Frequently Asked Questions


​What is Kriya Yoga?

     The word "kriya" is from the Sanskrit root "kri" which means "to do". It implies an action, rite or ritual, hopefully one that is performed consciously. So sometimes it refers to a technique like your pranayama or the shat kriyas, which are purification techniques. It is also used to describe and discuss the currents within the subtle body, sometimes called kriya currents.
     Kriya Yoga is the only yoga discussed by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras In book II, sutra I, he states "Tapaha Svadhyaya Ishvara-Pranidhana Kriya Yogaha." This translates "Kriya Yoga is self-discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and attunement to Life."

     Kriya is a system which deals directly with the mind, its structure and dynamics. Embodied within it is a mystical psychology which offers a profound recognition of how we create, sustain and dissolve the circumstances of our life. Its unique approach is rooted in its focus on karma, the laws of causation, and how karma is generated, activated and can be softened and modified. Kriya is a way of self-study and meditative attunement which induces a direct perception or insight into the nature of consciousness, the pattern of your mind and of life itself.

Swami Abhinanda

     Kriya encompasses all eight limbs of the classical yoga system as presented by Patanjali in his work The Yoga Sutras. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, as you may know, is a text that codified what was already an oral tradition for thousands of years before it was committed to writing over 2500 years ago. One of the primary and fundamental limbs of the Patanjali system is Hatha Yoga, the ability to form and hold a still posture while regulating the breath. The implication is that to sustain physical and mental health, a stillness of the body and mind are essential. Without this fundamental skill and the benefits of its practice, deeper and advanced yoga techniques are difficult to master.


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What is Mantra?

What is Hatha Yoga and why is it different? 
Hatha yoga esoterically stands for ha (sun or surya) and the (moon or chandra) respectively while yoga is the union between these two psycho energetic principles. Originally hatha yoga included the higher yogic states of concentration, mediation and ecstasy with its objective to transform the human body to be a worthy vehicle of Self-realization, a portion of the codifier of yoga, Patanjali’s eightfold path. Three levels of attainment were sought, first the elimination of disease, second removing impurities resulting from defects (doshas) and the third level when the inner moon (Chandra) opened to the nectar of immortality (amrita) where the body becomes youthful and acquires a variety of paranormal powers (siddhis). Hatha is presented in 

in  the Hatha Yoga Pradipika as the following metaphor: Reality is the seed, hatha is the soil and detachment the water that together promote the growth of the wish tree which is the sublime condition of ecstatic transcendence of the mind. In modern society a stretching calisthenic regimen that has health benefits, core tightening or competitive physical conditioning maybe marketed and called “yoga”, it is in fact anything but that. Although yoga may accomplish this, it is not the original intent.

What is Spiritual Guidance?   

​    Spiritual guidance is the opportunity to communicate privately with a priest of the Temple.  You may ask any question about spiritual matters, or seek spiritual care.  All of our Swamis are graduates of the seminary program and have been trained in pastoral guidance.  You could also use this time to ask any questions about the Temple or the practices of Kriya Yoga.

Who may seek spiritual guidance?  
​   All are welcome.  Those of any faith or practice, from within our community or elsewhere.  This service is free for all those who may need.  LEARN MORE

    What is a Swami?
    A swami is an ordained yogic priest.   The priesthood is an authorization to teach Truth, to perform the rites of the Temple,  as well as to organize churches.    A candidate for the priesthood can be ordained into the swamihood, at anytime after a suitable period of study has been completed under a person who has reached the title of guru, mahaswami or goswami.   Upon ordination a swami is duly authorized to perform the rituals of baptism, house blessing, marriage, commitment, death-rebirth, funerals and other services as 

needed.  Swamis ordained after study through the Temple of Kriya Yoga Seminary are independent of the Temple and responsible for establishing the direction of their priestly activities.
   
    There are two orders of swamis: a swami who is a householder and a swami-brahmacharya who has taken the vow of celibacy, poverty and obedience.  The swamis ordained after study through the Temple of Kriya Yoga, are primarily householder swamis dedicating their lives to service while living within a family environment.   
​It is to be understood that neither is higher nor greater than the other.
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    Ordination to swamihood is not instituted to build up a religious hierarchy, for that would be in direct conflict with the fundamental principle of mysticism and ordination.   Ordination, rather, is the laying upon a candidate of new and greater responsibilities.  The ordained swami is not exalted to a place of special privilege, but is consecrated to a life of devotion to the Divine and special teaching to the world. 

How to become a Swami?
    The first step to becoming a swami is to turn inward, and in the silence, listen to hear if you are drawn to a life of service.  If your heart hears the call, the Temple of Kriya Yoga Seminary may be the place for you to answer. 
 
    The Temple Seminary is a program of study which unfolds over the period of approximately 2.5 years.  There are 8 quarters of study in the form of audio lessons, reading assignments, exams, monthly conference calls, and annual retreats.   A practice of personal spiritual discipline, meditation and prayer is also a required part of seminary studies.  

    Studies will cover topics such as the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Kriya Yoga Sutras, meditation, dreams,  symbolism, astrology, the laws of karma, Sanskrit, world religions, mysticism, hatha yoga, spiritual guidance, rituals and pastoral care.   Course requirements include a final written paper on a topic related to eastern mystical thought, as well as a final oral exam covering the material studied over the course of the seminary program. 
 
