Hello
In the west Kundalini and Sikhism have become linked in people's
minds, but the join of the two is a fairly recent creation and is the
cause of some controversy in Sikhism.
The origins of Kundalini Yoga
_____________________________
This quote is from a "Kundalini Yoga FAQ" site
(http://www-cad.eecs.berkeley.edu/~keutzer/kundalini/kundalini-yoga.html
)
"Hatha, laya and kriya yoga all trace their origins back to the era of
the Indian Mahasiddhas. This era spanned the 8th and 12th centuries in
Northern India, Nepal and Tibet. The key figures in this era included
the Mahasiddhas Matsyenranath and his student Gorakshanath as well as
Jalandhara and Jalandhara's student Krishnacarya. Gorakshanath and
Matsyendranath are venerated as the originators of the Natha lineage.
Jalandhara is commemorated in the practice of the Jalandhara mudra but
he and his student Krishnacarya are also deeply venerated for their
roles in the early years of Tantric Buddhism. In fact each of these
great yogins is venerated both in Hindu Tantric and in Buddhist
Tantric schools. Of these individuals there are several works
attributed to Jalandhara and Krishanacarya in the canon of Indian
Buddhist Tantric literature which has survived in Tibetan translation.
"
So Kundalini is very much an Indian/Tibetan tradition, from before
Sikhism
Sikhism
_______
Sikhism is sometimes viewed as a cross between Hindu and Islamic
beliefs. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak (1469-1539) saw his
beliefs as 'God's" path and followed the strict teachings of his
mentor, mystic Kabir and several other Sikh gurus. He also included
many of the tenants, writings and scriptures of Hindu and Islam. The
area in which Nanak lived was an important influence in his Sikh
beliefs, which followed the Bhakti Hindu tradition and Muslim beliefs
- following God instead of many gods, idol worship and ceremonial
rituals.
Kundalini and Sikhism in the West
_________________________________
Yogi Bhajan is a Sikh and he brought kundalini yoga to the West in
1969, at the age of 39, and founded the Happy, Healthy Holy
Organization (3HO). His writings indicate that he is ``the Chief
Religious and Administrative Authority for the Sikh Dharma in the
Western Hemisphere.'' Yogi Bhajan has taught an organized regimen of
yogic practices aimed at clearing the subtle nerve channels and
ultimately awakening the kundalini, and linked this to Sikhism. He
calls this brand of Sikhism "Sikh Dharma", and it has many proponents
in the Western World, many taught through the huge army of trainers
that go through 3HO schools.
You’ll find all the details of Yogi Bhajan and Sikh Dharma at the
"Religious Movements site" here:
Sikh Dharma
(http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/sikd.html )
Here is a quote from one of the proponents of Kundalini and Sikhism
from "Victory and Virtue: Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma
(http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/sikhism.nsf/d9c75ce4db27be328725639a0063aecc/5d4722f778d17b09872565b7007b33aa!OpenDocument
)
"I see no contradiction to a life as a worshipper of the Siri Guru
Granth and my Kundalini Yoga practice. There is nothing in the path of
Kundalini Yoga which in any way contradicts what is taught in the Siri
Guru Granth. It has been my personal experience that Gurbani Kirtan
and developing a relationship with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib has
given me the bliss and grace of life. However, it was and continues to
be my Kundalini Yoga practice and teaching which keeps me in Chardi
Kala and continues to remind me to seek the Guru's Feet as my refuge.
I truly believe that it is the Miracle of Guru Ram Das that the
ancient teachings of Kundalini Yoga were offered to the Sikhs to keep
them in Charhdi Kala. How else can we explain the miracle of so many
Westerners coming to the feet of Siri Guru Granth Sahib through the
practice of Kundalini Yoga? "
The views of some Traditional Sikhs
___________________________________
An alternative view from an Indian Sikh can be found in "Separating
the Yogas from Sikhs"
http://www.rickross.com/reference/3ho/3ho64.html
"The Sikh religion was largely established to do away with all the
ascetic Yogas and yet its image in America, (and other Western
countries) seems to be seen by the native Anglo-peoples--as a religion
entwined inexorably with Kundalini Yoga! The average American may
equate Sikhism with Kundalini Yoga, because the 3HO people have taught
them that this is Sikhism and so they believe it! But nothing could be
further from the truth. "
This article deals with traditional Sikh views of the introduction of
Kundalini to their religion, and is rather scathing in it’s criticism
of 3HO and Yogi Bhajan. It concludes:
"…..his religion is different from Guru's. It is a composite blended
religion, a synthesis of ascetic yoga (Tantra, Kundalini, Muntra,
Mudra, Vedic medicines, etc.), what I call "Bhajanism" (his own
philosophy) and some Sikhism."
And one last quote shows the depth of the schism.
"Yoga Bhajan has his followers so indoctrinated they actually believe
Yoga is synonymous with Sikhi. "
Hope that answers your question
willie-ga
You;ll find a short biography of "Yogi Bhajan" here:
http://www.yogatech.com/yogibhajan.html
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