Volume 9 / Issue 3 March 2020

Kashi
Domes and towers of stone and metal
Palaces and parliaments for pleasure and
purpose. Schools and temples for pursuits
of here and beyond, all these and more
make a city that people build.
But a city with a tower of light
and cremation ghats that burn eternally
with only aspiration to dissolve.
Where Death is sacred beyond life.
A city built for Death and Dissolution
where life happens with
the knowledge that there is no tomorrow.
A tower of light that lights up
not only all that there IS, but also
That which is Not – Shiva

Grace & Blessings

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | b

 EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,
Almost three months after the Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment
Act (CAA), the protests against it are still going on unabatedly. But who really
knows what the CAA is all about and if there’s really any reason for concern for
Indian citizens? Sadhguru gets to the core of the matter in the interview excerpt
“Student Protests against CAA – Justified or Ill-Informed?”
A most fundamental aspect of life that is even more shrouded in mystery is death.
In our Lead Article, “Time for the Shocking Truth,” Sadhguru expounds the raw
truth of his new book Death – An Inside Story, why it’s about time to tell it like it is,
and why humanity is ready for that.
In this month’s edition of our On the Path of the Divine series, Swami Nandikesha
shares what it takes to keep Isha running as an “organism” rather than an
“organization.” He also revisits many poignant incidents with Sadhguru over the
years, and how the Master has influenced his way of being.
Also in this issue: “Three Keys to Success, According to the Mahabharat”; a
recap of Sadhguru at the Annual Meet of the World Economic Forum in Davos,
among other event highlights of the previous month; a lovely poem by an Isha
volunteer, and more. Last but not least, the rising temperatures call for refreshing
and healthy drinks. Prepared with tangy-sweet pineapple, cooling coconut, and
immunity-enhancing turmeric, our Turmeric Pineapple Coconut Smoothie has
everything to boost your vitality and amaze your taste buds.
Enjoy the read!
The Editorial Team

Contact the Editorial Team:

Isha Forest Flower, Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar Post, Coimbatore – 641114
forestflower@ishafoundation.org
For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office:
96770 16700 – subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org
To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower

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 March 2020

CONTENTS

LEAD ARTICLE MAHABHARAT

Part 63: Three Keys to Success,

Time for the Shocking Truth 07 According to the Mahabharat 09

INTERVIEW
Student Protests against CAA – Justified or Ill-Informed? 4

LEAD ARTICLE
Time for the Shocking Truth 7

MAHABHARAT
Part 63: Three Keys to Success, According to the Mahabharat 9

ON THE PATH OF THE DIVINE

Swami Nandikesha 11

NEWS & EVENTS

Saptarishi Arati on the Occasion of Agastya Jayanti 15
Ringing in Spring: Pongal Celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center 15
Davos 2020 – Sadhguru at the World Economic Forum Annual Meet 16
Final Review of Phase I of Jal Shakti Abhiyan 18

SHARING EXPERIENCES
The Path – Poem by an Isha Volunteer 19

UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Isha – Program & Event Highlights 20

ISHA RECIPES
Turmeric Pineapple Coconut Smoothie 21

ZEN SPEAKS
Rich or Poor 23

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 3

Student Protests against CAA –
Justified or Ill-Informed? INTERVIEW

Rahul Kanwal, TV journalist and News Director at India Today, caught up with Sadhguru in Davos at the
sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. In this excerpt of the interview, they particularly
focus on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the student protests that recently gripped the country.

Citizenship Amendment Act look at persecution regardless of which religion

Rahul Kanwal: Sadhguru, in the context of the
student protests that we are seeing, I was very
intrigued by the position that you had taken on the
Citizenship Amendment Act. You said that a lot of
these protests were misdirected. Why do you feel
this way?
Sadhguru: Have you read the Citizenship
Amendment Act?
Rahul Kanwal: I have.
Sadhguru: Is it targeted against someone?
Rahul Kanwal: It is against the idea of India which
says that we look at all religions as being equal.
And if we look at persecution, we should ideally
the persecuted person belongs to. Don’t you agree,
Sadhguru?
Sadhguru: We are talking about minority
persecution, not religious persecution, in an
adjacent country, not in our country.
Rahul Kanwal: Correct!
Sadhguru: This has got nothing to do with the
Constitution of India as it applies to Indians; this
has got something to do with people who were
left behind during partition. They stayed back
thinking they can live well there also. No one
really understood these two nations will become
so disparate. So, those people who got stuck there
may have been persecuted. But, for those who are

