'I don’t see anything else but myself'

Soulmate covers the Isha Gramotsavam:
"...Sadhguru began with an explanation on why a mystic that he was, was planting trees. 'I am a Yogi. In this supreme state of evolution, only I exist. It is natural for me to take care of myself. So these planting trees and running medical centres, because I don’t see anything else but myself.' Just as one would attend to a hurting thumb, it was difficult for him to sit back when a part of him was suffering, he said..."
Read the full article here: http://soulmatemedia.blogspot.com/2007/09/isha-foundation.html

Disruptive market place ahead!

Balaji writes about the latest Isha Business:
"....Typically, a for-profit spin-off by a non-profit kills both. But given the background of the man in the helm of Isha Foundation - Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, Isha Business will be a proof by exception and possibly game changer too. Prior to his intense Yogic Experience at the wilderness of Chammundi Hills, Mysore, Jaggi Vasudev was a successful entrepreneur. And there is no dearth of talent, expertise or access for Isha Foundation to take Isha Business to success. Non-profits wakeup! Disruptive market place ahead!..."
Read the full article here: http://labsji.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/isha-business-a-potent-bold-way-to-fundscale-social-ventures/

Feel good factor 110%!

'Stottpot' covers the plantation celebration at the Isha Gramotsavam:
"....As I wondered around the festival site, I found people working together, happily and with a common goal. It was a pleasure to witness...."
Read the full article here: http://stottpot.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/planting-celebration/

Mystic's Musings

Christopher writes his experience of reading the book 'Mystic's Musings'.
".....And may I say that this book was worth all the time it took to read, because it blew my mind…literally broke my mind...This book literally felt like a huge step in my spiritual adventure, and I have finished the book with a new perspective and a fresh sense of joy about things...."
Read the complete article here: http://chrisonscooter.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/mystics-musings/

The First Day

Shivs describes her first visit to the Isha yoga center:
"...I feel a bit restless right now.....so many things in my mind, so many uncertainities. I don't even know exactly why I'm here.....but I'll find out is what I tell myself. For now I'm just being and doing what is necessary. I will believe in the energy vested here and let it take me places........"
Read the full article here: http://pausingtime.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-first-day-at-isha-ashram.html

Rajadurai volunteers for the Wholeness program

Rajadurai shares his experience of volunteering for the Wholeness Programme conducted by Sadhguru.

I got an opportunity to volunteer for Wholeness program that happened at Ashram last week. It was a seven day program with Sadhguru. My wife attended the program and I volunteered. It was an amazing experience to narrate in words.

I had attended wholeness program in Aug 2006. The volunteering experience this time was quite different. We had Sadhguru Darshan all the seven days. The program included Hatha yoga, Kriyas, Shoonya and sathsangs with Sadhguru twice a day. Swami Ullasa was the teacher. Sadhguru initiated the participants into Shoonya. Volunteers were allowed inside Spandha hall for all the evening Sathsangs. We were also allowed to participate in the Guru Pooja by Sadhguru prior to Shoonya initiation. That experience cannot be explained in words. Spandha hall was a different world with Sadhguru’s energy.

There were evening walks with Sadhguru into the forest and also to a nearby tribal village on another day.

There was also a trek to Velliangiri first hill top. While participants started climbing at 8.30 AM, we volunteers started at 6 AM carrying about 10 kgs of load each to prepare food for the participants at the hill top. We had a 1.25 hrs trek. I felt almost broken carrying the load. But it was unbelievable when I reached the hilltop in 1.25 Hrs. I still remember it took 2 Hrs when I climbed last year as a participant yet with no load. We were again carrying huge barrels of water on the hill top with an ease which I can’t even dream of doing on my routine day at home. Sadhguru works in different ways! There was a Sathsang with Sadhguru at the hill top. There he sang “Nadha Brahma”. One of the celebrity participants Sudha Ragunathan sang a classical song in praise of Shiva which brought out tears to quite a many. Our downhill walk was much more exciting. It started raining when we were at the hilltop. So the entire path became very slippery with mud and it was quite risky. It took more time to reach Ashram than our morning trek. Participants belonging to all age groups completed the trek joyfully and safely in spite of the rain.

Grandeur dinner was arranged for the participants on three evenings (twice in the lawn in front of spandha hall and once inside the dining hall). With the live music of Sounds of Isha soothing the ears, it was an ethereal atmosphere in Sadhguru’s presence.

I belonged to decoration team through the entire program. It was a nice experience to decorate Spandha hall in a different way each day and also the lawn for dinners. We had two wakeful nights too. Yet it did not feel so in our experience. We worked the next days too.

In Ashram, time does not exist. It stood still. Yet seven days went past like a small dream. The closing ceremony of the program happened on Saturday morning. Thankfully, volunteers were also allowed inside the Spandha hall. It was an emotional 2 hrs. There was a meditation and chanting towards the end of the program. When Sadhguru chanted the 3 songs (including Nagendra Haraya), we all burst into a world which was totally Sadhguru’s! No eyes were left without tears. When Sadhguru blessed each participant with a lotus flower, they played “Deva Devasya” by Pandit Jasraj. It was all tears of love. We were totally drenched in Sadhguru’s grace. Participants and volunteers began dancing in joy when they played Sounds of Isha tracks.

