"Kriya Yoga, controlling the mind directly through the life force, is the easiest, most effective, and most scientific avenue of approach to the Infinite. In contrast to the slow, uncertain “bullock cart” theological path to God, Kriya may justly be called the “airplane” route"Paramhansa Yogananda
For over fifty years, thousands have looked to Ananda Worldwide for quality meditation instruction. Whether you are interested in managing stress or in exploring the spiritual side of meditation, you will feel at home in an Ananda class.
Meditation is one of the most natural and rewarding of all human activities. It gives direct, intuitive experience of higher realities, and is the cornerstone of true spirituality. It also brings balance, rest, and a growing inner peace. While its highest and original purpose is to help us awaken our inner, spiritual nature, the benefits to body and mind are well established by medical research.
Practiced on a daily basis, meditation produces profound results on all levels of your being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It connects you with your own inner powers of vitality, clarity, and love.
Kriya Yoga is a meditation technique that quickly accelerates one’s spiritual growth. It was first made widely known by Paramhansa Yogananda in his Autobiography of a Yogi.
Kriya is taught at Ananda Sangha just as Yogananda taught it — as a comprehensive spiritual path. Its effectiveness has been experienced by thousands of dedicated Ananda Kriya Yogis, from all walks of life, religion, and nationality.
According to Yogananda, Kriya is the most effective practice available to mankind for reaching the goal of Yoga: union with the Divine. Kriya is also very practical in its effectiveness. Kriya Yogis find that the practices enhance their ability to concentrate, to become more effective in business and in family life, and to become better people in every way.
Ananda offers in-depth instruction in several different meditation techniques taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, leading up to Kriya Yoga Initiation.
Before learning Kriya Yoga Technique, one needs adequate preparation and hence the 4 steps of the course are as follows:
- Step 1 – Learn how to meditate.
- Step 2 – Learn yogic principles and their application in daily life.
- Step 3 – Understand deeply the Guru Disciple relationship and how Master trained His disciples. After level 3, if one feels ready, attuned to Paramhansa Yogananda’s vibrations and that He is one’s Guru, then one takes a discipleship vow.
- Step 4 – Learn higher techniques that are necessary for being able to practice Kriya Yoga properly and also go into deeper and longer meditations with and guidance of the mentors.
The time required to finish all 4 steps is between 9 to 12 months. After that, you’ll partake in Kriya Initiation Ceremony and learn the main technique of Kriya Yoga. Both Discipleship Vows and Kriya Initiation will be given by Ananda Kriyacharya.
- Getting Started
- Learning to Relax
- Interiorization
- Focusing the Mind – Visualization, Prayer and Chanting
- Expansion
- Energization Exercises
- Bringing Meditation into Daily Activities
Main Takeaways:
- A simple yet powerful Hong-Sau technique of meditation
- How to sit comfortablyfor meditation
- How to still the restless mind
- How to take experiences of peace and joy into daily life
- The importance of breath/mind connection and the power of the focused mind
- The Energization Exercisesfor controlling and increasing your energy level and overcoming fatigue
- The History and Paths of Yoga
- Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga
- Yamas and Niyamas
- Life is a Battlefield
- Affirmations
- Energy and Energization
- Magnetism
- Guru
- The Anatomy of Yoga
- The Yogic Scheme of Life
Main Takeaways:
- Affirmationsto change habits and sub-conscious pattern
- Importance of diet in the yogic scheme of life
- What is proper breathing and some breathing exercises
- Some natural healing remedies for lifestyle habits
- Patanjali’s Yoga sutras for living life on higher principles
- The essence of the spiritual path in different aspects of living
- Why do I need a Guru
- The Disciple’s part
- Attunement with the Guru
- Life with a Master
- Paramhansa Yogananda: Incarnation of Divine Love
- The Guru as a Divine Friend
- A New Dispensation – Discipleship Initiation: Is it right for you?
Main Takeaways:
- How to deepen your spiritual life by following the guidance of a God-Realized Master
- You will see that your spiritual potential is that of a saint, you but only need to remember your divinity
- How to call on the blessings of the Master's so that you, too, may realize your highest potential
- In becoming a disciple, you will be joining thousands of other disciples worldwide who are part of Ananda
- Deepening your meditation practice
- AUM Technique
- Not by Techniques alone
- The Science of Kriya Yoga
- The Path of Kriya Yoga
Main Takeaways:
- It will help you tune more deeply into the Guru-Disciple relationship as it relates to the path of Kriya Yoga
- You will learn the AUM technique of meditation and additional practices that will help prepare you for your initiation into the Kriya technique
- It will not only expand your understanding of the Path of Kriya Yoga but will help integrate all your previous training into a comprehensive daily practice.