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Forest Flower - February 2018 PDF
Forest Flower - February 2018 PDF
Creation
The swirling mist in the
valley, causes haze in me
like the Hashed-out mind
of a yogi. Haze not of hallucination
But like the haze of the Beginnings
Dear Readers,
With MahaShivRatri, the greatest event of the year in the Isha calendar, coming up
this month, we bring you Sadhguru answers to questions about Adiyogi – The Shiva,
who is the center of this festival, in the article “Adiyogi: The Ultimate Solution is
Dissolution.” In our Sharing Experiences section, read a moving account by priests
from Varanasi, who performed the “Saptarishi Arati” in front of Adiyogi – Source of
Yoga this winter solstice, and for the first time ever outside the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple!
In the final part of our Lead Article series on chakras, Sadhguru illuminates yet another
aspect that is beyond what our physical eyes can see, i.e. “The Formation of Chakras.”
Once the fundamental tools for this life in the form of our physical body and energy
system have formed, the question is, “How to Live the Best Life Possible”? In an
excerpt from the Sadhguru Spot, Sadhguru offers promising approach and a simple
method toward this goal. In our Mahabharat series, Sadhguru uses “Durvasa’s Visit”
as an example at what point enlightened beings choose to intervene in the course
of events, while essentially leaving the responsibility for one’s own life with each
individual.
Also in this issue, a flurry of event highlights of the past few weeks. And last but not
least, this month’s recipe is set to tempt you with a crunchy indulgence: “Nippattu
Thattai,” a traditional South Indian snack that may put your sense of moderation to
the test. Enjoy!
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LEAD ARTICLE
The Formation of Chakras 06
MAHABHARAT
Durvasa’s Visit – Averting Fury and Curse 08
SADHGURU SPOT
How to Live the Best Life Possible 10
SHARING EXPERIENCES
Saptarishi Arati at Adiyogi 16
ISHA RECIPES
Nippattu Thattai (Crunchy Snack) 21
ZEN SPEAKS
If I Don’t Go to Hell, Who Will? 23
Adiyogi
The Ultimate Solution is Dissolution
In the following excerpts of their conversation, award-winning poet, writer, and co-author of Sadhguru’s
book Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga, Arundhathi Subramaniam, poses probing questions about Adiyogi
and his relevance, as well as solutions to individual and global issues of our times.
Why Adiyogi’s Time Is Now think is devotion is just deception. They are trying
to make a convenient deal with God.
Arundhathi Subramaniam: You say that Adiyogi
represents a reminder that truth is the only authority, This is the appropriate time for Adiyogi – because
whereas so far, authority has masqueraded as he does not demand belief. He asks you to explore
truth. your life. To explore, you need tools. As human
beings, we are dominating this planet only because
Sadhguru: Many people are asking me these of our ability to use tools, nothing else. Otherwise,
questions, “Sadhguru, why set up an Adiyogi could you tame elephants or tigers? “Tyger, tyger,
image, bring out an Adiyogi book, and all this now?” burning bright2” is gone. Now we have to “Save the
When Adiyogi appeared over 15,000 years ago and tiger.” Only because of our ability to use tools, we
the Saptarishis1 asked, “How are we going to teach are dominating. Adiyogi does not demand belief,
the world?” Adiyogi said, “Your business is not to worship, or following – he just gives you tools
teach. Your business is just to preserve the seed to explore life. That is why he is so impersonal –
that I am giving you. If you preserve the seed, when simply there, unmoved. This is not the silly game
the atmosphere is right and a drop of water falls on of “I will break a coconut for you – what will you
it, it will anyway sprout and blossom.” do for me?” Or, “I will light three candles for you –
what will you do for me? I will give so much money
In many ways, we have come to this point, because for you – what will you do for me?” With Adiyogi,
for the first time in the history of humanity, more it is a different game. This is not a market place.
human beings can think for themselves than ever Here, the only true solution is dissolution.
before. Whether they are thinking straight or not
is questionable, but they are thinking something, Now that human logic has evolved to a certain place,
which was not so in the past. In earlier times, after 15,000 years of incubation, Adiyogi is coming
your priest, your pandit, or your scripture thought of age. You will see in the next couple of decades,
for you. Once you think for yourself, it has to be humanity will appreciate this like never before.
logically correct – at least to your mind. If I throw Because people did not have the intellect to grasp
something at you that is not logically correct, you it, because they wanted to believe something, the
cannot swallow it. That means you are slowly South Indian calendar art made him into a chubby
becoming incapable of believing. Your belief is looking man who sits there, and he is supposed to
only to a point of convenience. What most people bless you – though the culture always says that he
What kind of atmosphere they should be in, who The idea behind all this is that the child that we
they should or should not meet, what kind of colors produce must be of a better quality than we are.
and forms they should or should not see – all But that care, that kind of involvement to make it
these things were taken care of. There were strict happen, is gone unfortunately, because our own
prescriptions, from preconception to delivery. The lives have become too important.
only other culture that has a similar kind of tradition
is the Jewish culture. They may be maintaining it
better today than the Indian people.
If the next generation becomes less than us
in some way, it is a crime against humanity.
Our own lives, our economic matters, our
parties, our social nonsense have become so
important that we are not so interested in the
next generation. Once, a very skinny, small built woman was
consulting us. Heavily pregnant, she came to work
with us, and I asked her, “When are you due?” She
Indians are too eager to drop their culture and said, “Probably tomorrow morning.” Then I said,
get westernized, so they don’t do all these “What the hell are you doing here?” She said,
things anymore. With economic wellbeing, these “No, this is my second child. Even last time, I was
traditions may come back to some extent. If we working till two hours before I delivered.”
take care of certain things, we can ensure that
within the mother’s womb, maximum development Our own lives, our economic matters, our parties,
happens. Maximum development does not mean our social nonsense have become so important that
maximum weight – this is not how it was judged. we are not so interested in the next generation. We
are not responsible enough to think in terms of how
When a child is born, the first thing that you watch the next generation should be better than us, which
is how their eyeballs move. Are they confused, is very important. If the next generation becomes
focused, or is he able to see what is around him? less than us in some way, it is a crime against
You will see certain infants have the look of an adult humanity. You are supposed to push it forward, not
in their eyes. One indicator is the steadiness of the backwards. Maybe I should write a book on what
eyes, how a child observes and looks at things. different things you can do to influence the child.
Another thing is how a child cries. By the way the But then too many people may get pregnant – that
child cries in the beginning, immediately, hearing is a problem. I think I will write it towards the end of
the cry, intuitive people were able to say what this my life. I do not want a population explosion when I
child will become. Some cry out of confusion of am here – no baby boom.
being in a new space, some cry in an angry way,
because they are disturbed by this nonsense of
birth. You can see the ways they cry are different.
Durvasa’s Visit –
Averting Fury and Curse
What has happened so far: The Pandavas are exiled in the forest for twelve plus one years. Surya Deva,
the sun god gives Draupadi the Akshaya Patra, a bowl that provides an abundant supply of food which
lasts every day until Draupadi herself eats, after she served food to everyone else.
Sage Durvasa came to Hastinapur. He was known According to him, such things were not supposed
to be a very angry man. For the smallest things, he to happen in the forest exile. Things were going on
would flare up and curse people. The Mahabharat well for the Pandavas in the forest. Duryodhana
and even the Ramayan are full of his curses. wanted to change that.
Wherever he went, if he was pleased, he would
bless them. He was the one who blessed Kunti A few days into Durvasa’s stay with him,
with the mantra [that enabled her to receive a son Duryodhana suggested, “My brothers, Pandu’s
from anyone she wished]. He was also the one who sons, are in the forest, because of some unfortunate
cursed a series of people. Wherever sage Durvasa circumstances. As you have blessed me, they must
went, everyone was on their toes to make sure that also receive your blessings. Please go and bless
he did not get angry. my brothers.” Duryodhana sent his men to guide
Durvasa to the Pandavas’ camp in the forest.
When Duryodhana came to know that sage Durvasa He made sure Durvasa got delayed on the way.
was on his way to Hastinapur, he went outside the Duryodhana had told Durvasa that he would make
gates of the city to receive him, which was a very arrangements at the camp for him and his people.
unusual thing to do for Duryodhana. When he saw But actually, the Pandavas and Draupadi were not
Durvasa, Duryodhana prostrated, welcomed him, informed about the impending visit. dfew hundred
brought him to the palace, and offered him the best Duryodhana wanted Durvasa and his entourage to
possible hospitality to keep him happy. By then, reach the camp after Draupadi had eaten her food,
Duryodhana had come to know about the Akshaya so that she would have nothing to serve Durvasa
Patra, a bowl that Draupadi had received from the and he would get angry, which for sure would be a
sun god. People kept coming to visit the Pandavas disaster for her and her five husbands.
