eternal sound

24 Pages·2017·2.13 MB·English

Volume 5 / Issue 03 March 2017 `15 Annual Subscription `180
ETERNAL SOUND
No one is mine
Nor am I of anyone
I am just an empty Shell
I resonate like a conch
That is dry and dead but
captures the Sacred Sound.
Only in being bereft of all
that one values as Self
does this genderless life
echo the Eternal Sound
Grace & Blessings
EDITORIAL
Dear Readers,
How to thrive in a rapidly changing world with highly demanding work
environments and increasingly volatile relationships and family situations?
In this month’s Lead Article, Sadhguru points at “Conscious Bonding” as
an essential basis for stability in life. He also discusses the status quo and
challenges in the context of modern society, and – perhaps for the first time –
reveals two fundamental ways of bonding with a Guru.
“No Labels” is an excerpt from a conversation with Sadhguru at the Jaipur
Literature Festival 2017, in which he gives a glimpse of his childhood, his view
on current politics and the public discussion, as well as the odds for “common
people” to get enlightened. In “Tear Down the Walls,” Sadhguru urges us in the
form of both prose and poetry not to block ourselves off from Grace, as many
people unfortunately, unconsciously do, according to his observations.
Also in this issue: Our Mahabharat series moves on to “A New Beginning for the
Pandavas”; a recap of recent “Events in Pictures,” and last but not least, a must-
try recipe: a deliciously satisfying “Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Wrap.” Enjoy!
The Editorial Team
Contact the Editorial Team:
IshaForest Flower,Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills,IshanaVihar Post,Coimbatore – 641114
[email protected]
For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office:
[phone], 96770 16700 – [email protected]
To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower
2 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2017
CONTENTS
LEAD ARTICLE MAHABHARAT
Conscious Bonding 07 A New Beginning for the Pandavas 04
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE MYSTIC
No Labels
Sanjoy Roy in Conversation with Sadhguru 4
LEAD ARTICLE
Conscious Bonding
Bonding for a Successful Life / Bonding in Modern Society / Bonding with the Guru 7
MAHABHARAT
Part 28: A New Beginning for the Pandavas 11
SADHGURU SPOT
Tear Down the Walls
Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot of 8 February 2017 13
NEWS & EVENTS
Sadhguru’s Message on Receiving the Padma Vibhushan Award 14

News in Pictures: Sadhguru at the Jaipur Literature Festival / Sadhguru in Malaysia
& Singapore / Inner Engineering with Sadhguru in Mumbai 15

NEW RELEASES
The Beginning
An Excerpt from Sadhguru’s New Book Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga 17

SHARING EXPERIENCES
Begging as Sadhana
A Shivanga Sadhaka Shares His Experience 19
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 20
ISHA RECIPE
Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Wrap 21
ZEN SPEAKS
Carrying a Woman across a River 23
March 2017 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 3
IN CONVERSATION
WITH THE MYSTIC
No Labels
Sanjoy Roy in Conversation with Sadhguru
This year’s Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 featured a session with Sadhguru, named after his bestseller
Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje opened the
session, highlighting the different areas in which the government has been seeking to make a difference
in the state, such as healthcare, digitalization, education for girls, and even spreading smiles. In the
following excerpt of the ensuing conversation with festival producer Sanjoy Roy, Sadhguru answers
questions on an array of topics from our political system to high heels to enlightenment. Enjoy!
The Pain of Ignorance friends experienced?
Sanjoy Roy: Sadhguru, in the book [Inner Sadhguru: Initially, I thought everyone knew
Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy], you mentioned everything and I was the only one who didn’t know
about the initial moments when you were going anything. Then I realized they also didn’t know,
into meditative states – can you tell us about that? but they were comfortable with their ignorance. I
knew the pain of ignorance – that’s the difference.
