Kriya Yoga – A Powerful Way To Walk The Spiritual Path.
Please do click the link below the picture to read what Sadhguru explains about Kriya Yoga. For those who practice The Isha Kriya this is an excellent read about the power that you are accumulating from the daily practice. Thanks Sadhguru and to The Isha Foundation for sharing the wisdom of Classical Indian Hatha Yoga.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the very concept of Kriya Yoga. I personally feel that it’s a good way to feel more relaxed in life and to reach the inner spirit within me. To me, it’s the ultimate way to reach complete inner peace.
OM
It’s interesting to read that Kriya isn’t just a practice so much as it’s a way of life. The dedication it takes to reap all the benefits is an incredible commitment.
I figured at first that there would be more to Isha Kriya than a method of meditation.
What I found most interesting was the difference between Kriya and Karma, though I figured it to be a little differently than was explained. Maybe Kriya is the benefits of focusing inwards, while Karma is the benefits of focusing outwards? Then again the meaning of the word ‘Karma’ has kind of been changed around in the West, so I imagine its true meaning isn’t what I initially learned it was.
Namaste
This article was very interesting to me, especially the section “the mechanics of life”. i believe that the kriya yoga is important only if you put commitment to it.if you want better results you have to go for it, and just focus, clear your mind and stay tuned. its like when you’re under the process of kriya session, like they say, you wonder off about how the world is created, you feel like you want to be one with life.
OM
I can relate to this article. I have noticed how Kriya Yoga takes a lot of discipline. The fact that the article states how people are always looking for comfort is even noticeable when I do yoga. Sometimes I subconsciously find ways to be more comfortable. After I take notice of that, I immediately make sure I am doing whatever position I am doing at the moment the right way. I have also noticed that once I fix any mistakes in posture, I don’t normally fall back into doing it wrong anymore. The longer the practice, the better the results.
You have keen observation skills…yes in this practice being conscious and choosing to change will be a definite approach, no going back to previous errors, OM
This article was very interesting. For most of my life I have been told to question things, so it was very different to hear that to master Kriya you should not question and just do. I think a lot of the time I won’t do something because I do not see an immediate reason or reward. WIth Kriya we experience the reward as we practice.
Remember to invest time and good writing skills to get your best grade! OM
“But kriya yogis can do whatever they wish with themselves in terms of energy and they can do a lot with the world also.” The last sentence of this article really had me thinking about kriya yogis. I found it interesting that only kriya yogis are the only ones that can do whatever they want with themselves and can do a lot with the world where gnana, bhakti, and the path of karma yoga can only do one or the other.
-Alyssa Mercadante
Namaste
“Karmas are those which bind you, kriyas are those which release you.” This puts it all into perspective for me. Kriya has been a release for me, I just wasn’t sure in what ways. But I have realized that it allows me to focus on my deeper self and that then allows me to give this deeper more pure being to those around me. I can walk down a powerful spiritual path and feel closer to myself and everyone who I come in contact with.
Lauren Burroughs
OM
I thought this article was rather interesting and somewhat intense in that it was so blunt and matter of fact about how Sadhguru felt about the Isha Kriya in comparison to other forms of yoga and how people must go about practicing. The explanation about Kriya being internal action and energy which releases you and Karma being external action which binds you was helpful and clarifying. I also really appreciate his stating that the body, mind, and forever fluctuating emotions have nothing to do with practicing the Isha Kriya, as it is a completely separate form of energy and practice. It’s also very true how people in today’s society grow up expecting all different sorts of comforts, how spoiled we are! And while I condone learning a new form of meditation or any other kind of practice by silently listening to your teacher/instructor/what have you, the bit about Sadhguru being against asking logical questions doesn’t sit well with me, as I am very logical person and adore explanations and being told how the world works. Meanwhile, I understand and find it admirable and more lesson inducing to silently follow instruction and to come to your own conclusions, or I suppose just work in simplicity without being a bother. And I think that learning in this way does pay off in the form of realization and more balanced energies and simply knowing yourself in a different way. This article was rather informative and inspiring in a sense of work ethics and focus.
On the note of the Isha Kriya, I have practiced the recommended five times since my last response. I’ve continued to noticed a sense of better balance and focus and improved posture. I especially enjoyed our meditation session on monday night before we came back to our mats for our hatha yoga practice. Entering a sacred space with a large group so silently and respectfully gave me a more communal and bonding feeling when practicing my meditation, and I just always adore the ambiance of a dark candle lit room. There was a lot of positive energy and vibrations and I couldn’t have been more at peace in such a large group of people. I am confident that continuing my practice will further instill this sense of grounding and peace.
