CONTENTS

3 February 2012 FOREST FLOWER

Main Article
The Big Zero
Sadhguru on the Relation between Duality and Oneness 4
Musings
Beyond Comparison
Sadhguru on the Difference between Adiyogi and Dhyanalinga 7
Shiva and the Serpents
Sadhguru on the Qualities of Snakes and their Venom 8
Life on Fast-Forward
Sadhguru on the Recent Lunar Eclipse 10
Leela Series
The path of the playful Part XXIX:
The Gita All about Karma Yoga? /
Krishna: Human Being and Divine Possibility 11
News & Happenings
Sadhgurus Mega Program in Mumbai
Over 3,000 New Shambhavi Mahamudra Initiates 13
Brought to Life
The Consecration of the Adiyogi Alayam 14
Musings
The Adiyogi Alayam 17

Upcoming Programs and Events
Isha Yoga Program Highlights 19
Mahabharat 20
Yaksha 2012 21
Mahashivarathri 2012 21
Isha Recipes For Healthy Living
This Month: Banana Aval Salad 22
Zen Speaks: What is Zen? 23
The sound of the drum, the burst of cracker, a
scream, a clap of thunder, a rustling of leaves, and
a million other sounds all this makes up human
experience. Sound is essentially a vibration; so is
what you see, so is what you touch. Everything that
you know as creation is a certain reverberation.
That which is between sound and silence, between
reverberation and stillness, has been called by many
names, has been distinguished and identifed in
many different ways. Traditionally, we call it Shiva
and Shakti. Certain other cultures refer to it as yin
and yang, masculine and feminine, the logical and
the intuitive, or just this and that. There is nothing
wrong with this and that, but this and that is a
surface happening.
Dhyanalinga is a miraculous manifestation of this
and that, but rooted in just this and this. So is this
one [refers to himself], so are you, so is everything.
You may refer to yourself as a woman, you may
refer to yourself as a man, but essentially, you are
both. Both cannot exist without each other because
they are both rooted in the same thing. It is like
the fower and the fruit. It is like the soil and the
tree the same, but different. If we can merge two
diametrically opposite things, these two are like the
two posts of a ladder. The two posts of the ladder are
needed for one to be able to climb. At the same time,
if you believe there are two, you cannot climb; it is
just one ladder.
4
The BiG Zero
Sadhgr on the Relation beteenDualit and Oneness
SADHGURU SADHGURU
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
So Dhyanalinga is a ladder like that. Did you see
the seven rungs? Rings, I mean. [Laughs] But they
are rungs. This one [refers to oneself] also has seven
rungs. Everything is made like that. The question
is only, Will you climb, or will you not climb?
Dhyanalinga is a manifestation of one who has
climbed, so that he can inspire those who have
not bothered to climb as of now. But everything is
rooted in just one. It is wrong to call it one. If this is
one and two, that is a big zero. The whole number
system is rooted in the zero. It is not because you
have ten fngers that there is a zero. It is not because
we counted one, two, three, four, fve, six, seven,
eight, nine, and then did not know what to do next
and invented a zero. Anything would have worked,
but we came up with a zero not because we invented
it, but because the numbers are rooted in the zero.
The whole creation is rooted in that zero or that
nothingness. The vastness of the zero can never
be matched by any number because that which is
not is limitless. A number means it is limited. You
may call it a zillion, but still it is limited. Right now,
you are given a good experience of infation. There
was a time when ten rupees could buy what today
hundred thousand rupees can buy. I remember
my father, a physician by profession, was shocked
when his grandson got a job as an IT professional
and he started with thirty thousand [rupees] salary.
My father was a little bewildered because when he
started as a doctor, he got hundred rupees as salary.
He said, I got only hundred rupees when I started.
This fellow, good for nothing, is getting thirty
thousand to start with! But today thirty thousand
still cannot buy what hundred rupees could buy
back then.
So numbers are meaningful only within a certain
context. This happened in San Francisco. A very
smartly dressed young man was walking on the
street. A completely unkempt, disheveled, dirty
looking man came up to him and said, Can I have
two dollars for a coffee? The young mans nostrils
curled up and he said, How dare you ask for two
dollars? You can get a coffee for a dollar or less.
The other man smiled and said, I was thinking you
would join me.
What you think are opposites have been joined in
the process of creation. You can play with this as
much as you want, but if you lose sight of that which
is not different, if you lose sight of the sameness
of creation and get lost in the duality of creation,
then your drama will begin. Your drama will begin
but you will not be the director, you will only
be an actor, and it could be a tragedy, you know.
You may be a hero or a heroine but it could be a
tragic drama who knows. Generally, most famous
plays have been tragic. But if you are aware of the
sameness, if you are aware of the zero of existence,
if that has come into your experience, you are the
director of the play. Tragedy or comedy, it does not
matter, now you can play it as you want because
you are directing the play. If you get identifed
with the duality, you become the play, and the play
can go whichever way; especially when there is
no director, it can be a tragic play. Any situation
without a director is a tragic situation, most of the
time; rarely does it happen well.
So being in the presence of Dhyanalinga is just
this all the seven chakras are manifest, so the whole
range, the exuberance of life is available; but at the
same time, it still leaves you as a zero. You know
when you want to dance and move, One, two, cha-
cha-cha
1
? Or, Ek, do, teen
2
at least? Movement
and numbers are the same. Stillness and zero are the
same. If you lose sight of the zero, numbers will get
you into such a chakkar
3
, you do not know what you
got into. If you are constantly in sight of the zero
and play with the numbers, numbers are beautiful.
