Infinity's Cup

Kundalini Yoga Sadhana for the Cast of Glee

2012-02-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

{This blog was originally published on Spirit Voyage blog}

Prescriptive Sadhanas for the Characters on Glee

Lately I’ve been pretty mesmerized by the TV show “Glee.” As a child I watched more Judy Garland and Bing Crosby films than cartoons. Truth be told, I have a little bit of a soft spot for musical comedy.

Watching Glee I sometimes catch myself wondering what sort of personal sadhana each of the characters would do if they were yogis.

So, I’m going to make-believe that some of the characters on Glee asked me to recommend a personal sadhana for them. Here’s what I would say:

SADHANA FOR SELF-WORTH:
Rachel Berry: Rachel is the perfect caricature of the overly passionate artist. While she wants to be noticed for her talent, she confuses the degree of praise she receives with her worth as a human being. The internal mantra of “notice me, love me!” could use an upgrade to “I am, I am.” “The Meditation Into Being: I Am, I Am” would be a great daily mediation for her. It can be found in The Aquarian Teacher manual. My favorite musical version of this mantra is on Sat Kartar’s “Flow.”

SADHANA TO GROUND DOWN:
Brittany S. Pierce is definitely my favorite character on this show. She floats through life in a fantasy world where foreign exchange students grant you three wishes, and her pet cat smokes. As is, there is very little that grounds her, or boosts her protective (negative) mind. That’s why I would recommend her first sadhana to begin with at least 11 minutes of Long Ek Ong Kaars (“Morning Call”). This practice is part of a well-balanced Aquarian Sadhana, held every day at your favorite Kundalini Yoga Studio (most likely) at 3:45am. For free! So come on down! You can also find it described in Sadhana Guidelines.

SADHANA TO ELEVATE SEXUAL ENERGY:
Noah “Puck” Puckerman: What do we give to the boys who can’t keep it in their pants? Sing it with me: Sat Kriya! Puck, like most teenagers, has a lot of sexual energy that needs to be elevated rather than released. Sat Kriya is simple, effective, and a great alternative to cold showers. Did I say that? I meant I great addition to cold showers! This kriya meditation can also be found in Sadhana Guidelines, along with reasons why we should all be taking a cold shower to start the day.

SADHANA FOR FEARLESS LEADERSHIP:
Emma Pillsbury: Did I say I loved Brittany the best of all the characters? I may have spoke too soon. Emma is the daughter of “ginger supremacists” (people who only like red heads), who dresses like a cool librarian, and suffers from OCD. Emma has a colorful array of neuroses, exemplified in her fear of germs and intimacy. Because she also happens to be the school’s guidance counselor, I would recommend she join Spirit Voyages’s new 40 Day Sadhana to Release Fear and Become a Conscious Leader.

Fan of Glee? What would you recommend to the characters on the show?

This Present

2012-01-27T12:48:00.000-08:00

This is a new song I've been performing in yoga classes recently. It is based on the teaching that we live 8.4 Million lives before we get the privilege of taking a human incarnation.

We have earned our right to be living a human life. What a gift!

Enjoy your present (your life, this moment) today!

Love,
Sirgun

English Lyrics
by Sirgun Kaur

This is a gift you've earned this human life
You have spent lifetimes to be here
Just to be here
To feel this second
To live this moment
To feel this present in the presence of the One

Gurmukhi lyrics:
from Siri Guru Granth Sahib (given by Yogi Bhajan)
Ek Ong Kaar = God and Creation are One
Sat Naam = Truth is our Identity
Siri Wahe Guru = Unspeakably great is this awareness

(MUL MANTRA by Guru Nanak)
Ek Ong Kaar
Sat Naam
Kartaa Purkh = God is the doer
Nirbhoa Nirvair = God is without fear and without vengence
Akaal Murat = God is eternal, undying
Ajooni = God is without form
Saibhang = God is self-illumined
Gur Prasaad = This is the gift of Divine Awakening
Jap = Repeat (i.e. keep repeating this)
Aad Such = It was true in the beginning
Jugaad Such = It is true throughout the ages
Haibi Such = It is true now
Nanak Hosee Bhee Such = Nanak (the writer) proclaims this shall forever be true.

3 Reasons You're Perfect (But It's Not What You Think)

2012-01-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

(Originally published on Spirit Voyage's blog)

Has anyone ever told you that you are perfect?

I’ve been told this a few times in yoga classes and I never believed it. I mean, if I were so perfect, why would I even need to practice? Why would I need to do an entire day of White Tantric Yoga to clear off lifetimes of accumulated karma? If I were so perfect, wouldn’t I know it? Well, no, because that’s the point.

Here are 3 things I’d like to clear up about being “perfect.”

1. It’s Not What You Think It Is: Name something you’d like to be “perfect.” Anything. It could be your skin, your health, your marriage, or your children. What does that look like? Ok. That’s not perfect. Why? Because perfect isn’t what you THINK. What you think of as perfect is created by your mind, which is influenced by commercials, gossip, passing fads—everything that doesn’t really exist (“maya”). Our mind is incapable of understanding our true perfection. It is when we tune in, when we meditate, when we connect to our Self, that we can EXPERIENCE our perfection.

2. Perfection Is Not a Judgement: When we think of our self, we often look at the things we’d like to change. We see “perfect” as a conditional thing. “I’ll be perfect when I’m _____ (insert anything you like: thinner, smarter, happier...).” Yet, perfect is not a judgement. It is not something we obtain when we are better than we already are. It is the thing we already are. And everything that comes along with what we already are—our issues, our insecurities, our debt, our karmas—is integral to that perfection. While our mind tells us that everything we are going through is imperfect, it is exaclty what we need to be going through exactly NOW. We are always perfectly on track.

3. So Why Even Bother? If we’re perfect, why “improve”? This confused me a lot when my yoga teachers would say we were all perfect in class. I would think: “If I’m so perfect, why do I need to come here?” Well... While our innate perfection is as indestructable as God, we are on Earth to forge an increasingly deep spiritual connection to this perfection. While we may still be perfect while we’re innebriated, we will be closer to the realization of our perfection when we are conscious. We cannot do anything to “improve” who we really are since we are already perfect, however, we can spend a lifetime developing a relationship with that perfection inside us.

A Mantra to Cultivate Awareness of Our Perfection:

Aad Pooran Madh Pooran Ant Pooran Paramaysureh

Pooran is perfectly, unconditionally complete. Pooran needs nothing else to be that which it already is: perfect unto itself. The mantra means that this energy of “pooran” was perfectly complete before anything existed, perfectly complete in the midst of existence (the “middle”), and will be perfectly complete in the end. Pooran needs nothing else, because it is “Paramaysureh”: the highest source of all.

This “pooran” is inside all of us. And it is this “pooran” that we must connect with to understand what it means to be perfect.

The best way to learn a mantra is to recite it 11 times per day for 40 days. There is a beautiful musical version on Snatam Kaur’s “Anand” CD.

Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Bread

2012-01-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

(Taken from "Babycakes" Recipe Book)

I posted about this amazing recipe on my facebook page this morning and a few people requested the recipe. So here it is. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup garbanzo-fave bean flour (I used garbanzo)
1 1/4 cups cane sugar
1/2 cup potato starch
3/4 cup arrowroot
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
2 TBs cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 TB vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups hot water
1 cup roasted apples*

*for the roasted apples I cut, cored and quartered apples, sprinkled them with cinnamon, and baked them in the oven at 325 F. 2 apples should be plenty to make 1 cup, even more.

And Go:
Preheat over to 325 F
Grease a 7 x 4 x 3-inch loaf pan with oil (my pan did not fit these dimensions at all at it still turned out great).

Whisk together the first 9 ingredients (flour through cinnamon), EXCEPT for 1/4 cup of the sugar, and 1 TB of the cinnamon. Save that for later.

Add oil, applesauce, vanilla, and 1 cup of the hot water to the dry ingredients. Stir until smooth, then add the roasted apples.

Transfer 3/4 of the batter to your pan, reserving 1/4 in the same bowl you mixed in. Add the extra sugar and cinnamon to the reserved batter. Then, use a spoon to carefully mix this "topping" into the batter that is already in the pan.

You can optionally add a little more sugar to the top, though I skipped this part.

Bake for 25 minutes on the center rack, remove from oven, and brush with a generous amount of coconut oil. Return to oven and bake for another 15 minutes. (I skipped this step and kept in the oven the whole time... about 40 minutes.)

You'll know it's done when a toothpick or skewer comes out of the center clean.

Let the bread stand in the pan for about 20 minutes, then invert onto a board. Cut and serve warm.

Cover cooled uncut bread with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Wahe Jio!

2011-12-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

I wrote a version of "Wahe Guru, Wahe Jio" as part of the Aquarian Sadhana mantras I often perform at Yoga Phoenix in the early morning hours. I played them in front of a crowd for the first time in Sedona for Sangeet Kaur Khalsa's "Brahm Prakash" retreat over 11/11/11. This was the first time I'd sang it front of hundreds of people though! What a high to have everyone chanting together.

I am so blessed to re-unite with my family each Solstice and create music like this!

Blessings,
Sirgun

Befriend Your Heart

2011-12-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

In the center of the body
beams a gentle light
arching towards the mountains
towards the left
and towards the right

At a pre-existence level
we knew where to shine this light
and beam out clear protection
to ward off any blight

When we block the heart
we silence our best friend

We chose to lose the battle
And forfeit before the end.

Sick and Always New

2011-12-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

Dearest reader,

I learned a lot this Winter Solstice in Florida... though I didn't realize I signed up for the class.

Operation Failed Expectations:

On the day after I arrived, I contracted what most people would call "sickness."

Symptoms included:
-congestion, -sore throat, -aches and tiredness, and -difficulty breathing.

This was not how I had expected to spend my vacation.

A Blessing In Every Tissue:

I spent about half a day feeling really sorry for myself. How could this happen to me? I was supposed to have fun, sing, meet new people, stay up late and get up really early... just like last year.

Completely unprepared in terms of "get well supplies", I decided to contact the resident doctor. I had a beautiful conversation with him, which forever changed the way I will see "illness."

