In our Isha Hatha Yoga series, we explore the background and deeper significance of Surya Kriya, a practice that is quite unique to the classical hatha yoga as taught in Isha. Also in this issue: Sadhguru s view on pain medication and maintaining Awareness in Death. In Just Life, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher raises a host of forthright questions with Sadhguru, from what makes him special to who the Creator is. The fact that business and economy can go hand in hand with spirituality is perfectly exemplified in the initiatives of INSIGHT (this year with Ratan Tata, among others) and myshare find out more in the respective articles. Last but not least, our Beetroot Spinach Salad with Croutons amalgamates the freshest ingredients to a gourmet experience. Enjoy! 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/onlinecommunity/forest-flower-subscribers.isa For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office: (044) 45011137, 96770 16700 subscriptions.ff@ishafoundation.org To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/forestflower Editorial Team: Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore 641114 forestflower@ishafoundation.org 2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015 Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002. Editor: K. SEKAR. Just before this issue of Isha Forest Flower went to press, the United Nations General Assembly approved by consensus a resolution establishing 21 June as International Day of Yoga. In his inaugural address to the world body in September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed a day to commemorate the ancient practice, saying yoga lets people discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. Here is Sadhguru s message on this momentous occasion: Yoga is the exploration of the very mechanics of life. It predates all religion and opened the possibility of raising a human being beyond limitations set by nature, if willing to strive. Making the science of Yoga available in the purest form is the responsibility of this generation. This science of inner development, wellbeing and liberation is the greatest gift for future generations. Congratulations to the Prime Minister for having initiated the process for declaring June 21 International Yoga Day. Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004 A New Year, a new beginning not just on the calendar, but more importantly, in terms of how the solar system impacts us in this month. In our Lead Article A Fresh Start in Life, Sadhguru points out how this seasonal turning point has been celebrated in ancient cultures across the globe, and what its significance is from a spiritual perspective. In keeping with this larger perspective, in the second part of our Mahabharat series, Sadhguru not only continues to examine the deep connection between human life and the planetary system we live in but also identifies the time of Krishna in the cycle of yugas and where we stand today. Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION Dear Readers,
CONTENTS Lead Article A Fresh Start in Life Sadhguru on Living in Sync with the Universe 4 Musings Awareness in Death Sadhguru on Awareness and Pain Medication 7 In Conversation with the Mystic Just Life Anupam Kher in Conversation with Sadhguru 8 Mahabharat Part 2: Equations of Time and Creation (2) 10 Isha Hatha Yoga Part 13: Surya Kriya 13 News & Events INSIGHT 2014 16 With Ratan Tata, G.V. Prasad, and Other Top Business Leaders Sharing Experiences myshare Innovation for a Social Cause 18 Upcoming Programs and Events Yaksha 2015 17 Mahashivarathri 2015 19 Isha Yoga Program Highlights 20 Isha Recipe This Month: Beetroot Spinach Salad with Croutons 21 Zen Speaks What Is Self-Realization / Go Wash Your Bowl 23 January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 3
SADHGURU A Fresh Start in Life Sadhguru on Living in Sync with the Universe As Adiyogi said a few thousand years ago in many ways, the human system as a neurological process, in terms of its ability to perceive, know, and experience, and even physiologically, has hit a peak. Human consciousness is still open to evolution, but it would take dramatic changes in the solar system for the human body to evolve further. Otherwise right now, the physical laws in this planetary system do not allow further evolution. The Significance of the Number 108 Of the 114 chakras in the body, 2 are outside the physiological framework. Of the 112 chakras that are within the physiological framework, actual work needs to be done on 108. If you manage to activate these 108, the remaining 4 will naturally open up. Traditionally, if you wear a mala, it has 108 beads. If you chant a mantra or go around an energy space, it is 108 times. This is because there are 108 things that one needs to do if one wants to have a complete mastery over the human mechanism. This is beautifully manifested in the planetary system in which we live. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance between Sun and Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The distance between Moon and Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. And there are 108 padas (steps) in one lunar year. On its orbit, Planet Earth arranges itself in 108 positions around the Sun, almost like the beads of a mala. The Sun s Position in January It takes the Earth 13 ½ lunar months or one solar year to complete its orbit around the Sun. The Earth is closest to the Sun around the 4 th of January, but because of the axial tilt of the Earth, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun at that time, and therefore receives fewer hours of sunlight per day. Due to the wider angle at which the Sun s rays hit the Northern Hemisphere, they spread out more and dilute their heat energy. That is why the Northern Hemisphere experiences the coldest part 4 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
of the year in the beginning of January even though we are closest to the Sun at this time. Spiritual Structures and the Sun The changing positions of the celestial bodies not only have an impact on the weather patterns but also on the human system. Many aspects of the yogic system were evolved and developed based on the connection between the celestial system and the human system, in order to make use of the changes in position that happen in an incremental way, from moment to moment, minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day. There are a whole lot of temples and spiritual structures in the Northern Hemisphere that are aligned to the sunrise with the solstices or some of them with the equinoxes. Just to name a few the two Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra are aligned to the solstices. In the summer solstice cave, Buddha is seated in the winter solstice cave, Buddha is standing. This imagery of Buddha sitting and standing represents in the yogic system Dakshinayana or the southern run of the Sun seen as a sadhana pada, and Uttarayana seen as a kaivalya pada. In sadhana pada, he is sitting, meditative. In kaivalya pada, he is standing, ready to go. At the Arunachala Mountain, in South India, in Tamil Nadu, pradakshina 1 is done on solstices. In other cultures, temples were built in alignment with the winter solstice at sunrise. The ancient Egyptian Karnak temple for example, which is a phenomenal architectural marvel that was built approximately 2500 years ago, was matched with the winter solstice. The passageway of Newgrange in Ireland, an earth mound that was built about 5000 years ago, is aligned to the sunrise at the solstice. Celebrations around the World Celebrations at the