3HO Foundation International's
Annual Report
- Fiscal Year 2020 -
From Pritpal Kaur
CEO of 3HO Foundation International
The year 2020 presented us all with so many challenges that once 2021 arrived, I for one, was ready for emergence and to leave 2020 behind. And although our yoga practice teaches us to be in the present, in the words of philosopher and activist Cornel West: “You can’t move forward until you look back."
As the entire globe faced the reality of isolation and loss due to COVID-19, the pandemic brought with it the cancellation of our in-person events, including Summer and Winter Solstice and the European Yoga Festival. These were traditions that had been unbroken for 50 years.
Earlier in the new year, our community faced a dark shadow in our spiritual culture. Individuals came forward with stories of harm from their experiences within this community and with our founder, Yogi Bhajan, and from experiences attending community schools and youth programs. These revelations shook our community to its core. Soon after, the murder of George Floyd awakened the world and 3HO to a deepened awareness of systemic racism and injustice.
The times demanded that we unpack the pain, investigate the deep systemic issues, consider the institutional harms shared by community members, and relate this to spiritual practice. This is the work that was needed to serve the future of humankind. It’s been uncomfortable to hold this polarity of light and dark. But without it, we are at risk of becoming irrelevant and unable to serve the world from the true essence of what Kundalini Yoga is about. 3HO did this by:
Listening
Listening Tour calls were held to answer questions and hear from Kundalini Yoga teachers and community members. With our sister non-profit organizations, we supported the work of Compassionate Reconciliation and offered counseling to help heal the community and those who had been harmed.
Learning
We recognized patterns of unconscious bias and internalized racism that had to be unpacked before we could emerge as allies of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Our staff began weekly readings on antiracism, and while this revealed just the tip of the iceberg, we shared these resources with the 3HO community and on social media platforms.
Restructuring
Throughout the year we remained committed to our mission of sharing the uplifting experience of Kundalini Yoga to everyone everywhere through online Spring and Fall Equinox and Winter and Summer Solstice events. Being online gave us a chance for the first time to include teachers and participants from all around the world to practice and celebrate these events with our global community. Also, in the spring of 2020, 3HO finalized the construction of permanent structures at Guru Ram Das Puri as part of our long-term plan for a Kundalini retreat center to support 3HO events when we are able to gather in person again.
The path forward is not about “being right." Our 3HO staff, Board of Directors, and all who serve 3HO know that this is a time of “doing right." We do not have “the way,” but we are confident that we have “a way” of creating deep profound change for the individual and collective through providing and sharing the technology of Kundalini Yoga. We believe in its power to work on a cellular level to bring change in our bodies, our psyche, and our world.
2020 was a deep dive but from the chaos, new possibilities have emerged. As we usher in our future, we commit to making Kundalini Yoga the heroine of our journey and the mission of 3HO: To inspire everyone everywhere to realize their full potential through the uplifting experience of Kundalini Yoga.
We need your voices, your wisdom, and your straight talk to guide us forward. 3HO is you and each voice is integral to creating our now and our tomorrow. Please help us to realize our potential as a radically inclusive, diverse, and purposeful community. We are here. We are listening. We are committed to serving you on your path to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
With blessings,
Pritpal Kaur
3HO’s mission is to inspire everyone everywhere to reach their full potential through the uplifting experience of Kundalini Yoga.
We recognize that we are all sacred, and we are committed to serving others with joy and kindness.
We believe in connection to self, to the divine, and to each other, knowing that our practice and our growth are stronger in community.
We believe in the right to total wellbeing for all people—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and we trust in the practices of Kundalini Yoga as a reliable tool to help achieve it.
We honor the different values, struggles, and wisdom within each of us, and work to make 3HO welcoming, accessible, equitable, and respectful to all.
We strive to always do the right thing, and are committed to operating with transparency, honesty, authenticity, accountability, and fairness.
A Review of 2020
"Thank you for being so caring and holding the Kundalini Yoga community worldwide, especially during these eventful and life-changing times. I have felt very supported."
— Karen S.
2020 brought challenges none of us could have ever imagined. As difficult as these challenges have been for our organization both financially and emotionally, we recognize that this is a precious time and a chance to re-envision the future, to redefine and align with the core values of our organization, and to create new pathways forward.
The shifts in 2020 changed the way we connect and reach each other, pivoting us towards a long-time organizational goal of developing engaging, online content to give more accessibility of Kundalini Yoga to everyone, everywhere. Being online gave us a chance for the first time to include teachers and participants from all around the world to practice and celebrate with our global community. We have remained committed to featuring Kundalini Yoga as the heroine of our journey. We also heard the call from our community for more transparency and accountability across all areas of our organization. We are listening and have worked tirelessly to support and understand the needs of our community in every way possible.
Our team has done an extraordinary job of transitioning our events online to serve our community during 2020. This has included a Summer eSolstice, a Fall eEquinox event, and Winter eSolstice. So far, more than 15,000 people from all over the world have registered for these events. Each of these programs included live classes, a robust resource section, and Zoom recordings of all events. In 2020, we chose to offer our online events on a donation basis to give everyone, everywhere an opportunity to have access to the powerful technology that is so needed in these times.
