In this captivating episode of the Alpha People podcast, hosted by Naveen Kumar Verma, listeners are treated to an in-depth conversation with Yogi Amandeep Singh, a renowned master of Himalayan yogic sciences and a scholar in Sikh, Sufi, and Vedic traditions. Yogi Amandeep recounts his remarkable transformative journey from a computer engineer with degrees from Oxford Brookes University in information systems and software engineering, to pursuing master’s degrees in psychotherapy and comparative religious studies, before fully embracing his spiritual path under the guidance of enlightened sages. He emphasizes that his life has been dedicated to serving humanity through global teachings, retreats, and collaborative research with neuroscientists on pain management via meditation and yoga. The discussion highlights how spirituality is not about completion—since only death is truly complete—but about continuous expansion and growth, aligning with Sikh principles from the Guru Granth Sahib that encourage living fully in the world like a lotus in mud, balancing worldly duties with inner devotion.
Delving into foundational concepts, Yogi Amandeep provides profound etymological insights into dharma and karma. He explains karma as “kar-ma,” meaning “I am my hands” or the constant movement of fingers and mind that traps individuals in their personal stories, emotions, and worldly indulgences, much like how a newborn’s body segments over time to enable individual finger control, fully immersing one in the realm of action and chatter. In contrast, dharma is “dhar-ma,” signifying putting oneself aside to achieve anchoring and transcendence, where inner movements cease, leading to stillness and clarity. This dichotomy is illustrated through simple gestures: fidgeting hands represent karma’s chaos, while folded hands embody dharma’s peace. Drawing from his early inspirations, Yogi Amandeep shares childhood attempts to run away to the Himalayas to become a sadhu, only to realize through Guru wisdom that true spirituality lies in the cave of the heart, not physical isolation, and how parental resistance gave way to universal support when his destiny called.
The conversation shifts to the essence of spirituality, defined as connecting with one’s higher self—an ever-rising energy akin to awakened Kundalini, ensuring constant alertness, awareness, and availability to oneself and others. Yogi Amandeep stresses the pivotal role of a straight spine, as per Guru Nanak’s sutra to King Shivnab in Sri Lanka, which navigates through time and space (kal ka alia): leaning back evokes the past, forward the future, right for confusion, and left for clarity. The spine houses energy centers (chakras), where the base holds Shakti (lower self) and the tip Shiva (higher self), with the subtle sushmana nadi pulsing 70 times per blink, escalating to 84 for transcending 8.4 million karmic lifetimes (churasi lakh jun). Pain during straight posture signals karmog, necessitating holistic work, and humans’ unique vertical spine enables evolution and conquest, making asana (posture) about maintaining straightness in all life’s responsibilities for dharma and chardi kala—eternal optimism and rising energy.
A central highlight is the exploration of breathwork (swas ana swas or saans par niyantran), where breath (pavan or prana) is the immediate guru, as stated in Japji Sahib (“Pavan guru”). Yogi Amandeep details how breath length—10 fingers for anchoring, 16 for tension, 32 for depression, 36 for death—and rate (normally 16 per minute) influence emotions, glandular secretions, and life stories. Holding breath in (bhagti) preserves cosmic currency for material success and flowering of life, while holding out familiarizes one with death to meet Shiva or Brahma, dissolving personal stories to experience Ek Onkar—universal oneness—at the breath’s end, echoing Rumi’s idea of meeting where the road ends. Reducing to 5 breaths per minute grants access to the divine court and riddhis/siddhis, transforming chapters of suffering into fulfillment, all without external tools, just conscious control aligning with nature’s rhythms for healing and presence.
Yogi Amandeep also describes his immersive retreats, including a fully booked one on September 21 for Russians at Goindwal Sahib’s 84-step baoli (well) established by Guru Amar Das, symbolizing the earth’s navel center. Participants dip in the well, recite Japji Sahib on each step—84 times total—combining Himalayan kriyas, tapa (inner heat), and water’s prana to dissolve karmic imprints like an atomic bomb of transformation. Japji Sahib is portrayed as a universal contemplation on the essential self without stories: Ek Onkar as creator-creation unity, Sat Nam as unchanging presence, with recitation mimicking Guru Nanak’s enlightenment through neural and chemical shifts, making one with the Guru. He laments how Punjabis have “kidnapped” Guru Nanak, affirming his teachings belong to all humanity for transcending personal narratives.
Finally, the episode culminates in the evolution of the guru concept: from gur (technology) to satguru (experienced giver), siri guru (one with wisdom), and waheguru (dissolved in ecstasy)—”wah” as wow beyond words, “he” as now and cosmic sound penetrating the third eye, “guru” as wisdom, yielding the “wisdom of wow in the now” by forgetting one’s story. This progression underscores that true spirituality starts externally but internalizes, with breath and spine as accessible guides. The dialogue reinforces Sikhism’s practical, advanced simplicity—free from showiness, rooted in seva, nature devotion, and vibrant living—leaving listeners inspired to integrate these tools for inner peace, healing, and universal connection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Certainly! Here are some potential questions and answers based on the podcast conversation:
Like many, Yogi Amandeep Singh started as a computer engineer with a BSc from Oxford Brookes University, but felt unfulfilled even after masters in psychotherapy and comparative religions. He found his path through spiritual teachers and sages, realizing his purpose was serving humanity via yoga and meditation. For those relating, he advises recognizing the inner urge—like loving mountains or nature—as a sign. Try running toward it multiple times; if destiny calls, the universe aligns, as it did for him despite parental resistance. Start small: meditate daily and live like a lotus—engaged in the world but untouched by its mud.
