Ishas

No other fix

2011-08-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Kadappan shares a very inspiring poem:

Sipping the divine
I lost the respect for the wine

For the hunch it gives lasts all time
And makes me more aware at the same time

Available wide open at no cost
But still it's very difficult to get lost

Constrictions have I made in the form of my mind
Poses restrictions to imbibe the kind

Surfing its ocean for quiet a long spell
I am yet to dive in, to find the pearl

Oh how stolid am I
To still stall on this narrow board of I

Hence without his cocktail mix
I definitely don't have any other fix!

Taken from here: http://thatwhichrules.blogspot.com/2010/12/divine-vs-wine.html

She longs for dissolution

2011-08-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lavanya shares a poem about Kailash:

A journey to the source of reality
Can it become my destiny?

Not so sturdy I’m, physically
Looking for you, helplessly!

A longing journey of sanctity
Can it become my destiny?

Bemused in thoughts, relentlessly
Looking for you, helplessly!

A Journey to the mountain of Eternity
Can it become my destiny?

Not so strong I’m, emotionally
Looking for you, helplessly!

A yearning journey of spirituality
Can it become my destiny?

I pray to dissolve in you, resolutely
Accept this ignorant, benevolently!

She was high in bliss

2011-08-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Flo Li shares her experience of Inner Engineering & Bhava Spandana:
"As if I could watch my own drama from the audience, I was able to gain much perspective and regain my calmness quickly. No doubt I still experience ups and downs but the dramas in life no longer controlled my life. I felt lighter and lighter day after day…"

Click to read the full post: http://floliblog.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/got-yoga/

Shiva

2011-07-28T01:00:00.001-07:00

Lavanya, from Minnesota shares a poem:

I Flag myself, as devotee of you
I have know clue, as who is you!

I ignore all, as they aren’t you
I have know clue, as who is you!

I Worship an idol, as that’s all you
I have know clue, as who is you!

I fast and chant, to please you
I have know clue, as who is you!

I grin as I think, I possess you
I have know clue, as who is you!

Something within, still looking for you
Open my third eye, so I see you!

Something within, still longing for you
Tear of my ignorance, so I hear you!

Something within, still lasting for you
Fade away my fakeness, so I feel you!

Something within, still living for you
Destroy my ego, so I dwell within you!

Sixth Sense

2011-07-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

A poem shared my an Isha meditator from Charlotte, NC:

Breathtaking visuals, withheld these eyes two,
Scintillating music, danced in these ears two,
Fragrances and Flavors, were enjoyed too.

And textures a million, sensed these two hands,
Thus ran a life with day to day demands.

Still an existence unaware, that it felt tragic,
Till you came and unleashed the magic,
So wonderful, that it defied all logic.

Now you've kindled an unquenchable thirst,
And set me off on a mad quest,
To find the peak of this Everest.
Thanks for ensuring that this being cannot rest,
Until it knows it’s very best.

Bonfire of the Vanities

2011-07-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Poem on Sadhguru by an Isha Meditator from Charlotte, NC:

Awakened from my slumber
I peek in the yonder,
Who is this? Man or Myth, I wonder.
He coaxes me near,
To erase my fear,
A comfortable warmth, is this the womb or bonfire?
Do I care or has this always been my desire?

Hole in One

2011-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

A poem shared by an Isha meditator:

A mundane game of golf,
In this game, a hole in one,
A rare one,
If a player can score,
The crowd will soar.

O Golf player, in this game of golf,
Can this ball disappear in the One?
A hole in one,
When you score,
This ball will soar,
Let there be no more.
Shambho

What to give you in return?

2011-06-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

Karen expresses her thoughts in a wonderful poem:

NEW DISCOVERIES

Did you happen to know
I'm not so pure as the driven snow.

Driven yes, but not by choice
Compulsions are the way I hoist.

Squandering gifts too precious for words
Falling from Grace, back with the masses and herds.

So why you keep playin’ that tune so sweet?

The one that makes me shiver and shake
Out from my hole like a hungry snake.

And how many times will you take my hand
So tenderly guide me through this land?

Will you forgive my ignorance and blunders yet again?
For now I see it is only You I will be in the end.

Silly questions to a Being so beyond and akin
But I must know for this new found devotion blazes within.

What to give you in return?
Only me, but first I must burn.

You can visit her blog here. http://iyogacafe.blogspot.com/

His journey inward

2011-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Raj Arora shares his experience of completing the Inner Engineering Program:
"As I said before it's a journey inward..I got the tools...now on my path to Joyfulness, though miles to go."

To read the complete post, please go to: http://raj-arora.blogspot.com/2010/08/inner-engineering-journey-inward.html

Fortunate that Isha happened

2011-06-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Nanyar shares his most fruitful one year with Isha.

"Its not that I got enlightened, but I was initiated into a different dimension altogether. A dimension I failed to touch with all my scholarly reading, and half-baked meditation."

Read the complete post here:
http://mind-101.blogspot.com/2011/04/one-year-with-isha-yoga-experiences-and.html

Blessed to have experienced BSP

2011-06-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Chris shares his BSP experience with a poem.

"I come to sleep in your lap
Not for a minute do I think this will be an easy sleep of unconscious slumber
Full dissolving calls for potent alchemy

With thunder clapping and rain falling I am visited by the cosmic cobra many times.
She unfolds from my sacrum and pulses her way to my crown.
The powerful hiss surrounds me as my own hood unfolds and my spine reaches for the sky

Even in the midst of my dreams clarity strikes as the snake tightly coils my head and third eye, only to give way to having to probe her majestic mouth with my fear laden fingers
It is this final step and the culmination of the totality which offers me a peek into the bliss of our existence."

She felt worthwhile, valuable and loved

2011-06-02T01:00:00.003-07:00

Ellen shares her experience of attending Shambhavi program with Sadhguru in Atlanta, USA.
"I am left with so many impressions........the smiling faces of volunteers, my first glimpse of Sadghuru; the delcious food prepared and served; the relay race at the park, hearing my own laughter and enjoying the comaraderie of my team; the challenge of keeping the volley ball up in the air; the playfulness of Sahdguru as he volleyed the ball in the air to help us earn points, so we could have our breakfast.

How this man draws people together is an absolute wonder and miracle to behold. In his own quiet way, he teaches us that we are all magnificent and if we choose to live a lifeless existence, then that is what we will have. It's impossible to describe how much love I felt in Sadhguru's presence; I wept as he walked by me at the close of the program. At the same time, how in awe I was of his steady manner, his inimitable patience and his ability to speak for hours on end in the same loving, clear way, and his uncanny gift of telling a story and making us laugh; how he caught us off guard (while some of us were getting drowsy) and distracted us -- in order to help us and to help each other!!!

At midday on Sunday -- my limbs aching and my brain feeling numb -- thinking I could not absorb one more word or move my body in any way - I decided I should leave, that I just wasn't up to this challenge. At the same time, I realized that this man would never have let me just walk out of there. He would have asked me where I was going, and then I would have crumbled. So, even without me leaving and him stopping me, I experienced what the outcome would be. I remained because I knew that Sadhguru would challenge me, and I knew that I would be no match for the love that he is. I'm so glad I stayed. I also realized what a pattern this has been for me; just before breaking through, I quit or let myself down -- not this time. I attribute this to the empowerment and love that Sadhguru imbued us with - it's inescapable. Believe me, if someone could and would escape an uncomfortable situation, it would be me. The only difference on Sunday was that someone in the room made me feel worthwhile and valuable and loved. Sadhguru's is to make the world a better place, person by person; then his love is truly limitless, and I've never run into that in a person before this.

Now a day later, back home in NJ this morning, all this is clear to me and if only one day later, after initiation, I have already realized what I now know, how much more incredible will the future be as I continue the practice. I cannot even fathom what the future holds, but I will tell you this - I am more excited right now than I have ever been about my life. I owe this to Sadhguru. Many thanks to all of you who volunteer your time and have devoted your life to his mission, which has become your mission. I bow to you and am honored to have been welcomed into the fold.

Her tears say it all

2011-05-26T01:00:00.001-07:00

Lavanya shares a poem after her Bhava Spandana Program with Sadhguru at III:

Sadhguru...

I came to you too full of me
With all the garbage I carried along with me

You threw away the garbage out of me
Also brought all the love, I had within me

I screamed and danced to get the hell out of me
Thought that was all about me

I had boundaries between others and me
Thinking that is safe for me

You broke the safety lock of me
And showed who is the "REAL" me

I feel so light and full of energy within me
If not you, who else could it be

A Thank you couldnt not just express what I want to say
I surrender myself at your feet and My tears would say.

It is "On"

2011-05-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Shibani shares the experience of having Sadhguru Sannidhi at her home.

"Birthing of a New Me is happening on a daily basis or rather every minute! It is almost incredible to watch this happen with oneself and my immediate family!"

Read the full post here:http://manchandashibani.blogspot.com/2010/06/10-days-into-sannidhi-initiation.html

Letter to a friend

2011-05-05T01:00:00.002-07:00

A Poem from Isha Meditator, Charlotte, NC:

What is it that makes this heart beat?
What is it that makes the Sun heat?

What is it that makes the planets go around?
What is it that keeps you and me on the ground?

What is it that gave birth to the sea?
What is it that lets you and I see?

What is it that gave flight to the birds?
What is it that speaks these words?

What that is and is not, is far-out,
Damned if you and I weren’t inspired to find out.

Enormous gratitude

2011-04-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Anupama shares her experience of being in the satsang with Sadhguru in Bangalore.

