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@<strong>3HO</strong>.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. Read about more <strong>3HO</strong> communities at www.3hocommunity.org 48 Aquarian Times featuring Prosperity Paths <strong>July</strong>.AT.6.indd 48 6/6/06 2:34:37 PM
<strong>July</strong>.AT.6.indd 49 6/6/06 2:34:38 PM