We are now accepting applications for our fall 2006 session beginning October 1, 2006.

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1 Dear Seeker, Thank you for your interest in the Kriya Yoga Seminary. Enclosed is an information sheet outlining the Seminary program. However, in order to enroll in the Seminary, you must first complete Level I of the Temple s Kriology program. The Seminary faculty strongly feels that these initial nine months of study are integral to firmly establishing a sadhana practice and preparing spiritually to enter the Seminary. Kriology is the study and practice of the inner, esoteric tradition of Kriya Yoga. It is a pathway to wisdom a mature, self-directed inquiry into the nature of you, your life and the universe in which you dwell. It is a system for awakening a direct experience that expands the horizon of your awareness and cultivates greater joy and freedom. Kriology is the culmination of over six decades of Sri Goswami Kriyananda s teachings. It contains the quintessence of his enlightened understanding and experience of the Kriya tradition. It is much more than audio CDs, lessons and retreats; it is an opportunity to transform and improve your life; to transcend the limiting karmic patterns of your past; to nourish and heal your mind and body and realize the fulfillment of your spiritual dream. To help familiarize you with the program, I have enclosed a brochure and syllabus, excerpts from our printed lessons and an introductory overview of the entire course. Kriology is offered in two parts or levels. Each level of Kriology is comprised of nine months of home study training, supported by an optional retreat. Each part is complete in itself and includes teachings on CD created exclusively for this program by Goswami Kriyananda. Also included in the course are printed lessons, Kriya techniques and rituals, sadhana guides and lesson plans. The optional four-day retreats, led by Goswami Kriyananda and his disciples, will offer you an opportunity to deepen your practices and learn advanced Kriya methods. Upon completion of Level I, you can either continue with Kriology Level II or apply to enter the Seminary. Seminary candidates who complete Level I will be asked to pass a written exam on the material covered in Kriology as part of their application to the Seminary program. Kriology is open for enrollment twice each year. We are now accepting applications for our fall 2006 session beginning October 1, To ensure your place in the fall session, please complete the application and return it in the enclosed envelope with your tuition. Until October 1, we are offering a preferred registration discount. Tuition for Kriology is $ per quarter ($975.00). If you pre-register and pay in full for Level I prior to October 1, you will receive a $ savings, reducing your Level I tuition to just $ After October 1, the pre-registration discount will no longer be available.

2 Should you prefer to submit your tuition on a quarterly basis and not take advantage of the prepayment discount, you can register by sending us your application and a tuition deposit of $ Then the balance of your Kriology tuition will be $ per quarter. It will be due two weeks before the beginning of each subsequent quarter of the program. I hope you will take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to receive the Kriya Teachings from a living flame of the Kriya Lineage as you prepare to embark upon the path of becoming a priest. I know Kriology will be a source of spiritual nourishment to you and to those whose lives you touch. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact us by phone, fax or . Yours in the service of the Kriya Dharma, David Lipschutz (Enoch Dasa)

