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Dear Readers,
In February, it was 19 years since our little Forest Flower first saw the light
of day. What began as an eight-page quarterly Tamil/English newsletter
slowly grew to the familiar 24-page format. With the April 2004 issue, it
went monthly, and in October 2007, with the launch of Isha Kattu Poo, we
shifted to English only. Still the design remained pretty much the same.
A revamp has been in the back of our minds for quite some time, and now it
finally has taken shape! We are excited to present you Isha Forest Flower in
a fresh, contemporary design and layout, starting from this edition. Please
let us know how you like the new look and feel.
With the fifth part of our Mahabharat series, we wrap up the introduction and
get to meet the first characters The Story Unfolds. Need a gentle push
to get up and do your hatha yoga in the morning, or a solid argumentation
to convince skeptics? Read Yogasanas More than Postures. In our
Lead Article, Dont Step into Other Peoples Karma, Sadhguru opens up
dimensions of a simple custom that most of us probably dont even know
exist. As the temperatures already rise high, the chef recommends a Fresh
Potpourri Salad with an exceptional chargrilled-capsicum dressing!
Editorial Team:
Isha Forest Flower c/o Isha Yoga Center, Semmedu P.O., Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore 641114
forestflower@ishafoundation.org
Lead Article
Dont Step into Other Peoples Karma 8
Sadhguru on the Truth behind a Custom
Mahabharat
11
Part 5: The Story Unfolds
Mahashivarathri 2015
17
Night of Nameless Ecstasy
Isha Recipe
21
This Month: Fresh Potpourri Salad
Zen Speaks
23
Black Bamboo, Red Bamboo
Every posture that you assume for a period Yogasanas are a way to transform the
of time induces distinct physiological, body from a compulsive mode to
psychological, emotional, energy, and chemical a conscious mode.
changes in your body. Conversely, for every
emotional and psychological experience, and It is important that an atmosphere is conducive
for different states of consciousness that you rather than being compulsive. If your home
experience, your body naturally tends to take is a very compulsive place, you will feel
a certain posture. If you are angry, you sit one suffocated. Every situation, every atmosphere
way. If you are peaceful, you sit another way. is set up for a certain purpose. Your home may
If you are in turmoil, you sit one way. If you be set up for one kind of purpose. The ashram
are tranquil, you sit another way. Similarly, may be set up for another kind of purpose.
for different states of consciousness that you An industry or a business may be set up for a
experience, your body tends to take certain different kind of purpose. Every atmosphere
postures. should serve the purpose that we have set it
up for.
The science of asanas is based on this. By
consciously getting your body into a certain You must decide what purpose your body
posture, you can elevate your consciousness. should serve. We will do the appropriate yoga
The very way you think, feel, perceive, and for that. If your idea of a good life is being one
understand life can be altered by the way step ahead of others, we will do one type of
you sit. Yogasanas are a way to transform the yoga. If you do not compare yourself to others,
body from a compulsive mode to a conscious but you want to find your ultimate potential in
mode. When your body is in a compulsive terms of activity, we will do another kind of
mode, you will not like to be in a certain yoga. If all you want to do is dissolve into the
position. Only when it is in a conscious mode, ultimate nature of existence, we will do yet
can you remain in the position and benefit another kind of yoga. We can practice yoga in
from it. different ways.
Questioner: Namaskaram, Sadhguru. In our floor. Instead of your energies being all around
culture, when someone is sitting or lying down, you, they naturally are above you. Let us say
we are not supposed to step over them. Is this your energy body is one foot beyond your
just a custom, or is there some understanding skin if you lie down, it could be approximately
or science behind it? one and a half or two feet. Because there is no
room for it to find expression on the side that
Sadhguru: This actually does not only apply you lie on, it goes up to where there is space.
to human beings but to all creatures. In India, That is why when people are lying down, when
people would not even step over a sleeping they are in a restful state, the energy body is
dog. Do not think that if you do not touch but much bigger than when they are walking.
only step over them, it is okay.
