The Fire Tattva: 2010 Global Meditation
By Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, KRI Director of Training


IKYTA Each year from 2008 to 2012 we have chosen to work on one of the five tattvas (elements) and the associated qualities of each tattva within us. Traditionally the five elements correspond to the first five chakras and are described by the qualities of earth, water, fire, air, and ether (space). By the time we reach the 2012 solstices, we will have energetically reached the sixth chakra and be ready to rely on a new level of subtlety and self-discipline. In this way we will be fully conscious and prepared to embrace change as we work together for unity and express our uniqueness as we serve, heal, and lead in this new time.

Spiritual Warrior-Strength, Balance, and Peace in a Changing World

2010 is the year of the Fire Tattva, which corresponds to the Third Chakra (navel point and solar plexus): personal strength and power, commitment, and identity. This is a time to call on our courage with the grit, caliber, and fortitude of a Spiritual Warrior. This is also the year to get clear about your goals. It is a moment to consolidate your self-discipline so you feel clear and worthy to steward all that is given to you. The Third Chakra strength must infuse your words and projection so that your seeds take root and reach to the heights.

Fire is an important quality or element in the philosophy of yoga. From the formless manifold Being that is the Infinite, to the dense form of finite existence, there is a process of manifestation that moves from the most subtle to the gross and tangible. This transition occurs in 36 steps or tattvas. Each step or tattva is a state of Being. Fire is a major step in that process and as such is a pervasive potential, which manifests in differing degrees. Fire as an element encodes a transformative function inherent in the Universe, which is experienced in particular functions throughout the body. Fire gives light. Light enables vision. Vision gives insight, perspective, and projective potency. In terms of chakras, it is associated with the Third Chakra, the Manipura Chakra, which is often represented as an upward pointing triangle and the color red.

In the finite world of forms, fire is fed by fuel. Physiologically, it is the power of digestion and food is its fuel. Emotionally, it is passion and the fuel is the object of love or desire. Psychologically, it is known as personal will and the fuel is a goal. When fire is present it induces dynamic change, restlessness, and purification of the substance and form it presides in. Fire is increased with the practice and discipline of yoga. The Fifth Chakra supports this internal flame through the power of projection and by charging the space it can burn in with potential.

In the formless realm of experience, the fire tattva is prakasha, the brilliance of the soul, the insight and intuition of the mind, and the presence of awareness. It is the light, which gives rise to forms. This quality was described in an early lecture by Yogi Bhajan: “Saints and sages have taught mankind that whatever elements are found in the constitution of the Infinite Universe will also be found in the human body. The Universe is the entire Cosmos; and we are a microcosm of the entire Cosmos. If we were to take a thimbleful of sea water and examine it closely, we would find by chemical qualitative analysis that the constituents of the sea water in the thimble are identical to those of the vast ocean. Similarly, the constituents of our individual bodies are identical to those of the Universe. It would be a strange finding if some element were found inside the human body which differed from the elements of the Universe. For there is One Creator who has created this Creation, and all manifested things are born from the One Source of all.

Our personality is dependent on which of the five gross elements predominates in our nature. The agnigranthi, or fire center, manifests through the spleen, liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands. Just as the heat of the sun makes life possible on Earth, the heat of the agni tattva sustains life in the body. The day this internal fire goes out means death to the individual as surely as this world would die if the sun refused to shine. Persons with a supremacy of this agni tattva are very vigorous, full of perseverance, and become untiring workers. They have a wonderful capacity for leadership and a directness of manner and speech.”

© The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, January 1, 1973

Fire is applied and refined in the meditative art of Traatik Yoga, sometimes called gazing. Students select a flame, a sacred object, or the image of a teacher or saint to focus on. But it is more than gazing. Gazing in the West implies passivity with alertness. In yoga it is an active projection of the mind and self in order to merge with the existence and qualities of an object. If the focus is a flame, you increase the purifying capacity of the body and mind. Fire Traatik is used for healing. If the object is an image of a teacher-like the Tantric Meditation photo of Yogi Bhajan-the meditator attunes to and “acquires the virtues” of the teacher. Certain objects are crafted with specific qualities that a meditator may wish to cultivate. This is the art of yantra-the use of form and image as energy. Performing traatik on an image of the Golden Temple links the state of the meditator to a profound healing space. The temple itself is designed with proportions and color that make it a perfect gateway for spiritual and healing traatik practice.

When the fire element is strong and integrated, in balance with the personality, it gives one bright eyes. The light of the soul is shown in the healing glance of the saint. Practice of traatik keeps vision healthy and gives the ability to see the subtle and unseen as well as the visible.

As we move toward the Aquarian shift we invite this quality of insight, will, and leadership. The meditation we are practicing invokes the projective power of the chakras, from the Third and Fifth Chakras, and refines the use of light, fire, and truth (satya) in the mantra. Let us gain clarity and will to walk the rest of the mile and deliver our heart and soul to a future of peace and blessings. Let us each be fully human and fully our Self.


February 2010 Numerology Forecast
By Nam Hari Kaur Khalsa, California, USA


IKYTAThe month of February spins us into an emotional cavalcade of new opportunities and relationships. If you're single and lookin' for love there's a good chance of meeting someone new who will spark your interest. The catch is (and there's always a catch!), to not get lured into any type of entanglement that you just got yourself out of last year. With 2009's emotional debris just off our heels, don't let yourself leap where angels fear to tread.

The 10 of this year has us feeling robust and ready for excitement and adventure, coupled with an almost cavalier attitude of, "I'm ten feet tall and bulletproof." You may be ten feet tall in yogic radiance, however the bulletproof part has probably yet to be proven. Even the "faster than a speeding bullet" Mister Superman himself had a vulnerability—Kryptonite! Make sure the emotional lessons of last year have been signed, sealed, and delivered to your heart’s door, or you may find yourself saying, "Damn, why did this happen to me again?"

The good news is there need be no echoing lament of the past, as long as you remember one thing: healthy boundaries. The edge of danger may have its own uniquely exciting pulse and rhythm; just be sure it's not a piece of karmic Kryptonite that you're allowing into your precious universe.