" I was unable to speak for a long time and if I close my eyes, I feel a certain state that can only be described as... ecstasy."

Read her full post here: http://thechroniclesofa.blogspot.com/2010/12/sathsang.html

A milestone

2011-04-21T01:00:00.001-07:00

Meera shares about her life one year after Inner Engineering:
"Now, I don't have a reason to get angry on anything. I don't have anger in me to share it with those around me."

Read the full post here: http://mjaishankar.blogspot.com/2010/09/milestone.html

The gift of grace

2011-04-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Anu shares her experience witnessing the initiation of Sadhguru Sannidhi:
"Within a span of a couple of hours the place was transformed to being remarkably profound, and the energy and warmth of the place was reasonably apparent."

Read the full article here: http://anugoyal.blogspot.com/2010/12/sannadhi-gift-of-grace.html

The Snake Charmer

2011-04-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

An Isha meditator from Charlotte, NC shares a poem on Sadhguru:

Once, a Snake Charmer came to town,
To trample many a snakes' crown.
Some ran for cover,
Others stood in awe of this power.
Mean ones, docile ones,
Slimy ones, slippery ones,
He charmed them one and all.

They danced joyfully,
Some even bit him foolishly.
He brushed it all aside,
Never missing a beat in his breezy stride,
He charmed them one and all.

O dear snake, surrender or be caught,
With this charmer… your chances are but naught.

Inner Engineering has catapulted her into another journey

2011-04-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Becky shares her 2nd anniversary with Isha & Inner Engineering:
" I can also say with certainty that had it not been for this initiation, I would not have made it this long in India!"

Read the full article here: http://beckyblab.com/4-years-in-india-2-years-of-shambhavi-1-wandering-woman/1295/

He stumbled on the real thing

2011-03-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here's John's touching review of "Midnights with the Mystic":

It's hard to believe that something as commonplace as a book could really change one's life. Sure I've read many great books in my life from philosophy to art, from self-help to countless biographies. All of them are undeniably interesting, meaningful and insightful, but I must say they never really stick with me. Of course the reading is always enjoyable sometimes even stimulating but once it finished it's on to the next and two weeks later I could barely remember the title.

Midnights with the Mystic was totally different for me. There was an unusual sense of calm clarity that was speaking directly to me. Questions that have lingered in the back of my mind since I was a child were addressed with a such clarity that complex and overwhelming subjects like grief, death, my own divinity became profoundly simple and understandable.

It was as if for the first time I had encountered a sense of pure, unfiltered, and untainted truth that had always been there but I just wasn't aware of it. Being a die-hard skeptic, I looked at the ideas presented from every differing angle I could imagine and everything kept coming back affirmative. Maybe this really is the Truth, I thought.

Could it be that after all these years of education and personal seeking and growth, that I've now stumbled upon the real thing - truth with a capital "T", and it doesn't elude me? Could it be that it's not so far out that it's beyond me and my comprehension? Can I "get" the Truth?

I can joyfully answer "YES!" and the heaviness and scariness of uncertainty has been lifted and my life is profoundly illuminated and forever changed.
--John Donabedian

Shambhavi

2011-03-24T01:00:00.001-07:00

Parul, an IE participant from Delhi shares his experience of Inner Engineering.

She's called that cos' she's feminine. I liked the way its sound melted in my mouth, so well, that it fills me up even just to say it.

Shambhavi, its a way of meditation. It is offered and recieved, in a particular way, in the presence of a guru. It can't, be taught and learnt like the usual kriyas, asanas and other forms of yoga or meditation.

That's what is said, and I believe it, at the time it is offered to me, while it is also offered to 1000 odd others present with me in the stadium on 19th of Dec 2010.

Believe it or not, it has you the first time you do it. People say they experience ecstasy. It fills you up with an energy, of a kind, inexplicable by ways of communicating that you already know. That's why, its called ecstasy I guess.

My first time, it sent chills down my spine, and every bit of me froze as if I was inside a freezing water body. As if I wouldn't breathe again, or breathing itself was effort. And without any emotion and lots of pain, I cried.

I cried as I havent cried before. As I don't wish to cry again. If I had let go of myself, that last one percent, I might have shocked those sitting next to me. And then when it was done, when everyone relaxed, stood up and danced, I was still crouching to myself, frozen, empty and exhausted. Tears wouldn't stop. Shivers won't give away.

Later, a teacher explained: Shambhavi is feminine in nature. Feminine, cos it yields easily. You don't need years of practice before she yields for you. She is tender that way. And I loved the way he explained it. Shambhavi, it made sense. It made sense suddenly.

That day, they made us do it again (twice ie.) ; tears yet again, shivers yet again and a long blank, followed by a yearning to be held, consoled, drift away in slumber. Never experienced a blank like that before, like I didn't know where I am, what I am here for, not even an emotion, just cold and the pain.

-Parul Tongaria (Corp HR) BHEL

Auto drivers inspired her

2011-03-17T01:00:00.001-07:00

Fida Rose shares about her volunteering experience:

"Its really a blessing to find wonderful people in Isha. I bow down to this wonderful people who have inspired me to break my limitations."

Read the full post here: http://life-after-joining-ishayoga.blogspot.com/2011/03/people-who-inspired-me-to-break-my.html

He bows down

2011-03-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

Selva shares his Inner Engineering experience:
"I began to talk to my father, with whom I had a fight and vowed never to talk to him unless it was absolutely necessary."

Read the full article here: http://ishabangalore.blogspot.com/2010/12/isha-journey-to-inner-world-begins-here.html

Runners here!!

2011-03-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

A few runners from the Mumbai Marathon share why they do it. They raised Rs.60 lakhs for Isha Vidhya in 2010.

“I am running for Isha Vidhya because by educating a child I am creating an individual who becomes completely self-reliant and is an asset to the nation. Also Isha Foundation has enviable track record for success, impeccable credentials and very efficient utilization of the funds donated”
~ Jamshed Jehangir, Isha Mumbai volunteer, 70 years old, running for Isha Vidhya for last 3 years

“Schools run by Isha Education, in a very short span, have been applauded as a role model school and even the better run schools would be inspired to adapt Isha Vidhya Practices when they see the way the kids from Isha Vidhya, from rural area blossom so wonderfully. Am requesting my friends, acquaintances & corporates for their support, to the Isha Vidhya Project so wonderfully executed.”
~ Rahul Patil, running 21 kms

“I have always been deeply moved by the expectant eyes of grubby little children with good potential but no opportunities. Isha Vidhya is doing a great job of providing high quality education to these rural children at an affordable cost. I am running half marathon to raise as much funds as I can for Isha Vidhya. I am approaching all my friends, colleagues and relatives and urging them to reach out so that every child that is supported through this initiative gets a chance to reach his/her full potential……… I think this is the least that i can do in my small way :)”
~ Kalpana Maniar, running 21 kms for last 3 years

“What I am today, is because of the education that my parents could provide me. There are millions of children in Rural India who are not as fortunate as me. Isha Education has taken up this task of setting up schools in rural Tamilnadu and is committed to providing quality education that is affordable and accessible to these children in their own villages. Having been to one such School near Coimbatore and having seen for myself the joy and happiness bubbling in those rural children. I am supporting this cause. I am sure with its rural schools, Isha will change the face of Rural India. “
~ Meyyammai Ganesh, running 6kms

Off from Baking...On to Samyama

2011-02-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

Sumitra shares her experience of Isha.

For the full post, http://www.practicebaking.com/2011/02/adieu-but-not-for-long.html

Totally a new dimension

2011-02-17T01:00:00.002-08:00

Anshuman shares his experience with a living mystic:
"It happened yesterday. I was there and yet I was not, I was with him and yet he was not."

Read his post here: http://anshumaniacal.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-encounter-with-living-mystic.html

She is not herself anymore

2011-02-10T01:00:00.002-08:00

Ramya shares her post-Anaadhi experience:
"This insignificant person that I am, I have no way to express my gratitude, because nothing is close enough to how I feel."

Read the full article here: http://erramya.blogspot.com/2010/10/3-months-after-anaadhi.html

She went there with no expectations!

2011-02-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

Sumitra shares about her life in the ashram:
"I either want to work till I drop, or sit and stare at the hills forever. I am not myself. I am not anything I have known."

Read the full entry here: "http://brainless-wonder.blogspot.com/2010/10/life-at-ashram.html"

What the heaven happened to him?

2011-01-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

A very inspiring & touching post from Kadappan, a Ph.D student from PennState:

"It’s not just the external outlook that has changed, but most importantly, the very
core, the engine technology itself has been transformed."

