Kriya Yoga
We have been loved into existence by God, and as such we carry within our souls a profound intuition of loving union. All of our efforts to find happiness are actually an attempt to realize this union. Ultimately, only a direct and immediate experience of God – the experience of mystical union – can fulfill our soul’s deepest longings. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all possess a rich tradition of mysticism. Christian mystics include Francis and Clare of Assisi, Thomas Merton, and Padre Pio. Mystics recognize the immanence of God in all things and see themselves as inseparably integral to the cosmic play of creation.
Our Eastern brothers and sisters have much to teach us about a mystical relationship with God. At The Assisi Institute, we study and practice the spiritual path of Kriya Yoga, which was introduced to the West in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the acclaimed spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi. Kriya Yoga is not a religion; is a spiritual path that brings us home to our own souls and to God. Through the practices of meditation, prayer, healthy, purposeful living, and the blessings of the Gurus, we realize that we are more than our bodies, personalities, thoughts, and feelings. Kriya Yoga leads us to the experiential knowledge that we are the image and likeness of God and that our true nature is love. Kriya does not incorporate the asanas (poses) of Hatha Yoga, though Hatha Yoga is an excellent complementary practice. Because Kriya Yoga is easily integrated into other faith traditions, practitioners of Kriya Yoga include people of all spiritual backgrounds or of none.
The Guru
The Guru-disciple relationship is a beautifully spiritual reflection of the interconnectedness of all life. Connectivity, relationship, and community are part and parcel of the human experience. In addition to interconnectedness, initiation is also an ever-present facet of the human experience. We did not teach ourselves how to be human. Rather, we were initiated into the human family by our parents and their ethnic, religious, class, and cultural roots.The dynamics of interconnectedness and initiation are not only true on human physical and psychological levels, but also in the spiritual realm. We are brought into the stream of grace through others, most especially through the blessing of the guru. The role of a guru can be a blow to our modern sensibilities, our exaggerated sense of independence, and our misguided notions of equality. We are all in a fallen state of consciousness, and we all need a helping hand. When a devotee embraces Kriya Yoga, he or she stands on the shoulders of our gurus, guided by their wisdom and protected by their grace. We never travel to God alone!
The Lineage of Our Gurus
Mahavatar Babaji
“Babaji is ever in communion with Christ; together they send out vibrations of redemption and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda, The Second Coming of Christ, p. xxviii
Nothing is known about the birth and life of Mahavtar Babaji, who reveals himself to very few. The deathless avatar resides in remote regions of the Himalayan Mountains in India. Ultimately, Babaji guides the spiritual evolution of all devotees of Kriya Yoga. When we mention his name, we receive an immediate blessing.
Lahiri Mahasaya
“As the fragrance of flowers cannot be suppressed, so Lahiri Mahasaya, quietly living as as an ideal householder, could not hide his innate glory. The harmoniously balanced life of the great householder-guru became the inspiration of thousands of men and women.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography, p.283
Lahiri Mahasaya, born in 1828 in Bengal, India, was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji. He was the first to teach the lost science of Kriya Yoga in modern times. Truly a groundbreaking figure in the renewal of yoga within India, his influence spans the globe.
Jesus Christ
“Jesus Christ is very much alive and active today. He is very much concerned about mankind and wishes to give his followers the means to attain divine freedom of entry into God’s infinite kingdom.” Paramahansa Yogananda ~ The Second Coming of Christ, p. xxvii
Jesus belongs not only to Christians, but to the entire world. His love extends to all people, regardless of cast or creed.
Swami Sri Yukteswar
Babaji, speaking to Sri Yukteswar, said, “You, Swamiji, have a part to play in the coming harmonious exchange between Orient and Occident. Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West. The vibrations of many spiritually seeking souls come flood like to me. I perceive many spiritually seeking souls in America and Europe, waiting to be awakened.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, p.294
Swami Sri Yukteswar, Yogananda’s guru, was born in 1855 in Bengal, India. He is considered to have attained the spiritual stature of an incarnation of wisdom. Very interested in the synthesis of the Eastern and Western traditions, Sri Yukteswar believed that such a synthesis could alleviate much suffering in the world.
Paramahansa Yogananda
“To reestablish God in the temples of souls through revival of the original teachings of God-communion as propounded by Christ and Krishna is why I was sent to the West.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda, The Second Coming of Christ, xxvii
From Babaji and Jesus, to Lahiri Mahasaya then to Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda was given the tremendous task of disseminating Kriya Yoga to the West, indeed to the whole world. Though he left his body in 1952, he continues to lead countless souls into ever deepening levels of God-communion. His teachings are a perfect guide for modern men and women who desire to know God intimately.
The Tradition Continues
Roy Eugene Davis, a man of deep realization and sincere humility, was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and the dearly loved founder of the Center for Spiritual Awareness in Georgia. In 2002, he ordained Isha Das, giving him permission to teach Kriya Yoga, to represent the Kriya lineage, and to integrate the Kriya tradition with mystical Christianity in his own teaching. Without Roy, The Assisi Institute would not exist!
Join us for our Thursday Kriya Meditation Service
We welcome you to join us in person or online. To attend online, please tune in to The Assisi Institute Facebook page. We are happy to welcome you to join us for silence, meditation, prayer which includes the saints and sages of all traditions, scripture readings from Yogananda and the Bible, a bit of music, and an inspirational talk. Whether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, our Thursday services are enjoyable and accessible to all. Newcomers are most welcome!
Date & Time:
Every Thursday Evening
7:00PM – 8:30PM
