The 21 Stages of Meditation

Below are the 21 Stages of Meditation, as outlined by Yogi Bhajan, along with Kundalini Yoga meditations which help realise each stage. Journey One - Experience and Crystalize the Self Stage 1 – Upset Meditation to Conquer Upset Stage 2 – Boredom Meditation: See Your Horizon Stage 3 – Irritation Meditation: Eyeglass Traatik Stage 4 - Frustration Meditation: Self-Hypnosis to Dissolve Frustration Stage 5 – Focus Meditation: For Focus and an Alert Mind Stage 6 – Absorption Meditation: For Absorption in the Crystal Being Stage 7 – Experience and Crystallize the Self Meditation : To Experience and Crystallize the Self Journey Two - Express and Distill the Self Stage 8 – Rasa/Nectar Meditation Series for Rasa/Nectar Stage 9 – Delight Meditation: For Delight, Destiny and Creative Flow in Life Stage 10 – Politeness Meditation for Politeness Stage 11 – Humility  Meditation: Bowing Before the Infinite for Humility Meditation: Speaking Humbly before the Creative Infinity Meditation: Bowing for Humility to Transfer Prana Stage 12 – Elevation  Meditation for Elevation Meditation for Rasas and the Inner Eye Meditation for Elevation Stage 13 - Graceful Enlightenment Meditation for Graceful Enlightenment and Strength of Heart The three gunas, the three forces of nature, are all balanced. That opens the heart. On that the head is fixed and steady. You are aware of All and the Crown Chakra shines as the Sixth Chakra commands. –Yogi Bhajan The key to this stage lies in how we handle the polarities we experience. Life is filled with them. How gracefully we handle them is the measure of an enlightened human being.  –from The 21 Stages of Meditation Stage 14 – Express and Be Your Self The Laya Yoga Kundalini Mantra Meditation: To Clear the Channels and Raise Kundalini Meditation on the Laya Yoga Kundalini Mantra Meditation: Sankh Mudra Kriya Laya Meditation to Beam and Create Meditation: Sukh Sadhana Meditation to Express Your Real Self and Develop the Subtle Body Journey Three - Transcend and Sublimate the Self Stage 15 - Presence Like a Beacon Tattva Siddhi Meditation for Presence Like a Beacon Stage 16 - Everywhere Radiance Meditation: Polishing the Radiant Body Stage 17 - Prayerful Stillness Meditation: Deeksha Patra for Prayerful Stillness Stage 18 – Preacher Meditation: Chautay Padma Nirgun Mantra Stage 19 – Teacher Teacher Meditation- Traatik to See the Energy Stage 20 – Sage Meditation for the Sage: Sarb Gyan Kriya Stage 21 - Infinite Pulse Meditation for Infinite Pulse: Sodarshan Chakra Kriya Learn to master the 21 Stages of Meditation in an  upcoming course with the Kundalini Yoga Research Institute. The 21 Stages of Meditation course has no pre-requisites. It is open to those at any stage of their spiritual journey. The 21 Stages of Meditation Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Española, New Mexico Wednesday, June 6-Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Registration Price: $995.00 (Discounts Available) Want to learn more? CLICK HERE

A Letter from Hargopal Kaur

From the March 2012 Library of Teachings Newsletter - Kundalini Yoga Research Institute

Sat Nam!

Have you also been searching for Infinity? Did you see which rabbit hole leads to the cosmos? And who are our guides?

"There are only two teachers: time or your teacher." 1 

Guided by time or teacher! Hmmm. Time can be a very hard task master. And there are so many rabbit holes to explore.

"Teachings are teachings whether I give them or you give them. It isn't the teacher who is important, it's the teachings. The teachings are pure, and they have been passed on purely and they will continue to be pure." 2 

Whether you met Yogi Bhajan in the flesh or not, he is still teaching us-through  Kundalini Yoga and meditation, through his students, through his students' students, and through his teachings. And he always seems to know which rabbit hole to take, or perhaps it's just knowing which rabbit holes to avoid.

"Teaching is not done to get money and sell the teachings. Teaching is done to keep the teachings going. It is not for your sakes. You are just the instrument for listening. But our children, our grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be grateful that we left the knowledge for them." 3 

We have all heard of the power of the word. Have you experienced it? Yogi Bhajan shared with us that

"A spiritual teacher has simple rules in life: obey, serve, love and excel. It is a direct route." 4 

Have you experienced this direct route or does the rabbit hole have a lot of turns and dead ends?

"The Golden Chain is a concept in which light flows to add to the frequency of an ordinary person to give him the power to be a Teacher. It is the red-orange colored light which is always coming out of the teacher and is always swallowed by other teachers in variance within the scope of time and space. It is continuous and unending, but those who fall in faith shall lose it. Man is a finite capacity of the Infinite which has come to consciously experience Infinity. Guru is the technology and a constant help. Through obedience to the Guru, one can reach the state of experience of Infinity. God is the Infinity in itself." 5 

Have you looked in the mirror before and after a yoga class or a meditation. Do you see that Infinity? This technology of light, of upliftment, of service, of being, of shuniya is a treasure.
 