4 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2020

already here for ten, fifteen years, and they don't
have an identity, you are just trying to give them an
identity, you are not welcoming new people.
Rahul Kanwal: Should it not be about minority
persecution regardless of religion? Why should it
be that if you are Hindu, or Sikh, or Christian and
persecuted you are welcome to India but if you are
Muslim, you are not?
Sadhguru: Minority persecution means religious
minority, because they are theocratic states, not
secular nations; and there is a certain level of
persecution for all of them. So for all those who are
persecuted, it’s a one-time pardon because they are
already here. It is for those who came here before
2014. What you are saying is, “Why can’t everybody
come?” Are you short of population in the country?
We don’t need anyone – Hindu, Sikh, or Christian.
But they are already here with us without an
identity; that is all it is about.
Where Communication Failed
Rahul Kanwal: But what do you make of the fear?
There is a sense of palpable fear. You’re seeing
what's happening at Shaheen Bagh.
Sadhguru: That is because of the kind of things
that have been communicated. The government
has definitely failed in its ability to communicate
the idea. 
What is simply for somebody else, nothing to do
with you – you are protesting, thinking it is against
you, because somebody obviously communicated
it this way. This is not about Hindu, Muslim; this
is about the nation. This is about people who are
already in the country from another nation without
any identity. You are just trying to give them an
identity.
Rahul Kanwal: You spoke of how the government
failed in its communication. Where do you think
they erred? How should this matter have been
handled?
Sadhguru: Such a benign issue; they never thought
this will be organized this way. It is definitely a lapse;
no question about it. Right now, Indian states like
Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are here in Davos
seeking investments. If you want India’s economy
to explode into growth, the most important thing
is external investments. We are looking at two-
trillion-dollar investments. Who will invest their
money in a place where buses are burning on the
street?
Rahul Kanwal: There are lots of young students
from IIT, IIM, all kinds of colleges and universities.
Why do you think these students are protesting?
March 2020
Sadhguru: I don’t think they are continuing to
protest about this. Some are protesting about
fee hikes, some are protesting against police
atrocities – these are law and order issues. Don’t
make it into a national issue; it is not. Some people
are feeling insecure. Please reassure them – “There
is no danger to your citizenship.” This is very, very
important: Indian citizens, whatever religion you
have – or if you have no religion, like me – all of
us are safe, because the CAA (Citizenship Amendment
Act) is not about us. It’s about a few people who
came from outside and are living in our country
without legal identity.
The Role of the Media
Rahul Kanwal: What’s the way to heal?
Sadhguru: The media should speak!
Rahul Kanwal: There are protesters sitting at
Shaheen Bagh – members of government, ruling
party – you’re saying we should go out, speak to
them, and assuage their feelings and concerns?
Sadhguru: Definitely. Whatever needs to be done
has to be done to tell the citizens of India that what
we practice is not the government’s business.
When it comes to communication of an idea, when
wrong communication happens by vested interests,
isn’t it the responsibility of every citizen, particularly
the media to clearly say, “What you are assuming is
not true.” Has any media come out and done that?
No.
Rahul Kanwal: Do you think that a lot of the
apprehensions were also created because senior
ministers initially linked the NRC and the CAA?
Sadhguru: Possible!
Rahul Kanwal: And therefore, you know, a lot of
this is not necessarily media creation. There are so
many different comments in Parliament.
Sadhguru: That is true. Some people gloated about
it because even they did not understand what the
law is about. But let us understand, we as a nation
still have four hundred million people who have not
eaten properly. What is our responsibility for them?
We need investments to grow. Who wants to invest
their money in a place where things burn?
The Way Forward for India
Rahul Kanwal: You have been here at Davos.
What’s the buzz that you picked up about India?
Sadhguru: Everyone is excited about India’s
possibilities. At the same time, this question has
come up to me again and again, “What about the
civil unrest? Is it in control? Is Narendra Modi’s
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 5
government in control of what is happening in
the country?” I said, “It very much is. Because the
protesters are young people, they don’t want to
deal with them harshly.” I’m not a spokesperson
of the government, but I’m definitely speaking for
the nation. If there is something we disagree on,
there are places to debate. There is a parliament
to do that. Why burn buses and create a visual
which completely puts the country backwards, in a
negative picture?
Rahul Kanwal: Do you believe it’s a bit of a wasted
opportunity at a time when four hundred million
people still don’t have food to go into their mouths,
this whole focus on very divisive issues?
Sadhguru: There are contentious issues in the
country. If you don’t have the courage to deal
with them, you cannot make the economy grow.
So putting them aside quickly and focusing on the
economy is a wise thing for any government to do.
But people should also understand and participate.
We must understand whoever people elect will be
in the government. You elect someone and within
eight months, you say, “I want a change.” What
is that?
Rahul Kanwal: You make this point, so I’m
very curious to know your view on the current
dispensation, because when you made those
comments, a lot of people came out and labeled
you a Modi bhakt.
Sadhguru: Is it genuine that this CAA (Citizenship
Amendment Act) is aimed against a particular
community?
Rahul Kanwal: Well, it excludes members of one
community from seeking citizenship in India, if they
are persecuted in their own countries.
Sadhguru: Not true! We have partitioned about
seventy-two years ago – unfortunately on a
religious basis. It should not have happened. Today,
people who are left behind, who thought they will
be okay on that side, and now they are not okay –
not okay means, as I pointed out in my video, Hindu
marriage was not legal till 2017…
Rahul Kanwal: But what is your counter on
Ahmadiyyas, Hazaras, who are persecuted minorities
in their countries, because of their faith and belief?
Sadhguru: See, do you have enough population in
your country?
Rahul Kanwal: Sure, of course!
Sadhguru: Do you want to have fifty percent of
Pakistan back in the country because economically
they are not doing well?
6 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Rahul Kanwal: A small minority…
Sadhguru: No, economic minorities will come. We
cannot afford to bring anybody – even if they are
Hindu. This law is only talking about those who are
already inside.
The Inconvenient Truth
Rahul Kanwal: You spoke about, “too many people
already.” Does that indicate that you would strongly
back population control?
Sadhguru: One hundred percent. I am the only one
for the last twenty-five years talking about it and
being unpopular with every religion. Hindu, Muslim,
Christian, everybody hates me, because I'm saying
first control your populations, because we are too
many people for the land that we have.
In a democratic country, you cannot control the
population forcefully, but by incentives you can.
You can incentivize those who consciously decide
certain things. Otherwise, nature will do it in a very