Everything is New:

He explained, the terms "sick", "ill", "cold", "flu", or other ways we describe our dis-ease are too generic. They reinforce the illusion that each experience is exactly the same as our previous ones. When we generalize our "illness", we have a particular idea about how much time it will take to get better, what we have to do to get better, and what caused it. We are ignoring what is actually occurring.

Instead, he encouraged me to notice the particular sensations that made this experience unique. What elements we at play? Was it dry or wet? Was it hot or cold? I answered that it felt sticky, damp, and dirty.

He asked me something that no doctor has ever asked me before:

"What other parts of your life feel sticky, damp and dirty right now?"

Ah, clarity!

You Get What You Need:

While I did spend much of my time in Florida experiencing not-so-sensational sensations, I know now it was an opportunity to transmute old ideas and stored emotions around "sickness", into the fertilizer for radiant health—mental, spiritual and physical.

This year I experienced a lot of change, and this minor inconvenience gave me what I needed: quiet time to myself, deep introspection, and true grit.

Thank you Winter Solstice.

Thank you God.

Blessings,
Sirgun

Winter Solstice & Bliss

2011-12-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

Sat Nam my friend,

On Friday I head out to Lake Wales Florida for Winter Solstice... one of my favorite times of the year!!

I just heard today that I will be leading Morning Sadhana with my friend and sometimes-musical partner Sat Darshan Singh.

I am so excited!

Only a few more days until I get to see friends from all over the world, chant along with fantastic musicians and yogis, take amazing workshops and classes, help out with the sound team (that's my karma yoga this year!), and experience three of White Tantric Yoga.

"Bliss" (from The Music Within) is the featured song for the KRI vide "Facets of the Master", which will be playing during White Tantric Yoga events throughout the year... all over the world!

I'm interested to see how that is integrated into this year's festivities as well!

To purchase the DVD (and help support KRI), click here.

I hope to see you there... or feel you in spirit.

Love,
Sirgun

Men and Yoga Music

2011-11-29T10:17:00.001-08:00

Check out my new blog on Spirit Voyage Blog: "Men and Kundalini Yoga Music."

Blessings,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

BIG NEWS: Gratitude Works!

2011-11-22T16:36:00.001-08:00

The New York Times posted an article today providing scientific proof that "an attitude of gratitude" can help you sleep better, feel better, and live better.

Are you surprised?

I guess this wasn't always common sense to me either.

There have been times when I felt a need complain about anything in order to fill up silent space in an awkward conversation. Don't you find it easier to relate to some people around negativity than around positivity?

For example: "Well of course I chose the longest line in the supermarket. Murphy's law."

Sometimes it's best to just give someone a smile though, rather than filling silence with a complaint.

It's nice to see people becoming more aware of how much of a disservice complaining is—for our own self and for others.

Our ability to change our perspective is related to our ability to be neutrally minded. Acting from a neutral mindset, we can choose to see the underlying (or obvious) good in every situation.

I found a Baba Ram Dass quote today that sums this up nicely:

“Everything in your life is there as a vehicle for your transformation. Use it!”

Oh, and remember, being for your good, isn't always the same thing as feeling good. Be thankful for the medicine. No matter how bitter.

Love and light,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

Gratitude Thursday: Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T08:43:00.001-08:00

Since becoming a vegetarian I've had varying emotions about Thanksgiving for the past few years.

Many Thanksgivings ago I mistakenly considered it a holiday designed for over-eating. I found myself at once angry, resentful and apathetic, while trying to educate people about the rights of turkeys.

Needless to say I found myself dreading this day...

This year I'm just feeling grateful for a very amazing year so far. It seems like somewhere in the hearts of holiday-makers, there must have been a spark of consciousness that evolved as "Thanksgiving." For, what a truly Aquarian concept: a day devoted to gratitude and service.

This Thursday I will be celebrating GRATITUDE THURSDAY with over 100 people, eating vegetarian and vegan food, singing, laughing, playing, and meditating.

Thank you Universe! Wahe Guru!

Blessings,
Sirgun

Guru's Bana

2011-11-16T08:08:00.001-08:00

Sat Nam & Namaste!

I am embarking on another 40 Sadhana. It's not one you'll find in any yoga manual (that I know of). But it's one I've been thinking of for a little while.

For 40 days I will wear BANA as my "uniform."

Bana is a word that translates as "vocation" or "calling." And for the next 40 days I will see what it is like to wear a uniform I can show up to work for God in... so to speak.

It occurred to me that I do not have a lot of experience wearing this sort of dress—except for special occasions, and, of course, my own wedding. I'm excited to see what this practice will bring to my attention.

I except it should be a little challenging, as I usually opt for "comfy" clothing, especially during the winter months.

Here are some examples of what I mean by "bana":

Free Energy—Prana

2011-11-15T11:30:00.001-08:00

"The lifting of the veil—that's the true apocalypse." ~Luminaries

I discovered this music video last night thanks to one of my facebook friends. Facebook is like a meta-planet Earth—there is so much good information to be had, depending on who you "subscribe" to.

In this video, Luminaries are talking about the use of the Universe's innate lifeforce energy to fuel our lives. We are at the brink of a new era in which our ONENESS becomes something tangible. The very fabric of our being is electro-magnetic. We are walking talking energy. We are fueled by prana. We are fueled by God's lifeforce. At our core, we are that very lifeforce.

I will leave the science to people who are so gifted. I know when I tap into my "free energy" source, obstacles are removed and possibilities become obvious. An awakening is happening on this planet. Those who fight it have not yet experienced their inner Divinity. Our job is not to condemn them. Our job is to keep doing the work we are doing.

Thank you Luminaries and Elevate Studios for this wonderful video!

In Infinite Freedom,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

Video: Akaal—Deathless

2011-11-14T20:35:00.001-08:00

Wahe Guru

2011-11-14T10:56:00.001-08:00

In Your name repeated
I heard the origins of sound
The sweet purity of being
off your frequencies resound

Your Name was carried
through our voice
Your height was realized
through our Faith

That in each moment we vibrate
to a Truth we cannot erase.

2 1/2-hour Meditations

2011-11-14T10:42:00.001-08:00

Sat Nam Divine Being,

This weekend we went to Sedona for a retreat with one of my favorite teachers, Sangeet Kaur Khalsa. The theme was "Brahm Prakash"—awakening to God inside ourselves. Brahm Prakash also refers to the 4th Blue Ether, which is said to be the final "limbo layer" through which the soul passes on its way to merge with the Infinite.

In the spirit of this awakening, we did three 2 1/2-hour meditations in 2 days.

Can you probably can guess that some heavy stuff happened, right?

The meditations were not simply for our own growth and release. We came to release souls. We came to release "ghosts." That is, some souls leave the body only to be trapped by the magnetic field of this beautiful Earth. Sometimes it is because loved ones cannot let go of them, other times it is because of their own fear of letting go. We came with the message: "It's safe to go home."

Two of these mediations were done under the full moon at night—outside. It was COLD. It was uncomfortable and all the things you would imagine about being outside at night for up to three hours... sitting.

It was all these things and yet, despite the chilly sensations up my spine, the wind, the cramps in my legs, and all the thoughts going through my mind, 2 1/2 hours of meditation really does something!

Yogi Bhajan said this was the amount of time it took to alter our grey matter. I could really feel that. And as I said, even though I wasn't peacefully accepting the experience in every moment, the meditations did something to me that brought me into that peace.

It was magical. And the honor of serving all these souls was even more magical. I wrote a song about it which I will post later.

Thank you everyone who attended! I am eternally grateful!

Blessings of the Most High,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

Poem: Weeds Are All Around

2011-11-14T10:17:00.001-08:00

Among the weeds is where I lay that day

- as the serpent swirled up my spine.

I noticed that in decay

is where the useless went to die.

The clutter of unused objects,

the negativity in my mind,

the ways I needed to be

- it all fell down to the Earth's floor.

And there it ceased to be anymore.

The sun rays weathered the objects.

And the rain ran over my mind.

All that had seemed important, seemed as fleeting as lost time.

Those objects nourished fertile soil, and told the seeds to grow.

And with rain to wash my troubled mind, I saw new things to know.

I realized that rainy day that weeds are all around.

They are the unexpected outgrowth of what we've surrendered to the ground.

{Written Feb. 23, 2010}

Song: "Amen"

2011-11-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting a melody to "The Lord's Prayer" since I took a class at Agape last year. I ended up rewriting it completely...

O Cosmic Creator of All that is

O Cosmic Source of all vibration

Inspire us be receptive,

to create internal space where your Presence can reside

Move in us to creativity

so we can be the perfect vessels of your misson

Enlighten us that we may serve the highest good

and find solace in forgiveness

May be always remember our purpose

to illuminate the wisdom in every moment

For this infity is yours

And this experience is mine.

I am yours.

You are mine.

This is ours.

And I am thine.

From the beginning without end

forever and ever

Amen

The Cosmic Song

2011-11-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Sat Nam Divine Earthling,

This was the question asked at an Interfaith Event I attended last Thursday:

"How does your faith perspective help you to deal with today's current economic turndown?"

THE COSMOS AND THE ECONOMY

When it was time for me to answer the question my first thought was what economic "turndown" really means on a cosmic level: nothing.

No matter what, our soul is perfect and complete.
No matter what, The Cosmos is working perfectly.

To the great Cosmos, which does not deal in paper currency, neither poverty nor extreme riches matter in the least. For a human being, it is preferable to be rich for obvious reasons, but prosperity is the outcome, rather than the cause of a successful existence.

In other words, our life is fruitful not because we are rich. Rather, we can be rich (or whatever our highest standard is) because we lead a fruitful life.

SO WHAT IS A FRUITFUL LIFE?

A fruitful life is one that is lived working with, not in spite of, the natural flow of creative energy (a.k.a. "The Cosmos, "The Universe", or "GOD"). Most of us are on Earth to learn this one lesson:

My self-interest is not in control of the Universe!

Isn't that a relief?

Self-interest is the little "I" that thinks it is separate from all of creation. That is our ego. That is our mind. What new teachings like the law of attraction have right is that our mind is very powerful. We can create whatever we want. However, if it's not in tune with the flow of creation, it's not going to make us happy. Why? Because this is a Uni-verse. Uni = one; Verse = song. There is only one song. And we are hear to play its melody.

