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Sadhguru: More Than A Life
This is the extraordinary story of Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru—a young
agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a sceptic
who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man
who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion
and deep self-knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his
razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers
you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life.
agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a sceptic
who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man
who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion
and deep self-knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his
razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers
you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2010
153 people are currently reading
3540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
April 5, 2013
Arundhati Subramaniam, what a book you have written? It’s like reading a beautiful poem from the start to the end. Especially the first and last chapter was like reading my own mind. I'm not into Isha Program or attended any Satsang but have read a lot of books about him. I have been in search of truth as far as I can remember, have read a lot of works of other gurus and religions but no one gave me an answer like he does. However, my egoistic mind hasn't decided if I'm going to take this path but the last paragraph you have written has made me too emotional and the moment I think those words, am in tears. The friend who referred this book said this book is not for everyone to read, not sure what it means but this is definitely meant for me. Thanks for the great work.
January 21, 2012
After about eight years of searching for my “live” Guru, I have finally come to believe I have found him. It wasn’t an easy journey, more difficult is the one that awaits me. But Sadhguru makes me believe and want to believe that the answers to my questions are all there within him, waiting to be answered. He came into my life about five years ago, but the sceptic I am, I saw his picture, read the write-up on the brochure, heard the “call” and then ignored it. But some things are inevitable. And sure enough, he came back, this time when my husband became an Isha meditator, as we like to call ourselves. Eventually, I found myself sucked into the Isha vortex, watching Sadhguru DVDs, listening to his humourous, yet sensible take on life, spirituality and the Divine. And then the Dhyanalinga temple happened. Sadhguru was yet to happen then. I knew I could trust him, but there were many questions that played in my head.
While reading Ms.Subramanian’s book, I felt I was reliving the last few months of uncertainty. Once I stepped into the whirlpool, I knew I’d probably never step-out., wouldn’t want to, that is. Her questions were the same ones that have plagued my thoughts till a couple of months ago (A few Isha meditators I spoke with while I was reading this book shared a similar experience). With excerpts from his discourses and personal conversations she had with this Mystic Guru, she tells us the story about this Man that has lived ‘more than a life’. She keeps her language simple throughout the biography although you get a glimpse of her extraordinary mastery over the English language only in the introduction and closer to the conclusion. Interesting and captivating, I’d say that this compelling book is a must-read for all Isha Meditators…as for the non-Meditators, I’d definitely recommend it to them as well.
While reading Ms.Subramanian’s book, I felt I was reliving the last few months of uncertainty. Once I stepped into the whirlpool, I knew I’d probably never step-out., wouldn’t want to, that is. Her questions were the same ones that have plagued my thoughts till a couple of months ago (A few Isha meditators I spoke with while I was reading this book shared a similar experience). With excerpts from his discourses and personal conversations she had with this Mystic Guru, she tells us the story about this Man that has lived ‘more than a life’. She keeps her language simple throughout the biography although you get a glimpse of her extraordinary mastery over the English language only in the introduction and closer to the conclusion. Interesting and captivating, I’d say that this compelling book is a must-read for all Isha Meditators…as for the non-Meditators, I’d definitely recommend it to them as well.
June 19, 2015
Never knew Mystics can be made like this ! So charmed by this mystic who appears more real than anything I have experienced ! Challenge to traditional belief but not disruptive.
September 8, 2014
Beautifully written. Fascinating. Having been around Sadhguru, this book seems to have captured much of his playfulness and fire.
December 31, 2012
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, my spiritual Guru, is a contemporary Yogi, Mystic and Enlightened Master, who created Isha Foundation and works tirelessly to revive our once great culture and long forgotten spiritual science through Isha Yoga programs, creation of Consecrated spaces and multiple initiatives for rural poor and environment to uplift Human beings and their way of Life. The Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple consecrated by Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Center in the Velliangiri foothills near Coimbatore is well known worldwide.
Sadhguru More Than A Life is an enchanting book by a Trapezium about an Ellipsoid and its Creator! Written by Arundhathi Subramaniam – an Isha meditator and writer (she might get offended if I don’t mention Poet) – tells the fascinating fairy tale like story of how the Dhyanalinga came into being and the being that took more than one birth to create it, finally in this lifetime – our lifetime! This book offers a near biographical account of Sadhguru’s lives (yes, you read that right, Lives, not Life) along with a few core members of the Isha Yoga phenomenon that led to the creation and consecration of the only-one-of-the-kind-in-this-planet Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple, offering the possibility of self-realization to millions worldwide, including this self (my journey started in 2009 and it is fair to say I’m still at the starting point).
Naturally, like any book by or about my Master, this book too isn't for the faint-hearted. Nor is it for the pious ones who're tied up in their religious beliefs (which they automatically assume are unquestionable as they've been told to abide by them by their revered mutt head, grandmother, family priest or astrologer). If you're one of those occasional nut cases (the author certainly seems to be one and self belongs to that category as well) who dares to question long held beliefs, let go of the old ways and willing to tread a new path, this book is right up your alley. But beware; it won't be an easy journey, for my Master is like no other. He isn’t into Scriptures, doesn’t expound on Vedanta or quote from Gita. He basically doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything – revered or not, unless he has experienced and understood that by himself. And when he speaks incisively and decisively about those first hand experiences, you'll either faint and fall over or will end up picking your jaw that has just dropped, for the nth time.
Mostly a faithful retelling of the various beings’ factual account (which unwittingly reads like fiction) – include the Master himself – of who, what and how, this fast paced book starts from Sadhguru’s exceptionally curious childhood, moves on to his extremely vibrant youth and then to his extraordinary transformation to Yogi and Mystic with a singular focus to accomplish his mission over three lifetimes and culminates with his present form and future possibilities.
The 250 pages long book is divided into 9 chapters, apart from an Introduction and Postscript by the author (we’ll come to that later). Sadhguru’s extraordinary lives (and of those whose lives intertwined with his, many times over) can make you either drink the events that occur in one go and get intoxicated with his grace or go breathless every now and then and take a deep breath at the end of each chapter to contemplate on what hit you or how silly your long held beliefs appear all of a sudden. Sadhguru's unique views and scientific explanations help in lifting the veil of our ignorance about things that we think we knew. A word of caution for Isha meditators and beings that walk the spiritual path – keep a handkerchief at hand and the book slightly away from your face as it’s quite possible that tears (Swamy calls them Joy Drops) will flow on to the book time and again. I lost count of how many times!
‘Pure Awareness and Madness’ The Beginning of the Journey
The endless beginning of the story introduces the reader to Sadhguru’s creation (that incidentally makes him the Creator, which he indeed is) – the Dhyanalinga – a formless form that’ll last forever, even if this planet ceases to exist in its present form. While reading the line “You make your way to one of the shadowy alcoves and sit down to receive the Dhyanalinga” (which incidentally I’ve done more than once), I felt the same impact of “And then came the dance” from Amish’s Shiva Trilogy. Both books naturally have a Shiva connection!
‘Falling Upwards’ Lifetimes Three
Sadhguru’s three lifetimes (four, if one counts how this extraordinary game of life started) unravel before the reader’s eyes vividly in this chapter. From the Bilva’s unknown realization to ShivaYogi’s unexpected initiation by the Guru’s Guru Sri Palani Swamy to Sadhguru Sri Brahma’s unnerving fiery but failed attempt to accomplish the mission, resulting in him leaving his physical form through all 7 chakras as Chakreshwara after declaring “I will be back”, the reader is left with palpable excitement to meet Jaggi, aka Sadhguru in this Life.
‘This One Will Graze Human Beings’ The Black Sheep Who Turned Shepherd
A fascinating account of Sadhguru’s birth (he isn’t named Jagadish, aka ‘The Lord of the Universe’ for nothing), curious childhood and energetic youth, this chapter offers the reader a glimpse of the Master’s prowess early on in his eventful Life. From his ability to see all beings in energy form to getting into meditative state on top of a tree while skipping classes to catching and keeping snakes (without realizing his close association with them from another lifetime) to creating his own Xanadu like private lair in his home terrace to interactions with his (in all probability) realized great grandmother to his death experiment (or experience – a possible parallel to Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi’s) to initiation into Yoga by Sri Malladihally Swamy (“He was almost superhuman”) to dabbling in politics to an early fascination for automobiles (that continues till date) to his sister’s ascetic journey to his failed attempt to join the armed services to his voracious reading (at the library, daily, for an year) to his uneventful college classes to very eventful counseling to fellow students to his animal encounters to his first romance to his successful farming business (and long meditations, deep understanding of snakes and poetry writing while at the farm) to an attempt to start a commune and ending up running a successful construction business, readers will quickly pace through pages of history in the making.
The Man Who ‘Went Up and Never Came Down’ From Motorcyclist to Mystic
Starting with an emphatic account of Sadhguru’s enlightenment (“I went up and didn’t come down”), this chapter offers a glimpse of the enormity of what is to unravel in the remaining part of the story. The transformation of the motorcycling youngster to the Mystic who’ll rev up the lives of millions is mind boggling, to say the least. Yet it also offers solace in the fact that self-realization isn’t something that happened only millennia ago (with Gautama the Buddha being the shining beacon of knowing and teaching) but is a possibility even in this day and age. His whirlwind romance and wedding to Vijji akka (at Isha, everyone is referred to as either Akka – sister – or Anna – brother, unless they’re Brahmachari(ni)s or Sanyasis) follows. Sadhguru also starts teaching Yoga like a true Master, but with a difference – his is the ancient form of Yoga taught by none other than Adi Yogi Shiva himself (that Sahaja Sthithi program has now transformed into multiple programs including Inner Engineering and Shoonya Meditation), dabbles with farming one more time and realizes his final destination – Coimbatore, where his dream of 3 lifetimes will come to fruition.