Read the full post here: http://thatwhichrules.blogspot.com/2011/01/wat-de-heaven-happnd-in-me.html

Over a 1000 people did IE with Sadhguru

2011-01-20T01:00:00.001-08:00

Some of the sharings from the December Delhi IE program(conducted by Sadhguru) participants(HPCL employees):

Before doing Inner Engineering Programme, I was restless when faced with multiple tasks on hand. Now, I am more calm and able to focus on one task at a time.
-Ms. Priya Panjawani |ManagerCSC, LPG, HPCL, Delhi

I was having severe lower back pain before doing Inner Engineering programme in mid December, 2010. The programme was so powerful that even during the programme I had a breakthrough in my lower back pain! I could sit throughout the programme on all
four days without any pain and carry out the various processes some of which required sitting on the floor for two to three hours.
I am practicing the Shambhavi Kriya gifted in the programme, continuously morning and evening without a break. I am experiencing little or no back pain now, more balance and composure in my outlook.
M P Eshwar |DGMGGSRL, Project (Evacuation), HPCL, Delhi

I find a distinct change in my outlook to the people, situations and feel immense inward peace.
-Mr. T K Jha |Manager, GGSRPEP,HPCL, Delhi

Earlier I used to worry more and used to be concerned about what others say about me. After doing Inner Engineering programme I am more focused on what I am and feel more happy and refreshed than earlier.
-Ms Shweta Singh |Project Engineer, GGSRPEP,HPCL, Delhi

It has been very nice and the correction programme conducted after 15 days of Inner Engineering Programme has benefited me in correcting my mistakes. It has boosted my self confidence and I find myself more relaxed now.
-Mr. Rajesh Dua |Manager, E&P,HPCL, Delhi

The Programme is wonderful and I am mentally very happy. I am practicing the Shambhavi Kriya regularly & expect the results will be beneficial to me.
Mr. Surjit Gorain |Officer, E& P, HPCL, Delhi

I feel more at peace, more patient & a feeling of happiness.
Mrs. Anju Mishra |Manager,LPG, Delhi

I have been doing regular Practice of Shambhavi Yoga Mudra twice a day. On 3 days due to deep Involvement on professional front & being out of station, could not do so. On these 3 days I was finding myself Energy less. Suddenly I find my Energy Level is shooting up day by day post Inner Engineering.
Mr. M.K.Chandna |Chief ManagerSHE (POL), HPCL, Delhi

I find a Positive change in my behaviour & interaction with various strata of life.
Mr. K.K. Goel |Manager HR, HPCL,Delhi

Cannot conceive my life without Her

2011-01-13T01:00:00.001-08:00

Radha shares her experience of volunteering at the Linga Bhairavi consecration:

"The moment of the birth of the Devi is a sight that I cannot forget until the end of my life. It was so overwhelming and humbling to see the birth of a feminine form whose intensity and power is way beyond our imagination."

Read the full article here: http://radhakvsrainbow.blogspot.com/2010/09/devi.html

Tearing the me in me

2011-01-06T01:00:00.001-08:00

An Isha volunteer shares a poem at the start of the New Year:

Successfully wasting yet another year
My mind projects bright the following year

This moment the only doorway to existence
Have I shut listening to my mind's pretense

As my mind becomes more and more cozy
I am just getting terribly lazy

Better I realize that all these year-endings are just to account cost
But never ever a means for me to get lost

As you head towards your ultimate dissolution
I am yet no where near my resolution

Until you make me fully intense
I would just be wasting this life doing non-sense

Without you tearing the me in me apart
How am I to become your own part?

Taken from here: http://ashegaveit.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-year.html

Sports is all about breaking limitations!

2010-12-30T01:00:00.000-08:00

An Isha Home School Teacher shares what she experienced on the School Sports Day:
"Personally, it was during these three days, I truly understood the meaning of the cliché- “In a real game, there are only Winners”"

Read the full post here: http://iutkarsh.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/something-i-wrote-after-our-sports-day-at-isha-home-school-in-2009/

Thank you!

2010-12-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Vani shares her experience after her Inner Engineering program.

"I have completed my online inner engineering program with Sadhguru. It has been an inner roller coaster ride. Certain revelations of life have greatly helped me live joyfully and peacefully. Inspired by Sadhguru's words, a poem has flown out of my heart."

TWILIGHT ON THE GANGES

It was the moment of twilight on the Ganges
When the sun was just below the horizon
I stood across the river immersed in golden darkness.

In oneness with the presence around,
An awareness awakened from deep within
To explore my belief of the horizon and go beyond the brim.

With my being full of will and might
And the yearn to cross the realm.
I embarked a little boat on the shore of the Ganges.

I rowed and rowed with faith and fervor
While the sun travelled its course.
The scenery blossomed from dawn to dusk with colors all vibrant and
new

I seemed to have travelled a long way
With the changing visions of life
But the horizon was still far from my reach and reason.

I had blinked not once all this while
Lost in the magnificence of life
But just to ensure my chosen path, for once I looked behind.

The illusions dropped all at once as I turned towards the source
My boat was moored to the earth and it never left the shore
O’ my belief had propelled only as far as the rope’s length would go.

At once I plunged into the depths of the river
Where layers of earth were deep asleep
And From the clutches of rocks down below, I jolted the anchor free.

The oars dropped
For their purpose was served
And my boat now drifted by its own nature.

It was twilight again on the Ganges
When the peripheries ceased to be
The Ganges took my boat along, all the way to the sea.

Thank you so much for all that you have given to me.

They're all shining!!

2010-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Alison shares her Anaadhi experience:
"I am a person without problems – everything is just a situation to enjoy or manage, if necessary. That is all."

Read the full post here: http://www.alivingmystic.com/2010/10/anaadhi-this-past-summer-i-had.html

Never experienced anything like this

2010-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Cheryle shares her experience of attending Inner Engineering Online program:

I really didn’t know what to expect. But I can
truthfully say that the class far exceeded any expectations that I
could have possibly had. I certainly didn’t expect to feel such
emotion with an online class. The love and passion was easy to feel.
Sadhguru kept my attention with every word. I laughed; I was amazed
from time to time; I had feelings of relaxation, and the wisdom of his
words made me feel powerful. But the real unexpected emotion came
during the last class. I sat there listening to his words, and seeing
in his eyes a true love of his work. As he described it in so many
words, this is not a flirtation, this is a love affair. I saw how much
he wanted us to have a joyous, blissful life, and how hard it was for
him to end the class. I began to cry, and cry and cry. It was so
amazing. I felt like I was saying good-by to an old friend. I have
never experienced anything like this.
– Cheryle

The Journey Inward

2010-11-13T05:57:00.000-08:00

Raj shares his experience of Inner Engineering program:
"I don’t want to call it an ending rather a start to a new dimension of life- A journey towards the inner world."
Read the full article here: http://raj-arora.blogspot.com/2010/08/inner-engineering-journey-inward.html

He who gives

2010-10-21T00:11:00.000-07:00

Elgar shares his Anaadhi experience:
"
Such a Being He is---This One who gives.
To let Us ride His wave, climb on His back
Hold His hand, and sit on His Lap.
Everything He is---He gives and gives.
"
Read the complete article here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/elgar-richards/he-who-gives-for-all-the-anaadhis-who-requested-me-to-share-this-online-enjoy/430524913873

It wasn't her!

2010-10-14T04:08:00.000-07:00

Abinaya shares her experience of Dhyanayatra
"It felt like somebody was taking me. The experience of climbing Kedarnath was so overwhelming and the moment i reached there, i was so touched and broke down"
Read the full article here: http://ishabangalore.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-not-me-who-was-walking-and-climbing.html

Nothing could disturb him...

2010-10-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

Vel shares his Bhava Spandana experience:
"The experience was so beautiful... so beautiful that I started regretting for the way I was living. When life could be so beautiful, all that I was doing just seemed stupid to me."
Read the complete article here: http://ishabangalore.blogspot.com/2010/08/came-out-of-cage-bsp-sharing-by.html

The birthday Gift

2010-09-23T03:53:00.000-07:00

Ramsi shares her birthday gift: (Incidentally our first post about Anaadhi)
"another year just rolled off
but the realm of the timeless cares less!"
Read the full poem here: http://erramya.blogspot.com/2010/08/pre-anaadhi.html

Notre premier poste français

2010-09-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

Dev shares a poem on Sadhguru
"Sadhguru, mon dieu,
Votre présence est suiffit,
Je dis mille fois et plus,
Vous êtes seule parmi"
Read the complete poem and more articles here: http://devsurabheeyaduvanshi.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/sadhguru/

In the Mother's lap

2010-09-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

Divya shares her experiences of volunteering for Isha...
Volunteering at Isha is like crawling back into the comfort of a Mother's lap. Once I enter the space, all the hustle and bustle is forgotten. Packed away. Into the oblivion. I slowly breathe in the music, sounds, silence, glowing faces, warming smiles and the underlying sense of connectedness. Immediately, my insides feels like wet earth after the first few raindrops. Fresh and Pure. Cleansed of all that modern living can heap on me.

Then I settle down to watch the games my mind play. As I move along to the rhythm of setting things up, I see all that my mind is capable of. Or not capable of. Some moments, I helplessly play along. Few moments, I managed to stay nonchalant. One or two moments, still. Just still. Like a flash of lightning, it occurs in the tumultuous of thunderstorms. Occasionally, here and there. Near and Far.

Its been a year and a half since I attended my first introductory talk. After many such programs, I am not looking back. Not even to share my journey. Not anymore. I grab every single volunteering opportunity I could get my hands on. Like it was the last time I am fortunate enough to participate. I plan, plan and re-plan to work around my personal situations. In lunch breaks and after office hours. In the comfort of the home fire and the laptop. In the mad chaos of cosmopolitan train journeys. With a loving obsession.

Some say volunteering is a way to grow. Others say its beautiful to make it happen for others. I don't know about all that. For me, it quenches my thirst. And makes me want more. After all, what is me? What is not me?

Thanks,
Divya R

It beckons from within...

2010-09-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

Shibani shares a poem on 'Shoonya':
"Once what was opaque and blocked my vision,
Now many of the veils have been lifted...
I can see through now --- the Reality across!"
Read the complete article here: http://shibanimanchanda.blogspot.com/2010/06/in-darkness-of-night-i-seek-to-love-you.html

The day came

2010-08-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

Meera shares her thoughts about her mom doing the Inner Engineering program:
"She has been regular with her practices. And in just 2 months time, the family doctor has reduced her sugar medication to almost nil. While I wait for the day it actually becomes NIL, I am so relieved, satisfied & grateful that this has happened."
Read the complete article here: http://mjaishankar.blogspot.com/2010/06/day-has-come.html

Isha happened. Truth happened. Is happening. Constantly happening(Well you get the drift...)

