questions about dreads and kundalini

[Guest guest]

satnaam

i have quite a few friends that have really long dreads.. and i

was wondering since' they really can't tie a rishi knot ,how would

they be able to tie Bana upon their heads... it is better they shave

their dreads and start fresh or just put the dreads up and just try to

tie their hair up , as close together as possible...

 

thanks

sat naam

gurvinderpal singh

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam.

I met a young woman at Solstice who had beautiful long dreads back in the nineties. She was inspired by her Solstice experience and earnestly wanted to take Amrit, which meant not cutting her hair. So she spent the entire afternoon and night before the Amrit Ceremony undoing the felt-like dreads—something I had thought was impossible.

 

Suggest your friends give it a try. Hair is a priceless antenna to subtle realms of the Divine.

 

Loving Blessings,

Guruprem Kaur

[Guest guest]

Sat Naam

so wait you could actually undo dreads??

i didnt know that was possible

thanks again

[Guest guest]

Was someone actually asked to undo their dreads? Dread locks are sacred natural

occurance in many people's hair. " Combing " the hair for sikhs the way Punjabis

would have

done, just doesn't need to apply. Isn't it rather interesting how the spiritual

traditions of a

people are interlocked with thier environment. Rastas = dreads. Sikhs = combed

hair

(unless you're Udasi, then you get the best of both worlds!

 

Is a knotty-haired pigmy supposed to comb his or her hair? Come on... Are some

people

worse off, spiritually deficient, cause their hair ain't combed. Ugh, rules

rules, rules...

 

Whoops...

B

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " gurvinderpal.singh "

<gurvinderpal.singh

wrote:

>

> Sat Naam

> so wait you could actually undo dreads??

> i didnt know that was possible

> thanks again

>

[Guest guest]

It's not about doing or undoing dreds. The dredlock

isn't the issue it's a matter of participating in the

practicing of combing the hair, a buddhist cannot

participate either. Is a buddhist less spiritual? Of

course not. The practice is sacred to some. It

symbolizes cleanliness and is a discipline of

self-love. It also stimulates the scalp, the nervous

system and blood flow to the brain. The choice to

participate is yours. I like to try everything and see

which feels best, shaven like a Buddhist, combed and

tied like a Sikh or dreaded like a Rasta. To each his

own but no you can't do them all at once and that's

not personal it's a reality.

 

Sat Nam ~

 

Romey Sealy

Kundalini & PreNatal

Yoga and Meditation

310-383-7572

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I suppose it could be conversely written this way :

 

A person who combs their hair is not able to participate in the divinely

inspired and

natural matting of the hair that occurs when one soaks it in a stream and walks

away

without using an implimentation to comb through it. By combing the hair a person

negates

the pre-civilized and always-already direct relationship the human has with

nature and etc

etc etc

 

It just always sounds sectarian. While I may believe in this to some extent, by

codifying it I

inherently elevate it.

 

Yes, these are all practices and approaches, but when a community attaches to

one (as

Guru Gobind Singh decreed) and decidely professes one method at the exculsion of

others, it elevates one over another and no longer " offers " a practice to

whomever might

participate, but rather implies that one is clearly better than the other, and

in turn offers

one " superior " method over another. To say that these practices are merely

offered is kind

of like looking the other way in my opinion. Slightly apologetic. " To each their

own " only

exists because the so-called lay person 9 times out of 10 rejects the formality

of it all and

does just that: as they wish.

 

Sat nam

B

 

Kundalini-Yoga , Romey Sealy <raviharyoga wrote:

>

> It's not about doing or undoing dreds. The dredlock

> isn't the issue it's a matter of participating in the

> practicing of combing the hair, a buddhist cannot

> participate either. Is a buddhist less spiritual? Of

> course not. The practice is sacred to some. It

> symbolizes cleanliness and is a discipline of

> self-love. It also stimulates the scalp, the nervous

> system and blood flow to the brain. The choice to

> participate is yours. I like to try everything and see

> which feels best, shaven like a Buddhist, combed and

> tied like a Sikh or dreaded like a Rasta. To each his

> own but no you can't do them all at once and that's

> not personal it's a reality.

>

> Sat Nam ~

>

> Romey Sealy

> Kundalini & PreNatal

> Yoga and Meditation

> 310-383-7572

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

Maybe some mataji's out there could help with this. The un-knoting of

dreads caught my eye as it relates to a young kid who has massive

knots. After letting him care care for his hair himself, it became

apparent that a parent still needed to do the brushing and combing.