Through the Library of Teachings the treasure embodied in Yogi Bhajan's teachings is being preserved, digitized, and prepared so that you can access the teachings anytime, anyplace.

With gratitude we thank you for donations that support this process. We all want it to happen yesterday. And with your help, the tomorrow in which it does happen gets closer and closer to being today.
     
Humbly,
Hargopal Kaur Khalsa
KRI Board Member

From the author's notes, December 7, 1993
 © 1979 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Originally published in the Khalsa Women's Training Camp Notes, 1979, p 135.
 ©1985.The Radiant Body. Kundalini Research Institute: Pomona, CA, p. 64]
 ©1985.The Radiant Body. Kundalini Research Institute: Pomona, CA,, p205]
 © 1979 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Originally published in the Khalsa Women's Training Camp Notes, 1978, p. 163.

Why Do Action? Lord Krishna Explains [Video]

Are you trying to fix yourself?

It is obvious from all of our childhood comic book heros like Superman, Superwoman and the X-Men, that we all wish to have super powers and become perfect human beings, just like these superhuman caricatures.

However, the only reason we do not believe it is possible to become a Superman or a Superwoman is because we THINK there is something INHERENTLY WRONG with us which we spend our entire lives trying to FIX, either through worldly activities like parties, drinking, drugs, or even through spiritual activities like meditation, yoga, prayer. The side-effects may be different but the disease is the same - the disease of trying to fix ourselves constantly in order to feel 'OK' or 'normal' again.

We lead ourselves to believe that, "of course we have to fix ourselves, because nobody is perfect!" and "we all have weaknesses, emotions and habbits which we cannot overcome". Both of these are lies which we have led ourselves to believe.

The truth is very hard to accept: each of us are already perfect as we are, without needing to change a single thing about ourselves

It's one of those lovely paradoxical situations where as soon as you truly, whole heartedly accept and take on this above statement, then suddenly you will find yourself transform in an instant. The things which you thought were weaknesses or things you needed to change, automatically are transformed and no longer become limitations in your character - often they transform into your greatest strengths.

Accepting this statement TRULY does also give rise to super powers inside of you which shall help you in your path.

Stop trying to fix yourself through ANY means - only a person who is sick tries to fix themselves. A person who is healthy has no need for a fix, they already know they are healthly and need no medicine. Often the trap 'spiritual' people fall into is using meditation or yoga or prayer to fix themselves - but then they are no different to the alcoholics, junkies or socialites all who are trying to fix themselves because they think something is wrong which they must bring into balance.

Read this meditative poem:

• You are perfect as you are even with all of your biologoical needs for food and sex
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your emotional needs for having people around you, for wanting to feel loved, for feeling that your are somebody significant
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your sexual desires, anger, greed, attachment and ego, there is nothing wrong with any of these emotions
• You are perfect as you are even with all of those 'bad' habbits which you cannot seem to break
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your insecurities, fears and challenges
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your imbalances, diseases and illnesses
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your unluckiness, untidyness and ugliness
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your complaints, criticisms and blocks

Read this quote:

"Gurbani was not designed for the sick, it was designed for the Sikh"

By Guru's Grace - 05-09-2011

The meditation and quote above does not mean that a person who is sick cannot pray or gain benefit from reading the words of the Guru, it means that you can only truly understand the words of the Guru when you stop fixing yourself, and understand the who you were, who you have always been, who you are now and who you will continue to be in the future is perfect - because ultimately we are God masquerading as ourselves in the guise of a human body.

So LET IT GO! LET IT GO! LET IT GO! You're PERFECT as you are, accept yourself as being a perfect being.

Are you trying to fix yourself?

It is obvious from all of our childhood comic book heros like Superman, Superwoman and the X-Men, that we all wish to have super powers and become perfect human beings, just like these superhuman caricatures.

However, the only reason we do not believe it is possible to become a Superman or a Superwoman is because we THINK there is something INHERENTLY WRONG with us which we spend our entire lives trying to FIX, either through worldly activities like parties, drinking, drugs, or even through spiritual activities like meditation, yoga, prayer. The side-effects may be different but the disease is the same - the disease of trying to fix ourselves constantly in order to feel 'OK' or 'normal' again.

We lead ourselves to believe that, "of course we have to fix ourselves, because nobody is perfect!" and "we all have weaknesses, emotions and habbits which we cannot overcome". Both of these are lies which we have led ourselves to believe.

The truth is very hard to accept: each of us are already perfect as we are, without needing to change a single thing about ourselves

It's one of those lovely paradoxical situations where as soon as you truly, whole heartedly accept and take on this above statement, then suddenly you will find yourself transform in an instant. The things which you thought were weaknesses or things you needed to change, automatically are transformed and no longer become limitations in your character - often they transform into your greatest strengths.