Without you knowing, some amount of
When your experience of life is limited to clearing up or expanding of the energy body
physicality, you think the boundary of a human naturally happens. At those times, people
being is the skin. If you expand the way you will keep more distance from you not out
experience life a little more, you will see the of respect but simply because of the size of
boundary of a human being goes beyond the your energy body at that moment. This is the
skin to what extent depends upon who he way it should be as it is required for that
or she is. I am the fattest guy in this hall the moment. If you have a certain sensitivity, you
very body is very big. That is also why I am will naturally know these things. You may
wearing the loosest clothes. The more you say this is some special endowment I do
close your eyes and sit, the fatter you get not entirely deny that. But at the same time,
not in terms of fat as a substance you get people do not have this kind of sensitivity
bigger. The less thinking you do, the larger largely because they cannot pay attention
your presence becomes. to anything. They cannot pay attention to
anything because they are dismissive about
Most people experience some semblance of life around them.
peace and balance within them only when
they are sleeping. Sleep is the most profound When I was a five, six-year-old boy, I used
state that they know in their life. This is a to sit in the house, staring at something or
most unfortunate way to live. When they are sometimes at nothing. Much later, I realized
fast asleep, they are reasonably peaceful and in yoga, there is a mudra called akashi mudra,
balanced. When they are awake, they are all where you simply stare at nothing. Nothing
over the place. is high, nothing is low. Something and
nothing are the same to you you are simply
When you lie down, your energy body looking. Suddenly, my mother would pass by.
becomes about 50% to 100% bigger on one Initially, I would see her, but the next time she
side, especially when you are lying on a hard would pass by, she would be all blurred and
The more you close your eyes and sit, the fatter you get not
in terms of fat as a substance you get bigger. The less thinking
you do, the larger your presence becomes.
PART 5
Mahabharat
The Story Unfolds
In the fifth part of our Mahabharat series,
Sadhguru speaks about Vyasa, the compiler of
the Vedas and author of the Mahabharat, and
delves into the greatest epic of all times.
Vyasa, Compiler of the Vedas Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda. This is the
traditional order, not the one people use today.
Krishna Dwaipayana, the great sage who is Even today, these four Vedas are considered
also known as Vyasa, not only authored the to be among the greatest documents that
Mahabharat but also compiled the Vedas. humanity has ever created.
The Vedas are considered to be over 100,000
years old. They were transmitted orally from The next thing he wanted to do was to
generation to generation. People understood compile a great, eternal story that could be
the significance and impact of sound, so they relevant to people forever and ever. He told
refused to write it down. Of all the things it to two people one was Vaishampayana,
that we use, the subtlest form of physicality his disciple, who listened in awe. But disciples
is sound. The next level, including what can distort things, you know. The method of
happens in your brain, is electromagnetic. oral transmission through human memory
They did not attach too much importance to worked in the Satya Yuga when people were
thoughts, emotions, and whatever else, but of a certain mental caliber. As Kali Yuga
sound was considered significant because it approached, the caliber of the human mind
is the subtlest form of physicality, and it can and its memory capacity decreased. Vyasa
be used to create an immense impact. thought it best not to take any chances, so
he hired a god Ganapati to write down the
The Vedas remained an oral tradition until the Vedas.
time when the rich Gangetic plain was struck
by a famine that lasted for over 14 years. They There was one person writing down, another
say there was not a drop of rain in all those person only listening. But unfortunately,
years. Crops dried up, and the civilization the written document was so attractive, it
of the day wilted away. People forgot to was such a grand piece of literature that
recite the Vedas, because they were busy the gods came and stole it. Mahabharat
gathering whatever food they could find. They as we know it today is only the part that
completely forgot their traditions. When once Vaishampayana remembered, not the way
again the rains came, and Vyasa saw the loss Ganapati had written it down. After the war
that had occurred to that civilization because was over, Vaishampayana told the story to
they had lost the Vedas, he thought it is best emperor Janamejaya of Hastinapur, who was
to write them down. They were classified the second successor of Yudhishthira. These
into four segments, called Rig Veda, Atharva 100,000 verses that we know today are only
There are various aspects of the Mahabharat Brihaspati and His Wife Tara
that you will find simply unbelievable, but you Brihaspati, who was the main priest of Indra,
should not disbelieve anything. Because we the king of devas, had a wife by the name of
are in the 21st century, we value dissection more Tara. Brihaspati represents the planet Jupiter.
