Are SRF techniques correct or have they been altered?

SRF Walrus

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SRF Walrus > SRF Teachings and Ideals > Are SRF techniques correct or have they been altered?
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username Unregistered User (12/4/01 8:05 am) Reply	Are SRF techniques correct or have they been altered? When I first left SRF I read a lot of outside literature (because I wasn't allowed to read this information inside the organization). I also checked out almost every other kriya path to see what they were teaching (And found that most of these were seriously flawed as well) Maybe we can share the above information to save others from the time and expense I went through. This was all part of my healing from SRF.
Biologist Unregistered User (12/4/01 12:47 pm) Reply	Kriya and modification I would be interested to know what you have learned about various ways the techniques are being taught. I was once informed that Yogacharya Oliver Black taught Kriya with pauses to a count of three at both the top and the bottom of the Kriya cycle. A monastic (and direct disciple) who was present expressed some surprise and bewilderment at this, adding that Yogacharya Black was quite advanced. From what I gather from the writings of other Kriya teachers who have come to the U. S., this is the way Lahiri taught Kriya. If this is so, Yogacharya Black must have learned this way of doing Kriya from Yogananda. Possibly an additional pause at the bottom of the cycle is better for some persons and a pause only at the top better for others. Carbon dioxide balance in the blood is a individual thing. It is not the case that you want to get all of the carbon dioxide out of your blood, like someone bailing water out of a boat. Without some carbon dioxide, oxygen cannot be released by hemoglobin to enter into the tissues! So what may be a good way of doing Kriya for one person might constitute hyperventillation for another. I suppose that when Kriya was taught as a one-to-one transmission from Guru to disciple, some adjustment for individual differences was involved, based upon the Guru's accumulated knowledge. I have read that Lahiri allowed some women to skip Maha Mudra because of their hip anatomy and that he made at least one person with heavy sex karma do many more Maha Mudras per day. In any effect, declaring "one-size fits all" and simply walking away from the problems does not seem to have worked. Since we don't have gurus anymore, it would seem prudent to accumulate knowledge from all sources and compare this knowledge with progressive science. The Chinese also have variants of Kriya. In one technique, they break up the visualization of the spine into three sections: from base of spine to solar plexus, from solar plexus to cervical area, from cervical area to the "Celestial Palace" at the third eye. One commentator remarked that this may aid in focusing extra attention in the last area. The life force tends to get lost around the medulla and the area may have been named "the Jade Pillow" because of its refractory transmission. The higher Kriya initiations seem to deal with this problem by means of head rotation. Most devotees never get to this point, due to benign neglect by all concerned. In one of the twenty-six- or-so odd books that Lahiri wrote on Kriya for private circulation, he translates an older Kriya texts that advises "give the first Kriya and Jyoti mudra (?) to the Sudras." This is funny if you consider the Aldous Huxley angle brought up by "Lurking" in an earlier E-mail. Should the masses be given just enough spirituality to keep them tranquilized in extended nap-time? Yogananda was progressive and experimented with several ways of doing the techniques. Another monastic and direct disciple once told me that, in the last few weeks of his life, Yogananda was excited about his discovery of new way of doing Kriya that he thought was superior. The monastic tried to show me how to do it, but was unsatisfied with my attempts. As well as I can remember, it involved moving the air up and down through the nose, with the mouth closed and the throat tensed to make some slight semblance of the sounds. The tensed throat may have been borrowed from Tantric Kriyas, which, as can be seen at Tantramagazine.com, where many of the Tantric Kriyas are openly described, is one of many different features of Tantric Kriyas. I have read that Yogananda's Sanskrit teacher, Kebalananda, taught both the Kriya of Lahiri and Tantric Kriyas, so that may have been the source of the inspiration.