‘Compassion as Conspiracy’ Preparing for Harvest
Bharathi (wow, what a blessed soul and being), Raja, Indira, Somu, Srinivas, Suman, Kiran… One by one, the core group of Isha meditators start coming to their Master like bees to a fragrant flower and willingly get intoxicated with the divine nectar he offers. The Jaggi that scores of meditators naturally gravitated to was also transforming into an altogether different being already during this time. Sadhguru offers a glimpse of who he truly is at times to them to remove any cobweb of doubts lingering in their minds. The powerful Bhava Spandana (BSP) and Samyama programs happen for the first time (this self too has participated in BSP and longs to be part of Samyama soon) with volatile results and an energy explosion among participants.
Some like Bharathi akka get to know who they were in their past lives (her life has been intertwined with Sadhguru’s for more than 2 lifetimes). Teachers’ Training program and formation of Isha Foundation also happened during this eventful period. Sadhguru finally finds the Mountains that has been in his eyes from childhood at Velliangiri near Poondi and the seed of Mystic’s Isha Yoga Center are sown in the misty wilderness at the foothills of the southern Kailash (where Adi Yogi Shiva is said to have spent time and Sadhguru Sri Brahma attained Mahasamadhi).
The stage was set for the mission of three lifetimes and Sadhguru announces the 90 day Wholeness program, that’ll prepare the core group for the magnificent event. The participants endure dire living conditions and a grueling Sadhana schedule during which their Master ‘Unleashed the Guru’ within him. Many incredible events happen during the entire tenure of the program, culminating with Jaggi making the final transformation to Sadhguru. Reading “I am not your Jaggi anymore, I am Sadhguru” sent shivers down my spine (it should be ‘up’ – spiritually speaking), which I’m sure must be what they too should’ve felt at that time (except Bharathi akka, may be)!
‘When the Divine Descends, You Just Accommodate’ The Deepening Pilgrimage, the Darkening Night
A poignant account of the phenomenal accomplishment of Mahasamadhi by Vijji akka – someone who probably wasn’t expected to achieve that exalted state by any of the Isha core group members, this chapter lets the reader travel through a turbulent time of preparation for the once-in-many-millennia creation and consecration of Dhyanalinga (“A concoction of pure awareness and madness”, which incidentally is how Lord Shiva’s nature is also described), while offering fleeting glimpses at the persona of Sadhguru – an eclectic mix of all consuming passion and all encompassing compassion, who was the glue that was holding all the pieces of the puzzle together from falling apart.
Sadhguru recalls meeting the silent sage Swami Nirmalananda (where the seed for Vijji’s deep desire for attaining Samadhi was inadvertently sown), the Swami’s attainment of Samadhi and puts Vijji akka and Bharathi akka through the paces to establish the triangle of energy necessary for the (lost science of) Prána Pratishtha ready. Getting two women who are the polar opposites to seamlessly merge into oneness wasn’t an easy task for even that accomplished Master! He also takes them on a Karma Yatra to the places of their previous births to clear the remaining karmic barriers. This chapter also takes the reader deep into the esoteric energy space that most humans bound by physical limitations of the five senses will find hard to comprehend.
‘If You Drop Your Fruit Willingly, Stones Can Be Minimized’ Countdown, Crisis, Denouement
With one part of the triangle gone as Vijji akka attained Samadhi (“She left through her Anahata”), Sadhguru contemplates the alternatives to complete the consecration of Dhyanalinga (whose creation has historically been plagued by insurmountable challenges to whoever attempted, invariably resulting in failure to complete when they’re so close to completion) and decides to take it upon himself to ensure no further delay. While Sadhguru performing both his and Vijji akka’s roles helped move the process forward, it also started depleting his energy reserves, resulting in fast deterioration of his physical health. It eerily reminded every participants about his prediction (declaration rather) that he’ll leave this body at the age of 42. They feared the worst as the day of consecration got closer.
There were other social hindrances too (a natural result of the ignorant arrogance of suspicious idiots, which incidentally thwarted the historical attempts earlier too), which the Isha meditators endured with quiet dignity and came out unscathed through their perseverance and unwavering faith in their Guru (he did play a part too in removing the last remaining obstacles). When the Dhyanalinga consecration finally concludes on 24th of June 1999 (and Sadhguru falls like an uprooted tree, with whatever life left in his physical form flickering), all readers will invariably be left overwhelmed by the enormity of the energy consecration process, enchanted by the unwavering focus of the Master towards attaining the goal across many lifetimes and the unshakable faith his followers had in him all through and enamored by the Guru who practically revived a long lost sacred science (propagated first by none other than Agasthya muni, one of Adi Yogi Shiva’s seven disciples, several thousand years ago) single handedly and spirituality as a way of living that’s independent of religion!
And his zest for Life as it is (“He’s probably the most alive human being I’ve known” – Arundhathi) brings him back from the brink (“My body was broken beyond repair” - Sadhguru), when Bharathi akka desparately said – hoping against hope that the wanderlust in him is the only thing that could keep him alive – “Shall we hit the road?”
‘Time to Graze the Valleys of Life’ The Master, the Man and his Message
Whether you're spiritual or not (most humans are incapable of differentiating being religious and spiritual), you'll relish Sadhguru's precise and decisive responses to the seekers' many questions (mostly by the author) in this chapter. From his uncanny ability to swiftly switch from one thing or person to other with equal attention to each to his capability to be present with or initiate the spiritual process for people not physically present to his unassuming ways of enabling ailing seekers do extraordinary things (such as climbing the Himalayas despite being critically ill) and unnerving candor in refusing to acknowledge such acts as miracles, many things that Sadhguru says or does (such as his own miraculous recovery from multiple ailments with the help of the eternal knowledge repository called Kailash) are beyond comprehension for normal readers. But the fact that all these acts were witnessed by people first hand exemplifies how lightly he wears his divinity or Gurudom.
His absolute clarity shines through when he explains what is Brahmacharya, how knowledge of the inner science can cure and prevent ailments, why he’s creating a monastic order with many strict regulations, how to avoid fake Gurus (real Guru happens when your longing deepens), what Enlightenment means, why he cries during processes (such as Linga Bhairavi consecration) or at the end of Sathsangs, why teaching meditation to political leader and entertainers is important, why transmission is more important than teaching and many more profound things.
‘The Ball Game’ and Beyond The Master Plan
Now that Isha – Yoga of the Divine, is already a global phenomenon, what remains in the Master Plan of the Master? This short chapter tries to answer that question. It’s a very interesting answer to a very profound question with Sadhguru declaring “Never again”, when asked if he’ll consider taking the physical form again!
Oh, about the Introduction and Postscript – it may be prudent to read them later, if you’re someone who might just drop a book if the first chapter isn’t fascinating enough (one of my colleagues did that with Asura – Tale of the Vanquished recently, to my surprise, but I relished the book, completed reading it in 4 days and also published a review). They do offer an important perspective - that of a not-so-spiritual seeker’s agony of having to live Life as we know it (resulting from our ignorance of Life as it is), innate inability to trust anyone as Guru, intolerance to conform (to defined process or practices) and an almost endless search for answers to perennial questions and the eventual cleansing of the cobwebs in her mind, to this grand tale of shock and awe, but Arundhathi’s propensity for liberal use of the flowery language of poetry (she’s a poet after all, but I haven't read her poems yet, to comment), ends up tying the narration into complex Asana like knots – not just in the Introduction and Postscript, thereby exasperating the reader enough to let him or her exclaim and almost howl “Why?”
One thing that’s missing in this book is Sadhguru’s sharp that will enthrall even the most doubtful among the hordes that make a beeline for his MahaSathsangs. It’s possible that the author either wanted to ensure the readers get the gravity of this grand story right or she’s such a serious person that wit and humor are dismissed with a ‘huh’! The “I” too is so pronounced in her narration that the readers may end up throwing their hands up and wonder if this is Sadhguru’s story or hers (thankfully, she ensures it is Sadhguru’s, starting from Page 17)! While she’s undoubtedly blessed to have been drenched in my Master’s grace, my respect for his patience and boundless compassion went several notches up when I realized how he must’ve felt while “I”nteracting with (many a character like) the author, for a substantial amount of time, to enable the writing and publication of (t)his extraordinary Life story ("A biography? I'm not done with Life yet!"). Strange are his ways and stranger is the company he keeps (just like his 50% partner Shiva). Shambho!
There are two possible outcomes while reading or on completing this book – an overwhelming sense of awe on what he has accomplished in this lifetime and a longing to be immersed in his boundless grace, in this lifetime and beyond! To be in the presence of a living Master in this lifetime itself is a blessing. “I’m available to all who’re willing!”, says my Master and he’ll only be glad to bless one more being with the possibility of eternal bliss! Availing that possibility to know ‘Life as it is’ will be a goal worth pursuing for the remaining part of our lives. Needless to say, as a seeker, I’m thankful to Arundhathi for letting me learn about my Master’s vibrant Life, which I’ve known only in bits and pieces so far.
I bow before my Master with deep reverence for creating the eternal energy form of Dhyanalinga, a living Guru in the primordial Linga form, who’ll sow the seed of spirituality into whoever enters his sphere, forever. And I bow once again for blessing us – irrespective of whether we deserve it or not – in this lifetime to have not one but two Gurus (the Creator and his Creation – whichever way you look at it) at the same time. Shambo!
And one more thing. I would love to write a sequel to this book (either by myself or collaborating with Arundhathi), starting from where this one concludes – the Dhyanalinga consecration – and walk the readers through the even more fascinating story of the mesmerizing growth of the Sadhguru and Isha phenomenon, the metamorphosis that they’ve brought into millions of seekers worldwide and the consecrations that he continues to perform (Linga Bhairavi, Adi Yogi aalayam, Mahima and Suryakund). If the Tamil translation of this book hasn’t already been picked up by SuBa or Muthiah, I would love to take up that too. my Master willing, of course!
Sadhguru More Than A Life is Highly recommended by Swamy for all – seekers or not.
