Memphis Kriya Yoga Center, TN, USA

16/12/2024

Never forget you are a child of God. If at anytime, the cloud of ignorance covers you, then all miseries will try to torture you in many different ways. Be careful. You are a yogi. Consider everything as the play of the divine mother. Even your feeling of “I -ness” is also linked with the divine mother. Pray and meditate. Be careful in every moment and feel your peaceful divine nature.

~ Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

07/12/2024

Pratipaksh bhavna

When the mind is distracted by wayward or perverted thoughts and ideas, suitable counter measures should be adopted. This is described by the sage as pratipaksha bhavana. Pratipaksha bhavana means opposite contemplation. It is a method to reflect upon the opposite to help transform the mind. For example, when when there is a loss, think of people who have lost even more than you. This approach brings comfort and strength.
The "simple prayer" of Saint Francis is a good example of this method:

O Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
Where there is resentment, let me bring forgiveness;
Where there is discord, let me bring unity;
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith;
Where there is error, let me bring truth;
Where there is despair, let me bring happiness;
Where there is sadne5, let me bring joy;
Where there is darkness, let me bring light.

Such counter thoughts and contemplation develop willpower and prevent the mind's agitation. When any negative thought or idea is trying to overpower one's mind, one should go somewhere else, go for a long and brisk walk, go swimming, or go seek good company.

An extract from 'The Yoga Sutra of Sage Patanjali '
By Shri Guruji Paramahamsa Prajnanananda ji Maharaj

05/12/2024

Shri Gurudev’s Mahasamadhi Day
Loving and divine souls,

Let the choicest blessings of God and the masters be upon all of you. I take this opportunity to pray for you, and I send my best wishes on the occasion of Shri Gurudev’s mahasamadhi day on 3 December. However, according to the Vedic tradition, it occurs on the new moon day of November–December (Margashirsha).

The mahasamadhi day is also called punyatithi (the auspicious day). The question might arise about why the day of final exit of a realized master is auspicious. Ordinarily we celebrate birthdays joyfully. But in the Vedic tradition for ordinary people birth days are only celebrated while living, while the day of departure (shraddhatithi) is celebrated every year afterward. However, the birth day (janmatithi) and the day of departure (punyatithi) are both celebrated every year for realized masters, the guru–preceptors.

It is said that when we are born, God dances. It means that when we come to the world we have a beautiful opportunity as human beings to be good children of God with effort and endeavor.

How should we celebrate the mahasamadhi day (punyatithi) of realized masters? It is said, punyatithi aradhana (with special worship). However, the true aradhana (worship) is following the ideals of the guru–preceptors and their teachings to become a worthy follower.

Shri Gurudev occasionally said, “O God, let us become formless beings one with all (sakala rūpe rūpa miśāye āpani nirākāra).” We all are the formless presence of the Divine. He also said, “Your breath is my presence.”

If we look at these two teachings, it is very clear to us that for our sadhana we must constantly live in the presence of God and the gurus, during every breath. We should also love all as the living presence of God and gurus.

Failure due to forgetfulness will happen over and over again. We must renew our effort the moment we are conscious. Life is an extreme opportunity. We should not misuse it.

On this special day I bow to you all as the living presence of God and Shri Gurudev. I pray they will bless all of us and the entire creation.

