action Maa,” he said “Once I was become too tough, they all may Unwavering in notion thinking of a special sweet leave him, but Swami Nischala Unwavering inner passion that my mother used to make, would be the only one who and that very evening one would stay with him whatever Ever unwavering… person brought the whole box happens… Nischalam! to me,” he said laughingly. Nischalam! “The moment I received it, Here is Maa Upasthi, who Nischalam! I realized that these things Sadhguru fondly refers to us as actually come true. And “Bard of Sangha,” summing up To our Swami Nischala, since then I never let ‘food’ Swami Nischala: To our Sangha, An offering… “Death is a fiction created by people who live their lives in total unawareness. There is only life, life and life alone, moving from one dimension to another, another dimension to another.” Enjoy Sadhguru’s wit and wisdom, wonder at untold mystical stories, relish the tidbits of his engagements from Koti-Nati to Kala Pani, and flow in his love for and meditators...

Here, for you, is another unique edition of Isha Whispers… Sadhguru encounters a childhood connect at the “Rotary Koti-Nati” launch Jun 3, Bengaluru: In the so dry and has no rain because of a presence of Sadhguru, the curse from a Yogi who was treated members of the Rotary badly by the locals. International District 3190 announced the plantation of one “I’ve actually seen this because crore trees and a ten crore seed summer vacations we used to bombing drive in Chikkaballapur be there, and post summer when and Kolar, in partnership with the the monsoons come, all around State Government. The rotary it would be raining except here. members also took a pledge to Then I realized this is rain shadow work towards the revival of the area. I tried to argue with my long dead rivers, Pinakani and grandmother, ‘this is not because Palar, that originate from Nandi of somebody’s curse, this is a Hills. rain shadow area, rain is not happening here, this is what we Lauding the “Koti Nati” effort, need to do,’ but this is the legend. Sadhguru shared a childhood I’m glad that we are making connection with Chikkaballapur. efforts to make this region green,” “Probably this is a surprise for added Sadhguru, elaborating more most of you, every summer in on how Rally for Rivers was part the early part of my life I spent of the UN’s launch of a Decade of in Chikkaballapur, our ancestral Action for water across the world, home...at least a month-and- particularly focused on tropical a-half every year we spent in regions of the planet. Chikkaballapur - we have very fond memories of the place,” Here’s a whisper you may enjoy: he shared. He also narrated a Isha Leadership Academy is legend that he had heard from his coming up in Chikkaballapur! grandfather that Chikkaballapur is “I’m no connoisseur of art. I’ve not “They were not had enough time in my life for art conquering hordes but and music and such things. But I astute managers of the appreciate if something looks beautiful. situation,” Sadhguru I’m here today, first of all, because of explained. “When the my love for Mysore,” said Sadhguru. history of the nation Delivering a talk after inaugurating the involved many rigors and Sri Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar occupations, very deftly (SNW) Foundation at Jaganmohan they managed their way For the Palace auditorium in the city, Sadhguru without causing too much acknowledged that Mysuru is one of damage to the city, the Love of the most planned cities in the country region and the people, with the widest roads and parks. While which is very important. Mysore thanking members of the Wadiyar There is a difference dynasty for this vision, Sadhguru between bravery and recounted that the Wadiyar dynasty is bravado. Rulers who had the longest lineage in Indian history, too much bravado got having managed to rule a place for over destroyed. So, to take 500 years—that’s no small feat! the population through historical situations region to not only create Narayan Murthy, the without bringing or inviting awareness