3 The Temple of Kriya Yoga Seminary Program The Kriya Yoga Seminary is a non-accredited theological school directed by the Temple of Kriya Yoga, a not-for-profit religious educational organization. Sri Goswami Kriyananda developed this program more than 30 years ago as a bridge between the Temple of Kriya and dedicated people like you who are called to a life of spiritual service a life devoted to benefiting others. One of the fundamental principles of Kriya Yoga is the understanding that each of us has the ability to be happy and fulfilled in this very lifetime. One of the best means of achieving this is to share our wisdom and compassion with the world around us. The Kriya Seminary is designed to provide you with tools and techniques that will guide you in this effort. It is a systematic course of study that will cultivate your spiritual unfoldment, prepare you for the priesthood, and help you to assist those who seek a deeper understanding of themselves, God, and Life. The goal of Seminary study is to be ordained into the priesthood. It is our hope that the self-discipline and dedication that are required will inspire you to teach, heal, and become an even wiser and more compassionate soul who will share the sacred science of Kriya with others. However, as a swami of the Temple of Kriya Yoga you are free to express the priesthood through your own personality and talents. You will not be categorized or limited; each person must serve in his or her own way. Many of our priests teach hatha yoga, meditation, or philosophy. Others provide spiritual guidance through the Temple, privately, or in various institutions and organizations in their communities. Others may perform weddings, baptisms, death-rebirth rituals, or house blessings. It is important to understand that a swami is a real person living in the real world. They often have careers and families. Their backgrounds and talents are diverse. Their goal is to serve the spiritual needs of the people whose lives they touch, to assist them in softening their own karma, and to guide them through the pattern of their lives to greater self-awareness, health and happiness, maturity, and freedom. The role of a priest is to help others to help themselves. The Seminary proverb is, Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach him to fish and he will eat forever. The Seminary program The Kriya Yoga Seminary program is comprised of eight quarters of home study, which must be completed in 2 to 2-1/2 years, followed by nine months of priestly activity. You may begin the program in April or October of each year. The program includes: Quarterly lesson packages, including CDs, printed materials, study questions, reading assignments, books, and quarterly exams. An ordained swami-advisor who will guide you through the program, answer your questions, grade your work, give you feedback, and be your partner on the path. Karma Yoga, volunteer work that benefits others and prepares you for your post-graduate priestly activity. A research paper or artistic endeavor on a topic that is relevant to your priesthood. Annual weekend retreats held during the course of your studies at a retreat center near Chicago. Two are required for ordination. (The cost of retreats is not included in your tuition and runs approximately $375 for each retreat.)

4 Nine months of priestly activity after you complete the academic portion of the program. This can include teaching, lecturing, leading study groups, or being of service through volunteer work that relates to your priesthood. Topics covered Here are some of the topics covered in the Kriya Seminary curriculum: Kriya yoga philosophy The laws of karma Meditation Hatha yoga Astrology The language of symbols Dreams Pastoral care/spiritual guidance The Bhagavad Gita Communication and teaching arts The Upanishads Karma yoga/spiritual service Yoga Sutras World religions Rituals Sanskrit Tuition Application fee to be included with your application: $25 Per quarter: $350 (includes all books and materials) Discounts are available if tuition is paid in advance: payment in full for the first year: $1,260 payment in full for two years: $2,520 Seminary prerequisites Completion of Kriology Level I (As part of your Seminary application, you will be asked to complete an examination on the material covered in Level I.) Once you complete Kriology Level I, your next step is to request a Seminary application and entrance exam. When we receive your application, completed exam, and application fee, we will review your application and exam and notify you as to whether you have fulfilled the prerequisites necessary for enrollment in the Seminary.

5 APPLICATION FOR KRIOLOGY (Please type or print) Name Address CityStateZip Home PhoneWork Phone fax How do you foresee this program enhancing your spiritual goals? (optional) Briefly describe your current spiritual practice(s) (for example, Hatha Yoga, pranayama, meditation, areas of study, teaching or training). (optional) How did you learn about Kriology? We would like to know you better. If you so choose, on the back of this application, or typed on a separate sheet of paper, please share with us any information you feel would be meaningful about you, your family, career, personal philosophy, educational background, other areas of relevant study, hobbies, interests, and goals. (Please print) Enclosed is $325 for the first quarter. I will be sending in quarterly payments. Enclosed is $875 for Level One paid in advance (which includes a $100 discount). Enclosed is $1650 for Levels One and Two paid in advance (which includes a $300 discount). Check No. Visa/MC No. Exp. Date

