Since then, none of the teachers I personally have studied with during my teacher training at KRI have reached out privately or positioned themselves publicly, as far as I know. For a brief and less detailed sum up, see this article on Yoga Journal.
#Yogi bhajan 3ho cult full#
The full report was concluded and published in mid August 2020 (CW: The report contains graphic description of sexual abuse and child abuse). In response to the allegations, the Kundalini Yoga organisations of Bhajan – 3hO and Kundalini Research Institute (KRI) – ordered an investigation by an independent party, which in March 2020 started conducting interviews with survivors and witnesses. Understanding the ‘lineage’ of white people’s obsession with Eastern practices is, in my opinion, important for any white Westerner who practices yoga. Premka, aside from the specifics about Kundalini Yoga, gives an important insight into the psychology of a white woman during the North American New Age movement in the ’60s and ’70s. The LA Mag published a great overall synopsis that I recommend for further reading. Most of these women are former members of his organisations, have lived in his community, studied with him, and worked for him between the ’70s and the 2000s. A facebook group was founded and, in the spirit of the #MeToo movement, over 100 other women (and counting) came forward and shared their stories. She describes the sexual abuse and emotional manipulation she suffered at his hands.Īlthough Dyson Smith wasn’t the first one to come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Bhajan, this was the first time they were publicly heard and widely received.
In her memoir, Dyson Smith shares insight to her private relationship with Bhajan and the clan-like power structure of the community surrounding him in the ’70s and ’80s. In the beginning of 2020, a former personal attendant and long-time chief secretary of Yogi Bhajan – Pamela Dyson Smith – published a book entitled Premka – White Bird in a Golden Cage in which she writes in detail about her 16 years living with and working for the founder of Kundalini Yoga. CW: Without going into details, please note that the text addresses themes of sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse.