Question: Please compare Babaji's Kriya Yoga with the Kriya Yoga promoted by Yogananda and his successors.

BKY: Yogananda faced the daunting task of a pioneer trying to introduce yoga in a largely hostile environment, where there was a tremendous amount of ignorance, skepticism and even fear with regards to yoga in what was a fundamentalist Christian culture. For the first five years of his stay in America, from 1920 to 1925, while residing in Arlington, Massachussetts, just north of Cambridge, one of the most liberal places in America, he tried to teach yoga and Indian spirituality as he had learned it. Only a handful of persons responded. He felt that his mission called him to reach large numbers of persons in the West, so he cut his hair, stopped wearing ochre colored cloth in public, except for special occasions, and transformed his vocabulary and theology from that of Hinduism to that of Christianity. He asked for $10,000 from his chief benefactor, Dr. Lewis, to go on a cross country lecture tour. It was during crossroads in his life Yogananda began simplifying the teaching of Kriya Yoga, by eliminating the postures, concentrating on only two simple meditations, the sound of "Om", and "Hong-Sau", and greatly simplifying the practice of Kriya Kundalini pranayama. "Va-Shee" became "Ah-eee", to avoid offending fundamentalist Christians who might feel that repeating the name "Shiva" would be blasphemous. In this way he could initiate in less than an hour a thousand people at a time sitting in an auditorium. In the second initiation which was given only to a relatively small number of persons, a meditation on mantras with the chakras was given. Yogananda also promoted "self-energizing" exercises, which involved mostly static contraction of various groups of muscles. It was a unique variation of ancient techniques, but it enabled many Westerners to keep fit, without doing hatha yoga. During the 1920's and 1930's there were many theories about differences between the races, and it was commonly believed up until the 60's that Westerners could not practice hatha yoga because their bodies, generally, shorter and stockier, were ill suited to hatha yoga. Indians, on the other hand were thought to be mostly thin and lean.

Yogananda's great contribution, however, aside from getting many persons started on the path of yoga, was his metaphysical writings. Most of these have been published in book form. The correspondence course lessons, which are required reading prior to initiation by the SRF, are excerpts from these publications. They are a wonderful source of guidance in how to live one's life. He greatly emphasized the use of "affirmations", which like their more modern forms of "auto-hypnosis" and Neuro-linguistic programming", seeks to change deep-rooted subconscious attitudes.

Yogananda's personal spiritual orientation was towards the "Divine Mother", but he was wise enough not to emphasize it in our culture, where God is only a "He", and so he put at the center of his work a Christian theology and devotional practice. The services which he organized were along the lines of a Protestant style church service, with hymns, prayers, songs focused on the person of Jesus, in particular. He called us to attain "Christ Consciousness", with apt interpretations from selected quotations from the New Testament Bible to support the marriage of Western Christianity and Eastern yoga. He did not even reveal the person of Babaji, the origin of Kriya Yoga and his mission until 1946, when the first edition of his "Autobiography of a Yogi" was published.

Finally, Yogananda remained faithful to the Western religious model by passing the mantle of his mission to an organization, the Self Realization Fellowship, declaring that there would be no further "gurus" in the SRF line, but that his correspondence course lessons would fulfill that role.

The SRF has become a zealous guardian of Yogananda's teaching. It has promoted them mostly through publications, a three year weekly correspondence course, and occasional forays into distant cities by SRF monks to give lectures and initiation ceremonies, which last about an hour. The SRF has also been a jealous guardian, having spent more than 10 million dollars in legal fees in recent years in trying to destroy its rival, the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, when they began publishing Yogananda's writing and pictures. The SRF now declares itself to be a religion, and admonishes its members to avoid reading from other spiritual traditions and to avoid following other spiritual teachers or teachings. It adheres strictly to Yogananda's teachings, so much so, that if a student raises a question which is not addressed in the SRF lessons, it is dismissed as being "unimportant".

All of our readers can compare the above with the five-fold path of "Babaji's Kriya Yoga," with its emphasis on yoga asanas, Kriya Kundalini pranayama, numerous dhyana kriyas, mantras and bhakti yoga. Unlike the SRF which teaches only a handful of techniques of meditation, Babaji's Kriya Yoga is a complete and elaborate system of 144 Kriya or techniques which encompass all five dimensions of human existence: the physical, vital, mental, intellectual and the spiritual. These require years of training in progressive stages.

