Volume 6 / Issue 07 July 2018

Blissful Burden
My Heart beats best
when among Mountains.
My Body does protest
But I cannot be Unmountained
for too long. My ruthless
Master invested the burden
Of a Mountain in Me.
I try hard to settle
At the foothills but my
Heart longs for Mountain
Peaks. What would I be
without the Blissful Burden.

Grace & Blessings

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | B

 EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

When it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it is going to impact humanity,
there’s a heated debate going on at present. Russian President Vladimir Putin says
the nation that leads in AI “will be the ruler of the world.” Tesla CEO Elon Musk
warns, “Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3,” “AI
is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization,” and that “AI is far more
dangerous than nukes.” Find out what Sadhguru and renowned American theoretical
physicist Michio Kaku have to say about this topic in “Future Technologies – Boon
or Bane?” In “Why We Need to Realize We Are Life,” Sadhguru points out the core
issue behind virtually every problem humanity faces today. He also offers solutions
to the problem of plastic pollution.

Love is the one dimension of human life that sparks our longing and imagination
like no other, and finds expression in a myriad of forms. But could you really define
it? In our Lead Article “What is Love,” Sadhguru approaches this complex question in
a most candid and differentiated manner. In “A Partnership with Shiva,” Sadhguru
reveals what it means to have a partnership with the Divine, and how it can become
a reality in our lives.

Also in this issue: In our Mahabharat series, “Hanuman Gives a Lesson in Humility.” Our
News & Events pages are again brimful with highlights of Sadhguru’s events around
the globe and other happenings in Isha. Last but not least, as the monsoon sweeps
across the land, cozy up at home and savor our Creamy Pumpkin Soup. 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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96770 16700 – subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org
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Disclaimer: Readers are recommended to make appropriate inquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments
in relation to any advertisement appearing in this publication. Isha Foundation does not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of
products and services. The printer, publisher, office bearers, editor-in-chief and the editor of Isha Foundation shall not be held liable for any
consequences in the event of such claims not being honored by the advertisers.

2 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

CONTENTS

LEAD ARTICLE MAHABHARAT

What is Love? 07 Part 44: Hanuman Gives a Lesson in Humility 12

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC
Future Technologies – Boon or Bane? 4
Physicist Michio Kaku and Sadhguru

LEAD ARTICLE
What is Love? 7

MUSINGS
A Partnership with Shiva 11

MAHABHARAT
Part 44: Hanuman Gives a Lesson in Humility 12

NEWS & EVENTS

Sadhguru with Scientists at Harvard 13
Isha Yoga Summer Program for Children
Mystic Eye in London 14
A Thousand New Hatha Yogis!
Sadhguru in Russia
St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF) 15
Inner Engineering Book now in Russian! 16
A New Approach to Beat Plastic Pollution 17

SADHGURU SPOT
Why We Need to Realize We Are Life 18

UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Isha – Program & Event Highlights 20

ISHA RECIPES
Creamy Pumpkin Soup 21

ZEN SPEAKS
The Mute and the Parrot 23

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 3

Future Technologies – IN CONVERSATION
Boon or Bane? WITH THE MYSTIC

In this conversation, Sadhguru and prominent physicist Michio Kaku share their perspectives on how future
technologies will reshape our lives. While Michio Kaku gives examples of trailblazing technologies, Sadhguru
explains how technological advancements will redirect our focus. The following excerpt is taken from the session
“Forecast-2100: Technologies of the Future?” at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on
25 May 2018.

Sadhguru: Anything that can be built by storage
of memory, access to memory, analysis of this
memory, and expression of this memory, everything
that you are doing through your intellect, thinking
that is you, can be done by a machine at some point.
Memory is what has made you everything that you
are. Memory is also a defining boundary. But there
is a dimension of intelligence which we call chitta,
or in modern terminology, loosely, it can be called
consciousness. This dimension of intelligence has
no memory in it. Where there is no memory, there
are no boundaries to it. Right now, ninety percent
or more of humanity lives by their physiological and
intellectual capabilities. Once machines start doing
this, it is inevitable for you to explore the deeper
dimensions of who you are. Everything that you can
do, a machine can do in future. And that will be a
great day, because that means we are on a holiday.
We won’t work for a living. Then we can look at life
in a completely different way.
Definitely, the dangers of this are also there, as
the dangers of machines are there even today.
For example, automobiles are killing more people
than wars every year. But we have accepted that as
collateral damage. We are travelling faster, so some
people will die. Similarly, maybe we will have Nano
soldiers that we will let loose on other people. These
things will be terrible, but even now it’s terrible. You
can just press a switch here and destroy a whole city
somewhere else. As these capabilities are increasing,
we must also strive to upgrade human beings to
move beyond the limitations of their intellect and
come to a deeper dimension of intelligence which is
the very source of life itself within us.
If anything needs to happen, a certain amount
of human energy, time, and resource has to
be dedicated to it. So, we have to invest in
consciousness. Till now, we have been investing
only in our survival. But once these technologies
are becoming a reality, survival will not even be