Happy reading & a joyful Life to all seekers :-)
Love + Gratitude = @PrakashSwamy
Swamy’s first Sadhguru Sathsang experience | http://bit.ly/Vr2
SwamyView of Himalayan Lust by Sadhguru | http://bit.ly/WeYJ39
Sadhguru More Than A Life is an enchanting book by a Trapezium about an Ellipsoid and its Creator! Written by Arundhathi Subramaniam – an Isha meditator and writer (she might get offended if I don’t mention Poet) – tells the fascinating fairy tale like story of how the Dhyanalinga came into being and the being that took more than one birth to create it, finally in this lifetime – our lifetime! This book offers a near biographical account of Sadhguru’s lives (yes, you read that right, Lives, not Life) along with a few core members of the Isha Yoga phenomenon that led to the creation and consecration of the only-one-of-the-kind-in-this-planet Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple, offering the possibility of self-realization to millions worldwide, including this self (my journey started in 2009 and it is fair to say I’m still at the starting point).
Naturally, like any book by or about my Master, this book too isn't for the faint-hearted. Nor is it for the pious ones who're tied up in their religious beliefs (which they automatically assume are unquestionable as they've been told to abide by them by their revered mutt head, grandmother, family priest or astrologer). If you're one of those occasional nut cases (the author certainly seems to be one and self belongs to that category as well) who dares to question long held beliefs, let go of the old ways and willing to tread a new path, this book is right up your alley. But beware; it won't be an easy journey, for my Master is like no other. He isn’t into Scriptures, doesn’t expound on Vedanta or quote from Gita. He basically doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything – revered or not, unless he has experienced and understood that by himself. And when he speaks incisively and decisively about those first hand experiences, you'll either faint and fall over or will end up picking your jaw that has just dropped, for the nth time.
Mostly a faithful retelling of the various beings’ factual account (which unwittingly reads like fiction) – include the Master himself – of who, what and how, this fast paced book starts from Sadhguru’s exceptionally curious childhood, moves on to his extremely vibrant youth and then to his extraordinary transformation to Yogi and Mystic with a singular focus to accomplish his mission over three lifetimes and culminates with his present form and future possibilities.
The 250 pages long book is divided into 9 chapters, apart from an Introduction and Postscript by the author (we’ll come to that later). Sadhguru’s extraordinary lives (and of those whose lives intertwined with his, many times over) can make you either drink the events that occur in one go and get intoxicated with his grace or go breathless every now and then and take a deep breath at the end of each chapter to contemplate on what hit you or how silly your long held beliefs appear all of a sudden. Sadhguru's unique views and scientific explanations help in lifting the veil of our ignorance about things that we think we knew. A word of caution for Isha meditators and beings that walk the spiritual path – keep a handkerchief at hand and the book slightly away from your face as it’s quite possible that tears (Swamy calls them Joy Drops) will flow on to the book time and again. I lost count of how many times!
‘Pure Awareness and Madness’ The Beginning of the Journey
The endless beginning of the story introduces the reader to Sadhguru’s creation (that incidentally makes him the Creator, which he indeed is) – the Dhyanalinga – a formless form that’ll last forever, even if this planet ceases to exist in its present form. While reading the line “You make your way to one of the shadowy alcoves and sit down to receive the Dhyanalinga” (which incidentally I’ve done more than once), I felt the same impact of “And then came the dance” from Amish’s Shiva Trilogy. Both books naturally have a Shiva connection!
‘Falling Upwards’ Lifetimes Three
Sadhguru’s three lifetimes (four, if one counts how this extraordinary game of life started) unravel before the reader’s eyes vividly in this chapter. From the Bilva’s unknown realization to ShivaYogi’s unexpected initiation by the Guru’s Guru Sri Palani Swamy to Sadhguru Sri Brahma’s unnerving fiery but failed attempt to accomplish the mission, resulting in him leaving his physical form through all 7 chakras as Chakreshwara after declaring “I will be back”, the reader is left with palpable excitement to meet Jaggi, aka Sadhguru in this Life.
‘This One Will Graze Human Beings’ The Black Sheep Who Turned Shepherd
A fascinating account of Sadhguru’s birth (he isn’t named Jagadish, aka ‘The Lord of the Universe’ for nothing), curious childhood and energetic youth, this chapter offers the reader a glimpse of the Master’s prowess early on in his eventful Life. From his ability to see all beings in energy form to getting into meditative state on top of a tree while skipping classes to catching and keeping snakes (without realizing his close association with them from another lifetime) to creating his own Xanadu like private lair in his home terrace to interactions with his (in all probability) realized great grandmother to his death experiment (or experience – a possible parallel to Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi’s) to initiation into Yoga by Sri Malladihally Swamy (“He was almost superhuman”) to dabbling in politics to an early fascination for automobiles (that continues till date) to his sister’s ascetic journey to his failed attempt to join the armed services to his voracious reading (at the library, daily, for an year) to his uneventful college classes to very eventful counseling to fellow students to his animal encounters to his first romance to his successful farming business (and long meditations, deep understanding of snakes and poetry writing while at the farm) to an attempt to start a commune and ending up running a successful construction business, readers will quickly pace through pages of history in the making.
The Man Who ‘Went Up and Never Came Down’ From Motorcyclist to Mystic
Starting with an emphatic account of Sadhguru’s enlightenment (“I went up and didn’t come down”), this chapter offers a glimpse of the enormity of what is to unravel in the remaining part of the story. The transformation of the motorcycling youngster to the Mystic who’ll rev up the lives of millions is mind boggling, to say the least. Yet it also offers solace in the fact that self-realization isn’t something that happened only millennia ago (with Gautama the Buddha being the shining beacon of knowing and teaching) but is a possibility even in this day and age. His whirlwind romance and wedding to Vijji akka (at Isha, everyone is referred to as either Akka – sister – or Anna – brother, unless they’re Brahmachari(ni)s or Sanyasis) follows. Sadhguru also starts teaching Yoga like a true Master, but with a difference – his is the ancient form of Yoga taught by none other than Adi Yogi Shiva himself (that Sahaja Sthithi program has now transformed into multiple programs including Inner Engineering and Shoonya Meditation), dabbles with farming one more time and realizes his final destination – Coimbatore, where his dream of 3 lifetimes will come to fruition.
‘Compassion as Conspiracy’ Preparing for Harvest
Bharathi (wow, what a blessed soul and being), Raja, Indira, Somu, Srinivas, Suman, Kiran… One by one, the core group of Isha meditators start coming to their Master like bees to a fragrant flower and willingly get intoxicated with the divine nectar he offers. The Jaggi that scores of meditators naturally gravitated to was also transforming into an altogether different being already during this time. Sadhguru offers a glimpse of who he truly is at times to them to remove any cobweb of doubts lingering in their minds. The powerful Bhava Spandana (BSP) and Samyama programs happen for the first time (this self too has participated in BSP and longs to be part of Samyama soon) with volatile results and an energy explosion among participants.
Some like Bharathi akka get to know who they were in their past lives (her life has been intertwined with Sadhguru’s for more than 2 lifetimes). Teachers’ Training program and formation of Isha Foundation also happened during this eventful period. Sadhguru finally finds the Mountains that has been in his eyes from childhood at Velliangiri near Poondi and the seed of Mystic’s Isha Yoga Center are sown in the misty wilderness at the foothills of the southern Kailash (where Adi Yogi Shiva is said to have spent time and Sadhguru Sri Brahma attained Mahasamadhi).
The stage was set for the mission of three lifetimes and Sadhguru announces the 90 day Wholeness program, that’ll prepare the core group for the magnificent event. The participants endure dire living conditions and a grueling Sadhana schedule during which their Master ‘Unleashed the Guru’ within him. Many incredible events happen during the entire tenure of the program, culminating with Jaggi making the final transformation to Sadhguru. Reading “I am not your Jaggi anymore, I am Sadhguru” sent shivers down my spine (it should be ‘up’ – spiritually speaking), which I’m sure must be what they too should’ve felt at that time (except Bharathi akka, may be)!
‘When the Divine Descends, You Just Accommodate’ The Deepening Pilgrimage, the Darkening Night
A poignant account of the phenomenal accomplishment of Mahasamadhi by Vijji akka – someone who probably wasn’t expected to achieve that exalted state by any of the Isha core group members, this chapter lets the reader travel through a turbulent time of preparation for the once-in-many-millennia creation and consecration of Dhyanalinga (“A concoction of pure awareness and madness”, which incidentally is how Lord Shiva’s nature is also described), while offering fleeting glimpses at the persona of Sadhguru – an eclectic mix of all consuming passion and all encompassing compassion, who was the glue that was holding all the pieces of the puzzle together from falling apart.
Sadhguru recalls meeting the silent sage Swami Nirmalananda (where the seed for Vijji’s deep desire for attaining Samadhi was inadvertently sown), the Swami’s attainment of Samadhi and puts Vijji akka and Bharathi akka through the paces to establish the triangle of energy necessary for the (lost science of) Prána Pratishtha ready. Getting two women who are the polar opposites to seamlessly merge into oneness wasn’t an easy task for even that accomplished Master! He also takes them on a Karma Yatra to the places of their previous births to clear the remaining karmic barriers. This chapter also takes the reader deep into the esoteric energy space that most humans bound by physical limitations of the five senses will find hard to comprehend.
‘If You Drop Your Fruit Willingly, Stones Can Be Minimized’ Countdown, Crisis, Denouement
With one part of the triangle gone as Vijji akka attained Samadhi (“She left through her Anahata”), Sadhguru contemplates the alternatives to complete the consecration of Dhyanalinga (whose creation has historically been plagued by insurmountable challenges to whoever attempted, invariably resulting in failure to complete when they’re so close to completion) and decides to take it upon himself to ensure no further delay. While Sadhguru performing both his and Vijji akka’s roles helped move the process forward, it also started depleting his energy reserves, resulting in fast deterioration of his physical health. It eerily reminded every participants about his prediction (declaration rather) that he’ll leave this body at the age of 42. They feared the worst as the day of consecration got closer.