Sadhguru: In my schooldays, I had a bicycle, my The pain of ignorance was tearing me apart – it
mother would pack lunch for me, and I had a wouldn’t let me sleep, it wouldn’t let me do anything
water bottle. So I was equipped for the day, and I else. I just wanted to explore every possible
didn’t realize why I should go and sit in school. So dimension. The moment you come to terms with
I rode away somewhere, climbed on top of a tree your ignorance, the moment you can live with your
and I sat in a precariously high place, where the ignorance, you are a lost case.
branches were gently swaying. After some time, I
would go into an ecstatic state where I wouldn’t be
conscious of my body; I would be just floating. It
The moment you come to terms with your
would feel to me like I was up there for ten minutes,
ignorance, the moment you can live with your
but in no time, it was evening. When I saw from far
ignorance, you are a lost case.
that children were returning from school, I knew it
was time for me to go home too.
Sanjoy Roy: What was the first point where you At what point did I become conscious? That was
were actually aware that this may be a process when I was twenty-five. Until then, a cloud of a
that was somewhat different from what all your
4 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2017
million questions followed me wherever I went. your intellect functioning all the time. You are not
There were many fantastic experiences within me alive because of your intellect. If you look at our
and incredible things happened around me, but situation – we sit here on this round planet, which
it still was not good enough to settle my super is spinning at a certain speed, in this vast universe,
skeptical mind. no one knows where it begins and where it
ends – still we are enjoying the whole thing.
There is a deeper dimension of intelligence within
you, around you, everywhere. The human effort
How to Experience the Magic
and striving should be towards accessing this
dimension, which does not require you to travel
Sanjoy Roy: In your book, you said that many of
into space. What is in space is here too.
us need to retune our antennas to receive a clear
image, a clear thought, which can help us to move
forward. Can you elaborate on that?
Sadhguru: If I just see the way someone is sitting, If you don’t have your feet on the ground,
I can tell what kind of troubles they will face in the you are in some way a little contrary
next ten to fifteen years. The geometry of your to the process of life.
form invites certain things – you can’t help it. In
this culture, we created a very intricate science of
how to sit, how to breathe, how to keep your body,
how to keep your mind. If you get the geometry
If you had a few drinks too many or did certain
right, your perception will be enhanced. Only by
drugs, you may suddenly struggle to walk. It takes
enhancing your perception can you truly enhance
a certain attunement with the rest of the cosmos
your life – the rest is all imagination. Imagination
for you to even walk on the planet. All this is not
happening out of your intellect – it is happening
out of a deeper dimension of intelligence within
you. If you touch this dimension of intelligence,
Imagination is just recycling of your memory. you will move from superficial logic to the magic
of life. [Applause]

is just recycling of your memory. High Heels or Feet on the Ground
There is a scientifically verifiable methodology as Sanjoy Roy: On a lighter note, talking about walking,
to how to enhance your perception and unlock how many of you [addressing the audience] wear
your genius. I do not mean human genius in terms high heels? Sadhguru, tell them what happens
of things like writing poems or creating paintings. when they wear high heels.
There is a fundamental intelligence within you that
allows this human system to function. If you look Sadhguru: He is intent on making me unpopular!
at this human being that you are without emotional You’re a little closer to the sky. [Laughter &
attachment, not as “myself” but as a mechanism, applause] You know that at least in this country,
you will see it is the most sophisticated machine when somebody dies, people say he went away
on the planet. How could this be happening without from the earth. If you don’t have your feet on the
underlying intelligence? On an evolutionary scale, ground, you are in some way a little contrary to the
the human mind is a relatively new happening. process of life.
Since you don’t know how to use it optimally, it
creates some amount of static.
The entire system of yoga is about bringing yourself
to a certain level of ease. Once your system is at
ease, you will notice there is intelligence beyond
March 2017 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 5
A Word on Today’s Politics Sadhguru: The “common man” is a myth. There is
no common man. Within themselves, everyone is
Questioner: Sadhguru, I just wanted to ask how a very special man or woman. If they want to get
the current socio-political system affects you as a some advantages, they will say “I’m a common
yogi and a common man? man.” If you meet them when they are in a position
of power, you will see how “special” they are. Do
Sadhguru: We have moved into an age where we
not generalize and label someone as aam admi
can choose our political situation. We don’t have
[Hindi expression for “common man”]. Every
to endure a particular dispensation for too long,
human being is striving to be at his best or her
but we have to give them four to five years’ time
best. Even in times when people were still living in
to prove themselves or make a fool of themselves.
caves, every one of them was unique.
