Testimonials

Doing Kriya Yoga is changing me. Before, I used to feel angry. Now, I feel calmer and more at peace.

What a blessing to have spent last week at the ashram and receive the 2 initiations and just absorb healing and restoring energy. Even a magical snow storm.

Thank you for your never ending work in bringing this profound teaching and making it so accessible for those who wish to learn.  

Not only did I deepen my own practice, but the glimpses of eternity that surfaced during some of those practices were deeply inspiring.  I am so grateful to you and your team at the ashram and beyond for your love and dedication, and enjoyed getting to know you a little on the various car journeys that we shared.  
Many thanks for the early morning ride to Magog and for the Indian outpost excursion, my children were very happy with their presents..!   

I am so inspired and excited to continue on this glorious path, even with some obstacles..   After such a peaceful, relaxed and meditative week it was a rather tumultuous re-entry into my ‘noisy’ life, I have to confess to feeling a little overwhelmed at first as many little ones vied for attention and I genuinely (and a little tearfully) wondered if it would be possible to find the space to continue the practice..  
But as always divine energy is helping and I am back to 4 am rising and wonderful meditation time.. Long may it continue!

Please stay in touch and let me know when the level 3 initiation will be next year and the Badrinath Pilgrimage, I am very keen to put both in my diary and make it happen!

I will also be copying you into communications with Savitri

I hear that the snow is still falling, so I wish you all a beautiful and early winter, and really so much love from my overflowing heart, it was above and beyond what I was asking for, Thank You!

Profound gratitude for you initiating us, you are fabulous in your knowledge, the energy and positivity.

I attended it wholly and came out overwhelmed. Yogacharya has great oratory skills and a way of explaining concepts in a simple manner. We have received the booklet on a suggested schedule of practising. So now it all boils down to my own practice! The workshop was a great experience for me, so thank you once again!

The first level initiation introduced me to advanced yogic practices which have a very deep effect on the spiritual level, yet they are very easy practice. It heightened my state of REAL awareness. Acharya Satyanandaji explained the practices in simple words, even unleashing the scientific side of all these yogic activities. The positive outcomes of regularly practicing these kriyas was a reason strong enough for me to take the second level initiation and also look forward to the third and final level initiation.

Om Kriya Babaji Nama Om

Marina thank you....it was wonderful....elevating, enlightening, comforting, inspiring and immediately actionable ....all rolled into one ....not many things like that on this planet.

I want to thank you for the Initiation and for bringing yourself and Satyananda into our lives. The experience was very inspirational and has helped me a great deal. It's just what I needed to realign myself.

Thank you.

Just to say thanks for the chance to attend an amazing course. Archarya Satyananda is really excellent and truely inspirational. I'm looking foward to the 2nd Level immensely but also planning to attend at least one more Level 1.

I hoped to learn an integrated system of meditation, physical movements ,pranayama etc. The course provided all of this but ,in addition, I've come away with a much deeper understanding of Kriya Yoga and myself. I keep running through in my mind some of the ideas the Archarya explained - a lot of things in life seem to make more sense now. It's quite hard to explain in words. Several times during the weekend I had that 'deja-vu' sensation.

Many Thanks

Satyananda is a highly informed and gifted teacher, with his ability to merge in an effective and precise way, my earlier disparate yoga practices into a unified whole. He is highly adept at introducing powerful techniques and practices in a way that is both accessible and attainable to non-adepts without diluting the essence of the Kriya Yoga practices.

I have I found that Kriya Yoga is the fullest flowering of yogic practices that integrates the broadest possible techniques and yoga philosophy into a cohesive and effective practice. A yoga practice offered as a living experience.

With all the chatter around concepts like 'resilience', 'mindfulness' and 'mental toughness', this two and a half day 'initiation' cut through the noise and I arrived at a whole heap of stuff that I could take back and use immediately.

I now find I have more space. I feel calm, despite what is going on around me.

The programme was just right. Enough information for the time we had. The Acharya is a natural teacher. He obviously knows his subject very well and was able to explain things in a logical manner. When I look back I can't believe how much complex stuff we got through.! It didn't feel like it at the time.

I experienced that we all had potential for being happy and free. I did not believe in God, did not know if He existed - at the program, I experienced something which makes me feel that something does exist.

