Himalayan Kriya Yoga Insights by Dr.Rupa

Dedicated to my dear GURU- MAHAYOGI-DR. PRADEEP ULLAL.

anēkajanmasamprāpta karmabandhavidāhinē |
ātmajñānapradānēna tasmai śrīguravē namaḥ ‖ 9 ‖

Meaning: Salutations are to that guru who by bestowing the knowledge of the self burns up the bondage created by accumulated actions of innumerable births.

Our Human body is the most intricately designed instrument. According to the great saint Kabir, the Universal Maya/ cosmic illusion has weaved the Divine consciousness to feel Tadatmyata / feeling one with the instrument /body.

The whole essence of any sadhana is to unravel or discover the Divinity which is our true nature and identity. This coming home is to just understand that our nature is Divine and lose all the other identities of ourselves. It appears so easy, yet here we are from millions of lives figuring out and spinning in circles. So near, yet so far.

The cosmic illusion is so powerful that the world appears very real and all the events therein create impressions or memories which are stored as samskaras or bio-memory. Life as we know starts from the fusion of a single egg and sperm and the resulting embryo with all its innate creative intelligence grows into the appropriate structure it is meant to be.

Life unfolds with creation, growth, development, decay, disease, and finally death. The one constant thing happening here is CHANGE. So, what is wrong with going through these cycles of birth and death? Life goes on and as per the theory of evolution someday the organisms will go to a higher spin and eons later get back to their real nature.

Yes, most of us are happy to go through these repeats of life and death, but a select few feel exhausted doing the same repeats yet again. A deep yearning starts if there is something beyond a mundane existence and if there are ways to touch the inner core where the world dissolves, all identities drop and you realize the Divine Nature which is eternal love and Ananda. Inexhaustible, immortal love is beingness.

What is preventing us from getting there and what are the means to achieve the realization of our true nature is the crux of our quest.

Our brain is the organ where a lot of intellectual understanding happens. The prefrontal cortex is the seat of understanding higher knowledge and the midbrain, pineal gland is the seat of our being as an individual entity. The occipital lobe is the area that gives us the idea of being in connection with expansive awareness or universal consciousness.

As Lord Krishna says in the Revered Gita-there are numerous ways to drop all our false identifications and realize our divine nature-BHAKTI, GNANA, KARMA, HATHA yoga, KRIYA YOGA, and many more.

The brain and the spinal cord are the regions with intricate neural pathways storing all the bio memories from past lives and relaying of current information in our day-to-day living also depends on the integrity of this system. All the different organ systems eg., heart, lungs, gut, kidneys, and urogenital system have been assigned different tasks for the well-being of the body and they function individually as well as in sync with the other systems. The human body is designed so intricately basically to realize the divine nature and drop the body identity. But, since our memories or past life samskaras are so strong we refuse to believe that the world is a projection in the mind and go on seeking joy from objects which don’t have anything innate at all. Everything is only apparent and projected. The ephemeral state is believed to be permanent and all our efforts are directed to make it permanent. We beg for happiness and love from people and objects which cannot fulfill our needs as they are not innately equipped, they only reflect what we project.

AJNANA/AVIDYA or Ignorance of our true nature is the reason for all misery and repeat cycles of birth and death. So, as mentioned earlier there are several paths to discovering the Divine nature. I will be discussing the path of Kriya yoga.

Kriyā is a Sanskrit term, derived from the Sanskrit root kri, meaning ‘to do’. Kriyā means ‘action, deed, effort’. The word karma is also derived from the Sanskrit root √kṛ (kri) कृ, meaning ‘to do, make, perform, accomplish, cause, effect, prepare, undertake’

In KRIYA Yoga, the word kriya signifies the unity of work and worship that is activity and divinity. Continuous awareness of the power of the Indwelling true divine self can transform all our actions however mundane into worship and our lives can be made Divine.

Himalayan kriya yoga is a technique that weaves acute spinal and brain awareness with attention to all body parts. This is an approach with a mix of Devotion, Hatha yoga, Swara yoga, and Pranayama and when performed with the direct guidance of a GURU – the result is remarkable.

Our existence is based currently on our bodily identification. The body has to serve as a means to get beyond the body. So, it is imperative to learn about the secrets of the body its marma points, touching, manipulating, kneading, feeling, moving, stretching, all with awareness and devotion to the Master flow within us which is keeping us alive.

A series of movements concentrating on the cranial nerves increased mobility of the spinal cord, and the muscles of the back and limbs help us get greater strength, flexibility, and awareness of the events happening within. Aging is dependent on the fascia connecting all our cells and organs and it is said that this is the biggest repository of our bio memory. Stretching -Pandiculation is a sure way of anti-aging and gives strength and resilience to the fascia and a fit body is a perfect instrument for sadhana.

