8 Step Yoga vs. 6 Step Yoga and Lahiri Mahasaya

Lahiri Mahasaya taught a 6 step yoga... and why.

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Books on the Parietal Lobe:

Iain McGilchrist books:

Spiritual Gita (in 3 Volumes)
by Shyamacharan Lahiri & Bhupendranath Sanyal

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Books based on Lahiri Mahasaya's Diaries:

Lahiri Mahasaya's Letters to students:
Another translation:

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John Alton & the 3 Emperors:

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Books by Todd Murphy:

Books I love:

Special thanks to Doug Gemmell for the fantastic music!!

[duanef]

Being raised in a religion (christianity), for many years, decades, my psyche was split. I felt longing for God and truth but I also felt guilt and shame. Forrest guided me thru this. As you practice pranayam and om japa your heart becomes clean, Pure Consciousness responds to you in it's own unique mysterious way. This response is recieved in the heart. That's my experience.

Ashok Singh taught us a true kriya teacher takes the student as he is, desires and all, and teaches them to practice correctly.

[phijk]

Yes, the first two steps have kind of slowly been working themselves in the background through working the other 6. It's the best kind of change because there is no trying, no failing, no succeeding, no stress, no guilt... the changes just slowly happen all on their own naturally and automatically. No extra effort required.

[mindtransformationtools]

Thanks again Forrest!

Thoughts that come to mind - I find it refreshing to hear you speak of (and quote students speaking of) the beautiful experiences that can result from meditation practice!

I don't know if you've come across the following attitude or not:
In my past experience of Buddhist communities (I practiced zen for nearly a decade) it's been almost a faux pas to speak of my experiences: bliss, joy, etc - as if the enjoyment of the experience is somewhat naïve. While I get that these things shouldn't distract us from the goal of liberation, I certainly think that they are useful signifiers of achieving competency and should be celebrated!

The "it doesn't matter" attitude just doesn't seem to do it for me. I can't see how knowing that I may overcome anger with the power of an esoteric inner joy is anything but a beautiful motivation!!!

Bless up!!!

[danielsaenz]

Wow, this came at such a perfect time. I was just thinking about morality and its impacts on my practice.

[raamkumar]

Wonderful Today I had an idea of sharing my experience with you, here you go what ever I thought, you expressed is experience beyond Thank you very much 💞💓💖

[yahushuasdisciple]

Thank you forest again for more instructions..
, tell me are you familiar with the secret of the Golden flower meditation and if so have you ever considered doing a teaching on it? With the way you teach I'm sure you would do a beyond fantastic job explaining it...thank you again may Yah bless you my friend

[vimaladominic]

Atma namaste sir love to see this video after a long time sorry for me it feels soooo long. I know how difficult to make regular videos..sir your pronunciation of "dyana".. always brings a smile its so cute..actually its pronunciation is like Di... ya.. na. "Diyana".. such a wonderful teachings as always..really the Divine has been revealing what to teach and when to teach. When i have some doubts i go to your videos and most of the times i get my answers. Iam so grateful to God and you sir. God bless much love.🙏❤

[ellensteadman]

Forrest Knutson That was amazing. I think I've got it! Spending too much time checking upon yamas and niyamas does indeed have the effect of being like laboratory rat on a ferris wheel ... progress becomes virtually impossible.

[franklarson]

Thank-you enlightened one. love from me

[OctoBox]

I'm ready for 5th Kriya guru-ji....I wanna see that face again soon!!
Can we go over the 4th again too?
Thanks for this video -- you are such a thoughtful educator, you elucidate better than any Yogic Teacher I've ever had -- Love to you and Family brother!!

[SaiF]

Hey Forrest, I was wondering if it is possible for you to make a video comparing the Buddhist and Kriya yogic levels of enlightenment? I personally believe that Buddhahood is the highest stage of enlightenment possible in all planes of existence, but I'm wondering what your take on all of this is, specifically how far according to your understanding can Kriya take one in terms of level of attainment? I would really appreciate and value your perspective, thank you!

[Vshamann]

its certainly been Pandora's box at times, but it always borders on it. Its normally gentle and paced enough for me. I wont lie I am worried now though, I have my kundalini rising with all sorts of symptoms and I just went through a miss with Helene and now we have Milton, the most sus storm I have ever seen, and its pointing right at the area. Please pray for all of us in Florida Forrest.

[ashwinrawal]

Knutsonji 🙏, which one is another step other than Yama - niyama out of
8 steps, please let me know that. Yama-niyama, excellent explained by u. Thanks.

[BenjaminSchiltzVlogs]

Ahhh yes to become a better person all that I desire. You read his texts aloud and I immediately felt an inner calling towards the same goal. Forrest, I have been angry and feel anger so easily. I can go off at any time and I feel like I am dangerous in a sense. Although I would not hurt anyone and I am a kind sensitive person. My heart is huge and yet something is angry inside of me. I need to find its root and yank it out. I am seeing the spiritual eye, my body gets heavy and then hands and legs are disappearing in only a week of practice. I get very cold I’m not sure if that’s part of it lol. What do I do with that, do I practice the other steps in the big bliss you show us while in that state of consciousness. I haven’t been doing anything other than the breathing so far.

[deepblack]

Yes, in deed. In 1993 I met a monk in SF who worked for the Dalai Lama with the Hopi and I always have remembered him arguing with people who wanted to start a school in a nice neighborhood, he said no I will have a school in the gutter. Why, because that is where the work is to be done.Moralism is a block, it can never be growth.

[samicherkaoui]

Hi Forrest,

Thanks a lot for your illuminating videos. Can you explain the reason why initiation is so important in Kriya? I would love to hear a "rational" explanation about this because I've been struggling with this concept. Does kriya or any other practice work without proper initiation?

Thanks again.

[rkatz]

ok, this is excellent as well, thank you for the great work and what you give. I do want to give you money, however, this is usually a sign, a bad one, you say in order for folks to approach initiation they must first have done your paid classes. But the lineage teaches that you do not make your money from these practices. So how am I to interpret this? A red flag? Or just the sign of the times? Please explain at your convenience, Master.

[insert_letters_here]

Hello Forrest, somtimes in meditation i have mystical experience. I would like to do it on my own. I also heard that the 4 th stage of the mula bandhas can help you achive this. Do you know something about this or do you know any method? BTw few days ago i experience some kind of a white nice type thing in meditation. i just went deeper, deeper and suddenly i started to hear this noisy sound but it was all around me, i heard it everywhere, felt like a drop in the ocean and my whole body was intentsly tingling, do you have any experience with this phenomena?

[supersonic]

Thank you for this great video! I completely understand and agree that sensitivity for yama, niyama will naturally evolve during meditation practice. But same would be true for the other steps, no? If I just sit for decades, sooner or later I will find a comfortable position. but when we are shown how to sit correctly and how to stretch correctly, it will be easier and faster. Same for Pranayama/hrv. You often told on your videos that hrv can save decades, cause after these decades hrv would be probably achieved just by constantly watching the breath also. It is all about making shortcuts. So what I dont understand - why cant the yamas niyamas be seen that way? We dont have to make all these mistakes, and then at some point of meditation become aware of it... we could just know and obey what to do and what not already at the beginning of the journey.. and thereby save time once more? When i think of ahimsa and brahmacharia, some actions if once committed maybe cant be easily undone afterwards, when we finally realize during meditation.

[sebybjoseph]

Hi Forrest, is there an order in which I must complete the courses? Like the big bliss first and then the 4th phase of tranquil breath, or is it fine to start with any of them first? Thanks.