You are on page 1of 24

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

15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,


Editorial
Dear Readers,

In this edition, we focus on relationships, particularly on the traditionally lifelong bond between two
individuals. In the past few decades, divorce rates have been rising worldwide, and as the social and

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


economic fabric changes, even in India, the once unthinkable is not completely out of bounds anymore.
Is marriage becoming obsolete, or are there fundamental reasons to uphold this institution? Our Lead
Article, “One Life, One Partner?” has Sadhguru’s answer. In a public conversation with Sadhguru,
actress and former Miss India, Juhi Chawla, calls attention to the emotional level of relationships:
Where to draw the line between loving unconditionally and becoming a doormat? In the article “Of
Domestic Love and Doormats,” Sadhguru sets forth his view on the matter.

While marriage is a union of two people, the article “Three in One Shot” is about a union of a different
kind. Find out why the number three plays a pivotal role in yogic practices, though we ultimately aim
at oneness. But whatever we may aim at, only Grace can make it a reality. This leads us to the 60th (!)
part of our Leela series and the question “How Grace Works.” If you are wondering to what extent God
or Guru is aware of your day-to-day events and pulling the strings, find out how it actually happens
on page 9 f. In the article “When Hesitation is a ‘Sin,’” Sadhguru answers a meditator’s question that
arose from Krishna’s advice to Arjuna: Under what circumstances is immediate action in order, and
when would it be rash and foolish?

Also in this issue: Sadhguru indicates “A Different Approach to Addiction” that, if applied, could
be path-breaking in the prevention and treatment of addiction. Especially for those who consider

Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004
Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION
relocating, the article “Does It Matter Where You Live?” provides invaluable decision-making support.
In our Hatha Yoga series, we look at the purpose of a few fundamental instructions for our practice:
“Close Your Eyes / Toe to Toe / Heel to Perineum.” The article “Down to Business” offers us a peak into
the 2013 edition of INSIGHT – The DNA of Success. Our “Dry Fruit Barfi” recipe allows you to treat
yourself, your family, and your friends with a sweet indulgence this Diwali. Enjoy without remorse!

The Editorial Team

Isha Forest Flower – ONLINE!

To receive free downloadable PDF versions of Isha Forest Flower along with your print subscription,
please submit your subscription number and email address at www.ishafoundation.org/Online-
Community/forest-flower-subscribers.isa

For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office:

(044) 45011137, 96770 16700 – subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org

To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower

Editorial Team:

Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore – 641114

forestflower@ishafoundation.org

2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


CONTENTS
Lead Article
One Life, One Partner?
Sadhguru on How Many Are Too Many 4
In Conversation with the Mystic
Of Domestic Love and Doormats
Juhi Chawla in Conversation with Sadhguru 7
Leela Series
The path of the playful – part LX:
How Grace Works 9
Musings
When Hesitation is a ‘Sin’
Sadhguru on Times to Probe and Times to Ac 10
Three in One Shot
Sadhguru on How to Approach the Fundamental Dimensions of Who We Are 11
A Different Approach to Addiction
Sadhguru on the Root Cause and the Remedy 13
Does It Matter Where You Live?
Sadhguru on Location Choices 14
Isha Hatha Yoga
Part 10: Close Your Eyes / Toe to Toe / Heel to Perineum 15
INSIGHT
Down to Business
A Peak into INSIGHT 2013 17
Sadhguru Spot
Weaving Two Lives into One 19
Upcoming Programs and Events
Isha Yoga – Program Highlights 20
Isha Recipes
This Month: Dry Fruit Barfi 21
Zen Speaks
The Fire God Seeking Fire 23

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 3


SADHGURU

One Life, One Partner?


Sadhguru on How Many are Too Many
The following is an excerpt from a Darshan with significance on an energy level, I do not ask people
Sadhguru at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences in about it – I just place my hands on a rock. By being
the USA. with it, I will know the whole story of the place.
Like the rings of a tree tell you the ecological history
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. Does God of the place, rocks have an even better memory.
intend human beings to have only one partner in
their lifetime? Generally, the denser the substance, the better its
ability to retain memory, and inanimate substances
Sadhguru: God may not have intentions for you. have better memory than animate life. Today’s
The question is, what is the sensible thing for you technology is proving it – your computer has better
to do? There are two aspects to this – one is a social memory than you. The human mind is not for
one. Generally, they always said “one man – one memory – it is for perception. The inanimate cannot
woman” in order to stabilize society. In parts of the perceive – it can only remember. Deities and other
world where they said “one man – several women,” consecrated objects have been created because they
they had to rule with a stronger hand to keep society are powerful forms of memory.
stable. I will not go further into this.
Your body still actively remembers what happened
The other aspect is, all substances in existence a million years ago. Genetics is just memory. This
have memory. Modern science says this, and in the physical memory is called runanu bandha. It is
yogic system, we have always known this: the five your memory that binds you to things around you.
elements – water, air, earth and so on – have a strong Suppose you went home and you forgot who your
sense of memory. If I go to any place that is of some father and mother are, what would you do? It is not