We will be experiencing emotional surges of energy that need to be expressed, so physical exercise is essential to remaining balanced. Otherwise the tension and frustration will begin to affect your communication and you may find yourself creating a tempest in a teapot. A stitch in time saves nine, so when the pressure is on, move yourself onto a hiking trail, into Breath of Fire¹, or run up and down a flight of stairs to expel the mental storm. As Yogi Bhajan once said, "Don't create a sequence for which you cannot bear the consequence." Simply stated, don't stir up what you can't stand to see splattered on the walls later. Life has its dramas and traumas, but you don't have to involve your energy where it may not be valued. An Aquarian adaptation of a beautiful Bible verse is: "'Don't cast your pearls where they won't shine."

Now is the time to create a base of energy which will maintain and serve you for the rest of the year. Get the ginger tea brewing for the nervous system and mental clarity, as well as fresh cilantro to cleanse the blood of toxic heavy metals. Just add some to your salad or the next time you're in the kitchen blending a drink. The number 3 represents food, and touching back to the overall number for this year (2+0+1+0=3), please remember to nourish yourself with healthy food choices, especially green food. Green energy supports our vitality and creativity, nothing would exist on planet Earth without it. When we are healthy and vital, the heart is supported and we are better able to make wise emotional decisions. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here's a variation on a bright tune to dance by:

Roses are red,
Violets are true.
When I cherish myself,
I'm never blue.

Nam Hari Kaur uses the science of Numerology to help people better understand the trends and cycles of their lives. Hidden away in your birth date are the secrets to your life’s true happiness and potential. The Destiny Line of our life is the frequency of our heart’s fulfillment. In a flow of clarity and compassion your questions on love, relationships, money, and career are answered. For an appointment in person or by phone: 310.202.8937 or 575.305.0017, or akara@cybermesa.com.


¹ Continuous rapid nostril breathing, two to three breaths per second, while pulling the navel point in on the exhale and relaxing it on the inhale


ECO-3HO
The Low-Down on Genetically Modified Organisms
By Joshua Sandstrom, Oregon, USA


IKYTA Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic material, or DNA, is altered through the insertion or deletion of genes. The genes that are inserted, usually come from a different species. There are many benefits of GMOs such as creating disease resistant plants and greater crop yields, but we are only beginning to learn the overall effects of GMOs in our everyday lives.

GMOs are used in a variety of ways such as biological and medical research, production of pharmaceutical drugs, experimental medicine, and food production. They are responsible for lots of interesting things including papayas that produce their own insecticide, golden rice that contains high amounts of vitamin A, and carrots that contain lots of calcium.

Unfortunately, GMOs also have the potential to cross-pollinate with local species in the area where they are grown. Dispersed by wind, animals, and insects, GMO pollen can travel more than 10 miles in any direction.

One highly controversial GMO technology is the development of ‘patent protected’ food crops that are resistant to commercial herbicides and/or are able to produce pesticidal proteins from within the plant themselves. GMO varieties like this are already used in 80 to 90% of all US corn, soy, and cotton crops. The idea is that if a farmer buys seed that is called ‘Round-Up ready,’ it means that he can then use Round-Up (a weed-killer sold with the seed) on his crops to kill the weeds but not the crop.

A new gene called the ‘Terminator Gene’ has been put in place to render food crops sterile. Saving seed is pointless. The farmer is forced to buy new seed from the seed provider. Consider that 90% of all GMO food crops are currently grown in the developing world, where farmers are economically exploited into using GMO seeds and they can’t save the seed from their GMO crop as they have done for centuries; they have to buy it each year. Worse yet, the ‘Terminator Gene’ can cross pollinate with native food strains and make the local seed strains sterile as well.

An interesting ethical question that is especially relevant for vegetarians is, if a fruit or vegetable contains the genes of an animal, is it still vegetarian? In the USA, if your food is not Certified Organic, then there is a strong likelihood that there are fish genes in your fruit, growth hormones in your milk, insect genes in your vegetables, and tree genes in your grain. Researchers are currently using chicken embryos to make potatoes more disease resistant.

Some people say that we need genetic engineering of our foods to be able to grow enough to feed all the world’s people. This is true if we continue to rely on energy intensive agriculture, large machinery, and central processes. However, if the trend toward organic and local foods continues and people begin to grow fresh foods in their own yards once more, then the need for GMOs becomes less and less.

In Europe, Genetically Modified Foods are required by law to be labeled as such. In the United States there are no labeling requirements and no way to tell if a food has been altered unless it is Certified Organic, and thus, GMO free.

In New Zealand, no genetically modified food is grown and no medicines containing live genetically modified organisms have been approved for use. In 2004, Mendocino County, California, became the first county in the United States to ban the production of GMO crops. Since then, Trinity and Marin counties in California have also imposed bans on GMO crops.

There are many benefits and unseen concerns when it comes to GMOs. I urge you to do more research and see what you can find out. I choose to eat as much organic food as possible and avoid GMOs whenever I can. I see no reason to be a test subject for such an experiment as genetic modification.

Joshua Sandstrom co-founded the Green Team at Summer Solstice in New Mexico and has 8 years of experience working in Fair Trade with his business Circle of the Sun. He is available for further information at Joshua@circleofthesun.org


SEVAlicious: The Skylight Crisis Center: Bringing Kundalini Yoga to the Homeless
By Sat Kartar Kaur, Essex, United Kingdom


IKYTA I must admit that when I first went to meet Richard Pace, the then manager of the Skylight Crisis Center, a few anxious thoughts came into my mind. I wondered what the conditions would be like and what I would see there. But somehow I knew I would be able to rise up and take the students with me.

Richard had contacted the Guru Ram Das Project (GRDP)* as he was very keen for Kundalini Yoga classes to start up as soon as possible. In our first meeting, he told me that in the early 80`s he had attended a beginners course in Kundalini Yoga in northwest London and that, “It totally changed my life!” Richard has departed on another career change since but I am grateful for his understanding, recognition, and support of Kundalini Yoga.