Accepting this statement TRULY does also give rise to super powers inside of you which shall help you in your path.

Stop trying to fix yourself through ANY means - only a person who is sick tries to fix themselves. A person who is healthy has no need for a fix, they already know they are healthly and need no medicine. Often the trap 'spiritual' people fall into is using meditation or yoga or prayer to fix themselves - but then they are no different to the alcoholics, junkies or socialites all who are trying to fix themselves because they think something is wrong which they must bring into balance.

Read this meditative poem:

• You are perfect as you are even with all of your biologoical needs for food and sex
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your emotional needs for having people around you, for wanting to feel loved, for feeling that your are somebody significant
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your sexual desires, anger, greed, attachment and ego, there is nothing wrong with any of these emotions
• You are perfect as you are even with all of those 'bad' habbits which you cannot seem to break
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your insecurities, fears and challenges
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your imbalances, diseases and illnesses
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your unluckiness, untidyness and ugliness
• You are perfect as you are even with all of your complaints, criticisms and blocks

Read this quote:

"Gurbani was not designed for the sick, it was designed for the Sikh"

By Guru's Grace - 05-09-2011

The meditation and quote above does not mean that a person who is sick cannot pray or gain benefit from reading the words of the Guru, it means that you can only truly understand the words of the Guru when you stop fixing yourself, and understand the who you were, who you have always been, who you are now and who you will continue to be in the future is perfect - because ultimately we are God masquerading as ourselves in the guise of a human body.

So LET IT GO! LET IT GO! LET IT GO! You're PERFECT as you are, accept yourself as being a perfect being.

Kundalini Yoga on Fox News

Sevak Singh is interviewed on Fox News about Kundalini Yoga:

Kundalini Yoga on Fox News

Sevak Singh is interviewed on Fox News about Kundalini Yoga:

God is a Creator of Miracles

It's easy to forget that God can create miracles in one's life. All it takes is some faith and trust in the ways of the Creator and the Universe. The Sanskrit word for faith is "Brosa". Brosa is the most powerful and profound of all ways of being. It is a submission of sorts. It is a grace. It is a state of humility. The state is embedded in the thought that 'we cannot do anything by ourselves, we need help and direction from something higher'. With this thought and a follow-up thought that 'God will pull me thorough any difficulty or challenge that I face', ignites the element of Brosa from the heart-centre. And as the heart bows to God, God bows to one's heart - then all miracles are possible. Through a constant state of submission and faith in God, miracles start to become ordinary and the ordinary becomes a miracle.

Here is a meditation from Kundalini Yoga to help develop the state of Brosa or faith:

Posture: Sit in Easy Pose, or in a chair with a straight spine. Arch the arms up over the head with the palms facing down. If you are male, place the right palm on top of the left. If you are female, place the left palm on top of the right. The thumb tips are together with the thumbs facing back. The arms are slightly bent at the elbows.
Eyes: With the eyes opened very slightly, look down toward the upper lip.
Chant: While chanting the following mantra, form the sounds with the lips and tongue very precisely. Whisper it so that the “Guru” is almost inaudible. It takes about 2½ seconds per repetition. The entire mantra is repeated on a single breath. The tone is a relaxed monotone that varies in emphasis automatically as you proceed through the stages of the mantra.
Time: Continue for 11 minutes
Mantra: Wah-Hay-Guroo
Comments:
"When trust and courage come together, it is called belief. When belief and grace come together it is called faith. We must develop our dignity, our integrity, our courage, our faith and our trust to the extent that nothing can shake it. The most courageous act is trust itself. Humble are those who believe and trust in God’s energy and let it flow." - Yogi Bhajan

Trust is the next step in the process of transformation and without it, nothing can happen. For instance, results may be imminent but not immediately visible, and trust is necessary to maintain the discipline of what you are doing, whatever you are doing in life.

The “Meditation for Brosa” affects the element of trust in the human personality. Trust is the basis of faith and commitment and the sense of reality. It will give you the elevation of spirit so you can stand up to any challenge. It builds and balances the aura from the fourth chakra up. This kriya should be done for a maximum of 11 minutes per day for the first week or two and then may be increased by 1 minute every 15 days of practice until you reach a total of 31 minutes.

God is a Creator of Miracles

It's easy to forget that God can create miracles in one's life. All it takes is some faith and trust in the ways of the Creator and the Universe. The Sanskrit word for faith is "Brosa". Brosa is the most powerful and profound of all ways of being. It is a submission of sorts. It is a grace. It is a state of humility. The state is embedded in the thought that 'we cannot do anything by ourselves, we need help and direction from something higher'. With this thought and a follow-up thought that 'God will pull me thorough any difficulty or challenge that I face', ignites the element of Brosa from the heart-centre. And as the heart bows to God, God bows to one's heart - then all miracles are possible. Through a constant state of submission and faith in God, miracles start to become ordinary and the ordinary becomes a miracle.

