“Kriya Yoga is the essence and synthesis of all yogic techniques taught in the world.”

An Introduction to Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga represents a comprehensive system of spiritual development traditionally transmitted through established teacher-student relationships. Introduced to Western audiences by Paramahansa Yogananda in the 1920s, this tradition offers techniques that harmonize breath, energy, and consciousness for profound inner transformation.

While contemporary yoga often emphasizes physical postures, Kriya Yoga encompasses a complete approach to spiritual awakening with roots in India’s yogic wisdom, and in universal principles transcending cultural boundaries.

The scientific descriptions of Kriya practices presented here are offered for educational context rather than as instructional guidance. These explanations bridge Eastern and Western perspectives on human potential but necessarily employ concepts that may be unfamiliar to those without prior exposure to yogic traditions.

For those with a scientific or secular background, these parallels between ancient wisdom traditions offer an intriguing framework for understanding consciousness and human potential beyond religious dogma. The physiological and psychological effects of practices like Kriya Yoga can be studied empirically, while the philosophical insights provide a rational approach to exploring states of consciousness that transcend ordinary perception.

For Christians exploring these concepts for the first time, this perspective offers a contemplative approach to Christ’s teachings that may deepen your spiritual practice without requiring you to abandon your faith. Rather than replacing Christian devotion, these parallels suggest that Jesus was sharing universal spiritual principles that can be experienced directly through meditation and inner communion with God.

Organizations maintaining authentic lineage connections, such as Self-Realization Fellowship, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, and Ananda Yoga, provide structured training for those wishing to explore these practices directly. This overview invites thoughtful appreciation of a remarkable spiritual science while acknowledging that its full dimensions extend beyond written introduction.

The Essence of Kriya Yoga in the Words of the Masters

Paramahansa Yogananda, bringing the ancient science of Kriya Yoga to the West, teaches us that “Kriya Yoga is the scientific technique of God-realization” that “will ultimately spread in all lands, and aid in harmonizing the nations through man’s personal, transcendental perception of the Infinite Father.” According to his direct testimony, “It is through the instance and blessings of Mahavatar Babaji…and of Christ and my Guru and Paramguru that I was sent to the West and undertook the task of founding Self-Realization Fellowship to serve as the instrumentality for the preservation and dissemination worldwide of the Kriya Yoga science,” and, “it was Jesus Christ who appeared to Babaji in the Himalayas and asked him to send this message to the West. Babaji has promised to guard and guide all sincere Kriya Yogis in their path toward the Goal… Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji, that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”

Mahavatar Babaji, the deathless avatar who revived this sacred practice, declared to Lahiri Mahasaya: “The Kriya Yoga I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century is a revival of the same science Krishna gave millenniums ago to Arjuna, and was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul and other disciples.” This powerful statement, recorded in Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi,” reveals the universality of Kriya Yoga across spiritual traditions.

Read the chapter “The Science of Kriya Yoga” in Autobiography of a Yogi: https://www.crystalclarity.com/pages/autobiography-chapter-26-the-science-of-kriya-yoga

“The goal of life is happiness, peace, love and enlightenment. The desire for perfection comes from the Self, the image of God, which seeks to express itself through all humanity.”

The Divine Connection Between Breath, Bliss, and Calmness

Kriya Yoga operates as a direct pathway to spiritual awakening by working with the breath and life energy. Yogananda explains: “The ancient yogic technique converts the breath into mind-stuff. By spiritual advancement, one is able to cognize the breath as a mental concept, an act of mind: a dream breath.” Through this process, “Bliss—which is God, man’s ultimate goal—is felt in an intense degree in the practice of Kriya Yoga. The practice of Kriya is far more purely blissful than the greatest enjoyment that any of our five senses or the mind can ever afford us.”

Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda who authored 140 books about Yogananda’s teachings, relates his master’s teachings that, “In the beginning of the practice of Kriya Yoga, the devotee feels the cool prana current going up the spine and the warm apana current going down the spine, in accompaniment with the ingoing and outgoing breath.” Through continued practice, Yogananda noted, “When it is able to remain immersed in divine bliss even in the state of activity, he does not become involved with the desire to enjoy the external objects. Radiating the calmness of divine perception, it is not disturbed by the emergence of fear and anger against the non-fulfillment of material desires.”