but to talk legendary founder of Infosys, disaster upon ourselves, to both and introduced Sadhguru before I think this is one of the Tamil Nadu governments the event, saying, “I don’t greatest things they have to help farmers move want to speak too much done for this region.” from regular cropping to when there is such a wise agro-forestry. Sadhguru He also lamented that has shared that his man here.” He fondly referred though has intention is to turn at to Sadhguru as the “one the largest number of water least one third of it into and only one, Sadhguru.” bodies on the planet per agro-forestry in 8-10 Sadhguru later referred to square kilometer, many years’ time. Shri Narayan Murthy as have dried up in the last the pride of Karnataka, 30-35 years. “There’s a lot You can also participate and said,“If we say there of work to do!” Sadhguru in this campaign and emphasized, introducing even ride with Sadhguru! can be only one Narayan the new initiative “Cauvery Look out for details in the Murthy, that no more such Calling.” upcoming issues and at entrepreneurs will come in isha.sadhguru.org. this country, how sad would Fun fact: The area of the that be? The next one that Cauvery basin amounts The nearly one-and- comes must be ten times to about 83,000 square a-half hour talk, better because already the kilometers! As a part of the “Intelligence of example has been set. We this initiative, Sadhguru Ignorance,” was followed himself will ride from by a lively Q&A session. are working on it.” Talakaveri to the delta 8,000 Mumbaikars sit in Union with Truth June 4, Mumbai: “Once in two hours, go sit somewhere and make sure your breath is approximately 15 breaths per minute, try to keep it that way all the time, then you will see your heartbeat will also sync - it will become in sync with everything else gradually. This is very important... You will become a far more sensitive and sensible human being,” said Sadhguru, giving a simple tip so that our systems are in harmony with the life around us. He was speaking at a Satsang – Union with Truth, in Mumbai. “Have you noticed that when you are sensitive to everybody around you, you naturally behave sensibly? Nobody has to teach you any morals, ethics, ideas, spirituality, scriptures - nothing is needed. This must happen that you become a sensible creature. If you do your Shakti Chalana Kriya, Surya Kriya, these kinds of things on a daily basis, it will naturally happen...it will bring you to a better place for sure,” said Sadhguru yet again, highlighting the importance of sadhana. stressed the need for giving In a Q&A session, Sadhguru A Whispers’ Special: up subsistence farming: “We addressed a variety of There may be an must push the states that questions from “How to Isha Yoga Center and whatever is the best thing take over the karma of my you can grow in your state, Adiyogi coming up aging parents?” to “What district, taluk or region - in in Pune! Possibly, should the new government terms of soil, water and there will also be a focus on?” and “How can atmosphere - you grow Devi abode, a small the Indian Cricket team just that one thing! That is win the World Cup?” With scale Theerthakund, when you will produce high his usual blend of wit and a program hall, and quality material, that will be wisdom, he addressed each accommodation accepted anywhere in the question profoundly. arrangement for “If you world. This is how the rest do not know how to grow of the world is operating.” about 150 people for your food, do you know residential advanced ” what will happen to us? “when economic activity programs in this Sadhguru asked, helping us picks up speed, we tend center. Be ready to be to see that if we don’t pay to forget the ecological attention to the plight of among the first ones to concerns. Keeping these farmers and improve the soil donate to this sacred two things in sync is condition and water situation place. very important,” was his in the country, our very life is prominent message to under threat. Sadhguru also humanity today. In Maharashtra for Environment Day

