Volume 6 / Issue 04 April 2018 Annual Subscription `180

My Yoga
Lost all sense about Sounds
and Silence. In utter Chaos
am in absolute Balance. Excruciating
Pain enjoined with profound Pleasure.
The Grief of losing a loved one also
brings the gravitas of Stillness. In a
world where the leaf cannot
know the Sweetness of the accompanying
fruit nor the Fragrance of the flower
that it spawns. Here I am
tasting the very source at
the surface. Lost all sense
of the sacred and sacrilegious.

O’ Shambho, since I embraced you

a Speck on the periphery seems to be
the very Center. Valleys have turned
into Peaks. What should have
been utter Confusion has become Crystal Clarity.

I am a Man with a man

A Woman with a woman
A creature with a creature
A Goblin among goblins
Just know with you I am
You.

Love & Grace,

1 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

 EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

Figures suggest that perceived stress levels at work and in personal life are
increasing rapidly, with some studies showing a forty-five percent increase over
the last three decades. If on one hand, we have substantially more physical
comforts and technical possibilities than any other generation before us, why
does all this not lead to an enhanced sense of wellbeing? Sadhguru and Prasoon
Joshi explore the question “Where Do We Err?” in this month’s In Conversation
with the Mystic.

In “Marriage as a Process of Growth,” Sadhguru zooms in closer on personal

relationships and their potential to amplify our wellbeing, growth, and fulfillment.
While lack of proper communication is a much-discussed issue when it comes
to human relationships, Sadhguru expands the subject in our Lead Article
from the interpersonal level to the existential one, as he sheds light on “Why
Communication Is Key in Life.”

Our Event Highlights bring back some of the most exuberant moments of
Mahashivaratri and Yaksha 2018, along with a flurry of Sadhguru’s recent
events, which led him from a sacred hill site in Karnataka to a star-studded
award ceremony in Mumbai, and many more places and happenings in between.
As our Mahabharat series progresses, Sadhguru draws an insightful picture
of “Arjuna’s Self-Imposed Exile” in this edition. Lastly, this month’s “Jackfruit
Vegetable” recipe is our contribution to your bodily wellbeing, with a simple and
tasty item, prepared with seasonal ingredients. Enjoy!

The Editorial Team

Contact the Editorial Team:

Isha Forest Flower, Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, IshanaVihar Post, Coimbatore – 641114
forestflower@ishafoundation.org
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event of such claims not being honored by the advertisers.

2 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

CONTENTS
LEAD ARTICLE MAHABHARAT

Why Communication Is Key in Life 08 Arjuna’s Self-Imposed Exile 14

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC
Where Do We Err? 4
Prasoon Joshi in Conversation with the Mystic

LEAD ARTICLE
Why Communication Is Key in Life 8

MUSINGS
Marriage as a Process of Growth? 12

MAHABHARAT
Part 41: Arjuna’s Self-Imposed Exile 14

NEW & EVENTS

Yaksha 2018 15
Mahashivaratri 2018 16
Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara 18
World Congress Information Technology – NASSCOM India Leadership Forum
Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence 2018
Economic Times Global Business Summit 19
Gandhiji Tribute Book Launch
Conversation with Alumni of Harvard Business School
Hello! Hall of Fame Awards

UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Isha Program & Event Highlights 20

