Sorrows Will Turn to Joy: The Transformative Blessings of Kriya Yoga

Dharmadevi and I participated in a Kriya retreat at Ananda Village this past weekend. A special divine grace permeates Kriya initiations, and this one was no exception.

One of the new Kriyabans shared a powerful transformation that happened to her leading up to the Kriya initiation. She had gone through a period in her life where she drank alcohol to cope with the loss of a relative. It was a bad habit she wanted to break but couldn’t, no matter how much she affirmed or tried.

During her preparation for Kriya Yoga, her practices intensified with deepening devotion. She used the Kriya techniques to help magnetize and increase the energy in her spine, coaxing it upward to the spiritual eye. One day, she realized she no longer wanted to drink. She experienced the truth of Paramhansa Yogananda’s chant, “Desire, My Great Enemy”:

That enemy, I will deceive, remaining in the castle of peace
Night and day in Thy joy, oh my Lord
Control the little Pranayam
Become all pervading Pranayam
You won’t have to fear anything anymore

As she learned pranayama and gained greater control of her inner energy, she no longer wanted the "stale cheese of the senses." It reminded me of a sign in an Italian deli: “The taste of a good mozzarella is long remembered after price is forgotten.” Paramhansa Yogananda often used the illustration of fresh cheese versus stale cheese. Once you taste the fresh cheese of God’s joy, you can’t return to the stale cheese of pleasure through the senses.

Another Kriyaban shared an inspiring story of divine grace that happened to her after the initiation. The following day was the seventh anniversary of her son’s passing. Typically, the anniversary would fill her with grief and longing to hold her son in her arms. But after the Kriya initiation, she had a deep sleep, and her son came to her in a dream. It was a joy-filled dream where she felt his soul smiling with her. Her heart, which had been weighed down by grief, now felt a renewed inner freedom. The blissful smile on her face described the blessings better than any words.

The blessings and grace of Kriya Yoga manifest in mysterious ways. He steals into our hearts like a thief in the night. As the Bible says, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (Thessalonians 5:2)

May we be ever open to divine grace, that God may steal into our heart of hearts and transform us from within, bringing lasting change and true freedom.

Kriya Blessings to you!
Nayaswami Narayan