Isha yogabooklet

ISHA YOGA
Technologies for Wellbeing

ISHA YOGA
Technologies for Wellbeing

Isha Foundation, Velliangiri Foothills, Semmedu (P.O.),
Coimbatore–641 114, INDIA

ISHA YOGA - Technologies for Wellbeing
CONTENTS
Copyright © 2011 Isha Foundation
Foreword .................................................................................................................................7
First Edition: February, 2011
Introduction ...........................................................................................................................8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the What is Yoga?
written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied Yoga: Taking the Next Step................................................................................10
in critical articles and reviews.
Which Type of Yoga is Best for Me?.................................................................14
For comments and enquiries regarding the book please Bhuta Shuddi, Cleansing of the Five Elements...........................................16
contact: publications@ishafoundation.org
Health is Wholeness.............................................................................................20
Is Yoga a Religious Practice?..............................................................................22
Why do I need a Guru?........................................................................................24
Cover Page:
Does a Guru Test a Disciple?..............................................................................26
Patanjali, the great Indian sage and scientist, is widely acclaimed as the father of Do I have to do my Sadhana for Lifetimes?.................................................28
yogic sciences. In this exquisite artwork from a mural inside Isha Yoga Center’s Isha Yoga
Spanda Hall, Patanjali is symbolically depicted in the famous half-man, half-snake
form, indicating that he has risen above the duality of life and attained to ultimate Inner Engineering: Technologies for Well Being.........................................32
oneness, and in doing so has opened the door for others to achieve the same. Inner Engineering’s Benefits..............................................................................33
Recent Neurological Study.................................................................................34
This style of painting – a dying art from the temple town of Guruvayur in the state
of Kerala – uses only vegetable dyes and earth extracts. Measuring 140 x 12 ft, this Impact of Yoga on Diseases...............................................................................35
mural masterpiece is the largest of its kind in the world. Inner Engineering: a Business Perspective...................................................38
Inner Engineering Sharings...............................................................................43
Isha Yoga Pograms................................................................................................47
Isha Yoga Center
Published by:
Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple.................................................................................49
Isha Foundation
Velliangiri Foothills, Isha Yoga Center....................................................................................................52
Semmedu (P.O.), Isha Rjuvanation....................................................................................................55
Coimbatore–641 114, INDIA Theerthakund.........................................................................................................56
Sadhguru..................................................................................................................58
Tel: 91-422-2515345
Email: info@ishafoundation.org IshaFoundation......................................................................................................61
Website: www.ishafoundation.org Suggested Readings............................................................................................64

“I want you to know the power, the liberation
of another kind of science, the inner science, the
yogic science, through which you can become
the master of your own destiny.”
-Sadhguru

INTRODUCTION
What is yoga? I think it is better I technology, tomorrow if we want, we can flatten a mountain or city. When
tell you what is not yoga. So much we have this much power in our hands, it is very, very important, that
misinterpretation of the word has we have an inner sense, an awareness of life and that we experience life
happened that speaking about and everyone as part of ourselves. Otherwise, we can create a calamity
what is not yoga is more relevant. for ourselves and the world around us—which right now we are doing to
some extent. This has happened only because we have attended only to the
Standing on your head is not yoga,
external science. We have never looked at the inner science within us.
holding your breath is not yoga,
twisting your body is not yoga. Yes, Just as there is an external science to create external wellbeing, there is an
these are various yogic practices, but when we say “yoga” we are referring inner science to create inner wellbeing. So, the whole science of what we
to a certain state —a certain way of being. The word “yoga” means union. refer to as yoga is an inner science.
Union means you begin to experience the universality of who you are. For
example, today, modern science proves to you beyond any doubt that Yoga can be transmitted on many different levels. One is towards one’s
the whole Existence is just one energy manifesting itself in various physical and mental wellbeing which includes health and other aspects.
forms. If this scientific fact becomes a living reality for you, that you Or it could be transmitted as a tool for ultimate wellbeing; in the sense
begin to experience everything as one, then you are in yoga. you can use this system as a stepping stone to go beyond. You can use this
yoga just to get rid of your backache if you want or you can use this yoga to
Once you experience yourself as everything, or everything as yourself, after get better mental focus and little peace of mind and happiness in your life
that nobody has to tell you how to be in this world. If you experience all or you can use this yoga as a way of climbing up to the highest possibility
the people here as yourself, does anybody have to teach you morals as to how within yourself.
to be? Does anybody have to tell you “don’t harm this person, don’t kill this
person and don’t rob this person?” So when you are in yoga, you experience Using yoga just for health is not wrong, but it is a crime, because it can take
everything as a part of yourself, and that is liberation, that is mukti; that you to places where you have never imagined. It is a way of approaching
is ultimate freedom. the Creator through the Creation. It can be a ladder to the divine.