The class at the Skylight Crisis Center is the most diverse class I have ever taught, in terms of age, religion, class, and challenges. In the past I wondered why I had been given the opportunity to teach different groups of women such as Somali, Punjabi, African, and Muslim. Now I know that nothing, no experience, is ever wasted. I learned that anybody can be affected by homelessness due to such changes of circumstance as loss of employment, breakdown of health, marriage, mental stability, the list is endless... we could all go there.

The students live in a variety of temporary accommodations, whether it be renting, living illegally in empty properties, or surviving by living on the streets of London. There are also the problems that are sometimes found with homelessness, such as drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and learning disabilities. It's certainly a yoga class that tests my ability to be patient and compassionate on all levels. Occasionally there will be a student with disturbing behavior which can upset the class. I`ve had to be firm but kind and remind the students that, “If you can`t see God in all, you can`t see God at all.”

It's important to make people feel welcome, safe, and to create a nurturing environment. The class has slowly and steadily been increasing in numbers, although the turnover of students is reasonably high as people re-locate to other parts of town. There are always new students coming in. There are breaks for holidays, much to the students’ annoyance. It’s amusing to hear them voice their irritation when I have to tell them there will be no class for a week. Recently a few students have expressed interest in taking Level 1 teacher training, so that's really inspiring. On the whole, teaching this class, watching it grow, and seeing the positive changes in so many students has been very rewarding in ways I could not have imagined.

Sat Kartar Kaur has been a Kundalini Yoga teacher for over ten years, and is a volunteer for the GRDP.

*The Guru Ram Das Project
The Guru Ram Das Project is a registered charity created/founded by Shiv Charan Singh in 2003. It provides an outreach team of 70-100 volunteers who work with young people with behavioral health issues, with the elderly, and with people dealing with such other serious issues as mental health and drug and alcohol rehab, to name but a couple. It serves to support and build on the charitable and community based activities that were developed at the Kriya Centre in Archway, North London. To learn more, please contact the project manager Siri Ganesh Kaur at Siri@grdp.co.uk or visit GRDP.com.uk.


United Nations International Women's Day, March 8, 2010

IKYTA


May I be the master of myself and my own grace. May my dignity, my divinity, and my surroundings support me forever. May God Almighty, through all His love and affection, make me be what He has made me to be, all I wish to be, and want to be, and am: Woman in grace and grace in a woman.

-Yogi Bhajan


IKYTA The UN celebrates International Women's Day to recognize that securing peace and social progress, and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, require the active participation, equality, and development of women. International Women’s Day is also a way to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, it is also an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace, and development, and an opportunity to unite, network, and mobilize together for meaningful change.

Yogi Bhajan spent many years focusing his energy on serving women so that they could regain their birthright of grace and strength. Summer after summer, women of the 3HO Global Community gathered in New Mexico to have the wonderful opportunity to renew themselves and experience their excellence. They grew from "chicks to eagles." They grew in their empowered collective spirit. When they returned to their homes they brought new clarity and joy to their families and communities. Join 3HO in collaboration with the UN's International Women's Day, as we continue to practice and share these sacred teachings dedicated to all women.

Global Meditation

I Am the Grace of God (Generator, Organizer, and Destroyer or Deliverer)

Men can do this meditation too, by saying, "I am in the Grace of God"

Suggested Service Projects


  • Women serving food together
  • Teaching and/or serving in a women's shelter
  • Teaching and/or serving in jails
  • Teaching and/or serving in youth centers
  • Teaching and/or serving in schools
  • Collaborating with local organizations that are serving women
  • Serve an organization that is serving women
  • Share this curriculum and give proceeds to a women’s organization


3HO IKYTA Women's Class Curriculum including sound and video clips

To learn more about Yogi Bhajan's teachings on women, join your sisters at this year’s International Women’s Camp and look for the Women's teachings class track at Summer Solstice Sadhana


There is a Way through Every Block: A Story of Victory in the Face of Great Adversity
By Dev Dharam Singh Khalsa, Arizona, USA


IKYTA My journey of liberation and victory started in 2003 when I was in a car accident. I was paralyzed from the chest down. I couldn’t feel the lower half of my body, and had to use a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. I was in hell for four years. I couldn’t digest food, I had to take large amounts of medication, I was spastic and couldn’t flex my body, I suffered socially, and everything in my life was horrible.

In 2007 I learned about projection and positivity. I reprogrammed my mind to be positive, and started to project seeing myself walking, enjoying life, and being strong again. Two months later I traveled from my hometown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Phoenix, Arizona, where I met a healer. Through him my initial block (T3 Injury) was healed. A trail of feeling went down my spine into my legs and feet and reached out and grabbed the tips of my toes.

In that same week I went to an ashram and had my first encounter with the Guru (Infinite), who I believe called me there to guide me on my journey of growth and healing. I began to train with a master healer and teacher named Sangeet Kaur Khalsa. Even though the initial block was cleared and I had some feeling in my legs, I was still having all kinds of problems with my health. My digestive system was bad, and my energy was gone. I trained to use reiki-healing energy. Reiki is life source energy. I went through a series of attunements in which your energetic body gets attuned to a light frequency. The training lasted two days and it was amazing. A lot of my health problems vanished and I felt better than I had in the longest time. I had more feeling in my body and with the help of two people I stood for the first time since the accident. I learned how to work with energy, and how to pray. I started to pray not only for myself but for everyone I met also.

In 2008 I started using the teachings of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan®. I moved to the Phoenix spiritual community. I took Kundalini Yoga teacher training in 2009 and became the first certified Kundalini Yoga teacher using a wheelchair in the USA, and I became a Sikh that summer as well. While I was at Summer Solstice 2009, on the last day of White Tantric Yoga®, I realized I was going to be on my feet again soon. While people were doing the sacred healing walk, I went into the Gurdwara (Sikh temple) with my good friend Nam Nidhan Kaur Khalsa. There I stood up with the help of the people in the room. Huge amounts of energy went into my legs. Guru’s Grace (Infinite light) illuminated the whole place.

