Am I doing Kriya right?

[Magnanimous]

Hey. I've done 2500+ Kriya Pranayama 1 (KP1) since starting one and a half months ago. 

The problem is I think I've been doing parts of it wrong.

1. Is it meant to be done with Uyajji Breathing? One of the instructions in KP1 says you must make a "SHAAAWWWW" sound (First sound made with Uyajji Breathing), and other pranayama types are done with Uyajji breathing. So should I learn Uyajji and incorporate it with KP1?
2. The JC Stevens written instructions say move energy from Muladhara to Medulla, but the illustrations has arrows in the Sushumna where the energy is meant to be directed, which I interpret as: Raise energy from Muladhara to Ajna -> localize energy at Medulla -> send it down back to Muladhara. (I do the Technique Tip of sending warm energy down the backside of the spine rather than through the Sushumna.)

What I do from reading Leo's instructions and JC Steven's instructions/illustrations are: 1. Raise cool prana from Muladhara to Ajna through the Sushumna 2. Continue raising the prana through brainstem and brain, blasting both 3. Localise energy at Medulla 4. Send warm prana down the backside of the spine from Medulla to Muladhara.

 

Am I doing KP1 right?

Finally, I need some reassurance. Even though I think I've been getting some steps wrong, and obviously not being perfect on the correct steps as a beginner, subjectively in my view I'm still getting benefits. 

Those 2500+ pranayama have not gone to waste, right? I've still got benefits?

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, Magnanimous said:

The problem is I think I've been doing parts of it wrong.

1. Is it meant to be done with Uyajji Breathing?

Yes, of course Uyajji.

Narrow your vocal chords and breathe in like sucking air through a straw.

1 hour ago, Magnanimous said:

1. The JC Stevens written instructions say move energy from Muladhara to Medulla, but the illustrations has arrows in the Sushumna where the energy is meant to be directed, which I interpret as: Raise energy from Muladhara to Ajna -> localize energy at Medulla -> send it down back to Muladhara. (I do the Technique Tip of sending warm energy down the backside of the spine rather than through the Sushumna.)

What I do from reading Leo's instructions and JC Steven's instructions/illustrations are: 1. Raise cool prana from Muladhara to Ajna through the Sushumna 2. Continue raising the prana through brainstem and brain, blasting both 3. Localise energy at Medulla 4. Send warm prana down the backside of the spine from Medulla to Muladhara.

I simplify it by just going from ass to top of skull.

There are multiple ways and they all work. So don't fret, just pick one.

1 hour ago, Magnanimous said:

Those 2500+ pranayama have not gone to waste, right? I've still got benefits?

You are doing fine, just make minor adjustments and keep the faith.

[Magnanimous]

18 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Yes, of course Uyajji.

Narrow your vocal chords and breathe in like sucking air through a straw.

How do you do the exhale?
When inhaling, I've been trying to make the SHAW sound. I just didn't know how to do inhale and exhale the proper Uyajji way.

Edited 7 hours ago by Magnanimous

[Leo Gura]

@Magnanimous Same way, just exhale.

It doesn't have to sound a particular way. You are just narrowing your throat to slow down the breath.

[ExploringReality]

@Leo Gura

I have been doing Satama gamanas instructions. Can you please just give a quick breakdown of your own practice please!!!!? Just cut Straight to the chase and explain what you are doing. How do you practice kriya yoga for a dummy? I don't want to overthink this. Thanks 

Edited 6 hours ago by ExploringReality

[Leo Gura]

@ExploringReality All I do is pranayama, up the spine, from ass to crown. That's it. The more the better. I try to do 1-2hrs per day, broken up into 30min blocks.

Edited 6 hours ago by Leo Gura

[ExploringReality]

17 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

@ExploringReality All I do is pranayama, up the spine, from ass to crown. That's it. The more the better. I try to do 1-2hrs per day, broken up into 30min blocks.

Thank you. Do you add the three bandhas (locks) with breath retention, or just long ass breathes? How long are each breathe? Do you visualize? And how long are your breaths? 

Edited 5 hours ago by ExploringReality

[Leo Gura]

7 minutes ago, ExploringReality said:

Thank you. Do you add the three bandhas (locks) with breath retention, or just long ass breathes? How long are each breathe? Do you visualize? And how long are your breaths? 

No bandhas right now. In the future I might add.

I do 36 breaths in 25 minutes.

Yes I visualize, nothing too precise.