Thanks for your honest reflections on our classroom experiences and how you have tied this to your journal, Namaste
The more I read about Isha Kriya and the more I practice it, I am continually learning about how powerful and important it can be. The idea that people “seeking” comfort cannot fully obtain the powers of the Isha Kriya is so important because it shows that you have to have a different mindset and emotional state than one may normally be comfortable with throughout their everyday lives. Isha Kriya is starting to seem like a whole different lifestyle to me on it’s own. The power that it emits within in a person is something one can only really understand once they feel it. I myself am still struggling to mentally relax when I practice Isha Kriya on my own, but I will not give up. The idea that Kriya cannot fully be explained and it cannot be broken down is beautiful to me. Personally, I juxtapose it to the feeling of Love; you cannot really understand it or explain it until you feel it yourself. It is all just too powerful.
Thanks for nor giving up on receiving the benefits….the more you practice things change and benefits come…OM
I was very intrigued by the difference between Karma and Kriya, and how Sadghuru states that Karmas bind you while Kriyas free your being. This makes sense, as the Isha Kriya really does help to separate the being from the mind and body. But it was also interesting to me when he said that you must not be one to seek comfort in order to practice the Isha Kriya. One would think that comfort would come with the peace found in the Isha Kriya, but I suppose he is right. We are not trained in our society to have a level of discipline and internal focus that allows us to easily step inside ourselves and separate from our mind and body. Staying inside your mind is easy, but getting out of that box is the real challenge of the practice. -Joseph Mineo
Well stated
The Sadhguru speaks of many important concepts at first. The unifying principle however lies in the characterization of the energy known as kriya. The Sadhguru contrasts the internal nature of the kriya energy with the external nature of the karma energy. Both energies of course can be used to accomplish various tasks in their respective spheres of influence. This is an important point, I would beseech the reader to further consider its implications. After this point the Sadhguru addresses the path of kriya more directly and I find it very interesting how he characterizes certain distinctions. For example, the Sadhguru mentions that the element of comfort can provide an impediment to the practice of the way of kriya; however the Sadhguru explains that it is not a problem to make use of comfort, by sitting comfortably perhaps, but rather the mindset of constantly seeking this as a goal above all else. To me this would seem like a kind of imbalance between allocation of kriya energy and karma energy; a person in the above example would be expending great energy in achieving certain karmic activities, apparently leaving no room for kriya pursuits. I personally believe this is a wonderful explanation given by the Sadhguru.
Well written!OM
This article was very interesting. I had no idea that kriya was the opposite of karma. It makes sense to me now that kriya is a deeper understanding of the internal body and mind rather than the external energy it creates. Kriya yoga is fascinating to me because it deals with the self rather than anything else, but it goes even deeper than the self. This deep interaction with the internal is something that one must not think about and just accept because it is impossible to fathom what actually happens to the self during Kriya. It is a deeper level of understanding that comes without asking questions of how it came to be. I often have stiffness in my body mostly in my joints and this week the kriya was very hard for me because of the stiffness I was having. It is important to get passed that however, and be able to loosed yourself up during the practice.
Do know there is a sauna in the women’s locker room will help ease the aches, also practice in a chair that’s comfy! OM
The sauna is in womens locker room, use it to prevent stiffness and aches…use a comfy chair also! OM
The sauna is in womens locker room, use it to prevent stiffness and aches…use a comfy chair also! OM
The sauna is in womens locker room, use it to prevent stiffness and aches…use a comfy chair also! OM
Kriya Yoga is w ay of life where you give yourself completely and allow your human energies to take over, you don’t allow you brain or your body to inhibit you in anyway unlike other forms of yoga such as karma where you believe what you put out and you can ask questions about what you’re doing and you can allow others to influence you. With Kriya yoga you can give yourself completely and allow the actions to happen. What I’ve drawn from this article is that by giving yourself completely and allowing all your limits to be gone and fears and questions, you begin to participle in life fully without letting any other influences into your life. But this is a difficult think for an average person to do in American society where we are forced to live with schedules and accountability where we get constantly get questions and there are reactions to what we do. We are accountable for our actions and therefore kiva yoga is probably the most disciplined type of yoga and con only be done by the most dedicated and free spirit who is willing to embrace this form of yoga to benefit from its rewards that I think few can experience. This article also shows me that you can embrace difference forms of yoga and allow difference energies to be apart of your life with less discipline that is needed than Kriya yoga, because the average individual will ask too many questions and want too many answers.
