Kriya Yoga is a spiritual practice that has spread throughout the West, largely due to the immense success of Paramahansa Yogananda’s book, Autobiography of a Yogi. Despite being a wonderful science of the human soul, the world of Kriya Yoga is, unfortunately, pervaded by disinformation and superstition.
I discovered Kriya Yoga through my own research, and immediately after understanding its effectiveness, I began practicing it. Most people have bizarre ideas about what is necessary to start practicing Kriya Yoga: I was not initiated; I did not receive shaktipat (transmission of spiritual energy) from any guru; I did not pay large sums of money to any religious organization. I did none of the things you might believe are mandatory to start practicing Kriya Yoga. I simply started implementing my routine and reaping the benefits.
By interacting with countless people, I have noticed that many tend to avoid the practice of Kriya Yoga by making an infinite number of excuses and rationalizations. You are not going to have to learn quantum physics on your own: Kriya Yoga consists of a series of body movements, breathing techniques, and visualizations. Moreover, you will not truly be alone because you will be guided by your inner intuition: the true Guru.
What Is the Purpose of Kriya Yoga?
Gaining a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that make Kriya Yoga effective is crucial for maintaining a consistent and lifelong practice. Without a solid grasp of the reasons why Kriya Yoga works, you may find it challenging to stay motivated and committed to your practice, increasing the likelihood of abandoning your efforts prematurely. By exploring the scientific foundations of Kriya Yoga, you will develop a stronger appreciation for its transformative potential and be better equipped to persist in your journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
What Does Kriya Yoga Mean?
“Kriya” means action, and “Yoga” means union. Kriya Yoga is a series of actions that lead to union with the divine through the purification of the psychophysical system of man. Jnana Yoga is the intellectual path towards the divine; it aims to eliminate the illusion of separation through the discernment of truth from falsehood. Kriya Yoga is the energetic path towards the divine; it aims to eliminate the illusion of separation through the purification of the human psychophysical system.
How Does Kriya Yoga Work?
The ego is like murky water within the soul, obscuring your perception and preventing you from recognizing the divine presence that permeates all existence. Kriya Yoga is a powerful system of inner purification that dispels the illusion of Maya and reveals the inherent beauty and perfection of creation.
Through consistent practice, Kriya Yoga gradually transforms the murky waters of the ego into a clear, spring-like state of consciousness. The ultimate goal of Kriya Yoga is to liberate your consciousness from the clouds of ignorance that veil the divine presence within the phenomenal world.
Moreover, Kriya Yoga helps you break free from attachments to external circumstances, which often disrupt your inner peace and hinder your ability to recognize the absolute nature of your Being. Many people struggle with maintaining inner stability because their consciousness is constantly pulled outward, hypnotized by situations or events that lie beyond their control.
This tendency to externalize consciousness creates the illusion of separation and reinforces the belief that happiness can only be attained through the acquisition of external objects or experiences. In truth, the key to experiencing genuine happiness and peace lies in recognizing and abiding in the fundamental unity of Being. You already possess everything you seek; the only obstacle is the lack of consciousness of your true nature.
Kriya Yoga and the Chakras
To understand the logic behind Kriya Yoga, it is essential to understand the human energy system and the functioning of the chakras. Chakras are energy centers in the human body that coordinate the functions of the organism and ensure its proper functioning. Each chakra deals with particular tasks in the psychophysical whole of the human organism. There are multiple chakras, but in Yoga, the seven most important ones are: Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, and Sahastrara.
Where Are Chakras Located in the Body?
To understand the exact position of the chakras, stand upright, close the index, middle, and ring fingers of your hand, as if making the gesture of calling someone on the phone, and place your thumb on your navel, the position of Manipura.
Stretch your little finger towards the lower abdomen: the point you touch with your little finger is Svadhishthana. Bring your thumb to Svadhishthana and stretch your little finger downwards: the point you touch is Muladhara. Place your little finger on the navel and stretch your thumb towards the chest: the point you touch is Anahata. Bring your little finger to Anahata and stretch your thumb towards the throat: the point you touch is Vishuddha. Bring your little finger to Vishuddha and stretch your thumb towards the center of the forehead: the point you touch is Bhrumadhya, the frontal point of Ajna. Sahastrara is located at the center of the head’s surface, where the fontanelle is found in newborns.
Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, and Vishuddha chakras have both frontal positions, which you have just identified, and corresponding posterior positions along the spinal column. The Ajna chakra’s posterior point is known as the medulla, located at the back of the head where some religious practitioners maintain a small tuft of hair.
Unlike the other chakras, Muladhara has a single position, situated at the perineum in males and the cervix in females. The posterior points of the chakras align with their respective frontal points along the spinal column. In the practice of Kriya Yoga, greater emphasis is placed on working with these posterior chakra points, as evidenced by the central role of pranayama, or spinal breathing, in the Kriya Yoga tradition.
An Introduction to the Functioning of Chakras
Each chakra represents a unique aspect of consciousness and its potential for expression, which is fully realized when the chakra is purified and free from energetic blockages. However, for most individuals, the evolution of consciousness is severely hindered by deep-rooted attachments and fears, preventing them from attaining the pinnacle of human potential: the realization of the Self. Through the process of evolution, nature facilitates the development of consciousness up to the level of Muladhara, which represents the instinctual dimension of consciousness. To progress further along the evolutionary path and ultimately reach the divine, one must actively engage in the purification of their spirit.
Why Is Chakra Balancing Important?
Our inner peace is often disrupted by recurring thoughts and events that trigger deep-seated attachments and fears. These emotional and mental patterns create energetic blockages or knots within the chakras, hindering the natural ascent of consciousness.
For instance, many individuals find themselves constantly preoccupied with concerns about survival and reproduction, indicating that they are energetically blocked at the first two chakras. Survival instincts are associated with Muladhara, the root chakra, while reproductive drives are linked to Svadhishthana, the sacral chakra.
However, the concepts of survival and reproduction extend beyond mere physical existence and procreation. In this context, survival encompasses the preservation of all aspects of one’s identity, while reproduction refers to the expansion and growth of one’s sense of self through the pursuit and attainment of external goals.
How Kriya Yoga Helps Balance the Chakras and Raise Your State of Consciousness
Kriya Yoga provides a systematic approach to working on the impurities within the chakras, which are essentially a reflection of the impurities within oneself that cause inner imbalance. By practicing Kriya Yoga or focusing meditation on a specific chakra, one brings to light all the issues associated with the expression of consciousness through that particular energy center, empowering the practitioner to release these blockages.
In the Kriya Yoga tradition, each practice is thoughtfully designed to achieve a specific purpose, ensuring that no aspect of personal growth is overlooked. For example, Maha Mudra unties the knot in Muladhara and awakens sushumna, the central energy channel; Navi Kriya targets the knot in Manipura; mastering Khechari Mudra releases the knot in Vishuddha; and Pranayama works holistically on the entire energy system, with a particular emphasis on Anahata.
Chakras can be thought of as energetic switches that, when activated, facilitate the optimal flow and expression of consciousness. Interestingly, each chakra is linked to a specific region of the brain, and meditating on a particular chakra is akin to flipping a switch that illuminates the corresponding neural area. This connection between the chakras and the brain explains why working on the chakras using targeted meditation techniques can effectively promote the evolution and ascent of consciousness.
The power of Kriya Yoga lies in its ability to induce profound changes in the physiology and neurochemistry of the body and brain through consistent practice. If we were to study the brain of a mystic who has dedicated decades to meditation, we would likely discover striking differences in their neural functioning compared to the average person, highlighting the transformative potential of these ancient practices.
The Scientific Aspect of Kriya Yoga
Throughout your life, you are presented with countless opportunities to either reinforce or untie the knots that bind your consciousness. As long as you continue to strengthen these knots, you will find yourself trapped in a cycle of recurring experiences, each time manifesting in slightly different forms but invariably triggering your habitual reactions. Failing to address your inner state will inevitably lead to a negative influence on the events you encounter, as your unresolved blockages will continue to shape your reality.
Without taking deliberate action to free yourself from these deeply ingrained patterns, you risk perpetuating a cycle of reliving the same challenges time and time again. This is the essence of the concept of Karma – the idea that our thoughts, actions, and choices have a profound impact on the fabric of our lives. Kriya Yoga, as an inner science, offers a path to freedom from attachments and fears, empowering you to perceive and embrace the inherent beauty and perfection that permeates every aspect of creation.