Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga is the name given to the actions that purify and strengthen the body, both physically and psychologically, in preparation for the experience of the transmutative life force experienced during meditation and yoga practice. It is called the path of the good son, and referred to by Paramhansa Yogananda, as the Yoga of the householder.

Kriya refers specifically to the last three ‘nyamas’ as duties for everyday life, namely ‘Tapas’ Austerity, ‘Swadhyaya’ Self-Study, Ishwara-pranidhana’ Attentiveness to God. It is the Yoga most suitable for the western practitioner, and was revived by Lahiri Mahasaya who lived 1828-1895, and who was unusual among Indian holy men, in that he had a job, was a family man with children.

Any form of action or kriya, is not a blind re-action to an external situation, but an act of will for the greater good. It can take many forms from politeness to others, a moderate diet, control of the mind and regular yoga practice. Any form of self discipline awakens us to the established inertias that resist change; strengthens our central will, and helps us grow in self understanding. The householder does not live in isolation and has others to consider. They do not live in isolation from the world, such as in a cave on a mountain top. They live in the hurly burly of daily life, which provides the difficulties needed for development.

Patanjali defines Yoga as controlling the activities of the mind; which is quite a difficult thing to do when the senses are pulling us, first in one direction and then the other. To withdraw the mind from movement, and enter the stillness that transcends mental activity, is not abandoning ship, but rather placing oneself in a position of command. To awaken the wisdom mind, is to awaken the intuitive response from our vast storehouse of spiritual knowledge, and to which our thoughts are but the stepping stones.

Feeling is the key to unlocking the intuitive response, after first stilling the mind. A mind that is locked into one thought chasing another is confused by a variety of impulses, and feelings that obscures the clarity that lies within. The wisdom mind arises from inner clarity, and the love that transcends all differences. The techniques of yoga are there to bridge the gap between the lower mind and the all comprehending mind of the Divine, sometimes referred to as the mind of the heart.

Kriyas are actions that purify at every level from the physical to the spiritual. They are pure uncomplicated acts of will that focus heart and mind on that which is essential. Whether asana or pranayama the aim is to make the link between the underlying space (stillness), from which has arisen all movement.

Asana is held against an undifferentiated background of stillness; pranayama is an expression of life force that breathes life into all living things, or remains poised between breaths in moments of realization. It is from moments of stillness that we touch the reality that lies within, and grow in Self understanding. Kriya yoga is not different from Christian yoga as it does not serve self interest but aspires to a level of action as expressed by the words ‘Thy Will Be Done’

The householder, beset by the problems of daily life, through study, prayer or repetition of sacred mantra, refines and purifies his actions. Any form of self-discipline sets the pattern for the future; physical exercise will help to promote health. Actions that are consciously initiated (kriya), transform the spiritual body, so that the psyche or soul, not unlike the transformation of the caterpillar to butterfly, awakens the Self (atman), to much wider and freer dimensions of reality.

The Old Doctor

Liverpool University’s

Doc the old Clock   (The Old Doctor as featured on Antiques Roadshow)

No Tick Just Tock

No Tick but Tock.

At Midnight’s Eerie Hour

With Time to Spare,

Only Ghosts inhabit there.

How many have admired

Its beauty form and shape; 

It’s Healing Restful Tone 

Much like the Ancient ‘OM’ 

Tock, the moments gone,

His job is almost done.

Doc fills the space between

With healing power supreme.

How many Tocks to come 

With problems to overcome.

Before the Old Clock fades away 

To eventually pass away.

Light, Love, Peace and Truth

Light, Love, Peace and Truth is a summary of the words used by the many that have had near death experiences, ascended heavenward and returned. They are also a summary of the words used by holy men to describe their spiritual experiences. There is no light that is not spirit, light is a vibration of field energy and we are all condensed light, which as pure consciousness provides the clarity that structures life around us. To understand these meta-physical concepts we need to experience them for ourselves.

Consciousness is that level of awareness that perceives the differences that exist all around us. By meditating and stilling the mind, and letting go all impressions (if this were possible), we would not disappear but experience a refreshing and profound peace, and a sense of oneness with spirit. We can either choose light or darkness; darkness leads us to lack of clarity, depression and death. Even during the darkest nightmare, always look toward the light, as even on the darkest night the stars usually shine brighter.

To appreciate the light, set aside a little time each day to circulate the light, allow the light to flow inward through partially closed eyes, experience the light flowing inward with each conscious breath; as light and consciousness are not different. Occasionally retain the breath as consciousness is a catalyst and will help to promote healing. All life is crystallised consciousness and truth made manifest.

When meditating it is possible to use words that remain at the level of intellectual analyses, and still have no real understanding. We have to involve both the head and the heart and let love and light work within. Love is a developmental power that helps us to grow. Love and life are not separate, as life itself is divine love at work.

Eugene Halliday writes in his book The Conquest of Anxiety. ‘We are here in time to choose what kind of being we will to become’. There is a purpose to life, in which we all play a part. and by meditating on the light within, we awaken the intuitive faculty and a sixth sense attuned to the life of the spirit. Meditation provides moments of inner clarity, when we release the chains that bind us to the world of time and receive the intuitional guidance that we need.

To attain the inner clarity that leads to revelation takes perseverance, as there are hidden persuaders that try to control our thoughts and have agendas of their own. With just a little immersion into Light, Love, Peace and Truth, meditation is no longer a trial, but a joyous necessity.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE

TO BE OR NOT TO BE is the question for those who aspire to Raja-Yoga. Will is the law of 
being and when you know yourself as will you are a divine being. Self-rulership is the aim of the
raja-yogi, not rulership from inclination or passing fancy. The Self (Atman), is the spark of divinity within, and responds from within the light of a clear consciousness, and not from desire or limited self-interest. To be a raja-yogi, it is necessary to continuously practise continual Self-remembrance and to live in the present and not be caught by inertia, as each action plays itself out in time. Mathew 6:22 “if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”; which is to have one aim, to become Self-realised and to Will what God wills for you. To gain the clarity that links each level to the most profound levels of spiritual insight, Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, has given us the hierarchical steps, which if we have the will, and a willingness to do the work, will gradually clear the fog of delusion, so that we see clearly and take each next step in accord with the highest.

