Kriya Yoga

[Soulbass]

Kriya Yoga

I'm committed to follow the instructions from the book Leo have suggested here : The Importance Of Real Yoga

I haven't yet explored this field : I start from ground.

I will share here my notes and experience.

Edited March 10, 2018 by Soulbass

[Soulbass]

The book have 4 sections :

1. Preparatory exercises (lessons 1 to 7)
2. First Kriya initiation (lessons 8 to 17)
3. Additional practices (lessons 18 to 24)
4. The higher Kriyas, or “Omkar Kriyas”
    Second Kriya initiation (lesson 25)
    Third Kriya initiation (lesson 26)
    Fourth Kriya initiation (lesson 27)
    Fifth Kriya initiation (lesson 28)
    Sixth Kriya initiation (lessons 29 to 31)
    Seventh Kriya initiation (lessons 32 to 33)

The lessons are organized this way :

1. Introduction (context & commentary)
2. Procedure
3. Technique tips
4. Suggested daily routine (a standard to follow before beginning the next lesson)
5. Graduation
6. Yogic wisdom (optional discussion)

[Soulbass]

From Leo's blog "Don't Half-Ass Yoga" :

. Practice yoga on an empty stomach, at least 4 hours after eating.
Don’t over eat.
Have a clean diet.
No wheat.
No sugar.
No refined products.
It’s OK to eat a banana 2 hours before practice, if I’m really hungry.
Morning or evening, it doesn’t matter (but not right before bed when I’m tired).

. Follow the instructions as rigorously as possible, and trust the system of the book.
Don’t mix and match, synthesize from various schools or customize your own practice.
Don’t compare or seek for the best yoga schools/techniques : it’s a distraction.

. It requires 30 to 60 minutes of my time, every day.

. Do the techniques mindfully.
Don’t think about your every day life, tasks and duties, while doing Kriya.

. At the end of the routine, stay still for 10 to 15 minutes in silence.
The silence after the techniques is even more important.

. Once the practice is over, go with your life (family obligations...)

. Discipline.

Edited March 11, 2018 by Soulbass

[Soulbass]

LESSON #1 “FIND YOUR MEDITATION SEAT”

. Facing East.

. 3 times a day.

. Keep the spine in a relaxed, upright position.
The gaze (direction du regard) slightly turned upward with half-closed eyes (relaxed).
The back is free of contact or pressure.
Cross legged.
The hands sit gently on the lap/legs, with fingers intertwined.
Place a pillow under the buttocks.
No stress to the joints.

. Find appropriate places to meditate every morning/midday/evening.
Schedul 20 minutes, daily.

. The 8 steps required to obtain the state of Samadhi :
1 - Behaviors to avoid.
2 - Actions to practice.
3 - Poses/postures/seat.
4 - Breath/energy control.
5 - Withdrawing the senses (se détacher de ses senses).
6 - Concentration.
7 - Uninterrupted concentration : meditation.
8 - Becoming one with the object of concentration (Samadhi).

. Leo’s video "Sitting Posture For Yoga & Meditation” :

https://www.actualized.org/insights/sitting-posture-for-yoga-meditation

. Picture of Lahiri Mahasaya :

Edited March 11, 2018 by Soulbass

[Gabriel Antonio]

gave up?

[Soulbass]

Hey @Gabriel Antonio I will post once in a while.

After few days of basic exercises, there is not much to say.

I don't know what to expect.

In the end, I won't take notes on the book itself, because the techniques are simple and easy to remember.

Edited March 17, 2018 by Soulbass

[Gabriel Antonio]

cool

let us know about your progress

[Soulbass]

After one week doing the basic exercises (lessons 1 to 7) :

Few changes on my focus on breath during the day.

Maybe some emotional waves.

Nothing really fancy.

I'm just committed to follow the practice and see what happens.

Next step is to achieve the "First Kriya initiation" (lessons 8 to 17).

See you.

[Chaga lover]

Is the information  in the book similar to the book on kriya yoga.net

[Soulbass]

@Chaga lover I don't know, sorry. I stick to the book for now. Leo says it's a good book ^^

Looking for the "best" teacher, methods, schools... is a distraction.