-Gabrielle Madera
Its not that difficult for folks from all walks of life to get the benefits of the practice! OM
OM
This post was very interesting to me.I learned a lot of different words like Kriya,asanas,Ghana,Bhakti and karma,still not clear on some of the definitions but find it interesting to know these words. I think that kriya is interesting thing to have under your belt,but it seems if you was not taught from a younger age this will be hard to throw yourself into Spruce you with with trusting others in this day and age for me.
Do know at any age one may start practices like Isha Kriya and receive benefits! OM
I really enjoyed this article and the emphasis it has on positivity and balance. I think it’s important to practice yoga not only for the mind and body but for the spirit. If you bring good energy wherever you go, good energy will follow you. Whatever comes around goes around, and that is karma. Whatever you express internally and receive is kriya. Being unable to control your emotions and spirit cabn greatly effect your yoga practice. My favorite quote from the article is “Similarly, whatever we do with your body, your body is well today so it likes asanas. Tomorrow morning if your body is stiff, you will hate asanas. Your emotions are not at all reliable.” Practicing yoga and the isha kriya are great ways to find happiness, and to have your emotions become more reliable.
OM
It is enlightening to read about the path of kriya yoga. It is apparent that this is a lifelong pursuit. We all have learned how to always seek short-term reward and comfort but this yoga is a search for something more distant and powerful. I understand that I have built up habits of ease that keep me from living a more fulfilling and healthy life. I am glad that I have encountered yoga and meditation as a framework for searching for long-lasting, abstract, and complex forms of satisfaction.
Namaste
I thought it was very interesting that the article shows the difference between body, emotion, and energies. The fact that the feelings of the body and emotions can change from day to day based off external factors and there is no way to predict how they may shift, while energies are a continual path that cannot be changed by day to day stressors drives home the idea of the Isha Kriya separating the self from the body and mind. I also thought it was very interesting how kriya is essentially a way of life, and one so contradictory with the modern lifestyle. We search for reason in everything, along with physical and mental comfort, and kriya yoga appears to be a method of accepting the purpose of things without question, even if the things are uncomfortable. The article left me wondering if there are many people in modern life who can or have achieved the lifestyle of a kriya yogi, especially since the article points out that almost everyone is raised from childhood to the ideals of the modern society’s need for comfort and reason.
Amelia McNally
OM
My favorite thing about the Isha Kriya (and Sadhguru as a whole) is his willingness to use contemporary technology to reach out to an audience he otherwise might not have reached. It is particularly significant when it comes to the Isha Kriya, as it can only be taught by Sadhguru himself.
It is wonderful that technologies like YouTube can allow him to globally share this information. Were it not for technology like this, expense to actually visit Sadhguru/attend a seminar may prove prohibitive to potential meditators.
I found this very interesting and it put a lot of the other forms of yoga into perspective and what everything does for your body and mind. I believe that anyone, including myself, will hear about the kriya and immediately shoot it down because the effects that it claims are illogical, however that is simply a mental barrier from trying something new because there is a chance it will make you uncomfortable. As an individual that has been practicing the Isha Kriya with this type of mind I can say that once you get over the hurdle of daily logic and truly take the time to perform this process there is such a change. There is such a feeling of freedom, freedom from stress and anxiety as well as freedom from myself. When not performing the Isha Kriya I notice a greater sense of control and a surge of power while still embodying that freedom feeling.
Wonderful! OM
I must keep reminding myself that I am not the body or the mind and be conscious of this not only when practicing the isha kriya but also in my daily life. Kriya meaning internal activity makes a lot of sense to me especially when practicing this meditation. I never knew that karma meant outside activity so it is very interesting to look at how kriya and karma interact. Kriyas release while karma binds. We are bound to this earthly state and that which surrounds us externally but we can be released spiritually and internally within ourselves with kriyas. It is interesting how gurus will teach kriya indirectly so as to get the student away from the comforts he or she has adopted throughout life. I wonder how different the processes would be in teaching if one were to start from childhood.
