The Science of Kriya Yoga

The science of Kriya Yoga, mentioned so often in these pages, became widely known in modern India through the instrumentality of Lahiri Mahasaya, my guru’s guru. The Sanskrit root of Kriya is kri, to do, to act and react; the same root is found in the word karma, the natural principle of cause and effect. Kriya Yoga is thus “union (yoga) with the Infinite through a certain action or rite.” A yogi who faithfully follows its technique is gradually freed from karma or the universal chain of causation.

The science of Kriya Yoga is mentioned often in these pages. It became widely known in modern India through Lahiri Mahasaya, my guru’s guru. The Sanskrit root of Kriya is kri, meaning to do, to act and react. The same root appears in karma, the natural principle of cause and effect. Kriya Yoga thus means “union (yoga) with the Infinite through a certain action or rite.” A yogi who faithfully follows this technique is gradually freed from karma, or the universal chain of cause and effect.

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.

Because of certain ancient yogic rules, I cannot fully explain Kriya Yoga in a book for the general public. The actual technique must be learned from a Kriyaban or Kriya Yogi. Here, a general overview 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. [^26] 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 Yoga is a simple method involving mind and body that removes carbon from human blood and replenishes its oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen become a life current that rejuvenates the brain and spinal centers. [^26] By stopping the buildup of venous blood, the yogi can slow or prevent tissue decay. An advanced yogi transforms his cells into pure energy. Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were masters of Kriya or a similar technique. Through such techniques, they made their bodies 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.

Kriya is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received the technique from his guru, Babaji. Babaji 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.”

“I am giving Kriya Yoga to the world through you in this nineteenth century,” Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya. “This is a revival of the same science Krishna gave to Arjuna thousands of years ago. Later, Patanjali, Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples also knew this science.”

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.” [^26] 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, India’s greatest prophet, refers to Kriya Yoga in a verse of the Bhagavad Gita: “The yogi offers the incoming breath into the outgoing breath, and the outgoing breath into the incoming breath. By doing so, he neutralizes both breaths. He thus releases the life force from the heart and brings that force under his control.” [^26] This means: “The yogi stops decay in the body by adding life force. He also stops the changes caused by growth in the body through apan (the eliminating current). By calming the heart and thus neutralizing decay and growth, the yogi learns to control life.”

Krishna also relates [^26] 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. [^26] 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. [^26] Then, due to priestly secrecy and man’s indifference, the sacred knowledge gradually became inaccessible.

Krishna also explains [^26] that in a former incarnation, he taught the indestructible yoga to Vivasvat, an ancient enlightened sage. Vivasvat passed it on to Manu, the great lawgiver. [^26] Manu, in turn, taught Ikshwaku, the founder of India’s solar warrior dynasty. Passed from one person to another, the royal yoga was protected by the rishis until the materialistic ages arrived. [^26] Then, because of priestly secrecy and human 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.” [^26] Patanjali speaks of God as the actual Cosmic Sound of Aum heard in meditation. [^26] Aum is the Creative Word, [^26] 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.

Kriya Yoga is mentioned twice by the ancient sage Patanjali, the leading authority on yoga. He wrote: “Kriya Yoga consists of physical discipline, mental control, and meditation on Aum.” [^26] Patanjali describes God as the actual Cosmic Sound of Aum heard in meditation. [^26] Aum is the Creative Word, [^26] the sound of the Vibratory Motor. Even a beginner in yoga soon hears the wondrous sound of Aum within. Through this blissful spiritual encouragement, the devotee becomes certain that he is truly in touch with divine realms.

Patanjali refers a second time to the life-control or Kriya technique thus: “Liberation can be accomplished by that pranayama which is attained by disjoining the course of inspiration and expiration.” [^26]

Patanjali refers again to the life-control or Kriya technique: “Liberation can be achieved through pranayama attained by separating the flow of inhalation and exhalation.” [^26]

St. Paul knew Kriya Yoga, or a technique very similar to it, by which he could switch life currents to and from the senses. He was therefore able to say: “Verily, I protest by our rejoicing which I have in Christ, i die daily.” [^26] By daily withdrawing his bodily life force, he united it by yoga union with the rejoicing (eternal bliss) of the Christ consciousness. In that felicitous state, he was consciously aware of being dead to the delusive sensory world of maya.