“Kriya Yoga is a shortcut technique to God-realization. When we perceive that the indwelling Self is the sole doer in us, that soul activates and functions within our whole body system, then God-realization is attained.”

The Bridge Between the Bhagavad Gita and Christ’s Teachings

The teachings of Kriya Yoga beautifully unite Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. According to Yogananda’s interpretation, “There is a beautiful accord between the teachings of Jesus Christ to enter the ‘kingdom of God within you’ and the teachings of Yoga set forth by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita to restore King Soul, the reflection of God in man, to its rightful rulership of the bodily kingdom, with full realization of the soul’s godly states of consciousness.”

Babaji himself affirmed this connection, as Yogananda reported: “Babaji is ever in communion with Christ; together they send out vibrations of redemption and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age.” This remarkable insight reveals that “The Original Christianity as preached by Christ and Original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna is the same as Kriya Yoga revived in the modern times by Mahavatar Babaji.”

The profound spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ reveal remarkable parallels with the ancient science of Kriya Yoga, suggesting a universal truth that transcends cultural boundaries. “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). With these illuminating words, Jesus directed seekers to the same inner divine presence that Kriya Yoga practitioners access through meditation. This inward journey reflects the essence of spiritual practice across traditions—the recognition that divinity dwells not in external forms but in the sanctuary of consciousness itself.

The Gospel of John offers another powerful connection when it states, “As many as received him [the Christ Consciousness], to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). Paramahansa Yogananda interpreted this passage as a universal invitation, teaching that Christ Consciousness is not the exclusive domain of any religion but the birthright of every soul willing to receive it through sincere spiritual practice. This consciousness—pure, boundless, and illumined—is precisely what Kriya Yoga methodology aims to awaken within the practitioner.

The cosmic dimension of both traditions emerges in John’s profound opening: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Yogananda explained that “the Word” refers to the primordial cosmic vibration—Aum or Om—that yogis experience in deep meditation. This sacred sound current represents the creative power through which the Infinite manifests all creation, a concept that bridges Eastern yogic wisdom with Western Christian mysticism in perfect harmony.

Even the Christian Trinity finds a reflection in the yogic understanding. The Father corresponds to Sat (Absolute Existence beyond creation), the Son to Tat (God’s consciousness manifested in creation), and the Holy Spirit to Aum (the cosmic vibration connecting all). This threefold expression of the Divine appears across spiritual traditions, suggesting a universal truth perceived by mystics throughout time.

The apostle Paul’s enigmatic words, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31), take on new meaning when viewed through the lens of Kriya Yoga. Yogananda revealed that this “dying” refers to the yogic practice of withdrawing life energy from sensory involvement during meditation—a temporary liberation from bodily identification that allows consciousness to recognize its divine nature. This practice of sense-transcendence forms the foundation of Kriya Yoga’s transformative approach.

Christ’s guidance on prayer resonates with yogic instruction: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). Here, Jesus advocates the same inward communion with the Divine that characterizes yogic meditation—retiring from outward distractions to the inner sanctuary of consciousness where true communion with God occurs. The “closet” with its “door shut” beautifully symbolizes the quieting of the senses and the focusing of attention that meditation requires.

The divine light of consciousness shines through Jesus’s teaching, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), affirming that our essential nature is this same divine awareness that Kriya Yoga seeks to unveil. Similarly, his words about spiritual rebirth—”Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3)—describe the same awakening of higher consciousness that Kriya Yoga facilitates through its scientific methods.

According to Yogananda, these striking parallels are no coincidence. When Mahavatar Babaji transmitted Kriya Yoga to Lahiri Mahasaya, he explained: “The Kriya Yoga that I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century is a revival of the same science that Krishna gave millenniums ago to Arjuna, and that was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples.” This statement reveals the universal foundation underlying diverse spiritual traditions—a foundation of experiential truth that transcends dogma and speaks directly to the soul’s innate capacity for divine realization.

