No Pain or Gain

The little one’s welcome
is no small grace
The tiny hands come together
An expression of a graceful Race.
Volume - 2 / Issue - 3 `15
Annual Subscription `180 March 2014
No Pain or Gain
I live a life where there is
No pain or gain
Even the butterfly or the bird
Cannot imagine to soar
As I do upon wind and rain
Or just the emptiness of the sky
As I am what I breathe
touch and cannot touch
I courted the Boundless
Ended up with the blessed Emptiness
I am for all and all is for me
I have no pain or gain
Grace & Blessings
Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333
Even for those who do not have the necessary awareness, inclination, or opportunity to actively
work towards their spiritual growth, Sadhguru has created ways for them to passively benefit. In
our article “Tools to Touch Lives,” he speaks on the power and impact of rituals – provided that
certain parameters are maintained by those who perform them.
In “The Greatest Thing in Life,” Sadhguru responds to a meditator’s question on how to make
one’s Guru proud. Be prepared for a surprising Guru Dakshina. His answer is touchingly sweet,
and our short article “Ultimate Sweetness” picks up this theme of turning whatever we touch into
sweetness.
And there we are at this month’s subject of our Isha Hata Yoga series: “Honey.” Learn some little
known facts about how this naturally sweet substance impacts your system. But still – consume in
moderation. This leads us to a new edition and a new dialog partner in our In Conversation with
the Mystic series. Ad Guru Piyush Pandey heretically questions the very basis that his industry
furthers and thrives on. With the article “Spirituality and Consumerism – Irreconcilable Opposites?”
we bring you the first part of a stimulating exchange.
The concern as to what is right and justified in terms of consumption is certainly a legitimate one.
In our Leela article, “Dharma, by All Means,” a participant asks Sadhguru how Krishna, who all
his life talked about dharma, used deceit to kill many of the opposing warriors. Sadhguru not only
has the answer, but spices it up with vividly narrated incidents from the battlefield.
Recapitulating some of the event highlights in the month of January, we have Sadhguru and
a living legend in this field playing golf to make a rural child’s life, the Master conducting the
biggest program so far in South East Asia, and him back at the ashram, taking over 10,000 Tamil
meditators into his lap. Enjoy the read, munching on “Crunchy Ragi Pakodas,” if you please.
The Editorial Team
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2
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,
Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 042. Editor: K. SEKAR.
In this month’s Lead Article, Sadhguru encourages us to laugh at our own stupidity. But not only
out of the blue and at random – he gives us “Three Things to Remember,” which turns a healthful
exercise into a life-changing one.
Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004 and
Dear Readers,
Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER and on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION and
Editorial
CONTENTS
Lead Article
Three Things to Remember
A Life-Changing Exercise4
Musings
Tools to Touch Lives
Sadhguru on Uncorrupted Rituals6
The Greatest Thing in Life
Sadhguru on the Best You Can Do for Yourself and Your Guru
Ultimate Sweetness
Sadhguru on the Compassion of Creation Isha Hata Yoga
Sadhguru on How to Enhance Your Sadhana
Part 3: Honey
9
10
11
In Conversation with the Mystic
Spirituality and Consumerism – Irreconcilable Opposites?
Sadhguru in Conversation with Ad Guru Piyush Pandey
13
Leela Series
The path of the playful – part LIII:
Dharma, by All Means 15
News & Happenings
‘Make a Life’ Golf Jaunt with Sadhguru
Wipro Chennai Marathon 2013 / Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013
18
Sadhguru Conducts ‘Mystic Eye’ in Singapore
19
Over 10,000 Participants Attend Guruvin Madiyil with Sadhguru
19
Upcoming Programs and Events Isha Yoga – Program Highlights
20
Isha Recipes
This Month: Crispy Ragi Pakodas
21
Zen Speaks
Not Changing to Meet the Changes
March 2014
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
22
3
SADHGURU
Three Things to Remember
A Life-Changing Exercise
The following is an excerpt from a darshan with
Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu, India, on 29 January 2014.
Questioner : Namaskaram Sadhguru. I am training
to become an Ishanga teacher. What does it mean
to be an Ishanga, and what do you expect from us?
Sadhguru: The word Isha means “that which
is the basis of everything.” Nothingness is the
basis of everything. If you look at the world as
various reverberations, then silence is the basis of
everything. If you look at the world as various forms,
then the formless is the basis. If you look at the
world in terms of measurements, then the limitless
is the basis. If you look at the world as something
or everything, then nothing is the basis. Isha is that
formless basis of creation or formless divinity. Anga
means to become a limb of that.
4
Anyway, you are a limb of that which is the basis
of existence – you are just not aware of it. Human
ignorance is such that each person becomes a world
by himself or herself. Every simple transaction
becomes complex just because every human being
is a creation by himself or herself. And not only
that – they consider themselves as bigger than
creation. Because they are so big, whichever way
they move, they clash with something. Their
everyday walking through life becomes a hazard.
What we want to do in the form of programs is to
ease this hazard – if not to absolutely remove it –
so that people can naturally find expression to their
ultimate possibility.
Wherever you go in the world, there are politics –
even here. I do not believe in putting anything
down. If people got a lot of rubbish, why should
I remove it? My intention is to make it into good
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
manure so that they can grow. For some time, they
will stink – I cannot help it. Where there are people,
definitely things occur. If you think they should not
happen, you are ignorant of human nature. If you
are married, you will know – even if just two people
are there, it is best to either live outdoors or at least
have two bedrooms, because it needs space. It once
happened – a psychiatrist who was doing a survey on
happiness in marriage came and visited Shankaran
Pillai. He asked, “Are you married?” Shankaran
Pillai said, “Yes.” He asked, “Are you happily
married?” Shankaran Pillai said, “Yes.” Then the
psychiatrist asked, “I mean, both of you are really
happy with your marriage?” Shankaran Pillai said,
“We are not only happy – after 15 years, we are
still romantic. Every week, we have a romantic
candlelight dinner in a restaurant. She does it on
Fridays – I do it on Tuesdays.”
It does not matter what happens as long as at the
end of the day, you can look back on your stupidity
and laugh at yourself – not at the other. This is a
simple exercise everyone must do. At the end of the
day, sit in your bed and look back at the whole day
from the moment you got up, how you have been.
You will see, at least 90% of the time, you are quite
stupid. If you are just given a little responsibility,
suddenly, you become so important. Look at how
many times you became bigger than the universe.