4 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

an issue. When survival is not an issue, we will
definitely start investing. But the sooner we invest,
with less aberration, we can move into these new
possibilities. It’s always a double-edged sword.
Which way you are going to use it depends on who
you are. Whether your identity and your experience
are very exclusive, or your identity and experience
are very inclusive, will determine in which way the
sword will swing.
Questioner: Dr. Kaku, may I ask you about short-
term goals for us as developers, to contribute to the
daily life of the larger population?
Dr. Kaku: In terms of brain computer interface,
in the United States, the driving force behind this
technology is the Pentagon. The Pentagon has
given 150 million dollars to create exoskeletons to
bypass the injured, spinal cord of soldiers wounded
in Afghanistan and Iraq, so that the human brain
directly communicates with an artificial hand, an
artificial leg, and they can walk. And if you saw the
World Cup soccer games two years ago in Brazil, the
man who kicked the football, initiating the games,
was totally paralyzed. He could not walk. But at
Duke University in North Carolina, they put a chip in
his brain to hook him up to an exoskeleton, and he
kicked the football. So, the immediate gains are for
people who are injured in accidents or in warfare,
to create an artificial body controlled directly by the
human brain.
Everything that you can do, a machine
can do in future. And that will be a
great day, because that means we are
on a holiday.
My colleague Stephen Hawking, the physicist who
died recently, lost control of his fingers and vocal
cords. But he could still communicate. His brain
communicated with a chip in his glasses that picked
up radio from his brain, converted it to electricity
to a laptop computer. By thinking, he was able to
write books and communicate with the outside
world. Here is an immediate benefit for people
who are paralyzed, whose spinal cord is no longer
functioning. This will also make possible a brain
chip for Alzheimer’s patients. We can now upload
simple memories in mice and in monkeys. We
want to create a brain pacemaker for Alzheimer’s
patients so that memories can come flooding into
their brain. And the Pentagon again recently gave
July 2018
fifty million dollars to create a memory chip for
soldiers, but also for Alzheimer’s patients. And here
is a market for companies that can utilize this to
create products to alleviate human suffering.
Questioner: Sadhguru, how can we address the
issue of investing into consciousness?
Sadhguru: Human intellect is an island. All products
of human intellect are small islands, including
technology. Consciousness is the ocean in which
we exist. Consciousness is an intelligence that is
not identified with any memory or boundary of
you and me, and this and that. This is a dimension
of intelligence which has no boundaries. So what
do we have to do for it to manifest in human
societies large-scale? In every generation, there
have been very conscious beings. But in some
generations and in some societies, they have been
heard; in other societies, they have been ignored.
It is time we make that voice, which refers to a
dimensionless, boundary-less consciousness, heard,
and methodologies as to how to become conscious
available.
As there are technologies to create wellbeing in
our surroundings, there is a science and technology
to do the same within us. With any amount of
technology, if you don’t know how to be, you
still are not well. We know more comfort and
convenience than any generation ever knew in
the history of humanity. But can we claim we are
the most joyful and fantastic generation ever? No!
People are becoming neurotic. I am not saying that
we are worse than other generations, but we are
not significantly better, for the amount of toll we
have taken on every other life to have what we
want to have. Your technologies will bring comfort
and convenience but will not bring wellbeing. It’s
time to focus on inner wellbeing. Right now, your
wellbeing is still determined by what’s around you,
not what’s within you.
With any amount of technology, if
you don’t know how to be, you still are
not well.
If your body and your brain took instructions from
you, would you keep yourself healthy and blissful
every moment of your life? If you had a choice,
definitely you would. Obviously, your body and your
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 5
brain are not taking instructions from you. This
means you are not conscious enough. So we have
to invest in that direction. In this city, I am sure there
are hospitals, schools, toilets, and everything. But
do you have a place for people to meditate? When
technology starts doing most of the things that
you are doing now, and you don’t know why you
exist, then the need for inner wellbeing becomes
super strong. So if we want to be ready for that
day, it’s very important that we invest both physical
infrastructure and human infrastructure which
focuses on the innermost core of who we are.
Questioner: Mr. Kaku, let me ask you a question.
For quite a while I used to think that technological
and communication progress leads to a total
solitude of human beings. People can connect via
FaceTime but they become more and more isolated
from each other. What do you think?
Michio Kaku: I think that a new etiquette is being
created for children – if you are a child and you’re
not on the internet, then you don’t exist. So I tell
mothers that it’s a good thing if their child is on
the internet, otherwise they’ll be an outcast. The
internet does not have to be an isolated island,
divorced from the rest of society. If anything, it’ll
expand your horizon from two thousand people
to two billion people. We have to make sure that
our children are socialized and take advantage
6 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
of the internet, because the internet promotes
democracy. And democracies rarely war against
other democracies. When your child plays video
games with somebody from Norway, Mexico, or
Afghanistan, that is a good thing, because in the
future, they may not want to war with people
from these other countries, because they are their
best friends. So what I’m trying to say is that a
new social etiquette is being created. We have
to make sure that we don’t hide in it. But on the
other hand, we have to use it, because that’s where
jobs, opportunities, and new friends are going to be
created.
Sadhguru: I think this fear about technologies
is just fear about the unknown for most human
beings. Everything that is new that comes in, of
course there will be a certain challenge of exerting
ourselves to understand what it is. It will definitely
not create solitude. We will be too connected.
People wake up in the morning and the first thing
they see is their cellphone, what messages they
have. It’s fine because the gadget is new. I think
the next generation will learn how to handle the
cellphone far better.
Questioner: A very simple question I want to
ask both Mr. Kaku and Sadhguru. We are now in
a situation of unprecedented uncertainty. What
should we do – forget everything and reboot the
system?
Michio Kaku: You mentioned that we have
constant uncertainty, but I personally think that’s
a good thing. It’s a good thing because new jobs,
new exciting occupations, new challenges for
humanity are being created. I think the smallest
unit of history is the decade. Anything smaller than
a decade, you get random noise. When we look at
the random noise, it looks frightening – every day a
new emergency, a new crisis. But when you look at
history decade by decade, then you begin to realize
the enormous progress.
Sadhguru: We are complaining about too many
possibilities. In the past, uncertainty meant you
did not know whether you’ll live tomorrow or not.
Today your life is largely assured. Uncertainty is only
in terms of possibilities and new happenings. You
must celebrate this, not worry about it.
July 2018
 LEAD ARTICLE

