Kriya Yoga: Synthesis of a Personal Experience Ennio Nimis 1 CONTENTS Contents ii Synopsis iii P I ART MY SEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL KRIYA 1. Yoga self-taught 6 2. Kriya Yoga from organizations 19 3. The inestimable value of Japa 34 4. Following some teachers outside the organization 50 5. A hard decision 66 P II ART DEFINITION OF THE KRIYA YOGA TECHNIQUES 6. The basic Techniques of Kriya Yoga 76 7. Techniques of the Higher Kriyas 93 8. Introduction to some interesting variations of the techniques described up 122 to now P III ART KRIYA YOGA IN PRACTICE 9. Building a solid basis for the practice of Kriya Yoga 139 10. Prayer [Japa]: the basic instrument of all the mystical paths 159 11. How to achieve the breathless state 174 12. Perfecting the technique of Kriya Pranayama 190 Appendix 1: About premature Kundalini awakening 199 Appendix 2: Cleaning the Kriya path from all esoteric-magic manias 209 Appendix 3: Importance of studying the Radhasoami movement 215 Appendix 4: Hidden treasures in P.Y.'s Kriya Yoga 224 Glossary 233 Bibliography 249 2 SYNOPSIS PART I: MY SEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL KRIYA The first part contains the story of the different phases of my spiritual search: self teaching of Yoga; Kriya Yoga received from an organization; Kriya Yoga received from traveling gurus; final decision of putting in a book all what I knew about Kriya Yoga techniques and go ahead alone. Chapter 1 Yoga self-taught My spiritual search began soon enough. I considered Yoga a discipline capable of producing an internal change in my personality. I began with an exercise, to be done in Savasana, where the thinking process was disciplined to create a state of "mental void". I decided also to reinforce my discipline through the art of Pranayama. After three months of practice, I experienced what Yoga books call " Kundalini awakening." This experience was preceded by a couple of days of fear and anguish. Chapter 2 Kriya Yoga from organizations As an enthusiast of Pranayama, I decided to devote my life to perfect it. I came to know of the existence of Kriya Yoga: a four-phased Pranayama path taught in our age by the great Lahiri Mahasaya. I would have done anything to learn it immediately but this clashed with the rules of the organization spreading it – it was necessary to follow a correspondence course. Meekly, I accepted to put aside my already consolidated practice of classic Pranayama and abide only by the written teachings of the correspondence course. This was a unique opportunity to familiarize myself with two important preliminary procedures (Hong Sau and Om technique) which later I discovered were central in the teachings of the Radhasoami movement. A year and a half later, I received the First Kriya set of techniques. I was blissfully happy but unable to conceive a working routine – the one I followed was neither functional nor rational. Chapter 3 The inestimable value of Japa When I learned the so-called Higher Kriyas, the routine problem became more and more critical. Later, when one of the organization representatives refused to clarify my doubts, I reluctantly decided to address my search toward other sources. I had no concrete results but, thanks to some good readings, the practice of Japa entered my life and, with it, the experience of the breathless state. Chapter 4 Following some teachers outside the organization Possessed by an eager desire to learn the so-called "original Kriya", I made the great mistake of neglecting my routine based upon the union between Japa and Kriya. I followed three different teachers. Among many not very important details, I learned something valuable: 1. The importance of listening to the internal sounds during Kriya Pranayama 2. The frenulum-stretching technique (Talabya Kriya) leading to mastery of Kechari Mudra 3. The concept of Incremental Routine 3 Chapter 5 A hard decision After the break with my third teacher, I avoided seeking others. I toyed with the vague idea of putting all I knew about Kriya in a book. I was hampered by the deep conditioning received from my first Kriya organization: the promise of keeping all technical Kriya details secret. The mental clarity and stamina produced by the incremental routines helped me to erase all conditioning. I began the work of writing the book and posted it on the Web. PART II: DEFINITION OF THE KRIYA YOGA TECHNIQUES The second part is devoted to share what I know about the theory and practice of Kriya Yoga. Chapter 6 The basic techniques of Kriya Yoga The essence of First Kriya is given through eight techniques -- Talabya Kriya, Om Japa (in the Chakras), Kriya Pranayama (aka Pranayama), Navi Kriya, Maha Mudra, Kriya Pranayama with short breath, mental Pranayama and Yoni Mudra. Chapter 7 Techniques of the Higher Kriyas After a theoretical digression, a good system of Higher Kriyas are here described. Chapter 8 Introduction to some interested variations of the techniques described up to now Some variations of the Kriya techniques are described. PART III: KRIYA YOGA IN PRACTICE The third part dwells with the practical aspects of teaching Kriya Yoga. The main theme is how to assist students to coordinate and harness their efforts. Chapter 9 Building a solid basis for the practice of Kriya Yoga After considering how to introduce the First Kriya in a gradual way, practical examples are given to utilize the formidable instrument of the Incremental Routines. Chapter 10 Prayer [Japa]: the basic instrument of all the mystical paths We dwell upon the Contemplative Prayer. Inspiration is drawn from Hesychasm, St. Teresa of Avila, Sufi and