Kriya yoga is a blend of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti yoga techniques combined in a very complex form. The word kriya means to make an attempt or to transform. Though introduced to the modern world in the 19th century by master Lahiri Mahasaya, Kryia yoga seems to be much older. It is said to appear in the Bhagavad-Gita which is considered to be more than 3000 years old. Devotion to God, self-discipline of the body and mind as well as a stringent daily program symbolize the key ethics for Kryia yoga practice. In order for a student to understand the specificity of this yoga technique, the presence of a guru is a must-meet condition.
Kriya yoga has altered the lives of folks looking for a deeper, more spiritual connection with their essence. Focusing more on the Kundalini awakening, it involves a meditation practice theorized by a sequence of esoteric principles. Nevertheless, it also preaches the fact that one's power lies outside of oneself, that one needs a guru, or master, to access this innate spiritual life. There are several goals identifiable in Kriya yoga, among which is the elimination of the separation line between mind and body.
An examination of the three styles that meet in Kriya yoga is crucial for an understanding of the history and fundamental ideology of the practice. Thus, Karma yoga focuses on the movement of the soul the inner and the outer mind dimension; Jnana yoga stresses the wisdom, liberating mind through learning, while Bhakti yoga centers on love, and how it let one to come to terms with everything around oneself. By the shared mechanisms of these principles mind and soul purity are achieved. Consequently, Kriya yoga practitioners are certain that they can achieve self-fulfillment this way rather than follow other disciplines.
There are some stages to go through before practicing Kriya yoga. To start with, the body needs to be prepared, and Hatha yoga exercises are integrated in the practice for this very reason. Then, one has to prepare the mind. Mantras are uttered in Kriya yoga techniques in order to enhance the meditative experience. One of the stanzas in the Bhagavad-Gita states the fact that the objective of one who practices Kriya yoga is to look for and, hopefully, reach the Supreme Goal (Samahdi), by withdrawing from the external phenomena, by controlling one's sensory mind and intellect, and by banishing desire, fear and anger.
Kriya yoga has altered the lives of folks looking for a deeper, more spiritual connection with their essence. Focusing more on the Kundalini awakening, it involves a meditation practice theorized by a sequence of esoteric principles. Nevertheless, it also preaches the fact that one's power lies outside of oneself, that one needs a guru, or master, to access this innate spiritual life. There are several goals identifiable in Kriya yoga, among which is the elimination of the separation line between mind and body.
An examination of the three styles that meet in Kriya yoga is crucial for an understanding of the history and fundamental ideology of the practice. Thus, Karma yoga focuses on the movement of the soul the inner and the outer mind dimension; Jnana yoga stresses the wisdom, liberating mind through learning, while Bhakti yoga centers on love, and how it let one to come to terms with everything around oneself. By the shared mechanisms of these principles mind and soul purity are achieved. Consequently, Kriya yoga practitioners are certain that they can achieve self-fulfillment this way rather than follow other disciplines.
There are some stages to go through before practicing Kriya yoga. To start with, the body needs to be prepared, and Hatha yoga exercises are integrated in the practice for this very reason. Then, one has to prepare the mind. Mantras are uttered in Kriya yoga techniques in order to enhance the meditative experience. One of the stanzas in the Bhagavad-Gita states the fact that the objective of one who practices Kriya yoga is to look for and, hopefully, reach the Supreme Goal (Samahdi), by withdrawing from the external phenomena, by controlling one's sensory mind and intellect, and by banishing desire, fear and anger.
Source...