time of the winter solstice have been universal in almost every culture on the planet. It is seen as the rising of the new sun. In ancient Rome, this was celebrated as Saturnalia, which means it was about Saturn, the god of agriculture and food. In southern India, even today, the celebration of Makara Sankranti is one of the most important festivals in a year for the agricultural communities. In Rome, Saturnalia was a holiday people gave gifts, no war could be declared on this day, and masters and slaves swapped their positions. In India, even today, men and women swap their positions at that time men will be singing, women will be drawing complex geometric patterns in the form of Rangoli. In lands like Central Asia and China, such celebrations were also prevalent. These traditions were destroyed in Europe and other parts of the world with the advent of Christianity. The church decided to shift Christmas, the birth of Christ, from somewhere in April to 25 December to suppress the pagan festivals, and from then on, Christmas became important. The ancient Egyptians always saw that during this month, the line between the physical and the spiritual is thin, or the two are brought close together. A Season for Sadhana This is the time to do spiritual processes and sadhana. This is the time to fast. This is the time to prepare for a new beginning. This is the time not to fight. Armies were stationed, fortresses closed, business and travel suspended. People ate good food, and sacrifices were done to the ancestors. In India we say during this time, you can cross the Vaitarani River more effortlessly because it is at its lowest ebb. The Vaitarani is a symbolic barrier or crossing point between the embodied ones and the disembodied ones. This month is seen as the best time of the year to make a connection between the two. Traditionally, at this time, people reduced their material activity and increased their spiritual activity. But these days, human beings are not working according to natural cycles but like machines, going on endlessly. It would be very good to notice the natural cycles and adapt to them, because one s ability to do things is different at 1 circumambulation January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 5
different times of the year and at different positions of the planet. Particularly when it comes to one s inner journey, using these natural cycles can be immensely beneficial. Or, if one gives oneself to a spiritual process, one will become conscious of these dimensions as to how the universe and the human body are not really two separate things but two parts of the same system. Makara Sankranti and Pongal Between the 13 th and 17 th of January are the festivals of Makara Sankranti or Pongal, as it is called in Tamil Nadu. There are different aspects to Pongal. There is Bhogi, during which houses are cleaned, decorated, and in a way re-consecrated for the new year, using materials like mango leaves and the first cut of paddy to enhance the vibrance in the house. All the unnecessary things in one s home are disposed of. In this season, you should get rid of all the unnecessary things in your life and begin life afresh. You should make this cleanup an annual event. Even if some cleaning up is done on a daily basis, a few things pile up here and there without you being conscious about it. This piling up is not only of material things in our homes. Also in our minds, in our emotions, in our bodies, and in our consciousness, things pile up. This is the time to clean that up and start afresh in the coming spring, as spring is the best time to start life in every way. Makara Sankranti has not only agricultural connotations to it there are celestial and spiritual connotations to it as well. It arose from certain yogic practices that common people took up in ways that were relevant to them. This time is most important for yogis to make a new, fresh effort in their spiritual process. Accordingly, people who have family also make a fresh attempt in whatever they do in their lives. This marks the completion of 27 nakshatras or 108 padas around the Sun and the beginning of a new cycle. agriculture. On this day, the bulls and cows that are at the center of pastoral communities are decorated, pampered, and worshiped, as an expression of gratitude. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, they make these animals cross a small fire made of hay. This is because during winter, when the animals stay inside more, their hooves tend to get worm-infested. So as a part of the celebration, they are made to walk over the fire. This cleans up their hooves and removes any worm infestation. Children and adults also run over the fire, just for the fun of it. On the next day is Kaanum Pongal, which is a community affair this means going and seeing people. The Makara Sankranti or Pongal festivities have various ingredients of cleansing, of appreciating and expressing gratitude to all the creatures that are involved in our lives. It is also about getting involved with the community, which means it also has a social connotation. It is a time of festivity. With the advent of modern life, we should not remain glued to the television and computer. It is a time to come out and celebrate, feel the air, feel the change in the weather, feel the change in what is happening within yourself because of the changes that are happening with the planet. The Celestial Bodies and Human Consciousness It is very important that we are in sync with nature. Otherwise, there is no way your life can really flourish to its fullest possibility. Whether it is a plant or a tree, if it is not in sync with nature, it cannot survive. In a way, this is also true for us if the human system is not in sync with everything around, it may manage to survive, but it will not flourish. The winter solstices and equinoxes are times when the celestial bodies naturally influence human consciousness and human energy in a certain way. I request all of you to make use of these days and the coming year to raise your individual consciousness and that of people around the world. Apart from Bhogi, the Pongal celebrations also include Mattu Pongal, which honors all the animals that traditionally play an important role in 6 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
Awareness in Death Sadhguru on Awareness and Pain Medication Questioner: I recently lost a friend of mine due to an aggressive form of cancer. Towards the end, she was in excruciating pain. The amount of narcotics needed to manage the pain and keep her comfortable was to the point of rendering her pretty much unresponsive. My question is, at the time of death, if we are to try and leave our bodies in full awareness, how does this work when one is rendered unresponsive or obtunded from pain medicines? Are we supposed to not take pain medicine in a situation like this so we can leave in awareness? Sadhguru: When someone is in extreme pain, not taking medicine could be very cruel, and anyway, maintaining awareness while being in such pain may also become difficult. But I m sure there s an in-between way where pain can be considerably reduced without the person being knocked out. Above all, even if someone is unresponsive to the outside world, they may be still very much conscious within themselves. The medicine may be numbing the body, and the numbness of the body may not allow the person to respond to the external situations, but it may actually create an ideal situation within oneself to be conscious. Depending on the doses of narcotics and other drugs, beyond a certain point, of course the person becomes completely unconscious. I