ISHA RECIPES
Jackfruit Vegetable 21

ZEN SPEAKS
Torn 23

3 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

Where Do We Err?
Prasoon Joshi in Conversation with the Mystic
In this excerpt of a conversation between Sadhguru and Prasoon Joshi, the famed poet, screenwriter,
and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson seeks Sadhguru’s insights on two subject
areas: success, work, and balance, as well as love, relationships, and women – in the context of social
trends.
Obsessed with Success
Prasoon Joshi: I think you expect a lot from those
who work with you. And when we talk about
success in today’s world, we put a lot of pressure
on ourselves.
Sadhguru: No, I don’t expect – I just drive them.
I drive them not for my success, but because
I don’t want them to be unused life. That’s the
worst thing that can happen to you. Whatever your
competence, whatever your capability, it must be
stretched to the limit and a little beyond. This is
also what learning asanas means. We always tell
them, “Bend fully and a little more.”
Prasoon Joshi: This is extremism. What is balance
then? I mean you talk about balance in yoga,
and a lot of people talk about work–life balance.
I think balance has become a buzzword. You
got to have balance in your life; you got to have
balance of energy, balance of work–life. And what
you are talking about is complete extremism –
4 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
“Push yourself to the hilt.” Now, how can you bring
balance while you push yourself to the hilt?
Sadhguru: No, I’m saying even the hilt should go in,
not just the blade.
Prasoon Joshi: But people definitely want clarity
on that, because on one hand, when you see people
who are successful, actually, they have driven
themselves obsessively towards one thing. There
is no balance out there – there is a misbalance,
actually. And there is a saying out there that
if everything is going right and everything is
controlled, it seems to be not going fast enough.
Sadhguru: Being obsessive is a disorder. Most
of the time, I am neither thinking about yoga, nor
about spirituality, nor about Isha Foundation. In
twenty-four hours’ time, maybe two to three hours,
I may be focused on this. The rest of the time, my
interest is whatever is there in front of me. If it’s a
newspaper, I’ll read it from the headline to the last
page. If I see an ant, I am fully engaged. If I see a
April 2018
flower, I am fully engaged. If I have nothing in front
of me, there is nothing in my head. I am simply
there, because life is a bigger phenomenon than
your thought. Life is a bigger phenomenon than
your activity. Life is a bigger phenomenon than your
emotion. Right now, your psychological drama has
become bigger than the existential creation. It’s
because of this that someone becomes obsessive
about doing something.
I am not obsessive. I am not even working, most of
the time. I am only talking. You think this is work
for me? I’m just gossiping with you. I would talk
the same way whether I sit in a private atmosphere
or in front of 10,000 people. Nothing is on my mind,
most of the time. Because I am so empty, there’s
a lot of space inside. You ask me something – I
will say something, without wondering about the
consequences. Many things that I have said could
get distorted by people. The distortion of your
psychological filter is coming from the memory
that you carry. You are putting everything through
your psychological filter – everything becomes
colored. Only if you are able to see everything the
way it is, will you walk through life untouched.
Prasoon Joshi: True, but most of the people think,
“You might not get to do things you love – might
as well love what you get.” A lot of people today
feel dissatisfied with what they do. An engineer
wants to be a musician, an accountant wants
to be someone else; we’ve made a film on that–
people trying to find their true calling. Is there
something in your DNA that you need to express,
actually? Is there anything that is inherent in you,
which you are born to do? Should you do what you
get and do it well? I mean, you love what you do,
and a lot of people love what you do. But a lot of
people feel they are forced into liking what they do,
though they never really like it. They are constantly
looking for something else. And till their life ends,
5 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
they are unhappy about it, because they feel there
is a mismatch out there. Or what’s your take on
that? Are we really there to express, as we say,
swadharma? Is there anything called your DNA and
your inherent voice or inherent karma, or is it just
hogwash?
Sadhguru: It’s a little hoggish, in the sense – you
said, “Do you do what you love, or do you somehow
love what you do?” Everyone in the world only loves
what they have. Only because you have it, you may
love it or not love it. If you fall in love with someone,
you don’t fall in love with a Martian woman that you
haven’t seen. No one does that – they will only fall
in love with a neighborhood girl or a boy. Because
you love what you have. In that, you choose. And if
you cannot choose, you think you are forced to love
what you get. But you are only choosing in what
you have, in a larger context. Existentially, you only
may love what you have, or you may not – that’s
up to you.
About people being miserable at work – believe
me, you put them wherever you want, you give
them whatever you want, miserable people will
only be miserable. There are some people who
are joyful – you put them wherever you want, they
will be joyful. Some are just complaining – that’s
their work. People come to me and say, “Sadhguru,
my husband, he’s terrible!” But a few years ago,
this same man, what a romantic, fantastic guy he
was. He suddenly became terrible because he’s
doing something that you don’t like right now –
for whatever reason. Now, the husband is saying,
“My wife, Sadhguru, I can live with the devil but not
with this woman.” But if you look at their wedding
photograph, it is dripping with love and romance.
April 2018
Relationships Then and Now
Prasoon Joshi: Since we are talking about man–
woman relationships – is it nature that has a
role to play when you fall in love? I feel nature is
conspiring for you to like this person so much
that you finally copulate and procreate. And the
moment nature pulls its hands away and says, “My
job is over. Now you’re on your own,” then you are
saying, “I don’t find this person very attractive.”
You can’t tolerate the person any longer. Is it that
the moment nature goes away, we are left alone,
and we don’t find anything in common? The most
common topic today is that relationships are
coming with an expiry date. And what is the reason
that earlier, they stayed for longer? What is the
reason that we are seeing relationships with expiry
dates?
Sadhguru: You’re not writing any “Janam, janam”
songs anymore?
Prasoon Joshi: No, Sadhguru. Today’s songs are,
“Aaj ki raat” [Hindi: “tonight”].
Sadhguru: Now, the thing is just this – your
intelligence has been hijacked by your hormones.
You’re a bit chemically poisoned. When you were
ten years of age, if you looked at a person, they
just looked normal. You became fourteen and your
blood got poisoned with chemistry. You looked at
her, and suddenly, every little bump on her body
looked like a world by itself. It takes some time; if at
all, very few people can look beyond the hormones
and are able to see everything the way it is. Others