We have an amazing calendar of events planned for 2021 to cultivate community and promote healthy living. For more information on upcoming 2021 events or to apply to teach, please go to 3HO Online Events 2021.
Bringing Summer Solstice to you, wherever you are in the world. Our three-day eSolstice experience offered a diverse group of superb Kundalini Yoga teachers, recipes to enjoy the Solstice Diet at home, and break-out groups and chat rooms for conversation and community.
An opportunity to unite, heal, and balance. Our one-day eEquinox offered a powerful global meditation experience, allowing participants to hold a resonant vibration of peace and elevation. With the exception of one session, the entire eEquinox was translated into Spanish.
Recreating the cozy magic of Winter Solstice at home. Similar to our Summer eSolstice, the three-day Winter eSolstice offered Aquarian Sadhana, a daily live global meditation, two live "all-camp" classes each day, and two specialty break-out group classes or discussion rooms per day. Additional evening concerts and Kirtan Sohila ended each day with community and sacred sound current.
Celebrating peace and renewal of the coming year. The eNew Year's Meditation was a 6-hour japa — when our wishes for joy and harmony became a powerful prayer. We meditated on the sacred sound current of “Wahe Guru Wahe Jio,” with a recording from Snatam Kaur — clearing a path to what was important in the coming year and the essence of our intuition, purpose, and wisdom.
"These four days – sublime! I must comment on how well organized this event was. Easy to find the schedule, find the details, and join. Not to mention the course content, which has opened my heart and head. And led me from hopelessness to hope — to remembering who I am. All of you who put this together, and all of you who participated, I cannot express enough my gratitude. Perhaps my telling you what a positive impact this has had on me in a small way expresses my gratitude. Much love to you may your lives be forever blessed."
— Mary A.
In the spring of 2020, 3HO finalized the construction of permanent structures at Guru Ram Das Puri. These permanent, sustainable structures are the foundation of our development plan; a long-term plan to create a retreat center that can serve and inspire. It is our goal to continue with a long-term capital building program to help fund and support the design and execution of a complete development plan for Guru Ram Das Puri’s future; to add landscaping, playgrounds, ADA-accessible pathways, art, and environmentally sustainable features to the initial building project underway; and to involve the entire 3HO community worldwide in the designing, planning, and funding of this development plan.
We invite you to help us bring our vision of a world-class Kundalini Yoga retreat center, serving all who visit by inspiring, teaching, elevating, and uplifting in love, kindness, and service to life! Please reach out if you have ideas to contribute or would like more information. Your generous gift will help support and inspire Kundalini Yogis far into the future.
In the wake of heartache and hardship that challenged our community following the report by An Olive Branch, 3HO Foundation International worked to support and understand the needs of our community with a series of calls and events to facilitate brave community dialogue, emotional processing, and sharing. These community offerings included a series of Listening Tour calls, Q&A sessions, and a joint IKYTA/KRI/3HO online forum for Kundalini Yoga Teachers to talk and help shape the future of Kundalini Yoga and our organizations.
The conversations that have happened in these spaces are profound and transformational, and we thank everyone who took the time to participate in them. Through all of this, we’ve collected important feedback on envisioning the future together. As we look to the future of Kundalini Yoga and 3HO, we will do so in partnership with our global community, and we will remain committed to listening to, supporting, and serving.
Just Outcomes is working in partnership with our global community to develop a just and compassionate response to the emotional processing needs currently surfacing. The work is guided by principles of inclusion, repair, and transformation.
To learn more about this process, please visit the newly created Compassionate Reconciliation Website.
We want to hear from you. We welcome your input on how to shape the future of 3HO and Kundalini Yoga so we can walk forward together hand-in-hand for a brighter future.
The 3HO Luminaries Program was launched in 2019. This program brought Kundalini Yogis doing extraordinary service in underserved communities to Summer and Winter Solstice for inspired connection, global collaboration, and the Kundalini experience of a lifetime. By honoring and serving these Luminaries, 3HO sought to create lasting connections between teachers, encourage seva as the highest state of mind and spirit, and strengthen communities around the globe.
In 2020, we continued to be inspired by the stories of service from our 3HO Luminaries. Many of the 3HO Luminaries participated in our eSolstice and eEquinox events, sharing their experiences in service and giving back to their communities. Explore their contributions below and learn more about the inspiring initiatives these Luminaries are involved with in their home communities.
Lunch with a Luminary:
Tara Libert
Before co-founding Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop in 2002, Tara worked as a radio and television news and documentary producer. After producing many features on the US criminal justice system, showcasing such topics as the death penalty, prison overcrowding, and juvenile justice reform, she was drawn to direct service.
Lunch with a Luminary:
Kenneth Strickland
A discussion on how to create multi-cultural learning environments and sacred spaces founded on anti-racist and social justice teachings. Kenneth has been educating youth in the power of Kundalini Yoga, the breath, and love since 2013. He believes in the inherent wisdom of children and works to create spaces where children can become aware of this wisdom.
