Hari Jiwan Singh shares a monthly story about his personal experiences with the Siri Singh Sahib Ji.
“Can you please get out of your own way.” We were walking around the ranch on a rather crisp late morning in April in 1991. It was our beloved teacher’s habit and pleasure to walk and view his estate. It felt as if I were walking with a king and he was inspecting the grounds of his castle. It felt like that because that’s what he experienced. I loved living in his world.
“Whatever I am, I’m not; whatever I think, doesn’t matter; whatever I appear to be, I’m acting and I’m not and I am. The life of sprit is neutral.” We were seated in the living room of the Estates at the bottom end of the ranch in New Mexico. There were many relatively new students seated around as It was the summer of 1982 during Solstice time. A few old time teachers were invited to bring their new students to enjoy time with the our beloved teacher. The Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan’s, statement lifted my head.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Actually, it was forty years ago. The Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan, and I were sitting in a small restaurant, Jasons, in Westwood in late spring of 1979 enjoying a falafel. Jason’s was a small but famous stop in LA because their middle Eastern food was rockin! This was back in the days when the two of us ventured out alone each afternoon. We were just leaving a movie from around the corner and the falafel hit the spot. “Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, what changed your life. You’ve told me many times about your earlier life, and you have hinted that is was not always a pretty picture. What happened?”
Deal with chaos and become good at dealing with chaos. Deal with others and become good at dealing with others. Deal with adversity and become good at dealing with adversity. Deal with prosperity and become good at dealing with prosperity. Become so good that neither adversity or prosperity effect you.
Someone recently asked me, “What are you? I mean, why do you look like you do? What’s the reason?” I loved the question, but I didn’t know where to begin to answer. Then it came to me. Keep it simple. “I’m a man who doesn’t want to waste the opportunity I’ve been given. I just want to keep-up serving God.”
“Son,” the Siri Singh Sahib, Yogi Bhajan, said, “The guidelines of spirituality may vary depending upon many things, but one of the most important factors is obedience. It’s also one of the hardest concepts to surrender to.”
Spirituality is not for wusses. Let me explain why. From my observation spirituality typically attracts those that the world hasn’t treated fairly. If you’re happy with what this world has granted you, why look elsewhere?
It’s always been my habit to do as I will and let the chips fall where they may. That way of thinking was satisfying for me, but insensitive to others who may become affected and don’t get any chips. It’s caused me more trouble than necessary. Our teacher, the Siri Singh Sahib, made this clear to me on too many occasions. Please let me explain.
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