than an embrace. But right now, I want you Tara means star. In ancient India, the womans
to embrace this story and these characters, place in rituals was as important as the mans.
the human beings, animals, yakshas, kinnaras1, This arrangement, that a man could not
ganas, devas, gods, and goddesses all kinds. perform a ritual without his wife, made sure
Only then will you understand why it was the that though the physical conditions outside
way it was, and above all, why it is relevant to were harsh, still women had an equal place.
you. In a state of dissection, you would miss A man could not receive blessings without his
the whole spirit of it. wife. A man could not go to heaven without
his wife. A man could not attain mukti without
Brihaspati, Chief Priest of Indra his wife.
Many thousands of years ago, there was a
master priest and scholar, whose name was
Brihaspati. Naturally, Indra, the King of Gods Today, women have a little bit of
himself, hired him as his official priest. A priest freedom, but unfortunately, with
was very important because it was Dwapara
this freedom, they are losing many
Yuga, a time when rituals were the most
significant aspect of peoples lives. They learnt
privileges they used to have.
to use methods and substances to impact
their own life, the situations around them, and
the lives of others. A remnant of this ritualistic All the rituals were established in such a way
culture still lives on in the southern part of the that at no point, society could disregard
country. women in any sense. Today, women have
a little bit of freedom, but unfortunately,
Kerala has probably kept up more ritual, and with this freedom, they are losing many
1
An ancient tribe of the Himalayas
Vidushi
Ustad Sayeeduddin Dagar Bombay Jayashri Ramnath Padmashri Geeta Chandran
Padma Bhushan
T. V. Sankaranarayanan
Mahashivarathri 2015 was the crowning the Isha Yoga Center, a 21-feet Adiyogi. His
culmination of a week of festivity, which presence you must know.
was heralded by Yaksha Ishas annual
festival of Indian classical music and dance. Upbeat Opening with Sadhguru
Now for the 21st year, Mahashivarathri As Sadhguru made his grand entrance at the
traditionally the greatest event of the year festival grounds, brahmacharis chanted the
in Isha brought us 12 hours exuberance, 1000-year-old Nirvana Shatakam that was
celebration, and profundity. Here is a brief composed by Adi Shankaracharya. Sadhguru
recap of an unforgettable night. then walked through the audience chanting
Yogishwaraya, a powerful chant that invokes
The Highlights: different aspects of Shiva.
Pancha Bhuta Aradhana with Sadhguru
Mahashivarathri is the one time in a year when Zila Khan Approaching the Mystical
Sadhguru himself conducts the Pancha Bhuta through Music
Aradhana at the Dhyanalinga, a process to Pouring her heart into every note she sang,
purify the five fundamental elements within Indian Sufi singer Zila Khan moved many in the
the human system. The subsequent Guru audience to tears with her vibrant, passionate
Pooja invoked the Grace of the great Gurus of renditions. The experience of the concert that
the past an ideal beginning for this sacred crossed musical and conceptual boundaries
night of Shiva, the Adiguru and Adiyogi. was probably most aptly summed up by
Sadhguru in his personal tweet: Zila Khan
Adiyogi Sculpture Inaugurated rocking on Karpoora Gauram...Shambho.
