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04/05/2002 Archived Entry: "2/21/02 Yogi Bhajan"

Last night we did a healing chant/meditation for Yogi Bhajan, from 11 PM to 1:30 AM. He was having an operation in India, a kidney transplant. Many of us in the 3HO community took part in simultaneous chanting around the world, as the operation took place in New Delhi. At times, it was easy to picture the collective healing energy being focused towards the Siri Singh Sahib. And, at times, it was easy to see loved ones in the community sitting in meditation, here and there around the world.

I took a sort of mental stroll around the planet, during the meditation – up and down the west coast, out to New Mexico, down to Texas, over to Florida, up the East Coast, then over to Europe, and, finally, to India. In each place there was a clear picture of one or more people who I hold in my heart, as long time friends, and in some cases, my children.

The 3HO community: Yogi Bhajan came to the United States in 1969. I met him in 1970. I first saw him speak at an event called, "The Holy Man Jam at the Family Dog on the Great Highway." There were quite a few other spiritual leaders/teachers on the program, but he was the one who drew me in. I went to the first 3HO Summer Solstice gathering in New Mexico. "3HO" means the "Healthy, Happy, Holy, Organization.

He says if you practice this (Kundalini) yoga and lifestyle, first you will become healthy, then happy, and finally, holy. It seems to be working. It is an amazing thing, to have a spiritual teacher, a great gift, and blessing. A spiritual teacher provides a place to hang your ego. After a while, I think, there is no more ego. That is, no more ego of the kind that you need a place to hang it. I am not quite there yet, but I can see it. And I am closer to there than I am to where I started.

Yogi Bhajan told a story about a great and all-powerful emperor, who cried for days after his mother died, and seemed inconsolable. Finally, the head minister approached him, reminding him of his great power and wealth, of his many wives and children, of the work that there was yet to do. The minister finally asked, "why are you so bereft?" And the emperor responded by saying, "there is nobody left who can call me an idiot."

It is hard in this world of betrayal and suspicion, to be able to believe that someone is there who is only there to serve. For many years, it was struggle. There were always rumors of one kind or another. Duality was easy to come by. Then one day, when he was speaking at a Summer Solstice gathering, I looked at him, and thought, "Why is it so hard to believe that he is good. I am good. I mean I have faults, but essentially I am good. If I can be good, he can be good. Very well, will accept him as good." And so I have done, many years ago. There have been no regrets.

I would not say that he is always right, but he is almost always right. I remember when he was wrong here and there, or when he seemed wrong to me. But there are so many times when I was sure he was wrong, and he turned out to be right. I would say he bats around 850 -950. I was discussing this with my daughter, Snatam (a great and beautiful blessing in my life). She was seeing him as always correct. I told her that I have a harder road to follow than she does. That she follows a teacher who she perceives to be always correct, whereas I follow a teacher who is mostly correct. I have no guarantees. It is my choice to follow him, and each time I choose to do so, it is I who am making the choice, and I who am responsible for the choice I am making.

Many years ago, in the 1970s, Yogi Bhajan was leading a ten day Yoga course. My back was hurting, and I asked him to help me with it during a break. We were fewer then, there was more access, and time to hang out with him, and he did stuff like that then. He adjusted my back, and it felt better. The next exercise was very hard, and my back was very painful after it was over. I went to him again, asking for his help. He asked what happened. I said that I did the exercise. He asked, "why didn’t you stop when it hurt so much?" I said, "well, you said to keep up." He looked at me sharply, and said, "don’t be an idiot, Baba."