There are legitimate questions one can ask about any large yogic organisation, including Isha. But this thread is a good example of how a collection of facts can be arranged to imply something much more sinister than the evidence actually establishes.
Yes, Isha owns a very large property in Tennessee. Yes, it is developing residential accommodation. Yes, some residences involve 99-year ground leases, and yes, certain types of residence have prerequisites connected with Isha’s spiritual practices and culture. None of this is hidden: Isha publishes the arrangements itself, and the residential development and its utilities appear openly in Tennessee regulatory filings.
But what exactly is the allegation?
The repeated emphasis on “17,000 acres” needs context. That number describes the broader landholding, not 17,000 acres being turned into houses and apartments. Isha has publicly stated that roughly 70% of the land is intended to remain under conservation. Much of it is forest, bluffs, waterways and wildlife habitat rather than a giant residential development.
Having spent time there myself, one of the most striking things is actually how much wildlife thrives on the property. Nature has been left largely undisturbed, and you see animals flourishing everywhere.
What is actually being taught and practiced there? Primarily yoga, meditation and a way of living centered on the science of well-being. Isha does not require residents to convert, adopt a religious or political identity, or renounce their existing faith.
It is not particularly unusual that some people who value this way of life would choose to live near others who share those interests. People everywhere choose residential environments that reflect how they want to live: around nature, wellness, sustainability, retirement, or simply shared interests. For example in Georgia, Deerlick Astronomy Village was created specifically for people who share a passion for astronomy and want to live under genuinely dark skies. The development has no streetlights and imposes strict limits on outdoor lighting, building and land use specifically to protect the night sky for everyone who chooses to live there. These shared expectations are not sinister or separatist.
Living in a setting conducive to yoga and meditation is no more a withdrawal from wider American society than choosing to live in an astronomy village or an eco-community. People there still live under the same laws, pay taxes and participate in the world like everyone else. Wanting to live around people who share some of your values is hardly separatism.
And what’s actually expected of people living there is pretty ordinary: avoiding drugs and alcohol, and maintaining a peaceful atmosphere conducive to yoga and meditation. They are not aggressively policed rules, but part of the basic ethos people are expected to respect when choosing to live there.
The practice requirements make more sense in that context. Yoga and meditation have well-documented scientific evidences for physical and psychological benefits, and at Isha they are part of a broader way of life centered on health, awareness and inner well-being. It is not a requirement to adopt a particular religious identity. Asking prospective residents to have actually experienced these practices simply ensures they understand what they are choosing to be part of. Before labeling it “religious,” “separatist” or something more sinister, it might be worth first understanding what is actually practiced there and why.
Isha’s programs are open to people across religious backgrounds and do not demand exclusive religious allegiance; someone can remain Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, atheist or anything else while practicing yoga and meditation. For more than 30 years, these practices have been taught globally to people of different cultures and faiths, by teachers who themselves come from diverse backgrounds.
The Tennessee center is also open to visitors and hosts events intended for the wider public, from Christmas lights and celebrations to Earth Day and World Peace Day. That hardly fits the picture of a closed religious enclave separating itself from the outside world.
So the relevant question is not, “Why are they building a separate society?” They aren’t. A more meaningful question is: what is inherently sinister about people who value yoga, meditation, nature and a quieter way of life choosing to live near one another in an environment designed to support those interests, while remaining part of the wider society around them?
The same problem appears in the attempt to draw ideological conclusions from the organisations Isha has interacted with. Cooperation or engagement with groups, such as Sewa, ITServe, HSS or RSS, does not, by itself, establish ideological alignment. Isha has engaged with an extraordinarily diverse range of institutions and leaders globally, particularly through its ecological and humanitarian initiatives, including Muslim leaders, Jewish rabbis, Vatican representatives, Buddhist monks, various governments, NGOs and people from widely differing cultural, religious and political backgrounds.
