Volume 7 / Issue 02 February 2019

No Trace
There is no Container Service
for those who depart but still
most have turned their Homes
into warehouses. How fortunate that
nothing can be taken even by the most
ambitious. If they could, by now they
would have weighed the heavens down
well below all that we know. As the years
roll on without leaving a trace of themselves.
Only humans desperately cling to their
memories and count and recount them
as years. Just to remind themselves that
they too lived.

Grace & Blessings

February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | b

 EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,
Happy New Year! Sadhguru says
to make 2019 a year of absolute,
indiscriminate involvement. Read
about it in this month’s lead article,
“How to Always Know What to Do,”
which comes from the Q&A with
Sadhguru at Isha Institute of Inner-
sciences’ New Year Darshan. In “The
Key To Staying Motivated,” Sadhguru
says that if your life is precious to you,
you must decide where you want to
invest it. This is one of the keys to
maintaining your spark.
Kangana Ranaut intriguingly asks
Sadhguru “Is Shiva an Alien?” in this
month’s excerpt from In Conversation
with the Mystic. The famous actress
wonders whether Shiva is self-created
and asks why there’s no mention of
Shiva’s birth or death. Sadhguru’s
answer has a lot to do with modern
science catching up with yogic lore.
This installment of Mahabharat is a
cliffhanger. The Kurukshetra war is
over. Only Duryodhana remains alive
of all the Kaurava brothers, but the
conflict remains. Duryodhana’s clash
with Bhima approaches as we witness
the build-up to the beginning of the
final fight between these foes.
In this edition, we bring you a brief
tour of Sadhguru’s many events
this month and highlights from
Isha Yoga Center. From Golf Jaunt
to Gramotsavam, Sadhguru’s been
sporting for humanitarian causes.
He has also been a speaker at the
Times Network Economic Conclave,
the Conference on Soft Power, and
the Republic Summit. Sadhguru
initiated 8,003 people into Shambhavi
Mahamudra in Bangalore and offered
the grace of Devi to devotees in a
Winter Solstice Yantra Ceremony.
Six months in, our Sadhanapada
participants have had another
opportunity to break their limitations
and inner compulsions. For three
days, they went into silence and
offer insights from their experience
in “Silence, a True Revelation.” Also,
please enjoy “My Beloved,” a poem by
an Isha meditator.
This month’s recipe for Adhirasam
is a pastry fit for the gods. It’s a
traditional dessert often used in
offerings in temples in Tamil Nadu.
Made of rice flour and jaggery, this
doughnut-like sweet treat is sure to
be as popular in your home as it is
throughout southern India.
Enjoy!
The Editorial Team

Contact the Editorial Team:

Isha Forest Flower, Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar Post, Coimbatore – 641114
forestflower@ishafoundation.org
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2 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

CONTENTS

LEAD ARTICLE MAHABHARAT

How to Always Know What to Do 06 Part 51: Duryodhana vs. Bhima 10

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC SHARING EXPERIENCES
Is Shiva an Alien? Silence, a True Revelation 16
Kangana Ranaut in Conversation with the Mystic 4 Sadhanapada Participants Share Their Experiences
My Beloved
LEAD ARTICLE Poem by Isha Volunteer 17
How to Always Know What to Do
By Sadhguru 6 UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Mahashivaratri and Yaksha 2019 18
MUSINGS
Isha – Program & Event Highlights 20
The Key to Staying Motivated
By Sadhguru 8
ISHA RECIPES
MAHABHARAT Adhirasam 21
Part 51: Duryodhana vs. Bhima
The Final Fight Begins 10 ZEN SPEAKS
Seize the Moment 23
NEWS & EVENTS
Playing to Reach Out 12
Isha Vidhya Golf Jaunt with Sadhguru in Pune
Celebrating Sports and the Human Spirit 12
Isha Gramotsavam 2018
Human Wellbeing: Key to Success 13
Sadhguru at the Times Network Economic Conclave
Live Transmission with Sadhguru 13
Inner Engineering Completion in Bangalore
From India to the World 13
Sadhguru at the Conference on Soft Power
Moving beyond Borders and Boundaries 14
Sadhguru at the Republic Summit
Getting the Industry on Board for Rivers 14
Rally for Rivers Board Meeting with CII
Recognition for Rally for Rivers 15
Sadhguru Receives Award by the Maharashtra Marathi
Journalist Association
Invoking the Originator of Yoga 15
Kashi Priests Perform Saptarishi Arati at IYC