6 Return to: The Temple of Kriya * 2414 N. Kedzie Blvd. Chicago, IL Fax (773) * Phone (773)

7 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga Syllabus - Levels I & II 1 Guidelines and Techniques for Enlightenment Overview of the Kriya System Purpose and Process of Kriya Yoga Benefits of Kriya Practice Effects of Kriya Practice Overcoming Obstacles to Practice The Importance of Preparation and Purification Cultivating a Lifestyle which Supports Your Practice The Development of Self-Discipline The Maha-Mantra (Ahambrahmasmi) The Laws of Self-Conscious Awareness Obstacles to Enlightenment Practices Leading to Samadhi Detachment is not Indifference Shifting Awareness to the Inner Planes Understanding the Astral Experience The Mysticism of Phonetics Mantra and the Sadhana of Sound Dreams, Symbols, and Kriya Symbolism and Visualization Kriya Yantra Mandala Shat Kriyas Yoga Nidra Kriya Philosophy and Cosmology The Sacred Science of Kriya The Conscious Ritual of Creation The Cosmology of Kriya Yoga The Macrocosm and the Microcosm Shankya Yoga Philosophy Spirit and Matter (Purusha and Prakriti) Kriya Dharma Sutras Kriya Ananda Upanishad Patanjali s Yoga Sutras The Five Vrittis and Klesas Samskaras, Klesas, and Karma Kriology Syllabus

8 Samskaras (Subtle Impressions from the Past) Removing the Klesas and Attaining Vritti Nirodha The Structure of Consciousness The Nature of Thought Forms The Doctrine of Karma Understanding Cause and Effect Karma and Reincarnation The 12 Primary States of Awareness How Karma is Activated How Karma Can Be Softened Different Types of Karma The Magic Formula (I X D = F) Gunas - The Qualities of Action Dharma, Rita, and the Bharva Chakra Your Astral Anatomy Nadis and Chakras Prana, Kundalini, and Kriya The Three Bodies and Five Sheaths The Secret of Kriya Pranayama Ascending and Descending Currents Prana and the Subtle Body Awakening and Rotating Kriya Kundalini Kriya Sadhana (Level I) Viparita Karani Mudra Kriya - Inverted Mudra Chakra Anusandhana Kriya - Discovering the Astral Chakras Nada Sanchalana Kriya - Spinal Rotation of Sound Pavana Sanchalana Kriya - Spinal Rotation of Breath Hong Sau Kriya - The Gander s Breath Maha Mudra Kriya - Ascending the Kundalini Paschimottanasana Maha Mudra Kriya Kriya Sadhana (Level II) Naumukhi Mudra Kriya - Closing the Nine Gates Shakti Chalana Kriya - Spinal Rotation of Prana Shambhavi Mudra Kriya - Sri Mataji s Lotus Kriya Chakra Bhedan Kriya - Piercing the Chakras Tandan Kriya - Awakening the Kundalini The Movement of Prana The Chakric Tree of Life Pranayama and its Spiritual Value Mudras and Bandhas Kriya Currents and the Chakras Gathering and Directing Kriya Currents Activating and Rebalancing the Chakras Kriology Syllabus 2

9 Kriya Sadhana (Level III) Prana Ahuti Kriya - Energizing the Astral Body Linga Sanchalana Kriya - Activating the Astral Body Utthana Kriya - Elevation of the Astral Body Kriya Rituals Level I: Ritual of the Sun, Ritual of the Moon, Kriya Prayer of Attunement, Ritual for Creating Sacred Space, Ritual of Purification, Ritual of Attunement, Ritual of Forgiveness,Ritual for Clearing the Past, Blessing of the Seven Chakras Level II: Ritual of Inner Guidance, Ritual for Releasing Intuition, Invocation of the Ishta Devata, Ritual of Clarity, Ritual of Remembrance, Clearing of the Aura, Death/Rebirth Ritual, Sweeping of the Astral, Ritual of Releasing Negativity, Ritual for Removing Hindrances Ashtanga (The Eight Limbs of Kriya Practice) Yama/Niyama: Ahimsa (Non-violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-stealing), Brahmacharya (Non-sensuality), Aparigraha (Non-greed), Saucha (Purity), Santosha (Contentment), Tapas (Austerity), Svadhyaya (Self-Study), Isvara Pranidhana (Attunement) Pranayama (Regulation of Prana) Kriya Pranayama Nadi Shodhana Guided Pranayama Practice Ujjayi and Viloma The Resurrection Breath Kapalabhati Sense-Withdrawal/Concentration (Pratyahara/Dharana) Stages of Sense Withdrawal Yoni Mudra Neti, Neti, Neti Technique Kriya Yantra Visualization Mantra and the Mind EEEEEEE Mantra Meditation (Dhyana) Establishing a Meditation Practice Developing Mindfulness Guided Meditation Shambhavi Mudra Vajroli Mudra Mula Bandha Samadhi (Entering the Valley of the Unobstructed Mind) Dissolving the Agitation of the Mind Kivalya: Freedom from Karmic Momentum Cultivating Direct Perception The Law of Balanced Self-Conscious Awareness Samyama: The Clear Gem Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha 3 Kriology Syllabus

