People who wish to receive initation are encouraged to "prepare their field" by becoming familiar with the teachings of Paramahamsa Hariharananda and Paramahamsa Prajnanananda. A good place to start is to check out the many free resources available at www.kriya.org, or purchase one of the books written by Paramahamsa Hariharananda or Paramahamsa Prajnanananda.
About Kriya Yoga Initiation
One must receive initiation into the authentic Kriya Yoga directly from Paramahamsa Prajnanananda or one of his authorized yogacharyas. There are no correspondence courses or lessons available through the Kriya Yoga International organizations of this lineage of teachings. At the Cincinnati Center, we have the special privilege of having a senior Yogacharya in residence (Yogacharya Bhadrayu Pandya).The process of initiation begins with a holy ceremony of purification of the body and spine of the initiate. Each seeker is initiated on an individual basis through direct contact of a teacher of the lineage. First, the basic techniques of quieting the mind are taught, preparing the seeker for infusion of divine energy. The teacher directly infuses the triple divine qualities of sound, light and vibration into the initiate. Through this process, the seeker learns to perceive the inner light of the soul, hear the divine sound and feel the divine movement sensation all over the body. Explanations of the procedures are given at every stage of the ceremony.helpful information about your initiation:
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Follow-up: The new initiate is asked to attend at least three follow-up meditation sessions with the instructor (these are included during the initiation program). Weekly guided group meditations are held at centers worldwide.
Logistics: The seeker is asked to fill out a form before taking instruction and also is requested not to divulge the technique to others in order to maintain the purity of the teachings. Please arrive promptly to allow time to fill out the form before the initiation ceremony begins. Avoid a big breakfast the day of initiation. Wear loose, comfortable, modest clothing.Offerings: The seeker offers three symbolic gifts to the instructor as offerings to God and the masters. The three offerings are: five fruits representing the fruits gained from activities throughout life; five flowers representing the five senses; and a financial donation. The three offerings represent the causal, astral, and gross bodies respectively. Please bring these to the initiation ceremony.
You may want to bring a notebook and pen to take notes on the techniques.
Initiation is usually given on a Saturday morning of a weekend program, continuing on to early afternoon. Techniques are taught later in the afternoon, followed by guided meditation. The initiation program continues all day Sunday with follow up meditations and time to review the techniques and ask questions. Please keep the entire weekend free for this process in order to absorb the techniques and get the help of the teacher to ensure proper practice of Kriya Yoga meditation.
Location: Initiation is given at 7005 Pinemill Drive, West Chester, OH 45069.