Thank you for organising a wondrful initiation course. I found it quite intense, but it felt sacred and meaningful and I was very impressed with the Acharya’s knowledge and his ease with explaining the different exercises. I am currently reading, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’.

I am grateful for the depth and breadth of the Acharya's knowledge, and the ease with which he introduced us to complex practises. The whole weekend was uplifting with its powerful energy.

I feel happy. I have so much energy. My Meditation practice has been re-established to a daily routine, I am happy to take things slowly, internalize and see where this takes me.

Meditation practice has been re-established to a daily routine, I am happy to take things slowly, internalize and see where this takes me.

I realise that now the time has come to be still

It was a really intense but a wonderful experience. I found that the practice helps me greatly in my life in many unexpected ways.

I am so humbled and grateful to the Acharya for helping me better understand the purpose of self realization and the awakening ones gets from pranayama and meditation

It is challenging to try to express with words something that it is so deep in the soul, but I will try:
All my gratitude to Kriya Yoga that has allowed me to understand that everything is inside us. 
Thanks to that I could make changes in my life of things that weren't working anymore in a very natural way and with a lot of joy.
Kriya Yoga has given me a beautiful sense to life. Simply magical!

Om Kriya Babaji Nama Aum

Having experienced the beauty of the second initiation, I want to thank the entire organization from the depth of my heart for playing such an important role in transforming the lives of people and bringing them to a higher level of consciousness. I really am greatful to all of you for that.

Would be my pleasure if I can play any role in volunteering for the organization. Blessing to be born during the period when you are sharing the most precious knowledge ... Can't ask for more from the almighty. I feel that finally I am home.

Om Kriya Babaji Nama Aum

Level II brings the profound awareness shift of Level I and our subsequent self practise together into an integrated whole; and teaches us how to integrate this into our everyday lives.

I simply wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the experience we all shared this past weekend. I find myself still glowing from its after-effects.

The environment you have created for others to pursue and develop their self-realization is in my experience unmatched. It is a combination of both the meticulously complete presence and devotion you give to the work and the immense freedom and open space you create for others to experience and experiment with it that is such a priceless gift. It is that giving entirely of one-self without making any demands in return that I am incredibly awed and humbled by. I am so very happy to have come back, despite having waited so long to do so, I feel like I have made a quantum leap in my progress this weekend. I also feel very fortunate to have all this made available so close to my home and count on returning on other occasions as often as I can. Your presence is simply divine. If I can be of any other service, please consider me dutifully available.

I would like to share with you the experience of the teacher's training with Sita.
The course was deeply transforming. Perhaps the biggest lesson was the integration of the high states of consciousness in all actions, the experience of the tantric approach to the world.

We also experienced the asanas in a new way which induces deep states of silence.
We were learning in full joy, love and union.

I would like to express the profound gratitude to the Siddha Tradition for the truly inestimable blessing that it is.

Jay Babaji, Jay Mataji, Jay Siddhas!

I come from the South of France with a sense of profound joy and gratitude for all that we have been able to share during that teacher's training with Sita. The program was very rich, with many scenarios that have brought us great confidence in the practice and teaching. The anatomy course was very moving and the food was divine and full of Prana!
For now we water these small seeds they bloom! I look forward to seeing you soon!

Peace and Joy! Om Kriya Babaji Nama Aum

I can sincerely say that my participation in the pilgrimage to Badrinath was life changing. The “outer” experiences of visiting the sacred places and sharing with fellow kriyabans were as wonderful as one could imagine, however the real magic was in the opportunity to learn so much about myself and Babaji and to deepen the kriya practice. Since returning to my householder routine, my sadhana has supported me more than ever. Work, play, relationships and all of life have become a beautiful pilgrimage. What a blessing!

No words can express exactly what I feel now. I decided to go to India from nothing and knowing nothing at all, without any expectation my only desire was to surrender with an open heart to any kind of learning and insight that for me would already be enough in this journey where I am only learning to crawl.

My purpose was just to listen, to feel and to learn .... I heard as much as I could, a lot of information .... of course I did not absorb half of it, but I was not worried and I kept my peace of mind knowing that gradually and every day I would absorb more and more ... since for me this is a path with no return. I felt, eternal gratitude for being there and being part of that journey, gratitude for life or something that allowed me to be there so easily ... without obstacles to overcome. What I learned cannot be explained with words but .... something tender that I feel in the depths of my being.