Yoga is not a religion. Yoga is a science. As there are physical sciences to It is my wish and blessing that you should know the joy of being truly
create external wellbeing, yoga is the science for inner wellbeing. Yoga well, not just physical wellbeing, but to know and exude wellbeing in all
has nothing to do with any particular religion; it is a science for inner dimensions of your existence.
wellbeing. Love and Blessings,
This yogic science is of utmost importance now, like never before, because
today we have tremendous power in our hands. With modern science and

Yoga - Taking The word “yoga“ literally means
“union.“ When you experience
everything as one in your
You can only grow by

the Next Step consciousness, then you are
in yoga. To attain to that unity
taking the next step, the
next step, and the next step
within you there are many ways, from where you are.”
for example: hata yoga. Hata
yoga means you start with the
body. The body itself has its own life in different levels of intensity.
The whole process of yoga is to take you attitudes, its own ego, its own
from something that you know and take nature. Apart from your mind, do For example, somebody sees
the next step into the unknown. you see your body has its own a tree. A tree is just a tree.
ego? It has its own attitudes. You Most people don’t even see it.
have to succumb to it, isn’t it? See, Somebody sees the tree in more
you say, “From tomorrow, I want detail. An artist sees every shade
to get up at five in the morning of it. Somebody else not only sees
and walk on the beach.” You set the tree but also sees the divine
the alarm. The alarm rings. You in it. Everybody sees. But seeing
want to get up but your body says, is not the same because the
“Shut up and sleep.” Doesn’t it do level of intensity with which you
it? It has its own way. experience life is not the same. So
we start with the body because
So we start with the body. Hata that is something that you know.
yoga is a way of working with The whole process of yoga is to
the body, disciplining the body, take you from something that you
purifying the body, preparing the know and take the next step into
body for higher levels of energy. the unknown. If you talk about
All of us are alive; all of us are something that you do not know,
human beings, sitting here. But either you have to believe it or
all of us do not experience life to disbelieve it, isn’t it?
the same intensity because our
energy levels are not the same. Suppose I start talking about God.
Our pranic energies are not the You either have to believe my
same. Different people experience God or disbelieve my God, which

10 ISHA YOGA - Technologies for Wellbeing ISHA YOGA - Technologies for Wellbeing 11

Which Type of Yoga
will only take you into flights of you work just with the body, it is
imagination, not into growth. So only preparatory in nature. So,
now I talk about the body. This there is really no division as such.
is something that you know. You
know you have a body. Now you
Yoga is a union of all these.
is Best for Me?
take the body to its peak. Now I
talk about the mind. That is also
In yoga, systems have been Q: Sadhguru, there are so many
something that you know. Take it
indentified . To start with, you work kinds of different yogas, how do
to its peak and then the next step. So these are the only four
with the body, then you move to the I know which type of yoga is best
You can only grow by taking the
for me? realities in your life: body,
next step and the next step from breath, then to the mind, then to the
mind, emotion, and energy.
where you are. inner self. Like this many steps have Right now, the only things that are
Whatever you wish to do
been created. They are only different in your experience are your body,
Realizing where you are right now
your mind, and your emotions.
with yourself, it must be on
aspects of yoga.
and taking the next step is growth. these four levels.”
You know them to some extent,
If you talk about something not
and you can infer that if these
known to you, you are only going
three things have to happen the
into imagination—imagination Now we have made this yogic way they are happening, there try to reach the ultimate, we call
will run wild. Today all that is left science almost like a physical must be an energy that makes this gnana yoga; that means the
in the name of religion is stories, science. Suppose you mix two them happen. path of intelligence. If you use
stories and more stories. Now you parts of hydrogen and one part your body, or physical action to
don’t know which is imagination of oxygen; you get water. Even So these are the only four
reach the ultimate, we call this
and which is the reality. Yes? when a great scientist puts it realities in your life: body, mind,
karma yoga; that means the path
Many stories, story inside a story, together it is water. Even if an emotion, and energy. Whatever
of action. Now if you transform
and you don’t know where the idiot puts it together, it is only you wish to do with yourself, it
your energies and try to reach the
beginning is and where the end is. water. Similarly, in yoga too, if must be on these four levels.
ultimate, we call this kriya yoga;
you do this, this, and this, only Whatever you wish to do you
So yoga starts like this—with that means internal action.
this will happen. Whether a can only do it with your body,
the body, then the breath and
great yogi does it or an ignorant your mind, your emotions or your These are the only four ways
then the mind. They are not really
person does it, it doesn’t matter. energy. If you use your emotions you can get somewhere: either
branches of yoga. In fact, we
If he does the practices and and try to reach the ultimate, through karma, gnana, bhakti or
address all of them at once. It is
sadhana properly, the result is we call this bhakti yoga; that kriya—body, mind, emotion, or
important that in a very balanced
there to be seen. means the path of devotion. If energy. These are the only four
way all of them are addressed at
you use your intelligence and ways you can work with yourself.
once, as one unit. Otherwise, if