4 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


the blood; it is not the love – it is the memory that in memory of the Divine. The mind looks at other
tells you this person is your mother or father. It is people, what is happening, but the body absorbs the
only memory that breeds relationship and bondage. energy of the space.
If you lose your memory, anyone will look like an
absolute stranger to you. Both at the entrance of Dhyanalinga and Linga
Bhairavi, there are sculptures of prostrating
Your mind’s memory is miniscule compared to devotees. This is to show you that the body soaks
your body’s memory. If you just touch something in the Divine much better than the mind. It is just
or somebody once, the mind might forget, but in that human beings cannot go nude anymore because
the body, it is registered forever. This is why we say we have become so civilized – we put on so many
in the ashram, unless you are in a certain mode, do clothes that we do not know whether there is a body
not physically contact everybody. There are people or not. Only when sexual urges come up, people
who exchange hugs all the time. When people have know that they have a body.
sex with each other, the mind may forget it, but
the body will never forget. If you get a divorce, no There is a price to pay for too much intimacy all
matter how much you hate your spouse – still you over the place – unless you know how to keep the
will go through pain, because the physical memory body at a distance from yourself. For such a person
can never be lost. it does not matter what he does. However, such a
person has no inclination to do such things. He is
Even if you just hold somebody’s hand intimately not compelled by the limitations and compulsions of
enough for a certain period of time, this will never the body – he is using the body as a tool. Otherwise,
be forgotten, because your palms and your soles it is best to limit intimacy to the minimum. That
are very effective receptors. Whenever you see is why we said one to one, unless one of them dies
somebody you do not want to get involved and and the other one remarries. But now, before you
entangled with, just do “Namaskar,” because when are 25, you had 25 partners – people are already
you bring your two hands together (or you bring paying the price for that – 10% of the population in
your big toes together), it stops the body from the United States is on antidepressants. One major
soaking in memory. contributing factor is they do not know where they
belong, because the body is confused.
The idea is to keep the physical memory to the
minimum because otherwise, taking you to a The body needs stable memory – people feel
different level of experience becomes difficult. this. Their spouse may not be physically great or
Those who have indulged excessively in pleasure intellectually great, they may be quarreling on the
have a certain grin on their face that is of a leery surface, but still they would sacrifice anything to be
superiority, but there is no joy in them. It takes a lot with them, because somewhere, they understand that
of work to get rid of that, because physical memory this gives them maximum comfort and wellbeing.
entangles you in a way that your mind cannot even This is because your physical memory rules your life
figure out. Therefore, it is very important that you much, much more than your mental memory. The
learn to be conscious about what you expose your very way you are right now is ruled by your physical
body to. memory, not by your mental memory. Mental
memory can be thrown away tomorrow morning,
In India, there was a time when you could only but you cannot throw your physical memory away.
enter a Shiva temple naked. Only after the British That would require a completely different level of
came into the country and started banning all these spiritual evolution within you.
things, we have become very prudish. The idea of
going naked to the temple was to take the memory Devotees are capable of this. I have seen quite a few,
of the Divine into the body. You take a dip and then but one man really struck me. There was a woman
lie down on the floor with wet body so that it soaks who came down south to Kanyakumari, which is the

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 5


southern tip of India. We do not know where exactly means you get rid of your genetic compulsions.
she came from, but looking at her face, probably When someone takes sanyas, the first thing is to
from Nepal. She just walked around, never uttered do a certain process for the parents and forefathers.
a word, and always a bunch of dogs were following Normally, we conduct this process for the dead, but
her. She would even steal food, just to feed these for sanyasis, we do this even if the parents are still
dogs, and many times, she was beaten up for that. living. Not that we intend them to die – the idea is
To avoid these beatings and this social retribution, to wash off one’s physical memory.
she learnt one thing and started doing it. This was
a coastal town where three oceans meet. She would When you were 18, you might have rebelled against
go to the beach, sit cross-legged on the water, and your father and your mother, but by the time you
float around. Then people started worshiping her. are 45, whether you like it or not, you begin to
talk like them and act like them. It is not just your
When she came, they would still protect their food,
parents – your forefathers are acting through you
but they could not beat her anymore because she
right now. Your behavior is generated and controlled
was something more.
by them. That is why, if you become serious about
Her whole life, she had lived outdoors. She slept the spiritual process, the first step is to distance
on the street or on the beach, without any kind of yourself from your genetic memory. Without doing
shelter. She had a completely weather-beaten face – that, you cannot get rid of the compulsions of your
very similar to pictures you would have seen of old forefathers. They will live through you and rule you
Native Americans. Towards the end of her life, when in so many ways.
she was over 70, a famous South Indian musician
When the memory of the body rules you to such
saw her and became her devotee. He brought her to
an extent, it is better to keep it to the minimum in
Salem, Tamil Nadu, and built a small house for her
this lifetime. After all, you still have to get rid of a
there, and a few devotees gathered around her.
million years of memory from your forefathers. You
have a reptilian brain – the crawling snake and the
About 15, 16 years ago, I happened to be in a hill
lizard, and even the scorpion still live through you.
station near Salem. There, someone told me about
Do not think the brain is mind – the brain is body.
this woman – her name was Mayamma. She was
At least in this lifetime, you want to limit these
already dead by then. It was a full moon night, and
impressions so that your body does not get confused.
they said there would be a pooja at Mayamma’s
samadhi. I drove down with my wife and daughter, People who were aware of this context created
who was just about five or six at that time, to spend spiritual processes in such a way that the body
the evening there. It is the most unimpressive little would become most conducive. Everywhere in
place, a concrete samadhi. When I came there, the world, it is understood that if someone gets
it just hit me in the face – the very energy of that very serious about his spiritual process, the first
place was like an explosion. As we sat there, hours thing that he does is keep away from all kinds of
flew by. Later, there was a free dinner. A devotee relationships, because if he builds any physical
of hers was serving us food. I looked at this man’s relationships, naturally, it will complicate things.
face, and I could not believe it – he looked exactly Only if he is either so compulsive that he needs it,
like her! He was a South Indian man, but he looked that you cannot take him beyond that right now, or
like a Nepali woman. Out of devotion, his face had he is so free that he does not identify with the body,
become almost like hers. we let him have it – otherwise, we generally say no.
But if you must, at least stick to one body, because
If you erase your physical memory through deep too many will confuse the physical system.
devotion or certain other practices, your body will
become like that which matters most to you. The
very shape of everything in you will change. That

