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A few people keep asking me this question as to why #Isha takes money for some of their #yoga programs. Why can't yoga be offered free to everyone? I would like to add a perspective for such questioners, also because many of us do not know our own history well.
In ancient days, yoga and spiritual processes were offered in a remote place, mostly in a forest or on some mountain, by a muni or rishi.
Those ashrams were being funded by the local kings and temples so they did not have to earn their own living & focus on money.
Those ashrams were being funded by the local kings and temples so they did not have to earn their own living & focus on money.
The backbone of India's #spiritual practices, namely the royal patronage or support from temple money or social support has been completely broken during the Mughal and British rule.
No longer can our spiritual gurus depend on the Government or the Society to support them.
No longer can our spiritual gurus depend on the Government or the Society to support them.
Our gurus cannot offer their services free of cost any more or indulge in any sort of public charity / social service cause without involving money in it. If a Sankara mutt or an aadheenam is able to do so, it's from volunteer donations & revenues from their existing properties.
So, what is Isha doing for our society?
#1: More than 8000 students are studying in Isha's rural schools, namely Isha Vidhya, of which more than 60% are studying on scholarships. Training 1000s of teachers in Government schools in #Education models. ( https://www.ishaoutreach.org/en/isha-vidhya )
#1: More than 8000 students are studying in Isha's rural schools, namely Isha Vidhya, of which more than 60% are studying on scholarships. Training 1000s of teachers in Government schools in #Education models. ( https://www.ishaoutreach.org/en/isha-vidhya )
#2: Operating mobile health clinics reaching over 2.2 million rural people and Isha Rural #health clinics treating on an average 60+ patients each day
#3: Conducting free #Isha yoga programs and alcohol deaddiction programs in rural Tamilnadu ( https://isha.sadhguru.org/social-outreach/rural-rejuvenation/)
#3: Conducting free #Isha yoga programs and alcohol deaddiction programs in rural Tamilnadu ( https://isha.sadhguru.org/social-outreach/rural-rejuvenation/)
#4: Building houses for tribals, providing skill-based job training and more than 400 jobs to tribals & local villagers ( http://bit.ly/IshaTribals )
#5: Natural farming training programs for Tamilnadu #Farmers & offering saplings at very low cost ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYfGsDUcFjnREwJFaj6awQ)
#5: Natural farming training programs for Tamilnadu #Farmers & offering saplings at very low cost ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYfGsDUcFjnREwJFaj6awQ)
And of course, there are other environmental projects like Project Green Hands, Cauvery Calling, etc.
If someone really wants to learn basic yoga practices for free, there are many made available online.
https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/yoga-meditation/isha-yoga-online-offerings
If someone really wants to learn basic yoga practices for free, there are many made available online.
https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/yoga-meditation/isha-yoga-online-offerings
What everyone should realize is that Isha is volunteer-driven and is not a perfect or highly efficient organization.
Here and there, a volunteer may mess things up, but the intention almost certainly is not to exploit any person but to do good.
#Isha #Volunteers #Yoga #Money
Here and there, a volunteer may mess things up, but the intention almost certainly is not to exploit any person but to do good.
#Isha #Volunteers #Yoga #Money