You will see, most of the time, you are bloated. Look
at how many times you became immortal, that is,
you were not conscious of your mortality. Look at
how many times you looked at people and things
around you without any sense of involvement. If
you just watch these three things, you will see you
will have to laugh through the night. Do not start
crying. If you learn to laugh at your stupidity, all the
rubbish you carry will turn into manure very fast,
and manure is very good for growth.
Being an Ishanga means understanding the reality
of your existence. You are just a small limb of this
large universe. You are just a small limb of this large
nothingness. And there is another dimension to it.
When we call you “Ishanga,” you are a limb of Isha
Foundation, or in other words, an extended arm of
me. When you stand there as an Isha teacher, people
March 2014
will not see you as a person – they will see you as a
projection of Sadhguru. I do not make a long face. I
do not sneer at people. People do all kinds of things
to me too, but I am going through life smiling and
laughing. Not because everything is fantastic around
me. It is just that I am fantastic within me. Since I
am fantastic, the world is okay.
This is a simple exercise everyone
must do. At the end of the day, sit
in your bed and look back at the
whole day.
Look at how many times you
became bigger than the universe.
Look at how many times you were
not conscious of your mortality.
Look at how many times you
looked at people and things
around you without any sense of
involvement.
People see you as an extended limb of me – you
must live up to it. The most important thing is not
to look at people with two eyes that support the
duality. “She is nice – she is not nice. She is good –
she is not good. She is okay – she is not okay.
She is rich – she is poor. This is all right – that is
not all right.” All this rubbish. You must learn to
see only with one eye, that everyone is the same.
Once there are people in front of you, your life is
no more about you. If you just bring this into you,
I will take care of the rest for you. If you learn to
keep yourself aside, if you learn to keep your likes
and dislikes, your wants and your judgments aside,
if you simply stand there as an extended limb of
me, I will take care of every aspect of your life.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
5
Tools to Touch Lives
Sadhguru on Uncorrupted Rituals
The following is an excerpt from the “In Lap of
the Master” sathsang with Sadhguru at the Isha
Yoga Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, on
8 September 2013.
Mysticism means exploring dimensions that are not
yet in your understanding or perception. To explore
those dimensions together, there are various types
of rituals, which are beautiful, but if not conducted
with absolute integrity, they can easily become
exploitative. Ritual means not just doing pooja. This
used to be a land with complex and phenomenal
rituals, but due to lack of integrity and misuse, these
rituals largely got wiped out.
For example, Kashi is the oldest living city on the
planet. Mark Twain said, “Benares is older than
history, older than tradition, older even than legend,
and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
Even Shiva, the Adiyogi, got so enamored with this
city that he did not want to leave it anymore. Earlier,
he used to live at Kailash and the surrounding region,
but then he married a princess. She needed better
accommodation. So he came down to Badrinath,
and built a small home there. But after some time,
he was dispossessed of his home.
6
Shiva and Parvati had settled in Badrinath because
of its hot spring. Their small dwelling was at about
10,800 feet above mean sea level, so the climate was
cold. One day, they went to have bath in the hot
spring. When they came back, there was a beautiful
looking infant outside their doorstep. Parvati always
had a problem with the fact that she could not have
children because Shiva did not have human seeds,
and she being human could not contain his seed. Out
of her desperation, she created Ganapati, and from
what was left of six children, she made Karthikeya.
When she saw this wonderful baby at their doorstep,
her maternal instincts took over and she went to
pick up the child. Shiva said, ‘”Wait. Don’t touch
this baby. An infant that lands up at nearly 11,000
feet MSL all by himself is not a good infant. There is
nobody around; no footprints of the parents in the
snow. Why does this fellow land up at our doorstep
by himself? Just throw him away.” Parvati said,
“How can you say this? This is the most beautiful
baby I have ever seen!” And she took the baby into
the house. The next day, after coming back from
their bath, the baby had bolted the door from inside
and did not let these two people in. Parvati said,
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
“How can the baby bolt the door?” If a baby can land
up at 11,000 feet, the damn baby can do anything.
Shiva said, “Well, we will have to vacate the place.
Let’s move on.” Parvati said, “But this is our house.”
“It may have been our house, but since we let the
wrong people in, it is not ours anymore. Let’s go.”
They moved to Kantisarovar, which is at 12,700 feet.
This baby who locked himself inside and
dispossessed Shiva of his home was Vishnu, who
thought, “What does it matter for an ascetic yogi if
he is here or there? It is all the same for Shiva, but
for me it matters. I want to be here.” Shiva knew
that, and that is why they moved to Kantisarovar,
close to Kedar. Later on, one winter got bad, even at
Kantisarovar. From Kailash, he had come down to
Manasarovar, then moved to Badrinath, and later on
to Kedarnath – still the princess complained of the
cold and the desolation of the place.
Shiva decided that in winter, they would move to
Kashi. Who would have thought someone could
plan such a fabulous city 12,000–15,000 years ago.
It was a most fantastic plan – layers and layers of
urban development. The highest level of talent
in spirituality, science, mathematics, music, and
astronomy all gathered in one place. It became
the city of learning and of dispensing knowledge.
Shiva enjoyed the intellectual vigor, the music,
the company of people, and the way the city was
designed. He fell in love with Kashi and did not
want to leave anymore.
There is a story of how, when Shiva was about to
come to Kashi, king Diyo Dutta did not want him to
enter the city because he knew if Shiva was there,
he would not be the single point of focus anymore.
He said, “A king can rule the city only if everyone
looks up to him only. If you want me to rule the city,
Shiva should not come. If he comes, I will leave.”
Shiva sent two ganas to the city to see how to get
rid of this king. However, they fell so much in love
with Kashi that they established themselves just
outside the city and never went back. They did
not have the guts to go to Shiva and say, “We love
the city too much.” Shiva sent two more – they
never came back either. Today, at the four corners
March 2014
of Kashi, there are four gana sthanas, where these
four guys settled. Then he sent Ganapati – he never
came back either. Afterwards, he sent Kubera – he
never came back. Finally, he decided to go himself,
and he did not want to go back either. All this is
being said to tell you how beautiful this city was.
When Agastya Muni was asked to leave Kashi and
go south, he cried and wrote a heartrending poem,
running into hundreds of stanzas, about the beauty
of the city and the pain of leaving.
There is a whole lot of science behind how they
established certain aspects of the city. But Kashi is
not what it used to be anymore. It has become quite
a decadent place – filthy as can be. And above all,
the superstructure of the city has been broken. The
center of Kashi was a powerful energy form, which
created a tower of light. So many sages and saints
have talked about the tower of light, and about the
actual Kashi being an energy form above the city.