That breadth of engagement is exactly what one would expect when addressing issues such as soil degradation, rivers and ecological restoration, which transcend religion, nationality and politics. Cooperation with one organisation on a particular project no more implies endorsement of that organisation’s wider affiliations than cooperation with the Vatican makes Isha Catholic. Collaboration on a shared objective establishes common ground on that objective. Nothing more.
What concerns me more in many of the comments on this thread is the amount of misinformation, half-truths and unsupported allegations being repeated as established fact. I have seen this pattern before: legitimate questions become mixed with ideological hostility, selective facts and guilt by association until a predetermined narrative begins to masquerade as evidence.
Given the complex political and religious dynamics surrounding these issues in India, there are groups with sharply competing interests and interpretations. That does not make every criticism malicious, nor should Isha or any large organisation be beyond scrutiny. But scrutiny should make us more rigorous about evidence, not less. Accusations should not become facts simply through repetition, and associations should not become conspiracies through insinuation.
If the concern is genuinely accountability, then the standard should remain the same for everyone: evidence, context and intellectual honesty. Not selective facts, guilt by association or hostility dressed up as investigation.
Every action counts in the movement to Save Soil - from your daily commute to your social presence. The beauty of this movement lies in its simplicity: anyone, anywhere can contribute to saving the planet's soil.
Whether you're cycling to work, teaching the next generation, sharing on social media, or choosing what to wear - you have the power to amplify this crucial message. Each of us can be a voice for soil in our own unique way.
#SaveSoil
Every action counts in the movement to Save Soil - from your daily commute to your social presence. The beauty of this movement lies in its simplicity: anyone, anywhere can contribute to saving the planet's soil.
Whether you're cycling to work, teaching the next generation, sharing on social media, or choosing what to wear - you have the power to amplify this crucial message. Each of us can be a voice for soil in our own unique way.
#SaveSoil
#policyforsoil
As a parent, it's both my wish n a dream to handover to the next generation a planet, that’s beaming with all kinds of life (not only human), a planet with fresh air, sweet water, nourishing living food.
But looking at the pace with which we are abusing and exploiting mother Earth, makes me wonder is my wish even realistic?
Buy why do we exploit mother Earth?
May be because we think, anyways everyone is doing the same. If I don’t do it then only, I will only have to face the loses in terms of money, convenience etc. but no change would happen in the bigger picture, situations will continue to worsen… is it this thought that makes us chose greed and indifference over our natural desire to care for mother earth?
But what if there are laws, rules n regulations for every individual on this planet? do’s n don’ts related to the exploitation of earth? Those who follow them get rewarded n those who don’t follow get punished.
Don’t you think this will lead to the changes in the attitude of the masses n ultimately a change in the bigger picture?
I know… I know… many would debate that this change should come from within n should not be reinforced with laws n regulations.
But as a society or as human race I don’t think we have yet reached that stage of realization n a change from within towards better. Hence the laws, policies…
Let’s begin with #soil, the most crucial component for restoring biodiversity on Earth.
Let’ raise our voices for #policyforsoil on this #EarthDay2024
Remember that every effort counts, whether it’s advocating for policy changes, participating in local clean-up events, or spreading awareness.
Earth Day is a reminder that we all share this beautiful planet, and together, we can make a positive difference! 🌎🌿 to create a #ConsciousPlanet
As a part of this year’s Earth Day theme, “Planet vs Plastics,” Save Soil volunteers around the world collected plastic waste in their local cities. Not only did this clear thousands of pounds of waste globally, but the initiative also served as a platform to educate others about the urgent need for action to combat soil degradation.
Action Now: https://t.co/ljPXAiXw95
#SaveSoil #PlanetvsPlastics #PolicyForSoil
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Dive into the world of meditative bliss with “Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment” – an advanced experiential program with Sadhguru. This is not merely a program or an event, this is an immense wave of grace and energy. This is an opportunity to be swept away in nameless ecstasies in Sadhguru’s presence.
To know more, visit: https://t.co/RwyLPCPG9s
#Ecstasy #Enlightenment #Sadhguru