What is Yoga? What is it to practice yoga, live a yogic life?
Main branches of yoga:
Kriya Yoga integrates all the systems
- Self-realization through intentional living (Kriya & Yoga)
Three overarching disciplines of Kriya Yoga:
- Self-discipline
- Self-study
- Self-surrender
The purpose of the practice of Kriya Yoga is to remove obstacles to Self-realization and to support awakened living in harmony with Truth.
Progress on the spiritual path reflects the intensity of our practice—whether it is mild, medium, or intensive. Spiritual awakening can be accelerated through our focused attention and committed action.
Use this course as a support for your spiritual journey.
- Decide it’s time to take your spiritual life more seriously
- Be steadfast
- Study
- Practice
- Discover
- Enjoy / Be curious, fall in love with your life
For additional information, refer to:
Living the Eternal Way, p 19-36
Thank you Yogacharya in helping me in my process to decide, decide! and grow in my steadfast practice! To bring it to the center of my life. This is fun to be able to rewind and hear these gems that spark and make my heart jump a little from your encouraging words.
Thank you! I appreciate your note and your dedication. It lifts us all up…
How lovely, how inspiring and how very supportive. I am so glad I have found you and this wonderful course
I have studied (and practised) a lot but often, it felt like listening really hard but not being able to hear what was being said.
Your lovely (and vajra like) simplicity and clarity has made the teachings loud and clear :O)
Thank you
Hello Lynda! I am happy you found the course and are diving right in. Your comment about simplicity and clarity went straight to my heart. That is a great goal , not only for teaching but for living–simplicity and clarity. Lovely!
Hello,
I am wondering if you recommend a certain translation of the Bhagavad Gita? I found one at a used book store by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and I now have that at home, chapters 1-6. Just wanted to ask your opinion.
Thank you very much,
Ashlyn
Greetings dear Ashlyn! I have several translations and commentaries and find it useful to have more than one so you can compare the translator’s approach. The one I favor is by S. Radhakrishnan, and of course, I study The Eternal Way, commentary on the Gita in light of Kriya Yoga, commentary by my teacher, Roy Eugene Davis. Many students also appreciate Ecknath Easwarans commentaries, Baba Hari Das’s commentaries, and Swami Satchidananda., as well as the commentary by Maharishi that you have. All are good. Enjoy the Gita journey!
Thank you very much! I’m sorry for my late response, I appreciate your answer.
Dear Yogacharya. As I’m revisiting these basic teachings of Kriya Yoga that I’ve been practicing for over 10 years, I’m “re-grateful” again for the guidance that meditation and self-discipline is founded on the joy of the soul. At first, that was very difficult for me to access—joy felt out of reach. But your many years of reinforcing that joy and peace is my nature, then the self-discipline that I applied to my practice was also founded in joy and peace. I took tiny steps, at first just sitting, even if only for a moment, as a practice of devotion either to you, or God, or my Self…whichever I could connect with. Then the kindness to myself started to pay off in glimpses of peace, which gradually blossomed into an abiding peace, compassion, equanimity…and even joy. Deeply grateful and peacefully joyful.
What a beautiful description of unfolding peace with its divine attendant, joy! Thank you so much for witnessing it.
I love the reframing of the word “discipline”! How marvelous to transform it from a burden to a joy! Namaste :o)!
It does change how we approach it, reflecting a deeper understanding of its purpose. Joy to you!
I am new to learning the spiritual practices of yoga, having only done classes in the physical/posture aspect of yoga. So I am eager to increase my knowledge and deep in my understanding of yoga. Thank you, Yogacharya, for this wonderful opportunity to begin. Suzi Malay.
Welcome Suzi. Your foundation with hatha yoga is a good beginning. The philosophy and spiritual practices brings it all together — body, mind, and soul. The teachings say that our eagerness to learn is itself an indication of grace upon our path.