Even today, that part is intact, but the base and the
main temple have been broken.
Even if you don’t go to Kashi yourself, just take
a look at its old plan. It was such a complex and
geometrically perfect design. Today all that is
broken. There are no words to describe what a
bad state the temple is in and how it is managed.
One thing is, there is a lot of armed police around
who are screening and searching everyone because
half or three-fourth of the temple have become a
mosque, and there is constant tension. Once you
have gone through that and you enter the temple,
the priests will get you. Whether you sit or stand
there, they will be shouting for money like in the
old stock markets. Everything that can be wrong
about a temple is wrong there. But one aspect, you
must witness if you have the opportunity – in the
evening around 7:30, there is one particular ritual,
which is called Sapta Rishi Aarti.
After Shiva had transmitted yoga to the Sapta Rishis
and they all had become fully enlightened, he sent
them to different parts of the world to spread this
knowledge. Before they left, they expressed their
anguish, “Now if we go away, probably we will
never get to set our eyes upon you again, physically.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
7
How can we have you with us when we want you?”
Shiva taught them a simple process, which lives on
to this day as Sapta Rishi Aarti, conducted by these
priests who may not know the science behind it, but
they stick to the process. I witnessed how they built
stacks and stacks of energy, just like that.
We could do this here, but this takes a different
kind of skill. These priests neither have the skill
nor the energy, but they have a method – that is
what a ritual is. Even if it is conducted by someone
who is absolutely ignorant, if it is done right, it will
work, because it is a technology. For priests who
have no sadhana and no such energies of their own,
what they build up in this temple in this one hour is
phenomenal. There are yogis who do such things –
that is a different matter – but I have never seen
anything like that anywhere conducted by priests.
After this visit to Kashi, I have some respect for
priests – at least they maintained the process. They
did not keep themselves well, but they kept well
what is of some sanctity to them, and it still works
fantastically. And at night, there is the Shayan Aarti,
which is cute. If you get to witness it, you will know
how loudly you have to put Shiva to sleep.
This is the power of the ritual – you can conduct
it for any number of people, even if they are
ignorant of it. In contrast, doing anything spiritual,
meditative, is in a way safer and cleaner, but you
have to prepare the person. A ritual does not need
preparation – you can do it for the whole town.
It may be a million ignorant people – still, if they
just sit there, we can make them benefit. But unless
the person who performs the ritual has a certain
integrity, rituals become a tool for exploitation.
needs a lot of preparation. If you want a quicker
dissemination, there are external technologies and
processes – I would rather call them processes than
rituals. We can make this happen to large groups
of people. But it needs absolute integrity. Only in
the last three years, we brought in rituals at the Isha
Yoga Center, because we have created people of
such integrity that no matter what is given to them,
the focus of their lives will not change.
Whatever external activity you do in your life, it
is meaningful only if it touches people’s lives. If
you can maintain integrity no matter what, we can
offer you wonderful tools through which you can
touch people’s lives in a way that you have never
imagined possible. Once you have such access to
another human being, your hands must be super
clean. If you are sweeping outside, no one will ask
you, “Did you wash your hands?” It is okay if your
hands are not so clean. Suppose you are serving
food, people would like to know if you washed your
hands. Suppose you are inside the temple, we would
like to know if you had a shower. Suppose you have
to conduct a surgery, we definitely want to know if
your hands are cleaned and disinfected.
The more access you have to another human being,
the cleaner you have to be. If “What about me?” is
the biggest question in your mind, you should not
have access to anyone. If this one question does
not arise in your mind, you are free to touch any
being, and you should. Millions of people need this,
because nothing has truly touched them. Without
being touched, the being will not be a being – the
being will just be a body.
The best way to approach dimensions of the beyond
is through internal methods and processes, but it
Upcoming Episodes:
1 Mar 2014 Tarun Tahiliani
8 Mar 2014 Siddharth
15 Mar 2014 Shekhar Kapur
22 Mar 2014 Dr. Prathap Reddy
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ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
The Greatest Thing in Life
Sadhguru on the Best You Can Do for Yourself and Your Guru
The following is an excerpt from a darshan with
Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu, India, on 21 January 2014.
Questioner: Sadhguru, pranam. I just wanted to
know, how should we conduct ourselves in the
outer and inner world so that our Guru takes pride
in us?
Sadhguru: Your inner world – if you want to call
it that – should only be a reflection of what is around
you. If you see something other than what is there,
it means you are contaminating the world with your
opinions and prejudices. Seeing everything just the
way it is – that is the way to be within. This may
be diametrically opposite to some moral theories
that say the outer and the inner should not touch
each other, otherwise you would immediately get
corrupted by everything around you. That is not
true. You get corrupted by what is around you only
when you have opinions about everything.
You look at one thing as good, something else as
bad. You get attached to what you consider as good.
You desperately try to avoid what you consider as
bad, and of course that will rule you from inside.
This is not the way to be. Creation is made so that
you see it the way it is, not to make it the way you
want to make it. This is an obscenity that humanity
is committing upon the Creator’s creation. Such a
magnificent creation – what is there for you to do?
Absorb it, if you can – nothing more – and even
that is not simple because creation is phenomenally
multi-tiered. There are not just things; so many
March 2014
phenomena are happening right here – one inside
the other, all in one space, all in one time.
Everything that you think is past, everything
that you think will be future is right here. If you
see everything the way it is, if the whole creation
reflects within you, if you can contain creation the
way it is within you, you become the very source of
creation. That is the way to be, inside and outside.
But being in the world, we have to play some game.
Let us play a game that is of maximum usefulness
and meaning to everyone around us. If you reflect
creation just the way it is, there is no personal need
to play a game and no compulsion to be a part of any
game. Whether you withdraw into a cave or plunge
into the marketplace, it is still a game. The only way
to not be part of any game is to dissolve. That is a
great thing to do, but when human beings attain
to a certain clarity within themselves, they are of
immense value to everyone around, so it is good if
they hang around for a while and bring a little more
clarity to others.
Either you exist here as a piece of creation,
which is pretty good, or you become like the
very source of creation, which is fantastic. But
being a psychological case is not a good thing.
To be just a psychological case, you need not
have put your mother through the trouble of
delivering you. She could have delivered a file,
and someone could have studied the case. It is not
worth being a psychological case. If you consider
only your thoughts and emotions as your life and
there is nothing beyond that for you, you are a
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
9
psychological case. You must become a vibrant,
full-fledged life – that is the most important thing.
