We would like to share a message with love in our hearts, and a prayer of healing for all. We spent three years writing Essential Kundalini Yoga as a gift from the depths of our beings to each of you. Today we are writing again from our depths to let you know that we do not condone conduct that uses a position of authority to hurt, abuse or manipulate another human being. 

 

The soul-level virtues of compassion, respect, integrity, humility, responsibility, harmony and heartfelt love are essential for humanity. Anyone in a position of trusted leadership, whether in a position of providing spiritual or moral guidance, or holding public office, implying that virtues of the soul are relevant while at the same time conducting themselves in complete opposition to their own statements, are creating a dangerous volatile mix of harm, pain and emotional confusion. 

 

Today we are writing about Yogi Bhajan, and as students who trusted him, it is difficult to do. It has become clear that there was sexual misconduct and manipulation by Yogi Bhajan that occurred during his lifetime, as well as the perpetration of untruths and personal manipulation in many different ways. Yogi Bhajan passed away 16 years ago. Although the behavior was in the past, the is emotional pain is intense, and because these histories were so hidden, much is just emerging currently. The swirling mix of emotions for every one of us who trusted and made life choices based on his guidance ,are incredibly challenging. We are processing deeply, as are many others. 

 

Abusive behavior hidden beneath spirituality is particularly offensive and intensely confusing because it preys on the innocent spiritual yearnings of another human being. Yogi Bhajan taught transformational teachings to the West, at the same time we see where he failed to meet his own standards. We reject his failures and abuse, and stand with those who feel harmed in any way.

 

Fundamentally, we return again and again to pray for healing - for the women who have come forward, for the individuals who trusted him and were manipulated, for the community that was close to Yogi Bhajan, and all practitioners of Kundalini yoga around the world. As a path forward we are committing to work for empathy, acknowledgment, healing, wisdom and transformation. 

 

The guru-disciple paradigm of the past served the world of yoga for thousands of years, and brought many benefits. But clearly, especially in light of these revelations about Yogi Bhajan as well as others in positions of spiritual authority of various faiths and lineages, its time has passed. 

 

The message is that each of us has the ability to become clear vessels. We have found that the tools such as sound, meditation, mudra and our sacred breath can help each of us to directly access divinity personally. This is why we love the practices that we teach.  

 

Essential Kundalini Yoga was written to convey the essence of the practice while stepping out of the box. Our goal was to connect heart to heart with each reader to convey the beauty and healing of this practice. Everything from the writing to the photography, was carefully created to support your practice, your understanding and a profound experience of self. As a concept it steps beyond the borders that are often thought of as “kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan”. Breaking free of any paradigm requires courage, and we are proud of the balance that was achieved and the boldness it required. We stand fully behind the fundamentals that the book explains, the voice it carries, and the wisdom that we hope you can gain by the practices in it. With what has come to light we reject any reference to Yogi Bhajan. 

 

Kundalini yoga is about Prana, the life force of the universe that awakens each of us, carries wisdom, and activates the most profound aspects of our beings. It is not about Yogi Bhajan. The three pointed balance is to be discern what is good, rejecting the abuse, and most importantly, working towards positive change for the future.

 

We promise you that we commit to bringing you only techniques and concepts that empower you. We wrote essential Kundalini yoga with you and the power of this time in our minds. We wanted to bring you a very accessible and heart centered form of kundalini yoga with other tools for self sovereignty. 

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We care about you. We want to help to heal those who were hurt, work to make things better, and most of all honor all women all over the world who have suffered the degradation of misogyny.

 

We are grateful for this practice. Yet we do not condone the behavior of Yogi Bhajan or any person who abuses their position or authority. We are devoted to God, love you, stand with you and will not accept any form of manipulation. That is our promise. 

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Dharm Khalsa Skotting-Segal

Karena Virginia

Co-authors of Essential Kundalini Yoga