Anyone with some tricks for un-knotting hair?

 

Many thanks &

Much love

 

Siri Devta Kaur

 

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " gurvinderpal.singh "

<gurvinderpal.singh wrote:

>

> Sat Naam

> so wait you could actually undo dreads??

> i didnt know that was possible

> thanks again

>

[Guest guest]

OMyGod... the hours I've spent doing this! There's no secret. Get a

bottle of good detangler spray at the drugstore. Use a natural bristle

brush, a wooden comb and your fingers. Start at the bottom and work

*slowly.* I usually put a movie on and we sit on the floor for a couple of

hours. If it's really bad, it can take 3-4 hours to finish. Sometimes

there is a spot that's a total rat's nest and you just have to cut it out.

It's a painstaking process. It took until my kids were teenagers for them

to be able to pay attention to their own hair properly.

 

All love, .....G

[Guest guest]

my mom used to use peanut oil, a comb and patience. it hurt. we were not sikh but she wouldn't let us cut our hair, and of course we did not sit around combing it, we were too busy playing!

[Guest guest]

I agree that what you describe mostly happens and am thrilled you have brought

it to

light.

 

I am reading your email and wondering out loud, as point of discussion, how a

community

might retain a " value " (either Sikh with combed hair or Yogi with matted hair or

any other

code) and refrain from implicitly jumping to " judgments " as to the superior or

exclusion etc.

 

I myself believe there are experiences of life/conscious/living between having a

" value "

and " rejecting the other " . In the current

social/political/religious/civil/environment they are

very difficult to " honestly " manifest in individuals or groups.

[Guest guest]

Dear B:

 

The key is not whether one method is better than the other. I don't

think that was Guru Gobind Singh's purpose. The key is what happens to

our psyche if the hair is in dreads or if the hair is combed. I don't

know the answer to that.

 

We were told that the hair needs to be uncut for 3 years to receive

the full effect of absorption of vitamin D and other things from the

universe. Is this absorption different whether the hair is left uncut

combed or uncombed?

 

Furthermore, the wrapping of a turban has many technological benefits.

Is it possible to wrap a turban so as to preserve these benefits if

one wears dreads?

 

After learning the answer to these questions one may decide what they

wish to do from a knowing perspective, and not from a DOs and DONTs

perspective.

 

Blessings,

Awtar Singh

[Guest guest]

Yes, Satganesh, I agree that there is a place that exists between maintaining a

value and

judging those with different ones, and how this can be difficult in these times,

especially

when communication between so many diverse cultures is for the first time in

history an

immediate experience.

 

I actually love these seemingly mundane/practical questions " How can I undo my

dreads "

because they hinge on such interesting and sometimes sticky assumptions.

 

For me, the question of combed -vs- matted looks like this:

 

Combing your hair has many benefits. Some of these are freeing the " flow of

energy " ,

removing dead/loose hair, etc.

 

Allowing the hair to matte has other benefits: allowing " nature " to take its

course. Not

interfering with one's history (hair as history metaphor! fun!)

 

With regards to turbans and mattes: I'm not sold on the turban technology just

yet. First, if

the hair is intended to receive vitamin D why on Earth cover it? But more

importantly, does

the skull really need outside help to keep it all into place? That would be

rather a

unprecedented situation for an animal to have to " help " it's own bone structure,

no?

 

My bias of course (and it really is a bias, I admit) is that I see yoga as an

organic natural

eruption from the Earth that humans can participate in in ALL environments, even

(and

kind of especially) uncivilized ones where there are little human-made resources

available.

So for me, anything that requires implements like combs and sadhana CDs and 15

meter

long fabric turbans just seems like add-ons. There are benefits no doubt, but

all you need

is made without human hands.

 

But then again KY as per the SSS is my practice and I am commited to it.

 

Such is the beauty of the unknown...

 

Sat nam

 

B

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " satganesha " <satganes wrote:

>

> I agree that what you describe mostly happens and am thrilled you have brought

it to

> light.

>

> I am reading your email and wondering out loud, as point of discussion, how a

community

> might retain a " value " (either Sikh with combed hair or Yogi with matted hair

or any

other

> code) and refrain from implicitly jumping to " judgments " as to the superior or

exclusion

etc.