2010-08-27T04:19:00.000-07:00

Yuri shares her experience of the Kailash-manasarovar yatra (..amongst other things!)
"Since then it’s been a true roller-coaster, a psychedelic drug, the most potent substance yet the intoxication comes with complete clarity, no hangover, and the deepest sense of fulfillment I have ever experienced in my years of seeking, urgently, desperately, around the planet"
Read the complete sharing here: http://yuriawanohara.blogspot.com/2010/08/isha-kailash-manasarovar-sojourn.html

Watching the air in the water...

2010-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

'Soul' shares in delirious banter the impact of Samyama:
"To able to experience this in water, my place of fear, my place of no control, that jus show how much my inner engineering has changed my Being.
So much laughter that tears of gratitude came. Thank you, Father."
Read the full article here: http://sufferingisblessing.blogspot.com/2010/04/samyama-definitely-got-something-5.html

Hooked!

2010-08-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

A 'village guy' shares his experience of the Inner Engineering program:
"The first day, after the intro, I got hooked actually liked sitting in the class."
Read the post here: http://varakalpet.com/?p=108

"Weekends - bookings are a must"

2010-08-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

Never thought we would feature a restaurant review on this blog...But here it goes:
Deepak shares his experience of dining in the newly opened Isha Mahamudra restaruant:
"First, the place is a premium outlet since it is a "for profit" unit. There are no pretensions about it. If you get that out of the way, you can see it for what it is."
Read the full article here: http://deepakktsnapshot.blogspot.com/2010/06/isha-life-mahamudra.html

Novices on Guru Poornima...

2010-07-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is the novice speaking.

I am the weary traveller on the first step of a narrow steep mountain path. I look hesitatingly and longingly at the next step. I want to touch the peak. But the climb could be long and hard. With no one to keep me company. The firs whisper and beckons me. The calm of the thick forest pulls me in. So I shall go. I might falter and fall down. As long as I can rise after every fall, there is hope.

My name is the beginner.

I am the daughter and wife. The doting sister and the spoiling aunt. I command and cook. I manage and make money. Through the day I sing, dance and don my many acts. I smile and cry to suit my role. I wish and re-wish. When the dawn approaches, I drop it all down.

In the twilight hour, I sit at my Guru's feet.

He close his eyes. And I close mine.

He disappear.

And I disappear with him.

Into the dark abyss, I explore in impatience. As if to find some treasure. He holds me back gently. Showing only that I am ready to behold. Like a child, he leads me in. Putting up with my tantrums. And my inquisitive mind. Forgiving my occasional lapse of trust and discipline. Nudging me on when I hold back with gripping fear. Filling me with such strength and energy, that I want to burn.

On this Guru Poornima day,

Should I offer my tears? Should I offer my gratitude? When I am his, what is there to offer?

Aman-ki-asha!

2010-07-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Anupama shares her yaksha experience:
Read the full article here: http://thechroniclesofa.blogspot.com/2010/02/rapturous-night.html
P.S: Sorry this took a while to appear on our radar!

Exuberant, protective, furious, wild...and more...

2010-07-13T01:11:00.000-07:00

Srividhya shares her expeience of the Linga Bhairavi consecration:
"When Sadhguru revealed the Devi’s form, I wax exploding! An overwhelming frantic desperate longing to merge and dissolve in her.. nothing else mattered."
Read the full article here: http://decembertrance.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/she-has-come-alive/

The Other Side

2010-07-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Eleanor shares her experience of Bhava Spandana program:
"By the end, I never wanted to leave. When it was time to go home, I bid farewell to my dear, new friends and started thinking about what was next for me in the world of yoga. All in all, it was an unusual, wonderful and worthwhile experience.."
Read the complete article here: http://itsnotacult.com/bhava-spandana-program/

The Unique Trinity

2010-07-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Sudhakar Ram shares his experience of the educational initiatives of Isha Foundation:
"We visited many government run and private schools, but what struck us in schools Isha was the atmosphere of fun, curiosity, energy and enthusiasm. Teachers were committed and well trained to support children to help them learn at their own pace. "

Read the full article here: http://www.child-education.net/isha-vidhya-three-unique-models-of-education/

On Anti-retro and Maybachs

2010-06-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

'Baba' shares his experience of meeting Sadhguru
"It was hosted by an Indian Yogi called Sadhguru http://www.sadhguru.org/ whose sole purpose on this occassion , it seems, was to confuse us about the meaning of life in the 21st Century."
Read the full article here: http://emc3experiences.blogspot.com/2010/03/sadhguru-hosts-clien-event-at-asia.html

The incredible fortune

2010-06-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Shibani shares her experience of Isha Yoga:
"No longer am I a part of it... I was for so long, and it seemed endless... So fortunate am I, that life is becoming more and more effortless... So deeply grateful am I, that I am being taught to move beyond it all..."
Read the full article here: http://shibanimanchanda.blogspot.com/2010/04/incredible-transformation.html

Blooming and Blossoming like flowers around!

2010-06-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Samia Khoreiche shares her experience of teaching in the Isha Home School:
"All I could think of during my first term of volunteering was, “How happy those children are!” Their smiling faces and their twinkling eyes drew me closer to them and I couldn’t think of a more worthwhile place on earth where I would want to be"
Read the full article here: http://ishahomeschool.org/blog/my-experience-at-isha-home-school

Walking trees in the 'shram..

2010-05-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

Home School students musing about the 'walking trees' in the ashram:
"From an adult to a child, whoever looked at the trees on the move, a smile escaped their lips."
Read the full article here: http://ishahomeschool.org/blog/the-walking-trees

On String theory, quantum mechanics and Patanjali

2010-05-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ravindra watches in bemused amazement as Sadhguru chats with NSF people about fundamental physics..
"Now I am all ears, I had never seen sadhguru speak about fundamental physics like quantum mechanics and theoretical physics so deeply. Now sadhguru goes deep into this and starts explaining how certain aspects of string theory are flawed and the man agrees..!! I am totally at shock...Well my imagination ran wild and I started imagining what would be the effect if Warren buffet or Bill gates became realized people?"
Read the full article here as shared by Ravindra in his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/notes/ravindra-kempaiah/what-am-i-doing-with-my-life/386577009867

Inner Engineering in the 'Real World'

2010-05-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

Manoj of The Chennai Business School shares his experience of being introduced to Inner Engineering:
"All his words are of utmost clarity. He was right in saying “be human first”- forgetting humanity, divinity is just farce. No two humans have the same capability, if you function to your full potential you are a fortunate being and would always be blissful, and inner engineering is a starting point to realise your full potential. Mr. Ravi Venkatesh asks in the video, “If you are unable to manage yourself, how could you be a manager managing others?” This made all us future managers to think."
Read the full artcile here: http://chennaibusinessschool.blogspot.com/2010/04/enhancing-our-spiritual-quotient.html

Eleanor on the IE Train....

2010-05-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

Eleanor shares her Inner Engineering experience:
"It was all a little strange to me at the time, but after hearing him speak and reading the book, I found him to be funny and endearing, and everything he said made a lot of sense."
Read the complete article here: http://itsnotacult.com/inner-engineering/

What she REALLY wants...

2010-05-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Srividhya muses about what she really cares about and what she really wants to do:
"How I long to be in that pure atmosphere, where everything is done out of love and offering.It is where I truly understood and experienced love, which is so different from the context it is used in the society today."
Read the full article here: http://decembertrance.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/what-i-really-want/

Crescendo in the hills of Tennessee

2010-04-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

Desh shares his experience of Bhava Spandana Program:
"The flowering of the beyond, however, creates a perfume that invades every corner of your being and the existence, where nothing seems any different. You start feeling the pain of even a small grain or a leaf. Sunlight becomes part of you. You become the wind that blows."
Read the full article here: http://drishtikone.com/blog/one-spiritual-step-death-self-hills-tennessee

Innocent Joy in the Fifth Estate

2010-04-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

It is with mixed feeling that we would like to share on what can only be termed as inevitable..The Isha Home School Blog! While we have been scouting the Internet for Isha Bloggers, an oasis of innocent exuberance has been blooming. The Isha Home School Blog has articles written by both the teachers and the students.
Starting off, here is a haunting poem from..hold your breath..a junior student from IHS.
"The cool breeze made me wish I were back on the tree snuggling with all my friends, but I had to leave them"
Read the full article here: http://ishahomeschool.org/blog/i-am-a-leaf

Anachronisms Galore!

2010-04-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Daniel Harris of the Huffington Post shares about his interview with Sadhguru:
"Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is a powerful character -- but wholly unintimidating. He frequently cracks jokes upon meeting a new group of people and his BlackBerry seems quite anachronistic given his appearance."
Read the entire article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/14/national-volunteer-month_n_538108.html
P.S: It is heartening to see Project Green Hands featured in the home page of the Huffington Post!

The leap from Austerity

2010-04-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post from Clare Dakin, UK coordinator for Project GreenHands. It's her sharing about the Linga Bhairavi consecration. This was shared in Facebook by Clare.

