Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.

15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,

Dear Readers,

For over six years, we indulged in monthly tidbits of Krishna’s Leela, as narrated and interpreted
by Sadhguru during the 2005 program of the same name. In this edition of Isha Forest Flower, we
embark on a new exploration into one of India’s great cultural legacies – the Mahabharat saga.

Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 042. Editor: K. SEKAR.

In the first part, “Equations of Time and Creation,” Sadhguru exemplifies the connection between
time, space, planets, and the human system. If the torrent of scientific numbers overwhelms you,
don’t worry – this is only a preparation before we delve into the epic world of Mahabharat.

We dug deep into our archives to unearth a gem from the early days of Isha. Our article “The Way
of Acceptance” is based on a talk by Sadhguru from the legendary 1994 Wholeness program,
during which Sadhguru unleashed the mystic and Guru in him before the incredulous eyes of the
participants. Here, he bespeaks the importance of acceptance for those who are serious about
the spiritual path.

In the aftermath of the grand Mahashivaratri celebrations this year, Shekhar Kapur and Sadhguru
quietly came together in front of Linga Bhairavi to discuss matters of creativity, the feminine, and
more. Our article “Tools to Tap the Source of Creation” is a first excerpt of this enjoyably lively
conversation.

Sadhguru urges us to get the fundamentals in place before aiming for lofty goals such as
enlightenment. “How to Get a Grip on Your Body and Your Mind” is the most imperative question
to be dealt with before aiming at higher dimensions, and our Lead Article has Sadhguru’s practical
advice on how to tackle it. In this context, breath awareness is one of the most basic yet easily
forgotten instructions in Isha Hatha Yoga. In this month’s hatha yoga article, Sadhguru expounds

Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004
Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION
on “Why Focusing on the Breath is Essential.”

Finally, with the winter fast approaching, we offer you a hearty, spicy “Paneer Butter Masala”
recipe – brought to you directly from the Akshaya (ashram kitchen).

Enjoy the read!

The Editorial Team

Isha Forest Flower – ONLINE!

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2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

 CONTENTS
Lead Article
How to Get a Grip on Your Body and Your Mind
Sadhguru on Benefitting from the Yogic Science and Technology 4
In Conversation with the Mystic
Tools to Tap the Source of Creation
Shekhar Kapur in Conversation with Sadhguru 6
Musings
Right or Left?
Sadhguru on the Difference between Our Two Sides 9
The Way of Acceptance
Sadhguru on a Transformative Power on the Path 10

Mahabharat
Part I:Equations of Time and Creation (1) 13
Isha Hatha Yoga
Part 12: Why Focusing on the Breath is Essential 16
News & Events in Brief
Adiyogi Lands in America 17
Sadhguru Speaks at the United Nations
Golfing for Human Rights
World Peace Day 2014 at the iii
Sharing Experiences
Tides of Time – Poem 18
Sadhguru Spot
Teaching – A Life Fulfilled 19
Upcoming Programs and Events
Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 20
Isha Recipe
This Month: Paneer Butter Masala 21
Zen Speaks
Everything is Empty / Vow of Silence 23
December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 3
 SADHGURU

How to Get a Grip on Your Body and Your Mind

Sadhguru on Benefitting from the Yogic Science and Technology
The following is an excerpt from a darshan with How comfortably you travel through life depends
Sadhguru on 17 September 2014 at the Isha Yoga on how deeply you have grasped your body and
Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. your mind. For the journey to be comfortable, the
vehicle has to be good, and you must understand the
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. Whenever I
vehicle – how it behaves, what it does, and why it
try to stop any negative emotion like anger, it only
does what it does. This is not enlightenment – this is
becomes stronger. How can I get a grip on my mind?
necessary even if you only want to live an ignorant
Sadhguru: If you try to stop what you don’t want, life. They used to say, “Ignorance is bliss” – if that
only that will happen. This has always been the was true, the world should be blissed out by now.
nature of your mind and human mind as such.
Even if you have chosen to be ignorant because
The whole system of yoga is about experientially you think it is blissful, to walk through this world,
exploring the nature of your body and your mind. you must have a grasp of this body and this mind.
When you get up in the morning and you do your Otherwise, doing anything is a problem. I will not
asanas, it is not because it is a stretching exercise, as a go into this further intellectually, because then
whole lot of idiots across the planet describe it. Yes, you would get all wound up. That is why the yogic
you have to stretch to do it, but fundamentally, it is system is an experiential exploration without trying
an exploration of your body and your mind. Because to go into it intellectually.
the biggest problem in your life is you are trying to
live here without having a grasp of the two basic When you do your asanas, you explore the nature
vehicles without which you cannot go through this of your body and your mind. If you move your
life – your physical body and your mind. fingers in a certain way, your mind will function