June 5, Mumbai: Sadhguru joined H.E. Governor of Maharashtra C Vidyasagar Rao, state CM Devendra Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan, to launch a massive plantation program in Maharashtra on World Environment Day. The dynamic Minister of Finance & Planning and Forests, Sudhir Mungantiwar, was also present at this occasion. Maharashtra was the Whisperings: Shruti, our planted Nadi first state to sign the Veera, sends us the inside scoop and MOU with Isha for the gossip from Yavatmal for our special revival of the Waghari page. river in Yavatmal district. Yavatmal as we know is famous for its suicides— Adventures of imagine how bad it has to get for a region to be known for its suicide Nadi Veeras at rates. “The idea is, if it works in Yavatmal, it will work anywhere,” Yavatmal said Sadhguru at an interview with Times of later in the day. “Yavatmal is a mildly basalt region where agriculture is hard. Shifting the farmers from agriculture to agro forestry is a huge process, but our volunteers are there already. The first thing is to engage with people...” shared Sadhguru in an interview with Times of India group. He promised that our volunteers would meet all 9,000 families settled there and setup a helpline for locals to reach out to when in distress instead of taking extreme steps. Here is the first of the series...

Let’s peek at what our Nadi Veeras are up to in Yavatmal. A stretch of 54 kilometers, on Tough Enough to Take leading up to a murti. It was their Own Lives either side of the Waghari River, was identified, comprising 40 a revelation when most of villages across the Yavatmal us were able to sing the With a 415 Cr Hanuman Chalisa hymn, (approximately $60 million) Taluka. Nadi Veeras’ entry point activity is to meet and introduce word-for-word, which budget sanctioned by the filled the air along with the Maharashtra Government, themselves and Isha’s work to the Women Self Help Groups toasty aroma of rotis and within a record speed the earthy smell of rain. We of one year of the Draft (SHG) from these villages. Divided into four groups, three of spotted a few tais making Policy Recommendation rotis in a community. for Revitalizing India’s these groups stayed in Ghatanji, one in Yavatmal (both are towns, Rivers being presented to On our way out, Aditya the latter is marginally further the Central Government, anna, a hydro-geologist developed and connected than it was nothing short of a shared some facts on the the former). What happens next? national miracle! Yavatmal nearby watershed, the flow Will they be sent back again? in Eastern Maharashtra, of the Waghari, the Deccan Pay attention to Shruti’s whispers the farmer-suicide belt of plateau and the way its below and make your guess! the country, was where contours were spread. our pilot project was to be. Swami Lavana had more During the first six months Generous Ghatanji questions than the Nadi that a smaller team of Veeras had patience for, An early shower meant a RFR spent here, they and we broke into smaller canceled meeting with the SHG, were unanimously asked groups and started walking as most of our meetings were to return to their homes towards our stay. As we out in the open with limited to and do something more stepped on the bridge that no access to electricity. productive. It was a rough It was ran over a non-existent terrain with tough people, the perfect evening to explore river, Aditya anna caught up tough enough to take our beloved Waghari, which had with us and gasped out an their own lives at times. exactly two buckets of water emergency - "They’ve called flowing in it. us for prasadam!"

As we walked along the smelly Determined, We We had all eaten a full meal banks, one of us stepped Remain! already, but when did that on a pile of what seemed to ever stop a Nadi Veera be emitting a smell. We took from accepting another This time around, 35 Nadi pictures, made noises, and invitation! Veeras, a mix of young behaved like tourists. men averaging 27 years Even before Aditya anna of age, one brahmachari We settled down in a nearby could finish his sentence, and three women, have Hanuman temple, which was we were heading back recently moved to the merely a raised structure, open towards the temple while banks of the Waghari on three sides, with a few steps River. joking about the innocent villagers regretting their invitation once they discover our appetites. Some of us served the devotees, the hungriest of us ate and one of us discovered jalebis! As we served and ate, there was a kind of an unspoken Nadi Veera Glossary bond that formed with the locals and the “tourists” and Tai: To fondly and suddenly we were one of respectfully address a lady, them - teasing each other, usually older than yourself, in A delicious laughing and mingling. They Marathi, the local language of Bakhri: flatbread most often said they felt transported Maharasthra, India made from millet flour in with our chanting, and that every Marathi household. Hanuman had made an Rotis: Flat bread cooked on Bakhri has a crispy outer appearance today when a griddle over a direct fire, commonly consumed across layer and is soft inside. we sang to Him. They were India, especially north India touched with this strange SHG: A Self-Help Group group of youth from across A deity or an idol of (SHG) is a small voluntary the length and breadth of Murti: an Indian god or goddess association of people of the country and welcomed carved in stone or metal similar socio-economic us generously. backgrounds, purposed Consecrated to solving their common We told them our reason Prasadam: vegetarian food that is a problems through self- for being in Ghatanji. "Let spiritual offering help and mutual help. us make the river flow!” The SHG promotes they chimed, optimistically. Jalebi: A pretzel-shaped small savings among its members, which are kept We thanked them profusely sweet made by deep frying with a bank. and left, our hearts full and flour and then dipping in our stomachs bursting. flavored sugar syrup

As our appetites for the Taluka: District or an local bakhri and for the administrative district for adventures in Yavatmal taxation purposes, typically grow, we will keep sharing comprising a number of our epicurean episodes. villages A Dash of Spirituality on World Environment Day

June 5, Mumbai: In a historical move, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti brought Sadhguru, and spiritual leaders Baba Ramdev, Acharaya Lokesh, and Brahma Kumari B K Shivani together on stage to launch an international campaign for environment protection. Besides 1000 invitees, including eminent environmentalists, political leaders, industrialists, social workers, and thinkers, this program reached 100 million people the world over. As a part of this event, 5,000 trees were planted around Mumbai and 10 million people took a pledge to protect the environment. Human is NOT a Resource!