A pleasure reading your journal comments your open honest reflections clearly show how well you are growing in your yoga practice, OM
This article talked about Sadhguru’s opinions on the Isha Kriya, especially in comparison to other forms of yoga and yoga practices. It was interesting to learn that kriya is the opposite of karma. As someone who has been following the Isha Kriya since the beginning of the semester, I enjoy reading more and more about the benefits it has on the body and mind. I have definitely been able to deal with stress a lot better the more I practice. To remind yourself everyday that I am not this body and mind, is very powerful. Isha Kirya isn’t just a yoga practice. It is a way of life and a way of thinking!
OM
From Sadhguru’s words, Kriya means internal action. It does not entail the body nor the mind, but the energy you possess within. That same energy is influenced and channeled through our everyday lives one way or another. As Yin and Yang are opposites, Kriya also has one in the form of Karma. The latter exists in the form of external activities which we carry out. I would imagine that both cannot be maintained equally without the other, as they appear to be complements.
When one applies this to their daily life, there appears to be less of a need to rely on daily logic in a constant sense. If we sink into that as a habit, we end up treating Kriya and Karma as means to an end. That, in turn, causes a divergence from any attempt at learning the spiritual path which was intended. The goal that was coveted would, ironically, be harder to obtain if simply chasing it is all that mattered.
As I read the article further, there were gradually more obvious nods to how Kriya yoga and our IK practices came into play. Our external activities are not the entirety of who we are, and it serves a purpose to learn more about our how our bodies react when practicing yoga. The results, as Sadhguru implies, are not immediate due to the discipline that is needed. It is a subtle reminder that it is the journey that is the destination, rather than the destination itself.
Namaste
I learned a lot of interesting things from this reading. The fact that Kriya means internal action and is the certain mastery to do action with your energy. The body and mind are not involved because they are external. External activities are referred to as karma and they bind you, while internal activities are known as Kriya and these release you. Unlike emotions that can shift at any moment, energies are able to be worked with in a certain way to create a different depth to life. If your energies have been touched and activated in a certain way then there can be a different dimension to every aspect of your life. I liked the line that states “…that is how you should sleep without asking questions because all of it can never be explained. You may understand as you go, but it can never be explained. And if it has to be explained, the essence of the kriya will be lost” I think that this relates to a lot of different situations in life, where it’s better to just not as any questions because it takes away from the beauty or enchantment of a moment. I also enjoyed the line “the initial stages of the kriyas can be such that you don’t know whether you are getting enlightened or going mad” this to me is such an amazing power that kriyas posses. If anyone else has experienced such a high from meditation (and in this case kriyas) because of its intensity and power, that you feel that feel as if you weren’t sober and that your going insane, but in the best possible way is one wild expierence. I also thought that it was interesting to learn that Kriya Yogis can do whatever they wish with themselves in terms of energy in themselves and the world, contrasted from people who perform karma yoga, bhakti yoga and gnana. For example karma yogis can do many things in the world but you can not do anything with yourself, as well as gnana yogis who are “razor sharp” and can do many things with their mind but not their energy!
Well stated OM
Kriya yoga is not only a physical thing.
As Sadghuru says, “if we want to teach you kriyas just as a physical practice, I can write a book about it, and you can read and learn it. But if you want the kriya to be a live process, if we want the kriya to be imprinted into your system in a certain way, then it needs discipline and dedication”. Kriya is not about just reading something, saying “ah ha” and then learning it – it is reading something (and reading could mean reading your body as well), saying “hmm”, and then living it. Kriya yoga is very conscious learning and most of all, it is very conscious effort. You have to be able to read the same thing almost everyday, say “hmm” but also say “what if” and “what now/then” and “what more”. It is wanting to learn more and more because learning is not just a start and stop, it is a constant practice.
The part I did not completely agree with talks about the Gurus making the disciple wait. I did not agree with it because it goes against what I know, believe, and practice concerning healthy communication and emotional boundaries. There is nothing wrong with a teacher telling you to wait before you are able to learn something or even telling you that you are not ready to learn something yet – that is a healthy means of communication and flow of power because you are coming to someone you want to learn from so you are coming as a humble student with a fresh, new mind. The person in power – the Guru – is then supposed to “use, misuse, and abuse” the student for the sake of teaching them trust? No, I don’t agree with that kind of teaching style. The whole blind-trust, unshakable-trust relationship that is supposed to exist in this dynamic is harmful (and this is not me criticising the yoga practice – I just have experienced this kind of relationship before and I do not think it assists in learning. There is emotional abuse in the withholding of information from the person you are supposed to be a mentor to so there is an abuse of power, there is also unhealthy communication that could easily be rectified with a simple “you are not ready” to the student).