Just imagine the number system without a zero. If
you stand up and count how many people are sitting
here without using a zero, you will go crazy. So if
you lose sight of the zero, this is what happens to
you you have a number system without a zero.
For the smallest things, you will go crazy. This is
happening to a lot of people. Just to count one, two,
they got married. Only two, the other two [the
children] are yet to come, but already they are going
crazy. Just one, two, is so complicated because you
lost sight of the zero.
So Dhyanalinga is a possibility that reverberates the
exuberance of numbers, and at the same time, the
5
1
Rhythm of a modern South American dance
2
Hindi for one, two, three
3
Hindi for lead you round in circles
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
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presence of the zero is immense. In its presence, it
becomes very simple to know another dimension
to life, which is the underlying dimension, the
largest dimension of existence, and this whole
play with just fve elements. Look at the variety of
life, look at the size of the cosmos, with just fve
ingredients. Isnt this creation a masterpiece? With
just fve ingredients, how many things you can do is
unbelievable.
Actually, in terms of the number system, we could
have just counted with one hand instead of two.
One, two, three, four, fve, or we could have
said, One, two, three, four, ten we could have
added a zero right here. Or we could have said fn
[instead of ten] whatever you want, it looks like a
fn [refers to the hand when counting], you know.
[Laughs] Still it would have worked. As long as you
have a zero, you can make it work whichever way
you want. This is so with the number system; this is
so with your life. As long as you are in touch with
the limitless zero of your life, you can make it work
whichever way. Otherwise, if you are just involved
in numbers The problem with your mind right
now is that you have lost sight of the zero. So you
do not know what is today, what is yesterday,
what is tomorrow. Such a simple thing, but it is all
mixed up. Yesterdays things are still living within
you. Why yesterday? Previous life nonsense is still
living within you. Things which are yet to happen
tomorrow are already troubling you. Something that
happened ten years ago still hurts you; something
that may happen day after tomorrow already
troubles you.
Once you lose sight of the zero, you do not know
what today is, what yesterday is, what tomorrow
is it is all mixed up. Once, Shankaran Pillai went
to the psychiatrist and shared many things. After
listening to him for hours, the psychiatrist said, See,
none of the things that you have said have actually
happened. So Shankaran Pillai said, No, dont tell
me that! If I realize that, I will start worrying why
they did not happen. [Laughter] People enjoy their
hallucinations; that is a big problem. If you are in
sight of the zero, numbers will be just a number
game. If you lose sight of the zero, then numbers
will get you into that kind of chakkar. You can
never fgure them out because it can go on and on.
Is there some number where you must stop? Is there
such a thing? It can just go on into zillions and drive
you to madness.
So Dhyanalinga is that tool, where though you
are playing the fve elements, essentially it is one
big zero. Everything comes from nothing, and
everything goes back to nothing. Everything comes
from zero, and everything goes back to the zero. It
is a strong reminder, an exuberant manifestation of
life, at the same time absolutely still like nothingness.
The stillness of nothingness and the exuberance of
everything installed in one that is the miracle of
Dhyanalinga. When I use the word miracle, people
think that if I open this vessel and a baby elephant
comes out it is a miracle. That is not a miracle. Let
us leave the production of elephants to elephants.
You do not have to pull them out of copper vessels.
[Laughter]
Only those minds which are not sensitive enough
to taste this absolute miracle that from nothing,
everything has popped up, will look for these gross
miracles. Their idea of a miracle is, Can you give me
a gold chain? Only gross minds will look for such
miracles because they miss the biggest miracle of
the existence. Just from nothing, billions of galaxies
have popped up, and any time they can go back and
become nothing. What more of a miracle do you
want? If you eat a cucumber, it becomes a human
being. What more of a miracle do you want? Such
a sturdy life; but still, if I exhale and I do not inhale
again, it will evaporate just like that. What more of
a miracle do you want? Everything is a phenomenal
miracle. If you cannot see it, you will ask for gold
chains as if you are not already substantially chained.
You are pretty well chained, believe me. [Laughs]
Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
7
Q: Sadhguru, how is the Adiyogi different from
Dhyanalinga? And what aspect of Shiva is being
brought out in the Adiyogi?
Sadhguru: You cannot compare Dhyanalinga with
anything else. There is not another thing like
this on the planet. I could do a thousand of these
things [Adiyogis] in my life, but I will not be able
to do even one more of that [Dhyanalinga]. It is a
different dimension altogether. In logical thought,
there may not be much difference because both
have seven chakras
1
. Everybody has seven chakras
only. Adiyogi also has only seven. But it is not the
same. Adiyogi will do something very specifc.
You can hire him for a job. You cannot hire him
[Dhyanalinga] for anything. He is simply there. So
is this guy [Adiyogi] more useful? Yes, if you look at
it in a certain way, he is more useful. But if you go
by usefulness of life, you will lose your life.
You know there is a beautiful situation in
Mahabharat; I have spoken about this before. A
time came when everybody had to be on some side,
either this side or that side of the battle. So when
the time to choose came, Krishna said, Either you
can have me, or you can have my army, which is ten
thousand strong. Duryodhana chose the army; the
Pandavas chose Krishna. And beforehand, Krishna
said, Im not going to fght. Im just going to be
there. So the Pandavas said, It doesnt matter what
happens. We want you to be with us; thats all.
