Serenity in the City: Atlanta Experiences Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya

In the realm of spiritual exploration, there are events that transcend boundaries, bringing people together in profound ways. One such event was the Inner Engineering Completion program that converged in Atlanta. Over 4000 participants and volunteers, fueled by a shared quest for spiritual possibilities and personal growth came together, in the presence of Sadhguru. As the world finally recovers from the devastation of Covid-19, the doors opened at the splendid Georgia World Congress Center. It had been over 4 years since the last program and a heightened anticipation from both participants and volunteers was palpable.

As Sadhguru entered the space, cheers filled the air–the long awaited moment had finally arrived. After joking that the participants would be unable to “pause” him unlike in the online videos, Sadhguru reminded the audience about the core purpose of the program. He said, “You’re not here to identify with some new ideology or start a religion. You’re here to imbibe a certain technology.” “Having come as a human being,” he explained, “you have been given faculties through which you can delve deep into life. This is what sets you apart from other creatures…. If you delve deeper and deeper into life, the more profound your experience becomes; the more magical it becomes.”

Sadhguru asked the audience, “If you’re given a choice, would you like to be blissed out or miserable?” And the crowd roared,  “Blissed out.”  Reminding the participants that the way they experienced life was entirely their choice, Sadhguru explained that “once there is a choice, there are tools to get there; the sophistication of the tool will determine how quickly you’ll get there.” And from there on, Sadhguru led the participants, including over 70 minors and hundreds of young adults, on a journey to self-empowerment by learning the powerful tool of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya.

Jyothi, one of the participants, shared emotionally how Sadhguru’s talks made a huge difference in her life. She was able to get through some challenging times because of his videos, the pandemic included. She also shared that she no longer needed to be on medication for depression. Jyothi was enthused to be in his presence and receive the Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya.

Dalvin from Georgia shared on a lighthearted note that Sadhguru and this experience of Inner Engineering is like a peanut butter and jelly combination–it goes perfectly together.

Dariia whose home country is Ukraine shared that the war had deeply affected her. She had come to the program to understand herself better and address her stress. She shared that just after being in the gathering for half a day, she felt like a lot had changed within herself.

Particularly inspiring was the presence of so many young participants. When asked how he would encourage other youth to complete Inner Engineering, 19-year-old Samih said that there’s no way that this can harm you; it can only benefit you – and it’s worth a try. Sophia, a 15-year-old participant introduced to Sadhguru by her father, shared, “I came with no expectations and an open mind. I am very excited to be here.”  Fifteen-year-old Arrya who also had been introduced to Sadhguru by his parents, shared, “I am very happy.  I have been waiting for two years for this.” Peter, a 23-year-old participant, described his experience of the program as “super cool” and “super great,” adding “I have been following Sadhguru since 2018 after a bad break-up….  It is surreal seeing him in person. I love all the practices. I am excited about [the initiation into Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya].”  

The day when participants were initiated into Shambhavi Kriya happened to coincide with Purnima (full moon). Purnima is known to be particularly auspicious for spiritual seekers. Sadhguru says, “On this day of the lunar cycle, the planet moves into a certain position with the moon. And the magnetic pull is also different. On this day, it is like you have a free ride of energy and awareness.”

Later on, Sadhguru answered a variety of questions directly from the participants as he walked slowly down the center aisle. One participant excitedly asked if she could take a picture with Sadhguru. Sadhguru graciously invited her to come stand beside him and also asked the event photographer to capture that moment. When asked about his vision for the future, Sadhguru explained the efforts currently underway by the Isha Foundation to establish the infrastructure necessary to support spiritual literacy on the planet, including the building of new centers and the expansion of the Institute of Inner-sciences in Tennessee to serve as a hub for spiritual and personal growth. Noting that it is the first time in history that it is possible to talk to the entire world, Sadhguru reminded the participants about the importance of a conscious planet, reaching the maximum number of people with at least “one drop of spirituality”. On that note, Sadhguru announced his plan to launch the Conscious Planet movement in 2024.

Participants’ direct interactions with Sadhguru extended beyond that. During a break, as participants gathered around the stage with their Inner Engineering books, Sadhguru spontaneously signed their copies.  

