Yogi Bhajan
Yogi Bhajan was born Harbhajan Singh Puri on August 26, 1929, in the part of India that became Pakistan in 1948. When he was just eight years old, he began his yogic training with Sant Hazara Singh, who proclaimed Yogi Bhajan to be a Master of Kundalini Yoga when he was sixteen and a half.
He was the first to publicly teach Kundalini Yoga, and when he arrived in the West in 1968, he announced that he had come to the West "to create teachers, not to gain students”. He broke centuries old tradition of secrecy surrounding the empowering science of Kundalini Yoga. With the eastern sciences of yoga, meditation, philosophy, and loving acceptance, he gave people an effective alternative way to seek spiritual enlightenment to the prevalent drug culture. He called it 3HO, the “Healthy, Happy, Holy” way of life.
In July of 1969, Yogi Bhajan created the first non-profit in our community, called the 3HO Foundation (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization). He founded several other non-profits to serve the many missions of the community, and also created for-profit companies to fund them. Under his guidance, these organizations have spread the teachings of Kundalini Yoga, established world-wide yoga events, created 3HO ashrams and trained teachers in over 35 countries.
Inspired and motivated by his words and adhering to the practices he taught, members of the 3HO community created music, art, and poetry reflecting the universal wisdom he shared. Over 200 books have been written based on his teachings, as well as a wealth of CD's, videos, paintings, and sculpture. He himself wrote over 30 books, including The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, Furmaan Khalsa, Masters Touch, and The Mind.
Becoming the Mahan Tantric (the living Master of White Tantric Yoga) in 1971, he conducted courses called White Tantric Yoga in cities around the world. In 1987, he transferred these workshops to videotape, calling them the "Renew to be New" courses, which make up the White Tantric Yoga program.
An ardent advocate of world peace and religious unity, the Siri Singh Sahib met with world leaders of all faiths to encourage dialogue, including Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, and two Archbishops of Canterbury. In June of 1985 he established the first International Peace Prayer Day Celebration in New Mexico. This annual day of musical celebration and interfaith prayer draws several thousand participants, including prominent national and international leaders in the realms of religion, politics, and humanity.
Yogi Bhajan left his physical body at 9:05 p.m. MDT on October 6, 2004, at the age of 75. His passing took place at his home in Espanola, New Mexico surrounded by family and friends.
His motto: "If you can't see God in all, you can't see God at all."
His credo: "It's not the life that matters, it's the courage that you bring to it."
His challenge to students: "Don't love me, love my teachings. Become ten times greater than me."