Kriya Yoga Meditation An Ancient Meditation Technique By Lahiri Mahasaya
Kriya Yoga Meditation is one of the ancient meditation technique which was revived by Mahavatar Babaji and his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya in 1861 AD. Lahiri Mahasaya flourished Kriya Yoga Meditation among the people. Among his disciples, three have great contribution in Kriya Yoga Mediation; they are Shrimat Bhupendranath, Swami Shree Yukteswar Giri, and Satyananda Giri. Shrimat Bhupendra wrote dozens of books and established many ashrams in India. Swami Shree Yukteswar Giri promoted a key Kriya Yoga Principle: where Eastern and Western philosophy and religions share necessary characteristics. Satyananda Giri helped to promote Paramhamsa Yogananda. Paramhamsa Yogananda was a disciple of Swami Shree Yukteswar Giri. Kriya Yoga Meditation consists of advanced techniques of meditation. Devoted practice proceeds to God realization and liberation from all the bondage. This meditation was known to Jesus Christ who taught it to his disciples such as St. Paul, St. John, and others. Nowadays, this meditation is missed by Christianity. When Paramahansa Yogananda was chosen by the venerable line of gurus to bring Kriya Yoga to the west, he established Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920. After that Kriya Yoga Meditation was taught worldwide.
Paramahansa Yogananda describes Kriya Yoga in his book “Autobiography of a Yogi”. The core technique of Kriya Yoga Meditation is provided to the students who join the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons after an elementary period of learning and practice of the three initial techniques taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. Bringing these three preparatory techniques together, a comprehensive system is formed. These meditation techniques empower the student to instate the greatest benefits and divide the goal of the ancient Kriya Yoga Meditation.
Check out Some Kriya Yoga Meditation Techniques:
1. Energization Exercises
It is a series of psychological exercises, which takes about 15 minutes to perform, propounded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1916 to prepare the body for meditation. Regular practice improves physical and mental strength and promotes dynamic willpower. It promotes tranquility and relaxation. This process is also known as a recharging technique since it recharges mind, body, and spirit with universal divine power. It helps to draw copious energy consciously into the body making use of the respiration life force and concentration. It cleans and strengthens all the body parts systematically. The Energization exercises are an effective means of eliminating stress and nervous tension. It has 38- 42 steps which cannot be taught in words since it is the matter of practice. Its practice before meditation helps to enter a calm and aware state.
2. Hong-Sau Technique of Concentration
It develops an imperceptible power of concentration. This teaches to withdraw thoughts and energy from external distraction and shift the energy towards the real goal. You can learn this technique in 5 minutes.
- Sit comfortably with straight back and neck. Concentrate at the midpoint between the eyebrows of the forehead.
- Inhale slowly till eight counts, hold it for the same duration (means same counts) while concentrating at the center of eyebrows. Now exhale the breaths for eight counts. Repeat the process up to six times.
- After each complete inhalation and exhalation, as the new breath comes in mentally say Hong (rhymes with song). As you exhale mentally say Sau (rhymes with song). Sau-Hong (or Hong Sau) means “I am That” i.e. “I am God”. Do not attempt to control breath forcefully, just let it flow to be natural. At the beginning feel the entrance of the nostrils feel the “Hong Saw” sound your breaths. Be attentive and vigilant as much as possible. If you become unable to feel your breath, for a while, you can concentrate on the breathing process, feeling your chest and abdomen expanding and contracting. Gradually your calmness increases, and try to feel the breath more and more in the nose. Don’t moss gaze fixed at the center of eyebrows through the practice. If your mind wanders, bring your consciousness to the breaths.
3. Aum Technique of Meditation
Aum is considered to be God’s manifestation of creation through word or vibration as referred to in the Bible. According to the Bible, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. –Johan 1:1”. It is the vibration of the entire creation and all life. So, it can be heard from us. It is the sound of the Universe which can be heard all around us. According to Hindu Philosophy, it is the combination of threefold Gods- Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It brings cosmic consciousness. Aum extends the awareness beyond the limits of body and mind. One can experience the blissful realization of one’s infinite potential. For its practice- sit down in a meditation posture with closed eyes. Inhale long and exhale half of it sound “ooo…oo…ooo..ooo…” and remaining half with the sound “mm…mmm….mmm…”
4. Kriya Yoga Technique:
An advanced Raja Yoga Technique of Pranayama (life-energy control) is a Kriya which reinforces and revitalizes subtle currents of life energy (prana) in the brain and spine along with the seven chakras. The ancient hermits found that the brain and spine as the tree of life. They perceived that the subtle cerebrospinal centers (chakras) and consciousness flow the energies that vitalize all the nerves, cells, tissues, and organs of the body. Kriya Yoga Meditation makes this energy to circulate the lifestream incessantly up and down by the extraordinary. It greatly accelerates the spiritual evolution and awareness. Correct practice of Kriya Yoga normalizes the entire system of the body and mind and finally helps to realize God.
Yogi Shree Satyam has simplified the Paramahamsa Yogananda’s techniques of Kriya Yoga Meditation. He has taught 42 steps in Kriya Yoga. For the practice of Kriya Yoga, one has to learn those 42 steps with its theory. The purpose of those steps is to feel the body from head to toes more and more. Each and every activity increase the concentration head to toes and help to identify that each feeling, sensation is the manifestation of God. For each step, one need to close the eyes focused at the center of two eyebrows and tongue rolled back. After completion of 42 steps, there are other techniques- listening divine sound within with closed ears with thumb for five minutes (or more as per the time you have). Then, the technique is observing the natural respiration (for 10 minutes, morning and evening) in a meditative posture.
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