There were other social hindrances too (a natural result of the ignorant arrogance of suspicious idiots, which incidentally thwarted the historical attempts earlier too), which the Isha meditators endured with quiet dignity and came out unscathed through their perseverance and unwavering faith in their Guru (he did play a part too in removing the last remaining obstacles). When the Dhyanalinga consecration finally concludes on 24th of June 1999 (and Sadhguru falls like an uprooted tree, with whatever life left in his physical form flickering), all readers will invariably be left overwhelmed by the enormity of the energy consecration process, enchanted by the unwavering focus of the Master towards attaining the goal across many lifetimes and the unshakable faith his followers had in him all through and enamored by the Guru who practically revived a long lost sacred science (propagated first by none other than Agasthya muni, one of Adi Yogi Shiva’s seven disciples, several thousand years ago) single handedly and spirituality as a way of living that’s independent of religion!
And his zest for Life as it is (“He’s probably the most alive human being I’ve known” – Arundhathi) brings him back from the brink (“My body was broken beyond repair” - Sadhguru), when Bharathi akka desparately said – hoping against hope that the wanderlust in him is the only thing that could keep him alive – “Shall we hit the road?”
‘Time to Graze the Valleys of Life’ The Master, the Man and his Message
Whether you're spiritual or not (most humans are incapable of differentiating being religious and spiritual), you'll relish Sadhguru's precise and decisive responses to the seekers' many questions (mostly by the author) in this chapter. From his uncanny ability to swiftly switch from one thing or person to other with equal attention to each to his capability to be present with or initiate the spiritual process for people not physically present to his unassuming ways of enabling ailing seekers do extraordinary things (such as climbing the Himalayas despite being critically ill) and unnerving candor in refusing to acknowledge such acts as miracles, many things that Sadhguru says or does (such as his own miraculous recovery from multiple ailments with the help of the eternal knowledge repository called Kailash) are beyond comprehension for normal readers. But the fact that all these acts were witnessed by people first hand exemplifies how lightly he wears his divinity or Gurudom.
His absolute clarity shines through when he explains what is Brahmacharya, how knowledge of the inner science can cure and prevent ailments, why he’s creating a monastic order with many strict regulations, how to avoid fake Gurus (real Guru happens when your longing deepens), what Enlightenment means, why he cries during processes (such as Linga Bhairavi consecration) or at the end of Sathsangs, why teaching meditation to political leader and entertainers is important, why transmission is more important than teaching and many more profound things.
‘The Ball Game’ and Beyond The Master Plan
Now that Isha – Yoga of the Divine, is already a global phenomenon, what remains in the Master Plan of the Master? This short chapter tries to answer that question. It’s a very interesting answer to a very profound question with Sadhguru declaring “Never again”, when asked if he’ll consider taking the physical form again!
Oh, about the Introduction and Postscript – it may be prudent to read them later, if you’re someone who might just drop a book if the first chapter isn’t fascinating enough (one of my colleagues did that with Asura – Tale of the Vanquished recently, to my surprise, but I relished the book, completed reading it in 4 days and also published a review). They do offer an important perspective - that of a not-so-spiritual seeker’s agony of having to live Life as we know it (resulting from our ignorance of Life as it is), innate inability to trust anyone as Guru, intolerance to conform (to defined process or practices) and an almost endless search for answers to perennial questions and the eventual cleansing of the cobwebs in her mind, to this grand tale of shock and awe, but Arundhathi’s propensity for liberal use of the flowery language of poetry (she’s a poet after all, but I haven't read her poems yet, to comment), ends up tying the narration into complex Asana like knots – not just in the Introduction and Postscript, thereby exasperating the reader enough to let him or her exclaim and almost howl “Why?”
One thing that’s missing in this book is Sadhguru’s sharp that will enthrall even the most doubtful among the hordes that make a beeline for his MahaSathsangs. It’s possible that the author either wanted to ensure the readers get the gravity of this grand story right or she’s such a serious person that wit and humor are dismissed with a ‘huh’! The “I” too is so pronounced in her narration that the readers may end up throwing their hands up and wonder if this is Sadhguru’s story or hers (thankfully, she ensures it is Sadhguru’s, starting from Page 17)! While she’s undoubtedly blessed to have been drenched in my Master’s grace, my respect for his patience and boundless compassion went several notches up when I realized how he must’ve felt while “I”nteracting with (many a character like) the author, for a substantial amount of time, to enable the writing and publication of (t)his extraordinary Life story ("A biography? I'm not done with Life yet!"). Strange are his ways and stranger is the company he keeps (just like his 50% partner Shiva). Shambho!
There are two possible outcomes while reading or on completing this book – an overwhelming sense of awe on what he has accomplished in this lifetime and a longing to be immersed in his boundless grace, in this lifetime and beyond! To be in the presence of a living Master in this lifetime itself is a blessing. “I’m available to all who’re willing!”, says my Master and he’ll only be glad to bless one more being with the possibility of eternal bliss! Availing that possibility to know ‘Life as it is’ will be a goal worth pursuing for the remaining part of our lives. Needless to say, as a seeker, I’m thankful to Arundhathi for letting me learn about my Master’s vibrant Life, which I’ve known only in bits and pieces so far.
I bow before my Master with deep reverence for creating the eternal energy form of Dhyanalinga, a living Guru in the primordial Linga form, who’ll sow the seed of spirituality into whoever enters his sphere, forever. And I bow once again for blessing us – irrespective of whether we deserve it or not – in this lifetime to have not one but two Gurus (the Creator and his Creation – whichever way you look at it) at the same time. Shambo!
And one more thing. I would love to write a sequel to this book (either by myself or collaborating with Arundhathi), starting from where this one concludes – the Dhyanalinga consecration – and walk the readers through the even more fascinating story of the mesmerizing growth of the Sadhguru and Isha phenomenon, the metamorphosis that they’ve brought into millions of seekers worldwide and the consecrations that he continues to perform (Linga Bhairavi, Adi Yogi aalayam, Mahima and Suryakund). If the Tamil translation of this book hasn’t already been picked up by SuBa or Muthiah, I would love to take up that too. my Master willing, of course!
Sadhguru More Than A Life is Highly recommended by Swamy for all – seekers or not.
Happy reading & a joyful Life to all seekers :-)
Love + Gratitude = @PrakashSwamy
Swamy’s first Sadhguru Sathsang experience | http://bit.ly/Vr2
SwamyView of Himalayan Lust by Sadhguru | http://bit.ly/WeYJ39
July 15, 2020
He baffles me and continues to do so. He is a mystic but still a mystery. He is referred to as Sadhguru. In his own words, “When someone comes from their scholarship, they are referred to in different ways. If someone comes from an inner experience, they are referred to as Sadhguru. The word ‘Sadhguru’ is not a title. It is a description. ‘Sadhguru’ means ‘uneducated Guru.’"
He says : "I am almost hundred percent spiritually uneducated. I don’t know any scriptures, I have not read the Vedas and I didn’t bother to read the Bhagavad Gita. I come only from my inner experience and the only thing I know for sure is this piece of life from its origin to its ultimate.”
For many of us brought up on a diet of the archetypal saffron clad sloka chanting Gurus, Jaggi Vasudev remains an enigma – the jeans-clad motorcyclist mystic, the snake handling charmer, a fakir dressed in long flowing robes, a turban on his head, an overgrown white beard or a modern-day Moses.
All this aside, he is a charmer. He seems to have the answers to all the questions thrown at him by the media and the likes of Barkha Dutt or the retorts of die-hard atheists like Javed Akhtar. What captivates is his erudition and his slightly nasal but deep voice which holds the listeners' attention. Whether I believe all that he says or not, I like to listen to him. Arundhathi Subramaniam in her brilliant Introduction to ‘More than a life – SADHGURU’ says that “the book is an attempt to share some of that sense of wonder that these years of knowing Sadhguru have been about. More fundamentally it is an attempt to tell the story of an exceptional man.”
The blurb on the back cover says ‘This is the extraordinary story of Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru – a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic, who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion and deep self- knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life’.
------------------------------------------------------------
He says : "I am almost hundred percent spiritually uneducated. I don’t know any scriptures, I have not read the Vedas and I didn’t bother to read the Bhagavad Gita. I come only from my inner experience and the only thing I know for sure is this piece of life from its origin to its ultimate.”
For many of us brought up on a diet of the archetypal saffron clad sloka chanting Gurus, Jaggi Vasudev remains an enigma – the jeans-clad motorcyclist mystic, the snake handling charmer, a fakir dressed in long flowing robes, a turban on his head, an overgrown white beard or a modern-day Moses.
All this aside, he is a charmer. He seems to have the answers to all the questions thrown at him by the media and the likes of Barkha Dutt or the retorts of die-hard atheists like Javed Akhtar. What captivates is his erudition and his slightly nasal but deep voice which holds the listeners' attention. Whether I believe all that he says or not, I like to listen to him. Arundhathi Subramaniam in her brilliant Introduction to ‘More than a life – SADHGURU’ says that “the book is an attempt to share some of that sense of wonder that these years of knowing Sadhguru have been about. More fundamentally it is an attempt to tell the story of an exceptional man.”
The blurb on the back cover says ‘This is the extraordinary story of Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru – a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic, who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion and deep self- knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life’.
------------------------------------------------------------
May 18, 2021
Despite being written by a fan of Sadhguru, the book obliterated whatever little awe I had for the man. I was one of the many entranced by Sadhguru’s lectures and on my way to becoming a full-fledged fan. I mean so many people within my circle, not lacking for brains, were ardent fans. There’s more shit than meets the eyes folks. We’ve got to go deeper.
The book is a biography of Jaggi Vasudev aka Sadhguru, recounting his time and transition from child to Guru. It opens up with a prodigious young Jaggi- street smart and mature beyond his age. He questions his life choices, follows his hearts call and lives life like every breath is his last. This comprises a good quarter of the book and inspired me enough to draw up a “What do I want from my life” kinda plan. The writing is good with strong imageries and a steady pace- enough to keep the readers transfixed.