We have to give them a chance. The most beautiful
thing about democracy is that – unlike in other This is our time on the planet. Before it is over,
political systems of the past – change of power the question is, will we strive and create what we
in democratic societies is happening without care for? To live like you are immortal is the most
bloodshed. Sometimes you get someone you like ignorant way to exist. Remember, every day, over
as a leader, sometimes you get someone you don’t a hundred fifty thousand people in the world don’t
like. Once people are elected, you must support live to see the next morning. One day you too
them for the next four-and-a-half years. The won’t wake up anymore. If you wake up tomorrow,
last six months before the next election, you can give yourself one big smile – still alive! And if one
campaign to get your favorite elected. hundred fifty thousand people died, at least a
million people lost someone who is dear to them.
If you do not understand the value of democracy,
Check if these four, five people who really matter in
before every change of power, there will be
your life are alive. Is it not important your dear ones
slaughter on the streets. So do not mess with the
are alive today? Give yourself another big smile.
democratic system. Stop projecting that this is the
worst time in human history. The level of comfort, Whenever you check the time, and you are still
convenience, and everything else you have today, alive, one more big smile. Your life is ticking away.
no human society had ever had before. Still there Will you make the best out of it, or will you go on
debating endlessly about one thing or the other?
Will we create what we really care for, or will we
shrug our shoulders and walk away? Again, don’t
When it comes to external capabilities, we are
label yourself and others in terms of who is a yogi,
all differently capable. When it comes to inner
who is a common man, and so forth. You have
possibilities, all of us are equally capable.
come here as a human being. In body and in the
way we shape our minds, each of us is unique.
But the fundamental potential of being human is
are a lot of things to be done, but there will always common to all of us. The possibility is the same for
be things to be done. There are people who are every human being.
involved in activity, doing things. And there are
others who are activists – this is a serious problem. When it comes to external capabilities, we are
[Laughter & applause] all differently capable. When it comes to inner
possibilities, all of us are equally capable. Will you
explore this possibility or not is the only question.
Enlightenment of the “Common Man?”
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. Can
enlightenment be attained by a common man like
me or is it only for yogis like you?
6 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2017
LEAD ARTICLE
Conscious Bonding
Bonding for a Successful Life / Bonding in Modern Society / Bonding with the Guru
Sustaining a human being requires more than just food, water, and air – conscious bonding is also needed
to create anything significant in one’s life. Unfortunately, Sadhguru explains, this aspect has been largely
neglected in modern society, where compulsive bonds quickly turn into bondages and entanglements.
In the last part of the article, Sadhguru discusses the possibility of conscious bonding with the Guru and
explains the difference between a bond of light and runanubandha.
Bonding for a Successful Life she is at a certain level of competence, capability,
and activity requires not only food, air, and water,
Of the many things that it takes to make human life
but also bonding.
complete, of the many aspects that contribute to
making an individual human being who he or she In the spiritual traditions, the prescription is clear.
is, one aspect that is of great significance, though Those who are only concerned about the inner
grossly neglected by modern societies, is the nature, not what they create or do not create, become
aspect of bonding. Consciously or unconsciously, sanyasis. There are methods to consciously
we in some way establish a bond with everything dissolve the runanubandha or bonds. Sanyasis
that our five senses come in touch with – not just break all bonds in life except one. Those who are
with the people around us but with the very land eager to create something need the right kind of
that we walk upon, the air that we breathe – with sustenance and bonding. Without runanubandha,
just about anything that we see, hear, smell, taste, you don’t have the necessary sustenance to go
or touch. far and build something big in life. People build
physical bonds, psychological bonds, emotional
You cannot really see, hear, taste, or touch anything
bonds, energy bonds, social bonds, and financial
unless you invest a certain amount of some
bonds. If you transcend the need for certain types
energy in it. This investment creates bonding. In
of bonds and establish a completely different level
traditional terms, in Sanskrit language they call
of bonding, then your ability to create your life and
this runanubandha. Runanubandha is a bond of
things around you will be greatly enhanced.
sustenance – a bond that sustains a human being.
Sustaining a human being in such a way that he or
March 2017 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 7
Conscious versus Compulsive Bonds at this and said, “No, ma’am. We need a minimum
of five words for us to be able to publish anything.