Imagine The Cosmos as a current of sound (which it is), like a beautiful melody. It is so loud that all of nature hears this beautiful melody and lives according to its principles. When a soul is blessed to live on Earth as a human being, it is given the most coveted luxury: Free Will. Free Will gives us the opportunity to meaningfully participate in Creation, but it also gives us the opportunity to completely forget about it as well.

Metaphorically speaking, having Free Will means we can use our life to create a harmonious melody with The Cosmos. In each action that we take, we can be so conscious of the flow of life inside us, that everything we create can serve to exhalt that flow. This is all that is meant by "Praise" or "Worship."

Having Free Will also means we can create severely bad sounding music!—metaphorically speaking of course. We can create an existence so disharmonious with the natural "music" of The Cosmos, that we no longer hear this original melody at all anymore. This makes us feel incredibly lost.

THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

We have a beautiful responsibility as human beings on Earth. We are co-creating an ever-evolving Cosmic Song. Wow!

So, to answer the initial question posed at the Interfaith Event, I would say:

In every instant, we are taken care of. We are each Divine manifestations of the One Verse. The Cosmic Melody is playing inside us in all moments. We are never alone. We are never without. We are provided for. If you don't like the way things are... keep up and keep going. Change is the only constant.

Some many of us think the only natural reaction to "downturn" is fear: drama, worry, and doubt. But nothing creates more disharmony with the natural flow of creation than fear. It is like sticking our hands over our ears to the Cosmic music.

How can you sing in key, when you can't hear the key? How can play in tune, when you can't hear the tune?

This is why it was so important when F.D.R. said:

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Fear is never the solution. Usually the solution is listening.

And when we listen, we start to hear the answer in the form of the right questions. Not, "why is life so unfair", but...

"What is this situation trying to teach me? How can I react to this situation differently than I have in the past? What opportunity for growth am I being given?"
There is an unimaginable intelligence that comes through us when we ask for help from The Cosmos.

"Bless the Good" at Rock~N~Flow

2011-10-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday my friends Amber Samplin and Chris Courtney organized a yoga festival in Tempe, AZ. They asked me to play an opening "prayer" and for savasana (final relaxation). It was really fun... and REALLY hot. After the yoga class we all danced to the conscious lyrics of the Luminaries. Viva yoga!

My Experience of Liberation Kriya

2011-10-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is the first sadhana I ever did. I did it for 40 days.

It's interesting that Gurmukh refers to it as "Liberation Kriya." It is in the "Life Styles & Life Cycles" Level II manual as "Longevity Kriya." Perhaps liberation is the key to longevity. I probably haven't lived long enough to give testimony to its longevity effects. However, I did feel very liberated by it. It gave me the strength to say "no" to various things that I needed to let go of.

It can be painful at first, especially if you are not used to doing these sorts of strange kundalini arm exercises.

But it's worth it!

Love,
Sirgun

Harnam's New CD!

2011-10-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Let's help Harnam get his CD made! Everyone was so amazing this spring in helping Sat Darshan and me create our album. I have no doubt this project will be funded in no time!

Blessings,
Sirgun

Video: Guru Ram Das Chanting - 10/21/11

2011-10-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

This is from Friday night. I edited down over a half hour of video into a little under 4 mins... what magic!

Devoted to What?

2011-10-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this video by Los Angeles Yoga Teacher Tommy Rosen.

When you don't prescribe to any one religion, what is "devotion"?

In a broad sense, devotion is where you place your energy. As Tommy describes, we can be devoted to things that don't serve us, like drugs (his example), or to things that do serve us.

That which is the most important thing to us, that which takes privilege over all other things, is what we are DEVOTED TO.

What we are devoted to expands us, and expands in us. Where we place our energy determines our frequency, which will effect how we navigate through life.

In Sikhism we bow our head each day to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the writings of Awakened Saints from a variety of spiritual backgrounds. We do this because we are devoted to aligning ourselves with the frequency of this text. We desire to live our lives in alignment with our Destiny, as the vehicle through which the Cosmos can fully actualize itself.

When we bow our head we place our heart above our head. In yoga this is called "balasana" (child's pose). Regardless of what we are in front of or visualizing in that moment, this is a good place to start. Our heart is the seat of our Soul, which is the part of us that is CONTENTED and PERFECT.

Thank you Tommy for this lovely vlog!

Blessings,
Sirgun

P.S. Tommy's spiritual name, Bhagat, is in "Japji Sahib" and is written in a script called Gurmukhi.

Occupy the Land

2011-10-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I can close my eyes and be lifted
to a transcendental height
Meditation has taught me well
to sail my mind like a mighty kite

I ride invisible vibrations
as I surf the Current of Sacred Sound
Watching my spirit soar above a body
that still holds firmly to the ground

I am at ease with elevation
Yet, I'm on Earth to learn to stand

And I hear it calling loudly:
"Come learn how to occupy the land."

Liberated Heart

2011-10-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

They say we are attached
At the heart
By an arc

They we are teathered
At the base
Of our own space

They say there is no me
no you
no us
no them.

And that when we talk of borders
we take the flower for its stem.

They say we never truly feel
the sense that separation can imply
We see our own light reflected
in another person's eye.

They say that commitment
limits
that it pins you down with its dart
And yet we are each a ventricule
beating a liberated heart.

When Someone Makes You Mad

2011-10-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

I just spent an incredible weekend at "Womanheart" with Sangeet Kaur Khalsa (Healing Source) in the Arizona mountains. She has devoted her adult life to spreading the teachings of her teacher, Yogi Bhajan on Women.

Women have an amazing capacity for compassion... we also have an amazing capacity for remembering who and what has wronged us.

When I am angry I tend to complain... quite a bit. How imperfect is the person I am having issues with, how imperfect is the issue I am having issues with...

In truth, complaining is the least effective way of dealing with a situation. The last thing a dramatic situation needs is more drama. The last thing a person needs who made a mistake is to feel guiltier.

It's good to be in touch with our feelings, but it's even better not to personalize someone's "stuff" as our own. If someone just yelled at you for not walking fast enough, or not speaking clearly, or laughing when you weren't supposed to, that is an issue they are dealing with. A compassionate person understands that.

I have been working on this a lot lately. If someone does something that turns on my auto complaint button, I remember to bless them.

Because isn't that what you would want when you're having a bad day?

Whatever it is they might be dealing with, our resentment towards them is not going to make this world a better place.

After all, wouldn't you want someone to forgive you and bless you for the error you made?

I think so.

Blessings,
Sirgun

Big Words: Sin

2011-10-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Sat Nam friend,

As promised, I am completing my two-part blog on "Big Words" today.

So....

SIN:

If you read the Holy Bible, or go to Church, you probably hear this word quite a bit. Strangely enough, it is also a recurring word in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (Sacred Sikh Text) English translation. Every time I read it it makes me wince because of the religious baggage it carries.

My favorite description of "sin" was given to me by a Christian Mystic friend of mine. He said that sin was simply "when we forget that we are one with God." In this sense, when the Bible talks about "original sin", it can be understood as the gradual.onset of "forgetting where we came from."

Indeed, when a child is born, he/she gradually develops a deeper awareness of the physical world and forgets the feeling of Oneness with God. Baby is no longer a soul in the ethers, merged with the Eternal One. Baby has hands and toes and a mother and a father. Baby forgets ORIGIN.

In Sikhism, sin is translated from the words avgan (or weakness), bikh (or poison), vikaar (or evil), among others. Much like my friend's awareness of the concept of sin, in Sikhism, the only "evil", or "poison", or "weakness" that is worth mentioning is forgetting God.

And by this definition, we are all "guilty" of being "sinners" several times a day.

However, God does not convict us, or label us. We do that ourselves. Rather than labeling our actions as "sinful", or "wicked", or even "evil", let's recognize our stumbles as necessary lessons along the way.

The beauty of our forgetfulness (read: sin) is that once we become aware of it, it no longer exists. We can only be forgetful so long as we do not acknowledge or align with our origin. Once we choose to redeem ourselves (by remembering), we are "saved."

And we can do that by the simple process of changing our mind... several times a day.

So, again. Meditation is the key.

I may seem like a broken record. But. It's the only thing that will do it. Because it's not our soul that we need to change. It's our mind. Our mind is what keeps us unaligned with our purest Origin. It's not it's fault either. It gets distracted. So we must have a practice to re-orient it.

Otherwise. You will be a broken record of forgetfulness. And, labels aside, it just doesn't feel good to be a sinner (read: forgetful unaligned person).

Blessings,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

Big Words: Karma

2011-10-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hi there friend,

One of the projects I've been working on for the past few months is a recording for Sikhnet.com. It involves recording my voice reading the Sacred Sikh Text, called the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The goal was to have a full recording of the 1,400 page text in English, in a woman's voice.

This has been one of the most challenging projects I've ever undertaken. This is likely because the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, rather than a database for facts and stories to remember about one's religious heritage, is a vibration that aligns us with the frequency of Enlightenment. And if Enlightenment were a fingersnap away, we'd all be floating!

The way I feel when I get the frequency of the SGGS vibrating in me is an amazing experience. It's not so much about the meaning of the words, as it is about "giving them life as sound." This is especially true when it's read in the original Gurmukhi.

Despite the fact that meaning is not totally of the essence, I still find myself reading certain passages about sin and punishment that seem to contradict the Sikh teachings. (Note: Reading the SGGS is not restricted to Sikhs. Anyone can read it as a meditative exercise.)

I realized that in some ways the translation I am reading, which is comparatively modern, still assumes a little background understanding into two very big words: Karma and Sin. So I'm going to share what I think these very loaded words mean. I will tackle karma in today's blog, and sin, I will do later.

KARMA:

Karma is a word that we throw around a lot these days to describe our concept of "what comes around goes around." I've been watching reruns of a show called "My Name Is Earl" recently where a man makes a list of everything bad he's ever done and tries to fix it all so he stays on karma's good side. It's a funny concept, but of course, it's a shallow understanding of the way things work.