4 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

accordingly. Everything that you do with your body What happens to your little finger happens to the
does something with your mind. You will not come brain. What happens to the brain happens to the
to this understanding by reading a book. It will little finger. It works both ways. The brain is not a
come to you only by exploration. If you close your separate entity by itself. Doctors have learned about
eyes and try to forcefully remove something from the body by dissecting dead bodies – if you open a
your mind, you will never be successful. dead body and cut out different organs and keep
them in different places, it is all separate. But that
This is the most basic and at the same time the
is not how your body is – it is all one. Only to a
most important realization that everyone needs to
discriminating scalpel it is separate, but for a living
come to. Without this realization, you will make
human being, it is all one. That is why the yogic
a complete mess out of yourself. If you are not so
system is designed the way it is.
sharp in your head, it will be okay. But if you are
sharp, you will cut yourself all over, and before As an experiment, try to resist the things that you
anyone can save you, you will be mutilated. Every want. You will see they will manifest strongly
day, such mutilated human beings come to me and within you. If you want something to happen, try
say, “Sadhguru, I’m interested in enlightenment.” to not make it happen. It will definitely happen.
First fix the wounds, or at least stop causing further That is because you are in a state where when you
wounds, because you have a very sharp knife. want to put your mind in first gear, it goes into
reverse gear. This is not the best way to do things,
Even to shave themselves, a whole lot of men cut
but you could try this to understand that this is
their faces. I have no such issues, but I have seen
how it is right now – if you resist something, only
people bleeding in the face because they want to
that will happen.
cut themselves close and it gets closer than planned.
Understanding the fundamentals, grasping as to From tomorrow, get up at five o’ clock in the
how your mind functions, does not come from an morning, have a cold shower, and start your
intellectual analysis – it is an exploration. What sadhana at 5:30, every day. After some time, so
you need to do is, hold your body in one posture, many things which were a problem in your mind
and see your mind functions in a certain way. Hold will be gone. It works – that is all that matters.
your body in another posture, and see your mind If you want to understand how it works, what
functions in a different way. the mechanism and the process are, it takes a
lot of effort and time. To make it work does not
If you stay in an asana and breathe properly, you
take much. But if you want to know the whole
will see as you go through this process, the mind
intricacy of what makes it happen, why it happens
will go into various states. This exploration is the
the way it happens, why a particular asana has a
most fundamental aspect of yoga. Hatha Yoga is
particular effect, then it is lifetimes of study.
not the peak – it is preparatory. If you try to go to
the peak without that preparatory step, you will Those who want to benefit from the technology
probably crash. At least 80% of humanity will not should simply learn to use it. For those who
be able to do any kind of meditation in their life want to know the basis and the science behind
unless they do some kind of physical preparation. the technology, it is lifetimes of work. It took me
The very way they sit, the very way they move three lifetimes to understand how it works. You
their body, it is clear that they cannot meditate, no have come to me, and after all the things I do – no
matter how hard they try. Some amount of physical sweetness, no promise of heaven, no miracles, not
preparation is needed, because body and mind are even a pleasant word, no hug – you are still here, so
not two separate things – or is your brain outside I assume that you are smart. Just do your hatha yoga
your body? for an hour a day. It works.

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 5

 Tools to Tap the Source of Creation
Shekhar Kapur in Conversation with Sadhguru
The day after Mahashivartri 2014, internationally acclaimed film director Shekhar
Kapur and Sadhguru came together at the Isha Yoga Center for a new edition of the
“In Conversation with the Mystic” series. This first excerpt of their discussion spans the
topics of creativity, the feminine, the divine, and tools to enhance one’s life.

Shekhar Kapur: Sadhguru, when the consecration Sadhguru: I don’t believe a human being can be
of Linga Bhairavi took place, you said, “Shekhar, creative. If we perceive creation around us with
as a creative person, you must come.” So my first a certain profoundness, we can imitate in many
question to you today is about the relationship different ways, in permutations and combinations,
between Bhairavi and creativity. and seem creative in society, but actually, we are
not really creative. Everything that can be created
Sadhguru: The greatest masterpiece of physical has already been done in creation. We are clever
creation, of what we know on this planet, is the craftsmen at the most. If you define the word
human body. There is no physical mechanism “creativity” as really creating something – whether
that is as sophisticated and as fantastic as this one. you make a movie or you paint something or I build
And though there is an input from the masculine, a building, I speak, or whatever else I do – this is
it is essentially manufactured in the womb of the not really creative – it is clever imitation. Because
feminine. Bhairavi is the ultimate feminine nature – we have paid attention to different aspects of life,
creativity in its essence. we are able to imitate in ways that others have
not thought possible. Or if you don’t like the word
Shekhar: You’re saying my feminine nature is the
“imitate,” you could say “replicate.”
source of my creativity?