During the beginning of another session, Sadhguru called out, “Where is Ka-Sandra?” as he scanned the audience looking for her. Earlier that day, the 78-year old Ka-Sandra had endured an unintentional slip and fall incident, resulting in a fractured shoulder. Isha volunteers promptly took her to the hospital, yet despite the intense pain, Ka-Sandra remained eager to continue her participation in the program. Spotting her amidst the crowd, Sadhguru descended from the stage and embraced her as she sat in a wheelchair, her arm supported by a makeshift sling. Overwhelmed with joy, she was moved by this heartfelt gesture. 

Notwithstanding the very large size of the audience, many participants described their experience of the program as intimate and personal. Jessie explained “It is a very personal experience, I am filled with emotions of joy and gladness to be here, in this space. I am already signed up for another event and I am trying to register for Kailash. I want more.”  Siddarth shared that “it was two days of what felt like an intimate connection with Sadhguru. It more than met my expectations.” Searching for words, Jasvinder called the experience “indescribable,” adding “a lot of things that didn’t make sense make sense now,  It just shifted something in me in a profound way.”  Kye shared, “It got me tearing up.  It is a fantastic experience.  I never felt this feeling of being in such a large crowd I can feel included in.”

Participants’ deep longing to be in Sadhguru’s presence was evident throughout the event. A participant who had traveled all the way from Greece shared, “I am overwhelmed.  I have been longing for this for years.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Chaitra, who was feeling stuck in her career shared she was eager about being initiated in person. She flew all the way from Trinidad for this opportunity.  Ian explained that this was his second time attending the program, “I have been doing Shambhavi twice a day since 2019. Being here today is more about the opportunity to be in his presence.  I feel like I have an energetic connection with him. I feel like I know him without knowing him.  He changed my life tremendously.”   

Juan, a cinematographer, took the time out and wrote a detailed, heartfelt note. In it, he shared his entire experience with Sadhguru and Isha Foundation and how it changed his life for good after suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD for a long time. He says, “I didn’t find Sadhguru..Sadhguru found me.. with his bright shining light, he uses to enlighten the world.

Sadhguru was the lighthouse on my black ocean… when my broken ship was almost lost on a moonless starless storming sea, his beacon of love and self realization brought me back to land safe.”

This transformative gathering was made possible by the dedicated volunteers. From logistics to catering, and participant support, 750 volunteers committed countless hours to create this seamless experience for all. Their unwavering dedication and loving service were the invisible threads weaving the fabric of this gathering. From beautiful floral arrangements to aligning the seating with precision, Isha volunteers poured their hearts into creating a conducive environment so as to create a receptive and meditative space.

Many volunteers described the experience as very profound and inspiring, adding to their lives in ways they could not have imagined. Marina explained, “It transforms you to the core beyond expectations and explanations,” adding “I want to volunteer as long as I can, as long as I am alive.” Shalini passionately shared that both Sadhana and volunteering should go together. Volunteering allows one to keep themself aside and become all-inclusive. She shared with a smile, “Volunteering has become an addiction.” Shalini went from volunteering 15 minutes everyday to now 24 hours. Jill shared, “It is my first time volunteering officially. I didn’t expect to be so happy and so joyful. I love this. I feel energized. I get it now…. I have a new awareness that it is not about me, it is about us. I want more. It’s a sadhana in itself for sure.” 

Svetlana, a volunteer at Isha for 9 years, shared how this is a beautiful opportunity for transformation. As tears rolled down her eyes, she shared that Sadhguru saved her life. She came to a point where no matter what she did, it felt like it was going to waste and felt the strong sense that something needed to change. Her health changed, how people perceived her changed. She shared passionately, “This is the solution.”

As the program came to a close, Sadhguru enveloped the entire audience with immense love and compassion as he walked very slowly down the center aisle, his hand on his heart, looking at the entire crowd one section at a time. Feeling his love and magical presence, the audience sat in silence and reverence, many with tears in their eyes, in awe of what had happened over the last 48 hours and profound gratitude for the precious gift they had received from the living master–a gift with the power to not only transform the lives of each participant but also to light up the entire world with love and joy.