What is your identity and your purpose in life?
It’s a question that plagues many of our minds. And with all the constant chatter and opinions around us, our perspective becomes clouded, making it hard for us to listen to our inner voice.
What if I told you that you could turn that around and find your purpose? What if there was a way for you to rise above all the noise for a chance to truly understand yourself and discover your identity? What if our guest today tells you exactly how to stop struggling and start being true to yourself?
If this has piqued your interest, then you, my friend, are at the right place. For a long time, this man has been working towards the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of humanity. He has touched the lives of millions worldwide and continues doing so each day. He is jovial, articulate, and he is a yogi. If you haven’t already guessed it by now, his name is Sadhguru.
“Once you come to an unwavering state of awareness where you identify with nothing but the core of your being, liberation cannot be denied to you.” – Sadhguru
Sadhguru has a unique ability to make the ancient yogic sciences relevant to contemporary minds. His approach does not focus on any specific belief system, but instead offers powerful and proven methods for self-transformation. With this idea, he gave birth to the Isha Foundation: a nonprofit organization that now has over 300 centers globally, supported by over nine million volunteers!
The last time I had Sadhguru on my show was for Episode #965, and I am super excited to have him on my show again. But before we begin this knowledge-packed episode, let’s first get to know the legendary Sadhguru a little more.
Who is Sadhguru?
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is an inspiring yogi, mystic, visionary, speaker and author, who has been named one of India’s 50 most influential people. He is dedicated to the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of humanity. Sadhguru possesses a perspective on life that never fails to intrigue, challenge, and surprise all those he encounters.
He has been teaching yoga since 1982. In 1992, Sadhguru laid the foundation for the Isha Foundation, a nonprofit spiritual organization. The Isha Foundation is committed to raising human consciousness, and stimulates global harmony through individual transformation. One can deep dive into the ancient science of yoga by selecting one of the many transformational programs offered by the foundation.
His book, Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy, is a New York Times Bestseller and is a profound read for anyone who is looking at transforming their lives. This book gives you a perfect glimpse of Sadhguru’s early life and spiritual awakening and talks about the many moments that led to his eventual enlightenment.
“Confidence and stupidity are a very dangerous combination, and they generally go together.” – Sadhguru
Sadhguru is a regular speaker at some leading educational institutions like MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Oxford. He has also spoken at major global forums like the United Nations and the World Economic Forum to discuss issues like spirituality, socio-economic development, and leadership.
It’s always such a joy to sit down and connect with Sadhguru. I know that you’ll find value in our conversation. A lot is coming your way, so sit tight, and enjoy the ride.
Karma and its Influence on Us
A common saying associated with the word karma, and something that we have all heard growing up is, “You reap what you sow, and if you do something bad, then something bad will happen to you.” But is this all that karma is about? Or is there something more?
“[There] are some people who [try to] control [others] either with fear or guilt. This has been the basis for a whole lot of things happening in the world. If you do this you will go to hell, or if you do that you will go to hell. … All these kinds of things are essentially [to] control humanity [through] fear and guilt. … [But] karma is not about fear or guilt, [it’s] about liberation, … about freedom.” – Sadhguru
Sadhguru states that in each of us lies traces of early humans and mammals. Evolution has not only allowed us to adapt physically to the planet but also spiritually. He calls us all a composite of human memories which have become a part of our subconscious. How we utilize this power to make our choices is what karma is about.
“So many things may have happened [to me], but [the] kind of [action] I perform right now is 100% my choice. [We can] use [our experiences], as a manual and blossom into a fragrance, or [we can use] this to smear [the filth] around us and walk [ahead]. This is the choice that everybody has when unpleasant things happen to us.” – Sadhguru
We all have this ability in us, to deep-dive into our subconscious and unlock our memories, to seek within us the answers to the questions that torment us. Your joy should not lie in another person’s failure, but it should be amplified by the well-being of others. If you feed on misery, you will never come out of misery, but if you plan your actions in a way that addresses your misery, then you are already in a better place.