What is Love?
Sadhguru

Looking at music, movies, literature, and conversations, love seems to be the most favorite, most sought-after
emotion of humanity. The word “love” has been used and abused in innumerable ways, describing everything
from the most subtle state of being to a plain physical act. But what is love really? Here, Sadhguru details the
complexities of love.

Questioner: Sadhguru, are there different kinds of
love?
Sadhguru: How many types do you want me to
talk about? Let’s start from the beginning.
The Love of a Child
You are born as a helpless infant. Of all the creatures
on this planet, human beings are born particularly
helpless. If there was no parent to protect them,
no child would survive. When I say “parent,” I mean
whoever stands up as a parent, not necessarily the
biological parents. The instinct of survival is inbuilt
into every life on the planet, including ourselves.
We look up to our mother, to start with, as the
source of survival. She is the source of food and
the embodiment of care and protection. This is
something that the child immediately recognizes.
Of course, you would like to interpret it in a different
way: “Oh, the baby loves me so much. Look at him,
how he comes to me!” I am not trying to belittle

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 7

the emotion. There is a certain beauty to it, but we Unconditional Love?
must understand this is the survival instinct. The
So we have “instinct of survival love,” “instinct
mother responds to that because she sees the child
of stepping out and survival love,” “chemically
as a part of herself. In a way, what was within her
poisoned love,” and other kinds of love affairs. If
has come out. She still cannot come to terms with
you come together as business partners, there is a
the fact that this is another life. Some people cannot
certain amount of love shared because of common
come to terms with that even after eighteen years
interest. But the day you realize your business
or twenty years.
partner has been doing things behind your back,
Love is a sweetness of emotion that is not completely suddenly, it becomes hate. That goes for every kind
uncalculated. This is why you are capable of being of love. There is a transaction attached to it. This
sweet to one and not sweet to another. There is a is a dream of many people: unconditional love.
calculation of what you will get out of it. Sweetness There is no such thing. If you are looking at love
of emotion should not come because of something as a relationship, in every relationship, there is a
or someone but should be your way of being. As condition. If you do not fulfill the condition, it does
long as that is not established, you are seeking not work.
one thing or the other. Children seek nourishment,
If you have established a sweetness of emotion
protection, and all the things that are necessary for
within yourself, you can experience a whole range
their survival. From the age of five or six, children
of pleasant emotions – love, joy, ecstasy, and so on –
seek friendship. They do not want to sit in their
as you wish. You can look at someone uninterested
mother’s lap anymore. The longing arises to get out
but be blissful within yourself. You can look at
into the world. They want to be with those who are
someone and be dripping with ecstasy without it
their own size, who will run and play with them.
having anything to do with the other person. You
They start to love or have sweetness of emotion for
can transform this sweetness into love and look at
their own kind.
someone extremely lovingly. Suppose you could not
Hormones Kick In generate a thought unless someone provokes it –
would you call that intelligent or stupid? If you are
You become twelve, thirteen, fourteen. Hormones
in a state where you cannot generate sweetness of
get into the system and into the brain. Your
emotion without someone’s help, it is equally stupid.
attraction or sweetness of emotion is influenced
Because a whole lot of people are in that state and
by the fundamental instinct of reproduction. You
they have eulogized it, they have written books and
may think you are falling in love, but essentially, it is
made movies about it, and they keep saying it all
nature’s trick to somehow make you reproduce. If
the time, it looks normal. It is not normal. It is just
there was no sweetness in that, our parents would
very stupid if you cannot generate the emotion that
not have had us. If some compulsive draw was not
you want on your own.
there, we would not exist. Do not think they went
through all the trouble to bear us and bring us up
out of sheer love. I do not want you to make this
ugly in your mind; just see everything the way it is. If you are not emotionally constipated,
That is the way of life. But there is a way to rise
there are innumerable ways of loving.
above it – that is another matter.
You can make it any way you want, with
What is driven by hormones occupies a large
anything you want.
part of life for many people – they think this is it.
Realization may happen much more easily in the
future, because love affairs are coming with an
expiry date these days. Initially, this will turn life Constipated or Flowing Freely?
into a very gross process of constantly looking at
If you need someone to do something to you for
“What can I get from this one? What can I get from
this emotion to arise, this is emotional constipation.
that one? This one is not giving me what I want, so
I can look at a tree and tears of love will flow. I
I drop this one and pick up another one.” But some
can look at a tiger and do the same. You can look
may use this grossness to grow. Because they are
at a cloud or the full moon and do it. If you are
not able to dabble with this grossness, they may go
emotionally constipated, there are many ways of
beyond it. I have a way of looking for a solution in
loving. If you are not emotionally constipated, there
every problem. But I see so many people have a way
are innumerable ways of loving. You can make it
of finding a problem in every solution.
any way you want, with anything you want. You

8 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

can look at your little finger and cry out of love. And
you do not even need to look at anything. You can
simply sit here with eyes closed and tears of love
can come, because your sweetness of emotion is
yours. But right now, it is enslaved to something or
someone. It may be hormonal, survival-related, or
something else.
is a dream of many people: unconditional
love. There is no such thing.
Emotion beyond Transaction
So, how many varieties of love? We can categorize
many – mother-child love, brother-sister-sibling
love, friendship love, hormonal love…like this, we
can go on. As many types of transactions as there
are in the world, that many types of love affairs we
can have. If your sweetness of emotion is beyond
transactions, you can have innumerable ways of
loving. You can give it any complexion you want,
any moment. With someone, with something, with
nothing, you can be in a grand love affair. Have you
risen beyond the transactional mode in your mind
and emotion?