6 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


Of Domestic Love and Doormats
Juhi Chawla in Conversation with Sadhguru
In the latest “In Conversation with the Mystic” editions, actress and former
Miss India Juhi Chawla met Sadhguru in Mumbai on 4 August 2014 to discuss
matters of “Love and Life.” Here is the first excerpt of their conversation.
Juhi Chawla: Sadhguruji, a question from the public. Similarly, we have arrangements to fulfill our
Where and how do we draw the line between loving physical, emotional, and needs in a more aesthetic
unconditionally and becoming a doormat? manner. I’m not saying this is right or wrong –
this is a fact of life. For domestic purposes – for
Sadhguru: We need to understand that what is two people to live together, to fulfill their needs,
considered as love is generally a mutual benefit to produce children, to raise them, a domestic
scheme. “You give me this – I give you that. If you level of love is enough. Not many people are
don’t give me this, I don’t give you that.” This is not capable or ready to have a kind of love affair that
said, but it’s done. will make two lives into one and bring them to
an ultimate union.
Human beings have physical, psychological,
emotional, economic, social, and various other Two actually becoming one in experience needs
kinds of needs. Instead of making ugly transactions something more. Most people are competent of
in the sense of “You give me this – I give me using love to fulfill the domestic needs, but they are
that,” we bring some aesthetics and beauty to it not ready to go beyond that. Both have to be ready.
by coating it with a certain amount of sweetness When one is ready and the other is not, or one is
of emotion which we call a love affair. As human making an effort and the other doesn’t, it may feel
beings, doing transactions in a basic way makes like one is becoming a doormat, like one is being
us feel ugly. If you take food with both your exploited. But one who is longing to become love
hands and eat it, it is ugly, isn’t it? We want to as a way of ultimate union should not be bothered
eat in a certain way. about becoming a doormat or whatever.

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 7


We have a culture here in India where by choice, you – No! You just sat there, willing to die – that
people name themselves as slaves. You know was the moment. You were willing to not just be a
Ramdas, Krishnadas, or any other kind of “das1” ? doormat but the dust on their feet.
They openly say, “I’m a slave.” They are not afraid
of being used as a doormat. They want to be a I’m not saying you should be like that – I’m
doormat. This kind of love is for ultimate union and saying this is how it is when love transforms itself
not just for domestic purposes. If you are looking for into devotion. If you fall in love, you become
ultimate union, love is a different affair. If you are vulnerable, but there are still some shreds of
looking for a way to conduct domestic affairs, then sanity in love affairs – you can recover. But if you
you must manage with dignity “who gets what.” become a devotee, there is no sanity left and you
If anyone uses more than they should, then it is cannot recover. So, before you tread such a land,
“If you don’t give me this, I don’t give you that.” you must see whether you’re ready for it or not.
That’s a social thing. Otherwise, if you’re looking What are your goals, first of all? If your goal is to
for ultimate union, you should not think of all this. make life a quotient, a very measured love affair is
Or in other words, if love crosses a certain level, and good. But if you are not planning to have a good
even if you just fall in love, you become vulnerable life, if you want to dissolve into the process of life,
to someone. Without becoming vulnerable, there if you want to become an explosion of life, if you
is no love affair. You have to fall. When you fall, don’t care what you get and what you don’t get,
someone may raise you or walk over you. then you become a devotee.

The experience is beautiful because you fell. Not Devotion means it is your intention to dissolve
because they raised you, not because they walked into your object of devotion. As a devotee, you
over you – you actually had the sense of abandon in don’t think about whether you become a doormat
you to fall. The beauty of your love affair was not in or a crown on someone’s head. Whatever you
what they gave you, not what they did to you. You become is fine with you, as long as you can touch
sat alone and thought you really loved this person that one’s feet or head or whatever else. That’s a
so much you were willing to die – that was the most different state of existence. I don’t think someone
beautiful moment. Not the moment they gave you who is looking for a domestic level of love affair
a big gift, not the moment they gave you a diamond should even ask that question.
ring, not the moment they said this and that about

1 Sanskrit word for “slave”


Leela Series
The path of the playful –
Part LX
How Grace Works
The following is an excerpt from Leela, the path of the playful, a unique exploration with Sadhguru
into the mystical realm of Krishna, which took place at the Isha Yoga Center in September 2005.

Krishna was not present when the Kauravas tried to receptive, Grace works. For those who are not
disrobe Draupadi in public. He was not even aware receptive, Grace does not work.
of the scene because when he was about to go to the
Rajasuya Yagna, Shalva, a king who held a grudge In a similar vein, Udhava once asked Krishna, “In
against him, came and raided Dwaraka. He and many situations, I have seen beyond any doubt that
his men killed people and burnt homes, cattle and you are a divine manifestation. There is so much
everything. Those of the Yadavas who managed to about you which is beyond man. But then how
escape ran into the forest in the mountains and hid come people are struggling and you cannot handle
there. On top of that, Shalva kidnapped Krishna’s their problems with a snap of your fingers?” Krishna
father Vasudeva and took him away. By the time smilingly said, “No one can work a miracle unless the
Krishna reached Dwaraka, the whole place was recipient is in full faith. Even the great Mahadeva
burnt and devastated, and the survivors were all cannot work a miracle unless there is receptivity
hiding in the mountains. When they saw him, they and faith. When people are not receptive, you
came back down. He organized the reestablishment cannot expect miracles.”
of the community and the reconstruction of the
There is a beautiful story: one day, Krishna was
city and sent his son to go and somehow achieve
having lunch. Satyabhama was serving him. Halfway
the release of his kidnapped father. Since he was
through the meal, he got up and said, “One of my
involved in all this, he was not aware of what was
devotees is in trouble. I need to go.” He washed his
going on in Hastinapur.
hands and went. Just before the gate, he suddenly
If Krishna was not even aware of Draupadi’s stopped, turned around, and came back. Satyabhama
predicament, how did he reach out to her? How asked, “You left midway through lunch, saying your
did this miracle happen that she was guarded? This devotee is in trouble, but then you turned back.
is a question of Grace. People constantly ask me What happened?” Krishna said, “A devotee of mine
this – some gently, some sarcastically, some in an was chanting, ‘Krishna, Krishna,’ with eyes closed.
accusing manner – how does Grace work? For Grace A hungry tiger approached him. The man would
to function, I need not be mentally aware of what have gotten killed, so I thought I will reach out and
is happening to you. Through an initiation into a I left. But by the time I was near the gate, the fool
spiritual process [such as Shambhavi Mahamudra], a had picked up a stone – so I turned back.”
certain investment of energy has been made, which
For Grace to function, the person who is the source
functions as Grace. If I wish to be aware of what
of that Grace does not need to be mentally aware
is happening with someone, I can be aware. But
of the situation. The investment of energy that
most of the time, I do not wish to be aware because
has been made through the initiation functions by
too many things are going on. For those who are

