Kriya Yoga: The Breath of God Is Our Breath of Life

Kriya Yoga gives extreme importance to the breath. It teaches that breath control is self control, breath mastery is self mastery, it is deathlessness. If you take a very short breath and seek God in the fontanel and the pituitary, you will attain calmness and God realization. The Bhagavad Gita, verse 5:27, mentions this short breath: "We are to fix our attention in the pituitary, take a very short breath and touch Him in the pituitary and in the fontanel." The breath must be so short that if you place your finger in front of your nose, the outgoing breath will not touch the finger.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: The Breath of God Is Our Breath of Life

Breathing Meditation: Radio Interview with Swami Prajnanananda Giri

This is a transcription of an interview with Swami Praj–anananda Giri for the "PhenomeNews" radio program in Detroit, USA, in December 1996.

Read more here: » Breathing Meditation: Radio Interview with Swami Prajnanananda Giri

Pregnancy is a total experience. It is a time in a woman's life when it is of prime importance that the various dimensions of her being are in harmony. The regular practice of certain yoga exercises, meditation and breathing techniques ensures optimum health of her body and mind, and the unification of her physical, emotional and spiritual growth with that of the developing child.

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga And Pregnancy

Kriya Yoga An Enlightening Experience

It all began when a friend of mine gave me a copy of Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. I read the entire book from cover to cover the first night. I was so fascinated by Yogananda's description of Miracles and higher states of consciousness he experienced in India and in the United States after he traveled over here that I couldn't put the book down. The next week I left for California with my last paycheck in my pocket. I drove all the way to Yogananda's Hermitage/Retreat in Encinitas, California. I was a printing press operator at the time and it just so happened they needed a printer at SRF. What luck! It all seemed predestined.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga An Enlightening Experience

Celibacy: Sex Is Not Compulsory

Most of the sex advice books written during 1960s underlined the idea that the world could be saved by sex - without, of course, enduring the messy and inconvenient complications of an unwanted pregnancy. Many therapists of that era encouraged their neurotic and mentally disturbed patients to 'find themselves' and become better balanced individuals through positive experiences of sex. Sometimes, surrogate partners would be provided for the purpose. We liked to believe then that much mental illness as well, resulted from long-held repressions, and that these could be released through sex.

Read more here: » Celibacy: Sex Is Not Compulsory

Mystical Experiences: Mystical Experiences during meditation

These are short explanations of various categories of mystical experiences that Sadhakas will experience in meditation. Includes:

Anahata Sounds: The Mystical Internal Sounds Heard During Meditation

Movement of the Mind

Astral Journey and the Astral Body

Separation from the Physical Body

Visions of Lights in Meditation

Dazzling Mystical Lights in Meditation

Read more here: » Mystical Experiences: Mystical Experiences during meditation

Tantra: Orgasm and ejaculation

Stated with extreme simplicity, orgasm is an intensely beatific state of consciousness and canceling of ego, with profound harmonizing, relaxing and regenerative effects. Male and female ejaculation is only a complex physiologic process of explosively energetic discharge with a dim manifestation of a brief, incipient orgasm, experienced in a selfish unilateral way. During ejaculation, the energy is quickly wasted and for no purpose (except when conception is wanted).

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: Orgasm and ejaculation

Kundalini Awakening

When Rob told me my Kundalini had been awakened, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. The awakening of Kundalini is a spiritual awakening, a major step towards realization of the divine. It is, in fact, a great boon, a great blessing and a magical gift. According to Swami Prajananda,

"The main purpose of its awakening in a seeker is to enable him to attain Godhood" (Muktananda, Kundalini 9).

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Kundalini Awakens

Chakras: The Subject is Love

How does love, springing from a divine source, become misguided in so many ways? How did we fall into such animalistic forms of love? Some understanding of our subtle anatomy is necessary at this point. We are all engaged in five types of work in our life, corresponding to our five lowest centers (chakras): maintaining our physical survival (first chakra - money), ensuring the continuation of the human race (second chakra - sex), providing fuel for the physical vehicle (third chakra - food), developing our emotional life (fourth chakra - heart), acquiring a set of philosophical and religious principles to guide our life (fifth chakra - throat). These 5 lower chakras constitute the kingdom of delusion, illusion and error.

Read more here: » Chakras: The Subject is Love - about the lower chakras

Maha Mudra, Maha Bandha and Maha Vedha form one group. They are something like three stages of one exercise. Similarly Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha form another group. Mula Bandha is practised during Puraka, Kumbhaka, Rechaka and during meditation and Japa also. Uddiyana Bandha is practised during Rechaka and Jalandhara Bandha during Kumbhaka.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mudras And Bandhas: Instructions On Mudras And Bandhas

There are many different asana s (postures) in yoga, which you can practise at any time of the day with excellent benefits. However, best results can be obtained only by doing yoga under expert guidance. Here's a listing of the commonly practised asanas with both the name of the asana in sanskrit and in english.