think most doctors would calibrate it to numb the system only to the extent that the pain is taken away. There are also other ways that some doctors in some countries explore, like snapping off nerves to see that the respective part of the body does not experience pain, or using laser to zap the nervous system in such a way that it cannot conduct the impulses of pain. Modern technology and medicine is exploring many ways to relieve one of pain which is good. No one can advocate pain to anyone else for whatever reason. Relief from pain may not really affect a person s ability to be aware. If medicine is used only to numb the body, it could actually become very easy to be aware. If someone is in the unfortunate situation where it is pain versus awareness, I would say bring down the pain first, because awareness is not something that you do. Awareness can happen in many different ways because awareness is life. It has its own way of finding itself. It is not necessary to try to be aware. If one has at least to some extent lived a conscious life, if one has been initiated, if one has been infused with another dimension of energy, one could naturally become aware at the moment of death. Awareness is not an act that we perform it is a state, a dimension of our existence. Therefore, it is not necessary to be concerned if someone has been numbed so that they do not go through excruciating pain. They may be unresponsive, but that does not mean they are incapable of being aware. January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 7
Just Life Anupam Kher in Conversation with Sadhguru This month, we go back to an edition of the In Conversation with the Mystic where famous Bollywood actor Anupam Kher asks Sadhguru some personal questions. Anupam Kher: Sadhguru, what is it that is so special about you? Sadhguru: It is not special. There was a time when we had an Isha Yoga brochure that said, Ordinary to extraordinary. In the first few days of the program, we are teaching people some basic fundamentals of life that they have surely missed. Then they asked, Sadhguru, we thought we will become extraordinary, special. I said, I never said you will become special. I said you will become extraordinary more ordinary than others. [Laughter & applause] Everyone is desperately trying to be special. Wanting to be special comes from a sense of emptiness or inadequacy in a human being. Where is the need to be special? Every human being is unique in his or her own way. If you try to be special, you will only end up aping someone you will not be yourself. When every life, every leaf, and every atom in existence are unique, where is the need for you to be special? Being unique is better than being special, isn t it? This is the nature of existence: You cannot eat mud, but if you sow a seed and wait, this mud becomes food. When you eat this food, it becomes flesh and bone it becomes you. This is the way of life filth will become a flower if only you mature it in 8 the right direction. This flower with its beauty and its fragrance comes from filth. The more filth you put at the root, the better the flowers will grow. So the question is not about what is different or special the question is, will you allow yourself to mature, or will you let yourself roll in filth? Anupam Kher: Do you get angry? Sadhguru: You want me to right now? [Laughter] It s not that I am incapable of anger I am capable of everything. It is just that I have not given this privilege to anyone that they can make me angry, happy, unhappy, or miserable. But if someone needs to be shouted at, boom! I ll go. Anupam Kher: So what makes you angry? Sadhguru: Nothing makes me angry. If they need a shouting, I will give it to them. There are different kinds of people. Some, if I as much as look at them, they will understand why they are being looked at. Others will only stare back at you if you look at them, but if you tell them gently, they will understand. Yet others won t get it if you tell them gently you have to shout at them. Still others won t even get it if you shout you have to knock them on their heads and tell them. There are different levels of sensitivity in the world. I act appropriately to the ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
existing situations. What you need, I will do. If you need shouting, I will do that. What s my problem. Anupam Kher: What s your shortcoming? Sadhguru: My shortcoming is I am not tall enough. Anupam Kher: You are a person who I am sure self-evaluates very well, who knows himself. For example, I know I am restless. I think that is a shortcoming. What is your shortcoming? Sadhguru: It is very difficult to explain this because as a person, everyone has pluses and minuses. This may sound very strange I am not really a person. That s my problem. In any given moment, I will make myself as it is necessary for that situation. Sometimes, if one thing is not successful, I will adjust it a little. But if I sit by myself, I don t have a single thought in my mind. Sometimes, I shut my doors for four, five days I don t look out of the window; I don t read, I don t do anything and I don t have a single thought. I don t have a personality as such. From moment to moment, I make myself up depending on how I should be right now. How people around me are, accordingly I am. In certain situations, I may not have been as successful as I could have been had I grasped the situation at that moment as I should have. But as such, I do not have pluses or minuses, because there is no me I only make it up. As an actor, you also make up a character. But I don t act I really make it up, and so does everyone else but they believe it s true. I know it s not true. There are no pluses and minuses to me when I don t exist as a person. Anupam Kher: When was the last time you cried? Not out of ecstasy but out of compassion for someone. Sadhguru: Every day, I would say. If I step on an ant, tears may come to my eyes. When I look at these village kids that we just saw in the video, naturally, tears come to my eyes. When the photographers come, I suck the tears back. I made everything that happens within me a 100% conscious process. If I want, I can cry right now. If I want, I can laugh right now. If I want, I can sit still without doing anything. Anupam Kher: You would make a very good actor then [Laughter] Sadhguru: Nah Anupam Kher: Do you feel lonely? Sadhguru: Lonely? I have never been lonely because the Creator has never left me or anyone alone for a moment. It is only because the source of creation is throbbing within you that you are alive, whether you are conscious of it or not. Anupam Kher: Who is that Creator? Sadhguru: What do you mean by who? There is creation. Did you create it? No. So something obviously created it. The thing is, being human, you want to picture the source of creation in human form. Who it is, is not the point. Within you, it is in the human form. In a dog, it is in the dog form. In an ant, it is in the ant form. In a tree, it is in the tree form. But the source of creation is throbbing in everything. Because people are unconscious that such a huge thing is happening within them, there is a possibility of them feeling lonely. If you feel lonely, obviously you are in bad company. Anupam Kher: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be? I usually do this exercise with my actor students, but in fact, it is for all of you please think if you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be, would it be the same after five or ten years, and what was that word five years ago. So if Sadhguru has to describe himself in one word, other than mystic, what would that word be? Sadhguru: Would you consider wild-life as two words or one word? [Laughter] Anupam Kher: For you, it s one word. Sadhguru: So, life uncultured, uncultivated, wild and as it is that s me. Just life nothing else. January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 9
