By George A. Boyd © 1995
Material in quotes are excerpted from Discoveries on
the Path
Kriya Yoga is a transformation technique that initially operates in the
Cosmic Sphere to bring about the spiritual evolution of Cosmic Consciousness
in the first Cosmic Initiation. This practice goes through five stages
with associated techniques. This leads up through Kaivalyam, the stage
of liberation of Cosmic Consciousness. Kaivalyam is also referred to as
the state of Jivan Mukta: we will use these terms synonymously. These
initial five stages are briefly summarized below.
Name of Kriya Technique |
Realm of Activity |
Kriya Pranayam (1st kriya) |
Cosmic Physical Realm |
Thokkar Kriya (2nd Kriya) |
Cosmic Astral Realm |
Kriya with Mantra [Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudeya] (3rd
Kriya. Some assign a 4th kriya, a variation of the basic
technique, to this level) |
Cosmic Causal Realm |
Kriya with mantra [Om Bhu Om Bhuvah Om Swahah Om Manah Om Janah
Om Tapah] (4th Kriya, some say this is the 5th
Kriya) |
Cosmic Ideational to Guru Padam (seat of Kriya Yoga preceptor) |
Swami Kriya (Root Kriya) |
Guru Padam to Kaivalyam |
Once the Comic Consciousness is liberated, the energy of incarnation
(Alaya) returns to the Astral Soul. At this stage the kriyaban receives
a new order of Kriya techniques. Swami Charan Das refers to these as "Adi
Kriya."
He speaks of Adi Kriya in his article in Discoveries on the Path entitled, "The Role of Kriya Yoga in the Mudrashram® Tradition:"
"Adi Kriya comprises seven steps
[They are] revealed by the Cosmic
Master or [Kriya] Guru to [the kriyaban who has achieved] Jivan Mukta.
It leads progressively through
- The four higher initiations of the Cosmic Sphere.
- Grants the vision of the Masters of the Cosmic Hierarchy.
- Unfolds the [Supracosmic] Soul through the second [path of the] Shiva
Plane into the presence of Mahavatar Babaji.
- Unfolds the [Supracosmic] soul through the seventh [path of the] Vishnu
plane, bringing the vision of Bhagavan Krishna and Lord Vishnu.
- Journeys to the stage of liberation from the Supracosmic Sphere [Mahaparinirvana].
- [Ascends through the Fourth Transcendental Path, crossing] seven stages
of mastery culminating in the Maharaj Stage, which is the origin of
[the techniques of] Kriya Yoga [which can be practiced by the kriyaban].
- Then, by the Grace of Lord Jesus Christ, the [spirit] and the Soul
[e.g., the ensouling entity of the Fourth Transcendental Path] are translated
to the stage of spiritual perfection [which is called the Paradise Master]."
Swami Charan Das goes on to say, "The three primal teachers of the Kriya
Yoga tradition are Lord Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, and Mahavatar
Babaji, who progressively guide the Soul [e.g., ensouling entity] through
the Cosmic, Supracosmic and Transcendental realms. Every Kriya Yoga master
who reaches the Guru Padam ultimately stands in the doorway of [the] path
to final liberation. Through the Grace of Mahavatar Babaji, this door
is opened."
He goes on to describe the first Adi Kriya. "Adi Kriya cannot be practiced
before the Jivan Mukta stage
[The first] Adi Kriya is a breathless,
mental Kriya that uses the Divine Light radiated from the Master
The attentional principle directs this Light in a very specific way when
the breath is suspended
Receiving the Light and learning how and
where to direct it are sacred mysteries that cannot be revealed until
the disciple has become prepared by dedicated meditation, purification
of the inner vehicles, inculcation of holy virtues, selfless service and
devotion to the spiritual Master."
General information can be given about the Adi Kriya techniques. These
are summarized in the table below.
Adi Kriya Number |
Name(s) of Technique |
Range of Activity |
Description of Technique |
I |
Kaivalyam Kriya;
Breathless, Deathless Kriya |
Cosmic Sphere to the Light of Liberation (Brahmajyoti) |
Light is directed to the receptacle of the Astral
Soul with mental breathing. |
II |
Soruba Samadhi Kriya |
Second Path of Shiva Plane in Supracosmic Sphere |
Mental breathing with mantra [Om Namah Shivaya, Shivaya
Namah Om] |
III |
Cosmic Fire Kriya I |
Through Seventh Path of the Vishnu Plane to Liberation
from Supracosmic Sphere (Mahaparinirvana) |
Mental breathing into Cosmic Fire vehicle of the Suracosmic
Soul |
IV |
Cosmic Fire Kriya II |
The 4th Transcendental Path to Maharaj
stage |
Mental breathing into the atmic vehicle of the ensouling
entity of the 4th Transcendental Path |
V |
Bhava Kriya |
Maharaj stage to Paradise Master stage |
Reception of the Translating Light by the spirit. |
Kriya Yoga is taught by a number of modern teachers. The practice as
revealed supplements the core techniques by a variety of adjunct techniques
purported to heighten the absorption into the state of meditation. Some
teachers reveal the techniques up to the Cosmic Causal realm, some up
to the Cosmic Ideational realm. Writings by Paramahansa Yogananda and
other authors who write about Kriya Yoga do not mention the Adi Kriya
techniques, or the root Kriya. It is unclear whether this is a purposeful
omission to keep these higher techniques secret, or whether these authors
were not aware of these techniques at the time they wrote their exposition
on Kriya Yoga.
Swami Prem Dayal and Swami Charan Das have requested that this information
be placed on this web site so that kriyaban initiates and persons interested
in learning more about Kriya Yoga can "learn of the higher ministry of
Mahavatar Babaji, Bhagavan Krishna, and Lord Jesus Christ using Kriya
Yoga." Swami Charan Das goes on to say, "Yogananda identified these holy
Masters as being at the root of his lineage. At this time it is important
that people know of the nature of that higher ministry, so they can realize
the profound depths to which Kriya Yoga can elevate the Soul."
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