We know there is a sequence in raja yoga, the eight stages that are Yama, Niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, Dharana, dhyana leading up to the last stage meditation, samadhi. But how many of us followed this sequence with sincerity? How many of us are trying to incorporate the Yamas and Niyama in our lives? Very few – can be calculated by the fingers of one hand. We believe that the Yamas and niyamas are moral aspects of yoga that do not concern us because we are different. We begin with the practice of asana and pranayama because they are good for the body. The body releases energy and becomes more flexible.

After practicing asanas and pranayama we say, ‘Okay, now I’m going to practice dhyana.’. We went into a meditative state to create certain images, fantasies and ideas of what should be the dhyana or how we can practice. We ignore the practices of Pratyahara and Dharana. Only in difficult times when we thought we could not meditate at all, we rely on the practices of Dharana and pratyahara. Then we ask someone, ‘Look, I cannot concentrate properly. How can I fix this problem? ‘This person tells us to practice trataka in order to develop concentration and then let the dhyana practice and we get back to dharana to start practicing trataka.

After some time we say to ourselves, ‘Well, I practiced trataka for a month. I do not need to practice more, I will return to dhyana. ‘When we start meditating, we are faced again with our negative and positive aspects, desire and aversion, strength and weakness, which create another movement. When we confront our weakness, we tell ourselves, ‘I do not understand why I have had these results in my meditation. It should feel good, but every time I feel more depressed. I do not know why I have not had good experiences in my meditation, others have so good experiences…’.

After, we consult a person who says, ‘Look, if you are finding these problems in your practice you should return to practice pratyahara. Practice antar mouna, antar darshan or hamsa dhyana and observe what happens inside you. Once you understand better what is happening and you are able to deal with your emotions, feelings and thoughts, then you can go to the practice of dhyana.’ And then we come back again to pratyahara.

Raja yoga takes us to this goal faster than other methods. This involves stilling the mind and the senses so that we cease to identity ourselves with the body mind complex and experience our true nature. We communicate with the external world through the five senses. The mind interprets the impulses from these senses. Mind is a bundle of thoughts and desires. It is an abstract entity. We cannot catch hold of the mind. How then do we still the mind?

The ancient yogis of India discovered the relation between the mind and breathing. When a person is agitated his breathing becomes faster and when he is very calm it is slower. The yogis revealed that by controlling the breath we could control the mind. Anyone can experience this by breathing deeply and slowly for a few minutes. The mind becomes calmer and the heart rate slower.

But this is not enough to completely still the mind and experience our real nature. In order to achieve this it is necessary to employ more effective methods. Kriya Yoga (a form of Raja yoga) is such a method which prevents the electrical impulses from going out of the brain and spinal cord so that external world ceases to exist as for as the person who is meditating is concerned enabling him to experience a state of conscious sleep. This state is different from natural sleep, which is involuntary. With constant practice a person will be able to withdraw the life force from the senses at will and enjoy that state of bliss.

The actual technique of Kriya Yoga shall not be explained in an article meant for general public. It creates a powerful electromagnetic field around the spinal cord by making the life force move up and down the spinal cord. This field withdraws the electrical impulses from all the senses so that the soul is cut off from the outer world. In the highest state of meditation called Samadhi, the person goes into a state of suspended animation. Heart ceases to beat, there will be no breathing and all the functions of body come to a stand still but the person continues to be alive. This may sound strange for many people but is true.

It is important to remember that one cannot experience the highest state of yoga within a short period. Though the technique of Kriya Yoga is not complicated it takes several years of constant practice to experience the results.

It is equally important to understand that in order to progress spiritually one has to lead a moral and disciplined life. If anyone thinks that he can commit all sorts of crimes and indulge in immoral activities but still benefit from Kriya Yoga he is completely mistaken. Those who are serious about their spiritual progress should eschew alcoholic drinks and smoking not to mention any drug of addiction. It is highly desirable to be a pure vegetarian. Consumption of meat causes certain biochemical changes in the blood making it difficult to control the mind.

Raja yoga is a scientific method of controlling the mind, reversing the flow of life force and experiencing our true nature. It is the greatest gift India has given to the world. It is universal in nature. It does not interfere with the religious faith of anyone, as it is based on psycho-physiological principles. People can have their own concept of god and continue to perform any other rituals of their religion. Kriya yoga will help them to feel the presence of god within irrespective of their concept of god. Then they will also realize that god defies definition and conceptualization.

The knowledge and practice of yoga elevates humanity to a higher level and reduces conflicts in the world. It will help ushering in an era of peace and harmony. Those who are seriously interested in learning Kriya Yoga can contact the Self Realization Fellowship society at Los Angeles in USA or if they are nearer to India contact the sister organization Yogoda Satsanga Society of India situated at Dakshineswar, near Kolkata and a branch at Ranchi in India