others.... Chapter 11 How to achieve the breathless state The breathless state is a decisive result: the true Initiation. Combining the Contemplative Prayer with Kriya is the royal way to achieve that state. Chapter 12 Perfecting the technique of Kriya Pranayama After achieving the breathless state, Kriya Pranayama can be perfected. It can become the best tool to merge into the Omkar Reality. The last step is to utilize it to go down into the ''mind of the cells'' and touch the Collective Unconscious dimension. Appendix 1: About premature Kundalini awakening There are pages in the Web warning against the dangers of "premature awakening of 4 Kundalini." The real problem is facing the fear of substantial changes in life. There are practices to be recommended that dissolve any acute states of inner tension. Appendix 2: Cleaning the Kriya path from all esoteric-magic manias We dwell here upon the theme of the wrong attitudes towards the Kriya path. Many forget that Kriya is not a trip in the realm of our mind but a spiritual path. Appendix 3: Importance of studying the Radhasoami movement The literary material produced by this movement is very inspiring for all those who seek to be in tune with the Omkar Realty. Some schools of Kriya had their origin here. Appendix 4: Hidden treasures in P.Y.'s Kriya Yoga Something precise and useful is brought to light for the students who, being faithful to P.Y.'s teachings, are trying to find in this book a key to clarify some of their doubts. 5 PART I: MY SEARCH OF THE ORIGINAL KRIYA CHAPTER 1 YOGA SELF-TAUGHT My spiritual search began at age 15 after I bought an introductory book on classical Yoga. I don't remember the title of that first book, but books of B.K.S. Iyengar followed and then finally the autobiography of an Indian saint, where I found the term Kriya Yoga. My interest in Yoga had been fueled by a certain expectation of the effectiveness of the oriental forms of meditation that had slowly coalesced during my childhood and early adolescence. But first things first... In primary school, unlike my peers I borrowed esoteric books from my parents' friends and I loved those books. I remember that the first one I read from end to end was on occultism. Knowing the book was considered unsuitable for my age, I was proud to be able to read and understand it. I turned a deaf ear to any persuasive advice to dedicate myself to more formative readings. I continued these readings until I was about 11. I wasted a lot of time on worthless books and stacks of specialized esoteric magazines with tantalizing titles and idle fancies designed essentially to impress, and which were impossible to distinguish in advance between fact and fiction. I also came into contact with the main themes of occidental esotericism with short digressions into phenomena like hypnosis and spiritualism. In the end, I felt I had traveled through an indistinct chaos and thought that perhaps the most precious secrets were hidden in other books which I had not been fortunate enough to find. During this period, when I was perhaps 10 or 11, I saw the word "Yoga" for the first time in a postal catalog of esoteric books among my father's correspondence. I was entranced and inexplicably spellbound by the person pictured on the cover sitting in the "lotus position." However, I couldn't persuade my father to buy the book for me. When I was 15 and in high school, the esoteric flame was rekindled for a while in a particular way: a friend told me he had a detailed textbook containing different Pranayama techniques, and added: "These exercise are used to obtain inner transformation...." I was deeply intrigued by his words: what internal transformation was he talking about? Surely my friend didn't mean the attainment of a particular state of relaxation or concentration, or how to integrate the oriental vision of existence with our lifestyle. He must be referring to some intense experience that left a lasting psychological mark. Pranayama was something I had to learn as soon as possible. But my friend would not lend me the book. A few days later at the train station newsstand, I spotted a simple Hatha Yoga manual and bought it forthwith and read it in its entirety. Although I 6 thought I was searching for physical and mental control, my spiritual search had in fact begun. Unfortunately, this book was more of a philosophical introduction and did not stir up anything spiritual. It was neither impressive nor thought provoking (Jiva, Prakriti, Purusha...). The author’s goal seemed to be solely to give the reader the impression of serious authority. Even concepts like Reincarnation, Karma, Dharma, and Maya, the understanding of which in the future would become so important in my life, remained unfathomable, hidden in a tangle of Sanskrit terms. Pranayama was only hinted at by explaining how to do a complete breath – dilating the abdomen, diaphragm, and upper chest during inhalation and contracting the same in reverse order for a calm exhalation. That was clearly an introduction, nothing else. I was sure that the ancient art of Pranayama was not intended simply to train the chest muscles, strengthen the diaphragm or create peculiar conditions of blood oxygenation, but was also meant to act on the energy present in our psycho-physical system. It was common knowledge that the inharmonious state of that energy could be related to conflicts and disharmonies within. I was frustrated about the lack of in-depth information about Pranayama. The author concluded by saying that Pranayama should be learned from an experienced teacher but instead of adding a precise indication (the title of a book, the