Abuse in Yogi Bhajan's 3HO Kundalini Yoga World
More likely than not
Bhajan used his power as a spiritual leader to perpetrate
a range of abuses against women and female minors
that included rape, sexual battery, sexual abuse and sexual harassment ...'
extract from the conclusion of the Report of An Olive Branch
After the release of Premka, many survivors came forward with their abuse stories. In March 2020, the SSSC, the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation, the umbrella organization overseeing all profits and non-profits, could no longer deny the growing number of allegations against their spiritual leader.
They ordered an independent report with An Olive Branch, a Buddhist-inspired group with experience guiding spiritual organizations in investigating ethical issues.
The 76-page report is far from an easy read. The details of the extremely brutal acts of sexual abuse that came forward need a trigger warning for survivors. Reading the report can be retraumatizing.
Around 300 people were contacted by the team of An Olive Branch, half supporters of YB and half reporters of harm.
The report divided the community. Some teachers and trainers distantiated themselves from the community and the organizations. Either they stopped practicing or teaching Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, or they chose to go their own way. On YouTube, ex-3HO-members posted videos on how KY manuals and books were set on fire.
Devotees of YB still worship him and continue to revere their spiritual leader and his teachings. They ordered a professional review of the AOB report that resulted in the Thompson report that tried to discredit the work of An Olive Branch with technical arguments.