With love,

Prajnanananda

29/11/2024

*THANKS GIVING DAY*

Beloved and divine souls,

May the choicest blessings of God and the teachers be with you all. I take this opportunity to pray for you and send you my best wishes on the occasion of Thanksgiving, which will be celebrated on November 28 this year.
My first Thanksgiving was twenty eight years ago on November 27th in 1996. That year I came to America for the third time so that I could travel to the Kriya Yoga centers of America. My first program was in Cincinnati, and center leader Yogacharya Bhadrayu Baba was my host. He asked me if it seemed ok to me to go to dinner at a disciple's (longtime friend of hers), because it was Thanksgiving weekend. I was new to the states and the centers. So i accepted with a smile.
I was curious to know about this thanksgiving celebration. The event was completely new to me. It's a national celebration in the United States. Families and friends get together, pray and eat together. It's more of a social or family event than a religious or spiritual event. But its origin is very old." I found out with a little study. I understood that he was associated with the harvest, and gratitude was offered to God for what He provided.
What is thanksgiving? The dictionary says, "Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude especially to God." Let's think deeply. The opportunity in human life is to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving during every moment and with every breath. Thanksgiving is offered not only to God, but to each and every one in creation, because creation and the Creator are one. We must think about nature and all living beings, such as bees and butterflies, and even humans, and how they contribute to creation.
True thanksgiving is entirely a divine or spiritual practice.. It should not be followed once a year, but during every breath and every moment. An attitude of gratitude is truly a human and divine quality. We must learn to be grateful, to give thanks, and to develop the attitude that we should give more than we receive.
Are we Thankful ? Can we practice this daily? Can we, at the end of the day, do a little self-reflection and be grateful to those who have crossed our day with a smiling face, sweet words and caring hands? Can we be thankful to God for facing a difficult person or challenging situation with love and a smile?. Can we be thankful to God and teachers for all that we receive?
I humbly bow before you all and pray that you are humble and grateful in every breath and every moment. I pray that they are loving and caring.
I bow before God and the teachers to bless each of us and all of creation.

With love,

Prajñanananda

24/11/2024

The Union of Purusha and Prakriti, caused by ignorance, is the root of all misery and ultimate bo***ge. Freedom from ignorance is liberation. Misery, birth and death, problems associated with involvement, and false-inference for wrong understanding make for a vicious circle of bo***ge. Humanity, as a whole, is mired in this misery and fails to break free. A sincere seeker makes an earnest effort to rid himself of all these troubles by eliminating ignorance.
When ignorance is absent, there is no contact between Purusha and Prakriti out of a wrong understanding. Even if they are together, there is only prevalence of knowledge. That elimination of ignorance brings freedom to the observer. That is kaivalya or liberation.

- - - Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj- - -

22/11/2024

22/11/2024

Holy Days and New Year Seminar

Tue, Dec 24, 2024 to Wed, Jan 1, 2025

Kriya Yoga Institute, Homestead, FL
Divine Ones,

Pranam

Please join us this holiday season as we celebrate both the birth of Jesus Christ and the beginning of a New Year, and as we explore the teachings of the masters. Please consider this nine-day seminar, in the ashram lovingly created by Shri Gurudev, as a great opportunity for spending the holidays in a spiritual and peaceful environment, listening to inspirational messages, and working on your sadhana; it is a great way to welcome in the New Year.

For event details and signup, please click here.

We look forward to your participation in this seminar!

In Divine Service,

Kriya Yoga Institute

19/11/2024

Do not be discouraged when looking at your weak state of mind and emotions. The grace of God is with you. Stand up and fight. March forward. Gather more strength. Follow the footprints of the masters. Remember their instructions. Practice again and again. Every failure is a pillar of success. You will be established in truth. Every breath will sing the song of truth and the music of victory. No obstacles and weaknesses can triumph. As Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand”. ( Mark 1:15, KJV). With one pointed attention, the key to your success is at hand.

- - - Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj- - -

01/11/2024

Diwali, the Festival of Light
Loving and divine souls,

Let the choicest blessings of God and the masters be upon all of you. I take this opportunity to pray for you, and I send my best wishes on the occasion of the Festival of Light (Deepavali or Diwali), which is celebrated on 31 October this year.

The triple qualities of nature are tamas (representing darkness or black), rajas (red or the light of confusion), and sattva (light with purity, clarity, coolness, and calmness).

Light dispels darkness and fear. Light ignites the energy and spirit of being active. We light a lamp in a temple or a candle in a church. The light of a lamp reminds me of the presence of God as divine illumination. Light is clarity in life, beauty in living, and perfection in our efforts.
In ritualistic practices when a lamp is lit, the following mantra is chanted:

bho dīpa devarupastvaṁ karmasākṣī hyavighnakṛt

yāvat karma samāptiṁ syāt tāvat tvaṁ susthiro bhava

“O light of the lamp, you are the presence of the Divine. You are the witness of my thoughts, words, and actions. As long as my offering and worship continue, please be still, steady, and stable.”