in the forest, and because of this bowl, Draupadi
was able to feed them well. The fact that the Durvasa and his disciples arrived at the Pandava
Pandavas were eating well and that they were even camp after Draupadi had eaten, late in the afternoon.
entertaining guests made Duryodhana furious. They were very hungry from walking all the way
There are two ways to address your life. One way All that you do with life is create inflation. Inflation
is to set goals and go for them. What kind of goals is neither good for the economy nor for your life.
will you set? Something that you are impressed In physics, inflation means filling up something,
with in the world, something that you have not yet like you inflate the tires of a car with air. But in
done, something that is yet to be in your life. You economics, inflation means certain parameters go
are trying to be like someone else or do something out of control. Now you are consciously causing
that someone else is doing. Whatever goals inflation in your life – that is not an intelligent
you arrive at, they are all in some way within the way to go about it. By setting time-bound goals,
limitations of what you already know, or maybe a you may achieve a few things, but it will be of no
little exaggerated versions thereof. Is it not tragic consequence to the life that you are.
to spend a whole year trying to achieve what you
already know? My intention is things that you do
not know should happen to you. Things that you
have never imagined should enter your life. Only Things that you have never imagined should
then will your life be truly enriched. What is the enter your life. Only then will your life be truly
point of only doing things that you already know?
enriched.
When it comes to financial or physical things that
you want to achieve, maybe if it matters to you,
you can set up such goals. Personally, I think even
that is a waste of life. Suppose you have a million Instead of setting goals for the whole year, just set
dollars and your goal is to have a billion dollars by this one thing: By the end of the day, you must be
the end of the year. If it doesn’t happen, it’s a good a little more joyful, a little more enhanced, a little
thing because you have lived in that hope. But if it better. This will not work as a goal – it is better
happens, let’s say in January itself, then what will to look at it in retrospect. Tomorrow evening, just
you do? You will want to make it ten billion dollars. check, “Am I a little better than yesterday?” Just
There was a time when you could be happy with look at these twenty-four hours – it will make you
one dollar. Now for the same happiness, you need more conscious. This is not about you being joyful
a million dollars. That’s called inflation. That’s not or peaceful. This is about you being conscious of
enhancement of life. as many aspects of your life as possible.
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Sadhguru Inaugurates
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and performance.
This winter solstice, on 21 December 2017, eleven priests from Varanasi came to the Isha Yoga Center,
to perform the Saptarishi Arati for the first time ever outside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Over 4500
people personally experienced the arati to the Yogeshwar Linga, in front of Adiyogi and Sadhguru, while
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“Mahashivaratri is of great significance for all those who aspire for the Ultimate.
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18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER February 2018
YAKSHA
An Exuberance of Music and Dance
10-12 February 2018
(preceding Mahashivaratri)
Isha Yoga Center
In an endeavor to preserve and promote the uniqueness, purity and diversity of the
country’s performing arts, Isha Foundation annually hosts Yaksha, a three-day festival
of culture, music, and dance with performances by renowned artistes.
Featuring
SADHANA
For more details, guidelines, and to learn Shiva Namaskar as well as the chants,
please visit the website: isha.sadhguru.org/MSR
Isha Rejuvenation,
0422-2515466
Isha Yoga Center,
4 Feb 2018 Holistic Cancer Clinic op.rejuvenation@
Velliangiri Foothills,
ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India
Isha Rejuvenation,
0422-2515464
Isha Yoga Center,
16–18 Feb 2018 Ayur Rasayana isharejuvenation@
Velliangiri Foothills,
ishafoundation.org
Coimbatore – India
Current at the time of print, however subject to change. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our
website: www.ishayoga.org.
NIPPATTU THATTAI
(CRUNCHY SNACK)
INGREDIENTS METHOD
500 g rice flour 1. Chop roasted groundnuts, coriander leaves, and
curry leaves finely.
500 g wheat flour (maida)
50 g white sesame 2. Mix maida and rice flour, coriander, curry
leaves, groundnuts, sesame seeds, and salt to
6 dried red chilies
taste thoroughly without water.
½ cup vegetable oil
3. Heat butter and oil in kadai (or a deep, heavy
2 Tbsp. butter
pan), add chilies, and roast them well. Remove the
100 g roasted groundnuts chilies. When cool, crush the chilies, and add them
100 g coriander leaves to the mixture.
5 sprigs of curry leaves 4. Add small quantities of water and knead the
dough to chapati consistency. Make lemon-size
Salt to taste balls, flatten them in your hand, and deep fry them
immediately before they dry, on medium heat, until
golden brown.
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February 2018