From there, the rebel combined Sikhism with Kundalini to lead his first yoga class in the United States.Īnd thanks to the political unrest of the late 1960s and early 1970s, his mystical yoga class became increasingly popular for White middle-class Americans seeking spirituality and consciousness.

It wasn’t brought to the West until 1968, when a Sikh rebel from India went to Canada and then eventually settled in Los Angeles, California. Just like prayer works for Christianity, Kundalini kriyas work for yoga. With dedicated practice, many can achieve Kundalini awakening, which happens when energy moves freely through your energy centers. Instead of holding on too tightly to expectations and desires, Kundalini teaches us to channel our energy in a way that is more aligned with our true purpose. If it sounds strange, then think of it as an intense mindfulness practice that helps you detach from desires. The kriyas, which is what I teach today, help move energy throughout the body so that we can be more attuned to the cosmic Truth of our existence. The physical practice, according to Vedic philosophy, includes yoga and meditation practices, called kriyas. The teachings were reserved for only serious and advanced practitioners, often requiring several years of studies before ever moving onto the physical practice that we know today. Instead, the spiritual teacher would speak on the concepts of life, peace, consciousness, joy, and truth as a way of knowing God. Originally, these teachings were passed from yoga teacher to student through a yoga class that involved very little asana (yoga postures). when mentioned in the Upanishads, a sacred collection of writings that teaches how to have a healthy lifestyle through yoga. To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.Kundalini yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that originates from Vedic philosophy. In our love for our faith it had never occurred to us that a malicious man could twist the words of our Gurus and form a cult.

Though we should have put a stop to Bhajan's activities long ago, I can only say how sorry I am. I would hope that your experience has not left you with bad feelings towards the Punjabi Sikhs. Rest assured that the Sikhs in this world consider him to be little more than a power hungry bastard.

He not only appeared to be a very arrogant man, but also perceived himself to be a great saint. I saw Yogi Bhajan for the first time on BBC television last week. I would like to personally apologize for allowing you all to undergo this horrific ordeal. The emergence of 3HO, a very foreign and contradictory concept to Sikhism, was something we Punjabi Sikhs stood back and watched. I am a Young Punjabi Sikh, who, Like many other Punjabi Sikhs have been very disturbed by Yogi Bhajan's actions.

Yogi bhajan in punjabi