– M. A. Audu
Namaste
Mastering Kriya is one of most significance for the growth of any individual. People can spend their entire lives focusing on external fulfillment, just to be deflated with the harsh realization that all of their hard work and chasing brought no fulfillment. On the other hand, it is the awareness of internal growth that can enable one to transcend beyond any illusory limits and feel most fulfilled. Additionally, I do not completely disregard the value of external achievement. I believe there should be a balance that can be described as a pursuit of external achievements with a strong underlying foundation of internal well-being.
An individual who always seeks comfort will never be able to follow the kriya yoga path. There is a level of discipline and discomfort that is necessary for the benefits gained from the practice. This idea is a microcosm of benefits gained from anything you do in life. In other words, discomfort and discipline are necessary components of achieving higher and more fulfilling states of consciousness. A person who always seeks comfort will never reach a high level of growth and emotional capacity. Additionally, one who always seeks comfort will always find him/herself suffering. A mindset I like to adopt in my everyday life is to not resist any emotions or feeling. For example, when I am feeling anxious, I won’t try to resist the feeling because that will just amplify the feeling; Rather, I accept the feeling for what it is and the acceptance itself helps me to feel more at peace.
The idea of stopping resistance to the present moment aligns perfectly with the nature of reality itself, which is a constant ebb and flow of emotions and feelings. Good feeling will come and go as will bad feelings. All feelings pass, so why resist them? I believe there is something to be learned with every moment in life, good or bad. They are all necessary components for self-actualization. One cannot reach their true potential without experiencing and growing from “negative” life events.
An excellent essay! Namaste
It is very true that our emotions are not at all reliable. They are constantly fluctuating and easily influenced. So when we tap into our energies and are able to differentiate the two, our entire perspectives begin to change. For example, your body may not always want to practice the asanas. You may wake up one day and not be in the mood. But when our energies are pushing us to practice anyway because we know the results are so much greater than feeling physically well, we are starting to really live kriya yoga.
It is very true that we are born into comfort. In our society, logic runs most things. Everything must be comfortable and make sense, people are constantly looking for those two things. Impatience definitely plagues a lot of people as well. Vulnerability scares most people so I think that is why the true practice of kriya isn’t widely accepted. People aren’t too fond of being told exactly what to do or blindly trusting someone with their bodies and minds. People have to see and be aware of the end result before they completely commit to something and that isn’t what kriya yoga is at all. It is about discipline and dedication and sometimes you may not know exactly what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and you ultimately have to be okay with that.
Mastering your energy sounds really amazing and something that I’m interested in. I like the way Sadhguru phrased that kriya yogis are able to dismantle life and put it back together. I’m very interested in learning more about what that means and how one would go about that.
Well stated OM
Stephanie Poborsky
Broglin
Wed Class 8:30am
Sadhguru explains to us in the text that Kriya, means internal action. The body nor the mind are involved, but what makes you, you. The energy one entails, omits to the rest of the world. Kriya is used to describe your energy as Karma is used to describe the opposite, which is the outside actions of your body. Practicing Kriya is demanding on the body, because it calls for a lot of attention.
Practicing Kriya yoga, helps in the long run, but is demanding since a lot of your mind needs to go in with it. Discipline, and dedication are needed to really benefit from the entirety of the practice as Sadhguru explains. Becoming vulnerable to the practice is needed in order to open up all the energies to the practice you are about to partake on. As you practice the yoga you will understand more, it cannot be explained to you at all. Getting to the peak, the Kriya yogis are able to experiences both the karma and Kriya yoga practices along with their worldly duties.
My IK practices have remained the same as the week has gone by. Staying with the low stress levels, and high point of focus as well. The IK has helped me fall asleep on these super uncomfortable bed on campus as well, as it has been for weeks.
Namaste
I really liked this article, though it was a bit confusing. My confusion forced me to think more deeply about the ideas outlined in the piece. I think explaining the Kriya as a kind of Karma and vice versa is something that has never really been explained to me, and I really liked this explanation. The article defines “kriya” as “internal action,” and “that which releases you.” It also states that “when you do internal action, it does not involve the body and the mind, because both of those are still internal to you.” This section kind of confused me, as it seemed to make Kriya unattainable and almost out-of-body.