3 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

Is Shiva an Alien?
Kangana Ranaut in Conversation with the Mystic
Actress Kangana Ranaut flaunts bold theories about Shiva’s origins and external control of our every action
during an In Conversation with the Mystic event. Read on to find out Sadhguru’s response.
Kangana Ranaut: Krishna, Muhammad, Ram,
Christ, Buddha – for all the enlightened people
who’ve been on this planet, there is some sort of
mention of their birth or death. But when it comes
to Shiva, I’ve read that he was self-created. There is
a theory that Shiva is an alien.
And there is this theory that everything that
a human encounters – whether it’s an idea, a
thought, anything – has been transmitted into
them through an outer space, an outer being. Is it
that we are being operated by an external sort of
outside beings?
Sadhguru: Well, people who have no faith in
human intelligence are looking up, expecting that
intelligence will come from somewhere else. There
are very significant things that, unfortunately,
this present generation has mostly forgotten. For
example, in yoga, we call the spine merudanda – that
means the axis of the universe. Today, scientists are
admitting it is an endless universe. Forever, we have
been saying it’s an ever-expanding universe. On the
surface, to say your spine is the axis of the universe
sounds ridiculous. Even without putting any load on
it, people’s backs are hurting badly. They can’t even
walk or run or do anything. If this spine becomes
the axis of the universe, what will happen…?
The Experience Center
So, why are we saying the spine is the axis or center
of the universe? You think there is a universe only by
4 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
IN CONVERSATION
WITH THE MYSTIC
your experience. If you could not see or feel anything,
you wouldn’t know there is a universe. Only because
of your experience, there is a universe. And the
center where your experience is transmitted is your
spine. If we cut off the wires in your spine, you’ll
have no experience even of the body – forget about
the universe. Because your ability to experience the
universe is rooted and centered in your spine, we
are calling your spine the axis of the universe.
Based on this, we developed a whole possibility for
a human being to not just believe these things but
to make them a living experience. This is where
the word “yoga” came from. Inclusiveness happens
simply because you obliterate the boundaries of
your individuality. We are not inclusive because of “I
love you, you love me. I hug you, you hug me” – all
that will only last for some time. Tomorrow, if they
do something that you don’t like, it will be finished.
Yoga means to obliterate the boundaries of your
individual nature, including your body, so that you
know how to sit here without being identified with
the boundaries of who you are.
Shi-va – “That Which Is Not”
Your physical structure, mental structure, and
emotional structure have a boundary – it may be
large or small. But there are dimensions that have
no boundary. What doesn’t have a boundary is non-
physical in nature. Our focus has always been on
that dimension which is non-physical. That is why
February 2019
Shiva became the most important thing, because
Shi-va means “that which is not,” that which is
non-physical.
Now, the yogi that we are talking about – is he
a human being, or did he come from somewhere
else? This is a long story. We have a book on Adiyogi
which is going into these aspects, but let me put
it across. When we talk about Shiva, there is no
parentage. There is no place of birth. There is no one
who saw him young, growing up. When people saw
him, he was always about the same age. And we
don’t know where he died. Such a significant human
being, even in those times. If he died somewhere,
they should have built a temple or some kind of
monument for him – nothing like that happened.
Yakshaswarupa: A Being from
Elsewhere
There is no birth, no death, no parentage, no siblings –
there is nothing to prove that he was here. Does this
mean we can assume he came from somewhere
else? Not necessarily. But if you look at the lore, Shiva
is very commonly referred to as “Yakshaswarupa.”
“Yaksha” always means beings or creatures who
are not human, but who are supposed to have
existed in the natural environment of this planet, in
the forest and other areas. There are many things
February 2019
which point towards it, but there is no specific proof
that he came from elsewhere.
Modern Science Lagging Behind
In the yogic lore, it is estimated Shiva or Adiyogi
existed as a person and walked this land somewhere
between 60,000 to 75,000 years ago. When I first
spoke this, all the more sensible people around me,
who are not as naïve as me; the wiser, younger
people said, “Sadhguru, if you say 75,000, they
will blast you. The only archeological proof that
Adiyogi or Shiva existed is about 12,600 years. Say
12,600, 13,000, or 14,000.” I said, “Okay – 15,000.”
There is archeological proof today that over 30,000
years ago, a civilized society existed in pockets of
this country.
I’m saying over 15,000 years ago, because that
may be accepted in the West. If I say 75,000, they
would resist because their idea of the world is only
six thousand years old. They said creation happened
in six days and it is only six thousand years old. For
all these centuries, they insisted on that. Now, they
are slowly correcting themselves because science
proves something else. You will see, in the next fifty
years, modern science will say many things that we
have been talking about for thousands of years.
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ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 5
How to Always Know What to Do
LEAD ARTICLE

In this Q & A from the New Year Darshan at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, Sadhguru destroys concepts
of right and wrong, big and small, important and not important, to reveal the key to his phenomenal sense of
knowing what works, for him and people around him, in any given situation.

Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. My question
is about doing what works, and your other point
about doing the right things that give you the right
results. In my life, business negotiations, marriage,
raising kids, or career decisions – how do I know
what works in a given situation?
Be Like God
Sadhguru: You are married, and you want to know
what works… You must be like God, a silent partner –
then it works. Whatever anyone does, never
intervene in anything. Every day in the morning,
every kind of idiot will tell you what you should
do today. Simply listen, just like God. Marriage will
work; it may not work with your profession.
Do not try to make this into some kind of a value
system, philosophy, or oath: “I will do only what
works.” What works will not come with an oath or a
commandment. What works comes with constant
observation and evolution of who you are. See how
clumsily you made something work ten years ago –
today, you may be doing the same thing with ease.
What works is not some kind of formula. It is an
evolution of a human being to come to what works
on all levels of life. I am not a self-help book: “Do
what works.”
I am not telling you, you should do only what
works. Do whatever the hell you want. What is my
problem? But for your life, because it is a limited
amount of time, what is the point doing something
that does not work? It should work for you or for
people around you. If it does not work for you or
anyone around you, what is the point of doing it?
No Philosophy, No Commandments
This happened. American soldiers were leaving for
duty. One of them told the other, “You know Steve’s
wife? She read Three Musketeers, and she delivered