Here is a meditation from Kundalini Yoga to help develop the state of Brosa or faith:

Posture: Sit in Easy Pose, or in a chair with a straight spine. Arch the arms up over the head with the palms facing down. If you are male, place the right palm on top of the left. If you are female, place the left palm on top of the right. The thumb tips are together with the thumbs facing back. The arms are slightly bent at the elbows.
Eyes: With the eyes opened very slightly, look down toward the upper lip.
Chant: While chanting the following mantra, form the sounds with the lips and tongue very precisely. Whisper it so that the “Guru” is almost inaudible. It takes about 2½ seconds per repetition. The entire mantra is repeated on a single breath. The tone is a relaxed monotone that varies in emphasis automatically as you proceed through the stages of the mantra.
Time: Continue for 11 minutes
Mantra: Wah-Hay-Guroo
Comments:
"When trust and courage come together, it is called belief. When belief and grace come together it is called faith. We must develop our dignity, our integrity, our courage, our faith and our trust to the extent that nothing can shake it. The most courageous act is trust itself. Humble are those who believe and trust in God’s energy and let it flow." - Yogi Bhajan

Trust is the next step in the process of transformation and without it, nothing can happen. For instance, results may be imminent but not immediately visible, and trust is necessary to maintain the discipline of what you are doing, whatever you are doing in life.

The “Meditation for Brosa” affects the element of trust in the human personality. Trust is the basis of faith and commitment and the sense of reality. It will give you the elevation of spirit so you can stand up to any challenge. It builds and balances the aura from the fourth chakra up. This kriya should be done for a maximum of 11 minutes per day for the first week or two and then may be increased by 1 minute every 15 days of practice until you reach a total of 31 minutes.

Completion of 40 Days of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya

Today (1st of February 2010), I have successfully completed 40 days of 31 minutes of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya, which is the first 40 day meditation I have ever completed - a true milestone in my life! There have been many challenges along the way and events happening that have tried to interrupt my meditation practice, but I have always been able to move around the circumstances and do my meditation more or less at 9:15pm every day for 40 days. It certainly required commitment, but it was not difficult to follow this commitment through as I might have imagined previously.

Initially doing this meditation, or more correctly this kriya, was very difficult especially due to the extended period of holding the breath along with the pumping of the navel point. It gave me a thumping headache, I felt sick and I felt I was not able to breathe in enough oxygen! However after about three days it became much easier, and throughout the 40 days has become increasingly easier and natural to breathe in this way.

Sodarshan Chakra Kriya has put me into various meditative states both during the meditation and afterwards whilst going to sleep. Towards the middle of the 40 day period there were a number of occasions of altered states of consciousness during sleep, a more aware type of sleep. Also, there was a number of occasions of 'dreaming the world into existence' in which a very conscious dream is had about the future but there is a freedom to change the events of the future and bring that change back into the present moment (which is not the same as dreaming about the future). Towards the end of the 40 day period I have been increasingly absorbed into the meditation without any thoughts distracting my attention, which I believe is the purpose or goal of Sodarshan - to become crystal-clear minded (not that I'm quite there yet!). Overall, the main effect of Sodarshan on me has been a heightened intuition during the day.

I thoroughly recommend everyone to do 40 days of this kriya for 31 minutes, it generates a lot of inner heat, it is very calming and gives heightened intuition. Also, it is good for those who enjoy a physical challenge and wish to commit to a substantial meditation.

Sat Naam.

Completion of 40 Days of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya

Today (1st of February 2010), I have successfully completed 40 days of 31 minutes of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya, which is the first 40 day meditation I have ever completed - a true milestone in my life! There have been many challenges along the way and events happening that have tried to interrupt my meditation practice, but I have always been able to move around the circumstances and do my meditation more or less at 9:15pm every day for 40 days. It certainly required commitment, but it was not difficult to follow this commitment through as I might have imagined previously.

Initially doing this meditation, or more correctly this kriya, was very difficult especially due to the extended period of holding the breath along with the pumping of the navel point. It gave me a thumping headache, I felt sick and I felt I was not able to breathe in enough oxygen! However after about three days it became much easier, and throughout the 40 days has become increasingly easier and natural to breathe in this way.

Sodarshan Chakra Kriya has put me into various meditative states both during the meditation and afterwards whilst going to sleep. Towards the middle of the 40 day period there were a number of occasions of altered states of consciousness during sleep, a more aware type of sleep. Also, there was a number of occasions of 'dreaming the world into existence' in which a very conscious dream is had about the future but there is a freedom to change the events of the future and bring that change back into the present moment (which is not the same as dreaming about the future). Towards the end of the 40 day period I have been increasingly absorbed into the meditation without any thoughts distracting my attention, which I believe is the purpose or goal of Sodarshan - to become crystal-clear minded (not that I'm quite there yet!). Overall, the main effect of Sodarshan on me has been a heightened intuition during the day.

