Isha Foundation

Filling the world with trees and meditators

It was yet another mega meditation event in Chennai. This time it was about filling Tamil Nadu with trees and creating a conducive atmosphere and providing the required infrastructure for a whole new generation of meditators who function in the world outside by connecting with their self within.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev had a whole crowd of over one lakh people, jostling, crying, shrieking and expressing their joy in many ways when he got them down for a short session of meditation at the Maha Satsang conducted by the Isha Foundation at the Anna University grounds in the capital of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Before someone could ask, what has a spiritual organisation got to do with planting trees through Isha’s

Project Greenhands, Sadhguru began with an explanation on why a mystic that he was, was planting trees. “I am a Yogi. In this supreme state of evolution, only I exist. It is natural for me to take care of myself. So these planting trees and running medical centres, because I don’t see anything else but myself.” Just as one would attend to a hurting thumb, it was difficult for him to sit back when a part of him was suffering, he said.
It was his yogic experience that happened on Septemer 23, a quarter of a century ago on a rock in Chamundi Hills, Mysore. He happened to be there between two business meetings. What seemed to him a fleeting 10 minutes of oneness with the stone, the trees and everything ended in tears of ecstasy and nearly five hours gone by. “The experience repeated itself a few times. Now it is a living reality. Since then I have done nothing else but take care of myself,” describing his ultimate state of ego.
His theory of understanding the self is ultimately simple. One can understand something with what one has. One has the body, the mind as intellect, the feelings and life energy. With the body it is Karma Yoga, the intellect it is Gnana Yoga, the emotions it is Bhakti Yoga and with the life energy it is Kriya Yoga.
“If you have the energy to change the banana into a human being, once it is eaten, understand you are the creator.” Spirituality remains the process of going within. Yoga is not a religion, but the science and technology of our seeing within. This will remove the difference of “Me and the Other.” Everybody needs to know this technology and very urgently, the leaders of peoples have to know this.
Earlier it was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi (recently caught in a war of words with political parties from a Hindu ideology, on his comments about the existence and expertise of Lord Rama) was amazed at the organisation of such a large crowd. Comparing it with his own party functions which requires functionaries at different levels to manage the crowds, he considered it a great feat to organise such a massive conference.
The Chief Minister, his daughter Kanimozhi, a Member of Parliament and a couple of Ministers, left before the Satsang began, after voicing his concern for protection of trees.
The extended evening saw the milling crowds, thronging around Sadhguru who had a cordon of volunteers providing a barricade as he was driven out of the venue.

(Pictures: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev with Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi at the inauguration of Project Greenhands for planting to plant 25 million trees. The ecstatic gathering at Anna University sports ground.) - Swahilya Shambhavi.