Isha Institute Of Inner-Sciences — Local services in McMinnville

1.) The roads leading into the space were a bit rundown. There were big depressions on the paved roads and unpaved parking areas. Now, I do live in this region so I do understand there are a few rainstorms here and there that make road maintenance a pain in the butt. Noisy place. I had read the website many times and was mostly keen to what was closed and what I'd be able to do. I had only gone there to bathe in the energies whilst meditating and maybe see some radiant smiling faces aglow with spiritual fire.

Oof.. total letdown. As a southerner, a friendly person overall and someone lit anew with voracious hunger for the yogic traditions - the visit hurt a bit. The noise is understandable when renovations are happening - of course. If my meditation is good, the noise won't bother me - good point, ok. The place isn't a nunnery or convent either, yes there are all great counterpoints.

There were construction guys blaring their radios really loudly and it wasn't rap\hip hop. They were also speeding on those grounds which isn't necessary at all.

I was in the Abode upper and lower levels where the noise would bleed in from the open doors. It seems people would have a bit more reverence yet that was not the case.

3.) Hospitality (Cust Service) Getting info beforehand on specific details that may not be listed on the website is like reading a redacted document from the C.I.A. I extrapolated that this may be due to a high number of volunteers yet I'm unsure.

An example: My spouse and I walked from the parking lot to the Welcome Center where we were asked where we'd parked and the license plate to our vehicle (These are questions asked in the Check-In kiosk also). After answering, we were told to check using the Kiosk. I breathe and we move on.

I was then asked to buy a meal voucher after just asking about the Cafeteria area. I declined as I wanted to at least view any options first, if any at all. We were turned away from Biksha 1 but I just assumed it was for Student\Faculty as we had not been asked for a meal ticket. We move onto the second dining hall after having a bit of trouble finding the active entrance. On a long lunch table, I saw three tall tin bowls with saatvic items prepared in them where flies were hovering a bit. We turned around and went to the Abode..

As this was our first time in a space like this, we were wary of committing any taboos, etc. As always, we have decorum in any space we visit but this was just disconnected. I was.. EAGER to visit the Adiyogi yet you could not see this on my face. We stood at the entrance not knowing if anyone could use the vibhuti, how to enter properly, proper side to be on etc.

Anyone who had ever worked in customer service or received customer service in their lifetime knows what an inquisitive lost person's face looks like. I wanted to be respectful, so we stood there for about 6 minutes while the 2 hostesses carried on there conversation.

"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:17 Now, I decide I must make some action and maybe we can get some attention. I wasn't forceful, disrespectful nor loud with my approach. I attempt to enter a door thinking to follow another couple that seemed to know what they were doing. Now.. the ladies have life in them and want to point out what not to do. Finally, we were debriefed and I ask to give offering to the Linga. I was told what to do and let loose on my own but there was no water in the offering vessel. I breathe and move on to finally..Breathe. I got to finally meditate AND then comes the bells!

We'd walked around for a good 30 mins prior to visiting the Abode to warm our out of shape muscles. Saw the bells, not once had we heard a bell but as soon as we sit down to meditate it was a Cathedral Bell Tower. It was distracting to this newbie.

Finally. I spoke, held doors open and just smiled in the general direction to a handful of people getting nothing back. I know one doesn't do those things looking for feedback but it just felt as they were...

This will be the first negative review I've been inspired to write, ever.

I arrived at the Isha Center in Tennessee today with an open mind, and I was genuinely looking forward to my day there. Mindfulness and meditation have made my life, and my relationships, immeasurably more fulfilling, so I was excited about many different offerings they had throughout the day and was ready to dive in. Upon arrival, however, I couldn't help but feel it was giving creepy, cult-like vibes starting with the first volunteer we ran into. The atmosphere seemed to prioritize the veneration of Sadhguru over the profound messages he aimed to convey. It was strikingly reminiscent of those mega churches oft-featured in media clips, where the spectacle and exploitation of the congregation overshadow the core tenets of the faith, and the pastor is exalted above the very religion they claim to represent. The glaring contradiction between this worshipful display of Sadhguru and the foundational themes of the teachings was a bitter irony to swallow.