Karma is not punishment, even though it may feel like it. The way most people handle karma is a bit like planting sunflower seeds in your garden with the expectation of gathering up tomatoes in the summer. That's just not what you planted!

Karma is an action that is incomplete. Leaving your wife while she's 3 months pregnant means some day (whether in this life or the next) you will have to deal with an angry wife and child.

But karma only continues as long as things are left incomplete. "My Name Is Earl" is actually quite brilliant in a sense because the writers understood that one antidote to an incomplete action is forgiveness. Whether or not Earl can rectify the situation or not, he only crosses an item off his list when the person he's wronged forgives him.

Where there is forgiveness, there is no blocked energy. Without blocked energy (read: incomplete action or thought), you cannot create karma.

Meditation is our most important tool for clearing karmic debts. Avoiding the creation of more karma is the ideal, which can be accomplished through conscious action and thought. Meditation helps with this too.

So, when the SGGS, or any spiritual text for that matter, talks about karma, or God coming down and smiting you, understand that the Universe is not vindictive. As Guru Nanak said, God is "Nirvair" - without revenge. If you are experiencing something unpleasant, look at the steps you took to get there.

Nothing is mysterious when you look at it through the concept of karma. Everything is being given to you as an opportunity to complete what you started. We want to leave with as little baggage as possible when we die.

Blessings,
Sirgun Kaur Khalsa

Spirit Voyage Blog - Beginner's Mind

2011-09-27T09:59:00.001-07:00

Click here to read my newest Spirit Voyage Blog.

Blessings,
Sirgun

So Purkh... Blessing the Men!

2011-09-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night I will be teaching my first "special event" at Yoga Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ.

We will begin at 7pm. I'll tell my personal story of doing this meditation, go over pronunciation, meaning, uses, and then... we'll actually experience this powerful meditation!

This workshop is for men and women alike. The Siri Singh Sahib recommended the meditation for women since we are oh so powerful. But men are most welcome and can use the practice to elevate themselves!

Sweet

2011-09-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

So much to be grateful for on this Tues-DAY.

1. I am home after an amazing weekend at Bhakti Fest.

2. My house is clean and the laundry is done and folded!

3. It was only 77F this morning in Phoenix! Bring on the cold!

4. I listened to Amarjit's "Daily Banis."

5. I spent 2 hours on the phone with one of my favorite people whom I rarely get to speak with.

6. I finished Volume II of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in our Sahej Path.

7. I wrote new music today.

What are you grateful for?

Love,
Sirgun

Ascended Company

2011-08-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

You would like to see me fail

but I will pass this test

I will not fold and meekly bend

under-slept and stressed

I will not ignore the hoops you throw

I will choose to walk around

Silently blessing and thanking you

for the chance to stand my ground

I will not cry for I understand

you need to prove you're right

And so you seek an audience

when you throw sawdust on your Light

In cowardice you challenge me

to rethink my lofty sights

No.

I demand ascended company

I do not fear ecstatic heights

Miracles

2011-08-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

Many think a miracle is too good to be real

too sweet an event for this world to reveal

like a magical hand that saves us from storms

protecting us from pain in its various forms

Many would say miracles happened only to some

who were lucky, or favored, or had in some way won

a life-medal handed to a rare select few

who had proven their actions and goodness were true

But I know that miracles slip in every day

when energy moves and invites me to play

when something was dormant and then comes alive

too brilliant or perfect for me to contrive

I know that miracles travel on my breath

and move me to clear out the depths of my depth

and light up a path to show me new ways

not to mistake the sun for its rays

So when the uninvited come knocking at my door

I know from experience

-- a miracle is in store.

Where You Start

2011-08-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Be you very little

Be you very tall

Be you very soft-spoken

Watch the stars still fall!

Be you very rich

Be you very wise

Be you very happy

Watch the sun still rise!

Close your eyes to see

the world from far away

The vast expanse of smallness

in the One celestial play

Close your eyes to touch

the world inside your heart

Touch the truth containing you

Where you stand is where you start.

God Is On Your Side

2011-08-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

The sun is not a living proof that what you did was good

nor is the rain a sign to say you didn't do, but should

The pain you felt was not a way to atone for your mistep

Nor was that smile a way to say you need not have wept

There will be bumps and bridges

and winds you did not expect

But if your sail is mighty swift

you will catch them and not get wet

There is no gift or punishment

just foam stirred by the tide

Drowning cannot divert This Love

God is always on your side

Video: Bhakti Yoga Shala, June 2011

2011-07-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

A video collage I made of a kirtan at Bhakti Yoga Shala with Sat Darshan Singh and David Roberti (on percussion). Enjoy!

Bless the good in YOU,

Sirgun

The Soul Sings of Commitment

2011-07-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

My New Year's Resolution was to read Japji ("Song of the Soul") every morning for the rest of the year (and beyond). A few weeks later I began a 40-day Amrit Vela sadhana, so I was waking up at 3:00am every morning (no matter what!), reciting Japji, warming up my body with 15 sun salutations, and then doing my bound lotus practice. I also added a 40-day mung beans and rice mono-diet in there just for karma points.

My real New Year's Resolution though was to get married. This was a bizarre declaration I made to myself considering I wasn't dating anyone at the time. I wasn't even interested in anyone. And yet my husband came along... we got married last month.

I didn't consider the link between my sadhana and my marriage until very recently.

In retrospect, I realized that what I was doing with this MAHA SADHANA ("maha" means great, "sadhana" means daily practice) was sending a very clear message to the Universe: "I am ready to commit." In fact, I changed my frequency to be in alignment with commitment. No one told me to do this, I was Divinely inspired.

When we commit to something that serves our highest good, we choose faith over doubt. We choose to ignore our neurotic minds. We choose to go back to our mats (or sheepskins) each day and reassert our commitment to our own soul.

I am so grateful I knew to do this. I am so grateful for the beautiful Sound Current of Japji, which gave me the roots to grow into Love.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Altitude, Aptitude, Gratitude

2011-07-05T13:33:00.001-07:00

Today I stuffed a bazillion and a half envelopes full of CDs to send to people who supported our new album, The Music Within.

As I was stuffing, and writing, and checking names off my list, I remembered just how many hands were involved in the making of our CD. Thanks to the grace of the internet, we were all able to join forces to create this music. And now our music is being sent all over the globe to various yogis and friends...

How incredible. Hooray for the internet. Hooray for the Aquarian Age of inter-connectivity.

Yesterday we celebrated our "Independence." Today I celebrate our INTER-Dependence.

Bless you,

Sirgun

Back from Solstice

2011-06-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

I am back from Solstice and ready to blog!

A lot has happened...

I finished my CD, I got married, I moved to Arizona... it's 110 degrees here!

Talk to you later I promise!

Love,

Sirgun

Approaching Sky

2011-05-29T08:54:00.001-07:00

When you're looking to the skyline

the mountain top seems clear

yet having toiled to reach that height

Heaven's still not near

The sky has jumped another step

there's still a peak to climb

and the place you stand,

where you thought to rest

was not the finish line

There is still a peak beyond the reach

of the highest of the high

Our aim is not to aim and land

as we keep approaching sky

There is still a distance far beyond

what we can see before we know

and we want to settle in each time

yet we are pushed grow.

Kicking Success!

2011-05-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

We successfully raised $4,329 through our kickstarter campaign. Thank you so much to everyone who got involved. I am awe-stricken by what can happen when community takes action. Imagine what else we could accomplish with this kind of team work!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Guru Ram Das "Thank you!"

2011-05-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed so far to our kickstarter! We are almost there... only 3 more days to go!

Love & Blessings,

Sirgun

A HUG for You!

2011-05-01T05:22:00.001-07:00

We have now raised $3,312!!!! Only $688 to go!

That calls for more hugs!

"Thank You" Dance

2011-05-01T04:56:00.001-07:00

Your generosity makes us silly! (In all fairness, we can't totally blame you for our mild insanity).

Love,

Sirgun (& Sat Darshan of course)

The SLOW Making of Our Kickstarter Video

2011-04-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

A funny video I made of all the attempts we made to do our video for Kickstarter. Hope you enjoy!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Growing Pains

2011-04-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

I will sometimes step on eggshells

having thought they had been swept

under rugs and four-post beds at night

It turns out they never left

They will break the skin no matter

whether or not I say that they are real

even though the skin is harder

when my foot lands on its heal

And I could grow the callus tougher

to cover the softest skin

It wouldn't change the difference

between what's outside and what's within

I shall sweep the eggshells briskly

and throw them to the rains

Watch them feed the soil

as they outgrow their growing pains

I shall wish them fairest weather

knowing mine to be clear skies

at least as far as weather

keeps salt water from my eyes.

You get a hug!

2011-04-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

We've raised $2,225 of the $4,000 we need! That calls for a hug!

Our kickstarter project expires on May 6th. Keep spreading the word.

Love,

Sirgun

Kicking and Starting

2011-04-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Sat Darshan and I have decided to raise funds for our album through kickstarter. The minimun donation is $1, so everyone can get involved. We came up with some cool prizes to give out to our "backers." Every dollar goes towards paying our musicians, "mastering" the album, manufacturing 1,000 copies of the CD, and other important costs incurred when making a CD.

CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE.

Thank you for being a part of our project!

Love,

Sirgun

Meditation for Atomic Radiation

2011-04-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sat Darshan and I made a track to help people do the Meditation for Atomic Radiation.

Read all about it on (and listen as well!) on Spirit Voyage!

Love,

Sirgun

Quakes

2011-03-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

when the ant was shaken and thrown aside

and her home was crushed and her family died

off she brushed the dirt and the dust

rebuilding her home because she must

when the fish was caught and put on a plate

she did not curse the hook or the bait

she writhed and squirmed till she just let it be

and in her last breath she was set gloriously free

when the child fell quickly, bumping her head

giggling and jumping for joy on her bed

the tears she cried soon faded away

she grew to laugh, love, nurture and play

and when we are stirred and struck by a blow

let us rise above our pain and our woe

rebuilding, forgiving, trusting we know

our own dignity, our own power

that we may rebuild and resow

let us stand firmly in our God-granted right

to light candles for others that they may feel their own light

let us send healing and do all that we can

to secure the unbroken unity of man.

