Calcutta: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev had a 2,000-strong audience in thrall at ITC Sonar on Sunday. They laughed, cheered and nodded through an hour-long discourse on the power of the self at the 45th Isaame Forum 2017, in association with The Telegraph, of the International Association of Lions Clubs.

As the modern-day guru entered the room sporting a bright orange wrap over a loose grey kurta and a white turban sitting on his head, he admonished, cajoled and teased the crowd.

"Those who are looking through the Samsung eye, in an hour or two this will be on YouTube," he quipped, prompting the audience to settle down. Not satisfied just with the attention of his audience, he sought their participation too.

Sitting cross-legged on a chair with a kalsi of water by his side, Sadhguru took a shot at the topic of the day - Power of We - with a story about Buddha being asked whether it was better to be alone or in company. "We come alone (unless of course you are twins) and go alone," he reminded the Lions.

"We are human beings, which means every other creature is what it is for what it does. Only we can be what we are just by being," he said.

Sadhguru advised that individuals should take responsibility for one's own action. "If you succeed, you are ready to take responsibility, but if you fail, it's your karma or someone else who is to blame. This attitude has to be fixed."

Human beings may be the most intelligent species on the planet but they are also the ones with the most problems, said Sadhguru.

"We have to find solutions to our problems. The level of cerebral activity of humans is new on this planet. Millions of years ago, things here were quiet. There is not a stable enough base for such cerebral activity. Fundamentally, your intelligence is working against you," he said. "We have not paid attention to ourselves and we take ourselves too seriously."