July 2006 - 3HO

kundalini yoga
in mexico
Through the Grace of God, Babaji Singh has shared the teachings of Yogi
Bhajan in Mexico for over 30 years along with many others
When you meet Babaji Singh Khalsa from Mexico City,
you are amazed by his steely strength and his radiant
smile. With a spirit that clearly shows his love of the
teachings of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan,
he has kept up through repeated illnesses and incredible losses and
gains. He simply loves to serve.
In 1969 Babaji visited Los Angeles
where he planned to stay for a few days
before embarking on a journey to fulfill his
aspiration to move to Alaska and be a crab
fisherman. Instead, he found the “turban
people,” and started practicing Kundalini
Yoga. His aspiration changed.
In 1972, Yogi Bhajan instructed Babaji to
carry the teachings to Mexico. He took the recommendation to heart,
went to Mexico, and rented a house with several rooms. With ten
Mexican cents in his pocket, a sign crafted out of charcoal, electrical
tape, and a paper bag, and the intention to start teaching classes,
Babaji waited for the first students to arrive. After 13 days—with water
as his only sustenance—two students arrived to experience their first
Kundalini Yoga class.
Guru Ram Das Ashram was founded in El Contadero Cuajimalpa,
Mexico, by Babaji. Today, the ashram houses nine people. A typical day
includes rising at 3:30 a.m. for sadhana* which lasts until 6:30 a.m.,
when folks participate in karma yoga 1 , and then go off to work, either
in the local community or with one of the several projects/businesses
housed within the ashram. Kundalini Yoga classes are taught at the
ashram throughout the day beginning at 8:00 a.m. with the last class
ending at 9:30 p.m.
When asked to share a favorite story about himself and Yogi Bhajan,
Babaji described the time he was on the table, about to have a kidney
operation. The doctor, getting ready to make an incision, felt his hand
freeze—so cold that he couldn’t move it. Three or four seconds passed,
and the doctor realized that by making his planned cut he would have
hit a major artery, compromising Babaji’s life. Later, when Babaji asked
By Sat Atma Kaur Khalsa
IKYTA
f e a t u r e d c e n t e r
See our listing of teachers
and centers worldwide at
www.KundaliniYoga.com,
or contact us at
IKYTA@3HO.org
about the experience, Yogiji explained that in a direct line from his
third eye to the hand of the doctor he froze everything. His teacher had
saved Babaji’s life. When asked if he felt he had been “kept alive” for
a particular, special reason, Babaji spoke about his work of translating
the Siri Guru Granth Sahib* from English to Spanish.
Yogiji explained that in a direct line from his
third eye to the hand of the doctor he froze
everything. His teacher had saved Babaji’s life.
The translation of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a major project. It has
been a work in progress for the past thirty years and has just recently
been completed. This edition, which will include Gurmukhi* with
Spanish translation and transliteration, is being printed on site by the
ashram’s printing business.
Guru Ram Das Ashram works in concert with the Kundalini Research
Institute in New Mexico and Universidad Sor Juana Ineq de la Cruz in
Mexico, to provide Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training programs. Kundalini
Yoga classes at the ashram include men’s and women’s courses,
advanced yoga, cooking classes, residential programs, children’s yoga,
and weekend workshops where everyone participates in cooking, serving,
and karma yoga, as well as classes on special topics in Kundalini Yoga.
Over the years many people have contributed to the growth of
Kundalini Yoga in Mexico. Jai Hari Singh and Jai Hari Kaur, Pritampal
Singh and Ardas Kaur, Sat Nam Kaur, Ravi Kaur, Arjun Singh and Ram
Kaur, Arjun Singh and Arjun Kaur, Ongkar Singh and Ardas Kaur, and
many others, known and unknown to us, have all gracefully served the
teachings of Yogi Bhajan. +
* See Glossary, p. 45.
1 Karma yoga is selfless action without thought of reward.
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48 Aquarian Times featuring Prosperity Paths
July.AT.6.indd 48 6/6/06 2:34:37 PM