GURUS
(The following information was compiled from various sources and edited by S.S. Sat Tara Kaur Khalsa)
As yoga students why might information about the Sikh tradition be relevant to us?
1) Many of the mantras used in Kundalini Yoga classes are from the Sikh tradition. It could deepen your experience to know about the person who gave us the mantra and what his life experiences were.
2) A “Sikh” is a seeker of Truth.
3) The Sikh Gurus taught some of the principles of a healthy yogic lifestyle. The 10 Sikh Gurus demonstrated how to apply yogic consciousness in variety of circumstances, some of which extremely challenging.All ten of the Sikh Gurus clearly stated that they were human beings. They were simply blessed with the capacity to hear, channel and share the Sound of that Universal Teacher for others to hear. These ten Sikh Gurus taught the equality of men and women. They taught that no group of human beings was higher than any other group. And they claimed that the common brotherhood and sisterhood of the human race was the highest reality. Their teachings empowered people to break the caste system, to overcome social habits that harmed women, to become economically self-sufficient, and to create a tolerant society based on the common humanity of all people. Read more below.
The Ten Gurus
To read about a a specific Guru, click on the Guru's image:
Guru Nanak
Guru Angad
Guru Amar Das
Guru Ram Das
Guru Arjan
Guru Hargobind
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Krishan
Guru Teg Bahadur
Guru Gobind Singh
Siri Guru Granth Sahib
4) Teachers face the challenge of developing personal power. If we teach the powerful kriyas and meditations of Kundalini Yoga, it is essential we remain humble. All Kundalini Yoga teachers can connect to the energy and vibration of Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das was known everywhere for his humility and his life provides a wonderful example of a successful and impactful teacher. Remaining humble is self-protective,keeping your ego at bay.
You may find that you connect with a particular Guru, based on the virtue he represents or the numerology associated with a specific Guru:
Guru Nanak: humility; Guru Angad: obedience; Guru Amar Das: equality; Guru Ram Das: service; Guru Arjan: self-sacrifice;
Guru Hargobind: justice; Guru Har Rai: mercy; Guru Harkrishan: purity; Guru Tegh Bahadur: tranquility;
Guru Gobind Singh: royal courage; Siri Guru Granth Sahib: the light of the 10 Gurus and the embodiment of their collective wisdom.
We invite you to read the description of each of the Gurus and to try the visualizations at the end of each page. Which Guru do you connect with the most?
“My prayer is that your mind will find confidence, your soul will find peace, you will find your life purpose and you will honor the sacred trust that comes with each breath.” Yogi Bhajan, 1999
Sources:
Sikh Dharma International, Heroes Saints and Yogis by Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa and Guruka Singh Khalsa, Sikhnet.com, Peace Lagoon by Sardarni Premka Kaur, Wikipedia, and various other websites.