St. Paul knew Kriya Yoga, or a very similar technique, that let him direct life currents toward or away from the senses. He could therefore say: “Truly, I affirm by the joy I have in Christ, i die daily.” [^26] Each day, he withdrew his bodily life force. Through yoga union, he united that life force with the joy (eternal bliss) of the Christ consciousness. In that blissful state, he was consciously aware of being dead to the deceptive sensory world of maya.

In the initial states of God-contact (sabikalpa samadhi) the devotee’s consciousness merges with the Cosmic Spirit; his life force is withdrawn from the body, which appears “dead,” or motionless and rigid. The yogi is fully aware of his bodily condition of suspended animation. As he progresses to higher spiritual states (nirbikalpa samadhi), however, he communes with God without bodily fixation, and in his ordinary waking consciousness, even in the midst of exacting worldly duties. [^26]

In the early stages of contact with God (sabikalpa samadhi), the devotee’s consciousness merges with the Cosmic Spirit. His life force withdraws from his body, leaving it apparently “dead,” or motionless and rigid. The yogi remains fully aware that his body is in suspended animation. As he reaches higher spiritual states (nirbikalpa samadhi), however, he communes with God without his body becoming motionless. He does so in his normal waking consciousness, even while carrying out demanding worldly duties. [^26]

“Kriya Yoga is an instrument through which human evolution can be quickened,” Sri Yukteswar explained to his students. “The ancient yogis discovered that the secret of cosmic consciousness is intimately linked with breath mastery. This is India’s unique and deathless contribution to the world’s treasury of knowledge. The life force, which is ordinarily absorbed in maintaining the heart-pump, must be freed for higher activities by a method of calming and stilling the ceaseless demands of the breath.”

“Kriya Yoga is a tool that can speed up human evolution,” Sri Yukteswar explained to his students. “The ancient yogis discovered that the secret of cosmic consciousness is closely linked to mastery of the breath. This discovery is India’s unique and timeless contribution to the world’s store of knowledge. The life force is usually occupied with keeping the heart pumping. To free this force for higher activities, the constant demands of breathing must be calmed and stilled.”

The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment.

The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to circulate upward and downward around the six spinal centers. These centers are the medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses. They correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. Thirty seconds of energy circulating around the sensitive human spinal cord brings subtle progress in spiritual evolution. That half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual development.

The astral system of a human being, with six (twelve by polarity) inner constellations revolving around the sun of the omniscient spiritual eye, is interrelated with the physical sun and the twelve zodiacal signs. All men are thus affected by an inner and an outer universe. The ancient rishis discovered that man’s earthly and heavenly environment, in twelve-year cycles, push him forward on his natural path. The scriptures aver that man requires a million years of normal, diseaseless evolution to perfect his human brain sufficiently to express cosmic consciousness.

A human being’s astral system has six inner constellations (twelve by polarity). These constellations revolve around the sun of the all-knowing spiritual eye. This astral system is interconnected with the physical sun and the twelve signs of the zodiac. All people are therefore affected by both an inner and an outer universe. The ancient rishis discovered that people’s earthly and heavenly surroundings move them forward along their natural path in twelve-year cycles. The scriptures state that humans need a million years of normal evolution, free from disease. This evolution develops the human brain enough to express cosmic consciousness.

One thousand Kriya practiced in eight hours gives the yogi, in one day, the equivalent of one thousand years of natural evolution: 365,000 years of evolution in one year. In three years, a Kriya Yogi can thus accomplish by intelligent self-effort the same result which nature brings to pass in a million years. The Kriya short cut, of course, can be taken only by deeply developed yogis. With the guidance of a guru, such yogis have carefully prepared their bodies and brains to receive the power created by intensive practice.

Practicing one thousand Kriya in eight hours gives the yogi the equivalent of one thousand years of natural evolution in one day. Over one year, this practice equals 365,000 years of evolution. In three years, a Kriya Yogi can thus achieve through intelligent personal effort what nature accomplishes in a million years. Of course, only highly developed yogis can take the Kriya shortcut. Under a guru’s guidance, these yogis have carefully prepared their bodies and brains to receive the power that intensive practice creates.

The Kriya beginner employs his yogic exercise only fourteen to twenty- eight times, twice daily. A number of yogis achieve emancipation in six or twelve or twenty-four or forty-eight years. A yogi who dies before achieving full realization carries with him the good karma of his past Kriya effort; in his new life he is harmoniously propelled toward his Infinite Goal.