Through these parallels, we glimpse the essential unity of spiritual truth. The inner science of Kriya Yoga and the mystical heart of Christ’s teachings flow from the same eternal wellspring, inviting all sincere seekers to drink deeply from the waters of divine communion.

The Universal Path Across Traditions

The lineage of Kriya Yoga extends through various organizations established to preserve and spread these teachings. Paramahamsa Hariharananda, another self-realized master in this tradition, emphasized: “Kriya Yoga is not a sectarian discipline, but a universal one. Its chief merit is that it is a scientific spiritual practice, free from dogma and pre-suppositions and with each step based upon experimental realization.”

Swami Sri Yukteswar, Yogananda’s guru, highlighted the promise of this practice when he instructed his disciples to “Repeat to each of your disciples this majestic promise from the Bhagavad-Gita: ‘Even a little practice of this dharma will save you from great fear — the colossal sufferings inherent in the repeated cycles of birth and death.’” This assurance reflects Yogananda’s own teaching that “Kriya Yoga plus devotion—it works like mathematics; it cannot fail.”

Whether practiced through Self-Realization Fellowship, Yogoda Satsanga Society, Ananda Yoga, or other authentic lineages, the essence remains the same—a scientific approach to God-realization that brings calmness, bliss, and spiritual freedom to all sincere seekers.

The Science of Kriya Yoga: A Physiological Perspective

The Physiological Foundation of Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga represents one of the most sophisticated psychophysiological systems ever developed for human transformation. As Paramahansa Yogananda explains in Autobiography of a Yogi: “Kriya Yoga is a simple, psychophysiological method by which the human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers.”

This scientific process works on multiple physiological levels simultaneously:

Blood Decarbonization and Oxygen Enhancement

The foundation of Kriya’s physiological effects begins with its impact on the respiratory system. Through specific breathing patterns, a Kriya practitioner fundamentally alters blood chemistry in several ways:

1. Enhanced Oxygen Absorption: The controlled breathing techniques increase oxygen saturation in the bloodstream beyond normal levels. While typical breathing utilizes only about 25% of our lung capacity, Kriya techniques maximize oxygen intake.
2. Carbon Dioxide Reduction: Venous blood, normally laden with carbon dioxide, undergoes accelerated purification. Yogananda notes: “By stopping the accumulation of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues.”
3. Metabolic Efficiency: This shift in blood chemistry creates extraordinary metabolic efficiency. The body requires less oxygen to maintain functions, resulting in reduced respiratory rate. As Yogananda observes, “The rejuvenating effects of sleep are due to man’s temporary unawareness of body and breathing,” but “the voluntary yogi performs a simple, natural process consciously, not unconsciously like the slow-paced sleeper.”

This relationship between respiration rate and consciousness is demonstrated throughout nature. Yogananda points out: “The tortoise, for instance, who may attain the age of 300 years, breathes only 4 times per minute,” compared to humans’ average 18 breaths per minute or the monkey’s 32 breaths per minute.

Transmutation into Life Current and Spinal Magnetization

The physiological effects extend beyond mere respiratory improvements:

1. Biochemical Transformation: The excess oxygen becomes transformed into what yogis call “life current” or “prana.” This bioelectrical energy has measurable effects on the nervous system. As Yogananda explains: “The Kriya Yogi uses his technique to saturate and feed all his physical cells with undecaying light and keep them in a magnetized state.”
2. Spinal Magnetization: Through kriya practice, this energy is directed in a controlled circuit along the spine. Swami Sri Yukteswar, Yogananda’s guru, explained: “The life force, which is ordinarily absorbed in maintaining the heart-pump, must be freed for higher activities by a method of calming and stilling the ceaseless demands of the breath.”
3. Cerebrospinal Activation: The directed energy activates what yogis identify as six primary “spinal centers” or chakras (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses). These centers correspond to major nerve plexuses in the body and govern different physiological and psychological functions.
4. Neurological Rewiring: The consistent practice creates new neural pathways. As Yogananda states: “It needs twelve years of normal healthful living to effect even slight perceptible change in brain structure,” but Kriya accelerates this process dramatically.

