Yogi Bhajan
Yogi Bhajan was born in what is now known a Pakistan to a family of healers and had mastered the ancient technology of Kundalini Yoga by the time he was 16 years old. 1n 1969 he brought Kundalini Yoga to the West. He vowed to teach honestly, and share the wisdom and the technology that he had gained. He was determined to give people the technology of Kundalini Yoga so that they could empower themselves and show them they didn't have to become anybody's disciple to progress on the spiritual path. He made it clear from the very start that he had not come to get disciples, but to train teachers. He said that in Kundalini Yoga, a person must initiate him/herself! He encouraged people to learn, and then go out and teach what they had learned.
Yogi Bhajan broke the ancient tradition of secrecy to introduce what he called the Yoga of Awareness to the West. Traditionally these sacred teachings were passed from teacher to student in a very selective and elitist fashion. Any student who wanted to learn Kundalini Yoga had to serve a Master, prove his/her humility, self-discipline, and devotion before the teacher would even consider teaching them.
Until he came to the West in 1969, Kundalini Yoga had never been taught anywhere publicly. In fact, it was said that anyone who dared to teach Kundalini Yoga openly would not live to see his next birthday! Yogi Bhajan defied that tradition because he saw that thousands of young people were dying using drugs in search of higher consciousness. He offered an alternative to the drug culture. He knew Kundalini Yoga would give seekers a real experience of God within, and help heal their mental and emotional problems- as well as the physical bodies that had been damaged by the use of drugs
Yogi Bhajan devoted his life to the democratization of spirituality, teaching whoever is ready to listen and willing to practice. He taught the "Happy, Healthy, Holy way of life" for householders, the common man and woman who have families, earn a living and have relationships. The lifestyle includes a vegetarian diet and early morning practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation.
~