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 9


itself. You just have to open up the bounty that operated on a level that people understand, but
has been given to you. In that sense, Chaitanya they could not take them to the ultimate.
Mahaprabhu1 was much more fortunate than
Krishna or anyone else for that matter, because he Grace becomes accessible and available to you
managed to work up more faith in people than any only when you create the necessary openness
other, and consequently many things happened that within you, which means you have to be willing to
keep yourself aside. If you say “Krishna, Krishna”
left people transformed. Do not think of faith in
and pick up a stone, it will not work. Similarly,
the sense of how people are talking about miracles
if you say, “Sadhguru, Sadhguru” and pick up a
– they just lost control over their imagination. In
stone, even if I want to, it will not work because
his lifetime, Krishna himself generated faith in lots
Grace is very subtle. And as already said, it is
of people, but still not in adequate measure for
not at all necessary that the one through which
who he was. That has always been so – when
Grace functions is mentally aware of what is
the greatest ones came, the greatest things did
happening. That is why though Krishna was not
not happen because they were too far ahead. In aware of Draupadi’s predicament at that moment,
a way, medium-scale ones did better because they still Grace worked for her.
1 A prominent 16th century Krishna devotee and Vaishnava leader

When Hesitation is a ‘Sin’


Sadhguru on Times to Probe and Times to Act
Questioner: Sadhguru, you said intelligent ones If you go quickly, you will pass, but a moment of
wonder. Does wondering not create hesitation? hesitation, and you can be in trouble.
Krishna said hesitation is a sin. Is this not a
contradiction? When you are in action, you must be in pure action.
If you allow action to happen, a different dimension
Sadhguru: Krishna said hesitation is a sin because of intelligence functions within you. You do not
when you hesitate, you miss everything. A man have to think – there is something else that just acts.
who has chosen to act should not hesitate after Sportspersons experience this – if they think and
the plan has been clearly drawn out. If everything hesitate for a moment, it can be disastrous. Krishna
that needs to be done has been thought out, but at spoke to Arjuna, who is also known as Savyasachi,
the moment of action, you hesitate, you will ruin which means he is an ambidextrous warrior, one
everything. But before the decision to fight the war who is pure action. They say when he got into
was made, Krishna thought and rethought it, and action, he became like a blur – people could not
did everything possible to avoid the war – he did even see what his hands were doing. A man who is
not see this as hesitation. capable of such a dimension of action will be ruined
if he hesitates. Krishna told him that.
Duryodhana wanted to go to war on the spur of
the moment, while the Pandavas and Krishna When I said, “Intelligent ones wonder – idiots are
himself deliberated on what to do. But once the dead sure,” it was in a different context, in terms of
decision is made and you are on the battlefield, do “fools rush where angels fear to tread.” Intelligence
not hesitate. If you hesitate in a moment of action, will always probe and see which way to go, what
it will lead to ruin. Let’s say you are driving on the best thing to do is. Stupidity just walks into
an Indian highway – that is a unique situation. everything. Probing time may seem like hesitation,
Both ways, there is traffic, with no median in the but it is not in the sense that Krishna meant. This is
center. You want to pass, you generally know how not contradictory – it is a different context.
much power you got, but traffic comes your way.

10 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


Three in One Shot
Sadhguru on How to Approach the Fundamental Dimensions of Who We Are
The following is an excerpt from a Q&A with completely different process, particularly using it
Sadhguru at the Isha School of Hatha Yoga. to describe anything spiritual. Dialectical cultures
expressed things not 100% logically. On the surface,
Questioner: Yogic practices are often done in sets of it looks like a fantastic story. But if you dig deep
three. Is there a reason why? enough, there is logic to it.

Sadhguru: There are many ways to look at this. This You know, yoga started with Adiyogi, and one of
is a dialectical culture. A story will say one thing, his names is Tripurantaka. I will cut the story short
but it means something else. It is intentionally because with Indian stories, even a sub-story will
structured that way to evolve our logic. If you last for days, and this is intentional, because the idea
approach everything in life 100% logically, you will of the story is to take you logically into an illogical
be very crude. Somewhere you have to touch the realm. Otherwise, it is very difficult for a human
gray. If everything is black or white for you, no one being to rest your logic because that is the only
can be with you. You think you are logically correct thing that has seen you through life till now.
but no one can stand you because it is gross logic.
Therefore, we evolved another kind of logic. If I say, “Rest it. Surrender. We will do something
with you,” you may say, “Yes,” but you will hold
In modern science, they call it “fuzzy logic,” which is on to your logic. If something does not fit into your
a good way to describe it. But this here is more than logic, your mind will naturally reject it. So the story
fuzzy logic – this is dialectical culture. Most Asian logically takes you to a place beyond your present
countries and large parts of Africa are dialectical level of logic. I will not tell you the whole story
cultures, but here in India, we evolved this into a because that would take a whole day.

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 11


There was a rakshasa king. Rakshasa is generally him open his eyes and they told him, “Only you can
translated as demon, but they are not necessarily stop this man.” But the rakshasa had taken a boon
demons. They are a different kind of people who do that no individual city of his could be destroyed by
not subscribe to the laws of society. A rakshasa is any army. Shiva saw that he could not shoot down
one who is ruled by his own passions, his own lust, these cities individually – he had to shoot down all
and his own needs. Conquest, rape, and grabbing three at once. So he shot a single arrow that went
things are normal for him. through all the three cities and they fell down.