Mahabharat Part 2: Equations of Time and Creation (2) In the second part of our new Mahabharat series, Sadhguru continues to explore the deep connection between the human system, the planets, and the solar system in the context of time, in order to establish the necessary context before delving into the epic world of Mahabharat. Cycles in the Sky and in the Human Body In the yogic astronomy, we divide the orbit of the Earth around the Sun into 27 segments, called nakshatras. Each nakshatra is further divided into four equal sectors called padas or steps. Multiply 4 by 27 and it equals 108. These 108 units mark the 108 steps that the Earth takes through space. Each nakshatra corresponds to one half of the lunar orbit around the Earth. The cycles within the human body respond and correspond to that. The 27 Nakshatras In a woman s body, there are very obvious cycles of 27.55 days if she is perfectly healthy. In a man s body, the cycles are less obvious and pronounced they happen in a different way and are of a larger span of time. In any case, these cycles are happening all the time in the solar system and the larger universe. The microcosm and the macrocosm both are playing the same game. But who should play whose game? If you think the macrocosm is going to play your game, you will waste your life. If you play the macrocosm s game, your life will be beyond your expectations. The Cycle of Yugas The precession 1 of the equinoxes is the period of time that it takes the Earth s axis to pass through one complete cycle of the zodiac. It takes the planet 72 years to pass through one degree of the zodiac and 25,920 years to complete one full circle of 360 degrees. One half of the journey takes 12,960 years and covers the four yugas. Sat Yuga lasts 5184 years. Treta Yuga lasts 3888 years. Dwapara Yuga lasts 2592 years. Kali Yuga lasts 1296 years. These four yugas taken together come to a total of 12,960 years. 1 Gravity-induced change in the orientation of the Earth s axis 10 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
The story of Mahabharat needs to be seen in a certain context. In 3140 BCE, the Kurukshetra War ended, and in 3102 BCE, Krishna left his body. Three to four months after the war, the Kali Yuga began. Right now we are in 2012, which means Krishna s era ended 5,114 years ago. If you subtract 2592, which is the cumulative number of years of the two Kali Yugas that are at the bottom of the ellipse which describes the axial precession, you arrive at 2522 years. That means we have already completed 2522 years of Dwapara Yuga, and since its total duration is 2592 years, we still have 70 years until its completion. In the year 2082, we will complete Dwapara Yuga and move on to Treta Yuga. The world will go through another upheaval, not necessarily in terms of war but probably in terms of population explosion and natural calamities, before moving on to this new era of wellbeing and upward movement of human consciousness. its highest capability. People s ability to know life, people s ability to communicate, people s ability to live joyfully will be at its highest. Or in other words, we will have sensible people. All it takes to live well on this planet is a bunch of sensible people. In Sat Yuga, human ability to communicate will be at its best because the ether will be very close. Right now, the etheric sphere of the planet is raised to a certain point. There was a time when it was much higher now it has come a little closer. When the ether is very close and I want to convey something to you, I do not have to say it. Even when my eyes are closed, you will know what I want to say. When the ether comes down a little bit but is still at a certain distance, if I close my eyes, you will not know, but if I open my eyes and look at you, you will know what I want to convey. The Nakshatras and Padas Yugas and Human Consciousness The solar system with the Sun and the planets around it is moving in the universe. It takes 25,920 years for our solar system to complete one cycle around a larger star. From the effects upon the planet and the way the climate changes, we believe this big star or big system that our system is going around is not located in the center of the cycle but somewhere to the side. Whenever our solar system comes closer to this big system, all the creatures living in our system rise to greater possibilities. Whenever our system moves away from it, the creatures living in our system come to the lowest level of possibility we say this is Kali Yuga. When our solar system is closest to the Super Sun, Sat Yuga will begin. Human mind will be at The Cycles of Yugas The Ether and Spiritual Possibilities If the ether comes down some more, you can know by breath. If you go into the forest, you will see, because your vision is blocked to some extent, after some time, the most significant way of knowing things is by smell. Most animals that live there know things only by smell. Because of such concentrated life energy, the ether is high. Because the ether is high, they do not have to see. If you talk, they will get confused. When the ether is very low, you have to talk all the time otherwise, people will not get it. Even if you talk, they will not get it. You have to knock and talk continuously to make them get it. The etheric content in the atmosphere determines how sensitive you are in terms of your ability to communicate. January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 11
There are many things one can do to enhance the ether or create etheric content. This is why Krishna said, in Kali Yuga, which is down there, far away from the Super Sun, the ether will be so low that there is no point in trying to teach them yoga, meditation, mantras, or yantras they will not get it. Just teach them devotion. If they are devout, they will generate their own ether. And because of this etheric content in the atmosphere, they will perceive. Devotion is not for the dumb but even if you are the dumbest, you can still get it. Thousands of years ago, they said that as the solar system moves closer to the Super Sun, human intelligence will blossom. They said it functions like electricity, magnetism. As the solar system moves closer, the realization that the whole body and the whole universe are electric structures will come naturally. Right now, we are moving towards Treta Yuga, which is the second best time that can happen in a cycle of yugas. Krishna also said that after over 5000 years, there will come a 10,000-year period of time that will be fabulous. We will not make it there, but we can set the foundations for it and have the joy of creating an atmosphere for a 10,000 years stretch of golden time upon the planet. This is not all predictions and conjecture this is based on a deep-rooted understanding about what happens with the human mind in relation to the planet on which we live. We do not only live on this planet we are the planet. If you do not understand this today, you will understand this when you are buried. The planet understands that you are a part of it only you think something else of yourself. Mahabharat The Story of Every Human Being The story begins because you have false ideas about yourself. Mahabharat represents the grand misconception of human beings about life; their sufferings, their rises and falls. It goes on and on, simply because human beings are struggling to come in tune with life. Whatever someone who is in tune with it tries to say, everyone else will misunderstand. 