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Religion

Talks

Science and religion | Sadhguru at Yale School of Medicine | #7

Synopsis: So one of the traditions here, in a medical school, in a Western medical school, is the tradition of evidence. Show me. And this tradition, which is only 200-300 years old. The randomized control trial, the cohort study, all of that. And it’s good. That’s how we’ve gotten cures for pneumonia, and drugs to help alleviate pain. It’s all been done through this pursuit...

... of the evidence. And also I’m a pastor. And I fully embrace the life of a spirit and the truth that we find in our faith traditions. And I love that in tradition. But I do recognize a tension between the truth that we discover in the lab and the truth that we discover in our spirit. And I love that tension. I think that’s a great way to live. In a way that’s sort of loving and a joyful pursuit that is both, the truth that I see around me and the love that grows in my heart. But I do recognize the tension. What is your perception of that?

Synopsis: So one of the traditions here, in a medical school, in a Western medical...

... school, is the tradition of evidence. Show me. And this tradition, which is only 200-300 years old. The randomized control trial, the cohort study, all of that. And it’s good. That’s how we’ve gotten cures for pneumonia, and drugs to help alleviate pain. It’s all been done through this pursuit of the evidence. And also I’m a pastor. And I fully embrace the life of a spirit and the truth that we find in our faith traditions. And I love that in tradition. But I do recognize a tension between the truth that we discover in the lab and the truth that we discover in our spirit. And I love that tension. I think that’s a great way to live. In a way that’s sort of loving and a joyful pursuit that is both, the truth that I see around me and the love that grows in my heart. But I do recognize the tension. What is your perception of that?

April 19, 2021

10:22

Indian Culture / Lifestyle / Video

Is there a positive role of our traditions? | Sadhguru at Yale School of Medicine | #6

Synopsis: Can I ask your thoughts on this? In many ways we are the inheritors of our traditions. And they do influence us and shape us. Is there a positive role for the traditions from when we come? For example, if I’m going to try to inner engineer my inner life and try to get some direction, and meaning, and faith, and hope, and values, I can’t do it alone. And there are...

... rich traditions, Hindu traditions, Judail Christian traditions, Muslim traditions, that give some context, some meaning, some structure, upon which to anchor my life. What do you think about that? Do we throw away all the traditions and inner engineer our lives? Do we use these traditions?

Synopsis: Can I ask your thoughts on this? In many ways we are the inheritors of...

... our traditions. And they do influence us and shape us. Is there a positive role for the traditions from when we come? For example, if I’m going to try to inner engineer my inner life and try to get some direction, and meaning, and faith, and hope, and values, I can’t do it alone. And there are rich traditions, Hindu traditions, Judail Christian traditions, Muslim traditions, that give some context, some meaning, some structure, upon which to anchor my life. What do you think about that? Do we throw away all the traditions and inner engineer our lives? Do we use these traditions?

April 19, 2021

5:23

Society / Video

Organized religion | Sadhguru in Conversation with Yalda Hakim | #10

Synopsis: So what do you think of organized religion?

April 18, 2021

2:35

India / Society / Video

How do we keep faith separate from politics? | Sadhguru in Conversation with Barkha Dutt | #9

Synopsis: How do we keep faith separate from politics? You have, in the past, for example, I remember when Anna Hazare was launching his anti-corruption movement, you did come and applaud it but you said that the Lokpal was not some magic wand. I remember you saying that. Do you believe that we are seeing the dangerous cocktail of faith and politics getting more and more mixed...

... up?

Synopsis: How do we keep faith separate from politics? You have, in the past, for...

... example, I remember when Anna Hazare was launching his anti-corruption movement, you did come and applaud it but you said that the Lokpal was not some magic wand. I remember you saying that. Do you believe that we are seeing the dangerous cocktail of faith and politics getting more and more mixed up?

April 16, 2021

10:14

India / Society / Video

How do we reconcile faith with individual liberty? | Sadhguru in Conversation with Barkha Dutt | #8

Synopsis: We live in times where faith, for certain, has become a very inflammable, easily politicized conversation. If faith should have been personal, today it’s not. Today you actually have decisions taken in the name of somebody’s faith. So you mentioned food right now. I remember that you said somewhere, that there’s nothing religious about the act of food, just eat...