Most of the attrition happening to cells and organs with age is because of the following.

–Decreased blood supply– reduction of nutrition delivery to cells as well decreased cell excretion – accumulation of toxins and build of free radicals which are damaging the cell metabolism to the core and affecting signaling to all other bodily connections.

 – Sedentary nature and abnormal diet patterns resulting in the formation of atherosclerotic and amyloid plaques leading to reduction of blood supply to all cells and organs which results in aging and attrition…this is seen as arthritis, obesity, heart disease, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, infertility, cancers, Muscle weakness, organ dysfunction and all problems associated with aging just to mention a few.

Long story short our modern way of living has led to decreased oxygenation of our cells and this has led to a cascade of abnormal signaling and led to the decline of our body- accelerating our aging and causing disease.

So, once we understand the cause, it’s easy to address it and reverse the changes. It involves yogic practices with awareness and breath synchronization. The different meridians carrying vital flow and information are stimulated, spinal twisting and manipulations increase the torque and the agitation leads to increased cerebrospinal flow which means carrying more circulation and information and awakening the mostly dormant areas of the brain involved in higher consciousness awareness and experiences. The gut excretes all toxic waste. Isotonic liquids like water intake increase the excretion of toxic waste through synchronized breathing, carbon dioxide is excreted and there is an increase in nitric oxide which opens up circulation and nourishes the brain and all vital organs deeply. Excess gas is excreted through breathing and the gut-brain axis is restored.

We can see that face, tongue, head, and neck, fingers have such large areas of representation when compared to the rest of the body. Himalayan kriya yoga involves the engagement of these aspects to the maximum and thereby commissions the corresponding brain areas increasing flow and awareness. Crossing hands, and legs, and engaging in multiple complex acts lead to increased communication and development of the left brain, and right brain networking leads to neuroplasticity as well as more somatosensory awareness and resulting in the increased neurochemical release.

In our modern way of existence, stress plays havoc on all our internal processes and accelerates our aging, and makes us prone to disease and disorder. Kriya nullifies the effect of cortisol-related stress as it actually teaches the body to let go by paying attention to the adrenal gland and kidneys and the release of endorphins and chemicals from the brain relaxes and rejuvenates the body further.

The constant inhibition of the higher centers urges us to lead a logical life and prevents us from absorbing higher functions and experiences. The constant bodily movements and breathing with devotion, dedication, and awareness and Grace of the Divine Masters and guidance of a living GURU- who works with you as your friend, philosopher, and guide lead to synchrony of the heart, gut, and brain and the result is an explosion of understanding and awareness within.

Most of us are almost walking and living like zombies with no awareness or feeling of being alive. The heart awakening and different star portal activations… the NADIS lead to the opening of different aspects of creativity in all fields of life. Abundance happens in every aspect of life and manifesting and co-creation starts and the magic of life starts to unfold depending on the sincerity, devotion, and Grace of the Masters. Love and compassion radiate from the practitioner and the bliss is tangible.

THE MAHA SHAKTHI KUNDALINI – the great serpent energy is awakened when everything is just right and the different dimensions experienced and further progress is guided by the GURU.

Magnetism is experienced and a magnetic personality attracts the best from the universe. The instrument is so well calibrated and attuned that now it becomes like a flute and Lord Krishna plays his Divine Music through it. You have come home. The GURU brings you back home.

Energy flows where the attention goes and the same applies here and results in disengagement from all aspects and identities that we are not and gives clarity about our real blissful nature.

Lots of brain chemicals- Endorphins, DMT-di methyl tryptamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin-love and compassion, and connection hormone, and many more are released.

THE FINAL GOAL IS the REALISATION OF OUR DIVINE NATURE and the by-products are happiness, bliss, health, a disease-free state, anti-aging, fit body and mind, and over the person is a boon to society and raises the vibration of the collective consciousness.

Many people doubt whether a person who is practicing kriya becomes bored and disinterested and indifferent with regard to daily activities. In contrast, the person becomes more alive, vibrant, and anything but boring. There is increased work efficiency and greater bonding as there is unconditional love and compassion springing forth which leads to less conflict and fewer expectations and hence a better cohesive life. It is like a water droplet on a lotus leaf.

Himalayan kriya yoga is a comprehensive technique involving all aspects of Bhakti, Gnana, Hatha yoga, Swara yoga, Japa and Nada, and Dhyana.

In Kali-yuga, this is the shortest route to realizing the true nature of the self.

In deep gratitude to the GURU.

Dr.K.S Rupa