What we do is determined by what is needed.
These days, wherever I go, people recognize me as
someone who planted so many trees, educating so
many children, built so many hospitals, and so on. I
squirm at the thought that this is what I am known
for. It is most unfortunate that most people cannot
think beyond food, education, and things like that.
Suppose the country or the world was doing really
well – everyone had enough to eat, everyone was
well educated, everything was happening well –
what meaning would it have to start an Isha Vidhya
school and to give a midday meal? Right now, when
the children have not eaten properly, the midday
meal seems like a great blessing. It is a blessing only
because of the cruelty of poverty. It is not a true
blessing. Only because we created human beings
without having the necessary food for them, serving
them a meal feels like a great thing. I don’t think it
is. It is unfortunate that such things are still needed
in the world.
of life to its ultimate possibility would still always
be relevant. Ultimately, this is the purpose of all
life – to blossom to its fullest potential. Whether it
is a little plant, a tree, an elephant, an ant, a man,
or a woman – the ultimate goal is to become a fullfledged life. You should not die as a psychological
case – a bundle of thoughts, emotions, opinions, and
prejudices – though this is what most people define
themselves through.
Touching the ultimate, rather than defining yourself
through patterns of thoughts and emotions, is the
greatest thing you can do. If you do that, it means
I am successful. You should strive to become an
absolutely full-fledged life. A full-fledged life does
not mean going out and doing all kinds of exploits
in the world. It means allowing yourself to grow
to full depth and dimension. Every human being
should do this.
The best thing that you can do for your Guru is
what is ultimately best for yourself. That is the
only purpose.
Even if everyone had eaten well and they had
everything they wanted, enhancing the experience
Ultimate Sweetness
Sadhguru on the Compassion of Creation
The chant Jananam Sukhadam, Maranam Karunam
essentially means, the beginning of life is sweetness –
death is compassion. Immortality would be a curse
that would be most difficult to live with. Imagine
we could not die and had to live here for 10 million
years! We want to live a full life, but still, the
great compassion of life is that it will end one day.
The greatest compassion is if one transcends the
limitations of time and space within oneself. It is the
burden of time what makes life into a grinding mill.
The most compassionate way to exist is to be here
and be above time.
share their present experience with everyone
around them. If you are miserable, you try to share
your misery. If you are angry, you will share your
anger. If you are hateful, you will share your hate. If
you are loving, you will share your love. If you are
compassionate, you will share your compassion. One
way or the other, we exude whatever is our present
state to all life around us. The most important thing
is to bring ourselves to ultimate sweetness within
us, so that whatever we touch turns into sweetness.
And that is the only thing a human being can do.
Once you enjoy the compassion of creation, you
yourself will be compassionate. Knowingly or
unknowingly, it is the want of human beings to
10
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Isha Hata Yoga
Sadhguru on How to Enhance Your Sadhana
In this series, Sadhguru discusses various aspects through which you can take your yogic
practice to a whole new level.
Part 3: Honey
Honey is a substance whose chemical composition
is very close to that of human blood. Especially
for people who are doing yogic practices, it is
good to consume honey. Depending on whether
you consume it raw, with cold water, or in warm
water, honey has a different impact on the system.
We want to consume it in warm water because we
want the system to open up. You should never put
honey in boiling water or cook it, because some part
of honey will turn poisonous if it crosses a certain
temperature. Therefore, the water in which you put
it should be warm, not boiling hot. Honey should
not be given to children under the age of one.
Honey is good against anemia. Iron deficiency in the
blood is one of the causes of anemia. You will feel
exhausted because when there is not enough iron in
the blood, the ability to carry oxygen through the
body will be reduced. If you do not have enough
oxygen, your heart, your brain, everything in your
whole body will function on a lower level.
Building up oxygen in the blood is extremely
important. How healthy the body is, how easily
it rejuvenates itself, depends on a high level of
oxygen in the blood. Particularly women have to
be careful about this because of their menstrual
cycles. Since they lose a certain amount of blood
every month, they tend to become anemic much
more easily than men. When the hemoglobin
content goes down, the ability to carry oxygen in
the blood will be reduced, which will make you
feel exhausted and dumb. If there is not enough
oxygen in the brain, both body and brain do not
function the way they need to function.
If you consume a little bit of honey in warm water
on a daily basis, you will see, slowly the red blood
March 2014
cell count will go up. Once there is more oxygen in
the blood, you will feel a burst of energy. Suddenly,
everything will be more active – rejuvenation and
cell renewal will go up, and the level of inertia
in your body and mind will go down. One of
the reasons why women tend to get more easily
depressed than men is, they have a lower level of
oxygen in the blood stream. If the oxygen level is
too low, depression easily sets in.
Nature intends men to do more work, so they have
more muscle. More muscle means more oxygen
is required. The red blood cell count of women is
lower than that of men because women have less
muscle mass than men, and consequently need less
oxygen. Therefore, women can survive without
oxygen a little longer than men, even though the
oxygen content in their blood is lower. Yoga is about
becoming conscious of all these wonderful nuances
of the body. The more nuances you become aware
of, the finer your life will become. Otherwise, it is a
gross existence – simply eat, sleep, die.
If you have low blood pressure, and you get up
quickly from sitting down, you will feel dizzy. Low
blood pressure means not enough blood, but most
importantly, not enough oxygen reaches the brain.
If you feel dizzy when you put your head down,
it is because you have high blood pressure. Either
because of high blood pressure or due to lack of
oxygen you feel dizzy.
Consuming honey evens out these imbalances.
Pressure builds up depending upon the requirement
of the body. People think hypertension is a disease,
which it is not – it is an adjustment that the body
makes. If for some reason, the body needs more
oxygen and other nutrients than it normally does, or
the blood is not of the quality that it should be, the
pumping system is trying to pump more. As quicker
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
11
circulation or more frequent servicing of the organs
is required, it is pumping harder and pressure is
building up. Causes for low blood pressure could be
that the system adjusted itself to pump low, or it could
be congenital, that the system is not strong enough
to pump as it is needed, or there is some other issue
with the circulatory process or the chemistry of the
blood. Often, a combination of factors contributes
to this condition. Similarly with hypertension – it
creates a secondary layer of consequences, but the
first layer of consequence is hypertension itself – it
is a consequence, not a cause.
For a yoga practitioner, who is pushing the body in
certain ways, keeping the circulatory system and
the blood chemistry in balance is essential. Regular
consumption of honey brings that balance and
makes you more vibrant.