Read more here: » Yoga: Major Types of Asanas - Yoga Positions

Eight Major Siddhis

An accomplished, Purnayogi in the path of Kundalini Yoga is in possession of eight major Siddhis, viz., Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Prapti, Prakamya, Vasitvam and Ishitvam.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Siddhis: Major Siddhis and Minor Siddhis

Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

Of the six branches of yoga, only one is concerned with Prana and physical body. The rest can be seen as spiritual disciplines.

Includes: Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Tantra Yoga

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

Here is a part of Patanjalis yoga-aphorisms describing the supernatural powers of a yogi. An extract from the Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

Read more here: » Sidhis - Supernatural Powers Patanjali Yoga Sutras - Illumination (Part IV of IV)

This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part I of III.

In Part I: 1) What is kundalini?, 2) What is the difference between prana and kundalini?, 3) What is the difference between qi (or chi) and kundalini?, 4) If kundalini is universal why do some kundalini yogins seem to have more kundalini-energy than others?, 5) What does kundalini have to do with spiritual enlightenment?, 6) What is the goal of kundalini yoga?, 7) Does everyone agree that kundalini awakening is necessary for enlightenment?

Read more here: » Kundalini FAQ: What is Kundalini? (part I of III) -

An FAQ on Meditation including:

What is meditation?

How is meditation different from relaxation, thinking, concentration or self-hypnosis?

What are the different meditation techniques?

Which is the "right" meditation technique right for me?

Is there any religious implication or affiliation with meditation?

Does meditation have any ethical implications?

What is the best time of day to meditate?

Why do some people use music while meditating?

Should I meditate with my eyes open or with my eyes closed?

What are the physiological effects of meditation?

When I meditate I experience physical pain in my body. What should I do?

How long should I meditate?

Do I need a teacher to learn meditation?

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation FAQ

This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part II of III.

In Part II: 1) Can I just use kundalini yoga simply to improve my health?, 2)

Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras?, 3) Do I really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?, 4) Is Chinese qi gong a kind of kundalini yoga?, 5) What about Tibetan Buddhism - has kundalini been known in Tibet?, 6) Are there any other traditions that show awareness of kundalini?, 7)So how do I awaken kundalini?, 8) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using effort to awaken kundalini?

Read more here: » Kundalini FAQ: What is Kundalini? (part II of III) -

This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part III of III.

In Part II: 1) What are the signs of an awakened kundalini?, 2) Are these methods of awakening kundalini dangerous?, 3) What about Gopi Krishna's books?, 4) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to enlighenment?, 5) There have been many scandals among kundalini yoga teachers - particularly sexual scandals. Is there a correlation between sexual scandals and kundalini yoga practice?, 6) If my kundalini is awakened will I need to change my lifestyle? 7) Do I need to be celibate?, 8) Where can I learn more?

Read more here: » Kundalini FAQ: What is Kundalini? Signs of Awakened Kundalini (part III of III)

Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Tratak and Kapalabhati. These are known as Shat-Karma or the six purificatory exercises in Hatha Yoga.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Shat-Karma: Shat-Karma or the six purificatory exercises in Hatha Yoga.

Many studies have reported the beneficial effect of the practice of yoga on diabetes. Some studies have mentioned up to 65 percent beneficial effect of yogic therapy for diabetes. K.N. Udupa has even mentioned 5 cases of juvenile diabetes who were completely controlled by yogic treatment. All of these studies have emphasized the possible mechanism of the yogic practices.

Read more here: » Yoga and Diabetes: The effects of exercise and yoga on Diabetes - A Clinical Research (Part II of II)

One should become perfectly desireless and should be full of Vairagya before attempting to awaken Kundalini. It can be awakened only when a man rises above Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and other impurities. Kundalini can be awakened through rising above desires of the senses. The Yogi, who has got a pure heart and a mind free from passions and desires will be benefited by awakening Kundalini. If a man with a lot of impurities in the mind awakens the Sakti by sheer force through Asanas, Pranayamas and Mudras, he will break his legs and stumble down.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga Sadhana: Yoga Sadhanas for Kundalini Awakening

Dharana (Concentration)

Fix the mind on some object either within the body or outside. Keep it there steady for some time. This is Dharana. You will have to practise this daily. Laya-Yoga has its basis on Dharana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharana: Concentration in Yoga - Dharana