The Kriya beginner practices his yogic exercise only fourteen to twenty-eight times per session, twice a day. Some yogis achieve liberation in six, twelve, twenty-four, or forty-eight years. A yogi who dies before reaching full realization carries with him the good karma from his past Kriya practice. In his new life, that good karma guides him harmoniously toward his Infinite Goal.

The body of the average man is like a fifty-watt lamp, which cannot accommodate the billion watts of power roused by an excessive practice of Kriya. Through gradual and regular increase of the simple and “foolproof” methods of Kriya, man’s body becomes astrally transformed day by day, and is finally fitted to express the infinite potentials of cosmic energy-the first materially active expression of Spirit.

The average person’s body is like a fifty-watt lamp. Such a lamp cannot handle the billion watts of power awakened by practicing Kriya too intensely. By gradually and regularly increasing the simple and “foolproof” practices of Kriya, a person’s body undergoes astral transformation day by day. Eventually, the body becomes ready to express the infinite potential of cosmic energy. Cosmic energy is the first expression of Spirit to act in the material world.

Kriya Yoga has nothing in common with the unscientific breathing exercises taught by a number of misguided zealots. Their attempts to forcibly hold breath in the lungs is not only unnatural but decidedly unpleasant. Kriya, on the other hand, is accompanied from the very beginning by an accession of peace, and by soothing sensations of regenerative effect in the spine.

Kriya Yoga has nothing in common with the unscientific breathing exercises taught by some misguided zealots. Their attempts to forcefully hold breath in the lungs are not only unnatural but also distinctly unpleasant. Kriya, on the other hand, brings a growing sense of peace from the very beginning. It also brings soothing sensations that renew the spine.

The ancient yogic technique converts the breath into mind. By spiritual advancement, one is able to cognize the breath as an act of mind-a dream-breath.

The ancient yogic technique turns breath into mind. As you advance spiritually, you can recognize breath as an act of the mind, a dream-breath.

Many illustrations could be given of the mathematical relationship between man’s respiratory rate and the variations in his states of consciousness. A person whose attention is wholly engrossed, as in following some closely knit intellectual argument, or in attempting some delicate or difficult physical feat, automatically breathes very slowly. Fixity of attention depends on slow breathing; quick or uneven breaths are an inevitable accompaniment of harmful emotional states: fear, lust, anger. The restless monkey breathes at the rate of 32 times a minute, in contrast to man’s average of 18 times. The elephant, tortoise, snake and other animals noted for their longevity have a respiratory rate which is less than man’s. The tortoise, for instance, who may attain the age of 300 years, [^26] breathes only 4 times per minute.

Many examples could show the mathematical relationship between a person’s breathing rate and changes in their state of consciousness. A person whose attention is fully absorbed automatically breathes very slowly. This happens, for example, when following a tightly reasoned argument or attempting a delicate or difficult physical feat. Steady attention depends on slow breathing. Rapid or uneven breathing inevitably accompanies harmful emotional states: fear, lust, and anger. The restless monkey breathes 32 times a minute, compared with the human average of 18. Elephants, tortoises, snakes, and other animals known for their long lives breathe more slowly than humans. The tortoise, for instance, may live to be 300 years old. [^26] It breathes only 4 times per minute.

The rejuvenating effects of sleep are due to man’s temporary unawareness of body and breathing. The sleeping man becomes a yogi; each night he unconsciously performs the yogic rite of releasing himself from bodily identification, and of merging the life force with healing currents in the main brain region and the six sub-dynamos of his spinal centers. The sleeper thus dips unknowingly into the reservoir of cosmic energy which sustains all life.

Sleep restores us because we temporarily lose awareness of our bodies and breathing. A sleeping person becomes a yogi. Each night, the sleeper unconsciously performs the yogic practice of letting go of identification with the body. The sleeper’s life force merges with healing currents in the main brain region and the spinal centers’ six sub-dynamos. In this way, the sleeper unknowingly draws from the reservoir of cosmic energy that sustains all life.

The voluntary yogi performs a simple, natural process consciously, not unconsciously like the slow-paced sleeper. The Kriya Yogi uses his technique to saturate and feed all his physical cells with undecaying light and keep them in a magnetized state. He scientifically makes breath unnecessary, without producing the states of subconscious sleep or unconsciousness.

