Hariharananda Method
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 3 years before Oct 10, 2016
MiBeloved 3 years ago
This is a question for Alfredo, who is a disciple of Swami Hariharananda:
are you familiar with the kriya yoga version of
Hariharananda/Prajnanananda
Alfredo 3 years ago
Yes, as stated before, I am familiar with this yoga lineage.
In the late 1990s I was initiated into 1st Kriya in a group of 7 aspirants by someone under the tutelage of Swami Hariharananda. Then, in the year 2000, Swami Hariharananda initiated me alone in a room into 2nd kriya. However, notice that since Lahiri Mahasaya, who is credited with reinstating this lineage directly from Babaji Maharaj, all Gurus of this lineage have affirmed that the 1st Kriya is enough to triumph in this yoga (self-realization?).
To understand this yoga, I think it is very important to read often, even study, the letters of the great Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya with his disciples, which were interchanged in the late 1800. They are a tremendous source of inspiration, besides giving critical yogic information, for the Kriyavans (practitioners of Kriya Yoga) because they clearly show the lengths that these yogis went to comply with their Guru and the many hours of practice that most of them conducted. They all had strong Mumukshutva (without this it cannot be done). These letters I have posted here in the file section under name "Lahiri Mahasaya Letters to Disciples".
In addition to that, each Guruji shows certain tendencies or emphasizes certain specific parts of the practice and becomes either proficient at it or a herald of it. Swami Hariharananda's emphasis was on the shortest breath, Udana air. A whole Sadhana can be based only on the practice of the shortest breath. This was one of his unique contributions, thus I named him "The Master of the Shortest Breath Spell". This in a booklet I wrote for him and presented to him on his 92nd birthday titled "Shri Hariharananda Gita". This booklet I have posted here in the file section as "Sri Hariharananda Gita". The original is still in his room at the Homestead's ashram near Miami, FL.
So, finally, Hariharananda's Kriya Yoga aims at developing 3 qualities; namely, divine sound (Naad); divine vibration, divine light (I am naming them as they do, you decide on the divinity of it). These qualities should be constantly with the Kriyavan, specially the Naad sound. The technique itself is involved and uses some mudras and kriyas that have been made famous in either Gherand Samhita or Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The major contributions, coming straight from Lahiri Baba, are several pranayams, the most famous being the Thokar Kriya or 2nd Kriya Pranayam, which is a chakra pranayam with kumbhaka at the head using a mantra. This is the pranayam that some disciples of Lahiri conducted for 1728 cycles, taking them around 10 hours straight (I have done 144 cycles many times and it always took me around 1.25 hour or basically 1.7 minute per cycle). It is quite powerful as a whole, but not as physically demanding as the breath-of-fire.
These 1st, 2nd Kriyas are a sequence that one follows in preparation for meditation, and this meditation is of the thoughtless type called Paravastha. This Paravastha state is encouraged after meditation. Before it, the mudras and kriyas target the opening of the sushumna (Kriya Pranams or bow), and the entertaining of the divine properties stated above, with Maha-mudra, Yoni (jyoti) Mudra, and the pranayam.
Although this is supposed to be a secret, a well-known Kriyavan of the Yogananda school in Italy, has divulged them in detail in an Internet book. Ennio Nimis, whom I know, has published several books on the subject. One of them I have posted here in the file section as "Ennio Nimis: Kriya Book Part I, 2, and 3".
Thomer Scheepens 3 years ago
Many Thanks Alfredo!!!! : )
