Spring Is Here - Public Talk by Sadhguru in Seattle

Apr 2009

Spring is here. It was a poetic moment for all of us here in Seattle that Sadhguru should visit our city at the dawn of spring. The winter was long and dreary but a raging fire was burning inside each of us. The fire was one of longing and anticipation. Ever since we started having the Isha Yoga Programs in Seattle, it was a dream for so many that Sadhguru should visit our city.

It all started with a handful of volunteers in this relatively new Isha center, coming together to make this happen. The public talk was held in downtown Bellevue (Greater Seattle), which is also home to Microsoft and a host of other technology behemoths. The public talk was a culmination of months of loving and diligent preparation. As a part of the preparation, local volunteers had painted the whole town and its buses with posters about the talk, inviting the people of Seattle to a special "Evening with the Mystic".

The weeks before the event passed quickly in a whirlwind of promotional activity until suddenly the day had arrived. Many volunteers took the day off in the middle of a busy workweek to make the event happen beautifully. The setup which began in earnest soon found us in the midst of a joyful chaos. One-by-one, all the arrangements came together: Sadhguru's dais, the musician's dais, backdrop, sound system, lighting arrangements, intricate flower decorations, webcast setup, registration tables, merchandise, camera setup etc.

Finally, when we were ready to open the doors by 6:15 pm, the place had transformed from a mundane meeting hall to the familiar and elegant Isha style. The sea of empty chairs was soon to be filled once the sound checks, camera details and preparation for the first live web stream from this series of Sadhguru's talks were finalized. Soon the clock struck seven and the event began to unravel slowly and almost flirtingly. Once Sadhguru was seated the event began with a mellifluous treat by the violin.

Sadhguru began his talk with a disarmingly powerful chant. All eyes were intent on him as he began to speak about his childhood, his maverick and unanswerable questions, and then on to his spiritual experience. He spoke about the fundamental nature of human longing, the need for Inner Engineering, and the real significance of Yoga. As usual his talk was interspersed with characteristic irreverence and wit as the audience seemed to resonate with what Sadhguru was offering.

Sadhguru began a question and answer opportunity but then changed course and offered a meditation first; to this the audience gave their gleeful assent and when the meditation ended, a solemn silence filled the auditorium. The ensuing questions were addressed in Sadhguru's own charismatic, profound and personal style.

As Sadhguru left the dais, he was immediately surrounded by the appreciative audience eager to ask their additional questions and have their books signed. Slowly the sea of grateful faces exited the hall, and the volunteers who were still trying to grasp the significance of what had just happened quickly transformed the space for a volunteer Sathsang. Sadhguru reiterated the need for inner wellbeing and commitment to the path and then patiently answered many questions. Finally, as the Sathsang drew to a close, the overwhelmed meditators bade him farewell with grateful obeisance as He left the hall.

This is the first time Sadhguru has visited Seattle and it will usher in a new chapter for this center. In Seattle, spring has begun, not just in terms of the outer climate, but more importantly the inner.

The time for flowering is now.