6 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

triplets.” The other one says, “Oh my God! My wife is will naturally see what the right thing to do is. But
reading Birth of a Nation! What am I supposed to do?” you have already decided what is important, what
That is not how it works. So do not make this into is not important. Half the world has already been
some kind of an ethic or philosophy. “I will do only given up because you think it is not important. How
what works.” What works needs a lot of application. will you evolve?
Even to do the smallest thing like hitting a ball or
So, what is the right thing to do? It does not matter
kicking a ball straight takes a lot. The whole world
what you are doing, small things or big things. If you
is worshiping someone who can kick a ball where
are absolutely involved, you will know what the right
he wants, because people understand what it takes.
thing to do is. You are trying to live here without
His life has gone into being able to kick a ball the
involvement. This is why you have morals, ideals,
way he does.
ideologies, values, ethics, and commandments. You
So, do not make philosophies and ethics out of want a ready-made formula. What is the right thing
everything. Do not tell yourself a commandment, “I to do? “Thou shalt not” – did the world get fixed
will do only what works.” It is a good commandment, that way? It has not worked.
but now you do not know what works. You need
Do not try to make formulas, ideals, or ideologies
to be conscious and apply yourself to every little
out of life. All life takes is absolute, unbridled
thing. Do not decide what is important and what
involvement, not distinguishing who is who, what
is not important. Recently, I was in the Rally for
is what, just absolutely involved with everything
Rivers board meeting in New Delhi. The CII board,
that you are in touch with right now. If you do this
that is the Confederation of Indian Industry, also
one thing, you will know what the best thing to do
participated in the Rally for Rivers board meeting.
is, from your perspective of course. Someone of a
Slowly, people are realizing the magnitude of
certain capability may do a certain thing in a given
what has been unfolded. Everyone is trying to be
situation, which is not necessarily the right thing
part of it.
to do for you.
When Purposelessness Pays No Comparison
We have an eminent board – the CEO of the World
You must know what the right thing for you to do is
Wildlife Fund, the topmost water experts, the
in a given situation. You will not be able to do what
topmost Farmer Producer Organization people,
he does. You must be able to do what you can do, to
and a judge from the Supreme Court. As the “Kaveri
the best of your ability. That is the right thing to do
Calling” project was being talked about, for every
in your life. Do not try to do something like someone
question certain experts were asking, I casually told
else. There is no substitute for involvement. Where
them what to do. They said, “Sadhguru, how do you
there is no involvement, there is no life. If you want
know all these things?” I said, “As a child, as a youth,
to experience this life, you need involvement.
I just wandered around without any purpose; in
the jungle, the forest, the rivers, paying absolute Whatever you do, will you do it with absolute
attention to every plant, every insect, the air, the involvement in the coming months? See, I am a
moisture, and everything.” really nice Guru – I am not telling you, “This is the
thing to do.” I am just telling you, “Do whatever
Even if it is purposeless, you cannot live without
the hell you want, but do it well.” That cannot be
attention. I looked at everything absolutely – every
done without involvement. Will you do everything,
life, every thing, every pebble, every movement that
small things and big things, with total involvement?
was happening in the earth and the atmosphere –
Whether it is how you wake up in the morning,
not as a study, simply because I had eyes and an
brush your teeth, shit, eat, or do your Shambhavi,
attention span. I paid attention to everything, and it
will you do it with total involvement?
is paying off in a huge way today. What was aimless
wonder has today become formidable knowledge No Judgment
that is not written in any book. For the first time,
In everything that you do, do not distinguish what
someone is talking in a comprehensive way, not
is small and what is big. When I say, “shit,” you say,
from a textbook.
“hehehe.” Then do not do it. If you think it is not
Total Attention important, or if you think it is dirty, you should not
do it. Do not make a distinction about what is filthy
Just do this one thing – stop discriminating what
and what is sacred. This is where the key is, because
is important, what is not important. If you pay the
involvement also means unprejudiced inclusion.
same level of absolute attention to everything, you
The moment you say this is sacred, that is filthy –

