Kriya yoga is a form of yoga (connection) by which you are connected to God by any kriya (action). Anything that you do and gives you connection with God is called Kriya Yoga. It may be work, walking, talking, breathing but anything in your day-to-day routine that connects you to God is Kriya Yoga. All the time you are immersed in God - be it at work, when you are eating, whatever you do. You don’t need to do hymns, meditation, or contemplation to connect with God. In every aspect of your life, you are connected to him. When this is combined with surrenderness that everything he is doing, and everything is by him, due to him (not for him). Thus, when your existence is not there, it is only him, it is known as Sahaj - Kriya Yoga.
Kriya Yoga is not only breathing exercises. These breathing exercises only help to energize your body with Godly thoughts through equalization of Ida & Pingala. But constant connection with God is Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga was told by Mahavtaar Babaji to Shri Lahiri Mahasaya and through him to his disciples. Kriya Yoga can only occur when guru gives his grace to the disciple and then only disciple can constantly connect with God. Thus, Kriya Yoga is possible only through grace. It is not for masses. And thus, Kriya Yoga cannot be taught through organizations or by taking fees as it can be only achieved through grace.
Kriya Yoga cannot occur without guru’s grace and disciple’s merit. Similarly, any form of diksha (initiation) - Mantra diksha, tantra diksha cannot occur without grace & merit. Those who state they are “gurus” can never give grace. For an enlightened person, there is no superior or inferior, there is no separation. Thus, enlightened people will never proclaim themselves as gurus. It is only because disciples consider them as guru and flock to them that the grace is received. The enlightened ones are always showering grace. Disciple’s readiness is needed. They never say, “Come to me, I will give you diksha.” They never have to say anything. Their grace is always flowing, you only have to catch it. That is how Maharishi Raman showered grace. He never said he is guru. Kaka never said he is guru. Through their eyes, no one is separate. Kabir went to Sant Ramananda. Sant Ramananda never told him that, “I will give you diksha.” But through Kabir’s perseverance, he received grace of Sant Ramananda.
There are total eight aspects of kriya yoga:
1. Dharma (ધર્મ) - Righteousness
2. Karma (કર્મ) - Right action
3. Prati (પ્રતિ) - In discipline
4. Ati (અતિ) - That is done without any boundary or bondage
5. Lai (લય) - In tune with the divine order
6. Kshama (ક્ષમા) – Forgiveness completely
7. Bhadrashali (ભદ્રશાળી) – in good mental and physical health. The asanas and pranayama come here. Breathing exercises alone do not mean kriya yoga.
8. Udvesha mukti (ઉદ્વેશ મુક્તિ) – freedom from doubts and indecisiveness with clarity of thoughts and emotions.
Kriya yoga is not something that can be done by reading books. It is possible only with Guru’s grace and his guidance.
- These are topics of various aspects of spirituality as told by Para.