Sadhguru: How To Live A Life Full of HAPPINESS and BLISS!

Facing Mortality and Spiritual Awakening

Sadhguru begins by reflecting on his own brush with death during two brain surgeries in early 2024. Despite excruciating pain and the looming threat of paralysis or worse, he remained composed, grounded in the understanding that mortality is an ever-present reality. For him, spirituality is not about abstract notions of God but about the conscious recognition of one’s mortality. This awareness, he explains, is the foundation for living fully and authentically. When one truly understands that life is finite and time is relentlessly moving forward, there is no room for frivolous pursuits or meaningless distractions. Instead, life becomes a precious opportunity to engage only in what genuinely matters.

Sadhguru emphasizes that death is not a distant event but a continuous process intertwined with life itself. Every moment, we are simultaneously living and dying, inhaling and exhaling. This dance between life and death should inspire a natural humility and a deep appreciation for the present moment. In Indian culture, he notes, death is not hidden or sanitized but openly witnessed, such as through visits to cremation grounds, which fosters a healthy relationship with the inevitable. Contrasting this with Western tendencies to mask death with fairy tales and euphemisms, he argues that such denial only leads to fear and confusion when death finally arrives.

The Pursuit of Pleasantness: Health, Peace, Love, and Bliss

Sadhguru unpacks the human quest for a “good life” by reframing it as a pursuit of pleasantness across different dimensions of our being. Pleasantness in the body manifests as health, which when intensified becomes pleasure. Pleasantness in the mind is peace, which can blossom into joy. Emotional pleasantness is love, which can deepen into compassion. When life energy itself is pleasant, it is bliss, and when this bliss intensifies, it becomes ecstasy. Success, he explains, is the pleasantness of one’s surroundings, which requires cooperation and skill to cultivate.

He stresses that while external success depends on many factors beyond individual control, the pleasantness of body, mind, emotions, and energy is entirely within one’s own responsibility. Unfortunately, most people have forgotten this fundamental “business” of being pleasant because they have lost sight of their mortality. Without the awareness of life’s limited lease, people waste time on things they do not care about, caught in compulsions and societal pressures.

The Intelligence Paradox and Mental Health

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the paradox of human intelligence. Sadhguru points out that the transition from ape to human happened rapidly in evolutionary terms, and our intelligence has outpaced our physiological and psychological stability. This mismatch causes the mind to turn against itself, resulting in stress, anxiety, depression, and a host of mental ailments—72 varieties, according to psychiatrists he consulted.

He illustrates this with the tragic example of a young television anchor who took her own life, leaving a note that her brain was her enemy. This highlights the crisis of mental health in modern society, where the very faculty that should empower us often becomes a source of suffering. Sadhguru advocates for inner engineering—learning to operate and manage the mind effectively—as essential for transforming this predicament. He likens the mind to a complex watch with many wheels; without understanding how to operate it, one is bound to be lost and anxious.

Living with Awareness and Intent

Sadhguru challenges common misconceptions about life and self. He explains that much of what we consider “life” is actually psychological drama—our thoughts, emotions, memories, and imaginations—which we mistake for reality. This confusion leads to suffering and distraction from our true nature. He encourages becoming the director of one’s own mental drama, choosing to create pleasant and meaningful experiences rather than being a passive victim of circumstances.

He also discusses the importance of living with intent and awareness rather than merely accumulating possessions or achievements. True purposefulness arises not from the quantity of time but from the quality of attention and sincerity with which one lives. When people live genuinely for what they care about, life becomes beautiful, and so does the world around them.

The Nature of Life and Existence

Delving deeper, Sadhguru explores the nature of life itself. He distinguishes life from the body, mind, and external accessories, emphasizing that life is a universal phenomenon that we temporarily “capture” in our physical form. He describes life as a bubble blown from elemental, evolutionary, genetic, karmic, and conscious memories, all layered to create the persona we identify with. Yet, this persona is not the totality of life; it is merely a temporary accumulation.

He stresses that significance in life comes not from external achievements but from the depth of life one can hold within. A larger “bubble” of life leads to a more profound and meaningful experience. This inner significance is the foundation for authentic creativity and impact. Sadhguru points out that while historical spiritual figures like Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna reached only a few people, today’s technology allows us to connect with billions, making it a unique time to transform human consciousness globally.

Love, Self-Acceptance, and the Role of Technology

Addressing the question of self-love, Sadhguru explains that love is the process of two becoming one. Since there is only one person within the body, loving oneself is natural and necessary. However, many people fail to love themselves because they do not know how to manage their own intelligence and mind. The lack of inner harmony leads to misery and suffering, which then spills over into relationships and society.

He also critiques modern society’s focus on conquering the external world while neglecting inner well-being. Despite technological miracles, many people remain unhappy and disconnected. Sadhguru calls for a shift in focus toward inner engineering and mental health, highlighting his Miracle of Mind app designed to help people meditate and stabilize their minds in just seven minutes a day. This tool aims to reach billions and empower individuals to take charge of their mental well-being without dependence on external authorities.

Embracing Life Fully

Throughout the conversation, Sadhguru returns to the theme of embracing life fully by accepting its transient nature. He reminds listeners that time is relentless and impartial, moving forward regardless of our state. The key to happiness and bliss lies in living life willingly, without resistance or fear of death. Fear of death only stifles life; it does not prevent death. Instead, living with a “yes” to life and death transforms every breath into a heavenly experience.

He encourages people to cultivate exuberance and joy akin to that of children, who live fully in the moment. The challenge is to learn how to ride the cycles of time rather than be crushed by them. This requires conscious effort, awareness, and the willingness to face the truth of mortality without denial.