mangomoy Registered User (1/11/02 10:48 am) Reply	Re: Kriya and modification In comparison to the strong, sometimes fiery writings of Master's in the very old East-West/Inner Culture magazines, it always vaguely seemed like the lessons and other printed materials from SRF put a stifling sugar-coating on Master. I could never quite define my unease about possible changes to Master's writings, yet it lurked at an almost subconscious level, while I served as an ardently loyal lay member of SRF. That "A-nanda" guy makes claims about over-editing of Master's works by SRF, but I've always had my head down, "loyalty-blinders" on, unaware of all that until this past year, thanks to the internet. Finally, the swell of rumors about changes made by SRF to Master's Whispers prompted me to go buy the red 1949 edition, for comparison to the the blue 1959 version I've read these past 30-plus years. What a shock! The two versions bear scant resemblance. For over 30 years I've read my 1959 version in the belief it was Master's transcriptions of things he "heard" from God. Now I'm filled with doubt about the integrity of Master's writings as published by SRF. Inside the red edition the Publisher's Note says all the changes were by PY, but I have strong doubt about the truthfulness of that claim. Compounding this, last year I also first heard about, then read, Ma Durga's book, A Trilogy of Divine Love. What another shock! It was the first time I felt in touch with the real personality of Master. It was almost like "meeting" him for the first time, without the SRF sugar-coating. What a thunderously different view of Master! Wow! Now lately, I've become sensitized to all sorts of changes in the writings made after Master left. For example, look at the the footnotes in the AY that change from edition to edition. This has all been an earthquake in my life, because, like someone else said in another post, I'd always been of the attitude, "Thank God I found the SRF. Feel sorry for all those kookie cultists following fake gurus." SRF was sort of like my reliable foundation amidst this world of change. All the changes I'm now convinced have been made to Master's writings now make me wonder if we can rely on anything we read in the books or lessons, without some shadow of doubt that Master is the author. The thing is, there doesn't seem to be any way to get "behind" the edits, and see what Master really wrote, unless perhaps one might find rare old editions of the books, or the old Precepta lessons. The SRF's continual changing of Master's writings almost makes me crazy. Why can't we see what Master said in the way he said it, without the patina of SRF's editorializing? Then there's the thing about Daya living upscale in Sierra Madre? After this secret was "outed," a note appeared on the SRF web site about her having been "encouraged" to make use of it as a retreat. To me, "retreat" is an occasional interlude from one's regular routine, which would mean she only uses the plush Sierra Madre digs occasionally. Well, if she really lives there full time, as claimed in that newspaper, and as I believe based on other sources, then the SRF's statement is a flat lie! Wow...my SRF is actually lying to me! Now I'm hearing rumours that SRF may have actually changed the techniques Master gave, including Kriya. I don't yet know if that might be true, but am vitally interested in discovering whether it's true. I've suddenly turned from a staunch SRF-loyalist & defender into a strongly skeptical doubter about the veracity of anything SRF publishes. I also don't believe Daya Ma or Mrinilini or Uma ot the other Ma's are realized saints. Used to, but no more. In summary, I'm outraged. I guess this posting is mostly a "venting".
Pig Ma Registered User (1/12/02 9:08 pm) Reply	Re: Kriya and modification Mangomoy, I read your post with great interest, because I too felt a sense of outrage and betrayal when I first heard of the things you posted. For me, I've been given a peace about it, but I will stand up for those who want to bring the original publishings to the world, hence my involvement against SRF's destructive lawsuit they are waging on A-nanda. On a happier note, did you happen to read Peggy Dietz's book? (It's called, "Thank You, Master" and it's published by A-nanda) It's a great little book to again feel the true picture of Master. He told her she had eyes like those of a raccoon, and now and then even called her "Raccoonita!" He drew a very funny picture of her as a racoon person on which he wrote, "Racunita", that was sent to her 10 days before his passing. My favorite passage from the book is this: He told me to feel free to give Kriya (an advanced meditation practice) or any other part of his teachings to whomever I thought I should. Truth is free. I exploded, "Master, I can't do that. Your office would have a fit!" He said, "You divine nincompoop, whom are you following, the office or me?" Can you imagine being called a divine nincompoop by Master? What a smile it brings to my face! This book is filled with sweet tales such as this, and I have only one complaint about the book. It is short, way to short for me. After reading it, I wanted so much to meet her. I was able to see a video of her, but she has left the body. The divine nincompoop as joined her guru.