The tales regaled here precisely enunciate what filters Jaggi from the other zealots. He holds our hands in calling out the displeasure with the world and is quick to strike a chord, resonate. On one occasion, the author asks Sadhguru- “’But many are called and few chosen.’ It seems unfair and undemocratic… Why can’t everyone be chosen?”. To this he replies, “Many are called but few choose”. The book recounts multiple situations where he is able to deeply empathize with every Tom-Dick-Harry and establish a strong connection. Further, he doesn’t shy away from cuss words, does not buy into all the mantras nor does he lay down religious edicts to be followed to the T. (Later though I learnt that he penned a rule book of his own :/)
Conventionally most pursue a linear path since birth- study hard, get a good job and you are saved from the vagaries of life. Any deviance is nipped right off so naturally people feel unfulfilled and seek outlets to channel their rebellious streaks. Sadhguru in his lectures embraces these- there’s one where he talks about relationships with school kids! Where most would deliver an unquestionable deadpan no, Sadhguru weaves words like a pro and presents his arguments in a no-nonsense fashion. Though time and again the path he preaches is conservative, his arguments make you sit up and take notice. Some of his debates are just so fun to watch- lots of new ideas tossed in bucket-loads of wit.
The next section of the book talks about his enlightenment. This might sound hillbillyish cause words like energy, miracle, karma, chakra start surfacing- lots of pseudoscience- but there seems to be some sense to the madness. The book mentions this- take a banana and eat it, it now becomes a part of you. In other words, the energy from the banana transfers into you and becomes you! So, if you were to define what encompasses ‘you’, you really can’t put a fixed boundary. Your breath after exhaling, is the exhaled air not you anymore? What about the air yet to be inhaled? So, at the crux of it, there’s a belief that we are all one. In the book Jaggi, during one of his excursions, is hijacked by a torrent of these very thoughts and finds himself bewitched. He dwells deeper and once out the other side, he shrugs off his physical reality and sets out to realise his one true purpose in life- to build the Dhyanalinga, a pursuit that supposedly began a lifetime ago.
As I turned the pages, Jaggi transformed into a mystic capable of recognizing peoples’ energy and identifying relations from past lives- an uncle, a brother, an animal etc. The book attributes this to his intense meditation that helped him attain this new power. As we continue reading, the delirium ratchets up another notch. Jaggi is freed from confines of human pain and is able to transcend physical self. Miracles start occurring in high probabilities (p>0.05): people chant his name and are cured, lots of strangers ‘burst into tears’ at the mere sight of him, there’s a great deal of veneration hurled around and passages in the book start hinting at him being a reincarnation of Shiva, the God! This is precisely where the book went from good to bat-shit crazy for me. Reader discretion here- I’m no expert in spirituality and what it entails but I have experienced this delight in truly experiencing for myself what it means to say we are all one at a visceral level. That is the limit of my knowledge so when energy, past lives etc. are being discussed I find it very hard to connect and without veritable proof I can’t get myself to believe in it.
Jaggi then sheds his jeans avatar and dons the face of the now Sadhguru. Behaviorally, he demands servitude from his followers and asks them to relinquish their control of self to him. Of course, he quotes Dhyanalinga as the reason but in its name, no one is allowed to question or retaliate. The author rushes to acknowledge a few cases where he does relent but it’s far and few to offer any salve. The movie- ‘The Master’ comes to mind, a must watch for everyone. (Joaquin Phoenix plays a very Joker-like character if that’s any incentive)
The next part of the book talks about the consecration of Dhyanalinga. Basically, from what I read, this place is supposed to contain the energy of Shiva so anyone who enters it feels super awesome and divine. In order to create this, Sadhguru needs multiple energy sources (people) working together, with him as director of the orchestra. He enrolls his wife and another woman- Bharathi- who makes his wife green in envy. Sadhguru explains that Bharathi is a close compatriot from past lifetimes and hence needs her by his side. This instills insecurities in his wife and strife emanates between the two.
During the course of the creation of Dhyanalinga, his wife commits Mahasamadhi where you leave your body at will and die. There are tons of articles alleging it was murder considering how she was never into meditation or yogic practices. Sadhguru rubs this off as an exceptionally rare occurrence caused by her intense love for him. I’m sorry I just had to roll my eyes at this one. I just don’t buy it and find it quite suspicious. You can read this article here for more details.
Finally, the last straw broke on page 194 of the book (paperback). While putting together the Dhyanalinga, Sadhguru channels another yogi’s life energy into a coconut(!). Now don’t get distracted by this cause there’s a key underlying point here. To transfer energy from a man would mean he died! Sadhguru when asked after this yogis plight explains- “I just made him into the Dhyanalinga. It’s just that we used this energy which was going around like a fool as an individual. I destroyed his individuality and merged him into the Dhyananlinga.”
!!!
Just how bloody are his hands? Or am I reading this wrong? This, to me is the scariest parts of it all. Not only does he support the Machiavellian- means to the end principle, but there are people dead here and Sadhguru is wielding this power over them. Please bring Socrates or Plato back, critical thinking is greatly being missed here! Once again, I urge everyone to watch ‘The Master’. If you think you are the ultimate fan of anything, I challenge your fandom with this movie. Come on!
The rest of the book is plain adulation for the master. He is treated akin to God, his deeds are that of the divine and he is always right, unquestionable. What about this ultimate Dhyanalinga? Yes, it stands today in Coimbatore like any other temple. Sadhguru explains that perhaps people might not realize its importance now but come time it’ll shine. If he means after his death, he is perhaps not wrong. Time has a way of embellishing everything in gold. It’ll become irrefutable like any other religion. Now I ask again whatever happened to ‘Many are called but few choose’? Why is he master and rest followers? He is now out of human reach, no longer relatable and just another one of the zealot. Alas. It was hard for me to read those saccharine pages with so much bullshit printed but it was a matter of ignominy to leave it unfinished. Need to wash my brain now though.
Overall, the book is open to interpretation as it’s little logic and more feeling. Clearly, the author adores Sadhguru but when I read the same book I walked away in distrust. I don’t believe that Sadhguru is duping us but that he himself might be completely deluded. Don Quixote comes to mind here.
In the current landscape where living issuing tied to a job that stunts your emotional map, fulfillment is far from reach. Everyone craves for some form of connection, meaning in this life. Spirituality definitely seems to have something going but I believe it must be accessible to one and all and no one is above another. The quest continues and till we reach that point, the answer’s going to remain 42. Long live Douglas Adams!
The book is a biography of Jaggi Vasudev aka Sadhguru, recounting his time and transition from child to Guru. It opens up with a prodigious young Jaggi- street smart and mature beyond his age. He questions his life choices, follows his hearts call and lives life like every breath is his last. This comprises a good quarter of the book and inspired me enough to draw up a “What do I want from my life” kinda plan. The writing is good with strong imageries and a steady pace- enough to keep the readers transfixed.
The tales regaled here precisely enunciate what filters Jaggi from the other zealots. He holds our hands in calling out the displeasure with the world and is quick to strike a chord, resonate. On one occasion, the author asks Sadhguru- “’But many are called and few chosen.’ It seems unfair and undemocratic… Why can’t everyone be chosen?”. To this he replies, “Many are called but few choose”. The book recounts multiple situations where he is able to deeply empathize with every Tom-Dick-Harry and establish a strong connection. Further, he doesn’t shy away from cuss words, does not buy into all the mantras nor does he lay down religious edicts to be followed to the T. (Later though I learnt that he penned a rule book of his own :/)
Conventionally most pursue a linear path since birth- study hard, get a good job and you are saved from the vagaries of life. Any deviance is nipped right off so naturally people feel unfulfilled and seek outlets to channel their rebellious streaks. Sadhguru in his lectures embraces these- there’s one where he talks about relationships with school kids! Where most would deliver an unquestionable deadpan no, Sadhguru weaves words like a pro and presents his arguments in a no-nonsense fashion. Though time and again the path he preaches is conservative, his arguments make you sit up and take notice. Some of his debates are just so fun to watch- lots of new ideas tossed in bucket-loads of wit.
The next section of the book talks about his enlightenment. This might sound hillbillyish cause words like energy, miracle, karma, chakra start surfacing- lots of pseudoscience- but there seems to be some sense to the madness. The book mentions this- take a banana and eat it, it now becomes a part of you. In other words, the energy from the banana transfers into you and becomes you! So, if you were to define what encompasses ‘you’, you really can’t put a fixed boundary. Your breath after exhaling, is the exhaled air not you anymore? What about the air yet to be inhaled? So, at the crux of it, there’s a belief that we are all one. In the book Jaggi, during one of his excursions, is hijacked by a torrent of these very thoughts and finds himself bewitched. He dwells deeper and once out the other side, he shrugs off his physical reality and sets out to realise his one true purpose in life- to build the Dhyanalinga, a pursuit that supposedly began a lifetime ago.
As I turned the pages, Jaggi transformed into a mystic capable of recognizing peoples’ energy and identifying relations from past lives- an uncle, a brother, an animal etc. The book attributes this to his intense meditation that helped him attain this new power. As we continue reading, the delirium ratchets up another notch. Jaggi is freed from confines of human pain and is able to transcend physical self. Miracles start occurring in high probabilities (p>0.05): people chant his name and are cured, lots of strangers ‘burst into tears’ at the mere sight of him, there’s a great deal of veneration hurled around and passages in the book start hinting at him being a reincarnation of Shiva, the God! This is precisely where the book went from good to bat-shit crazy for me. Reader discretion here- I’m no expert in spirituality and what it entails but I have experienced this delight in truly experiencing for myself what it means to say we are all one at a visceral level. That is the limit of my knowledge so when energy, past lives etc. are being discussed I find it very hard to connect and without veritable proof I can’t get myself to believe in it.