10 Application (Living Your Kriya Practice) How to Establish a Daily Practice Structuring Your Practice Kriya and the Householder Organizing and Prioritizing Your Life Sustaining a Daily Practice Finding the Best Time and Place to Practice Tarka (Reflection) Preparing the Body for Kriya Meditation Dream Journaling Food, Diet and its Effect on Kriya Practice Optional Retreats and Workshops Determining the Intensity and Duration of Practice Inspiration and Reflection (Sustaining the Path) The Laws of Happiness The Three Jewels Above the Head of God The Seven Secrets to Success Stillness: The Great Revelation Think a Thought You ve Never Thought Be- Your Life is Your Path Finding Joy in the Journey Contentment: The Point of Creation Making Your Dreams Come Alive How to Attain Your Spiritual Goal Cultivating the Garden of God fore The Five Steps to Wisdom The Kriya of Loving Kindness Once Upon a Yogi Time Stories Kriology Syllabus 4

11 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga HOW KRIOLOGY IS STRUCTURED Kriology offers you the unique opportunity to study the Kriya tradition at your own pace in the comfort of your home. The course is composed of two parts or levels. Each level is comprised of nine months (three quarters) of home study training supported by an optional retreat. Each level is complete in itself, and combines audiotaped teachings created exclusively for Kriology by Goswami Kriyananda, with printed lessons, techniques and rituals, selected reading assignments, Kriya practice, and study guides. Kriology is comprised of six primary areas of study and practice. These areas are: 1. The Philosophy and Cosmology of Kriya Yoga 2. Guidelines and Techniques for Enlightenment 3. Kriya Sadhana and Ritual Practices 4. The Eight Limbs of Kriya Yoga 5. Study Questions & Reflection 6. Living the Teachings Each quarter these six areas will be offered in one of twelve sections. Kriya Philosophy and Cosmology The approach to yoga is two-fold; theory and practice, both are required for success. This section is dedicated to a deep exploration of the underling psychology, cosmology, and philosophy of Kriya. The goal is to give you a deeper understanding of the Kriya system so that you can experience a more profound effect from its practice. It will be comprised of audiotapes, printed lessons, outlines, and handouts. Kriya Sadhana Practice Kriya Yoga is a series of psychobiological and spiritual techniques by which you can rebalance the mental/emotional patterns of the past and attain enlightenment. This section contains step-by-step written instructions on the methods that lead to the primary practice of the Kriya system. Your personal sadhana (spiritual practice) is the foundation upon which this sacred Kriya ritual is built. Guidelines and Techniques for Enlightenment The Kriya Dharma Sutras and the Kriya Ananda Upanishad contain the quintessence of the Kriya Teachings. Portions of these texts will be included with each quarter of Kriology, together with written lessons that include: an overview of the Kriya system, the purpose 1 Introduction & Orientation

