Sadhanananda Kriya Yoga Fellowship

What is Kriya Yoga?

This is a question that can ultimately be understood by its practice. In the West, yoga is commonly thought of as various postures and stretching exercises. But those are components of Hatha Yoga. The word 'Yoga' covers immense ground, but it generally means Divine union. The practice of Yoga is the method of liberation of the soul. Yoga has many branches. Karma Yoga implies union with the Infinite or God through work or action. Jnana Yoga seeks union with the Absolute through practice of spiritual wisdom. Bhakti Yoga achieves the same goal through devotion. Mantra or Japa Yoga enables one to perceive the Divine through persistent utterance of sacred words. Raja Yoga comprised of eightfold path, as outlined by Patanjali, (e.g. yama, niyama, asana, pranayama etc.) leads one to the same Divine goal.

Kriya Yoga belongs to the school of Raja Yoga but it encompasses significant parts of other Yoga schools so deftly that its practitioner achieves maximum benefit with minimum effort. Pranayama or control of subtle life currents constitute the basis of Kriya Yoga. The spiritual aspirant maneuvers the breathing process to calm the mind to a point where an awareness of the Divine gradually manifests within himself.

The secret techniques of Kriya Yoga (to be learnt from a Sadguru), dissolves the personal ego and body awareness into the realization of eternity and ultimately union with Cosmic Consciousness. Physical, mental and intellectual upliftment happens spontaneously. Apart from a healthy and lustrous body, a sublime feeling that the Supreme Self is nestling within us in the form of divine light makes one free from the woes and anxieties of life and one can attain a serene and sublime calmness. Some aspirants feel divine vibrations in the entire body. Some become aware of the holy sounds, not perceived by ordinary human beings. But as an aspirant advances, he or she gets completely lost in the luminous spiritual third eye. The negative qualities gradually disappear. In this sublime stillness, one experiences the palpable presence of the Absolute, and one can understand why, in the Psalms (46.10) it is said,  "Be still and know that I am God".

Sadhananandaji’s Guru Bhabanandaji used to say very often: “Breathing is not the property of anyone or of any country, community or religion". He meant that anyone can attain the Supreme Reality through the breathing and energy techniques of Kriya Yoga. And that is why we can say that there is no communal or sectarian narrowness or discrimination in the Kriya Yoga tradition. Any individual can pursue this sublime path and can reach the summit of human attainment. There remains only one condition for success: sincere practice.

Why does one need a SadGuru in the path of Kriya?

The word 'Sadguru' means a real master. But the scriptures hint at something more:  a Sadguru is not only a realized master but also an embodiment of the Absolute in mortal frame. Sat is a word that also signifies the Ultimate Reality. One can remember brahmabid brahmaiba bhabati. "He who knows the Infinite, becomes the Infinite". A Kriya practitioner realizes the veracity of this truth as he advances in his sadhana.

Without the blessings of a Sadguru or an authorized Kriya master, none can enter this sacred path. Through diksha or initiation (a ritual somewhat like baptism), the Guru transmits His power and energy to the disciple. This is called shaktipaat, and in the course of Kriya Yoga practice, the disciple finds his inner identity merging with the Divine. A sense of pantheism envelops him and he perceives the Supreme Self everywhere.......

Can a Guru-disciple relationship be established without meeting one's Guru?

In strict yogic tradition, one has to meet one’s Guru and request initiation. If the Guru accepts the spiritual seeker as a disciple, then the Guru-disciple relationship is established. Lord Krishna has explained in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 4 Verse 34) that the three essential tenets of discipleship are: prostration or humble reverence, inquiry, and personal service to one’s Guru.

Paramahansa Yogananda writes in his commentary to Srimad Bhagavad Gita (God Talks to Arjuna, Page 515-516) - "There are three ways of tuning with the Guru: by self-surrender, by intelligent questions and by service.” He further mentions that an advanced disciple goes on receiving Guru’s blessings and guidance even after the Guru leaves his "mortal flesh for invisible Omnipresence".  A disciple starts his / her spiritual journey through initiation from the mortal physical frame of a Guru. After the Guru leaves his mortal frame, the journey continues in the astral world. Both Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Sadhanananda began the Guru-disciple relationship after meeting their own Guru in person. Both these saints give a wonderful exposition of the Guru-disciple relationship in their literary works, which postulate the fact that this relationship is not a matter of cerebral exercise.

In the ancient mythical age, we find Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, themselves being God, felt it necessary to honor this age old tradition of meeting Guru physically. 
 

Will Swamiji give me Kriya Yoga diksha (initiation)?

Whether someone will receive initiation from Swamiji is completely pre-determined by his prarabdha (past Karma). Some get refused by Swamiji to be initiated. He tells them “I am not your Guru. You better take initiation from some other organization. Your bhava (sentiments) match better with them, not with a Kriya Yogi.” In some cases, he himself has initiated some devotees by inviting the person himself. But in most cases, one needs to meet him and request initiation.