I thoroughly recommend everyone to do 40 days of this kriya for 31 minutes, it generates a lot of inner heat, it is very calming and gives heightened intuition. Also, it is good for those who enjoy a physical challenge and wish to commit to a substantial meditation.

Sat Naam.

Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why.

Today I read a very interesting article by Wired.com, about how placebos seem to be getting more effective, even against long-standing tried and tested drugs. Some key things I learnt from this article are that firstly, we underestimate the power of the human mind and ability of the body to heal itself, and secondly, how science is just beginning to discover and prove the power of the conscious, subconscious, unconscious and super-conscious minds.

Thirdly, Edward Scolnick, Merck's research director, said "To remain dominant in the future, we need to dominate the central nervous system". This is where Kundalini Yoga comes in as an art and a science. My personal opinion is that unless Pharmaceutical companies can begin to invest in understanding the technology of yoga and meditation, which deals with strengthening the central nervous system, then they will not be able to innovate enough to stay competitive in the upcoming marketplace.

At first it may seem a very strange thing for a Pharmaceutical company to do, but whether they like it or not, the world is turning more towards spirituality and self-healing as a science, and thus unless this threat is turned into an opportunity we may see some of the biggest Pharmaceutical companies in the world sink overnight, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck.

My personal thoughts on placebos are that, they are effective because consciousness creates our reality. The degree to which a human being is conscious, is the degree to which he or she may create their own reality. Usually, we as humans live in our created reality without ever questioning it or thinking about what we have created. It requires a unique insight to observe your own created reality and then it requires consciousness to create a new reality.

Consciousness is what we really are at the basic level of Self. If we were to take a human being and de-construct them to their basic building block, that basic building block would be awareness or consciousness which has no form. Then consciousness creates sound or vibration which has a form and pattern. The next building blocks are sub-atomic particles, then atomic particles which create matter, which creates us physically.

If all we are is consciousness, then a placebo works because we become aware of the idea that a medicine may heal us, thus bringing the concept of getting better into reality which has the result of the patient getting better. At the same time, if we bring negative ideas into our consciousness about a drug having negative-side effects, our created reality becomes negative because we choose to create that future albeit subconsciously, also called a nocebo effect.

These are just some thoughts for the future =)...

Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why.

Today I read a very interesting article by Wired.com, about how placebos seem to be getting more effective, even against long-standing tried and tested drugs. Some key things I learnt from this article are that firstly, we underestimate the power of the human mind and ability of the body to heal itself, and secondly, how science is just beginning to discover and prove the power of the conscious, subconscious, unconscious and super-conscious minds.

Thirdly, Edward Scolnick, Merck's research director, said "To remain dominant in the future, we need to dominate the central nervous system". This is where Kundalini Yoga comes in as an art and a science. My personal opinion is that unless Pharmaceutical companies can begin to invest in understanding the technology of yoga and meditation, which deals with strengthening the central nervous system, then they will not be able to innovate enough to stay competitive in the upcoming marketplace.

At first it may seem a very strange thing for a Pharmaceutical company to do, but whether they like it or not, the world is turning more towards spirituality and self-healing as a science, and thus unless this threat is turned into an opportunity we may see some of the biggest Pharmaceutical companies in the world sink overnight, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck.

My personal thoughts on placebos are that, they are effective because consciousness creates our reality. The degree to which a human being is conscious, is the degree to which he or she may create their own reality. Usually, we as humans live in our created reality without ever questioning it or thinking about what we have created. It requires a unique insight to observe your own created reality and then it requires consciousness to create a new reality.

Consciousness is what we really are at the basic level of Self. If we were to take a human being and de-construct them to their basic building block, that basic building block would be awareness or consciousness which has no form. Then consciousness creates sound or vibration which has a form and pattern. The next building blocks are sub-atomic particles, then atomic particles which create matter, which creates us physically.

If all we are is consciousness, then a placebo works because we become aware of the idea that a medicine may heal us, thus bringing the concept of getting better into reality which has the result of the patient getting better. At the same time, if we bring negative ideas into our consciousness about a drug having negative-side effects, our created reality becomes negative because we choose to create that future albeit subconsciously, also called a nocebo effect.

These are just some thoughts for the future =)...

Keeping the heart healthy: The Result

Sat Naam! So, the experiment with doing regular running daily has had real benefits and my heart is definitely healthier in just a month. I'm fascinated at the difference in my health so rapidly! I can run on average for 15 - 20 minutes now and without too much exhaustion. The longest I've so far run for is 25 minutes, and that was pushing all my boundaries, but then again, God loves to push my boundaries!

Running is such a beautiful thing. Absolute freedom! And afterwards I'm sweating all over, which is such a good feeling (without trying to sound too much like a Hippie!). I now understand the privilege of having legs to run with. Some people don't have legs, so having legs is a privilege. By running I'm honouring my heart, my legs, my body, I'm respecting the fact they serve me so well and so I should keep them in good shape. That's the least I can do - keep them in good shape! I owe it to them to keep them in good shape. It's Ang Sang Waheguru.