It is just that in one person A bhakti yogi, full of emotion
the heart may be dominant, in and love, thinks all this gnana,
another person the head may be karma and kriya yoga is just a
dominant, in yet another person waste of time. Just love God and
the hands may be dominant; it will happen. The karma yogi
but everybody is a combination thinks that everybody is lazy and
of these four. So you need a that they have all kinds of fancy
combination of these four. philosophies; what needs to be
done is work. One must work and
Only if it is mixed in the right way work and work. The kriya yogi just
for you, it works best for you. These are the only four ways you
laughs at everything. The whole
What we give for one person, if it can get somewhere: either through
existence is energy. If you don’t
is given to you, may not work well karma, gnana, bhakti or kriya—
transform your energy, whether
for you because that person is so you long for God or you long for body, mind, emotion, or energy.
much heart and this much head. anything, nothing is going to Everybody is a combination of these
Only when it is mixed in the right happen. There was no other way to be four. So you need a combination of
proportion it works for you. That because it was just blasting them these four.
is why on the spiritual path there So they can not be together, from all sides. Then it became It is just that, only if it is mixed in
is so much stress on a live Guru; but today they were walking very furious. There was no other
the right way for you, it works best
he mixes the cocktail right for together. Then it started to rain. place; the only way they could
you, otherwise there is no punch. They were in the forest and it for you. That is why on the spiritual
get some protection was for all
started raining. They started four to hug the Linga. Suddenly
path there is so much stress on a live
There is a wonderful story in running, looking for shelter, and Guru; he mixes the cocktail right for
they felt something enormous
the yogic lore. One day, one there they found an ancient happening. They felt a huge you, otherwise there is no punch.
gnana yogi, one bhakti yogi, one temple which just had a roof—no presence, a fifth presence. Then
karma yogi, and one kriya yogi walls on the sides. In the center, all of them said, “Why now? For
were walking together. Usually there was a Linga. So these so many years we have pursued
these four people can never be people went inside the temple for Without addressing the four
You and nothing happened; why
together, because gnana yogi has shelter. The storm became more basic ingredients of body, mind,
now?” Then Shiva said, “At last the
total disdain for every other yoga; and more furious and it started emotion and energy out of which
four of you got together. I have
it is the yoga of intelligence. blowing in torrents. The fury of all your present experiences are
been waiting for this to happen
Normally, an intellectual person, the storm was getting into the rooted, one cannot move ahead.
for a long time.”
a thinking person has complete temple so they went closer and You can only start a journey from
disdain for everybody else. closer and closer to the Linga. where you are right now.


Bhuta Shuddhi: In this culture, the focus
aspects of prana which control
the five elements in your system.

Cleansing of the Five was on inner wellbeing,
which naturally leads to
On another level, in the Isha
Yoga Center, we have created a

Elements the physical wellbeing of
a human being.”
powerful possibility in this space
for the whole month, not just for
that day, where you can integrate
your system; you can allow the
understanding that if you want of making a human being out of a
There are very few health to build a clean building, you just banana —that level of intelligence
have to take care of the building and competence exists here. How well the five elements are
professionals, otherwise
material properly. If the building The very creation of this body integrated determines everything
there are only medical happens from within. When this about a person. If this body has to
material is not pure, and not of
professionals; people learn good quality, the structure that you body is being created from inside, become a foundation, a stepping
medicine, not health.” build is bound to be of an inferior when we know that the very stone for a bigger possibility, not
quality. These are technologies for source of creation of this body a hurdle, if that has to happen,
wellbeing, because we always saw is within us, if you have a repair it is very important the system is
The way health is understood job to be done, would you like
the body as something that we will properly integrated.
in the world today is very funny. to go to the manufacturer or to
discard at a certain moment.
There are very few health the local mechanic? Most people
professionals, otherwise there In this culture, our sense of are choosing to go to the local
are only medical professionals; wellbeing was not limited to five elements in your body to
mechanic; that is not because that
people learn medicine, not health. the physicality of life, it always bind much better. From one body
is what they want to do, that is
focused on inner wellbeing, which to another there is a very big
because they have lost the access
Over 15,000 years ago, when Adi difference as to how these five
naturally led to physical wellbeing. to the manufacturer.
Yogi, the first yogi, appeared in elements are integrated. How well
the upper regions of Himalayas, If you have any problem with your So in this culture, a system called integrated determines almost
when people sought him to know body, you need to first understand Bhuta Shuddhi is used as a everything about that person.
the way of life, the first and most from where the body was made. scientific way of becoming free
fundamental thing that he taught If you eat a banana, this banana If this body has to become a
from the five elements. That is the
them was what is today referred goes in and becomes a human foundation, a stepping stone
most basic practice in yoga. The
to as Bhuta Shuddhi; that means being. So there is a certain level for a bigger possibility, not a
Shakti Chalana Kriya that we are
cleansing the five elements within of intelligence, competence and hurdle, if that has to happen, it
offering is also handling the five
the system. This comes from the capability here which is capable is very important the system is