Excerpted from talks by Sadhguru at the Isha
Hata School of Yoga.
Isha Hata Yoga
21- day Residential Program at the Isha Yoga Center
Bilingual (English/Tamil) Date: 4 to 25 May 2014 Place: Isha Yoga Center
The 21-day Isha Hata Yoga program is an opportunity to learn various ancient and powerful
ways to transform body and mind.
Program Contents:
Upayoga
A simple yet powerful set of 10 practices that activate the joints,
muscles, and energy system, bringing ease to the whole system.
Angamardhana
A series of 30 processes to invigorate the body, and reach peak
physical fitness and mental health.
Suryakriya
An ancient and potent 21-step yogic practice, designed as a
holistic process for health and inner wellbeing.
Yogasanas
A set of powerful postures through which one can elevate one’s
consciousness and enhance one’s energies.
Bhuta Shuddhi
Literally “purification of the elements” – a process of purifying
the five elements within the human system.
For more information and to register for the program,
send an email to [email protected]
www.ishahatayoga.com
12
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Spirituality and Consumerism –
Irreconcilable Opposites?
Sadhguru in Conversation with Ad Guru Piyush Pandey
In another edition of the “In Conversation with the Mystic” series, Sadhguru met with
ad guru Piyush Pandey for a session under the theme “Spirituality & Consumerism” on
6 January 2014 in Mumbai. Piyush Pandey has been named the most influential man in
Indian Advertising eight years in a row by The Economic Times. The following is the
first excerpt of their conversation.
Piyush: Pranam. Lots of you must be wondering
what the hell I am doing here. When I was asked to
be in this conversation, I said, “I will do it, but what
are you calling this session? “Sadhu Aur Shaitan”
[The Ascetic and the Devil]?” [Laughter]
This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn. I am
going to try and see if we can get the maximum out
of Sadhguru. I don’t know when he is going to be
with us again.
Now, “Spirituality & Consumerism.” Is it versus
or with each other? The first thing that I want
to ask you – is consumerism actually driven by
paranoia? People buy six saris because they are
afraid that when they go to a party, someone else
there is wearing the same sari. People buy a new
mobile phone every three months because someone
March 2014
else also got a new mobile phone. When it comes
to children’s products, I think the paranoia is at a
phenomenal level.
When I was young, no one stopped me from
climbing trees, no one gave me extra supplements
with my food, and people allowed me to do things
that I wanted to do. Today, we are feeding our
children all kinds of things, which is paranoia to me.
The next stage of paranoia could be that mothers
will say to their sons, “Become a batsman; I want
you to be a Tendulkar, but I don’t want you to be a
bowler.” Why not a bowler? Have you seen Muttiah
Muralitharan? He puts his fingers into his mouth,
bowls – the leather ball travels all over the ground
before it comes back to him again, and again he
licks it. The little guy says, “But Muralitharan is still
living – he has not died of any germs.” She says, “But
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13
I am scared of one more thing. Malinga is rubbing
that ball on his crotch – I am paranoid that this is
1
an act that falls under Article 377 .” [Laughter] So
how can spirituality and consumerism co-exist? Is
consumerism driven by paranoia? One would love
to hear your views.
that every simple thing had a deeper meaning and
a deeper possibility. If you look at the percentage
of the U.S. population who are on antidepressants,
that is not a healthy society, which in many ways is
a result of mindless consumerism. If we do not learn
from that, we are for sure mindless too.
Sadhguru: Whether it is consumerism or
something else – any kind of “ism” will lead to
a certain mindlessness. Mindless consumerism
is definitely not towards human wellbeing.
Consumption2 used to be a disease, you know?
Even now, it is a kind of ailment. That is, we
do not do what is needed in our lives – we do
what is expected by others. People who expect
whatever they expect out of you, they themselves
do not know a thing about their lives. If you live
to fulfil their expectations, obviously, your life will
go off the track. Therefore, I feel the advertising
industry should focus on creating a more conscious
consumer rather than mindless consumerism.
It is very important that human societies function
out of their intelligence, not just out of external
tendencies, which come and go. Pushing the
majority of society into that kind of a mode clearly
shows we are not interested in the wellbeing of
human beings – we just want to sell something at any
cost. And above all, if the over 7 billion people on
the planet consume at the same level as an average
American citizen, statistics say, we will need fourand-a-half planets. But we only have half a planet
left. This means you have to keep half of the world
population in abject poverty so that others can go on
a consumerism binge.
Mindlessness means simply doing something. Once
mindlessness sets in, society will go in cycles, not
really getting anywhere. There will be nothing
profound in that society. Everything will become
profane. Right now, we are rapidly going in that
direction. This used to be a culture where every
aspect of life had a deeper rooting and meaning. Even
simple things – how to sit, how to stand, how to eat –
always had a deeper connotation. Because of this, no
matter what kind of rigors outside situations offered
us in the form of invasions, famines, or whatever
came, the spirit of India lived on undisturbed.
If you take away this deeper rooting in human
beings and make them live out of a mall, they
will get shattered easily. Until about 20 years ago,
the number of people who were psychologically
deranged in this country was extremely low. You
could say this is because it was not recorded, which
is a fact, but still, for one billion people, the number
of those who were psychologically deranged was
extremely small because of this deeper rooting,
I think a more sensible way of living is possible. This
does not mean you should not enjoy your life, or that
you should not have things. Everyone should have
what they need. But digging up the planet just for the
sake of satisfying someone else’s opinion is simply
mindless. I am not trying to render an ecological
message. My concern is about human beings. This is
like the proverbial story of a man cutting the branch
that he is sitting on. If he succeeds, he will fall. In
many ways, this is already happening. Especially in
the Western world, the most successful people have
really tensed and agitated faces. This does not mean
success is suffering. It is mindless consumerism that
leads to suffering.
1
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, introduced during the British rule of India, that criminalizes
sexual activities “against the order of nature”
2
Archaic name for pulmonary tuberculosis
14
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To be continued.
March 2014
Leela Series
The path of the playful –
Part LIII
Dharma, by All Means
The following is an excerpt from Leela, the path of the playful, a unique exploration with Sadhguru
into the mystical realm of Krishna, which took place at the Isha Yoga Center in September 2005.
Questioner: Krishna always talked about dharma
and adharma, but during the Kurukshetra war, he
used deceit to kill most of the great warriors, such
as Bhishma and Dronacharya. Did he not practice
what he taught?
Sadhguru: What Krishna did in the battlefield was
not just deceit – it was absolute treachery.
