Having some vague idea of its nature and
purpose, people
undertake the Kriya discipline for their own reasons. While
getting
along with the practice, they refine their approach through any kind of
readings, both properly related to it and improperly tied with
esotericism, New Age thought and alternative
medicine.
I am one among thousands of people
who shares a great enthusiasm and interest in the Kriya
discipline. Since the last few years, being
frustrated with
the polemics among different Kriya schools - which reveals mercilessly
and limpidly that Kriya is taught with many deformations and cuts - I
have created this website where I share all I know about this subject.
The purpose is to spare other researchers time, delusions,
anger
and
frustration. (Of course one must have a self-teaching
quality.
Otherwise one can receive all the best educational material about Kriya
and personal initiation by a renowned Kriya Acharya, but will leave
everything in a few months or years.)
My decision to bring
out my knowledge and information about Kriya has subsequently brought
me to interact with many people. This interaction with a
variety of
people has brought me great joy, and has given me the impression and
encouragement of living my life more intensely. In this
manner I have
received many incentives to deepen my knowledge of Kriya and enrich the
book continuously.
What bewilders me is that some people write to
me after only having quickly browsed one or two pages of the book.
They
ask me questions that I have already provided precise answers for in
the book, substantiated with information and opinions about matters for
which I have devoted pages and pages. (Just to give an
example, some
ask: «What were your experiences with Kriya?» as if to say that the
first and the third parts of the book contained the ravings of a
lunatic.)
I have trouble with putting myself in their shoes; I sincerely don't
understand their intentions.
However,
I do understand this inconvenient question could be solved by
answering: «Please go to page such and such» or, more kindly, by
copying part of the book in my reply. The problem is when
they ask an
opinion about delicate matters, which may concern a particular
organization of Kriya, a famous teacher, a book, a theory… they start a
debate about issues on which I have already carefully expressed my
opinion in the book but in a general way, obliquely, in order to avoid
taking sides. There are pages from which, using the faculty
of reason,
my point of view can be easily guessed.
Nevertheless, I
answer sincerely but shortly to their query. Perceiving my
remarks to be very synthetic, they don't understand their grounds and
implications and react surprised, reproaching me of wearing blinders
and being rash in my reply and judgment. If after this
crosstalk they
would stop writing, the problem dissolves into oblivion leaving only a
trace of bitterness - the worry of not having acted in the best of
ways. However, despite some breaks, the exchange of sharp
affirmations
which are very far from hitting the target continues. In
this manner,
the exchange of emails is like playing a game of chess at a distance,
where the pawns are prejudices and assumptions.
In the end a lot of
time is lost and wasted.
To avoid all this, the following FAQ
serves to reply to the most immediate and urgent questions that come
spontaneously to one who has stumbled upon this
website. In
my opinion, a researcher should also perform his own work in order to
guess what Lahiri Mahasaya's original Kriya was (I don't mean just the
techniques, but the essence of it) and get the picture of what the
Kriya taught by today's sources is. It goes without saying
that
if one
has a good guide one can practice Kriya without any further study, but
those who stand on their own feet have no other choice than to explore
the subject at the full. I recommend the study of the great
religions
and of the various mystical movements flourished around them - because
Kriya sprang from them. Internet furnishes a boundless documentation.
In my book and in the link pages of my website there are
references to
some texts that are real jewels, sources of great inspiration.
(Of
course those who think that Kriya is an "ancient science received
directly from the Divine, available only for the select few, kept as a
closed secret by the ancient sages..." and believe similar
fabrications.... are not ready to carry on any meaningful search.
Most
likely, they will go on indefinitely being occupied with controversy
about which is the unique authorized source of authentic
Kriya.) It is clear that no single serious study
will help
one to find the Truth. It just helps one to understand the
basis
of
Kriya - from what preexistent practices it has been built - and to
understand the personalities who have deformed it according to their
cultural and religious conditionings. To discern this, it is
simply not
sufficient to only read an article in Wikipedia. When one
attends a
University course, one is not surprised at the necessity of devoting
one semester of study to one single matter. Why should Kriya
be
different and consist of only some vague ideas, visceral perceptions,
impressions and hysteria? Discovering, learning and performing Kriya is
no picnic in the park, it requires a lot of study and application.
It
is a very delicate art. If you embark on Kriya full of
enthusiasm
after
having read just one book about Sri Ramakrishna, then you will expect
that your teacher is a Ramakrishna and you to will become a
Ramakrishna. But you will be awfully disappointed.
Too
much exaltation
or too much dejection are two sides of the same
coin. Kriya requires balance. After good reading,
a good
practice
must
follow, carried on at the best of one's abilities. Those who
have this
quality, will go ahead and receive very great satisfaction, no obstacle
will stop them.
In Kriya many details become clear with time and
by applying different techniques. One can become
self-realized, a
Master, by working in this way. What I appreciate is the
courage of
never ceasing to aspire to perfection.
(I counsel to watch the
video of Karajan's rehearsal of Schumann's Symphony #4 on Youtube: this
video is in my opinion more inspiring and more useful than many
so-called spiritual inspiring new age videos). After good
study and
proficient practice, there is no danger of useless discussions.
One
actually experiences that the exchange of personal reports, of remarks,
notes and of any kind of useful material is greatly enriching in
advancing their study and practice.