Yogi Amandeep explains this as being caught in karma—the movement of hands and mind creating endless stories. Relatable for Punjabis juggling work and family, he suggests shifting to dharma by anchoring yourself: fold your hands to stop fidgeting, which quiets the brain. Practice straight spine posture to navigate thoughts—lean back for past regrets, forward for worries. This simple act, inspired by Guru Nanak, brings alertness and chardi kala, turning chaotic days into moments of clarity without fancy rituals.
Drawing from Sikh teachings, Yogi Amandeep shares that spirituality means connecting to your higher self, always rising like awakened Kundalini. For worried parents, keep your spine straight to stay aware and available—it's Guru Nanak's sutra for high spirits. When fears pull you forward (future anxiety), realign to the present. This builds chardi kala—eternal optimism—making you resilient, just as humans evolved with straight spines. It's practical: a quick posture check during family time fosters presence and seva to loved ones.
Absolutely relatable in fast-paced life, Yogi Amandeep teaches breath (pavan) as your immediate guru from Japji Sahib. Breath length reflects emotions: 10 fingers for calm, longer for tension. Start with holding breath in (bhagti) to bloom life and reduce pain, or out to face discomfort like death, dissolving worries. Try 5 breaths per minute for divine access: inhale deeply, hold, exhale slowly while chanting Waheguru. This aligns prana with nature, healing without showiness, much like reciting Gurbani for emotional seva to yourself.
For Punjabis chanting it daily, Yogi Amandeep breaks it down: "Wah" is wow beyond words, "he" is now (cosmic sound turning you inward), "guru" is wisdom—together, the wisdom of wow in the now, by forgetting your story. Relate it to moments of awe in nature or kirtan. Experience through breath: at exhale's end, meet oneness (Ek Onkar), as Rumi says where roads end. No need for gurus externally; start with spine straight and breath holds to dissolve ego, living vibrantly as per Guru Granth Sahib.
Echoing your view on no showiness, Yogi Amandeep stresses Sikhism's essence in Guru Granth Sahib: practical seva and nature devotion. Avoid empty displays; focus on dharma—transcending stories through stillness. Recite Japji Sahib not as routine but contemplation on essential self: Ek Onkar (unity), Sat Nam (unchanging presence). Like his retreats at Goindwal's baoli, dip into practices blending water prana with inner heat for karmic release. Keep it livefull: serve langar humbly, meditate in nature, embodying Guru Nanak's universal wisdom without kidnapping it to rituals.
Many relate to this, as Yogi Amandeep notes pain in a straight spine signals karmog—unresolved physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues. The spine is your navigator: base Shakti (lower self), tip Shiva (higher). Work holistically: gentle yoga to align chakras, breathwork to pulse sushmana nadi from 70 to 84 for transcending lifetimes. Inspired by Sikh asana (straight posture in life's roles), start with short sessions, perhaps reciting Sukhmani Sahib. This heals like seva to your body, turning pain into growth toward chardi kala.
Yogi Amandeep ties this to being available—most are lost in stories, not present for family or humanity. Awaken through straight spine for awareness, making you seva-ready. Relate to Punjabi values: share langar spirit daily, using breath holds to hold life (inhale for blooming relationships) or release ego (exhale for forgiveness). From Guru Granth Sahib, live in hukam—divine order—like his research on pain management, serving others. Start small: family kirtan with Japji, fostering unity (Ek Onkar) and vibrant, giving living.
For those relating to time constraints, Yogi Amandeep's Goindwal retreat dissolves 8.4 million karmic imprints via 84 Japji recitations with water dips. At home, simulate: fill a tub (nature's prana), recite Japji while imagining steps, blending tapa (inner heat from breathwork) with sound. Focus on navel center for release, as Guru Amar Das intended. This universal practice—Guru Nanak for humanity—needs no fancy setup; just devotion, aligning spine and breath for atomic transformation, healing through simple seva to self.
Relatable amid global tensions, Yogi Amandeep highlights Guru Granth Sahib's inclusivity: voices from diverse saints like Kabir and Farid, teaching Ek Onkar at breath's end—where all meet as one, beyond stories. Practice: hold breath out to experience Shiva (universal self), dissolving divisions. For Punjabis, embody seva without showiness—serve all equally, as in langar. His teachings blend traditions for chardi kala, inspiring peace-building: straight spine for clarity, breath for presence, turning personal healing into communal harmony through nature's devotion.
