Smell of Shiva - Isha Foundation

Leela SeriesThe path of the playful – Part XLVIIIDon’t Turn a Blind EyeThe following is an excerpt from Leela, the path of the playful, a uniqueexploration with Sadhguru into the mystical realm of Krishna, whichtook place at the Isha Yoga Center in September 2005.Questioner: Sadhguru, Dhritarashtra’s wifeGandhari knew right from wrong – why did shechoose to close the eyes to all the evil deeds thatwere happening in Hastinapur? Should she nothave tried to influence Dhritarashtra to someextent? And even today, women do not have muchsay in the household, but if they could just make5% difference, should they not strive for it, even atthe cost of disturbing the peace within the family?Sadhguru: Since Dhritarashtra was blind,Gandhari did not want to enjoy the vision thathe did not have. So when they got married, shetook a vow to blindfold her eyes for the rest ofher life. Only once, when Krishna showed hisUniversal Form in the Hastinapur court, shebroke the vow, took off the blindfold and saw.Not just visually but even otherwise, both, butespecially Dhritarashtra, became blind to manythings. And the code in the royal court was suchthat when the king decided something, even ifhe was walking into a pit, no one had any rightto say anything. The final word was his.Many times, Gandhari showed some sense,but only in small measure. When the realissues came up, she did not do much. We haveto acknowledge that she could not do much,because the people who were working onDhritarashtra were quite efficient. You cannotfind a better man than Shakuni to create suchintrigue, such cunning and deception. Andwhenever Gandhari or Dhritarashtra tried to puttheir foot down about something, Dhuryodhanathreatened to commit suicide. He kept doingthis throughout his life whenever he didn’thave his way. Immediately, Dhritarashtra wouldgive in, no matter how stupid or evil the thingwas, because his eldest son meant everythingto him. “If he commits suicide, how can I live?”Sometimes, Gandhari tried to interfere, but onceDhritarashtra made up his mind or had beencompelled to do something, he would not stepback. She really didn’t have much say.To the last part of your question, “Should theynot strive for it, even at the cost of disturbingthe peace within the family?” This is somethingmost people are unwilling to do, even if theyknow 100% that this would be the right thing.If they stand up for a certain cause or truth orwhatever, they have to face a certain amount ofunpleasantness. A lot of people are not willingto go through that little bit of unpleasantness inthe relationships and families and stand up forsomething, but they are willing to live a lie forthe rest of their life. If you believe somethingis truly valuable, you must stand for it at thecost of any discomfort. Otherwise, your life willnot be worth anything. If you simply somehowtry to maintain some pleasantness around you,that same pleasantness will drown you one day.To stand up and create what you feel is reallyworthwhile, it is alright to go through a bit ofunpleasantness in the atmosphere.When people have established themselves incertain limitations, in certain lies, in certainconveniences, and you do not strive to break theirlimitations, even at the cost of being unpopularwith them, it simply means you don’t care forthem; you are only concerned about your comfort.What is too little or too much depends on manyfactors, like your tact and your ability to handlethe situation, and on how obstinate the personis. You can’t stand up and fight for every littlething, and the ability to turn around situationsmay be different from person to person, butISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 201313

there is definitely some scope in everyone’s life tocreate some sense of righteousness and to not letsituations stagnate or go in evil ways. The evil canmean a little corruption within the family, withinrelationships, within social situations, which cansnowball into something big one day.This is the reason why I am trying to bringMahabharat down to your life. People have alwaysimagined Dhuryodhana as a horrible demon andKrishna as a god from heaven, which is not howit is. Both are human beings – one uses his senseand humanity, another one does not. This makesa world of a difference. This makes one divine andanother one a demon. It is not that one fell fromheaven, another one jumped up from hell. It isjust that every human being, every moment, hasthe opportunity to either exercise his humanity orto leave it and fall into the trap of situations thatexist around us.This does not mean you have to become an activistand fight with everyone around you. It can bedone sensibly. One can use one’s intelligenceand see what can be done to evolve situations forthe better. Whether it is going to happen or notis not the issue. You are constantly striving forit – that makes your life beautiful. Repeatedly,Krishna says, “Do your dharma. The end result isnot your business,” because the end result is never100% in your hands, no matter who you are, orhow powerful you are. When it comes to outsidesituations, we can make all kinds of calculationsto see that the end result happens well – still thereis no guarantee for anyone. Even Shiva strivedand struggled with the world. And you know howKrishna strived and struggled at every point.When Krishna talks about not being attached tothe fruit of action, he is not trying to teach youphilosophy – he is revealing a reality. If you areattached to the fruit of action, you are boundto become frustrated. No matter what you do,external situations are never 100% in our control.If anyone thinks so, he is living in a fool’s paradise– it will crash. In every situation, a milliondifferent forces are functioning. One who seesthat will never ever think that everything is inhis hands.Only a fool who does not realize how many thingsmake a situation happen thinks everything is inhis hands. Just because I have a microphone in myhands right now does not mean I have this wholesituation in my hands. There are a million otherforces – all of them are not in our hands. We tryto control and direct and make things happen tothe extent that we can, which depends on ourability and skill. But still, no matter how ableand skilled you are, external situations are never100% in your hands. And that is what is beautifulabout life.If you tried something and it didn’t work – sowhat. Your life is not beautiful because somethinghappens or does not happen. Your life is beautifulbecause you are striving for what you believeis right and just. So definitely, whether you area man or a woman, you must strive for that.Otherwise, what is your life worth?14 ISHA FOREST FLOWER October 2013