After that, I realized I had many more lessons to learn about my body, mind, and life purpose. My nerves were still connecting in my legs and mid-section, and muscles still had to grow to support my weight. I still had many blocks and huge resistance. I began a rigorous daily Sadhana (daily practice) which amplified my progress and developed my sensory system. I prayed and prayed and prayed. Some blocks were so big that the only way I got through them was by becoming a living prayer for victory. The tools I have are prayer, reiki, Kundalini Yoga, a Teacher (Sangeet Kaur Khalsa), and reading from the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (sacred volume of writings embodying the living Guru for Sikhs). All of these tools come from and deal with one source—the Infinite.

In October 2009, I came to the ultimate realization that I could go no further with my own will. And all that I wanted to accomplish was the True Guru’s will (Divine Will). My teacher talked about this in mid 2008, and it took me a whole year of trial and error to build an understanding and comprehension of this concept. At this time my prayers transformed. They changed from praying for healing, for walking, to get my life started, to graduate college, and to become a great Kundalini Yoga teacher, etc., into a prayer to be a victory for the will of God, the True Guru, knowing that all I pray to accomplish is actually all contained in the Will of God.

All of my doubts went away, and a calm peace came to me as I was writing this account of my life. I knew I was going get up again and leave the wheelchair behind; it was just a matter of time. If for some reason it doesn’t happen, that’s fine too, because it is all God’s Will. All of the resistance that came and stood in my way was a gift to create a pressure so that I could grow my soul.

There is a way through every block, with a partnership with Infinity. (“There is a way through every block” is one of Yogi Bhajan’s five Sutras for the Aquarian Age.) If there’s something huge like being wheelchair bound, why not find out if the Infinite has something planned, and in that plan frees you from your finite bondage. When you carry and deliver the will of the Infinite, the Infinite will carry and deliver you. With every injury that has the hint of permanency, there is the possability to rise for service. All that serves you on the path of being a victory for God and Guru becomes gold.

Dev Dharam Singh Khalsa lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his cat named Pure. He teaches Kundalini Yoga at Yoga Phoenix. Contact him at: DDharam11@gmail.com.


Transforming Tragedy to Triumph:
The Power of Sadhana and Sangat
By Gurutej Singh Khalsa, New Mexico, USA


IKYTAWhen we face challenge and adversity in life, the natural tendency is to find safety. Yet life is a sequence of challenges, each with its own sequence of failures or successes, tragedies or triumphs. It is the challenge that makes us grow, not the result. This is an important concept to understand. Challenge comes to us in life to make us grow by producing some change in the psyche of the individual. Once the change has occurred, then the need for the challenge has passed, and the circumstances change.

When we fail to rise and meet the challenge, then we are admitting defeat before the engagement, and that brings unhappiness and depression. How we respond to challenge can make the difference between improving ourselves or living with our weaknesses and failures.>

True defeat is the defeat of the heart. In fact, we have the expression to "take heart," since it is in the heart that the spirit of the individual resides. True victory then, is when the heart prevails and the spirit does not bend. When the heart prevails and the spirit rises, anyone can recover from any situation anytime, but it is a conscious choice to do so.

The capacity to recover from tragedy, disappointment, and loss is both a power and a gift which, when managed and controlled, can transform the pivotal events of our lives into something that is positive. If we accept that life is about growth—growth as an individual, growth as a spiritual being, and growth as the evolution toward wisdom—then the ability to transform tragedy to triumph is an essential component that drives our growth.

In my own experience perhaps the most pivotal episode of my life was the death of my daughter, Nav Jiwan Kaur, who died in 1981 at the age of seven and a half. As a young parent I could imagine no greater dread than the loss of a child, especially a child as bright and beautiful as she. Still that day came for us. It is not possible to describe the impact of that experience, yet in the solitary shock of that moment I saw clearly that I had two options: I could accept it as the will of God and make a quantum leap in my own consciousness, or I could fight it, resent it, and end up old, miserable, and dysfunctional.

Two things made that transition possible for me. They were the guidance of my spiritual teacher, Yogi Bhajan, and the support of the community. These helped me in every way—inspired and uplifted me, gave me comfort and hope, and gave me the opportunity to pull the best out of myself. In fact, through that whole process I found many opportunities to comfort and elevate others who also mourned her loss and were trapped in that pain. It started though, with my Teacher who would not let me get depressed, would not allow me to be defeated by tragedy. He encouraged me to chant for her soul, to help her on her path home to God, and in that way I was able to transcend my own grief, so that my life changed. So committed was I to her making the transition, and so focused was I on succeeding, that depression and defeat could not get in.

Transformative Power of Sadhana

The will to overcome adversity has to be cultivated. We all want to live happily ever after, but the reality of day-to-day life can grind us down if we allow it to. I can recount many times in my own life when I simply gave in and allowed the circumstances to defeat me. I always hated that about myself, but had a hard time overcoming it. So, I asked Yogi Bhajan for a meditation that I could do for the 40 days prior to my birthday one year, something that would help me to develop the capacity to deal with adversity more effectively.

I expected that he would give me something to do for 31 minutes a day at the most. After all, I had Akal Security to deal with and was a very busy guy. What he gave me though, was a meditation to do for three hours a day! And after 40 days he told me to never stop. He gave me other meditations, and I practiced all of them faithfully. Still, I did not yet understand that I was giving defeat the license to drive my psyche. That was the change that I needed to make.

And ultimately things did change. Several years after beginning those meditations, I began to do Sat Kriya for two and a half hours a day. Yogi Bhajan had suggested it to me many times, but I always managed to avoid it. Finally, I got the inspiration to do it, and the experience was transformational. I started with an hour a day, and each week added half an hour until I was up to two and a half hours. Interestingly, it was not painful. After a short time I just got into a groove where the energy flowed, and I kept up. I did it for about six months, doing the two and a half hours each day in one sitting. Circumstances changed, and my presence changed.