This rakshasa king became very powerful, so Tri-pura means “three cities.” Tripurantaka means
powerful he built three cities floating in the sky. “one who ended Tripura.” The story of Shiva
He ruled these cities and whenever he wanted, demolishing all the three cities with a single arrow
he came to the earth and ravaged it. There was no refers to the three fundamental dimensions of who
competition for him. He was such a warrior and his you are. This can be expressed in many different
armies were so strong, no one could stop him. He ways. In terms of qualities, these three dimensions
terrorized all the others – human beings and gods. are called tamas, rajas, and satva. In terms of physical
At that time, the god population in the country manifestation, we call them pingala, sushumna, and
was more than the human population. We had 333 ida. These three nadis1 are the manifestation of
million gods, even then, and not that many people. who you are. Then there are the three forces earth,
moon, and sun. And the three dimensions of one’s
That many gods and yet this man had no sanctity for existence here: past, present, and future. Essentially,
anything. He just ravaged everything that he saw. life is happening between these three. You can see it
No one could kill him; no one could conquer him. as past, present, and future. Or you can see it as ida,
They called all the devas. All the heroes went to sushumna, and pingala. Or you can see it as earth,
fight against him, but he not only vanquished them, sun, and moon. If you try to conquer only one out
he disgraced them in every possible way. He made of the three, you will be on an endless ride because
sure that he was the power. At that time, Shiva the three are internally one. In yoga and in spiritual
had his eyes closed. They went to him and pleaded process, a lot of people are trying to take charge of
for years, but he did not open his eyes – he was only one thing, which is a desperate endeavor.
somewhere else. Then Vishnu found a way to make
The message is: unless you shoot all three of them
at once, you will never be victorious. It is a spiritual
message given in an elaborate story. How he became
a Tripurantaka is a whole book by itself. How he
fought the Tripura, the many weapons he used, what
all happened – all these things describe the struggles
of a human being trying to conquer one aspect of his
life. Someone wants to conquer his mind without
conquering his energy – he can try as hard as he
wants – it is not going to happen. Someone tries to
discipline the body without taking charge of the
mind and energy – do what you want, it is not going
to happen. Mind, body, energy; sun, moon, earth –
all these are three. Unless they are shot with a single
arrow, they will not fall.

1 Energy channels

12 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


A Different Approach to Addiction
Sadhguru on the Root Cause and the Remedy
The following is an excerpt from a sathsang with The most important thing is to establish that sense
Sadhguru in Los Angeles, CA, USA, on 11 May 2014. of responsibility for their own lives and to show
them a better option. Otherwise, you will not
Questioner: Sadhguru, I work with addicts, and get them off alcohol and drugs. Right now, this is
in America, there is this concept that addiction the biggest experience in their lives. They are not
is a disease and once an addict, always an addict. going to give it up because you ask them to come to
I am struggling with this idea. Addiction may Sunday school or whatever. You have to show them
be a medical condition at some point, but is it a something better. Look at my eyes. I am always
permanent disease? stoned, though I have never touched a substance in
my life. If you teach everyone how to be stoned in
Sadhguru: It depends what kind of addict you are
such a way all the time – it does not cost anything,
talking about. There are food addicts, drug addicts,
neither money nor health; if you want, you can be
alcohol addicts, sex addicts, suffering addicts, gossip
super alert, so alert you do not even have to sleep for
addicts – so many compulsive types of behavior
days and nights – if you teach them a way to come
about a variety of things. Gossip addicts for
to a bigger experience than what they have known
example – do you think you can heal them? You
so far, they will drop this rubbish.
can only make them change the subject. If they
gossip in a way that is harmful to someone, you Unless you do that, they are not going to give up
can make them gossip in a way that could benefit what they have found. It may damage the body, but
people. So is addiction a disease? Any compulsive they feel they have a bigger experience than people
state takes away the ease from you – in that sense, who work through the day, come back home, eat,
it is a disease. Is it permanent? No. Even your sleep, and go back to work again. They think that
being alive is not permanent – so where is the is rubbish, and what they are doing is better. When
question of addiction being permanent? they become helpless, when they get broken, you
may be looking down upon them, but when they are
Those who say that addiction is a permanent disease
high, they are looking down upon you. If they did
and treat it accordingly are themselves in a state
not think it is better than whatever else is available
of addiction – they are compulsive about doing
around, they would not do it. In their perspective, it
something in a particular way. Each individual has
is good. Only when things go bad, when the body is
gotten into this mess in his own way. Only to some
broken, they come to you.
extent, there can be a common treatment, but not
entirely. You need to look at each human being and If someone comes up with a drug that does
treat them the way it is necessary for this individual. not damage the body much but keeps you in a
Do we have the care and concern to attend to each hallucinatory state all the time, the whole population
one of them the way it is necessary? That is something
will go on it. In some way, human societies have
we have to check. And above all, is it people’s right
failed to make the experience of life worthwhile
to always get into problematic situations and expect
for a whole lot of people, so they are taking all
others to treat them? This also has to be looked
kinds of deviant ways to find something. We have
at. A whole lot of people in this country think it
to offer something that is more powerful than any
is their right to mess themselves up and expect the
drug and that leads to everyone’s wellbeing. This
government to fix them. If individuals do not take
has to happen, and that is why I am here. Make it
responsibility for their own wellbeing, no power on
happen, wherever you are.
earth or in heaven can fix them.

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 13


Does It Matter Where You Live?
Sadhguru on Location Choices
The following is an excerpt from a darshan with would care. But in our lifetime, we may not see the
Sadhguru for participants of the Anaadhi program abolishment of national borders. Europe has done
at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences, McMinnville, reasonably well, but it looks like they are beginning
Tennessee, USA, on 23 January 2011. to step back from the European Union, because
those who have do not want to share with those
Questioner: Sadhguru, I have lived in the US since who do not have.
’94 and I am originally from Himachal Pradesh. It’s a
beautiful place and I would like to move back there, If you make economics inclusive, the military
but my husband has no interest in going back. How forces on the planet will become redundant. There
important is the place we live in? will be nothing to fight for. Most of the wars, right
through history, have been for economic purposes.
Sadhguru: The place as such is not that important. Of course, some people fought for their gods, but
It is a question of what you want to do there. If for the rest of it has always been for resources and
example growing apples is important to you, you economic prosperity.
have to move there. If what you are doing here is
important to you, you should stay here. I have no Where to live is a question of what you wish to
sense of nationality, but still, most of my activities do, and where you are most comfortable. It is not
are in India because that is where I am most a question of which is a better place. There is no
effective. If you give me ten dollars, particularly in better place. Those who are there want to come
Tamil Nadu, I will do a hundred dollars’ worth of here. Those who are here want to go there. When
work. I choose to work in a place where it is most you were in India, you were desperate to come
effective because one’s life is just a certain time span to the United States. Now that you are here, you
and a certain amount of energy. desperately want to go back there. Something will
always be lacking.
Time and energy are limited commodities. How
effectively you use them is how effective your life Do whatever you want – anyway you have a way
is. Therefore, naturally, you would like to work in a of suffering it. I would say, change that first, so
place where you have maximum impact – otherwise, that whether you are in the United States, in India,
your time and energy will go waste. That is what or in Timbuktu, anyway you will live blissfully.
you have to consider. It is not about the nation. Make that happen. After that, go wherever life
takes you. If you are blissful, what does it matter
Someday, we must overcome the idea of a nation. where you are?
Such a silly idea – someone draws a line and that
becomes so immensely important. Only because
there is such inequity in the world, these boundaries
have become meaningful. If there was no inequity,
if for example, Mexico and the United States both
had the same level of economic prosperity and
wellbeing, would you be guarding the borders
with guns, barbed wires and all that, and would
they be digging tunnels to get here? No. Whoever
wants to go in either direction could do so – no one

