Benjahmin

Sat Nam Dear Sangat, To the immense response and upset that this video has caused, out of respect for your beliefs, we have made the video private for only those who came to the retreat. I an I apologise on behalf of us all if we offended you in anyway. It was not our intention. However, I an I will not be labelled as an Idol Worshipper or part of a sect/cult that is 3HO. The community reaches far and wide with many different creeds, colours and faiths. You cannot put us into a simple category for the simplicity of your argument. Yogi Bhajan came to create teachers and not students. His courage in delivering these teachings needs to be respected as much as the sacredness of the Shabd Guru. I an I can guarantee Yogi Ji and Snatam Kaur have brought more people to take Amrit than the people on this forum who say we are a cult and damaging Sikhi. It may not be in the exact way of protocol you wish it to be but it has been done in a way that will capture the Western mindset. From that starting point, people can then make the choice to go deeper into the teachings and possibly Sikhi. The world needs consciousness and awareness and Yogi Bhajan knew this was the only way. Don't judge us because we were not born in the Punjab and raised by a Sikh family. We are doing our best with what we have and it is just as disrespectful for you to say we bring nothing to this world. Yogi Bhajans teachings are bringing tremendous peace and upliftment to communities across the world. This is the Aquarian Age and we need tolerance, acceptance and dialogue for us to grow as HUMAN BEINGS. Not as Sikhs, Muslims, 3HO cultists or whatever identity you give your self or others. I an I very respectful that this video has caused offence and have acted in accordance with your wishes to remove it. The debate must go on wether sharing it in the way we did is more damaging than positive. As there is endless music across the world of a western origin being shared with Gurbani, it is sharing the beauty of the Shabd Guru with people who would normally never come into contact with it. What would you rather? No contact with the Gurus word or an essence of it which could lead to full acceptance of it incredible power and divinity, and then the possible embracement of the Sikh faith? Followed by consciousness, peace and ultimately love being shared in peoples lives. I an I am sure this discussion will go on and I an I pray it goes on with consciousness and integrity rather than just with a religious fundamentalism and lambasting a community of 100,000s serving mankind in Seva. Wholly Love and Tender Blessings Wahe Guru Benjahmin

Sat Nam Dear Sangat, My name is Benjahmin and it is my voice you can hear speaking over the microphone. It has come to my attention that our actions within this video has upset some of you. Firstly, I an I would like to say that not one of you were actually present and has no idea of the circumstances and nature of the event. So many of your comments have fallen instantly into full blown judgement and quotation of the scriptures to back up your lack of mindfulness. The event was a New Years Eve celebration at the end of a 10 months course of becoming a Kundalini Yoga teacher. The celebration was for around 2 1/2 hours and finished at 1am. No drugs or alcohol was present. We had practiced yoga all day whilst partaking in a vegetarian diet. We all went to bed and were up at 4.30am in the Amrit Vela to greet the New Year in the same space to practice yoga and chant the Naam in the true essence of devotional practice for 2 1/2 hours. So the judgement from you all about being hippies and flower power is totally ludicrous and out of order. We are dedicated individuals to the Creator and express this in the way that is conscious and uplifting to the Sangat we serve. Just because we are not official SIkhs gives you no right to judge us. The Gurus word does not belong to Sikhs. It belongs to the Guru as it is the Guru itself which is Infinite, Formless and can be chanted by any tongue. We do not have the SGGS present as are aware of the total respect that this deserves. Are you telling me someone cant chant Japji without taking Amrit?? I an I used to dance years ago when unconscious in my younger years whilst under the intoxication of drugs to the same kind of music. The feeling we received from dancing this way was UTTERLY different. It was centred, devotional, conscious and present in the form of a Celebration of the Divine within through the medium of dance. As none of you were present you have no concept of the experience. Everyone present commented on how the mantras and words chanted over the music gave them a feeling of centredness and being whole. Rather than intoxicated and the mind drifting off away from the True Self that the Gurus word brings. Another vital point to cover concerning the Kundalini Yoga community which Yogi Bhajan created is that this kind of event raises awareness of the Shabd Guru and Sikh Dharma and Sikhism in a very subtle form. Some may be lead to the full blown acceptance of themselves as a Sikh through these introduction of the Gurus word. Ok.... It is not in the space of the SGGS and the traditional way but the Western mindset sometimes needs an introduction to the Shabd Guru in a way it can understand. From that, people can then make a choice to lead further into the chosen devotional path. To be Militant and Fundamentalist about the whole thing is extremely narrow minded and will actually repel the individual from possibly becoming Sikh. Putting up videos of Snatam Kaur as "Heres another One" is quite ignorant. She has brought thousands upon thousands to the Gurus word which has lead them to become fully embrace Sikhism. So you viewpoints are so limited without the knowledge to substantiate your narrow minded stance. How many have you brough to Sikhism?? As many as her? I an I sincerely doubt it. It is time to drop this fundamentalistic mindset and ALLOW people to express themselves in way that will bring people to the Creators Will and then bow before it in whatever way the Creator sees fit. As long as it is conscious. I an I am not saying we do not need guidance from yourselves to the true teachings of Sikhism but we do not need threats and judgement as if we are fools who do not know what we are doing. We know exactly what we are doing are fully aware of the essence we share in this video is not perfectly aligned to the official Sikh protocol. However, it is uplifting, conscious and totally aligned to the expression of the One which exists within us all. You cannot stop us from dancing and celebrating the beauty of life (especially as it was New Year) and feeling the beauty of the Shabd Guru from our tongues in celebration of Life at a time when it is a natural part of the cycle of life. It was a One off celebration and we do not promote it as Sikhism. In the Name of the Almighty Creator. Blessings to One and All and please accept our humblest standing in if this video has caused you any offence. Wholly Love and Tender Blessings Benjahmin