Letters

by Gursant Singh , Yuba City California USA, Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 14:51 (5370 days ago)
edited by Gursant Singh, Monday, June 13, 2011, 09:13

"I am an ex-3HO member and got sucked into the group during the 1970s. People should know that 3HO businesses put money in Yogi Bhajan's pockets. Of the businesses I know about, two concern me, as they're retail based. They are Nanak's lip balms and Golden Temple products, such as Yogi Teas, Golden Temple teas and granola. These products have historically been carried in health food stores. Consumers should know where money is going."

"I was researching 3HO for a friend who was asking me about it, and I found this site. I found it interesting, and I'm glad you have it. The group needs to be exposed for what it really is, and not many people have even heard of it. I was born in 3HO, and I spent quite a few years in the ashram in New Mexico. I didn't know I was in a cult. For me it was all so normal. I thought I was a real, genuine Sikh. I loved the Gurus, and I wanted to be holy, even when I was very young. My older brother is the one who had the most difficult time. He went to school in India when he was eight years old. He did not really understand what was happening, and he thought our parents were dead, and that he was an orphan. My parents did not realize how harshly the children were being treated there. He slept in a crowded room with bunk beds and cement floors. He told us there was no bathroom in the dormitory, and the doors were locked at night with a chain. He was beaten quite often, although he was quite a good kid. It occurred to my brother and I later what a strange trick our early years had been. We were born into a world that is not really the 'real world,' and we didn't know it. We were extremely devoted Sikhs, and we learned later that we hadn't even been real Sikhs. When my family left the group, no one knew we were leaving, and we never looked back. We changed our names and started a new life. The people I knew when I was a kid I have never seen since. My brother and I have been really lucky. We've both traveled the world doing humanitarian work, and we've had quite adventurous lives so far. We decided not to become bitter about the past, and we're both quite happy people."
"I once lived in a 3H0 ashram, but after a year realized that it was not the place for me. I totally lost touch with the ashram, but was curious when I recently heard about some of Yogi Bhajan's sexual scandals, which is why I looked him up on the Internet and found your site. I read with fascination the testimony of former followers. The scandals and sad stories do not come as a big surprise to me, as I had been aware of the power struggles and corruption years ago. I can hardly imagine wasting 20-25 years there, as many have."
"I am an ex-3HO member and got sucked into the group during the 1970s. People should know that 3HO businesses puts money Yogi Bhajan's pockets. Of the businesses I know about, two concern me, as they're retail based. They are Nanak's lip balms and Golden Temple products, such as Yogi Teas, Golden Temple teas and granola. These products have historically been carried in health food stores. Consumers should know where money is going."
"I once took yoga classes at 3HO. I liked the yoga, but didn't like chanting. I got a buzz from doing the yoga and felt drawn to the group. But there were too many rules for me and the atmosphere seemed somewhat oppressive. The men appeared to be in charge, despite all the talk about the feminine power. The problem with Bhajan is that there is no one in the organization who can discipline him, which means the organization is run like a totalitarian country. It's too bad that 3HO is giving yoga a bad name. I still enjoy yoga and meditation, but in moderation."
"I stumbled across this website by accident. For the next few days, I could hardly tear myself away. In 1977-78 I could tell something had gone awry with 3HO. I left the group then. It seemed to me at the time that greed and materialism were taking over and that 3HO represented a microcosm of the same greed, class inequalities,exploitation and materialism as the outside world. Thanks for revealing the truth!"
"Big Brother Bhajan is everywhere these days. I was standing in line at the local supermarket with my groceries and picked up two magazines ('Prevention' and 'Walking Fit' July 2001) and noticed articles about Yogi Bhajan's latest money maker 'Breathwalk.' Of course you have to purchase the book and tapes. One needs to spend money to learn how to walk? I think I have been doing just fine since I was about 11 months old."

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“Amid the legal infighting following Yogi Bhajan’s death, critics are offering another portrait of the Sikh leader.”