Academic: "not of practical relevance; of only theoretical interest: the debate has been largely academic."

Veerji, are you suggesting the science of self-realization and enlightenment which is found in Gurbani is "not of practical relevance," and therefore merely an academic exercise? That can't be possible.

When you read about kundalini awakening in Gurbani, as described by opening dasm duar, how does this automatically relate to Yogi Bhajan? I will not deny he was a teacher of Kundalini yoga and had interesting things to say. But Kundalini awakening is not the property of Yogi Bhajan or 3HO.

You say, "Kundalini Yoga and Pranayam are related." This is not correct. I'm not a member of 3HO, nor do I practice Yogi Bhajan's kundalini yoga. Yet, I received Naam Gurmantara and became Naam abiyaasi when I was amrit chakk. Sass giras simran is a form of pranayam. It is in Gurbani. Let me show you:

57. Page422 Line 19 Raag Aasaa: Guru Amar Das

ਤੇਤੀਸ ਕਰੋੜੀ ਦਾਸ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੇ ਰਿਧਿ ਸਿਧਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਅਧਾਰੀ ॥
thaethees karorree dhaas thumhaarae ridhh sidhh praan adhhaaree ||
Three hundred thirty million gods are Your servants. You bestow wealth, and the supernatural powers of the Siddhas; You are the Support of the breath of life.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਵੈ ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਨਿ ਵਸਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
har naamo har naam dhaevai maerai praan vasaaeae raam ||
The Lord's Name - He has given me the Lord's Name, and enshrined it within my breath of life.
~SGGS Ji p. 51

ਹਮਰੇ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ॥
hamarae jagajeevan har praan ||
The Lord, the Life of the World, is my Breath of Life.

ਹਰਿ ਊਤਮੁ ਰਿਦ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਭਾਇਓ ਗੁਰਿ ਮੰਤੁ ਦੀਓ ਹਰਿ ਕਾਨ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har ootham ridh anthar bhaaeiou gur manth dheeou har kaan ||1|| rehaao ||
The Lofty and Exalted Lord became pleasing to my heart and my inner being, when the Guru breathed the Mantra of the Lord into my ears. ||1||Pause||
~SGGS Ji p. 1335

ਜਿਨਾ ਸਾਸਿ ਗਿਰਾਸਿ ਨ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਾਂ ਮਨਿ ਮੰਤੁ ॥
jinaa saas giraas n visarai har naamaan man manth ||
Those who do not forget the Lord with each breath and morsel of food whose minds are filled with the Mantra of the Lord's Name.
~SGGS Ji p. 319

ਆਪੇ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਖੀ ਆਪੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ ॥
aapae sabadh sach saakhee aapae jinh jothee joth milaaee ||
He Himself is the Shabad, and He Himself is the True Teachings; He merges our light into the Light.

ਦੇਹੀ ਕਾਚੀ ਪਉਣੁ ਵਜਾਏ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਈ ॥੩॥
dhaehee kaachee poun vajaaeae guramukh anmrith paaee ||3||
The breath vibrates through this frail body; the Gurmukh obtains the ambrosial nectar. ||3||
~SGGS Ji p. 1260

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਚਨ ਬਚਨ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਜਨਾਵੈਗੋ ॥੫॥
sathigur bachan bachan hai sathigur paadhhar mukath janaavaigo ||5||
The True Guru is the Word, and the Word is the True Guru, who teaches the Path of Liberation. ||5||

ਨਿਵਲੀ ਕਰਮ ਭੁਅੰਗਮ ਭਾਠੀ ਰੇਚਕ ਪੂਰਕ ਕੁੰਭ ਕਰੈ ॥
nivalee karam bhuangam bhaathee raechak poorak kunbh karai ||
You may perform exercises of inner purification, and fire up the furnace of the Kundalini, inhaling and exhaling and holding the breath.

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੋਝੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਬੂਡਿ ਮਰੈ ॥
bin sathigur kishh sojhee naahee bharamae bhoolaa boodd marai ||
Without the True Guru, you will not understand; deluded by doubt, you shall drown and die.