February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 7

can you be involved with the filthy? You will be
constipated, and then nothing will work.
Make 2019 a year of absolute, indiscriminate
involvement; not indiscriminate action –
indiscriminate involvement. Can you look at a weed
outside with as much involvement as you look at
your child? This is all you need to do. Just bring
The Key to Staying Motivated
In this Q & A from a Youth & Truth event at Banaras Hindu University, Sadhguru explains what it takes to be
and stay motivated at all times.
Questioner: I have lost my spark. I am not a
consistently motivated person. How to regain my
motivation in life?
Sadhguru: The nature of life is such… If you go
outside in the garden and try to catch an ant, will
he say, “Okay, to hell with my life! Crush me if you
want.” He will do everything to protect himself. He
values his life. A tiny little creature that we may
not even notice; we may step on him without
even seeing him, unfortunately, but he values his
life immensely.
He has got spark. But you, as a human being, are the
peak of evolution on this planet – physiologically at
least. Behavioral aspects may be questionable. But
physiologically, a human being is the most evolved
creature on the planet. A human being has the most
complex neurological system and the highest level
8 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
this kind of unprejudiced, absolute involvement.
You will see, life will blossom in a wonderful way.
This 2019, you must blossom. Those who are
chasing enlightenment, relax a bit. Be involved
with whatever you are doing – life will happen in a
wonderful way.
MUSINGS
of cerebral capability. That means you can think,
you can remember. You have a very vivid sense of
memory and a fantastic sense of imagination.
What Distinguishes a Human Being
An ant does not have such a vivid sense of memory,
nor does he have any great imagination. But he has
a presence of mind about the life that he is living.
The education system that you are going through
right from kindergarten level is about everything
else except you. Someone has a PhD in tourism, in
biotechnology, or something else – nothing about
the life that you are. There is no attention at all on
how you, as a life, function. A human being exists
in three times. He lives because of the richness of
his memory – how rich your memory is determines
what you will do and what you will not do right now.
So memory is important. The present experience
February 2019
is important, and how vivid your imagination for
tomorrow is, is very important.
Right now the problem is, these things have all
gotten mixed up, because there is no discipline of
faculty. Nothing like this has been taught to our
children. Because of this, your own mind turns
against you. What happened ten years ago, you still
suffer. What may happen day after tomorrow, you
already suffer – because there is no discipline of
faculty. You do not know how to use your memory.
You do not know how to use your imagination.
Your memory makes you suffer, your imagination
makes you suffer, and you think you are suffering
your life. You are not suffering your life; you are
only suffering the two greatest faculties of being
human – a vivid sense of memory and a fantastic
sense of imagination.
Don’t Suffer Your Faculties
If you suffer the greatest faculties that you have,
what can we do with you? If you suffer an ailment –
understandable. If you suffer a disability –
understandable. If you suffer your ability – hopeless
case. You are suffering your capabilities. A few
months ago – you might have seen it on the news –
a young lady, a thirty-six-year-old television
anchor in Hyderabad, jumped off the fifth floor
February 2019
window, killed herself, and left a note – “Nobody is
responsible for my death. My brain is my enemy.”
How many million years it took to get this brain
to this size, and now it becomes your enemy! She
articulated it, but this is true with almost ninety
percent of the human beings – they are suffering
their own intelligence. If you take away half their
brain, they will be peaceful. That is why a whole
bunch of idiots are saying that the ultimate goal
of life is peace of mind. Such people will only
rest in peace.
Especially young people, I am telling you, do
whatever the hell you want in your life, but you
must be intensely focused on something. If you
are not investing in anything, your life will just go
waste. As I told you in the very beginning – one
basic ingredient of your life is time, and it is going
away; with every minute, you are getting closer
to your grave. You are not immortal. It is a limited
amount of time. If your life is precious to you, you
must decide where you want to invest it. If this is
worthless, throw it somewhere. If this is precious,
invest in something worthwhile.
If you invest your life in something worthwhile,
you will not only have spark – you will be aflame
all the time.
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ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 9
Mahabharat
PART 51
Duryodhana vs. Bhima: The Final Fight Begins
The Kurukshetra war is over. Many lives are lost. All the Kaurava brothers are dead except Duryodhana. That
means the underlying conflict is still unresolved.
After the War, Still Hostility
The war has ended. The Pandavas have won;
Duryodhana leaves the camp. He is burning with
the shame of being defeated. Vyasa described it
as being like hot oil poured over Duryodhana’s
skin. Duryodhana goes to a place where there is a
small pond, and he uses a certain capability he has
to sit inside the cool water. He wants to quell the
suffering he is going through; his body is burning
like he is in hot oil, so he goes and sits underwater.
Krishna says, “Duryodhana is still not dead, so the
war is not over. Look for him.” They go looking here,
there – he is nowhere to be found. They sent spies
all over the place, to nearby forests, caves, searching
everywhere.
Then they find footsteps going into this pond and not
coming out. The Pandavas arrive, and Bhima loudly
shouts at Duryodhana, “Hey coward, what are you
10 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
MAHABHARAT
SERIES
doing there underwater? Come.” Duryodhana hears
it, but he restrains himself; he knows this is not the
time to burst out. Then they are all looking at what
to do, because they cannot go underwater like
him and do what he is doing. Krishna indicates to
Bhima, “Just taunt him. You are the best person. Use
whatever vulgarities you have in your vocabulary.”
So Bhima lets loose all the vulgar vocabulary that he
has, insulting Duryodhana in many ways.
Duryodhana Burns Underwater
There is a beautiful piece of literature in Kannada, a
poem that somehow stuck in my head. The poet is
saying Bhima’s insults were such that Duryodhana
started sweating inside the cold water. Unable to
bear it, he comes out. Yudhishthira, being the king
who won the war, steps up and says, “Duryodhana,
you brought this war upon us. We did not want to
fight, but unfortunately, you did not want to give
February 2019
what belongs to us. I even told you I just want five
villages, but you said you will not even give me a
needlepoint of land. We had to kill your brothers.
We had to lose many people who are dear to us.
Some of our children died; so many dear friends
died. Now if I let you off, it will be a disgrace for you;
you cannot bear it. So, you can duel any one of us
with any weapon you choose. If you win, you can
take back your kingdom.”
Krishna looks heavenward. What to do with this
man! Yudhishthira is such a good man. After having
hundreds and thousands of people dead, he wants
to hand over the fruit of the war. When Yudhishthira
gave him the choice of weapon, Duryodhana
immediately saw his chance. If he picks the mace,
there is nobody who can fight him. Bhima believes
he can beat him, but the truth is he cannot. Bhima
is stronger than Duryodhana, but he is a little bit
of a lump. Duryodhana has been training in mace
fighting every day, for years; when the Pandavas
were walking the jungles, he was training. He is a
very skillful mace fighter.
The Last Duel
Yudhishthira says, “The choice of weapon is yours.”
In this kind of extreme situation, he employs
standard language, and he knows. He even says,
“You can pick any one of us.” If Duryodhana picks
Nakula or Sahadeva, he will swat them like flies.
But his pride will not allow him to pick Nakula or
Sahadeva. He says, “The choice of weapon is mace,
and of course I will choose Bhima, because it has
always been my wish to kill this lump of a man that
you call a brother.”
Krishna rolls his eyeballs. The duel starts. Right
from the first moment, Duryodhana has the upper
hand, because during the war, a certain incident
happened. Since Gandhari kept her eyes consciously
closed for so long, she had acquired a certain
amount of power within herself. When Gandhari
saw, through Sanjaya’s eyes, that this war could go
any which way, she decided to use her power. She
told Duryodhana, “Tonight you come into my tent
completely naked. I will look at you just once, and
you will become indomitable; no one will be able to
kill you. But you must come totally naked.”
Duryodhana, Tricked Again
Duryodhana had a dip in the river and was walking
naked towards his mother’s tent. Krishna accosted
him and said, “Oh Duryodhana, what is this? Like a
child you are walking, but you are no child. I can
see you are a grown up man.” Duryodhana covered
himself. Krishna said, “Where are you heading? It
February 2019
looks like you are going towards your mother’s tent.
Have you fallen this far that you’re going to your
mother’s tent naked like this, a grown man,” he said
mockingly. “No, my mother asked me to come like
this; that’s why I am going.” “It doesn’t matter what
she asked. She had her eyes covered all the time.
She has not seen you. She thinks you are a baby. But
you are a grown man, a king, a warrior. Don’t you
have this much sense that in Arya dharma, we don’t
stand naked in front of our mothers? At least cover
yourself to the necessary extent.”
So Duryodhana cut a banana leaf, covered himself
with it, and went to his mother. “Mother, I have
come.” Gandhari untied her blindfold, opened her
eyes and looked at him, and her heart sank. She let
her power out, and then she asked, “Why did you
cover yourself?” He said, “Mother, I thought it would
be inappropriate to stand in front of you naked, so
I covered myself with a leaf.” She shook her head,
closed her eyes, tied the blindfold once again, and
asked, “Who told you to cover yourself?” “Krishna.”
Gandhari’s heart turned cold for Krishna. She waited
for her opportunity to come.
The Skill to Kill
On the day of the duel, no matter what kind of
blows Bhima strikes, Duryodhana again comes
back. Duryodhana is not only protected, he is also
more skillful than Bhima. Bhima is more powerful
but Duryodhana is more skillful. Then, when it looks
like for sure Bhima is going to die today, Duryodhana
is laughing. He is not only going to have the joy of
killing Bhima, he is going to get back his kingdom.
He is laughing, taunting Bhima. Duryodhana knows
he can kill Bhima any moment. It is no more a fight –
he is playing with Bhima.
To be continued.
The Mahabharat series is based on Sadhguru’s talks
during the one-time Mahabharat program that took
place in February 2012 at the Isha Yoga Center. Through
the lives and stories of the varied characters, Sadhguru
takes us on a mystical exploration into the wisdom of this
immortal saga.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 11
Playing to Reach Out
Isha Vidhya Golf Jaunt in Pune NEWS AND EVENTS

