Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga is a breathing type of Yoga (2). It enables one to achieve higher spiritual development, peace, and communion with God through Pranayama (extended breathing techniques). It is said to be an ancient practice that was brought to life by Mahavatar Babaji and then transmitted to his student Lahiri Mahasaya. Paramahansa Yogananda said "The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One half-minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment" (2).

Kriya Yoga is a technique which enables a person to transform the grosser states of being human into the divine (1). It “can remove nervousness, weakness, fatigue, anger, sorrows, fear, and premature death, and can perceive divineness inside the cerebrum and cerebellum.” It will also enable a person to perceive divine qualities and “feel true love and regard.”

Like in all Buddhist and Hindu teachings, the middle way is emphasized. In the Bhagavad Gita (6:17) it is written that “moderate diet, moderate sex pleasure, moderate work, and moderate contemplation will enable man to have a calm mind and God-realization.”

Reference:

(1) Hariharananda, P. (2008).Kriya Yoga: The Scientific Process of Soul-culture and the Essence of All Religions. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Ltd.

(2) Kriya Yoga (n.d.) Retrieved May 28, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriya_yoga