Deep Meditation:
Kiret Nam Kaur
Kiret Nam is a Kundalini Yoga teacher and 3HO Luminary, but music and deep meditation also has a special place in her life. While she was on her spiritual journey in 2014, she discovered her voice. She sang instinctively for her own healing but soon extended this newfound gift to other souls, especially in her Kundalini Yoga classes. Her music and teaching is medicinal. It vibrates love and touches hearts.
Lunch with a Luminary:
Shango Johnson
Shango teaches yoga to children pre-K to high school in Chicago, IL, where he helps kids learn to cope with their life challenges through meditation. He works as a male mentor coordinator with I Grow Chicago Peace House, a community gathering and healing resource space. He also patrols the Chicago area for Cease Fire, a public health anti-violence program.
Seva Breakout Group:
Denise Davidson
For 20 years, Denise has shared Kundalini Yoga in the South Central Community of LA to both the elderly and the youth. She also goes to South Africa to serve at-risk youth and has brought Krishna Kaur there to train teachers in Y.O.G.A. for Youth.
Lunch with a Luminary:
Oinak Singh
Oinak was raised in a home for destitute children in Rishikesh, India. Exposed to Kundalini Yoga from yoga teachers visiting the children's home, he now pays it forward by bringing Kundalini Yoga and meditation to "ragpickers," children in the slums who pick through trash heaps looking for salvage.
Lunch with a Luminary:
Simranjeet Singh
Simranjeet has a degree in Philosophy and a Masters's in Education in which he developed research on the practice of Kundalini Yoga with youth in detention facilities. This research resulted in the creation of a seva project, which offers Kundalini Yoga workshops to youth in these facilities.
Seva Breakout Group:
Liam Pfeiffer
Liam teaches youth in detention facilities and young adults on Riker's Island for the New York Corrections Department. Liam provides incarcerated youth with skills and practices to improve physical/mental health, manage stress, and reduce anxiety using meditation, breathwork, and techniques from Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Tai Chi.
Through digital platforms, Seva Corps seeks to enhance, nurture, and inspire people who serve with the technology of Kundalini Yoga and the legacy of Sikh Dharma, in an elevated, open, and shared environment. Seva Corps also offers content about the path of service and gives relevance to ongoing Seva projects while inspiring new ones. Above all, we want to offer spaces for dialogue and inclusion.
It’s our donors who really make a difference, and we wanted to specifically honor your time, patience, and generosity this year. We truly appreciate you for coming together as a community and supporting us as we re-envision the future.
The world is seeking renewal and change and Kundalini Yoga is that powerful vehicle for self-realization and empowerment for anyone, anywhere. This community has played a vital role in being of service. It's because of this service and generosity of our donors that we've been able to keep this beautiful community thriving by providing rich, online content and resources, including the 3HO Luminaries and our vision of a flourishing retreat center at Guru Ram Das Puri. As we look to 2021, whether our community members have donated time by volunteering, spreading our mission, joining our online events, or contributing financially, we are eternally grateful.
This number represents the General Fund, online events, and includes a $39,663 estate donation. Both restricted and unrestricted donations.
With donations supporting Y.O.G.A. for Youth.
With donations supporting RAINN.
With donations supporting Ramana's Garden.
With donations supporting the future of Guru Ram Das Puri and the Luminaries Program.
10% of your event donations in 2020 went to help support the following non-profit organizations:
Effective Tools for Self-Discovery
Since its inception in 1998, Y.O.G.A. for Youth has served over 20,000 young people in Los Angeles County alone. They serve youth throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe and China. Y.O.G.A. for Youth programming addresses four major components: behavioral stability, self-esteem, physical health, and scholastic aptitude.
Helping Survivors
RAINN is the United State's largest anti-sexual violence organization. They operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers, the DoD Safe Helpline. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
A Children's Home
Ramana’s Garden is a children’s refuge, home, school, and organic café situated in the North Indian city of Rishikesh. Located between mountains at the bank of the River Ganga, Ramana’s was founded more than 20 years ago as a refuge for children at risk of poverty and abuse in India and Nepal. Approximately 70 children live there full-time, with another 200 attending school.
Thank You to our
3HO Foundation
International Staff!
Working remotely from Brazil,
Chile, and the United States
We would like to thank all of the previous members of the 3HO Board of Directors.
Your time, resources, and seva are forever in the foundation of 3HO.
Sumpuran Kaur Khalsa, Board Chair
Dharm Singh Khalsa
Sat Jagat Singh Khalsa
Dr. Onna Lo (Sar Darshan Kaur)
Shakti Parwha Kaur, Honorary Member
We are currently looking for those interested in serving on our Board to move 3HO forward. Please apply here.
3HO Foundation International operates as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition to 3HO, the two organizations with the strongest relationship to Kundalini Yoga are highlighted below. There are a total of seven legacy non-profit organizations overseen by the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation, which is the sole member.
Please click each individual image to view our 2019 and 2020 financials.
© 2021 3HO Foundation International