I did not know I was worthy of everything I was receiving  ... for free! And because of that my gratitude and responsibility to the world had now increased. Yes ... I need to be responsible to the world. Yes .... I need to have responsible attitudes to try to give back a little of what I receive every day.
When I arrived in Brazil and got my car at the airport, I still drove an hour until arriving at my house and only then I realized how empty my mind was. It was a wonderful feeling because I had never felt what this was. The thoughts were not invading my head, my mind was so quiet ..... in complete peace. I tried to maintain this state ... but today after 5 days of my arrival .... the mind is no longer so silent, the thoughts already try to invade again and it is a constant exercise for the mind to be and to keep calm. This feeling was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had.

Everything was better than I expected although I did not have expectations. More comfort than I expected, better food, temples, Ashrams, Swamis ..... people of the world!

I did not miss anything, not even my family although I love them, or my home despite of the comfort I have, the food, or anything else. In fact I was 100% present at each moment and this was also a new, incredible and wonderful experience.

I can write several pages but .... these few words can already give a sample of my gratitude to the people who promoted this possibility and to the Universe for what I received.

TODAY (April 3rd ) 1 month after my arrival, I feel, in a delicate way, that something has changed inside myself, that is good, I feel more peace, more patience and conformity with things that do not depend on me .... and calmer to do my daily activities. I came back with the feeling that I am really on the right path, looking for light and truth, in my rhythm but with more thirst for knowledge, to live and to experience more of this that I have lived with you.
 Thank you, Satyananda, Sita and Shararandevi so much for all the assistance you gave us. All the time worried about us. You were with arms and hearts opened to welcome us and to give us the best of everything.

During this trip I was able to measure the true meaning of the Pilgrimage, to feel the profound

Transformation in all the Bodies : physical, vital, mental ...

Everything is present at the same time, the inner diving and the external "bubbling"

India puts all our senses in awakening with its shimmering colors, smells, flavors, its "symphony" of multiple and varied noises,...) An exercise (like a "yoyo" at the beginning) for Consciousness to remain present to both aspects (internal and external) at the same time. The practice in unusual conditions of all these hours dedicated to the kriya yoga sadhana... reveals the witness and opens an unsuspected and Infinite inner field. Nityananda, Nityananda, Nityananda ...

Awareness of the diversity of places carrying the energy of Realized Beings (Sri Ramanamarshi, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Boghanatar, Ramanuga). Every visited place resonated with deep Aspiration and provides additional light to the Intention posed in the beginning of the pilgrimage.

What a chance to meet Beings of Wisdom and Heart such as Venkatesh, Sunildas, Ritodgata, Hari Narayana ... Each of them by its Presence of Infinite Love, its Essence, a few right words ... raises a little the veil.

Awareness of the richness of the group with all these different nationalities, all our interactions, these magnificent encounters of Heart to Heart beyond the language, and the naturally unifying aspect of Kriya Yoga. We share what we have most Intimate, most Ultimate.

During this pilgimage, we were guided with the comfort of a "flying mat" free of material contingencies.

Attentive listening gave us a safe and warm framework allowing the internal expansion.

The careful and enlightened pilgrimage's preparation of Satya, Sita and Sharana Devi, allowed us in a very condensed time to discover places and people of rare quality...

A really living energy of Transformation.

What would have taken months, if not years, if not several lives ... in other times. This Pilgrimage is a full Initiation... the seed is planted, remains to nourish it with our constant attention until complete integration.

Infinite Gratitude to Satchidanada, Satya, Sita, Sharana Devi.

Love, Love, Love

Om kriya Babaji Nama Aum Om Nama Shivaya

~~SRI LANKA PILGRIMAGE OF BABAJI’S MIRACLES
October 31^st to November 7^th, 2014

I would like to share some of the miracles experienced on this loving Divine Pilgrimage organized by Mr. Vinod and Ms. Krishnaveni.

Miracle of Weather

During the whole trip we experienced sunny, pleasant winds and little sprinkles of shower. Custom tailored weather wherever we were while everywhere else it was pouring heavily.

Miracle of Group

The group came together and introduced themselves and we had a satsang. The ashram was simple and sparkling clean with high vibrations. The group atmosphere was filled with gentleness, innocence and delightfulness to partake in Babaji’s journey.

