Some Awesome Quotes
from the Autobiography of a Yogi
How to Measure Kriya Advancement?
“Spiritual advancement is not to be measured by one s displays of outward powers, but solely by the depth of his bliss in meditation.“
Sri Yukteswar, Autobiography of a Yogi
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Drunk With Kriya Yoga
Lahiri Mahasaya carefully graded Kriya into four progressive initiations. He bestowed the three higher techniques only after the devotee had manifested definite spiritual progress. One day a certain chela, convinced that his worth was not being duly evaluated, gave voice to his discontent. “Master,” he said, “surely I am ready now for the second initiation.” At this moment the door opened to admit a humble disciple, Brinda Bhagat. He was a Benares postman. “Brinda, sit by me here.” The great guru smiled at him affectionately. “Tell me, are you ready for the second technique of Kriya?” The little postman folded his hands in supplication. “Gurudeva,” he said in alarm, “no more initiations, please! How can I assimilate any higher teachings? I have come today to ask your blessings, because the first divine Kriya has filled me with such intoxication that I cannot deliver my letters!” “Already Brinda swims in the sea of Spirit.” At these words from Lahiri Mahasaya, his other disciple hung his head. “Master,” he said, “I see I have been a poor workman, finding fault with my tools.”
Autobiography of a Yogi
You may listen here to Yogananda telling that important story. As the recording quality is poor, you may read along: “Taking Kriya Yoga is not enough! As Lahiri Mahasaya was sitting in Benares, many disciples wanted higher initiations. But a little postman, a great devotee of Lahiri Mahasaya, came and sat near the door. And Lahiri Mahasaya smiled and he looked at him, and he said: ‘Brinda, come here.’ And when he lay prostrate in front of him, Lahiri Mahasaya asked: “Brinda, don’t you want the second initiation?” He said, ‘Master, no.’ ‘Don’t you want the second Kriya Yoga?’ ‘Master, no. I have come to pray to you that I support. There are a few dependent on me. But since I took Kriya Yoga I am so drunk with the Infinite that I can hardly deliver my letters. Please bless me that I can deliver my letters and at the same time support my dependants.’ And Lahiri Mahasaya smiled with great delight and said, ‘Brinda is floating in Spirit.'”
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Kriya-Bliss Wipes Out Worldliness
“We know that man is usually helpless against the insurgent sway of evil passions, but these are rendered powerless and man finds no motive in their indulgence when there dawns on him a consciousness of superior and lasting bliss through Kriya.
Sri Ananda Mohan Lahiri, Autobiography of a Yogi
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The Inner Paradise
The advanced yogi, withholding all his mind, will, and feeling from false identification with bodily desires, uniting his mind with superconscious forces in the spinal shrines, thus lives in this world as God hath planned, not impelled by impulses from the past nor by new witlessnesses of fresh human motivations. Such a yogi receives fulfillment of his Supreme Desire, safe in the final haven of inexhaustibly blissful Spirit.
Autobiography of a Yogi
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Reborn in the Bliss of God
St. Paul knew Kriya Yoga, or a technique very similar to it, by which he could switch life currents to and from the senses. He was therefore able to say: “Verily, I protest by our rejoicing which I have in Christ, I die daily.” By daily withdrawing his bodily life force, he united it by yoga union with the rejoicing (eternal bliss) of the Christ consciousness. In that felicitous state, he was consciously aware of being dead to the delusive sensory world of maya.
Autobiography of a Yogi
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An Initiation into Bliss
Sri Yukteswar chose the following morning to grant me his Kriya Yoga initiation. The technique I had already received from two disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya–Father and my tutor, Swami Kebalananda–but in Master’s presence I felt transforming power. At his touch, a great light broke upon my being, like glory of countless suns blazing together. A flood of ineffable bliss, overwhelming my heart to an innermost core, continued during the following day.
Autobiography of a Yogi
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The Altar of the Spine
In deep meditation, the first experience of Spirit is on the altar of the spine, and then in the brain. The torrential bliss is overwhelming, but the yogi learns to control its outward manifestations.