I’m left with questions around the identity of this enigmatic figure, Sadhguru, and the reasons behind his celebrity status. From my observations, he appeared to be reciting universal truths and time-honored ideas that have long been woven into the tapestry of literature. These insights and concepts are not his intellectual property, so the fervent idolization seemed misplaced, a riddle wrapped in a conundrum and served with a generous helping of charisma. After looking into his life prior to guru-ship and seeing that he was an entrepreneur and owned multiple businesses , it started to click how he saw the money-making potential of the spiritual world. Who better to extort than a bunch of lost, scared, perhaps even angry souls just looking for belonging in this world.

My endeavor to immerse myself in a meditation class was immediately derailed by a video that monopolized the first ten minutes. It paraded a montage of Sadhguru rubbing elbows with the elite, traversing the globe on his motorcycle, and an endless stream of clips telling tales of his brilliance and popularity. This sensory assault was exacerbated by the room's acoustics, which echoed offensively with every breath. You would assume that with the apparent abundance of resources at their disposal, they might have invested in a way to make it less offensive to the ears. Alas, perhaps the reverberations were an intentional metaphor for the resounding impact of Sadhguru's sagacity. ;)

The video continued with Sadhguru himself assuming the role of meditation guide. I endured a mere five minutes before I had to make an exit. That is when avolunteer then followed me out. I attempted to explain my feelings about the entire affair, to which he responded with a knowing nod, revealing that the video was a recent addition aimed at upping Sadhguru's credibility. I proposed that it came across as rather performative, and the expression on his face indicated a tacit agreement.

Having already bought tickets for lunch, we headed to the dining room.The dahl was a delight, and the grounds were undeniably beautiful, with impressive architectural marvels at every turn. However, I couldn't help but take note of the cows grazing in the fields, each tethered to their own 15-foot metal chain, staked into the earth. The sight of a cow restrained like a chained-up dog was a novel sighting for me. You could speculate that it served as a metaphor for the way some devotees might feel shackled to the organization--The volunteers were quick to specify that they did not work there, only volunteered, in exchange for meals and dorm room style living quarters.

In the end, the experience left me grappling with an abundance of unanswered questions. I understand that several psychological and sociological factors can contribute to people idolizing a figure like Sadhguru, but if this isn’t you, don’t waste your time! If you’re looking for mindfulness and meditation, may I suggest perhaps looking for it elsewhere. Thanks...

First let me begin that the Abode is amazing experience. Creating a space when feminine and masculine energies resonate. But that is where I will stop. The experience at the Darshan on May 4th was poor, rather awful. To start off Sadhguru doesn't walk among his devotees. As though he is above them? Thousands of people came to this event and he only came out at 7:30pm. Almost like he was building up a super star status. Which to me is ego pleasing. Everything that we are training not to do! They spent a good hour doing announcements about Isha and plugging a silent auction of the truck/camper that Sadhguru used during covid.... which now brings me to the crux of my disappointment. The world was divided and families separated from beging together because of this "virus". Our collectiveness was divided. We have seen what this has done to our school aged children and adults who suffered in isolation. I say all this to share that instead of unifying Sadhguru continues this narrative of division. At 7:30pm when the event was slated to begin the organizer demanded that men and women be separated to the left and right if the lawn because that is what guru wants?? So I ask... would Sadhguru ask Lord shiva to separate from his shakti? Why would pull wives and husbands apart? Children and family apart!! It was awful especially asking us to divide after everyone was peacefully harmonzing together awaiting for him. Once they attempted to divide the crowd everything in my inner being screamed this is wrong. The energies are bad and to leave. When we attempted to do so a volunteer refused to let us use the clear and empty path because it was visible to Sadhguru that we were exiting again it was feeding ego and not Mine!.

This shows he does not care about unity. Don't be a blind sheep and follow. Isha can be held liable as one of the volunteers grabbed me by the leg for trying to leave. Sad guru cut ur Rockstar status. It's truly sad. God had given everyone a brain don't follow blindly. Also what type of guru tells people don't come within 20 feet of him. Lol. This place is a...