properly integrated. The Bhuta the very elements, the air that
Shuddhi, which is the basic form you breathe, the water that you
The the most essential
of yogic practice, which people This is all it is, that the very elements, drink, the food that you eat, the
are practicing in different levels of very planet that you walk upon process of yoga is Bhuta
the air that you breathe,
intensity and involvement, when behaves differently with you. Shuddhi; if these five
the water that you drink,
done properly, can purify the the food that you eat, elements behave well
elements sufficiently so that the Breathing the same air some
the very planet that you walk upon people are creating illness, some
within you, you will be
binding becomes better.
behaves differently with you. are creating wellness. Drinking perfectly well.
Being in the Dhyanalinga temple the same water some people are
in the Isha Yoga Center, does a creating wellness, some people
phenomenal job of integrating are creating illness. So if you behave sensibly within you, do
the system, not just on the surface chemical composition. You can handle the elements accidentally you have to worry about your
level. Health does not mean, make the same water, the same or unconsciously, they could health—physical health, mental
”Oh, my pulse rate is okay, my air, earth, fire and space behave behave any way. There are health, wellbeing, joy, peace? Do
blood pressure is okay, my sugar in a completely different way, conscious ways of handling it. you have to worry about that?
levels are okay.” These benefits without changing the chemistry
are only a consequence. The We have always known this and
of the substance.
real thing is if the five elements we have used this extensively, but
are well integrated and they are It is a certain language of now scientists have recently come
functioning in perfect cohesion delivering life. We can do this to out with this in the last few years
within themselves and within everything. In fact, that is what and they say, ”Water has memory.”
the system, then there is just no makes this place different. The Without changing any chemical
need for anybody to worry about very space, the very air that you composition, we can make the
their health. If the elements are breathe is different in this place. same water poisonous. Today
functioning well and are strongly You can change the molecular scientists are clearly saying water
integrated, it just happens by behavior of the five elements. has memory and this memory
itself. You can make them behave in a can bring wellbeing or become
certain way that is conducive to poisonous. Water remembers
So there is another way of life, or you can make them behave everything that happens,
conveying life, where you can in a way that is not conducive to everything that it touches.
—if you have to speak modern life. This is the difference between
language—make any of the five Now your body is 70% water. If
wellness and illness, peace and
elements change their molecular you make this 70% of your water
turmoil, joy and misery, agony
structure without changing their and ecstasy. This is all it is, that


Health is Wholeness
alkaline medicine into him. But
why does he have excessive acids? If the energy in our system is
Because of the way his mind, his
properly cultivated and kept
body, and above all, his energy,
functions. Whatever is happening active, the physical body
Right now, medical sciences are limited to knowing the on the chemistry level in your and the mental body will be
physical body. If anything happens beyond that, you body is only controlled by the way in perfect health; there is no
think it is a miracle.” your energies function. question about it.”
When it comes to health, no
human being gets to live in perfect
Fundamentally, the word “health” energies may be lethargic. One
conditions. The pressures of life,
itself comes from the root word doesn’t know why things don’t I just do it, and light appears. You
the food that we eat, the air that we
“whole.” What we call, “feeling happen in life the way they will call it a miracle, isn’t it? Simply
breathe, the water that we drink, all
healthy,” is that we have a sense should, both inside and outside; because you don’t understand
these can affect us in many ways.
of wholeness within us. If we this is simply because one is not how electricity works. Similarly,
The more our activities are in the
are free of diseases medically, taking care of the wellbeing of life happens in many different
world, the more we are exposed
that is not health. If we feel like one’s energy. ways. But you have limited
to many things that can throw
a complete human being in our yourself to just the physical, the
For every physical or psychological our chemistry off balance and
body, mind and spirit, that is logical—physical in experience,
situation that you go through in create health problems. But if the
when we are really healthy. There logical in thinking. Right now,
life, there is an energy basis, which energy in our system is properly
are any number of people who are medical sciences are limited to
in turn has a chemical basis. For cultivated and kept active, these
medically healthy, but not healthy just knowing the physical body.
every problem that arises in your things will not have an effect.
in the real sense because they do If anything happens beyond that,
body, you are just trying to take in The physical body and the
not experience a sense of wellness you think it is a miracle. I just call it
some medicine, a chemical, and mental body will be in perfect
within themselves. another kind of science, that is all.
come to some kind of balance. health; there is no question
It is another kind of science. This
If one has to experience this If you use one chemical to bring about it. See, life functions in
life energy in you created your
sense of wholeness and oneness, down one aspect, or enhance many ways. Let us say you don’t
whole body—these bones, this
it is important that one’s body, another, there is also a side effect know anything about electricity.
flesh, this heart, these kidneys and
mind, and above all, one’s energy to this. For this side effect, there is You do not know what electricity
everything. Do you think it cannot
functions in a certain level of an antidote; for the antidote there is. This hall is dark. If I tell you to
create health? If your energies
intensity within oneself. Now, is another antidote; it is an endless just press this button and the
are kept in full flow and proper
physically, as per medical terms, chain. If a man has got excess whole hall will be flooded with
balance, it is capable of much
one may be healthy, but the acids within him, you instill some light, will you believe me? No. Now
more than just health.