Jaggi then sheds his jeans avatar and dons the face of the now Sadhguru. Behaviorally, he demands servitude from his followers and asks them to relinquish their control of self to him. Of course, he quotes Dhyanalinga as the reason but in its name, no one is allowed to question or retaliate. The author rushes to acknowledge a few cases where he does relent but it’s far and few to offer any salve. The movie- ‘The Master’ comes to mind, a must watch for everyone. (Joaquin Phoenix plays a very Joker-like character if that’s any incentive)
The next part of the book talks about the consecration of Dhyanalinga. Basically, from what I read, this place is supposed to contain the energy of Shiva so anyone who enters it feels super awesome and divine. In order to create this, Sadhguru needs multiple energy sources (people) working together, with him as director of the orchestra. He enrolls his wife and another woman- Bharathi- who makes his wife green in envy. Sadhguru explains that Bharathi is a close compatriot from past lifetimes and hence needs her by his side. This instills insecurities in his wife and strife emanates between the two.
During the course of the creation of Dhyanalinga, his wife commits Mahasamadhi where you leave your body at will and die. There are tons of articles alleging it was murder considering how she was never into meditation or yogic practices. Sadhguru rubs this off as an exceptionally rare occurrence caused by her intense love for him. I’m sorry I just had to roll my eyes at this one. I just don’t buy it and find it quite suspicious. You can read this article here for more details.
Finally, the last straw broke on page 194 of the book (paperback). While putting together the Dhyanalinga, Sadhguru channels another yogi’s life energy into a coconut(!). Now don’t get distracted by this cause there’s a key underlying point here. To transfer energy from a man would mean he died! Sadhguru when asked after this yogis plight explains- “I just made him into the Dhyanalinga. It’s just that we used this energy which was going around like a fool as an individual. I destroyed his individuality and merged him into the Dhyananlinga.”
!!!
Just how bloody are his hands? Or am I reading this wrong? This, to me is the scariest parts of it all. Not only does he support the Machiavellian- means to the end principle, but there are people dead here and Sadhguru is wielding this power over them. Please bring Socrates or Plato back, critical thinking is greatly being missed here! Once again, I urge everyone to watch ‘The Master’. If you think you are the ultimate fan of anything, I challenge your fandom with this movie. Come on!
The rest of the book is plain adulation for the master. He is treated akin to God, his deeds are that of the divine and he is always right, unquestionable. What about this ultimate Dhyanalinga? Yes, it stands today in Coimbatore like any other temple. Sadhguru explains that perhaps people might not realize its importance now but come time it’ll shine. If he means after his death, he is perhaps not wrong. Time has a way of embellishing everything in gold. It’ll become irrefutable like any other religion. Now I ask again whatever happened to ‘Many are called but few choose’? Why is he master and rest followers? He is now out of human reach, no longer relatable and just another one of the zealot. Alas. It was hard for me to read those saccharine pages with so much bullshit printed but it was a matter of ignominy to leave it unfinished. Need to wash my brain now though.
Overall, the book is open to interpretation as it’s little logic and more feeling. Clearly, the author adores Sadhguru but when I read the same book I walked away in distrust. I don’t believe that Sadhguru is duping us but that he himself might be completely deluded. Don Quixote comes to mind here.
In the current landscape where living issuing tied to a job that stunts your emotional map, fulfillment is far from reach. Everyone craves for some form of connection, meaning in this life. Spirituality definitely seems to have something going but I believe it must be accessible to one and all and no one is above another. The quest continues and till we reach that point, the answer’s going to remain 42. Long live Douglas Adams!
December 20, 2015
From the little I had heard or seen of Sadhguru Jaggi, I'd found charming and curious. I didn't like his mannerisms in Q&A videos where he'd trivialise the questions asked by people but I liked knowing him somewhat as I felt there was more to him than met the eye. Reading of the book was my attempt to know him some more.
The book is well-written and the author tries her best to see herself as an unbiased observer of her guru. But she tries so hard to portray that stand that the whole text reads pretentious and sponsored. Her main point that resounds through her oration: Sadhguru is different from the rest and everything he does is mystifying so even her skepticism about him is to be accepted simply because he is worth everyone's acceptance! He enjoys being what he is and asks for no forgiveness for what he leads people to believe. His flamboyance may be carefully constructed, however strange he may be, he does make his disciples see kindness in his methods and will liberate them all.
I'm happy for her and others who've found their liberator in him. I'll just have to keep searching for mine.
The book is well-written and the author tries her best to see herself as an unbiased observer of her guru. But she tries so hard to portray that stand that the whole text reads pretentious and sponsored. Her main point that resounds through her oration: Sadhguru is different from the rest and everything he does is mystifying so even her skepticism about him is to be accepted simply because he is worth everyone's acceptance! He enjoys being what he is and asks for no forgiveness for what he leads people to believe. His flamboyance may be carefully constructed, however strange he may be, he does make his disciples see kindness in his methods and will liberate them all.
I'm happy for her and others who've found their liberator in him. I'll just have to keep searching for mine.
May 25, 2017
The prose is lucid, the read though is enigmatic just like the central character Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. As someone, who had no knowledge about the guru or his Isha foundation, I am fascinated by the way his personality and work is protrayed in the book. My next stop, Isha Ashram (Coaimbatore).
July 1, 2013
The portrait of a contemporary mystic and guru, so well explained in a unique way, which grips you to read the book till the last page.
July 23, 2019
Really a wonderful read, his early life was quite amusing, and I was starting to get concerned until he achieved enlightenment on a hill, then things got really interesting.
I have to say it's a great blueprint based on what has worked for Sadhguru. Though I do believe it could be worthwhile for him to read some on spiritual matters, I guess he would say he doesn't have time, as he is practically animating a corpse through spirit at this point (his brain waves could not be detected).
There are some pretty intense retreats described in it. It reminds me of those initiation ceremonies where the more arduous and pointless something they undergo is the more devoted they become. Though it seems he doesn't know how to express enlightenment in stages, likely as a side-effect of not having read much on the topic. I'm sure nevertheless that all the people had legitimate great experiences with all the meditation and ecstatic experiences that occurred.
Also a rather dangerous concept which I've considered even taking a star off for is his belief that (mahasamadhi) wilful release of the body achieves moksha, when it does nothing of the sort, as all it does is release the body. I know this may be a difficult truth for him as it has caused so much pain to him and his organization, but the only way to stop such pain in future is to realize it for what it is.
moksha is a separate phenomena that can only be achieved in the soul world post-mortem, and does not depend upon the manner in which the body died. The exit method is really mostly spectacle, like some gurus and lamas like to turn into light, much as Jesus did. But that doesn't mean they achieved nirvana, merely that they transformed their bodies to light. These events are meant as a reminder of our divine power, which can be used in many ways even while alive and full of life.
I do like how he mentioned that wearing metal can help prevent accidental mahasamadhi, I have concluded much the same from my experience, that it is necessary to have grounding objects to stay in this world. I usually keep some jewellery on at all times.
In terms of the Dhyanalinga that's an interesting story as well, and may very well be worth visiting.
I have to say it's a great blueprint based on what has worked for Sadhguru. Though I do believe it could be worthwhile for him to read some on spiritual matters, I guess he would say he doesn't have time, as he is practically animating a corpse through spirit at this point (his brain waves could not be detected).
There are some pretty intense retreats described in it. It reminds me of those initiation ceremonies where the more arduous and pointless something they undergo is the more devoted they become. Though it seems he doesn't know how to express enlightenment in stages, likely as a side-effect of not having read much on the topic. I'm sure nevertheless that all the people had legitimate great experiences with all the meditation and ecstatic experiences that occurred.
Also a rather dangerous concept which I've considered even taking a star off for is his belief that (mahasamadhi) wilful release of the body achieves moksha, when it does nothing of the sort, as all it does is release the body. I know this may be a difficult truth for him as it has caused so much pain to him and his organization, but the only way to stop such pain in future is to realize it for what it is.
moksha is a separate phenomena that can only be achieved in the soul world post-mortem, and does not depend upon the manner in which the body died. The exit method is really mostly spectacle, like some gurus and lamas like to turn into light, much as Jesus did. But that doesn't mean they achieved nirvana, merely that they transformed their bodies to light. These events are meant as a reminder of our divine power, which can be used in many ways even while alive and full of life.
I do like how he mentioned that wearing metal can help prevent accidental mahasamadhi, I have concluded much the same from my experience, that it is necessary to have grounding objects to stay in this world. I usually keep some jewellery on at all times.
In terms of the Dhyanalinga that's an interesting story as well, and may very well be worth visiting.
September 10, 2014
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I prefer autobiographies to biographies, but this bio is a work that does justice to Sadhguru and his enigmatic life.
I'm a recent Isha meditator, so the anecdotes and information in this book were amusing and enlightening. The book is full of quotable quotes, typical of Sadhguru, and the photographs and personal snippets that were included really helped humanize the unpredictable, childlike Jaggi Vasudev.
Highly recommended for all those who are exploring spirituality (especially Isha Yoga). It's easy to be skeptical of yogic practices and living gurus- I was, until I encountered Sadhguru- but he's a game changer and this book is a great way to step into his magical world :)
I'm a recent Isha meditator, so the anecdotes and information in this book were amusing and enlightening. The book is full of quotable quotes, typical of Sadhguru, and the photographs and personal snippets that were included really helped humanize the unpredictable, childlike Jaggi Vasudev.
Highly recommended for all those who are exploring spirituality (especially Isha Yoga). It's easy to be skeptical of yogic practices and living gurus- I was, until I encountered Sadhguru- but he's a game changer and this book is a great way to step into his magical world :)
March 1, 2018
Very very nicely written book, I read the Hindi version of the same book known as Yugan Yugan Yogi.
the research and in-depth details that have gone into the book is simply exemplary.
Ms Subramaniam has put in her life energies in such a marvel piece of work.
As it is writing a book on such a subject is vey difficult, and when in the presence of such an enlightened master it gets even more difficult, as he is completely unpredictable.