cruel way.
Rahul Kanwal: You sidestepped my question on
responding to critics who were labeling you a Modi
bhakt.
Sadhguru: You can say whatever you want. I am in
a place where no one’s opinion does anything to me.
And never ever have I identified with any political
ideology or party. My only thing is if people choose
someone, I support them for five years. After that,
if people choose someone else, I will support that
government for the next five years, because I value
democracy. If you think democracy is nothing, your
opinion is everything – I’m sorry, I’m not with you. 
How to Create a “Quality World”
Rahul Kanwal: What is your message for the youth
in terms of keeping their sanity, the heads on their
shoulders?
Sadhguru: If you want to create a quality society,
a quality nation, and a quality world, the most
important thing is you create quality human
beings. Here, I'm saying in the economic forum,
in a business place, they are dedicating half a day
for a consciousness retreat. This is because they
understand without creating quality human beings,
there is no quality world.
Rahul Kanwal: You have spoken as you always do
from the heart. Sadhguru, for joining us, thank you
so much.
March 2020
Time for the Shocking Truth
Sadhguru on the raw truth of his new book Death – An Inside Story, why it’s about time to tell it like it
is, and why humanity is ready for that.
The Raw Reality of Death
Sadhguru: Recently, I have been immersed in this
book on death that is going to be published on
Mahashivaratri: Death – An Inside Story. It is only
for those people who shall die – not for immortal
people. These are things that I have spoken, but
reading through it now, I could see all the idiotic
things that people will say about these profound
dimensions of life, because they will take it out of
context. I thought of the various consequences that
will arise out of it, but it is okay. I have reached a
point in my life where I do not have to be politically
correct. I will say what I want to say, which I always
did. In the initial part of my life, I said it very raw.
But because we had Dhyanalinga on our mind, I
became a little diplomatic, saying the same things
in a more nicely clothed way. I also started dressing
up nicely. Before, I was raw in every way.
Most of the talks in the Death book come from that
time, which was very raw and direct. Once again, I
am getting there – the time for diplomacy is almost
over. After maybe another year, we will go all out.
Social realities keep changing, but someone has to
simply state what is true, no matter what. Most
March 2020
LEAD ARTICLE
beings on this planet who arrived at some profound
dimension within themselves, generally were not
even understood in their lifetimes. We do not have
such bad luck – at least some people understand;
some people love it; some people hate it. But in the
past, most realized beings found no understanding
in their lives. Generally, people tried to kill them; they
hounded them; they poisoned them; they crucified
them – this has been the history of this world.
The World Coming Closer Together
In that sense, we are doing very well. According
to some calculations, over one billion people have
watched our videos till date. The really wise ones
of the realized beings never opened their mouth.
Overenthusiastic ones like me opened their mouth
and usually got killed. Some of them were wise
enough to clothe their words in different ways
and try to make it a part of the social process.
But whatever they had said got misinterpreted
after some time, in a thousand different ways.
People twisted and turned it according to their
convenience. But today, we have the advantage
that whatever we say is recorded. People cannot
easily misinterpret things, because we can replay.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 7
It is not that we have hesitated in the past, but
we have avoided saying a few things sometimes,
except in close circles. But I feel with one billion
people watching our videos, now the planet is a
close circle. A close circle is no more only those who
are living in the ashram. There are people in various
parts of the world who have never seen me in their
lives, but they are intimately close. Anywhere in the
world, there are people who are very close in their
hearts and minds. In my heart and mind, they were
already close. But now even in their hearts and
minds, I am close to them. So we can speak direct
hard things not only to people who are sitting here,
but we can start speaking to everyone. Those who
cannot digest it have to go to the toilet.
Why People Are Becoming Hardcore
I feel like never before, the world is ready for a
direct hit. This overexposure to all kinds of things,
right from an early age has made people a lot more
hardcore. By the time they are fourteen, they are
quite hardcore in today’s world. Today, an eight-
year-old boy or girl knows things that you could
not imagine when you were fourteen. There is no
point in talking soft stuff to them. The Death book
is a very strong statement. Intentionally, we left it
without refining the language and the statements.
Just like that, as it was spoken to a genuine seeker,
we are saying it to the world now, which is going to
cause lots of disturbance.
“If you blossom into a full-fledged human
being, you do not have to be nice – it is just
nice, that’s all.”
In the life of humanity, this time is very important.
Never before did humanity have this level of reach
and exposure. So this is a Super Over1 – we need
to hit every ball for a six. Some people will not like
it. Someone who is unaware may get knocked out
by the ball, but the rest of the people will love it.
This is not about whether they like it or not. It does
not matter what they are looking for. They may
be looking for love, sexuality, or just trying to buy
something on Amazon – or they are looking for
death and enlightenment. It does not matter what
the hell they are looking for – they must be hit.
Because with the kind of population that we have
become, and the level of empowerment that we
have reached, if we do not turn inward now, we are
going to be the biggest disaster that humanity has
ever seen.
8 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Human Beings: The Problem and
the Solution
There is only one problem on the planet: human
beings. And the only problem with human beings
is, they are unconscious and compulsive. No matter
how this unconsciousness and compulsiveness
manifests itself – in the form of compulsive
eating, war, or a domestic situation – essentially,
it is compulsive human behavior. You were given
this level of intelligence, awareness, competence,
because nature expected you will become a
conscious process. If you were to be compulsive,
they would have given you half a brain. They gave
you a full-size brain, believing that you will use
it consciously. But whether you look at science,
technology, politics, religion, industry, or business –
all the major forces on the planet are functioning
compulsively and unconsciously right now.
So it is very important that a teaching also has
a shock value. Otherwise, people ignore these
things. It is not just for effect; the truth is like that
anyway. Truth is shocking. Why people tell lies, even
to those whom they love very much, is because
truth is shocking, about every little thing. Tell me
honestly, do you tell more lies to your loved ones or
to strangers on the street? Most of the lies are for
the loved ones, because truth is shocking. Very few
human beings have a digestive system to swallow
truth and be fine. If you tell them the truth about
yourself, they will freak. People have always been
taught by the so-called civilization processes, the
religious processes, and other things to be nice. If
you blossom into a full-fledged human being, you