Pune, 8 Dec 2018: Isha Vidhya currently runs nine

schools, impacting the lives of presently more
than 8132 rural children, 60% of whom are on
full scholarship programs. At the Isha Vidhya Golf
Jaunt with Sadhguru in Pune, eminent golf lovers
came forward to support the cause, including
Ashish Doshi, CEO, R.G. Holdings Infratech Pvt.
Ltd., cricketer Ajith Agarkar, MP Dinesh Trivedi,
and others. Sadhguru stated the difficulty of taking
the nation forward with 65% of the rural masses
remaining uneducated. Well-known ad film
director, Prahlad Kakkar, lauded the methodology of
education at Isha Vidhya that is making learning a
fun experience. Anirban Lahiri, a leading Indian pro-
golfer, also came and played with Sadhguru and the
88 participants who signed up their support.

Celebrating Sports and the Human Spirit

Isha Gramotsavam 2018

Erode, 9 Dec 2018: The 14th Gramotsavam truly

captured the message of the Isha Gramotsavam
song, “Vaa Aadu Vilaiyaadu” (Come… Celebrate!
Play!). Women and men across all ages, caste
identities, and regions of the state came together
to participate in volleyball, throwball, kabaddi,
and paralympic matches. Organized at a massive
scale with a participation of 40,000 players across
4000 teams from 6500 villages, over the span of
four to five weeks, the 2018 Gramotsavam was
unparalleled in many ways.
Some of the special features of the event this year
were a match between the professional Tamil
Kabbadi team playing against the Gramotsavam
winning team. The women’s team from Sontyam
won the throwball final, displaying the true
spirit of Isha Gramotsavam, as captured in these
lines from “Vaa Aadu Vilaiyadu”: “You should see
our ladies, who didn’t step out of their kitchen,
throw services!”
Amidst much celebration, Sadhguru announced
that Isha is going to submit a project report to the
Tamil Nadu Government, requesting them to start
sports centers in every district. He also announced a
sports academy at Isha Yoga Center that will focus
on weightlifting, archery, boxing, and shooting.

12 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

Human Wellbeing: Key to Success
Sadhguru at the Times Network Economic Conclave

Mumbai, 13 Dec 2018: The India Economic

Conclave (IEC) is one of Times Network’s flagship
events. The theme for this year’s IEC was “Shaping
India’s 5 Trillion Growth,” an agenda to fuel greater
economic growth for India. Among an impressive
list of speakers like Devendra Fadnavis, CM of
Maharashtra; Sophia, a social humanoid robot;
Baba Ramdev, yogi and founder, Patanjali Ayurved
Ltd., and many others, Sadhguru clarified that we
cannot afford to lose sight of human wellbeing
in a run for global business leadership. In a joint Society,” Sadhguru touched upon the tenets of
session with Arianna Huffington (co-founder of health, awareness and being at ease, all of which
The Huffington Post and founder of Thrive Global), are key to performance and greater efficiency in our
on “Ease of Living – Ensuring Productive, Efficient work and lives.