... what you like. Okay, I correct myself. Eat what’s good for you. But today we have a highly politicized conversation around banning beef in the name of faith. How do you reconcile the faith of a large number of people with questions of individual liberty? I know, I’ve read that you like books written by Salman Rushdie, we were the first country to ban him, again in the name of faith. How do we reconcile faith with individual liberty?

Synopsis: We live in times where faith, for certain, has become a very inflammable,...

... easily politicized conversation. If faith should have been personal, today it’s not. Today you actually have decisions taken in the name of somebody’s faith. So you mentioned food right now. I remember that you said somewhere, that there’s nothing religious about the act of food, just eat what you like. Okay, I correct myself. Eat what’s good for you. But today we have a highly politicized conversation around banning beef in the name of faith. How do you reconcile the faith of a large number of people with questions of individual liberty? I know, I’ve read that you like books written by Salman Rushdie, we were the first country to ban him, again in the name of faith. How do we reconcile faith with individual liberty?

April 16, 2021

12:22

Indian Culture / Video

Why do we do pooja? | Sadhguru at University of Toronto | #7

Synopsis: My question is why do we do pooja? Or, any kind of ritual in our Hindu religion?

Synopsis: My question is why do we do pooja? Or, any kind of ritual in our Hindu...

... religion?

April 12, 2021

7:39

Be Inspired / Society / Video

What is the role of our biological identity? | Sadhguru at Columbia University | #12

Synopsis: My question is actually also about identity. You’ve spoken about the need or benefit of detaching from a biological identity. And I’m curious, I think there’s a lot of people in the room and this question came up again and again. If somebody wants to act positively in society, there’s an instinct to start from the biological community, from the people that you...

... identify with biologically. And since you’ve spoken about that need to detach from that identity, where do you suggest like, what’s the alternative to starting from that biological community? And maybe I’ve understood you the wrong way.

Synopsis: My question is actually also about identity. You’ve spoken about the...

... need or benefit of detaching from a biological identity. And I’m curious, I think there’s a lot of people in the room and this question came up again and again. If somebody wants to act positively in society, there’s an instinct to start from the biological community, from the people that you identify with biologically. And since you’ve spoken about that need to detach from that identity, where do you suggest like, what’s the alternative to starting from that biological community? And maybe I’ve understood you the wrong way.

January 7, 2021

4:58

Be Inspired / Society / Video

How do religion and sexuality play a role in justice? | Sadhguru at Columbia University | #5

Synopsis: So, I understand, you know, the pursuit of freedom and justice. But oftentimes what I’ve dealt with in regards to religion, I grew up Catholic, I’m Catholic, is it’s view and limited acceptance of the lgbtq community. And the fact that I am lgbtq, and just trying to understand how I fit in. And oftentimes I was not accepted. It depended on how progressive a church...

... was. How do you see religion playing a role in justice? In being more tolerable, compassionate towards people from different sexualities.

Synopsis: So, I understand, you know, the pursuit of freedom and justice. But oftentimes...

... what I’ve dealt with in regards to religion, I grew up Catholic, I’m Catholic, is it’s view and limited acceptance of the lgbtq community. And the fact that I am lgbtq, and just trying to understand how I fit in. And oftentimes I was not accepted. It depended on how progressive a church was. How do you see religion playing a role in justice? In being more tolerable, compassionate towards people from different sexualities.

January 7, 2021

3:41

India / Society / Video

Where do we draw the line between religion, culture, and art? | Sadhguru at Shiva Nadar College | #8

Synopsis: I am interested in, or I learn, Carnatic music in my pass time. Around the same time, last year, 2013, there was a controversy that broke out about four Carnatic musicians, famous ones, who sang kritis, which were not related to Hinduism or Jesus Christ. The common folk believe that Carnatic music is sacred of Hindu origin and should remain so. My question is, is Carnatic...

... music is a Hindu art, should it remain so? And second, considering the fact that India, as such, as a country is an amalgamation of multiple, diverse cultures. In fact, you kept mentioning culture when you answered the first question on religion. Considering the fact that India is an amalgamation of cultures, which are invariably related to our fates or religion, where do we draw the line between religion, culture, and art?