name of a school...), he remained vague about exactly how to find him, maintaining that we find the Teacher when we are ready to learn. The second Hatha Yoga book I acquired was not a mediocre one. It explained the name of each posture (Asana), gave a brief note on the best mental attitude for practicing it, and explained how each exercise stimulated certain physiological functions (important endocrine glands, etc.). It was taken for granted that these positions were not to be seen as simple "stretching work-outs"; but were a means of providing a global stimulus to all the physical organs to increase their vitality. The satisfaction I felt at the end of a session spoke to their effectiveness. I began doing yoga postures (Asanas) in a corner of our school gymnasium during physical education classes. I wasn't very good in sports anyway despite being well-conditioned by long walks. Moreover, being able to do something significant without having to move very far and without the inherent risks of school sports attracted me. After the preliminary group warm-up exercises, when the teacher gave me permission to work out on my own, I devoted myself to mastering Yoga positions or moving the abdominal muscles with the Nauli technique. To my amazement one day the teacher (whom I had assumed had an opinion of me close to zero) came over and inquired as to the secret of succeeding in moving the abdominal muscles in such curious way. There was an entire chapter devoted to the "Corpse Pose" (Savasana), the last one to be practiced in the daily Asana routine. The instruction was very clearly given and the author did not lose his focus in useless philosophical embellishments. He explained that the purpose of the exercise was to quiet the 7 mental faculties in order to recharge the whole psycho physical system with fresh energy. I was attracted by the grandiose promise that by stopping all mental functions – without falling into a state of sleep – and remaining for some time in a state of pure awareness, one could obtain within one hour the equivalent of five hours sleep. I regret not having the book anymore, but I will describe the exercise based upon what I remember: "Lie in the supine position with arms extended alongside the body and with eyes covered to keep the light out. After staying still for two or three minutes, mentally repeat – ‘I am relaxed, I am calm, I am not thinking of anything.’ Then, to enter the state of mental void visualize your thoughts including those with abstract qualities and push them away one by one as if an internal hand were moving them gently from the center of a mental screen toward its outer edge. All thoughts, without exception, must be put aside; even the thought itself of practicing a technique. You should never become annoyed by continuous new thoughts but picture them as objects and shift them aside; in this way, new chains of thought are prevented from coming out. After pushing a thought away, return your awareness to the small spot between the eyebrows (Kutastha) which resembles a pond of peace, and relax therein. The ability to continuously push away thoughts that knock at the door of your attention will become almost automatic. When, on some occasions – such as practicing immediately after a strong emotional incident – the mechanism does not seem to work, convert your concentration into a small needle which constantly touches the area between the eyebrows – just touching, without worrying about shifting thoughts aside. You will notice that at a certain point there is no more effort, and any remaining restless emotion subsides. The thought seeds manifesting as indefinite images quivering at the edge of awareness cannot disturb your mental rest. Whichever of the two methods you choose, the exercise works perfectly and after 40 minutes you get up well-rested and recharged with new fresh energy." In my experience, in spite of the 40 minutes promised by the book, the final state of relaxation lasted no more than 15 minutes and the exercise itself never more than 25-30 minutes altogether. The technique inevitably ended in a peculiar way; the state of deep calmness was interrupted by the thought that the exercise had not yet begun; my reaction was always a wince and a faster heartbeat. After a few seconds however, confidence that the exercise had been perfectly executed appeared. Thanks to this technique, which became a daily habit, I realized once and for all the difference between "mind" and "awareness". When the mental process is eased off into perfect silence, pure awareness without content arises. Like a luminous point duplicating itself an unlimited amount of times, it remains unchanged for some minutes. You know you exist and that your existence is indestructible – this happens without thinking. You have the indisputable experience that thoughts are in essence ephemeral, and instead of revealing the final truth they cloud it. The Cartesian deduction: "I think, therefore I am" is indefensible. It would be more correct to affirm: "Only in the silence of no thought lies the proof and the intimate certainty of existing." 