Rather than choosing for its practitioners the Divine form which they should worship, we encourage them to follow their own heart. Babaji's Kriya Yoga is the practical side of all world religions. It is not a religion, which involves a particular belief system. It is a scientific art which requires, practice, and skill and its results can be scientifically replicated. It is not a belief system, requiring its members to avoid other belief systems. Its practioners are encouraged to seek God and Self realization from all sources. Yogananda himself learned Kriya Yoga from several different gurus, and was inspired by many more, as reported in his "Autobiography". As in all Indian spiritual traditions, the flame is passed from one soul to another, not from an organization. In India, it is the sacred texts and the gurus who assure the passing of spiritual truths from one generation to another, and historically, this is done largely without formal organizations. In the West, religion is controlled by institutions, which are organizations which have usually put their own growth and survival ahead of the interests of their members. The Abrahamic religions are fear based, and their adherents often feel more comfortable with belonging to an organization or religion which will save them from hell. In recent years however, under the influence of Eastern spirituality, adherence to "organized religion" in the West has waned significantly. More and more persons declare themselves to be "spiritual" rather than religious, and seek inspiration from many sources, without belonging to any particular organization.

In India belief systems in India are considered to be constructions of the mind, only a starting point in ones spiritual quest, and one's karma or personal efforts determines one's fate, though the effect of grace is also sought. It is probably fair to say that no one has ever become Self-realized because they adhered to an organization, or believed in some religious or philosophical belief system. It would be as far fetched as claiming, as one contemporay Indian guru does, that simply because of his father's and grandfather's spiritual realization, that he is "dynastically" Self realized!

Books and writings can only take us so far, to the limits of the intellect. Words and books tend to divide us. That is why Babaji's Kriya Yoga puts emphasis on a five fold path of practice of "yogic sadhana", all those practices which remind one of the Presence, of Self Realization. It is a balanced path which seeks the transformation of the individual, not just spiritually, but physically, vitally, mentally and intellectually as well.

Babaji is at the center of our tradition. The Guru tattva, or principle by which truth, unconditional love, and wisdom is revealed, manifests through him and the Kriya Yoga which he developed as a synthesis of ancient esoteric teachings. He is its living source and fountainhead, who by example and inspiration, guides us. He is the only guru of our tradition. While the SRF considers Babaji to be one of its gurus, there is little mention of Babaji in the SRF literature; he is considered to be a historical personality, no longer on the physical plane, remote, inaccessible, with nothing to do with its direction.

The SRF is a Christian church. It interprets "Christ" as a state of consciousness to be attained through the practice of Kriya Yoga. It is in this way that one is "saved" according to SRF theology. It conducts religious services like any Christian church, and its teachings are disseminated through SRF ministers. It prohibits its members from seeking guidance from any other spiritual teacher or organization.

Initiates of Babaji's Kriya Yoga are free to seek inspiration from all sources. There is no organization to which one becomes a member. The relationship between the initiate and Babaji is entirely personal. Babaji's Kriya Yoga is disseminated through a network of initiates who volunteer their services. Some are trained as instructors in Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga and basic techniques of breathing, meditation and yogic philosophy. Advanced and qualified students may be invited to become members of a small lay order of teachers, Babaji's Kriya Yoga. After fulfilling rigorous conditions, they are authorized to initiate others into Babaji's Kriya Yoga Kriya Kundalini Pranayam and meditation techniques, and subsequently some also initiate others into mantras and all 144 kriyas in the system.

Questions are encouraged in Babaji's Kriya Yoga, not as a means of cultivating doubts, but as a constructive way to convert doubts into steps towards Self-realization. Babaji's Kriya Yoga is a living, oral, tradition, growing in the hearts and experience of its practitioners. It is not confined between book covers, or the stories of its leaders, or the walls of an institution.

Babaji's Kriya Yoga is inspired by the teachings of the 18 Tamil Yoga Siddhas, such as is found in "Thirumandiram", as well as the "Sanatana Dharma", "the eternal religion" of India. The Siddhas, however, emphasized that God was not to be found only in temples or elaborate ceremonies, but with our hearts, by stripping away the veils of ignorance, desire and egoism.

Question: Why does the SRF deny that Babaji is still on the physical plane?

BKY: Today the existence and person of Kriya Babaji has become obscured by solemn pronouncements by the Self-Realization Fellowship and by others that Babaji no longer exists on the physical plane. This is like claiming "that Japan does not exist, because I have never seen it." Babaji's own promise in the "Autobiography of a Yogi," is that he would remain on the physical plane until the end of the age, thousands of years henceforward. Since the early 1950's it has been SRF policy to treat him as inaccessible in any way. In effect he has become a historical footnote, or at best, like a saint in the Catholic Church, rather than, the living fountainhead, the sole guru of the Kriya Yoga tradition.