But that's what adds beauty to his multi dimensional personality.
Very good work indeed.
the research and in-depth details that have gone into the book is simply exemplary.
Ms Subramaniam has put in her life energies in such a marvel piece of work.
As it is writing a book on such a subject is vey difficult, and when in the presence of such an enlightened master it gets even more difficult, as he is completely unpredictable.
But that's what adds beauty to his multi dimensional personality.
Very good work indeed.
June 20, 2014
This book describes a truly extraordinary life replete with fascinating unfathomable events from the life of the subject. It provides that rare insight into the world of a spiritual person. Most events described in the book are either completely bizarre or too fairytale-ish to believe. But never the less, they don’t cease to amaze.
The man himself says about these events, “It would be foolish to believe it, but it would be even more foolish to disbelieve it”. That pretty much sums it up.
The man himself says about these events, “It would be foolish to believe it, but it would be even more foolish to disbelieve it”. That pretty much sums it up.
January 19, 2016
Loved the book!! Covers some aspects of Sadhguru's life which are not present in any other website/blog/books (and I have searched him enough).But if you have read Mystics Musings, not everything about this book will be new to you.
A good book for all fans of this rockstar - called Sadhguru.
A good book for all fans of this rockstar - called Sadhguru.
January 5, 2019
A book to know, A book to understand..This is so brilliantly written... Absolutely wonderful.
August 17, 2019
Most inspiring book I've ever read. Sadhguru is a spectrum beyond comprehension.
October 5, 2019
Finally i got to read book on Sadhguru. I really admired him.
May 30, 2015
BOOK REVIEW : More than a life – SADHGURU by Arundhathi Subramaniam
He baffles me and continues to do so. He is a mystic but still a mystery. He is referred to as Sadhguru. In his own words “When someone comes from their scholarship, they are referred to in different ways. If someone comes from an inner experience, they are referred to as Sadhguru. The word “Sadhguru” is not a title. It is a description. Sadhguru means “uneducated Guru.” I am almost hundred percent spiritually uneducated. I don’t know any scriptures, I have not read the Vedas and I didn’t bother to read the Bhagavad Gita. I come only from my inner experience and the only thing I know for sure is this piece of life from its origin to its ultimate.”
For many of us brought up on a diet of the archetypal saffron clad sloka chanting Gurus, Jaggi Vasudev remains an enigma – the jeans clad motorcyclist mystic, the snake handling charmer, a fakir dressed in long flowing robes, a turban on his head, an overgrown white beard or a modern day Moses.
All this aside, he is a charmer. He seems to have the answers to all the questions thrown at him by the media and the likes of Barkha Dutt or the retorts of die-hard atheists like Javed Akhtar. What captivates is his erudition and his slightly nasal but deep voice which holds the listeners attention. Whether I believe all that he says or not, I like to listen to him.
Arundhathi Subramaniam in her brilliant Introduction to ‘More than a life – SADHGURU’ says that “the book is an attempt to share some of that sense of wonder that these years of knowing Sadhguru have been about. More fundamentally it is an attempt to tell the story of an exceptional man.”
The blurb on the back cover says ‘This is the extraordinary story of Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru – a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic, who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion and deep self- knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life’.
Arundhathi says that her book is a subjective account of one man’s life journey – or more accurately, life journeys and is based on conversations with the Sadhguru and with those acquainted with him, as well as archival material from the Isha Yoga Centre at Coimbatore. Herself a skeptic she says “Gurus didn’t happen to us urban women. Psychotherapists happened to us. Books and conversations happened to us Wittgenstein and Kierkegaard and Krishnamurti spouting friends happened to us. Gurus belonged to another era – a simpler world where there were simpler divides between the leader and the led. The only guru I could envisage was the sage in a B-grade Indian mythological movie with a candyflos beard and an air of constipated benignity.” Strong words one would agree, but that was all before she met with the Sadguru.
It was in 1997 that she says something decisive happened in her life, she felt she was dying, nothing physical or psychological or depression. In short, one can decipher it is that strange feeling of impermanence of one’s own existence in this world. I may equate it with Sartre’s ‘Nausea’. She says “This strange encounter with death had brought with it an unambiguous picture of what really counted.” She became seeker for she did not want the comfortable uncertainty of the committed agnostic; she wanted the clarity of one who knew. After a prolonged experimentation with various methods and yoga, she came to the conclusion that the answers if any, were to be found within oneself. Then in May 2004 she attended a talk by someone called Sadhguru. That perhaps was the starting point for this book – a way of understanding who this man was and what was it that he conveyed. A skeptic in the beginning, one gets a feeling of a slow but a steady transformation into a believer.
This book is a fascinating journey of a man born Jagdish Vasudev to a Sadhguru. One may or may not believe all that is written in the book about the life of Jaggi Vasudev especially where he talks of his various previous births and the quest to establish the Dhyanalinga, which reaches fruition only in this birth. I am a skeptic, but I also want to believe. I have not been able to grasp the significance of the Dhyanalinga being made up of pure energy and the processes involved in establishing it.
After listening to his various conversations I cannot but agree with Arundhathi when she says “What has always fascinated me about Sadhguru is his breathtaking sweep of knowledge about varied aspects of life and the effortless manner in which he seems to garner it.”
It is not my aim to put down here the life story of Jaggi Vasudev, it is done in a riveting manner by Arundhathi. I found the book engrossing felt totally involved reading it. But I would like to quote some portions from the book here which I found illuminating and of significance to our own questions.
“The mystic is just someone who has realized what is there. Others don’t because they’re too self-engrossed to pay any attention to life”
“Liberation is not my idea; it is the fundamental longing in every form of human life.”
“Destiny is hundred percent your creation. Even now that is so. It is just that you are creating it unconsciously.”
“Self-Realization is less about getting somewhere than about realizing there is nowhere to go. It entails not an acquisition of knowledge, but an unlearning of received wisdom. What was limited knowing has become boundless unknowing. That’s wonderful enough for me.”
As a conclusion I quote Arundhathi once again “I remember what I wrote in my first article on him five years ago: ‘Let’s say we disbelieve the whole story about his yogic mastery and enlightenment. We’re still left with an interesting deal. There’s brazing wit, a refreshing lack of piety … a razor sharp intelligence … a contemporary vocabulary, the teaching of a meditation process that requires no faith, only committed practice. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev wears the air of a man who’s figured out how to lead a life of sanity. Perhaps that is enough?’
About the Author
Arundhathi Subramaniam is the author of three books of poetry, most recently Where I Live: New and Selected Poems. She has written a prose work, The Book of Buddha, and co-edited an anthology of contemporary Indian love poetry in English, Confronting Love. She describes herself as a wondering, protesting, but committed Isha yoga practitioner and perhaps more of a devotee than she lets on.
Poet Arundhathi Subramaniam on Saturday won the inaugural Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for Poetry for her work When God is a Traveller. – THE HINDU January 25, 2015
He baffles me and continues to do so. He is a mystic but still a mystery. He is referred to as Sadhguru. In his own words “When someone comes from their scholarship, they are referred to in different ways. If someone comes from an inner experience, they are referred to as Sadhguru. The word “Sadhguru” is not a title. It is a description. Sadhguru means “uneducated Guru.” I am almost hundred percent spiritually uneducated. I don’t know any scriptures, I have not read the Vedas and I didn’t bother to read the Bhagavad Gita. I come only from my inner experience and the only thing I know for sure is this piece of life from its origin to its ultimate.”
For many of us brought up on a diet of the archetypal saffron clad sloka chanting Gurus, Jaggi Vasudev remains an enigma – the jeans clad motorcyclist mystic, the snake handling charmer, a fakir dressed in long flowing robes, a turban on his head, an overgrown white beard or a modern day Moses.
All this aside, he is a charmer. He seems to have the answers to all the questions thrown at him by the media and the likes of Barkha Dutt or the retorts of die-hard atheists like Javed Akhtar. What captivates is his erudition and his slightly nasal but deep voice which holds the listeners attention. Whether I believe all that he says or not, I like to listen to him.
Arundhathi Subramaniam in her brilliant Introduction to ‘More than a life – SADHGURU’ says that “the book is an attempt to share some of that sense of wonder that these years of knowing Sadhguru have been about. More fundamentally it is an attempt to tell the story of an exceptional man.”
The blurb on the back cover says ‘This is the extraordinary story of Jaggi Vasudev or Sadhguru – a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic, who turned spiritual guide. It seeks to recreate the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion and deep self- knowledge with a contagious love of life. Pulsating with his razor-sharp intelligence and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life’.
Arundhathi says that her book is a subjective account of one man’s life journey – or more accurately, life journeys and is based on conversations with the Sadhguru and with those acquainted with him, as well as archival material from the Isha Yoga Centre at Coimbatore. Herself a skeptic she says “Gurus didn’t happen to us urban women. Psychotherapists happened to us. Books and conversations happened to us Wittgenstein and Kierkegaard and Krishnamurti spouting friends happened to us. Gurus belonged to another era – a simpler world where there were simpler divides between the leader and the led. The only guru I could envisage was the sage in a B-grade Indian mythological movie with a candyflos beard and an air of constipated benignity.” Strong words one would agree, but that was all before she met with the Sadguru.
It was in 1997 that she says something decisive happened in her life, she felt she was dying, nothing physical or psychological or depression. In short, one can decipher it is that strange feeling of impermanence of one’s own existence in this world. I may equate it with Sartre’s ‘Nausea’. She says “This strange encounter with death had brought with it an unambiguous picture of what really counted.” She became seeker for she did not want the comfortable uncertainty of the committed agnostic; she wanted the clarity of one who knew. After a prolonged experimentation with various methods and yoga, she came to the conclusion that the answers if any, were to be found within oneself. Then in May 2004 she attended a talk by someone called Sadhguru. That perhaps was the starting point for this book – a way of understanding who this man was and what was it that he conveyed. A skeptic in the beginning, one gets a feeling of a slow but a steady transformation into a believer.
