The word Kriya is composed of two syllables, kri and yâ. In Sanskrit, kri means karma dhatu - action of the elements, and yâ means Soul or Atma. The word Kriya indicates action of the Soul or prâna karma. The first and most important action of the Soul is breath.
The word yoga comes from Sanskrit yuj which means union. The union of the individual soul with Spirit. Kriya Yoga is a method to attain the union of breath and Soul in each inhalation and exhalation. Expressed in other words: the union of the individual soul with Spirit is called Kriya Yoga. This is true karma.
The practice of Kriya Yoga is based on breath, the brain and the spinal cord. Breath is the mediator between Soul and mind. The brain is the mediator between the sense organs and the mind. All our physical actions are reflected on our sense organs through the intermediary or the lower part of the brain located in the spinal cord. From this lower part of the brain where the lower mind is situated, we pass to the higher mind, then to breath, and lastly from breath to Soul (and then inversely).
The brain is connected to the mind and the mind is connected to chitta(the higher mind). The tendencies of the mind or vrittis are created by chitta, the higher mind, directly from the Soul through the means of breath. The object of yoga is to control the actions of chitta - Yogâshchittavrittinirodhah (Pâtanjali's Yoga Sûtra I, 2).
The mind is in constant motion. Our inner and outer actions change constantly and this is reflected by our breath. When we are afraid our breath is agitated, when we feel joy our breath is different, it is also different when we are angry or have any other type of emotion. When the breath is calm, the mind is calm. So, it is only through breath that we are able to control chitta and come to the state called nirodhah. Nirodhah means to close, to lock with a key - which means to stop all vrittis of chitta and thus have easy access to the meditation state of yoga. The control of chitta, stopping the actions of the mind is obtained by controlling the breath.
Since Kriya Yoga is based on breath, you can practice this special technique during the whole day and in whatever activity you do. When it comes to sitting for meditation, it may be practiced whenever you have time.
Why Choose Kriya Yoga?
One can ask why we need to choose kriya yoga as a spiritual path and not any other.
Kriya is not different from any spiritual path; the ultimate effects are the same. By "spiritual path" is meant a discipline comprised of some procedures of introspection and contemplation (Prayer alone or mixed with breath control... concentration upon particular inner revelations...) like those which, during the centuries, bloomed around the great religions.
The effects are internal peace and tranquility and that internal comfort, that intimate happiness that no other thing in the world could give. Those who practice Kriya and do it whole-heartedly with all their possible dedication toward it will experience them.
Kriya can be considered similar to an amplifier: it magnifies and exalts our consciousness. If we have doubts or distrust in it, we won't find anything in it.
Many come to Kriya because others have induced them to practice it; perhaps they are encouraged by innocent illusions. This is not wrong, this is human. Who can claim that his or her conception of Kriya was clear and accurate since the beginning? One can start Kriya for a trivial reason and then discover its vast action on all the aspects of his or her own being. What is important is not to remain tied to those illusions; drop them and let one's being undergo its own action.
For initiation and more details on kriya yoga, you may write to us at innerpath.simplesite@gmail.com.