are all caught up in this. Is it a trick for procreation?
One hundred percent. It is a sacrilege that today, if
you say, “I have a relationship with her,” everyone
understands it as something sexual, something
physical.
I may have a great intellectual relationship with her;
I may have a wonderful emotional relationship with
her; I may have a fantastic working relationship
with her, but when I say “relationship,” everyone
thinks that these two bodies are meeting. It’s a
very crude way to exist. There are many levels of
relationships that a human being can have. If you
reduce everything to physicality, there’s nothing
cerebral left. There’s nothing spiritual left. That’s
because the hormones are dominating the brain.
The chemistry of your body is overriding your
intelligence, which is not good. And if you take this
6 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
focus on biological aspects further, it turns into
the Dhritarashtra syndrome – blood versus brain.
Blood always wins over the brain, unfortunately.
That’s continuing even today.
The entire Dhritarashtra problem is just this, “My
son, you know, my son.” Well, your son is a dirty
idiot. “My son” – that is the only qualification
he has. Body versus brain. Something physical
versus other dimensions that make us human. If
you were just physical, you were just one more
creature. The reason why you as a human being
stand out is that there are other dimensions to
you. In terms of intelligence, awareness, we have
another dimension – that’s why we stand out from
every other creature. But if you want to discount all
that and say relationship means two bodies must
meet or in some way be connected by blood, that
only then it matters, it’s a very crude existence.
Unfortunately, modern societies are sinking back
into caveman’s thought.
Prasoon Joshi: So, are we expecting too much
from relationships these days? I mean, it’s great
to expect too much from God and say, “Tumhi
ho bandhu, tumhi sakha” [Hindi bhajan: “you are
my relative, you are my friend”], and it is unfair to
expect your wife to be your bandhu, sakha, and
everything.
Sadhguru: Women of previous generations set up a
very high standard, which they are struggling with
today. What can you do?
Prasoon Joshi: Do you think they were friends? I
feel that because earlier, the pressure of marriage
was collectively taken. I think there was a social
significance of the woman in terms of family,
in terms of the roles you play. I think today, the
only yardstick has become romantic and one-
dimensional, and you are expecting everything
out of that. How much can we expect from one
relationship? I think people are losing contact with
friends, and with the way technology is growing
and everything, people are getting more individual,
isolated, and expecting one person to give them
the satisfaction of everything. They are not doing
well at their job, so they want their wife to be
satisfactory at her job. They have no relationship
with their friends, so they think she should become
the friend also. “No, you’re a very good wife, but
you’re not my friend. We are drifting.” This is the
kind of language…. And at the same time, you hear
April 2018
contradictory language, which is, “I need breathing
space.”
Sadhguru: I would like to contradict that because
I think the expectations from this man–woman
relationship have been considerably lowered in the
last twenty-five, thirty years. What was expected
of my mother and what is expected today of the
modern wives is considerably less. The only
problem with modern life is that the wife is also
supposed to earn a living along with you, which
becomes unnecessarily challenging. If childbearing
is one of the responsibilities, then expecting her
to also make as much money as you is a very
unfair playing field. This has happened because
we have twisted the entire world into a masculine
nonsense. It’s so masculine that unless you make
this much money, you are no good. Unless you do
all the things that a man can do, you are no good.
Well, all those who think like this, you bear a child,
let me see. Not a small thing. We exist because of
that – everything else is secondary.
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7 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Our fundamental physical existence happened
through a woman. It is the most idiotic thing to
think that bearing a child is nothing. If you set
these standards that your only measure of success
is how much you are benefited economically, then
women have a cruel time on the planet, which
is happening. In the United States of America,
some of the statistics say twenty-one percent
of the women over forty years of age are on
antidepressants. What is wrong with their lives? It
is just this – there is no emotional security, there
is no respect and regard. Because everyone is
looking at the bumps of the body – no other quality
is valued. So slowly, as she gets older, she gets so
insecure. No one is there; or anytime, you could
be dropped. Such a thought never arose in my
mother’s generation, that maybe, if she does not
look so good tomorrow, she will be dropped. My
mother did not earn a single rupee in her life, but
was she the most respected person in the family?
One hundred percent.
April 2018
 LEAD ARTICLE
Why Communication Is Key in Life
By Sadhguru
There are many ways in which you can
communicate with everything in the world. There
are some to whom you can communicate what
you want with gentle words. There are some to
whom you have to speak strongly. Some need an
“injection,” depending on the type of “infection”
they are suffering from. There are some who will
understand if you just look at them. There are some
you do not even have to look at – if I sit here with
eyes closed, they will get it. So, there are different
ways to communicate. Which is the best way to
communicate? The best way to do it is the way it
gets across. Because communication means the
other person should get it.
For me, language is just a means. I would rather
shut up and sit in one place. But then, very few
people will get it. So you have to do a lot of talking–
sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh, sometimes
fiery. This is not just between human beings – this
applies to everything. For some people, everything
seems to be co-operating with them – the food
that they eat, the water that they drink, the air that
they breathe, the land that they walk upon, and all
the creatures and plants. Everything seems to be
8 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
co-operating with certain lives. With certain other
lives, everything seems to be going against them. It
is a question of communication. Communication is
not just of language. Communication is not just a
particular message. Communication is interaction
between various forces of life. If you hold yourself
as an absolute individual, then you are a nutcase
that is hard to communicate with. If you understand
that you are just a piece of life with the privilege of
knowing some sense of individuality, then you are
easy to communicate with. This reminds me of an
incident that recently happened in the house.
Around Mahashivaratri, I had a few guests at
home, but also a lot of rats and squirrels. I do not
mind some of them, but in the tile roof, they are
making noise throughout the night. I told someone
around me, “We should get two snakes and leave
them in the garden. They will control all these
