Paramahansa Yogananda — Autobiography of a Yogi and Kriya Yoga: Life, Legacy, and Spiritual Practice

Introduction

Significance

Auspicious Time

Required Samagri (Materials)

Preparation Steps

1. 1Bathe or wash hands, face, and feet to purify the body (saucha).
2. 2Wear clean, dedicated meditation clothes.
3. 3Prepare the meditation space: clean, quiet, well-ventilated, facing east or north.
4. 4Set up altar with guru photos, light lamp and incense, offer a flower or fruit mentally.
5. 5Sit in a stable posture: padmasana, siddhasana, or sukhasana with spine erect; use a chair if needed, feet flat, spine straight.
6. 6Perform a few rounds of gentle nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) to balance ida and pingala nadis.
7. 7Mentally invoke the guru lineage: chant the guru mantra or offer pranams to Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, and Yogananda.
8. 8Set a clear sankalpa (intention): "I practice Kriya Yoga for Self-realization and to serve the Divine in all."

Steps

1. 1Begin with the Hong-Sau technique (as taught by Yogananda): watch the natural breath, mentally chanting 'Hong' on inhalation, 'Sau' on exhalation, without controlling the breath. This calms the mind and internalizes awareness.
2. 2After 10–15 minutes of Hong-Sau, transition to the Kriya Yoga technique (received only through authorized initiation): gently draw the life force up the spine through the chakras using specific breath and mantra, then guide it down. The technique involves kechari mudra (tongue position), spinal breathing, and mental chanting of the Kriya mantra at each center.
3. 3Perform the prescribed number of Kriyas (typically 14, 28, or more, as per guru’s instruction), maintaining unbroken awareness in the spine.
4. 4After completing Kriyas, remain in stillness (kumbhaka/sthira bhava), absorbing the generated energy in the spiritual eye (kutastha), the point between the eyebrows.
5. 5Conclude with the Aum technique (if initiated): listen to the inner sound of Aum (pranava) resonating in the chakras, expanding consciousness.
6. 6End with a prayer for world peace and offering the practice’s merits to the Divine. Gently open eyes, maintain meditative awareness throughout the day.

Mantras

Guidelines

• •Maintain a sattvic diet: vegetarian, avoiding onions, garlic, alcohol, tobacco, and intoxicants.
• •Observe brahmacharya (celibacy in thought, word, deed) according to one's stage of life; householders practice moderation and sacred intimacy.
• •Speak truthfully, kindly, and minimally (mauna) especially on practice days.
• •Avoid entertainment that agitates the mind (violent, sensual, or trivial media).
• •Practice charity (dana) and selfless service (seva) regularly.
• •Keep a daily spiritual diary to track progress in yamas/niyamas.

Do's

• ✓Receive Kriya Yoga initiation only from an authorized guru or their appointed disciples (SRF, Ananda, or other recognized lineages).
• ✓Practice daily with regularity — consistency outweighs duration.
• ✓Keep the spine straight during meditation to allow free flow of prana in sushumna.
• ✓Cultivate devotion (bhakti) alongside technique; Kriya without love is mechanical.
• ✓Study the *Autobiography of a Yogi* and Yogananda's *Lessons* regularly for inspiration and understanding.
• ✓Attend group meditations (satsanga) to strengthen collective vibration.

Don'ts

• ✗Do not attempt Kriya Yoga from books, videos, or unauthorized teachers — it requires living transmission for safety and efficacy.
• ✗Do not force breath retention (kumbhaka) beyond comfort; it can cause physical or subtle harm.
• ✗Do not practice immediately after heavy meals; wait 2–3 hours.
• ✗Do not discuss your inner experiences casually; they are sacred and fragile.
• ✗Do not mix techniques from different systems during one session — follow one path deeply.
• ✗Do not neglect ethical living (yamas/niyamas); meditation without morality is unstable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •Confusing Kriya Yoga with generic pranayama or modern yoga asanas.
• •Seeking psychic powers (siddhis) rather than God-realization.
• •Inconsistent practice — sporadic effort yields minimal results.
• •Physical tension during meditation (clenched jaw, raised shoulders) blocking energy flow.
• •Intellectualizing the path without heart-centered devotion.
• •Judging others' paths; Yogananda taught respect for all religions.

Regional Variations

• •Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) — global organization founded by Yogananda, headquartered in Los Angeles; emphasizes monastic order and structured Lessons.
• •Ananda Sangha — founded by Swami Kriyananda (direct disciple); focuses on intentional communities, householder spirituality, and expansive teachings.
• •Lahiri Mahasaya's family lineage (Kriya Yoga Institute, etc.) — preserves the original householder tradition in Varanasi and globally.
• •Babaji's Kriya Yoga (S.A.A. Ramaiah, Marshall Govindan) — emphasizes 144 Kriyas and Babaji's direct lineage, with ashrams in India, Canada, USA.
• •Indian traditional ashrams (e.g., Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Ranchi) — Yogananda's original Indian organization, conducting initiations in Hindi/Bengali.

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Traditional Notes

• •Yogananda, Paramahansa. *Autobiography of a Yogi*. Self-Realization Fellowship, 1946 (multiple editions).
• •Yogananda, Paramahansa. *The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You*. SRF, 2004.
• •Yogananda, Paramahansa. *God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita*. SRF, 1995.
• •Lahiri Mahasaya's *Kriya Yoga Sutras* (commentary by Swami Satyeswarananda).
• •Patanjali, *Yoga Sutras*, Sadhana Pada 2.1: 'tapah svadhyaya ishvara pranidhanani kriya yoga'.
• •Bhagavad Gita 4.29, 5.27–28, 6.12–13 — references to pranayama and meditation.
• •Swami Sri Yukteswar, *The Holy Science* (Kaivalya Darsanam), 1894 — correlates Hindu and Christian scriptures.
• •Govindan, Marshall. *Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition*. Kriya Yoga Publications, 1991.

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