The yogi consciously performs a simple, natural process by choice, unlike the sleeper, who performs it unconsciously and slowly. The Kriya Yogi uses his technique to fill and nourish all his body's cells with light that never decays. He also keeps those cells in a magnetized state. Through this scientific technique, he makes breathing unnecessary without entering subconscious sleep or unconsciousness.

By Kriya, the outgoing life force is not wasted and abused in the senses, but constrained to reunite with subtler spinal energies. By such reinforcement of life, the yogi’s body and brain cells are electrified with the spiritual elixir. Thus he removes himself from studied observance of natural laws, which can only take him-by circuitous means as given by proper food, sunlight, and harmonious thoughts-to a million-year Goal. It needs twelve years of normal healthful living to effect even slight perceptible change in brain structure, and a million solar returns are exacted to sufficiently refine the cerebral tenement for manifestation of cosmic consciousness.

Through Kriya, the outward-flowing life force is not wasted and misused through the senses. Instead, the life force is directed back to unite with subtler energies in the spine. This strengthening of life electrifies the yogi’s body and brain cells with the spiritual elixir. The yogi thus moves beyond carefully following natural laws. Those laws offer only an indirect path to a Goal that takes a million years to reach. That path relies on proper food, sunlight, and harmonious thoughts. Twelve years of normal, healthy living are needed to produce even a slight, noticeable change in brain structure. A million years are required to refine the brain enough for cosmic consciousness to manifest.

Untying the cord of breath which binds the soul to the body, Kriya serves to prolong life and enlarge the consciousness to infinity. The yoga method overcomes the tug of war between the mind and the matter- bound senses, and frees the devotee to reinherit his eternal kingdom. He knows his real nature is bound neither by physical encasement nor by breath, symbol of the mortal enslavement to air, to nature’s elemental compulsions.

By untying the cord of breath that binds the soul to the body, Kriya helps prolong life and expand consciousness infinitely. This yoga method overcomes the tug of war between the mind and the senses bound to matter. It frees the devotee to reclaim his eternal kingdom. He knows his true nature is bound neither by the body nor by breath. Breath symbolizes mortal dependence on air and on the demands of nature’s basic forces.

Introspection, or “sitting in the silence,” is an unscientific way of trying to force apart the mind and senses, tied together by the life force. The contemplative mind, attempting its return to divinity, is constantly dragged back toward the senses by the life currents. Kriya, controlling the mind directly through the life force, is the easiest, most effective, and most scientific avenue of approach to the Infinite. In contrast to the slow, uncertain “bullock cart” theological path to God, Kriya may justly be called the “airplane” route.

Introspection, or “sitting in the silence,” is an unscientific attempt to separate the mind and senses by force. The life force binds them together. As the meditating mind tries to return to divinity, the life currents constantly pull the mind back toward the senses. Kriya controls the mind directly through the life force. It is the easiest, most effective, and most scientific way to approach the Infinite. The theological path to God is like a slow, uncertain “bullock cart” journey. By contrast, Kriya may rightly be called the “airplane” route.

The yogic science is based on an empirical consideration of all forms of concentration and meditation exercises. Yoga enables the devotee to switch off or on, at will, life current from the five sense telephones of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Attaining this power of sense-disconnection, the yogi finds it simple to unite his mind at will with divine realms or with the world of matter. No longer is he unwillingly brought back by the life force to the mundane sphere of rowdy sensations and restless thoughts. Master of his body and mind, the Kriya Yogi ultimately achieves victory over the “last enemy,” death.

The science of yoga is based on observation and experience with all forms of concentration and meditation exercises. Yoga lets the devotee turn the life current on or off at will through the five senses, like telephones. These senses are sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Once the yogi can disconnect his senses, he can easily unite his mind with divine realms or the material world. He can do so at will. The life force no longer pulls him unwillingly back into the everyday world of clamorous sensations and restless thoughts. As master of his body and mind, the Kriya Yogi ultimately overcomes the “last enemy,” death.

So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men: And Death once dead, there’s no more dying then. [^26]

So you will feed on Death, who feeds on people. And once Death is dead, there will be no more dying. [^26]

The life of an advanced Kriya Yogi is influenced, not by effects of past actions, but solely by directions from the soul. The devotee thus avoids the slow, evolutionary monitors of egoistic actions, good and bad, of common life, cumbrous and snail-like to the eagle hearts.