This simple prayer invokes the spirit of the positive energy and strength in our minds and the divinity in our lives.

Let us live in the light of knowledge. Let us work in the light of energy. Let us move in the light of love. Let us grow in the light of perfection. May the Divine Light guide us along our journey of life, and allow our lives to be free from imperfection, laziness, darkness, restlessness, and aggression. Let coolness, calmness, and beauty fill our thinking, speech, and activities.

I bow to all of you, and I pray to the Divine Mother to bless us with balance, love, and spiritual progress.

With Love,

Prajnanananda

28/10/2024

Dear Divine Ones,

We would like to share with you that on Wednesday, October 30, Jnanaprabha Mission will be hosting their second Shakti Rupena Samsthita program. This is an event that brings together thousands of girls, across the state of Odisha, with the purpose of igniting their innate sacred qualities such as patience, fortitude, sacrifice, compassion, love and forgiveness through moral education.

Since 2015, under the direction of Shri Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the mothers of Jnanaprabha Mission have been visiting 40 - 50 schools and colleges, each year, across Odisha to share with girls and young women teachings that would bring social, spiritual, and health awareness. The program equips them with the lessons they need for building character, and the knowledge they need for achieving greater heights through practicing self-discipline. In addition the goal is to have a ripple effect so that girls and young women can lead their family and community to greater heights of peace, prosperity and protection.

Visiting so many schools and colleges every year was a tremendous challenge that led, last year, to the first Shakti Rupena Samsthita program in which girls and young women from schools throughout Odisha were brought together for a single program in the presence of Shri Guruji. Last year a congregation of more than 2,000 girls came together for a one-day event and for Wednesday's program already 3,000 have registered to be in attendance.

Shri Paramahamsa Prajnanananda will be addressing and sharing his teachings with these divine girls. Part of the program will include a live-streamed talk that all are invited to listen to. Shri Guruji will begin his talk on Wednesday, October 30 at:

11:30 am IST (7:00 CET, 6:00 am GMT, 2:00 am EDT, 11:00 pm PDT*)

* - the date in this time zone is one day earlier

Both the live and recorded version will be available on our YouTube Channel. To access the YouTube Channel you can click this link: Shakti Rupena Samsthita

To participate via Zoom you can click this link: Zoom Link

If you need:

Meeting ID: 852 4187 1873
Passcode: 12345
We hope you can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to listen to Shri Guruji as he helps to ensure that the girls become active drivers of the change that is needed for their future to promote a more just and equitable world. Not only what is being taught to the girls is helpful to them, but to all of us.

With humble regards,

The Mother Center

Kriya Yoga Institute
24757 SW 167th Ave
Homestead, FL 33031
Tel: (305) 247-1960

27/10/2024

Spiritual life is not a dream; it is a life of sincere and dynamic sadhana that requires continuous effort on the part of a seeker. This path is slippery and extremely difficult. Only with the company of the guru-preceptor and practice of his or her instructions can a seeker evolve.
~ Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

Excerpt from My Time With the Master by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
“What is started by me has to be completed by him.” These words were used by the omniscient guru Paramahamsa Hariharananda regarding his young disciple, long before he made him a monk, years before he was designated as his chosen spiritual successor.

Many years ago a young spiritual aspirant known as Triloki Dash began an apprenticeship with Paramahamsa Hariharananda, the eminent Kriya Yoga master. These two exceptional beings gave their utmost to each other; ultimately, they would both guide others along the path of realization. This book is filled with Paramahamsa Prajnanananda’s private memories of his life under the guidance of his beloved Gurudev. He shares with us the world of his early youth and training. We glimpse his journey as a seeker. We hear the stories about his life-changing transformation. We enjoy a rare, candid view into the life of a disciple who achieved spiritual realization by obediently following his teacher’s footsteps, and who was able to reach his true potential.

The best way to master a skill is to learn from one who has already mastered it. Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji was the exceptional apprentice who became a master and his master’s successor.