Is Yoga a Religious accepted around the world is
we have taken off the cultural
trappings from the technology.

Practice?
So, one thing that I have personally
Actually it would be very beautiful
done is to take away all the
with the cultural trappings, but
today your modern education
elements of culture from the
Because yoga as a science evolved has made you so logical that you technology. Actually it would be
and was developed in this culture, in have lost the ability to enjoy the very beautiful with the cultural
Yoga, is a science and a
this land of Indus—this civilization dialectical nature of life. You want trappings, but today your modern
technology. It is not a
which grew on the banks of river everything to be logical and dry. education has made you so logical
Indus—it was identified as Hindu. teaching, not a philosophy, You like it that way, so we present you’ve lost the ability to enjoy the
Slowly, people have started not a religion, not a belief it that way. (Laughs) What’s my dialectical nature of life.
identifying yoga as Hindu. system. A technology problem? You don’t want to eat a
cannot be Hindu, Muslim fresh fruit; you want to eat a dry
Yoga is a science and a technology.
fruit. What is my problem? We will
It is not a teaching, not a or Christian.“
serve dry fruits.
philosophy, not a religion, not a
belief system, but a technology.
A technology cannot be Hindu, it does not mean that it gets
Muslim or Christian. Isn’t it? identified with them; because
But because it is a subjective they evolved, and the nature of
technology and evolved from this the culture is very dialectical,
particular land, it is being referred not logical, they naturally wove
to as Hindu in many parts of the certain elements of their culture
world; now this is going away. into the technology.

A few years ago, in many parts of So, one thing that I have
the world, people firmly believed personally done is to take away all
yoga is a Hindu thing. Even now the elements of culture from the
there are certain segments which technology. We have completely
insist on this. If yoga is Hindu, it is cleaned the technology from
like saying because Albert Einstein cultural aspects and presenting
was a Jew Relativity must be technology just as technology.
Jewish. So just because a certain
One reason why it is hugely
people evolve the technology


Why Do I Need a Guru?
What intention does he have for
my life?” then you will only go
On one level, a Guru is just
mad sitting here. We are talking
a map. He is a live map. If about trust, not because a Guru
you can read the map, you needs your trust, it is just that if
know the way, you can go.” there is no trust you will drive
yourself mad.

This is not just for sitting on
Let us say all that you are seeking
a bus or going on a spiritual
is to go to Kedarnath right now.
journey. To live on this planet,
Somebody is driving; the roads
you need trust. Right now, you
are laid out. If you came alone and
trust unconsciously. Let us say you am only asking you to bring a little
there were no proper directions,
are sitting in a bus, which is just To be here, to take every breath consciousness to your trust. It is
definitely you would have wished,
a bundle of nuts and bolts and in and out, you need trust, isn’t it? not something new. Life is trust,
“I wish there was a map to tell me
pieces of metal. Unknowingly, you Your trust is unconscious. otherwise nobody can exist here.
how to get there.”
trust this vehicle so much. Isn’t
I am only asking you to bring a So if you can draw your own map,
On one level, a Guru is just a it so? You have placed your life
little consciousness to your trust. It if you can drive your own bus, that
map. He is a live map. If you can in the hands of this mechanical
is not something new. Life is trust, is wonderful. But on an uncharted
read the map, you know the way, mess, which is just nuts and bolts,
path, if you go without a map, it
you can go. A Guru can also be rubbers and wires, this and that. otherwise nobody can exist here.
may take lifetimes to find a certain
like your bus driver. You sit here You have placed your life in it, but
place. It may take lifetimes to
and doze and he will take you to you trust the bus unconsciously.
cross. If you go with a map you
Kedarnath; but to sit in this bus The same trust, if it arises
will cross easily. If you go with a
and doze off, or to sit in this bus consciously, would do miracles
good bus driver you will cross very
joyfully, you need to trust the to you. When we say trust, we are
easily; that’s the difference. It is
bus driver. If every moment, with not talking about anything new
not that you can’t do it yourself—
every curve in this road, you go to life. To be here, to take every
you can. We don’t know how long
on thinking, “Will this man kill breath in and out, you need trust,
it will take. That is the question.
me? Will this man go off the road? isn’t it? Your trust is unconscious. I


