Confessions of an American Sikh Locked up in India, corrupt cops & my escape from a “new age” tantric yoga cult

by Gursant Singh

Gursant has to look deep within himself and question everything he has been taught about the Sikh spiritual path - Sikhi. Arriving in India to get his teeth fixed, Gursant Singh decides he needs a Punjabi wife and becomes embroiled with Dadaji, Amritsar’s notorious marriage broker. When their search for the perfect bride gets them both thrown into Amritsar’s Central Jail.

Gursant’s encounters with crooked lawyers, corrupt cops and the enigmatic Indian legal system lead him from the radiant spirituality of Amritsar’s Golden Temple, through labyrinthine back streets, chaotic lawyers' offices and the Amritsar Police station to the tranquility of an isolated yoga ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas. On the way, we meet an exotic cast of characters. Some venal and manipulating, others compassionate and generous; all of whom bring to life the contradictions, idiosyncrasies and excitement of 21st Century India.

Gursant chronicles his adventures in a fast-moving, warts-and-all style to give the reader a searingly honest picture of his own spiritual loss of innocence.

It was during my time in the Amritsar Central Jail that I thought of writing this book. As soon as I had Internet access, I began to research what it might take to create a written record of my experiences. In effect, this book was created as it happened and certainly before I knew how it would finish.

My hope was that I could help others to learn from my experiences; not only those in India, but also those within the 3HO spiritual organization to which I devoted thirty years of my life. India can be fun, entertaining and spiritually inspiring; at the same time it can be harsh and unforgiving, especially if you fall foul of the law, as I did.

The spiritual path of the seeker can provide endless inspiration and satisfaction. But, like India, it can bring you face to face with your deepest fears and weaknesses. It is my fervent hope that others will learn from my mistakes and perhaps deepen their own spiritual experience by reading about what I had to go through. Thus this book is the story of my spiritual coming of age; my loss of innocence, if you will.

I wish to offer my deepest gratitude to Akal Purkh, Waheguru, the Creator and Sustainer of the incredible universe in which we live.

Let me also give thanks to Guru Nanak Sahib and his nine illustrious human successors. It is the grace of Guru Nanak that brought me to his teachings and it was his kindness that enabled me to find the true path of Sikhi.

Finally I humbly offer obeisance to Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the word of God and living Guru for all Sikhs.

Gursant Singh

Genres: Biography

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Todd Settimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and found it to be both enlightening and hilarious. I really shouldn’t laugh. The author went through a terrible ordeal which could easily have turned out horribly for him. As it was, a great deal of time was stolen from him.

Still, as I read of one misadventure after another, I was reminded of the Jack Lemon/Sandy Dennis comedy, The Out-Of-Towners. I’m just glad the author was able to make it back home with the most important lesson of all learned - think for yourself.

I do recommend this account of yet another abominably fraudulent guru as a cautionary tale for others seeking utopia. This guru, like so many others, left a lot of wreckage in his wake, and all too many damaged hearts.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narration was very entertaining and engrossing! I stayed half my life in India, most of it in a couple of ashrams (including 9 years in the corrupt pedophile Sathya Sai Baba's ashram), and all what he says totally rings true. What a relief that he was street-start enough to escape, though he had to do weeks in jail and at times was overcome with our American tendency to be too naïve and trusting. Bravo!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Eye opening...amazing. A great story as well as being very informative about the truth behind Yogi Bhajan's artificial cult (3H0).

[torque · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says confessions, and the author does come out with several decisions and thoughts which makes him hard to sympathize with at times. Also, several times he admits to holding back info from people around him making him appear a better person than he is. (they don't need to know that), which makes me wonder if he is doing that when telling his story as well. That being said, the book is well written and captivating. The story about the power of the police and lack of rights is scary. Chapter 51 is entered twice in the Kindle edition.

[Sunnyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read. The author takes you to India as he struggles with the legal system and tries, hilariously, to maneuver around a foreign and confusing culture. As you go with Gursant on his misadventures, you also get peaks into his past as a part of Yogi Bhajan's Gora Sikhs through flashbacks. At the end, I felt sad to put down the book. I felt as though I was saying goodbye to a friend.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, this guy, talk about an unreliable narrator. And it reads like the whole thing was dictated.