3HO Guru Responds to Criticism

December 15, 1998
By G. Khalsa

Information regarding GurJot Singh Khalsais indeed late news, notably there are no specific dates in this current release.

This information has in the past and apparently still is what disillusioned souls use to guide each other away from 3HO. It is like an open door that opens out with a big EXIT sign. These souls fall away from their spiritual identity and go on to become drug users and drinkers. In other words, they pick up pretty much where they left off when first introduced to 3HO. It is a very sad thing to watch. This one has seen it happen repeatedly. One of the saddest things of all, Is many of these people were part of the "inner circle", the spiritually high, those whom others looked to for spiritual uplift and guidance.

What went wrong?

These souls looked to a person, a human being, who like all humanity has character flaws. No matter that one has stated over and over again, that he is a man. These souls looked to him to be something more, and inevitably were disillusioned, bitterly so.

For a Sikh there is only one Guru. That is--Maharaj Patshah Jot of Guru Naanak Dhan Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. It is the duty of every Sikh to answer the call of 10th Patshah Guru Gobind Singh, to give up ones head, thereby slaying self-pride, ego HOMAI. One needs to present oneself humbly before Panj Pyare, the five beloved representatives of Satguru, drink the Amrit, receive the Khanda of Naam, and go to battle against the five foes--Lust, Anger, Greed, Self-pride, and Attachment. These voices of passionate living, which drive all of Humanity and ultimately destroy the soul. One should keep precious five Kakaars at all times as the weapons against these voices.

One should then make every effort to learn gurbani and study the Living Word of God, Shabad Guru, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. Having received precious birth of human body, one should recognize and follow he Truth therein, and spend this lifetime in contemplation of ONE Waheguru. In this way one will achieve Union with the Blessed Bridegroom of the Soul, in realization of the only love that satisfies the craving for which every soul yearns, and what all fall short of in any other expectation, by any other means. Realize the purpose for which the soul has taken birth, any other pursuit is useless, and ends in utter ruin.

Please make an in depth study of Japji Sahib and Rehraas Sahib, and carefully pay attention to Keertan Sohila, for it is this messages which all contain. Anand Sahib gives detailed description of the Bliss of Union with Waheguru and the True function of the human body.

Do Ardaas and prayerfully plead with Gurusahib for His GurParsaad, His Grace, that the soul may be lifted from drowning in the Sea of Maya, rescued and given the shelter, of gurbaNi the lifeboat, which carries one across this terrible torturous ocean of disillusionment, guided by SatGuru the True Captain.

This is the basic message of Sikhi. It is for all of mankind, but only the very fortunate receive it, that is take it to heart.

Pyare previous one, this one feels the pain and disillusionment in your posting. This one promises there is more, much more. Many have missed the boat. Many try to apply spirituality to their lives and yet are misguided, because they look to one other than ONE Waheguru.

Any group of people have problems, the closer to the core, the deeper the rot. Whoever looks anywhere other than ONE Waheguru will suffer here and in the hereafter.

If dear soul, there was once an attraction to Sikhi, then please take a careful look beyond your pain at Its True message, forget about those others, there will always be rotten apples in every barrel. Yoga although a powerful tool for change and has absolutely nothing to do with the essence of Sikh teachings, however complementary.

All have to come before Dharamraj, the judge of righteous living, in the end. Each will receive punishment or reward according to ones own record.

To not be deceived, place your faith only in Divine ONE God Waheguru, rather than mere mortals. Otherwise to point out the failings of others, is merely an excuse to overlook ones own shortcomings.

Waheguru ji ka KhalsaWaheguru ji ki Fateh

Response to G. Khalsa

December 19, 1998
By two former 3HO members

 Dear G. Khalsa:

I read with great interest your letter that someone forwarded to me. I largely agree with you, about leaving 3HO but remaining Sikhs, with some differences.

My spouse and I are some of the only people I know of who have left 3HO for strong reasons of conscience, but have not left Sikhism. Our allegiance is, and always has been, to the Guru first, last and always. There was a time when we believed that Yogi Bhajan was a righteous and honorable spiritual representative of the Guru, but after many years of denial, we had to sadly admit that he is corrupt, unethical, manipulative and cruel.

Nevertheless, we understood the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh, that no Sikh should ever bow to a man, and when we were betrayed by that man, we simply turned our backs on him and turned our faces towards the True Guru, where we should have looked for guidance all along. We are grateful that he led us to the feet of the Guru, but there our relationship with him ends. All the guidance that a Sikh will ever need is found in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. When a man, no matter how exalted in position, tells his followers to commit acts that are in direct violation of the teachings of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, a true Sikh must make a decision whether to follow that man or to follow the Guru. We chose our Guru.