do not have to be nice – it is just nice, that’s all. A
blossoming flower is just nice by nature – it is not
trying to be nice to you.
From Tree-Planter to
People-Flowerer
So you must brace yourself up, because there
are many, many processes happening. We
have set fire in many places, which we light up
slowly. Unfortunately, we also have to tackle the
environment. Now with this trillion tree campaign, I
will become a designated tree-planter. Even to just
extricate myself from that, I need to state spiritual
aspects a little more strongly. Otherwise, people
will think I am a tree-planter. Being a tree-planter
is not a bad profession, but my business is to make
people flower.
1
 tie-breaking method used in limited-overs cricket matches, where
both teams play a single, additional over of six balls to determine
the winner of the match
March 2020
Mahabharat
Three Keys to Success,
According to the
Mahabharat
In this piece, Sadhguru expands on the role of skill, grace, and luck to be successful in life, illustrating the
importance with examples from the Mahabharat. He also indicates how to make your intellect sharp as a
knife and acquaints us with five miracles at our disposal.
Sadhguru: To succeed in one’s endeavor, whatever
that may be, three aspects are crucial. One is
intelligence and skill, another is grace, and the third
is proper alignment of situations, which we usually
call luck. When the Pandavas went into the game of
dice, they definitely did not have skill. Grace, which
for them comes through Krishna, was not available
then, as they neither took Krishna with them nor did
they even inform him. Luck, which comes through
Draupadi, was missing as she was also not there.
With these three things absent, if a man gets into
action, he for sure invites disaster.
Be Skillful and Listen
How to know whether you have the needed
intelligence or skill? If you wonder whether you
have it or not, you may become unreasonably
diffident about yourself. If you think you have it,
you may become confident and stupid. The only
way to know is to take the grace available and learn
to be sensitive to what is happening around you.
Everything in existence is speaking every moment –
people do not listen; they cannot listen because
too much of their own talk is happening in their
head. They can neither listen to grace nor to the
alignment of existence.
The danger of speaking on these terms is there
are a lot of scatterbrains who suddenly think they
hear the coconut tree telling them something or
whatever. To listen does not mean to imagine. You
March 2020
MAHABHARAT
SERIES
PART 63
can only listen when you are not talking. Hearing
is not listening. Hearing happens whether you like
it or not. Hearing causes distress to the mind –
listening brings the mind to stillness. If you listen
to something, your mind will become focused and
still; if you are simply hearing things, the mind will
become distressed – that is the effect of noise. But if
you listen to it carefully, even what you consider as
noise will bring your mind to stillness. Music is just
properly arranged noise or sounds. And the quality
of the music depends not only on the musician but
also on the listener, on how keenly one listens.
Why Lack of Faith Leads to Failure
These three aspects for successful action flow right
through the Mahabharat. During the war, there
were certain moments when they listened, and
certain moments when they did not. To listen to
someone, you need faith in them. Otherwise you
hear things and do your own rubbish again. In
moments when the Pandavas listened, their lives
rose. In other moments, when they thought, “I will
listen to what is convenient for me and otherwise do
my own thing,” they went down, because listening
needs faith. The Kauravas were always down – they
had no faith in anything or anyone. The Pandavas’
faith was wavering. When it was on, they would
rise and soar. When it was not, they were down.
Where there is no faith, there will be anxiety and
fear. Where there is fear, there will be rage. Where
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 9
there is rage, there will be conflict. That is the
essence of the story. Whenever there was faith in
them, they were fearless; when they were fearless,
there was no rage; when there was no rage, they
acted purposefully. But whenever there was no
faith, there was fear; when there was fear, there was
rage; when there was rage, they lost their sense of
purpose and their faculties did not function properly.
Why Rage Does Not Work for You
During the war, Ashwatthama was incensed by his
father’s death, particularly by the way he was killed.
Drona was killed after he was made to believe his
son Ashwatthama had died. Hearing that, Drona put
his arms down, sat down in his chariot, in a cross-
legged posture, in meditation. Dhrishtadyumna
went and chopped off Drona’s head, who was
unarmed, and sitting with his eyes closed. Enraged
by the way his father was killed, Ashwatthama
pulled out his ultimate astra, the Narayana Astra.
Normally, it would have burnt the whole Pandava
army, including the five Pandavas and everything
else. The moment Ashwatthama let it out, Krishna
said to the Pandavas and their army, “All of you bow
down and prostrate to the astra.” Almost the whole
Pandava army prostrated, and the astra passed over
them. Krishna said, “He can use it only once.” Since
Ashwatthama had used his most potent weapon,
there was no danger from him anymore.
The whole story runs on this, and life runs on this:
When there is faith, there is no fear. When there
is no fear, there is no rage in your heart. When
there is no rage in your heart, you will act towards
the purpose of your life, without even knowing it
intellectually. You will fulfill your natural dharma
without even thinking about it. That is the way to
act, because the moment you think about it, your
thoughts will create endless, contradictory debates
in your mind.
10 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
People think they can debate and come to a
conclusion. You can debate and come to a conclusion
only if your opponent is an idiot. When two really
intelligent people look at even the smallest aspect
of life, they can debate on it for the rest of eternity.
You can settle issues by debate only when you or
your opponent is stupid. Unfortunately, the modern
intellect is trained for debate. They think questioning
something or debating about something is
intelligence – it is really just entertainment.
How to Sharpen Your Intellect and
Senses
The intellect is like a knife – if you do not let your
intellect be dulled by any identifications, it has the
power to penetrate through creation. You can
only debate with the information you have. Your
information about this cosmos is very limited. You
do not even really know a single cell in your body.
If you start a debate with this level of information,
it is just entertainment; you are misusing your
intelligence and intellect. If you keep your intellect
constantly clean, in the sense that it is not identified
with anything but simply looking, it will be like a hot
knife that will cut through everything; you will see
everything the way it is.
The intellect is given to aid your five senses. The five
senses are a problem when your intellect is identified
with something or the other. The five senses are a
miracle only if the intellect is not identified with
the body or the mind. If the intellect is sitting here
in a dispassionate manner, it will slice through
everything. Then you will see the five senses are five
miracles that everyone should know; five miracles
that have come to you free of cost. Dhritarashtra
came with four sense, so you have to pardon him.
But you have no pardon because you have come
with five, and still you are not any less blind.
To be continued.
March 2020
 ON THE PATH
OF THE DIVINE