14 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


HATHA YOGA

Part 10

In this series, Sadhguru


discusses various aspects
that can significantly
impact the quality of
your yogic practice.

Close Your Eyes being, the vision is the most dominant sense. By
contrast, a dog for example perceives the world
Questioner: Sadhguru, why should we keep our
through its sense of smell. It knows who you are
eyes closed in most of the asanas?
not by looking at you but by smelling you. But
for a human being, since your vision is the most
Sadhguru: If you close your eyes, the world
dominant sense for you, once you close your eyes,
disappears, unless you have your own false world
half the world is shut off. Therefore, internalization
in your head. Right now, I am looking at you – if
works best when your eyes are closed.
I close my eyes, you are gone for me. Unless your
imagination is running wild because you have no Toe to Toe
control over it, if you close your eyes, the world
is gone for you. When you do an asana, you want Questioner: Sadhguru, why should the big toes or
to internalize everything. One basic step towards heels touch in certain asanas?
any internalization is to close your eyes. If you
Sadhguru: When you bend forward, your heels
eat something very good, if something hurts, if
should always touch because the mooladhara 1
something is nice, if you really want to experience
should be tight. Otherwise, bending forward, there
something, you close your eyes. This happens
is a natural movement towards the mooladhara,
naturally when you want to internalize something,
which we want to arrest. In a way, the sole of the
because out of the five senses, your vision is the
foot is a minor manifestation of the whole body. If
most outwardly engaging process.
the toes touch, suddenly the whole system functions
If you lose your vision, you lose 50% of your differently. You will see in India, if somebody dies,
engagement with the world. The other four senses – they will take an organic string and tie the big
toes together, as this prevents certain things from
smell, touch, taste, and hearing – together make
entering the system.
up for the remaining 50%. If you lose your vision,
your sense of hearing and your sense of smell will You do not always know what atmosphere you are
improve, but fundamentally, especially for a human in. When the big toes touch, you do not take in what
1 The first and fundamental chakra or in the human energy system

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 15


is around you, plus you become a complete circuit by Sadhguru: If you partially sit on the heel, it will
yourself. You are anyway a full-fledged life, though always touch this ¾ of an inch space that the
most human beings experience themselves as half a perineum is, whether you are a man or a woman.
life. If they do not have certain things, they will feel Whether the heel slips or not depends on how
empty. One aspect of yoga is to set up your energies comfortably it goes to the perineum. Once you
in such a way that if you sit here, you are complete become more flexible, it will stay there. When you
by your own nature – you do not need anyone or do janurshirsasana for example, do not move the
anything to make you complete. If you interact, it is heel away for your convenience. The important
a contribution, and not a seeking to fulfill yourself. thing that you want to create in these asanas is full
pressure on the mooladhara.
This is a clear way of setting yourself up in such a
way that you are not a vested interest – not out of Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru at the Isha
morality or ethics but by your own nature, because Hatha School of Yoga.
you are complete within yourself. To establish this
sense of completeness, it is important to keep the For dates and details of hatha yoga programs, visit
toes together. In certain asanas, either the big toes www.ishahatayoga.com.
should be together or your mooladhara should be
The Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program is an
supported. That way, you are constantly working
opportunity to be trained in classical hatha yoga
towards making yourself into a complete process, so
devised by Sadhguru. Upcoming dates: 31 July
this sense of incompleteness, this sense of not being
to 25 December 2015 at the Isha Yoga Center in
whole will go away.
India. For more information, please send an email
to info@ishahatayoga.com.
Heel to Perineum
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. In asanas such
as ardhasiddhasana, vrikshasana, and yogamudra,
the heel should touch the perineum. What if this is
anatomically not possible, or if it slips?

16 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


Down to Business
A Peak into INSIGHT 2013
During the 2013 edition of the INSIGHT – The DNA of Success program, Bloomberg TV India
Editor Vivek Law moderated a panel discussion with Sadhguru; Dr. Ram Charan, one of the
world’s leading business advisors; Dipak Jain, former Dean of INSEAD France and Kellogg
School of Management, Northwestern University, US; and Vellayan Subbiah, Managing Director
of Cholamandalam Investment & Finance. The following is an excerpt of their discussion.

Tackling a Slowdown could come back into activity with much more
vigor. Rest is the basis of all activity. If the business
Interviewer: Let me begin with you, Sadhguru. You
is getting a little bit of rest, it could be a phenomenal
wrote that “If you have money in your pocket, it
advantage, unless the rest lasts for too long.
is great. Only if it enters your head, it becomes a
perversion.” Right now, there is a real fear that the In the present situation, the rest will not last for
money is not even coming into the pocket. What do too long because businesses are not limited to
we do in times like these? geographical boundaries. People can always rejig
themselves and move to other areas where they
Sadhguru: The money is still going into someone’s
could function better. There are many possibilities.
pocket, though maybe not into a kind of pocket
But fundamentally, instead of cutting back on
that will use it to create wellbeing and wealth for
human resources, why not bring them in in a
humanity at large.
friendly manner and ask them to share the burden
and keep their colleagues. That way, you can pass
Times like these, when there is a certain slowdown,
through this period of rest with a certain level of
hurt because you have prepared yourself in terms
bonding and togetherness and be ready for the next
of man, material, everything, for a certain speed.
level of action.
Suddenly, when there is slowdown, you have excess
capacity and not enough to do. When such a thing
Global Economic Outlook
happens, normally, most companies in the world
go for retrenchment. They want to cut down their Interviewer: Ram, do you believe the global
staff. There is a difference between cutting down on situation is going to get better sooner than later?
your stocks of material and cutting down on people
who work for you. Modern management tends to Ram: Yeah. Let me make three points. Point number
treat both the same way. one – I totally agree with Sadhguru. Point number
two – I see by the fourth quadrant next year [2014]
I would say there is a different way to approach a global economy running at 4.5 %. I clearly see the
this. Instead of cutting down people, why not sit United States economy on the positive track. I am
down with them and let them take a cut on their very happy for 7% economy growth in China. I see
salary and use the saved amount to retrain them in India, no matter which government comes, more
into a new possibility? There may be a slowdown than 5% growth. Brazil is still in a slump. Germany
in your current field of activity, but definitely, there clearly comes back. Greece etc. are really behind.
are other opportunities. You can use such a time to So, I am very positive but not too bullish.
retrain yourself and people around you and retool
everything. If instead of looking at it as recession, Third point. I learned this from a chairman in
you look at it as a period of rest, after a while you India – whenever there is an adversity, whenever