The reason why for a very long time, in Eastern

cultures at least, the relationship between a Guru You must get your emotion beyond the
and a disciple is considered the highest is because
transactional mode.
it is supposed to be reasonably unconditional. At
least from one side, it is unconditional; from the
other side, it is conditional – so altogether, it is
reasonably unconditional. Someone is putting their
If you keep your emotions within the transactional
life out for someone that they do not care a damn
mode, you will feel dirty inside, after some time. You
about – that is called unconditional. This could
must get your emotion beyond the transactional
happen in other relationships too – between a
mode. To get the mind beyond transactional
husband and wife, a mother and child, a brother and
mode is a much bigger work. But emotions must
sister, two friends, or whoever else – that from one
rise beyond transactions, so that you are able to
side at least, it becomes unconditional. One reason
look at every creature on the planet with some
why the mother and child relationship is eulogized is
sweetness of emotion. At least start with human
because of the mother’s unconditional involvement,
beings. But dogs are also there! We almost missed
at least until the child reaches a certain age. But as
a very important dimension of love. People have
the child takes on his or her own personality, being
loved dogs much more immensely than they have
unconditional becomes difficult for her.
ever loved human beings. At least from one end, it
In the Indian spiritual culture, in terms of significance is unconditional.
of relationships, the first thing is the Guru, then
mother and father, then teacher, and so on. This is In Love with the Divine
because if your thought and emotion rises beyond There are entire bhakti or devotional movements –
transactional mode, that sweetness of emotion
“God love.” That means you love someone
is considered sacred. Transactions are not a bad
who is not here. It is also unconditional from one
thing. Life is full of giving and taking. You can do it
side – because no participation, no condition. But
in a graceful way. You do not have to make it ugly.
it is a beautiful way to transform your emotions.
The same thing can be done as a love affair or as
You do not know where God is, who he is, what
prostitution. The grace with which you do it is what
he is, but you are in love with him. Now sweetness
makes all the difference. If you bring sweetness of
of emotion is happening without any input from
emotion into every aspect of your transactions,
anywhere. In India, there have been so many saints,
then you will have varieties of love affairs going on
seers, and seeresses, who are known for having an
in your life.
active love affair with a “blue-bodied one.” Beings
Right now, it is dangerous to say, “I love you,” like Rama, Krishna, and of course Shiva, are all
because people will think you are going to end up considered as blue-bodied. This does not mean that
in bed with them. Immediately, there will be they had blue skin. People saw that their aura was
problems – both socially and psychologically. blue. Mirabai was having an active love affair with
Society is a manifestation of the human mind. Krishna. Akka Mahadevi was having an active love
Because this chemically poisoned love affair has affair with Shiva. To such an extent that they went
become the biggest process, everyone thinks love into physical, orgasmic experiences. They were in
means it has to lead to something physical. an ecstatic state all the time with someone else

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 9

who is not there. People around them witnessed
that and were thoroughly confused as to what was
happening with them. Love is a sweetness of emotion that is
not completely uncalculated.
Sweetness, a Natural Choice
If you want to be realized and active in the world, you
need a blue aura, which means you need an active
Vishuddhi. Only if your Vishuddhi is active, can you sometimes. You say or do something nice because
be in sweetness of emotion and have discernment there is a certain sweetness within you. “Love” as a
of mind. You can play the world any way you want word has many connotations. But essentially, they
and still be untouched by it. Then you are in a describe something where human intellect and
different kind of love affair – not with anything or human emotion are still in a transactional mode. If
anyone. The word “love” does not indicate someone you go beyond the transactional mode, love is not
or something to you. It means that your emotion is for anything or anyone – it is just the sweetness of
totally yours – you can make it any way you want. your existence.
If you had the choice, knowing what going through
bitterness does to you, you would naturally choose
sweetness of emotion.
This sweetness sometimes may flow as it is needed
for the people around you. The rest of the time, it may
just be there, without flowing out or doing anything
with the world. You can make it transactional