Swami Nandikesha
Sacred because Shiva has touched it

In this series, each month, one of our Isha Brahmacharis or Sanyasis shares their individual background,
observations, and experiences of what it means for them to walk this sacred “Path of the Divine.”
In this edition, we meet the multifaceted Swami Nandikesha who shares what it takes to keep Isha running
as an “organism” rather than an “organization,” among his other responsibilities. He also revisits many
poignant incidents with Sadhguru and how the Master has influenced his way of being.

Making a Commitment On January 1, 1993, I sat for Samyama in Tiruppur.

“Can you commit yourselves to create a joyful,
loving, and peaceful world?” said the teacher
lovingly, before he closed the class. I heard myself
saying a loud, “Yes!” This little fervor or commitment
changed the direction of my life forever.
I did the Isha Yoga class in 1992 with some of my
friends. We were a group of typical teens who
were exploring new things – of all sorts. After this
class, we started to volunteer on initiation days in
various towns around Coimbatore, and some of us
came to do Bhava Spandana program (BSP) with
Sadhguru in Tiruppur. Many times during BSP I felt
so high – rolling, jumping, and screaming; I gave the
volunteers a hard time. But it was a lot of fun too.
During the group photo, I remember I was standing
in the middle of the first row with my other friends,
and we pulled Sadhguru to sit on my lap.
Those days during Samyama, when we would
get too wild, Sadhguru would send us out of the
hall during the processes. One day I got a taste of
stillness too! It was the day when we were asked
to meditate upon some element of nature. I chose
a tree. I got so engrossed with the tree that I lost all
sense of whatever else was happening around me.
In my perception, there was no sound around me.
After some time, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Come,
let’s go inside,” I heard Sadhguru’s gentle voice from
behind me. As I paid attention to Sadhguru, I felt that
my connection with the tree was broken. Extending
both my hands with love, I tried to reach out to the
tree, and started to cry, “This maram1, this maram...”
Sadhguru lovingly nudged me and took me inside.
He asked me to have some food as I had missed the
lunch break as well. That was the first time in my life
I felt as if I had merged with another life.

