Frequently Asked Questions About Kriya Yoga

What is authentic Kriya Yoga? What does it involve? How do we find the path with the right teacher for us? Join Yogacharya O’Brian, author and Kriya Yoga teacher, as she addresses questions often asked about Kriya Yoga.

Yogacharya O’Brian is a western woman who teaches the riches of Indian philosophy in a fully accessible and inspiring way for newcomers and longtime practitioners alike. Ordained by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, she has been teaching Kriya Yoga philosophy and practice, and leading meditation retreats for more than four decades. She is the founder and spiritual director of The Yoga Hour and the founder of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a Kriya Yoga meditation center in San Jose, California. On her author website EllenGraceOBrian.com she offers many online learning programs. You will also find many inspirational blog posts and other resources for your study. Yogacharya O’Brian is also an author and a poet and has published several books including Living the Eternal Way: Spiritual Meaning and Practice in Daily Life, The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity Through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga, and her latest book of poetry, The Moon Reminded Me.

WEBSITES: ELLENGRACEOBRIAN.COM; CSECENTER.ORG

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Yogacharya O'Brian answered so many of the questions about Kriya Yoga that I am often asked as a student of this yogic path. 

• Is Kriya Yoga a religion? Is Yoga Hindu? How is it related to Hinduism?

• What does it mean to say that these teachings are scientific?

• What is authentic Kriya Yoga?

• What is the significance of initiation into Kriya Yoga practices?

Yogacharya’s answers to these questions were clear, to the point, honest and amazingly insightful.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It was an engaging conversation covering everything from what Kriya Yoga is, to whether yoga is Hindu, what makes a Kriya Yoga path authentic, the benefits of being part of a lineage, and the importance of initiation. I loved Yogacharya’s description of the Kriya Yoga path being “extraordinarily ordinary”, meaning while this path helps us to know who we truly are as expressions of the One which is beyond description and understanding, Kriya Yoga also is down to earth and so applicable in our day to day lives. Yogacharya’s recollection of the Buddhist saying “Life is short. Don’t waste your life.” is an important reminder to us all.

Find Happiness and new freedom at work

How can we transform our work lives and create the dream job? Join Bill Burnett, co-author of Designing Your New Work Life, as he offers real steps and a road map to transform our job and improve work experience, helping us reframe problems and move into action.

Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Star Wars action figures. He holds a number of mechanical and design patents, and design awards for a variety of products including the first 'slate' computer. Bill is coauthor of the book we are discussing in this program Designing Your New Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work.

Website: DesigningYour.Life

Twitter: @dyourlife FB: Designing Your Life

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This program and Bill Burnett's work is really relevant for this time, when so many people are dissatisfied with their work and can't leave because of economic reasons or they just leave their jobs. Bill and his co-author, Dave Evans have have used scientific studies and have based their work on creating systems to help us discover what we want, have willingness to want to change and then see whatever we do as service to others. He says that is the basis of happiness and happiness in our work. He shares that it is important to take small steps to accomplish our goals. Bill says striving for perfection eliminates the many "betters" that can happen now. He says"make it good enough for now" and then keep noticing and keep making small improvements. He closed the program by saying "Design starts now. You can build the life you want." This reminds me of the first sutra in the first chapter in The Yoga Sutras, "Atha". Now is the auspicious time to begin.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our conversation about redesigning our work lives so that we can experience more meaning and satisfaction while at work. We discussed the science behind what makes people happy, with the biggest factors being relationships and doing something for the benefit of others. Bill Burnett gave listeners many ideas about how to begin the redesign process for their jobs, including the importance of reframing the way we think about our jobs so that we can see the impact we are having in the world. He also discussed the importance of not thinking our way forward, but rather building our way forward by making small changes.

Yoga Revolution – A Path Forward

How can we make real change in the world toward a more just, humane and democratic future? Join Jivana Heyman as he shares how yoga is truly revolutionary — creating an inner revolution in our heart and mind, as well as an outer revolution in the form of service and social justice.