And also, I'm discovering the importance of the mind whilst running. It becomes either a big barrier or a big support depending on how it's wired up. If I hadn't actively developed the capacity of my mind, this running business would have stopped long before. Even whilst running, I have a constant consciousness about the thoughts running through my mind - if you can pardon the pun. As I run, thoughts run too. As I run faster, thoughts run faster too. Since the mind is connected intimately to the breath. But, if a person does not know how to process the thoughts, then that person will not be able to persevere in anything. It's so important, for those who do sports or martial arts, to also develop the capacity of the mind and everyday clear it.

At the moment I'm doing a meditation called Gun Patee, to make the impossible possible, for 31 minutes in the evening before I go to sleep. All my successes in running have been due to this meditation. For those who want to join me in practising this meditation, below are the instructions modified from the KRI Library of Teachings website.

Please Note: The website http://www.100megsfree.com/yoga/gumpati.html displays an incorrect version of Gunpati Kriya. The KRI approved version can be found here.

Description
This beautiful and powerful meditation has a history in its name. The ancient symbol for this was the Hindu God of Knowledge and Happiness, Ganesha. The other name for Ganesha is Gunpati or Ganpati. Ganesha was depicted as a rotund man with the head of an elephant. This huge body balances and rides on a rat, conveying the message that even the impossible can be done with this meditation. The rat represents the quality of penetration. A rat can get in almost any place. So Ganesha can know anything and can get past any blockages.

Wisdom and wise choices grant you happiness in your life. The impact of this meditation is to clear the blocks from your own karma. Each of us has three regions of life to conquer: The past which is recorded in our samskaras and which brings us the challenges and blessings of fate are balanced by these sounds; the present which must be mastered by karma yoga, the practice of action with integrity in the moment; and the future, recorded in the ether and, which at its best and most fulfilled, is called dharma. This kriya allows you to let go of the attachments to the mind and to the impact of past actions so you can create and live a fulfilled life and a perfect future.

How To Do It
Sit with legs crossed on the floor (easy pose), or in a chair with feet flat and a straight spine with the chin slightly tucked in towards the chest (light jalandhar bandh). Elbows straight, wrists resting on knees. The eyes are 1/10th open, concentrating at the Third Eye Point, which is at the roof of the nose between the two physical eyebrows.

The mantra that we will be using is Sa-Ta-Na-Ma-Ra-Ma-Da-Sa-Sa-Sey-Soh-Hung. The mantra is chanted in the following way:
Sa: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Ta: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Na: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Ma: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

Ra: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Ma: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Da: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Sa: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

Sa: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Sey: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Soh: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Hung: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

There are three parts to this kriya:
Part I
Chant the mantra on a single breath, as you press the fingertips sequentially with each syllable. Use a monotone voice or use the same melody you would use for Kirtan Kriya. The eyes are 1/10th open. Concentrate at the Third Eye Point.

Time: Continue for 11-62 minutes.

Part II
Inhale deeply and hold the breath. Move the body in a slow twist and stretch motion. Move each muscle of the body. Move the head, torso, arms, back, belly and hands. Then exhale powerfully. Repeat this 3-5 times.

Part III
Immediately sit straight. Look at the Lotus Point, the tip of the nose. Become totally calm, absolutely still. Meditate for 2-3 minutes.

To End: Inhale and hold the breath for 30 seconds as you physically move and rotate your body as if it is going through spasms. Every muscle must be stretched, squeezed and turned around, from the muscles in your face, head and neck, down to your toes. Exhale. Repeat this 3 more times. Then inhale, sit calmly and concentrate on the tip of your nose for 20 seconds. Exhale, and relax. Done!

Keeping the heart healthy: The Result

Sat Naam! So, the experiment with doing regular running daily has had real benefits and my heart is definitely healthier in just a month. I'm fascinated at the difference in my health so rapidly! I can run on average for 15 - 20 minutes now and without too much exhaustion. The longest I've so far run for is 25 minutes, and that was pushing all my boundaries, but then again, God loves to push my boundaries!

Running is such a beautiful thing. Absolute freedom! And afterwards I'm sweating all over, which is such a good feeling (without trying to sound too much like a Hippie!). I now understand the privilege of having legs to run with. Some people don't have legs, so having legs is a privilege. By running I'm honouring my heart, my legs, my body, I'm respecting the fact they serve me so well and so I should keep them in good shape. That's the least I can do - keep them in good shape! I owe it to them to keep them in good shape. It's Ang Sang Waheguru.

And also, I'm discovering the importance of the mind whilst running. It becomes either a big barrier or a big support depending on how it's wired up. If I hadn't actively developed the capacity of my mind, this running business would have stopped long before. Even whilst running, I have a constant consciousness about the thoughts running through my mind - if you can pardon the pun. As I run, thoughts run too. As I run faster, thoughts run faster too. Since the mind is connected intimately to the breath. But, if a person does not know how to process the thoughts, then that person will not be able to persevere in anything. It's so important, for those who do sports or martial arts, to also develop the capacity of the mind and everyday clear it.