Live Transmission with Sadhguru

Inner Engineering Completion in Bangalore

Bangalore, 15–16 Dec 2018: For 8,003 individuals from 57

countries, the online Inner Engineering program culminated in
Bangalore in a Shambhavi Mahamudra initiation with Sadhguru.
As Sadhguru entered the hall, the joyful anticipation of many
thousands of seekers, most of whom had never experienced
his presence before, knew no bounds. Sadhguru got the session
started on a playful note, chiding the participants to stop playing
with their phones and start paying attention. He laid emphasis on
the importance of a live transmission, since what is being offered is
something beyond verbal communication. About a thousand Isha
volunteers came together to make these life-changing two days
happen for them smoothly and successfully.

From India to the World

Sadhguru at the Conference on Soft Power
Delhi, 17 Dec 2018: Indian foreign policy is moving
towards the use of soft power to leverage its
role on an international platform. Indian culture,
religion, arts, tourism etc. are to become the
mediums of soft power for a global outreach. The
Conference on Soft Power organized by India
Foundation had Sadhguru in conversation with
Subhash Kak, a computer scientist holding the chair
of Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University
in the United States. It is important to remove
the word “power” from the proposed discourse,
was Sadhguru’s first observation. Consciousness
should not be monopolized within the confines of
a national identity, for to touch and transform the
world, the foremost thing is to remove the tag of
India off things.
February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 13
Moving beyond Borders and Boundaries
Sadhguru at the Republic Summit
Getting the Industry on Board for Rivers
Rally for Rivers Board Meeting with CII
Delhi, 19 Dec 2018: The eminent Rally for Rivers
(RfR) board came together for their fourth national
meeting. The RfR board is endowed with an
illustrious group of top experts in various fields,
including the CEO of the World Wildlife Fund,
leaders of Farmers Producer Organization, leading
scientists, top industrialists, and many others, who
all came together to contribute their expertise
for the cause of rivers, water, soil, human beings,
and all life.
Senior officials of the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) joined the meeting to discuss how
to involve the industry and make saving rivers
lucrative for all the stakeholders, especially the
farmers, for India to become a sustainable and
progressive nation.
14 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Mumbai, 18 Dec 2018: At the Republic
Summit, Sadhguru and Dr. David Frawley,
a Padma Bhushan awardee and Vedic
scholar, spoke on “The Wings to Surge” panel
about cultures and values that power a billion.
The panel discussion was moderated by Arnab
Goswami, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder
of Republic TV. Sadhguru shared a fresh
perspective on the concept of nationhood,
saying that human beings must evolve
beyond their current identifications and set
boundaries to arrive at a “world nationalism.”
Dr. David Frawley added: “Indians are the
least nationalist, I would say. It survives on
cultural unity. Indian nationalism is about the
earth, soil... it is not a political concept like in
the Western world.”
Some of the milestones planned in RfR this year:
• Pilot projects to support the Government of
Karnataka in planting 250 million trees in the
Kaveri river basin.
• Expanding the pilot project in Maharashtra, which
aims to raise farmers’ income 3–7 times through
interventions like agro-horti-forestry, soil and
water conservation, and community micro-
irrigation.
• Establishing a model village and furthering a
mega-FPO, aggregating 25,000+ farmers in
Tamil Nadu.
February 2019
Recognition for Rally for Rivers
Sadhguru Receives Award by the Maharashtra Marathi Journalist Association

Pune, 23 Dec 2018: The Maharashtra State
Marathi Journalists Association honored Sadhguru
with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the
nationwide Rally for Rivers. The Jeevan Gaurav
Puraskar was presented by Union Minister Nitin
Gadkari. Shri Gadkari expressed his concern about
the indiscriminate pollution of river waters and the
challenges of cleaning the Ganga. He conceded
with the recommendations of the Rally for Rivers
Draft Policy Recommendation. Sadhguru called for
responsible action towards the Ganga, basically
saying that Ganga is not dirty, we human beings
are, and that if we stop polluting her, in one flood
season, she will clean herself. He drew attention
to the Rally for Rivers pilot project in Yavatmal, a
region prone to farmer suicides, and felt hopeful
that with the government’s support, the situation
for the farmers will turn around in a not too
distant future.

Invoking the Originator of Yoga

Kashi Vishwanath Priests Perform Saptarishi Arati at Isha Yoga Center

IYC, 26 Dec 2018: On the

occasion of Agastya Jayanti,
seven priests from Kashi
conducted the Saptarishi
Arati for the Yogeshwar Linga
in the presence of Adiyogi, a
process which they otherwise
only perform at the Kashi
Vishwanath temple. Several
thousand years ago, Adiyogi
imparted a simple process to
the Saptarishis for invoking
him. This science has been
transmitted through the ages
and is executed with absolute
precision to this day by the
priests of Kashi Vishwanath.

February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 15

Silence, a True Revelation SHARING
Sadhanapada Participants Share Their Experiences EXPERIENCE

It has been six months now since the first batch of Sadhanapada participants embarked on their exploration
of intense sadhana and volunteering at the Isha Yoga Center. The program, which spans from Guru Purnima
until Mahashivaratri, offers many opportunities and processes to break limitations and inner compulsions, and
to look at life from a new perspective. One such opportunity is a three-day silence program, which is especially
structured and conducted for the Sadhanapada participants. They not only got to turn inward and become more
conscious, but also to experience deeper devotion and have a taste of the upcoming Samyama program. Here we
share with you some of their experiences.
“These three days, for the first time in my life, I was “Sadhguru spoke about thoughts being just an
happily silent. I had been on silence before, but not accumulated garbage that keeps recycling. When I
out of the need to grow but because I was angry at saw the cyclical nature of thoughts and the nature
someone or sad about something. But this time it of the mind, a distance came between me and the
is totally willingly. I realized that when we truly see thoughts almost effortlessly. When this distance
what matters in life, we will naturally be devotees. happened, my focus on my sadhana increased, and
Not of any god but of life. The sadhana Sadhguru my practices improved. I am glad to have learnt to
gave to focus on every little part of the creation shut up.” —Karan Sain
made me very humble. I am just a devotee of life
“I have been in silence before, but not in a space like
and work towards the betterment of my life and
this, not in a program like this. Many things came
every life around me. I now feel there is no limit to
to the surface, and it was good to be able to face
what we can be. I will surely strive to be alive 100%.”
them. I had not experienced deep stillness in silence
—Madhura K.
like this, and then a total explosion. I was crying,