Miracle of seeing the Tooth Relic

Initially when we went inside the Temple of Tooth, it was very crowded and we managed to squeeze through and place the flower for offering. Then we left and meditated outside. We went in the second time and were standing near the shrine area which was closed. One Security personnel caught my eye and beckoned me to quickly go inside the rope area, I waved my hand to others to join me, and within seconds the curtain opened and I got a heartfelt view of the Tooth Relic face to face. Within a minute, the curtain closed. It was a miracle and a privilege to be there at that particular moment and had I not caught the eye of the security guard, we would have missed the experience.

Miracle of Pinnawala Angels

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: We were greeted by three sincere Angels smiling with loving eyes greeting us with warmth. Took us to a restaurant overlooking nature to have fresh avodado juice. Then they took us inside the Elephant grounds. With so much affection, I was able to bottle feed a baby elephant, feed another elephant some fruits and hug a big elephant with a herd close by. There were so many elephants close to us and yet it felt safe and serene. Then we were escorted to a lovely restaurant overlooking the river for elephant bathing. Lunch was delicious. We watched the elephants bathing and frolicking with each other. What an experience! On leaving Kandy the next morning, our Angel drove from the Elephant Orphanage to Kandy to give us all a souvenir and say bye. His eyes were beaming with divinity and love. We were truly loved and pampered.

Miracle of Hanuman’s Divine Hand

Nuwara Elia: Here Vinod and Krishnaveni shared with me that Hanuman was still alive on earth and helping mankind. I was deeply touched when I saw his footprints and prostrated at his feet. Then a thought came that I would like to sprinkle the holy water on his feet. I leaned towards the waterfall to get some water in my palm and my foot slipped and gently landed in a full prostration pose at a 60 degree angle on the fall. I had no foot or hand support and stayed completely still as the waterfall water sprayed on my head. I felt light as a feather and was very calm. In a short time, Bala put his foot as support that I could use and Vinod extended his hand and pulled me out. It was a miracle that I got drenched in the holy water and was held by Divine Hands (proof that Hanuman is alive) otherwise it would have been a big boo boo. I was able to get water from another side and perform Padapooja.

Miracle of Babaji's Feet

Katirgama: In the evening at the spot of Babji’s enlightenment after meditation, we had the privilege of the priest opening the door, lighting diya and offering coconut, we were blessed to go inside and touch Babaji’s feet.

Miracle of Babaji’s Presence

The Abhisekha experience at the Ashram was sublime, words cannot do justice to the experience and the beauty except that I was in tears and deeply moved. The lunch Prasad was delicious. I spent time meditating and enjoying the sereneness as I soaked my feet in the holy river.

Miracle of Group Spirit

We spent time doing bhajans in front of Babaji at Katiragama Temple – the joy and delight was that we all had a sharing group mindset and wanted to add value to the moment. Even I sang a simple bhajan ?. The rest of the evening at the Temple was delightful. In the morning we did sacred fire ritual and meditated. Thank you Babaji for your blessings.

Miracle of Nature

We drove to Hikkaduwa and as we approached it rained heavily for 5 minutes and immediately cleared up sunny for us to enjoy the beach. We all played in the water, swam, floated. It felt like the waves were dancing and playing with us. We experienced purple clouds and soon after the whole sky turned golden orange…..breathtaking view.

We experienced sighting many monitor lizards ranging from 2 to 4 feet crossing the road or walking on the side of the road.

We witnessed seeing full moon golden orange at 5 am.  Then Krishnaven, Mukul, Monali, Bala and I went for a morning walk on the beach. We had the privilege of playing, feeding, hugging two large tortoise for over an hour.  Nature at its finest…ocean, beach sand, clear sky, love, camaraderie, playing with two large tortoise and waves.

Miracle of our Hosting Angels

Back to Columbo at the Ashram. Bless Krishnaveni for her Angelic way of being. We sat inside Swami Ramaiah’s cottage and had a heartfelt satsang for almost 2 hours.