Does a Guru
Test a Disciple?
Q: How does a Guru ensure that
a disciple is truly progressing on A Guru can clearly see
the path? Does the Guru put the
every bag of karma for
disciple to a test?
what it is. A Guru knows
I don’t know about that but how it needs to be where this question comes from. So is your Guru. He too is for a
disciples definitely put the Guru
handled. There is no need God would flunk all the tests that different purpose. All this testing,
to a test (Laughs) There is no you have taken till today. Yes. passing-the-test nonsense, is not
question about that. Where is
to be tested.”
Any test that you have passed in on the spiritual realm. Maybe if
the time for the Guru to put a your life, if you give it to God, He I give you some work, I will test
disciple on test? He is desperately will flunk it, because what you you first. If I want to make you in-
waiting, for at least one who will that one who will go beyond the refer to as God is not where you charge of the Isha kitchen, maybe
create the necessary opening for physical. If I don’t carry a smile are operating. It is a completely I will test you during the Samyama
the Guru to do something truly on my face, I will definitely look different arena. He will flunk all Program, where people are in
significant with him. When you like a vulture. I won’t blink, I am your tests. Unfortunately when silence and cannot open their
are so desperately waiting, like a just looking. So I wish I could test you go to exams you are calling mouths and complain. (Laughter)
vulture, where is the time to put you, but where is the time to test God… not good company to be in. So if I have to give you some work
you through a test? Somebody you. And test you for what? You Now you are going to your math on the physical level, definitely I
said sometime ago, “Sadhguru want an “A” grade, is that why you test and you say “Shiva”—just the would test you and appraise you.
don’t look at me like that, you are asking this question? I don’t wrong guy. (Laughter) Just the For spiritual purposes there is no
look like a hawk.” (Laughter) I said, have to test you. When I see you wrong guy, he couldn’t count his need to test. A Guru can clearly
“I am.” through and through where is the fingers. He is very proud—that is see every bag of karma for what it
need to test you? Only if I can’t where he belongs. He is so proud is. A Guru knows how it needs to
I am just constantly looking. You
figure out who you are, I have to that he never even bothered to be handled. There is no need to be
know the vulture is constantly
test you. count his fingers. You don’t take tested.
looking for a corpse, constantly
waiting for you to fall dead? I I know this whole nonsense about such a guy to the examination
am also constantly looking for God testing you. I think that is hall. He is for a different purpose.


Do I have to do my There are only certain very rare
situations, because of a certain
connection between a master The deeper nature within you is
Sadhana for Lifetimes? and a disciple… English language
does not have the right vocabulary
longing to become boundless. And
the only way to become boundless
to say what I want to say. Because
is to destroy the individuality;
of certain inter-connectedness
Q: I have not experienced need to mutate. If you go by the dissolve the individuality. As long
in activity between a master
Samadhi in the past few months evolutionary process, it is a long as you are individual, there is
and a disciple, he may choose to
of practicing meditation, so do process. The monkey that you no question of boundlessness.
dissolve somebody even against
I have to do my sadhana for were, you evolved into this in
their will, but otherwise disciples Individual means it’s a definable
lifetimes? about half a million years, and
have to do just one thing: if they state. Boundlessness means it’s a
now you can even meditate.
When we say liberation, let’s first have for one moment really sat non-definable state.
(Laughs) And half a million years
understand what it is; let’s make with him, just one moment, and
in the life of this planet is probably
up our minds whether we really they have known him not just
like half a week.
want it or not. Liberation means as a man, not just as a bundle of
obliterating you. Liberation So do you want to cease to exist? words that he vomits, but they know it right now, if you want
means you cease to exist. So first Do you want to be obliterated? have known him in some other to know all dimensions of life,
decide whether you really want it. Do you want to be dissolved? way just for one moment, if they if before you die, you want to
You cannot seek liberation out of So if such a longing has come, it just maintain their longing to be explore every possibility that life
frustration. The reason why there should come because you have liberated, the rest will be taken has within you—then sadhana is
is so much failure on the spiritual nurtured the innermost longing care of. You don’t have to attend needed.
path is simply because they are within you. The deeper nature the Samyama programs anymore.
So, sadhana is a way of
not even starting on the right foot. within you is longing to become You don’t have to meditate.
establishing your constant
They are going into spirituality boundless. And the only way to
If you just maintain the longing longing for liberation. As your
because they are frustrated become boundless is to destroy
to be liberated, for one moment experience deepens, as you begin
with life, not because they have the individuality, dissolve the
if you have been in touch with a to experience more and more
found life absolutely blissful and individuality. As long as you are
Guru, he will invest a little bit of of life beyond the physical, your
now they want to know the very individual, there is no question
energy for you, which will take longing to go beyond the physical
source of life. of boundlessness. Individual
care of it at the final moment. But becomes natural.
means it is a definable state.
If you really want liberation and if you want to enjoy the remaining
Boundlessness means it is a non- Samadhi is not the ultimate
you want to know liberation part of your life in a completely
definable state. realization but it brings you just so
in this lifetime, definitely you different way than the way you
close and frees you from so many


Sadhana is a way of
establishing your constant
longing for liberation.