>

> I myself believe there are experiences of life/conscious/living between having

a " value "

> and " rejecting the other " . In the current

social/political/religious/civil/environment

they are

> very difficult to " honestly " manifest in individuals or groups.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Awtar. I love your response.

 

I agree, it's not about better or worse. In fact that was my concern as well. I

just feel that

when certain practices are presented, there's a tendency to ignore the fact that

there are

completely valid and absolutely contradictory practices that exist (sometimes in

the same

yoga studio, praise be to the always-already!).

 

I love this area of navigation.

 

Peace

B

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " yogahs " <kundalini_yoga wrote:

>

> Dear B:

>

> The key is not whether one method is better than the other. I don't

> think that was Guru Gobind Singh's purpose. The key is what happens to

> our psyche if the hair is in dreads or if the hair is combed. I don't

> know the answer to that.

>

> We were told that the hair needs to be uncut for 3 years to receive

> the full effect of absorption of vitamin D and other things from the

> universe. Is this absorption different whether the hair is left uncut

> combed or uncombed?

>

> Furthermore, the wrapping of a turban has many technological benefits.

> Is it possible to wrap a turban so as to preserve these benefits if

> one wears dreads?

>

> After learning the answer to these questions one may decide what they

> wish to do from a knowing perspective, and not from a DOs and DONTs

> perspective.

>

> Blessings,

> Awtar Singh

>

[Guest guest]

Start with the ends. Also use a long needle for bad tangles.

 

GuruBandhu

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " Siri Devta Kaur

Khalsa " <siridevta wrote:

>

> Sat Nam,

>

> Maybe some mataji's out there could help with this. The un-knoting

of

> dreads caught my eye as it relates to a young kid who has massive

> knots. After letting him care care for his hair himself, it became

> apparent that a parent still needed to do the brushing and combing.

> Anyone with some tricks for un-knotting hair?

>

> Many thanks &

> Much love

>

> Siri Devta Kaur

>

>

> Kundalini-Yoga , " gurvinderpal.singh "

> <gurvinderpal.singh@> wrote:

> >

> > Sat Naam

> > so wait you could actually undo dreads??

> > i didnt know that was possible

> > thanks again

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think some people have dreads and do the Udasi thing under their turbans - a dread rishi knot. That way, you get the energy of the hair up on the crown chakra, n'est ce pas?

Many paths, One Truth, Love, God

GuruSangat Kaur

[Guest guest]

I don't think this is a dogmatic matter. Everything SSS told us had

a scientific practical basis. I don't see any reason why a person

could not have dreads and wear a turban. The dreads could be coiled

up to form one big coil. There is no religious reason why they could

not. However, one reason people tie their hair in a rishi knot is to

focus the energy of the hair. This works on the same principle as an

electromagnet. A good electromagnet will have coild that are nicely

spiraled. If the wires are crisscrossed as in dreads, the energy

will not flow as well. We all know how an electrical appliance can

get a short circuit. It is just a question of deciding if one wants

dreads or wants to comb the hair and have energy flow better.

 

GuruBandhu S.

 

Kundalini-Yoga , " yogahs " <kundalini_yoga

wrote:

>

> Dear B:

>

> The key is not whether one method is better than the other. I don't

> think that was Guru Gobind Singh's purpose. The key is what happens

to

> our psyche if the hair is in dreads or if the hair is combed. I

don't

> know the answer to that.

>

> We were told that the hair needs to be uncut for 3 years to receive

> the full effect of absorption of vitamin D and other things from the

> universe. Is this absorption different whether the hair is left

uncut

> combed or uncombed?

>

> Furthermore, the wrapping of a turban has many technological

benefits.

> Is it possible to wrap a turban so as to preserve these benefits if

> one wears dreads?

>

> After learning the answer to these questions one may decide what

they

> wish to do from a knowing perspective, and not from a DOs and DONTs

> perspective.

>

> Blessings,

> Awtar Singh

>

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam GuruSangat Kaur,

It does not matter where you wear dreads because as antennaes the hair is useless. That is the purpose of wearing the hair on the crown of the head over the solar center—the foreward one for men and the rear solar center for women. Hair that is smoothly bound and aligned, with fine ends for finer attunement acts as a powerful antennae, focusing sun energy directly into the spine to stimulate kundalini energy. A turban acts as a fine fliter over the crown so the full blast of the sun does not hit sensitive solar centers.