1
 Tamil word for “tree”

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 11

Losing the Frisbee
In 1996, some of my friends were going for the
Dhyana Yatra2, and I had gone to the railway station
to see them off. When I entered the train to find
them at their seats, we came to know there were
last minute cancellations and some seats were
available. “Why don’t you come with us?” asked
my friends. Without thinking much, I agreed. Here
I was in the train, embarking on a 15-day yatra
without even an extra set of clothes! I had no warm
clothing, no shoes, nothing. Of course, all this was
easily managed with the help of my friends, and the
yatra was great fun.
Whenever we stopped anywhere, Sadhguru would
play Frisbee with us. Mostly, I would just stand and
curiously look at the others playing because I didn’t
even know how to hold a Frisbee properly. One
time, in Rishikesh, Sadhguru called me to teach me
how to throw it. After a few minutes, I threw the
Frisbee up in the air – it flew far and high and fell
into the thick surrounding forest. “I just looked away
for a few minutes, and you threw it off,” Sadhguru
said to me as he saw that there was no way we
could retrieve the Frisbee. I ran to look for it, but it
was of no use. I was devastated, and even in the bus
I wouldn’t stop crying. “This was the only thing that
Sadhguru could play with, and I lost it,” I thought
and thought… and cried and cried. Suddenly, from
nowhere, a thought arose within, “It is okay, such
things are not important for a Guru,” and I found
myself quietened after this.
Profundity of Making of
Dhyanalinga
Our lives in so many ways revolved around Sadhguru
and Isha activities, but the thought that we should
move to the ashram didn’t occur to me. By 1997, I
had completed my mechanical engineering diploma
and started three businesses, while I continued to
volunteer. “This is our contribution to creating a
joyful and peaceful world,” we would say to each
other whenever the topic arose. When Sadhguru
started work on the Dhyanalinga, none of us really
saw this as some religious activity. We simply knew
that whatever Sadhguru is doing must be for the
wellbeing of the people.
Since I had an engineering background, I used to
rejoice that I was called to support some of the
construction activities related to the Dhyanalinga.
One such eventful day was February 14, 1998,
when the Linga was to be fixed into the Avudaiyar3.
 Pilgrimage to the Himalayas
2 always fueled by the profoundness of the activity
 Base of the Linga
3 that he had taken on in the interest of the people.
12 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER
The day before, I had gone to the ashram and made
some markings on the Linga and the copper vessel
into which it was to be inserted the next day. In
the evening, I went to Coimbatore to attend the
wedding of my business partner’s brother. The next
day at around 3:30 p.m., when I was getting ready
to return to the ashram, we heard the news about
a powerful bomb blast in the city. Within the next
40 minutes, there were five more bomb blasts.
These bomb blasts left nearly 50 people dead and
many injured. There was a curfew in many parts of
Coimbatore. “How to reach the ashram on time?”
was the foremost thought in my mind. Finally, I
couldn’t hold myself anymore and simply left from
Singanallur for the ashram at around 5:00 p.m.
The streets were empty, but the situation was
still utterly chaotic as there was the threat of
more blasts. Many roads were blocked, and I was
wondering how to find my way to the ashram.
When I was near Gandhipuram, feeling lost, a man
came to me and asked for a lift. I had him sit behind
me without much ado. It just so happened that
this person knew the routes very well, and in the
next one hour, I was at the ashram – just in time
for the process. The process went very well. Later I
heard that the previous evening, when we were all
sitting for dinner, Sadhguru had inquired about me
for the first time and had asked somebody, “Who is
that boy?”
“Should we move to the ashram full time? It is
needed now,” suggested a friend one day, who was
also actively volunteering. Without much thought,
I simply said “Yes,” and decided to close the three
businesses that I was managing. The wind-up
was a bit messy, but it happened with Sadhguru’s
Grace and a lot of support from the ashram. It is
very strange that no big decision that I had taken
so far had been driven by my desire to be close to
Sadhguru. I knew that Sadhguru was the power
behind whatever I was experiencing, but I was
March 2020
Only on the day of my Brahmacharya initiation, on
Mahashivaratri in 2000, I had some grasp of my
spiritual journey ahead.
When I Got to Feed the Master
One day, I was in Triangle Block during the day,
and I saw Sadhguru coming in. Seeing him looking
here and there, I ran up to him to ask what he was
looking for. “Is there anything light to eat?” he asked.
Our morning meal was over, but I ran around and
found a few oranges. I knew that for Sadhguru to
ask for something to eat, his last food intake must
have been many hours before. So, it pained me that
I could find only oranges to offer him. I sat down
beside him, peeled the oranges, took the skin off
of each slice, and kept them on a plate for him to
eat. Sadhguru ate each slice slowly, as if relishing
it intensely. Till today, the opportunity to offer him
something with my own hand has been one of the
highest moments of my life.
The Responsibility of Holding
Sadhguru’s Trust
Once it happened in 2011, I was walking behind
Sadhguru while he was having a conversation with
two political leaders. Suddenly, Sadhguru turned
back and asked me, “How many departments
do you coordinate, Swami?” “A few, Sadhguru,”
I replied. “How many people?” “Maybe 100–150,” I
said as I had never counted. “See, you don’t have
to be an extraordinary person to be a leader. All
it takes is commitment and holding the wellbeing
of people in your heart,” he said to the politician,
pointing at me. This small incident had a profound
effect on me. A few years later, when I was asked
to take on the responsibility of a Group Coordinator
(GC), this simple trust of Sadhguru held me up and
helped me overcome my nervousness of assuming
this responsibility. In many ways, it is the ethos by
which I work with other people too.
“If Sadhguru can accept me and work
with me despite my limitations, who am I
to resist working with anyone?”
Another fundamental driving the decisions I
need to take as a part of my activity is that Isha
is an “organism,” put together by Sadhguru for
the wellbeing of people in the world at large.
Specifically for the wellbeing of those who have
left everything behind that the world had to offer
them and have come here to dedicate their lives. It
is not an organization. All of us have our limitations.
March 2020
If Sadhguru can accept me and work with me
despite my limitations, who am I to resist working
with anyone? And I have also seen that if you trust
people and give them freedom, they can amaze
you, no matter what their current compulsions may
be. It does not mean that I don’t take a firm stand
when it is needed, but with Sadhguru’s Grace, at
least this much has evolved within me that I don’t
lose complete trust in a person, no matter what
happens.
One example in this regard is when, many years
ago, I heard some complaints about a sevadhar4 who
was up to some ugly mischief. When a few warnings
didn’t work, I had to ask him to leave the ashram,
explaining to him the consequences of his behavior.
He looked sad at the time, and I too felt bad about
it. A few years later, one day I was coming out of
Dhyanalinga and I saw a person running up to me
as if we had been friends before. I failed to recognize
him, but then he said, “Swami, do you remember
me? You fired me from my activity and made me
realize what I was doing was not okay. That had
so much effect on me that I worked on it. Now I
have a decent job somewhere, and I am doing well.”
He offered his gratitude in his own simple way,
and I felt a sense of relief that I had made the right
decision after all.
The GC responsibility also requires me to be in
frequent touch with Sadhguru for guidance and
to support him in his work. One thing that truly
amazes me about Sadhguru is how inclusive he is,
and how he is able to keep himself in a certain way,
no matter what kind of situation is around him or
what kind of activity he is doing. Even when people
who have been raising false allegations against Isha
or have some vested interests elsewhere, come
to meet him under some pretext, I have not seen
Sadhguru having any resistance towards them. He
says, “My work is with 7.1 billion human beings, and
4
 Worker at the Isha Yoga Center
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 13
these people are also human beings. They require Being around Sadhguru also exposes you to many
a little more work, that’s all.” Sometimes I would situations that you may not particularly enjoy.
see him having meeting after meeting the whole For me, one such situation is dealing with snakes
day, and my heart would break seeing this. But at around him. Sadhguru often teases me about my
the end of the day, Sadhguru looks the same and fear of snakes and pushes me to learn to handle
greets the dogs at his house with the same zest as them. Recently, a six-foot-long snake just went into
he always does. Sadhguru’s bathroom, and not knowing what to do
with it, I went to Sadhguru to tell him about the
Being Around Sadhguru situation. “Why don’t you just catch him and leave
Seeing Sadhguru’s concern for people is him out?” he asked. I didn’t move. He understood
overwhelming. Recently, he took a walk with a my “No” and moved on to evict the snake himself.
group of us from Dhyanalinga to Sarpa Vasal. On
the way, he noticed many things that needed
attention and pointed those out to us. By the time
we reached Adiyogi, the list had become long. Then
he stood facing Adiyogi, and bowing to Him with
folded hands, Sadhguru said, “All that is happening
here is very important for humanity, and I have left
all this in the hands of all of you. Please take care of
this.” It was difficult for me to hold back my tears
when I heard him saying this.

“Even though we work closely

with Sadhguru, I don’t see Sadhguru as a
person – for me, he is Shiva himself.”
In fact, in a recent Darshan, when Sadhguru referred
to a Swami who hadn’t learned how to handle
snakes despite being around him for so many years,
he was referring to me. It is so uncanny – that very
morning Swami Hakesa had asked me to hold a
small garden snake. Very reluctantly extending my
hand, I had said, “I must learn to handle snakes!” The
same evening Sadhguru also reminded me of this
big limitation. So, I am making an effort these days.
Even though we work closely with Sadhguru, I
don’t see Sadhguru as a person – for me, he is Shiva
himself. I feel blessed that I live in this consecrated
space enveloped in his life energy. Whatever I know
today, whatever I can do today, I have learned from
Sadhguru and the people around me who are with
me on this sacred journey.