The moment it became apparent to me what I Please add a few words.” She picked up the pencil
needed to create in this life, I went to seek my old again, thought for some time, wrote something,
bonds – the same places and a whole lot of people and handed the note back to him. It read, “Cohan
from the past. These bonds are very important if dead, Cadillac for sale.” They had spent their life
you want to successfully create something that together!
is of true worth. Otherwise life will pass with
small things. Modern societies are suffering from
this situation, that there is no real bonding. They
Planetary Bonds
physically bond with one person, emotionally with
another, psychologically with yet another, and it is
Compulsive bonding and conscious bonding
all one big mess.
are two different dimensions. Spiritual paths are
structured to bring conscious bonding. Whether we
Just to find a situation where all three or four
like it or not, knowingly or unknowingly, we have a
conditions for a simple, conscious bond are in place
deep bond with Mother Earth. The way we behave,
is a big challenge in today’s world. Therefore, bonds
it looks like most of humanity is not aware of that.
do not work as sustenance but as entanglement.
Everything we call “ours” – from body to home to
The process of creating runanubandha can be
property – is entirely hers. We are only allowed to
either fruitful or entangling and disastrous. If you
use it for a limited period of time. We do not seem
consciously seek and form a bond, you are aware
to get it until she reclaims what is hers.
of its reason and purpose. If the bond is conscious,
whatever tamasha [theatrical entertainment] and
Similarly, in a way, a Guru is trying to make himself
drama may happen here and there, you will not lose
like a planet, energy-wise, for those who want
the purpose of the bond. By contrast, if the bond is
to bond with a different dimension. When the
based on compulsive needs, it will naturally turn
moment is right, he will dissolve the bond, which
into deep entanglement over a period of time.
is unlike any other bond that you may form. Even if
you consciously bond with someone or something
else, when the moment comes where you are
The process of creating runanubandha can be willing to dissolve, that someone or something else
either fruitful or entangling and disastrous. will not be willing. When you bond with a Guru, it is
important to carry the bond to a point of fulfillment.
Without that, you will not get to create anything of
great significance in your life.
Even if you earlier formed bonds with people due
to whatever compulsions you had at that time,
once you are on the spiritual path, it is good to From Bond to Bondage
review these bonds and re-bond once again, but
this time consciously. Unless the runanubandha is This runanubandha with the Guru has been
conscious, it will not provide sustenance. carefully nurtured on spiritual paths, particularly
in the East. Without this sense of runanubandha,
One day, somewhere in a small town, Mrs. Cohan
there is no strength in the human being. There are
walked into the newspaper’s office and said, “My
Zen Masters who have likened themselves to a
husband passed away. I want everyone in town
white cloud. That means floating between the sky
to know so that they do not come and bother me,
and the earth. This is the way of sanyas – you do
so I want to place a little notice.” They gave her
not want to be rooted in anything. The idea is to
a sheet of paper and a pencil and said, “Ma’am,
only keep one conscious bond with the Guru and
write what you want – we will publish it.” She just
nothing else, so that when the time comes, you can
wrote two words: “Cohan dead.” The Editor looked
dissolve that bond.
A bond should not turn into bondage. As you age, a
8 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2017
whole lot of bonds become bond-ages – the bond because he had an established bond with his
has aged. But it doesn’t have to be that way – even customers. A few weeks later, another shop
over a long period of time, you can still conduct opened on the other side and put up a big sign
a bond consciously. If, in the course of time, they saying “Lowest Prices.” Shankaran Pillai got a little
gather some muck, you need to know how to clean concerned – between “Best Deals” and “Lowest
them up, rather than dragging them on with all Prices,” he could get lost. The next day, he put up a
the muck, making them into bondage, or breaking big sign over the door of his shop: “Main Entrance.”
them prematurely.
Becoming the “Main Entrance” is most important.
