The Benefits of Kriya Yoga

Human life is very short. It is constantly associated with a multitude of difficulties and obstacles. So, it is the duty of all wise and intelligent persons to accept and assimilate the essence of all spiritual practice, like a swan separating the cheese from the milk, and leaving only water. Kriya Yoga is the essence of all spiritual practices and it is the common highway of all religions.

Within a very short time, by the practice of the scientific technique of Kriya Yoga, one can get the simultaneous development of body, mind, intellect and soul. By magnetizing the spine by a very simple way of Kriya practice, one can perceive the all-accomplishing divine energy in the body, which in turn hastens physical, mental, intellectual transformation and ultimately gives constant God-consciousness.

Like any other science, the meditation of Kriya Yoga has two aspects: theory and practice. The theoretical knowledge of Kriya Yoga, one can be incalculated by reading holy books, their metaphorical interpretation by the realized master, or listening to his spiritual discourses. An ounce of practice is far better than tons of theories. So reading or hearing may create an impetus or desire, but it is not enough. It is highly essential to learn and practice the scientific technique from a realized master or highly advanced kriyavan acharyas who are empowered to teach.

Kriya Yoga is a practical science. It does not give attractive promises to be materialized in heaven or in the after life. It gives immediate result, direct perception of truth. Kriya Yoga gives payment in cash with immediate utility, not by check that needs convertibility. It confers mathematical result. The easiest, surest, simplest, quickest and best technique of Kriya Yoga is a complete and well-balanced technique that can bring all-round development.

Health is Wealth

The human body is the principal thing and the foundation for a happy and spiritual life. It is why there is a proverb in Sanskrit:

'ar'ram 'dyam khaludharma s'dhanam: "Take care of the body; through good health one can practice and progress in spiritual life."

The body can be compared with a car or a machine. Kept in perfect condition it gives immense utility. If the body-vehicle is not in good condition, then it is difficult to reach the destination of life, that is God-realization.

The greatest wonder in the universe is the human life, i.e. the soul living in a house: the body-senses-mind-intellect complex. The human body is the most delicate system with many automatic and powerful organs. Heart and lungs are non-stop pumping sets, the eyes are the automatic camera-cum-projector which constantly takes accurate and perfect pictures immediately. The nervous system with sensory and motor nerves, sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves is the fastest communication system. The ear, nose, tongue, skin, genitals are delicate organs in their own fields. The stomach constantly digests varieties of food and the small intestine assimilates the essence of the food. The anus, urinary organ, skin, nose, etc. constitute the drainage system of the body. There are many glands with ducts and without ducts like pancreas, spleen, liver, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, etc. which regulate the human system.

Above all, the human brain, a small part of the human body, has tremendous power; it controls, regulates and systematizes all functions of the body and the mind. It is also called the divine kingdom, because the seat of the soul, the source of all spiritual energy, dwells in it.

If any human limb is in disorder, the whole body suffers and life becomes miserable. The human body is the vehicle for peace and happiness, but it may often becomes a storehouse of diseases. Diseases destroy the blessings of living. The bodily ailment brings physical suffering, mental upset, monetary strain and above all loss of precious human energy and time.

By the practice of the scientific technique of Kriya Yoga, the entire human system is magnetized and energized in a very short time. All the internal organs like liver, pancreas, spleen, thyroid, pituitary, pineal organs are activated. They secrete necessary hormones and enzymes to keep the body fit. There will be sufficient blood circulation in the brain and spine for balanced supply of oxygen to every remote part of the body. The digestive system, gastro-intestinal system, cardio-vascular system, respiratory system, excretory system, nervous system, genital system, etc. become active and efficient.

The ancient yogis, speaking high of Kriya Yoga, wrote:

"Kriya Yoga cures and prevents many unknown and fatal diseases, increases the digestive and assimilating power which confers a beautiful, lustrous and slim body until death. It prevents premature old age and death, giving a long and healthy life."