June 7-9, Isha Yoga Center: Some were curious about the program title, a handful were here to taste yet another Isha offering, while others came with the passion to make a difference or become better leaders – but for all 103 business and HR heads who participated in “Human Is NOT A Resource”- “human engagement and motivation” were the biggest organizational challenge.

On the other hand, a silent disaster is emerging in humanity: a large number of educated people in the corporate world are falling prey to acute mental and physical imbalances and burnouts at a young age. As per a study by Asscham, 45% of employees in the Indian private sector are suffering from clinically diagnosed anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders due to work related stress and issues. Many of them even contemplate suicide. Crafted by Sadhguru, Human Roy, and young and The second night at is NOT a Resource is a path- innovative Lalit Agarwal, Spanda Hall turned into an breaking initiative that creates along with Sadhguru’s enchanting realm of little a platform for leaders to wisdom and yogic lights. And to everyone’s transform their organizations methods for self- utter delight Sadhguru so that humans come together empowerment. graced the evening by to work as possibilities rather joining the Resource than resources. The purpose The mornings were Leaders for a private dinner of this initiative from the Isha filled with the soulful meeting. Leadership Academy is to sounds of the flute inspire corporate leaders to (played by two former The third edition of Human strive to create joyful and Isha Vidhya children Is NOT a Resource has high performing organizations from our tribal villages), surely leap-jumped into and provide them practical while afternoons were the league of coveted frame works of curating five lively with the matchless leadership programs in the pillars of organization - an performances of country. inclusive purpose, a conducive our Isha Samskriti structure, flexible and dynamic students. Incubated in systems, a culture of trust, joy, the consecrated high- high performance, and inspiring energy space of Spanda people through story telling. Hall for two and a half days, the corporate The unique program wove an honchos many times ingenious blend of sessions burst into impromptu from illustrious speakers like jiving in between the Dr. Somnath, ISRO, Raman sessions. Sadhguru on a Floating Dock: A Conspiracy of Higher Intelligence June 21, Port Blair benefit those in the defense There is more to this (Andaman and Nicobar): forces, Sadhguru said, "The job International Day of On the fifth International demands you to always have an Yoga with Sadhguru Yoga Day, Sadhguru led upper hand, otherwise it could that happened at a yoga session at the cost your life and the wellbeing the Floating Dock. iconic Indian Navy Floating of the nation. It's very important Dock in Port Blair in the It was the talk of that our forces have all the the town in Port Andaman and Nicobar necessary tools to be at their Blair, and we bring Islands. best." it to you straight Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, "Someone asked me why year from the horse’s AVSM, ADC, Commander- after year I’m with the defense mouth - here is in-Chief of the Andaman forces not with my yoga family, a little story from and Nicobar Command so I told her if people who Kannan anna, who (ANC) along with senior are willing to live and die for had accompanied officers and over 500 your well-being, if they are not Sadhguru from personnel and families of your family then who is your Delhi, or simply the Indian Army, Navy, Air family?" Sadhguru asked and Force and Coast Guard further explained how Yoga is “Anna” as Sadhguru participated in the event. the solution of the future for fondly calls him. Talking about how the humanity. “Anna” means elder practice of yoga can brother in Tamil, and Kannan Anna, born in the same year as Sadhguru, is only a few months older than Sadhguru.