10 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

 A Partnership with Shiva MUSINGS

In this talk, Sadhguru addresses participants of a Nanmai Uruvam ceremony, who have entered an Ishanga 7%
partnership with Sadhguru. Maybe for the first time, Sadhguru opens up about the nature of his partnership with
Shiva. He also tells the story of a devotee whom Shiva carried on his shoulders, without the man even realizing
it. His narrative beautifully illustrates what the Ishanga 7% partnership means.
From now on, I cannot have the pleasure of pushing This 7% partnership is not about me taking your
you around, because now, you have become my seven percent. Do I look like I am incapable of
partners. A long time ago, Shiva came to form a making my own things? Do I look so incompetent
partnership with me. I said, “Fifty-fifty.” He said, that I have to sit and collect seven percent tax from
“Okay.” Then I decided, “No, no – you take hundred you? I am not made like that. If I want, I will make
percent, including me.” So he took hundred percent, what I want. It is just that if you reduce the idea
including me. Now I ride on his shoulders. of “me” and “mine” within you, at least by seven
percent, we can do something else with you.
There is a beautiful story in the yogic lore. On
a certain day, a man was walking through the This is a simple device for you to breach the
Himalayas. In those days, it was a very hard journey. boundary of what you consider as “me” and “mine.”
Anyone would seek help. So he said, “Oh, Shiva! I This is a simple device to breach the boundaries of
can’t do this. Come, help me. At least hold my hand. who you are, so that something far bigger than you
Take me along.” Shiva appeared and said, “You walk, becomes a part of you and your life. Now we will
I’ll walk with you.” The man said, “How do I know have to do a lot of work for you. At some moment I
that you are walking with me?” Shiva said, “Look uttered it, so I am not able to go back on this stupid
out for the footprints. You have only two legs. If deal: You give seven percent – I give ninety-three
there are four footprints, that means I am walking percent. I have always been stupid – that’s the
with you.” So initially, every few minutes, the man problem with me and that’s why it has worked out
checked. There was one more pair of footprints wonderfully well for me, because I never used my
coming along with him. smartness; I just rode on his shoulder. He has been
more than wonderful.
After a few days of walking, he looked back again.
There was only one pair of footprints. He said, “Oh, I hope your lives become like that too. If you allow
you’ve forsaken me again.” Shiva said, “See, the this to happen, if you breach the barrier of what
path is very wet and slippery. Look at your feet – you consider as “me” and “mine,” I will ensure that
they are dry. That’s why there was only one pair of your life also becomes as wonderful as it can be. It is
footprints.” The fool was riding on Shiva’s shoulders. my wish and my blessing that you should get there
soon.

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 11


MAHABHARAT
SERIES
Hanuman Gives a Lesson in Humility
The twelve years of forest exile for the Pandavas and Draupadi are coming to a close. They go in search of Arjuna,
who had gone out to do tapas and acquire divine weapons or astras. They reach the area of Badrinath in the
Himalayas, where they hope to find him. In the nearby forest, Bhima has an encounter that will cure him from
one of his greatest weaknesses – pride.
The twelve-year period was coming to a close and
Arjuna is yet to come back. The four brothers were
a little distressed. They had no news of him for over
five years now. The whole family went up to the
Himalayas, in search of him. There, they stayed in
a hermitage in Badrinath, waiting for Arjuna or, at
least, to hear some news about him. Then, sage
Lomasa came and said, “Arjuna will be coming
back shortly. His purpose of going there has been
fulfilled.” They waited in anticipation. One day,
Draupadi and Bhima took a walk in this beautiful
forest. There, Draupadi saw a Sougandhika flower,
which is also known as Brahma Kamal. If you have
gone on the Himalayan trek, you might have seen
it. This flower can be dried and preserved for a long
time. Draupadi had never seen a flower like this
before. Excited about finding these flowers, she
plucked a few. She saw there were more of them
further away, but it was getting late and they had
to go back. On the next day, Bhima went to get
more of these flowers for her. In his enthusiasm,
he went deep into the forest. There, an important
incident happened.
In the Indian lore, “going to the forest” is a metaphor
for going to a place of learning. What you cannot
learn in a city or a university, you learn in a forest.
Whether it is the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, or
elsewhere, “going to the forest” is an enduring
theme, to learn the ways of life. As Bhima was
walking in the forest, he saw a ripe old monkey
sitting there, who had an extremely long tail, and
it was in Bhima’s way. Bhima was a proud man. He
expected everyone to make way for him. And in
these twelve years of exile, after this shame that has
happened to them, he also became an angry man.
Earlier, he had been very bubbly and happy. But
now he was angry. Being proud and angry makes
you stupid – dangerous for others and dangerous
for oneself.
When Bhima came and saw this monkey’s tail, he
felt kind of insulted. Why was this monkey putting
12 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
PART 44
Mahabharat
its tail in his way? He said, “Hey, monkey! Take the
tail away.” In India, traditionally, people never cross
somebody else’s limbs. It is not only considered
inauspicious, there are actual reasons not to do
that. So Bhima said, “Pull away your tail – I want
to go.” The monkey said, “I’m so old I don’t have
the strength to lift my tail. Why don’t you do it for
me?” Bhima said, “Okay.” He tried to lift it but was
not able to do so. He could not believe it. This man
was proud of his strength. He was always building
his muscle. He thought he was the strongest man
on the planet, empowered with the Naga elixir and
everything. Now when he could not lift the tail of an
old monkey, it was an insult he could not take. He
tried very hard with both hands but did not succeed.
Then, he went down on his knees and asked, “If I
can’t lift this tail, you’re not just a monkey. Who
are you?” Then the monkey revealed that he was
Hanuman.
Hanuman told him, “No matter how much strength
you have, if you don’t have humility and devotion,
you will fall.” This is what both Arjuna and Bhima
lacked – everything else about them was good, but
they were a little proud of who they were. They
thought no one could beat them, and that they
could do anything. Krishna constantly reminded
them of that. Even when it comes to the battlefield,
it does not matter who you are – people who are
standing on the other side are not idiots. They are
also capable. He repeatedly told Arjuna, “It is not the
enemy’s arrows which will kill you. If you don’t shed
your pride, it will kill you one day – you will die an
unfortunate death.” These two lessons – Arjuna’s
humiliation by Shiva and Bhima’s humiliation by
Hanuman were set up in such a way that the two
got rid of this one flaw in them, so that they became
perfect for the action that was being planned for
them.
To be continued
July 2018
Events Highlights
NEWS AND EVENTS

