Spiritual Teacher, Yogi and Guide to Thousands Has Passed On

Yogi Bhajan left his body on October 6th, 2004. To many of his students around the world, this is a time of both grief and joy as their beloved teacher and friend begins his journey to the after life.

(PRWEB) October 9, 2004 -- Known by many names including Yogi Bhajan, Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Ji, and to his family, Harbhajan Singh Puri, a great Spiritual teacher has died. The cause was complications due to heart failure.

His teachings have permeated the Western world on many levels. When he arrived from his native country, India, 35 years ago to teach yoga and a life of healthy living to a young generation of seekers in the United States, he was alone and had less than $20 in his pocket. At his death, his loss is felt by tens of thousands of his students around the world.

In the late 1960's, he first taught yoga classes to small groups of students. As his teachings grew, communities of his students began ashrams around the country that were dedicated to a yogic lifestyle, healthy living, family values, and a spiritual base for raising their children. Over time, his students created the 3HO organization (healthy, happy, holy Organization) that was focused on sharing his teachings with the world.

His message was always very universal, and his students were from a diverse religious background, simply looking for a healthier, more spiritual foundation for their lives. His Kundalini Yoga teachings crossed all religious barriers and have impacted the practice and teaching of yoga around the world. He believed that every person is a teacher and urged his students to become teachers ten times greater than himself.

Prosperity and spirituality go hand in hand in his teachings with the Sikh ethic of living "by the sweat of your brow" deeply ingrained in the lifestyles of his students. He taught a strong work ethic, and the businesses that his students created are some of the top businesses in their markets. Yogi Tea, a sumptuous line of natural teas, carries his picture on every box, and each tea bag has one of his quotes on its tab. Peace Cereals, a line of breakfast cereals, donates profits to Peace Prayer Day and gives grants to people of peace each year. Winners of this award include The Rainforest Alliance, Medicines Global, Food from the 'Hood, and more. Akal Security, one of the top private security companies in the United States is also founded by Sikh students of Yogi Bhajan.

Deeply interconnected with both the yogic and Sikh practice is devotional singing. Many of Yogi Bhajan's students practice Naad Yoga, or the yoga of sound, and manifest their spiritual practice through song. His students include a multitude of talented musicians, some of whom have reached levels of international recognition and mainstream distribution with their recordings, inlcuding Snatam Kaur, Singh Kaur and Gurudass to name a few.

In the time since September 11th, Sikhs around the world have come under some degree of prejudice from people unfamiliar with their beliefs. One of Yogi Bhajan's sayings, "recognize that the other person is you," is a classic representation of his guidance in dealing with the world: to learn to understand people and work from their perspective. His students are very active in Interfaith organizations around the world to help share an understanding of all faiths. One of the core teachings of Sikhism is that there is One God, and that God's name is 'Truth.' This belief encompasses a deep and abiding respect for all religions as different ways of living in Truth. He says, If you cannot see God in all, you cannot see God at all."

Before his death, Yogi Bhajan requested his students celebrate his passing as his going home. During the traditional Sikh 17 day period of remembrance, ending with a memorial service, he has asked that his students come together each day, chant, pray, talk, serve food, and eat together. He taught that in times of joy and sorrow, people should come together to be with one another, that people find true comfort and acceptance in community.

Yogi Bhajan will be deeply missed from this world, but his students believe that his teachings will carry on and continue to grow. His family has requested that in lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to KRI for The Library of the Teachings of Yogi Bhajan and sent to P.O. Box 249, Espanola, NM 87532

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