Kriya Yoga: Tapas, Swadhyaya, Ishwar-Pranidhan

KRIYA YOGA

Kriya Yoga means the “Yoga of Purification.” Strictly speaking, Kriya Yoga is essentially a part of Raja Yoga and covers the three of the five Niyamas or Observances. It deals with Tapas or Austerity, Swadhyaya or Study of Scriptures (which includes the repetition of Mantra), and Ishwar-Pranidhan or Surrender to God.

1. Tapas (Austerity)

The practice of Austerity is meant for the purification of the body, mind and senses. It is of three types—physical, vocal and mental. Physical austerity consists of physical endurance. That is, when the body is beset with aches and pains, you do not allow yourself to become disbalanced.

Physical austerity also refers to using the body for righteous action, selfless service of humanity, and for promoting peace and harmony in the world.

The practice of vocal austerity refers to controlling your speech in provocative situations. Words that cause agitation in others should not be spoken. Rather, speak words that are harmonious and pleasant. “Satyam Vada, Priyam Vada, Na Vada Satyam Apriyam”—“Speak the Truth, but do not speak that which hurts others.”

Austerity of the mind involves mental endurance. During pleasure and pain, insult and injury, gain and loss, adversity and prosperity, do not allow your mind to swing between the feelings of elation and depression. Controlling that swing gradually allows you to maintain a poised, stable and concentrated mind at all times.

2. Swadhyaya (Study of Scriptures)

The typical form of Swadhyaya is the study of one or more of the basic scriptures, like the Gita, the Upanishads, the Bible or the Koran, under the guidance of a qualified teacher. Remember some or all of the verses in the scripture of your choice, and find time each day to read and reflect upon those verses that are meaningful to you and uplifting. Swadhyaya is an important means of elevating the mind.

Further, implied in Swadhyaya is developing the art of learning from life itself. There is something to learn from everyone and from every circumstance in life. Keep your mind perpetually in a humble state. Sometimes you can even learn from the negative qualities of others by avoiding the same qualities in yourself. Gaining knowledge is just like collecting pearls from a garbage can; get the pearls and ignore the garbage.

3. Ishwar-Pranidhan (Surrender to God)

Surrender to God implies a deep understanding that the world is based upon a Divine Plan. Things happen in life that are not always according to the dictates of your ego. Therefore, bring about the understanding that God knows what is best for you, for your evolution. So, from a deeper perspective, whatever happens in life is in your best interest. “Blessed are the pure in heart who leave everything to God now as they did before ever they existed.” This quote by Meister Eckhart exemplifies Surrender to God.

The practice of Ishwar-Pranidhana implies living through an integrated personality in which the ego is transcended. It is the mainstream of each aspect of the Integral Yoga system. Jnana Yoga effaces the ego-sense by the understanding that it is an illusion. Bhakti Yoga allows the ego-sense to be drowned by an overwhelming Love for God. In Raja Yoga, surrender to God is the culminating attainment of all the Yamas and Niyamas. Karma Yoga allows one to perform daily actions in the spirit of being an instrument in God's Hands.

True surrender to God brings Divine Grace and is the culminating development in the quest for Self-Realization.

From the book Integral Yoga: The Secret to Enlightenment by Swami Jyotirmayananda, published by the Yoga Research Foundation. © Swami Jyotirmayananda. All rights reserved.

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