Duryodhana thought, These guys have a history of
being stupid [laughter], and this crowns it all. You
are going into a battle, and instead of picking a ten
thousand strong army, you pick one man, who is
not willing to fght. This is the peak of stupidity.
But that made all the difference. And that is how
life is.
He [Adiyogi] has been created for a specifc purpose.
He will serve that purpose wonderfully well. He
[Dhyanalinga] has not been created for any specifc
purpose. He is simply there, like the universe.
An insect may have a purpose, a bird may have a
purpose, an animal may have a purpose, a tree
may have a purpose, a plant may have a purpose,
a weed may have a purpose, but the universe has
no purpose, and the Creator has no purpose. So you
can choose an insect against the Creator because
it is more useful. If you go by the logic of utility,
you will miss the fundamentals; you will miss the
ultimate nature of life.
So every time something new comes up, do not
compare it to Dhyanalinga. There is no competition
for him. He is never going to be in the race. As I told
you, if we have the money, the resource, and the
support, we can do a thousand Adiyogis. Actually
today, if we had wanted, we could have easily
consecrated ten or more at a time. We had enough
energy, and anyway, all of you are there. You are
ten thousand; for each one thousand, I could have
done at least one. [Laughter] But that is not the
case with that [Dhyanalinga]. That cannot be done
again; it is just out of question. Defnitely I cannot
do it. I do not see anybody on this planet right now
who can do it.
Excerpted from a talk by Sadhguru after the
Adiyogi Alayam consecration
Beyond Comparison
Sadhguru on the Difference between
Adiyogi and Dhyanalinga
1
Energy centers
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
88
Q: Sadhguru, during the Adiyogi Alayam
consecration, you drank cobra venom why?
Sadhguru: Whatever I offer to him [Adiyogi], how
could I offer it without me taking it on? [Applause]
And venom worked very well for me, a long time
ago. It took my life away but it gave me something
more precious than life.
1
So venom did not work
against me, venom worked for me, and it has
continued to work for me. [Applause]
There are various aspects to it. My only concern is, if
I speak about this, people may understand it in bits
and pieces, and they may get bitten. This is diffcult
to logically explain, but I still carry the fang marks
from a snake on my shoulder, even though the bite
happened a long time ago, not to this body; but I still
carry that, at the same spot. Venom in small doses is
very intoxicating. Too much of anything kills you.
Even oxygen can kill you, do you know this? Too
much pongal
2
can kill you. Pongal probably kills
more people than cobra venom. [Laughs]
Venom is not poison. Venom works only in the
bloodstream, not in the stomach. But [even if you
ingest it] you cannot help it it will go into the
bloodstream. Once, when I was about seventeen
years of age, I was by myself in the rocks. In the
evening, around 6:45, I noticed a cobra. I picked up
this cobra, and it turned out there were two of them
together. It was not the mating season, but for some
reason they were together. So when I picked up one,
the other one fell on my foot and bit me four times.
I got on my bicycle, went to a nearby house, and I
told the lady, Ive been bitten by a cobra. Can you
make a jug of black tea for me? I drank about four,
fve cups, came home, was feeling a little drowsy,
and thought, This is it! Whats the point talking
about it? I told my mother, Im very tired. I just
want to sleep, and I went to bed. I thought I would
not get up the next morning. When I woke up the
next morning, I felt like I am feeling right now [after
drinking the cobra venom] my eyelids were heavy
and my joints a little stiff. But I did wake up, and
here I am. [Applause] The blood gets a little thick.
If I try to climb a mountain right now, I may have a
heart attack because the blood is a little thicker than
what it should be. But the venom makes the system
so vibrant. Above all, I did not want to offer it to
him [Adiyogi] unless I am willing to take it too.
He likes it. He drinks it up. Solidifed mercury [that
the linga in the Adiyogi Alayam is made of] takes
in only three substances: gold, silver, and cobra
venom. He wont take any other venom; he is very
Shiva and the Serpents
Sadhguru on the Qualities
of Snakes and their Venom
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
1
Refers to the incident where Sadhguru in a previous life was put to death with a snakebite. It was meant to be a shameful
death, but he went through it with awareness and grace, watching his breath.
2
Popular South Indian rice dish
99
choosy about it. He wants only that. These are
the only three substances that he will eat; he will
touch nothing else. So there is good reason for that.
Nobody can ever explain the why of everything
according to modern science. If you want to enter
into certain other dimensions of understanding and
experience, your idea of science has to evolve to a
different level of perception, beyond thought.
Cobra venom has many other qualities. If you are
made in a certain way, if energy-wise, you are vibrant
beyond a point, then cobra venom works on your
system in a completely different way. Traditionally,
particularly in Tamil Nadu, some of the siddhas
used this, that if someone got poisoned, they took
many bites from a cobra and recovered. One famous
case in history is Bhima
3
. Bhima got poisoned, and
then he was put in a river where snakes repeatedly
bit him, and he recovered from the poison that he
had eaten. Venom can do many things to you. A
snake is a very unique creature, particularly a cobra.
The reason why there is the symbolism of a snake
with its raised hood upon Shivas head, worn as an
ornament: Shiva is generally described as Trinetra,
one whose Third Eye has opened, which essentially
means that he has reached the peak of perception.
Everything that can be perceived is perceived by
him. In a way, a snake is used as a symbol to state
that he [Shiva] is as perceptive as a snake.
What is so perceptive about a snake? A snake, let
us say in the Velliangiri mountains, knows more
about the spiritual sciences than any of you, or than
any spiritual book that you can read on the planet.
It just knows not intellectually, energy-wise.