12 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga and process of Kriya, the benefits and effects of Kriya practice, learning to overcome obstacles to practice, the importance of preparation and purification, cultivating a lifestyle that supports your practice, how to shift your awareness to the inner planes, mantra and the sadhana of sound, dreams, symbols, visualization, and practices leading to samadhi. Symbolism and Ritual Ritual is the art of consciously activating and directing the creative forces of your being to expand your awareness. This section offers deep insights into esoteric symbolism and ritual as taught within the Kriya tradition. Symbols are an important facet of Kriya ritual practice because they are powerful tools for self-transformation. They are the language of the soul, the fabric of our dreams, and a key to an intimate understanding of ourselves and the world that surrounds us. They offer a glimpse into the structure and dynamics of consciousness, revealing the patterns at work within the subconscious and unconscious levels of the mind. They reveal the timing, intensity, and nature of the karmic forces being activated in and around us. The Eight Limbs of Kriya Practice Kriya Yoga encompasses all eight limbs of the classical yoga system as presented by Patanjali. This section will cover the vital practices of yama and niyama, asana and pranayama, sense-withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and samadhi. It will also teach you about the little known ninth limb of Kriya practice samyama. Astral Anatomy The study of subtle anatomy is essential for a Kriya yogi. A working understanding of the astral body, including prana, nadis, and chakras, is a prerequisite for effectively using the Kriya system to soften or dissolve the karmas that limit your awareness and inhibit your free will. Application (Living the Teachings) The goal of Kriology is to help you embody the teachings and harmoniously express them in every arena of your life. Kriya is an oral tradition a methodology and direct insight that has been passed from master to student, from guru to chela for generations. Kriology can improve your life on every level by teaching you how to consciously create what you seek and to consciously dissolve what is out of balance. It is our prayer that through this program you will be blessed that you may be a blessing unto others. Tarka - Personal Reflection Each quarter of Kriology includes a series of personal reflections (tarka). They can be found in the assignments section and are for your personal use. They will assist you to become more mindful and present in the process of your studies. We encourage you to Introduction & Orientation 2

13 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga actively reflect on these questions and record your insights and experiences in a spiritual journal as you move through the program. The observations and insights you journal will prove to be a valuable resource to you in the years ahead. Inspiration Each quarter of Kriology will include audiotapes that have been created specifically to inspire you to study and practice with renewed dedication and clarity of purpose. These meditations will assist you to integrate the teachings into your life in a meaningful way and offer techniques to realize the fulfilment of your spiritual dream. Lesson Plans This is the first section you will turn to each quarter. It provides all the information you need to orient yourself to the program. This section will contain an overview of each month s teachings and includes study guides and lesson plans. Assignments The assignments that are offered in Kriology are optional practices that are designed to enhance your experience of the program, expand your understanding of Kriya, and cultivate greater self-awareness. They are divided into two types: personal reflection (which are purely experiential) and exercises that require written responses. Assignments that require written responses may be returned to the Temple for review, but are an optional part of your training. Study Questions Kriology includes study questions designed to help you review and assimilate the system you are studying. They are not tests. They are tools that can help you to build a deeper understanding of Kriya Yoga and integrate it more fully and harmoniously into your life. If you answer the study questions each month, by the end of the program you will have a complete outline of the program that will be helpful to you as you continue your study and practice of Kriya. If you wish, your study question answers can be sent to the Temple for review. COURSE MATERIALS AND GENERAL INFORMATION Audiotapes You will receive audio taped teachings each quarter that support the various components of the Kriology curriculum: Philosophy and Cosmology, Guidelines and Techniques for Enlightenment, Kriya Sadhana and Ritual Practice, The Eight Limbs of Patanjali, Dreams and Symbols, Astral Anatomy, and the Application of the Teachings in your life. 3 Introduction & Orientation

14 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga Printed Lessons Printed lessons include Guidelines and Techniques for Enlightenment, The Kriya Ananda Upanishad, the Kriya Dharma Sutras, articles, outlines, study guides, lesson plans, sadhana practices, and assignments. They will be divided into sections so that you can easily place them into the appropriate section of your binder. Books and Reading There is no required reading in Kriology outside of the lessons we send you each quarter. However, you will receive several complimentary booklets during the course of the program, which will support the teachings. We have also included a list of books that will enhance your studies. Optional Retreats Each level of Kriology is supported by optional four-day retreats led by Sri Goswami Kriyananda and his disciples. The retreats will give you an opportunity to deepen your practice and learn advanced Kriya methods. Tuition For students paying tuition quarterly, tuition is due two weeks prior to the beginning of each quarter. Shipping Course materials will be shipped via UPS or US Mail. If you have any special request for shipping please contact the Temple at Quarterly Reviews Each quarter of Kriology will include a quarterly review to help you assess how well you have grasped the concepts and techniques that are covered in the program. They are optional, but if you wish, they may be returned to the Temple. Journaling The personal reflection exercises in Kriology recommend the use of a spiritual journal. Journaling is a valuable method for integrating and distilling what you study. It is also an excellent way to store your insights for future reference. We recommend that you purchase an inexpensive journal for Kriology and dedicate it to recording the experiences and insights you gather while participating in the program. Outlining We recommend that you outline the teachings that are offered on audiotape to help you assimilate the information more effectively. You may want to listen to a tape all the way through before going back to outline or take notes. This is an excerpt... Introduction & Orientation 4