ਅੰਧਾ ਭਰਿਆ ਭਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਧੋਵੈ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਲਹੈ ॥
andhhaa bhariaa bhar bhar dhhovai anthar kee mal kadhae n lehai ||
The spiritually blind are filled with filth and pollution; they may wash, but the filth within shall never depart.

ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਫੋਕਟ ਸਭਿ ਕਰਮਾ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਜੀਗਰੁ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੈ ॥੧॥
naam binaa fokatt sabh karamaa jio baajeegar bharam bhulai ||1||
Without the Naam, the Name of the Lord, all their actions are useless, like the magician who deceives through illusions. ||1||

ਖਟੁ ਕਰਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਈ ॥
khatt karam naam niranjan soee ||
The merits of the six religious rituals are obtained through the Immaculate Naam.
~SGGS Ji p. 1343

ਸਾਸਨਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਬਲੁ ਪਾਈ ਹੈ ਨਿਹਸਾਸਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈਗੋ ॥
saasan saas saas bal paaee hai nihasaasan naam dhhiaavaigo ||
By His Training, I find strength with each and every breath; now that I am trained and tamed, I meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਤੌ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਵੈਗੋ ॥੬॥
gur parasaadhee houmai boojhai tha guramath naam samaavaigo ||6||
By Guru's Grace, egotism is extinguished, and then, through the Guru's Teachings, I merge in the Naam. ||6||
~SGGS Ji p. 1309

ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਗਾਸਾ ॥
naam japahu guramukh paragaasaa ||
Chant the Naam, as Gurmukh, and be exalted.

ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਮੈ ਧਰ ਨਹੀ ਕਾਈ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਵਿਆ ਸਭ ਸਾਸ ਗਿਰਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
naam binaa mai dhhar nehee kaaee naam raviaa sabh saas giraasaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Without the Naam, I have no other support; the Naam is woven into all my breaths and morsels of food. ||1||Pause||
~SGGS Ji p. 367

ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਨਾਥ ਅਨਾਥ ਦਾਤੇ ਦੀਨ ਗੋਬਿਦ ਸਰਨ ॥
praan naathh anaathh dhaathae dheen gobidh saran ||
He is the Master of the praanaa, the breath of life; He is the Giver of Support to the unsupported. I am meek and poor - I seek the Sanctuary of the Lord of the Universe.

ਆਸ ਪੂਰਨ ਦੁਖ ਬਿਨਾਸਨ ਗਹੀ ਓਟ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਨ ॥੨॥੧॥੪੦॥
aas pooran dhukh binaasan gehee outt naanak har charan ||2||1||40||
He is the Fulfiller of hope, the Destroyer of pain. Nanak grasps the Support of the Feet of the Lord. ||2||1||40||
~SGGS Ji p. 1306

ਸਾਸਿ ਗਿਰਾਸਿ ਜਪਹੁ ਜਪੁ ਰਸਨਾ ਨੀਤ ਨੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਈਐ ॥੨॥
saas giraas japahu jap rasanaa neeth neeth gun gaaeeai ||2||
With every breath and morsel of food, meditate, and chant with your tongue, continually, each and every day; sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||2||

ਭਗਤਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਦੁਖ ਨਾਠੇ ॥
bhagath praem param padh paaeiaa saadhhasang dhukh naathae ||
Through loving devotional worship, the supreme status is obtained, and in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, sorrows are dispelled.
~SGGS Ji p. 382

ਸਚਿ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਹਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਵੈ ॥
sach sach jaaneeai eik chithehi liv laavai ||
In truth, the True Lord is recognized and realized, when one is lovingly attuned to Him, with one-pointed consciousness.

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਵਸਿ ਕਰੈ ਪਵਣੁ ਉਡੰਤ ਨ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
kaam krodhh vas karai pavan ouddanth n dhhaavai ||
Lust and anger are brought under control, when the breath does not fly around, wandering restlessly.
~SGGS Ji p. 1395

ਬਟੂਆ ਏਕੁ ਬਹਤਰਿ ਆਧਾਰੀ ਏਕੋ ਜਿਸਹਿ ਦੁਆਰਾ ॥
battooaa eaek behathar aadhhaaree eaeko jisehi dhuaaraa ||
The body is a bag with seventy-two chambers, and one opening, the Tenth Gate.

