From 21 to 23 September 2025, thousands of meditators gathered at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore for In the Lap of the Master – three days of intimate connection with Sadhguru, offered exclusively to those initiated into the Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya.
The program unfolded with powerful guided meditations, transformative processes, and satsangs filled with Sadhguru’s wit, wisdom, and presence, creating what participants described as an “electric” atmosphere where profound inner shifts became possible.
Over the three days, Sadhguru shared profound insights through stories, talks, and Q&A sessions. Here are some particularly memorable highlights:
During the satsang, Sadhguru illustrated a profound insight through a simple yet striking story of a boatman and a professor. As the two crossed a river, the professor proudly explained the scientific laws of flotation to the uneducated boatman. When the boat began to leak, the boatman asked if the professor could swim. The professor admitted he could not – and he drowned with his laws, while the boatman survived.
Sadhguru used this story to convey that life’s true significance lies not in the accumulation of knowledge or possessions, but in life itself. Situations can change instantly, stripping away what we cling to; what remains is our ability to experience the sheer phenomenon of life and choose how we live each moment.
After an impressive demonstration of Kalaripayattu by Project Samskriti students, Sadhguru addressed the question of children training with traditional weapons. “Today you don’t have to carry a sword,” he clarified, but his message grew more pointed as he emphasized the deeper purpose behind traditional martial training: “A man who cannot protect what is of spiritual significance to him, his land, his women, his children – I don’t consider him a man,” he said.
Sadhguru stressed that this isn’t about promoting violence but about preparedness: “It’s not to become violent. It’s not to think, ‘Whom can we kill?’ The point is: no matter what, we still need to protect what’s precious.”
The announcement that followed surprised many: “We want to bring it everywhere. Most probably, the first academy will come up in Atlanta.” When the audience responded enthusiastically, he added with characteristic wit, “You didn’t shout, ‘Why not Kolkata? Why not Mumbai?’ – this is the problem,” suggesting that with proper support and initiative, such academies could indeed flourish in other cities as well.
His final words underscored the principle behind the training: “It’s not that we have to fight with somebody. You must be ready for situations.”
On 23 September, the final day of In the Lap of the Master coincided with Sadhguru’s Enlightenment Day – one of the most significant days in Isha’s calendar.
In a special satsang, broadcast live on YouTube and other social media platforms for seekers worldwide, participants experienced a sacred culmination to their three days in the Master’s presence.
In his closing remarks, Sadhguru highlighted the critical moment humanity faces today – where turning inward is essential. This infrastructure for inner transformation, he reminded everyone, is not built for him, but for you, designed to help you move beyond the lines you’ve drawn for yourself. The ultimate goal, he urged, was not to bring your home and city to the Isha Yoga Center, but to take the Yoga Center with you.
Citing a rising tide of instability – from alcohol and drug consumption to children losing their anchors – he stressed the urgent need for “integrity of purpose.” This, he emphasized, is why it’s crucial to create spaces dedicated to inner wellbeing, free from the distinctions of caste, creed, gender, or race. His final invitation was for everyone to be a part of this creation and to make use of the opportunity before next September.
In their own heartfelt words, participants share what these three days in the Master’s presence meant to them:
“The atmosphere is electric every time. I feel some shift inside of me.”
“The meditation was amazing. It felt so nice. I do not have words. It feels like I’m really in his lap.”
“Sadhguru took me beyond myself.”