Jivana Heyman is the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses & Practices for Every Body, and  the book being discussed in this episode, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion. He is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. He’s also the co-founder of the Accessible Yoga School, an online portal focusing on equity and accessibility, and the co-host of the Accessible Yoga Podcast. You can find more info at his website JivanaHeyman.com and on FaceBook at Jivana Heyman.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The conversation with Jivana Heyman was flowing and impactful. Jivana said yoga is seeing God in others and if everyone in the world lived that way it would be a revolution. He began by sharing that he wrote the book to help unearth the central truths of yoga, make the teachings more accessible, and promote living yoga in daily life (off the mat). I loved the story that he was introduced to yoga early when as a young child he walked into the room to find his grandmother doing a headstand. Both he and Dr. Trujillo shared the comparison and impact of how the COVID pandemic resurfaced the pain and suffering from the AIDs pandemic. It was heartfelt and gave insight on how inner work caused by suffering can then, with courage and in community, be used in seva and social action. I highly recommend this episode.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed our conversation about the potential for both inner and outer revolution that yoga philosophy and practice provides. As I mentioned, I love the way Jivana begins his book Yoga Revolution: “Modern yoga is finally growing up, and the time has come to address the dissonance between the superficial way yoga is currently being practiced and the depth of yoga’s ancient universal spiritual teachings.” It was lovely to explore some of that depth with him. We spoke about the importance of not just studying yoga, but living yoga, bringing it off the mat or cushion and seeing all the ways that we can live the principles of Oneness that yoga teaches. We spoke about the ethical principles that make up one of the eight limbs of yoga, the Yamas, including harmlessness and truthfulness. We also discussed the need to practice self-compassion, as our vision clears and we begin to embody harmlessness and truthfulness more deeply.

The Unity of the World’s Religions

What is the unifying thread that runs through all of the world’s major religions? Rev. Paul John Roach, Unity minister, author, and host of the podcast World Spirituality discusses that beneath the surface of differences there is a golden thread of deeper mystical understanding that is common to all religions.

Rev. Paul John Roach is a native of Wales, United Kingdom. He was ordained at Unity Ministerial School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1988 and served as the Senior Minister at Unity of Fort Worth for 30 years.  He has served on several boards and teams for the Unity movement including the board for Unity World Headquarters.  Paul is also the host of the World Spirituality podcast which is available on all the major podcast platforms. Paul is a poet and author of the book we are discussing on this program Unity and World Religions.

Website: PaulJohnRoach.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed this program with Rev. Roach. He has such a depth of knowledge and energy about the world’s major religion and a deep appreciation and understanding of the mystical teachings that come from these religions. His years long study of these teachings and his accessible way of speaking gives us a real taste of the connection, at a deeper level, of these religions. Yogacharya O’Brian said about his book, “At once personal, practical, and profound, this distilled view of the world’s religions through the Unity lens is engaging. The global spiritual vision that emerges shines forth as the light of wholeness, revealing the way to meet the pressing challenges of our time.”

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our conversation, which discussed the “golden thread”, or Perennial Philosophy, that underlies the world’s major religions, especially at their mystical core. As the Rig Veda reminds us, “Truth is One, the sages speak of it by many names.” I appreciated his comments on Jesus as a spiritual teacher, and God as the depth of everything, as well as the calling to not just understand a spiritual insight, but to live it fully in our lives. We briefly touched on Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism as well as Christianity, which was a wonderful opportunity to explore the Oneness teachings that each religion contains.

Being Ready to Stay or to Go

How do we discern when we are ready to make a change or not—to do the right thing? Dr. David Richo, psychotherapist, teacher and writer, discusses practices that support us in listening to and trusting our inner wisdom. We will then have the confidence to follow through with our decisions.