things.” He said, “No, the garden staff and others
will be terrified.” I said, “They’ll get used to it. If
they are able to work with me around, what’s the
problem with a snake?” Of course he hoped I will
forget about it, and before anything can happen, I
will anyway be travelling. Then one evening, when
April 2018
I was walking in the garden, a nearly six-foot-long
snake showed up. I thought, “That’s good. But I
had asked for two. Why is there only one?”
Communication is not just of language.
Communication is not just a particular
message. Communication is interaction
between various forces of life.
This morning, around 10:30, people in the house
came to me terrified and said, “Sadhguru, in your
bathroom, there is a big snake!” How did he get into
my bathroom? We never leave any door open in the
house because we have a huge reptile experience
behind us. You open a door, you walk through it,
and again close it – this is the rule in the house. The
snake had to pass through three doors to get into
the bathroom. Somehow, at different times, when a
door was open, he must have slipped through and
gone into the bathroom. Then I said, “Take him and
leave him outside.” “No, no, I’m scared.” I said, “You
have been here for twenty-five years now, and you
can’t catch a rat snake?” “No, no. I’ll bring another
Swami.” I said, “No,” picked up the snake, and left
him outside. I was still wondering, why only one?
Then, a little later, another snake showed up – a
little smaller one, about four feet long. I said, “Okay,
this is good. This is as things should be.”
This is how life is. If you are yoga, not just practicing
yoga, you don’t even have to ask – what you need
just happens. Not just in terms of garden snake–
in every aspect of life. If you ask, you will ask for
something that you know. That will be a waste
of life. What is the point of a life full of asking for
stupid things that you already know? Things that
you could not imagine, things that you have no
clue about, must happen to you – only then life is
happening. And in a way, this is all a question of
communication.
When I say “communication,” people think in terms
of texting or talking on their phone. That is also
communication, but that kind of communication
will keep the social situation going and nothing
more. Social situations can keep you distracted –
they cannot leave you fulfilled. Social interactions
can keep you distracted and entertained for a
9 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
while, but never ever will they work towards your
fulfillment, because that is not their nature. It is
important that if you sit here, you are in a profound
communication with everything around you. Not
saying anything, no particular message, just a
profound interaction between you and all that is
there. This is yoga. Yoga means union, that when
you sit here, your individuality is just a small part–
life is a larger part. And life does not happen in
drops – it is one big happening.
It is a great privilege that though we are just a part
of this whole thing, life gives you an individual
experience. Though we are really nothing, a speck
of dust in creation, still we can sit here and feel like
an individual. This is the magnanimity of creation.
In the next moment, all of us can be part of this
earth. Your ability to communicate and interact
with existence depends on how little an individual
you are. You made yourself too big, when actually,
in this cosmic space, of which you do not know
where it begins and where it ends, we are really
nothing, not even a speck. But this speck imagines
all kinds of things. And your life is ticking away.
In spite of that, you take time to bullshit yourself
endlessly about who you are.
But you cannot work in the world if you are nothing–
you got to be somebody. Someone recently said
to me, “Sadhguru, sometimes, these days, you are
speaking in a very fiery manner.” I said, “Always.”
“No, Sadhguru. Don’t do this. It looks like you have
lost your cool.” I said, “How can I lose my cool if
I have never been cool? I have always been like a
volcano within myself, waiting to burst anytime.”
Communication is as it is needed in the world.
Action is as it is needed in the world. How you are
within yourself is another matter. Look at Adiyogi–
full of fire. And look at all the great yogis of the
past – they were all full of fire. Only calendar yogis
have a benign look on their faces.
Life and its many manifestations need to happen
on full fire. There is no time to go on simmer.
Only someone who is miserable and constipated
in every way finds that life is too long, because
they have never found expression to the various
possibilities that a human being can be. They are
trying to make their lives by accumulating a few
things, people, and stupid stuff around them. If you
April 2018
are exploring the immensity of being human, it is a
bloody brief life. When it is so brief, it is important
you are on full fire. Otherwise, before you realize
what is happening, there will be your funeral fire.
There will be fire in the end, but that will be too late.
Either you go on full fire now, or you go slowly, in
installments.
Communication is as it is needed in the
world. Action is as it is needed in the world.
How you are within yourself is another matter.
Those who want to get to the infinite in
installments– all the best for you. No one ever
got there by counting “one, two, three,” and one
day arrived at infinity. If you become a zero, if you
are simply nothing, then you do not need to do
anything else. But then you cannot function in the
world. Such a state is also beautiful, but then you
need care and support from people around you.
But if you want to be fully into it and still be able
to function in the world, it is important you are on
full fire. That does not mean you have to reveal
your fire every time. Once in a way, you can give
someone a taste if they deserve it.
Otherwise, the question is not about being cool
or hot, peaceful or fiery – the important thing is if
whatever is happening within you, is it happening
consciously or unconsciously? If consciously, you
do whatever you do according to your intelligence
or judgment at that moment, it’s fine. The problem
is not of being cool or hot. If you are compulsively
getting hot or cold, then that is the problem. It is
a question of compulsiveness or consciousness.
Your fire and your cold water, are they happening
because of conscious action, or are they
happening because of the compulsive nature that
you have developed? “Compulsive” means that you
are repetitive. “Repetitive” means that the past is
ruling the present and encroaching into the future.
If the footprint of the past is in the future, this is
a terrible life. This is why we can write a “horror”-
scope for you and tell you how you are going to
live. A horoscope is true only for those who have
allowed their past to put its footprint in the future.
10 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
If you are conscious, you can burn your horoscope.
Once you are conscious, the past will not repeat
itself. This is most important, that every thought,
every emotion, every action, everything that you do
is happening in a conscious way. Your ability to be
conscious and your ability to communicate with
the rest of the universe are essentially the same
thing. If even a rat snake is listening, what is the
matter with you?
If you make yourself into a fortress of individuality,
and then you try to communicate, it will not work.