"Bliss" Video from Cherry Blossom

2011-03-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sat Darshan made this beautiful video (with some edits by yours truly) from last Thursday at Cherry Blossom Yoga in NYC. I'm so glad he was able to record the audio through his mixer so the sound is really good!

I filmed with my camera and was able to catch Hari Kaur Khalsa's Celestial Communication. It was awesome that she stepped up to the plate like that... it wasn't planned.

Adarsh Kaur Khalsa will be leading the CC when we do it at Bhakti Fest. It adds a really magical element to the chanting.

Thursday Night @ Cherry Blossom Yoga

2011-03-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sat Nam,

This is where we will be on Thursday night @ 7pm. I hope you can come chant with us in Manhattan!

Click to R.S.V.P. on facebook.

Molto blessings,

Sirgun

Dusty Words

2011-02-28T18:40:00.001-08:00

Words can get dusty

when overly used

And meanings

-- once clear --

are sometimes confused

with the previous meanings

in which they took shape

But now that we've dusted

they get to escape.

Poem: The Miracle

2011-02-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

If you can be patient and sit very still

you will catch the miracle.

If you can surrender, tame your teetering will

you will catch the miracle.

If you can dare trust beyond limited sight

Guided by Brilliance that has never known night

You will catch the miracle.

If you can allow your thoughts to subside

A gap between questions

narrow or wide

You will catch the miracle.

If you can ignite the hearth in your heart

and welcome the Guest from whom you are never apart.

You will catch the miracle.

Now start.

Poem: Now I Do

2011-02-11T18:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't understand

looking up

that you were taller

but not more grown-up

I didn't understand

each time

you took your leave

mid nursery-rhyme

I didn't understand

you see

that you weren't crying

because of me

I didn't know

the years you'd lived

the things they took

and the parts that lived

I didn't know

up until now

that messes

could be OK somehow

I didn't know

but now I do

that in freeing me

I freed you too.

Poem: Dance Lessons

2011-02-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

For every misstep and stumble

Love provides a second chance

to remember that the drama

is an opportunity to a dance

For every misperception

depth can come in the next glance

And if we want we can reclaim it

as an opportunity to a dance

When hearts are kept in secret places

locked with keys they try to hide

Love will soon get very loud

to draw the heart outside.

Video: How to Practice Bhakti

2011-02-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

This is a video I made from last Saturday for the Pre-Bhakti Fest and Stay Strong Project Release Party. Thank you David Newman (Durga Das), Mira, Philippo Franchini, Mas Vidal, Govindas, and all the Yogis at Bhakti Yoga Shala!

Stay strong and keep your faith alive,

Sirgun

Whatever Knocks

2011-02-02T18:55:00.001-08:00

At times it's hard to open
for fear the door might creak
It's hard to imagine a melody
come to replace a familiar shriek

At times it's hard to open
for fear there is a mess
lurking behind the door frame
too painful to address

And some might feel it's worth the investment
in extra lumber, in extra locks
Yet I've found I'm better off when I answer whatever knocks

It could take a thousand words to express the way you feel
Or an instant in alignment with the omnipotent and real

It could take a thousand kisses to mitigate one scratch
Or one moment of awareness that only Love can last

It could take a thousand hammers on a house to let you in
Or a gentle hand directing the doorknob from within

Recent Blogs for Spirit Voyage

2011-02-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering where I've been... I've been on Spirit Voyage blog. I've been asked to contribute blogs once a week, so I haven't been as present on my own blog this past week or so. I invite you to check the following articles out. It's a lot of fun to be speaking to a larger audience!

Vlog & Blog on "What is Bhakti?"

Blog on "The Vegan Experiment: 5 Dairy Alternatives"

Blog on "Are Fairy Tales Harmful"

Peace,

Sirgun

Excitement...

2011-01-26T19:51:00.000-08:00

... is expansion of heart, of head, of mind

It is growing in every instant, yet impervious to time

It is a huge enormous bubble of breath I didn't take

while I was holding it, anticipating the moment I'd awake

It is a mistake, I think, to wonder when this soaring lightness will drop

Gravity may be a force of nature, but my excitement, I'm glad to say, is not!

Stars

2011-01-21T18:59:00.001-08:00

when the water is calm and quiet

you hear what's in your head

you hear the trail of breadcrumbs

leading to your bed

you can hear the "no" you should have said.

when the water is calm and quiet

you hear what's still upset

you hear the crying heart

as loud as cries can get

and you can remember the desert, before the wet.

but courage is in swimming

up placid lakes and streams

where nothing comes to dampen

the sound of inner-screams

and courage is in swimming

through the sharks you try to hide

love is the accepting

of what's been submerged inside

while you may always know that story

your biography through scars

there are no more sharks connecting the lines between your stars.

I Am Bliss, I Am Testing

2011-01-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Sat Naam,

I recently made two new videos as tests. I'm making an album this spring and I want to hear what things sound like before I record. I am definitely putting "Bliss" on the CD. "Nirankaar" needs a little tweaking... or will possibly be left out. I have a lot more to choose from. ;)

"I am the light of my soul" is a mantra written by Yogi Bhajan.

I Have a Dream...

2011-01-18T14:11:00.001-08:00

Last night in Guru Singh's benefit yoga class for Y.O.G.A. for Youth, he talked about dreaming, in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

Guru Singh explained that MLK had been such a powerful force because he didn't have a back-up plan. He was going to non-violent, and if that didn't work, he was still going to be non-violent. If you only have a Plan A (no Plan B or C), our teacher reasoned, you have 100% chance of success... there's no other option!

MLK was not afraid to dream. In fact, he spoke in front of an entire nation and told everyone about his dreams! Furthermore, Guru Singh explained, when MLK dreamt, he thought about a legacy. They weren't just passing passions. His dreams endured, influencing our society for decades to come.

It made me think about the bigger picture of why I want the things I want. In other words, how will humanity benefit from my dreams? It is a lot easier to dream "big" when millions of other people will benefit from it, not just me.

It inspired me to write my own "I have a dream" speech. Here goes.

I have a dream that one day all human beings will be self-realized and happy.
I have a dream that all human beings will live in a continuous experience of their connection to Infinity, to God.
I have a dream that we will live in a world of spiritual warriors, prepared to demolish anger, fear, and doubt, inside and out.
I have a dream that all parents will love and support their child's purpose on Earth, no matter what it is.
I have a dream that all human beings will make decisions guided by their intuition and inner-light.
I have a dream that no one will ever know lack.

And a little more focused...

I dream of spreading the Sacred Sound Current, uplifting people all over the world.
I dream of teaching children of all cultures that they are here on purpose, and how to connect their mind-body-soul towards fulfilling that purpose.
I dream of inspiring people to be courageous in the face of their personal growth, especially where it concerns releasing past traumas.
I dream of having abundant resources to funnel into various foundations that help children, women, and anyone who has forgotten their purpose.

When I put it this way to myself, my dream didn't seem so selfish. In fast, a lot of people's lives depended on me accomplishing these things. I realized I didn't want to be successful for success' sake. I wanted to be successful, because it would create a higher platform from which I could serve.

I highly encourage you to write a dream speech. It will make your dreams much more important. And they are very important!

Much love,

Sirgun

Give it Away, Give it Away, Give it Away NOW

2011-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

Does it sometimes feel irresponsible to give away your money in tough times, even though the law of abundance tells us we have to give in order to receive? It occurred to me that something we can all feel comfortable giving away right now is our blessing.

After all, we have an unlimited supply, and there is no risk involved. And hopefully, when we see the "return" on our blessing investment, we will feel more comfortable giving other things out freely.

:: Here's why I'm saying this...

The other night my friend told me how unsupportive her mother is of her lifestyle. It made me sad that she would have to go through that. I think sometimes the people we love most get scared that we change we will grow apart from them.

It’s hard for me to imagine parents that accept their children conditionally. Although some passages have been rough between me and my parents, given their track record, I know they will always come around in the end. As long as I am happy, my parents will be happy for me.

Anyway, we switched topics and I started talking about how I really wanted to go to India this year. She said she would add that to her prayers. Immediately I felt this sense of relief, like she was taking care of me. It almost felt like she was putting spiritual “money” in a bank account for me. It struck me that this was the kind of donation everyone could afford.

My first instict was to ask her what I should pray for her about, and she said: “that my mother can be at peace with who I am.” Of course, I accepted.

So now we are prayer buddies. Every night I pray that my friend’s mother can see the beauty of her daughter’s commitment to her spiritual practice. Every night she prays that the Universe conspires to send me to India.

It made me think of expanding this to a larger scale. Will you join me in teaming up with your friends and supporting each other through the power of your focused thoughts and words?

It will be fun to see what happens with all the prayers going around. I anticipate that taking a little time out of our day to conciously think about, and bless, someone else will be a growing experience for all involved!

Who’s with me?

If you decide to do this, I’d love to hear what you and your partner are praying for, and what you notice as a result.

Blessings,

Sirgun

New Years Eve at Kundalini Yoga East

2011-01-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

And another video! I love working with Sat Darshan! He mixes the audio separately. So fancy!

That evening was so amazing. Chanting in the New Year is definitely the way to go. The past few New Year's Eves I have spent watching movies and realizing after the fact that it had already changed days. At Golden Bridge (where we all went after this workshop), Siri Sat struck the gong at midnight while Gurunam was leading us in his version of "Aad Guray Nameh." Then we had Indian Food and spicy chai. Mmmm.

It had a been a while since I had been up until 3am. Usually, if I'm up at that hour it's after I've slept!

Anyway, enjoy!

Blessings and love,

Sirgun

Gobinday Mukanday

2011-01-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

So excited about this video I made with my friend Sat Darshan as a promo for his newest album... coming out this spring!

Blogging with Spirit!

2011-01-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

If you are a member of the Kundalini Yoga community, you may have seen some of my posts on the Spirit Voyage Blog this past week.