6 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

Shekhar: I prefer “imitate” to “replicate.” Or machine. The word “yantra” actually means “form.”
would you give me as a creative person the word A machine is a complex arrangement of forms. Why
“interpret?” do we invent machines? All machines that human
beings have ever made are only about enhancing
Sadhguru: No, I would give you “transmit.” In what we can already do in a certain way. We can do
transmission, you can make some changes of color it in a small way – the machine can do it in a bigger
and form to it. way. We can walk, so we came up with a bicycle.
If you were immobile like a tree, you would have
Shekhar: Okay, I am going to replace the word
never thought of a bicycle.
“creativity” with the word “transmission.” Let’s
talk about transmission. How do I transmit? Is All machines, whether it is a phone, a bicycle, a car,
there a relationship between transmission and a computer, or whatever else, are just enhancements
Bhairavi? How do I become part of or how can I of our own capabilities and competence. In that
access the source? sense, a Bhairavi yantra is also a machine. There is
a different way to work with her because she is not
Sadhguru: She herself is a transmission. We have
a physical machine – she is an energy machine. If
always used the word “window” in yoga. Somehow,
you use the right code, a mantra or a certain way to
Bill Gates stole it from us [Laughter], because we
connect with her, and she works for you, suddenly,
didn’t make it as popular as he did. It is all about
in different levels, your capacity is greatly enhanced.
opening a new window. If you open a new window,
suddenly existence looks completely different. If you remember when you first learned how
Suppose you have lived in a contraption of a home to ride a bicycle, the new level of freedom was
all your life. Now if you open one window, you will tremendous. A bicycle is one of the most basic
see the temple, and you will think the world is a machines, but when you first ride it, this experience
temple. If you open another window, you will think of shifting your ability to locomote to the next level
the world is a mountain. If you open yet another is phenomenal. The only reason why human beings
window, you will think the world is a jungle. If you are in a dominant position on this planet is because
open a different window, you will think the world we created tools and machines. You can’t run as fast
is a town. Similarly, you can open a million different as a panther. You can’t fight with a tiger. You are
windows and still it will be something new, because no match for an elephant at all. You are not even
such is the phenomenon of creation. a match for a bull or a cow. Only because we have
tools and machines, our lives are enhanced.
Bhairavi herself is a window. Anything could be
made into a window, but it has not been done. These yantras are machines that function in
We established a window and keep it open so that a completely different dimension. They are
more people are able to see. But through Bhairavi, machines for inner wellbeing. Whenever I refer
people are able to experience, know, and achieve to the Dhyanalinga as a tool, people feel offended,
things that they would have never been able to do “Sadhguru, don’t call it a tool – for us it’s a god!” I
by themselves. You should listen to the stories of a say, “It’s okay – God is also a tool.” When people
lot of people who are every day in Bhairavi sadhana go to the temple and say, “Shiva, do this for me,”
through the Bhairavi yantra – incredible! If you they are trying to use him as a tool for their
use her as a window, suddenly she opens up a new wellbeing. People do not understand how fantastic
dimension for you, an enhanced level of capability a thing a tool is. God is not so fantastic – tools are
and competence. fantastic. Suppose I ask you to unscrew this screw
in this piece of furniture – you may lose all your
Another way of looking at it is all deities can also
fingernails and a few teeth, but it won’t come out.
be referred to as yantra. In a way, a yantra is a
If I give you a little screwdriver – done. That’s the
December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 7
power of a tool – it enables you to do things that These yantras are powerful tools. It is just that this
you could not do by yourself. form of science, which is far more ancient, far more
profound, and far more complex than the present
You might have stood on your head, got into all physical sciences, is subjective in nature. Today’s
kinds of pretzel forms, and still you were not science is concerned with the physical nature of
able to meditate. Now if you come and sit at the the universe alone. By changing the physicality,
Dhyanalinga, you will become meditative. So many you will only change the appearance of life – you
people who have never been able to meditate in will not change the quality of life in any way.
their whole life just sit there and become meditative. Suppose you start cycling, running, exercising, and
It is a powerful tool in that direction – that’s why it building muscle every day, your appearance will
is called Dhyanalinga. Similarly, Bhairavi is a tool change, socially something may change, but in your
for wellbeing on a different level. Such sophisticated experience of life, nothing will change. You will be
forms were created to take you to spaces that you by miserable with big muscles – that’s all.
yourself would not be able to go to.
But if you change the dimension that is beyond
If I had not been to those spaces, I would not have physicality, everything, the way you exist, the way
been able to manifest Bhairavi the way she is right you perceive life will change. Your very connection
now. If everyone had to make the journey without with the universe will change. After all, you can’t
a tool, without a machine, it would be an arduous really make anything that’s life. Life is for you to
task. Essentially, it is only because of tools and perceive and experience. The choice you have is
machines that if one generation leaves something to perceive and experience it more profoundly.
at a certain point, the next generation can take the Unfortunately, that dimension has been completely
next step without having to start all over again or ignored in today’s world because of this madness
having to repeat the previous step. about the physical.

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8 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

 Right or Left?
Sadhguru on the Difference between Our Two Sides
Questioner: Sadhguru, in the Indian culture, within themselves, they would. But today, our idea
people always eat and receive with the right hand, of equality is to level everything. There has been
and even in the West, it is encouraged to do things a huge effort in Western societies and now also
with the right hand rather than with the left. I am everywhere else in the world to level the masculine
wondering why this is so. and the feminine, which is most unfortunate and
crude. Men are becoming less masculine; women
Sadhguru: One reason is that our cardiac system is are becoming less feminine, which is a tragedy.
on the left side. There are studies which suggest that Somewhere, we perceive being feminine as weak
people who are left-handed tend to live shorter lives because we are ruled by gross values.
than right-handed people. The human system is
designed in such a way that you should not use your Only the masculine can survive when economics
left as much as you use your right. This is relevant is the sole value you have. Economics is essentially
for activities like throwing a ball. But why receiving survival process. We are elevating survival process
or giving with the right? Left and right are very as the greatest value on the planet, which is a
different in quality. Whether you keep the right foolish way to live. Once you do this, there is not
hand or leg over the left, or the left over the right much room for the feminine, because providing
makes a big difference. In the yogic culture, except for yourself and people around you is essentially a
for certain types of activities that are generally masculine process. It is not that women should be
considered as occult, we always keep the left leg incapable of that, but in terms of qualities, we are
tucked in. However, when I am in the Devi temple, destroying one quality completely, and then we are
I sit with my right leg tucked in. wondering why the world is so brutal and gross.
With the values we are setting in today’s societies, it
The left is the feminine in you – it needs to be cannot be any other way.
protected and nurtured. The right is the masculine
in you. Everything that you want to do outside, For the feminine to function, the left has to be
you should do with the right. The right is more kept gentle and alert. The right hand is for doing
robust – the left more sensitive. If I want to feel things in the world – to earn a living, throw a ball,
you out, I will always open my left hand, because or whatever else. For all survival processes, we use
it is receptive and sensitive. You want to keep the the right hand. If you do something very subtle,
left soft and nice so that it receives well and feels you should use the left hand. Some people are born
things out well. If you use it for other activities, with their heart on the right side. Just like that,
it will lose that sensitivity. You use your left hand some people are born left-handed. Their energies
only if something needs a very subtle touch. To are such that they invariably use the left hand. But
give an example – it takes a certain amount of otherwise, naturally, you can do more activity with
getting your masculinity out of your mind to play the right hand than the left. The left needs to be
golf. That is why I end up using my left hand kept in a different way because it is designed for
most of the time. To go furthest, you do not need a different purpose. This does not mean that you
power – you need a subtle touch. should for example only exercise with the right
hand. It is just that you should not use your left side
That is the nature of the feminine, and the left is as aggressively as you use your right side. It must be
feminine. Because most people have killed the preserved for receptivity. Otherwise, there will be
feminine in themselves, they do not notice any no receptivity in you.
difference. Had they kept the feminine active