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 17


there is a recession, there is a message. Try to find country because women of a certain competence,
the message. Use it to sharpen your business – capabilities, appearance, and style are still new in
customer selection, product selection – and build the perception of the Indian workforce.
the future: new innovation, new things. A recession
will go one day – you got to come out ahead. Change Because of the newness, we are trying to treat it
your thinking from defensive to offensive. specially, but I feel we should level it out and treat
every person who works for a particular company
Gender at Work according to their competence, irrespective of their
gender. We should bring this culture rather than
Interviewer: Another big issue in corporate making special laws for women that will separate
India is gender at the workplace. What are your them as an exclusive group who will always be
thoughts on that? looked at in a certain way. Leveling it out is more
important, though it is easier said than done. It is
Sadhguru: I feel we should learn to make the
not going to happen immediately, but we need to
workplace kind of gender-free in the sense that
gradually shift the culture in this direction so that
you look at people in terms of who they are, their
at some point in the coming generation, almost 50%
activity, and their competence, not in terms of
of the workforce will be women. Making it normal
gender. You don’t have to be a man or a woman
rather than making it exclusive is important.
when you are working. You just have to be a
human being who does things. You should be
judged by your competence, not by your gender.
I feel gender is a big issue right now in the
Sadhguru Spot
Musings from the Master

Weaving Two Lives into One


Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot of 3 September 2014
Today marks the marriage of beloved Radhe to three years of age, she has been traveling with me
Sandeep Narayan. So many of you are here today, on the circuit, mostly on the road, leading a near
from different parts of the world, to share in this nomadic life. But whenever we had programs,
important moment in their lives. I would like to anywhere, families took care of her for months on
express my gratitude to many people who have end. I am overwhelmed by the love and support that
played a significant role in Radhe’s life. Without people have showered over the years.
your constant support, Radhe would not be what
There is beauty in weaving two lives into one.
she is today. Radhe danced before she walked
Thinking, living and feeling beyond oneself; making
and it was her mother’s dream that she should
space for another within and without can be a
become a dancer.
stepping stone to the Ultimate Union.
I have been mostly an absentee parent, often Love & Blessings,
traveling, but have somehow managed to keep in
touch with Radhe and keep it going. Since she was
Program Highlights

Date Program Place Contact

Adayar, 83000 32000


8–14 Oct 2014 Isha Yoga Program
Chennai – India chennai@ishayoga.org

Secunderabad, 98662 47952


8–14 Oct 2014 Inner Engineering
Hyderabad – India hyderabad@ishayoga.org

Bannerghatta
81052 49089
8–14 Oct 2014 Inner Engineering Main Road,
bangalore@ishayoga.org
Bangalore – India

Jubilee Hills, 85000 64000


8–14 Oct 2014 Inner Engineering
Hyderabad – India hyderabad@ishayoga.org

Inner Engineering
Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515421
9–12 Oct 2014 Retreat
Coimbatore – India ieretreat@ishafoundation.org
Residential Program

Visakhapatnam – 81069 78475


10–12 Oct 2014 Surya Kriya
India vizag@ishayoga.org

Marathahalli, 89719 19031


10–14 Oct 2014 Yogasanas
Bangalore – India bangalore@ishayoga.org

Guru Pooja Training Isha Yoga Center, 98840 04475


26–29 Oct 2014
(Sanskrit/English/Tamil) Coimbatore – India iycprograms@ishayoga.org

Inner Engineering
30 Oct – Isha Yoga Center, 0422-2515421
Retreat
2 Nov 2014 Coimbatore – India ieretreat@ishafoundation.org
Residential Program

Inner Engineering with Worli, 87675 52553, 87675 52554


“7–9 Nov 2014
Sadhguru Mumbai – India mumbai@ishayoga.org

INSIGHT: The DNA of


Isha Yoga Center, 83000 84888
27–30 Nov 2014 Success
Coimbatore – India leadership@ishainsight.org
with Sadhguru

Yantra Ceremony Isha Yoga Center, 94425 04720


5–7 Dec 2014
with Sadhguru Coimbatore – India yantra@lingabhairavi.org

These programs are conducted in English, unless indicated otherwise. Current at the time of print, however subject
to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our website: www.ishafoundation.org.

20 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014


Isha Recipes
Dry Fruit Barfi

Ingredients
1 l Milk
100 g Grated khoa
(or thick condensed milk without sugar)
1/4 cup Cane sugar
1/4 tsp. Cardamom powder
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg powder
1 pinch Saffron
1/4 cup Powdered cashew nuts
7 Almonds (chopped)
2 tbsp. Chopped walnuts
2 Dried figs (chopped)
2 tbsp. Pistachios
1/2 tsp Oil

Preparation Method
1. Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy bottomed pan, stirring continuously on a low flame until
the milk reduces to half (approx. 30 to 35 minutes).