I tried to interpret Kriya as a kind of personal discipline of both your thoughts and your body. The articles says that Kriya practices would almost seem inhuman to many people now, as it needs extreme discipline of comfort and leisure that we are far too accustomed too now. This, to me, emphasized the materialism and indulgence that Western people, especially Americans, are far to accustomed too.
In relating this to Karma, I tried to think about it in a way that your body will return you the favor of discipline when you need it. Through disciplining your thoughts and body, we can be more reliant on on it to regulate us and not be prone to great ups and downs in our thoughts or emotions, or that at least make us more readily available to handle the ups and downs when they come. Karma, similarly, brings back us positive energy when we decide to act externally.
Namaste
In this article, Sadhguru looks at what it means to walk the spiritual path of Kriya yoga and understanding the process of life. Sadhguru explains that when we practice external activities it is called Karma and when we practice internal activities it is called Kriya. He also talks about our emotions and how they are unreliable because of the fact that they are constantly shifting from one day to another. Sadhguru talks about that majority of people are always looking for comfort in the things that they are doing and if you are one of those people, Kriya yoga would not be the right path for you. Kriya yoga is a difficult path to follow it is very demanding, elaborate and involves a lot of discipline, so Sadhguru explains that the path of Kriya yoga is not for everyone and its methods should not be questioned. It is such a long process due to the fact that on the path of Kriya yoga one is trying to understand the engineering of how life is built.
I enjoyed this article and it was interesting to learn about the process of Kriya yoga. I enjoy learning about all of the various forms spiritual paths that yoga has to offer. The Kriya yoga path seems to be one that is very intensive and demanding and it seems as though it takes a certain breed of human to walk this path. Like Sadhguru explains, this is not for everyone, and that you have to be 100% dedicated to the process in order to succeed. I think Kriya yoga sounds very interesting and the outcome must be amazing however, I don’t think I would be able to commit myself to it. Even though it may be very rewarding in the end, I wouldn’t be able to commit my life to it. I think the people who do commit their lives to the path of Kriya yoga are very brave and deserve all the amazing spiritual rewards that come with the dedication to the path.
-Ashley Pagan
Namaste
I never thought of there being such a strict kind of yoga. I always thought of yoga as a peaceful state of mind. When I am practicing in my bedroom, I move how I want to move and do the positions that I believe will best improve my body. Reading this, I learned of a whole new kind of Yoga. This kind of reminded me of The Karate Kid. How the kid when to the master, asked him how to do karate, and the master asked him to pick up a coat and put it on a hook over and over. The kid didn’t understand why he was being made to do this and he kept asking when they will begin the karate. Little did he know that all of these small tasks were leading him towards the right mind state to be the best. I think that that kind of learning is something special. You are doing these tasks and doing what your told with ought realizing the purpose of it. I would be interested in doing something like this. I think it would be really hard at first because I have never sone this. By doing this Kriya Yoga, you are allowing your inner energy to balance your life. Asanas cannot be fully explained and I think thats a very beautiful thing. Its a feeling, its a thought, its a way of life but it is mostly what you want it to be. Yoga is what you want it to be. You have to be committed to it for the results to be more beneficial. When you’re practicing kriya, like you’re supposed to, you feel at one with yourself.
My IK practice this week has been going well. I do the finger holds at night and I mostly did the IK in the mornings which is different then what I’ve been doing. This week I saw a cousin of mine who has been practicing yoga for a long time and teaches it as well. I went to a class with her. Her class started off with a discussion about what each person wanted to accomplish in that day of yoga. My cousin had suggested that I lead us in an IK. I was nervous and scared but the energy in the room was unbelievable.
Great you shared your IK practice with others, congratulations! Namaste
Sadhguru defines Kriya as meaning “internal action” and states that when you do inner action it does not involve the body and mind because both the body and mind are still external to you. The comparison of Karma and Kriya is very interesting as well. Kriya referring to internal activity and Karma referring to external activity. I agree with the mention of ones emotions as not being reliable, because they change so rapidly. The practice of the Isha Kriya is very interesting because it separates out being from the body and the mind, Hence the mantra that we repeat. I have been enjoying the practice of the Isha kriya as I have felt it has made it easier for me to separate from any stresses both internally and externally. I continue to try and practice 4-5 times a week if I can, and have experienced the most benefits from practicing before I go to bed particularly when I am not too tired. It is a way for me to disconnect but then come back and reflect on my day with a clear mind.