Dr. David Richo is a psychotherapist, writer, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of several books including the book we are discussing in this episode Ready: How to Know When to Stay and When to Go. Dave was with us previously when we talked about his book Triggers: How We Can Stop Reacting and Start Healing.

Dave Richo’s Website: davericho.com

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:This is a very interesting discussion with Dr. David Richo on how to know when to stay to make a situation work or when it is time to make a change. I truly connected to the role meditation plays in learning to listen and trust our small voice within. Through mindfulness and meditation, we pay attention to our own inner wisdom, opening to the awareness of the mysterious timing of the universe. Dr. Richo shared a list of criteria to help decide when it is time to go rather than to stay, along with meditations and affirmations. He believes that when the time is right, we are automatically given the grace for change, getting help beyond ourselves.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: In this conversation, Dave Richo and I discussed the dilemma that many people face: when to stick with something (a job, relationship, or even a religion), or when it’s time to let go. I appreciated Dave’s perspective that holding on too long is often due to fear or doubting ourselves, and letting go too soon is often related to doubting the power of love. The question of timing of these decisions is critical, and we can be guided by our inner wisdom, that still, small voice within. Dave also shared some quotes for contemplation and journaling when we are wresting with these questions, from his new book Ready: How to Know When to Go and When to Stay.

New Science, Ancient Wisdom and Highest Happiness

Join Dr. Rick Hanson, author of the books Neurodharma and Buddha’s Brain, as he shares how modern science and ancient wisdom show us how to cultivate inner peace and happiness in today’s increasingly complex world.

Rick Hanson, PhD is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His six books have been published in 30 languages - with over one million copies in English alone. His free newsletters have 215,000 subscribers, and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. His most recent book Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness. His podcast is Being Well with his son Forrest Hanson

His Website is RickHanson.net

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:I learned a lot from the program today with Dr. Hanson. I love how he teaches about the physical brain and how it changes for the good with our regular, steady practice. In his book Neurodharma he tells us about the seven qualities that he sees in all awakened people. He reminds us that we all have those seven qualities within us and we may be aware of some of them to a certain degree or not. Dr. Hanson offers practices that support us in developing, growing and nurturing these qualities. I loved the "Feeling Safer" meditation that he led us through. We all have anxiety to some degree or another and this guided meditation supports us in calming that down. He said we all have a neurological system that is designed to learn. We just need to decide what we are going to learn. Will it be learning and incorporating all the negative that comes at us or will we learn to let go of the negative and embrace the positive qualities of life? We have a choice. It was great having Rick Hanson on the program again.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: What a joy it was to have Dr. Rick Hanson as a guest again on The Yoga Hour. I loved our discussion of the seven qualities that awakened people share, and how we all can find and build these qualities within ourselves by steadying the mind, warming the heart, resting in fullness, being wholeness, receiving nowness, opening into allness, and finding timelessness. His deep knowledge of neuroscience and his ability to make it easily understandable for non-scientists feels like a gift to me and to our listeners. I particularly enjoyed his meditation on “Feeling Safer” and was glad that he shared that during our conversation.

Ayurvedic Strategies for Immunity and Stress-Relief

How can we use Ayurveda’s ancient principles to keep our immunity strong?  Internationally renowned spiritual teacher and Vedic master, Acharya Shunya, discusses strategies to create a healthy lifestyle, ensure our immunity is at its best and keep our stress levels low.

Acharya Shunya is an award-winning and internationally renowned spiritual teacher and scholar of Advaita (nondual wisdom) and is a classically-trained master of Yoga and Ayurveda. The first female head of her 2,000-year-old Indian spiritual lineage, she has dedicated her life to dissemination of Vedic knowledge that enable all humans to attain their full potential as healthy, authentic and awakened beings. She is president of The Awakened Self Foundation and the founder of the spiritual and educational nonprofit Vedika Global. She offers many online courses and retreats, and is author of several books including Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom. Her newest book, Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful will be published in September of this year.