12 ISHA FOREST FLOWER Light cannot be put in words, but if you open your eyes, you can see the light. Similarly, if this life that you are opens up, it can feel life, it can become life. Life cannot be told. Telling is only to inspire, to de-mesmerize you from your own self-mesmerism. Every human being has hypnotized himself or herself into their own limitations and they believe this is it. If you undo that hypnotism, they will feel fearful because existence is limitless. Therefore, if they are spinning one way, you have to spin them the opposite way for some time for them to feel they are going somewhere. The whole Mahabharat is just this effort. No matter what they are doing, everyone thinks they are doing it for the good. Whether it is my good, your good, someone else s good, or everyone else s good whatever kind of good, everyone thinks they are doing it for the good. But everyone is neither good nor bad, neither right nor wrong the story just goes on. I want you to understand what it means to live a story why we take these eight days to tell you the story rather than just giving you a printed book. There are many versions, and I am sure there are scholarly ones among you who have come prepared and have read three different versions. But we do not want you to read the story we want you to live the story. The story is not about a particular person Mahabharat comes under the classification of Itihasa. In India, there are three categories of great texts: Itihasa, Purana, Veda. Vedas are full of abstract ideas, scientific theories, and explanations for celestial happenings. Puranas are stories of beings who are not human. Itihasa is the story of the human being, not in terms of history, though there is a historic element to it. The facts are rooted in history, but this is the story of every human being it is about the meaning of your life. Only if it is your story, it can be a process of growth for you. To be continued January 2015
In this series, Sadhguru discusses various aspects that can significantly impact the quality of your yogic practice. Part 13: Surya Kriya Activate the Sun within You Questioner: Can you please tell us more about Surya Kriya? Sadhguru: Surya Kriya is a powerful process of activating the sun within you. The sun is in every aspect of whatever you see on this planet. Fundamentally, it is the solar energy that is driving life on this planet. The very formation of hydrocarbons, which are right now the most prevalent fuel used on the planet, is because of solar energy. Whether you burn coal, wood, or oil, this all happens because of solar energy. Three-fourths of the planet is water. If the sun withdraws and disappears, all the water will become solid ice. Solar energy is the fundamental energy of the planet, and that is so within your body too. For your body to maintain a certain temperature, the immediate mechanism may be something else, but essentially, all that generates heat upon this planet, whether animate or inanimate, is charged with solar energy, which finds expression in so many different ways. When we do Surya Kriya, we want to generate that energy within the system. Of course Surya Kriya has a cousin, which is Surya Namaskar. This cousin came into being for the extended family. When you want to teach something to someone who is intimate to you, you will do your best. But when you do things for your extended family, you will water it down a little bit. Not necessarily because you do not care January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 13
for them simply because you cannot spend the same amount of time with them. Surya Namaskar is a practice that evolved out of Surya Kriya when the intention of sharing it with large numbers of people came up. I am not saying that it is a compromise or that it is wrong. All I am saying is you can teach it to larger numbers of people, because it needs less attention. Surya Kriya includes certain powerful processes that activate energy within you. For such an activation to happen, it has to be done with a lot of care and with a certain sense of intimacy. What I refer to as intimacy is not physical contact but an enormous sense of involvement. Only if people are willing to spend that kind of time and offer that kind of involvement, we can teach Surya Kriya. Otherwise, we will do Surya Namaskar. Surya Namaskar is a way of saluting the sun, of bringing balance between ida and pingala, and also activating samat prana, which is the manifestation of the sun s energy in the body. Surya Kriya has more spiritual intentions, more powerful connotations, which need to be taught carefully and learnt with a certain level of involvement. It is very important that it is practiced with care because anything that is powerful has to be handled properly otherwise, it will not be safe to handle it. That is why we teach Surya Kriya only to people who are willing to pay the necessary attention and offer the needed involvement, dedication, and time. Otherwise, Surya Namaskar is a watered-down but safer way of doing things. Though we do seemingly similar physical actions, Surya Namaskar and Surya Kriya are very different. A Namaskar is an act of salutation. If you do any act, either with your body, mind, emotion, or energy, we call it karma. Therefore, we could have called Surya Namaskar Surya Karma, but we call it Namaskar to suggest the specific act that we do, which is salutation. Kriya refers to an inward action, for which you do not employ your body, your mind, your emotion, or energy. Initially, the way you practice Surya Kriya may not yet be an inward action, but you establish the necessary fundamentals for an inward action. In normal modes of action, you employ the four dimensions of body, mind, emotion, and energy that is karma. Whether you perform good karma or bad karma both entangle you. The choice that you have is to get entangled either in a bitter way or in a sweet way. But a kriya is an inward action. It is a process of liberation. Karma naturally is entangling, even if you get entangled in sweetness. Would you like to fall into boiling chili soup or into warm sugar syrup? If it is the right temperature and it is sweet, you may think it is okay, but it is not. Whatever kind of karma we do, there are benefits or problems attached to it. In an existential way, both benefits and problems are entangling in nature. Karma is a process of bondage. Kriya is a process of liberation. The Significance of the Number Pattern Questioner: What is the significance of the numbers three, five, and seven for the practice of Surya Kriya? Sadhguru: Five is the basic number. In this tradition, five is considered as Shiva s number, which means it is the yogic number. Another aspect is, if you take a drum and beat five, three, or seven beats, you will see the difference in terms of impact on your system. Five is considered the basic number for the human structure because in terms of building the human body, the five fundamental chakras have the most significant role to play. Three, five, seven is because you are an odd ball. You are an odd ball because planet Earth is an odd ball it is No. 3 in the scheme of planets. And No. 5 is a planet which has a serious impact on planet Earth, which holds it in its orbit and radiates much energy towards it Jupiter, or Guru in the Indian tradition. Why this is so is, as you know, yoga is about aligning your system to the cosmic geometry. The first and the most intimate piece of cosmos for us is the solar system. In the solar system, we are on an odd ball that is planet No. 3. On one side, we are pulled by the Sun. And the fifth planet, Jupiter, which is more than 300 times larger in 14 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