At the moment I'm doing a meditation called Gun Patee, to make the impossible possible, for 31 minutes in the evening before I go to sleep. All my successes in running have been due to this meditation. For those who want to join me in practising this meditation, below are the instructions modified from the KRI Library of Teachings website.

Please Note: The website http://www.100megsfree.com/yoga/gumpati.html displays an incorrect version of Gunpati Kriya. The KRI approved version can be found here.

Description
This beautiful and powerful meditation has a history in its name. The ancient symbol for this was the Hindu God of Knowledge and Happiness, Ganesha. The other name for Ganesha is Gunpati or Ganpati. Ganesha was depicted as a rotund man with the head of an elephant. This huge body balances and rides on a rat, conveying the message that even the impossible can be done with this meditation. The rat represents the quality of penetration. A rat can get in almost any place. So Ganesha can know anything and can get past any blockages.

Wisdom and wise choices grant you happiness in your life. The impact of this meditation is to clear the blocks from your own karma. Each of us has three regions of life to conquer: The past which is recorded in our samskaras and which brings us the challenges and blessings of fate are balanced by these sounds; the present which must be mastered by karma yoga, the practice of action with integrity in the moment; and the future, recorded in the ether and, which at its best and most fulfilled, is called dharma. This kriya allows you to let go of the attachments to the mind and to the impact of past actions so you can create and live a fulfilled life and a perfect future.

How To Do It
Sit with legs crossed on the floor (easy pose), or in a chair with feet flat and a straight spine with the chin slightly tucked in towards the chest (light jalandhar bandh). Elbows straight, wrists resting on knees. The eyes are 1/10th open, concentrating at the Third Eye Point, which is at the roof of the nose between the two physical eyebrows.

The mantra that we will be using is Sa-Ta-Na-Ma-Ra-Ma-Da-Sa-Sa-Sey-Soh-Hung. The mantra is chanted in the following way:
Sa: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Ta: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Na: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Ma: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

Ra: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Ma: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Da: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Sa: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

Sa: Press the thumb to the index finger.
Sey: Press the thumb to the second finger.
Soh: Press the thumb to the ring finger.
Hung: Press the thumb to the baby finger.

There are three parts to this kriya:
Part I
Chant the mantra on a single breath, as you press the fingertips sequentially with each syllable. Use a monotone voice or use the same melody you would use for Kirtan Kriya. The eyes are 1/10th open. Concentrate at the Third Eye Point.

Time: Continue for 11-62 minutes.

Part II
Inhale deeply and hold the breath. Move the body in a slow twist and stretch motion. Move each muscle of the body. Move the head, torso, arms, back, belly and hands. Then exhale powerfully. Repeat this 3-5 times.

Part III
Immediately sit straight. Look at the Lotus Point, the tip of the nose. Become totally calm, absolutely still. Meditate for 2-3 minutes.

To End: Inhale and hold the breath for 30 seconds as you physically move and rotate your body as if it is going through spasms. Every muscle must be stretched, squeezed and turned around, from the muscles in your face, head and neck, down to your toes. Exhale. Repeat this 3 more times. Then inhale, sit calmly and concentrate on the tip of your nose for 20 seconds. Exhale, and relax. Done!

Keeping the heart healthy

Recently I just started doing some running in the local park, and I've not ran for at least two years - properly at least. I have to say that I was absolutely exhausted after just 15 minutes of running non-stop and it made me realise how unhealthy I really am! I was getting blurred vision and felt quite sick - it took a few minutes to regain my composure. It's quite strange because I'm a lacto-vegetarian, I can do very difficult yoga sets and sit in meditation for an hour effortlessly, but to run for 15 minutes really is something else! For me it's been a real wake-up call, that no matter how young you are, no matter how much you meditate and do yoga, no matter how healthy your diet is, working the cardiovascular system is extremely important too - keeping the heart healthy is crucial.

I've now committed to doing at least 20-30 minutes of running everyday and after just a few days, running the same distance is getting easier and easier. It's really quite beautiful to be outside and enjoy the natural surroundings of the park, especially the trees. Whilst I'm running I'm listening to some music to keep me motivated, a bit of Aretha Franklin, Black Eyed Peas and Snatam Kaur. Whilst I'm running I try and keep focused on the mantra "Sat Naam" to avoid the mental excuses of "I can't run anymore" or "Just stop and walk for a bit" amongst many others. After finishing a run, I try and control the breath and breathe more deeply to expand the capacity of my lungs. I love it! I feel so free when I run! I can't think why I didn't start it sooner.

So, I shall keep you all updated on my progress. For now the question remains: what are you doing to keep your heart healthy? Please do not make the same mistake I did, regular exercise which works the cardiovascular system should be part of your routine. May we all remain healthy, happy and holy and keep a healthy body so we may house a healthy God. Sat Naam!

