Today, we are excited to share a sneak peek from our recently released Summer 2019 issue. Indian mystic Sadhguru sat down with us for a conversation on evolution, his Inner Engineering programme, the yogic path and more. To read the full article, pick up a copy of our new magazine in your local stockist, or subscribe to have a copy delivered right to your door.
Technology of Spirit
Exploring Inner Engineering with mystic Sadhguru
by Aisling Cronin
Interviewer: Brendan Ringwood
Sadhguru is an Indian yogi, mystic and visionary who has dedicated himself to the elevation of the physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of all people. He has spoken at a number of prestigious global conferences, including the World Peace Summit at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum.
He has created an effective methodology for healing called Inner Engineering, based on yogic principles. He says, ‘as there is a science and technology to create external wellbeing, there is a whole dimension of science and technology for inner wellbeing. Inner Engineering is neither a religion, a philosophy nor a dogma. It is a technology for wellbeing. One does not have to believe or disbelieve, just have to learn to use. Technology will produce results irrespective of who you are.’
Sadhguru has frequently commented on his belief that society is ‘overripe for a spiritual process.’ His fundamental vision is to offer ‘the science of inner wellbeing’ to every human being. He describes this as a form of science that helps a person to realise the ultimate potential they hold within. Sadhguru’s vision has given rise to a multitude of projects, programs, and methods: all of which aim to raise human beings to the peak of their potential, so that they are exuberant, all-inclusive, and in harmony within themselves and the world.
We met Sadhguru recently to learn more about Inner Engineering, his thoughts on the yogic path, and the higher vision he holds for his work. He is planning to visit Dublin in October – details will be announced on his website very soon.
How would you explain Inner Engineering to people who might not know anything about it?
It is a technology for inner realisation. The reason Inner Engineering works is this: throughout history, people have tried to handle their inner world through belief systems. Religion would be an example of this. Later on, when their religions or belief systems did not work – when they conflicted with their logical minds – they turned to philosophy, then when philosophy didn’t work, they turned to ideologies: Marxism, communism and so on. This is a consequence of humans being unable to come to terms with illogical things which we were asked to believe for hundreds of years.
When you look at what happened in Stalin’s Russia, to take one example – where millions of people were put to death for not believing in the prevailing ideology – you see that this was a desperate attempt to defend that ideology.
Now, after many centuries, we have reached a point where more human beings are thinking for themselves, and simply ‘believing’ has become more difficult. This is why Inner Engineering is offered as a technology: you don’t have to agree with it or disagree with it. You don’t have to ‘worship’ it. We offer the Inner Engineering program online, for people to work with it and download it. Then the workshops I do are designed to help people go deeper into the technology.
As Inner Engineering is based on yogic technologies, I wanted to ask you, what is your understanding of the yogic path?
Yoga is a science based on understanding life. There are many ways it can offer enlightenment. When Adya Yogi, the first yogi, offered these technologies, he offered them in 112 ways. He said, there are 112 ways through which a human can realise their ultimate nature. He trained seven disciples in advanced scientific methods for many years, and when his wife saw this, she asked him, ‘what about me? Why am I being left out?’ He asked her to come and sit on his lap. For a moment, she resisted because she felt he wasn’t taking her seriously enough, but he assured her that this was not what was happening. So she sat with him, their energies merged – it was as though he became half man and half woman, and so did she – and through that, she experienced direct enlightenment.
For some people, he went through elaborate explorations of science or technology that took decades, and for other people, he went through direct energy transmissions. To others, who were like extensions of his own being, he said, ‘don’t bother striving for enlightenment. Just be here with me. That’s all.’ It was all about people’s different levels of evolvement and intuition.
So that is why, for me, the yogic path can include many different ways of achieving enlightenment.
The full article can be read in the magazine. Sadhguru’s Inner Engineering program is available online – just visit isha.sadhguru.org to access the program and learn more about it. He is due to visit Dublin in October. The exact details are yet to be confirmed. Keep an eye out for the information on his site!