Matthew Alioto
wednesday 8:30 am class
Namaste
In this article, “Kriya Yoga- A Powerful Way to Walk the Spiritual Path,” Sadhguru talks about the true seeking and findings of kriya in hatha yoga. Kriya, he says, is internal action, whereas karma is external activity. Though opposites, both are intertwined and overlap and affect each other. Sadhguru explains that emotions are not reliable, and that it is your energy that you are aiming to channel. Energies have a different kind of depth and are activated in a completely different way. He goes on to talk about the intricacies in the idea of kriya cannot always be explained or do not always have a logical answer or backing. S someone practicing, you have to realize and understand this, and simply trust the process without question, as it defies comfortability and requires discipline and dedication. Kriya is apparently not just for liberation, not just for realization. You You also want to know “the mechanics of life-making“; the engineering of how life is built- what to do about it. This is why it’s a long process. There is a difference between your mind and your energy and what you can do with each, and learning these takes time. Bhakti is when there is nothing you can do and you don’t care, you “only want to dissolve.“ In karma yoga, you can do many things in the world, but nothing in yourself. In Kriya, you can do whatever you wish with yourself in terms of energy, and you can also do a lot with the world.
I thought this article was interesting and it was nice to start to learn the differences in kriya vs. other styles and the differing goals or potential results. The article, while informative at times, was generally kind fo confusing and hard to follow in style. It felt scattered and as if it jumped around from thing to thing, leaving me always searching for what the point of the paragraph was or how to tie it in to the point of the article. The overall tone was very casual; I was especially confused when Sadhguru started speaking of the disciples of kriya and making them wait, when he was talking about how “it’s a little remote” and wouldn’t work easily today. I wasn’t sure really at all what he meant by that. I also wish he would elaborate more on what he meant by the “mechanics of life-making.”
A good friend from home who is a life coach practices yoga and meditation often. She often talks about this connection of energy and your control over your energy and your emotions and feelings and taking things personally disrupting your energy flow and progression. Perhaps she practices kriya, specifically.
Michaela Lunden Wednesday 8:30am class
Namaste
This article was very interesting to me due to the fact that to master Kriya, one should not question and just do. I am one who always questions everything and tries to think through the possible affects of each decision because I am naturally a nervous person. I don’t believe in this statement in life, but for the practice it makes sense.
The article talked about Sadhguru’s opinions on the Isha Kriya in relation to other forms of yoga practices. I learned that Kriya is the opposite of karma which was intriguing. Sadghuru states that Karmas bind you while Kriyas free your being. This makes sense to me. Through the the Isha Kriya I have experienced that it does help to separate the being from the mind and body. Though, when he stated we must not seek comfort in order to practice the IK I was confused slightly. Peace, which the IK creates, and comfort tend to go hand in hand.
I have now learned a lot about the IK through the semester and it has been interesting to read about the benefits on the body and mind, but then also be able to experience through our practice. With the IK one experiences the reward of its benefits through practice. I believe that I have definitely progressed and grown as a person and continue to do so as I practice. I feel much more calm and at peace after the IK and I am very grateful that I have been able to handle stress better and overall improve every aspect of my health.
Abby Collins
Great news about your IK practice OM
In this article, Sadhguru discussed the idea of Kriya yoga. Kriya means internal action. Internal action does not involve the mind nor the body because they are external to us. When we do kriya yoga, we are using our energies. External energy are called karma. There is an interesting quote by Sadhguru, “karmas are those which bind you, kriyas are those which release you.”
Sadhguru also stated that the path of kriya yoga is very demanding. It involves no questioning for the master, and modern people usually do not want to take the time and patient to understand it themselves.
This week, I only practiced Isha Kriya three times because of the recital season. Hopefully I can get back to doing at least four times of Isha Kriya again so that My body and mind can be more relaxed despite the recital season.
Jenny Tsang
Namaste
This reading seemed much more aggressive than the other articles I have read. It talked about kriya yoga, which peaked my interest when it referred to internal yoga. But then it started talking about how you have to follow a Guru’s orders without question. This seemed unusual and nonsensical. I would never partake.
When the reading said that once you start asking questions about what you are doing and start asking “stupid, logical questions” then you can no longer achieve what kriya yoga is about, I realized that this does not fit into my personality. I would most likely ask many questions and wonder the purpose. I would not follow someone’s orders blindly. This would be too hard for me and my mind would be so tense. I wonder how anyone does it.