They've published two so far:

1. How Did Jesus Meditate?

2. Was Kundalini Yoga in "Avatar"?

I'm really excited to be sharing my posts with more people. They have lots of other great blog posts as well. And if you are a Snatam Kaur fan, catch a one-hour interview by Ramdesh this afternoon at 5pm EST. >>more info.

Wahe Guru!

Many blessings,

Sirgun

Feeling Blue?

2011-01-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Winter is a time when our outer environs seem to be telling us to slow down. It's colder, quieter, and darker outside, which can manifest as "the blues" inside.

I thought I would share a few tools that help me to stay in good spirits in any kind of weather. This list is by no means exhaustive. These are the things that work for me, so feel free to make more suggestions.

1. Activate Your Internal Fire:

In the winter everything slows down, including our digestion. For one thing, we are getting less exercise, especially if we live in extreme climates where snow is keeping us indoors. I find when my digestion gets slower, my mood gets lower. When my digestive fire is lit, it significantly improves my mood. It also reminds me that the way I feel originates inside me, not from the weather!

*Suggestions*

a) Before eating breakfast, do a yoga set that stimulates digestion (try: "Apana Kriya").

b) Before eating breakfast, do breath of fire for an extended period of time (3-31 minutes). This will also warm you up before you go outside.

c) Before eating breakfast, do some spinal twists--either supine or seated. Twisting your body at the core squeezes out toxins from your internal organs, making room for fresh blood and more efficient digestion. Very invigorating!

c) Start your morning off with fresh ginger tea (this is an easy recipe).

d) Eat light, and not right before going to bed. Yogi Bhajan said to stop eating by 4pm. If this isn't possible, give yourself at least a few hours to digest your food before going to sleep. You will wake up a lot happier.

e) Licorice is my new best friend. You can drink it as a tea. And as "candy" (I buy natural licorice from my health food store), it makes a good substitute for heavier desserts.

2. Let the Energy Rise

Our spine is like a straw, and our kundalini energy is like the nourishing drink we sip. If we keep sipping from a clogged straw, we are bound to feel thirsty. Similarly, if the energy at the base of our spine cannot move up, we will start to feel tired and sad.

*Suggestions*

a) Catch yourself slouching and remind yourself to sit up straight. Don't be a bent straw!

b) The "Basic Spinal Energy Series" (from Sadhana Guidelines) is a fast and effective pick-me-up. You can do it upon waking or any time during the day when you stomach is relatively empty. It wakes me up like nothing else.

3. Activate Your Blue

It is interesting that we call it "the blues" and that blue is associated with the fifth chakra, our throat center. Opening up the fifth chakra through chanting is a fantastic way to get the energy moving in our body and lift our spirits. There are two mantras that I use a lot for this purpose. Sing them at the top of your lungs for as long as necessary. You can even listen while you sleep.

a) Ek Ong Kaar Sat Gur Prasaad Sat Gur Prasaad Ek Ong Kaar (click for more info), known as the "magic mantra." Five repetitions reverses a negative thought pattern.

b) Guru Guru Wahe Guru Guru Ram Das Guru (click for more info), known as the miracle mantra. This is a good one to chant if you are worried about something. Ask the sacred energy of Guru Ram Das to come to the rescue. There is no request too small or too large.

4) Dance in Your Living Room

A great way to get over a bad mood is to dance around like no one is watching. Your living room is a great place to blast some high vibrational music and dance your cares away. As the African proverb goes: "When you pray, move your feet."

5) Give Yourself Permission to Be Sad

Our feelings can be our best teacher. We are often told to "get over it," but sometimes it is useful to simply observe the way we are feeling, without wallowing or feeling sorry for ourselves. It can be healing to simply accept the way you are, and love yourself regardless. I find I am able to "get over" something much quicker without the extra stress of cursing myself for feeling the way I do.

I hope some of these suggestions help you through the winter season. May you appreciate the natural beauty that this season brings, without internalizing the cold.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Gavai and Suni-ai

2010-12-29T18:10:00.001-08:00

In his workshop at Winter Solstice Sadhana, Ravinder Singh brought up a really interesting point about Sikh scripture in general, and Jaapji in particular. Gurmukhi, he said, is either sung, or listened to. If you read Jaapji every morning, you probably know gavai (3rd Pauri) means singing and suni-ai (8th Pauri) means deeply listening.

When we recite Gurumukhi, we sing it. We are allowing the sound current to resonate and be heard through the vehicle of our unique voice. That is gavai. On the other hand, when we are absorbed in listening deeply to that same sound current, we are allowing it to settle inside us, as is. That is suni-ai.

I thought about this for a while after the workshop, but just last night I had an "aha!" moment where the past few years of my life made perfect sense to me! What a gift!

So I thought I would share...

About a year and a half ago, after having spent the better part of two years producing my first solo album, I made a decision that shocked everyone who knew and loved me: I decided to stop singing.

To some, I know it looked like I had given up on my dreams. After all, I had moved to Los Angeles that year to sing! What was I doing?

Instead of singing, I began to treat my "day job" at a raw food restaurant as the most important work I could be doing. I became very invested in serving people the best I could. No matter what their attitude. No matter what my mood. No matter what. (Or, in keeping with the extended metaphor of my piece, you could say I was listening to my customers!)

A few months later I volunteered at a festival. The attitude with which I had learned to serve people persuaded the festival to offer me a job. A few months after that, my boss made me sing at his birthday party in front of two of my favorite kirtan artists. A year later, there I was on stage in front of a few thousand kirtan fans singing with one of my favorite kirtan artists.

And so there I was, doing what I always thought I'd be doing: singing.

I realized yesterday that there are times in our life when we are meant to sing, and times when we are meant to listen. In other words, there are times for action, and times for reflection. The key is finding a balance between the two. In our society, we are encouraged to act, but often feel guilty for taking moments to reflect.

Yet, moments of suni-ai can save us a lot of time. They afford us the mental clarity to take better actions.

I feel very blessed to have experienced both modes of being--singing and listening. I was very grateful to Ravinder for illuminating a nuance in Jaapji that I had not yet contemplated.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Winter Solstice Sadhana

2010-12-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm back from Lake Wales, FL!

I spent the last week in a reclaimed summer camp outside of Orlando. It was very moist, sandy, cold, and cozy. We meditated in the ambrosial hours, chanted, moved, danced, healed, and laughed.

Treysha got to sing quite a bit. We sang with Gurunam, Sat Darshan Singh, Simrit Kaur (well, Allison and Michelle did), and SOL Temple. We were streamed on Spirit Voyage's blog (click here to view the archived video). And we sang for the all night kirtan on the last night I spent there. Oh, and we had a CD to share with everyone, which we managed to get together in the days before we left (check it out here).

I am so grateful to have these practices at my finger tips...

I am so grateful to know the people I know...

I am so grateful to see the relevance of what I am learning in my daily life...

Thank you.

Now I am here in snowy Connecticut. The pace is much slower. I am getting a lot of sleep. I am integrating. I am feeling the best I have in my life.

And the forecast for tomorrow is even better.

Blessings to all.

Good night moon,

Sirgun

thank you

2010-12-15T20:58:00.001-08:00

thank you for finding me and lighting the way

thank you for inviting me to play

on strings, on keys, with angles and shapes

thank you for catching me when i would have escaped

thank you for sharing, and un-blurring my sight

thank you for beaming daylight into every night

thank you for holding a mirror to my heart

beholding my vision the seas did part

thank you for holding me up through it all

thank you for who I AM most of all

love, Sirgun

Easy Does It

2010-12-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

I made this as the header for a newsletter. I remembered that it had been a little under 2 years since I last sent a newsletter out to all the awesome people who have signed my mailing list since 2006. So I will send one out in the next few days before Winter Solstice.

I was reflecting on what's happened so far, particularly the ease with which my band, Treysha, was able to record our first Live Sadhana CD. Michelle got the offer from a friend to set up a recording system. Ram Kirn happened to be leading the yoga that Saturday morning, which also happened to be a teacher training weekend (meaning 100 people in the room, as opposed to the usual 7 or so). I whipped up a graphic for the label in a few hours. Allison bought all the supplies and scouted out the best prices on everything. Within 3 days we had done everything A-Z. (Now we just have to burn about 200 of them! Luckily there are 3 of us.)

Anyway, it reminded how everything happens easily. The hardest part is having enough trust to get out of our own way.

When I took a music break a little less than 2 years ago I felt a little guilty. I had just made an album after all. Why was I throwing my hands up in the air, halting my rise to fame? (Or something like that.)

Things didn't feel right then is all I can say. I wasn't on my path and everything felt like a struggle. Mostly, I felt I was repeating the same mantra over and over again: "You were wrong. I'm hurt. I have 5 minutes to yell at you in song-form."

It's ironic then, that the first great thing to come of any of the music on "the self-fulfilling prophecy" (which, indeed it was, over and over again), was a spot in a movie about taking responsibility for your own reality. Martin Dunkerton's film is officially launched. I'm even on the soundtrack!

So too have I launched... a new phase in my life.

My new mantras are more like:

Sat Naam - truth is our identity

or,

Ek Ong Kaar - we are one with all of creation

or,

I am bountiful, blissful, beautiful. I am.

Intuitively, I must have understood the power of the word when I decided to stop repeating the ones that put other people in charge of my happiness. I understand more and more each day though.

I am grateful beyond words (wahe!) for having found my path.

And I can't wait to see what is ahead. Patience does pay.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Rough Dry

2010-12-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

One of my mentors once advised us: "Come clean, even if you come rough dry." She was referring to what happens to clothes dried on a line. They're clean, but really stiff and unattractive.

The idea is that you offer your ego up and it doesn't matter what that happens to look like from the outside... you came clean.

I was the given the opportunity (and challenge) to air my "laundry" this past week. Not easy. Not fun. So necessary. So grateful.

Facing my shadow wasn't easy. But it's a lot easier than carrying around all that shadow-laundry.

The moral is: if it's that bad, why wouldn't you want to keep it inside you?

The intelligence is: it's not actually that bad once it's out. Even if it's rough, at least it's clean!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Click "Reset"

2010-12-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

I was in quite a state of unrest yesterday. I called my friend whom I was supposed to meet up with to tell him I didn't trust myself to drive... we'd have to reschedule. He suggested I do 11 minutes of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya.