mayalove Registered User (1/24/02 10:10 am) Reply	Re: to username That is because you are experiencing reality firsthand, not through the eyes and realizations of others. We need freedom to doubt and question on the path otherwise we become dogmatic, stagnant and fearful of that which differs. That guilty feeling when you read other books or entertain other philosophical conclusions is unhealthy and not your conscience watching out for you, it is imposed upon you by the group itself who needs you to tow the line. mayalove Edited by: mayalove at: 1/24/02 10:12:53 am
manzinni Registered User (1/24/02 11:26 am) Reply	Re: to username Im so happy that I have find this wonderful board Now I know that Im not alone with my doubts Thank you
Pig Ma Registered User (1/24/02 10:21 pm) Reply	Re: to username Jessica, I just wanted to tell you that for some reason the email I gave you previously isn't working- but here's my new email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I love your positive, soul searching posts! [SRF Walrus Edit: I removed the email address to maintain privacy. ] Thanks Walrus. I meant to go back and do this, but I had forgotten where it was at. Love, Pig Ma Edited by: Pig Ma at: 3/21/02 9:45:53 am
Rei Beyrut Registered User (2/20/02 12:52 am) Reply	Re: to username Me too. By mere accident I happened to read some passages on Yogananda-rediscovered, where they explained all the changes that SRF made to poems and writings. Most shocking was to learn they alter Master's signature and even photographs in order to make them match their stalinistic world view ("There is no such thing as Swami Kriyananda, he has to disappear from the photographs"). It was a shock to me, as I then thought it would discredit PY entirely. Through this honorable board I learn that all criticism is about how SRF deals with the heritage, and not about Master. I got a new, but reassured view of the spiritual path. Master is still Master, and more then ever; yet you may be as open on your path as you wish. No organization has the right to subdue you into mandatory allegiance. Btw, I saw your email is yahoo.de. Are you living in Germany?
almar Unregistered User (3/16/02 3:36 pm) Reply	airbrushing out kriyananda I came up firsthand on revisionist editing in an SRF publication when I saw in one of their magazines a few years ago a doctored picture of Kriyanada (J. Donald Walters) serving Master something or other on a tray. In that picture, Master is delightedly selecting something from the tray. In the revised picture in the magazine, Kriyananda is entirely airbrushed out! The original picture can be seen on the Ananda website. I believe I see where SRF is coming from. They have a fierce loyalty to what they see as their mission to preserve Master's teachings. Yet, airbrushing out their own ex-First Vice President?--whoa!...is something very wrong here? Like, has lost the spirit of Yogananda's mandate?! Who am I to say?--but it seems like perhaps SRF's proper mission should be something more along the lines of being the Fort Knox of Master's dissemination of the Kriya teachings--nothing more! Thus, SRF should perhpas be a place one can go to BE SURE one is getting the Kriya AS TAUGHT BY MASTER. I ask: What does joining the Church of SRF have to do with MAKING SURE you are getting the uncorrupted teachings? To me, SRF is like a math book, and Kriya is the math. Per to my only somewhat informed take on things, it seems to me that SRF would have the devotee pledge allegiance to the math book itself, and not the principles of math. Thus, they airbrush out the author of an alternative "math" book, Kriyananda. Is SRF missing the boat? Mathematic principles will exist after Earth has come and gone. Many many different brands of math books have and will present the concepts and principles of math in written form, and these books will vary in their presentation. However, the prinicples of math will remain immutable. I believe that the same kind of thinking applies to the principles of Kriya. I'm wide open to any critiques of my view. (Lest this post incite any SRF bashing, let us not forget that any creation on the material plane--the SRF organization included--is bound, unavoidably, to be flawed, and that SRF is, IMHO, one of the crown jewels of humanity, despite any imperfections it may have as an organization. How tremendously fortunate we all are to have an SRF-like organization that is utterly dedicated to disseminating the principles of Kriya Yoga, along with an accompanying "garb" of techniques in which to give those principles material and temporal form. Certainly, it is not every age on Earth that has been privy to such a gift! Bravo to SRF!)
Lobo Registered User (3/16/02 11:30 pm) Reply	Re: airbrushing out kriyananda Check out the memorial service of Master's. Look up the picture in SRF's Memoriam booklet of Master where Rajasi, Dr. Lewis, and Yogacharya Oliver Black are standing next to Master's body in the casket. Something's missing. Master's disciple Swami Premananda who conducted the Vedic ceremony was standing there with the above disciples in the original photograph, but the editorial airbrushists deemed him expendable; poof he's gone! Why in the world would they do that? Well my belief is they didn't want Master's later disciples (that would be us) from discovering Swami Premananda. For if he was known he just might have a tale to tell about Master that varies greatly from the one SRF tells. You know how Master spelled his name. How he taught kriya, etc., etc., etc.
