Yogananda, Paramahansa, 1893-1952; Yogis -- India -- Biography
Because of certain ancient yogic injunctions, I cannot give a full
explanation of KRIYA YOGA in the pages of a book intended for the
general public. The actual technique must be learned from a KRIYABAN
or KRIYA YOGI; here a broad reference must suffice.
KRIYA YOGA is a simple, psychophysiological method by which the
human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms
of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate
the brain and spinal centers. {FN26-1} By stopping the accumulation
of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of
tissues; the advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy.
Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were past masters in the
use of KRIYA or a similar technique, by which they caused their
bodies to dematerialize at will.
KRIYA is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received it from his
guru, Babaji, who rediscovered and clarified the technique after
it had been lost in the Dark Ages.
“The KRIYA YOGA which I am giving to the world through you in this
nineteenth century,” Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, “is a revival of
the same science which Krishna gave, millenniums ago, to Arjuna,
and which was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John,
St. Paul, and other disciples.”
KRIYA YOGA is referred to by Krishna, India’s greatest prophet, in
a stanza of the BHAGAVAD GITA: “Offering inhaling breath into the
outgoing breath, and offering the outgoing breath into the inhaling
breath, the yogi neutralizes both these breaths; he thus releases
the life force from the heart and brings it under his control.”
{FN26-2} The interpretation is: “The yogi arrests decay in the body
by an addition of life force, and arrests the mutations of growth
in the body by APAN (eliminating current). Thus neutralizing decay
and growth, by quieting the heart, the yogi learns life control.”
Krishna also relates {FN26-3} that it was he, in a former incarnation,
who communicated the indestructible yoga to an ancient illuminato,
Vivasvat, who gave it to Manu, the great legislator. {FN26-4} He,
in turn, instructed Ikshwaku, the father of India’s solar warrior
dynasty. Passing thus from one to another, the royal yoga was
guarded by the rishis until the coming of the materialistic ages.
{FN26-5} Then, due to priestly secrecy and man’s indifference, the
sacred knowledge gradually became inaccessible.
KRIYA YOGA is mentioned twice by the ancient sage Patanjali, foremost
exponent of yoga, who wrote: “KRIYA YOGA consists of body discipline,
mental control, and meditating on AUM.” {FN26-6} Patanjali speaks
of God as the actual Cosmic Sound of AUM heard in meditation. {FN26-7}
AUM is the Creative Word, {FN26-8} the sound of the Vibratory Motor.
Even the yoga-beginner soon inwardly hears the wondrous sound of
AUM. Receiving this blissful spiritual encouragement, the devotee
becomes assured that he is in actual touch with divine realms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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