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 9

The Way of Acceptance
Sadhguru on a Transformative Power on the Path
The following excerpt from the legendary Wholeness program at the
nascent Isha Yoga Center in 1994, during which Sadhguru sought to prepare
participants for the consecration of the Dhyanalinga. Here, Sadhguru discusses
a fundamental aspect of spirituality.

No Intensity, No Transformation psychological wellbeing. It is not going to make

you realize anything unless you have intensity.
Whether you walk the path of karma, gnana, kriya,
or bhakti, it is your intensity which keeps you going, If you half-heartedly love someone, there is no
not the path itself. No practices or kriyas will do love. It is either 100% or zero. If you think you can
anything when there is no intensity. In turn, when love someone 99%, you have not known love at all.
there is intensity, the practices have the power to
The same goes for any kind of action. If you do not
move you into a different dimension.
perform your action 100%, it is meaningless. It is
It is not the kriya as such which will transform not going to produce anything great. At the most,
you – it is your intensity. When you have this it will earn you food. Unless your action is 100%, it
intensity, the kriya is a tremendous support that cannot transform you. Unless your kriya is 100%,
enhances it more and more. That is the whole it cannot transform you. Unless your love is 100%,
purpose of doing the practices. Whichever path it cannot transform you. It may be a device to get
you walk, by itself, the practice does not do something, like a barter system, but in existential
anything except create a little bit of physical and terms, nothing happens.

10 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

Misunderstood Tolerance The Master said, “I told you not to bite anyone, but
I never told you not to hiss. You could have hissed
Once, in a certain village, there was a serpent that
at least. This is not spirituality – you have missed the
had gained a very bad reputation because it was
point. If you don’t hiss, they will forget that you are
vicious. It would not allow anyone to pass that
a snake and do all kinds of things to you.”
particular path. Many people had paid with their
lives. The village people were afraid to walk this Acceptance and Tolerance
path because at any time, the serpent could strike.
One day, a certain Master came to the village and Sometimes, we have to hiss. But one quality that
wanted to go that way. Everyone warned him not is essential to develop is acceptance. Acceptance
to go that way because of this wicked serpent. He will release you from everything. That is the path.
anyway went. As usual, the serpent was waiting Acceptance is far superior to tolerance. But if you
there and he wanted to set on this Master. But his are not aware, if acceptance is not possible for you
presence was such that the serpent melted, and the and you get irritated about every small thing, you
Master initiated him into the spiritual path. must at least develop tolerance.

He said, “Why are you wasting your life being You know, Jesus said if someone slaps you on the
wicked? By becoming a great bandit, you are not right cheek, turn to him the other also. Don’t
going to achieve anything. Maybe, you will not react – tolerate. This is tolerance. Mind you, Jesus
get caught, but you will still be running like a dog, only said this to his 12 disciples, not to the public.
endlessly. What is the point?” From that day, the The public sometimes has to slap back. But to those
serpent was transformed. He started meditating. For who really wanted to be spiritual, he said that if
the first time, he did something other than biting. they slap back, it is the end of their spirituality.
Gautama went a little further with what he told
After some time, the boys in the village realized the his disciples. The main activity for Buddhist monks
serpent had lost its teeth or was not willing to bite was to wander through fields and forest. In those
anymore. Slowly, they became bolder. They went times, the Pindaris, a bandit tribe by tradition, were
closer and started throwing stones. When he did terrorizing North India. Robbery was their way of
not react, they started poking and beating him with life. The more you robbed, the bigger a man you
sticks. Whatever they did, he was just lying there. became in the tribe. The concept of right and wrong
was inverted in their culture.
After one year, the Master came by again. Excited
that his Guru had come, the serpent went to him For anyone who travelled by foot or by bullock cart,
and fell at his feet. The Master saw that the serpent these Pindaris were a real menace. They generally
was in a miserable state. He had not eaten for a long spared the Hindu sadhus and sanyasis. But the
time because if he came out, people would torture Buddhist monks, since they were new, were poked
him in so many ways. So he stayed in his cave. And by the public and fair game for the bandits. Gautama
on top of that, the body was badly damaged. The said, “Suppose you get waylaid in the forest, even
Master asked, “What happened to you?” The serpent if the bandits slowly cut your limbs with a two-
said, “It is just that I didn’t eat, so I became weak.” handled saw, not a bit of resistance should arise in
He had reached a level of tolerance where he did your heart, not one curse should come from your
not even complain that people were beating him. lips – only then you are my disciple.” He also talked
about tolerance.
The Master saw all the wounds on the serpent’s body
and said, “Not eating will not do this to you. Tell me Your Life, Your Karma
what happened.” Then the serpent said, “The boys
If you really see that it is your own karma which
just want to play with me, so they come and poke.”
is playing havoc with your life, what is the point
December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 11
in cursing the man who saws off your limbs and that bad. In the first moment, the pain is terrible,
acquiring more karma? If you do not see this, or if but then, as acceptance develops, the pain is not that
you understand it only on the surface, if it is not a unbearable anymore. It is there – that is all. That is
truth for you, you will say it is karma only when how pain is. There is no way you can come out of
it is convenient for you – otherwise, you will say your fears if you are scared of pain. When pain is
it is someone else’s fault. Everything that you not a problem for you anymore, a large amount of
are today, the good and the bad, is actually your your fear disappears, because at least 50% of your
own responsibility and your own karma. Then fear is about your physical wellbeing, about what
what is the point in complaining if something is going to happen to your body, which means it is
is not convenient? For a few things, you may be about pain.
willing to say it is your karma, but what about the
remaining things? Total Acceptance
Once you master pain, the level of fear about your
If there is acceptance, anything is possible – this
physical wellbeing decreases considerably. But
is the best way. But when people are not alert
again, these are poor substitutes. Neither mastering
enough to accept every moment, then you have
pain nor learning tolerance nor anything else is
to fix substitutes. Tolerance is a poor substitute for
needed if you are in a state of acceptance. Everything
acceptance, but you need at least that.
is mastered in one stroke. Once your acceptance is
Mastering Pain total, you will light up. There will be a new surge of
energy within you. Everything will be new. That is
The asanas are to cultivate physical tolerance. how it should be – acceptance.
From tomorrow, try to increase the duration of
how long you stay in the asanas. Stretch to
the maximum and remain there for some time.
Only initially, pain is a problem. Beyond that,
you can easily stay in the position.