The life of an advanced Kriya Yogi is guided solely by the soul, not by the effects of past actions. The devotee thus bypasses the slow lessons of growth taught by everyday ego-driven actions, both good and bad. To hearts like eagles, these lessons are burdensome and as slow as snails.

The superior method of soul living frees the yogi who, shorn of his ego-prison, tastes the deep air of omnipresence. The thralldom of natural living is, in contrast, set in a pace humiliating. Conforming his life to the evolutionary order, a man can command no concessionary haste from nature but, living without error against the laws of his physical and mental endowment, still requires about a million years of incarnating masquerades to know final emancipation.

The higher way of living through the soul frees the yogi from the prison of his ego. He breathes deeply of omnipresence. By contrast, the bondage of ordinary living moves at a humiliatingly slow pace. A person who follows the course of evolution cannot make nature speed up for his sake. Even if he perfectly follows the laws of his physical and mental nature, final freedom takes about a million years. Throughout those years, he wears the changing disguises of successive incarnations.

The telescopic methods of yogis, disengaging themselves from physical and mental identifications in favor of soul-individuality, thus commend themselves to those who eye with revolt a thousand thousand years. This numerical periphery is enlarged for the ordinary man, who lives in harmony not even with nature, let alone his soul, but pursues instead unnatural complexities, thus offending in his body and thoughts the sweet sanities of nature. For him, two times a million years can scarce suffice for liberation.

Yogis shorten this process by freeing themselves from identification with the body and mind, embracing instead their individuality as souls. Their methods thus appeal to those who recoil at the thought of a million years. For the ordinary person, the time required is even longer. He lives in harmony neither with nature nor, much less, with his soul. Instead, he pursues unnatural complexities, violating nature’s gentle wisdom in both his body and his thoughts. For him, even two million years may hardly be enough for liberation.

Gross man seldom or never realizes that his body is a kingdom, governed by Emperor Soul on the throne of the cranium, with subsidiary regents in the six spinal centers or spheres of consciousness. This theocracy extends over a throng of obedient subjects: twenty-seven thousand billion cells-endowed with a sure if automatic intelligence by which they perform all duties of bodily growths, transformations, and dissolutions-and fifty million substratal thoughts, emotions, and variations of alternating phases in man’s consciousness in an average life of sixty years. Any apparent insurrection of bodily or cerebral cells toward Emperor Soul, manifesting as disease or depression, is due to no disloyalty among the humble citizens, but to past or present misuse by man of his individuality or free will, given to him simultaneous with a soul, and revocable never.

A person focused on the material world seldom or never realizes that his body is a kingdom. Emperor Soul rules from a throne in the skull, with subordinate rulers in the six spinal centers, or spheres of consciousness. This divine government rules over a vast crowd of obedient subjects: twenty-seven thousand billion cells. These cells have a reliable, though automatic, intelligence that carries out all bodily growth, transformation, and breakdown. Its subjects also include fifty million underlying thoughts, emotions, and shifting states of consciousness during an average sixty-year life. Any apparent rebellion by bodily or brain cells against Emperor Soul appears as disease or depression. Such rebellion does not arise from disloyalty among these humble citizens. Instead, it results from a person's past or present misuse of his individuality or free will. This freedom was given to him along with a soul and can never be taken away.

Identifying himself with a shallow ego, man takes for granted that it is he who thinks, wills, feels, digests meals, and keeps himself alive, never admitting through reflection (only a little would suffice!) that in his ordinary life he is naught but a puppet of past actions (karma) and of nature or environment. Each man’s intellectual reactions, feelings, moods, and habits are circumscribed by effects of past causes, whether of this or a prior life. Lofty above such influences, however, is his regal soul. Spurning the transitory truths and freedoms, the Kriya Yogi passes beyond all disillusionment into his unfettered Being. All scriptures declare man to be not a corruptible body, but a living soul; by Kriya he is given a method to prove the scriptural truth.

Identifying with his shallow ego, a person assumes he himself thinks, wills, feels, digests meals, and keeps himself alive. He never stops to reflect on how, in ordinary life, he is merely a puppet of past actions (karma) and nature or environment. Only a little reflection would be enough! Each person’s intellectual responses, feelings, moods, and habits are limited by the effects of past causes. Those causes may come from this life or a previous one. Yet his majestic soul stands high above such influences. Rejecting temporary truths and freedoms, the Kriya Yogi moves beyond all disillusionment into his unrestricted Being. All scriptures declare that a person is not a body subject to decay, but a living soul. Through Kriya, he is given a method to prove the truth of the scriptures.