Now, I have to maintain my sadhana, my daily spiritual practice, and I try not to let a day pass in which I don't do Sat Kriya. Yet, I am not suggesting that one needs to meditate for hours or do these long kriyas. But, since I am kind of a slow learner, it was the only thing that worked for me. Something in me opened up. The energy that I generated and exerted overcame the crush of defeat. Something changed in my psyche as well, and I chose to no longer give room to the effects of adversity.

The impact of adversity can be life altering. The death of a loved one, the loss of love such as divorce or the break-up of a relationship, lack of success or financial loss, or the impact of disaster are all too real and impact us often. And often, these things come without warning, so there is no real way to prepare for them. Yet, I have found that with a steady sadhana and consciously being aware of my tendency to give in to defeat, which I think is simply a way of viewing the circumstances of my life, I have been able to make my way through numerous disappointments and times of adversity.

Choosing Victory

And that is where the projection of the mind makes all the difference. Positive projection doesn't necessarily mean that difficult or disappointing circumstances won't present themselves. These things will come as part of the ongoing flow of life. There has never been a mind more positive than that of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. The circumstances he faced were horrific, yet he had the capacity to penetrate through those circumstances by the projection of his mind. And so have we. We just have to choose to use it.

And this, I think, is the key. All of these emotions are around us and in us all the time; the capacity to be as elevated as one can be or as base as one can be is always there. It is a matter of what we give space to. If I give space to my defeat, it will settle in and become cozy. Like a deadbeat tenant, defeat won't move out on its own, so it has to be evicted. If it is occupying the space, then there is no room for contentment. However, if I evict the defeat and let my victory prevail ... well, you see where this is going.

Victory over the mind is the challenge. The flow of the mind is like that of water. It will settle in the low points first, then spread to any area where there is no levee to hold it back. And then our minds end up like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. But if I can control the flow of my mind, I know that my ability to prevail in any situation cannot be compromised. Then, the adversity can bring personal growth and transformation and elevation to the spirit.

I am convinced that victory over the mind starts with sadhana, a strong daily devotional practice. That is where the energy to prevail is generated. I have personally found Sat Kriya to be essential for my own survival, and I recommend it for anyone. It is also important to socialize and be with people at times when you are down. I will never forget how the community gave me the strength to get through the death of Nav Jiwan Kaur, and I will be forever grateful.

The victorious warrior is one who faces every situation, every challenge, and every enemy with the mental projection and commitment of heart that he will be victorious and the enemy will be overcome; that whatever the odds or circumstances, he will rise to the occasion and do his best. Then, he leaves the results up to God.

In the military, soldiers are trained to respond to an ambush by attacking it: to return fire immediately, take cover and assess the ambush, then attack, and fight through. Life is the same way. When you are attacked by time and space, respond immediately.

In truth we have no control over the outcome of things. We only have control over ourselves and how we respond to the circumstances we face. If I can control my fear, my self-doubt, my tendency to shy away from what I should do, then what power is there that can defeat me? I have already won. When challenges come, a superior person will respond rather than react. The greatest chance to succeed is when you act to meet the challenge.

Challenge as Blessing

As spiritual beings, we are growth-oriented, which means that the circumstances of life will change and how we respond to those circumstances will change. I don't mean to imply that one can't grow spiritually without disaster and tragedy, but I do believe that we cannot grow without being challenged. Challenges come in various forms, but they will always come. We will be challenged by time, by circumstances, by our own frustrations and limitations, and if we are truly blessed, by our Teacher. I am fortunate enough to have been a student of a great master, Yogi Bhajan, who out of his love for me and his deep desire for me to excel, challenged and tested me repeatedly.

I am grateful for those challenges because they have helped me to face the constantly changing and challenging circumstances of my own life. There has been no area of my life that has not pushed me one way, pulled me the other, and many, many times over caused me to stumble and fall. I think that it was at those times, when I was down, depressed, and defeated, that I grew the most. The reason, I believe, is because when the pressure of time and space is on top of us, we have to exert a force that is not only equal to that pressure but greater than it, so that we can get through and past the situation. By doing that, we change the paradigm, and the need for the test then passes. As Yogi Bhajan taught in his Five Sutras of the Aquarian Age: When the time is on you, start, and the pressure will be off.

Heroes are those who, before ever engaging an enemy or placing themselves in the face of danger, first overcome their basic human drive to protect themselves in order to fight rather than to flee. It is the first step to victory, the first step to success, and the first step to getting oneself out of trouble. Therein lay the true acts of courage; not with the deed itself but with the conscious effort to attempt the deed. It is in the attempt to master the thing that we gain control of ourselves, then our environments. The other achievements are secondary.

Positive projection is penetrating through the situation, both within and without. We project within to touch our regal nature, our courage and essence, and then we project out, through the situation, so that we maintain our perspective without losing our way. That is what positive thinking is all about. My identity is to be content. My identity is to maintain my stability and dignity no matter what the circumstances are around me. My identity is to prevail with my divinity at all times. And that, I believe, is what constitutes victory.

Gurutej Singh Khalsa is the Founder of Akal Security, Inc. His moving historical novel, Rajni, will be published in 2010. His collection of poetry, Children of the Cusp, is available through Amazon.com or through Gurutej directly. Contact Gurutej at cusp108@hotmail.com.

Edited and reprinted with permission from Aquarian Times, Winter 2001


Spiced Mung Bean Cakes with Coconut Mango Salsa
By Kulmeet Kaur, Ontario, Canada


YB Signature Did you know that the deliciously versatile mung bean is esteemed to be the queen of legumes?

A member of the kidney bean family and originally from India, the mung bean has become a traditional part of many cultures’ cuisine while playing a significant role in a healing diet. Green mung beans are an excellent source of protein, and form a complete protein when combined with a whole grain. Like whole grains, all beans are beneficial to good health; however, the smaller the bean, the more nutritious it is. And unlike its contemporaries, the mung bean does not cause flatulence. This little green bean packs a powerful healing punch.