Activity has grown since the consecration of This is an excerpt of Swami’s sharing. Read the full article
Adiyogi. Though it is very fortunate that thousands on the Isha Blog.
of people are visiting Adiyogi and the ashram on
a daily basis, it sometimes becomes too much to
manage for the number of people we have here. But
having Sadhguru say this to us was too much. So
we had to make some changes in our team and the
work allocations. Such sudden changes sometimes
hurt people around us, but it is so wonderful to see
that eventually, everyone comes on board, because
we are all working for the same purpose, the same
cause – the wellbeing of people.

14 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2020

Saptarishi Arati on the Occasion
of Agastya Jayanti NEWS & EVENTS

Isha Yoga Center, 12 Jan 2020: When Sadhguru

Seven priests from Kashi Vishwanath Temple
conducted this powerful process in the presence of
Adiyogi.
visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi,
he was impressed by the power of the Saptarishi
Arati. He described the process as the creation
of powerful stacks of energy. On the occasion
of Agastya Jayanti, seven priests from the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple conducted the Saptarishi
Arati for the Yogeshwar Linga, in the presence
of Adiyogi. Over 5000 devotees witnessed the
Arati. The sight of the seven priests sitting around
the Yogeshwar Linga, conducting the pooja with
utter involvement and dedication reminded
one of how the first Saptarishi Arati must have
happened, thousands of years ago. “We never
felt that we were doing the pooja outside the
Vishwanath temple; the experience of doing this
for Yogeshwar Linga felt just the same,” shared
the priests from Kashi.

Ringing in Spring: Pongal Celebrations

at the Isha Yoga Center

Isha Yoga Center, 15 Jan 2020: Isha Yoga Center

hosted colorful and fun-filled Pongal celebrations
in the presence of Adiyogi. Over 5000 people
reveled in the festivities as the call of “Pongal O
Pongal” reverberated through the air. Students
of Isha Vidhya, Isha Home School and Isha
Samskriti, as well as Sadhanapada participants
presented a colorful potpourri of music and dance
performances. A cattle exhibition with over 20
indigenous breeds from the states of Andhra
Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, reared at the
Isha Yoga Center, was another major attraction.
The intent of the exhibition was to create
awareness about the value and advantages of
indigenous cattle breeds, which have largely People from near and far vivaciously celebrated the
been crowded out by high-producing dairy cattle harvest festival of Pongal.
from abroad. Local villagers, Isha volunteers from
from. Pongal literally means “spilling over,” from
all over the world, as well as ashram guests and
the custom of cooking the traditional rice dish in
visitors joined in the preparation of the traditional
earthen pots until it overflows.
Pongal rice that this festival derived its name

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 15

Davos 2020 – Sadhguru at the World
Economic Forum Annual Meet

Sadhguru returns to the WEF after a decade to support the 1 trillion tree campaign, deliver a keynote
address, and conduct meditation sessions.

Davos, 21–24 Jan 2020: The World

Economic Forum Annual Meeting in
Davos-Klosters is one of the foremost
platforms for the world’s most
influential leaders to come together,
exchange ideas, network, collaborate,
and shape global, regional, and industry
agendas. Change-makers from across
the globe addressed the most pressing
issues on the global agenda in an
exceptional atmosphere featuring
interdisciplinary, informal, and direct
interaction between peers. This year’s
speakers included US President Donald
Trump, German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, environmental activist Greta
Thunberg, and European Central Bank
President Christine Lagarde.
16 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2020
The theme for this WEF summit was
“Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable
World.” This year’s Annual Meet saw the launch
of a pivotal initiative to combat climate change:
the “Champions for 1 Trillion Trees,” a platform
of the World Economic Forum, led by the United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the UN.
Sadhguru shared the stage with other leading
voices in forest conservation and tree planting
from around the world, including legendary
primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall,
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and the President
of Colombia, Iván Duque, among others.
Emphatically pitching for unified action to
address climate change, leaders from around
the world put forth the ambitious campaign
that aims to plant 1 trillion trees worldwide
in 10 years. Sadhguru, who has to his credit
ecological initiatives in India such as Project
GreenHands (PGH) and Rally for Rivers (RfR) –
both of which advocate tree planting – stressed
on the importance of agroforestry and the need Prof. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive
to marry ecology and economy to successfully Chairman of the World Economic Forum, gives
plant trees on a large scale. Sadhguru a warm welcome.

Sadhguru exchanging views and ideas with

conservationist Jane Goodall.

It is noteworthy that on a stage such as the World
Economic Forum, which is essentially designed for
economic purposes, half a day was dedicated to a
Consciousness Retreat. Sadhguru, who has long stressed
on the importance of raising the consciousness and
inclusiveness of leaders whose decisions affect millions
of lives, conducted a powerful meditation session for
delegates of the WEF. “Creating a Conscious Planet is
possible only by raising human consciousness,” he said.
In an event that witnessed the convergence
of change-makers from across the planet,
Sadhguru met and interacted with
leaders such as Tony Simmons, head of
World Agroforestry Centre, Karnataka
Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Anand
Mahindra, Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Prabhu,
among many others.

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 17

Final Review of Phase I of Jal Shakti Abhiyan

Delhi, 28 Jan 2020: Union Minister

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated
the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) national
review and workshop, and hosted a
special interaction with Sadhguru.
The event had senior officials of
the government who have been
implementing the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in
the most water-stressed districts across
the country in attendance. Sadhguru
presented the scalable initiatives for
water conservation by Isha Foundation
and shared his experiences in creating
people’s movements. He highlighted the
need for a sustainable approach towards Sadhguru and Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh
nation-building and the need to identify Shekhawat, advocate people’s participation in Jal Shakti
ways to conserve water at the local level. Abhiyan.