[Soulbass]

I don't know if this is Kriya related but : I tend to feel emotional these days (it's a state I try to reach, since I have learned to control emotions most of time). I was just lying back on bed, and realized or allowed myself to feel the love coming from the universe. Tears in my eyes, I felt shame for not seeing this before, and thankful.

My Yoga practice is going well, I've missed some days, but I don't worry about it. I have to practice on empty stomach (cleaning my diet of wheat, bla bla...)

[Samantha]

I haven't found the name of the book yet.  Which one is it.  I have look around the 200 book collection but am not sure which book is meant.  I was in Ananda for some years and have read much of the SRF materials.  I would much appreciate finding a deeper close to the root of the tradition book. 

[Lynnel]

@Soulbass  Be careful with going too fast. You need to practice the frist kriya pranayama for  at least 2 months before going on to deeper lessons. Do not rush.

[Soulbass]

@Samantha Go to page 2 of the book list, there is only one book about Kriya. You can press ctrl + F to make a research in web browser, and then type "kriya" (Command + F on mac).

@Lynnel Thanks, I'll do that.

Update : I haven't practiced Kriya much this week. I'm working on my diet tho.

I've been fasting for 3 days, and noticed changes in mind clarity/concentration.

Edited April 1, 2018 by Soulbass

[Soulbass]

I did another 5 days fast (water + coconut water) :

When the mind is in "survival" mode, it's less bothered by neurotic concerns. It's more clear and calm.

On the physical side, the 3rd day is the most difficult, then it's ok (walking, bicycle...)

Though, the little "fascism" I have with myself about what is good food or not - living healthy or not - is creating wars/suffering.

The ego backlash was as strong as my intention to perform the perfect fast.

The more I try, the more I fail (polarity).

So I've accepted the idea of not knowing what is good or bad food, to get rid of the wars within myself.
I've stopped identifying with the food I eat. In short : accepting death.

The emotion/intention seems to be more important than everything else.

I'll be back to fasting, it's maybe something to do several times in a years. I'll experiment now with "one meal a day" and "one day off per week".

Things I've definitely erased from my habits recently : salt, cooked oils, wheat, dairy products.

Edited April 23, 2018 by Soulbass

[Soulbass]

About Kriya : I've done the lessons 1 to 7 on & off the past weeks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A few notes on Chakras (from the book) :

. A Chakra is a bridge between the energy of consciousness and the senses,
thus relaying the experience of the human being with the immortal soul.
A Nadi is a (tube) channel of energy.
The principal Nadi is called Shushumna (Chakras 1 to 6, along the spine).
A Nadi is activated by breath.
Each Chakra have 2 points along the surface of the body, front and back, which are called Ksetrams.
Focus on the front Ksetram = reveals qualities and powers of [selected] Chakra.
Focus on the back Ksetram = move awareness to the source of [selected] Chakra (to locate it's center).

7th Chakra : Sahasrara (inside the brain).
Bregma = front Ksetram, on top of the head.
Bindu Visarga = back Ksetram, where the hair swirls.

6th Chakra : Ajna (inside the brain).
Bhrumadhya = front Ksetram, point between the eyebrows.
Medulla = back Ksetram, where the spine and the brain meet.

In the head, there is an area filled just with cerebral spinal fluid (no brain).
This point is important, and it's called "The third ventricle".
Draw a line between the two ears.

5th Chakra : Vishuddha.

4th Chakra : Anahata.

3rd Chakra : Manipura.

2nd Chakra : Svadhisthana.

1st Chakra : Muladhara.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Daily Routine :

. Asana (Sitting Posture)

. Nadi Soghana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
  [x3] / [x6] / [x9]

. Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Breath)
  [x6] / [x9] / [x12]

. Talabya Kriya (Tongue Stretching)
  [x10 + outer stretch] (3 minutes)

. Om Japa in the Chakras
  [x6] (2 minutes)

. Dharana (Concentration)
  [5 minutes] / [10 minutes] / [15 minutes]

Edited April 23, 2018 by Soulbass

[leobera]

 

i need ur help.docx

Edited July 26, 2020 by leobera