Green or Yellow?
Whole mung beans are small and green, and they're often sprouted to make bean sprouts. When milled they are skinned and split, are flatter and yellow, and called mung dal, yellow mung, or split mung. The green variety has a higher protein content. Mung Bean Cakes
These tasty mung cakes and fresh coconut mango salsa make a delectable combination.
1 cup split mung beans
pinch of sea salt
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
ghee or coconut oil
Braggs liquid aminos (optional)
pinch of hing, also known as asafetida (optional)

Coconut-Mango Salsa
1 cup chopped ripe mango
½ cup fresh grated coconut
½ cup coconut milk
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp black mustard seeds
½ tsp coconut oil
cilantro
radicchio leaf

To prepare the mung bean cakes, wash the split mung beans very well, rubbing them vigorously between your hands. Rinse until the water is clear. Soak beans at least 2 hours. This increases the digestibility of the beans.

Rinse and drain beans. Place in blender with 1-2 tbsp water, hing, and salt. Blend until smooth. Melt ghee or coconut oil in large frying pan over medium heat, add cumin and turmeric. Drop the bean mixture by the spoonful into the frying pan (it should hold about 5-6 cakes at a time). After about a minute, flip them over; cook until lightly browned on both sides. Add a splash or two of Braggs near the end of the cooking time. Repeat with the remaining mixture, using more oil and spices as required.

To make the salsa, grind mango pulp, coconut, coconut milk, and salt into a paste with a hand grinder. Sauté mustard seeds in hot oil until they pop and mix them into the paste.

To assemble, top each mung cake with a small leaf of radicchio, a teaspoon of coconut mango salsa and a cilantro leaf.

Variations
Add a handful of fresh herbs such as dill, basil, or coriander to the beans before puréeing. Explore a variety of spices such as fennel, cinnamon, coriander, etc., for adding to the ghee when frying the mung bean cakes. You can also make the mung bean cakes using green mung.

The Mung Bean as Medicine
The mung bean is one of the most healing foods because of its capacity to cleanse the heart and circulatory system and reduce toxicity. It is beneficial to the liver and gallbladder, it is a diuretic, and also reduces swelling.

Healing Mung Tips

  • Drinking the water in which a handful of mung beans are soaked overnight is an excellent medicine during illnesses like cholera, measles, chickenpox, smallpox, typhoid, and all types of fevers. It can be given in a small quantity even during the acute phase of appendicitis.
  • Ground up into flour, the queen of legumes makes an excellent and gentle skin cleanser, sloughing away dead cells and imparting a nice glow. Make a paste with 1 tsp powdered mung and a few drops of water, massage gently onto the face and neck. Rinse with water.


Kulmeet Kaur is a Kundalini Yoga teacher, student of Sat Nam Rasayan, Ayurvedic Chef and Nutritionist. She teaches cooking classes, coordinates seva kitchens for spiritual teachers, provides nutritional and lifestyle counsel to individuals, families, yoga teachers, and health professionals across Canada and the United States. kulmeet@fearlesscooking.ca
fearlesscooking.ca

Disclaimer


Kundalini Yoga
Kriya to Develop Your Hidden Greatness


Healing Part One

Mudra: Sit straight. Left hand comes under the chin palm down, forearm parallel to the ground; the right hand comes to meet the middle finger of the left hand at the center of the palm, fingers pointing up to the sky (hands make a T). Hands are long and straight, fingers together. You are bifurcating the angles.

Eyes: Tip of the nose.

Breath: Long Deep Breath; breath from the lower area of the belly; breath out through a round mouth. Yogiji demonstrates a very long inhalation, from the lower belly to the collar bones. You expand with the breath about an inch and a half. Continue for 20 minutes. This is the most sacred exercise in Kundalini Yoga and gives people the entire Universe.

click here for parts 2 and 3 Part Two

Healing Switch hands. Right hand comes under the chin palm down, forearm parallel to the ground; the left hand comes to meet the middle finger of the right hand at the center of the palm, fingers pointing up to the sky (makes a T). Hands are long and straight, fingers together.

Eyes: Tip of the nose.

Mantra: Sing with Har Singh Nar Singh* by Nirinjan Kaur.

Time: 5 minutes.

Part Three

Mudra: Bring the thumbs just above the eyebrows at either side of the Third Eye Point. Press the thumbs into the brow and allow the hands to be in Prayer Pose.

Eyes: Tip of the nose.

Mantra:

  1. Sing with Ong Namo by Nirinjan Kaur. Continue for 1-1/2 minutes.
  2. Whistle with the breath. Continue for 1-1/2 minutes.
  3. Keeping the mudra, begin Long Deep Breathing and exhale through the rounded mouth, as in Part One. Continue for 3 minutes.
  4. Arms at 60 degrees, hands open and palms facing the sky. Begin Breath of Fire. Use the strength of the navel. Continue for 30 seconds.
  5. Inhale deep and put both hands in the lap, right hand resting in the left. Relax the breath. Become thoughtless. No thought. "I forgive my thoughts; I forgive the Universe; I forgive my friends." Forgiveness should override everything. Whatever is bothering you, whatever you ate, whatever you don't like, right now just feel an angel is before you and you are willing to go with him and merge in infinity. Are you afraid? Just drop the fear and proceed. All negativity, all negative thoughts must go thoughtless. I am pure; I am divine; I am human: I am a creature of god. My faculties are divine. Continue for 2 minutes.


To End: Inhale deep. Squeeze. Exhale Cannon Breath (powerful breath through open mouth). Do this 3 times. Squeeze everything, ears, eyes, everything.

Taught by Yogi Bhajan on May 14, 1997

© The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan 2008


Disclaimer
Always seek the advice of a trained health professional before beginning any exercise program. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or replace proper medical care. The benefits attributed to the practice of yoga come from the centuries-old yogic traditions. Results will vary with individuals.


Yogi Bhajan Lecture
Victory!


