Kriya Yoga path of Sadhana believes, physically we are connected constantly with this infinite absolute through our unconscious breathing which is going uncontrolled throughout our lives. If we become conscious about it (possibly only humans can exercise some voluntary control over their breathing) and are guided by a fully realized Guru, then gradually we can attain a state where through control on our breathing, we can control our thoughts, then our mind and finally at a developed state, our individual ‘I” consciousness or ego gradually reduces and finally makes way for the expression or manifestation of the higher levels of consciousness.
The expression of “Self” through this individualistic and separate “I” ness of ours is only a mental state or feeling developed through bodily awareness, material needs and social conditioning. Once we realize and experience the limits imposed on us by our “I” ness or ego; we wake up with a different level of consciousness where the individual “I” dissolves within the supreme consciousness: the omnipresent Soul of this universe. We can realize the illusion of the play and become calmly active and actively calm. A feeling of bliss and a sense of connectedness to every other living and non-living beings permeates the newly awaken consciousness of the practitioner of the path who is known as a “Kriyaban” during the course of the journey and called a “Yogi” when we attains the final state of union.
This feeling and realization can only be experienced through practice or “Sadhana” under the guidance of the Guru. Intellectually understanding the concept by reading or contemplating or discussing is very different from the direct experience of the Unity which can be possible within a finite time only by practice and grace of the Guru.
VARIATIONS OF YOGA AND KRIYAYOGA
Through the ages, the Yoga has been broadly classified into various categories viz. Hathayoga, Rajayoga, Mantrayoga, Layayoga, Dhayana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga. These major or primary paths yoga serve the same purpose of attaining the same supreme state of Oneness and allude to the same importance of breathing control but possibly with different ways, methods and actions. Alternatively, it may be conjectured that various seekers begin Sadhanas on different planes: the Hatha Yogi on the physical, the Raja Yogi on the mental, the Jnana Yogi on the intellectual and the Bhakti Yogi on the devotional … But all are striving for the same goal and irrespective of the methods, all are entitled for the same end result… the unification with the supreme and the liberation from the illusion.
According to revered Swami Sadhanananda Giri, all paths of Yoga are complementary to each other and no particular method can be claimed to be better or worse than the other in any way whatsoever. All realized Yogis and Gurus who are working for the liberation of the humankind and offer the same message for us.
Per the Indian Hindu Philosophical belief of continuous and unending creation, preservation and finally destruction (for reasons of transformation and newer creations) possibly these methods and practices of Yoga got changed, transformed, or in some other periods of time (Yuga), partially forgotten. It may be conjectured that in some ancient Yuga i.e. before the advent of modern age and time of last few thousand years, this Yoga may have been practiced by Yogis and Rishis who have passed on the methods and tenets orally to their followers and disciples and through passage of time it got modified and adopted to various newer but inherently similar paths and practices.
Kriya Yoga is only a simplified method distilled from all these ancient texts and techniques and made suitable for modern day men and women by Yogiraj Shri Shyamacharan Lahiri. It can be practiced by the people of all caste, creed, race, religion, age and spiritual propensity as every human being on earth has the inherent God given right to experience and realize the infinite and absolute God within himself or herself …..
In this Yuga, human minds are completely immersed into worldly pleasures of acquiring, possessing and preserving material objects for “I” and “MY” comforts and transient satisfactions. Also, our bodies and minds are not suitable for performing all the components of yoga separately. It is at this juncture; Yogiraj Sri Shayamacharan Lahiri Mahasaya had distilled and developed the Kriyayoga from these ancient methods, especially for the common man absorbed in family life. In the year 1861, Lahiri Mahasay’s Gurudev (Master), Mahavatar Shri Babaji Maharaj took Shayamacharan to the foot hills of Ranikhet in the Himalayas and initiated Him into Kriyayoga. At that juncture Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj said to Shayamacharan, “The Kriya Yoga that I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century, is a revival of the same science that Krishna gave millenniums ago to Arjuna; and was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples. This Kriya Yoga is the spiritual technique of salvation for this age.” Simply speaking, Yogiraj helped the modern seekers of truth and self by eliminating ancient complexities and transforming the Yoga Sadhana into a direct result oriented and simple path of Self Realization for the common man.