There were intricate strategic formations in which
the warriors fought. One such formation, called
chakravyuha, was almost impossible to penetrate,
unless you knew its intricacies. Arjuna used to be
the only one who had this knowledge. When his
wife Subhadra was pregnant with Abhimanyu,
Arjuna spoke in the presence of his unborn son
about how to penetrate a chakravyuha, and even
in his mother’s womb, Abhimanyu grasped it.
But Arjuna did not talk about how to come out
of the chakravyuha. Many years later, when the
Kaurava army formed itself into a chakravyuha and
was about to slaughter the whole Pandava army,
Abhimanyu, by then 17 years of age but already a
great hero, broke like a furious arrow through the
chakravyuha, because he knew how to penetrate it.
Bhima and Yudhisthira tried to follow him to save
him, but when Abhimanyu went into the center,
immediately, the chakravyuha closed again. In
the middle of the chakravyuha, with no one else
to support him, he killed many key people of the
Kaurava army. Then his chariot went down. All
his weapons were broken. You are not supposed
March 2014
to kill an unarmed person, but Jayadrada thought,
“Even if he is just 17 years of age, he causes too
much devastation.” He felt he must put an end
to Abhimanyu and attacked him. Abhimanyu
picked up a chariot wheel and fought with that.
Jayadrada alone could not kill him, so he called
for support. Many of the Kaurava heroes gathered
around Abhimanyu, which was totally against the
laws of the battle. They all surrounded the boy
and killed him.
It was a rule of the war that when the sun sets, they
must stop fighting. In the evening, when Arjuna
came back to his camp, he saw his people mourning
and realized that Abhimanyu had been killed in such
a way. In straight battle, only very few men could
have defeated Abhimanyu. Someone described how
they had surrounded him from all sides and slain
him. Arjuna took a vow: “By tomorrow sundown,
I will have killed Jayadrada. Otherwise, I will kill
myself.” Hearing this, Dhuryodhana was overjoyed.
He thought all they have to do was to completely
protect Jayadrada, and Arjuna would die that night
by his own hand, because he would stick to his
word. Jayadrada was terrified. He wanted to quit
the battle and go home. Dhuryodhana told him
that this would not be good for their reputation. He
said to Jayadrada, “Don’t worry. We will deploy all
our forces to protect you.” Next day, they formed a
huge protection for Jayadrada so that he would not
get killed. But from the first moment of the battle,
Arjuna started penetrating through the opposing
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15
army towards Jayadrada, because if he did not kill
Jayadrada, Arjuna would have to kill himself.
At the same time, Satyaki and Burishwara got into a
fight. Satyaki, a close friend of Krishna and Arjuna, had
an old feud to settle with Burishwara, who was over
70 years of age but still a great warrior. Satyaki was
supposed to protect King Yudhisthira. But overcome
by personal emotions, he left Yudhisthira’s side and
went towards Burishwara to attack him. When
Arjuna saw that the king was left unprotected, he
got concerned. But he could not divert his attention,
since his own life was at stake. He continued to go
towards Jayadrada. Satyaki attacked Burishwara,
but after some time, Burishwara knocked down
Satyaki from his chariot. Satyaki lost all his arms
and almost fainted. Burishwara descended from his
chariot and put his foot on Satyaki’s chest. Krishna
saw this. Satyaki had been a staunch and a reliable
lieutenant to him for many years. Krishna knew
his abilities and limitations, and that Satyaki could
not defeat Burishwara.
Krishna told Arjuna, “Burishwara is going to kill
Satyaki. You must get Burishwara first before he
kills Satyaki.” Arjuna said, “How can I do that?
Burishwara is fighting with Satyaki; I shooting
him now would be against the Kshatriya dharma.”
Krishna told him, “Satyaki has come here only to
fight for you. How can you let someone kill him
now? Save him.” Arjuna said, “No. It is against
the law.” Then Burishwara pulled out his sword
in order to decapitate Satyaki. Again Krishna said,
“Your friend, who put his life at stake for you,
will be slaughtered now if you don’t reach out to
him. Will you let him die like this? What kind of
dharma is this?” All this time, Arjuna’s arrow was
aimed at Jayadrada. When Burishwara was about
to decapitate Satyaki, Arjuna turned and shot the
arrow at Burishwara. Burishwara’s right hand got
severed. He looked around and said to Arjuna,
“How could you do this? While I was fighting with
another man, you shot me from behind and severed
my hand? Anyone who has Kshatriya blood in
him wouldn’t do such a dastardly act. I know you
wouldn’t have done this by yourself. This cowherd
with whom you are must have influenced you.”
16
Arjuna’s anger flared up, and he said, “Yesterday,
when you, a great warrior, joined many others to
surround my son, a 17-year-old boy, and stab him
from behind, where was your dharma? What are
you talking about now?” Ashamed of the act that
he had committed the day before, Burishwara put
his head down. He went next to his chariot and sat
down in lotus posture.
Satyaki became conscious again and looked around,
completely bewildered. He did not know what had
happened. When he saw Burishwara sitting there,
his old emotions and rage took over. Burishwara’s
severed hand, still holding his sword, was lying there
on the ground. Satyaki threw the hand away, picked
up the sword, and went towards Burishwara. Both
Krishna and Arjuna were screaming, “Stop! Don’t
do this, Satyaki!” But Satyaki loped off Burishwara’s
head, while the latter was sitting with eyes closed.
Krishna put his head down; he had not wanted this
to happen. Arjuna was totally aghast about what
Satyaki had done. But Satyaki was exalted, because
he had been able to take revenge at last.
Day by day, as the war went on, all dharma was
broken. First day, they fought by the law. Second
day, they started breaking the law, and by the 14th,
15th day, all law was broken. People did what they
wanted and killed each other at will.
Arjuna continued to penetrate towards Jayadrada,
but it looked like Jayadrada was out of reach for
him. The whole Kaurava army had rallied around
Jayadrada to protect him. When Krishna saw that
there was no way for Arjuna to defeat Jayadrada in
this situation, he used his magic and made a huge
cloud appear, so that it looked like it was sunset.
Seeing this, Jayadrada was absolutely thrilled and
relieved, because he thought the battle was over for
the day, and he had survived, which meant Arjuna
would die that day. The whole Kaurava army was
exalted and shouted slogans of victory. Everyone
had put their arms down. But the sun came back,
and Arjuna shot an arrow through Jayadrada’s heart,
and Jayadrada fell. One more deception.