This book is a fascinating journey of a man born Jagdish Vasudev to a Sadhguru. One may or may not believe all that is written in the book about the life of Jaggi Vasudev especially where he talks of his various previous births and the quest to establish the Dhyanalinga, which reaches fruition only in this birth. I am a skeptic, but I also want to believe. I have not been able to grasp the significance of the Dhyanalinga being made up of pure energy and the processes involved in establishing it.
After listening to his various conversations I cannot but agree with Arundhathi when she says “What has always fascinated me about Sadhguru is his breathtaking sweep of knowledge about varied aspects of life and the effortless manner in which he seems to garner it.”
It is not my aim to put down here the life story of Jaggi Vasudev, it is done in a riveting manner by Arundhathi. I found the book engrossing felt totally involved reading it. But I would like to quote some portions from the book here which I found illuminating and of significance to our own questions.
“The mystic is just someone who has realized what is there. Others don’t because they’re too self-engrossed to pay any attention to life”
“Liberation is not my idea; it is the fundamental longing in every form of human life.”
“Destiny is hundred percent your creation. Even now that is so. It is just that you are creating it unconsciously.”
“Self-Realization is less about getting somewhere than about realizing there is nowhere to go. It entails not an acquisition of knowledge, but an unlearning of received wisdom. What was limited knowing has become boundless unknowing. That’s wonderful enough for me.”
As a conclusion I quote Arundhathi once again “I remember what I wrote in my first article on him five years ago: ‘Let’s say we disbelieve the whole story about his yogic mastery and enlightenment. We’re still left with an interesting deal. There’s brazing wit, a refreshing lack of piety … a razor sharp intelligence … a contemporary vocabulary, the teaching of a meditation process that requires no faith, only committed practice. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev wears the air of a man who’s figured out how to lead a life of sanity. Perhaps that is enough?’
About the Author
Arundhathi Subramaniam is the author of three books of poetry, most recently Where I Live: New and Selected Poems. She has written a prose work, The Book of Buddha, and co-edited an anthology of contemporary Indian love poetry in English, Confronting Love. She describes herself as a wondering, protesting, but committed Isha yoga practitioner and perhaps more of a devotee than she lets on.
Poet Arundhathi Subramaniam on Saturday won the inaugural Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for Poetry for her work When God is a Traveller. – THE HINDU January 25, 2015
October 20, 2018
Sadhguru today is a big national celebrity and is being closely followed by the media and specially youth. This book is in a way his concise biography which gives us a broad view of his nature, early life and work. It also gives a description of the inception and evolution of the Isha Foundation.
I picked up the book due to my inclination to spirituality and as I have already had a taste of Sadhguru's literature earlier this was an obvious pick. The book does justice with my expectations and did gave me a glimpse into the journey of Sadhguru from a kid to becoming a Guru. A large part of the story is about his earlier incarnations and his relations with people around him who were also his companions in earlier lifes.
But, what I didn't took in grt taste was the middle section of the book where the whole story seems to revolve around the subtle conflicts of Bharti and Vijji and about Vijji's inclination to take mahasamadhi. I took that chapter in really bad taste and I really would like to change that had it been a work of fiction, which sadly it isn't.
I am also very well aware of the controversy surrounding the death of Vijji (Sadhguru's wife) and his relations with a disciple. I don't know the truth but it's probably why I hated it when the author was pressing so much on the story of relations between Bharti and Vijji because what I was interested in was not actually the explanation to the controversy but a glimpse of the spiritual master.
I picked up the book due to my inclination to spirituality and as I have already had a taste of Sadhguru's literature earlier this was an obvious pick. The book does justice with my expectations and did gave me a glimpse into the journey of Sadhguru from a kid to becoming a Guru. A large part of the story is about his earlier incarnations and his relations with people around him who were also his companions in earlier lifes.
But, what I didn't took in grt taste was the middle section of the book where the whole story seems to revolve around the subtle conflicts of Bharti and Vijji and about Vijji's inclination to take mahasamadhi. I took that chapter in really bad taste and I really would like to change that had it been a work of fiction, which sadly it isn't.
I am also very well aware of the controversy surrounding the death of Vijji (Sadhguru's wife) and his relations with a disciple. I don't know the truth but it's probably why I hated it when the author was pressing so much on the story of relations between Bharti and Vijji because what I was interested in was not actually the explanation to the controversy but a glimpse of the spiritual master.
September 8, 2017
Lately there have been a lot of chaos around "gurus" in India. I picked up the book after reading Autobiography of a yogi and Apprenticed to a Himalyan master. I expected this to fall under the same standard but somehow something was missing when compared to my earlier reads. Sometimes the book seemed to me like a PR statement for "Isha Foundation". There are a lot of good things which have been listed in book but somehow I was unable to connect. I read a lot of controversies about the man being referred in book on internet. There was a time in mid when I didn't want to carry on reading the book but I wanted to listen to the complete point of view of author. May be it's a third person narration becuase of which I couldn't keep up the interest. There are lot of good points which are made in the book and "Sadhguru" is an excellent orator as seen on lots of videos on internet. I hope the man comes up with his own autobiography. So you will enjoy reading it but if you look more you will find much better books which greater insight on yogic Karma/re-incarnation and more about the first complete yogi Lord Shiva.
October 31, 2016
I bow down in gratitude of having the priveledge of reading this book and thank Sadhguru for revealing the journey of his life and Arundhathi of beautifully capturing it in the form of this book. I don’t usually write reviews, but I felt that not writing my experience of this book would be unjust.
This book on the life (or should I say, lives) of Sadhguru written by Arundhathi hasn’t just been a phenomenonally, mind-blowing read, but considering the fact that I am a slow reader- it has been an experience, an adventurous experience of unravelling the depths of what is possible for this human life.
I'm not left with much to speak as I only bought this book to know more about the Guru who seemed to be trending on YouTube, nowadays. After watching most of his videos, I felt curious to know how he got to where he is now. So like me, if you are also intrigued by this man, buy yourself this book. Every penny and every second spent with this book is worth it!
Pranaam
This book on the life (or should I say, lives) of Sadhguru written by Arundhathi hasn’t just been a phenomenonally, mind-blowing read, but considering the fact that I am a slow reader- it has been an experience, an adventurous experience of unravelling the depths of what is possible for this human life.
I'm not left with much to speak as I only bought this book to know more about the Guru who seemed to be trending on YouTube, nowadays. After watching most of his videos, I felt curious to know how he got to where he is now. So like me, if you are also intrigued by this man, buy yourself this book. Every penny and every second spent with this book is worth it!
Pranaam
January 1, 2017
The moment the book reaches you and you see the man in his eyes.....! You know how it feels! Intensity in his eyes.......
This book is all about loving Jaggi... reading the book and the way it is scripted... it feels like being into a conversation with jaggi himself.
Brutally honest as one reviewer said... right from the line of "Simultaneous need for guidance and dislike for guides"
Portrays exactly the state of mind!
DHYANALINGA! A WISH
This book is all about loving Jaggi... reading the book and the way it is scripted... it feels like being into a conversation with jaggi himself.
Brutally honest as one reviewer said... right from the line of "Simultaneous need for guidance and dislike for guides"
Portrays exactly the state of mind!
DHYANALINGA! A WISH
May 26, 2017
This gave me an insight into Sadhguru's work. Arundhathi Subramaniam's writing skill is brilliant, and she brings forward the life (technically lives) of Sadhguru right in front of your eyes. I advise people to simply read it, without coming to any conclusions. After all, we know what we know we don't know what we don't know. It is always advisable to keep an open mind and not to fall into the traps of belief/disbelief when reading Sadhguru's works.
March 24, 2019
Thrilling read ...
It was a lot to take in and i took my time to read it slowly and loved it. If you have not went to Isha center or if you have not done any programme by sadhguru don't bother to read it. It would be only a thrilling fiction otherwise it's more than anything you want to know about him.If you are in love with him it's a must read. if you are just a new follower it's better to stay away from this book ...believe me!
It was a lot to take in and i took my time to read it slowly and loved it. If you have not went to Isha center or if you have not done any programme by sadhguru don't bother to read it. It would be only a thrilling fiction otherwise it's more than anything you want to know about him.If you are in love with him it's a must read. if you are just a new follower it's better to stay away from this book ...believe me!
April 25, 2015
I really marveled on the questions , doubt raised by author the more you dwell on them the more clarity it brings. It brings master life and message to masses very lucidly. She has kept the book away from conflicting themes and overdose of mysticism , but the style of narrating the events from the border line makes it more curious and seeking. A spiritual journey into life of Sadhguru.
August 22, 2015
a well researched book on sadhguru vasudev. what I liked about the book is its unbiased approach towards its contents which makes the reader think about jaggi's life in thought provoking ways. A good read for someone touched by sadhguru or even for someone looking at the popularity of sadhguru and finding the reasons for it.
January 19, 2019
Enjoyed the way the author takes us through her own journey from cynicism to faith. I have read it so many times and each time, I am just mesmerized by the stories within the story. A great story teller indeed. The tryst with the snakes in his room, the trance on the tree - visual imageries emerge and engulf you.
August 2, 2019
This uncovers the Jagadish Vasudev, who was totally a different person from what Sadhguru is. This gives a light on his childhood, love stories, adventures and what not. The Journey of an atheist to an accomplished yogi.
There are things beyond one's understandings. If they have that level of experience, one will understand. Else it is good to be tread as novel as well.
There are things beyond one's understandings. If they have that level of experience, one will understand. Else it is good to be tread as novel as well.
September 11, 2019
Someone with certain preconceptions may not enjoy this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Can you take an instruction from some one and do something which he likes, keeping your own things aside? This is a life(s) story of such a being, who wanted to make his his masters wish come true. Indian mystics are truly mysterious.
Can you take an instruction from some one and do something which he likes, keeping your own things aside? This is a life(s) story of such a being, who wanted to make his his masters wish come true. Indian mystics are truly mysterious.
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