From the Lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda as Shared in “Autobiography of a Yogi”
Kriya Yoga is an ancient meditation technique of energy and breath control, or pranayama. It is part of a comprehensive spiritual path, which includes additional meditation practices along with right living.
Learn to meditate with the simple technique of Paramhansa Yogananda, first on the Path of Kriya Yoga. The Ananda course is available online at a do-it-yourself pace with individualised support and coaching to help you complete all the content to prepare you for Kriya Initiation.
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According to Paramhansa Yogananda, Kriya Yoga is the most effective technique available to mankind today for reaching the goal of Yoga: union with the Divine. Kriya Yoga is so effective because it works directly with the source of growth — the spiritual energy deep in our spines.
All yoga techniques work with this energy, usually indirectly. Yoga postures, for example, can help open up the spinal channels, and balance the energy in the spine. Yoga breathing exercises, or pranayama, can help to awaken that energy.
However, Kriya Yoga is more direct. It helps the practitioner to control the life force by mentally drawing that life force up and down the spine, with awareness and will.
Kriya is also very practical in its effectiveness. Kriya Yogis find that it enhances their ability to concentrate, to become more effective in business and in family life, and to become better people in every way. Watch this video on how Kriya affects the brain. Or read testimonials about Kriya.
By AnandaAustralia.org, a registered charity in Australia connected to Ananda Sangha Worldwide.
Ananda teaches Kriya Yoga as a comprehensive spiritual path – which includes meditation techniques, discipleship, and study of the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda. Yogananda taught four central techniques on the path of Kriya Yoga.
The four work together to maximize the effectiveness of the Kriya technique.These include his Energization Exercises, Hong-Sau, AUM Meditation, along with discipleship to the Kriya line of Gurus. The Kriya technique itself is effective only to the extent that the Kriya yogi practices it with awareness, sensitivity, devotion, and in conjunction with other practices taught by Yogananda. You can begin by watching our YouTube playlist that includes some (but not all) of these techniques here.
Thus, the path includes the bringing the art and science of yoga and meditation into your daily life. It also means the successive lessons and "levels" that lead up to Kriya Initiation.
Within Ananda Sangha of Australia sangha, we work closely with a Kriyacharaya (teacher of Kriya) given permission by Ananda Sangha Worldwide. Thus, we follow the typical ordering of courses of Ananda Worldwide:
Level 1) Lessons in Meditation (the Ananda Course in Meditation)
Level 2) Art & Science of Raja Yoga (Living the Principles of Self-Realisation)
Level 3) Discipleship (must have completed Levels 1 and 2)
Level 4) Kriya Preparation (must have completed Levels 1 to 3)
Level 5) Receive the Kriya Technique (Levels 1 to 4 completed and with Kriya teacher approval after review of application and counselling)
'Kriya' is a commonly used word in yoga. It literally means 'action,' and is used to describe many different techniques. The Kriya that we teach at Ananda is specifically the Kriya Yoga of Lahiri Mahasaya. Read more on Kriya taught through Ananda and how to choose the right spiritual path for you.
We have seen that when people practice Kriya without proper instruction, they often practice subtle techniques incorrectly and don’t gain the benefits.
Before you can be initiated into Kriya Yoga through Ananda Sangha, there is a process of preparation which includes study of Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings and practice of other meditation techniques. Over the years, Ananda has helped thousands of truth seekers all over the world to prepare for initiation into Kriya Yoga. We’ve seen that the practice of Kriya is infinitely more effective after the proper preparation and study of the Kriya teaching.
The actual Kriya technique is given through in-person initiation, and only after establishing a regular daily practice of the first three techniques: Energisation Exercises, Hong-Sau, and AUM. This process takes about a year or more, depending on the student, as each of these techniques needs to be integrated into one’s life before moving forward.
These are given in the Ananda Course in Self-Realisation which leads you to Kriya Initiation, explained in the section below.
If people practice without trying to attune to the Guru’s grace, again, they don’t feel the full results and often lose interest in the practice. By preparing more completely, people usually embark on a lifelong commitment.
In Autobiography of a Yogi we also have the example of how Kriya Yoga was first introduced in this modern age. It was given through a sacred initiation. This tradition is carried on even today.
Kriya is not a “magic pill” that involves simply following a technique. The depth of Kriya comes from careful preparation, using the techniques given by Yogananda, as well as a deep understanding of the attitudes of discipleship and willingness to attune with the Guru.
Swami Kriyananda has said, “I’ve seen that people who try to do the path on their own, ‘going directly’ to Master, don’t show the same purity and depth as those who connect with the direct disciples of the Guru.”
Kriya is a technique that works with our inner energies. Our nervous system needs to be properly prepared for it—not only in terms of outward practices, but especially in terms of the right understanding, humility, and devotion in our attunement to the Guru. These are subtle qualities that take time to develop. The Guru is there to help us be prepared for the incredible amount of energy that comes in Self-realisation, acting as a “circuit breaker” for our ability to awaken. Their grace allows us to transform and acts as our polestar through the ups and downs and challenges of taking up the spiritual life. The power of the Kriya technique comes through the blessings of the Guru.
The Kriya technique is taught through initiation by one of our Kriyacharyas or Kriya Yoga teachers who are authorized by Swami Kriyananda, who himself was authorized by Paramhansa Yogananda, to pass on the Kriya technique. Many of our teachers have been initiating people into Kriya Yoga for more than 30 years, and teaching meditation for over 50 years.