Phenomenal things have happened in this region. If
you want to know the science of let us say creating
Dhyanalinga, the snakes know. If you can feel it
energy-wise, then, being human, you can translate
it into intellect. If you experience something, you
are able to intellectualize and then articulate it
to whatever extent possible that is essentially a
human quality. But a snake simply knows it, energy-
wise, by experience.
Let us say in the next week, there is going to be
an earthquake in another part of the world, in
California or Japan or somewhere else a snake in
the Velliangiri mountains already knows that this is
going to happen. It simply knows. If you have the
necessary sensibility to just observe it, it will literally
tell you almost anything that is happening upon this
planet by a simple change in its behavior and how it
handles itself. A snake is a very perceptive animal.
You cannot call it an animal because it is above
Shiva, not at his feet; he places it above himself.
That means he is saying, It is as good as me.
So, though the venom is used in its day-to-day life
mainly to get its prey, to get its food, this is not what
it is all about. The venom could be used in so many
ways. We could do miraculous things with snake
venom. But if we attempt anything like that, even if
you felt wonderful, it could be considered a crime in
todays world. We are living in a world where there
is no room for profoundness. The more profane you
are, the better you are in this world today. I cannot
believe what is happening to humanity. I am from
another time, probably unft for this world. I am
not complaining; just stating a few facts. There are
just a handful of people on this planet who could
do anything like this today. And as far as I know,
none of them is available to the world or to people.
In many ways, I just do not belong here, in todays
world.
Traditionally, nava pashanam, nine types of poisons,
were mixed and made into medicine in this land.
Mercury, which just about anywhere else in the
world is feared as poison, is a main ingredient of the
siddha medicine of South India. What is poison and
what is the elixir of life simply depends on who you
are. Shiva has always been known as Neelakanta,
which means blue throat. You know the story that
he drank all the halahala, this terrible poison that
nobody else could handle, and he turned blue. There
has never been another man with the capabilities,
the knowing, and the perception that this man had.
This has been the highest that humanity has ever
attained. Maybe we cannot take pride in it because
maybe he was not human. Not maybe he was not.
Excerpted from talks by Sadhguru
3
One of the fve Pandava brothers; a central character in the Mahabharat
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
10
Life on Fast-Forward
Sadhguru on the Recent Lunar Eclipse
The sathsang during the eclipse [on 10 Dec 2011]
was very special; the lunar eclipse always occurs on
a full moon night. The full moon means different
things to different people. For some, moon or soma
means intoxication. For some, it suggests pleasure;
for some, it means romance; for some, it means
celebration. For a seeker, it means a night of great
possibility, a blossoming. For a devotee, it is a day to
merge and mingle with all of creation.
This lunar eclipse is a different kind of full moon.
What an eclipse means for a spiritual seeker is this:
we pass a whole month in about three hours time.
All the twenty-eight different faces of the moon,
you will see within these three hours starting
from the frst days moon, to the no-moon, to the
full moon. So your life is put on fast-forward and
essentially, spirituality means just this. It does not
mean we are taking a different path; it is just that
we are putting our lives on fast-forward. If you are
walking on foot, you can see if there are mangoes
in the trees, and you can pluck and eat them. You
can picnic this is the journey. But if you are on
an airplane, you are not going to pluck mangoes on
the way. You dont even look at them because you
are going at a certain speed and elevation. So we are
on fast-forward; not that we have anything against
mangoes, but we cannot be plucking because of the
speed and altitude.
So during a lunar eclipse, the moon is on fast-
forward. Everything that happens in a month, is
happening in a subtle way within a few hours time.
When such a fast-forward happens, many things
change. This happens because the earths energy is
mistaking the eclipse as a full cycle of the moon.
This is also the last phase of Dakshinayana, or
the sadhana pada in the yogic system. During
Dakshinayana, the sun is towards the Southern
Hemisphere. During Uttarayana
2
, it is more towards
the Northern Hemisphere. In the yogic tradition,
Dakshinayana is seen as the period of sadhana.
Uttarayana is seen as the period of enlightenment,
and it is not by accident that so many yogis attain to
their Ultimate State at the beginning of this phase.
The most famous one in this country is Bhishma
himself, who waited on the bed of arrows so that
he could shed his body in Uttarayana, when the tilt
happens on the planet.
So, is the planet deciding everything about us? No.
But it is good to make use of the support that it
offers. You can create a greenhouse and grow any
kind of crop in any season. But in certain seasons,
crops happen naturally. A wise farmer would
choose the right season. Do you want to plough
and plant in the summer season? Not that it cannot
be done it can be done; it just takes much more
effort. This is a time when things happen so much
more easily because somebody as big as Mother
Earth is working for you. It is a good support; it is
wise to make use of it.
Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot
and a talk by Sadhguru
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
11
The Gita All about Karma Yoga?
Q: In the general parlance, one hears that the main
teaching of the Gita is karma yoga. Is that really so?
Sadhguru: I think that this idea mostly came up in
the last few generations. A lot of people picked up a
Gita only because of Mahatma Gandhi. He used the
Gita as a way to get his movement going. He talked
about karma yoga because at the time of the freedom
struggle, he wanted to move people into action. And
karma yoga is also more tangible than other aspects
of the Gita.
Even now, it is so. In the frst two and a half decades,
when we just did spiritual work, when we taught
people how to meditate, when we taught people
how to be peaceful within themselves, it was not
acknowledged by the press and a larger part of society.