First off, it went REALLY fast! Secondly, I emerged with a completely clear perspective. The effects of the kriyas that Yogi Bhajan brought to the West are, in a word, magical.

I highly recommend practicing this kriya in moments of panic... when simple deep breathing or physical yoga just isn't cutting through the mental clutter.

This was like clicking the "reset" button on my day yesterday. I am so grateful!

WATCH VIDEO DEMONSTRATION HERE

Blessings,

Sirgun

One More Came to Visit

2010-11-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

A spark lit your heart and turned your world red

Heated from within, everything was felt and unsaid

And you led with your presence

You inspired with your light

Dissolving conflict with elegance

You saw with clear sight

And then came to visit a smudge on your glow

A sticky substance oozed in and you had to let everyone know

That you had stood there

That you had been the one

To do this and do that

Since time had begun

And people praised you--an automatic response

They lauded and cooed and the smudge swelled at once

And now you live to make the smudge grow

When you could bask in the infinity of your natural flow

Kirtan @ Bhakti Yoga Shala

2010-11-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

Last night I sang at Bhakti Yoga Shala with my friend, and co-band member from Treysha, Allison. She was leading a last minute kirtan last night and called me and Sita for support. I was more than happy to assist.

My parents came and chanted their hearts out, which made the event even more special. It was their very first experience with live sacred chant.

My dad told me this afternoon that he felt very clear from "here to here" (pointing to the track from his navel to his heart). My mom said it really helped her back ache.

Kirtan is so healing. How blessed I am to be chanting so much these days.

I wanted to share two videos from the night...

This was the second mantra we did. You may recognize it from this complete song: click here.

And a recap of the whole night...

After the Amrit Vela

2010-11-19T19:52:00.001-08:00

Here's a little video I made of Treysha's Thursday Sadhana. We got a little loopy afterwards...

I love vlogging. Sat Naam!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Rest Kriya

2010-11-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

After White Tantric Yoga last weekend, where we had a full 62 + 31 = 93 minutes of lying on our back, it occurred to me that this might be a nice daily kriya to enjoy.

See, after Sadhana (3:45am - 6:00am) I usually feel a little tired. And if I don't, it is sure to catch up with me during the day. I've tried not napping and napping, and neither feel particularly good.

So, resting...

I'm actually liking the effects of doing SAVASANA for 45-60 minutes after Sadhana.

Here are the rules:
1. I have to lie on my back
2. I can't get under the covers in my bed, but I can use a blanket on top
3. I listen to soothing music for the allotted time, and wake up to "Song of the Khalsa." (It brings back memories of resting in the Gurdwara in Española for Teacher Training).

So far so good.

I can feel my body repairing as I rest, but I don't get groggy or disoriented from "sleeping."

I like this kriya a lot!

Sat Naam,
Sirgun

I Don't Know

2010-11-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

I think the meaning of this Pauri is:

We have no power independent of the ONE. Only in awakening to the vital pulse that beats through us, as us, in everyone indiscriminately (should we choose to recognize it), do we have power.

The last line is translated as: "Oh, Nanak, no one is high or low."

Our inner-knowing connects us to the source of our true power. That Source is the same for everyone. "No one is high or low."

A toast to your power,

Sirgun

Bless This

2010-11-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Bless you

Bless me

Bless thou

Bless thee

Everything is always blessed.

I was thinking about blessings today. What can someone give to another being who is already whole? And the answer was: awareness of that truth.

The blessing is in the remembering.

Most people forget at a very small age that they are spiritual beings in an earthly incarnation. A few of us who practice yoga get to remember this once in a while. And, to the best of our ability, we strive to remember it with every breath.

Not always so easy.

So, a blessing is a reminder. It is a conscious moment of remembering who we are.

We are Divine by birth, human by habit.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Conduct Your Sound

2010-11-04T21:00:00.001-07:00

Sound is a scape of wonder

A divine sonic play

by which the unseen source of all there is

reminds us all each day...

That we are imperfect vessels

Perfectly able to contain

sounds beyond the realm of thought

sensations without a name

We can hold these rhythms,

Small as raindrops, vast as space

We are imperfect beings

Perfectly capable of such grace

Not just formed by this cosmic swirl,

Not just a testament to its power,

We are the centerpoise around which it can unfurl

In every minute of every hour

We are at peace when we realize our part,

And begin to conduct the orchestra of our own heart.

Stop the World, I Want to Get Sick

2010-11-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Because my band, Treysha, has been performing for Sadhana quite frequently over the fast 2 weeks, I've been forced to attend 4am yoga pracrtice more than I would normally.

Emotional release from meditation + Not very much sleep = I got sick.

But even when I couldn't sing, I still had to show up to sing with them. I knew they would cover up my scratchy melodies, so it wasn't a big deal. And I played harmonium.

What I didn't expect was that this could actually be good for me. My body is repairing incredibly quickly!

Moreover, I realized that continuing my practice NO MATTER WHAT is really important. I can't use illness as an escape route. No more vacations.

See you in the Amrit Vela,

Sirgun

Sickness: Another Perspective

2010-10-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

When we forget that we are One,

little things appear to menace.

When we forget that we are Love,

the obstacles can seem like penance.

When we remember we are Mighty,

and we tune in to what is real,

no event can smudge the canvas of our life,

not even shades of how we feel.

And sickness is a reminder that I am not my skin

I am not the layers peeling off.

I am the Truth within.

Thank you oh Great Intelligence, Great Energetic Force, God, for another opportunity to see myself for the I Am that I Am.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Treysha - my new sadhana band

2010-10-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

This is a "listener's digest" of our entire Sadhana this week at The Golden Bridge.

And this is from our first rehearsal -

It's so fun to be in a girl band!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Karmic Classroom

2010-10-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of speaking with one of my mentors today, who reminded me of something I sometimes forget: "This isn't about you."

Specifically, she was talking about the way I feel about disciplining children. I am pretty lenient when it comes to discipline. And, I'm used to teaching very small children, who usually know to behave after an adult has reprimanded them.

My mentor reminded me that this was a great opportunity to teach the kids (who are in 4th and 5th grade) about the law of cause and effect.

Karma.

Karma means when I do something it has an effect.

"Because I can choose my action, I am responsible for the outcome of my action."

I am responsible for the environment I teach in based on the boundaries I set in place. And more boundaries, consequences, are in order here!

This isn't about me. It's about teaching them about making good choices.

I'm actually enjoying teaching this class very much, but yesterday was rough. I think candy season is in full swing, and I'm going to have to be ever-more present and on the tip of my toes.

Sat Naam,

Sirgun

Morning Mantras

2010-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Rakhe Rakhanhar -

Guru Ram Das -

Absolutely Complete

2010-10-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

I made a recording of this mantra, taken from the Upanishads.

Om pUrNamadah pUrNamidaM

pUrNAt pUrNamudacyate
PUrNasya pUrNamAdAya

pUrNamEvAvashiSyate

It means:

That is whole; this is whole;
From that whole this whole came;
From that whole, this whole removed,
What remains is whole.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
You can also download it for free if you like.

May you remember your wholeness.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Mutual Benediction

2010-10-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

A prayer for you is a prayer for me.

I am currently enrolled in a prayer class. It seems like a peculiar thing to go to school for, but I am actually learning a lot.

Affirmative prayer is the practice of prayer from the place of "it already is." It is a five part formula.

1. This is what God is...

2. And so this is what I am...

3. So, this is what I know to be true...

4. I am grateful...

5. I release it, knowing it is done.

It is one thing to have faith in your own prayer, but it is quite another thing to hear someone else affirm it to you. What a faith boost!

I release this blog post knowing it is complete. And so it is. Sat Naam!

Blessings,

Sirgun

Songbirds

2010-10-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

"The Songbirds keep singing like they knows the score. And I love you I love you I love you like never before." - Fleetwood Mac

My friend has taken to calling me "songbird." I like it.

In a class I took at Yoga West yesterday, GuruMeher Singh was talking about the necessity of having something you go to everyday to connect with your Soul. How blessed I am to have so many tools to do this! Yoga is definitely one. Music always has been this for me.

I learned to use my "voice" (in the sense of self-expression) through singing and writing music. I expressed everything. Really, listen to my old music! I didn't spare the audience much. Not much editing of information.

And for a teenager, at least I can say "better out than in."

I'm learning a subtler form of expression though. When I chant mantras--as I will be doing with C.C. White on Saturday, October 23rd, at Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica, CA (little plug there!)--I can express the feelings without speaking them in my own words.

In that case, "Karuna Sagari Ma" can be an expression of love, a release of anger, an outpouring of compassion, an apology, a question, an appeal, a cry for mercy... anything.

A man reminded me of this at Sadhana--the practice I do at 3:45am many days of the week--the other day. You want to use the mantras as a vehicle to express all the gunk in your subconscious. It should be painful! Then when you go out into the world, your mind is clearer. And you haven't hurt anyone or anything with your silly thoughts.

So yes, we shall sing on. We shall use the ancient words to siphon off the toxic fumes of the mind, diverting them, and crystallizing them into love songs to the Sacred One.

Blessings,

Sirgun

Why Do Laundry?

2010-10-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have decided the general theme of my blog is "seeing the meaningful side of everything."

Today I'd like to share a thought I had about doing laundry. This is one of my least favorite tasks (second only to vacuuming)!

I liken it to doing yoga, especially vinyasa. After about 20 minutes in a Kathryn Budig or Vinnie Marino class, already starting to feel the sweat run down my body, my mind flashes: "WHY are you doing this to yourself?"

There is a clear point when my mind and body align in the realization that it feels REALLY good. I think this is about 25-30 minutes after we start. After that moment everything takes on a beautiful shade of rose and any exerting posture simply adds to the feeling of empowerment and opening.

And so it is with laundry!

I avoided doing this load for about 2 weeks. And, given that I have been doing a lot of sweaty yoga, you can imagine not only the amount, but the lovely fragrance of my hamper.

Today I was tired and didn't want to do anything, yet something inside me knew I would feel better about getting it done than resting.

And I was right!