 

When hair is tangled in dreads, it is like scrunching up a TV antennae and expecting to get good reception. It does not hurt the TV, but you miss a lot.

 

Loving Blessings,

Guruprem Kaur

[Guest guest]

> When hair is tangled in dreads, it is like scrunching up a TV antennae and

> expecting to get good reception. It does not hurt the TV, but you miss a

> lot.

 

It really depends on what you were looking to watch on TV. I have no reason to

believe

that what you " miss " by having dreads is not canceled out by what you " gain " by

having

them.

 

Again, one could say to the contrary: " combing the hair is like taking God's

Will and

dragging a fork through it in order to assert one's own will over nature. " To a

Sikh that

might sound a bit, well, combative seeing as combing the hair is so integral to

the Sikh

practice (for some). How do you think a Rastafarian, a follower of Ras Tafari,

Jah the Most

High, feels when you tell them that by allowing nature to take its course on

their hair they

are " missing " something and are akin to a crumbled TV antennae? I mean, hello,

allowing

the hair to grow " naturally " is a Sikh practice. Pardon, but reading science

BACK into

spiritual practices as a way of " proving " their validity is a sticky endeavor.

Reads more like

a modern way of controlling people: first they used the fear of Hell to get you

to do

something. Now they use the reason of science. ugh...

 

Certainly KY as per the SSS is beyond all that! YB's use of science seems to

have been to

speak the language of the country he was in: America, because people had a hard

time

swallowing " God's Will " and " Divine Energy " etc. Not to prove that this stuff

" works. " What

proof would he have needed. He was the Siri Singh Sahib Mahan Tantric!

 

Not to mention, seeing the body as a machine, let alone an appliance, is a hold

over from

" The Enlightenment " and was a way of viewing the body as easily

compartmentalized and

scientifically sound. It's a misleading metaphor.

 

I don't like to see the body as an appliance. It's much more exciting and weird

and chaotic

and non-robotic to me...

 

Peace

B

[Guest guest]

Dear Concerned Dread People, Har Nar (Harry Perry from the Venice

boardwalk) has the longest dreads of anyone I know. He's been a devoted

KY practitioner for 30 years. He has a strong Kundalini Yoga/Meditation

practice. He meditates as deeply as anyone I know and has a super

bright spirit. If you asked him whether his meditation is any less

because of his dreads he would say no way. The differences between

having dreads and not having them is probably subtle. Without having

the experience of both dreads/no dreads or vice versa, you couldn't talk

about your experience with and without. Does anyone out there have

dreads and have trouble going into deep meditation? Has anyone out

there either combed out or cut their dreads and experienced a difference

in their meditation or life after? Personally, I vote for people to

listen to their intuition about wearing dreads, to go deep in their soul

and ask their soul if it's a problem wearing their dreads or not. If

not, go for it and may all the blessings in the universe be with them.

Love, Atma Kaur

 

--

Atma K. Khalsa

951.696.9063 ext. 105

[Guest guest]

Peace on that. I met Harry Perry once. At the time I wouldn't have even known

what KY was

to even ask. It was only much later that I realized the significance of that

white turban.

 

Rad.

 

B

 

Kundalini-Yoga , Atma Khalsa <atmak wrote:

>

> Dear Concerned Dread People, Har Nar (Harry Perry from the Venice

> boardwalk) has the longest dreads of anyone I know. He's been a devoted

> KY practitioner for 30 years. He has a strong Kundalini Yoga/Meditation

> practice. He meditates as deeply as anyone I know and has a super

> bright spirit. If you asked him whether his meditation is any less

> because of his dreads he would say no way. The differences between

> having dreads and not having them is probably subtle. Without having

> the experience of both dreads/no dreads or vice versa, you couldn't talk

> about your experience with and without. Does anyone out there have

> dreads and have trouble going into deep meditation? Has anyone out

> there either combed out or cut their dreads and experienced a difference

> in their meditation or life after? Personally, I vote for people to

> listen to their intuition about wearing dreads, to go deep in their soul

> and ask their soul if it's a problem wearing their dreads or not. If

> not, go for it and may all the blessings in the universe be with them.

> Love, Atma Kaur

>

> --

> Atma K. Khalsa

> 951.696.9063 ext. 105

>