I felt deeply connected with Babaji and how he through his hosting Angels took care of every little detail of the pilgrimage from the weather, to the delicious food, to the comfort of accommodation, to the spectacular sightseeing, to meaningful meditations, to my lovely roommate Monali, and my inspiring co-bus passenger Balaji, to the care and love by Krishnaveni, Vinod and Akhil.  Akhil with his gentle demeanour, sharp alertness was our passionate photographer capturing the whole journey and with love prepared a dvd with all the pictures before I left to the airport for my return journey.  With deep gratitude I am so grateful to Vinod for organizing and giving me the opportunity to participate from Bangalore.
Thank you Babaji for the gift and privilege of letting me experience and be part of the Sri Lankan Pilgrimage.

With gratitude and devotion,

Anita Krishna

Here I am home from India and I have been so deeply touch by our pilgrimage to South India. It was the best experience of my life and I am so grateful for it. It has touched me so very deeply. The presence of The Mother and Sri Auribindo and Ramana Maharshi are now with me. They are part of my inner family along with Babaji I am so grateful for the email you sent me countering my naturopath's health concerns. I so nearly did not go to India. I myself had so many fears and resistance to going, but deep in my heart I knew that I wanted to go.

I have been touched by so much. Each of the high spiritual energy places were so special and I felt such a deep silence and calm come into my being. This started in Triruvanumalai and remained with me throughout the pilgrimage. I experienced my chattering mind still and I was able to just be there in the moment. I feel a deep connection with the Mother and Sri Aurobindo and their writings and presence inspire me daily,also my experiences on the pilgrimage.

I also felt so blessed to be part of the group of people on the pilgrimage. Each person was wonderful, but having Lene as a room mate was grace and my special healing from Steve on the last morning. I am so grateful to you and Durga for creating this pilgrimage and for being with us. You gave each of us such an opportunity to grow and feel the Divine within. I am so grateful.

The Satsang has given me a clearer view on several areas covered in the first initiation. Not because the initiation didn't cover it all, but mostly because the initiation covered too much for my mind to comprehend. To be reminded of the surrender pose in particular, the one I had completely forgotten, were especially helpful since I started the year off with a bit of an emotional turmoil. Surrendering it all left me feeling better straight away and even more so now, a week later.

Going through it all again, or the parts I was uncertain of revealed details I had forgotten and when included made it easier to go deeper into each asana, be more present with who I know I am.

~~This is based on Jennifer’s personal experience, after participating in the initiation seminar of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga.

For those of us who are on our yogic path to spiritual freedom, many may have come up against a point of stasis, finding it difficult to somehow push through to higher levels of understanding, in-spite of a consciously diligent commitment to our practices.

I, like many others I suspect, have experienced and learnt several different forms of yoga within the broad scope that is Yoga, yet I have somehow lacked the wherewithal on how to integrate these varying aspects into a meaningful and effective yogic practice or methodology.

So it was an enormous privilege to have been able to attend a seminar with initiation into Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, as the first of a series of three levels, in London, at a weekend in September 2013, and to learn from a highly informed and gifted teacher some of the more subtle and esoteric aspects of yoga. I now look forward to practicing towards the second initiation at the appropriate time.

The Acharya’s teaching of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga techniques has been insightful and illuminating with his unreserved commitment and compassionate teaching, and ability to merge in an effective and precise way, my earlier disparate yoga practices into a unified whole. This has enabled me to further deepen my practice on my chosen path to self-knowledge. He is highly adept at introducing powerful techniques and practices in a way that is both accessible and attainable to non-adepts without diluting the essence of the Kriya Yoga practices.

In my recent experience, I have found that Kriya Yoga is the fullest flowering of yogic practices that integrates the broadest possible techniques and yoga philosophy into a cohesive and effective practice – a yoga practice offered as a living experience.

Kriya Yoga is a science and an art, developed by ancient eastern sages and mystics, and is based on the deep knowledge about the human mind body system. It offers a timeless and precise way of enabling each of us to move beyond our belief concepts and our conditioned and mechanical ways of behaviour and to overcome the limitations we have placed upon ourselves, so that we are able to unfold and experience our true potential as Humans. In effect, to liberate ourselves from all that holds us back.

The Acharya beautifully encapsulated the meaning of Kriya Yoga as comprising of two wings, the awakening of consciousness and the awakening of energy within, which merge as two sides of the same coin into our full human potential conscious power.