Why if something hurts, people in this culture

call God’s name, is fundamentally to develop
tolerance. If for example you hit your leg and
say “Shiva,” it gives you tolerance. “Ayyoh” or
“ouch” does not give you tolerance. This is not
about calling God. This is a device for you to
settle down, and the sound or mantra itself has
some impact on you. Moreover, anger needs an
object. If you say God’s name, you direct your
attention to the highest, which is supposed to be
everywhere. That means, once again, there is no
direction. When there is no direction, there can
be no anger, no desire. That is the whole purpose
of chanting God’s name. It releases you.

Another aspect is, you have to master pain rather

than avoid it. Let’s say you see someone who just
cut off his finger or hand – you cannot imagine
how he can bear the pain. But for him, it is not

12 ISHA FOREST FLOWER

 Mahabharat

“This is not a story of either love or war, nor of treachery, devotion or greed, but of
all that humans are made of, and of the possibility of rising beyond. If there ever can
be a complete depiction of the human creature – this is it.” - Sadhguru

Part I: Equations of Time and Creation (1)

The Mahabharat program was not just a breathtaking explosion of arts, culture, and
beauty but an insightful exploration of an unparalleled saga, inimitably interpreted
by Sadhguru. In the first part of our new Mahabharat series, Sadhguru throws light
on the connection between time, space, planets, and the human system, to establish
the necessary context before delving into the epic world of Mahabharat.

From the infiniteness of pre-creation arose three time. Either one is destroyed by the process of time,
possibilities of creation. Through the limitless or one is delivered by the process of time. Either
space, it chose to find expression in the form of one is entrapped by the process of time, or one uses
time, energy, and gravity. These three fundamentals time to transcend and liberate oneself. Time is the
trapped this timeless, limitless space into a time- most significant dimension of creation – not only a
bound, limited creation. Of these three, time – the human concept, as most people believe. If there was
relentless time – elates and bludgeons, nurtures no time, there would be no beginning and no end.
and gnashes, rises and falls. Time gives respite If there was no beginning and no end, there would
to no one. A worm or a bird, the hunted or the be no creation.
hunter, the ruled or the ruler, the slave or the
emperor, beautiful bodies and wondrous palaces, It is in time that we exist. It is in time that we were
prime of fame and angst of shame – everything born. It is in time that we will die. If one understands
goes back to nothingness, to dust and ashes. the significance of time, the laws of time, the dharma
of time and is in tune with the dharma of time, one
Kala, time, is one factor that is relentlessly on. is not just a jaya – one is a vijaya. One makes it
Either you ride this time and live a beautiful life, here and one makes it elsewhere. Conversely, one
or you get bludgeoned by this relentless wheel of who is not in tune with the dharma of time will