As if that was not enough, when Karna and Arjuna
came to fight, Krishna interfered again. Karna and
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Arjuna were evenly matched in their martial arts.
For everything that Arjuna did, Karna had an
answer. But Karna had one special weapon, the astra,
for which Arjuna had no answer. Karna aimed it at
Arjuna’s forehead, and was about to shoot and kill
him. When Krishna saw this, once again using his
magic, he made Arjuna’s chariot sink a few inches
into the earth. The weapon knocked off Arjuna’s
crown and made him faint for some time, but it
did not enter his head as intended. Many times,
Krishna did such things. This was much more than
just deception.
What is the justification? It is not that his dharma
is higher and someone else’s is lower. What they
were facing in the war was colossal evil. The level of
injustice that Dhuryodhana, Shakuni, Karna, and all
the others created from day one was too high, from
the time they tried to murder Bhima by poisoning
him, and by tying him up and putting him in the river.
Then the game of dice, which was total cheating, and
the disgrace of trying to disrobe Draupadi in public.
Then trying to burn the Pandavas in the palace
March 2014
that was built of lac and sulfur, and again cheating
them out of their kingdom. There was an endless
number of events that led to this war. Everywhere,
they used deceit without any qualms. When they
were at an advantage, there was no dharma for
them. When they were at a disadvantage, they were
talking dharma as a tool to benefit from. But the
next moment, they were the same again.
Krishna said, “What they are doing is adharma;
what we are doing is also adharma, but we are
doing it with an intention of establishing dharma.
They are doing it with the intention of establishing
adharma.” It is not a question of right and wrong. It
is a question of purpose, and of whether you would
be successful within the limitations of the law or
not. He did not say what he was doing was right –
he knew it was wrong. But what he was trying to
achieve was right. That is why he did all this.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
17
‘Make a Life’ Golf Jaunt with Sadhguru
The “Make a Life” – Isha Vidhya Golf Jaunt has
been conceived to increase awareness and to
raise funds for the education of children in rural
India. After the great success of the first edition
in December 2012 in Delhi, Sadhguru teed off the
second “Make a Life” golf jaunt on 4 January 2014 at
the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Mumbai. Apart
from the healthy competition, contributing towards
education and making a difference in the lives of
rural children was the ultimate goal of this game.
The entourage consisted of 88 business leaders.
Among the notable figures who participated in
this friendly get-together of passionate golfers
were Akshay Kilachand of Kilachand Group,
Rahul Divan, CEO of Rahul Gautam Divan &
Associate, Ashish Chemburkar and Rajen Gandhi
of the Bombay Presidency Golf Club. One of the
highlights was that Amit Luthra, one of India’s
finest golfers, and gold medalist at the 1982 Asian
Games, joined the event.
Here is Sadhguru’s message about the plight and
possibility that rural India represents today:
“I have known the pain of seeing bright, star-like
eyes of little children in our villages turn into dull
hopelessness within a few years because of the
unsaid fact that there is no way out of the hopeless
social and economic pit. The innate intelligence in
these bright, starry eyes can be harnessed towards
the making of the nation and of a better world,
or it will find expression in the form of violence,
addiction, crime, or terror.
18
This is the plight and possibility.
Make at least one life.”
The Isha Vidhya volunteers made this a day to
cherish for the golfers. Apart from the beautiful
decorations and live music during breakfast and
lunch, volunteers at the course ensured that this golf
outing was an informative one for the golfers. Their
placards carried information about Isha Vidhya’s
many initiatives, so that the golfers learnt more
about the cause they are supporting.
Sadhguru wrapped up the golf jaunt with the
following words: “Seventy percent of India lives
in the villages, and unfortunately, a large number
of our rural children are not fed properly. Even
their skeletal system has not developed fully. We
certainly do not want to have an India of such
unskilled, uneducated youth. We as a nation have
elbow room of 15 to 20 years to turn around many
things, and if we fail to do it in this period, it will
be very difficult to do it later. If we inspire our rural
children, India has a bright future.”
Isha Vidhya would like to thank Harishankaran
(Vice-Chairman, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial
Services Limited) and family who generously
donated two classrooms for Isha Vidhya. Isha Vidhya
also extends a special thank you to Sanjay Jain
from Yatra Foundation, Australia, who sponsored
scholarships for 170 children.
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Sadhguru Conducts ‘Mystic Eye’ in Singapore
With over 2000 participants, the one-day “Mystic
Eye” event is the largest program conducted
by Sadhguru in Singapore to date. Here is how
volunteers and participants described their
phenomenal experience.
It was a wave of pure blissfulness. The participants
were blown away as Sadhguru enlightened them
on what life could truly be for them if only they
are willing. He taught them yoga and meditation
practices that they could practice on their own at
home. At the end, Sadhguru blessed them with such
compassion that no heart left the hall untouched.
A volunteer who headed the online promotion for
the event shared: “An Executive Director came
looking for me at the end and just hugged me before
he shared his feelings. Another friend said that
she was speechless and thanked us for the divine
Over
and wonderful experience. Yet another said it was
beyond expectations and that he is now asking
himself, ‘Who am I?’ One more expressed he was
very happy I convinced him to change his travel
plans to join the event. A younger colleague shared,
‘I am wide awake and laughing. Sadhguru’s oration
is classy and his jokes too funny. What he says is
simple to understand. I am glad I came.’”
This feedback cut across age groups and professional
backgrounds, and the appreciation for what was
offered at the event was unanimous, making it such
a joyful experience – something the participants
would have never expected to experience in such
a large crowd.
Eyes were teary, faces were lit. Every soul soaked
in Joy.
– Jean, Isha volunteer, Singapore
10,000 Participants Attend Guruvin Madiyil with Sadhguru
Throughout the third week of January, the Isha Yoga
Center was abuzz with devotees and meditators
who had thronged here for a number of events.
The 15th of January marked the first Pournami of
Uttarayana and saw the initiation of close to 4,000
participants into the Shivanga sadhana for men.
Two days later, on Thaipusam, 6142 women came
to Linga Bhairavi for a moving culmination of their
own 21-day Shivanga sadhana. The 18th and 19th of
January saw 10,092 people attending the two-day
program “Guruvin Madiyil,” the Tamil equivalent
of “In the Lap of the Master,” with Sadhguru. The
program included group meditations, discourses by
Sadhguru, and a wide variety of cultural displays,
from the daring Kalaripayattu performances by Isha
Samskriti children to the vibrant and upbeat songs
of Sounds of Isha.
