Stephen J. Oxenhandler (Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa) | |
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 Khalsa at Governor's Prayer Breakfast in 2012 | |
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Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa is an American Sikh who is Chief of Protocol for the American Sikh group called Sikh Dharma. [1] In 2000 he was convicted on fraud charges, receiving the nickname "Toner Bandit." He is a member of the Grammy award-winning New-Age musical group White Sun.
Khalsa (born Stephen Oxenhandler [2] ) was born September 29, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a well-to-do real estate development family. He was raised in a reformed Jewish community with whom he spent his youth between St. Louis and Palm Springs, California. [3]
In connection with one enterprise, Sweet Song Corporation, Khalsa and his associates were sued by the FTC for a telemarketing scam in which they falsely representing the value of gemstone investments, and in 1998 were barred from engaging in any business related to collectibles investments. [4]
In 2000 Harijiwan was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his involvement in a different telemarketing scam. The scam involved sending companies fraudulent invoices for toner, [5] as a result of the crime Khalsa received the nickname "Toner Bandit." [6]
Harijiwan has defended Kundalini master Yogi Bhajan against multiple allegations of rape and child abuse that emerged following his death. [7] [8] A 52-minute video titled “The Futile Flow of Fate” released on his website, and shared by Guru Jagat, begins, “Someone, I think, needs to speak on behalf of Yogi Bhajan.” [9] In the video, Harijiwan claims that the accusations were made for financial gain. [10]
Khalsa is a member of the musical group White Sun, they make New Age music inspired by the Sikh tradition. Their 2016 album White Sun II won a 2017 Grammy award in the New Age category. [11] [12] In 2018 they released another album, White Sun III. [13] In 2023 their album Mystic Mirror won a grammy in the same New Age category. [14]
Kundalini yoga derives from kundalini, defined in tantra as energy that lies within the body, frequently at the navel or the base of the spine. In normative tantric systems, kundalini is considered to be dormant until it is activated and channeled upward through the central channel in a process of spiritual perfection. Other schools, such as Kashmir Shaivism, teach that there are multiple kundalini energies in different parts of the body which are active and do not require awakening. Kundalini is believed by adherents to be power associated with the divine feminine, Shakti. Kundalini yoga as a school of yoga is influenced by Shaktism and Tantra schools of Hinduism. It derives its name through a focus on awakening kundalini energy through regular practice of mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga, laya, haṭha, meditation, or even spontaneously (sahaja).
3HO , also known as Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere or Sikh Dharma International, is a controversial American organization founded in 1969 by Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, also called "Yogi Bhajan". Its adherents are popularly referred to as the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood. While referred to as the 3HO movement, "3HO" is strictly speaking the name only of the movement's educational branch. Scholars have defined 3HO as a new religious movement.
Yogi Bhajan, also known as Siri Singh Sahib to his followers, was an American entrepreneur, cult leader, yoga guru, and putative spiritual teacher. He introduced his version of Kundalini yoga to the United States. He was the spiritual director of the 3HO foundation, with over 300 centers in 35 countries. He was accused of sexual abuse by several dozen of his female followers; an investigation called the Olive Branch Report found the allegations most likely true.
Yogi Tea is an American brand offering organic herbal, green and black tea blends. The company is privately held and operated in North America by East West Tea Company, LLC and YOGI TEA GmbH for Europe.
Dhirendra Brahmachari was an Indian yoga teacher of Yogi Bhajan who taught Kundalini Yoga in the Western world and founded 3HO. Dhirendra Brahmachari was also yoga mentor of Indira Gandhi –The former prime minister of India He ran ashrams in Bhondsi, Jammu, Katra and Mantalai and wrote books on yoga.
Snatam Kaur Khalsa, is an American singer, songwriter and author. Kaur performs new age Indian devotional music, kirtan, and tours the world as a peace activist. The surname "Kaur", meaning "princess", is shared by all female Sikhs.
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa is a teacher of Kundalini yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, and a pioneer in the field of pre-natal yoga. She is the co-founder and director of the Golden Bridge Yoga Center in Los Angeles, and the author of two books and three DVDs. She has become a yoga guru for Hollywood film stars.
Laura Drew, a.k.a. Singh Kaur or Lorellei (1955–1998) was a new-age music composer, vocalist and instrumentalist, who had a prolific career that lasted from the early 1970s to the late 1990s, releasing 23 albums. With her angelic voice and haunting melodies, Singh Kaur was a pioneer in the growing genre of Western interpretations of Indian chanting music.
Satkirin Kaur Khalsa is a Sikh preacher and prolific Sikh Kirtan singer. She hosts a Kundalini Yoga show on the JUS Punjabi television channel.
Babaji Singh Khalsa was a Mexican Sikh who is credited for translating Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of the Sikhs into Spanish.
Krishna Kaur Khalsa is an American teacher of Kundalini Yoga as per the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Born Thelma Oliver, she initially pursued a career as an actress in films and theater. In 1970, she shifted her focus to empowering others through the practice of yoga.
Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as sampardai in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in different approaches to practicing the religion. All sampradas believe in the One Creator God typically rejecting both idol worship and caste systems. Different interpretations have emerged over time, some of which have a living teacher as the leader. The major historic traditions in Sikhism, says Professor Harjot Oberoi, have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari and Sarvaria.
The Sikh Gurdwara of Eugene, also known as Guru Ram Das Gurdwara, is a Sikh ashram community in Eugene, Oregon founded in 1970 by Yogi Bhajan sent Sat Kirpal Singh.
Katie Griggs, professionally known as Guru Jagat, was an American Kundalini yoga teacher, podcaster, author, and the owner of both a fashion brand and record label.
White Sun is a Grammy-winning American musical group. They are popular for blending different musical styles and genres. The group comprises Gurujas Khalsa, Harijiwan Khalsa, and Adam Berry.
SikhNet is a Sikh-centric website operated by the 3HO organization. SikhNet is a tax exempt 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation in the U.S.A. It caters to what it has termed as the "cyber sangat".
Sikhs in Chile are a religious minority in Chile. There is no demographic data on the Sikh population living in the country but it is estimated to be less than 1,000.
Sikhs in Mexico are a religious minority in Mexico. There is estimated to be no more than 1,000 Sikhs living in Mexico, with most residing in Mexico City and the Naucalpan region.
Breath of Fire is an American documentary series directed and produced by Hayley Pappas and Smiley Stevens. It follows the life and career of Guru Jagat, including the life of Yogi Bhajan who was accused of sexual abuse. Additionally, the series explores the history and origins of Kundalini yoga.
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cases/1998/08/final_or.010.htm