As your experience
deepens, as you begin to
experience more and more
of life beyond the physical,
your longing to go beyond
the physical becomes
natural.

things which rule you normally, are now by choice. Everything is So, if the question is about only
and the compulsive nature of the by choice. So life becomes much If you just maintain the experiencing Samadhi, the
body and mind can be taken away more conscious rather than being prescription of these seven days
longing to be liberated,
by being in a state of samadhi compulsive. Samadhi is like, it is of program was not a big enough
for a period of time. See, a lot like going back into your mother’s for one moment if you dose for you - just hang around a
of compulsive nature has been womb, where you are life but have been in touch with little more. Just stay in the ashram
dropped—most of you even gave you don’t have the problems a Guru, he will invest a premises a little more, we will get
up your cell phones! You even of life. Somebody eats for you, little bit of energy for you, you there. Or make the seven-day
gave up your coffee. (Laughs). You somebody does everything for pilgrimage every year for some
which will take care of it
will see even after this program you, you just float around and be time, we will get you there.
fine. That is Samadhi. You could
at the final moment.“
is over, when you get back to
life, so many things which were get addicted to it. You want to just
strong “I must do” kind of things float around and just be there.


Benefits
from Inner Engineering
Technologies for Inner Wellbeing

It doesn’t matter who you are right now, how miserable Health Experience
you are right now, how disturbed you are right now. If you . Boost health and vitality . Establish a positive & open
pay enough attention to your interiority, being blissful is a . Reduce stress approach towards life
possibility for every human being.” - Sadhguru . Promote mental clarity and . Evaluate personal values and life
emotional balance goals

Devised by Sadhguru as an . Increase and maintain high energy . Generate inner peace and
intensive introductory program levels throughout the day fulfillment
for personal growth, Inner . Reduce sleep quota . Transcend limitations and fears
Engineering offers tools to re- . Can help relieve chronic diseases . Live and experience each
engineer one’s self through the like asthma, allergies, sinusitis, moment to the fullest
inner science of yoga. Once given hypertension, diabetes, obesity,
the tools to rejuvenate, one can rheumatism, arthritis, epilepsy,
optimize all aspects of their back pain, skin and eye ailments,
and migraines
life—physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual. Through Inner
Engineering, Sadhguru introduces Performance
to the public for the first time wellbeing after taking the
Shambhavi Maha Mudra, an . Increase ability to handle
program. Daily practitioners have
stressful situations
ancient yogic kriya (inner energy shared experiences of greatly
process). . Enhance focus, concentration
reduced stress and anxiety and
& memory
an ever-increasing sense of
Together, the Inner Engineering . Raise productivity and efficiency
joyfulness.
program and practice offer a
. Improve communication &
complete path to peak wellbeing. Studies are currently underway to inter-human relationships
quantify these and other benefits . Maintain optimum levels of
Participants of Inner Engineering
of the Inner Engineering program performance throughout the day
programs often report revitalized
and practices.
health and a deep sense of


Recent Neurological Study Suggests Impact of Isha Yoga on diseases
Substantial Reduction in Stress and Anxiety Isha Yoga Health study
with Inner Engineering

Diseases
After attending Isha Yoga
% of
respondents programs, many participants
Condition
reporting have come out of chronic
improvement
ailments they had struggled
Allergies 66% with for years. To gain more
insight of these reports and
Anxiety 86%
illustrate the benefits of
Asthma 72% the program, a survey was
recently conducted of people
Back or neck
68% who have completed the
pain
program in the last six years.
Depression 87%
Changes in Brain Wave Activity After Shambhavi Practice Over 500 respondents self-
Diabetes 63% reported on physical, mental
with deep relaxation and higher and emotional wellbeing as
A preliminary neurological Fibromyalgia 67%
levels of mental focus. Reduced well as medication usage for
study of the Inner Engineering
Gastrointestinal some of the most common
process conducted in 2006 at the Beta waves are associated with 67%
Diseases
reduced mental tension and health concerns. As seen in the
Department of Neurology and
Headache 88% following charts, the findings
Neurophysiology at Sir Ganga anxiety. Moderately reduced
Alpha waves in conjunction with are quite compelling.
Ram Hospital in New Delhi, Heart Disease 37%
revealed a substantial increase increased Delta and Theta waves
Hypertension 63%
in Delta and Theta brain rhythms are associated with conscious
(50% and 60%, respectively) and awareness of the subconscious Insomnia 73%
markedly reduced Beta and Alpha mind. These early results support a
Obesity 41%
brain rhythms (30% and 25%, drop in stress and anxiety, a boost
Poor resistance
respectively) measured after 21 in mental alertness and focus, and 86%
to cold and flu
minutes of Shambhavi practice. an increase in self-awareness as a
Thyroid 51%
Substantial increases in Delta result of just 21 minutes of daily
and Theta rhythms are associated practice.