Only when we started Rural Rejuvenation, when we
built those Tsunami houses, they were praising us
to glory. If you give food, medicine, or clothing to
somebody, it is considered a great thing. If you show
him the way to his ultimate nature, people will turn
against you because their son or their daughter, their
wife or their husband pursue the spiritual path and
ignore them. Even if in one town just one person,
one husband, one wife, one daughter, or one son
walks away and comes to the ashram, it is enough
the whole town will be against us. But if we provide
free medicine to the poor, we are champions. That
is all people understand because it is tangible they
can see we are giving something. If I am giving away
my life, it is considered as of no value. That is the
world. That is why people think the Gita is all about
karma yoga, because it is tangible.
Krishna: Human Being and Divine
Possibility
Q: Sadhguru, Krishna says, You have spoken wise
words and lamented for those who do not deserve
lamentation. The learned lament neither for the
living nor the dead. There was never a time when I
or you, or any of these kings here did not exist. And
all of us shall certainly exist in the future too. What
does this mean?
Sadhguru: If these words are taken just as words,
they are very dangerous. That is one reason why we
have spent so much time on Krishnas personality
before coming to the Gita, so that you can imbibe
who he is to some extent and you do not misinterpret
his words. You have spoken wise words. He is
admitting that Arjunas words are wise. and
lamented for those who do not deserve lamentation.
You are lamenting for people that are not worth
lamenting about because they are not simple evil;
they are colossal evil. Wherever you put them, they
will do negative things. You can give them the whole
kingdom, still they will not stop which was what
actually happened. The whole kingdom was given
to the Kauravas. The Pandavas went out, cleared up
the forest, and built their own new kingdom. But
when they did well, the Kauravas could again not
keep quiet. They had to do something to deceive
the Pandavas out of their new kingdom. They were
deceived, they went into the forest, but that was not
enough the Kauravas had to go there and mock
them. When they could not, they decided to kill
them. Like this, it went on and on. It would not have
stop anywhere.
So the people that Arjuna was facing were not
simply doing something bad because some situations
compelled them to do so. They were colossal evil.
Give them anything, they will do the same thing. So
Krishna says, You are lamenting for people whom
you should not lament for. You went and hid in the
forest they did not leave you. You went into the
mountains they did not leave you. No matter what,
they wont leave you. So the only choice you have
is, either you kill or get killed. That is all. Better you
kill, because if you kill, maybe you will at least do a
little better than them. Maybe you wont be 100%
Leela Series
The path of the playful
Part XXIX
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
12
right. But I am sure you will do better than them.
With that confdence, Krishna says, Go ahead now.
So, There was never a time when I or you or any
of these kings here did not exist. And all of us shall
certainly exist in future too. Now he talks about life
in its essential quality, not life as people. You cannot
really obliterate life. You can only put an end to this
person who is standing in front of you right now.
But he continues, and so do you. It has always been.
Whatever you consider as divine, whatever is the
source of creation, must be eternal. Creation itself is
not eternal. It comes and goes. But that which is the
source of creation must be eternal. So in that context,
he says, Dont you worry; your whole business is
with the physical surface. If someone lives joyfully,
this physical is meaningful. Once someone has
decided that wherever they are put, they are only
going to make misery out of it, they are going to make
anger out of it, hatred out of it, violence out of it, it
is alright to obliterate the physical. But the deeper
dimension of who is standing in front of you cannot
be killed. They have always been; they will always
be. The same is true with you. The same is true with
them. So do not lament about these things. Now a
time has come when, in the physical plane of reality,
you have to take action; destruction is needed.
Krishna was pained and hurt when people were
pained. He laughed with people; he cried with
people. When he stood there as a human being,
Krishna risked his life just to nurse six welts on
somebodys back. You remember the story on
Punyajanas ship. When he stood there as a human
being, he was a fantastic human being. But now he
turns to a different mode. Now he is not standing
there as a human being among human beings. He
is standing there as ultimate nature. When he is
standing there as a divine possibility, he speaks in
a completely different tongue. Now this same man
says, Dont worry, you can slaughter these 100,000
people it is just the body. As a divine possibility,
he is no more concerned about the physical. He
just says, Lets melt the pots. Right now, they are
all cracked up. There is no point in struggling with
them. Anyway they will get reshaped again. You
cannot take away the source of who they are. You
can only take away the surface. Lets do it. Can
you see the difference in the man? He put his life
on stake, just to nurse six wounds on somebodys
back. Now he is willing to take a hundred thousand
lives with a smile on his face.
You have to look at from whom the statement is
coming. Someone else, who is not in this state,
should not speak these words. This is why I always
tell people, Dont read the Gita, because you
will go by your logical mind and it will be very
convenient for all the pain and suffering that you
heap upon other people to say, After all, what is
there? Nobody dies and nobody is born. It is okay.
This is true only when it is true with you too. Only
when it is true with you too, when you are also
beyond pain, when you are also beyond suffering,
when you are also beyond life and death, only then
you should say these words. Otherwise, it is not
for you to say this. When it comes from Krishna,
it is genuine and true. If somebody else just parrots
these words, it is utter falsehood.
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
A rare opportunity to live in the Grace of the Velliangiri Mountains
Cottages available for lifetime use or time-share.
For more information and application, please contact us:
shivapadam.isha@gmail.com 094878 95088, 094878 95865, 0422-2515345
Shivapadam
Sadhgurus programs in Tamil Nadu are renowned
for their massive attendance and excellent
organization, all of which is made possible by the
dedicated work of thousands of volunteers. On
16 December 2011, it was Mumbais turn to take
up the challenge of offering the powerful Inner
Engineering process to a large number of people,
and the Mumbai volunteers rose to the occasion.