2. Add the grated khoa, powdered cashew nuts, sugar, spices, chopped nuts (except pistachios)
and chopped figs and continue cooking on a very low flame until the milk further thickens
and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.
3. Lightly grease the back of a steel plate with oil. Pour this mixture on the greased, inverted
steel plate. Flatten with a greased bowl to half-inch thickness.
4. Sprinkle the top with chopped pistachios and lightly pat the surface again. Keep in the
refrigerator to cool and firm up. Only after it is thoroughly cooled, cut it into squares.

Tip: Enjoy and offer this delicious sweet with nuts and dry fruits as a somewhat healthier
alternative to the regular Diwali fair.

1 A traditional Indian dairy product, made by heating milk in an iron pan until it is reduced to a lump

October 2014 ISHA FOREST FLOWER 21


w !
e No
c r ib Insightful – Inspiring – Informative
s
ub
I would like to Subscribe for myself Renew my subscription
S Change the mailing address Subscribe as a gift

FF CODE (Isha Forest Flower subscription No.):


One year – 12 issues (within India by regular mail) – Rs.180
One year – 12 issues (within India by courier) – Rs. 480
(payment by cheque Rs. 50 extra)
Mode of Payment: Cash Cheque Demand Draft Money Order
Please complete in BLOCK LETTERS
Name*
Address*
SUBSCRIBER

City*
State* PIN*
Phone: ..................................(Mobile)*............................................(Home)*........................................(Work)*
Email* .............................................................................................................................................................
Name*
Address*
SEND GIFT TO

City*
State* PIN*
Phone ..................................(Mobile)*...........................................(Home)*........................................(Work)*
Email* ...........................................................................................................................................................
*These fields are mandatory

Enclosed DD / Cheque / MO No. ................................................................................... dated .................................


drawn on ...................................................................... (bank), payable at Coimbatore for Rs. ................................
in favor of Isha Foundation.
For payments by cheque, please add Rs. 50/- to the subscription amount towards clearing charges.
Please mail the completed subscription form
along with your payment to: For further inquiries, please contact:
Isha Forest Flower  (044) 45011137, 96770 16700
F-4, Sri Balaji Apartments, 2nd Floor  subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org
New No.4, old No.6, Rajambal Street
T. Nagar, Chennai - 600017
Date: Subscriber Signature:
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Receipt Details

Receipt No.: Receipt Date:

Amount received: Received by: Remarks:

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


Printed by: S. PRAKASH; at FINE DOTS, No.15, Boo Begum 3rd Street,
Editorial
Dear Readers,
In this edition, we focus on relationships, particularly on the traditionally lifelong bond between two
individuals. In the past few decades, divorce rates have been rising worldwide, and as the social and

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


economic fabric changes, even in India, the once unthinkable is not completely out of bounds anymore.
Is marriage becoming obsolete, or are there fundamental reasons to uphold this institution? Our Lead
Article, “One Life, One Partner?” has Sadhguru’s answer. In a public conversation with Sadhguru,
actress and former Miss India, Juhi Chawla, calls attention to the emotional level of relationships:
Where to draw the line between loving unconditionally and becoming a doormat? In the article “Of
Domestic Love and Doormats,” Sadhguru sets forth his view on the matter.
While marriage is a union of two people, the article “Three in One Shot” is about a union of a different
kind. Find out why the number three plays a pivotal role in yogic practices, though we ultimately aim
at oneness. But whatever we may aim at, only Grace can make it a reality. This leads us to the 60th (!)
part of our Leela series and the question “How Grace Works.” If you are wondering to what extent God
or Guru is aware of your day-to-day events and pulling the strings, find out how it actually happens
on page 9 f. In the article “When Hesitation is a ‘Sin,’” Sadhguru answers a meditator’s question that
arose from Krishna’s advice to Arjuna: Under what circumstances is immediate action in order, and
when would it be rash and foolish?
Also in this issue: Sadhguru indicates “A Different Approach to Addiction” that, if applied, could
be path-breaking in the prevention and treatment of addiction. Especially for those who consider

Published from 117/50, Luz Church Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004
Published by: B. RAJESH CHANDER on behalf of ISHA FOUNDATION
relocating, the article “Does It Matter Where You Live?” provides invaluable decision-making support.
In our Hatha Yoga series, we look at the purpose of a few fundamental instructions for our practice:
“Close Your Eyes / Toe to Toe / Heel to Perineum.” The article “Down to Business” offers us a peak into
the 2013 edition of INSIGHT – The DNA of Success. Our “Dry Fruit Barfi” recipe allows you to treat
yourself, your family, and your friends with a sweet indulgence this Diwali. Enjoy without remorse!
The Editorial Team
Isha Forest Flower – ONLINE!
To receive free downloadable PDF versions of Isha Forest Flower along with your print subscription,
please submit your subscription number and email address at www.ishafoundation.org/Online-
Community/forest-flower-subscribers.isa
For subscription inquiries, please contact our Subscription Office:
(044) 45011137, 96770 16700 – subscriptions.FF@ishafoundation.org
To change your mailing address online, visit: www.ishafoundation.org/ForestFlower
Editorial Team:
Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore – 641114
forestflower@ishafoundation.org
2 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2014
Volume - 2 / Issue - 10 `15 Annual Subscription `180 October 2014

Peril of Pride
Of anger, hate, greed and Pride
which is a greater folly
Anger for sure will make
you burn and cause distress
or death to the other. Hate
surrogate of anger, more
overt and consuming but
a child of anger. Greed
seems to have nothing to do
with the above two but breeds
anger and hate towards all
that thwart the insatiable
fire of greed. As there is not

Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. TNENG/2013/53333
anything that can fulfill the
gastronomy of greed.
Pride though looks pretty
and makes one perky
takes the pride of place

Corridors of life
in destroying all possibilities

and round unless


can take you round
of human kind. As it is

you stop and ponder.


the pride that sets one
upon a perch that deceives
Reality. A perch that
makes unreal real and the
Truth into Untruth
Anger, hate and greed
need the theater of Pride

Registered with Patrika Channel Egmore RMS under Registration No. TN/CH(C)/492/14 –16. Published on 2nd of every month – October 2014
to play. Pride is a crown
of thorns that makes
one perceive even pain as
pleasure. Pride is the
Maya, the delusion of life.
Refinement of ignorance
Is not Enlightenment.
Grace & Blessings

You might also like