Sadhguru inaugurated an imposing 21-foot
Adiyogi sculpture in front of the Suryakund. Midnight Meditation
This second Adiyogi sculpture now presides With the story about Kirtimukha, the demon
over the Isha Yoga Center and will at a later who ate himself up upon Shivas instruction,
point go to Bengaluru, while the first one, and who by doing so became a glorious face
which was unveiled on Guru Pournami in July that now can be seen above the entrance of
2014, has travelled to the Isha Institute of many temples, Sadhguru segued into the
Inner-sciences in Tennessee, USA. In a personal much awaited midnight meditation. Before
tweet, Sadhguru pointed out the significance initiating the Maha Mantra Aum Namah
as follows: On the 21st Mahashivarathri at Shivaya, Sadhguru urged everyone present to
Parthiv Gohil
In the early morning hours, just as a hint of
sleepiness crept in for some, Parthiv Gohil and
band took the stage. And this bundle of energy
not only managed to stir up even the sleepy
ones with his energetic performance. With the
intonation of the all-time Isha favorite, Alai
Alai, he quite literally raised a wave of joy and
exuberance that spread across the crowd.
have all the parts but no lubrication, and that
Worldwide Participation machine cannot function. The immense Grace
The 21st celebration of Mahashivarathri in of the Velliangiri Mountains, the Dhyanalinga
Isha was one of superlatives. Hundreds of and Mahadeva allow this to nourish you and
thousands of people directly participated in live through you. Every one of you can strive
the event at the Isha Yoga Center, and millions to become a wonderful human being. Write
more across the world followed the event down three things you think make a wonderful
through live webcasts and telecasts. human being, and make it a reality in your life.
Do not do what I think, please do what you
The Beginning of a Transformed You think is the highest. In this life, if you do not do
Just before dawn, Sadhguru concluded with a what you want, it will become a wasted life.
reassuring promise of Grace and an inspiring So, please make these three things a reality
appeal to take a next step in our journey of for yourself, and in a years time we will meet
individual transformation: again with a transformed you.
18 | ISHA FOREST FLOWER April 2015
Zila Khan
Parthiv Gohil
The Linga Bhairavi Yantras are designed to powerfully impact your system,
the space in which you live, and the direction and destiny of your life.
Sadhguru
Linga Bhairavi feminine, powerful, compassionate all that and much more. Her Grace is not
only a possibility for health, prosperity and wellbeing but a pathway to the Ultimate.
Receive a uniquely personalized Linga Bhairavi or Linga Bhairavi Avighna Yantra in an intimate
ceremony with Sadhguru. Connect with the Grace of Devi through a powerful initiation,
happening on 2 June 2015 at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore.
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
INGREDIENTS
For the Dressing: For the Salad:
1 Red Capsicum 1 Broccoli head
50 g Cashews 1 Cucumber
Juice of 1 Lemon 1 Yellow Capsicum
1 cm piece Ginger 2 Tomatoes
2 Tbsps. Olive oil 1/2 Small Iceberg lettuce
1/2 Tsp. Cumin (jeera) powder
Black Pepper (freshly ground) to taste
Salt to taste
6-8 Sprigs fresh Coriander leaves (chopped; for garnish)
METHOD
1. For the dressing, chargrill the red capsicum and remove from fire/oven when the skin is
burned. Removed the charred skin, deseed the capsicum, and cut it into pieces. Keep aside.
2. Break the broccoli into florets. Blanch them in lightly salted water for about 34 minutes
until they turn bright green. Drain and rinse the broccoli in cold water to prevent it from
cooking further. Cut it into smaller pieces.
3. Peel the cucumber. Chop into 1/2 inch squares.
4. Cut the capsicum and tomatoes into 1/2 inch squares.
5. Chop or tear the Iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
6. Put the cucumber, tomato, capsicum, broccoli, and lettuce in a deep bowl.
7. Now for the dressing, mix the chargrilled red capsicum pieces, cashews, lemon juice, olive oil,
salt, and pepper in a blender. If necessary, add a little water to achieve a smooth consistency.
8. Add the dressing to the salad and toss carefully. Serve garnished with fresh coriander.
Tip:
Sprinkle roasted cashew pieces on the salad before serving, for a nutty flavor.
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