Discovery of Kriya Yoga: The Path of Spiritual Transformation

Introduction

Sacred science of advanced meditation techniques, Kriya Yoga offers a concept very close to Raja Yoga: divine union.

The practice of Kriya Yoga leads to a deep state of serenity, liberation of the soul and the experience of divine joy.

To achieve this, we must master our mind using prana and breathing.

Yogananda, a master yogi who introduced Kriya Yoga to the Western world, points out that prana and breath are connected to the heart and mind.

When we place our attention on our breathing, we take control of prana and our heart which stabilizes and slows down and by ricochet effect, the mind and our thoughts also stabilize.

This is the secret of Kriya Yoga and what makes it so powerful.

To fully understand this mastery of prana, a small comparison is necessary.

In Hatha Yoga, we will use the physical manipulation of breathing to “force” prana into the “sushumna”, the central channel which brings together the energy passing through the major chakras.

In Kriya Yoga, we use our consciousness, our mind to direct prana and bring it into the energy channels.

Yogananda says that Yogi Kriya mentally directs his vital energy to wrap it around the 6 energy centers of the spine: the medulla, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.

In practice, a Kriya Yoga session mixes breathing exercises called pranayama, mantras and mudras which accelerate spiritual development and generate a state of deep tranquility.

Sometimes, the 39 energy recharge exercises developed by Yogananda can be performed at the start of the session as preparation for meditation.

Kriya Yoga is learned only in a master-student relationship.

After a year of studying Kriya Yoga techniques, disciples receive the initiation which formally establishes the relationship with the guru.

The 144 techniques of Kriya Yoga are divided into 5 levels, which the student will gradually reach under the watchful eye of the master.

Origins and History of Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga has its roots in the ancient yogic traditions of India.

It was introduced to the West by Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the famous book "Autobiography of a Yogi".

According to the teachings of Yogananda, Kriya Yoga is a sacred science which helps develop the union between the individual soul and the universal spirit.

This practice has been passed down from master to disciple for millennia, preserving its authentic techniques and teachings.

Texts and reference person

Lost for centuries, Kriya Yoga is a very ancient form of Yoga that was reintroduced in modern times by Mahayatar Babaji.

Initiated into Kriya Yoga by his spiritual master, the Yogi in turn transmits it to his students, thus creating a lineage of gurus.

Lahiri Mahasaya, the first yogi to openly teach Kriya Yoga and disciple of Mahayatar Babaji, transmitted his knowledge to Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri.

It was the latter who was appointed to train Paramahansa Yogananda and prepare him for his task of spreading Kriya Yoga in the West.

Yogananda moved to the United States in 1920 on the West Coast where he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship.

Published in 1946, his book “Autobiography of a Yogi” is the receptacle of the experiences of an unusual life and the presentation of the founding principles of Kriya Yoga.

This work influenced many figures such as George Harrison, the Beatles and Steve Jobs and was named in 1999 as one of the "100 most important spiritual books of the 20th century" by a conference of spiritual authors.

A book to add to your list of reading ideas, if you have one!

Principles and Philosophy of Kriya Yoga

The word "Kriya" means "action" or "practice" in Sanskrit.

Kriya Yoga is based on the idea that through specific actions and practices, one can purify the body and mind, and thus accelerate spiritual evolution.

The fundamental principles of Kriya Yoga include discipline, meditation, breath control (pranayama), and commitment to an ethical and balanced life.

Kriya Yoga practitioners generally follow a series of moral and ethical precepts, such as truth, non-violence, and purity, which are essential for achieving a state of inner peace and spiritual realization.

Kriya Yoga Techniques

Kriya Yoga includes various meditation and breathing techniques that are designed to harmonize the body, mind and soul.

Here are some of the main techniques:

• Pranayama (Breath Control) : Pranayama techniques are at the heart of Kriya Yoga. They involve specific breathing exercises that help calm the mind, increase concentration and purify the body's energy system.
• Meditation : Meditation in Kriya Yoga aims to concentrate the mind and elevate consciousness. Practitioners use specific techniques to achieve a state of deep meditation, where they can experience a direct connection with the divine.
• Mantras : The use of sacred mantras is common in Kriya Yoga. Mantras are sounds or phrases repeated during meditation to help focus the mind and raise the spiritual vibration.

Intensity: Kriya Yoga is both gentle and intense, like meditation. It is not a physical practice strictly speaking but a technique of revealing the soul.

In summary: prana, life force, breathing, tranquility, rebirth

Equipment: To practice Kriya Yoga, clothing and a comfortable yoga mat are enough. For a more comfortable posture during meditation exercises, a zaffu (meditation cushion) may be useful.

For who ? : For all those who aspire to an integral transformation of their being on all physical, vital, mental, intellectual and spiritual levels. For anyone who wants to get rid of negative thoughts and fears that unbalance our nervous system.

Video: Here is a short introduction (in English) to Kriya Yogi by Lexi