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 13

get crushed and crumbled by the process of life. That is why we have 108 beads in a mala.
Life is just a play of time. Understanding this, the Similarly, I could go on with all kinds of fabulous
ancient sages, seers, and yogis of this region looked figures, but the most important thing is the deep
at time with enormous attention. Our idea of time is connection between the making of time and the
essentially based on the way we are connected with making of the human body. You know, the planet
the immediate creation around us – the planet and is approximately round and it has a slightly tilted
the solar system. orbit. As it travels, as it spins, it forms a circle.
Today we know it takes 25,920 years to complete
There is night and day only because the planet this cycle [a complete shift in orientation of the
is spinning. The spin of the planet, the human earth’s axis]. This tilt mainly happens because of
body, the human energies, the human possibilities, the gravitational pull of the moon over the earth.
and the human destiny are deeply entwined. If And that many years are called one cycle of yugas 2.
one does not understand and is not in tune with Each of these cycles has eight yugas.
the law or dharma that governs this, one will be
spinning eternally. If you spin around for some Back to one cycle of axial procession – 25,920
time, you do not know where you are going. This divided by 60 (which is also the number of heart
is the state of most human beings – unconsciously, beats per minute if you are healthy) – comes to
they are spinning with the planet, not knowing 432. Four hundred thirty two is a number that
where they are going. comes up in various cultures – the Norse culture,
the ancient Jewish culture, the Egyptian culture,
According to the Surya Siddhanta1, the sunlight the Mesopotamian culture, and very much in this
moves at a speed of 2,202 yojanas in 0.5 nimisha. culture here. Why 432? If you are in a state of
One yojana is nine miles. 2,202 yojanas amount to excitement, it may be more, but otherwise, if you
19,818 miles. One nimisha is equal to 16/75 of a are in good health and in good condition, your heart
second. Half a nimisha amounts to 8/75 of a second, beats about 60 times per minute, which is 3600 per
which is 0.106666 seconds. A speed of 19,818 miles hour, and 3600 by 24 equals 86,400 heartbeats per
in 0.10666 seconds equals 185,793 miles per second. day. If you divide 864 by 2, again you have 432.
This is approximately in line with the modern
calculations, according to which the speed of light If you are in a state of great excitement, it could be
is 186,282 miles per second. Modern science has more; if you have done lots of sadhana, it could be
arrived at this number with great difficulty and all only 12; but otherwise, you take about 15 breaths
kinds of instruments, while a few thousand years per minute. Fifteen breaths per minute means
ago, they got this number by simple observation 900 breaths per hour and 21,600 per day. 216
of how the human system and the solar system divided by 2 becomes 432 again. If you take the
function together. circumference of the earth – there is something
called a nautical mile which is the real mile in the
The distances between the Sun and the Earth, the sense that it has something to do with the way the
distances between the Moon and the Earth, the way planet is. The other units of measurement were
the planet rotates and the impact it has – all these created for ease of calculation.
things have been looked at with great care. The
diameter of the Sun multiplied by 108 equals the You know there are 360° in a circle. Likewise, there
distance between Sun and Earth, and the diameter are 360° upon the planet, and each degree is divided
of the Moon multiplied by 108 equals the distance into 60 minutes. One of these minutes accounts for
between Earth and Moon. The diameter of the Sun one nautical mile. That means the circumference of
is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. the earth at the equator is 21,600 nautical miles –
1 Ancient Indian treatise about astronomy
2 There are 4 yugas: Kali, Dwapara, Treta and Krita yuga. Each of these occurs twice per 25920-year cycle.

14 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

that is also how many breaths you take per day. That you are not riding the time, you will live a mediocre
means the planet is spinning on time and you are life – probably a suffering life. Only if you are riding
doing well. If the planet was not spinning on time, it the time, you will live an extraordinary life, which
would be no good at all for us. If you are not in tune is what a human being and the human brain are
with it, it is also no good for you. designed for.

This is to show you time is not a concept that we The numbers in brief:
invented – time is deep-rooted in the system, There are 2202 yojanas in 0.5 nimisha.
in the very way we are made. When we go into 1 yojana = 9 miles
Mahabharat, there is so much talk about the yugas 1 nimisha = 16/75 seconds
and how they function. I want you to look at the 2202 yojana in 0.5 nimisha = 2202 x 9 miles in
impact of time in human life from a different 0.5 x 16/75 seconds
context. This is not something that someone thought = 19,818 miles in 0.10666 seconds
up – this is a phenomenal and profound science. = 185,793 miles/second
Yoga has always been deeply involved with this. It
is just that we don’t believe in propounding theories To be continued
about it. By practice, we try to attune the body to
the times and spaces of creation, because without
being in tune with them, you do not get very far. If

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 15

 In this series, Sadhguru discusses various aspects that can significantly
impact the quality of your yogic practice.

Part 12:
Why Focusing on the Breath is Essential
Questioner: Why should we focus on the breath at a distance to yourself, this is the end of suffering.
during asanas? And only when there is no fear of suffering, a human
being will dare to explore his life at full stride.
Sadhguru: Your mind and emotions need a single
object to focus on. If both of them stay with the Therefore, being with the breath is very important.
same object, you are at maximum ease. If your body One thing is your mind has a steady companion to
goes in one direction, your mind goes in another, stay with. Anyone may leave you, but your breath
and your emotions go in yet another direction, you will not leave you until you die. And another thing
will be struggling. Let’s say you have a job that you is it will transport you to a place where you and
are very involved with, a family at home, and an your body are linked. It is important to know this
affair on the side, you will be in a lot of mess – never place. Otherwise, you cannot do or undo your life
at ease. Only if your body, mind, and emotions are by choice – your life will be determined by multiple
focused in one direction, you will be at total ease. factors of compulsiveness.

Nothing and no one – neither your job nor your Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru at the
wealth nor your family nor your love affair – are Isha Hatha Yoga School.
as reliable as your breath. As long as you live, it
will always be there. It is the most steady and For dates and details of hatha yoga programs,
reliable thing to focus your mind on. If while visit www.ishahathayoga.com.
doing an asana, you do not focus your mind on to
The Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program
the breath, it will go all over the place. Therefore,
is an opportunity to be trained in
focus on the breath. If I take away your breath
classical hatha yoga devised by Sadhguru.
now, you and your body will fall apart. It is your
Upcoming dates: 31 July to 25 December 2015 at
breath which holds you and your body together.
the Isha Yoga Center in India.
This kurma nadi, as we call it in yoga, is like a
For more information, please send an email to
thread that ties you and your body together.
[email protected].
If you constantly stay with your breath, if you really
travel with it, one day, you will understand where
you and your body are linked. Once you know this,
you can hold your body at a distance, and all your
trouble and suffering will be over. All the trouble
and suffering in your life arise from your body and
your mind. If you can hold your body and your mind

16 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

News & Events in Brief

Adiyogi Lands in America

After months of preparation and the exciting unveiling at the Isha Yoga Center on Guru Pournami, the
over 60,000 pounds heavy Adiyogi sculpture travelled by sea from Chennai across the Indian Ocean and
the Atlantic to Savannah, Georgia, and was finally welcomed at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences in
McMinnville, Tennessee, on 6 November 2014. Adiyogi’s shelter, a two-story structure, is currently under
construction. “The Abode of Yoga,” as it will be known, is designed to spread Adiyogi’s grace and glory in
the Western Hemisphere and to offer the yogic sciences as a powerful live process.