Yoga Bhoga

Yoga Bhoga is summed up in three words, pleasure, enjoyment and experience.

Taken from my Sanskrit dictionary:-

1. Enjoyment of the objects of the world through the senses. Worldly experience.
2. Enjoyment or unending bliss in the state of liberation, according to Dvaita Vedanta.

It may help us with the understanding of Yoga Bhoga if we reflect on the meaning of three words, Pleasure, Pain and Enjoyment. The word pleasure indicates that we are passive to a stimulus that we receive at our leisure. Pain is a unassimable level of stimulus that is unacceptable. Animals are particularly responsive to pleasurable and painful stimulus. Humans, in spite of threat or immediate danger, are more likely to go into a painful situation, if a loved one is threatened, or for the greater good. Experience tells us that pleasure is of limited duration as constant stimulation is no stimulation and in excess can become painful.

The word enjoyment (Joy) implies a degree of Self control as it is the affirmation and assimilation of a situation to which we have directed our attention. Meditation on the breath can lead to the experience of joyful unimpeded motion, by first stilling the mind and letting go every tension that distracts from observation of the breath, until there is the experience of being breathed rather than breathing. This experience is closely akin to the rise and fall of the joyful ananda or life force that undulates throughout time and space.

The opposite of liberation is lack of freedom and this does not necessarily mean imprisonment, it can also mean excessive regulation that restricts freedom of choice. It also has a psychological component as when identifying with restrictive or painful situations; we fall under the law governing those things.

The aim of yoga is to achieve Self Governance and Self recognition, as the Self is the immanent spirit in the centre of every being, which is essentially positive, it is the only absolutely real, and it has no negativity in it whatever and is essentially joyful.

To the yogi, freedom of action does not mean irresponsible action, but intuitive action guided by a source that transcends the limitations of the lower mind. An important Taoist concept is that of Wu Wei, of effortless action and knowing when to act and not to act. Wu Wei can be described as going with the flow, as can be experienced when practising T’ai Chi or when letting the breath rise and fall in harmony with life giving ananda.

Patanjali describes yoga as stilling the activities of the mind, which is not a recommendation to look mindlessly into space, rather to practice Self Awareness, free of the distractions of the lower mind and then to go with the flow, ‘letting’ go of all impedances to harmonious inter-function, guided by the light of truth within the heart. It is at this level of affirmation, that the life of the Yoga becomes a joy and each action affirms and awakens within the soul its eternal body of light and truth.

Against the background of the modern world it is difficult to maintain freedom from distractions and not unlike the seafarer practising close water navigation, there are tides of emotion to deal with and hidden rocks to catch the unwary. We have to be ever watchful and each time we forget our life course, bring ourselves back to freedom that lies within by practising continual Self remembrance.

The Word Yoga

The Word Yoga has a unique significance, and transcends the popular view of many, that it is only a series of exercises designed to improve health. When understood, Yoga can be one of the most important words in our vocabulary, as it is a reference to that which is our eternal reference centre. To discover this inner space, that transcends all outward limitations, is the goal and aim of Yoga. A similar word that carries the same spirit and significance of the word yoga is the word religion, which can also used in the sense of union, as it is defined as binding back to the source.

The words Yoga and Religion by definition are synonyms. However there is a subtle difference in stress, as Religion usually refers to a large and organised pattern of belief. While the Yogi usually stands on his own two feet with consciousness as his guide

The Yogi following a spiritual path, may well accept the discipline of the religious life, while at the same time working to develop his own being to the highest level possible. The Self (Atman), transcends the lower nature or ego, that has only self-interest uppermost in the mind, rather than the greater good.

Pratyahara or sense-withdrawal; literally ‘gathering towards oneself’, is possibly one of the most important next steps in Yoga, as it is a step we take when breaking identification with the objects of the sense world.

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff believed that most of us were asleep and on automatic pilot, and at his Institute for the Harmonic Development of Man. Would occasionally shout ‘STOP’, when his followers would freeze and suspend whatever they were doing, even stopping in mid conversation. They would then observe the real feeling and intention behind what they were doing. Revealing that we are not always awake and being true to ourselves.

The word Yoga can also be an important reminder, if every time that we hear the word, we stop for a moment, and remember the times that we experienced real peace and tranquillity. Moments of being true to ourselves, it can be a useful reminder during moments of forgetfulness, and a catalyst for change when needed most.

Magical Asana

Magical Asana captures the spirit of the living forms they represent. In the early days of the forest people, seated asana gradually evolved to represent the many living forms around them. Such as the Lion (simhasana), the Fish (matsyasana), the Cobra (bhujangasana), the Locust (shalabhasana). Even the ancient and sturdy Indian Plough (shalabhasana) had its representation. Whatever is named has its form and functions; change the name and both the form and function change. For example, the Lion posture can be more than a vague representation of the Lion and when entered into whole heartedly, will capture the strength and courage of the Lion, and provide an energy boost if needed. Likewise the Cobra when invoked can transform a rigid posture into a flexible, mobile exercise with a sense of immediacy, not unlike the Cobra when ready to strike. Likewise the Tree (vrikshasana) is a living entity; in tune with its surroundings and the changing seasons. By attuning ourselves to Name, Form and Function, asana becomes more than a movement with physiological benefits and awakens energies with a healing and transforming potential.