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Kriya
Yoga |
"The
blessed role of Kriya Yoga in the West has hardly more than just
begun. May all men come to know that there is a definite, scientific
technique of Self-realization
for the overcoming of all human misery!"
— From Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa
Yogananda |
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Dear
Friend,
I recently attended
a “church raising” work-week at the Ananda Community in Portland,
Oregon and, as is the case whenever I visit Ananda friends, I was asked
about Ananda’s work in the Northeast. “Are people interested
in what Ananda offers?” In reply, I commented that people are drawn
for many reasons—to learn to meditate, pursue yoga, or to better
their lives—but by far the largest group comes because they have
read the Autobiography of a Yogi or have heard about Kriya Yoga and want
to find out more about it. By ones and twos, souls find their way to Yogananda’s
teachings, with many eventually becoming disciples and kriyabans. In this
way, Ananda acts as a beacon for the Masters, drawing souls back to their
spiritual home.
The
Ananda Kriya Sangha: A
Brief History
I first received Kriya Initiation from Swami Kriyananda in 1969. In those
years, Swamiji would conduct an initiation once each year, or at most
twice, with little in the way of organized training beforehand. Because
Ananda was small, there was little need for formality. Swami knew each
student through individual association and gave the following general
guidelines to those wanting to learn Kriya: study the teachings, develop
a daily practice of the prescribed meditation techniques, and deepen your
attunement as disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda. These continue to be
the three major guidelines for those wanting to learn Kriya.
As the years passed and Ananda grew, Kriya initiations became larger,
more frequent, and began to be conducted in multiple locations, sometimes
even in other countries. To meet the growing need, Swami appointed a few
senior ministers to act as Kriya Ministers. I was afforded that blessing
in 1989.
Eventually, an “Ananda
Kriya Ministry” developed with organized training programs at Ananda
communities, and with correspondence lessons written to serve those who
live at a distance. You may have noticed that I also have been using the
term “sangha.” Sangha means “fellowship” and better
corresponds to how we view ourselves. We are a “fellowship of those
who practice Kriya Yoga.”
The Ananda Kriya
Sangha now reaches students throughout the world from the main Sangha
Office at Ananda Village in California and through branches of the Kriya
Sangha in Ananda communities such as ours in Rhode Island.
Kriya
Initiations on the East Coast
On the East Coast, we conduct Kriya Initiations three times each year
at the Ananda Retreat in Rhode Island. Prem-Shanti Rider serves as our
Sangha coordinator on the East Coast. It’s my hope to conduct additional
initiations in other locations if enough disciples can be trained. When
we receive inquiries about Kriya, we send out a 12 page booklet about
the steps toward initiation. We can send you some of these for distribution
if you should need them.
For the last few years
in Rhode Island, we have conducted one initiation each year into the “Higher”
Kriya techniques (the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Kriyas).
Group
Kriya Practice
I’d like to offer one simple suggestion—guided group practice
of Kriya with other kriyabans. Is it possible for you to organize or attend
such a Kriya Review in your area? If that’s not possible, come to
ours in Rhode Island. You’ll find the company of others will boost
your practice and make it easier for you when you are on your own.
One
Final Thought
Here’s one other small suggestion you might try
to gain greater inspiration to dive deeper into your Kriya practice. Reread
the chapter about Kriya Yoga in the Autobiography of a Yogi and read all
of the selections you will find under “Kriya Yoga” in the
index of God Talks to Arjuna, Master’s Gita interpretations. Whenever
I do either of these, I find welling up in my heart great feelings of
hope and spiritual potential. You might try it and see if it works for
you too.
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Joy
to You,
Jaya
Helin
Ananda East Kriya Sangha |
If you have an
interest in learning Kriya, write to me (kriyayoga@anandaeast.org),
or call Prem-Shanti Rider (401-377-8007). |
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| Step
1 on the path of Kriya Yoga |
The
Art and Science of Kriya Yoga—
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| Step
2 on the path of Kriya Yoga |
Energization
Workshop:
What Are The Energization
Exercises? |
| Step
3 on the path of Kriya Yoga |
Discipleship:
What Is Discipleship and
Why Is It Important? |
| Step
4 on
the path of Kriya Yoga |
The
Aum Technique of Meditation |
| Step
5: on
the path of Kriya Yoga |
Kriya
Preparation |
| Step
6: on the path of Kriya Yoga |
Kriya
Initiation |
Would
you like to receive a free 12 page booklet about kriya?
If so, send your name and address to: kriyayoga@anandaeast.org
(We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about Kriya.)
For further resources
and information about kriya visit our
ananda worldwide website. Also, those Kriyabans who have been initiated
through Ananda can receive a password for entry into a special page of
kriya resources by inquiring at this site.
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