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17 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga NOTES ON PRACTICE LESSON THREE Success in Kriya Yoga is attained through constant practice and continual detachment. We have been discussing the importance of making your practice effortless and have suggested that you approach your sadhana without expectation, simply enjoying the process. We have pointed out the necessity of making changes and eliminating attitudes and actions from your life that are destructive to your spiritual goals. Many questions arise. What criteria do you use to make these changes? How do you discover what is wise and what is foolish? How do you decide what you want and what you need to remove from your life? How do you know if you are renouncing something or simply avoiding it? How can you be detached and still be motivated? These are questions that you need to reflect on and answer for yourself. An exploration of the differences between renunciation and repression and between detachment and indifference may be of assistance. The Kriya of Renunciation How do you know if you are renouncing something or if you are simply repressing it? It is a question of the amount of effort and intensity (which means focus and awareness) it requires. Repression is very effortful. It requires that you resist the karmic force fields of your mind and body. Emotions are force fields in the mind that impel you toward action. It does not matter how much you ignore or repress your emotions because they will work from the unconscious layers of your mind to find expression. Renunciation, on the other hand, requires relatively little effort. It is a recognition, a deep insight or revelation, about the nature of Life and Self. Just as there is a significant difference between repression and renunciation, there is also an important distinction between detachment and indifference. Detachment is the ability to clearly see something within yourself, or external to you, and to consciously choose to not respond. Why? Because of self-awareness, wisdom, and self-discipline. Indifference is I don t care if I have it or I don t care if it s not healthy for me. Detachment is I know I want it, but I am not going to respond to the karmic pull of my mind and body. Repression is an emotional reaction that forces thoughts and impulses into the unconscious layers of the mind where they continue to remain an active force and affect your behavior. Renunciation is a conscious practice observed with insight, self-awareness, and self-discipline. There is a wonderful story that illustrates this truth. 11 This is an excerpt... Sadhana Guide - Lesson Three

18 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga SADHANA GUIDE - LESSON THREE The traditional times for Kriya practice are sunrise and sunset. The reason for this is that the currents in the astral spine are most naturally balanced at these times, making it easier to attain a quiet state of mind and balanced self-conscious awareness. Like the tides, prana in the astral body flows back and forth or rotates. It alternates between predominance in the ida and pingala nadis. A flushing back and forth occurs each day at sunrise and sunset. During the daylight hours, prana is more localized in the pingala nadi, and your consciousness is extroverted. We say you are awake. At night, as prana shifts to being more predominant in the ida nadi, your awareness naturally shifts toward introversion. You are drawn into your inner, lunar, dream world. We say you are getting sleepy. At sunrise and sunset, prana is balanced between ida and pingala, between waking and sleeping, between an awareness of your inner and outer universes. It is more naturally sushumanic and, therefore, it is easier to become aware of the knower of these two worlds. Macrocosmically, this same rotation or movement occurs on a different scale each month as the moon fluctuates from new moon to full moon, and from full moon back to new moon. It also occurs in an annual pattern that follows the cycle of the solstices and equinox points. Microcosmically, this shifting between ida and pingala occurs on a subtler level every two hours and with each breath. A wise fisherman knows to take his boat out with the tide. A wise farmer knows to plant with the moon. A wise mystic knows that sunrise and sunset are the most auspicious times to meditate and breathe Kriya. This month introduces three new techniques: chakra anusandhana, unmani mudra, and viloma pranayama. Chakra anusandhana is the first of the preparatory Kriyas, and it should be a part of your daily practice for at least the next month. It is a very important technique because it teaches you to rotate your consciousness around the astral spine and to develop an awareness of the chakras. We suggest that you breathe Hong Sau before and after you practice it, and we encourage you to work with chakra anusandhana every day for the next four weeks. The goal is to get to the point where the practice is effortless and automatic. This will take longer for some than others. If you make time for nothing else, dedicate yourself to breathing Hong Sau every day. Two or three minutes of practice is better than none at all. Unmani mudra is a gaze that will be used in many of the preparatory Kriya techniques that you will receive over the coming months. It is also used in the advanced This is an excerpt... Notes on Practice - Lesson Three 9