Sadhguru SpotMusings from the MasterKailash Sacred Walks 2013Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot of 21 and 28 August 2013LUMBINI – KATHMANDU – NEPALGUNJ – SIMIKOT – DHARAPANI – KERMIIt is almost a norm that I jump into various typesof activities completely unprepared. A longand hard trek definitely needs a certain levelof preparation in terms of toning up the limbsand getting the harmonica of the lungs tunedfor hard, forced marches and high altitudes.But the last two months have been a relentlessand cruel schedule and I land up here withoutany preparation in terms of walking or diet. Acouple of days of golf in a mountainous terrainwere all that I got. Thanks to golf here and there,I am using my lower limbs; otherwise a busy daymeans 12 to 14 hours of sitting in one place.Kathmandu was good for all the participants to gettogether and know each other after a long ride from Lumbini through the spectacular mountainsand challenging traffic situations. Lumbini was a pending place to visit for over 35 years. In theyear 1979, I reached the Nepal border alone upon my motorcycle – they didn’t let me pass as Idid not possess a passport. I knew that just across the border was the place where Gautama (theBuddha) was born. It took so long to get to Lumbini.The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj was uneventful, except that the pilot, for some strangereason, chose to land on a short strip downwind and had to do some panic braking and stuff.Nepalgunj has a meteorological reputation of holding up groups of people for days and sometimesweeks. We took off from Nepalgunj in less than an hour in an 18-feet Dornier – these work horseshave served in most difficult terrains; quite ancient in design and fitting, but reliable as a dog.Simikot has a wonderfully located 100 to 280degrees landing strip. It is considered a miracle inthe region that you take off from Kathmandu andreach Simikot in less than three hours – the weatherusually never allows that. Well, the weather godsare well-disposed towards us! After a quick grub,we set off trekking towards Dharapani; only ninekilometers but a steep and rocky descent – a trueknee breaker. Took the last of the group over ninehours to get to the campsite. As usual, pain andpanic takes its toll and a few wanted to turn back,and of course, I won’t let them. They have donefine on day two from Dharapani to Kermi, 10 kmwith some killer steeps to climb but not much ofdownhill and not much of rock.16ISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 2013

Here we are at Kermi, the camp overlooking avalley which befits the attention of more thantwo eyes. Not much spiritual activity as yet; justconditioning legs and lungs. From tomorrow,we will set the pitch for making the group morereceptive to what the region is in general, and towhat Manasarovar and Kailash in particular haveto offer. This hard trek is a good tool to makeone more perceptive, unless one is too stuckin macho stuff and a sense of achievement thatpeople are generally messed up about. Hope thesemountains and I together will break open theirdoors for Mahadeva.The sun has just gone hiding behind the mountain peaks. Oh, of course he has otherappointments, to light and heat other parts of the earth, where multifarious forms of lifeare awaiting his warm charm. This twilight is magical at the least. The greens turning intodarker green; the rocky sheer beginning to brood about an ancient something, smells, soundsof animals returning home, and cooking fires from a tiny village close by. And above all,a steady roar of the river down below. All willchange by the moment except the roar of thisprecious element hurtling down to the plains tonourish millions of people of various kinds. Butthe aching muscles are awaiting nightfall andwill take one into slumber world, turning theroar into a lullaby.A NAMELESS VALLEY – TUMKOT –MANASAROVAR – KAILASH –XIGAZÊ – LHASAAfter a nearly 10 km trek, we decided to settledown in a nameless valley steeped in occult ways.These people are as earthy as earthworms andfound ways to bend nature to their will, seeking the mundane through magic.For me it is like the smell of Shiva, and no wonder the valley is a forest of Marijuana. If I was notalready so stoned with Shiva, this would be the place for one who is seeking intoxication.Tented at the very edge of a roaring river-rapid, overlooked by a brooding mountain full of eyes.A pack of bats take off for their nightly sojourn – no vampires these.But their silent flight and sightless eyesmake them seem like creatures from anotherrealm. How strange the ways of ignoranceare – these creatures are mammals, our veryclose relatives. Blind as a Bat, aren’t we.The Trek to Tumkot was 14.5 km throughsome wonderful terrain, pristine andbeautiful. There was an hour and a half ofknee-breaking and lung-busting stretches.In spite of painful stretches, we did thisgrueling stretch in record time. Everyonewas in a buoyant and charged state after theday-long Sathsang and Bhuta Shuddhi processISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 201317