Question: Why do some teachers of Kriya Yoga teach only a few techniques?

BKY: Some teachers of "Kriya Yoga" today, are teaching only a few techniques, which were adapted from what Yogananda gave to Westerners in large auditorium halls during one half hour "initiations." A few individuals promote their own techniques, gathered from various sources, and call them "Kriya Yoga," but have no connection to Babaji or his lineage. We believe that Love and devotion to the Lord, to Babaji are essential for the effectiveness of Kriya Yoga. With sincere love and devotion, the Grace can be experienced to descend throughout our body, mind, heart and actions. Like a tree, nurtures through the roots, everything we do begins to bear fruit. Teachers must never forget or take for granted the living source of their teachings. Babaji works through those surrendered to him and his work to expand consciousness.

Question: Are the techniques of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga the same as taught at the SRF?

BKY: Although there are great similarities in the pranayama technique, there are also many differences. Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is an integral Yoga which includes five limbs of sadhana or practice, which lead to transformation on all levels of being. Kriya Hatha Yoga for the physical; Kriya Kundalini Pranayama for the vital, Kriya Dhyana, meditations for the mental, Kriya Mantra for the Intellectual and Kriya Bhakti, love and devotion for the Spiritual Transformation.

Question: Where do these techniques come from?

BKY: During a six month period in 1954, at his ashram near Badrinath, in the Garwhal Himalayas, Babaji initiated S.A.A. Ramaiah into a complete system of 144 Kriyas, or practical techniques, involving postures, breathing, meditation, mantras and devotional techniques. The latter blossomed as a yogi, and began a worldwide mission to bring this system, referred to as "Babaji`s Kriya Yoga" to thousands of aspirants. In 1970 to 1971 he initiated the author, M. Govindan, into all 144 Kriyas. M. Govindan practiced these intensively on the average for eight hours per day for 18 years under Yogi Ramaiah's ashrams in India, the USA and Canada. In 1983, Yogi Ramaiah gave him rigorous conditions to fulfill to begin initiating others. After fulfilling these, Babaji himself appeared to him in 1988 and directed him to go and teach His Kriya Yoga to others.

Since 1989, he has initiated over 7,000 individuals into Babaji's Kriya Yoga. These are learned and practiced systematically, and if done regularly bring about the gradual integrated transformation of the individual at all levels. In this system, there are three levels of initiation. During the first level, one learns how to communicate with Babaji in the "Babaji Samyama Kriya," which involves a deep state of inner communion with the Satguru. Babaji gradually reveals himself to his devotees and disciples, capturing their hearts in various types of personal devotional relationships in which he guides them in their development. His relationship with each of us is unique and according to our individual needs and nature. He is our personal Guru. As our hearts expand our communion with Him culminates with the "universal vision of love," wherein one witnesses Babaji in everything.

Question: Is the Guru known as Herakhan Baba the same Immortal Babaji of the Kriya Yoga lineage?

BKY: In 1971, a young man with occult powers was discovered by villagers in a cave near the village of Herakhan. Known as "Herakhan Baba," he grew in popularity and was discovered and promoted by Leonard Orr and Sondra Ray, the founders of the "rebirthing" movement, as none other than the immortal Babaji. The photographs of Herakhan Baba as a beautiful young teen and the books written about him by his devotees have created the confusion. Regardless of the greatness of this Guru, there never was any reason to associate him with the Immortal Babaji. After being repeatedly pressed by his new American agents, "Aren`t you Babaji? You must be Babaji?," he finally gave up resisting and declared "If you say I am Babaji, I must be Babaji." Herakhan Baba did not teach any form of Kriya Yoga. Herakhan Baba created an ashram with his own rules and died in 1983, from poisoning. Our research has further revealed that he was born to the Sikh maid servant of a retired British civil servant, a Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson’s family still live in Ranikhet in the Himalayas and the locals there refer to Herakhan Baba as "Wilson Baba." He was raised from the age of five by a notorious Tantric master, Naintal Baba, who taught him how to appear in others dreams and he attained many tantric powers. This Naintal Baba himself claimed to be the Immortal Babaji.

Question: Does Kriya Babaji still show himself at times to his devotees in the physical?