I am writing from the Ashram in India, in an attempt to describe what I have just lived through…which is the birth of a Fire Goddess; a miracle of such significance, that part of me is still unable to comprehend or get my head around it.
The incarnation of the Divine Feminine into her own temple, here next to Shiva in the form of the Dhyanalinga in his own temple, gives us a place of embodied union between masculine and feminine that is sacred in a way that I know I simply will not be able to find words for.
There really is no way for those of us who do not have access to other dimensions as the norm, to understand what is possible at the fundamental level of creation, by a Yogi who experiences everything as a part of himself, who solidifies mercury with his bare hands and sits there moulding it as if it was clay before locking energies into it at a level of power that will throw you on the ground or blast you heart open into utter spiritual devotion for the mystery of life. This man literally crafted a feminine force out of creation itself, "a woman with the man taken out", a being who would balance the silence and awareness stimulating power of the masculine Dhyanalinga with all the fire, chaos, beauty, compassion and wild raving ecstasy of the unbridled feminine. 'His' is the awareness, 'Hers' is the humanity. I don't think I would ever have believed such a thing was even possible had I not participated and literally felt her birthed into creation.
Sadhguru said that we would all be playing the role of midwife if we sat with enough intensity and devotion. 5000 of us (350 Europeans the rest Indian) chanting and meditating, calling her, accessing wild energies to add our combined force to the matter in Sadhguru's hands, all relayed to us from inside the Temple by multiple big screens. Hours of hard graft…just like being a midwife, over 3 days, late into every night with maximum 3 hours sleep and then back into the devotional process. I wish I could take what I have seen and what is in my heart and somehow place it in yours so that you could feel what I am feeling.
She, like Shiva in Dhyanalinga has her energies held in a mercury core that is behind her statue, although Sadhguru has energized the rock in such a way that its energy will never dissipate, unless, amazingly, she is not treated properly, or if a man tries to take over the temple, and then she will leave in a rage that he says you do not want to be anywhere close to! This is a women's temple, to be tended only by women, but open to everyone. The only one of its kind, ever.
You have never seen a female deity so worshiped, so bowed down to, so blessed…Sadhguru wept as he brought her into reality and then sang chants to her in a voice so filled with love and devotion it was like hearing an archetypal love song from behind the veil of time, the same song that lives hidden in the very core of our own hearts…and then it was as if the night sky just fell into our laps and became profoundly alive. Immensity just landed, throbbing, and there she was. I am in tears again just writing this. How privileged am I, are we for being part of something of this nature, to have moved it through our bodies, lived through that intensity. There she is, in her own temple, tended by beautiful women, her priestesses, who have rituals for every stage of life; colourful, vivid and very real and beautiful rituals full of dance and fire and song, so so different from the austerity of Dhyanalinga.
For myself, as someone who has done a fairly convincing job of embodying the archetype of the wounded feminine, it was a new world to be faced with levels of devotion towards the feminine that placed her back into her rightful position, especially here where women are so subjugated…but for the whole world to have such a mighty charged feminine energy being worshiped and honoured with levels of reverence, carved out the grief in so many of us all and replaced it with permission to value within ourselves, what has felt so battered and unsafe for so long; the Goddess within…true feminine power, unashamed, uncensored. My body didn't know what to do other than sob for hours, as if emptying out the old story and pain to make way for a new infusion of beautiful feminine energy.
I woke yesterday with a heart so carved out and expanded, it felt as if it filled my entire upper body. Everything I looked at broke me open. I have learnt to bow down to the mystery of life through my time with Sadhguru, but now that mystery just got filled with glorious music, flowers, fire and dance, wrapped herself around my being and called herself Mother.

He knows how to fly!

2010-04-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Alison shares her experience of how she met Sadhguru:
"Despite my aversion to even the word ‘guru’, I listened to the cd. To my surprise, Sadhguru sounded rational, grounded, and practical. Much of what he said resonated deeply and reminded me of things I had read from other great masters."
Read the complete article here: http://alivingmystic.blogspot.com/2008/06/he-knows-how-to-fly-it-is-very.html

Three mad days!

2010-04-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

Megha writes about her BSP experience:

"I don't know what other people experienced and I'm sure all of us experience different things or even the same thing differently but all of us came out on that Monday with a fresh set of eyes and a sense of how one can live joyfully, without effort if we just remember the experiences we had and how much they meant to us."

Full post here.

Isha saved my life

2010-03-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

One of the more dramatic cases of benefits from the Isha Yoga practices:

“I collapsed twice while at work,” says Caraccia. “I used the yoga and meditation techniques I learned from Sadhguru to calm my breathing and take my mind off the pain. Both times I was able to get back up and make it to my car, and eventually to the hospital.”

Full post here: http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?z=0&a=2349

Natasha on Isha Yoga

2010-03-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Nashville based attorney, Natasha talks about her Isha Yoga practices. Read the very last question in the interview.

"Of all the things I’ve ever done, practicing Isha Yoga, which I started in August 2007, has had the greatest impact on me. I literally see my life as pre-Isha Yoga and post-Isha Yoga."

Full post here: http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2010/2/22/the_opportunities_for_gsh_will_be_greater_the_more_diverse_nashville_becomes

Rajadurai attends the silence program

2010-03-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Rajadurai shares a piercing poem about his experience:

Daring to sneak into your world
I stepped inside that hollow space

As a worm I crawled behind you
You took me by hand when I feared

As a child, I refused to swallow
As a Mom, you fed me with care

O' I was truly on your Lap!

Chanting in that cruel darkness,
I breathed your breath poisoned

Venomous ecstasy shaking my core,
The Serpent teased me no limit

Swaying between Bliss and Stillness,
I wept and dissolved incessantly

O' you were taking me for a ride!

You exploded me with your sounds,
And I danced to your tunes

Undecipherable, the moments were!
Unquenchable, my thirst was!

Tasting a droplet of You
Left me madness personified

Longing to take a plunge in you,
And pitiably aware of my stock,

I screamed in pain. O' you heard.
You peeled it off and freed me out.

Pot cracked; honey dripped
Wall collapsed; flood roared
O'I breathed freedom

Breathing this unknown clarity
Leaves me in tears untold

Drenched in your merciless Grace,
I see God beyond the Façade

What do I have worthy of?
To thank you with!
What am I worthy of?
To be at your feet!

When all that is, and that isn't, is you!
I know of nowhere to miss you, Sadhguru!

May I only breathe the venom,
And crawl within you, gently,
With your Grace!

AUM, Namah Shivaya!

Prabhu treks up the Velliyangiri 7th hill

2010-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Prabhu narrates his experience of trekking up the Velliyangiri 7th hill!

I don't know how it happened and I'm going to put in words. It was his sheer grace and bliss, that made me have the glimpse of shiva.

I wished I could participate in yatra (organised by Then Kailaiya Bakthi Peravai) on 27th and 28th feb, during lingha bhairavi consecration and left the thought behind. The wish became an opportunity last friday (26th) through a telephone call from balaji asking if I could join yatra. Wow!!! It was definitely to music to ears.

I had promised my wife that we would go to shopping centre and get her something on our 3rd anniversary (though she was not willing to get it). My mom was fuming and fretting, seeing me packing the bag and looking at me as an irresponsible creature. When it's shiva's call, how can I ignore?

I began the journey not knowing if I would be allowed for yatra since I didn't register for it :)

To my surprise, swami allowed me in.

We started the yatra with an intro by swami and video by Sadhguru. Swami started his talk with a verse on shiva and inspiring stories about the sacred place and how reverential we should be in this yatra. Jaggi insisted not to miss this opportunity being born in tamil nadu and dhyanalinga is the essence of what is available in south kailash.

We flagged off the yatra @ half past two in the afternoon at poondi shivan temple, velliangiri foothills. Swami oriented us again that this shouldn't be perceived as trekking but yatra.

Though I was struggling initially and wondering if I could make it up, swami's talks at certain points, explaining the significance of those places and helping us re-gaining the focus, simply kept me going.

At one moment, energies completely drained, I decided to keep away my body and mind for some time and just be with the yatra, I felt I was being pulled up. Nothing could hold me anymore.

After 3rd hill, heads started to disappear one by one. Fear of getting lost, fear of getting attacked by animals, fear of walking alone in the forest, fear of getting slipped in the valleys, I stopped creating them one by one. Journey was effortless afterwards.

I was crawling like an ant in the vast mountain, realising how small I'm, foolishly pretending to be big. Everything looked amusing that night, the rocks, the path, the moon, the trees, the grass, the breeze, the petty shop-in-the forth hill-with single chimney light, the people out there making their living in mountain. What a lovely world it is?!

Reached 6th hill and took 3 dips in frozen aandi sunai* (vellaikkara durais, translation please). Needless to say that I enjoyed the delicious dinner prepared by the volunteers.

We were ready to retire for the day in the beautiful tent, they had set up. The thin shawl that I had was helpless in the awful weather, piercing tiny holes in my body. Fortunately one anna had a thick blanket and was generous enough to allow me and another meditator (devotee) by his two sides. All of us stayed very close in bed to get warmth.

I woke up the next day with unknown experience and little excitement. We went through some process before climbing up. Just paused a moment to look at all devotees, from all walks of life, from 1st standard student to 50 year old woman (women below 12 years and above 40 years of age, are allowed), a hefty man, looking hard, whispering to swami with respect, definitely all 70 people had different flavours but only one goal: 7th hill.

Like turning pages of an interesting novel, we were heading towards the mystical kingdom. We reached place and sat under the rock, where shiva had been for a while. The place was reasonating with high decibal chanting, heart breaking devotion and unconditional love. When swami came and spoke about the place, tears started rolling down in his cheeks. One being, who didn't want to miss anyone of us, like a mother taking care of her children, cultivating devotion in ourselves, telling what we need to know and how should we be. A real possibility of how one can be as parent to all beings in the world, accepting things and people as they are and doing what is needed for the situatuon. Even my dumb mind had experienced something indescribable, happening there because of him.

