[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF YOGI BHAJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution honoring the life and numerous contributions of Yogi Bhajan, 
the chief religious and administrative authority for Sikhism in the 
West. Yogi Bhajan passed away in Espanola, New Mexico on October 6, 
2004 at age 75.
  A native of India, Yogi Bhajan introduced thousands around the world 
to Sikhism, a religion that carries the message of truthful living and 
the fundamental unity of humanity, and reaches out to people of all 
backgrounds to work together for world peace. When he came to the 
United States in 1968, Yogi Bhajan recognized immediately that the 
experience sought by many young people through drugs could be 
alternatively achieved through Kundalini yoga, which stimulates 
individual growth through breath, chanting, and meditation among other 
components. Soon after, he founded the Healthy, Happy, Holy 
Organization (3HO), a nonprofit private educational and scientific 
foundation with 300 centers in 35 countries, dedicated to improving 
physical well-being, deepening spiritual awareness, and offering 
guidance on matters of health and heart. He later also founded a 
successful drug rehabilitation program that blends ancient yogic wisdom 
of the East with modern technology of the West.
  In 1971, the president of the governing body of Sikh Temples in India 
gave Yogi Bhajan the title of chief religious and administrative 
authority for Sikhism in the Western Hemisphere. That same year, the 
Sikh Dharma was legally incorporated and recognized as a religion in 
the U.S., and soon after Yogi Bhajan founded the Sikh ashram that still 
thrives in Espanola, New Mexico in my district. Yogi Bhajan wrote 30 
books and inspired 200 more through his teaching, and inspired the 
founding of several businesses including Akal Security Inc., one of the 
fastest growing security companies in the nation. Throughout his 
lifetime, he traveled the world and met with world leaders such as Pope 
John Paul II and the Dalai Lama to discuss world peace and religious 
unity. He also served as informal counsel to numerous political and 
spiritual leaders. As the resolution states, Yogi Bhajan's teachings 
and the businesses formed under his inspiration, improved personal, 
political, spiritual and professional relations between citizens of the 
United States and citizens of the nation of India.
  After the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil on September 11th, Yogi 
Bhajan reached out to Sikhs across America, encouraging and helping 
them to educate their fellow citizens about Sikhs, and to work with law 
enforcement and community leaders to help them protect Sikh 
populations. He established links to human rights advocates nationwide 
to ensure that the issue of Sikh identity was understood and respected. 
When a Sikh man named Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered in Arizona five 
days after 9/11, Yogi Bhajan worked with community and government 
leaders in Arizona to help raise awareness about the Sikh community 
there, and to honor Balbir Singh with a major memorial event.
  I had the privilege of Yogi Bhajan's friendship and support for more 
than 20 years. He was a dynamic, powerful person with a strong devotion 
to human rights, religious freedom, and good health. Whatever one's 
faith, he had the right words, the right lesson, and the right message. 
He spoke to us all, and he inspired us. Around the world he was a 
powerful voice for peace. I am also proud that my State of New Mexico 
made history by designating October 23rd as ``Yogi Bhajan Memorial 
Day.''
  The resolution I am introducing today recognizes Yogi Bhajan as a 
wise teacher and mentor, an outstanding pioneer, a champion of peace 
and compassionate human being, and extends condolences on his passing. 
I introduced this bill at the end of the 108th Congress, soon after 
Yogi Bhajan's passing, and I hope my colleagues and I can work together 
to pass the resolution during the 109th. I would like to thank members 
of the House India Caucus, who helped build support for this 
resolution, as well as Senators Jeff Bingaman, Pete Domenici, and John 
Cornyn, who will introduce the Senate companion. I also thank House 
International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde and Ranking 
Member Tom Lantos for their strong support, as well as the bipartisan 
group of original cosponsors who join me in urging my colleagues to 
support this important resolution.

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