Kriya Yoga Exposed: The Truth About Current Kriya Yoga Gurus, Organizations & Going Beyond Kriya, Contains the Explanation of a Special Technique ... Before in Kriya Literature: 1 (Real Yoga) Paperback – 5 Oct. 2017

I love these "love and light" Karen˙s about claiming book is negative just because author said how the things are with organisations. As for the practice itself - yes - its that simple. But no - people need complication to appreciate something. Then go complicate.. and leave liberation to people who are satisfied with less.

I believe this is the first book in his series. However I read book 3 (Kundalini Exposed) before I realized I got it the wrong way round. In my opinion book 3 is not a bad place to start. It’s like getting a sneak preview and answers some good whys not found in this book. This particular volume is very direct, it has two main parts. Part 1 is a commentary of some well known gurus analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Part 2 is a recommended Kriya practice. It is very no nonsense and direct. Highly recommended.

Mixed feelings about this. First, I couldn't care less about different organisations since I'm teaching myself and not at all attracted to dogma/guru worship. But then I can see how some people could waste years down that road. Is it worth half of a £9+ book though? Not for me. Perhaps it's meant as a warning for beginners? Well, if it is they'll get little benefit from the rest of the book because it's not detailed enough. Practices are mentioned without even cursory explanations of what they are. So I suppose this is aimed at people who've been doing Kriya Yoga for a while and have perhaps become disenfranchised.At £9 for the Kindle book (and even more for print) I feel it's over priced for what it is. I bought it on the strength of the reviews which seemed positive, but it seems to me that there's a general trend with the paths of spiritual practitioners:1a) Some people start with mindfulness/Buddhist style practices and eventually stumble on pranayama/chi kung since energy is rarely mentioned in most Buddhist texts.1b) Some people start with pranayama/chi kung, realise something is missing and then try mindfulness/Buddhist style practices2) Both groups eventually realise that the best results come, just as Patanjali explained, by practicing energy work/pranayama and then meditation. (And how do you create a stable seat to practice? Hip flexibility through yoga asanas, or use a bench/zafu). Being very happy with this new-found knowledge, the practitioner praises the messenger.This book could perhaps have received so many 5-star reviews from people in category 1b above. If it's the first time you've come to realise you're missing half a practice (and I've been there), then it is an important moment.One benefit of this book being so short however is that its message isn't lost in a sea of words. What is important can stand out (because there's so little else). However, as another commenter said, this author criticises other authors for creating small, highly priced books, but has then done the same. I can't see why all 3 of his books couldn't have been combined into single volume, other than so he could milk them and write the sort of lame advertising typically accompanied by web sites with "testimonials", "secrets", "never before revealed", "the fastest path", "and that's not all!!!" BS, etc., etc.I'd have liked to have seen more detail. He recommends other authors for some techniques, but as mentioned above, doesn't even bother to explain some of the Kriyas at all which strikes me as lazy. So if you don't know whatever style he's referring to (like me), then you're completely lost about what the techniques actually are (e.g "Thokar", "Amantrak", whatever they are). In short, he assumes you're familiar with his lineage of Kriya Yoga. If you've followed the Bihar School of Yoga/Satyananda Yoga books, don't expect to understand much of what he mentions in passing.The actual techniques are also only briefly described, to a quality you typically find on a blog post. In fact, this whole book could comfortably be several blog posts, but then he couldn't charge £9+ per time. There's no discussion of the attitude for each of the few practices he provides, things to watch out for, etc. Just a few numbered lists. Some elaboration could have been useful. I can see some people wasting their time with these practices just as much as with any others due to a lack of detail. One person's "simplicity" is another one's potential for error because of what is not said.So overall, he suggests to do some pranayama (108 rounds), a bit of mahabandha, and then do witnessing style meditation. It could be revelatory to some, and perhaps it's good to emphasise using "pure awareness" style meditation instead of meditation on a mantra/internal image, and also to pare back the vast number of kriya practices out there (as with chi kung, there are lots of variations on a theme and it can be difficult to see the bigger picture). But I feel he skips over at least one important point:He mentions in passing that the "first knot" is to insulate the mind from the nerve impulses (that's different to every other use of the term "knot" I've found in yoga before, where it's a translation of the word "granthi" and means something different. What he's referring to is pratyahara/dharana). This I managed to do *once*, years ago, quite by chance. Some pointers would definitely be welcome beyond just doing some pranayama for 108 rounds. For example, the critical importance of remaining absolutely still is never mentioned. Nor is the attitude of the pranayama which should be one of activating the parasympathetic nervous system to become progressively more relaxed. He just says the breath will naturally lengthen, which it will if you cultivate and engage the relaxation response/parasympathetic nervous system. Then there's how to practice ignoring nerve impulses so you can remain absolutely still ("kaya sthairyam"). This must all be so obvious or easy to the author he doesn't even feel the need to explain it, which again begs the question who the target of this book is.So, on the one hand he assumes background knowledge, but due to brevity/laziness/assumptions if you don't happen to have the exact background the author has, this book will probably be of limited value to you.For me, a better approach (albeit one I can't charge £9 for) would be to say:1) Do some pranayama: warm up, then perhaps something energising like bhastrika, followed by something tranquilising like alternate nostril breathing or spinal breathing (see Prana and Pranayama or AYP for spinal breathing). When doing the tranquilising one, make sure to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to engage so there is *no* stressful response in the body2) Do mindfulness meditation. See the excellent "The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness" for how.Update:In retrospect, 3 stars is a little harsh. The book is worth a read for any serious practitioner, and its brevity means that what's important doesn't get lost in useless explanations. You can always look up most of the practices on YouTube, but at least it describes what to do.

Very insightful and helpful guide, I immensely enjoyed reading about and practicing the techniques I was able to perform. The removal of the ego and the end goal of these practices appears to shine a similar light as the Sophian Gnostic teachings.

Super clear, direct and honest.Has all you need to get started/advance.Would highly recommend.

As a far from accomplished meditator I suspect many of us would benefit from the hands on help of an experienced teacher or Guru before attempting the more complex forms of Kriya yoga and there is sound advice here on seeking that help.

No overall fresh available new info To be learned.. Was more disappointed with the book to be honest

This book has caused a fundament shift in the way I see Spirituality and Kriya Yoga in particular. It reversed the way I meditate and approach enlightenment.I enjoy this no-nonsense method of practicing, and the kriya fire technique is the strongest I've encountered so far in all books and initiations. Immensely recommended.