Breathe in, mentally utter the word ‘Victory’ and exhale. You’ll find the strength of a hundred angels behind you.

~ Yogi Bhajan


Excerpts from a lecture by Yogi Bhajan, December 31, 1992

You have not yet learned what spirituality is. Religion is not spirituality. Your knowledge is not spirituality. Your happiness is not spirituality. Your good luck and tragedies are not spirituality. Spirituality is facing yourself with a smile when life confronts you.

Everyone, whether a king or queen, pauper or beggar, lover or deserter, attorney or accused, is going to be challenged in life. One thing you cannot escape is challenge. Whether you challenge the challenge or you give in to the challenge, that is what decides your spirituality. Is your spirit higher than the challenge so you can face it? It is simple. If your face and your grace do not give in to the challenge, you are spiritual. Otherwise you are not. Period.

Just understand one word. Take it from me, I’m not giving you any Sanskrit word or any religious word or anything. I’m just telling you something which will help you survive through all odds. Whenever you face anything and you don’t have an answer, just call yourself inside and say, “Victory.” Lean on ‘Victory.’ Make it a guide word, make it a precious word. I don’t know what you are, who you are, why you are. Don’t ask questions. Don’t do your analysis. Don’t try to solve problems. Just utter the word ‘Victory. ‘With just the mental utterance of this word your whole life will change. Mentally utter the word ‘Victory.’ Try it. You’ll find the strength of a hundred angels behind you.

You have your own life. Live it. You don’t have to belong to 3HO or Sikh Dharma or to Yogi Bhajan, but wherever you are, in whatever difficulty, neurosis, or psychosis: whenever you need help, breathe in and mentally utter the word ‘Victory.’ See what happens.

Bless you. Be beautiful, be bountiful, be your own grace. God made every man, every woman, and every person as one person. One God made everybody as one. Those who do not respect the Oneness of God, the oneness of themselves, and the oneness of others, are very self-destructive and they shall never be happy. But those who shall seek the Oneness of God, the oneness of themselves, and oneness of others, shall be happy, prosperous, and have a joyful life. That’s a promise.

So, it’s a very simple thing. Don’t interfere with another person’s psyche. Let it be. Live and let live. Never let yourself down. Never let your friends down. And never let your enemy down. Give him a good match. Enjoy.

It’s not something we’re joking about. We’re dead serious about it. And if you want to help somebody, give them this word. Basically it’s a chance to grow, a chance to be strong. Fit people will survive. Weak people will have difficulties, especially mental difficulties. It’s a very simple system. There’s not one person on this Earth who will not have a challenge. Challenge eventually comes. You need vitality for victory. If I start teaching you and going through the rhythms and all that, it will take a century. This is simple. You’ll get confidence on the spot. You’ll feel the kick. You’ll know something is with you better than you. That will give you headway for victory, and you’ll be fine. Remember: Breathe in, and mentally utter the word ‘victory.’ Just breathe in for one, two, or three seconds, repeat the word mentally, and after you say it, let the breath go.

Best of the New Year and life as may be. Let the wind be behind you, angels dance with you, and your consciousness guide you to Victory.

©1992 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan


Lectura de Yogi Bhajan
¡Victoria!


“Respira, pronuncia mentalmente la palabra "victoria" y exhala. Te encontrarás a tus espaldas la fuerza de un centenar de ángeles.”

~ Yogi Bhajan


Extractos de una conferencia de Yogi Bhajan, 31 de diciembre 1992

Todavía no has aprendido lo que es la espiritualidad. La religión no es la espiritualidad. Tu conocimiento no es la espiritualidad. Tu felicidad no es la espiritualidad. Ni tu buena suerte ni tus tragedias no son espiritualidad. La espiritualidad se enfrenta a sí mismo con una sonrisa cuando la vida nos enfrenta.

Todo el mundo, ya sea un rey o una reina, pobre o mendigo, amante o desertor, el abogado o el acusado, va a ser impugnada en la vida. Una cosa que no puede escapar es el desafío. O tanto si tu retas al desafío o te cedes ante el desafío, así se decide tu espiritualidad. ¿Tu espíritu es más alto el desafío para que pueda hacerle frente? Es sencillo. Si tu cara y tu gracia no rinden ante el desafío, tú eres espiritual. De lo contrario, no lo eres. Punto final.

Sólo entiende una palabra. Créame, yo no voy a dar ninguna palabra en sánscrito o cualquier palabra religiosa, ni nada. Sólo estoy diciendo algo que te ayudará a sobrevivir lo que venga. Cuando tienes que enfrentar algo y no tienes la respuesta, simplemente llama adentro de ti mismo diciendo, " victoria." Apóyate en la Victoria. Que sea ésta una palabra de guía, y la considera una palabra preciosa. No sé lo que eres, quién eres, por qué eres. No hagas preguntas. No hagas tu análisis. No trata de resolver los problemas. Sólo pronunciar la palabra victoria. "Con la mera expresión mental de esta palabra toda tu vida va a cambiar. Repite en tu mente la palabra “Victoria”. Pruébalo. Hallarás la fuerza de cien ángeles a tus espaldas.

Tú tienes tu propia vida. Vívala. Tú no tienes que pertenecer a 3HO o Sikh Dharma o Yogi Bhajan, pero donde quiera que estés, sea cual sea la dificultad, la neurosis o psicosis: cada vez que necesites ayuda, respira y pronuncia mentalmente la palabra “victoria”. A ver que sucede .

Dios te bendiga. Se bello, se generoso, se tu propia gracia. Dios hizo a cada hombre, cada mujer, y cada persona como una sola persona. Un solo Dios hizo a todo el mundo como un solo ser. Los que no respetan la Unidad de Dios, la unidad de sí mismos, y la unidad de los demás, son muy auto-destructivos y nunca serán felices. Pero los que buscan la Unidad de Dios, la unidad de sí mismos, y la unidad de los demás, serán felices, prósperos y tendrán una vida de gozo. Esa es una promesa.