When I say that runanubandha is important, it does Some people may get the best deals, some may
not mean that you should hook up with everyone get the lowest prices, but that is not the point. If
around you or fall in love with half a dozen people you are the main entrance, all wellbeing will come
today. This is not about fulfilling compulsive needs to you.
of body, emotion, mind, or whatever other needs
you may have. There are methods with which we
Bonding in Modern Society
One of the biggest sources of suffering in modern
When you bond with a Guru, it is important to
society is the lack of a kind of bonding that
carry the bond to a point of fulfillment.
generations before us enjoyed. The idea of family
has been reduced to a husband and wife living
together, especially in the West. In India, we are
also heading in this direction, but there are still
consciously establish runanubandha. A famous
some remnants of traditional ways of living in
situation would be when Jesus talked about eating
a joint family. I once stayed with a family of over
his flesh. He was talking about establishing a
three hundred seventy members living together in
conscious bond in such a way that the bond lasts,
one huge residence. I was intrigued by how this
whether he is there or not. It has become a living
worked. A few women brought up the children.
force by itself, and definitely he was not talking
Some people went out and did business, some
about cannibalism. It is only about making use
worked close by, some managed the house. It was
of whatever is there to make the tree grow big,
like a little ashram by itself. Can you imagine living
because the bigger the tree, the more people can sit
with your uncles, aunts, and the whole extended
under it. Forming a conscious bond is like a banyan
family?
tree dropping its roots to gather sustenance and
continue to grow bigger and bigger. Growth is not If you want to create something truly significant
for self-satisfaction – it is a requirement. If you in your life, a deep sense of bonding is needed. A
notice something is good, you must make it grow. human being needs to be anchored to something in
If you see something is negative, you should not order to grow. Otherwise, if you want to just float in
make it grow, whether it is within you or around the sky, you should not touch the light, nor should
you. you touch anything that belongs to the earth. If you
try to hop around in between, it will cause a lot of
struggle. You are not made to be a grasshopper.
Previous generations did not suffer the kind of
Become the Main Entrance
struggles that people are going through today.
If life situations seem to be one big problem, it is In earlier times, the struggle was mainly about
because you compulsively bonded with one thing, survival, food, and sustenance. Today, you can go
so something else begins to look like a problem. to a store and buy everything you need for the next
Once, Shankaran Pillai had a hardware shop. One one year, if you have the cash, and do not have to
day, on the left side of his shop, another hardware step out of your house for the next one year, which
shop opened. That guy put up a huge sign saying has never been possible before.
“Best Deals.” Shankaran Pillai was not bothered
If you wanted water, you had to walk. Of you wanted
March 2017 ISHA FOREST FLOWER | 9
food, you had to hunt, gather, or grow it. Today, we
have organized human survival like never before,
but at what a cost both for our own lives and every
other life! We can buy anything we need, but we
cannot enjoy what we have created without a deep
sense of bonding. This needs to change.
Bonding with the Guru
Questioner: Sadhguru, how can I consciously bond
with you as a Guru and make you and your energy
a living force in my life?
Sadhguru: First, you need to work on self-
improvement before I really bond with you,
because once I bond, I cannot suddenly drop you.
I do not pick up and drop people by convenience
or compulsion. Once I bond, it is forever. Self-
improvement does not mean you have to acquire
a certain competence. Self-improvement means
making yourself less of you. Anyway, a large
number of cells in your body are bacteria; the rest
is just earth – should be easy to handle. How long
does it take? It can take you a lifetime, or you can
do it in a moment. If you do it now, we will bond
immediately. This is the context in which Jesus said “Eat
my flesh.” He was talking about establishing
It is not that there is no bond at all with you right runanubandha, a bond beyond light. Not that a
now. The moment we initiate you, there is a big bond of light is not good enough – it is just that
bond, but it is not runanubandha, because that is not everyone grasps its significance. They want
trouble for me. It is a bond of light, not of blood. a grosser bond. The bond of light is beautiful – it
With a bond of light, you can bond with millions of lights up things. Enlightenment may happen, but
people, which is beautiful. The more you bond, the work will not happen. If you want to do something
better it is for everything around you. This is what significant in the world, you need a different kind
we are always doing. The other kind of bond with of bond. The honey is the goal of the bees, and the
the Guru is one of flesh and blood, but not based honey is not in the money. Things that you earn and
on sexuality, which is otherwise the usual means possess create comfort and convenience – that is
through which people form a bond of flesh and it. If you do not have something more than that,
blood. your wealth, comfort, and convenience will mock
you one day – you will not know why you exist. On
this spiritual path, a deep sense of bonding is most
important.
10 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER March 2017