8 Besides the dimension of esoteric oriental meditative practices, I also had a passion for poetry and literature as well as a habit of daily seeking the contemplation of beauty in Nature. This interest began when I was 9. I borrowed a book of poetry from the school library and copied different short poems with naturalistic themes into a notebook. By reading them frequently, I soon knew them all by heart. By recalling them while contemplating the hilly surroundings beyond the outskirts of my village, I could intensify my emotions. As my high school years were drawing to a close, I developed a passion for classical music and Beethoven became my idol. Despite the tragedy of his deafness at his creative peak, he reacted in a most honorable manner and carried on creating works he had already composed in his heart. The Heiligenstadt Testament, where he reveals his critical condition and states his decision with calm and total resolution, made him almost a hero and a saint in my eyes. He wrote to a friend: "God is nearer to me than to others. I approach Him without fear, I have always known him. Neither am I anxious about my music, which no adverse fate can overtake, and which will free him who understands it from the misery which afflicts others." How could I remain indifferent? He was drawing incomparable music out of the depths of his being, and offering it to humanity. The triumph of this frail human creature over a nonsensical fate had a tremendous impact on me. The daily rite of retiring to my room to listen to that music consolidated my consecration to the Ideal – merging with Absolute Beauty. Each day for the first three months after high school graduation, when I experienced a strong romantic crush whose fulfillment seemed impossible, I listened to Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. The more my emotionalism prompted me to act rashly, which proved to be destructive to my love affair, the more my desperate heart found refuge in the mass’ pure beauty. During a walk in the country, sitting on a hill contemplating a far landscape bathed in the warmth of the summer evening, his music rang out again in my memory. What my heart craved was before me, perfect and untarnished neither by fears nor by a sense of guilt. That was my first religious experience. I chose to study math at university. While attending the first classes, I understood that a happy chapter of my life was concluded and there would be no time for distractions like enjoying classic literature. All my attention was focused on finding an effective method of study and a way to avoid wasting my energies. This meant focusing in a disciplined way both during study time and during my idle moments. For this purpose, I decided to utilize the dynamic of the yogic ''mental void'' technique. One bad habit I had to conquer was a tendency to daydream and jump from one memory to another to extract moments of pleasure. I had formed the unshakeable conviction that when thought becomes an uncontrollable vice – for many it is an utter addiction – it constitutes not only a waste of energy but is the main cause of almost all failures in our life. The frenzied whirl of the thought process, accompanied by alternating moods and strong emotions, creates at times 9 unreasonable fears that hinder the decisive action that life requires. On other occasions it fosters an optimistic imagination that unfortunately pushes the person toward inappropriate actions. I was convinced that disciplined thought was the most valuable trait I could develop, and would open the doors to fruitful achievements. My decision filled me with euphoric enthusiasm. However, after breathing the limpid, sparkling, celestial state of thought restraint for a few hours I encountered a significant mental resistance. In the mirror of my introspection, I saw how other habits were wasting my mental energy. One of these, wrapped and unexpectedly dignified by the concept of socialization, was that of falling daily into nerve- wracking discussions with friends. It was time to renounce it. I abruptly avoided their company. Certainly mine was not an impossible sacrifice-- theirs was not my world. One day during a short afternoon walk, I saw them from afar sitting lazily and chatting in the usual bar. My heart gave a lurch. They were my friends and I loved each of them, yet seeing them together that day they appeared to me like chickens cooped up in a narrow space. Mercilessly I assumed they were completely governed by the instincts of eating, partying, sex, and generally overindulging. Whatever tragedy happened to their friend didn't concern them, they would have kept on sipping the daily pleasure of dawdling until misfortune hit them personally. I found it very sad and distressing. The incident put me in a gloomy mood, but a sentence from Beethoven's Heiligenstadt testament came spontaneously to mind and evoked the bliss I had enjoyed during my high school years: O Providence - grant me at least but one day of pure joy - it has been so long since real joy echoed in my heart - O when - O when, O Divine One - shall I find it again in the temple of nature and of men? - Never? No - O that would be too hard. At that moment I again resolved to concentrate on my studies, and passing my exams became my sole focus. I perceived that period of my life as a descent into an unfathomable night but I knew that in order to shape my future the way I desired, tough sacrifices were necessary. To see the dawn of a "day of pure joy", I would have to endure momentarily a dark emptiness: I would savor it without lament and without being tempted to turn on a light for momentary solace. I Will Die So I Can Live! An event illuminated my life: a friend introduced me to Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.2 "Resurrection" and invited me to a live concert of this work. I read the information leaflet. Each part of the symphony had a precise meaning which Mahler himself had explained in a letter to the conductor, Bruno Walter. It was Mahler's intention to treat death as the inevitable end to all human enterprise. The music itself conveyed a sense of desolation which was sweet, as if 10