Kriya Yoga Teachings and Gurus

Kriya Yoga Overview

Kriya yoga is also called kriya. The word 'kriya' stems from the Sanskrit verb 'do'. It has the same root as 'create'. 'Kriya' is understood as "action, deed, effort", and is used with such wide meanings in Sanskrit works. And such works may not at all refer to the methods of gentle pranayama (breathing) called kriya yoga.

Types of kriya may vary widely between different schools of yoga. There are very many kriya yoga practices around. One form of kriya yoga is taken to be given out by Lahiri Mahasaya, and popularised later by Paramahansa Yogananda. Kriya yoga is intended to bring about deep peace of mind. It is also claimed to accelerate spiritual evolution. That claim is not proved by research. Yogananda's kriya is hedged by a terrible oath that is put in your path along with output by a guru who hailed dictatorship, more than suspect kriya hype, and a fellowship that tells, "we do not find fault with Paramahansa Yogananda's guidelines . . . we believe that . . . his wisdom is flawless." Guess what: it is not. And note the very clear sign of a cult. It demands deep submission too.

Kriya yoga also refers to yoga practices taught in Satyananda Yoga. Kriya yoga is laid bare in detail in two of his books - thus, you can learn kriya yoga without binding yourself to any guru at all, no inconsistent guru-given doctrines with a lot of should's and should-not's, and preserve your freedom and democratic hold. [Cy; Kta;]

Core kriya yoga is freely taught on this site. It is easy to do it too. Try it out for free if you care.

In Tibetan Buddhism, there is kriya too. It refers to a practice in the Nyingma tradition, which is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and dating back to the 700s AD. The Nyingma tradition is traced back to Padma-Sambhava. Nyingma transmits tantric teachings called Vajrayana.

Good parts of the kriya system are taught by Prem Rawat.

Bodily sides to kriya yoga may be seen in hatha-yoga of body postures, and the like.

Literature  

Cy: Satyananda Saraswati, Swami. A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Munger: Yoga Publications Trust, 1981.

Kta: Satyananda Saraswati, Swami. Kundalini Tantra. 8th ed. Munger: Yoga Publications Trust, 2001.



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