My journey to Isha started early in life. As a teenager, I studied primarily Western non-religious spiritual practices, such as Christianity through the Christ Consciousness, metaphysics and the spiritual sciences. For many of those years, I also sat with my grandparents and aunts and uncles in meditation and spiritual development classes. In my mid-twenties, I became an assistant minister at the Church of Divine Inspiration and I continued to develop my own style of worship and prayer well into my forties.
Over the last two decades I have become familiar with the contemporary leadership: Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Carolyn Myss, and Dr. Joe Dispenza, to name a few. Although I had previously studied some Eastern philosophies, I was not familiar with the deeper meaning of yoga or the concept of leadership through a guru.
I learned of the Isha Foundation by listening to numerous YouTube videos from Sadhguru. I found him to be clear and pragmatic as he delivered complex subject matter. It was refreshing to listen to his story of personal transformation and his parables and analogies. Beyond his wisdom and unique delivery style, Sadhguru asks his listeners to question what he is saying. He asks us to think about his message and evaluate for ourselves the components of truth. In essence, he asks us to rethink the way we are living. He assures us that if we are uncomfortable, then we are growing!
Sadhguru goes beyond body and beyond mind. He introduces the honored traditional yoga practices that have been cherished for generations, inviting our physical foundation to merge into unification with the divine, and allowing for the experience of a deep inner transformation. Over time, this transformation makes us a more complete human being; one resembling the divine creation of our true origin.
What was it like to visit Isha USA?
I arrived at the Isha Institute of Inner-Sciences on a beautiful mid-winter afternoon. The scenic two-hour drive from the Nashville airport let me decompress from my travels and enjoy the journey. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was eager to find out what was in store.
I received a warm welcome as I signed in. I went to my room and was delighted at the beautiful view from my window. The accommodations were spacious and very pleasant. After settling in a bit, I was ready to explore! Impossible to miss were two amazing buildings — the meditation halls on the grounds.
Mahima Hall is a 39,000 sq. ft meditation hall at Isha USA. The name means “Seat of Grace”, and it is the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere.
Adi Yogi: The Abode at Isha USA, was built as an expression of gratitude to Adi Yogi, the first yogi, who offered the yogic sciences to the world over 15,000 years ago. The Abode is available – beyond race, religion, or culture – to bring fulfillment and wellbeing to all. Visitors may become receptive to the energies and grace of the Abode.
In addition to the opportunity to meditate in such glorious and powerful meditation halls, I met extraordinary, lovely people. The staff was friendly and down to earth - they were real people, all of them long-term volunteers. When asked, they spoke freely about their personal meditation practices and their unique individual journeys to the Isha Institute of Inner-Sciences.
Some of the people I met had traveled from nearby states for day trip or a weekend stay, to hike the nature trails, visit the ashrams, or participate in classes on yoga or vegetarian cooking. Others were visiting families from the Isha ashram in India who wanted to experience the sprawling green grass and wooded landscape of the lush USA ashram. Of course many were Westerners just like me - a well-balanced, mature adult taking yet another step on my spiritual journey.
While attending the week-long Inner Engineering retreat, I found that many of my preconceived ideas about visiting an ashram disappeared. They didn’t demand that I abandon designer clothes or swear to become a vegan for life. This might be a good place to mention that snacks and two vegetarian meals a day were included — and even though I did not know what I was eating at times, it was all delicious!
I was encouraged to engage and participate at my own pace and I became the curious observer.
What I observed was the immense respect for one another that prevailed. As a single woman traveling alone, I had no concerns. There was no sense of judgment or any atmosphere of competition. Rather, personal integrity and a deep respect for the earth and all the life upon it permeated each day and night in an atmosphere of natural beauty. It was unchanging, solid and permanent.
There were daily guided tours through the peaceful forest that led to beautiful waterfalls and huge flat rocks overlooking the Cumberland Valley. The atmosphere was calm and tranquil.
To accommodate the growing number of visitors, there is well-planned housing under construction, nestled beautifully on the forest edge of the ashram grounds. You can actually buy single family homes near the ashram and enjoy the sacred space all around you.
I am excited to hear that over the next few years Isha will be building a new Welcome Center and a children’s school. They are expanding the offices and adding space for photography and technology use. I have been encouraged by others at Isha to continue my volunteer efforts in the area of photography and there is also an opportunity to help out with the children’s creative curriculum.
With my love for learning, children, and photography, I can foresee a long-term commitment to the Isha Foundation. Participating in Inner Engineering was my first step toward what looks to be a home away from home!