willy1080 Registered User (3/17/02 12:11 am) Reply	Re: airbrushing out kriyananda There is a beautiful story by Premananda , in the Yogananda stories section , pub78.ezboard.com/fsrfwalrusfrm32.showMessage?topicID=2.topic Also check this out , some wonderful insight into Premananda and Yogananda relationship www.voy.com/27671/1145.html
devotee Unregistered User (3/17/02 12:47 pm) Reply	The original photo is here www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292863805&p=4271964315&idx=27 Or see the last photo at: www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292863805&show_all=0&start=21 Or see the 2nd page at: www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292863805
encinitaschela Unregistered User (3/17/02 7:11 pm) Reply	Pramanada I want to thank you all on this thread for taking the time to write, scan pictures and for websites. It is the first time I have the living proof that SRF is not fully representing Master. I�m 100% convinced that Master would never have done such things.. People up there the new Vatican are trying to protect their empire of wealth and do not care about anything else anymore even our beloved Master ideals and principles. Master said that desire for money is one of the worst because it creates deceptive minds. The monks are trying to protect (now considered) their accumulated riches. Very Sad. I cried when I read Pramananda website and what they did to him, because He loved and respected Master so much. In is not a question of cultures dear ones, I don�t buy that one, it is rather a question of greed.
devotee Unregistered User (3/18/02 4:19 am) Reply	Yogananda writes on Premananda From "Autobiography of a Yogi", 1st Edition (1946), chapter 48, page 464: "Joyous dedication of a Self-Realization Church of All Religions took place in 1938 at Washington, D.C. Set amidst landscaped grounds, the stately church stands in a section of the city aptly called 'Friendship Heights.' The Washington leader is Swami Premananda, educated at the Ranchi school and Calcutta University. I had summoned him in 1928 to assume leadership of the Washington Self-Realization Fellowship center. "'Premananda,' I told him during a visit to [bold]his[/bold] new temple, 'this Eastern headquarters is a memorial in stone to your tireless devotion. Here in the nation's capital you have held aloft the light of Lahiri Mahasaya's ideals.'" This loving tribute from the Guru to his beloved disciple was removed from the later, "official" editions of the AY, published by SRF after Master's mahasamadhi......
Archangel Unregistered User (3/20/02 7:39 pm) Reply	Complaining about different kriya? Please go to this site. www.fortunecity.com/victo...kashi.html
Lobo Registered User (3/20/02 8:15 pm) Reply	Re: Complaining about different kriya? I'm not "complaining" about different kriya. Rather I'm attempting to share with my brother/sister disciples of Master the fact that changes have been made to the teachings. And I'm told by a former SRF nun who was very close to one of Master's closest direct disciples that there have been changes to the kriya technique by SRF. However I don't have any personal evidence of such changes. I practice the kriya technique as I received it from SRF, but am considering contacting another organization to see if what they practice is different, and how they've come to practice their technique. In other words they practice the technique as taught by another direct disciple's of Master's. So they have the cache of actually having that contact with one who was initiated by Master himself, and therefore their technique might be closer to the way Master taught it himself. Edited by: Lobo at: 3/20/02 8:17:16 pm
username Registered User (3/23/02 5:47 am) Reply	To: shmila If you want to know what the first kriya that other groups are giving out, send me an e-mail. I'll print it on this board if the Walrus gives me permission. the SRF/Yogananda kriya has many many differences than the kriyas that other lines coming from lahiri are teaching. Also, in doing kriya, don't worry, the energy will know where to go.
willy1080 Registered User (3/23/02 6:27 am) Reply	Changes to kriya by Yogananda Somehow I don't follow the discussion. Moving energy to sahasrar , aren't we supposed to move it to ajna chakra ? Someone told me that the onlydifference between the yogananda 1st kriya and traditional 1st kriya is there is no kechari in SRF ? What about the kriya taught by hariharananda groups, moving attention to sahasrar , that seems to be TOTALLY different from traditional formats. Did Yogananda make those changes or were they done by PH ? Some one told me, that particular method was taught by yogananda for certain time duration and then he went back to the original format. I would be grateful if someone can answer these doubts Edited by: willy1080 at: 3/23/02 6:29:17 am
username Registered User (3/23/02 7:13 am) Reply	Re: Changes to kriya by Yogananda You concentrate on the ajna chakra. The energy goes to the top of the head. There are more changes than khechari. Lots more. I have addressed this in another thread some time ago, but I don't know where. Hariharinanda's group keeps changing their kriya initiations, so I'm not sure what it is that the are teaching as first kriya now. I've run across many who have left that group because they kept changing the practices. Maybe the organization has corrected this. It appears that the group has gotten an infusion of money, maybe due to that Cuban male singer who is so popular with the hispanic girls, (I forget his name). It is so funny, because the word is he is gay, but maybe he is just celibate, so that is why is doesn't let the girls backstage.
username Registered User (3/23/02 7:16 am) Reply	Re: Changes to kriya by Yogananda see thread Yogananda's extensive changes to kriya - page one
willy1080 Registered User (3/23/02 9:25 am) Reply	Re: Changes to kriya by Yogananda Ricky Martin is the name

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