Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment with Sadhguru in Sydney, Australia, on 20 January 2024 was a phenomenal reminder of what is possible when enough people commit themselves to touching others’ lives profoundly.
The announcement arrived in mid-August on WhatsApp without fanfare or warning, yet it implied an immense possibility for transformation. “The wait is over,” read the message. “Sadhguru will be coming to Sydney in January 2024. More details to follow. Stay tuned.” Further details would be revealed at volunteer meetings in major Australian cities the following month.
In early September, a packed community hall in Sydney buzzed with anticipation. When an Ishanga delivered the news, the room erupted in cheers. Our city was chosen to host a world-first event: a one-day, advanced experiential program called “Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment” with Sadhguru himself. For us, this set a milestone, and the collective excitement was palpable.
The program novelty, coupled with Sadhguru’s intriguing intent to handle this program “not as a logical process but with a sense of abandon” for transformation to happen much more rapidly, piqued everyone’s curiosity. It promised to be a day to soak in the presence of a living Master, a rare chance to experience higher states of consciousness and be swept away in ecstasy through powerful meditative processes.
As volunteers, we were motivated by the mission to share this experience with as many people as possible. We were targeting to almost double the attendance of the 5,000-plus who gathered for Sadhguru’s last Australian program in Melbourne in 2019. The challenge seemed monumental, but our resolve was unwavering. There was much to be done, and we were ready to make it happen.
Relentless efforts from volunteers followed, with every spare moment dedicated to “Sadhguru in Australia.” Countless calling campaigns ensued. City centers came alive with dancing flashmobs, and event posters appeared nationwide. Volunteers set up stalls at community events and delivered informative talks. Every opportunity was seized to raise awareness about this unique program.
People’s homes transformed into hubs of volunteer activity in the evenings and on weekends. Through sincere conversations with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as through heartfelt personal stories of transformation shared on social media, the message spread. With enthusiasm building, the registration numbers surged. We also saw record numbers of online initiations in the Asia-Pacific region, supporting registrations of new meditators.
As the registration deadline approached, our goal, once seemingly unreachable, was realized: over 8,400 people, including volunteers, had signed up to experience the program with Sadhguru. Notably, this also included about 500 Chinese-speaking participants who were able to attend thanks to the live translation by a dedicated volunteer.
“Soak in Ecstasy of Enlightenment” was set to become the largest event the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney had ever seen. Located on the traditional lands of the Gadigal clan of the Eora nation, the waterfront venue along the city’s iconic Darling Harbour was perfect for those ready to surf the rising Wave of Bliss.
Preparations at the ICC began two days before the program was set to start. An unstoppable stream of volunteers had poured in from all across the Asia Pacific region to ensure its success. They came from urban and rural corners of Australia, nearby New Zealand, and many others from further afield, including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, and the Philippines.
Communication challenges were inevitable at this multicultural gathering, but one volunteer recounted how they connected with another despite the language barrier, spontaneously chanting “Brahmananda Swaroopa” together, which moved them to tears of joy.
Every single detail of the set up was carefully tended to. The dais was adorned with beautiful native flower arrangements, and tiny bunches of flowers were lovingly sewn onto table runners for the lunch room. With Sounds of Isha rehearsal sets echoing through the halls, everyone undertook their tasks with joy and gusto.
You could see heads bopping while unpacking mountains of boxes, feet tapping while precisely spacing out the cushions, and bodies swaying to the rhythm while ironing delicate fabrics. Charged with that spirit, the once empty, lifeless halls were swiftly transformed and filled with life, just like the meditators they would soon envelop.
During preparations at the venue on Friday, volunteers were taken by surprise when Sadhguru briefly stopped by and thanked them for their efforts. Volunteer Jakob recounted, “When he came to greet us, my mind became very subtle, calm, and equanimous. Tears followed. But when he left, I just fell to my knees, overwhelmed. I had a similar experience seeing the thousands of mats we laid out, knowing that our community would be forever changed after the program.”
On the day of the event, a sense of calm pervaded the venue amid palpable excitement within us all. Volunteers, with hands folded in Namaskaram, warmly welcomed the thousands of attendees into the hall. Sounds of Isha set the tone for Sadhguru’s arrival. He then led the first “Soak in the Ecstasy of Enlightenment,” a vibrant blend of interactions, talks, meditations, and exuberant dancing.
Conversations after the program revealed the profound impact of Sadhguru’s presence on the participants. One of them, Trevor, shared, “I am fairly new to this, but during the program, I couldn’t stop shedding tears of gratitude and joy.” Trying to describe the enormity of their experience, another participant, Aditi said, “To put it simply, I left the event feeling like being reborn.”
During one meditation, Sadhguru asked participants to recall the best moment of their lives. Reflecting on this process later that evening during wind-up activities, a volunteer named Andrea laughed, sharing she was briefly confused – “‘This IS the best moment of my life,’ I thought to myself, ‘Do I really need to choose something else?’”
She was not the only one feeling this way. Another participant, Sangeeta, reflected, “What began as a desire to see Sadhguru in the flesh transformed into a quest to explore the depths of ecstasy and self-discovery. The day of the program unfolded as a divine experience, marking it as the best day of my life. The impact went beyond the comprehension of words. Unexplainable emotions surfaced. Tears flowed freely as if I was releasing long-held burdens from my past. I find myself at a loss for words.
“The program not only conveyed a message but it allowed me to undergo an inexplicable personal transformation. The physical presence of Sadhguru created a unique and palpable energy in the atmosphere. It was a blessing to feel this energy, an energy that penetrated deep within, unraveling years of emotions and experiences. I was left awestruck, humbled, and immensely grateful for the profound shift that had taken place.”
Towards the end of the program, Sadhguru opened the floor to questions. A participant raised her hand to pose a question that was on many minds but which few would have dared to ask: “When are you going to start an ashram in Australia?” Some gasped, others screamed “Yes!”, and many more clapped and cheered.
Sadhguru’s reply was both positive and pragmatic. He highlighted the enormous amount of resources required to establish the existing centers globally, including not just financial investments but also suitable land, design, approvals, materials, and more. Most importantly, he underscored the need for willingness and substantial volunteer involvement, stating that “Just buildings won’t do it – it’s the people.”
Sadhguru encouraged those serious about this initiative to email, detailing in which ways we could contribute.
To many, establishing an Isha Yoga Center in Australia might seem like a lofty dream – something unattainable, impossible, and perhaps too good to be true. However, as I looked around the hall packed with thousands of participants whose lives had been transformed, I realized that organizing this very event too had appeared to be an impossible feat just a few months ago when we first began working towards it.
Sadhguru closed the program with tears in his eyes, leading a deeply moving chanting of “Brahmananda Swaroopa.” The sound boomed through the hall as one voice, traveling through the ICC corridors and reaching out into the city, where it settled over the waters of Darling Harbour.
An Isha Yoga Center in Australia is a must to continue to touch more lives in this part of the world in deeply profound ways. As Sadhguru says, “Let us make it happen.”