16 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

laughing, screaming; it was totally ecstatic, like
coming home finally, like dying, like being reborn.
And then total silence. I couldn’t open my eyes.
I felt like Sadhguru was inside of me or me in him,
only Shiv-Shiv and Shambho came quietly out of
my mouth. This was truly the best preparation for
Samyama, and I’m longing for this experience of
deep stillness again.” —Nora
“I would not have imagined how a structured
silence program could shift my view of sadhana
so much. Being in such a supportive environment
with Sadhguru has made me realize what a fool I
have been all along. Being silent both on the outside
and inside made me aware of how much impact
just sitting still can have. So much of my time and
energy is wasted in communicating. Putting this
energy towards the methods and tools that have
been given fuels my growth so much more.”
— Ganganjit
Explore Sadhanapada in 2019
Sadhanapada offers the possibility to come to a
new level of balance, clarity, and stability within
yourself – a steady foundation to go through
any life situation with a sense of ease. Sadhguru
will open up the opportunity to participate in
Sadhanapada on a larger scale and is planning to
My Beloved - Poem by Isha Meditator
February 2019
I do not know what a Guru is
I do not know what the word means
Just know that a man walked in my life infected me
with his maddening drive
To be fully alive…
The taste of it was intimate yet alien
Burnt some of me, resurrected some of me
Here I am utterly confused yet clear
That what I knew of life as then and there
Is indeed now and here…
You extended your hand to make me stand
I do not have to crawl anymore
Not to the surface but to my very core
I hope I could now learn to swim my way to the shore
I owe you not just this life but many more…
—Anonymous
spend more time at the Isha Yoga Center during
this period.
Dates: Guru Purnima, 16 July 2019 to
Mahashivaratri, 21 February 2020
For more information:
isha.sadhguru.org/sadhanapada
Travelled oceans and mountains to find you,
Little did I know you were them,
rushing and pushing me through
Known landscapes passed by,
reunion of lifetimes
So many people I met and shared with,
little did I know you were them,
looking back at me
Finally resting in your lap.
Walking the bridge of breath with you.
Ecstasy at the beginning and end,
this intoxicating flow.
With the dance of time,
this bridge will also burn,
you will only remain.
My beloved, this precious string
With the dance of time,
I will have to let go.
— Judit, Isha Hatha Yoga Teacher, Norway
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 17
 UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

A Night with the Divine

In the Presence of

March 4
6 PM - 6 AM, Isha Yoga Center

“Mahashivaratri is an opportunity to allow the natural forces to prompt you towards your Ultimate Nature.
May this night become an exuberant awakening for you.” – Sadhguru

An exuberant nightlong festival, Mahashivaratri is Adiyogi Pradakshina

being celebrated for the 25th consecutive year at
the Isha Yoga Center.
The nightlong festival features:
– Midnight Meditation with Sadhguru
– Musical Performances by eminent artists
– Maha Annadanam
Grace of the Adi Guru
Devotees who are at the Isha Yoga Center on
Mahashivaratri can receive a Rudraksh Prasadam
and Sarpa Sutra.
Rudraksh Prasadam
This bead is one of one lakh and eight such rudraksh
beads that have adorned Adiyogi over the last year.
Sarpa Sutra
Made of copper, the Sarpa Sutra should be worn
on the left ring finger and is supportive for stability
and wellbeing.
Pradakshina is the process of circumambulating
a powerful energy source to imbibe its energy.
Through Adiyogi Pradakshina one can become
receptive to the Grace of Adiyogi, which can fuel
one’s striving towards ultimate liberation.
Adiyogi Annadanam 
On Mahashivaratri, devotees will have the
opportunity to offer raw rice to Adiyogi. These
offerings will be made use of as part of the Maha
Annadanam.
Spectacular Celebrations
This year, various festive presentations drawing on
the rich cultural heritage of India will be featured
during Mahashivaratri. These include a cattle fair, a
turban tying stall, displays of folk music and dance,
exhibitions of regional cuisine, a folk arts and crafts
bazaar, and more.
For seating passes, please contact:
info@mahashivrathri.org | 83000 83111
Live Webstream: isha.sadhguru.org/MSR

18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

 Mahashivaratri Sadhana
The Mahashivaratri Sadhana is a preparation
for Mahashivaratri – a night of tremendous
possibilities. Anyone eight years of age and above Classical Yoga Workshop during
can do the sadhana. The sadhana can be of varying Mahashivaratri
duration. You can do the sadhana for 40, 21, 14, 7
or 3 consecutive days leading up to Mahashivaratri, A 5-day residential program at Isha Yoga Center
4 March 2019. It includes chants, Shiva Namaskar, 1–5 March 2019
and the observance of certain guidelines. The
culmination is on Mahashivaratri – optionally at the The Classical Yoga Workshop provides an
Isha Yoga Center or at home.  opportunity to participate in a special yoga program
and to stay in the consecrated environs of the Isha
For more details, guidelines, and to learn Shiva Yoga center during Mahashivaratri.
Namaskar as well as the chants, please visit the
For more information: 84484 47707
website: isha.sadhguru.org/MSR