“Outward ritual cannot destroy ignorance, because they are not mutually contradictory,” wrote Shankara in his famous Century Of Verses. “Realized knowledge alone destroys ignorance. . . . Knowledge cannot spring up by any other means than inquiry. ‘Who am I? How was this universe born? Who is its maker? What is its material cause?’ This is the kind of inquiry referred to.” The intellect has no answer for these questions; hence the rishis evolved yoga as the technique of spiritual inquiry.

“External rituals cannot destroy ignorance, because rituals and ignorance do not contradict each other,” wrote Shankara in his famous Century Of Verses. “Only knowledge gained through realization destroys ignorance. . . . Knowledge can arise only through inquiry. ‘Who am I? How did this universe come into being? Who made it? What material was it made from?’ These are the kinds of questions meant by inquiry.” The intellect cannot answer these questions. So the rishis developed yoga as a method of spiritual inquiry.

Kriya Yoga is the real “fire rite” often extolled in the Bhagavad Gita. The purifying fires of yoga bring eternal illumination, and thus differ much from outward and little-effective religious fire ceremonies, where perception of truth is oft burnt, to solemn chanted accompaniment, along with the incense!

Kriya Yoga is the true “fire rite” often praised in the Bhagavad Gita. The purifying fires of yoga bring eternal illumination. So they differ greatly from outward religious fire ceremonies that accomplish little. In those ceremonies, the perception of truth is often burned up along with the incense, to solemn chanting!

The advanced yogi, withholding all his mind, will, and feeling from false identification with bodily desires, uniting his mind with superconscious forces in the spinal shrines, thus lives in this world as God hath planned, not impelled by impulses from the past nor by new witlessnesses of fresh human motivations. Such a yogi receives fulfillment of his Supreme Desire, safe in the final haven of inexhaustibly blissful Spirit.

The advanced yogi withdraws all his mind, will, and feeling from falsely identifying himself with bodily desires. He unites his mind with superconscious forces in the sacred centers of the spine. In this way, he lives in this world as God intended. He is driven neither by impulses from the past nor by new follies arising from fresh human motivations. Such a yogi finds his Supreme Desire fulfilled, safe in the final refuge of Spirit and its endless bliss.

The yogi offers his labyrinthine human longings to a monotheistic bonfire dedicated to the unparalleled God. This is indeed the true yogic fire ceremony, in which all past and present desires are fuel consumed by love divine. The Ultimate Flame receives the sacrifice of all human madness, and man is pure of dross. His bones stripped of all desirous flesh, his karmic skeleton bleached in the antiseptic suns of wisdom, he is clean at last, inoffensive before man and Maker.

The yogi offers his tangled human longings to a bonfire devoted to the one God, who has no equal. This is the true yogic fire ceremony. All past and present desires become fuel consumed by divine love. The Ultimate Flame accepts the sacrifice of all human madness, and the yogi is freed of impurities. His bones are stripped of all fleshly desire. His karmic skeleton is bleached by the cleansing suns of wisdom. At last he is clean, giving no offense to humanity or his Maker.

Referring to yoga’s sure and methodical efficacy, Lord Krishna praises the technological yogi in the following words: “The yogi is greater than body-disciplining ascetics, greater even than the followers of the path of wisdom (Jnana Yoga), or of the path of action (Karma Yoga); be thou, O disciple Arjuna, a yogi!” [^26]

Speaking of yoga’s reliable, systematic effectiveness, Lord Krishna praises the yogi who practices its techniques: “The yogi is greater than ascetics who discipline the body. The yogi is greater even than followers of the path of wisdom (Jnana Yoga) or the path of action (Karma Yoga). Be a yogi, my disciple Arjuna!” [^26]

26-1: The noted scientist, Dr. George W. Crile of Cleveland, explained before a 1940 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science the experiments by which he had proved that all bodily tissues are electrically negative, except the brain and nervous system tissues which remain electrically positive because they take up revivifying oxygen at a more rapid rate.

26-1: The noted scientist, Dr. George W. Crile of Cleveland, described his experiments at a 1940 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His experiments had proved that all bodily tissues are electrically negative, except those of the brain and nervous system. These tissues remain electrically positive because they absorb revitalizing oxygen faster than other bodily tissues.

