Kriya Yoga of Sri Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya

We are taught from an early age that hygiene is important and our parents introduce us to ways of keeping our bodies clean and neat. There is no doubt about the importance of physical hygiene but mental hygiene or the hygiene of the mind is equally important, or maybe even more important. If the mind is not “sanitized” from useless torrents of thoughts, emotions, fears, and all other things that roam around it, the mind can easily become our worst enemy. Unfortunately, we are not generally taught how to turn it into our best friend, nor many people realize that the hygiene of the mind is an important aspect of everyday life.

So how do we do that with Kriya Yoga?

Kriya yoga is an excellent way of mind purification. Prana and mind are two sides of the same coin, as the mind is a function ie. a form of dynamic prana. When one practices Kriya pranayama and by it affects prana, the mind is also automatically affected by pranayama. Little by little, mind will become calmer. The constant torrent of thoughts, emotions, and everything else that occupies the mind will decrease little by little, and for many people that calmness will be a welcome relief from the usual “monkey mind” state of mind. Even if little calmness is experienced by practicing Kriya, that’s definitely a positive thing. In the mad world we live in, everyone needs some peace and calm to navigate through day-to-day life. If by that increased sense of calmness one can have better relations with him/her self, with the family and other human beings then that’s already a good thing, a step closer to a sane World! Therefore, in the context of external interactions with the World, Kriya can make everyone’s life and mind more “user-friendly”. That’s a simple and basic(but not single)benefit of Kriya when it comes to interaction with the external world. To achieve that calmness of the mind, regular practice is a must. The biggest secret of Kriya lies in its regular practice. If sadhak is disciplined enough to practice Kriya regularly, everything else will happen automatically.

“Dharmakshetre kurukshetre…”

The question „Why to do Kriya“, or any yogasadhana, is actually an ancient one. For a beginner, someone who is considering to take Kriya, this is a very legit question. It is the very same question that was asked on the eve of the great Mahabharat war by Arjuna and answered by Sri Krsna. Why should I fight my senses, desires, my mind, ego by doing yogasadhana? What will become of me if I conquer all those old friends and family members of mine(Kauravas)? „Api trailokyarajasya…“(Gita 1-35), meaning even for dominion over three worlds, I don’t want to fight and kill all of them! Questions and doubts like those may arise in one’s mind, as at that time the draw to bhog(worldly enjoyments) may be greater than the draw to yog, simply because the aspiring sadhak is more familiar and accustomed to bhog.

Considering that question, „Why to do yogasadhana“, and taking Kriya is Arjunavishadayoga(the first chapter of Gita). The sadhak is taking the breath-like weapon of pranayama and the great bow Gandiva(the spine)and with those two sadhak will aim at the ultimate goal of sadhana, Brahmagyan ie. knowledge of Self. At that point, there are 17 more chapters of Gita ie. yogsadhan to go thru. Therefore, do not despair, take Gandiva and breath-like weapon of pranayama, pull and release it, aim your arrows at the bull’s eye of Brahmagyan and as said by Sri Krshna to Arjuna, ”…tasmad yudhyasva Bharata”!(therefore fight, o Arjuna!), do not give up!