Websites: AcharyaShunya.com VedikaGlobal.org

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Acharya Shunya's Ayurvidic expertise along with Dr. Trujillo’s medical and ayurvedic background meshed into an extremely informative show. It brought out the importance of listening to our own body systems. I liked the idea of seeing the doshas as our housekeepers with the 3 doshas always working together. Then when the doshas are in balance, we have health. It's a fascinating medical model developed 2000 years ago! The dynamics of the conversation were enthusiastic and compelling. It encourages me to reevaluate how my diet and lifestyle are affecting my spring allergies.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I thought we did a good job in linking the 3 doshas to the 5 elements, and explaining the link to excess Kapha dosha in the Spring. I love how Ayurveda looks at each person as an individual, and also views each person as a microcosm of the larger environment, the macrocosm, so that changes in our outer environment like seasonal changes really affect us. Our conversation also gave listeners lots of advice about dietary changes they can make to help balance Kapha dosha, including avoiding heavy foods such as dairy and fried foods, as well as eating warm cooked foods rather than raw foods. We also gave advice about balancing the heaviness and inertia of Kapha dosha with exercise by walking outside in nature.

Yoga, Consciousness, and Climate Change

Vedic wisdom declares: Take care of nature, and nature will take care of you. How do we take care of nature in a time of climate emergency? Yogacharya O’Brian outlines steps that begin to change the climate of our heart and our mind so yoga, consciousness, and climate change meet.

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is the founder and spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in the tradition of Kriya Yoga with world headquarters in San Jose California. CSE is currently celebrating over 40 years of service to seekers of spiritual enlightenment as a year-long celebration with many special retreats and programs as a Divine Pilgrimage or Yoga Yatra. You can find out more about these programs at CSECenter.org.

Yogacharya is an acclaimed teacher, poet, award-winning author. You can find out more about Yogacharya’s books, teaching and her in-person and online programs at her author website, EllenGraceOBrian.com. You can also follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube by searching for Ellen Grace O'Brian.

Link to Yogacharya’s ORIGINAL INTIMACY:SOUL PILGRIMAGE TO FIVE AUSPICIOUS HEALING SHRINES Satsang Series and Resourse page with free E-books on the five elements.

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The teachings offered today by Yogacharya O’Brian about Yoga, consciousness and climate change give us hope. She said that "even though things can feel very overwhelming and we feel challenged day to day in many different ways, the path of Yoga teaches us that we have what we need to meet these challenges and gives us the tools to live an inspired life." We can look to the teachings of Yoga to understand that we are not separate from nature. Nature is us and nature is God. It is all One. We don’t control nature. Yoga philosophy gives us the skills to overcome the limitations of the mind. One of the tools that you discussed which supports us in changing this mindset is understanding the four branches of yoga. They are temperament types of which one is usually predominant in the way we individually approach knowing the Truth of who we are, but they are intertwined. One without the other is not balanced. As yogis we can lift up our spiritual practices and observe how these paths of yoga are a way that connects us back to nature. Yogacharya told us that "Yoga teaches us about the generous and sacred nature of life itself. Yoga is about learning to live as the luminous beings that we are in this profound connection between nature and spirit." As Roy Eugene Davis said, “there is an enlivening power that is nuturing the universa and all we have to do is learn to cooperate with it.”

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Yogacharya and I spoke about the importance of changing the climate of our minds from being ego-based to appreciating the underlying Oneness between ourselves and the outer world. I enjoyed our discussion of the four paths of yoga, and how they can help us to see the small steps forward we can take during this climate emergency. As you said, all the paths of yoga help us to break down the sense of separate self. The four yoga paths represent different ways of merging with the One. Learning how to live as the luminous beings that we are calls us to a different relationship with Divine Mother through our relationship with nature. I loved the quote from Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: "I am the wetness of water, the radiance of the moon and the sun, the sound in the air, and the sweet fragrance of earth. I am the brilliance in fire and the life in all beings.” To me, this really speaks of the sacredness of nature and of all life.