| History of Kriya Yoga Meditation | | | | individual to receive direct instruction from a true Guru |
| Kriya Yoga Meditation is perhaps one of the oldest | | | | in his own words, just as Yogananda did from his Guru |
| types of meditation techniques in the world. It had been | | | | and by doing so enter into the sacred guru / disciple |
| discovered and utilized by the ancient Rishis (illumed | | | | relationship. |
| sages) as a means of evolving the soul to final | | | | Kriya Yoga has been described by Yogananda as the |
| liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. It is | | | | highway to realization because of it's effectiveness. He |
| mentioned in one of India's most ancient scriptures, the | | | | further states that Twenty-four days or 576 hours of |
| Bhagavad Gita (The Hindu Bible). In this most sacred | | | | prayer or meditation by any other technique of |
| manuscript, the Lord Krishna implores his devotees to | | | | meditation (except Kryia Yoga) will not produce as |
| practice this most efficient means of salvation. Alas | | | | much as much spiritual advancement as 1 hour of |
| over the course of millenniums this ancient science | | | | Kriya Yoga meditation. |
| was lost in the "darker" ages of time. ( prevailing | | | | What are the Benefits of Kriya Yoga |
| thought paints history as occurring in a linear series of | | | | The benefits of Kriya Yoga are many and varied, |
| events, in contrast illumed masters state that time | | | | however can be classified as three-fold - Spiritual, |
| occurs in a cyclical fashion, with highs and lows in | | | | Mental and Physical. Some benefits in each category |
| mans material, mental and spiritual evolution through | | | | are as follows: |
| what is termed Yugas or Ages. see The Holy Science, | | | | Spiritual |
| by Swami Sri Yukteswar ) It's has only been relatively | | | | - You burn up the seeds of bad Karma that are the |
| recently in the 19th and 20th centuries that it has been | | | | root cause of all our troubles whether those troubles |
| rediscovered by one of the worlds foremost masters | | | | are of a Spiritual, Mental and / or Physical nature. |
| Mahavatar Babaji and has begun to spread once | | | | Whether they belong to a present or past lives. |
| more via pre-ordained masters, in the current rise of | | | | - You will enjoy being able to rely more and more on |
| mans evolution. The last in the line of pre-ordained | | | | an ever developing sense of intuition for correct |
| masters to spread Kriya Yoga in the west and the | | | | guidance through life. |
| world en masse was Paramahansa Yogananda who | | | | Mental |
| established Self Realization Fellowship (SRF) in 1925 as | | | | - You develop Super Concentration that will aid you in |
| the official body to continue with this work after he | | | | every aspect of life. |
| passed in 1952. | | | | - You will be able develop certain mental abilities that |
| What is Kriya Yoga | | | | will aid you in life. |
| Kriya is a method of Pranayama (life-energy control). | | | | Physical |
| Which is practiced in conjunction with other meditation | | | | - By the burn up the seeds of bad physical karma, you |
| techniques that can learned by applying to become a | | | | will enjoy better health in this or if necessary future |
| student of SRF. After the faithful study and practice of | | | | lives. |
| these Self Realization Fellowship Lessons over 1 year, | | | | - Generally speaking a person who is stead-fast and |
| in order to prepare the mind and body, the higher | | | | devoted to the correct practice of Kriya Yoga as |
| initiation of Kriya Yoga may be taken. This series of | | | | taught by Paramahansa Yogananda will as a rule finish |
| lessons are unique in the world because they allow the | | | | their incarnational cycle with this life. |