mass than the Earth also plays an instrumental role in keeping the Earth in its orbit. When we do yogic practices, we are taking this into consideration. Any practice that has a certain impact on the energy system is always done in odd numbers. If you do the Devi sadhana, it is eleven. If you do a practice that has something to do with Shiva, it is either three, five, or seven, depending upon the type of sadhana. Jupiter is supposed to be an ash-colored planet, and Shiva himself was always ash-smeared. They say he rolled on planet Jupiter before coming down here that is why he was ashsmeared. We do not take this as a fact these things are said to dialectically express that the influence of the ash-colored planet and the ash-smeared yogi upon our lives is big. something to do with the chakras in your system, your energy system, and your breath. If you do anything alternately, it is always three, five, seven, and there are other kinds of practices where you do nine, eleven, and so on. But for certain types of practices that are balancing in nature, we use even numbers. Remember if it is for activation of energy, we always do things in odd numbers. If it is a balancing process, we do it in even numbers. Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru at the Isha Hatha Yoga School. For dates and details of hatha yoga programs, visit www.ishahathayoga.com. The numbers three, five, and seven have something to do with this dimensions. They also have Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program 31 July 25 Dec 2015 This 21-week program, devised by Sadhguru, is a wonderful opportunity to receive training in classical Hatha Yoga. Participants will be trained to teach Upa Yoga, Angamardhana, Surya Kriya, Yogasanas, Bhuta Shuddhi, and more. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be able to teach in a variety of settings including their own studio, workshops, and private Hatha Yoga lessons. For details, visit www.ishahathayoga.com, call +91-83000 97444, or write to info@ishahathayoga.com. January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 15
2014 Leadership Program with Sadhguru, Ratan Tata, and Other Top Business Leaders From 27 30 November 2014, Isha s third INSIGHT leadership program brought together over 200 business leaders and entrepreneurs at the Isha Yoga Center, and more than 20 resource leaders. Along with Sadhguru and Dr. Ram Charan, the favorite business coach of several Fortune 500 CEOs, Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons; G.V. Prasad, CEO and Co-Chairman of Dr. Reddy s Laboratories, and other top business leaders shared their experiences and offered their perspectives to participants on leadership, entrepreneurship, and running large corporates. Ratan Tata Mr. Tata, who spoke on 28 November, looked at the importance of inclusive economics and sustainability, and spoke about how to create an ambience of innovation within companies. He also touched upon CSR and a business cooperation s responsibility to society and nation. His entrepreneurial advice was, For an entrepreneur, there has to be an inner driving force that cannot come from a textbook. See what you want to do and have the courage to pursue that. 16 G.V. Prasad Mr. Prasad spoke about his journey of scaling up Dr. Reddy s Laboratories. In the first few years of the company, the focus was on making it profitable and viable. The next phase was moving from being viable to growth. Their next focus was on improving capabilities of management, he related. Mr. Prasad also spoke about leveraging India s history and heritage to go from being problem-solvers to people who can imagine. He elaborated on letting talented people blossom. When you have smart people, you cannot tell them what to do. I listen to them and it works for me. His advice to the budding leaders was, Every organization will reach its potential only if the leader at the top sees that potential. An organization will be limited by the leader s abilities, so it is a leader s responsibility to constantly reinvent himself. Resource Leaders Besides Mr. Tata and Mr. Prasad, Ravi Venkatesan, former Chairman of Microsoft India, facilitated the entire program, bringing in his several decades worth of business experience. Mr. Venkatesan was ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
supported by 20 other resource leaders including Kiran Bedi; Varda Shine, former CEO of DeBeers Diamond Trading Company; Yuri Jain, Global Vice President at Unilever; and Deepak Satwalekar, Former MD and CEO of HDFC. Also at the program was Padma Bhushan Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, the father of the BrahMos missile and Distinguished Scientist & Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO, Ministry of Defence. Dr. Pillai took the stage with a talk on Audacity of Vision to Execution. The Program INSIGHT The DNA of Success, a leadership program offered by Isha Foundation s Isha Education initiative, provides business leaders with practical takeaways that multiply the capability to manage both external situations and inner growth. Designed as a 3-1/2-day practitioner-oriented package, it draws upon the experience of several highly successful business leaders who have built and grown world-class organizations. Participants Feedback Looking back at the program, Kanika, one of the participants said, The air of ease and trust, the taste of meditation, the focus on self for greater clarity and vision, made this program unique for me. Another participant shared, For a professional to get away for three days is a challenge, but it has been amazing. I learned so many things from Sadhguru, Ratan Tata, Ram Charan and Prasad. Eric, who had come to India especially for INSIGHT, said, I have been in many programs, but now I know that spirituality and business go together, and this is a place where you can see that. And I will leave here as an ambassador for India. You impressed me with your power, with your mind, your soul, with your leaders I have seen on the stage, and my wish is to come back again. Presents YAKSHA 2015 A Celebration of Culture and Music 10 16 February 2015-6:50 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore Geeta Chandran (Dance Bharatnatyam) Tejendra Narayan Majudar (Hindustani Sarod) 10 February 11 February T.V. Sankaranarayanan (Carnatic Vocal) Bombay Jayashri (Carnatic Vocal) 12 February 13 February Ustad Sayeeduddin Dagar (Dhrupad Vocal) Ganesh & Kumaresh (Carnatic Violin Duo) 14 February 15 February Rajan & Sajan Mishra (Hindustani Vocal) 16 February Free entry all are welcome. Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Semmedu P.O., Coimbatore 641 114 India 83000 83000, 83000 11111 info@yaksha.info www.yaksha.info January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 17