In his opening talk, Sadhguru explained the very
purpose of the program – to offer spiritual seekers
an opportunity to grow in the lap of Grace. He also
discussed the impact of sound, and in particular
of our speech, on our surroundings and on our
March 2014
own systems, and how maintaining vak shuddhi,
i.e., uttering the right sounds, can create the right
atmosphere within us for the spiritual possibility
to blossom. Sadhguru also took questions by
participants, for example about the role of a Guru,
who, as he explained, is not a person who gives a
teaching or a philosophy, but one who dispels the
darkness of ignorance within us.
On the second day, Sadhguru spoke about
establishing a love affair with Shiva. Though it
may begin as imagination, over a period of time,
it becomes a reality. In a love affair of this nature,
there is no question of failure. Sadhguru also called
attention to the immense need to make spiritual
process accessible to all by creating Adiyogi spaces
in various parts of India and the United States.
He went on to explain that unless such powerful
places come up where people can sit to meditate,
and unless a culture of devotion gets established,
an irreversible downtrend in society will set in
within 20 years.
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19
Program Highlights
Date
Program
Place
Contact
2–5 Mar 2014
Bhava Spandana
(Gents/English)
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
0422-2515300
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Begumpet,
Hyderabad – India
94408 54389
[email protected]
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Basaveshwaranagar,
Bangalore – India
99014 68789
[email protected]
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Jayanagar,
Bangalore – India
96201 90104
[email protected]
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Thane West,
Mumbai – India
99676 51283
[email protected]
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
New Delhi, Delhi –
India
99101 39202
[email protected]
5–11 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Dahisar East,
Mumbai – India
90229 78995
[email protected]
6–9 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Retreat
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
0422-2515421
[email protected]
16–18 Mar 2014
Hata Yoga
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
0422-2515300
25–28 Mar 2014
Guru Pooja Training
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
0422-2515300
27–30 Mar 2014
Inner Engineering
Retreat
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
0422-2515421
[email protected]
27–30 Nov 2014
INSIGHT: The DNA of
Success
with Sadhguru
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore – India
83000 84888
[email protected]
These programs are conducted in English, unless indicated otherwise. Current at the time of print, however subject
to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our website: www.ishafoundation.org.
20
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
March 2014
Isha Recipes
For Healthy Living
Crispy Ragi Pakodas (Finger
Millet Fritters)
Ingredients 2 cups
1/2 cup
2 cups 1/2 cup 1 tablespoon
1/4 cup 1 inch piece
1/2 cup 1 tablespoon 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon Ragi (finger millet) flour
Besan (roasted gram/chickpea flour)
Cabbage (shredded)
Capsicum (chopped small)
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Ginger
Cashew pieces
White sesame seeds
Black pepper powder (or chili powder)
Salt to taste
Cold-pressed coconut oil for frying
Chaat masala
Preparation Method
1. Peel and mince the ginger. Coarsely chop the coriander and curry leaves. Mix the veggies
and herbs – cabbage, capsicum, ginger, coriander and curry leaves – in a bowl.
2. Mix the dry ingredients – ragi flour, besan, cashew pieces, sesame seeds, salt, and black
pepper powder/chili powder – in a large mixing bowl.
3. Heat the oil for frying. Add 2 tablespoons of this hot oil to the dry mix. Now add the
vegetables to the dry ingredients and mix well. Add just enough water to form a dough.
Fry bite-size portions of this dough in hot oil.
4. Sprinkle with chaat masala before serving.
The health benefits and nutrition offered by ragi are immense. Ragi is a remarkable source of
protein and minerals and contains important amino acids. It has a high amount of calcium and
potassium and is a great source of iron. Ragi contains tryptophan, an amino acid that reduces
appetite. Ragi is known to relax the body naturally, and is thus beneficial in conditions of anxiety,
depression, and insomnia.
March 2014
ISHA FOREST FLOWER
21
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FOREST FLOWER
April 2012
For online subscriptions and renewals, visit www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower
22
Editorial
Dear Readers,
In this month’s Lead Article, Sadhguru encourages us to laugh at our own stupidity. But not only
out of the blue and at random – he gives us “Three Things to Remember,” which turns a healthful
exercise into a life-changing one.
Even for those who do not have the necessary awareness, inclination, or opportunity to actively
work towards their spiritual growth, Sadhguru has created ways for them to passively benefit. In
our article “Tools to Touch Lives,” he speaks on the power and impact of rituals – provided that
certain parameters are maintained by those who perform them.
Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004 and
In “The Greatest Thing in Life,” Sadhguru responds to a meditator’s question on how to make
one’s Guru proud. Be prepared for a surprising Guru Dakshina. His answer is touchingly sweet,
and our short article “Ultimate Sweetness” picks up this theme of turning whatever we touch into
sweetness.
And there we are at this month’s subject of our Isha Hata Yoga series: “Honey.” Learn some little
known facts about how this naturally sweet substance impacts your system. But still – consume in
moderation. This leads us to a new edition and a new dialog partner in our In Conversation with
the Mystic series. Ad Guru Piyush Pandey heretically questions the very basis that his industry
furthers and thrives on. With the article “Spirituality and Consumerism – Irreconcilable Opposites?”
we bring you the first part of a stimulating exchange.
The concern as to what is right and justified in terms of consumption is certainly a legitimate one.
In our Leela article, “Dharma, by All Means,” a participant asks Sadhguru how Krishna, who all
his life talked about dharma, used deceit to kill many of the opposing warriors. Sadhguru not only
has the answer, but spices it up with vividly narrated incidents from the battlefield.
Recapitulating some of the event highlights in the month of January, we have Sadhguru and
a living legend in this field playing golf to make a rural child’s life, the Master conducting the
biggest program so far in South East Asia, and him back at the ashram, taking over 10,000 Tamil
meditators into his lap. Enjoy the read, munching on “Crunchy Ragi Pakodas,” if you please.
The Editorial Team
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March 2014
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ISHA FOREST FLOWER
Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore – 641114
Editorial Team:
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Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER and on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION and
The tiny hands come together
An expression of a graceful Race.
Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333
The little one’s welcome
is no small grace
Volume - 2 / Issue - 3 `15
Grace & Blessings
As I am what I breathe
touch and cannot touch
I courted the Boundless
Ended up with the blessed Emptiness
I am for all and all is for me
I have no pain or gain
I live a life where there is
No pain or gain
Even the butterfly or the bird
Cannot imagine to soar
As I do upon wind and rain
Or just the emptiness of the sky
No Pain or Gain
Annual Subscription `180 March 2014