LEELA

isn't just a game

ABOUT THE GAME

"Leela is when there is no desire to win and no fear of losing, but only enjoyment of life”

Words of Krishna from Mahabharata

Leela is a transformational game of self-discovery, a unique tool for diagnosing and correcting your life path—a great journey of returning to your true desires and goals.

Each player determines their own goal for the game, as well as the outcome they wish to achieve. The most important thing you need to do is formulate your inquiry and be ready to accept the answer.

Leela is considered one of the most fascinating and unusual energetic practices, primarily because it is presented in the form of a board game—with a game board, dice that determine the number of moves, and playing tokens. During the game, Leela does not require you to calculate moves in advance, compete against opponents, or keep score. Leela is one of those rare cases where winning is not the goal—participation is. Your objective is not to reach the finish line first, but to experience a deep spiritual transformation.

Leela teaches us to perceive life as a game—to embrace each moment with an open heart. It helps us delve into the depths of wisdom to find answers to all kinds of questions.

The philosophy of Leela is the quintessence of Vedic knowledge. Ancient yogis, having explored the labyrinth of the human mind, identified 72 fundamental states of being and consciousness, which correspond to the 72 squares of the Leela game board.

Leela is a tool for self-discovery that allows you to “test your path” and, if necessary, adjust your direction. It is one of the systems of self-knowledge, a way to understand life and the universal laws.

The game ends only when the player fully realizes the essence of karmic forces and attains Cosmic Consciousness.

HISTORY

Leela originates from India, and researchers believe it is over 2,000 years old. Translated from Sanskrit, Leela means game, though it was not created for entertainment but rather for self-discovery, deep introspection, and exploration of the subconscious mind.

At the dawn of time, Shri Krishna revealed Leela—the game of life—to the great warrior Arjuna.

Leela is a compass on the path of self-knowledge, guiding one from the human to the divine.

As time passed, people and events changed. The great war for Dharma (Truth)—the Mahabharata—was left behind, ushering in the dark age of Kali (Kali Yuga), where white began to be called black, and black—white.

The secret of the Divine Game of Leela, drawn by Shri Krishna in the sand, told to Arjuna, and scattered into Eternity, was later gathered piece by piece and restored according to the principles of numerology, astrology, Ayurveda, and other Vedic sciences by an extraordinary individual—scholar, philosopher, astrologer, sculptor, expert in the Vedas and Sacred Scriptures, poet, and musician—Harish Johari.

The version of the game known and used today is entirely the achievement of this modern Indian sage.

The games of the Gods are infinite and unfathomable. The human mind cannot grasp Krishna’s Leela. Johari’s Leela is merely a reflection of the Infinite Consciousness in the mirror of the human mind.

The rules of the Game

Once Started, the Game Must Be Finished!

Leela is a game of life itself, so relying on blind luck won’t work. You cannot make your first move until you roll a six on the dice, and this will not happen until you have fully understood your inner inquiry.

The game board consists of multiple levels, where each square has its own unique nature—representing a specific area of your life that you need to explore. However, the interpretation of each square will be unique for every player and depends on their personal inquiry.

For example, if your goal is to find love, the game may reveal that loneliness arises from internal restrictions on happiness and negative beliefs, which, in turn, stem from childhood trauma or difficult relationships with parents. Players in Leela dive deep into their subconscious, confront hidden fears, and uncover the roots of their insecurities and struggles in relationships.

Another rule of the game is that Leela will not allow you to move through all the squares until you have gained true self-awareness. The game cannot be deceived—if you are not honest with yourself, you will keep returning to the same sections over and over again until the answer is found.

To gain the maximum benefit from the game, it is useful to record the path of your chosen symbol. By comparing these records, players may notice recurring patterns—such as the same snakes appearing repeatedly as obstacles or arrows providing timely support. This helps uncover the connection between the inner and outer world, offering profound insights into one’s subconscious.

Many saints used this method to understand the structure of their inner selves. This is what makes Leela a game of self-discovery—Jnana-Chaupada (jnana—knowledge, wisdom; chaupada—a game of dice). Thus, its name can be translated as The Game of Knowledge.

The request for the Game

Finally, the most important thing—the one element without which the game cannot begin—is your sincere inquiry or desire.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to know how to properly formulate requests or goals. Your desire can be anything—material or spiritual; related to career, personal life, education, or travel; specific or vague. The most fascinating part is that during the game, you may not only refine or better articulate your inquiry but also deepen it—or, on the contrary, realize that it is not what you truly need.

Players of Leela may have different intentions: to gain clarity about their desires, receive guidance from the Universe, understand what they lack to fulfill their dreams, or find harmony and inner balance. Some may start playing simply out of curiosity.

In any case, once you voluntarily enter the game, you cannot simply abandon it—you must see it through to the end.