After lunch, the Participants parted with pain. We bought the book “Encounter the enlightened” and got it signed by Sadhguru.

“If tears of love, joy, and ecstasy have not washed your cheeks, you are yet to taste life.” – Sadhguru

We certainly did taste at least a little.

My words might not have conveyed what we experienced, yet I wanted to share with you all.

Prabhu volunteers for Inner Enginnering - London

Prabhu Loganathan shares his experiences of volunteering for the Inner Engineering program held in London.

I had an opportunity to volunteer myself for inner engineering happened here in London. I wanted to share my experience with you all.

Before coming to UK, i called up the organisers and enrolled myself for volunteering. They had also arranged for stay in a volunteer house.

I started to London from Sheffield (where my work is based) last Friday. There were so many surprises awaiting me.

I met the volunteer at the train station and he drove me to his home. His name is Satwinder. He shared that his children are studying and wife is working at ashram home school. He & his mom will also join ashram in few months after completing some formalities here. I was very happy to hear that.

I had a guilty feeling about my inability to support isha in a bigger way. Having understood that Satwinder convinced me that his way was different and it may not be necessarily be the same for others. I accepted it.

The next day we went to the venue where the program was happening. I was bit reluctant as my stupid mind was busy in concluding things about the program.

The moment i entered into the kitchen all my conclusions were shattering. To my surprise, there was no difference in the atmosphere that i had in India. The same smile, the same namaskaram with the habit that without even asking who am i. I was really feeling home.

The count of volunteers had outnumbered the participants. Teacher (Sheela) had mentioned that this has been happening for most of the classes and that was good.

As there were more volunteers and the work was only few, some of us were idle for sometime. But i could feel the awareness even those times. Finding tiny tiny jobs and doing them, made us happy.

We had fruit salad and herbal drink for snacks.

We were allowed inside the class room after that. The class was about food. I happened to capture something that i missed when i attended the class. That was Sadhguru saying "if you have an awareness to live a higher life, you can eat anything you want". I had to have some negative pranic food on the same day night. But i was aware that the food is only for body and said to myself that i wouldn't fall into trap again whatever happens.

Back to class:

Also i had a chance to find myself deceiving regarding acceptance. Time for re-learning that "if you cannot accept, Accept that you cannot accept". That made me realise how foolish i am to deceive myself as if i was accepting everything. Only then i came to know that i cannot accept few things.

This has brought me a different dimension in my experience. When i accept that i cannot accept that is inevitable, i can avoid suffering and see what makes me not to accept. This brings more awareness to myself and stops self-deceiving.

I was to fortunate enough to watch Sadhguru's video beautifully explaining how this karmic baggage was created. I accepted and re-iterated myself to "experience the way it is", not to like or dislike. If i like or dislike, i will again start into dividing the world. When i divide my world i can only dream of unity not be united. I was able to watch my mind was being wiped without leaving any marks.

The big day (initiation day) had arrived.

The next day we had games in the morning. We were unable to make it up and went to venue straightly.

Back to kitchen. I don't know the English name for most of the food items. Thank Sadhguru that i had learnt some of them. There were even more volunteers in the kitchen on Sunday. We loved doing works as and when necessary and paused for a while enjoying by observing what others doing at idle times.

We had a small meet regarding allocation of works and targeted making lunch within an hour. When things were 95% complete, we were asked to come into the classroom.

Sadhguru voice started initiating the participants with grace & love. There was some problem with the audio system. Even though we hadn't opened our eyes (i believe so as i was closing my eyes).

It was just few moments!!!!!! I let the way it happened. It broke off.

Teacher asked the participants to have lunch. I was thinking that it wouldn't have been ready.

Again it was amazing that everything was in order. We had the background music (Sounds of Isha) playing. Though the participants were busy talking we didn't disturb them. So thought the teacher.

The session was wound up with 'Isha Video' followed by Q&A session.

I had no words to describe how Sadhguru has been working to make such difference even in a country where people are in a different culture and who had not any spiritual background. The truth struck that "how blissful we are".

There was the Sathsang after that. I had to leave in order to catch the train.

I had a feel that as if leaving from home with tears in heart asking "into the trap again?".

My mind nodded gently & silently "no way".

The deafening silence

Balaji lamets on the fact that
"When an A-lister bites the toenail it is discussed with vivid detail in Blogosphers. When something Earth changing like a Mass Tree Planting Marathon is underway, I’m surprised by the deafening silence!"
Read the full article here: http://labsji.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/project-green-hands-mass-tree-planting-marathon/

'IshaIT' dabbles on saving the world!

Deepak shares his experience of volunteering for Project green hands.
"Work moves effortlessly! Some how, the group brings with it, a catalyst that turns mundane work in to a flow - a flowing rythm - that you realize only at the end. I think two hours must have passed - at the end, we had bagged about 1200 packets.
.....
One elusive art I am trying to put my finger on is to see how to bring this quality to my day-to-day Life. If things move effortlessly inside, no matter what the outside situation - this is the only goal that all of Isha's programs try to achieve for the common person. One volunteer was in tears at the end of her sharing."
Read the rest here: http://deepakktsnapshot.blogspot.com/2007/09/project-green-hands-2nd-sep-2007.html