If you become conscious, you naturally become
porous. If you become really conscious, you
become transparent. Once you are transparent,
everything is through and through. Either you
dissolve your individuality, or we will wear it down
for you. Wearing it down is a painful process. If you
dissolve it, it will be a wonderful process. Wearing
it down takes time. Life wears down people over a
period of time, but that is an ugly way to do it. If you
want something genuine to happen to you and to
the world, this is the place and the time. The only
thing is you have to become absolutely genuine.
Otherwise, you will be gaping at everything, asking
yourself why this or that is happening. If you are a
genuine seeker, it does not matter why something
is happening. This is not about “What should I get?
Should I get enlightened? Should I get this or that?”
This is about knowing the nature of your existence
in its ultimate capacity.
This is most important, that every thought,
every emotion, every action, everything that
you do is happening in a conscious way.
Because once you have come here with such a big
brain, that much intelligence and awareness, you
are supposed to know what this is all about. Before
you go, you must know this: “What is the nature
of my existence? What are the possibilities?”
Whether you are going to explore all of them or not
is another matter, but at least you must know what
they are. If you want to go untouched by life, the
grave is the best place. People keep coming to me,
“Sadhguru, please bless me that nothing happens
to me.” What kind of blessing is that? My blessing
is, “Let everything that is life happen to you.”
April 2018
As long as you are alive, something will happen.
The question is only, are you cut out for life? Are
you physically, mentally, consciously equipped to
handle this life, whatever happens? “No, Sadhguru,
but a terrible thing happened.” No, only life is
happening. Somebody is born, somebody dies,
somebody is here, somebody is gone – this is
all that is happening. Some people are doing
beautiful things; some people are doing terrible
things. This has always been happening. I am not
trying to approve all the terrible things that human
beings do, but if you want to stop that, you are not
going to stop it by law. No matter how much law
enforcement you do, people will go on doing these
things in so many different ways. The only way the
situation can be transformed is when individual
human beings transform themselves, when large-
scale tools for transformation are available for
humanity. Otherwise, you cannot stop all the ugly
things that human beings do on this planet.
We do not understand the fundamentals of what
it means to be human. We are completely missing
the fundamental element of life. The way we are
conducting the world, our education, our commerce,
we are missing the fundamental point. At least in
terms of technologies of communication, we have
come to a place where, if we want, we can sit here
and communicate with the entire world. These
fantastic tools of communication and the internet
itself are being used for the ugliest possible
things. Every day, many thousands of children
are being sold on the internet, drugs are being
transacted, arms are being sold; all kinds of things
are happening. Above all, when we start selling
our children to do dirty things with somebody, we
have really lost it. We have completely lost our
11 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
humanity. I think the time of going nicely, quietly,
like a spiritual organization is expected to do, is
over. We have to put this on rocket fire.
This has to go on full fire, which we will be doing in
the next few months. I want all of you to participate.
This movement is about shifting humanity from
religion to responsibility. For too long, for all the
nasty things we do, we have pointed up. For the
good things we do, we have taken credit, of course.
Someone got battered today – “It must be God’s
will.” This has to go. It is time humanity takes
responsibility for what nonsense we are today. And
what possibility we are today. We must be willing
to take responsibility for both – the great things we
have done and the ugly things we have done. And
what we are going to create tomorrow in this world
is also our responsibility.
People keep asking me, “Sadhguru, where do you
think the world will be in fifty years?” I ask them,
“Do you want a prediction or a plan?” All the
idiots who are incapable of a plan are looking for
a prediction. The very fact that creation gave you
such big brains and the possibility to create many
things means that you are supposed to have a good
plan, rather than wait for a stupid prediction. The
question is where are we going? For this to happen,
you need to empower human beings beyond their
body, beyond their mind. Something bigger needs
to touch them. That is the basic effort of what we
are doing. I want things fully on.
Excerpted from a Darshan talk by Sadhguru at the
Isha Yoga Center on 28 February 2018.
April 2018
 Musings
Marriage as a Process of Growth?
By Sadhguru
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. How to make my marriage a process of growth and not create more
entanglement?
Sadhguru: How to make marriage a process of
growth? If we understand the other person is only
a co-traveler, not a destination. Two people can
travel together – but in our excitement, we will
make the other person the destination. Initially,
just to please that person, in the sense, “Oh, you
are my goal in life.” But after some time, when
you are knocking each other’s heads, you cannot
change direction. If you change the direction,
turmoil will happen. Two people can come together
and journey together. Because you do not have the
ability to walk alone, you hold someone’s hand.
If you were very able-bodied, able-minded, you
would walk alone on the mountain; otherwise, you
would hold someone’s hand. It is the same in life:
emotionally, psychologically, physically, financially,
socially, you may need to hold someone’s hand.
There is nothing right or wrong about it – it is just a
phase of our life. But if you make the other person
your destination, just to fool them, you will pay the
price.
Make me your destination. I am a safe and ideal
destination because it will always keep you
12 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
moving. If you make your husband or your wife
your destination, in no time, you will be banging
your heads together, and then, it will become
misery. Just sit together and travel – be co-
travelers. There is an African saying which says,
“If the journey is short, go alone. If the journey is
long, take company.” If you want to make your
spiritual journey very short, then walk alone. But
if the journey is becoming long, it is good to have
company. That is the African wisdom. But Gautama
is a cruel man. When people asked him, “Is it good
to walk alone or in company,” Gautama said, “It is
better to walk alone than to walk with a fool.” He
said this because who else will walk with you?
These are two different levels of wisdom. But if you
want to make your journey very brief, alone is best.
If you do not mind if it is long – janam, janam –
then good company is good. It is not a question of
right or wrong – it is a question of what is suitable
for you.
1
Hindi expression in the context of marriage: “from lifetime to lifetime”
April 2018
Mahabharat
Part 41: Arjuna’s Self-Imposed Exile