[Magnanimous]

What about Supreme Fire? I thought you did that Leo

Edited 5 hours ago by Magnanimous

[Leo Gura]

1 minute ago, Magnanimous said:

What about Supreme Fire? I thought you really advocated that Leo

I need to experiment with it more. For now I am doing fine without it.

[ExploringReality]

10 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

No bandhas right now. In the future I might add.

I do 36 breaths in 25 minutes.

Yes I visualize, nothing too precise.

That's extraordinary! That's like a breath n a half per minute!!! Normal breathing is like 12-22 per minute. Advanced meditators reach prolly 4-6 breathes per minute. Holy smokes Leo you are fucking zen'd out. What's going on phenomenologically while you're in these deep states of consciousness?

Edited 5 hours ago by ExploringReality

[Oppositionless]

Yeah I can't do nearly that much , it'll make me sick lol. I do butt to top of skull (back part) idk what bindu it's called but it's the lower crown one.

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Oppositionless

[Leo Gura]

15 minutes ago, ExploringReality said:

Holy smokes Leo you are fucking zen'd out. What's going on phenomenologically while you're in these deep states of consciousness?

You are making it into way more than it is. It's just nothing special.

Just breathe real slow and you can do it too.

Edited 5 hours ago by Leo Gura

[ExploringReality]

@Leo Gura

Your right. I am, thank you for pointing that out.  

[bazera]

@Leo Gura What about prep practices for pranayama? Like alternate nostril breathing or maha mudra?

I've heared they are conditioning and preparing you to do pranayama more effectively. As if the pranayama is the main engine, and all other stuff are supporting preparation tools.

I'm experimenting with doing pranayamas but only after 10-20 mins of prep work. I'll update you guys on progress in 6-12 months, it's interesting where it will go.

[Magnanimous]

Leo, when we experiment with new Kriya techniques, what criteria do we measure the results of those new techniques? And determine whether or not to include them in our routine.

Because in past forum posts you would tell us to experiment and find out what works for ourselves.

 

[bazera]

1 minute ago, Magnanimous said:

Because in past forum posts you would tell us to experiment and find out what works for ourselves.

You should still do it. How else would you know what works and what doesn't?

It's just the core of the practice is Pranayamas, so everything else seems like a practice to help with the core in some way. But I guess you could just do the core and see where it takes you. You could always add 1-2 prep practices and see how it affects the core.

Edited 4 hours ago by bazera

[Leo Gura]

46 minutes ago, bazera said:

@Leo Gura What about prep practices for pranayama? Like alternate nostril breathing or maha mudra?

Not needed.

Quote

I'm experimenting with doing pranayamas but only after 10-20 mins of prep work.

Waste of time, IMO.

45 minutes ago, Magnanimous said:

Leo, when we experiment with new Kriya techniques, what criteria do we measure the results of those new techniques? And determine whether or not to include them in our routine.

Pranayama should start to transform your baseline consciousness upward. Only do techniques that lead to equal or great results.

You are always deciding between more pranayama or something else. That something else better be at least as good, which most of them aren't.

The only serious contenders are Mahamudra and Supreme Fire. Those are worth testing out vs more pranayama.

But you can just start with a year of pranayama and see how it goes. It should be so potent that you don't need anything more. But if you need more, try adding others.

Don't start with a bunch of complex things. Simple is best.

Edited 3 hours ago by Leo Gura

[Oppositionless]

I was very dedicated because I had just done a lot of psychedelics but i don't want to do the full routine anymore  

[Cred]

The trick to breathing properly is that when you breathe in, you try to relax your upper body, such that there is pressure between your diaphragm and your upper body.

Try to only breathe with your diaphragm with every other muscle being relaxed. Also try to relax your diaphragm as much as possible. 

This pressure that builds up will open your chakras. You can practice with increasing that pressure. When you master it and you maximize pressure you will be able to have full body orgasms. I personally don't do it often because it's very intense and exhausting.

Another important point is that the chakra energy in the lower chakras is sexual energy.  Do what do you want is some kind of "pure horniness".

Then what you do is you alchemise the sexual energy into divine energy, by pulling it up your spine. This is how I understand kundalini yoga.

All of this will work easier, the more empty your mind is.

One last thing: One has finite sexual energy avaliable each day. It can be depleted. It's actually not a bad thing if you don't have any sexual energy left. just do normal Zazen meditation.

In my understanding, you can have legit awakenings without any of the energy stuff. Using the energy of the kundalini is like strapping a rocket engine to your car. You can also arrive without the engine, but it takes longer. Also using rocket engines is more dangerous.

Edited 1 hour ago by Cred