Swami and volunteers are still ringing in my head than the Lord Shiva. What a tremendous world this would be, if all the people dare to hold others' well being more than their lives.

* - Literally translates to "barren creek" - obviously has a spiritual connotation to it.

PhoenixButterfly attends the Isha Yoga program

2010-02-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

For PhoenixButterfly, the Inner Engineering program happened at just the right time in her life:

"It is a profound spiritual experience. It is very hard to explain. It is very light and funny and deeply touching and peaceful. There is no releasing or bringing past things up. You don’t go around meeting your peers but you become one with them and at the end the connection is so huge you don’t need to know their names, you know their soul and are one with all of them. We learnt yoga poses that improve our lives in every aspect."

Full post here: http://phoenixbutterfly.typepad.com/blog/2010/02/isha-yoga-1.html

Revamped!

2010-02-19T23:30:00.000-08:00

Meera posts about how her life has changed after the Inner Engineering program:

"I have let go of(so many of) my mental blocks. I still own quite a bit, but it is probably a matter of time before I can let them go too. I am doing things way over my capacity. Me & G are juggling between things in such an easy manner(& with so much happiness & acceptance), that I find it hard to believe it is me."

Full post here: http://mjaishankar.blogspot.com/2010/02/volunteering-with-isha.html

Fiercely Beautiful

2010-02-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

One more post from a participant of the Linga Bhairavi consecration.

Rajasekhar writes:
"Linga Bhairavi devi is supposed to be fiercely and wonderfully feminine at the same time. I do not know about the fierce part of her really because all I could see was the beauty and she has certainly taken my mind & heart. Still cannot forget the first sight of her!"

Full post here: http://mrrajasekhar.blogspot.com/2010/02/fiercely-beautiful.html

Anupama a the Linga Bhairavi consecration

2010-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Anupama shares her experience of attending the Linga Bhairavi consecration.

"For the past 3 days, I have been trying to put into words, my experience of being at the Isha Yoga Centre for the Linga Bhairavi consecration. I am unable to explain the magnificence that is the consecration process and the Devi.
Every single word to describe something much bigger than me seems too trivial, too small."

Full post here: http://thechroniclesofa.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post.html

Meera's trip to Mahima

2009-12-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

Meera originally posted about her IE experience. She now details her experience on her visit to Mahima and her Shoonya initiation at the IIIS.

"Yesterday I was in the middle of a slight fever & a major sore throat/running nose. While every aching muscle would support my decision to not do my practices, I did it anyway. In aches & pains for sure. But after my practices, I only felt better. In so many ways. So, Yoga really works for me."

Full post here: http://mjaishankar.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-trip-to-gracemahima.html

Desh's journey to his Guru

2009-11-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

Desh shares an enchanting story of his life that led him to find his Guru. He also shares his experiences as he finishes reading "Midnights with the Mystic".

"There were many questions from Cheryl that I had asked on my own journey from the "Universe" and would sometimes "receive" an answer. To my surprise, the answers from Sadguru completely resonated with those answers / conclusion that "I" seemed to have come to. Some answers from Sadhguru were truly unique which seemed to be very similar to the my own answers. Had I been marked and fed by the Guru even before I had met Him?"

Full post here: http://drishtikone.com/?q=blog/journey-my-guru-sadhguru-jaggi

Vidya Warrier's journey with Isha

2009-11-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

Vidya offers a heartfelt sharing that is also a nutshell summary of her life so far. Originally shared on facebook, posted here with permission:

As many South Asian children raised in the US, my childhood was doused with the usual dosage of ‘aunty’ parties, Bollywood movies, balavihar classes, Bharatnatyam and Kathak dance, and bhajans. I always stuck out in a crowd of thoroughly American-cultured children with my funky smelling lunch, fashion sense, hobbies and even my accent.

We were drowned in Hindu spirituality and walking into our house was like stepping into a microcosmic India: an abrupt shift into Indian smells and ethos. It wasn’t unusual for my father to disappear for a few evenings to attend some spiritual talk in our nearby Hindu temple, but my mother was never such a kind.

So, that day, when she went for her first ‘yoga’ class, we were all a little confused.
When it was over, we were even more so. Even though I was only ten years old at the time, I could see the mother I knew had transformed before my very eyes. She seemed to carry out household tasks with a new sense of ease and joy about her, singing and laughing along as she walked up and down the house, carrying laundry baskets and rolling vacuum cleaners around. “What’s gotten into her?” my sister and I used to wonder.

As my mother’s interest grew, my father also joined the class. My sister and I, being too young, were always left outside the doors with coloring books and markers. We used to travel all over the country for the classes, just hanging around as our parents volunteered in the program. For us, it was one big road trip.

Time and time again, we saw this transformation in people who came for the program. Friends and family who had seen the change in my parents came for the course. We saw them enter the course in one way, and come out like looking like new blossoms.

As I grew up, like most, I slowly shifted my life into that ever-loved “American” lifestyle, replacing aunty parties with teen parties and bhajans with hip-hop and pop. I learned to curl my hair, paint my face, walk around in teen glory. I ditched all that Hinduism and developed my own views on life. I labeled myself as “agnostic” and stopped going to our Sunday School- a huge step in our household.

Somewhere, I felt there was more to life than what I knew. At the same time, I wasn’t ready to go and sit in a temple and pray to some god to find out what that was. If there was something more to life, why couldn’t it be available to me right at my fingertips? Why should I go somewhere and do something to find it? So like this, I went on through school, experimenting and playing with so many things offered to the modern-day American teen. That yoga class, though it had been a big part of my upbringing, had fallen off the radar.

Meanwhile, my mother was busy, telling all her friends and those interested about this yoga class she had taken. I thought she was absolutely crazy and I didn’t refrain from telling her that, either. Many times, using explicit language to prove my passionate point, I would question her and mock her for this ridiculous kind of obsession she had with yoga. “That’s all you do!” I used to shout, though it was far from the truth. “What’s the point of being your daughter? That’s all you’re interested in!”: the usual cries of an adolescent drama queen.

But I was actually burning up inside. I would throw myself into whatever came my way like I was going to die with it. Dance classes, school, boys; whatever I did, I had to be the best and I had to go with it totally. If I wasn’t the best, I wouldn’t do it, with no second thought. There was this thrill about living like that, that searing burst of excitement that thickens the blood and makes you feel so alive. But that lasted just for a few minutes and then left me back in the same place. Then I would rile myself up and jump again. I was jumping from thrill to thrill. It became so exhausting after some time.

Something in me couldn’t accept that life was just about those temporary satisfactions. As time passed, and I entered high school, this became more and more pronounced. I felt so desperate. I didn’t know where to turn. Teachers looked like they didn’t care. Friends looked like they had no idea. I felt like I was uncovering a big hole in everybody’s life that nobody talks about. “What is all this?” I found myself wondering, and “Who am I and what am I doing here?” Tears came into my eyes. People around me got a little concerned, my boyfriend at the time thought it was something he did. Why couldn’t anybody relate?

I kept thinking, “Ok, so I was born, I’m doing so many things today, and I know I’m definitely going to die. That’s… all?” Everything I knew could disappear tomorrow without any warning. It hit me like a brick that all my friends, my philosophies, my grades, my looks; everything I knew as myself could just disappear tomorrow. What would be left?

So I did what was unthinkable for me at that time- I took that yoga class.

This was not at all my idea of a typical yoga class, with those rubber mats and body-pretzels rolling around all over the place. Nobody was preaching anything or shooting off any beliefs and there wasn’t even anything religious or ritualistic about it. The class was so alive. It felt like a science, but not with anything physical and tangible. It was much more subtle than that, an ancient yogic science which was formulated for me.

It was Yoga, but it was about me, for me, the way I am today, not about some archaic past that had nothing to do with me. As I went through the class, I felt as if layers of baggage I had carried with me were peeling off. Somewhere, some bit of clarity was lit up inside me that I could look at my life and the people around me with such depth. Life became so juicy and rich. I felt clean from inside.

After the class was over, I went back to my daily routine. Everything there was exactly the same, but there was something bubbling in me that was so totally alive. Going back to those same old mundane problems and people suddenly became a joy because I could handle all those things with so much more penetration and clarity. People around me almost thought I was on a drug because smiling, laughing, just being happy became a natural part of my life. It was no longer an aspiration and I didn’t need anything or anyone to make me that way.

As high school came to a close, others started applying for college admissions and looking into their future careers. By default I did the same. But I knew this wasn’t what I wanted in my life. Since the class, something deep inside caught on fire. I wanted more of it. So, as the people around me started packing up and moving to their respective colleges, I packed up and moved to India.

Sharing a “home” with 300 other people in the Isha Yoga Center in South India initially had its challenges. Now, it’s brought me to a point where my idea of “home” is all blurred, not any particular place nor any particular group of people. It is something I am with wherever I go. On a daily basis, I am surrounded by people discovering a sweeter and truer life, while the same thing is happening inside me, too.

Today, the way I live my life has transformed. If I go for a walk at the end of today, I’m no longer burdened with all the day’s drudgery running through my head or some dreadful planning about how to face tomorrow. Somewhere, I've stopped just thinking about my life and started living. I can’t say I know the answers to everything or that I even care to ponder the mysteries of the universe. It’s just that there’s a basic shift in the context of my life, that I know which direction I’m going and what I’m doing with my life. It’s just that shift which is everything. It’s not that I’ve given up hair curling or face-painting, I enjoy that too. But I know it’s not everything. Something has settled so deep that I can enjoy the life inside me and around me, not even really by doing anything. Just being alive. It’s become more than enough.