About Kriya and Karma Kriya Yoga is conscious creation, deliberate action with awareness, whereby our directed attention and focused awareness leads to an inner exploration of our being and in turn, allows for expanded consciousness and for unfolding our full human potential power. ‘Kri’ as part of the word Kriya means action, ‘ya’ means with awareness, action undertaken with an intention to unite the Breath (life force) and the Self – energy and consciousness. Karma means in effect ‘action with consequence’, whether it be physical or psychological, mental or energetic, born out of a default way of response, a default mechanism of nature, to drive the mind body system within nature and ensure its survival, based on the law of ‘cause and effect’. As we react (i.e. “re-act”) out of an automatic response based on our past programming of childhood, society or even pre-birth experiences, invariably this is a reflection of our past conditioning and our belief concepts, projected into the future. As a result, we re-create our past experience into our future.

Kriya Yoga offers techniques that ensure we become mindful in how we think, feel and speak and in our attitude and behaviour, whether in thoughts, words or actions. In contrast to karmic patterns, action done in awareness enables us to act in life out of deliberate intent. We cultivate our natural ability to distinguish the five bodies (“sheaths”) of our mind body vehicle (physical body, vital body, mental body, intellectual body, spiritual body), and our ability to receive inner insight and inspiration as the driving force and foundation for our action. Constant interaction of the breath and the Self with awareness brings about a spaciousness that allows for transformation and expanding our degrees of freedom of choice. Kriya is about expansion, purification and transformation. It is using the power of intention to manifest and to unfold the dormant faculties and the amazing tools of our mind body system. The result is that through sincere intention and focus, the Infinite or Universal Consciousness is responsive, leading to a change in the vibratory field within us and around us. Eventually, our environment will respond within the law of attraction and of energetic field resonance, and our experience will change according to our own vibratory reality.

Our life experience becomes one of magnetic resonance and natural ease. That is why to create is liberating, it sets you free to be who you really are, guided by your genuine heart intentions and by the Highest guidance and wisdom within.

About Pranayama and Kundalini

A key tool in the practices is “Kriya Kundalini Pranayama”, which entails using the breath for Pranayama but in a way that is focused and directed in order to move our Prana (life-force) around the body-mind-system. Those Pranayama techniques are not just simply breathing exercises, but a sophisticated holistic deeply devotional inner practice. There is a direct connection between consciousness and energy, and therefore the power of the Kriya Kundalini Pranayama is amplified as our concentration deepens. As all Yoga practice is in general, Kriya Kundalini Pranayama practice in particular is designed to lead the body mind system into the energetic state of “satva” bringing about balance and equanimity – we are awake and present, active yet calm. And it is only when one is in this state that one opens up to transformation. By raising our consciousness we experience little glimpses of our pure potential transformative energy, the power of Consciousness – this is the awakening of the Kundalini.

In summary, Action with Awareness, directed by deliberate focused intention, involving the interaction of breath and the Self, is Kriya. And it is within this capacity that Kundalini energy is awakened, rises to unite with consciousness, allowing for spaciousness in order for transformation to take place. Our subtle energy powers are awakened and allowed to develop and unfold the faculties of our human body and mind - our true birth’s heritage as incarnated human beings on this planet.

Kriya is then the root of everything and its aim of bringing about that integration, whereby we are liberated from all that holds us back from achieving our true potential. This process is self-empowering. The ultimate aim of Kriya is to assist us in our Self-evolution and Self-realization.

About Kriya and Direct Experience

I feel that my energy, health and consciousness is amplified through the practice. By harnessing my breath, the practice of Kriya Yoga has made me mindful of how it works on my physical, psycho-emotional and mental planes. These techniques have drawn my attention to not only the gross physical level, but also to subtle energetic states within, and how to further evolve and strengthen them, so that my ability to perceive sharpens on all levels and I can attain higher states of consciousness.

Our intention is paramount in directing the awareness to the perspective of a “witness consciousness” within. The practice of this yogic sadhana becomes the vehicle to help drive us forward. But the techniques lead no-where if we are not mindful in how we attend to and practice them. It is through deliberate directed Awareness and Self-awareness that we are able to move forward with purpose and to experience the truth of what we are.

I have noted, as with all practices, especially the powerful Kriya techniques, that commitment and consistency in my practice is essential, in order to properly prepare my mind, body and nervous system for transformation to take place. The Acharya shared with us in an uncomplicated way traditional Kriya Kundalini Pranayama techniques, Meditation and Asana techniques – and continuously reminded us that ever anew attention and awareness is required to be brought into each and every practice we do, so that we are always mindful whether focusing on asana, Pranayama, meditation or devotional practice, or on our daily life routine activity or on challenging life situations.