For months before the program, the volunteers went
all out to see that this spiritual possibility reached as
many people as possible. From distributing Isha Kriya
DVDs, to hosting introductions, to personally giving
out invitations in public places, every opportunity
was taken to make this happen.
As the program venue at the Bandra-Kurla Complex
flled up on the frst evening, the joy and excitement
was palpable. Participants waited in eager
anticipation of the event, and the volunteers were
gladdened to see thousands of Mumbaikars from all
quarters of the city coming to soak in Sadhgurus
Grace at the free introductory talk.
The following morning, Sadhguru began teaching
the initial stages of the practice, and the participants
were treated to a question and answer session. As
the day unfolded, the participants were lead on a
journey inward, which Sadhguru likened to a person
looking for a nearby location if you are facing the
right way, you can easily reach there, otherwise you
may have to go around the world to reach the house
next door! Similarly, spirituality is not about going
somewhere, it is about turning inward, he explained.
Sunday morning, and the moment that many
participants had been longing for approached the
initiation into the Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya!
The day started off with a lively music session that
culminated in a joyful dance of abandon a unique
experience not just for the older generations but
even for those who frequent the citys clubs.
During the initiation, many people who had never
sat with their eyes closed for more than a few
minutes, were sitting effortlessly, absorbed in the
blissfulness of their inner nature. After the initiation
process ended, Sadhguru blessed thousands of
jasmine fowers, which were then distributed to the
participants.
After a lively interactive Q&A session, a second
initiation followed, which signifed that the program
was drawing to a close. As Sadhguru slowly moved
down the ramp to be with the participants, the hall
was reverberating with an enormous sense of joy and
inner fulfllment, which is sure to transform many
hearts and minds in this bustling city.
Sadhgurus
Mega Program
in
Mumbai
Over 3,000 New Shambhavi Mahamudra Initiates
14
The Adiyogi Alayam consecration was an experience
of a life time, an experience to remember, unlike
any other
The Adiyogi Alayam hall itself is a striking blend
of beauty, starkness, and immensity. Its gracefully
arched roof, open on the sides to the sky, creates
the right kind of atmosphere for anyone who enters,
makes you aware of how small you really are,
and instills marvel. Near the front of the hall, the
cascading serpents, suspended in air by chains from
the ceiling, add a sense of intrigue.
The night before the consecration, Sadhguru,
never falling short of a grand entrance, entered on
a bullock cart that carried the mercury linga that
was to be installed and consecrated in the Adiyogi
Alayam. With the detailed and meticulous guidance
of Sadhguru and accompanied by continuous
chanting of the Nirvana Shatakam, the linga was
carefully lowered and placed on its seat before
being screened off by a temporary thatched wall,
with Sadhguru inside. After some time, Sadhguru
emerged and wished the onlookers a good night.
Everyone was in curious anticipation of the next
days events.
The next days session opened with a new surge
of energy and enthusiasm. Dressed in pure white,
the participants found their way to their bays
where they were seated on black cloth. As
Sounds of Isha started chanting, the participants
involvement and attention deepened so much
that one could have easily mistaken the opening
session of the consecration for an advanced level
meditation program.
After entering the hall, Sadhguru instructed the
brahmacharis to remove the thatched walls from
around the linga, and sat down to speak.
The coming two days, one thing I want all of you to
understand is, in many ways this situation is not like
any of the situations you might have been in, in the
sense you are not going to witness the consecration
you are going to participate in the consecration
process. So its a different level of responsibility,
its a different level of focus, a different level of
existence altogether. Theres a difference between
going to the temple and building the temple. This is
like building the temple; its a different game.
The participants were given a chant to repeat, and
Sadhguru chanted with them throughout, keeping
the energy high and spirits fred. I want all of
you to give yourself totally into this. This is about
sensitizing the space, which includes you. Whatever
we are going to do next, the space has to be vibrant
enough, and you have to be vibrant enough.
The consecration of the linga and Sadhgurus seat
began. As the chanting intensifed, Sadhguru
performed various processes that seemed alien to
the inexperienced eye. At certain times, one could
see tears streaming down his face, as Sadhguru
gave himself fully into bringing the Adiyogi alive.
After some time, he paused to explain some of the
processes that were taking place.
There are two levels of consecration happening
here one is to consecrate the linga, which is the
most important part of what we are doing here, and
the other is the seat. The nearest quality that I can
Brought to Life
The Consecration of the Adiyogi Alayam
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
16
November 2011 FOREST FLOWER
ascribe to [the seat] is Muladhara
1
it creates a stable
base to sit on, always Stability, balance is the most
important aspect, whatever we wish to do. How far
one goes, how high one climbs is not a question of
strength alone, not a question of intelligence alone,
not a question of knowledge alone, not a question of
external conduciveness stability and balance are
the most important qualities.
As the program progressed, one could not help but
notice a growing sense of intimacy and connection
with Adiyogi. The music, dance, and poetry that
was woven throughout the event added to a deeper
rapport and understanding of the signifcance of
Adiyogi and the space that was now being dedicated
to Him. As a tribute to Adiyogi, the Samskriti
children performed the Shivagaami dance which
depicts the story of how Shiva came to meditate in
the Velliangiri mountains, making it the Kailash
of the South. Arundhathi Subramaniam read out
Sadhgurus poem Adiyogi, and the music that
Sounds of Isha played seemed to suit the spirit of the
consecration perfectly well.