It’s so simple and so liberating, yet there is a pain about it. I’ve never been a humanitarian kind of person and never really thought about world peace or anything like that. But what has moved within me since I’ve taken the class, the very way I perceive life and myself is too tremendous, I just cannot contain it.

It’s something I feel like just shouting to the world- “yes, there is an answer and there is more to life than the way it seems.” Just by investing a little bit of time on what’s happening inside me, physiologically, psychologically and in other ways, my life has become so rich. It’s not something that’s special to me, it’s possible for every human being. If what has happened to me could happen to more people, something phenomenal could happen on the planet. It's not some utopian idea, it's possible. I've seen it happen to so many people. Just a little bit of attention to their interiority, and suddenly they are finding there is no need or dependence on anyone or anything for their joy. Their aliveness alone is sufficient. Now the way they enjoy the people and situations around them is totally different because there's no compulsion about having those things.

Since moving to India I’ve been involved with the training to teach this Inner Engineering program which changed my life just a few years ago. What is beautiful about the program is it is applicable for any human being. From top-level corporates to people of the villages, it is overwhelming to see all kinds of people shifting to a more joyful and effortless way of living. The entire Isha foundation is run by these people who in some way were touched by this experience. Seeing this, I can’t help but imagining if the world was filled with such people who function in the world not in pursuit of money or happiness, but out of their sheer joy and longing to share this possibility. It's this possibility that I’m giving my life for. I see it is as the most valuable thing a human being can ever have.

Meera shares her IE experience

2009-10-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

"It is almost 40 days now, but I plan to continue doing Shambhavi twice a day. I don't know what it does, but I am sure a day will not be the same without it.
I have enrolled in an advance program next month which is going to take 45 minutes(twice a day) for 40 days. That's a lot, time-wise. But I am sure I want to."

Full post here: http://mjaishankar.blogspot.com/2009/10/isha-yoga.html

Celia's mystery visit to Tennessee!

2009-10-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

"Well, I've been back from Tennessee for a couple of weeks now, and I have been trying to find the words to describe the wonderful experience I had there. I can't find the words! What I had there is somehow indescribable."

Full post here: http://timpanyoga.blogspot.com/2009/10/namaste-i-hope-you-are-all-enjoying.html

This one knows about cars...

2009-10-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Caroline Ryder talks about her meeting with Sadhguru.

Do you prefer shackles of gold or shackles of steel?" he asked.

Duh, gold.

He shook his head.

"At least with steel shackles, you want to break free sooner. Steel shackles are much easier to escape than gold."

Full post here: http://carolineryder.blogspot.com/2009/09/meeting-with-guru.html

Breaking logical barriers

2009-10-02T01:21:00.000-07:00

Nanditha finds her logical barriers breaking after she attends the Inner Engineering Retreat at the Ashram.

"... It was a total eye-opener ,i mean ive actually begin to see life in a different perspective... theres so much to it , that i'd definitely recommend anyone who is willing and daring to look at life in a slightly different way to go for it..."

Full post is here:

Becky's love anniversary with Isha!

2009-09-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Becky follows up her sharing with a pithy but piercing poem.

Poem here:

Note: Her posts require a Wordpress account to post a trackback or a comment. Any one with a Wordpress account willing to post a comment on her blog with the trackback entries?

Becky's story of revival

2009-09-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Becky offers a candid sharing of her dramatic revival owing to Isha.

"I finally started experiencing a way of life that I had only read about and desperately wanted to attain. This is not to say that I have become superhuman or perfect, but the taste I have had of something which is beyond the physical makes me want to continuously and consciously strive to break my own limitations."

Full post here:

The Hunter and the hunted

2009-09-01T00:44:00.000-07:00

Anto muses (eloquently) about his stay at the Isha Ashram:

"But when i fall dead on my bed in the night, i don't have an iota of doubt about rather doing something else. Blissful or tortured, that conviction is there always and that's what makes me get up the next day in the morning."

Full post here: http://antorocks.blogspot.com/2009/08/hunter-and-hunted.html

Chaital and Isha

2009-08-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

This blog posts a snippet of Chaital's work with Isha Vidhya and IIIS.

"Since construction began in 2006, hundreds of global volunteers have served as construction crew, landscapers, and kitchen staff. Chaital has made many trips to the Institute, some with Ravi and some solo. She’s spent long weekends shoveling dirt, grading floors, and laying tile, among many other necessary but thankless tasks."

Full post here: http://volunteernation.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/vow6-chaital/

A Green Brigadier - Spreading Shades of Green

2009-08-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

Namaste everyone - this is the 100th post on Ishas, and as fate would have it, we have an awesome post to feather this cap. I am typing this with a sense of pride, for it reflects what a single person can achieve with consistent commitment. This is the story of Prakash, who started a small nursery of a few hundred plants at his home for Project Green Hands, then proceeded to plant trees all through his street, then became instrumental in setting up a nursery at his organization, which eventually was inaugurated by the CEO of his company when he visited Chennai, and finally, very recently got acknowledged for his efforts all through his organization (60,000 strong as of writing). What follows is a personal account of his story in his own words.

Hats off Prakash, to you and your committed team behind you.

Note: I have had to edit out some organization specific details. Otherwise, it is quite true to what Prakash had written originally. Some additional notes:

"Go Green", "Green Brigade" are organization specific terms
TCO is the name of one of the branches of his office

Finally, as coincidence would have it, we have active PGH work going on at Tiruppur with the culmination function on 23rd Aug. I am including it here on account of the perfect context. It is still not too late to participate. Details here:

This is my first blog. My mail boxes is full almost by now with 100’s of mails. All congratulating mail due to the Go Green mail hit the Global mail box. This is a very odd experience for me indeed, when I saw the mail I felt honored. I could not able to reply immediately to all those souls who took time to read and congratulate me. I had lot of questions in the mails I thought Blog will be a good thing to do so I could answer here so that every one will be benefitted.

First of all the credits and wishes go to Sadhguru - Founder of isha foundation (one of the most 50 influential people in India). He is the man behind all my activities, my inspiration. I am just like a tool to create this Green world. Who have given me the wisdom of looking more than routine basic day to day activities. And many unknown faces who helped me and lot more people who created this wonderful society I live in. And It is not of human quality to leave those wonderful people who are behind the scenes and made to reach so many people. The most impressive thing is that Cognizant is recognizing such things and sending a global mail that too for a programmer analyst level. I feel happy that it is more focused on the people rather being too business. Of course business is important but we spend the most active part of the day 9 – 6 in office. I feel that’s is why cognizant is shining through the fog. It is people who drives it not the money.

Here you go my full green story. Want to let you all know who are all behind the scenes. And addressed the questions I got.

In October 2006 I witnessed a record in Guinness World Book of Records for planting 856,000 trees by Project Green Hands – A project by isha foundation. I happen to attend this meet at the Music academy, Chennai. Sadhguru was talking about the Global warming and the implications and how it affect us. He said that we live because of this breath. What we inhale the trees inhale and what they exhale we inhale we are not aware of it most of the time. In fact they are our relations in a way air relatives. This gotten deep in me. I have been to velliyangiri hills (In Coimbatore) the streams, the healthy biological thick forest. The breadth I took in the forest gave me a feel of freshness. Which I never got in the city. I always go these treks like Tada AP. Nilgris, Yercadu and I have been to many hills like this in western ghats (Good to see that such activities are carried out by the adventures team in cognizant in Chennai). Want to let the Software engineers know that just coding is not the whole life (It is just a part) the life is lot more bigger. After all we have small life we need to live it fully. So I made a strong decision I must do something that makes the society a better place to live. What if we have such trees in Chennai???? . One of my friend Mohith he had his son and mother affected by the cancer. I happen to donate the blood i know how it was painful for the father to be. One main reason is the unhealthy environment that we have created (due to pollution). If we have lived sensibly we would not have got this painful things at all. This must change. I thought i must do something. This is the reason why I started growing the saplings.

Then I got the technology of how to grow a sapling and taking care of a nursery form Project green hands. I stayed in a rented house so I asked my owner Moni and his son naveen a very nice people for allowing to grow saplings in the terrace. I am really really greatful to them. I thought he will say no to my surprise he said yes roommets VaradharajanP.K (take care of me like a brother in a way), Sribalaji (Like a baby in a way for me bcz of his naugty character), Vignesh (A best friend in a way), Hariharan (He will always there in my hard times next to me), Selva (inspires in the way he give himself to others), Rajesh (A nice personality) Mani (good heart), Siva (Busy bee). Then Every weekend we started organizing the activity. We prepared the mother bed in valarmathi akka house with the help of siva & Mouli (Project Green hands volunteer). There are many others who behind the scenes Govinda swami, Vinodh hari, Dilip, Ani, Annamalai, Murugesh, Anjana, Saradha, Ramka, Mekala, , Dinesh, Guna, Siva, Sankari, Deepak, Arumugam, Ramar Suresh, Harini, Pandian, Sudha, Arun, karthick, praba, shyamala, Sathya, prabhu, Nithya and many more this could not been possible without them. The very first day when we organize I called more that 30 people but only 2 came Lakshmipathy and pooja early in the morning started at 4 am and reached my house at 6.00AM in the morning in the cold mist. I was moved by the way to see their punctuality. But these two souls will always be there no mater what happens. Really these people really touched me a lot hats off to them. They helped me getting the funds from many for nursery. In fact I learnt so many things from them. The strength of people increases day by day. We started organizing the games in the early morning then we prepare the nursery needs in the mud. Then we will have our breakfast together. These people I call them gems because they worth it. Gems are something you hard to find these people too. We had lots of fun those days it was in the year 2007.