What has Kriya Yoga revealed to me? That it is a living practice, one that can only be understood through direct inner experience. Neither books nor theoretical concepts can do justice to the personal inner experience. And to fully appreciate Kriya Yoga’s true reach and potential requires that the student approaches the practice with heartfelt sincerity in order to realise how beautiful and powerfully transformative the Kriya Yoga practice is.

I thank the Acharya for guiding me through my experience of the initiation into Babaji’s Kriya Yoga. It was a joyful experience that continues to live within me

Jennifer’s journey into yoga began 20 years ago. She teaches in order to share with others the infinity of Yoga, in its physical and meditative dimensions, and as a way to choose how to live one’s Life. Jennifer has a teaching practice in London (Yoga As Life).

~~ This is based on Ali’s personal experience, after participating in - Babaji’s Kriya Yoga 1st and 2nd Initiations.

Yoga reconnects us with the fact that we already have fullness within –many people feel a sense of coming home. Often the tricky thing is not realising this but integrating it into everyday life. This is a problem that Kriya Yoga – “Action with Awareness” – seeks to answer. Made famous by 'Autobiography of a Yogi', this integral system of Yoga, revived by Satguru Babaji Nagaraj, from ancient sources, enhances our 'being in the world', rather than its avoidance..

Kriya Yoga is taught only in the traditional manner of “initiation,” in a progressive series of seminars. Through the regular practise of the techniques, known as “kriyas,” you realize your true Self, and how to live from this new perspective continuously within the world. But first you have to find out who you are, and aren't, which is why “sadhana,” or regular practice of the of the prescribed Kriya techniques is necessary.

The 1st initiation itself is a biggie and may blow away many of your beliefs and cynicisms. It covers a lot of groundwork: a delicious two days of Kriya kundalini pranayama breathing, seven dhyana meditation kriyas, philosophy and learning the 18 key asanas. There is a daily practise schedule to take home. If you already have a strong self practise, whatever that may be, Kriya Yoga can be integrated into any style of Yoga or belief system.

The 2nd initiation teaches you “how to make your life your Yoga.” You will learn many new Kriya techniques involving the breath, meditation in daily life and during sleep, bandhams (muscular locks to awaken the chakras and kundalini) and also mantra diksha – the transmission of a personal mantra and mantras for the chakras. After a full 24 hours of silence, you will participate in a fire ceremony with chanting, to purify yourself, invoke the Satguru, Babaji and to empower a personal intention. During this weekend retreat and initiation you will learn how to integrate Yoga’s practices and teachings into the life of the family, work and routine activities. Because its teachings open the door to continuous awareness and bring about a powerful shift in perspective, anyone committing to them can expect a transformation of their life.

Babaji's “Five fold path” of Kriya Yoga includes: Kriya Hatha Yoga, Kriya Kundalini Pranayama, Kriya Dhyana Yoga, Kriya Mantra Yoga and Kriya Bhakti Yoga. Their practise brings about an integrated development of the individual in all five planes of existence: physical, vital, mental, intellectual and spiritual. Their practise creates a wise balance in our lives, with a strong healthy body (through the practice of the 18 asanas, for example) which prepares us for the awakening of our potential power and consciousness, kundalini, a calm, purified mind and elevated consciousness through meditation, and a grounding in the here-and-now. Babaji’s teachings promise us peace, happiness and truth of who we are through the practice of Kriya Yoga. It has been described as a fast-route to Self realisation, or a 'master key' for humanity.

Kriya Yoga adds to our lives a wonderful inner dimension. Its benefits quickly become evident. Its full potential may require years to fully appreciate. Through its practise, we can also change our energetic 'frequency' and attract people and situations with fortuitous synchronicity.

How does this happen? “Kriya” means “action with awareness.” It is the antidote to “Karma,” which is “action (or word or thought) with consequences.” By “letting go” of our mind's habitual responses, we can then act with awareness instead of reacting with old habitual patterns. We also learn to transform negative emotions such as fear into positive ones, such as unconditional love. And once we approach life from a new perspective it automatically reflects back in our experience; we are able to re-balance and re-direct energies from the pre-occupations of the ego to a aspiration of the higher Self.