initiation. Walking through these deep valleysand crossing over some hills is dreamlike. Ithas been over 15 years since I’ve been outdoorsfor more than three nights – incredible andinvigorating.The rocky steeps truly tested not only our lungsand legs but our mental resolve. After a hardtrek, camping for a day by the gushing brookat Tumkot was a much needed break for theaching limbs, and the enthusiasm of theparticipants led to an almost full-day Sathsang.Except that one of us had to be airlifted due tohealth issues from the valley of Tumkot to be hospitalizedat Kathmandu. In a day, she recovered and is doing fine now.The last stretch from Tumkot was the hardest climb we had encountered. The rocky steeps trulytested not only our lungs and legs but our mental resolve. When we finally reached and saw theautomobiles after six days of roughing it in the mountain, there was celebration in every cell ofthe body. The drive through the Narola pass was precarious and breathtaking. The terrain rapidlytransformed utterly from green valleys with copious water bodies to a bone dry, dusty, and starklooking mountain reaching out to the sky. That is “Welcome to Tibetan plateau,” a truly uniquelandscape.The magic of Manasarovar is refusing to fade. Itdoesn’t matter how many times one has come –it still enthralls. Two nights at the banks of thisMystical lake and a series of Sathsangs with theother groups arriving by the regular route. Thefervor and devotion of the pilgrims is overwhelmingto say the least.This time around, we decided to camp at the baseof the South Face of Kailash, known as Ashtapadi.This is the very home of Mysticism. I have beenhere a few times but never stayed there for thenight. The track being considered too dangerous,vehicles were not permitted. Our trek to Ashtapadiwas phenomenal in experience, and the weather was testing our resolve to make it to 5200 m flatfor camping. Only 12 of us could manage to stay there as it started snowing heavily by 6.30 p.m.In weather like that, with very heavy clouds and mist screening Kailash, in a sweeping wave ofcompassion, the heavy veil lifted to reveal his magnificent form and grace. All pain and difficultyof the trek and the vagaries of the weather and temperature just vanished in our experience. OnlyKailash. That is all. The magical power of this tremendous space is indescribable.The night was unique and eventful. I’ve spent many a night on mountain sides and jungles. Beinghungry, cold and alone is not new; it has had its presence from my childhood. Those days andnights have always been very powerful times, but never of suffering or fear or loneliness. Thoseblessed days and nights were the times Shiva invaded me without invite or permission. But thisnight at Ashtapadi was unique. One – being so close to Kailash. Two – good to be protected byan all-weather tent. And three – eight inches of snow turned the tent into an igloo. Never beenoutdoors for a whole night full of snow. It was snowing till 7 a.m., gave an hour’s break for us topack up our tents and descend to the Serlung Monastery where the rest of the team were, andstarted off in right earnest. Giving him a fabulous white veil as if the eyes of the unclean should18ISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 2013