Sadhguru with Scientists at Harvard

Cambridge, USA; 14 May: “Memory, Consciousness,

and Coma” was the title of Sadhguru’s recent
conversation at Harvard Medical School. “Memory,
Consciousness…” – an obvious topic choice. But “…
Coma”? A closer look at the conversational partners
at the event, and it suddenly all made sense. The
two renowned scientists who joined Sadhguru for
this session were Professor of Anesthesia Emery
N. Brown, MD, PhD and Professor of Neurology
Nicholas D. Schiff, MD, PhD. The event took
place at the Sanders Theatre, a landmark venue
at Harvard University, where historical figures
like Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and definition of consciousness or turiya, from his own
Martin Luther King Jr. had spoken. In the course experiential yogic perspective. The interested
of their engaging discussion, Sadhguru explored audience reflected the rich diversity of the scientific
what actually happens under anesthesia to brain, community at Harvard. Even after the scheduled
mind, and consciousness. He threw light on jagrati/ time was up, Sadhguru and the scientists continued
wakefulness and offered a deeper and wider their lively exchange of insights.

Isha Yoga Summer Program for Children

Isha Yoga Center, April/May 2018: A few hundred – Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. At the end of
children from across India had the opportunity to program, the children’s faces were shining with joy
come in touch with nature through the Isha Yoga and serenity.
Summer Program for Children. Always in high
demand, a total of five such programs happened
during the summer vacation in April and May
2018. The children learnt yogic practices like Surya
Namaskar, simple pranayam, and AUM chanting.
They also had the rare chance to trek in a dense
forest and see and experience the natural forest
ecosystem with its wild animals, plants, and trees.
Beyond that, they experientially learnt how to
relate to trees, how to identify different species of
animals, how to be in touch with the five elements
Exploring the forest, discovering wildlife

Watching gaurs (Indian bisons) in Experiencing Young participants in touch

their natural habitat nature’s embrace with the elements

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 13

Mystic Eye in London

London, 19 May: Watching a royal wedding

or having an encounter with a Mystic? Several
thousands of participants at the recent Mystic Eye
program in London had no doubt about what’s their
choice. They came from all over the UK and Europe
to the ExCel London venue in Royal Victoria Dock –
some to listen to his words, wishing to gain some
understanding about life’s big questions; others to
simply be in his presence. Some of those who were
present shared after the program that they felt
vibrant, full of energy, and often too overwhelmed
to articulate their experience.
Becoming the dance at the Mystic Eye in London

A Thousand New Hatha Yogis!

IYC, Coimbatore; 24 May – 13 Jun: Sadhguru says, Sadhguru tweeted at the end of the twenty-
“Hatha Yoga should not be taught as an exercise one days: Heartening to see people from across the
form but as a live process; then asanas will lead to globe, regardless of ethnicity, belief & lifestyle taking
ecstatic states.” Close to a thousand people from up Classical Hatha Yoga for inner transformation.
India, China, and other parts of the world came to
this annual, intensive hatha yoga program at the
Isha Yoga Center, which offers the options to either
participate for eight or twenty-one days. More
than half of the participants opted to immerse
themselves into the hatha yoga experience for the
full three weeks. They were fortunate to have the
guidance of almost thirty Isha hatha yoga teachers,
who offered to volunteer for this unique program. A Thousand New Hatha Yogis!

Sadhguru in Russia

St. Petersburg by night Sadhguru at the famous An evening stroll in the

Red Square in Moscow heart of Moscow

14 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

St. Petersburg/Moscow, 24 May – 3 Jun: It was only
Sadhguru’s second visit to Russia, but the demand
was so high and his eleven-day schedule was so
jam-packed that he often had multiple events and
speaking engagements in a day. He was invited to
speak at major events and conferences, including the
prestigious St. Petersburg International Economic
SPIEF: Transitional World: What Will Tomorrow Bring
SPIEF panel “Transitional World: What
Will Tomorrow Bring”
SPIEF: From
Ambition to Vision
“From Ambition to Vision”
at the SPIEF with Hemant
Kanoria and Sadhguru
SPIEF: Forecast 2100 – Technologies of the Future
“Forecast 2100 – Technologies of the Future”
at the SPIEF
July 2018
Forum (SPIEF), which is held under the auspices of
the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President
of France Emmanuel Macron, the Chinese Vice
President Wang Qishan, and the Prime Minister of
Japan Shinzo Abe also participated in the SPIEF this
year. Sadhguru spoke at four sessions.
St. Petersburg, 24 May: The high-caliber panel
St. Petersburg
“Transitional World: What Will Tomorrow by night
Bring”
was moderated by Herman Gref, CEO of Sberbank,
Russia’s largest bank. Panelists included Meir
Brand, Vice President, Google Inc.; Peter Diamandis,
founder and chairman, X Prize Foundation; Guo
Ping, CEO, Huawei Technologies, Nassim Nicholas
Taleb, Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering
at New York University, and Sadhguru.
St. Petersburg, 25 May: In the “Forecast 2100 –
Technologies of the Future,” Sadhguru shared his
view on how future technologies will reshape our
lives. American Theoretical Physicist and Futurist
Michio Kaku described technological advancements
that are set to improve human lives in incredible
ways. Sadhguru commented about Michio Kaku and
his work in a tweet: The efforts of theoretical physicists
to unravel the mysteries of the universe is fascinating.
Michio Kaku – a piercing intellect & an eternal optimist.
For excerpts from their insightful outlook into the
future, read the article “Future Technologies – Boon
or Bane?” on pp. 4–6.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 15
Inner Engineering Book Now in Russian!