Synopsis: I am interested in, or I learn, Carnatic music in my pass time. Around...

... the same time, last year, 2013, there was a controversy that broke out about four Carnatic musicians, famous ones, who sang kritis, which were not related to Hinduism or Jesus Christ. The common folk believe that Carnatic music is sacred of Hindu origin and should remain so. My question is, is Carnatic music is a Hindu art, should it remain so? And second, considering the fact that India, as such, as a country is an amalgamation of multiple, diverse cultures. In fact, you kept mentioning culture when you answered the first question on religion. Considering the fact that India is an amalgamation of cultures, which are invariably related to our fates or religion, where do we draw the line between religion, culture, and art?

December 31, 2020

6:37

Society / Video

Why not live in a world without religion? | Sadhguru at Shiva Nadar College | #1

Synopsis: A significant population in our world identifies as religious. And they do so for a number of reasons. Some of them say it is for peace, or a way of life, or some direction. And they bring up their children with religion. They sort of imbibe values and principles using religion as a channel. But on the other hand, we have some people whose values are so deeply entrenched...

... in religion that religion ends up becoming the first priority and humanity ends up becoming the second. And we see examples of this. For example, when people oppose inter-religion marriages, or religious riots, or an extreme case as terrorism. So why not live in a world without religion? Why not teach our children and the future generation values and principles without introducing religion?

Synopsis: A significant population in our world identifies as religious. And they...

... do so for a number of reasons. Some of them say it is for peace, or a way of life, or some direction. And they bring up their children with religion. They sort of imbibe values and principles using religion as a channel. But on the other hand, we have some people whose values are so deeply entrenched in religion that religion ends up becoming the first priority and humanity ends up becoming the second. And we see examples of this. For example, when people oppose inter-religion marriages, or religious riots, or an extreme case as terrorism. So why not live in a world without religion? Why not teach our children and the future generation values and principles without introducing religion?

December 31, 2020

15:42

Society / Video

Is religion against homosexuality?

Transcript: When we say, sexuality, let's understand this. It is something nature has put in us. Because there is something called as perpetuation of the race, or the species, otherwise it won't happen. Of course, we being human beings, having more brains than body. Supposed to. Because of that, we kind of eliminated the reproductive part and just using the pleasure part of it. Alright? This is sexuality right...

... now, largely in the world. But essentially, this pleasure also has come into the sexuality process, because otherwise. Well, if there was no pleasure to it, maybe we wouldn't be born, you and me. Our present parents would not have gone into it if there was no pleasure at all attached. Yes or no? So we're here because of that. So there is no denying it, or putting it under the carpet. That's not the thing. But, somebody has a certain kind of sexual preference. Which has got nothing to do with the reproductive process, as such. It is their personal preference. Because every individual has the right to do whatever the hell they want to do with their body, because it's their body. But, if it is something harmful, you're going to cut your nose off, or you're going to cut something else off, then maybe we will try to prevent you. But you're not causing any harm to yourself in that way, then it's your business as long as you do something in your private. Right now the supreme court decision is just that. That what a person does in their private space is nobody's business. Government need not enter people's bedrooms, that is the law. Alright? Now, coming to this religious resistance. There's nothing religious about this. We don't have to discriminate against them, we don't have to persecute them, we don't have to put them in the prison, definitely it's not necessary. But at the same time, it doesn't need promotion either. So, you don't have to, when your parents say something, they may refer to their religion because they think it's an authority. You take away the authority, just listen to the words. If it makes sense, do it. If it doesn't make sense, tell them politely, that's not the way it is with me. Alright?

Transcript: When we say, sexuality, let's understand this. It is something nature has put in us. Because there is...