18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2020

The Path
A thousand tiny moons
Reflect on the path
Even the smallest stones,
Capture her Shine
In the stone’s stillness,
Her light emanates
Only in my motion,
The light appears and disappears
And as the walk continues
Each sparkle dazzles my eyes
In my dance around You
I am dazzled by Your Brilliance
But it is in my stillness
That my heart is filled with your Shine
March 2020
SHARING
EXPERIENCES
How long shall I dance?
Before I become Your Stillness?
How long shall I dance,
Filled and emptied by Your Presence?
Wear me out with Your Dance
So in this Dance I Disappear
Wear me out with this Dancing
So in full Stillness Your Shine Appears.
– Erin, Inner Engineering Ishanga/
Isha full-time volunteer, Isha Yoga Center
ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 19
 UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Date Program Place Contact

Isha Yoga Center,

1–8 Samyama with 83000 93555
Velliangiri Foothills,
March 2020 Sadhguru iycprograms@ishayoga.org
Coimbatore – India
Isha Yoga Center,
1–4 94437 00982
Yogasanas Program Velliangiri Foothills,
March 2020 hathayoga.iyc@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

Isha Yoga Center,

5–7 94437 00982
Angamardana Program Velliangiri Foothills,
March 2020 hathayoga.iyc@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

7–8 Isha Life Health Solutions, 70101 58845

Sunetra Eye Program
March 2020 Chennai – India programs@ishalife.org

Isha Rejuvenation,
8 March Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515466
Holistic Cancer Clinic
2020 Velliangiri Foothills, op.rejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

8 March Isha Life Health Solutions, 70101 58845

Holistic Cancer Clinic
2020 Chennai – India programs@ishalife.org

Joint and
8 March Isha Life Health Solutions, 70101 58845
Musculoskeletal
2020 Chennai – India programs@ishalife.org
Disorders Treatment

9 March
Isha Yoga Center,
2020 Shivanga Sadhana 83000 83111
Velliangiri Foothills,
(culmination: Initiation (Gents) info@shivanga.org
Coimbatore – India
21 April 2020)

Isha Rejuvenation,
9–29 Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515647
Yoga Marga
March 2020 Velliangiri Foothills, isharejuvenation@ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India

NESCO Center
Inner Engineering
28–29 Western Express 79771 02000
Completion with
March 2020 Highway, Goregaon sadhguru-in-mumbai@ishayoga.org
Sadhguru (East) Mumbai – India

Inner Engineering Georgia World Congress

25–26 +1(931)488-8448
Completion with Center (GWCC) Atlanta,
April 2020 iecsupport@innerengineering.com
Sadhguru Georgia – USA

Inner Engineering
16–17 San Mateo County Event +1(931)488-8448
Completion with
May 2020 Center San Mateo – USA iecsupport@innerengineering.com
Sadhguru
Isha Yoga Center,
Yantra Ceremony with 84484 47708
18 June 2020 Velliangiri Foothills,
Sadhguru yantra@lingabhairavi.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 March 2020
Turmeric Pineapple Coconut Smoothie
ISHA RECIPE

INGREDIENTS METHOD

2 cups (350 g) of pineapple chunks 1. Place all the ingredients (except for the sweetener) in
(preferably frozen) your blender and puree until completely smooth.
1 ripe banana, sliced 2. Blend in your favorite sweetener, to taste.
1 cup (240 ml) coconut milk 3. Pour into glasses and enjoy!
½ tsp. turmeric powder
¼ tsp. grated fresh ginger
⅛ tsp. cinnamon powder
¼ tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
Pinch of salt Tip: Don’t omit the black pepper. It can enhance
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper the curcumin (the most beneficial component of
turmeric) absorption in the body by up to 2000%.
Coconut jaggery, honey, or another sweetener of
your choice – to taste

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 21

 SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Insightful – Inspiring – Informative

I would like to Subscribe for myself Renew my subscription Change the mailing address Subscribe as a gift

One year – 12 issues (within India by regular mail) – ` 180 Payment By Cheque
One year – 12 issues (within India by courier) – ` 480 `50 Extra

Mode of Payment: Cash Demand Draft Money Order Cheque

FF CODE (Forest Flower subscription No.):

Name*
Please complete in BLOCK LETTERS

Address*
SUBSCRIBER

State* PIN*

Phone: (Mobile)*.............................................. (Home)*......................................... (Work)*......................................

Email* ..............................................................................................................................................................................

Name*
Please complete in BLOCK LETTERS

* These fields are mandatory

Address*
SEND GIFT TO

State* PIN*

Phone: (Mobile)*.............................................. (Home)*......................................... (Work)*......................................

Email* ..............................................................................................................................................................................

Enclosed DD/Cheque/MO No. ............................................................................................................. dated .................................................

drawn on ................................................................................................................. (bank), payable at Coimbatore for ` .............................
in favor of Isha Foundation.

For payments by cheque, please add `50/- to the subscription amount towards clearing charges.

Please mail the completed subscription form along with your payment to: ISHA FOREST FLOWER
17, Govindasamy Naidu Layout, Singanallur, Coimbatore - 641005
For further inquiries, please contact: 96770 16700 / 96772 74777 8 subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org
Date: Subscriber Signature:

RECEIPT DETAILS (For Office Use Only)

Receipt No.: ........................ Receipt Date: ........................
Amount received: ........................Received by: ........................Remarks: ........................

FOR ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND RENEWALS, visit www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower

22 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2020

 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

March 2020 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 23

 Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333 WPP license No.: TN/PMG (CCR)/WPP–446/2020–2022
Registered with Patrika Channel Egmore RMS under Registration No. TN/CH(C)/492/2020-2022. Published on 2nd of every month – March 2020

divisiveness. An Icon
for Human liberation.
An Inspiration beyond

From Religion to Responsibility.

24
a || ISHA
ISHAFOREST
FORESTFLOWER
FLOWER March 2020