Isha Foundation Inner Engineering Completion

I attended the Inner Engineering completion course in March 2019  where I was initiated into the 21 minute kriya called Shambhavi Mahamudra. My completion course came in a year and a half after completion of the Inner Engineering 7 module online course. 

About the Inner Engineering Completion Program:

Every aspect of the program has been designed lovingly by Sadhguru and delivered by the ever joyful, humble volunteers. Everything was perfect- from the ambiance to the timeliness and flow of the program to the pranic food we were served. Even the white rose given to us at the end of the program refused to wither for 20 days and mine has now found pride of place in my copy of Sadhguru's "Inner Engineering, A Yogi's Guide to Joy."

While the program was steered by  devoted full time volunteers of Isha Foundation, the initiation into the Mahamudra itself was led by Sadhguru in his orotund voice over video. The humbleness and selfless joy of service that the volunteers displayed all through the  program was unparalleled and humbling. There was a sense of calm in the room as we sat listening and absorbing with great anticipation but at the same time there were palpable undercurrents of energy pulsating through the room, reverberating along with our collective voices as we chanted.

It was probably the intensity of the emotions that made me choke up and cry toward the end of the initiation.  I am not sure what happened but letting the tears flow down my cheeks and clothes unabashedly, in the midst of dozens of people I had met for the first time, felt oddly liberating. 

Key Takeaways from the Program: 

Following are some of the teachings that I have brought back with me from the program and from many of Sadhguru's discourses and books, teachings that I consciously wish to work on/ imbibe in my life.

• Being joyful is not the end goal of life, it is the only way to live in order to achieve any goal in life.
• This moment is inevitable. And since it is inevitable any angst and regret that I associate with it is just a waste of energy. 
• Life and every living being presents a possibility.
• I cannot control life's situations and extraneous circumstances but I can control my reaction/ response to them.
• I do not have to live by chance, I can lead my life consciously and make choices for myself. I can choose to be unfazed and joyful today, whatever might be the external situation.
• I am "a being" beyond the limitations of my body and my mind. I have the potential to touch wider dimensions of life, if I choose to.

25 days of Shambhavi Mahamudra, What Has Changed?

It has been 25 days since I was initiated into Shambhavi Mahamudra and 25 days since I have been practicing it every day. I wish I could write about how this practice has completely transformed my life and made me a more patient and happy person. But to be honest, I haven't gone through this huge metamorphosis - at least not yet. 

However, I have faith that one day it will work for me. This is because as a person I have been very skeptical about spiritual teachings in the past and I would promptly dismiss anything that my logical mind could not digest. For the first time I have come across a spiritual path that doesn't promise the achievement of any fanciful goal, it allows you to explore and supports you in your journey. To my skeptical mind, it makes sense as I can choose how far I go. And that is an achievement in itself - when skepticism gives way to acceptance and possibility. 

On the physical and physiological front again, I wish I could report that practicing the kriya has led to weight loss and boundless energy (as many people do) but again I haven't quite reached there. What I have achieved are tiny little nudges of motivation - I have a history of slip disc and am suffering from cervical spondylosis presently. I used to find it really hard to sit in one position without backrest for more than a few minutes. But practicing the kriya has made it possible for me to sit in a meditative posture for long without experiencing discomfort and pain. 

I am now also able to stop my mind's chatter (I used to be constantly distracted by things that I needed to do or even conversations from the past while meditating) and focus inwards while practicing the kriya. 

I am planning to volunteer for Isha Foundation's programs to deepen my experience. I will surely return to share my experience with those who are walking this path with me and even those who are standing at the forked road waiting for a sign to start their journey!