YOGI BHAJAN AND THE EMERGENCE OF SIKH DHARMA INTERNATIONAL

Since the late 1960s, thousands of people of all nationalities have been attracted to Sikhism in the West, bringing a fresh renewal to the Sikh faith and lifestyle. The influx of European, African, and Latin people converting to the Sikh faith is a phenomenon that was unexpected 50 years ago by even the most prescience of religious scholars. This is a radical change of course for Sikhism from what had appeared to some scholars and authors to be an anachronistic and tribal lifestyle whose population was on the decline. Today, the organizations known as Sikh Dharma International and its sister 3HO Foundation (Happy Healthy Holy Organization) are worldwide bodies of approximately 30,000 adherents. Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, commonly referred to as Yogi Bhajan, founded both organizations, which are the seminal institutions of the movement. This paper, examines Yogi Bhajan's role, motivation, and qualifications as the founder of Sikh Dharma, beginning with a brief biographical sketch constructed from lectures and interviews with Yogi Bhajan. His unique approach to teaching spirituality through the yogic science is examined. The relationship between Sikh Dharma and yoga is presented, particularly with regards to the historical rejection of yoga by the Sikh Panth (community). Yet even with this inherent cultural tension, meaningful examples of integration between Sikh Dharma and the larger Sikh Panth are emerging.