As the fnal consecration step of Adiyogi neared,
the evening took a dramatic and unexpected turn.
Sadhguru took the milk of a black cow (from the
karam pashu breed) and the venom of a black
cobra as an offering to the linga. While mixing the
concoction, he almost affectionately said, Both
these substances are very dear to him [Adiyogi].
No one was prepared for what happened next.
Sadhguru suddenly poured a small portion of the
mixture into his hand and drank it! Everyone in
the hall was dumbfounded. Some people screamed,
others simply sat in silence, awestruck at what
they had just witnessed. Sadhguru promptly rose
and began the fnal consecration process. He
slowly poured the remaining milk and venom into
his hands and applied it with utmost dedication on
the linga.
The light refected the tears on Sadhgurus
cheeks as he conducted the consecration with
intense intimacy and burning reverence. It
was humbling to watch Sadhguru pour himself
totally into the process. One could only be left
with a sense of wonder a feeling of not really
understanding it all, yet being spellbound by the
events that had unfolded.
Once the consecration was completed, Sadhguru
sat into the late night hours with the participants,
exploring various aspects. Someone asked, Why did
you drink the venom? Whatever I offer to him,
how do I offer it to him without me frst taking it
on? was his simple, pointed answer.
Finally, it was time to close, and Sadhguru
acknowledged the participants for their involvement.
Its been really wonderful. Its been great, having
you here. These things should always be done only
with small groups of people, individuals who have
a certain intimacy with you; otherwise its risky. I
assumed this intimacy with all of you. [Applause]
And its truly wonderful that without any aberration,
all of you went through this in a wonderful manner.
I bow down to you for this.
Our Pranams to Sadhguru for including over
10,000 of us into this process, and for sharing
what is so rare, precious, and otherwise
available to only very few.
1


The frst and lowest chakra in the human system
17
For the last four months, there has been no day
and night in the ashram. It has just been one long
workday. What happened at the Adiyogi Alayam
construction site during these four months has been
tremendous; the residents and volunteers worked
tirelessly to make this event possible, and the
consecration went off in tremendous fashion. These
types of events and processes are usually conducted
in an intimate setting, but we had 11,049 meditators
here, and their level of cooperation, exuberance, and
intensity is something you cannot fnd anywhere.
The hall was just overfowing with people; we have
already outgrown the space even before it has been
fully completed.
The reason why we created an Adiyogi Alayam is
to bring back classical yoga in its purest form. Not
studio yoga, not book yoga, not the kinds of things
that are being done in the world today, but proper
classical yoga, which is a phenomenally powerful
science.
When it comes to the world, there is only one
science, which is physics. Everything else is just
an offshoot. But how many people in the world
are studying physics today? Fundamental physics
is studied by an extremely miniscule number of
people. Right now, people think that the iPhone is
a great scientifc achievement, but it is just a little
gadget. Creating that is not science, just a little bit
of technology. Fundamental physics is the science.
Today, the reason why you have all these electronics
and gadgets is because for the frst ffty years
of scientifc development, scientists invested in
fundamental physics. You are reaping the beneft
of that now. You will see that after thirty years, if
there are not many people in fundamental physics,
nothing new will come out of science because the
basic scientifc knowledge will be missing.
Similarly in yoga, there is a classical science which
is the science. But today, there is no investment in
the concrete science of yoga; people are just trying
to reap the benefts. It is like, if you grow a cow, you
Excerpted from Sadhguru Spot
of 28 December 2011
The Adiyogi Alayam
Sadhguru Spot
Musings from the Master
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
can milk it. After some time, people will only be
interested in the udder, not the cow. So they wont
have a cow, they will just have a plastic udder and
they will go on milking it. After some time, no milk
will come. Slowly, our attention has become like
this we have forgotten what gives the milk.
We want to build people who are willing to invest
their lives in the profoundness of yoga, not getting
fancy benefts out of it, not hanging onto a chair or a
tree and thinking they are doing yoga. Bringing back
that dimension will not happen by instruction only;
a phenomenal energy is needed. Otherwise, yoga
cannot be taught. If you teach yoga without creating
a vessel of energy, that is not yoga. That is just a farce.
That farce is going on all over the world right now.
So we have built the Adiyogi Alayam with that
intention. We want a powerful space. We want this
to be such a vibrant space that if you simply sit here,
really tuned in to what is happening in the hall,
you must be able to know all the yoga sutras. You
never have to open a book, you never have to listen
to anybody, you just have to energy-tune yourself
and it will be there. Tomorrow, when we are not
here, there still has to be a space which will teach
yoga. Maybe there will be no guru here, but even if
teachers stand here, suddenly things should come
out of them that they do not know. They should
begin to say things, they should begin to feel things,
they should begin to experience things that they
themselves do not know. Only then can we transmit
this. That is why so much effort is going into this,
and many more things have to be done.
During the process, there were two levels of
consecration. One was to consecrate the linga,
which is the most important part, and the other was
to create a seat a hot seat because for the kinds
of things that we are planning to do in this hall, we
need a substantial support. If we have to describe
the seat in terms of the human system, the nearest
quality that I can ascribe to it is the Muladhara
1
it
creates a stable base to sit on. This is needed. One
thing that was said in the yoga sutras about Hata
Yoga is, sukham sthiram asanam an asana which
is comfortable and stable. So stability, balance is the
most important aspect, whatever we wish to do.