Sadhguru Speaks at the United Nations

On 30 October 2014, Sadhguru spoke at the United
Nations in New York on the subject of “Pluralism
and Democracy: Role, Expectations and Challenges.”
The other panelist was Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe,
Director General, RMP and a national vice president
of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The UN broadcast the
talk live on their website.

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 17

Golfing for Human Rights How would individuals feel within themselves? On
27 September 2014, over 1000 visitors to the Isha
On 17 October 2014, Sadhguru teed off at Institute of Inner-sciences discovered a microcosm
Hyannisport Club, Massachusetts at the 25th of what a peaceful world might resemble – filled
Annual Golf Tournament of Robert F. Kennedy’s with people of all ages, cultures and walks of life
Center for Justice and Human Rights. More than joyfully coming together, sharing their voices and
150 guests joined the tournament, including actors their talents, and experiencing the inner peace that
Bill Murray and Dennis Haysbert, legendary Boston exists in us all. Throughout the World Peace Day
Celtics Bill Russell and John Havlicek, gold medal celebration, as participants explored possibilities
decathlete Rafer Johnson, Congressman Steny and solutions for creating harmonious societies, all
Hoyer, and comedian Rob Riggle, among others. were reminded that global peace is possible only
The tournament raised more than US$ 600,000 to through individual transformation.
support the human rights work around the globe.

World Peace Day 2014 at the iii

What would it be like to live in a truly peaceful world?
How would different people behave towards each
other, resolve disagreements, and explore new ideas?

Tides of Time
Carried away in the tides
Of this endless breath
My lives unfold like lies
Of a blinding caress
Sweet remembrance...
Could it be the final fall,
my Abyss?
Or just another tale
Just another stale tale
Oh Master of Time
Tell me where the tides
Unravel
– Marie-Christine, Lebanon

18 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014

 Teaching – A Life Fulfilled
Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot of 29 October 2014
There is a certain trajectory to human development than physical life can happen through you, even if
and what will happen to the world in the next you have no idea what it is.
few decades. You will see that individual human
beings will be empowered in ways that were Most people never get to do anything that is
never before imagined possible, because of certain befitting of their own stature. Even fewer get to do
technological developments. If human beings want that which is far bigger than themselves. Becoming
to enjoy the fruits of science and technology, it will a teacher is an opportunity to do something that is
become of paramount importance that internally, far bigger than you. Isha Yoga teachers have this
they are equipped for it. Otherwise, this external privilege. People are with them for seven days –
empowerment will be disastrous. how they are the first day and how they are when
they leave is incomparable. Many have not shed a
I thought we must do our bit, because we are single tear for many years, but after a few days, 80%
more qualified than most to offer solutions. As of the people are looking at you with tears of joy and
every nation plans to produce a certain number love in their eyes. No other activity on the planet
of engineers, doctors, soldiers, businessmen, or can give you this level of fulfillment.
athletes, it will become imperative for nations to
also produce people who can transmit something There are many things we can do to satisfy
for inner wellbeing in a proper, scientific way. ourselves. We can pursue professions, conduct
businesses, or pursue arts. I am not saying yoga is
India probably has a bigger responsibility in the only or the best thing that you can do in your
creating teachers who can do something for life, but if you really give yourself, you do not
inner wellbeing. It is not just necessary that we have to seek fulfillment in your action anymore.
produce yoga teachers – at some point, we have to Towards this end, we are offering an intensive
produce yogis. We need people with strong inner teacher training program this February. And
experience. We are confident and hopeful that the for the first time in nearly 20 years, I will be
Isha Yoga Center will offer more than its share of conducting the program myself. So please get
teachers and yogis to the planet, because we have ready either to become a yoga teacher or a yogi,
done enough groundwork. whichever you choose, because it is no longer a
luxury – it is an absolute necessity on this planet.
One aspect of Isha Yoga programs has always been
to maintain a certain dimension of aliveness in what The Inner Engineering Teacher Training
is being offered. It is not about a teacher delivering program with Sadhguru will be conducted from
a bundle of information but bringing a live quality 17 Feb – 5 Apr 2015 at the Isha Yoga Center. This
into the process. To experience something far is open only to those who are willing to commit
bigger than yourself happening through you is a themselves as fulltime volunteers with Isha after
tremendous possibility. When a woman delivers a the training. For more information, please contact
baby, in her experience, it is immense, because she an Isha Yoga teacher in your center, or write to
cannot create life, but it is happening through her. [email protected].
As a teacher, something even more fundamental

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 19

 Program & Event Highlights

Date Program Place Contact

Isha Yoga Center, 98840 04475

3–6 Dec 2014 Hatha Yoga
Coimbatore – India [email protected]

A.S. Raonagar-
85000 68000 / 90102 91379
3–9 Dec 2014 Inner Engineering Secunderabad,
[email protected]
Hyderabad – India

Thycaud, 98460 17776

3–9 Dec 2014 Inner Engineering
Trivandrum – India [email protected]

95354 42708
3–9 Dec 2014 Inner Engineering Mysore – India
[email protected]