The part that stood out the most to me was when it gave examples of how Gurus make disciples wait for kriya yoga. It said they make them wait wait wait and “misuse” and “abuse” them. I do not think of this practice kindly. It seems dark and that in the wrong hands it could be too much power. I would not be able to trust someone that much. I would seek comfort like the article said.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion, Namaste
After practicing the Isha Kriya for about 3-4 times a week at 12 minutes a time, I have learned and been physically and spiritually able to note the differences in my mind, body and soul. I have become at peace with myself and understand within the first 6-10 minutes, that my body is just a vessel for which my energy projects itself. A kriya can be best defined as an internal activity, while a karma is external activity; as per Sadhguru, “kriya releases you, while karma binds you.”
We are all born with this idea and need for comfort, however, if you believe in this comfortability, then it will be extremely difficult for one to practice kriya, simply because there is meaning outside of what you specifically know. Discipline and dedication is what it will take for a person to truly practice their spiritual path of kriya. In order to practice this whole heartedly, one must open themselves up entirely so that they are vulnerable and their trust is put into their mentor’s spiritual guidance.
In this article, it is written that people who practice kriya the correct way are able to “dismantle life and put it back together”. After reading this specific line, I truly began to understand how much kriya can enlighten a person through discipline and dedication, as mentioned before. I believe the entirety of this article to be true because it has been about 2 and a half months since I started practicing Isha Kriya and after the first month, I began to feel the benefits.
What I got from this reading was that Kriya yoga gives you more possibilities and less restrictions. I am interested in connecting more to my own energies and less to my emotions. Seeing how to break the difference. Because emotions aren’t reliable that there needs to be an aspect we can rely on. I would like to find what and how to activate my energies.
I feel I do connect to them through yoga class but I want to find ways to do that outside the class. At the moment, my progress in practicing yoga teaches me how to relax in and out of class but I mainly find more peace within class. I’d like to find ways to continue that peace when I leave.
It is interesting that Kriya yoga teaches you how to be discipline and dedication. I can see the possibility of being taught discipline through the isha kriya practice. The dedication comes with having to do it almost every day, making sure that you come back to it. Because without accomplishing it a few times during the week, you will not see improvement.
The art of Kriya Yoga is extremely intense and deep. I had no idea the amount of discipline that it takes. The sentences when they talked about sweeping the floor and washing dishes for years to try and break the individual to prove that they’re truly ready and there for the right reasons was astounding. To blindly follow your master with out questioning is definitely something that I think you need to be taught since you’re a child like the article says. It would be very rare to find an adult who would partake in this, I know personally that I would have some reservations about certain things. On the other hand though I was a lot more hesitant in the beginning of the semester about the entire yoga practice and process, but after all of our sessions and training I have more of a open mind and willingness to try new things.
In this article, Sadhguru talks about Kriya yoga, meaning internal action yoga. The mind and the body are external during yoga, so all that is being used are one’s natural, internal energies. It also compares Kriya, the internal energies, with Karma, the external ones. I think the balance between the two is really interesting, The article also talks about how one should simply follow the orders of their guru when under this kind of meditation.
It seem that some have issue with the idea that anyone should be followed without question, and while I understand that concern, I think it makes sense for the article’s context. If one dwells on things too long while trying to perform this exercise, they will not be using their internal energies enough, because the mind is not internal.
I have practiced my Kriya four times this week, and have managed to do it fairly successfully without using any guides whatsoever. I lost track of time one of out of the four times I performed it. I practiced in my room, but also in the back room of my house, as I was at my home off campus this week for a day.
I feel as if I agree but also disagree with what I’ve read. To follow blindly without question just seems like such a foreign concept. I have always been one to question why we do the things we do. I have always had confrontations with authorities. On the other hand, I understand it. To give yourself to something, not just your time, but to be completely vulnerable and trusting of another person is beautiful and its something we do all the time without thinking about it. At least the way i see it, when we fall in love with another person, truly in love, we trust them without question, we are vulnerable in ways which we are not used to, we do not ask the purpose of it all we just go with it.
To give yourself to Kriya Yoga is similar to being in love. You would be vulnerable but trusting of who is teaching you. You would follow them knowing they have nothing but the best intentions for you. The path might be difficult, but anything in life that is worth it is difficult. Unfortunately the author was right in many ways. As a society we seek comfortability in everything nowadays. There are few that would be willing to give themselves openly, perhaps myself included even when realizing the benefits of it.
Boris Yanez