When they were in Indraprastha, the following

situation happened. Yudhishthira was the king,
and the four brothers assisted him in creating
a very able and even rule. One day, when
Arjuna was outside, unarmed, a Brahmana
came screaming, “Thieves came and stole my
cows! Please do something. It is the duty of a
Kshatriya to protect a helpless citizen like me.”
Immediately, Arjuna ran into the palace to pick
up his bow and arrows, but he could not find
them in their usual place. He ran all around,
looking for them, while outside, the Brahmana
was wailing, “The time that you’re taking, before
you come, the thieves will be gone, and I’ll lose
my cows. What kind of kings are you? You can’t
protect ordinary citizens?”

In this rush, Arjuna happened to go into

Draupadi’s chambers, and he found Yudhishthira
and Draupadi together. He looked away, picked
up his bow and arrow, ran out, got the cows for
the Brahmana, came back, and said, “I have
broken the arrangement1. I’m going away.” He
wanted to go into self-imposed exile for a year.
Yudhishthira said, “This is not necessary. You
did not do it intentionally. It doesn’t matter.
I pardon you.” But Arjuna said, “No, all of us
have taken this vow. I will go.” For one year, he
went away from the kingdom. Like a wandering
mendicant, he walked alone across the country.
Along the way, many things happened. He was
a fine figure of a man, and his reputation as an Chitrangada, The Warrior Princess
archer and a warrior had spread across the land.
Even before he saw her, he was kind of in love with
First, he went north into the Himalayan region. her, because he heard so much about her skills in
There, he met a Naga princess called Ulupi, and the battlefield. But when Chitrangada got to know
she bore him a child, whose name was Iravan. that Arjuna was coming to see her, the way she
Then he went toward the east, what is Manipur was, muscular and a warrior, she felt she was not
today. There, he heard of a warrior princess like a woman should be. She thought, “Arjuna must
named Chitrangada, and he wanted to see her. be used to seeing the most beautiful women, but
I’m like this!” She prayed to Shiva and asked him,
1
The marital arrangement between Draupadi and their five
husbands was that she would be with each brother for
“Make me beautiful. I don’t want to look like this
one year. If during that one year, another brother even as when he comes.” So she was transformed into a
much as inadvertently stepped into her bedroom, he was beautiful person.
supposed to go into the jungle for one year.

13 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

Arjuna came, looked at her, and when they told him,
“This is Chitrangada,” he left, because he came
looking for a warrior. He was not interested in
one more beautiful woman. Then she realized the
mistake she had made and asked Shiva to give her
back her original form.
Then Chitrangada went to Arjuna and said,
I am not beautifully perfect as the flowers with
which I worship.
I’ve many flaws and blemishes.
I am a traveler in the great world-path,
my garments are dirty, and my feet are bleeding of
thorns.
Where should I achieve flower-beauty,
unsullied loveliness of a moment’s life?
The gift that I proudly bring is the heart of a woman.
Here have all the pains and joys gathered,
the hopes and fears and shames of a daughter of
the dust;
Advertisement
14 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
here love springs up struggling towards immortal
life.
Herein lies an imperfection that is yet noble and
grand.2
Arjuna fell in love with Chitrangada, and he had a
son with her, whose name was Babruvahana. Then
he went south, and by the time he went toward
Dwaraka again, he had long dreadlocks and looked
like a mendicant. He stayed in cave in Prabhasa
and sent word to Krishna that he was there.
Krishna came to see him. They kind of bonded and
spent some time together. Arjuna’s year of exile
was soon coming to an end; in a month and a half,
he would have to go back to Indraprastha.
To be continued
2
From Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama Chitrangada
April 2018
 News And
Events
Yaksha 2018
Day 1: Rakesh Chaurasia

The first night of Yaksha 2018, on 10 February, featured one

of the most prominent rising stars of Indian classical music,
Rakesh Chaurasia, nephew of the eminent flute master
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Following a truly captivating
performance, Chaurasia shared his experience of offering
Nada Aradhana at the Dhyanalinga and of spending time
within the Isha Yoga Center: “Today, performing in the temple
was an amazing experience for me…. I’m very honored that the
Indian classical music is being promoted in such a place. It’s
like a paradise of energy.” At the end of the evening, Sadhguru
also offered his praise for Chaurasia’s performance: “How
many things human breath can do. It keeps us alive. For a
yogi, it unites him with the existence. But very few people can
make their breath so fantastic.”

Day 2: Vidushi Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar

The unique voice of the renowned Hindustani singer Vidushi Shruti
Sadolikar-Katkar, accompanied by harmonium and tabla, enchanted
the audience throughout the second evening’s performance. Of her
time at the Yoga Center and her performance, Katkar shared, “This is a
totally different world by itself, and this world is charged with positive
energy, and this energy is something that takes you into its grip, it
embraces you, and without you knowing it, you start belonging here.
Whatever seva I have offered here, I hope I have been able to give some
joy to people, and the seva has reached the feet of Lord Shiva.”

Day 3: Chitravina N. Ravikiran
Prodigy-turned-musical genius Chitravina N. Ravikiran
graced the final night of Yaksha along with a talented
ensemble of percussion and violin. The instrumentalist,
vocalist, composer, author, and orator has received
acclaim as one of the most inspiring ambassadors
of Indian music and culture in the world. Ravikiran
expressed, “This is one of the most electrifying
atmospheres and ambiences that you have here, and
it’s always a pleasure for us to come and perform here.
Following the performance, Sadhguru acknowledged the
talented artists as a “brilliant ensemble, an outpouring
of genius.” With a laugh, he also paid special tribute to
Ghatam Karthick (Dr. S. Karthick), affectionately referring
to him as “our own Jimi Hendrix.” The percussionist’s
energetic and playful style has made him a fan favorite
for many performances at Isha over the decades.

15 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

Mahashivaratri 2018
Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore, 13/14 Feb:

A bird’s-eye view of the lakhs upon lakhs of people gathered for the evening, lit by the radiant glow of
Adiyogi. Throughout the night, attendees queued along Sadhguru’s padam to receive Rudraksh Prasad-
am, a rudraksh bead from the mala which adorned the 112-ft Adiyogi throughout the previous year.

At the beginning of the evening, Sadhguru began the
first-ever Linga Bhairavi Maha Yatra, offering an Arati at
the start of the procession. While Sadhguru entered the
Dhyanalinga for the powerful Pancha Bhuta Aradhana,
Devi continued her journey all the way to Adiyogi, flanked
by an enthusiastic procession of devotees.
Sadhguru praised the colorful, original performance by
students of Isha Samskriti: “Among the professional
performers, our children really stood out as a top-class
performance by themselves.” Viewers were delighted
by the intricate costumes, eye-catching props, and
expressive blend of dance, music and drumming.