Por lo tanto, es una cosa muy sencilla. No interfieres con la psique de otra persona. Déjala en paz. Vive y deja vivir. No te falles a ti mismo. No falles a tus amigos. Y falles a tu enemigo. Dale un buen partido. Disfruta. No es algo que estamos bromeando. Hablamos en serio. Y si quieres ayudar a alguien, dales esta palabra. Básicamente es una oportunidad para crecer, una oportunidad de ser fuerte. Las personas en buena forma física van a sobrevivir. Las personas débiles tendrán dificultades, especialmente las dificultades mentales. Es un sistema muy sencillo. No hay una sola persona en este mundo que no tendrá un desafío. El desafío siempre viene. Necesitas vitalidad para la victoria. Si empiezo a enseñarte repasando todos los ritmos y eso, se necesitará cien años. Esto es simple. Tú serás confidente en el momento. Sentirás la “patada”. Sabrás que algo mejor que tú está contigo. Eso te dará campo para la victoria, y estarás bien. Recuerda: Respira y mentalmente pronuncia la palabra victoria. Respira no más uno, dos o tres segundos, repete la palabra en tu mente, y después de decirlo, deja salir el aire.

Qué tengas lo mejor del Año Nuevo y dde la vida como puede. Qué el viento esté siempre a tus espaldas, qué los ángeles bailen contigo, y que tu conciencia de guía a la victoria.

©1992 Las enseñanzas de Yogi Bhajan


Lectura de Yogi Bhajan
Vitória!


Isenção de Responsabilidade da Tradução
Embora os ensinamentos de Yogi Bhajan têm a firme intenção de alcançar e servir as pessoas de todas as nacionalidades, 3HO® não é responsável por qualquer deturpação dos ensinamentos de Yogi Bhajan por traduções não solicitadas ou independentes provenientes de Aquário Times.

“Inspire, mentalmente pronuncie a palavra “Vitória” e exale. Você encontrará a força de uma centena de anjos atrás de si.”

~ Yogi Bhajan


Trechos de uma palestra de Yogi Bhajan, 31 de dezembro de 1992

Você ainda não aprendeu o que é espiritualidade. A religião não é espiritualidade. Seu conhecimento não é espiritualidade. Sua felicidade não é espiritualidade. Sua boa sorte e tragédias não são espiritualidade. A espiritualidade é encarar você mesmo com um sorriso quando a vida lhe confronta.

Todos, quer seja um rei ou uma rainha, pobre ou mendigo, amante ou desertor, advogado ou acusado, serão desafiados na vida. Uma coisa que você não pode escapar é o desafio. Se você desafia o desafiador ou se rende ao desafio, isto é o que decide sua espiritualidade. Seu espírito é maior que o desafio de tal modo que possa encará-lo? É simples. Se seu semblante e sua graça não sucumbem ao desafio, você é espiritual. De outro modo, não é. Ponto.

Apenas entenda uma palavra. Tire isto de mim, eu não estou dando alguma palavra em sânscrito ou alguma palavra religiosa ou outra coisa. Eu somente estou dizendo alguma coisa a você que lhe ajudará a sobreviver a todas as possibilidades. Sempre que você encarar alguma coisa e não tiver uma resposta, somente chame você internamente e diga: “Vitória”. Confie na “Vitória”. Faça desta uma palavra guia, faça desta uma palavra preciosa. Eu não sei o que você é, quem você é, por quê você é. Não faça perguntas. Não faça suas análises. Não tente resolver problemas. Somente pronuncie a palavra “Vitória”. “Somente com a pronúncia mental desta palavra, sua vida toda mudará. Mentalmente, pronuncie a palavra “Vitória”. Tente. Você encontrará a força de uma centena de anjos atrás de si.

Você tem sua própria vida. Viva-a. Você não tem que pertencer a 3HO ou ao Sikh Dharma ou ao Yogi Bhajan, mas, onde quer que você esteja, não importa com que dificuldade, neurose ou psicose: sempre que você precisar de ajuda, inale e mentalmente pronuncie a palavra “Vitória”. Veja o que acontece.

Abençoe a você. Seja bonito, seja generoso, esteja em sua própria graça. Deus fez a todo homem, toda mulher e toda pessoa como uma pessoa. Um Deus fez todos como um. Aqueles que não respeitam a Singularidade de Deus, a singularidade deles mesmos, a singularidade dos outros, são muito autodestrutivos e nunca serão felizes. Mas, todos aqueles que buscarem a Singularidade de Deus, a singularidade deles mesmos e a singularidade dos outros serão felizes, prósperos e terão uma vida alegre. Isto é uma promessa.

Então, é uma coisa muito simples. Não interfira na psique de outra pessoa. Deixe-a como está. Viva e deixe viver. Nunca se rebaixe. Nunca rebaixe seus amigos. E nunca rebaixe seus inimigos. Dê a ele um bom jogo. Divirta-se.

Não é algo que você vai fazer piada sobre. Não estamos falando muito sério sobre isto. E, se você desejar ajudar alguém, dê a ele esta palavra. Basicamente, é uma chance de crescer, uma chance de ser forte. As pessoas saudáveis sobreviverão. Pessoas fracas terão dificuldades, especialmente dificuldades mentais. É um sistema muito simples. Não há uma pessoa nesta Terra que não terá um desafio. O desafio eventualmente vem. Você precisa de vitalidade para a vitória. Se eu começar lhe ensinando e seguir de acordo com a música e tudo isto, levará um século. É simples. Você ganha confiança em cheio. Você sente o estímulo. Você saberá que alguma coisa está com você e é melhor que você. Isto te dará o progresso para a vitória e você ficará bem. Lembre-se: inspire, e mentalmente pronuncie a palavra “Vitória”. Então, respire por um, dois ou três segundos, repita a palavra mentalmente, e depois de dizer isto, exale.

Tenha o melhor Ano Novo que a vida possa ser. Deixe o vento estar atrás de você, os anjos dançarem com você, e sua consciência guiá-lo para a Vitória.

©1992 Os ensinamentos de Yogi Bhajan