   Above and beyond these requirements the seminarian must demonstrate maturity and readiness to assume responsibility to serve all life.  The determination of that readiness is assessed over the course of the program and in a final interview with the head of the seminary program. 
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    If you are drawn to this path, please read more about the program under the seminary section of our website.  You may write or call the Temple to schedule a conversation with the swami responsible for leading the Seminary.

How does Astrology Work?   
    You are a part of life not apart from it. Astrology is both a science and spiritual art. Thru astrology you can know the meaning, nature and purpose of life. It is the language of symbolism opening the depth of the subconscious. Astrology does not work so much with mechanisms but with relationships, patterns, tendencies, and interpretations. It does not always give a yes or no answer. Astrology reveals patterns and tendencies in our life, however the planets incline, they do not compel.

   About Kriya Yoga
​
    Yoga means to join together. It is the integration of one’s own consciousness with universal or cosmic consciousness. Goswami Kriyananda defines Yoga as “that state when your life of action and thought are in harmony with the very source of your being. It is a psychosomatic relationship, a functioning on the profoundest level of your consciousness beyond the limits of thought and language.” As this definition implies, yoga is much more than an ancient body of knowledge. Yoga is a verb — a doing and a way of living.
    Kriya Yoga embraces the perennial truths that pervade all of the world’s mystical traditions, uniting the diversity of cultural and historical expressions into a harmonious, 

    living practice. It is a system for  experiencing a transformation of consciousness, which enriches one’s life on every level.
    The fundamentals of Kriya Yoga, as taught by Goswami Kriyananda, include striving to be a sage, not a saint, finding joy and wisdom in life and realizing that there is no cookbook. Everyone is unique. 
​    Therefore, seekers must find their own paths and determine what is helpful to them. This can be done by quieting the mind, softening karma and being truthful with oneself. Begin the journey with happiness. Learn to meditate and be comfortable in this world. Enjoy life and find it meaningful.

    The ancient practice of Kriya Yoga is mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It was revived in 1861 when Babaji gave the teachings to Lahiri Mahasaya. Lahiri Mahasaya taught Sri Yukteswar who taught Paramahansa Yogananda. Paramahansa Yogananda brought Kriya Yoga to the West in 1920. Sri Shelliji was taught by Paramahansa Yogananda and the founder of the Temple of Kriya Yoga, Goswami Kriyananda, was taught by Sri Shelliji.

What is Pranayama?

What is Meditation?

​    Meditation is a non-peripheral, linear, effortless flow of the mind.  It is the effortless control of the mind whereby you overcome its natural tendency to wander, emphasis on both words: effortless and movement.   We have 3 “computers” or states of consciousness. We have a right, masculine, solar, logical computer. We have a left, feminine, lunar, emotional computer.  Finally, we have a third center computer which combines the first two and yet is above and different from each. Beginning meditators make several mistakes, first becoming upset when the mind wanders, causing emotionality.  This can be aggravated by attempting to sit too long in meditation at the beginning. Do not be concerned if you must bring the mind back to the object of meditation five or fifty time, gently refocus the mind without scattering energy due to emotionality.  

 How does meditation work?   
    ​The action of meditation is a movement from external consciousness to internal consciousness.  Meditation takes place within three distinct phases: mindfulness, attentiveness and wisdom. In mindfulness you are mindful of your mind.  You have an awareness of everything within your mind as well as body.  With this awareness you are able to observe your thoughts, mental images, and feelings as well as the void between the thoughts.  In attentiveness there is elimination of all that is irrelevant to the meditation.  Here you hold the object of meditation with a minimum amount of effort until the meditation is established, becoming totally effortless.  This is the grip phase of meditation.  In the wisdom phase, you enter into the void, realizing the meditator.  This is called the established phase of meditation.  These three, in combination, form the act of meditation.

What is achieved through meditation?

     In concentration you are fixed effortfully to a thought.  In meditation you are looking effortlessly into a thought which dissolves as you become aware that the substratum of the thought is feeling, the precursor of thought.  Meditation reveals more clearly the feeling rather than the logical thought. In meditation there is a feeling of bliss beyond thought and emotion.

What is the role of a Guru?
    The term means dispeller of darkness; a spiritual preceptor who takes on the responsibility of the spiritual unfoldment of another soul.  The term guru has been hijacked in modern western society to apply to an expert, teacher or one having a unique skill set to impart to another.  These all are true of a traditional guru in the guru-disciple relationship but it is much more. The guru-discipleship relationship awakens in the disciple the realization that the universe is a family of Oneness and all are intimately linked together.  A mere teacher can have tremendous power to influence minds but does not have the power nor ability as does the guru to enlighten souls.

What is a disciple?
    A disciple feeds the “body of the guru”, not the physical body, but the embodied spiritual truth he is transmitting to his disciples so they may attain enlightenment or Joy.  Initiation is central to discipleship. First is the disciple’s responsibility to become mind prepared. The disciple must be able to stand on their own mentally, in physical health and financial self-sufficiency.  The guru does everything he can not to interfere with another person’s freedom. The exception is when the disciple states “my dream has become a nightmare, please help me. You can disturb my dream so that I might awaken unto Reality”
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