Back to the mystery: You will discover the story only if we take you through the two days of Sadhguru’s presence in Andaman & Nicobar, just as it was for Anna. Mysterious 2 Days of Yoga! June 19, Port Blair: It had though it had stopped raining. especially for Sadhguru, and been raining nonstop with We had another meeting with therefore us. After the show, a few intermittent breaks the Naval officers at around Sadhguru was taken to his stay since I arrived. There 10 am. Going by their sources place. seemed to be no signs of it (of the highest reliability in the abating the next day also. country), they were pretty sure So, there was not a drop of rain Rain was mostly heavy, that any open-air event was on June 20, totally contrary to as this is the monsoon almost impossible as there was meteorological reports. Though season for the islands. a swell in the sea. weather reports on June 21 Sadhguru was arriving the also predicted rain, Naval next morning, and most On June 20 at 12:45 pm: officers were now more open of his engagements were Sadhguru arrives. The sky to what I had been indirectly planned under the open is totally clear. As soon as suggesting – let’s go by the skies! Of course, we had Sadhguru arrived, going by the plan Sadhguru is here for. to rehash his schedule. original schedule, he asked us to take him directly to the June 21, 6:00 am: No rain. In the evening we called golf course. He changed into Both yoga sessions, one with for a review meeting with his golf gear in a transit guest yoga teachers, and another the Naval officers. Most room near the golf course with Sadhguru, happened proposed they will go for called “Inspection Bungalow” in bright and sunny weather plan B - an Indoor Yoga and played with Commander- conditions. Sadhguru spoke session on June 21. And in-Chief, Andaman and for a while, and during the Golf on 20th? Forget it, Nicobar Command until 4:30 practice session walked we all silently agreed to it. pm. The weather remained among the officers to correct “I wish Sadhguru gets to sunny and wonderful. Not a their practice. “What, you don’t play here - one of the most drop of rain. After golfing, he have muscles?” Sadhguru beautiful golf courses in changed back into normal would ask, pulling an officer’s the country,” the thought clothes in “Inspection leg if he saw them lax. After passed within me. Yoga Bungalow” and left straight for the yoga session, Sadhguru teachers went ahead his next engagement. was invited to a “High Tea” with the reconnaissance arranged by a ranking naval of the indoor venue and Sadhguru June 20, 5:00 pm: officer. “Sadhguru there has finalized all arrangements. takes a boat to Ross Island for been no rain here, how did it However, still there was an interview with Padmaja of happen?” something within me that Times Now – again an open-air said, "Things may turn out event. As we were in the boat, “Weather never lets me down,” to be different." the sky was overcast again, said Sadhguru, leaving the but it didn’t rain. The interview lady perplexed. After the And yes, were they! was very vibrant, and it carried “High Tea,” Sadhguru visited on for more time than planned. Cellular Jail, the place of harsh On June 20, morning Sadhguru was delayed for the imprisonment for many Indian before Sadhguru’s arrival, light-and-sound show. But freedom fighters. the sky was still overcast, the officers played it again, June 21, 5:30 pm: Sadhguru But the story isn’t over yet! how else to explain it to met the Naval officers who them, I said, “To me, he is would join him in an “In Anna kept referring to an Avatar like Krishna and Conversation” event in an “Inspection Bungalow” in this Rama.” They of course hour. (This is the usual ritual story – there was a reason for it. looked at me like “What?!” before any conversation to Back to Anna to unfold it for us. but anyways yielded to the have the other person become request. comfortable with Sadhguru Two naval staff of the rank and be at ease on stage). So, Havaldar were taking care of After about 30 minutes, the four officers, one each hospitality for Sadhguru at one of them came to me from the Navy, Airforce, Army, Inspection Bungalow. I saw and said, “Yes, I think he and Coast Guard joined him them entering the room with is an avatar.” “What is the in a small room. “How are you their shoes on while setting it basis of you saying this?” I able to stop the rain?” asked up. I didn’t like it somehow, “It questioned curiously. “The the Docks Master, Abhilash. will be nice you if you left your rain can stop only for an “The weather doesn’t let me shoes outside,” I politely told Avatar!” the man replied. down,” was Sadhguru’s same them. They had no clue of who Both of them wanted to answer – and again the same Sadhguru was, and obviously touch Sadhguru’s feet and perplexed expressions fell on looked at me quizzically for this take photographs with Abhilash’s face. strange requirement. Since they him, to which He agreed. were simple folks, not knowing June 21, 7:00 pm: Sadhguru addressed the Civil Servants in Andaman & Nicobar Government at the residence of the Chief Secretary. After it is ends by 8:30pm or so, he joins the Chief Secretary for dinner. At this time, it starts to rain. “See, all my programs are over here, and now it starts to rain," Sadhguru joked with the people around the dinner table.

