On June 21, 2018, International Yoga Day, Sadhguru was at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, to offer yoga to the brave soldiers of the Indian Army. This video documents Sadhguru's journey up the mountains, and his interactions with India's soldiers in many places along the route.

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Video transcript:

Sadhguru: Anywhere when a human being holds something else higher than his own personal well-being suddenly that space is powerful and fantastic to be in, and that’s how it is being here. 

In the making of a nation preserving the sovereign borders of a nation is the most important thing. Without a well-protected border there is really no nation. Different dimensions of the country are working in different ways; the industry, the business, the social aspects, the spiritual dimensions, many things are happening but for all that to happen you are the basis; if you do not give us a peaceful situation for us to function; none of the other things would function.

Anywhere when a human being holds something else higher than his own personal well-being suddenly that space is powerful and fantastic to be in, and that’s how it is being here. 


All the wonderful work that’s done in the harshest of climate and terrain we hugely, hugely appreciate this. This is why on this yoga day; I asked them, “What is the extreme place that they have that’s where I would like to be.” So they said, “Siachen.” So, here I am on the way to Siachen. I’m overwhelmed with privilege to be with all of you. If a human being has to function in extreme situation the most important aspects are balance, clarity and a limitless sense of exuberance towards what we are doing. Yoga has a certain dimensions which will offer a completely new dimension of strength and balance within a human being with powerful systems like Angamardana as we have done for Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the CRPF, we would like to do that for the Indian Army.

If a human being has to function in extreme situation the most important aspects are balance, clarity and a limitless sense of exuberance towards what we are doing.

Angamardana literally means to have mastery over the limbs. You can make your limbs in such a way it’s almost like your body is absent, you don’t even feel it. To bring it to that state and this would be tremendously useful for people who live in extreme climates like this. 


Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen we are indeed fortunate and blessed to have amongst us today the mystic Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. Ladies and gentlemen, In-conversation with the Mystic. 

Questioner: Sadhguruji namaskar! We are at Leh, the headquarters of fourteen corp. This corp is has the harshest climate, most difficult terrain and the most sensitive region facing two adversaries. Sadhguruji, please enlighten us of your perception of the issues that need to be addressed in this region.

Sadhguru: Namaskaram! And good evening to all of you. There are two ways to deal with things - one is to finish off the enemy. Another is to finish off the enmity. I think with one adversary, if we have the will we can very easily finish off the enmity and build bridges of friendship which is very much possible. With the other I don’t wish to comment, it’s a different situation. I don’t think you will see relief in this generation for variety of reasons. There is a possibility; many nations which fought bitter wars – well, you see Europe, World War II is not another eon, all right? It’s less than a century. Just eighty years ago, they fought as bitterly as any men could fight, alright? As dirty as anybody could fight but today they are existing as one economy, almost as one nation, beginning to happen, problems are there but beginning to happen. Well, we could also envision something like that for Asia. It’s not impossible. There are two ways of settling it - sometimes you kill the enemy but it’s less expensive and more beneficial to kill the enmity. Killing the enmity may not be in your hands. Killing the enmity is somewhere else but if that is done then forces could be used in a much different way, all this young men and women could be used in a much different way which is beneficial for them and for the nation.


We’re all very proud of you, all the Jawaans who are here, thank you very much.

Thank you for having us here.

Since we’ve been in Leh, we’ve spoken to many groups of officers here and also taught yoga in various groups and battalions. The level of commitment with which the forces operate here, this is an exhilarating and a overwhelming experience.


Speaker: Thank you sir, thank you so much. It was really nice meeting you, thank you sir.

Sadhguru: 20th of June 2018, we’re here just about to leave for Siachen glacier where Indian Army has a basecamp and further up the Siachen glacier right up to 22,000 feet above Mean Sea Level, which is considered as the highest battle ground on the planet. 

It’s exciting time driving up these mountains and at one point we are touching Khardung La pass.