myshare Innovation for a Social Cause I have been working in IT for many years, for large companies as well as start-ups. During a discussion with like-minded friends about bringing out a loyalty card that would unify the many existing loyalty programs into a single card, the idea shifted to using a loyalty card to raise funds for charities. My mind went immediately to Isha, because for the large meditator base that we have, who may have the heart but may not have the means to support Isha with larger donations, this is a great opportunity to contribute while doing their routine shopping. We discussed our proposal with the ashram, and after the evaluation process, Sadhguru gave his blessings on 23 Sep 2012, his enlightenment anniversary. For me, this was a great moment, and I decided that I will never give up, no matter what the challenges, because this project has the potential to change the way philanthropy is done. Less than 6% of people in India gave money to charity in 2013, while Indian consumers spent close to 35,747 billion rupees on shopping. This project has the potential to drastically increase the donor base and help people contribute to the social sector on a regular basis just through their daily purchases. In addition, members can benefit from income tax deduction under section 80G for their contributions. We pooled money from our savings and from friends and launched myshare on Mahashivarathri 2013 at Isha Coimbatore. Since this is a very novel concept, we had to put in a lot of time and effort to introduce it to the different stakeholders, especially the retailers. We soldiered on and we now have close to 350 retailers covering 500 outlets. And Isha helped us to reach out to meditators who were more than happy to be part of the program. The number of members from Isha is increasing close to 20,000 are participating as of now. There is still a lot more potential. While until 2013, the online market accounted for just 10 % of the retail sale in India, the year 2014 saw a paradigm shift to and large-scale acceptance of online shopping. To take advantage of this development, we started affiliating myshare to online retailers. Currently, we have close to 40 online retailers as part of our network, including India s largest ones such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, and Jabong etc. Beyond that, we have been able to forge links with a number of corporate houses, who are happy to spread the concept amongst their employees, and also explore the possibility of gifting memberships to their customers, vendors, and others in their sphere. Some of the corporate entities that already promote myshare or have expressed interest in doing so are Sutherland, TicketGoose, TCS, Apollo Hospitals, HCL, CGI, among others. We are seeking cooperation with other providers and retailers who have loyalty points in order to establish the optional provision for members to donate their points through myshare. Many Isha members regularly make it a point to do their shopping whether it is for groceries, medicines, or anything else using myshare to be able to contribute to Isha. Their commitment to the cause and willingness to help has been truly heartwarming. Some literally go out of their way to buy from those retailers that support myshare. As a way to thank them and fuel their motivation, we created an Augmented Reality of the Dhyanalinga on Android. When you download the myshare Dhyanalinga App from the Google Play Store and point it at the Isha myshare card, a three-dimensional image of the Dhyanalinga will spring out of the card with the Nirvana Shatakam playing in the audio. In the past six months, memberships have grown exponentially, just by the power of the concept. In order to increase the reach and impact of myshare, we are currently establishing contacts with social impact investors to invest in this project so that we can step up our marketing and sales efforts, reach out to more people and tie up with more retailers and shopping hubs in order to expand our network. 18 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
From the first talk about the project, Isha never once asked me how many donations they could hope to raise through this platform. The response was typical for Isha: Let us work on the process sincerely and see what comes out of it. This is what we have been doing at myshare for the past 18 months, and we will not stop until we make it a huge success. Hari Vedadri, Isha meditator and myshare initiator Contact: Hari.vedadri@myshareindia.com Awards and Recognitions for myshare: Most Talented Marketing Professional 2014 These awards are presented by the World Marketing myshare Now your Daily Shopping can Contribute to Isha! For more information and to join myshare, please visit www.isha.myshareindia.com, register, and select Isha Foundation s projects as the beneficiary. Congress and endorsed by CMO Asia & Asian Confederation of Business. The awards seek to identify and recognize those companies and individuals who have had a positive impact on our environment and society as well as their business. myshare has been shortlisted for round two of the TOI Social Impact Awards, as one in 75 out of 1100 applications. myshare will be competing with large corporations in our category. After a jury review, the awards will be finalized in January. Choose from more than 350 retailers, including Flipkart, Snapdeal, Myntra, Jabong, Homeshop18 and many more, use your myshare card and support Isha without spending an extra rupee! Phone: 044-4450 6070 / 094425 04672 Email: donations@ishafoundation.org Mahashivarathri Tuesday, 17 February 2015 From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the following day Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore Nightlong Sathsang z Guru Pooja z Powerful Meditations z Annadanam Discourse by Sadhguru Questions & Answers with the Master Musical Performances: z Parthiv Gohil & band z Jasbir Jassi z Zila Khan & troupe For general inquiries and seating: 83000 83000 / 83000 11111 mahashivarathri@ishafoundation.org January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 19
Program & Event Highlights Date Program Place Contact 17 20 Jan 2015 Bhava Spandana (Ladies/English) Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 0422-2515300 iycprograms@ishayoga.org 25 28 Jan 2015 Bhava Spandana (Gents/English) Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 0422-2515300 iycprograms@ishayoga.org 25 28 Jan 2015 Guru Pooja Training Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 0422-2515300 iycprograms@ishayoga.org 4 7 Feb 2015 Shoonya Intensive Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 0422-2515300 iycprograms@ishayoga.org 10 16 Feb 2015 Yaksha In the Presence of Sadhguru Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 83000 83000 info@yaksha.info 17 Feb 2015 Pancha Bhuta Aradhana In the Presence of Sadhguru Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 94878 95878 pba@ishafoundation.org 17 Feb 2015 Mahashivarathri With Sadhguru Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 83000 83000 mahashivararathri@ ishafoundation.org 21 28 Feb 2015 Samyama Conducted by Sadhguru Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore India 0422-2515300 iycprograms@ishayoga.org 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. Retreat Celebrating The Vibrance of Indian Culture z Classical music and dance z Diverse Indian cuisine z Traditional handicrafts and weaves z Powerful yoga programs z Five In Conversation with the Mystic sessions z Mahashivarathri A night of grandeur with explosive meditations and spectacular musical performances For special seating and comprehensive packages for your convenience, contact: msrpackages@ishafoundation.org, 94425 04672, 83000 30555 20 ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015
