Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sadhguru: Quest for spiritual longing

The very basis of a spiritual process is to explore the possibilities and go beyond the limitations of the body, says Sadhguru

Sadhguru: Quest for spiritual longing

THE very fundamentals of spiritual longing are to transcend the limitations of the physical. The most intimate part of physical creation for an individual being is their own body. So the very basis of a spiritual process is to explore the possibilities and go beyond the limitations of the body.

The physical body is designed in such a way that it functions by itself without much of your participation. You don’t have to breathe, you don’t have to make the heart beat or make the liver do all its complex chemistry. Everything that is needed for the physical process to happen, for your physical existence to manifest itself in a proper way, is happening by itself. The physical body is a very self-contained and quite a complete instrument. If you keep it well, you may go through your whole life without ever having a spiritual longing because it is so complete by itself in its own nature. Every little thing you explore in this body is quite incredible. If you are fascinated by gadgets, there is no better gadget.


It takes a certain amount of intelligence and awareness for a person to see the limitations of the fantastic gadget this body is. Gadgetry is fine, the sophistication of mechanism is fine, but still it does not take you anywhere. It just springs out of the earth and gets you back to earth. Isn’t it enough? If you look at it from the perspective of the body, it is quite enough. But a dimension beyond the physical somehow got trapped in this physical. Somehow it was infused into this physical, without which there is no life.

Life is one thing, but the source of life is another thing. In every creature, in every plant, seed, animal, bird and worm, the source of life is functioning. It is just that in a human being, it is functioning with a little more presence. Because of that, all the troubles started. We had to devise these “impossible” yogas. Suddenly, all the simple things or even the wonderful things that the physical offers somehow become irrelevant. Because the fragrance of that which is the source of creation is such that once you get a whiff of it, the fragrance of the physical does not appeal anymore.

If you go by the ways of the body, it knows only self-preservation and procreation. It is incapable of anything else. These are the only two aspects of the body. If you go by the dimension beyond the physical, there is the longing to become boundless. Unfortunately, most of the time, trying to find physical expression to this longing to become boundless leads a man into all kinds of insatiable activity. Do you see? Your body is aching; “enough”

it says, but no, you must go to the top of the mountain and come down, because you always want to be a little more than who you are all the time. This longing is not seeking for

a little more. It is seeking for an ultimate expansion.

Once you get deeply identified with the physical, then these two fundamental forces – the instinct of self-preservation and the longing to become boundless, one which helps you to root yourself well on this planet and another which is supposed to take you beyond – instead of working in collaboration, they unfortunately become a conflict. All the struggles of humanity in terms of “Should I be spiritual or materialistic” are just coming from this ignorance.

Because of this one aspect, a human being is in constant turmoil, in constant struggle between the physical and that which is beyond the physical. This is the only thing which is setting him apart. This is the only thing that puts him in contradiction with the physical. Though he is also physical, though he also has the compulsiveness of the physical, he has the consciousness of not being physical.

All of yoga, every kind of spirituality that you can find, became necessary because of the seeming conflict between the physical and that which belongs to a dimension beyond the physical. I would not really call it a conflict. If one is identified with the physical, then there seems to be a conflict between these two fundamental forces, which make a human being what he is right now. But if one has the necessary awareness to separate the

two, then there is no conflict.

Ranked among the 50 most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and bestselling author. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s highest civilian award, in 2017, for exceptional and distinguished service

More For You

Turkey wildfires 2025

The Turkey wildfires have not been limited to Izmir

Getty Images

Turkey wildfires disrupt travel as Izmir airport closes

Key points

  • Tourists stranded after Foça wildfire halts flights at Izmir airport
  • At least 550 people evacuated from homes in the region
  • Over 600 personnel deployed to contain the blaze
  • Strong winds and heat raise risk of further fires

Wildfires force airport shutdown in Turkish holiday hotspot

Hundreds of UK tourists, including several from Glasgow, have been left stranded after major wildfires swept through a popular holiday destination in western Turkey, forcing the closure of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

The blaze broke out in the resort town of Foça, near Izmir, and was rapidly intensified by strong winds, prompting large-scale evacuations and flight disruptions. All operations at the airport were suspended from 4 pm local time due to ongoing extinguishing efforts, with multiple flights reportedly diverted.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shefali Jariwala

Glutathione and anti ageing drugs under spotlight after Shefali Jariwala death

Instagram/shefalijariwala

Did anti-ageing pills, beauty supplements and glutathione trigger Shefali Jariwala’s death?

Quick highlights:

  • Shefali Jariwala died at 42 in Mumbai after reportedly collapsing post-fast; cause of death suspected to be cardiac arrest or blood pressure drop.
  • Police found anti-ageing pills, vitamin supplements, and glutathione injections at her residence.
  • Doctors stress the risks of unsupervised use of hormone-based and anti-ageing treatments.
  • Final post-mortem report expected in two days; no foul play suspected, case treated as accidental death.

The untimely death of actor-model Shefali Jariwala has sparked renewed concern over the unregulated use of anti-ageing treatments and self-medication. The 42-year-old, best known for her appearance in Kaanta Laga, was declared dead on arrival at a Mumbai hospital on Friday night. Initial investigations suggest she may have suffered a cardiac arrest following a steep drop in blood pressure, possibly linked to taking supplements on an empty stomach.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prada 2026 sandals

Prada acknowledges Indian influence behind its Spring Summer 2026 men’s footwear

Instagram/prada/iStock

Prada finally acknowledges Kolhapuri chappals inspired 2026 sandals after Indian backlash over Milan show

Quick highlights:

• Prada confirms Indian roots behind 2026 ‘leather sandals’ after controversy
• Indian artisans and officials accused the brand of cultural appropriation
• The footwear resembles traditional Kolhapuri chappals with GI status
• Prada says designs are still in development and open to dialogue with India

Keep ReadingShow less
Anna Wintour

Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”

Getty Images

Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years

Key points

  • Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years
  • She will remain Vogue’s global editorial director and hold senior roles at Condé Nast
  • Wintour transformed US Vogue into a global fashion authority
  • The 75-year-old has received numerous honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom

End of an era at US Vogue

Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor of US Vogue, bringing to a close a 37-year tenure that redefined the publication and saw her become one of the most influential figures in global fashion.

The announcement was made on Thursday (26 June) during a staff meeting in New York. Wintour, 75, will no longer oversee the day-to-day editorial operations of Vogue’s US edition. However, she will continue to serve as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, maintaining senior leadership roles across the company.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nadiya Hussain

She also reassured her followers that “exciting” new projects are on the way

Getty Images

“I won’t always be grateful” says Nadiya Hussain after BBC axes her cookery show

Key points

  • Nadiya Hussain confirms BBC will not renew her cookery series
  • Bake Off winner challenges expectations to remain “grateful”
  • She says hard work and talent, not luck, brought her success
  • Celebrities, including Annie Lennox and Fearne Cotton, show support

BBC ends decade-long collaboration with Bake Off star

Nadiya Hussain has spoken out after the BBC decided not to commission another cookery programme with her. The popular TV chef, who won The Great British Bake Off in 2015, shared her views on social media, stating that she “won’t always be grateful” and should not be expected to remain silent about career setbacks.

The decision ends a nearly 10-year working relationship between the broadcaster and Hussain, who has hosted several well-received cookery shows under the BBC banner. In her latest Instagram video, she addressed the public’s reaction and emphasised her right to expect more from her career.

Keep ReadingShow less