not find him. O’ Mother Nature, He needs noprotection. There is no clean or unclean forHim; there is no sinner or virtuous one forHim. He views a sage and a sorcerer with thesame eye; Devil and Divine with the same eye.The taintless, thoughtless, Third Eye.After the descent from Ashtapadi, an overnightstay at Manasarovar and a brief Sathsang withthe last group to arrive. Off we are early for a1000 km drive to Xigazê to avoid an overnightat the shanty town of Saga. At the junctionof 3 main arterial roads of Tibet and with amilitary station, it is gaining in importance andclamor. The great Saga Hotel is still continuingto celebrate my birthday with a very colorful birthday sign that was put up 5 years ago.With a brief stopover at Saga, we drove on to Xigazê. After doing 700 km, my Land Cruiser startedmaking not so pleasant noises that suggested some serious friction. After a few stops and checks, Ikind of diagnosed a steering bearing breakdown. With a stiff steering, we reached Xigazê after 10p.m., with a little over 14 hours of driving. The terrain through which we drove the whole daywould leave anyone wordless and dazed.Xigazê has one of the largest monasteries in Tibet, controlled by Panchen Lama XI who nowlives in Beijing. This 650 year-old monastery is quite a fascinating place to spend a day at. Itsarchitecture and art are rustic and the homogeneity of its making has an appeal beyond laws ofaesthetics.Ah, Lhasa is a transformed place. The Chinese architects and administration have done aremarkable job of making a tinny little town a few years aged into a bustling, beautiful city.A fabulous job of merging the traditional Tibetan architecture with modern glass and steelcontraptions. The infrastructure in and around Lhasa rivals any European or North Americancity of its size. My full marks for Chinese planners and engineers.The group, though from various backgrounds, has melted into one and the closing dinner at HotelBrahmaputra was a joyful conclusion to this three-week – what shall I call it? An adventure? Ajaunt? Trek? Pilgrimage? Yes to all of them and more, which is beyond articulation. The mountain,the Mysticism and the sheer magic of all that has become a rare bond among all who have beenthrough this sacred walk.Love and Grace,Visit: Sadhguru.org/spot for weekly updated“Musings from the Master”ISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 201319

Program HighlightsDate Program Place Contact3–6 Oct 2013Inner EngineeringRetreatResidential ProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore, India0422-2515421maa.karpoori@ishafoundation.org3–6 Oct 2013Inner Engineeringwith SadhguruResidential RetreatIsha Institute ofInner-sciencesMcMinnville, TN – USA+1-931-622-9437info@ishausa.org11–13 Oct 2013Inner Engineeringwith SadhguruSan Mateo, CA – USA+1-408-409-6436register@InnerEngineering.com17–20 Oct 2013Shoonya IntensiveBilingual ResidentialProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore, India0422-251530017–20 Oct 2013Inner EngineeringRetreatResidential ProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore, India23–29 Oct 2013 Inner Engineering Trivandrum, India9–12 Nov 2013Guru Pooja TrainingBilingual ResidentialProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore, India0422-2515421maa.karpoori@ishafoundation.org9846017776trivandrum@ishayoga.org0422-25153009–13 Nov 2013Samyama SadhanaResidential ProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore – India0422-251530014–17 Nov 2013Inner EngineeringRetreatResidential ProgramIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore – India0422-2515421maa.karpoori@ishafoundation.org23–26 Nov 2013INSIGHT –The DNA of SuccessResidential Programwith Sadhguru andDr. Ram CharanIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore, India83000 84888leadership@ishainsight.org12–19 Feb 2014SamyamaResidential Programconducted bySadhguruIsha Yoga Center,Velliangiri Foothills,Coimbatore – India0422-2515300These programs are conducted in English, unless indicated otherwise. Current at the time of print, however subject tochange. For full program schedules and updates, please visit our website: www.ishafoundation.org.20ISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 2013

Isha Recipes For Healthy LivingAsh Gourd HalvaINGREDIENTS300–400 g Ash gourd(white pumpkin/winter melon)1 cup Ghee10 Cashew nuts1 cup Sugar1 teaspoon Green cardamom powderPREPARATION METHOD1. Peel and deseed the ash gourd and grate it. Squeeze the grated pulp by hand to remove excessliquid or alternatively allow the pulp to sit in a sieve/colander for some time until juice runs out.2. Heat the ghee in a frying pan and sauté the cashew nuts in it until golden brown. Then removethe cashew nuts with a slotted spoon and keep aside until needed.3. To the same ghee, add the grated ash gourd and sauté for 3–4 minutes. Add the sugar andcardamom powder.4. Cook, stirring continuously, until the halva begins to leave the sides of the pan and becomes ahomogenous mass. Add the fried cashew nuts and mix well.TIP: Tastes best warm!Did you know?The term halva in English language use originates from the Arabic helweh, which simplymeans “sweet.” Halva in its many forms is served in many parts of the world, from the MiddleEast and North Africa to Europe and Asia. These confections may be flour-based or nutbutter-based,and there is a wide range of other ingredients from seeds and nuts to fruits andvegetables, depending on region and recipe, but the many varieties have one thing in common:a dense texture and intense sweetness.ISHA FOREST FLOWEROctober 201321

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Food has to be goodNot just for the tongueBut for body and being.