Kriya Yoga Today with Yogacharya O'Brian

Chapter 2, verses 48-51; These verses emphasize the significance of performing duties without attachment to the outcome and with steadfastness in spiritual pursuits. Lord Krishna teaches that actions should be performed as a sacred duty, offered to God, without concern for their results. One who performs actions in this way, attains peace and is not bound by the results of their actions.

Chapter 2, v. 47-48; The path of Karma Yoga is for the purification of buddhi, the higher mind, so that the light of the true Self, of that which we are, can shine through the faculty of discernment and guide our actions in the moment. Lord Krishna reveals how to live and work so that you can do that in harmony with the intelligence of the Universe and find freedom in action.

Chapter 2, v. 41-47; Resolute mind is a mind that is able to focus, and it starts with the distracted, unsteady, ordinary mind. Our work as yogis, as spiritual seekers, is to learn how to concentrate and cultivate single-minded focus on the goal. We learn how to follow divine will and not simply the urges of the sense mind or desire for particular results from actions. This helps us free ourselves...

Chapter 2, v. 39-40; Karma Yoga is not just a path of action, even if that action is doing good works. Karma Yoga is a path of discernment that gives us a reorientation about how we do what we do and what the purpose is of what we're doing. Turning our attention and our awareness around is a change from seeking the results of action to doing what we do as an offering to God.

Chapter 2 v. 23-38 Continuing with Chapter 2, we look into how to live in the world as an expression of the divine Reality. There is a progression from Jnana Yoga, from the way of wisdom—knowing the truth of what you are, towards Karma Yoga—how to take that knowing and act upon it.

Chapter 2 v. 14-22 Continuing with Chapter 2, this is where Lord Krishna begins to teach the seeking soul Arjuna about the nature of Reality and about specific skills that we develop on the path to find the equanimity that is necessary for skillful living.

Chapter 2 v. 1-15 Chapter Two is where the teachings of Lord Krishna begin. The message of the Bhagavad Gita is about the art of living, about skillful living. It's a third way. It's not about doing or not doing. It's about skillful living right where we are in the situation that we find ourselves. Let’s take a look at how to live as an immortal being in a world of constant change.

Continuing with Chapter 1, we look at how our presence in the world following our Dharma and awareness that life is eternal allows spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is obtaining that highest insight and using it to inform the choices we make, as opposed to using it as a means to escape from the world and our duties.

Continuing with Chapter 1, we look at how the divine life, the soul life, is lost in the first place. How does that happen? And why does that happen? Even though we are the radiant beings that we are, how is it that we gamble away our peace, our freedom, and our own Self-knowing? How do we lose that in the world? And how do we begin to reclaim it?

The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, per teachings of Kriya Yoga masters, is that what is happening in this battle is really a battle for the soul life. The forces that are at play are the various viewpoints of the mind, the various tensions that go on between the lower drives in the mental field and our desires, and the pull of the soul or of higher consciousness to fulfill its divine destiny.

The teachings, the teacher, and the spiritual community are all a refuge from being lost in a world of dissatisfaction. Paramahansa Yogananda’s teacher, Sri Yukteswar would often say, “The boat that caries souls across the river of delusion is ready to depart. Who will go? Who will go? If no one goes, I will go!” Such unwavering determination is the way.

A practical look at the mystery of karma and a few strategies for overcoming obstacles on our path that we can begin right away.

Nothing compares to the power of gratitude and love to transform our lives. Clarity about our divine purpose connects us to that power and sets us on the path of ultimate freedom.

By seeing ourselves and the context of our life clearly, we can live skillfully with equanimity, discernment, and faith. We can draw our strength, wisdom, direction, and perspective from the soul (our essential Self) even while we attend to multiple demands of the day. Learn to float with the grace and ease of timeless omnipresence in the time-bound ocean of change.

Space allows all the other elements to arise. It is the most subtle, invisible field—an opening for possibility on all levels, physical, mental, and spiritual. Our need for space is fundamental, it allows us to accommodate all that arises and passes away. To be spacious is to be open to what is without undue attachment or aversion. In that space, is the soul’s joy.

Air Element of Nature: As we notice what air makes possible, we begin to see how it supports healing and what it can teach us about openness and clarity. This subtle, pervasive, and essential support for life teaches us how to connect with, and honor, our connection to Spirit.

The fire element is associated with our ability to see—both through the physical light that illumines things around us and the spiritual light of consciousness that removes the darkness of ignorance. Fire in our hearts and in our wisdom-guided will can provide the energy we need for right action. Learn how to prepare for Love’s transforming fire.

Water purifies, heals, and transforms. Our thirst naturally draws us to its life-supporting power and our soul is soothed by its energy as rain, mist, ocean waves, or river songs. In nature, water flows to low places, gathers its power, and nurtures life. As a guru and divine companion, water shows us how to realize our soul power and become a nurturing presence. Its message: learn how to let go

Begin your healing journey of soul renewal by entering the auspicious shrine of earth. Be present to earth’s teachings and discover the transforming mystery of stability and yielding. How do we do that, what does it mean, and what can such a way of being make possible? By standing exactly where we are in this moment and opening to the innate imperative to bloom, we learn how to connect with the di...

This episode is focused on what Yogananda’s autobiography reveals about the path of Kriya Yoga, the journey of discipleship, and the way of mastery.

We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. How can we set ourselves up for the highest success? Join Yogacharya O’Brian for a joyful and practical exploration of our capacity to discover the happiness that endures.

We belong only to God and are restless like a river until we find our way to the ocean of divine Reality. When we are ready and hear the truth of our existence proclaimed, we recognize it and wake from our slumber of separation. Then, how shall we live?

Spiritual realization opens the heart, purifies the mind, and empowers our visionary capacity. This intuitive, visioning power is what we need now to heal, both individually and globally.

The omnipresent Lord of Love is auspiciousness itself. Contemplate your life as auspicious. Open to it. Discover the way to experience it. Don’t miss it!

The spiritual path is always illumined by the grace of the guru—the Eternal Friend patiently awaiting our arrival. Discipleship is our step on to that path and our return to our true Self.