BKY: Fortunately, Babaji has at times come out from behind the veils of anonymity, which he finds so useful for his work. Babaji appeared to Swami Satyaswarananda in the Kumaon Hills of the Himalayas, in the early 1970`s and given him the assignment of translating and publishing the writings of Lahiri Mahasaya. This he has done in a series, the "Sanskrit Classics," from his home in San Diego, California. Shibendu Lahiri, one of the great-grandsons of Lahiri Mahasaya, also claims to have been visited by Babaji, at his home, in the late 1980's. Babaji is said to have blessed him in his efforts to teach Kriya Yoga all over the world. Babaji gave his "darshan" on the vital plane to the author, M. Govindan, in October 1999, on two occasions. This occurred 30 kilometers north of Badrinath, at an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters, at the source of the Alakananda River. During these visitations, Babaji appeared as a radiant youth, with copper colored hair, clad in a simple white "dhoti" or waist cloth, and allowed the author to touch his feet.

He gave the author much personal guidance and His blessings on the lay order of teachers of Kriya Yoga, "Babaji`s Kriya Yoga Order of Acharyas," which the author had founded two years earlier.

Question: Is the goal of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga to attain powers and achieve immortality like Babaji?

BKY: One cannot really know who Babaji is, or even begin to conceive of his grandeur, without appreciating the culture of the Siddhas from which he has emerged. Rather than seeking an other worldly escape in some heaven, after realizing the presence of the Divine within, the Siddhas sought to surrender their entire being to It, and to allow It to manifest at all levels. They sought a complete transformation of our human nature. The aspiration of a Kriya Yoga sadhaka should be this transformation of his or her human nature, rather than aspiring to attain siddhis or immortality. This ultimate transformation of human nature as a whole is the ultimate goal of Babaji;s Kriya Yoga.

"Thirumandiram," by the Siddha Thirumoolar, written in the 2nd to 4th century A.D. in 3,000 gemlike verses, reveals the breath and depth of the Siddhas attainments. Our research has revealed that Thirumoolar was a brother disciple of Boganathar, Babaji's guru, and of Patanjali, one of the most well known sources of Yoga. While most of the Siddha's literature has not been translated outside of their native language of Tamil and Sanskrit, there exist a few good studies, most notably Dr. Kamil Zvelibil's "Poets of the Powers," and Professor David Gordon White"s "The Alchemical Body." Both of these academic works demonstrate at length the remarkable attainments of the Siddhas, and reveal that Babaji was not some unique extraterrestrial. He manifests what Sri Aurobindo referred to and aspired to for all humanity: "the supramental transformation" of our human nature, perhaps the next step in our evolutionary process. As such, he is not our savior. Nor is he the founder of some religion. He does not seek our adulation or even our recognition. Like all of the Siddhas, he has surrendered completely to the Supreme Being, the Supreme Abstraction, and as a divine instrument, brings down into this murky world the clear light of consciousness, unconditional joy and supreme peace. Kriya Babaji wants everyone to attain this, our greatest human potential.

Question: Why should I take Initiation into Babaji’s Kriya Yoga?

BKY: Are you seeking happiness in your life? Everyone is seeking happiness with more or less experience and wisdom. Going from one experience to the next, the individual discovers how elusive happiness can be. Consider even the happiest moments of your life. Why didn’t that happiness last? What caused the happiness to disappear? Some anxiety, or a desire, or fear creeped in? Right? Where did such concerns come from?

According to the Siddhas, who developed the scientific art of Yoga, such concerns arise from the subconscious mind, where the residue of all of our experiences are stored. Like clouds covering the sun, such concerns block our inner bliss. The Siddhas have diagnosed our human condition as, "We are dreaming with our eyes open," because most of what we do, we do subconsciously, out of habit. In the depths of meditation the Siddhas realized that there is, a space within ourselves which is totally fulfilled, totally joyful, 24 hours a day, and independent of all circumstances. The paradox of our human existence is that we keep losing this perfect happiness, because of the reactions of our subconscious mind.
What is their prescription for this universal human dilemma? They have said: "The amount of happiness in life is proportional to ones self-discipline." To act with awareness is the meaning of self discipline, or "sadhana." With this objective, one of the great 18 Siddhas, Patanjali, defined yoga in verse 2 of his famous "Sutras" as "the process of cleansing the modifications arising from the subconscious". The Siddhas, developed various techniques, known as "kriyas," "actions with awareness," to facilitate this cleansing and to enable us to act with awareness rather than from habit. These kriyas are the foundation of the techniques of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga. Learning these kriyas leads us to enduring happiness. Do you want enduring happiness?

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