Our first relationship is most often with our mother, and it is said to form the basis of all other relationships in our lives. It teaches us how to bond, stability, respect, belonging, love, care, connection and more. A mother’s influence many a times shapes the very core of who we become, leaving an indelible mark on our lives. This is indeed the truth of almost everyone - even Gurus - and it resonates deeply with Sadhguru, The Isha Foundation founder; a man whose journey and teachings have profoundly impacted millions worldwide.

Recognized as one of India’s, and perhaps the world’s 50 most influential people, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, environmental activist, poet, and the bestselling author of over thirty books. His wisdom transcends borders, offering guidance to those seeking clarity in an increasingly complex world. Yet, when I meet him at the COP29 conference in Baku Azerbaijan, he surprises me with his unassuming demeanor. "I’m not an inspired person," he tells me. “I simply live a quiet life within myself.”

Even so, Sadhguru acknowledges the immense impact his mother had on him. “As they do for everybody,” he reflects. “Mothers are the first influence, the first relationship you hold in life.” It’s a poignant reminder of the universal significance of a mother’s role in driving the people we ultimately become.

“My mother lived her life for us, so we didn't think anything twice about it. She didn't have to make any statements of love or commitment. Because every breath was committed to us.”

Born the youngest of five children in Karnataka, India, Sadhguru reflects that by the time he arrived, his mother was a “practiced mother.” Sadhguru’s childhood was steeped in the warmth and creativity of his mother, whose influence still echoes profoundly in his life. While his father worked as an ophthalmologist at the Mysuru Railway Hospital, his mother never earned a single Rupee. Yet, she held an unshakable position of respect in their home. “She was the most respected person in the house, for sure,” he tells me. “Nobody could imagine that household without her.”

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Her care and involvement in us was unmatched, and she was innovative even in the smallest gestures. He recalls how, during their travels, his mother would be appalled at the sight of plain white pillowcases for her children. In just five minutes, she would transform them, embroidering delicate pink flowers or vivid green parrots, on the margins.

“I would fall asleep looking at that green parrot,” he shares.

“That green parrot: what it’s done to me, nobody can understand. It made me fly.”

Through her love and imagination, she not only adorned his childhood but instilled in him a boundless spirit that continues to soar.

Pain is natural, not suffering

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Sadhguru’s unflinching clarity of perception sets him apart- not only as a spiritual guide but also as a formidable voice in business, environmental advocacy, and global affairs: themes he addressed at this year’s COP29.

Incredibly, on March 15, Sadhguru underwent an MRI scan that revealed massive bleeding in his brain. Yet, he chose not to cancel any commitments, including his appearance at the India Today Conclave, which he attended under the effects of strong painkillers and sedation. Now fully recovered after major surgery, I ask him how he coped with what must have been immense suffering.

He gently corrects me, insisting that he doesn’t suffer—he simply experiences pain. “I was in excruciating pain through the Maha Shivratri event,” he admits, “but suffering is a self-inflicted wound. Pain is a natural process in the body. Without it, we wouldn’t even know we have a body.”

To Sadhguru, suffering is a choice, not an inevitability. “Suffering did not descend upon you. Your suffering is your making. If you know it, you are making it.” His philosophy is both empowering and challenging:

“Pain and pleasure come from within you.

Joy and misery come from within you.

Agony and ecstasy come from within you.

If you are given a choice—and you are capable of being the way you want to be—you would choose to be ecstatic every time. When there is such a choice, then why not?”

In these words lies a profound call to take responsibility for our inner worlds, transforming our relationship with pain and reclaiming the joy that resides within us all.

We are not driven but drive our own lives.

In my quest to understand values, Sadhguru flips the narrative, challenging the very notion of being "driven." According to him, we should not be driven by anything; instead, we must take the wheel of our own lives.

His perspective on consciousness is equally provocative. “Anything you are not conscious of—even if it’s the biggest thing in the universe—it doesn’t exist for you,” he tells me. Consciousness, he explains, isn’t selective; it’s like light. “You turn on the light, and you see what’s here. You don’t only see what you like—if you do that, you’ll go insane. One day, you’ll see only what pleases you, and the next, you’ll be overwhelmed by what you dislike. Only when you see everything as it is can you truly navigate your way through life.”