ਨਵੈ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੀ ਮਾਗੈ ਸੋ ਜੋਗੀ ਜਗਿ ਸਾਰਾ ॥੧॥
navai khandd kee prithhamee maagai so jogee jag saaraa ||1||
He alone is a real Yogi on this earth, who asks for the primal world of the nine regions. ||1||

ਐਸਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
aisaa jogee no nidhh paavai ||
Such a Yogi obtains the nine treasures.

ਤਲ ਕਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਲੇ ਗਗਨਿ ਚਰਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
thal kaa breham lae gagan charaavai ||1|| rehaao ||
He lifts his soul up from below, to the skies of the Tenth Gate. ||1||Pause||

ਖਿੰਥਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਕਰਿ ਸੂਈ ਸਬਦੁ ਤਾਗਾ ਮਥਿ ਘਾਲੈ ॥
khinthhaa giaan dhhiaan kar sooee sabadh thaagaa mathh ghaalai ||
He makes spiritual wisdom his patched coat, and meditation his needle. He twists the thread of the Word of the Shabad.

ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਕੀ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਰਗਾਣੀ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਾਲੈ ॥੨॥
panch thath kee kar miragaanee gur kai maarag chaalai ||2||
Making the five elements his deer skin to sit on, he walks on the Guru's Path. ||2||

ਦਇਆ ਫਾਹੁਰੀ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਧੂਈ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਕੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਜਲਾਵੈ ॥
dhaeiaa faahuree kaaeiaa kar dhhooee dhrisatt kee agan jalaavai ||
He makes compassion his shovel, his body the firewood, and he kindles the fire of divine vision.

ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਾਉ ਲਏ ਰਿਦ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਚਹੁ ਜੁਗ ਤਾੜੀ ਲਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
this kaa bhaao leae ridh anthar chahu jug thaarree laavai ||3||
He places love within his heart, and he remains in deep meditation throughout the four ages. ||3||

ਸਭ ਜੋਗਤਣ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨਾ ॥
sabh jogathan raam naam hai jis kaa pindd paraanaa ||
All Yoga is in the Name of the Lord; the body and the breath of life belong to Him.
~SGGS Ji p. 477

ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਸੁਖਦਾਤੇ ॥
har praan prabhoo sukhadhaathae ||
The Lord God is my praanaa, my breath of life; He is the Giver of peace.

ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਕਾਹੂ ਜਾਤੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
gur prasaadh kaahoo jaathae ||1|| rehaao ||
By Guru's Grace, only a few know Him. ||1||Pause||
~SGGS Ji p. 529

ਤ੍ਰੈ ਸਤੁ ਅੰਗੁਲ ਲੈ ਮਨੁ ਪਵਣੁ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ।
trai satu angul|ai manu pavanu milaaiaa|
The breath going ten fingers out the mind is associated with the vital air the practice is completed.

ਸੋਹੰ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ਅਲਖ ਲਖਾਇਆ ।
sohan sahaji subhaai alakh|akhaaiaa|
The imperceptible soham (I am He) is realised in equipoise.

ਨਿਝਰਿ ਧਾਰਿ ਚੁਆਇ ਅਪਿਉ ਪੀਆਇਆ ।
nijhari dhaari chuaai apiu peeaaiaa|
In this state of equipoise, the rare drink of ever-wing cascade is quaffed.

ਅਨਹਦ ਧੁਨਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ਨਾਦ ਵਜਾਇਆ ।
anahad dhuni|iv|aai naad vajaaiaa|
Getting absorbed in the unstruck melody a mysterious sound is heard.

ਅਜਪਾ ਜਾਪੁ ਜਪਾਇ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਇਆ ।
ajapaa jaapu japaai sunn samaaiaa|
Through silent prayer, one merges in the Suny (Lord)
~Vaar 22 Pauri 7 of Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Ji

ਰਾਗ ਨਾਦ ਸੰਬਾਦ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਚੇਤਾਇਆ ।
raag naad sanbaad giaanu chaytaaiaa|
Music, melody, dialogue and knowledge make man a conscious being.