Yogi Bhajan teaches and practices many things that are specifically forbidden in the Sikh Reht. Among these things are numerology, astrology, corrupt business practices (phone rooms for example), and support for marital infidelity. By his own admission he is corrupt, and to quote his exact words, "Truth is whatever works." These are not the words of a spiritual man, but of a sociopath. He has authorized his followers toturn people away who do not have a lot of money, saying that he does not want people like that around, he only wants people who make a lot of money.

This is not hearsay this is direct experience. Many, many innocent and idealistic people have been taken in by his false words, and left with nothing to show for their loyalty but broken hearts and broken lives. To warn people about Yogi Bhajan is not a slur against Sikhism, but a public service. One point I disagree with you on is when you equated his "Inner Circle" followers with being "Spiritually High". The one does not automatically assume the other to be a fact. Most of his inner circle was chosen for reasons of having large trust funds, or for more unspiritual reasons.

In almost every example from Sikh history, the most spiritually exalted devotees were the most poor, and the most humble, not the ones in fancy clothes dripping jewels, who refused to eat Langar with the Sangat.

The other point of disagreement is when you proclaim that all who leave 3HO go back to using drugs and alcohol. A common practice in cult mentality is to label everyone inside the cult as "good", and everyone who leaves the cult as "bad". It is this kind of cult thinking that makes us know that 3HO is not practicing true Sikhism, but is instead largely a personality cult around Yogi Bhajan. To say that everyone who leaves goes downhill lost in drugs and booze is nothing more than a scare tactic designed to control followers.

There can be many reasons why a person would elect to leave 3HO. One of the best reasons is that many people after experiencing 3HO found it to be severely codependent and dysfunctional, and intolerant of anyone wishing to assert healthy boundaries and a high degree of psychological functionality. I personally know a number of people who have left 3HO who are highly functional people, raising happy, healthy, spiritually evolved and highly functional children. I cannot say the same thing for many of thechildren in 3HO, especially those in the India Program.

Please, do not make the mistake of equating 3HO with Sikhism. There are millions of Sikhs in the world who are not members of 3HO, and who do not regard or need Yogi Bhajan as their spiritual teacher, who nevertheless are very devoted, moral and decent human beings. We are two of them.

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

Sikh no more

1999
By A former 3HO student

There is a sweet sadness, but it is the sadness of lost years, lost friends, and lost opportunities. Each person who has left [3HO] has probably made quite a different world for himself or herself. Exactly what is "The World"? Must it always be the horrible fate they predict for us? It may be hard for those still involved to believe, but many of us have actually managed to fill our lives with even more interesting and successful endeavors. Looking back on those lost years, it has occurred to me that while our childhood friends were continuing their education and establishing themselves in careers, we were running around in odd looking white suits (dresses for the men actually). We were trying to teach the world about the best exercise, the best food, the best meditation and the best charm. We sat hypnotized listening to a yogi tell us rhymes. He loved words like inspiration, communication and liberation. But here we are 20 years later. The divorce rate in 3HO is astronomical and often the people who are left match up with each other. This has made for some very interesting family trees. Most are not economically successful--while most people in society have achieved something in 20 years. If one were to really look at oneself candidly, even after 20 years of "spiritual practice", the experience is no where close to the original expectations and promises.

So for those of you who are still living on promises, and waiting for the world to end, and yourselves to achieve rapture, I ask you: Who you were before? Were you really so bad? What have you become? Has it really been worth it? If your answer is yes to many of these questions--then please share your happiness with the world. But if you have a corner in your mind with some nagging doubts maybe you need to ask yourself that old commitment question they once asked of you--"If not now, then when?"

Yogi Bhajan's comments about people that leave 3HO

"People who have baptized themselves into Sikh Dharma, whenever they left, they have started where they were when they started".
(Bhajan, March 1978, "Beads of Truth", page 37)

"If a person was pushing marijuana before 3HO, when he leaves 3HO he is back pushing marijuana! It's amazing".
(Bhajan, KWTC Lecture, Part 1)

"Look what happened to those who left 3HO. One is living with his male boyfriend, and his ex wife doesn't know where to dump herself".
(Bhajan, KWTC Lecture, Part 1 page 445)

"…I have seen some people walk away from 3HO and leave. No problem. After they left, they scattered. Nothing could keep them together...when you are by yourself, then you do not care. No one cares for you either".
(Bhajan, KWTC Lecture, Part 1 page 156)