Kriya Yoga Meditation

Kriya Yoga meditation derives from an ancient Indian tradition, revived in the nineteenth century by the Indian Yogi Mahavatar Babaji. Despite its huge growth in popularity in the West and the attendant growth in numbers of teachers, many Gurus claim direct student-teacher lineage back to the students of Babaji. Its goals are to achieve inner tranquility and spiritual union with the divine. Its methods are similar to many other yoga systems, using breathing in particular as a means of achieving self-control. This technique of breathing and energy control is known as Pranayama, and has been linked to medical benefits including asthma and stress relief.

Procedure For Doing Kriya Yoga Meditation

1. Pay attention to your surroundings and actions all day, every day as part of your yoga meditation. Live in the present and when you find your thoughts roaming to the past or future, stop and listen to the sounds around you and in the rhythm of music. Take deep breaths and focus on your breathing and walk outside into nature to help if you have trouble.
   
2. Practice a life of giving and kindness. Let go of the circumstances that have harmed you in the past, help others when you can, find forgiveness for those who have hurt you. Find a balance between your self, family, friends and job--an essential part of Kriya yoga.
   
3. Practice meditation on a daily basis. Find a quiet location and sit with your legs crossed and back straight. Slowly breathe in deeply and hold it until you almost cannot hold it anymore. Pay attention to how your body feels, which in turn calms your mind.
   
4. Exhale slowly and completely and notice how your thoughts automatically slow as well. Continue this process for a few more breaths then stretch your right leg in front of you.
   
5. Say "OM" in a slow breath out, inhale and do this again 11 more times. Switch legs and repeat the process then do it again with both legs outstretched.
   
6. Lower your head with your chin on your chest as you say "OM." Inhale then slowly move you head to tilt backwards and say "OM" again. Repeat 25 to 100 times. End your practice with a 15 to 30 minute silent meditation.
   

Benefits of Kriya Yoga Meditation

• Calmness of mind, inner peace and the stilling of the internal 'chatterbox'
  
• A greater sense of life enjoyment and ability to enjoy the present moment
  
• Transformation of negative emotions, release of toxic emotions such as anger, resentment and worry
  
• Improvement of physical health including increased flexibility and tone
  
• Ultimately a movement towards and experience of oneness with God and all life
  

Kriya Yoga Meditation Video

Technique of Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga is effective as it works directly on the life force deep in our spines and helps to attain the spiritual growth. All Yoga techniques work with this vital energy, often indirectly. The yoga postures help to open up the spinal channels and balance the energy in the spine. The breathing exercises or Pranayama aids to awaken the energy.

The Kriya Yoga technique is more direct than other Yoga techniques. The practitioner of Kriya Yoga Technique can control the life force by mentally drawing the energy up and down the spine. According to Paramhansa Yogananda one Kriya takes about half minute is equivalent to one year of natural spiritual growth.

Yogananda describes the technique of Kriya Yoga in his 'Autobiography of a Yogi' as "The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers.... One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment."

The Kriya yoga Technique is taught through initiation. It needs the guidance of a guru or teacher as Yogananda said in his autobiography "Because of certain ancient yogic injunctions, I cannot give a full explanation of Kriya Yoga in the pages of a book intended for the general public. The actual technique must be learned from a Kriyaban or Kriya Yogi; here a broad reference must suffice."

Yogananda states that the Kriya Yoga Technique brings the practitioner to the source of inspiration and clears the brain and stimulates it, enhances knowledge and strengthens medulla and open the spiritual eye. The Kriya Yoga technique greatly magnetizes the body. By this method the blood becomes oxygenated that the breath rate becomes slower and slower. Thus student of Kriya Yoga lives more by the word of God or Cosmic energy. When the current is sent through and around the spine the brain can percept the feeling of God. These things can occur through the control of prana exercises of Kriya Yoga Technique, which are not ordinary breathing exercises. A huge number of students have practiced the techniques of Kriya Yoga with the greatest benefit to their spiritual and moral growth.

Source: IndiaNetZone