After the mind has been cleared by Kriya Yoga of sensory obstacles, meditation furnishes a twofold proof of God. Ever-new joy is evidence of His existence, convincing to our very atoms. Also, in meditation one finds His instant guidance, His adequate response to every difficulty.Sri Yukteswar ji to Yogananda
Kriya Yoga Lineage
Mahavatar Babaji
The first in this line of gurus, Babaji is of unknown age and lives in the Himalayas with a few highly advanced disciples.
It was Babaji, whose name means “revered father”, who re-introduced the ancient science of Kriya Yoga, which had been lost through the dark ages “due to priestly secrecy and man’s indifference” as Yogananda put it.
“You are the one I have chosen to spread the message of Kriya Yoga in the West. Long ago I met your guru Yukteswar at a Kumbha Mela; I told him then I would send you to him for training… Kriya Yoga, the scientific technique of God-realization, will ultimately spread in all lands, and aid in harmonizing the nations through man’s personal, transcendental perception of the Infinite Father.” – Babaji to Yogananda
Lahiri Mahasaya (1828 – 1895)
The second in this line of Gurus is Lahiri Mahasaya. The Guru of Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri.
Lahiri Mahasaya was the one who made the ancient science of Kriya Yoga available not just to those who had renounced the world, but to all sincere souls. He was chosen by his Guru Mahavatar Babaji to disseminate the teachings of Kriya Yoga to the world.
He lived most of his life in Benares until his Mahasamadhi in 1895.
He was also the Guru of Paramhansa Yogananda’s parents, and he predicted that Paramahansa Yogananda would be a “Spiritual Engine,” carrying many souls to God’s kingdom.
Swami Sri Yukteswar (1855 – 1936)
The third in this line of Gurus is Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. The Guru of Paramhansa Yogananda.
Sri Yukteswar’s birth name was Priya Nath Karar. He was born to a wealthy businessman in Serampore, India.
He met Babaji, the guru of Lahiri Mahasaya, in 1894. Babaji told him that one day he would send Sri Yukteswar a disciple who would share the teachings of yoga in the West. This disciple turned out to be Paramhansa Yogananda.
Paramhansa Yogananda (1893 – 1952)
The last in this line of Gurus is Paramhansa Yogananda.
Paramhansa Yogananda’s birth name was Mukunda Lal Ghosh. He was born in Gorakhpur, India into a spiritually inclined family.
From a very early age, he showed a great spiritual disposition which was extraordinary.
Yogananda was the first great master of yoga to make his home in the West, coming to the U.S. from India in 1920 and living here until his passing.
Jesus Christ
Paramhansa Yogananda’s reply to a newcomer, while he was in America.
Jesus Christ appeared to the yoga master Babaji and asked him to send someone to the West to spread the teachings of original Christianity.
Because of Jesus’ request, Babaji commissioned Yogananda as an emissary to the west to bring back the original teachings of Jesus Christ and show the underlying unity of these teachings with the teachings of Lord Krishna.