Isha Yoga Center,

7 Dec 2014 Pre-Samyama Meet 0422-2515300
Coimbatore – India

Bhava Spandana Isha Yoga Center, 98840 04475

8–11 Dec 2014
(Ladies/English) Coimbatore – India [email protected]

Jayanagar, 96201 90104

10–16 Dec 2014 Inner Engineering
Bangalore – India [email protected]

Ulsoor, 81052 69126

10–16 Dec 2014 Inner Engineering
Bangalore – India [email protected]

Inner Engineering Isha Yoga Center, 94890 45164

11–14 Dec 2014
Retreat Coimbatore – India [email protected]

Bhava Spandana Isha Yoga Center, 98840 04475

12–15 Dec 2014
(Gents/English) Coimbatore – India [email protected]

Yantra Ceremony Isha Yoga Center, 94425 04720

20–22 Dec 2014
with Sadhguru Coimbatore – India [email protected]

Samyama Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515300

21–28 Feb 2015
Conducted by Sadhguru Coimbatore – India [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 December 2014

 Isha Recipes
Paneer Butter Masala
Ingredients 3 tsps. Kashmiri chili powder
5 ½ tsps. Butter
100g Paneer 2 tsps. Chili powder
2 heaped tbsps. Dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) 3 tsps. Sugar
75g Cashews 1 1/2 tsp. Ginger paste
4 Tomatoes 1 cup Milk
1 tbsp. Tomato sauce Salt to taste
2 tsps. Oil
2 tsps. Cumin (jeera) powder For the Garnish:
2 tsps. Coriander (dhania) powder 4–5 tsps. Fresh coriander leaves
Preparation
1. Dry-fry the kasuri methi; powder it and keep aside.
2. Soak the cashews in hot water. Grind them into a fine paste. Keep aside.
3. Bring a cup of water to a boil and add the tomatoes. When cooked, remove the skin and puree
the tomatoes. Keep aside.
4. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a kadai or heavy bottom pan. Add ginger paste and sauté for a minute.
Add tomato puree, mix, and sauté till thick.
5. Add the kashmiri chili powder and 4 teaspoons of butter; mix everything until the butter melts.
6. Add dhania powder, jeera powder, chili powder, half of the kasuri methi powder, sugar, ginger
paste, and tomato sauce.
7. When the oil separates, add the cashew paste and sauté everything for a few minutes
8. Add 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of water. Add salt to taste. Allow the mixture to cook for about
7–8 minutes.
9. Add the paneer, the remaining kasuri methi, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of butter. Mix well until the
butter melts.
10. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Note: Kashmiri chili powder is a relatively mild kind of chili powder with a vibrant red color.
It is a slightly hotter than paprika but a lot milder than common red chili or cayenne pepper.

December 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 21

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22 For online subscriptions and renewals, visit www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower

 Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,
Dear Readers,
For over six years, we indulged in monthly tidbits of Krishna’s Leela, as narrated and interpreted
by Sadhguru during the 2005 program of the same name. In this edition of Isha Forest Flower, we
embark on a new exploration into one of India’s great cultural legacies – the Mahabharat saga.

Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 042. Editor: K. SEKAR.

In the first part, “Equations of Time and Creation,” Sadhguru exemplifies the connection between
time, space, planets, and the human system. If the torrent of scientific numbers overwhelms you,
don’t worry – this is only a preparation before we delve into the epic world of Mahabharat.
We dug deep into our archives to unearth a gem from the early days of Isha. Our article “The Way
of Acceptance” is based on a talk by Sadhguru from the legendary 1994 Wholeness program,
during which Sadhguru unleashed the mystic and Guru in him before the incredulous eyes of the
participants. Here, he bespeaks the importance of acceptance for those who are serious about
the spiritual path.
In the aftermath of the grand Mahashivaratri celebrations this year, Shekhar Kapur and Sadhguru
quietly came together in front of Linga Bhairavi to discuss matters of creativity, the feminine, and
more. Our article “Tools to Tap the Source of Creation” is a first excerpt of this enjoyably lively
conversation.
Sadhguru urges us to get the fundamentals in place before aiming for lofty goals such as
enlightenment. “How to Get a Grip on Your Body and Your Mind” is the most imperative question
to be dealt with before aiming at higher dimensions, and our Lead Article has Sadhguru’s practical
advice on how to tackle it. In this context, breath awareness is one of the most basic yet easily
forgotten instructions in Isha Hatha Yoga. In this month’s hatha yoga article, Sadhguru expounds

Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004
Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION
on “Why Focusing on the Breath is Essential.”
Finally, with the winter fast approaching, we offer you a hearty, spicy “Paneer Butter Masala”
recipe – brought to you directly from the Akshaya (ashram kitchen).
Enjoy the read!
The Editorial Team
Isha Forest Flower – ONLINE!
To receive free downloadable PDF versions of Isha Forest Flower along with your print subscription,
please submit your subscription number and email address at www.ishafoundation.org/Online-
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[email protected]
2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER December 2014
 Volume - 2 / Issue - 12 `15 Annual Subscription `180 December 2014

light for the Blind

Fire of my Mind
Fire of my Heart
Fire of my Body
Immense fire of my Being

Many images of life

I Condensed into cool fire

Linger for ever, an album

The coolness of my fire

Of all that has been. Thanx

makes my fire unconditional

To technology without speaking

Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333
A word we may share our albums
Doesn’t feed upon life giving oxygen
Underwater or in ice or in cold space
My fire flourishes to be light

Light that is beyond senses

light that is eternal

light that even the blind can know.

light up your Blindness

with my cool fire

Registered with Patrika Channel Egmore RMS under Registration No. TN/CH(C)/492/14 –16. Published on 2nd of every month – December 2014
Grace & Blessings