I had been thinking for some time that we have to
do something in the Adiyogis name because He was
the frst to put this idea into human civilization,
that a human being can evolve into something more
than what he is right now. This predates all religion.
Every creature has come with a framework. An ant
can do certain things, but within that framework.
A tiger can do certain things, but only within that
framework. He put forth this idea that a human being
does not have to limit himself to his dimension, he
can transcend; there is another, completely different
way to be. He not only gave the idea, He also gave
a method to get there. There has never been a more
revolutionary idea on this planet.
Love and Grace,
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
18
1


The frst and lowest chakra in the human system
Program Highlights
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.
Date Program Place Contact
6 - 26 Feb 2012 3-Week Sadhana
Isha Institute of In-
ner Sciences, USA
+1-931-668-1900
registration.iii@ishafoundation.org
11 - 18 Feb 2012
Mahabharat
Residential Program
conducted by Sadhguru
Isha Yoga Center
Coimbatore, India
94449 02058
mahabharat@ishafoundation.org
13 - 19 Feb 2012
Yaksha
A Celestial Feast of
Music and Dance
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore, India
0422-2515345
info@yaksha.info
20 Feb 2012
Pancha Bhuta Aradhana
In Sadhgurus Presence
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore, India
0422-2515426, 94878 95878
pba@ishafoundation.org
20 Feb 2012
Mahashivarathri
Event with Sadhguru
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore, India
0422-2515345
mahashivarathri@ishafoundation.org
23 - 26 Feb 2012
Inner Engineering Retreat
Residential Program
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore, India
0422-2515421
maa.karpoori@ishafoundation.org
23 Feb -
1 Mar 2012
Samyama
Residential Program
conducted by Sadhguru
Isha Yoga Center,
Coimbatore, India
94425 04681
samyama@ishafoundation.org
10 - 13 Mar 2012
Bhava Spandana
Program (Gents)
Residential Program
Knowledge
Excellence Centre,
Thane Dist,
Mumbai, India
9820135722, 7738116291
mumbai@ishafoundation.org
15 - 16 Mar 2012
Bhava Spandana
Program (Ladies)
Residential Program
Knowledge
Excellence Centre,
Thane Dist,
Mumbai, India
9820135722, 7738116291
mumbai@ishafoundation.org
23 - 25 Mar 2012
Inner Engineering
Conducted by Sadhguru
The Chancery
Pavilion,
Bangalore, India
9243410136, 9886036647
bangalore@ishafounation.org
31 Mar -
1 Apr 2012
Inner Engineering
Conducted by Sadhguru
Singapore
+65-96660197
singapore@innerengineering.com
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER 19
YAKSHA
A Celestial Feast of Music and Dance
13 19 February 2012
6:50 pm 8:30 pm (Please be seated by 6:40 pm.)
Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore.
Alarmel Valli (Bharatnatyam Dance)
Monday, 13 February
Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Hindustani Vocal)
Tuesday, 14 February
Shubha Mudgal (Hindustani Vocal)
Wednesday, 15 February
Ravi Kiran & Tarun Bhattacharya (Chitraveena/Santur)
Tursday, 16 February
Dr. L. Subramaniam (Carnatic Violin)
Friday, 17 February
Neyveli Santhanagopalan (Carnatic Vocal)
Saturday, 18 February
Amjad Ali Khan (Hindustani Sarod)
Sunday, 19 February
Entry free. Passes available in major Isha Centers in India.
Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Semmedu P.O., Coimbatore 641 114 India
+ 91-422-2515345 info@yaksha.info
Presents
A rapturous night with the Divine

Musical Performances
Singer-composer duo
Hariharan and Leslie Lewis
Vocalist (Pop, Sufi & Folk)
Colonial Cousins
Vocal - Dhrupad
N. Wasifuddin Dagar
Kailash Kher & Band
From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the following day
Isha Yoga Center, Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore
Monday, 20 February 2012
We invite you along with your family and
friends to join us in celebration of this
rapturous night with the Divine!
For general inquiries and seating:
+91-98843 66340 / 97890 97995 mahashivarathri@ishafoundation.org
Isha Recipes For Healthy Living
BANANA AVAL SALAD
(SERVES 2)
Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B
6
, and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary
fber, manganese, and energy.
This inexpensive and delicious fruit offers a vast array of health benefts.
Bananas
Relieve heartburn due to their natural antacid property and ability to heal the inner lining
of the stomach
Normalize blood pressure due to their high potassium and low sodium content
Enhance nerve functions due to their high content of Vitamin B
6
Act as mood enhancers or mild sedatives due to an amino acid which helps produce serotonin
Relieve constipation due to their high content of pectin and soluble dietary fber
Replenish electrolytes (lost from diarrhea, vomiting, or intense sweating)
Did you know?
METHOD OF PREPARATION
1. Wash and soak the rice fakes in 1 cup of water for 68 minutes.
Drain in a colander.
2. Heat the oil in a small pan and saut the peanuts in it until golden
brown. Set aside to cool.
3 . Grate the coconut. Peel and slice the banana.
4. When completely drained, place the rice fakes in a deep bowl. Add the
peanuts, coconut, banana, honey or jaggery, and gently stir. Serve immediately.
INGREDIENTS QUANTITY
1 Ripe banana
cup Beaten rice fakes (aval/poha)
1 teaspoon Vegetable oil
1 tablespoon Peanuts
3 inch slice Fresh coconut
To taste Honey or jaggery (unrefned whole cane sugar)
February 2012 FOREST FLOWER
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