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suttamonda
Registered User
(5/30/03 10:59 pm)
Reply 		Kriya initiation for the uninitiated
When I joined SRF, several years ago, I had thought I'd go through the lessons and eventually receive Kriya initiation. Then I got more than a bit disenchanted with SRF after personally witnessing monastic behavior that really put me off about the organization. I'd had bad experiences with religeous organizations before, though they were Christian churches, and am especially wary when it comes to initiations. Personally, I balk at the idea of having to pledge membership to any organization in exchange for initiation into a faith. When I became baptised at my church, my intention was to profess my commitment to Christ within the faith community, not the particular denomination and having to accept church membership, but I had had no choice and I did like the minister so I went ahead. Then the poor minister fell out of favor with the church because the board felt he spent too much time in seclusion rather than pastoral care (though nearly half the congregation disagreed) and kicked him out of the church and the entire denomination amidst alot of scandal that even ended up on the New York Times, so you can see where I'm coming from.

Sure I could pretend to follow the SRF guidelines and apply for Kriya but that really won't sit well with me. Also, I'd like to receive good spiritual direction in deciding whether I'm ready to take Kriya or not in the first place. I already have physical problems which may be signs of Kundalini rising out of control and I think it would be dangerous to embark on techniques unless I can get good guidance on a personal level, face to face. I did speak to some of the counselors at SRF including Mukti Mata and I really don't feel their support will be adequate should things go wrong.

Any suggestions? (I know there may be people in India but financially that is out of the question for me.)

In case anyone is interested, El Collie's site on problems with Kundalini rising provides useful info on what could go wrong. Unfortunately, El herself passed away, possibly as a result. See link below:

www.elcollie.com/st/symptoms.html

also related site:
kundalini-support.com/

chela2020
Registered User
(6/1/03 3:59 am)
Reply 		Re: Kriya initiation for the uninitiated
(This message was left blank)

Edited by: chela2020 at: 7/1/03 5:36 pm
soulcircle
Registered User
(6/2/03 12:41 pm)
Reply 		and..........listen
Warning to user , please read aloud to a friend/your heart, and as slow as possible
!!!!! embracing the guests on this board in kindness !!!!!!


Guests, for a start

we will feel what our heart
says............when we listen, and..........listen

our experience
in life, this symphony of consciousness

goes ever on and on,
or does it need to seem so long?

as we are moved, to take to hear/t our heart's song

********
and after the start, oh what magic wonder,
a tear upon our face

care,
share,
laugh,
sing and dance

we have a gift, we have a grace, an inner place

having given our heart, a start, its endless guidance a chance

********

and in the end

(a inner-outer flow, a swim in the Goddess [water] we live within, as our heart does within us)
sweeter than wine

sweeter than wine, a crushed grape's tears
brings your acquaitance (something so delicate) to mine

delicate dave

suttamonda
Registered User
(6/2/03 9:50 pm)
Reply 		Re: Kriya initiation for the uninitiated
Thanks for your input chela2020.

In some ways I envy those of you who accepted Kriya through SRF before learning of its dirty secrets. Afterall, your own motives were pure and sincere and the techniques themselves are just what they are, tools to be used for further development. But for me, knowing what I know, I can't claim innocense if I apply for Kriya from SRF because I would be doing so with every intention of not being involved with them after I've gotten what I came for. My writing them about my spiritual progress would be an exercise in deliberately witholding information that they might disapprove while expressing only those truths that I hope would appeal without outright lying of course. I wonder how Master would feel about that? Or should I accept that the lessons are my guru to whom I pledge loyalty and the techniques come from Master, not SRF, and not obssess about all this?

For those of you on this site who have received Kriya through SRF, would you have done so then had you known all you know now about the organization? (Hope this question isn't too prying. I know I should think for myself but I thought your feedback would help brainstorm the issue.)

S

soulcircle
Registered User
(6/2/03 10:08 pm)
Reply 		we feel you
Helloe Guests and suttamonda,

We like all of your post. We are taking a second look at:

Quote:
Or should I accept that the lessons are my guru to whom I pledge loyalty and the techniques come from Master, not SRF, and not obssess about all this?
.

Our first gut reaction was had we been in your shoes to stay entirely away from srf [which we don't even do now, we have been to richmond chapel the last two sundays].
Then we realized we would approach them for the kriya technique in the manner you suggest in the quote above.

No one can speak for what principles the loyalty another's takes. It is your business and yours alone.

You exhibit so much respect and integrity that our hearts stand in admiration of you.
You add a uniqueness and value to this board that only you can add.
Thank you !!

dawnrays
Registered User
(6/3/03 9:57 am)
Reply 		Re: Kriya initiation for the uninitiated
I have had very intense kundalini experiences since taking kriya initiation. However, I have always experienced them (though I didn't always know what they were) complete with the intense physical symptoms. It was in fact these "awakenings" that led me to srf in the first place (my hopes being that the meditation would calm me down and/or put a stop to them all together.)

My strategy over the years has evolved into simply to stop meditating for periods of time and not holding myself to a definite ritual. Also, I have not been too intensely involved with the organization as I find it does not contribute to a balanced life. The group meditations can be helpful but it (srf) does offer much in the way of anything else. Because of the lack of counseling, individual attention and concern of this organization, I have simply had to come up with my own plan (which is not very strict compared to say, a monastic.)