26-2: Bhagavad Gita, IV:29.

26-2: Bhagavad Gita, 4:29.

26-3: Bhagavad Gita IV:1-2.

26-3: Bhagavad Gita 4:1-2.

26-4: The author of Manava Dharma Shastras. These institutes of canonized common law are effective in India to this day. The French scholar, Louis Jacolliot, writes that the date of Manu “is lost in the night of the ante-historical period of India; and no scholar has dared to refuse him the title of the most ancient lawgiver in the world.” In La Bible Dans L’inde, pages 33-37, Jacolliot reproduces parallel textual references to prove that the Roman Code Of Justinian follows closely the Laws Of Manu.

26-4: The author of Manava Dharma Shastras. These collections of customary laws, formally accepted as authoritative, remain in force in India today. The French scholar, Louis Jacolliot, writes that Manu’s date “is lost in the darkness of India’s prehistoric past. And no scholar has dared to deny him the title of the world’s earliest lawgiver.” In La Bible Dans L’inde, pages 33-37, Jacolliot presents passages side by side to prove a close correspondence. The passages show that the Roman Code Of Justinian closely follows the Laws Of Manu.

26-5: The start of the materialistic ages, according to Hindu scriptural reckonings, was 3102 B.C. This was the beginning of the Descending Dwapara Age (see page 174). Modern scholars, blithely believing that 10,000 years ago all men were sunk in a barbarous Stone Age, summarily dismiss as “myths” all records and traditions of very ancient civilizations in India, China, Egypt, and other lands.

26-5: According to Hindu scriptures, the materialistic ages began in 3102 B.C. That year marked the beginning of the Descending Dwapara Age (see page 174). Modern scholars blithely believe that 10,000 years ago all people were stuck in a barbaric Stone Age. On that basis, they dismiss outright as “myths” all records and traditions of very ancient civilizations in India, China, Egypt, and other lands.

26-6: Patanjali’s Aphorisms, II:1. In using the words Kriya Yoga, Patanjali was referring to either the exact technique taught by Babaji, or one very similar to it. That it was a definite technique of life control is proved by Patanjali’s Aphorism II:49.

26-6: Patanjali’s Aphorisms, II:1. By Kriya Yoga, Patanjali meant either the exact technique taught by Babaji or a very similar technique. Patanjali’s Aphorism II:49 proves that Kriya Yoga was a specific technique for controlling life energy.

26-7: Patanjali’s Aphorisms, I:27.

26-7: Patanjali’s Aphorisms, 1:27.

26-8: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”-John 1:1-3. Aum (Om) of the Vedas became the sacred word Amin of the Moslems, Hum of the Tibetans, and Amen of the Christians (its meaning in Hebrew being sure, faithful). “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”-Revelations 3:14.

26-8: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him.” John 1:1-3. Aum (Om) of the Vedas became the sacred word Amin of the Moslems, Hum of the Tibetans, and Amen of the Christians. (In Hebrew, Amen means sure, faithful.) “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.” Revelations 3:14.

26-9: Aphorisms II:49..

26-9: Aphorisms II:49.

26-10: I Corinthians 15:31. “Our rejoicing” is the correct translation; not, as usually given, “your rejoicing.” St. Paul was referring to the omnipresence of the Christ consciousness..

26-10: I Corinthians 15:31. “Our rejoicing” is the correct translation, not the usual “your rejoicing.” St. Paul was referring to the omnipresence of the Christ consciousness.

26-11: Kalpa means time or aeon. Sabikalpa means subject to time or change; some link with prakriti or matter remains. Nirbikalpa means timeless, changeless; this is the highest state of samadhi.

26-11: Kalpa means time or an age. Sabikalpa means subject to time or change. Some connection with prakriti or matter remains. Nirbikalpa means timeless and unchanging. It is the highest state of samadhi.

26-12: According to the Lincoln Library Of Essential Information, p. 1030, the giant tortoise lives between 200 and 300 years.

26-12: According to the Lincoln Library Of Essential Information, p. 1030, giant tortoises live between 200 and 300 years.

26-13: Shakespeare: Sonnet #146.

26-13: Shakespeare: Sonnet #146.

26-14: Bhagavad Gita, VI:46.

26-14: Bhagavad Gita, 6:46.