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Kriya Yoga

I have included a section on Kriya Yoga as this is my own personal spiritual practice.  It is not suitable for everyone, and when asked for advice I often point people in the direction of Buddhism.

 

Paramahansa Yogananda (7 kB) Babaji (20 kB) Paramahansa Hariharananda (4 kB) Lahiri Mahasaya (5 kB)
Paramahansa Yogananda Mahavatar Babaji Swami Sri Yukteswar Lahiri Mahasaya

Kriya Yoga was introduced to the world by Lahiri Mayasaya in the 19th century, after he made contact with Babaji, the Divine Himalayan Yogi.  Babaji achieved immortality and enlightenment around the 2nd century AD through Siddha Yoga.  Kriya is a synthesis of the four higher steps of Ashtanga Yoga taught by Patanjali - Pratyhara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.  It consists of several techniques, but the common one involves circulating pranic currents through the Sushumna channel of the spine combined with breathing and visualisation exercises. Tradition requires that disciples are initiated by a Guru and taught the techniques - for this reason, the precise details of Kriya are not published on the internet or in any books. There are, however, many Kriya teachers throughout the world who disseminate the practices.

Resources include:

 

The teachings of Babaji are continued in Tantra through a technique known as the Cobra breath, which is a form of Kundalini Kriya very similar to the teachings of Kriya promulgated through other organisations.  Refer to "The Jewel In The Lotus", a book by Sunyata Saraswati, and also a complementary book by Anandakapila Saraswati (Dr John Mumford) called "Ecstasy Through Tantra".

Govindan describes Kriya Hatha yoga, Kriya Kundalini Pranayama, Kriya Dhyana yoga, Kriya Mantra yoga, Kriya Bhakti yoga (as taught through Self-Realisation Fellowship), Kriya Karma yoga - in short, there is a Kriya practice to suit almost every type of person.

Autonomic and Sympathetic Nerves

Nerve diagramThe diagram opposite is from Wikipedia, showing our "internal wiring".  Kriya Yoga is a highly scientific technique, and works direclty with these nerve channels.  The sympathetic nerve channels are shown in red, and the autonomic nerves in blue.  The autonomic activities happen generally below conscious awareness - "automatically".  The sympathetic and parasympathetic (autonomic) channels work in opposition to each other.  The term "fight or flight" has been given to the sympathetic nerves, and "rest and digest" to the autonomic, but this is an oversimplification.  Notice that almost all the organs have both blue and red connections - the exception being the adrenal gland.  The red channel stimulates, the blue channel pacifies.  Yoga practice is to achieve balance - too much red and the person will be stressed and burnt out.  If blue predominates the person will be lethargic and sleepy, or may die! 

There are 12 nerve pathways that emanate directly from the brain.  Most of these are connected with the eyes, ears, nose, facial muscles, hearing, etc.  The vagus nerve, X, is the great autonomic nerve pathway connecting the brain directly to the internal organs.  In many Yoga paths it is said that mastery over this nerve brings control over heart rate and digestion, as well as a high degree of control over pain.  Pranayam, breath control, works directly with the vagus nerve and changes in the concentration of Carbon Dioxide in the blood is known to have an affect on the Medulla and on Serotonin production.  (More on hormones).

The sexual organs are not controlled by the vagus nerve, but are attached to the bottom of the spinal column.

One can immediately see the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathic nerve channels, and the ida and pingala. 

 

For a greater understanding on the hormonal changes that can take place during Kriya, check out Jana Dixon's Biology of Kundalini.

Objective of Kriya Yoga

I believe that one should always ask what the point is of doing any activity.  Kriya Yoga works for me, but it may not work for everybody.  So why should one practice it?  (Note:  a person who practices Kriya is referred to as a Kriyaban).

Whilst you may not have heard of Kriya Yoga, the techniques are very similar to those taught in other schools including Tantra, Kundalini Yoga, and I understand similar to the teachings of Kabir, Guru Nanak (Sikhism - Surat Shabda Yoga), Taoist Yoga.  Similarities also exist with the techniques of the Sufis and Gnostics (going back at least over 1,000 years).  The practices are not unique to Kriya.

The major milestones and results from practicing Kriya are:

So why would I want to do either of the above?  What is the point?  Firstly, to put it bluntly, if the above objectives do not appeal to you then you need not waste your time practicing Kriya techniques!  It isn't for you.  For me, the real point of practice are "spin-off's" from the above objectives, namely an increase in happiness, consciousness and awareness. 

If you have read my other discussion on hormones, you will note that I have stated that every activity can be addictive.  Drugs and alcohol and coffee are addictive, setting off chemical reactions in the body that demand repetition of the dose.  So is sex, physical activity, study, and meditation.  Without entering debate as to which is better or worse, suffice to say that a deep state of contemplation on the inner light (Omkhar) does immerse the meditator in a state of ecstacy or bliss.  This is a different type of pleasure to that derivated from sex or drugs. 

It has been shown that the practice of Pranayam (slow controlled breathing) is a natural state that animals resort to when in particularly dangerous situations.  This method of breathing recharges and calms the body, making it ready for "fight or flight".  I have wondered if the attraction to the breathless state is a memory back to the time in the womb.  In that state we were not breathing, and the hormones circulating the body were quite different - it may well have been a blissful state.  Training the body to re-enter the breathless state is likely to trigger the same hormone release.  There also appears to be a great expansion of awareness during this state (and there are multiple levels of Samadhi, with increasing states of awareness).  The state of Samadhi seems to be similar to that described by those who have had Near Death Experiences (NDE).  Descriptions of NDEs usually are of increased awareness, love and peace.

For some people, the loss of the ego and merging into the awareness of everything is a state worth striving for.  It appears more permanent than the normal everyday existence.

© In the Light, 25 September, 2009 , Disclaimer, Son of Suckerfish drop-downs from HTML dog