Kriya yoga is a non-sectarian, scientific meditation technique which was reintroduced to the modern world in 1861 by the mysterious Himalayan yogi Mahavatar Babaji.
Babaji taught Shyamacharan Lahiri, a householder, raising a family, who was living and working in the world, to show that one living a normal life of love and service can achieve to the highest state of enlightened consciousness.
Men and women of different nationalities and of all stations of life, of all faiths and religions, monastics and householders, came to Lahiri Baba for spiritual light and received initiation into Kriya Yoga.
Kriya Yoga is not only a scientific technique of meditation but also a profound philosophy of God-realization. Lahiri above all others in recent times, has proven by his personal life and example that every person, during their sojourn on earth, is capable of attaining the realization of God, and that it is not necessary for person to lead a life of monasticism or severe austerity in order to gain the revelation of the supreme Self.
Sri Yukteswar, a disciple of Lahiri Mahashaya, was the Guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of, "The Autobiography of a Yogi", who first brought Kriya Yoga to the west.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda, was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Sri Yukteswar in 1932 at his Serampore ashram, in India.
Paramahamsa Hariharananda met Paramahansa Yogananda in India in 1935 and received the second Kriya initiation. Paramahamsa Hariharananda received the higher Kriyas from Swami Satyananda Giri and Bhupendranath Sanyal.
Thru the "param – para" tradition, of teaching from living teacher to disciple Paramahamsa Hariharananda learnt the Kriya Yoga techniques, from the lineage masters of Kriya Yoga, For over fifty years he traveled the world spreading the message of Kriya Yoga and giving spiritual vibration to sincere seekers. In 2002, at the age of 95 he achieved his Mahasamadhi, the conscious departing of the soul from the body, in Miami, Florida.
Yogacharya Don Abrams, affectionately called "Don Baba", was empowered in 1996 to teach the Kriya Yoga techniques by his spiritual master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Don Baba was initiated into the path of Kriya Yoga by Paramahamsa Hariharananda in 1981 in New York City and has been guiding regular weekly Kriya Yoga meditations since 1987. Don Baba has conducted Kriya Yoga meditation classes in Europe, India, North and South America. He has also conducted many kriya yoga initiations and meditation programs with several of Paramahamsa Hariharananda's authorized teachers. Currently guiding weekly kriya yoga meditations in New York City and conducting retreats and initiation workshops thru out the world.
"We are born for "Self-realization"- the God –consciousness in us. Think of him constantly, no matter what you are doing. Practice makes a man perfect. An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory. Theory will take a devotee outside, while practice will take a devotee inside: theory will make an indivual restless and selfish. Practice will give inner peace and will liberate a devotee from the ego. Practice and practice in order to feel the presence of god in every breath, in every sound that you hear, in everything that you see, in every thought that comes to your mind, and even in the state with-out breath." Swami Hariharananda 1977