Did Yogananda Water Down Kriya?

This article was first published in 2014 at www.ananda.org. It was edited and rewritten in October, 2025.

People sometimes claim that Paramhansa Yogananda diluted the Kriya technique, or changed it for Westerners. Sometimes the claim is made to promote another Kriya teacher, sometimes out of ignorance. Either way, it’s unfortunate. Even the sacred path of Kriya Yoga is not free from sectarian thinking.

What Did Swami Kriyananda Say?

Swami Kriyananda addressed this question directly:

“Did Master ‘dilute’ Lahiri Mahasaya’s—and Babaji’s—Kriya technique? Did he teach it differently in India from how he taught it in America? No! I state this denial as an unequivocal fact. I took advantage of several opportunities to check out the differences that have been claimed between Master’s Kriya and that of other lines from Lahiri Mahasaya. Some differences do exist, but they are superficial.”

Every Kriya lineage shows some superficial differences. Even Lahiri Mahasaya taught each disciple uniquely, often differently. Yogananda did the same — guiding his students to add to the main technique in a progression. For example, he introduced the technique of khechari mudra only after the basic Kriya technique was well established.

Yogananda taught Kriya exactly as Lahiri Mahasaya did. He also enhanced the effectiveness of Kriya by introducing the Energization Exercises.  In addition, he explained Kriya’s inner principles in language modern seekers could understand.

Which Is the “Best” Kriya Yoga?

People sometimes ask, “Which Kriya is best?” My answer:
The one your Guru gives you.

Kriya Yoga can’t be separated from the Guru–disciple relationship. In Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda describes how Babaji gave Kriya to Lahiri Mahasaya — only after blessing him and reaffirming their divine bond as Guru and Disciple. The technique alone isn’t enough; it needs the Guru’s blessing to awaken its full power.

So the real question isn’t, Which Kriya is best? but rather, Who is my Guru? Then, practice Kriya as your Guru gives it to you, with faith and devotion.

True spiritual teaching is individual. Lahiri Mahasaya tailored his guidance to each disciple — not changing the core of the technique, but adjusting emphasis, sequence, or number of repetitions to suit the individual’s needs. Some modern seekers find this flexibility unsettling, but spiritual growth has never been a one-size-fits-all path.

“By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them”

Not every teacher or lineage gives the same results. How can we tell a true teaching and teacher? The Bible gives this simple wisdom: “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

When I first visited Ananda Village in December 1976, I had already begun practicing Yogananda’s meditation techniques and longed to learn Kriya. I met a few Ananda residents —  their faces shone with light, joy, and humility. They expressed grace and spiritual refinement in their behavior. My heart spoke at once, “I want what they have.” The fruits I saw in them was all the proof I needed.

If you are considering a path or teacher, look at the results in their students. Don’t rely on grand claims or promises of exalted states. Look for the quiet fruits of genuine spirituality:

• Humility and kindness
• Love for God
• Respect for other teachers and paths
• Calmness and centeredness
• Joy and energy
• Reverence for the Guru–disciple relationship
• Freedom from dogmatic attitudes
• A verifiable link to the Kriya lineage descending from Lahiri Mahasaya

In my own life, and in the many Kriya yogis I’ve served through Ananda’s Kriya Sangha, I’ve seen again and again how effective Yogananda’s Kriya truly is. The ultimate test of any teaching is simple: Does it work?

A Serious Decision

Choosing where and from whom to learn Kriya is not a casual matter. Yet I’ve met people who received it only because a teacher happened to visit their town, or who accepted initiation at a first meeting without preparation. Later, many of them felt confused.

Choosing your teacher and path may be the most important decision of your life — especially if you are serious about the spiritual journey. Take your time. Use your intuition. Choose wisely.