yogi, visionary and New York Times bestselling author – describes in an interview with On LOCATION how he reaches millions of people worldwide through his transformational programmes.
Interview By Hilary Fennell, Fotos By Isha Foundation
ON LOCATION: What is the focus of your work?
Sadhguru: We decided to form the Isha Foundation in 1992. In the last few decades we have really pushed this organisation as an instrument for individual transformation because a larger transformation in the world can only happen through individual transformation.
We offer Isha Yoga / Inner Engineering programmes on many different levels. Seventy percent of our programmes take place in the villages of India and are free of charge. But we are also focusing on people who hold responsible and powerful positions in the world, because what kind of leaders we have will determine how the world runs and functions. Action for Rural Rejuvenation is a rural revitalisation programme offering medical care, community rehabilitation and human upliftment. These initiatives have impacted over 11 million people in more than 7500 villages. In our Isha Vidhya schools close to 9000 rural children have been sponsored for their entire education. These are English-medium, computer-friendly schools to enable the children to participate at a higher level of economic activity. Rally for Rivers is a nation-wide initiative to revitalise India’s rivers which received a phenomenal response.
We have also launched the Cauvery Calling initiative, to revitalise river Cauvery, one of the lifelines of southern India. Here, we are assisting farmers to plant 2.42 billion trees to cover one-third of the Cauvery basin with trees. This will increase Cauvery’s flow, and also raise farmers’ incomes by 300-800% in 5-7 years. It is an economic plan with a significant ecological impact. If we successfully pull this off in the Cauvery basin, this will be a game-changer for the nation and for the tropical world
Why are charities such as yours so important?
I never considered that I am doing any charity work. I am just doing what is needed. For the very first time in the history of humanity, we have the necessary resources, capability and technology to address every issue on the planet – of nourishment, health, education, wellbeing, you name it. The only thing missing is human consciousness. So the whole effort is to raise human consciousness, to bring human beings to such a state of inclusiveness that the opportunities and possibilities that we have as a generation of humans don‘t pass us by. We also offer ‘One Drop Spirituality’ a simple process that anybody can teach without any risk. The goal is that every human being, irrespective of his caste, creed, religion, gender, or whatever else, must have at least one drop of spirituality in them. At present, we have over 4000 volunteers working full time and 11 million volunteers in 300 centres worldwide.
Can you describe your own spiritual journey?
One afternoon, on September 23rd, 1982, I had a little time to spare between two business meetings. So I rode up Chamundi Hill in Mysore, India. There, I sat on a huge rock, which was my usual place, with my eyes open. After a few minutes, I had an experience that left me forever transformed. Suddenly, I did not know what was me and what was not me. I was all over the place. Every cell in my body was bursting with a new, indescribable level of ecstasy. All I knew was that I had hit upon a goldmine within myself that was dripping ecstasy, and that I did not want to lose for even a moment. My life has been an attempt to rub this bliss off on people, because every human being can experience this.
What are your main teachings?
I have no teachings or philosophy. Yoga is not a teaching or philosophy. It is a technology for inner evolution. Anyone who is willing to make use of it can make use of it. As there is a science and technology for creating external comfort and convenience, there is a whole science and technology to create inner wellbeing. We are offering this as Inner Engineering, our basic flagship programme. It is a way of engineering your inner being with scientific steps. You can change the fundamental chemistry of who you are, and create a chemistry of blissfulness.
Do you believe in a work life balance?
There is no such thing as work and life, it is life and life. Your work has to be lived, and your life has to be worked at. Do not make a demarcation that there is something called work and life. There are different aspects of life, and they need to be dealt with. I work seven days a week, 365 days – but I don’t need a vacation. Make your life a vacation by creating what you care for. Above all, the most important work is to work on yourself.
To volunteer, donate or find out more
https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/volunteer
https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/donation
https://ishaeu.org/IEO-OnLocation