Sadhguru’s recent visit to Russia also saw the launch

of the Inner Engineering book in Russian. The book is
published by ESKMO, one of the largest publishing
houses in Russia. At the public event, the books
were sold out in no time.

Sadhguru signing the new Inner

Engineering book in Russian

What also happened in Russia:

Sadhguru held an exclusive Inner Engineering session

for about two dozen influencers of the country. He
also spent some time with the management and
staff of Sberbank, which hosted Sadhguru during
his first visit to Russia in November last year. And
there were some recreational, fun-filled moments
too, including a quick game of chess before an
event, a game of golf with a professional golfer
Maria Verchenova, sight-seeing in St. Petersburg
and Moscow, and a fan boat ride with Sadhguru at
the helm.

Human Is Not a Resource

IYC, 8–10 Jun: Seventy-seven top executives and

HR professionals participated in the Isha Leadership
Academy’s HR conclave “Human Is Not a Resource.”
They were offered new perspectives on human
potential and HR as a function. Top industry
leaders facilitated the conclave as speakers and
resource leaders. Some of the objectives included:
moving an organization to act like a dynamic and
responsive organism, creating an environment that
stimulates innovation and high performance, and
engineering inner transformation to move towards
excellence.
16 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018
 A New Approach to Beat Plastic Pollution

Delhi, 5 Jun: This year, India hosted the global discussed simple ways for individuals to reduce the
celebrations for World Environment Day (WED) on use of single-use plastic items. And of course, they
5 June. Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United had the larger picture in mind, exploring sustainable
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), arrived alternatives, new recycling approaches, and the
about a week ahead of the WED to participate in urgent need for a policy in order to effectively beat
a number of events across the country to address plastic pollution.
the issue of plastic pollution. He also showed great
To find out more about Sadhguru’s take on plastic
interest in the various environmental initiatives he
pollution and possible solutions, read “Why We
visited on the ground.
Need to Realize We Are Life,” an excerpt from
On the World Environment Day itself, at 7 a.m. Sadhguru Spot on pp. 18–19.
in the morning, Erik Solheim and Sadhguru came
together for a conversation moderated by actress
and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza.
Befittingly, the event was located outdoors, in
Central Park at Connaught Place, in the green
heart of the otherwise heavily polluted Delhi. They

Sadhguru, Erik Solheim, and Dia Mizra

seeking solutions for plastic pollution

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17
 SADHGURU SPOT

Why We Need to
Realize We Are Life
On this Spot, Sadhguru offers actionable solutions to beat plastic pollution. He also points out the underlying
issue that has led humanity and all our fellow creatures to the brink of disaster. Find out how individuals,
businesses, and governments together can turn the situation around. Sadhguru’s words are excerpted from a
conversation between United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim, actress and UN
Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza, and Sadhguru on World Environment Day (5 June 2018) in Delhi.

Unfortunately, we are still looking at a mega immediately respond, I don’t believe the larger
problem in small pieces. That’s how it works in the population will correct things by themselves. They
world – we are focusing on one thing at a time. need the push of law. That is why we are looking at
Plastic is not a separate problem. Essentially, the single-use plastic ban.
problem is about the way we live. We as life have
forgotten that we are life. We have forgotten that
our life’s existence is connected to everything
around us. People say nearly seven kilograms of
intake exchanges are happening per day. We have
lost contact with life – our own life, and everything
else that nourishes our life. This is the fundamental
disaster which is manifesting in so many different
ways in the world.
In our country, the condition of the land, the soil,
and the water is very alarming. With 1.3 billion
people, allowing soil and water to get depleted like
this means we still have not taken the nation in our
hands. With the Rally for Rivers, we picked water
Sadhguru: “If you use it, use it like this. Then you
to start with. Now plastic has been the theme of
understand what you’re doing to the entire planet.”
the United Nations, and it is a very deep concern.
Plastic is a classic case of who we are right now, It’s only in the last twenty years that this has
how irresponsible we are. Of many materials that happened. Earlier, we never really used plastic
we have developed on this planet, plastic is one of like that in this country. If once in a way, a plastic
the most fantastic ones. It can be recycled over and cover came home, my mother would fold it for
over again if we handle it right. But we have handled future use, and we would use for two, three years.
it so irresponsibly that it has become poisonous, and It’s not so difficult to live as we were living at that
it has entered everything. They are saying a whole time. Whatever small things we as individuals can
lot of microbes are carrying plastic in them. do are important to express our commitment. But
It is not time to debate. It is time to act. Though the problem is bigger. The solution also needs to be
there are so many wonderful people who will approached as such.