By the practice of this scientific technique, the body and mind remain disease-free, enabling one to live a complete life span of hundred years, as declared in the Isha Upanishad, mantra 2: jijivishet shatam samah. Through a life of moderation and regular practice of Kriya Yoga one can enjoy the beauty of human life, perceiving peace, bliss and joy.

Mind Control

Mind is the greatest blessing as well as a terrible human predicament. A regulated, controlled and channeled mind can give and fulfill all the expectation of human life, but if uncontrolled, it brings hell, miseries and sufferings. Although man is endowed with tremendous mental power, it is unused, misused and even abused. The mind is most powerful and moves faster than any thing else.

The Kriya technique highlights the relationship between breath and mind. Breath influences mind and vice-versa. Their mutual relationship revealed the mystery of how to control the mind.

Breath control is self-control. Breath mastery is self mastery. Breathlessness stage is deathlessness stage that bring the state of samadhi, the realization of the Absolute.

Kriya Yoga is based on a scientific breathing that pacifies the mind, slows the breathing process, and makes the breath flow inside the nostrils instead of outside.

By the practice of Kriya Yoga the mind becomes in a short time calm, quiet and thoughtless. The blood absorbs a better quantity of oxygen and becomes quiclky de-carbonized, which increases the general well-being. Man may become free from the stress and strain of life. A number of psychosomatic diseases can be avoided.

Intellectual Development

Man's memory, intelligence, brain power bring success in the material and worldly life. Kriya Yoga will make one simple, pure, perfect, humble and constantly alert. By the practice of the scientific technique of Kriya Yoga, one gets promptness, ready wit, fitness to cope with any situation or circumstance, and positive thinking.

Through more circulation in the head, thereby energizing the brain cells, the working capacity of the brain is enhanced. One will not get easily tired, and the memory and retentive quality of the brain will increase.

Personality Development

The word personality comes from the Latin word persona, which means "mask" or "covering". The formless soul is covered with the three bodies of ignorance (causal), thought (astral) and gross activity (physical). Man suffers from weak personality because of falsehood, hypocrisy, jealousy, ego, arrogance, malice, duplicity, all negative qualities. All these negative qualities diminish the standard of human personality.

By the practice of Kriya Yoga, one will be free from all negative qualities of human life. Love will flourish. The bond of friendship will be stronger. The body will be beautiful till death. One's appearance will be loving, pleasant, convincing and divine. One will have a sweet and balanced talk. By carefully avoiding unnecessary godless chatter, one will get immense mental, intellectual and spiritual energy by the techniques of Kriya Yoga. One's own power of understanding will increase, so also the power to take decision in a critical moment.

All the noble and divine wishes will be fulfilled. One will get thorough control over the restless and turbulent senses. Self-content, self-discipline and God-consciousness will bring a change in one's life. Kriya Yoga brings change in the entire human personality, making one free from falsehood and all negatives, and constantly absorbed in truth and divinity.

Spiritual Growth

Self-realization is one's birthright and the highest objective of human life. The power of God is ever present, but one is not able to perceive it constantly, in every moment, due to delusion, illusion and error.

Kriya Yoga enables constant soul-awareness, in every breath, in every thought and every moment. It quickens spiritual evolution and takes one to the door of spiritual realization in a short time.

Free from unnecessary hardship of other so-called yoga of body-gymnastic, with a little effort and endeavor, one gets ample spiritual harvest. However the necessary precondition is to practice the technique with love, daily, regularly and sincerely with implicit faith on God and guru.

Kriya Yoga meditation enables one to feel that God and His creation are one. Constant happiness, peace, bliss and joy will be the constant companions of one who practices Kriya Yoga.

Few words cannot explain or highlight the immense benefits of the marvelous technique of Kriya Yoga. The real path is perceived by the one who follows, practices and realizes.

By Paramahamsa Hariharananda