The plants started growing and we are happy to see those small green babies coming out. And it is really good to see a positive change in me since you are seeing and living in a place where something grows everyday. I feel the patience, and the consistency they have.Things that i got it from this are

Patience – you know main thing if you want to grow is that patience. You need to wait…. Wait… and wait…. to see some thing tremendous grows out of nothingness. Not just in the saplings in you also….

Commitment – you always need to be there in time when you plan for such an activity(plantation at school, distribution). You need to water it every day. It takes a lot from many.

Determination/Challenge – There are many moments during plantation we may be in a start we need to do lot of physical work in the sun. The volunteers who came are more determined. I learnt lot of things from them.It is very challenging to create a awareness that plantint a tree. The determination helped to over come these challenges.

Lot of friends – You need to keep in touch and always keep the people alive and happy. In the process I got truly fantastic valuable people.

A great source of relaxation – I hate people saying I am stressed. I feel this as a wonderful source of relaxation because you almost live with a living being. When you put so much efforts in weeks and months when you see something growing a blast of happiness will flow in you. Each and everyone of us must experience this and see.

Regularity – You cant miss even a single day attention. You must water it everyday and watch out for the weeds that are coming up. I almost see them as my childrens 5000 in number. Its is a fantastic thing to be in a feel of a parent. I realized how my mom and my day feel for me. This is not something to be in words but to be experienced. For watering it you need to cut some important commitments I had.

Value of my life - When we go to the super markets we always use big shopper bags(to avoid plastic), and when I going out near by we mostly use public transport. My friends used to ask me why do you go in MTC if you have a bike. We use 2 dust bins one for degradable and non degradable. Degradable will go to the garden don’t take print outs if not necessary. I will shut down the PC, lights in my home when not in use. dont exploit any resources unnessarily. Some times people dont takes it serious. But I know what it takes to grow a tree. Its my world i need to take care.

Entertainment - I hardly been to any movies in the last couple of years. The main reason is not because i dont like it. It is because my life is more intresting and and always sourrended by fantastic people it never occured to me that i need entertainment. I am not intrested in some one else story (mostly illusion and fiction). I chose to live in reality than in a illusion. I felt i was doing really some thing worthwile.

My Softskills – As in the process we need to talk to so many people for getting volunteers and getting the grown saplings planted in a safe place. We some time seed to give speeches to a large masses. I developed the skill set of addressing a large crowd. We had planted saplings in the villages near chengelpet. Schools in OMR, ECR… and many orphanages. Each are a different story. May write is different blogs later…

Management – There are many moments in the process you feel that this is the end of it. If you are inviting 50 people and plan for a event some times only 4-5 will turn out. Need to plan for your time in all the activity. I had many moments like that’s In those tough times I learnt how to handle it. Barely ay of the best things a B-School could ever teach. You must vivit the NGO Isha foundation, Poondi, Coimbatore the way things are managed amazes me. If you are a manager reading this you must visit this place once. All very young people taking up huge projects. It was the 2008 New year. We some mo my friends(lakshmipatty, Pooja (known them already), Sankara (Dreams alive group enthusiast one of my inspiration), payal (sankaras wife) darmaraj(isha volunteer), and few others ) planted the trees in my street and we went to every single home and planted the saplings by the hands of the residing people. This is one of the best things I have ever done useful in my entire life time. In this process it have given me lots of people as friends in my street. Can you imagin if you live in a street full of friends. All known faces. Now its is almost 18 months it all grown more than my height. I experience the feeling that how a father will feel when his son has grown more than his shoulders. It is a fantastic feeling. What else a human being wants. I feel very happy now. We have mini nurseries in many homes as a part of green hands. Mine is just one of it. Even now for my friends birthday my sisters wedding we planted trees. They felt very happy. There are many moments I had tears in my eyes out of happiness.

I always dreamed why don’t we have a Nursery in TCO. It was a strong thought from the year 2007 - it was the TCO where we have the nursery right now is the place I dreamed off. I approached many people but no hope. But the urge in me was so strong. I don’t know whom to contact and how to do it. But this came in to the reality in 2009 when our CEO Frank came and inaugurated the nursery. And planted trees that we have grown as a part of our Green hands planted by our CEO. Prem said we are planning for 10000 but frank said why only 10000 we have 22000 associates In Chennai we can plant one for all of them. That’s the moment he deserved a highest place in my heart. It was a fantastic day in my life. He was the one was who behind all these for Go green in cognizant - Pandurangam, Premkumar. I am really amazed the way he had plans for the future. According to me he is a fantastic guy with right kind of approach. He just talk to us like friends. I don’t have words to say at that moment. I happen to meet many senior level people in a same place. I happen to met Kartheeban (Everest one of my inspiration as well he don’t needs an intro we planted the saplings as a part of everest activity) we have contacted many number of times bur this is the first time i am meeting him. I realized that if you have a intense thought then no matter what happens things will fall in place when the right time comes.

I did all these is creating a beautiful atmosphere outside. You can always create this when you have a fantastic inner climate within you. Yes I happen to attend the inner engineering program (http://www.ishafoundation.org/). It gave me all the necessary platform to have a healthy life and a sound inner atmosphere. It have given lot about food habits (If you are in ID you must know this). From this I learnt that if you are managing some thing bigger than you first this you need is that you should have a good management over your inner nature. If you cant do this it is not worth managing any situations. Thanks to isha for bringing me lot of positive changes in my life.

Please visit the TCO Nursery (Near the main Gate). If you have not yet visited. Please see those green children waiting to grow. Am sure you will experience something different in that space. If you are stressed out this is the place you must be!!!!!!!

(my note: You cannot, this was intended for the folks inside the organization)

Please plant one tree before you die - then you know the worth of it it lives even after you are dead!!!

I also took the liberty of making a movie of the pictures he had taken in the process into a movie. The pictures are anyway available for public viewing here.

Resurrected by Isha

2009-05-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Radha shares about her encounter with an auto-driver whose life was changed because of Isha:

"...He finally added that he was under an assumption that drinking is the only happiness in life, there is nothing else. He now feels nothing can match the joy that ISHA has given to him...."

Full article here:
http://radhakvsrainbow.blogspot.com/2009/05/he-made-my-day.html

Anupama at the Satsang

2009-05-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

Anu shares her experience of attending the English Satsang with Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Center.

"... Just sincerely hope that this enthusiasm blows me over and I can translate it into making positive change in my life(for a start) and help."

Full article here: http://thechroniclesofa.blogspot.com/2009/04/lap-of-grace.html

Golf with the Guru

2009-03-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Mukund Padmanabhan shares his experience of golfing with Sadhguru:

"...

As I leave, I cannot help thinking that — as his website rather smugly declares — he is indeed “an arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism”. There is an unconventional plain-speaking side that is hard to miss.

..."

Read the complete article here: http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/03/15/stories/2009031550330800.htm

Ashram Blues

2009-03-27T14:58:00.001-07:00

Afrin shares her time at the ashram:

First some volunteering:

"...

There he was, talking to his guests, seeing everything. I slipped in behind the reception desk and stood there, watching, unable to take my eyes off him.

..."

And then the Silence program:

"...

shining face-meter

just him and I

'you're looking beautiful'

..."

Read the entire sharing here and here.

Showery Seattle washed away by Bliss!

2009-03-25T17:33:00.001-07:00

Meghana shares her experiences of "An Evening with the mystic".

"...

Still Sadguru Vasudev was the best I've heard so far in the sense of how he applies yoga practically to the problems of todays world. He talks of uncluttering the mind (which all the great sadhu's tell us to do) ...but somehow he says it in a way that seems more achievable to me. And I slowly began to listen to him.

..."

Read the complete article here: http://mindstilled.blogspot.com/2009/03/over-past-month-or-so-i-have-been.html

IE Haiku

2009-02-20T13:16:00.001-08:00

Mamta shares a haiku about Inner Engineering:

Read the poem here: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/inner-engineering-haiku/

Namaskaram

2009-02-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Roberts family visit the Isha yoga center.

"...

the people have welcomed us with open arms and we look forward to the rest of our stay

..."

Read the entire article here: http://www.therobertschronicles.com/?p=52

Anita's BSP

2009-02-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Anita shares her BSP experiences:

"...

All I can wish for at this moment is let awareness become a part of thy self so that i experience and live life to the fullest forever until I breathe my last.

..."

Read the complete article here: http://observationsofmydestiny.blogspot.com/2009/02/bhava-spandana-program-isha-bsp.html

I am the Mystic inside you!

2009-02-07T18:56:00.001-08:00

Ranjit Monga writes about his (transformational) meeting with Sadhguru.

Going to Poondy

2009-01-22T13:05:00.001-08:00

Becky blogs about going to poondy:

"...

A homecoming to the source of creation,

beloved enemy of limitations.

..."

Read the complete article here: http://beckyblab.com/going-to-poondi/542/

The guru with a turban

2009-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Kala shares her experience of Sadhguru:

"...

That August saw the beginning of the end of a long duration of 4 - years of agony that I had gone through. I followed the practices of kriyas and meditation with discipline.

..."

Read the complete article here: http://kalaparasuram.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-sadhguru-reached-out-to-me.html