Kriya Yoga is a concept which utilizes both the power of science and religion, specifically spirituality, to discover the ultimate truth of self-realization. It requires no faithfulness to a specific religion. In other words it does not matter if you are a Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, an agnostic or an atheist. Anyone can benefit practicing Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga mainly is defined as “action with awareness” and it can significantly improve an individual’s physical health, mental clarity, vital energy, peace and well-being. It is a way of life in which every move in its path brings peace and harmony in a day’s life.
Babaji’s Kriya Hatha Yoga prepares the body, especially the nervous system and the mind for higher spiritual practices. It utilizes physical movement and concentration. There is a series of eighteen poses which are completed in nine pairs, with a pose followed by a counter-pose. These exercises help to prevent or cure several incurable sicknesses, such as diabetes, asthma, thyroid, etc. When each asana (posture) is practiced in coordination with the breath, a state of awareness is developed and it helps to eliminate restlessness in the body and mind. The asanas (postures) can purify and energize the body and calm and master the mind, if one practices them with concentration on the breath and the psychic centers (chakras) in the vital body. The practice of Kriya Yoga helps to maintain an overall healthy body, preventing any sicknesses or ailments.
It is understood that the universe is composed of five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and ether which corresponds with the five bodies in Kriya Yoga. The word “Kriya” itself means practical, so Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is a practical yoga which is a proven system that develops ones capacity in all five levels of existence: physical, vital (emotional), mental, intellectual and spiritual.
- Kriya Hatha Yoga (Physical Body) – physical postures that produce relaxation and stability.
- Kriya Kundalini Pranayama (Vital Body) – breathing techniques to awaken and circulate one’s potential power and consciousness throughout the chakras, or psycho-energetic centers.
- Kriya Dhyana Yoga (Mental Body) – the scientific art of mastering the mind through various concentration and meditation techniques to cleanse the subconscious mind of all superficial desires and any fears.
- Kriya Mantra Yoga (Intellectual Body) – the silent, mental repetition of particular sounds to awaken the intellect to higher levels of consciousness and creative intelligence.
- Kriya Bhakti Yoga (Spiritual Body) – the cultivation of divine love and spiritual aspiration for the true, the good, the beautiful the surrender of the ego bound consciousness to that of ones highest self. When the soul merges with spiritual forces in the universe to attain self-realization. This is the final step in which we realize that “God” is nothing but one’s own soul and that he cannot be found anywhere in the world except in ourselves.
Creating balance in the body is an important aspect that must be achieved in the path to self-realization. One can attain this balance by disciplining the physical body and attain calmness and peace in their daily life by completing all scheduled daily activities. The physical body balance can be maintained through the practice of the eighteen physical poses taught in Kriya Yoga. In summary, these techniques which have been created and evolved by Satguru Kriya Babaji are simple to practice, in order to receive its benefits. The 18 poses in the physical body helps give movement to all parts of the body. Next, the vital body techniques systematically increases the rate of breathing and intakes a flow of energy to help live a healthy life. Then, in the mental body the techniques are utilized to help one learn how to still their mind and bring forth new knowledge or intelligence. Afterwards, through the techniques practiced in the intellectual body in the form of sound, there is an increase in the spiritual value of the self, bringing them to a higher spiritual state. Finally, the soul goes into a calm and peaceful state with universal forces, in the spiritual body and with the practice of the five-fold path of Kriya Yoga, we achieve our goal of self-realization.
LOVE, SERVICE, DEVOTION, SURRENDER