Books for Learning More about Kriya
The following books are especially helpful for expanding your understanding of Kriya Yoga as a comprehensive spiritual path and approach to life. Three of the books have entire chapters dedicated to Kriya Yoga.
— Nayaswami Devarshi
Autobiography of a Yogi
by Paramhansa Yogananda
This is the original edition with Yogananda’s own words, unchanged by later editors. On first reading, the stories of saints and miracles grab one’s attention. Repeated readings reveal the thread of discipleship running throughout the book. The very first paragraph is entirely about the disciple-guru relationship, and the last sentence alludes to it. The longest chapter describes Yogananda’s relationship with his Guru. Chapter 26, ‘The Science of Kriya Yoga,’ introduced Kriya Yoga to millions of people.
Order the book: U.S. | India
Conversations with Yogananda
by Swami Kriyananda
Swami Kriyananda shares many conversations he had with his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. The book shows how Yogananda related to a close disciple—with warmth, kindly understanding of human foibles, and wisdom that was supportive and encouraging. It is full of stories, reminiscences, teachings, and humor not shared anywhere else—including insights into Kriya Yoga.
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The New Path
by Swami Kriyananda
Like Yogananda’s autobiography, Swami Kriyananda’s autobiography is a primer on the disciple-guru relationship, demonstrating both its profound closeness and the dedication of a devoted disciple. Kriyananda also shares many stories and lessons learned from his Guru. The chapter on Kriya expands on what Yogananda wrote about Kriya in Autobiography of a Yogi.
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Paramhansa Yogananda: A Biography
by Swami Kriyananda
This book includes an extraordinary chapter on Kriya Yoga that explores aspects of Kriya not shared anywhere else. It also reveals for the first time many dimensions of Yogananda’s life: his teenage miracles, his challenges in coming to America, his national lecture campaigns, his struggles to fulfill his world-changing mission amid incomprehension and painful betrayals, and his ultimate triumphant achievement.
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Sadhu, Beware!
by Swami Kriyananda
Spiritual traditions that work with many techniques have the potential to reinforce—rather than dissolve—the ego. The yogi can mistakenly believe their progress with techniques and meditation is due to their own brilliance. This book shows how to be an ego-detective and learn to watch for the tricks of the ego. Ego-transcendence is often a missing element in the lives of Kriya Yoga disciples.
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The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda
as remembered by his disciple, Swami Kriyananda
The Bhagavad Gita presents the entire approach to spiritual life that is practiced by Kriya Yogis. Swami Kriyananda worked closely with Paramhansa Yogananda on the writing and editing of Yogananda’s work on the Gita. This book shows how the path of Kriya Yoga can be applied and understood in every aspect of life.
Order the book: U.S. | India
More Books
Swami Kriyananda wrote over 150 books on a wide variety of topics. His books show the practical application of Kriya principles in many areas: developing magnetism, achieving material success, spiritualizing education for children, uplifting art and music, building spiritual relationships, developing intuition, and much more.
Learn More at Crystal Clarity Publishers, Ananda’s publishing branch.
From Autobiography of a Yogi,
by Paramhansa Yogananda
The first paragraph of the book:
“The characteristic features of Indian culture have long been a search for ultimate verities and the concomitant disciple-guru relationship. My own path led me to a Christlike sage whose beautiful life was chiseled for the ages. He was one of the great masters who are India’s sole remaining wealth. Emerging in every generation, they have bulwarked their land against the fate of Babylon and Egypt.”
From Conversations with Yogananda
“One day, during a Kriya Yoga initiation, he [Yogananda] told us, “Through the practice of Kriya, you should hope to become at least jivan muktas in this lifetime.””
* * * * *
“Kriya Yoga, by contrast, is the ‘airplane route,’ for it teaches the seeker how to withdraw his energy into the spine, and then to direct it up the spine to the brain. By following this inner route, one cooperates with the way divine grace actually works. In this way, one can achieve realization much more quickly.””
— Paramhansa Yogananda
* * * * *
“Peggy Deitz, whom I’d known at Mount Washington as Peggy Bowman, was a sincere devotee. After some years in the monastery, however, in obedience to the Master’s instructions, she left our way of life. After her departure, she kept in close contact with him.
“He instructed me,” Peggy informed me years later, “to give Kriya initiation to anyone I met, if that person seemed to me ready to receive it. When he told me that, I protested, ‘But Master, what will the organization say?’
“‘Are you following them?’ he asked. ‘Or are you following me?’”
* * * * *
““When you work for God, not self,” the Master told us, “that is just as good as meditation. Then work helps your meditation, and meditation helps your work. You need the balance. With only meditation, one becomes lazy, and the senses become strong. With only work, the mind becomes restless, and one forgets God.”
“He told us he’d seen hermits in the Himalayas fighting over blankets. “Such non-attachment!” he commented ironically.”
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