When our conversation turns to my children, Sadhguru’s perspective is both startling and profound. He asserts that, in this moment, my children are part of my imagination. “Right now, you’re here—far away from them. It’s your memory that holds their presence in your mind. If I take away your memory, you won’t know you have children. The only real possessions you have are your body and your mind.”

This grounding philosophy leads to a revelation:

“If you sit right in your body, if you sit right in your mind, miracles happen.”

For Sadhguru, the true miracle lies in mastering the self and seeing life as it is.

Work of the Isha Foundation

Sadhguru established the Isha Foundation as a platform for his transformative work in spirituality, education, and environmental action—making his presence at COP29 both relevant and impactful. Under his leadership, the Foundation has launched game-changing initiatives like Project GreenHands (PGH), Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling, and Save Soil, each leaving a profound mark on conservation and ecological restoration.

A cornerstone of this mission is Conscious Planet, a global movement born from the Isha Foundation. It aims to elevate human awareness and inspire tangible, responsible action.

Sadhguru’s fervor for the planet is unmistakable. Over the past six years, the Isha Foundation has facilitated the planting of 114 million trees—an astonishing number. Yet, when I describe it as “copious,” Sadhguru shakes his head, calling it a “big failure.” His original goal was to plant 2.42 billion trees within eight years—a target still far from reach. Trees are our closest relatives. What they exhale, we inhale. What we exhale, they inhale, he has stated in the past.

His concerns extend beyond forests to the air we breathe. Sadhguru’s frustration over poor urban planning is palpable. “Why are people driving to work and back every day?” he asks, his voice tinged with exasperation. “Why don’t we have the sense to work where we live? Almost everybody is driving to their work. Why?”

Through these observations and actions, Sadhguru challenges us not just to rethink our relationship with nature but also to critically examine the systems we create and sustain. His vision isn’t just about restoring ecosystems; it’s about cultivating a global consciousness that values balance, simplicity, and interconnection.

Involvement is key for our children’s future

As a mother, I found Sadhguru’s reflections on his own mother’s influence and his perspective on nurturing future generations deeply resonant. I am told that out of the thousands of interviews that have taken place, he rarely speaks about the women in his life, neither his mother, wife nor daughter.

“You see, the team are now all listening in,” he chuckles, as my questioning continues. His wisdom illuminates the profound impact of involvement—a quality he believes is vanishing in today’s fast-paced world.

Was it his mother’s care that shaped his life the most? He says no. “It was her involvement.” According to Sadhguru, being deeply involved is the greatest gift we can give our children.

“Right now, that involvement is missing. Our education systems are teaching people to calculate everything through algorithms—even husbands and wives have algorithms for how to get the best out of each other,” he observes. But life, he insists, isn’t about calculation. “Life is an involvement. How profoundly you are involved - that profound is your experience of life.”

Children, he explains, are not a reality but a possibility. Realising that possibility in today’s world is an uphill battle. “Maybe 25 to 50 years ago, parents influenced 80% of a child, with schools accounting for the other 20-30%. Today, it’s the internet that holds 80% of the influence. Schools and parents combined make up the rest.” His voice grows more urgent as he continues, “All kinds of strange creatures, who have no care or concern for your child, are shaping their minds.”

The solution, Sadhguru suggests, lies in restoring time and space for children to be influenced by those who genuinely care about them. “Concern doesn’t mean people always do the best things,” he explains. “People make mistakes, but they won’t cause harm intentionally. If parents show intent and involvement, children will blossom.”

Sadhguru’s insights extend far beyond parenting, offering a universal truth: life is not about chasing perfection. “Don’t make conclusions,” he advises. “What’s best in a given moment, we must do. There is no perfect best.”

His wisdom—on life, the planet, and the future—will stay with me, forever. A reminder that the simplest, most heartfelt actions, with the purest intention, often carry the greatest weight.