I will not say that I have not benefitted from the kriya (I believe that I have, along with the lessons, teachings and the guru/disciple relationship) and what little counseling I have had has not been too off centered or detrimental. The main problem I see with THIS particular organization is the lack of community and support and also the lack of individual attention or interest in the progress of the aspirant.

There is also a very heavy pressure to conform, the ideal being of course the outwardly very calm and controlled monk or nun (which did not fit in too well with my very heart centered and expansive kundalini experiences).

In my few experiences with the Ananda Fellowship (I am just getting in to it), I have noticed that they are much more hands on and open with the kriya. There is also the more community favored aspect (grounding, friendship and validation is so important to get through these experiences).

I think it is very important to have a good support system with your kriya and this is greatly undermined and under valued by srf, I'm afraid.

dawnrays

stermejo
Registered User
(6/8/03 9:59 am)
Reply 		Re: Kriya
Interesting!

"Kryia works like mathematics" isn't that what they say? Trouble seems to be the idea that kryia works like 1 + 1 = 2 I've always called that arithmetic vs Math, the higher stuff. Hmmm. Do I REALLY know what "Kryia works like mathematics" means?

I heard this sound byte from a mathmetician on the radio this am:

People confuse mathematics with computation which is akin to saying, "You're a great typist. You should write a novel."

So does "Kryia works like mathematics" mean it's only a technical skill? Where's the SOUL? Why don't lectures point this distinction out? Isn't wisdom, or jana discrimination?

Hey, I barely understand math, haven't written a novel or levitated, yet but it wouldn't crush me to know the difference.

Just thought I'd share that with ALL of YOU (as opposed to "you all":-) I LOVE it when I hear that "y'all" in the South. Just can't hack it when thay say "you all" at the Temple.

---------------------------------------
"I walk this shore in isolation
and at my feet eternity draws ever sweeter plans for me..."

-Robert Plant

Edited by: stermejo at: 6/8/03 11:46 am
WindChimes44
New User
(4/2/04 12:09 pm)
Reply 		Re: Kriya
Hello all!

I tried to post this message as a new topic, but it vanished without a trace. LOL! I think I do not yet know the 'how tos' of posting.

I DO need advice on kriya.

I just moved from reading to also posting on this great site. I have not yet been initiated in kriya. The advice I seek is in that area.

I took the SRF lessons for which I am grateful, but something about that pledge troubled me too much to request kriya with SRF. I really like about PY how he always says to respect all faiths and that when seeking realization, christians should still pray according to christian tenets, muslims according to islam and so forth. So that pledge just feels all wrong. Also a pledge to a being such as PY is very serious, and that one does not take into account how different people's paths, and specifically my path, may be. For example, if I should encounter problems such as have been mentioned here when my kundalini awakes, then 2 a days might be a very bad idea, for a while at least.

I asked the gurus in prayer, and PY and LM said, laughing merrily as they so often do 'you are ours already.' And I immediately found a Harihananda initiation coming up nearby.

But I read here that the kriyas are different in different branches. One poster even said the H one is no good.

Any advice would be welcome on the various versions of kriya, and how to be grateful to SRF for the publications but to stay OUT of the power struggles and politics that mar all earthly churches it seems.

There is even a website that offers written kriya instruction. I feel that learning under skilled observation would be better, plus there too I have no idea if the kriya is the same.

Any tips on the variations in the kriya, and especially assessments of the H version and the online version would be appreciated.

I wish just telling SRF how I feel and that I am sure PY gives me permission to learn kriya would work, and SRF would not insist on the pledge. sigh. But writing that to an organization involved in sueing for control of PY's teachings would likely just get me noted as an enemy or something. Which I am not!

Here's hoping this posting 'takes'. :D

bsjones
Registered User
(4/2/04 2:42 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter
 Re: Kriya
Good post !

ranger20
(4/5/04 11:28 am)
Reply 		Re: Kriya
The first time I heard of Harihananda was in a Yoga International article by someone who took his Kriya after SRF Kriya. He was still incarnate at the time, and told the author that he did not understand why Yogananda had simplified the technique so much that it was, in effect, a grade school version (I guess he meant the first kriya). The author said a lot of SRF people were at his initiations but not wanting anyone else to know.

My understanding is that this Kriya was a branch of the "real" lineage, via Sri Yuketeswar. Who knows with the online version.

It's what I would do in your place.

Edited by: ranger20 at: 4/5/04 11:29 am
WindChimes44
Registered User
(4/5/04 9:37 pm)
Reply 		Re: Kriya
Thank you Ranger!

That makes me feel much better about proceeding, though really since that opportunity arrived within minutes of my asking the gurus for help getting initiated I probably was pretty silly to even wonder. But I try to not just stop being logical even though I also have faith.

And far from the guilt trips it sounds like many in the MC have endured, I never think the gurus mind my thinking in my own way. They do not have ego issues. LOL! FAR from it!

I am very glad I found this board. I have been happily reading things on awakened people now incarnate from some links that a poster put up on here. So many of the posters have valuable insights and knowledge and share it. I realize the primary board purpose is to provide a place for people to talk about SRF problems. But for me the best thing is finding a bunch of people who are not cultish, not scared of differing views, not all alike, and not rigid, but ARE interested in spiritual matters I share an interest in, and in PY in particular.

So thanks to everyone. This is a very nice resource.

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