Side Whisper: Our diligent yoga teachers, nonetheless, carried four big umbrellas on both 20th and 21st to all engagements of Sadhguru. As we depart Andaman & Nicobar Islands, our deepest gratitude to the very special Purple Command of Bharat and the passionate men and women in uniform here. - Sadhguru Now we have Maa Jayitri, witness such care, when Brahmacharini and Hatha in the middle of so many Yoga teacher sharing people, with so many things some of her cherished happening, he still notices moments during this trip that one person is missing. to Andaman and Nicobar. At Ross Island, the As soon as Sadhguru interview with Padmaja of arrived on June 20, he Times NOW exceeded the went directly for a game of planned time. The Naval golf that the senior officers officers really wanted to at the Joint Command have Sadhguru see the had requested Sadhguru Light and Sound Show. We for. Immediately after the missed the public show that game, he changed in a happens at 7:45 pm daily, transit bungalow, and then but they were willing to headed for a television arrange for a special show interview at Ross Island. for Sadhguru. I came to The boat ride from Port know it was for 40 minutes. Blair to Ross Island was Sadhguru hadn’t eaten incredibly beautiful. Since since morning and was on there were many of us in a hectic schedule the whole the boat, and I wanted day including hours of Sadhguru to have some walking at the golf course. space, I went to sit in He had even changed his the basement of the clothes in a transit stay boat, though it had no area. I really didn’t want him view of the ocean. I felt to stay any longer than he a moment of desire to needed to. “Sadhguru, the see the ocean, but was show is for 40 minutes,” absolutely happy to be I told him, hoping that there as well. After a few we would decide to skip minutes, Swami Chitranga it. “40 minutes? But they came down asking me really want us to see it, so to come up. “Sadhguru we'll go,” Sadhguru said is calling you,” he said. and gracefully, with full When Sadhguru saw me involvement, went along up, he said, “Why are you with them. Sadhguru really sitting in a submarine, be appreciated the sound and up here,” he said casually. light show and made sure to Sometimes it becomes spend some time thanking a bit overwhelming to all the officers involved. Reliving the painful history of the Island

Human lust for power and wealth drives them beyond their humanity. Kala Pani is a monument of human depravity on one hand & human resilience and spirit on the other. My heart melts for all those brave fighters who fought for India’s freedom. Always indebted. Blessings. - Sadhguru Experiencing the suffering For the better part of a of Cellular Jail prisoners century, the British Raj sent with Sadhguru Indian freedom fighters to Here Maa Jayitri shares a few this remote island penal glimpses from the visit. The visit to Cellular Jail was a colony for torture, medical painful experience. Sadhguru experimentation, forced On the second day, the throughout remained grim, labor, and, for many, their officers had arranged for with telling signs of pain. The deaths. Sourced from the Sadhguru to visit Kala Pani or entire jail was designed in a official records detailing the Cellular Jail in Port Blair. way that the prisoners can’t see the scandal and first-hand Surrounded by hundreds each other. Freedom Fighters accounts from those who of miles of ocean in every were allotted 4.5m x 2.5 m x survived - as heard and direction, the Cellular Jail 3m individual cells, where they published by Cathy Scott- was designed with the sole were locked in from evening Clark and Adrian Levy purpose of keeping the men 6 pm until the next morning. in Guardian UK. Read in isolation, and provided no They were given a small mud the full article at https:// hope of escape. pot to use for urination and www.theguardian.com/ to defecate in the night, the lifeandstyle/2001/jun/23/ capacity of which was not weekend.adrianlevy . sufficient to discharge even once.

They also showed us the gallows where they hanged three people at a time. Under the gallows there was a trap door through which victims would slide after the lever was pulled.

The officer took Sadhguru to see that place where their bodies were dropped after the execution. We were supposed to go in after him, but as we were approaching to enter that place, Sadhguru gestured us to stay back. “There is a lot of history here, but nothing to see,” he said. Probably the place was still alive with the horror of human suffering that it had witnessed over the years.

International Day of Yoga is a month-long celebration and festivity for Isha, where our volunteers are exuberant hosts. For the 5th edition of IDY, Yoga Veeras – volunteers trained to conduct simple Upa Yoga sessions for anyone, conducted nearly 2,400 sessions, including 600 outside India in 28 different countries, reaching out to nearly 3 lakh people from all walks of life. And still counting. Kudos to these volunteers who kept their personal engagements aside, and put their lives into making it happen for people.

In addition, for the first time, many Hatha Yoga School teachers came together to hold Classical Hatha Yoga camps in nine cities of India simultaneously.