Energetic performances from Sean Roldan and Friends,
Sonu Nigam, Daler Mehndi, Sounds of Isha and many
more kept everyone on their feet until morning. And of
course, Sadhguru continuously revived the crowds by
repeatedly walking from end to end of his nearly 1 km
ramp throughout the night, dancing with pure joy and
interacting with people from all ages and walks of life
along the way.
Before sharing just a few of his most-beloved songs,
Sonu Nigam explained that he had not intended to come
to Mahashivratri as a performer, but to experience the
night with Sadhguru. However, his sweet and melodious
voice, accompanied by Sounds of Isha, left the crowd
entranced and grateful for his musical offering. As a
special treat, he was joined by Sadhguru in singing “Jaya
Jaya Jaya Mahadeva.”

16 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

Many fiery moments lit up the night, from the flames of
Devi’s Procession to the Maha Arati offered by thousands
of individual attendees scattered throughout the crowd.
Here, spinning wheels and staffs are set ablaze following
the intensity of Sadhguru’s midnight meditation.
Mohit Chauhan’s set, in his signature folk style, included a
reprise of his duet with Sadhguru, singing “Shiva Kailasho
ke wasi.” Afterwards, Chauhan tweeted: Speechless
and spellbound after performing #Shivkailashon w @
SadhguruJV n @soundsofisha in front of #Adiyogi at d @
ishafoundation ashram. Thz has 2 b d most mesmerising
n memorable #Mahashivratri I have evr had.
17 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Before the expectant eyes of the audience, the forms
of Kailash and Adiyogi took shape, springing out of the
canvas which had been blank mere seconds before.
Speed-painter Vilas Nayak stunned with the agility and
alacrity of his flawless renditions.
From bursting into dance with local farmers and
folk dance troupes, to singing alongside stars Mohit
Chauhan and Sonu Nigam, to shooting the energy sky-
high with a single clap during intense meditations, and
of course, bringing tears to eyes and smiles to faces
of so many eager devotees, Sadhguru’s Grace was
impossible for anyone to miss on this auspicious night.
April 2018
 Mahamastakabhisheka of
Gomateshwara

Shravanabelagola, 18 Feb: Every 12 years, millions of
visitors from around the world descend on the small
town of Shravanabelagola for the celebration of the
Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony. One of the biggest
festivals for the Jain community, it honors Lord Bahubali, a
revered Jain saint. The celebration involves the anointment
of the 57-foot-high idol of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali
with the contents of 1008 pots carried by devotees. The
first Abhisheka was held in 981 AD, and the tradition hasn’t
been broken since.
Sadhguru climbed up 700 steps barefoot and reached atop
Vindyagiri to meet the Swamis of Sri Shravanabelagola
Mutt. Sadhguru did abhisekam to the Bahubali statue and
spent some moments being with him. He said, “Gommata
is an embodiment of severe austerity in pursuit of the
ultimate nature. […] I think he’s been an inspiration for
many generations of people, and he will continue to be
even in future. People think we’ve become very modern, all
these things will die – no. You will see, in the next 12 years
the number of people here may multiply.”

World Congress Information Technology –

NASSCOM India Leadership Forum
Hyderabad, 19 Feb: “Sadhguru is here to start the enlightening journey,”
was the post on the NASSCOM FB page to welcome Sadhguru to
the event and open the 3-day special edition of NASSCOM Indian
Leadership Forum 2018, described as the biggest leadership event of
the year. With a title like “Intelligence of Ignorance,” who other than
Sadhguru could bring such a unique perspective among the high-
flying 2500 delegates from IT companies of 25 countries? Sadhguru’s
session was moderated by Raman Roy, who is widely regarded as a
pioneer in the industry and fondly referred to as the “Father of Indian
BPO.” Raman Roy was in the ashram last November as a resource
leader for Insight 2017. PM Shri Narendra Modi was also there for the
NASSCOM inaugural address at 11 a.m.

Magnetic Maharashtra
Convergence 2018
Mumbai, 19 Feb: “If you aggregate the agriculture land, invest in
land, take care of marketing & let the farmer just focus on crop
production, the agriculture economy can go up by 300%,” tweeted
Sadhguru to bring some of the top CEOs of the world to pay
attention to prospective economic growth of the otherwise mostly
neglected rural India. More than 47 global Chief Executive Officers
and 165 CEOs of leading firms in India participated in the first ever
three-day “Magnetic Maharashtra.” PM Narendra Modi inaugurated
the event, while Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis
chaired the conference. Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, and British
business magnate Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Group) were
also among the speakers.

18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

Economic Times Global Business
Summit
Delhi, 22 Feb: “Rally for Rivers was not for fun. It was a nationwide
campaign full of risks, a crazy leap aimed at results in the long run.
An example that Guts & Gumption are imperative for Growth,” tweeted
Sadhguru, once again making a strong pitch to the doyens of the corporate
world for more inclusive and sustainable growth in India. Sadhguru was
speaking on “Guts & Gumption and Growth” during the second day of
the Global Business Summit, hosted by Economic Times and Yes Bank,
in New Delhi. Some unique remarks quoted on the ET live blog from
Sadhguru’s talk were: “The idea of growth based on accumulation is not
growth but sickness.” “We have to make sure that our growth is not based
on someone else’s expense.” The event was inaugurated by Shri Narendra
Modi. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs; Donald
Trump Jr., Executive Vice President, The Trump Organization; Nitin
Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport & Highways; Piyush Goyal, Minister
of Railways and Coal; Reed Hastings, Founder and CEO Netflix; and Shah
Rukh Khan, actor, producer, activist were also among the speakers. Nitin
Gadkari was quoted as saying, “Ganga will be clean by March 2019.”

