Yogiji Playing Volleyball at Summer Solstice

Yogiji Playing Volleyball at Summer Solstice remind us that Yogiji didn’t place himself on a pedestal.  He was very much a friend and a guide; warm, approachable and human.  Here he is enjoying a game of volleyball at Summer Solstice.

Yogiji Playing Volleyball at Summer Solstice

This image and words from Soorya Kaur (staff member of Yogi Bhajan) were shared on page 6 of her book YogiJi – The Light of Our Souls, written in 2005

Soorya Kaur in Gratitude for her blessings

I wish to thank God for many, many blessings, but in particular, for my good friend Neesha Singh.  I could never have done this book without her editing and writing skills, and innate sense for photography.  We forged a partnership that made this book a reality in an extremely short period of time.

While I was working on the idea of this book, my pictures (I always attempted to make him smile for me) opened a floodgate of the intimate memories that I share here with you.  If I may humbly say this, I don’t think of this as “my book”. Because Guru Ram Das and Yogiji saw me through it, and it took on a life of its own.

It is difficult to decide whether Guru Ram Das adopted Yogiji or Yogiji adopted Guru Ram Das.  Every morning he performed Seva (selfless service) washing the floors of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. Yogiji heard Guru Ram Das’ Bani (prayers).  During this period, he was enlightened by a miraculous spiritually elevating experience. He and his bond with Guru Ram Das was sealed forever.  Guru Ram Das became his and our patron Guru.  We learn to call upon him to take our pain, to sort out our problems, to be there for us, to produce a miracle when needed, and he always delivered.