19 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga KRIYA SADHANA LESSON THREE This month you are receiving the first of the preparatory Kriya techniques Chakra Anusandhana Kriya. It is a method for discovering the placement of the astral chakras. It is vital that you learn to mentally and physically locate the chakras in the early stages of your sadhana. Feeling the chakras is not difficult if you prepare your mind and body and establish a compatible lifestyle. It is simply a question of practice. It usually requires two to six months of dedicated practice to develop an awareness of the chakras, especially the ability to visualize and sense their location. Mastering the Preparatory Techniques The requirements for the practice of Kriya are a healthy body and a sound mind. This is why the practice of yama, niyama, asana, and pranayama are such important prerequisites. The preparatory Kriyas begin with methods for the attainment of pratyahara (sense withdrawal) and produce a degree of sensitivity to the chakras and other parts of the astral body that are used during advanced practice. If you were to begin advanced practice without first developing sense withdrawal, concentration, and sensitivity to the subtle body, the methods would be very difficult to master. The practice of asana and pranayama, which includes the practice of bandhas (locks), helps the body to relax and makes it easier to locate the chakras. They are also essential for becoming aware of prana and developing sensitivity to its movement through the astral body. This is extremely important in balancing the chakras and activating kundalini. Learning to hold a comfortable pose that keeps the spine effortlessly erect (asana), the breath natural and rhythmic (pranayama), the stomach and perineum gently contracted (uddiyana and mula bandha), and the mind turned back upon itself (pratyahara and dharana) are all prerequisites for Kriya meditation practice. Levels of Sense Withdrawal Kriya sadhana is divided into four specific and distinct stages: sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and samadhi. There are two levels of sense withdrawal. The first is withdrawal from the external or gross senses. The second is withdrawal from the subtle, internal sense organs. Success in attaining the goals of Kriya practice is achieved through the mastery of both levels. 23 This is an excerpt... Philosophy & Cosmology - Lesson Three

20 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga THE PHILOSOPHY AND COSMOLOGY OF KRIYA - PART II Kriya practice brings about a revelation or satori, a perceptive insight into the nature of Life, Self, and mind. Kriya philosophy delves into the nature of the human experience, the nature of physical embodiment. It is an attempt to reveal a deeper understanding of its meaning and purpose. The Nature of Atma You are an eternal, self-existent being. You are trans-human as well as trans-physical. God did not create you. This world is a school for the soul. It is the garden of God, and you have come into it to awaken to the fullness of who and what you are. You are a formless spiritual being (purusha). Another word for this in Sanskrit is atma, the ever present, universal spirit that is free of all conditioning. Atma is the true Self, distinct from the mind and body. The nature of atma is described as sat (existence), chit (consciousness), and ananda (bliss). Most humans are unaware of their true nature. You are immortal and eternal, but you are not conscious that you are immortal. Few people experience continuity of consciousness and sadly most experience very little joy or bliss in life. In yoga this unawareness is called avidya, which is often translated as ignorance, but the connotation is forgetfulness. You are creating the fabric of your existence at this very moment, but you have forgotten that it is you who are creating it. The creative process is more unconscious than conscious. It is more the result of the karmic momentum of yesterday, last year, and your last lifetime than of your free will and self-awareness. Kriology is the art and science of creating your life consciously. In yoga you are called kala-purusha, spirit (purusha) in time (kala). Kriology is more than a philosophy and series of techniques. It is a way of life. It is a map for travelers in time. You are an immortal spiritual being, and immortality implies timelessness. But when you entered into this school for the soul and became embodied in matter, you entered into a realm of time and space. Yoga points the way back to conscious immortality, back to balanced self-conscious awareness. It is a system that teaches you to balance and integrate all the different forms you have woven around yourself physical, subtle, and super-subtle so that they are able to function harmoniously with one another. You live in a subjective universe that is colored by your needs, fears, hopes, dreams, and desires. All of this distorts your experience. Kriya is a methodology to expand the This is an excerpt... Kriya Sadhana - Lesson Three 13