The most powerful thing about Kriya Yoga is that it changes us from the inside, so there is no sense of rebellion against 'rules'. We can learn to be honest, remove egoistic self serving impulses and become aligned with the wisdom of our higher Self.

Practising Kriya is like taking a candle away from the draft for a few precious moments every day: everything slows down, we burn through life slower and appreciate its authentic flavour. As an integral path, we don't just 'do' Yoga on a mat or prop: every situation, every moment of our lives - whether sleeping, eating, working becomes our Yoga mat.

Ali (Piriamvada) teaches akhanda and kundalini yoga and gong meditation in East London and travels regularly to India for inspiration. She has completed Level I and II Babaji’s Kriya Yoga Initiations in India with Yogacharya Satyananda. You can find her schedule and follow her blogs about yoga and life on her narrow boat Bokissa at (www.yoga-adrift.com).

~~Kriya Yoga- The Journey Home
By Bhumika Pandya, in India

The entire process of life and death and activities performed in-between makes me think about one very simple thing. ‘We are born only with our body and nothing else, and when we die, we don’t even take along our bodies, then what is the real reason, the real purpose behind being here?’

I have always believed that there is something more to life than practicing mundane activities. There has to be some catch in this play of life and death! Something, which can bring out the real purpose of life. My search for an answer led me to reading books on various Yogis of India, knowing their yogic techniques with the help of which they conquered even death! Research conducted on these Yogis by the best of International Universities further infused in me the faith in their techniques. Further exploration introduced me to Christ and his abundant love which is available for everyone, if only we are attuned to receive it. Devotion and fervor to realize the real purpose of life introduced me to Babaji’s Kriya Yoga.

The first initiation introduced me to very advanced yet simple-to-practice Kriyas. The only contribution required- total sincerity and discipline in practicing Kriyas regularly since the result is exactly proportional to how much is practiced. Acharyas are live examples of how one can transform his/ her life through Kriya Yoga. The energy, positivity, determination and act of unconditional service to all true seekers, are, but, very few of the qualities that can be captured about the Acharyas. Acharya Satyanandaji, the perfect guide to Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, is an inspiring example of the abundant possibility of transformation and spiritual development through Kriya Yoga. Getting initiated from him assured me that I am on the right path.

I have learnt very beneficial Yogic techniques from various organizations before. Yet, somehow, I failed to practice them on daily basis. Dedication was missing, which made me think if the same will happen this time as well. But Kriya Yoga was a different experience. After the first initiation, not a day has passed without practicing the Kriyas. In fact, when I deeply ponder, I realize that it is not me practicing the Kriyas. Rather, the practice has absorbed me into it. The Kriya has made me one with itself. Just as the way we breathe but we don’t realize the activity of breathing, in the same way the Sadhana just happens, without me realizing it to be taking place. It is so natural and effortless. Such a bliss! While practicing Kriyas has been a grace, many other things changed in time.

Kriya Yoga introduced me to some truths of life. We fail to realize that everything is temporary. Hence we get involved in the drama of life, forgetting ourselves. This leads to pain and misery. Kriya Yoga taught me to be in the TRUE state of awareness, Sat- Chit- Ananda. It also taught me to sincerely fulfill all duties and responsibilities, while being detached from it. Regularly remembering these facts helped me remain more aware and more peaceful, irrespective of the situation.

The benefits gained out of first initiation made me curious about what the second initiation has in store for me. The second initiation had an amplifying effect on my spiritual progress. It took me deeper into knowing my Real Self. It made me aware of my energies. So subtle, yet so strong! Such is the beauty of energies! Experiencing the wonders of the second initiation, I threw myself onto the feet of Babaji. Complete surrender. The ultimate ‘Swaha’ of the ‘self’ to know the ‘Self’. The result- sweet God- intoxication which encompasses me every minute, every second of the day.

If we have an eye for it, wondrous experience awaits us every moment. Shiva awaits us every moment. Reminding us, calling us through our very own breath - Va-Shi, to become one with him, to dissolve into nothingness.

Opportunity awaits everyone. Only if we choose to act upon it.

By connecting with Him, we connect with our Highest / True Selves. It is time to become one with Him in the ocean of happiness.

OM KRIYA BABAJI NAMA AUM!