SWAMI SADHANANANDA AND THE MYSTIC WORLD OF KRIYA YOGA

BY DR. KALYAN BHATTACHARYYA

Swami Sadhanananda Giri is coming to the United States bearing the sacred offerings of Kriya Yoga
in August 2009. This is the same Kriya Yoga that Paramahansa Yogananda, author of 'Autobiography
of a Yogi' himself used to practice. This ancient technique was revived and passed down from
generation to generation by eternal Babaji Maharaj through Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar Giri, and
Swami Bhabananda Giri to current living master Sadguru Swami Sadhanananda Giri. Unbroken
spiritual lineage is considered important in this yogic tradition.

What is Kriya Yoga? This is a question that can ultimately be understood by its practice. In the West,
yoga is commonly thought of as various postures and stretching exercises. But those are components of
Hatha Yoga. The word 'Yoga' covers immense ground, but it generally means Divine union. The
practice of Yoga is the method of liberation of the soul. Yoga has many branches. Karma Yoga implies
union with the Infinite or God through work or action. Jnana Yoga seeks union with the Absolute
through practice of spiritual wisdom. Bhakti Yoga achieves the same goal through devotion.
Mantra or Japa Yoga enables one to perceive the Divine through persistent utterance of sacred
words. Raja Yoga comprised of eightfold path, as outlined by Patanjali, (e.g. yama, niyama, asana,
pranayama etc.) leads one to the same Divine goal.

Kriya Yoga belongs to the school of Raja Yoga but it encompasses significant parts of other Yoga
schools so deftly that its practitioner achieves maximum benefit with minimum effort. Pranayama or
control of subtle life currents constitute the basis of Kriya Yoga. The spiritual aspirant maneuvers
the breathing process to calm the mind to a point where an awareness of the Divine gradually
manifests within himself.

The secret techniques of Kriya Yoga (to be learnt from a Sadguru), dissolves the personal ego and body
awareness into the realization of eternity and ultimately union with Cosmic Consciousness. Physical,
mental and intellectual upliftment happens spontaneously. Apart from a healthy and lustrous body, a
sublime feeling that the Supreme Self is nestling within us in the form of divine light makes one free
from the woes and anxieties of life and one can attain a serene and sublime calmness. Some aspirants
feel divine vibrations in the entire body. Some become aware of the holy sounds, not perceived by
ordinary human beings. But as an aspirant advances, he or she gets completely lost in the luminous
spiritual third eye. The negative qualities gradually disappear. In this sublime stillness, one experiences
the palpable presence of the Absolute, and one can understand why, in the Psalms (46.10) it is said, -
"Be still and know that I am God".

Sadhananandaji’s Guru Bhabanandaji used to say very often: “Breathing is not the property of
anyone or of any country, community or religion". He meant that anyone can attain the Supreme
Reality through the breathing and energy techniques of Kriya Yoga. And that is why we can say that
there is no communal or sectarian narrowness or discrimination in the Kriya Yoga tradition. Any
individual can pursue this sublime path and can reach the summit of human attainment. There
remains only one condition for success: sincere practice.

There is however one other critical factor: that without the blessings of a Sadguru or an authorized
Kriya master, none can enter this sacred path. Through diksha or initiation (a ritual somewhat like
baptism), the Guru transmits His power and energy to the disciple. This is called shaktipaat, and in
the course of Kriya Yoga practice, the disciple finds his inner identity merging with the Divine. A
sense of pantheism envelops him and he perceives the Supreme Self everywhere.

The word 'sadguru' means a real master. But the scriptures hint at something more. A sadguru, according
to the scriptures, is not only a realized master but also an embodiment of the Absolute in mortal frame.
Sat is a word that also signifies the Ultimate Reality (One can remember brahmabid brahmaiba
bhabati). A kriya practitioner realizes the veracity of this truth as he advances in his sadhana.

Swamiji was born on 8th October 1951 (at the dawn of auspicious Mahasthami) in Sainberia, a remote
village in southern West Bengal. His childhood was like any other village boy. After Upanayan at the
age of 13, he came across the famous verse from the Bhagavad Gita, - “ananyaaschintayanta maam ye
janaah paryupaasate / tesham nityaabhiyuktaanaam yogakscemam vahaamyaham (9/22)”. “The holy
God takes upon Himself the entire responsibility of one who is exclusively devoted!” This verse stirred
him so much that he started pestering everyone around him about how to find God. He quickly realized
that without the blessings of a sadguru no one can reach the final destination in this path. So he
renounced his home and roamed around in different parts of India, sometimes starving day after day and
remaining sleepless for night after nights. Then through a miraculous event at the holy city of Haridwar
(foothills of Himalayas), he got the name of his Guru. Finally he reached the feet of his Guru, the exalted
Swami Bhabananda Giri at Midnapore.

Swami Bhabananda affectionately took him under his arms and initiated him in Kriya Yoga. Then he
started life of sincere sadhana. Gradually crossing the stages of yogic sublimity one after another he
reached the final goal within an unusually short period. After self realization, Swami Bhabananda asked
his young disciple to begin the life of Acharya or an approved Kriya teacher, who can initiate others in
Kriya Yoga. In order to meet the needs of Kriya practitioners he has authored several books. Pregnant
with profundity of wisdom and sublimity of thought, these mystic exposures have turned out to be of
permanent importance in world of theology. He is not only the embodiment of godliness to his
innumerable devotees from around the world, but a living God – the ultimate repository of peace and
sublimity. He holds the key to self realization and salvation. One can cross the barriers of mundane
existence to attain the summit of human life following his guidelines Mortals likes us are indeed
fortunate to have a Holy Soul in our midst in these troubled times. Though he has visited various
countries in the West at earnest request of his western disciples, this August (2009) he will set foot in
American soil for the first time.

“Kriya yoga a scientific and shortcut technique of soul culture. It is the essence of all religions. It helps one
to be calmly active and actively calm. Go on practicing Kriya….” - Swami Sadhanananda Giri

For information on the Swami Sadhanananda Giri or about the author visit: www.sadhansangit.org or
email anandaevent@sadhansangit.org