Laundry feels SO good when it's done. It's the physical representation of that apana (stale energy) I get to expel during yoga. Once I've done laundry I feel an energetic lift. There is more prana (lifeforce energy) in my closet!

The home maps our life. A dirty, messy, cluttered closet takes its toll on the mind and body, and prevents us from being our best self.

I want to remember this feeling of accomplishment so I can motivate myself on the next laundry day... I'll just refer to this entry.

Peace and blessings,

Sirgun

p.s. the kombucha in the background was a present to myself to get me started. ;)

You are worthy...

2010-10-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

of a million oceans,

a million smiles,

a million tries.

You are worthy of a crown around you,

a universe inside you,

and clarity to expound you.

You are worthy of every sound,

every sight,

and every uplifting thought.

You are worthy of a golden bridge

from where you are to the greatest height.

You are, in fact, worth a lot.

If at first you don't succeed...

2010-10-03T18:34:00.001-07:00

... QUIT!

This is a quote from Rev. Leon from Agape a few weeks ago. I loved it.

When things seem difficult, you are either trying too hard, or stubbornly persisting down the wrong path.

The things that are in alignment with your Destiny always come to you. There is no need to effort your way to get somewhere or be someone. Because while you're struggling to do that thing that isn't meant to be, there is no time to notice the things that are.

If at first you don't succeed, take a deep breath and try something else!

Much love,

Sirgun

Practicing What You Praise

2010-10-02T21:24:00.001-07:00

The Re Man Shabd changed my life. When I first heard it, even though I didn't understand a word of it, and had no idea where it came from, I wanted to live in it.

It's all about knowing your own excellence as a personal experience, rather than as a theoretical concept.

Re man eh bidh jog kamao
Singee saach akapat kanthala
Dhiaan bibhoot charhaao
O my mind, practice yoga in this way:
Let truth be your horn, sincerity your necklace
Meditation the ashes you apply on your body

....

Jaap so ajapa jaapay
Chant even when you are silent.

In other words, live your life with the same integrity and commitment that you have practiced in the songs you sing. After a certain point, your life becomes the words you sing.

Ah, amazing! There is so much more to say, but I will leave it at this:

Why Meditation Solves Everything

2010-10-02T17:11:00.001-07:00

I'm going to start with two bold statements:

The answer to every perceived ill and affliction on the planet right now comes from a lack of Awareness. AND, Awareness is the awakening of our ability to see God in everything and everyone.

Well, at least allow me to shed some light on the word God--which used to make me feel very uneasy--before you stop reading!

Yogi Bhajan, who brought what is known as Kundalini Yoga to the West, used the word with this acronym in mind: G.O.D. = Generator, Organizer, Deliverer. Cute, no?

This idea comes from India, where it is believed that there are 3 facets of the Universe:

Brahma: who creates the world,
Vishnu: who sustains it, and
Mahesh: who delivers change and opportunities.

In other words, GOD is simply everything that is. This page, my dad, your hair, our thoughts, Saturn, and your favorite restaurant.

God is a just little word with some large baggage attached. But, regardless, of your religious affiliations, I'm going to use it to mean the entirety of all that exists (TEOATE!). There are thousands of equally insufficient ways of pinning down the entire Universe: Allah, Dios, Jah, Waheguru, etc... I have nothing against any of them. Using a word to give the invisible meaning and form is a great way to begin to relate to what we are, but cannot see.

In the West, we are super comfortable with the first two aspects of God--creative and sustaining--but not the third. Waiting for change to be delivered, after all, can be a little scary.

In fact, the kind of things associated with Mahesh (or Shiva)--death, destruction, transformation, upheaval--have traditionally been seen as the work of the DEVIL, not of God. And yet without change, there would be stagnation. With stagnation comes illness.

The cycle of life is such that each death gives birth to a new beginning. SA-TA-NA-MA means we come from Infinity, we are born and live, we die, and we are transformed into a new beginning. Everything on the planet abides by that law. Ask the trees.

So when we look at everything that is creative and sustaining as "good", and all that is transformative and changing as "bad", we have a block in our Awareness. We proclaim "it should not be like this." We see a problem.

When in fact, everything is playing itself out as it needs to be played out. When our skin is cut, the pus and the scar may not look beautiful, and the pain not be comfortable, but that is what the healing process happens to look like. That is what the world is doing right now.

Now, true, we can slow the recovery of a wound by tearing off the scab, or cutting ourselves again in the same place, or even cutting the body part off all together. There are many ways to prevent the natural flow, the natural change that is occurring. We can deny it, try to stop it, curse it, and even ignore it.

Similarly, there are many ways that we can impede Mother Earth's natural healing process. The biggest one is by not understanding what is going on at all--lack of awareness.

In other words, if you keep ripping the scab off because you don't like the way it looks, you've missed the bigger picture. And you've stood in the way of your own healing, which was happening naturally and without any effort on your part.

So how do we see the bigger picture?

Well, first we must understand the "big picture" is actually the "small picture."

What?

CLOSE YOUR EYES.

You are a Universe inside. If you can meditate long enough to feel the connection between your infinite reality (SA) and your finite existence (TA), you will understand who you really are (SAT NAAM = truth is the identity). And when you understand the small picture of you, you can see the bigger picture of "out there" with clarity and applied consciousness.

Here is a meditation that involves the sounds I was just talking about, and is easy for people to do, even if they have never meditated before. When you can silence your mind by focusing on the mantra (SA-TA-NA-MA) and the mudras (see photos below), you will experience life beyond your thoughts. You can then step out of your way, and the way of healing. And allow all things to be delivered to you without effort.

Kirtan Kriya:

Adults and kids can do this one together! Read descrition here. I've illustrated the finger positions with my hands. You put them on your lap though, not in the air. =)

SA - index finger and thumb

TA - middle finger and thumb

NA - fourth finger and thumb

MA - pinky and thumb

Remember to really press! This has been scientifically proven to stimulate different parts of the brain. And more brain activity = increased capacity for Awareness.

Sat Naam,

Sirgun

Flying High

2010-09-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Sat Naam Dear Friends and Fairies,

Yesterday was my birthday and oh what a magical day. I did some yoga (quelle surprise!), some meditation, taught some yoga & meditation, and went for a wonderful vegan dinner in Venice with some of my favorite people on the planet.

In case you are looking for a fun place with a great atmosphere that is veggie-loving, I highly recommend Vardo Cafe on Main St. in Venice, CA. It's almost next door to Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, so you could even make a night to yoga and dinner. It's the new dinner and a movie. =)

I am soaring high in the sky with that shooting star.

I feel so blessed to have so many angels in my life - seen and unseen.

Peace and Pixies,

Sirgun

Deeply Listening

2010-09-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Suni-ai means "deeply listening." It's the kind of listening you do when you are listening with your heart, mind, and soul... not just your ears.

Suni-ai is when you understand without understanding the words. The kind of understanding that transcends language. So when the Japanese woman hands me an umbrella because it's raining, I don't have to wonder about the words she mumbled.

Suni-ai is when you understand the Universe is there to support you, even when you seem to be having a "bad day." If I am deeply listening, I know that there is a message and a blessing on the other side of each cleverly disguised obstacle.

The following chant is taken from Japji ("Song of the Soul"). We recite this each morning in the Amrit Vela (3:45am!) in the Kundalini Yoga tradition.

It is a list of sorts... all the things you will perceive when you are DEEPLY LISTENING.

May your deep deep listening uplift you with the awareness that you are supported and cradled by the same energetic force that created you, conceived you, and deemed it important that you be on Earth right now.

Sat Naam,

Sirgun

Mastery of the Ground

2010-09-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

etheric moments

and

synchronicities abound

i have still missed the mark

of the mastery of the ground

a million thinking sparks per blink of eye

uncaptured, though i dared try

and i may have revealed a vacant stare

for i just returned from way out there

from a trip there, where i forgot i'm me

where i forgot my task

--simply, to be

vibrating the beat of unstruck fears

shaking me into a flood of tears

until i flipped the switch of what i chose to see

laughed: "a moment of mental insanity!"

i did,

i confess,

see the world tonight,

through the frame of my own limited sight.

Settling In

2010-09-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

What a whirwind!

For the first time in over three months, I am sitting at my humble abode in Santa Monica, with no imminent adventures lurking around the corner. In a sense, what a relief!

My summer of utter transformation began with 10 days of Summer Solstice at Ram Das Puri in New Mexico. That was my first White Tantric (3 days!) and the start of my 1,000 day bound lotus kriya. It was also there that I decided to return for the Aquarian Teacher training immersion in August.

The theme for Summer Solstice this year was the first tattva. And the fire did burn for me this summer.

I still feel that I have some more "stuff" to burn off, but I certainly can't be accused of being a spiritual slacker!

When I got back from Solstice, I temporarily quit my job, went to visit my brother and my friend in Northern California, and cared for a sick friend.

Upon my return I moved out of my apartment into a family friend's home before I set off for the mountains of New Mexico.

The teacher training was unbelievable! Snatam Kaur came to talk about mantra. She also performed for the community at morning Sadhana (twice!).

For me, it was a validation that I was meant to be there. I will occasionally doubt this kundalini yoga "lifestyle." There is a lot of discipline involved and the challenge is to take "fewer vacations" from it. I allow myself to put on the brakes a little too often sometimes in the disciplines I choose. Snatam reminded me what I'm in it for!

When I returned from the grueling work of teacher training, I rushed off to help out with the festival I've been organizing all year!

Bhakti Fest 2010 was sensational! We did a really great job. There are still a few kinks to work out, but all in all, it was a beautiful ride.

And a ride it was...

The four days FLEW by. I couldn't believe all the work we did for an event that lasted a split second. What a reality check!

One of the highlights was performing on the mainstage with C.C. White! What a powerhouse! It was such a privilege to be part of such an amazing band... and to play for so many like-hearted souls. Rejoice!

When I returned home, I was a little disoriented and very tired. I've actually never been so tired in my life. I would get tired when I woke up, sleeping more than 12 hours at a time. I pushed a limit at the festival for sure.

I am excited to get back into morning Sadhana, start teaching classes, finish my certification requirements, do more singing...

I have a video coming soon.

Unending love,

Sirgun

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