Kriya Yoga Explained

The essence of every person is pure consciousness. The body and

mind are exterior vehicles that allow this essence to express in

the phenomenal realms. Ordinary human awareness lacks the knowledge

of this timeless truth.

Through blind identification with the body and mind, confusion

results. Then forgetfulness arises and suffering follows. When

we are not attuned to our true nature as pure consciousness, life

can be painful.

Many people think that life is easy in youth and as the years pass

it becomes progressively worse. This misconception results from two

distinct errors in understanding. Life is not a series of events

or a time span of human existence. Life is the very essence of our

being. Life does not get progressively worse. It appears this way

because most people were never given the proper tools to

effectively deal with and digest the events presented during the

life situation.

Both errors in understanding can be corrected with effort. Various

tools are available for this task. The two most effective are

adopting a life enhancing routine and the practice of meditation.

When these two tools are united in purpose, we can then effectively

understand our essence as pure consciousness and function in

harmony with the trends of the natural world. 

Kriya Yoga is the path of effective living and intentional

meditation practice. Based mainly of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

and various other spiritual texts, Kriya Yoga utilizes lifestyle

guidelines common to all authentic spiritual traditions intent on

realizing the wholeness of life. Specific meditation techniques

that quickly and effectively cleanse awareness of debilitating

thoughts, memories and energetic patterns that prevent the

realization of our essence as pure consciousness are also key

to the way of Kriya Yoga. 

The term "Kriya" is generally translated as a cleansing action.

"Yoga" in this context refers to unification with our essence.

Any action that carries us closer to the realization of our essence

as pure consciousness is considered to be Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga

embraces all enlightening traditions. In this regard the devotional

methods of any religious practice that functions to support the

unification of our present state with our spiritual origins can

easily be practiced along with the methods of Kriya Yoga. 

Kriya Yoga is a method that effectively quickens our spiritual

realizations no matter our religious preference. Also note that

these methods do not need to be labeled spiritual. An atheist can

realize the true essence of being. Reality remains ever what it is.

Labels such as spiritual do not change it. 

The scope of Kriya Yoga is broad. As mentioned earlier, the term

"Yoga" by itself generally refers to any practice that serves to

unite the ordinarily fragmented awareness. There are many paths

of Yoga. Each path provides a route of reunification suitable to

a particular temperament. For the intellectually discriminating

yogi there is the way of knowledge, or Jnana Yoga. The person of a

devotional temperament may choose Bhakti Yoga. Service oriented

individuals can offer up their work for the world as a method of 

Karma Yoga. The physically inclined who are able to purify and

strengthen their bodies through psycho-physiological efforts can

practice Hatha Yoga. The culmination and synthesis of all these

paths to oneness constitute the body of Kriya Yoga. 

Jnana Yoga methodically clarifies awareness through discrimination.

Through inquiry into the true nature of existence, all that is not

truth is cast aside. As the practice deepens, the shining light of

wholeness reveals itself to the intellect of the yogi. This is

mainly practiced through meditation and delving into questions such

as "What am I?" The difference between Jnana Yoga and shallow

philosophical speculation is that the questioning process is given

total concentration until the truth is revealed from within.

Of all the branches of Yoga this may be the least theistic. An idea

of the divine is not necessary to practice Jnana Yoga; although it

is possible inner realizations may lead to this concept. Ultimately,

through Jnana Yoga all concepts are dissolved. Then there

is only the reality of being.

Bhakti Yoga invites the presence of divine love to gracefully mend

our fragmented awareness. By devotional worship, song, meditation,

and service the Bhakti yogi directs all attention towards the form

of the divine most beloved to the heart. The energy of their love

and attention clears the way for clearer states of consciousness 

to emerge. Just as the Jnana yogi masters their attention and

directs it to the goal of realization through inquiry, the Bhakti

yogi does so through intense devotion. Separately, both routes lead

to the same state of consciousness. As Paramahansa Yogananda has

stated, together the combination is unbeatable.

Karma Yoga provides a route of practice for people interested in

assisting the world to reach a more harmonious state of affairs.

Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Theresa are

excellent examples of Karma Yogis. Through their work and service

as spiritual practice the world was uplifted. In a sense, all

branches of yoga fall under the category of Karma Yoga. As each

individual undertakes the task to uplift and clarify his or her

awareness in whatever way best suites them, the awareness of the

whole is uplifted and clarified as well. Any effort to improve the

individual improves the whole and vice versa. As you will learn

through the practice of Yoga, there is no real boundary between

yourself, the world and anyone else. 

The most widely known form of Yoga in the West is Hatha Yoga.

More precisely this can be called "asana" yoga. An asana is a

bodily posture held to strengthen the body and improve the quality

of the life force. When the body is strong and the life force flows

without disturbance the foundation for profound meditation is set.

Hatha Yoga primarily is a preparatory practice for higher

realization. Although, practiced with alert attention can also

produce a powerful form of moving meditation.

To practice Kriya Yoga means to engage the life fully by enlisting

all four branches of Yoga in a surrendered effort to realize the

purpose of incarnated life. As Paramahansa Yogananda has said,

"You are in this world for but a little while. The ultimate purpose

for being here is much different than what most people imagine it

to be." This school that many people call "life" is not intended to

provide the opportunity to gather riches, rule the world, have lots

of friends or gratify all the senses. If this were the case then

people who satisfied these goals would be fulfilled. Through the

efforts of Kriya Yoga the purpose of life is fulfilled. With the

mind, the heart's desire, our surrendered service, and the

maintenance of the physical bodily temple consecrated to realizing

the truth of our being in relationship to the wholeness of life,

all is accomplished. 

According to Roy Eugene Davis in his book Paramahansa Yogananda: As I Knew Him Kriya Yoga involves, "disciplined thinking and behaviors, profound Self- inquiry, and awakening from the mistaken sense of Self". Mr. Davis also states, "Because attentive Kriya Yoga practice weakens and removes the obstacles which may interfere with the emergence of innate knowledge, it is extolled as the fast, direct way to awaken to Self- and God-realization that is suitable to anyone who sincerely aspires to be spiritually enlightened."

As mentioned above, Kriya Yoga is a way of life that involves dedicated practice of advanced meditation techniques and applying the principles outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita.

What is the History of Kriya Yoga?

In the current era the knowledge of Kriya Yoga emerged through a lineage of teachers that began in India. Mahavatar Babaji met and taught Lahiri Mahasaya in 1861. Through intensive training Lahiri Mahasaya was instructed to initiate people in all walks of life the path of Kriya Yoga. Previously the practice was reserved for renunciates unattached to worldly life. Lahiri Mahasaya was married with children and worked for the Military Engineering Department of the Government. By day he attended to his secular duties. At night he met with students and practiced Kriya meditation.

Swami Sri Yukteswar was a student of Lahiri Mahasaya. He was a Vedic astrologer and possessed knowledge of Ayurveda. Sri Yukteswar had a keen interest in the West. He authored the book The Holy Science at the request of Babaji in order to demonstrate the similarity in purpose of Eastern and Western spirituality. He was also the teacher of Paramahansa Yogananda, who he trained to carry the teaching of Kriya Yoga to the West.

Paramahansa Yogananda came to America in the early 1900's. He lectured extensively throughout America teaching Kriya Yoga and established the Self Realization Fellowship in California. Although a prolific writer, he is best know for his book Autobiography of a Yogi, which is an excellent source of information on Kriya Yoga.

On December 23, 1949 Roy Eugene Davis met his teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda at the Self-Realization Fellowship headquarters. Mr. Davis was ordained as a minister of SRF and authorized to teach and initiate others into the practices of Kriya Yoga. After leaving the monastic life of SRF, Mr. Davis also traveled the United States hosting seminars on Yoga. He then became the spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Awareness in Lakemont, GA.

There are various other teachers and centers dedicated to sharing Kriya Yoga.

How do I Learn to Practice Kriya Yoga?

Basic meditation techniques and lifestyle guidelines can be learned from books on the subject. Recommended reading in this regard are any commentaries on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita by Roy Davis or Paramahansa Yogananda, Seven Lessons in Conscious Living by Roy Davis, and Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

If a person feels a strong resonance with this Kriya Yoga tradition they can then learn the advanced meditation practices through an authorized teacher.