18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER July 2018

Right now, nearly forty percent of plastic is in
packaging. This is the area that we need to address,
because this is one thing that can be easily avoided.
Water bottles are about eight to nine percent of the
plastics used in the world. We are manufacturing
nearly half a trillion bottles every year. I have been
in conversation with some of the largest PET-bottle
manufacturers in the world. They are all willing to
change right now. We want the governments to
push it.
The industry themselves have realized they
have to do this for their own survival. Now these
companies, in collaboration with universities from
the Netherlands and a few marketing companies,
are trying to make PET a continuous recycling
process. That means the same bottles could be
used and reused almost forever. Changing lifestyles
Erik Solheim: “Sadhguru is my man for a very simple
is important. But we are talking about 7.6 billion
reason: He brings together the two necessary
people. Changing all their lifestyles is going to be
perspectives – the change of the individual, and the
a long-term plan. And by the time you change one
change of society, economics, and politics.”
generation, the next generation has gotten up and
is doing something else. We need to bring a law
that recycling must happen. We have to transform those businesses which are
One important point is there are many grades the major factors of pollution to a more ecologically
of plastic. Some of them are completely non- sensitive way of operation. This has to be looked
recyclable – they must be banned absolutely. at on all levels. You can’t just tell a local vendor,
Among the recyclable plastics, there are so many “You can’t use plastic.” What is he supposed to use?
varieties. In the United States, we have formed We must go and tell him what he can use as an
a powerful group of people who are approaching alternate product, how he can use it, and how it is
major industry with solutions. For example, Coke more beneficial for him and the customer. These
bottles would be easily recyclable, but because things have to be brought about, rather than simply
of the paper label on it, you cannot recycle. If you protesting against business and industry, because
recycle with the paper label, it gets downgraded – it on the long run, that’s not going to work – economy
would not be food-grade plastic. If the label was of will win. If we want ecology to win, we have to
the same grade plastic as the bottle, then it would marry ecology and economy. This is my effort.
be easy to recycle. We are also talking to companies
who are capable of printing on the bottle. Love & Grace,
We want to go to the businesses with solutions –
not protesting against them, not trying to destroy
businesses. The economic concerns of a business and
the economic concerns of a nation are important.
Unfortunately, so far, it has always been economy
versus ecology. This is what we have changed
with the Rally for Rivers. Suppose there is a fight
between ecology and economy, what do you think
will win in your home, in your community, in your
country? Economy, of course. People are thinking
economy is today’s concern, ecology is tomorrow’s
concern. No – ecology is today’s concern.

July 2018 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 19

 UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Date Program Place Contact

Isha Yoga Center,

1–4 Jul 2018 Shoonya Intensive Velliangiri Foothills, 83000 93555 / 83000 83111
Coimbatore – India

Isha Life Health Solutions

3 Jul 2018, Obesity Treatment 044-28885333 / 83000 45333
(opp. Spencer Plaza),
14 Jul 2018 Program programs@ishalife.org
Chennai – India

Isha Yoga Center,

Bhava Spandana
6–9 Jul 2018 Velliangiri Foothills, 83000 93555 / 83000 83111
(Gents)
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center,

Bhava Spandana
11–14 Jul 2018 Velliangiri Foothills, 83000 93555 / 83000 83111
(Ladies)
Coimbatore – India
Isha Rejuvenation,
0422-2515464
Joint and Musculoskeletal Isha Yoga Center,
16–22 Jul 2018 isharejuvenation@
Disorders Treatment Velliangiri Foothills,
ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India
Ishanga 7% – ‘Nanmai Isha Yoga Center,
94425 04655 / 94878 95891
27 Jul 2018 Uruvam’ Ceremony with Velliangiri Foothills,
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Sadhguru Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center, 83000 83111

Guru Purnima Satsang
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with Sadhguru (Tamil)
Coimbatore – India org

Isha Rejuvenation,
0422-2515464
Diabetes Management Isha Yoga Center,
27–29 Jul 2018 isharejuvenation@
Program Velliangiri Foothills,
ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center, 83000 83111

28–29 Jul 2018 In the Lap of the Master Velliangiri Foothills, iycprograms@ishafoundation.
Coimbatore – India org

Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515464

31 Jul – 4 Aug
Ayur Rasayana Intensive Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@
2018
Coimbatore – India ishafoundation.org

Kailash-Manasarovar 8144 123 123

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

Isha Yoga Center,

22–25 INSIGHT: The DNA of 83000 84888
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Nov 2018 Success with Sadhguru leadership@ishainsight.org
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 July 2018

 ISHA RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
1 medium-size pumpkin
¼ cup cashews
1 tbs. oil
2-3 cups water
1 tsp. nutmeg powder
METHOD
1) Remove the rind and seeds of the pumpkin and
cut the pumpkin flesh into approximately
1-inch cubes. In a large pot, heat 1 tbs. of oil
and add the cubed pumpkin.
2) Add a pinch of salt and cook covered on
medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until
the pumpkin is fully cooked. If the pumpkin
sticks to the pot, add ½ cup of water and
continue cooking with the lid on.
3) Once the pumpkin is fully cooked, remove
it from the heat. In a blender or grinder, add
cashews and ½ cup of water, and blend fully
until smooth.
July 2018
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
½ tsp. red chili powder or paprika (optional)
2 tsp. palm sugar
Salt to taste
Black pepper powder to taste
4) In small batches, puree the cooked pumpkin
using a blender, grinder, food processor, or
immersion blender. Add water as needed to
achieve a smooth consistency.
5) Pour the pumpkin puree and cashew puree into
the original cooking pot, stir together, and warm
over low heat. Add nutmeg powder, palm sugar,
paprika or chili powder (optional), salt, and black
pepper. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as
desired.
6) Remove from heat and serve.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 21
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 ZEN SPEAKS

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another life is all

To Touch and Transform

there is to Human Action.

24
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July 2018
2018