ਨਉ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ਸਾਧਿ ਸਾਧੁ ਸਦਾਇਆ ।
nau daravaajay saadhi saadhu sadaaiaa|
By disciplining the nine gates of the body one is called a sadhu.

ਵੀਹ ਇਕੀਹ ਉਲਘਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਆਇਆ ।
veeh ikeeh ulaghi nij ghari aaiaa|
Transcending the worldy illusions he stabilizes within his self.

ਪੂਰਕ ਕੁੰਭਕ ਰੇਚਕ ਤ੍ਰਾਟਕ ਧਾਇਆ ।
poorak kunbhak raychak traatak dhaaiaa|
Prior to this, he was running after various practices of hath yoga,

ਨਿਉਲੀ ਕਰਮ ਭੁਯੰਗੁ ਆਸਣ ਲਾਇਆ ।
niulee karam bhuyangu aasan|aaiaa|
such as the rechak, purak, kumbhak, tratak, nyolrand bhujarig asan.

ਇੜਾ ਪਿੰਗੁਲਾ ਝਾਗ ਸੁਖਮਨਿ ਛਾਇਆ ।
irhaa pingulaa jhaag sukhamani chhaaiaa|
He practised different processes of breathing like ire', pirigala and susumna.

ਖੇਚਰ ਭੂਚਰ ਚਾਚਰ ਸਾਧਿ ਸਧਾਇਆ ।
khaychar bhoochar chaachar saadhi sadhaaiaa|
He perfected their khechari and chachari postures.

ਸਾਧ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਖੇਲੁ ਉਨਮਨਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੬॥
saadh agochar khaylu unamani aaiaa ॥6॥
Through such mysterious sport he establishes himself in the equipoise.
~Vaar 22 Pauri 6 of Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Ji

ਚਰਣ ਕਮਲ ਮਕਰੰਦੁ ਰਸਿ ਹੋਇ ਭਵਰੁ ਲੈ ਵਾਸੁ ਲੁਭਾਵੈ ।
charan kamal makarandu rasi hoi bhavaru|ai vaasu|ubhaavai|
Like the black bee they surrender at the lotus feet of Guru and enjoy the sap and remain happy.

ਇੜਾ ਪਿੰਗੁਲਾ ਸੁਖਮਨਾ ਲਘਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਬੇਣੀ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ।
irhaa pingulaa sukhamanaa|aghi tribaynee nij ghari aavai|
They go beyond the triveni of ira, pingala and susumna and stablize in their own self.

ਸਾਹਿ ਸਾਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਪਵਣ ਲਿਵ ਸੋਹੰ ਹੰਸਾ ਜਪੈ ਜਪਾਵੈ ।
saahi saahi manu pavan|iv sohan hansaa japai japaavai|
They through the flame of breath, mind and the life force, recite and make others recite the soham and hans recitations (jap).

ਅਚਰਜ ਰੂਪ ਅਨੂਪ ਲਿਵ ਗੰਧ ਸੁਗੰਧਿ ਅਵੇਸੁ ਮਚਾਵੈ ।
acharaj roop anoop|iv gandh sugandhi avaysu machaavai|
The form of surati is wonderfully fragrant and enrapturing.

ਸੁਖਸਾਗਰ ਚਰਣਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਸੁਖ ਸੰਪਟ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ।
sukhasaagar charanaarabind sukh sanpat vichi sahaji samaavai|
The gurmukhs calmly absorb in the pleasure-ocean of the Guru feet.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੁਖ ਫਲ ਪਿਰਮ ਰਸੁ ਦੇਹ ਬਿਦੇਹ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਵੈ ।
guramukhi sukh dhal piram rasu dayh bidayh param padu paavai|
When they in the form of pleasure-fruit obtain the supreme joy, they go beyond the bondages of body and bodylessness and attain the highest station.

ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਅਲਖੁ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥੧੧॥
saadh sangati mili alakhu|akhaavai ॥11॥
Such gurmukhs have the glimpse of that invisible Lord in the holy congregation.
~Vaar 6 Pauri 11 of 20 of Vaaran Bhai Gurdas JI

~Bhul chak maaf karni ji