The Polarity Balance and Energy Conservation

A key scientific aspect of Kriya involves managing the body’s electromagnetic polarities:

1. Prana-Apana Balance: Yogananda references two primary currents in the body: “The apana current flows from the point between the eyebrows to the coccyx… The other main current is that of prana, which flows from the coccyx to the point between the eyebrows.” By balancing these currents, the practitioner neutralizes the constant energy depletion experienced in normal consciousness.
2. Energy Conservation: Ordinary human functioning involves continuous energy loss. Kriya reverses this process. Yogananda explains: “By Kriya, the outgoing life force is not wasted and abused in the senses, but constrained to reunite with subtler spinal energies. By such reinforcement of life, the yogi’s body and brain cells are electrified with the spiritual elixir.”
3. Cellular Regeneration: The preserved and enhanced energy directly impacts cellular health. As described in Autobiography of a Yogi: “The advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy.” This process begins with cellular regeneration and gradually leads to more profound transformations.

The Heart of the Practice: Love as the Ultimate Scientific Principle

While Kriya Yoga includes sophisticated physiological components, its foundation rests on the principle that love is the most potent force in creation:

1. Energy Amplification Through Love: The practice becomes exponentially more powerful when performed with devotion. Yogananda emphasized: “Kriya Yoga plus devotion—it works like mathematics; it cannot fail.” This suggests that the emotional state of love creates a resonance that amplifies the physiological effects.
2. Heart-Brain Coherence: Modern science confirms that the heart generates the body’s most powerful electromagnetic field. When the practitioner approaches Kriya with devotion, the coherence between heart and brain electromagnetic fields dramatically increases, enhancing the practice’s effectiveness.
3. Transcendent Consciousness: The ultimate aim of the physiological changes is to enable a shift in consciousness. As Yogananda explains: “The yogi offers his labyrinthine human longings to a monotheistic bonfire dedicated to the unparalleled God. This is indeed the true yogic fire ceremony, in which all past and present desires are fuel consumed by love divine.”

Scientific Validation and Acceleration of Evolution

The Kriya system makes extraordinary claims about its efficiency that can be understood in scientific terms:

1. Accelerated Evolutionary Development: Yogananda states: “One thousand Kriya practiced in eight hours gives the yogi, in one day, the equivalent of one thousand years of natural evolution: 365,000 years of evolution in one year.” While this may seem metaphorical, it refers to measurable changes in brain structure and nervous system refinement that normally require evolutionary timescales.
2. Conscious Control of Autonomic Functions: Through regular practice, the yogi develops voluntary control over typically involuntary processes. “The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers,” allowing conscious influence over autonomic functions.
3. Neuroplasticity Enhancement: Modern neuroscience confirms the brain’s ability to reorganize itself. Kriya practice systematically enhances neuroplasticity, creating optimal conditions for the development of higher consciousness. As Yogananda notes: “The devotee thus avoids the slow, evolutionary monitors of egoistic actions, good and bad, of common life, cumbrous and snail-like to the eagle hearts.”

The Ultimate Scientific Achievement

What makes Kriya Yoga truly scientific is its emphasis on direct experience rather than belief. As Yogananda emphasizes: “I do not wish to give anyone any other proof of this truth than is afforded by his own experience.”

The culmination of the physiological process is the ultimate scientific breakthrough: consciousness that transcends its identification with physical matter. In the words of Yogananda: “Master of his body and mind, the Kriya Yogi ultimately achieves victory over the ‘last enemy,’ death.”

This represents not an escape from physical reality but rather the discovery of its underlying energetic nature—the realization that consciousness, not matter, is fundamental, and that love is the unifying force that binds all existence.

Practice meditation in a group:

https://www.ananda.org/kriya-yoga/

https://yssofindia.org/programmes/kriya-yoga

https://yogananda.org/meditate