Keeping the heart healthy

Recently I just started doing some running in the local park, and I've not ran for at least two years - properly at least. I have to say that I was absolutely exhausted after just 15 minutes of running non-stop and it made me realise how unhealthy I really am! I was getting blurred vision and felt quite sick - it took a few minutes to regain my composure. It's quite strange because I'm a lacto-vegetarian, I can do very difficult yoga sets and sit in meditation for an hour effortlessly, but to run for 15 minutes really is something else! For me it's been a real wake-up call, that no matter how young you are, no matter how much you meditate and do yoga, no matter how healthy your diet is, working the cardiovascular system is extremely important too - keeping the heart healthy is crucial.

I've now committed to doing at least 20-30 minutes of running everyday and after just a few days, running the same distance is getting easier and easier. It's really quite beautiful to be outside and enjoy the natural surroundings of the park, especially the trees. Whilst I'm running I'm listening to some music to keep me motivated, a bit of Aretha Franklin, Black Eyed Peas and Snatam Kaur. Whilst I'm running I try and keep focused on the mantra "Sat Naam" to avoid the mental excuses of "I can't run anymore" or "Just stop and walk for a bit" amongst many others. After finishing a run, I try and control the breath and breathe more deeply to expand the capacity of my lungs. I love it! I feel so free when I run! I can't think why I didn't start it sooner.

So, I shall keep you all updated on my progress. For now the question remains: what are you doing to keep your heart healthy? Please do not make the same mistake I did, regular exercise which works the cardiovascular system should be part of your routine. May we all remain healthy, happy and holy and keep a healthy body so we may house a healthy God. Sat Naam!

An Introduction to Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga, the yoga of awareness, is a tool to achieve self mastery and happiness of total self. It works on all aspects of the body, mind and spirit through, pranayama (breath), mantras (chants), asana (body positioning), mudra (hand positioning), bhanda (body locks) and relaxation to provide a more healthy, happy and holy way of life for each person who practices it.

Kundalini Yoga is one of the oldest forms of human development, being at least 6000 years old. Some believe it dates back as many as 70,000 years. Kundalini yoga produces results 16 times faster than ordinary yoga and is the original and most powerful of the twenty two schools of yoga, all of which are beneficial. The Yoga Sutras say that what you can achieve in 12 years of Hatha Yoga, plus 6 years of Raj Yoga, plus 3 years of Mantra Yoga, plus 1 year of Laya Yoga can be accomplished in a single year of perfectly practised Kundalini Yoga. It is therefore known as the fastest form of Yoga practise and personal development.

The word "Kundalini" means awareness and hidden potential of that awareness; it is the greatness of what we are capable. "Yoga" means relationship, unity, the merging of the individual creative consciousness with the infinite Creative Consciousness. By practicing this form of yoga an awareness and conscious relationship with our spiritual origin is developed. It is not a religion but rather the science of all religions. The spiritual impulse and identity is basic to human nature, but for many people in this society it has been lost. Practicing Kundalini yoga brings us back in touch with our three folded nature: body, mind and spirit.

Kundalini Yoga incorporates gentle stretching as well as energetic aerobic workout with breath coordination. All yoga sets are designed to work on specific body systems, such as the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine or reproductive system. It provides happiness by balancing the glandular system, strengthening the nervous system, and enabling us to tap into the energy of the mind and the emotions, so we can be in control of ourselves, rather than being controlled by our thoughts and feelings. Kundalini Yoga promotes better functioning of our bodily systems, increases our radiance and the impact we have on others, promotes emotional balance and enhances intuition, helps to eliminate negative habit patterns, and promotes a sense of relaxation, well being and centeredness as well as reducing stress effectively. The benefits therefore impact all aspects of our physical, mental and spiritual being.

"The process of self-healing is the privilege of every human being. Self-healing is not a miracle, nor is it a question of being able to do something that most people can’t. Self-healing is a process that occurs through the relationship between the physical and the infinite power of the soul. It is a contract, a union - that is the science of Kundalini Yoga." - Yogi Bhajan - Master of Kundalini Yoga

Immediately after class most students feel a sense of general well being and relaxation, or a feeling of inner peace and joy. Many students also report mental clarity and an increase in energy levels the day or days following class.

My Experience of Summer Solstice Sadhana 2008 in New Mexico

Ram Das Puri, Española, New Mexico
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa

The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!

Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.

I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.

We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.

A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.

Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.

When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.

So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!

After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.

So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.

The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!

A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.

Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.

I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.

After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.

First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.

My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.

Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.

So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.

It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.

With love and blessings to all,

Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.

My Experience of Summer Solstice Sadhana 2008 in New Mexico

Ram Das Puri, Española, New Mexico
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa

The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!

Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.

I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.

We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.

A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.

Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.

When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.

So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!

After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.

So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.

The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!

A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.

Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.

I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.

After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.

First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.

My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.

Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.

So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.

It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.

With love and blessings to all,

Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.