... something called as perpetuation of the race, or the species, otherwise it won't happen. Of course, we being human beings, having more brains than body. Supposed to. Because of that, we kind of eliminated the reproductive part and just using the pleasure part of it. Alright? This is sexuality right now, largely in the world. But essentially, this pleasure also has come into the sexuality process, because otherwise. Well, if there was no pleasure to it, maybe we wouldn't be born, you and me. Our present parents would not have gone into it if there was no pleasure at all attached. Yes or no? So we're here because of that. So there is no denying it, or putting it under the carpet. That's not the thing. But, somebody has a certain kind of sexual preference. Which has got nothing to do with the reproductive process, as such. It is their personal preference. Because every individual has the right to do whatever the hell they want to do with their body, because it's their body. But, if it is something harmful, you're going to cut your nose off, or you're going to cut something else off, then maybe we will try to prevent you. But you're not causing any harm to yourself in that way, then it's your business as long as you do something in your private. Right now the supreme court decision is just that. That what a person does in their private space is nobody's business. Government need not enter people's bedrooms, that is the law. Alright? Now, coming to this religious resistance. There's nothing religious about this. We don't have to discriminate against them, we don't have to persecute them, we don't have to put them in the prison, definitely it's not necessary. But at the same time, it doesn't need promotion either. So, you don't have to, when your parents say something, they may refer to their religion because they think it's an authority. You take away the authority, just listen to the words. If it makes sense, do it. If it doesn't make sense, tell them politely, that's not the way it is with me. Alright?

September 1, 2020

2:54

Indian Culture / Society / Video

Why do we do pooja? | Sadhguru at University of Toronto | #7

Synopsis: My question is why do we do pooja? Or, any kind of ritual in our Hindu religion?

Synopsis: My question is why do we do pooja? Or, any kind of ritual in our Hindu...

... religion?

August 26, 2020

7:39

Society / Video

Is God White, Black or Brown?

Synopsis: In this captivating talk, where you won't be able to stop laughing, Sadhguru solves the mysteries around God! What is the difference between seeking and believing? People who worship, looking up, are believers. Belief systems have cultural relevance, and no existential relevance. India is a godless culture; here we bow down to everything; we bow down to people, who enhance our lives, we bow down to...

... cow, we bow down to a tree, we bow down to a snake!

Synopsis: In this captivating talk, where you won't be able to stop laughing, Sadhguru solves the mysteries around...

... God! What is the difference between seeking and believing? People who worship, looking up, are believers. Belief systems have cultural relevance, and no existential relevance. India is a godless culture; here we bow down to everything; we bow down to people, who enhance our lives, we bow down to cow, we bow down to a tree, we bow down to a snake!

October 12, 2018

9:01

Articles

Article / Society

Religion and Technology – What Will it Lead To?

It is only man that inflicts evil upon another man - not any other force. Over ages, it has been done over various reasons, usually economic or egoistic. But when people start believing that they are fighting for their god, there is no looking back. When your belief and my belief don't agree, then clash is inevitable. One very important aspect is that religion should be an individual pursuit - it can not be a national or a global agenda. Unless this is done, a large part of humanity could suffer, because of the empowerment that today's technology provides. We have to use these technological advancements to bring about a positive change.

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June 4, 2019

5 min read

Article / Indian Culture

What is Sanatana Dharma? Is it Relevant Today?

Sanatana means eternal, and Dharma means law. Sanatana Dharma are the fundamental laws that govern existence, it is an Existential Dharma. Dharma does not mean religion. So Sanatana Dharam is looking at underlying laws of existence for your life to happen in the best possible way. Sanatana Dharama is not Hindu; wherever you are whether you are Indian, Hindu or non-Hindu, it applies to everyone - because these are the basic laws of life. In this blog Sadhguru also elaborates on what is Smriti (Memory) and what is Shruti (tune of life), and also the meaning of the word Bharata.

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May 20, 2019

7 min read

Article / Indian Culture

Did Buddhism Originate in Tibet?

Contrary to popular perception, Gautama Buddha mainly spent his time in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India. In fact, Buddhism became a religion only after he left. During his time, India, what was once very spiritual and turned ritualistic. He wanted to bring a transformation back to spiritual ways. In India, people saw him as one more Yogi. Outside India, these ideas were so fresh, that entire nations took upon Buddha's ways. Buddhism as was taught initially was for the monks, too dry. Over a period it absorbed a lot of Yogic and Tantric cultures. Padmasambava brought Buddhism to Tibet 1300 years ago; and weaved Bon religion prevalent in Tibet at that time with Buddhism. Later Tibetan Buddhism also absorbed elements of Kashmiri Shaivism, as the people moved further North into Tibet because of invasions.

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May 29, 2018

3 min read

Article / Society