Yaksha 2019
1–3 March 2019, Isha Yoga Center
Yaksha is a three-day festival preceding
Mahashivaratri, featuring some of the most
exuberant and renowned talent of music and dance.
This year’s concerts:
Come experience the finest expressions of
India’s unparalleled cultural heritage.
Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills,
Ishana Vihar Post, Coimbatore
83000 83111 | isha.sadhguru.org

1 March 2 March 3 March

Kalapini Komkali Ranjani & Gayatri Nadi - Dance drama by
Carnatic vocal Leela Samson
Hindustani vocal
February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 19
 UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Date Program Place Contact

Isha Rejuvenation,
Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515464
9–13 Feb 2019 Sunetra
Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Rejuvenation,
14–18 Feb Ayur Rasayana Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515464
2019 Intensive Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Rejuvenation,
19 Feb 2019
Shivanga Sadhana Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515464
(culmination
Initiation (Gents) Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
3 Apr 2019)
Coimbatore – India

Isha Institute of Inner-

21–24 Feb sciences, +1(931)668-1900
Shoonya Intensive
2019 McMinnville – United registration@ishausa.org
States

Isha Yoga Center,

1–3 Mar 2019 Yaksha Velliangiri Foothills, 83000 83111
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center,

4 Mar 2019 Mahashivaratri Velliangiri Foothills, 83000 83111
Coimbatore – India

Inner Engineering
Los Angeles – United +1 931 488 8448
30 Mar 2019 Completion with
States iecsupport@innerengineering.com
Sadhguru

Inner Engineering
Philadelphia – United +1 931 488 8448
27 Apr 2019 Completion with
States iecsupport@innerengineering.com
Sadhguru

84484 47707
Nanmai Uruvam Isha Yoga Center,
7percent@ishafoundation.org
16 Jul 2019 Ceremony with Velliangiri Foothills,
94425 04655
Sadhguru (Ishanga 7%) Coimbatore – India
donations@ishafoundation.org

Isha Yoga Center,

16 Jul – 11 Dec Hatha Yoga Teacher 83000 97444
Velliangiri Foothills,
2019 Training info@ishahathayoga.com
Coimbatore – India

Current at the time of print, however subject to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit
www.ishayoga.org/Schedule/Yoga-Programs

20 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2019

Adhirasam
METHODS
Preparing the Rice Flour
1. Soak the rice overnight.
2. Rinse for 2 to 3 times and strain out the water.
3. Leave the rice on the strainer for around 10 to
15 minutes.
4. Grind the rice in batches into a very fine flour and
keep aside.
Preparing the Jaggery Syrup
1. Put jaggery in a deep pan and add 40 to 50 ml
water so the jaggery melts very fast.
2. Boil until the syrup starts bubbling.
3. When the syrup starts to bubble, take a small
spoonful of syrup and put it in a small cup of
water.
4. If the syrup doesn’t dissolve, if it turns into a ball
when pressed with fingers, then the syrup is
ready (single-string consistency).
5. Add ghee, cardamom powder, and mix well.
6. Turn off the flame and keep it aside.
Making the Dough
1. Add the rice flour little by little through the sieve
to the jaggery Syrup.
February 2019
ISHA RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
1 kg Jaggery
2 kg Rice
200 ml Water
150 g Ghee
100 g Sesame seeds (+150 g if also
applying outside)
15 Cardamom seeds
500 g Oil + 500 g Ghee – for deep frying
Note: This traditional pastry item, also known as
Arisalu in Telugu, is extremely popular in South India;
not only for its taste – it is also said to have various
health benefits (if consumed in moderation). The
jaggery is rich in iron, easy to digest, and a home
remedy for ailments like cough, constipation, and
indigestion. Jaggery is even said to reduce the risk
of diabetes. Traditionally, sesame seeds are used
especially during the winter months, since they
warm up the body.
2. Keep stirring and keep adding the rice flour until
the dough has a consistency almost like chapati
dough (not too thick, not too thin).
Forming and Deep-Frying the Adhirasam
1. Heat oil for deep-frying on medium flame.
2. Take an Adhirasam-sized lid with a plastic sheet
placed on it.
3. 
Grease your fingers and the plastic sheet
with ghee.
4. 
Take a fistful of dough and make it into a
round ball.
5. Dip the dough ball in sesame seeds if desired.
6. Pat the dough ball into a round, flat shape until
it covers the lid (to get the right size).
7. 
Drop it into oil carefully and wait until the
Adhirasam floats to the top.
8. Fry for a minute and flip it over to the other side.
9. Fry until golden brown.
10.
Take the Adhirasam out of the oil and press
it hard between two slotted turner spoons to
remove excess oil.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 21
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 ZEN SPEAKS

Courtesy Zen Speaks

Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION

Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004, TAMILNADU

Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,
Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002, TAMILNADU. Editor: K. SEKAR

February 2019 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 23

 Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333 WPP license no : TN/PMG (CCR)/WPP–446/2017–2019
Registered with Patrika Channel Egmore RMS under Registration No. TN/CH(C)/492/17–19. Published on 2nd of every month – February 2019

shall extinguish this fire. May the

myself, upon a fire truck, so none
who puts out fire. But i am Fire
Fireman normally means one
world know the fire of life.

a || ISHA
24 ISHA FOREST
FORESTFLOWER
FLOWER February
January 2019
2019