All of us humans are at odds with knowing what is better for us and an inability to execute positive behaviors. Every New Year’s Eve, millions of people eagerly set their intentions with their resolutions for the new year. By the time February first comes to pass, most people have forgotten what they intended to do. Kriya Yoga is a vehicle to overcome our human nature. Be with all attention as you take in this message. Read slowly. Reflect on the words. The message comes from “The Voice of Babaji.” You will be inspired.
“It is said that when wealth is lost, nothing is lost, when health is lost, something is lost, but when character is lost, everything is lost. In other words, when bad instincts are repeated, they grow into an impulse. Impulses repeated form an idea. Ideas repeated become an act. Actions repeated become character and character repeated molds the very destiny of man. Small men are creatures of habit, whereas great men are creators of habit. This explains hero worship. That is why a man is his own advertisement, well or ill, by his thoughts, words, and deeds. As such we should make our spiritual instincts impel, impulses ideate, ideas actuate, actions habituate, habits characterize and character mold the destiny of man into a perfect Self-realization, the destination in the pilgrimage of life. – The Voice of Babaji: A Trilogy on Kriya Yoga
Babaji gives you practical advice and wisdom in these words. Your mind is excited about the possibility of this idea. You say to yourself, “This is so simple, I’ve got this!” Then, you go about your day. Hopefully, you happen to reflect on this message about character again. When you do, you realize that putting that advise into action can be difficult. Your mind tell you that you have more important things to think about and you don’t give it another thought. Why is such a beautiful and simple piece of advice naturally forgotten? Why do we fall into our old habit of thinking?
We are creatures of Habit
You are a creature of habit. So, your daily pattern of thinking is a habit. You are so used to how you think… you think on autopilot. When you are on autopilot you are usually unaware of what you are doing. The five senses (sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell) are delivering messages to your brain. Most people instinctively think and act in response to this input from the senses. We react without awareness. You are so in it, that you cannot see your patterns objectively.
Look at the following example: You observe someone you care about dearly. You see them complaining about how they are lonely and don’t have many close friends. Because you have known your friend for years, you know that they have a habit of seeing the faults in others. Your friend is in the habit of complaining about other people so much that they quickly feel resentment towards most people. Your friend does their best to hide this resentment towards others. Unfortunately, other people can sense this negativity and they eventually choose to avoid your friend.
You have given your friend the following advice repeatedly. “Why don’t you look for the good in people?” However, your friend never seems to change. Your friend remains lonely and continues to criticize others. It is easy for you to see the reality of your friend’s situation. You are seeing it objectively. They cannot see the reality. Your friend cannot see their own habit. They are on autopilot and your friend continues to suffer.
The solution is self-awareness
What is the solution? The answer is to become self-aware. Through the practice of Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, one begins to study oneself and to let go of negative habits, desires, fears, and other forms of disturbances. Kriya defined is “action with awareness.” By practicing the techniques, you gradually elevate your state of consciousness. As you evolve and live in this higher state, your impulses evolve. You change your impulses and change your destiny.
“Impulses repeated form an idea. Ideas repeated become an act. Actions repeated become character and character repeated molds the very destiny of man.”
Sincerity in the context of Kriya Yoga to overcome human nature
Babaji’s Kriya Yoga is a very effective and powerful practice that results in the complete transformation of the sincere practitioner. Most people have good intentions. In the context of this article, sincerity has a different meaning that is more results driven. Yogi Ramaiah often said that the only currency of value in the practice of yoga is sincerity. What does it mean to be sincere in the context of yoga? You are sincere when you do what you say you are going to do. Not many people have the grit to be sincere these days. Many people have travelled thousands of miles, spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours taking yoga seminars and trainings. They all have the intention of integrating what they learn. However, very few people have a regular practice. Even fewer practice with the awareness and focus required to produce the desired result within themselves.
You can become sincere if you have a big enough “Why”
You may be wondering, “Why should I consider Babaji’s Kriya Yoga when it was just stated that so many fall short of success?” I believe that you have come to this blog for a reason. I believe that you have read to this point because you are a person who aspires to live and manifest a better life. The idea of shaping your character into something better is appealing to you. You want to improve yourself and contribute more to your family, your community and to the world. The most important factor in achieving a goal is having a big enough why. If you agree that you aspire to impact the world in a positive manner… then you have a big enough why! And once you learn this yoga you can supercharge your practice with the following little secret
Be the Kriya
Many years ago, I listened as my teacher shared some words of wisdom at the end of a training. His advice impacted me profoundly and still does to this day. What did he say? “Be the Kriya!”
It means to practice the techniques (Kriyas), that have been prescribed by Babaji, with awareness. You become what you focus on. When you practice the techniques, you should do it with laser focus. You must become so immersed in the activity that you “become the technique.” You must become the technique while you practice it. If you practice kriya yoga in this way you can overcome your human nature. Practice the same way a surfer would ride the tube. Imagine the focus of a downhill ski racer on a gold medal run. The surfer and ski racer are not thinking at all. They have become the activity.
When you practice Babaji’s Kriya Yoga in this way, the results are attainable. You must become the technique while you practice it. This practice will magically transform you and your reality. Simply perform the techniques and “Be the Kriya.” Our human nature tends to resist and forget. You must apply great effort at first, and if you don’t give up it will begin to gracefully change your life.
-Dharmadas (Dan Streeby) teaches Babaji’s Kriya Hatha yoga classes at Ananda Yoga Space. Learn more about Babaji’s Kriya Yoga initiation here.