Medication Status in those who reported Isha Yoga Wellbeing Study
Improvement

About the Study: Conducted from January to March, 2010, this online survey
Stopped Reduced Medication same received over 500 responses from individuals who have practiced Isha Yoga
Condition
Medication Medication as before from one to six years. Respondent’s age ranged from 18–80 with 65% female
and 35% male. It shows that Isha Yoga practices resulted in improvement in
Allergies 42% 40% 18% the following areas.
Anxiety 50% 28% 22%
Asthma 56% 31% 13% % of respondents
reporting improvement
Depression 50% 25% 25%
Diabetes 12% 13% 75% Concentration 70%
Fibromyalgia 67% 33% 0% Emotional balance 87%
Gastrointestinal Energy Level 79%
50% 25% 25%
Diseases
Inner Peace 91%
Headache 46% 45% 9% Mental Clarity 80%
Heart Disease 33% 17% 50% Productivity 70%
Hypertension 28% 28% 44% Self Confidence 74%
Insomnia 30% 40% 30%
Obesity 67% 0% 33%
Cardiovascular Studies on Isha Yoga Practice of Isha Yoga causes greater
Poor resistance to balance of Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System. This enhances the ability of
75% 13% 12%
cold and flu the heart to respond to various stressful situations effectively and improves
Thyroid 9% 50% 41% the chances of prevention and better control of Hypertension and Heart
related adverse events like Infarction and Angina.

Muralikrishanan et al: Effect of Isha Yoga on Short term Heart Rate Variability
• 87% of those suffering from depression reported improvement of symptoms
(HRV) Third International Association of Yoga Therapists Symposium on Yoga
after beginning the practice
Therapy and Research, March, 2009.
• 68% reported an improvement of back pain symptoms
Selvaraj et al: Heart Rate Dynamics during Shambhavi Maha Mudra- A practice
• 51% of those taking thyroid medication noted a reduction in dosage or of Isha Yoga Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Vol. 5 [2008],
discontinuation of medication Iss. 1, Art. 22


Inner Engineering
Q: America has been prosperous close your eyes and meditate if
for many, many years and yet you wish to, isn’t it? The man who
it seems people have become is working from meal to meal,
A Business Perspective more and more restless and even if he wants to close his eyes,
depressed with their growing he cannot do it. So money is not
success. Sadhguru, is this true? Is misery. Stupidity is always misery.
our success, our affluence the root With what you are stupid, whether
A leader is someone who takes a chance on the destiny of
cause of our unhappiness? spiritually stupid or economically
a large mass of people. He is a leader because he is capable stupid, it doesn’t matter. There are
of organizing and directing situations to the desired goal. Does affluence bring suffering? all kinds of religious and spiritual
Not necessarily. Money doesn’t
But that only happens if a leader has some mastery over idiots. Do you think they are
bring suffering, stupidity brings happy? Affluence has not brought
himself.” – Sadhguru suffering. Money will not bring misery. The money didn’t stay
suffering; money will bring in their pockets, it got into their
Many big businesses are going they say, ‘This is nice, there’s comfort and convenience. Why
beyond financial incentives, a lot of money, there’s a lot head, and then misery is sure to
should comfort and convenience come. Having a lot of money in
wellness programs, and pop of prestige…there’s career become suffering? We wanted
culture EQ (emotional quotient) success, but there is something your pocket is good, isn’t it? If
it, so why should what we want it enters your head it becomes
management training programs more that I’m looking for. I’m become the source of suffering?
to inspire and motivate their looking for fulfillment and I misery because that is not its
Just because we have one thing, place. It should be in your pocket.
managers. Corporations are haven’t found it yet.’” we completely forget about the
beginning to take a more serious If it is in your pocket, there are
Sadhguru frequently addresses other; that’s been the problem many wonderful things you can
look at the enduring disparity of humanity. Let us say you had
between professional success the fundamental desire for do in the world. It is a means, and
fulfillment underlying business a South Indian meal, and you ate it is a tremendous empowerment.
and truly fulfilled living. In a only pickle, pickle and pickle. It
recent article in Religion & Ethics endeavors. In the excerpt below
taken from a recent leadership tastes wonderful, but by evening
Newsweekly (PBS), Professor you will have problems—it doesn’t
Sri Kumar Rao of Columbia retreat, he answers some business
leaders’ questions about money even wait until the next day.
Business School comments,
and happiness, balancing work So money and affluence is just like
“Probably 90 percent or more of and spiritual pursuits, and the true that. It is beautiful if it comes in
my students have already been out mark of a good leader. certain proportions into our lives.
in the business world. They have If you have enough money in your
worked for some of the largest pocket, you don’t have to worry
corporations in the country, and about working tomorrow. You can


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