The new expanded edition of this much-loved book offers stories and insights not previously included. It will motivate and inspire pilgrims on the spiritual path.

https://www.kriya.org/sharethis/product/45645a27c4f1adc8a7a835976064a86d/books/en

24/10/2024

When a disciple is devoted and sincere in his or her search for liberation, God sends the disciple an illuminated master. The principles of the Holy Scriptures are manifested best through a realized master. Through the guidance of a guru, we can rise above body consciousness and perceive the living presence of God within and around us.
~ Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

Excerpt from My Time With the Master by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda

“What is started by me has to be completed by him.” These words were used by the omniscient guru Paramahamsa Hariharananda regarding his young disciple, long before he made him a monk, years before he was designated as his chosen spiritual successor.

Many years ago a young spiritual aspirant known as Triloki Dash began an apprenticeship with Paramahamsa Hariharananda, the eminent Kriya Yoga master. These two exceptional beings gave their utmost to each other; ultimately, they would both guide others along the path of realization. This book is filled with Paramahamsa Prajnanananda’s private memories of his life under the guidance of his beloved Gurudev. He shares with us the world of his early youth and training. We glimpse his journey as a seeker. We hear the stories about his life-changing transformation. We enjoy a rare, candid view into the life of a disciple who achieved spiritual realization by obediently following his teacher’s footsteps, and who was able to reach his true potential.

The best way to master a skill is to learn from one who has already mastered it. Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji was the exceptional apprentice who became a master and his master’s successor.

The new expanded edition of this much-loved book offers stories and insights not previously included. It will motivate and inspire pilgrims on the spiritual path.

https://www.kriya.org/sharethis/product/45645a27c4f1adc8a7a835976064a86d/books/en

20/10/2024

Dear Kriyavans, we are fortunate to have the Blessings of our beloved Guruji Paramahamsha Prajnananandaji for next 3 days in Greater Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi. Guruji will be conducting meditation session from 6.30 to 8.00 pm in the evening. Please refer the address of venue of each date.

Date: 21.10.2024(Monday) at Narendra Singh T1/003,Purvanchal Royal City, Sec-Chi 5,Greater Noida. For any location access please contact Narendra Baba- +91 95600 02986
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kJuEz9q4BE47TJVn7

Date: 22.10.2024 (Tuesday) at Club House, Raheja Vedaanta Sector -108 Gurugram -122016. For any location issue please contact Baljit baba on 98111 90131
Location: https://maps.google.com/?q=28.511862,76.986946

Date : 23.10.2024(Wednesday) at Delhi
Venue detail will be shared tomorrow

All Kriyavans are invited for the Meditation session with Guruji 🙏🏻Jai Guru 🪷

15/10/2024

Shri Guruji’s visit to London ❤️

15/10/2024

Dharmakshetra - Kurukshetra: these two Sanskrit words appear in the Bhagavad Gita, whereas dharmakshetra means “ the field of righteousness”, Kurukshetra means “ the field of activity”.
But these words do not refer to the fields in the physical sense. They refer to our body. Dharmakshetra is the region from the eyebrows to the top of the head. Kurukshetra is the body itself, including the sense organs. Both words put together, dharmakshetra and Kurukshetra cover the spine from its base up to the medulla oblingata. The Bhagavad Gita tells the story of a warrior, Arjuna and his preparation for battle. In every person’s body, a continuous battle is going on between material ambitions and desires ( metaphorically the clan of the Kauravas) and morality and truth ( the clan of the Pandavas). Krishna who represents soul, resides in the top of the head , directing Arjuna and allowing the breath of life to remain present in the body.

- - - Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj - - -

09/10/2024

Chanting the name of God, with firm belief and faith, is one form of devotion. In Sanskrit, chanting is called Japa. Any mantra must be chanted in coordination with the breath.
Yogis say there is one mantra that is chanted by everyone, the mantra known as ajapa gayatri or ajapa japa. The breath is ajapa, the unchanted mantra. Just watching the breath is a form of chanting.
Chanting should be done with bhava, feeling the presence of God with single minded devotion. Chanting with a mala or rosary is good, but be vigilant and watch that the mind does not roam aimlessly.

- - - Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj- - -