Our forces here go through variety of…literally their battle is not necessarily with when things happen on the border, every day is a battle by itself with the weather, with the altitude and the terrain but this is an adventurous band of young people doing this and in service of the nation. And people last there for up to hundred-and-eighty days, staying in small bunkers. So yoga can be a tremendous tool for them. It’s exciting time driving up these mountains and at one point we are touching Khardung La pass.

Speaker 2: We are great fan of you. We’ve been listening to your videos and all your videos.  It’s great too and it’s our pleasure meeting.           
  
Sadhguru: We will be at Siachen tomorrow. All the best for you.

Speaker 2: Thank you.

Sadhguru: We are heading towards Khardung La pass and thanks to the Range Rover, we are able to travel at some speed. 


Sadhguru: 18,380 feet, among the highest motor-able passes on the planet, it’s our privilege to be with our brave officers.


Sadhguru: Here we are going downhill after crossing Khardung La pass and on the way we touched North Pulu where there is a army transit camp and we had fun playing little bit of pool with the officers there. And here we are driving down to Khalsar on the way to Siachen basecamp. I think all the tourists will stop at Khalsar. Here, you see some bikers and lots of bikers on the road, many of them from southern India. This is unique, these two men are riding motorcycles and the lady in the front is riding a scooter, hats off to her, in this terrain riding a scooter and she seems to be doing great.

This is just almost like an extension of the Tibetan plateau and it is I think, a phenomenal terrain. This is a most spectacular part of India, this is something every Indian person should visit.

This is just almost like an extension of the Tibetan plateau and it is I think, a phenomenal terrain. This is a most spectacular part of India, this is something every Indian person should visit. Everybody should see this place. If you’ve not been to Tibet, this is your taste of Tibet for you. 

Wow! Look at the rock, crazy.

What a valley! Enna Kannan anna (Speaks in Tamil - What Kannan anna) are we driving too fast for you? 

Sadhguru: And tomorrow we are doing the yoga sessions. Tomorrow being the International Yoga Day.

Sadhguru: International Day of Yoga, 21st of June 2018 - being here with the Siachen warriors, it is my privilege and honor to be here among the bravest men of our country. A proud moment for us to be here among you because most of the nation unfortunately does not know what men like you are going through to keep the nation safe and well. All the activity and achievements that we have in our lives are rooted in your service and sacrifice. Without your service and sacrifice, in the nation whatever else we are doing would be meaningless so we bow down to you on this day.

And above all being in this cold climbs, human body temperature is made in a certain way, we are not built for this climate. Of course we cover ourselves, do so many things but there is a way to internally develop a certain level of Ushna or heat in the system.


When we say you’re in yoga, it is not twisting the body, doing this and that. Yoga means union. In some sense of union if you are with everything else, no matter who you are, what is the nature of your activity, what you believe, what you don’t believe, it will bring light to your life for sure. And above all being in this cold climbs, human body temperature is made in a certain way, we are not built for this climate. Of course we cover ourselves, do so many things but there is a way to internally develop a certain level of Ushna or heat in the system. There is a system of yoga called Angamardana, I think if we bring this in its right perspective to people like you who are every day put through rigors of extreme weather and extreme levels of activity, it will be of immense help.  

This International Yoga Day being with you is a great privilege and pleasure, we are deeply, deeply indebted to you to have us here.

Speaker 4: मैं सबकी तरफ से, पूरे बेस कैंप की तरफ से सद्गुरुजी का, योग गुरु हमारे साथ थे उन सब का धन्यवाद देता हूँ, thank you so much. 


Questioner: Sadhguruji Maharaj, what is the similarity between yogi and fauji?

Sadhguru: One thing is I’m not a Maharaj, no kingdom, alright? And what is the similarity between a yogi and a fauji - both stay awake in the night. One is constantly guarding against the external enemies another is constantly guarding against the internal enemies and both are committed beyond their life. Whatever they are committed to, their commitment is beyond their comfort, their well-being, their likes and dislikes, even beyond life and death - for both of them this commitment is important.

Sadhguru: Here, here once - I will say ha-haa, you must say hee-hee! Ha-haa!

Participants: Hee-hee!

Sadhguru: Ha-haa !