IAA Olive Crown Awards

Mumbai, 6 Mar: This marquee event in the International
Advertising Association’s (IAA) calendar was celebrated for
the 8th year. The Olive Crown Awards are given for creative
excellence in communicating sustainability. Isha Foundation
received the award for Green Crusader of the Year for Rally
for Rivers and Project GreenHands. The award was presented
by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Nearly 300 senior
media and advertising professionals attended the event.
Sadhguru’s tweet on this occasion: At a time when India is at
the cusp of becoming the largest data consumer in the world,
it’s important that this empowerment is directed towards
human well-being. –Sg

Conversation with Alumni of Harvard

Business School
10 Mar, Delhi: Sadhguru and Sachit Jain of Vardhaman Textiles and David
Moses of Horizon Habitats conversed about their perspective on “Life
Sense” for the audience comprising 85 successful entrepreneurs from 30
countries, all of them alumni of Harvard Business School. The Harvard
Business School runs an intensive, world-class executive education
program called “Owners and Presidents Management” – OPM. The event
was the first reunion of Harvard Business School grads from the OPM
course. This course is one of the highest rated programs and attracts the
finest CEOs/ business owners from across the world.

Hello! Hall of Fame Awards

11 Mar, Mumbai: In a room of sparkling red-carpet celebrities,
many of them mega-stars of the Indian film industry, Sadhguru
was named by Hello! magazine as the Outstanding Personality
of the Year. Vineet Jain, the Managing Director of India’s largest
media group, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (parent company of
Times of India and other publications), presented the award to
Sadhguru. Other Hall of Fame recipients of the evening included
Karan Johar, named Most Versatile Personality, as well as
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, who received awards for
female and male Entertainer of the Year, respectively.

19 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

 UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Date Program Place Contact

Isha Life Health Solutions 044-28885333 / 83000 45333

Obesity Treatment
4 Apr; 26 Apr 2018 (opp. Spencer Plaza), programs@ishalife.org
Program Chennai – India Online/video consultations also available

Isha Rejuvenation,
Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515466
8 Apr 2018 Holistic Cancer Clinic Velliangiri Foothills, op.rejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center,

83000 93555 / 83000 83111
8–11 Apr 2018 Guru Pooja Training Velliangiri Foothills,
iycprograms@ishayoga.org
Coimbatore – India

Joint and Musculoskeletal Isha Life Health Solutions

10 Apr; 27 Apr 044-28885333 / 83000 45333
Disorders Treatment (opp. Spencer Plaza),
2018 Chennai – India
programs@ishalife.org
Program

Isha Delhi Center, South 96500 92102 / 96500 92103

13–15 Apr 2018 Guru Pooja Training Delhi – India delhi@ishayoga.org

Inner Engineering with +60-17-6767442

14–15 Apr 2018 Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
Sadhguru malaysia@ishafoundation.org

Isha Rejuvenation,
Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515464
16–20 Apr 2018 Sunetra Eye Program Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center,

Isha Yoga Summer 83000 93555 / 83000 83111
18–22 Apr 2018 Velliangiri Foothills,
Program for Children Coimbatore – India
iycprograms@ishayoga.org

Isha Yoga Center,

Isha Yoga Summer 83000 93555 / 83000 83111
19–23 Apr 2018 Velliangiri Foothills,
Program for Children Coimbatore – India
iycprograms@ishayoga.org

Inner Engineering with +1-949-345-1746

21–22 Apr 2018 Long Beach, CA – USA
Sadhguru in Los Angeles LA@Ishausa.org

Diabetes Management 0422-2515464

21–25 Apr 2018 Long Beach, CA – USA
Program isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org

Inner Engineering with +1-484-254-6255

5–6 May 2018 Oaks, PA – USA
Sadhguru in Philadelphia philly@ishausa.org

Live in a Consecrated Isha Yoga Center,

94890 45136
27 Jun 2018 Space – Yantra Ceremony Velliangiri Foothills,
yantra@lingabhairavi.org
with Sadhguru Coimbatore – India

Kailash-Manasarovar 8144 123 123

11–31 Aug 2018 Nepal/Tibet (China)
Sacred Walks info@sacredwalks.org

Current at the time of print, however subject to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our
website: www.ishafoundation.org.

20 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

 ISHA RECIPE

Jackfruit Vegetable
INGREDIENTS METHOD

2 Tomatoes – diced 1. Remove the outer jackfruit skin and dice the
fibrous meat of the unripe jackfruit into approx.
2 small, unripe Jackfruits 1- inch cubes.
2 tbsps. Cooking oil of your choice
2. In a pressure cooker, add 2 spoons of oil and
1/2 tbsp. Garam masala sauté the diced tomatoes for a few minutes.
1/2 tbsp. Jeera powder 3. Add the jackfruit, salt, and 1 cup of water, close
1 tbsp. Coconut – freshly grated the pressure cooker and cook for 2 whistles.

1 handful fresh Coriander – chopped 4. Let cool, open the cooker, and add garam
masala, jeera powder, grated coconut, and fresh
Salt to taste coriander. Stir and serve with flat bread or rice of
your choice.

Note: Studies suggests that consumption of unripe jackfruit can help fight high blood sugar levels
and improve diabetic conditions. The study showed that the glycemic load (glucose level) in unripe
(freeze-dried) jackfruit is only half of that of rice or wheat.

21 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

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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

23 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

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 – April 2018

Only in taming the Animal past, lies the Divine future.

Much courage it takes to castrate the Bull within.
It is the Animal within that is a challenge
The Animal outside we have tamed

24 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018

24 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2018