Kriya Yoga: The Integration of Bhakti

4 days ago By Yogi Anoop

Kriya Yoga: The Integration of Bhakti Yoga and Science

Difference Between Bhakti Yoga and Kriya Yoga

The various branches of yoga help us attain self-development and higher levels of consciousness. Both Bhakti Yoga and Kriya Yoga are spiritual practices, but their methods and effects differ.

• Bhakti Yoga focuses on transcending emotions through emotions. A devotee tries to connect with the Supreme Consciousness through emotions. When emotions reach a particular state, the devotee moves beyond them.

• In this method of Bhakti Yoga, a special kind of love essence is experienced through the use of emotions, which is referred to in scientific terms as “love hormones.”

Oxytocin – The Hormone of Love and Affection

When a devotee engages in loving devotion, singing hymns, or meditating on God, the secretion of oxytocin increases. This hormone enhances emotional connection, compassion, and love, making the person feel more calm and blissful. The deep love and devotion that devotees feel toward saints, gurus, and God are influenced by this hormone.

Since Bhakti Yoga primarily involves dedicating emotions to God, it results in contentment and stability. Therefore, to some extent, the secretion of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with well-being, also occurs. The very presence of contentment and stability indicates the release of serotonin.

The constant desire to attain the Divine also keeps enthusiasm and motivation alive, leading to an increase in dopamine levels.

It is important to note that this surrender of emotions generates such immense love and faith toward the Divine that the devotee feels an intense closeness to God. As a result, the body starts producing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. At this stage, the devotee becomes so absorbed that they lose awareness of what is happening within their own body.

The primary method of Bhakti Yoga is to generate the essence of love through devotion and emotions and then transcend those emotions. However, this path reaches a limit. Beyond this point, the importance of Kriya Yoga and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge) becomes evident.

At this stage, it becomes essential to analyze the hormones produced through Kriya Yoga.

Serotonin – The Hormone of Stability

Kriya Yoga does not utilize emotions. It is a form of engineering technique, where visualization and pranayama (breath control) are used to activate neurons in the spine and brain, thereby increasing serotonin levels. This leads to a direct experience of stability and contentment.

Just as engineering skills are required to build a car, in the same way, Kriya Yoga involves mastering techniques as a skill, where emotions are set aside, and the spinal cord is engaged in a specific manner.

• Here, emotions are not involved; instead, focus and proficiency in the technique matter.

• The more skilled a person becomes in the practice, the more they transcend emotions.

• In this process, serotonin is produced, along with a sense of bliss and natural pain-relieving substances.

• However, the primary effect is on serotonin levels.

Through personal experience, I have observed that giving priority to stability through this practice significantly increases serotonin levels. In contrast, Bhakti Yoga, after years of practice, can lead to an addiction to emotional stimulation, which significantly increases the chances of insomnia (sleeplessness).

Kriya Yoga and Electrical Flow in Neurons (Scientific Perspective)

Kriya Yoga is not limited to emotional practices. It operates through breathing, electrical impulses, and energy flow, influencing the entire body and brain.

When Kriya Yoga is practiced, it generates electrical impulses in neurons, balancing mental, physical, and spiritual energy.

Practical Example:

• If Bhakti Yoga is compared to a slow and emotional stream of water that gradually immerses the mind and heart, then Kriya Yoga acts like an electrical current, directly balancing the brain and the nervous system.

• Just as when a stone is thrown into a pond, ripples take time to reach the edges, similarly, in Bhakti Yoga, emotions take time to stabilize.

• However, if electrical impulses are introduced into the same water, they spread instantly throughout the entire body of water.

• The practice of Kriya Yoga is aimed at regulating this electrical flow.

Kriya Yoga: The Union of Neurology and Spirituality

Kriya Yoga is not just a practice; it is a profound integration of neurology and spirituality.

From a Scientific Perspective:

• When electricity is passed through an object, its speed increases significantly. However, the faster an object moves, the greater its potential reactions.

• This is why spiritual masters devised techniques to regulate its speed, making controlling electrical impulses the primary objective of Kriya Yoga practice.

• Bhakti Yoga, on the other hand, can unnecessarily intensify electrical impulses, potentially entangling the practitioner, since getting caught in emotions is very easy.

Thus, Kriya Yoga systematically regulates the nervous system:

1. Electrical energy is systematically passed through the neurons in the brain, ensuring it spreads evenly through the neural network.

2. When a person practices Kriya Yoga, the electrical energy flows from the spine (merudanda) to the brain, from the brain back to the spine, and then throughout the entire body.

3. This deeply impacts physical, mental, and neurological levels.

4. Brain waves such as alpha, beta, and gamma become regulated, and the excessive intensity of electrical impulses is reduced, leading to enhanced mental stability and awareness.

5. When one practices Kriya Yoga, neuronal activity is balanced, strengthening the nervous system and expanding mental capabilities.

Both Bhakti Yoga and Kriya Yoga are important in their own way. However, after progressing through emotion-based practices, a seeker striving for stability, balance, and deep consciousness may find it difficult to transcend emotions. 

The Raj Yoga techniques of Kriya Yoga, which significantly impact neurons, enable one to quickly move beyond emotional entanglements.

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