Isha Recipes BEETROOT SPINACH SALAD WITH CROUTONS INGREDIENTS (For 4 Servings) For the Croutons (crisp bread cubes): ½ Naan, Pav Bhaji bread, or flatbread (preferably from the day before) 2 Tbs. Sunflower or olive oil 1 Tsp. Kashmiri chili powder (or paprika powder) For the Salad: 150 g Feta cheese (if not available, substitute with paneer) 2 Tbs. Cold-pressed olive oil 160 g Chickpeas (Kabuli channa) 350 g Cooked beetroot 150 g Fresh baby spinach 3 Tbs. Grenadine (pomegranate syrup; for fresh preparation: 1 large pomegranate, 2 tbs. of sugar) 2 Tbs. White tahini (white sesame paste; for fresh preparation: ½ cup of toasted white sesame seeds, 2 tbs. of mild olive or sesame oil) 4 Tbs. Lime juice Salt and pepper to taste Also needed: Baking paper PREPARATION 1. If you substitute feta cheese with paneer, cut the paneer in about 1/2-cm-thick slices and soak them in a mix of 1 tsp. of lime juice and 1 tsp. salt for 24 hours before use. 2. Soak the chickpeas for a minimum of 4 hours. Then cook them in a pressure cooker until soft but not mushy. 3. If you prepare the grenadine fresh, juice a large-sized pomegranate by squeezing the seeds through a cloth, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and bring to a boil. Set aside and allow to cool. 4. If you prepare the tahini fresh, grind the toasted white sesame seeds in a grinder into a fine powder, add 2 tablespoons of oil and grind into a paste. Set aside. 5. For the croutons, cut the Naan/Pav/flatbread in 2-cm-wide strips, then into 2-cm-big cubes. Mix oil and Kashmiri chili powder in a big bowl, add bread cubes and coat them with the oil mix. Spread the bread cubes on a baking tray lined with baking paper and roast in the preheated oven at 200 C (convection oven 180 C) on the middle rack for 5 10 minutes until crisp. Set aside to cool. 6. Cut the feta or paneer in 1-cm-big cubes; sauté them with a little oil in a pan until light brown. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. 7. For the salad, in a big bowl, mix grenadine, tahini, lime juice, 100 ml of cold water, salt and pepper to taste. Vigorously stir in the oil with a wire whisk or egg beater. 8. Drain the chickpeas. Pat the beetroot dry; cut first in 1-cm-thick slices, then into equally thick strips. 9. Wash and pluck the spinach; pat it dry on a towel. Mix the chickpeas, beetroot and spinach with the dressing. 10. Arrange the salad on plates; top it with cheese cubes and croutons. January 2015 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 21
Subscribe Now! SUBSCRIBER SEND GIFT TO Insightful Inspiring Informative I would like to Subscribe for myself Renew my subscription Change the mailing address FF CODE (Isha Forest Flower subscription No.): Subscribe as a gift One year 12 issues (within India by regular mail) Rs.180 One year 12 issues (within India by courier) Rs. 480 (payment by cheque Rs. 50 extra) Mode of Payment: Cash Cheque Demand Draft Money Order Please complete in BLOCK LETTERS Name* Address* City* State* PIN* Phone:...(Mobile)*...(Home)*...(Work)* Email*... Name* Address* City* State* Phone...(Mobile)*...(Home)*...(Work)* Email*... *These fields are mandatory Enclosed DD / Cheque / MO No.... dated... drawn on... (bank), payable at Coimbatore for Rs.... in favor of Isha Foundation. For payments by cheque, please add Rs. 50/- to the subscription amount towards clearing charges. Please mail the completed subscription form along with your payment to: For further inquiries, please contact: Isha Forest Flower (044) 45011137, 96770 16700 F-4, Sri Balaji Apartments, 2 nd Floor subscriptions.ff@ishafoundation.org New No.4, old No.6, Rajambal Street T. Nagar, Chennai - 600017 Date: Subscriber Signature: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Receipt Details PIN* Receipt No.: Receipt Date: Amount received: Received by: Remarks: 22 For online subscriptions and renewals, visit www.ishafoundation.org/forestflower
Dear Readers, A New Year, a new beginning not just on the calendar, but more importantly, in terms of how the solar system impacts us in this month. In our Lead Article A Fresh Start in Life, Sadhguru points out how this seasonal turning point has been celebrated in ancient cultures across the globe, and what its significance is from a spiritual perspective. In keeping with this larger perspective, in the second part of our Mahabharat series, Sadhguru not only continues to examine the deep connection between human life and the planetary system we live in but also identifies the time of Krishna in the cycle of yugas and where we stand today. Just before this issue of Isha Forest Flower went to press, the United Nations General Assembly approved by consensus a resolution establishing 21 June as International Day of Yoga. In his inaugural address to the world body in September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed a day to commemorate the ancient practice, saying yoga lets people discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. Here is Sadhguru s message on this momentous occasion: Yoga is the exploration of the very mechanics of life. It predates all religion and opened the possibility of raising a human being beyond limitations set by nature, if willing to strive. Making the science of Yoga available in the purest form is the responsibility of this generation. This science of inner development, wellbeing and liberation is the greatest gift for future generations. Congratulations to the Prime Minister for having initiated the process for declaring June 21 International Yoga Day. In our Isha Hatha Yoga series, we explore the background and deeper significance of Surya Kriya, a practice that is quite unique to the classical hatha yoga as taught in Isha. Also in this issue: Sadhguru s view on pain medication and maintaining Awareness in Death. In Just Life, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher raises a host of forthright questions with Sadhguru, from what makes him special to who the Creator is. The fact that business and economy can go hand in hand with spirituality is perfectly exemplified in the initiatives of INSIGHT (this year with Ratan Tata, among others) and myshare find out more in the respective articles. Last but not least, our Beetroot Spinach Salad with Croutons amalgamates the freshest ingredients to a gourmet experience. Enjoy! forestflower@ishafoundation.org ISHA FOREST FLOWER January 2015 Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore 641114 Editorial Team: To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/forestflower (044) 45011137, 96770 16700 subscriptions.ff@ishafoundation.org For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office: Community/forest-flower-subscribers.isa please submit your subscription number and email address at www.ishafoundation.org/online- To receive free downloadable PDF versions of Isha Forest Flower along with your print subscription, Isha Forest Flower ONLINE! The Editorial Team 2 Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002. Editor: K. SEKAR. Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004 Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION
In the seamless journey of time Ignorance attempts to frame life As past, Present, and future The Timeless One s relevance is not framed. Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333 Registered with Patrika Channel Egmore RMS under Registration No. TN/CH(C)/492/14 16. Published on 2nd of every month January 2015 Grace & Blessings To know the stillness of Death before He creeps upon You. To be upon the highest pitch One needs to constantly enliven. To be ahead of the Sun in coming Awake. To be alive enough to Welcome the Moon and the Starz. To imbibe the fragrance of the Flower ahead of the bees and the Birds. To know the coolness of the Mist before it touches the Leaf or a Blade of grass. To be able to catch a Snowflake in its journey of descent. Deepest crevices of the body Where the life-making magic is rooted and effulgent. In the very same crevices is the dark depth pregnant with inertia of Death....before he creeps upon you. Volume - 3 / Issue - 1 `15 Annual Subscription `180 January 2015