21 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga RITUAL FOR CREATING SACRED SPACE Ritual is the art of consciously activating and releasing the creative forces of your mind. The keys to successfully performing ritual are awareness and an understanding of that which you are trying to accomplish. The ability to focus your mind is also essential. The difference between a ritual and a ceremony is that a ceremony is an external superficial action and a ritual is an internal mystical procedure, a Kriya. Sacred space begins within you. Everything that you think, say, and do generates a vibrational force that hovers within your aura and is radiated out by the mechanism of your breath. With each inhalation, you draw your thought forms (as well as the thought forms of others) deep into your being. With each exhalation, you project your thought forms out and generate the space within which you exist. You are constantly coming into contact with thought forms your own and those of others. They surround you and affect you to a greater or lesser degree, consciously and unconsciously, depending upon your sensitivity, the strength of your mind, the horizon of your awareness, the nature of the vibration, and the resonance that exists between you and the thought form. In this way, you are affected by the totality of Life. Truly you are part of Life and not apart from it. You exist within a matrix of consciousness. The ritual of creating sacred space is a way to insulate your aura during Kriya practice and to neutralize any inharmonious thought forms that surround you. This is why sacred space begins within you. It is first and foremost the space you create within your mind. Therefore, the ritual begins by quieting your mind and removing negative emotions. Once that is accomplished, you can extend the vibration that is within you to encompass the room and building you are in. Sit in the place you have dedicated for your practice (or anywhere else), and quiet your mind. As a rule, you should face east during daylight hours and north when the sun is below the horizon. If you have a prayer shawl, place it around your shoulders. During vital parts of a ritual, you can pull the shawl over your head. Placing your shawl over you is symbolically creating a sacred space all by itself. Sit in a seated pose that is comfortable and fix your mind upon your body. After you have done this, you want to become aware of either someone else in the same building with whom you resonate harmoniously or a sacred object such as a picture or statuette. This is an excerpt... Kriya Ananda Upanishad

22 Kriology: The Mystical Tradition of Kriya Yoga KRIYA ANANDA UPANISHAD - IV 4.1 When a self-existent being incarnates into a physical body, it gains a greater awareness of the earth plane than it had on the astral. At the same time, however, it loses awareness of the inner Self. Thus, in ancient times, it was said that a soul (the memory of one s experiences and of the Self) must be resurrected again. 4.2 With each reincarnation, with each rebirth, the memory of the Self is perfected and completed to a greater degree. However, in each incarnation, one must re-remember the past. This is the esoteric connotation of the statement Ye must be born again, before its meaning was corrupted. It did not refer to the Self (atma) being reborn but was a reference to regaining complete consciousness of the soul (memory of the past and future). Born again means re-gaining the memory of cosmic consciousness. 4.3 The re-gaining of consciousness of the Self is accomplished by the practice of pratyahara, together with the rotation of the kriya currents lengthwise around the astral spine. This rotation helps to pull the prana from the chakras in the correct order, allowing you to withdraw the kriya current from the lower three chakras and from the sense organs associated with them. 4.4 Concentrating on the ajna chakra, while rotating kriya currents around the spine, enables you to withdraw the life energy from the involuntary physical organs and to place it in your astral body. In time, this will allow you to enter the causal plane and to attain the outer fringes of samadhi. 4.5 Cosmic energy first enters into your being through your astral chakric system, which is aligned with the brain and spine. It then descends through the chakras and out into the physical body, where it enters the sense organs. This keeps your mind occupied with material and biological maintenance. 4.6 As the kriya currents re-ascend, they deactivate your sense organs and the functions of your physical body, inducing an awareness of the higher chakras and an ever increasing, ever new expansion into cosmic consciousness, wisdom, and bliss. 1 This is an excerpt... Ritual Practice - Lesson One